Freedom Fries

Transcript

Jenny: Let's go.

Mark: Let's go.

Jenny: Let's do it. Let's talk about the Nuggets. It's recording.

Mark: This week on the Nuggets pod, the playoffs are here, baby. Nuggets take game one over the Timberwolves. Christian Brown talks about his bromance with Bones Highland. And Jenny tells us the story of when she partied with Kosh Patel in Las Vegas. All that and more this week on the Nuggets Pod. Ring the bell. Where's the Taco Bell sound effect?

Jenny: Oh, man.

Mark: You don't have to. It's not ready. Pull it up next week. Next week, we'll do it.

Jenny: We should have had it ready.

Mark: It's been a couple weeks.

Jenny: More than a couple.

Mark: Has it? Three? We had Jay and Susan last pod. A couple weeks ago, we chatted with them.

Jenny: Yep. And then the last, that was the last time we were together to talk about the nuggets. So it's been, Since before that 12 game win streak to end the season since we actually talked about the current nuggets I remember saying that they were streaking at some point.

Mark: Yep So maybe last time was in the midst of that streak, but yeah, it's still going 13 in a row now It's ready now it's ready yeah, um

Jenny: So I went to two games since then. No, I think I only went to one game because we talked about the one that I went to with my friend when they beat the trailblazers, right? On a Sunday afternoon or whatever. Then I also got to go to another game against the trailblazers on a Monday night.

Mark: Awesome.

Jenny: That was so fun. Both of my kids were in the fan tunnel at halftime to give high fives. We saw them on altitude. Which they were like so jazzed about and then Hilariously, it was a Monday night and the game didn't start until I think maybe seven So after halftime it was past their bedtime Yeah, and one of my kids said I think I'm ready to go. Yep, and the other one said We have to stay until the end. Yeah, and then they kind of went back and forth a little bit We just decided we're already here The one who said they wanted to leave also said, I just think they're going to win. So like, we might as well leave cause I'm tired. And then the other one just kept saying, this is why you stay.

Mark: And then it went into overtime, but it was such a fun.

Jenny: win that night. I don't really remember much else about that game, but it was a great one to be at as a fan.

Mark: I don't remember the details of really any of the games in that 12 game winning streak to end the season now, because it's been a while. But I do remember that game being exciting. Our kids only ever make it to like halftime usually too and then they're ready to go. They're in it for the dip and dots more than they're in it for like the watching of the game.

Jenny: That's fair.

Mark: So once they have snacks, they couldn't really care too much more about their own stuff going on.

Jenny: It's understandable. Yeah, it's OK. They'll appreciate it one day. Yeah, I bet. A couple of things I do remember. Jokic has just I feel like progressively started to look more and more like Jokic. Jamal Murray has just. Even killed it. just continue to look outstanding.

Yep.

Jenny: Aaron Gordon still the beating heart of the whole situation.

Mark: Yes, he really is.

Jenny: Those are my main thoughts about how the season ended. It was so much fun.

Mark: Those three healthy, they're so good. And when Aaron Gordon isn't in the lineup, it's such a noticeable difference. But we can talk more about that as we get into it today. They have as good a chance as anybody, as long as they can stay healthy. It's still saying it.

Jenny: It's true. Well, maybe we, maybe we just use that as a lead in to talk about the game from yesterday because Aaron Gordon's minutes, I didn't even see most of the third quarter, but it seems like from what I read after the fact and how the game went overall, they were, he was like a difference maker.

Mark: Oh yeah. Always has defense on Julius Randall. was really good. That's the thing that stands out to me the most. He was in foul trouble in the first half. because of the third foul that they called on him, the offensive foul against Mike Conley that the Nuggets challenged and then lost. I still don't understand how that was an offensive foul, because it looked like Mike Conley flopped it and made it look like he got hit in the head when Aaron Gordon pivoted towards the basket, but he didn't get hit in the head. and he wasn't really standing in one spot defending Aaron Gordon. He was kind of moving around. So I don't know, whatever, like it ended up not mattering because Aaron Gordon didn't get in foul trouble in the second half and the Nuggets played great without him in the second quarter, mostly thanks to Jamal Murray. But yeah, I mean, it's a huge difference when Aaron Gordon is on the floor, his defense is just incredible. He knows where to be on offense. He didn't like maybe hit as many shots yesterday as you would expect him to. He might've been like one for five from three. The Nuggets overall missed a bunch of really good looks from three. I think Jamal was like oh for eight.

Jenny: Yeah, he didn't make one.

Mark: Jokic had a bunch of wide open top of the key threes that he didn't make. So, I mean, that's, I guess, kind of an encouraging thing for game two is like, I think the Nuggets can play a lot better than they did yesterday and they still won.

Yep.

Jenny: Yep. Something I noticed when I was watching some highlights this morning is there was like a split second of crazy eyes Aaron Gordon. akin to crazy eyes. You'll get a chapter that Lou Dort foul.

Mark: Was this when Jayden McDaniel shoved Jokic in the back?

Jenny: And his finger, like his finger point came out and he was heated. And then there was just like a flash of his face and it was a, it was scary, crazy eyes air recording that I've never seen before. And it just, I was like, Oh, don't do not mess with him. He is centered and Like relax and mentally sound and also like a giant person. Don't come for him.

Mark: And on the flip side, yeah, like the wolves kind of lost their composure towards the end of the game. That being probably the biggest example when McDaniels just shoved Jokic right in front of the rest. Like, what are you doing in the back? Then Julius Randall had a couple really like dumb obvious fouls in the fourth quarter and

Jenny: It seems like he and Aaron Gordon were back and forth quite a bit at the end of the fourth quarter to the point. I think they also called technical fouls on both of them. And it was like, it looked for a second, like they were calling one on Yolkich because I think Yolkich was trying to switch spots with Aaron Gordon on the free throw line. just to separate him, maybe this is my theory, he was trying to like disrupt what was happening between the two of them and stepped over there and right as he did, the ref called the technical, the coach was like, wait.

Mark: What did I do?

Jenny: And he was like, no, it's not on you. But then they both moved. And I was like, oh, guys. Oh, what are we doing? It's fine. It's fine. It all worked out. But yeah.

Mark: There's definitely some bad blood between these two teams. They've played each other so many times the last three years or four years playoff series when the Nuggets won the title. And then the next year, the Wolves beat the Nuggets in game seven. The Nuggets had a 20 point lead and blew it at home. And then they, you know, this year the Nuggets won the regular season series three one. But last year, I think the Wolves swept the Nuggets in the regular season. And there's all that, you know, like Tim Conley used to be the Nuggets GM. Now he's the Timberwolves GM. Bones Highland plays for the Wolves now. Chris Finch was an assistant with the Nuggets before. Oh, he was.

Jenny: I don't think I knew that.

Mark: He became the Timberwolves head coach. Yeah. So there's just a lot of history and crossover. And I think that just makes this series like that much more fun to watch because of that.

Jenny: Yep, super competitive.

Mark: Yeah, it felt like just like the competitive feel of yesterday, game one made it feel more like it was game four or five. Because, you know, game one of a series, it's kind of like the two teams are just starting to get a sense of each other and they haven't like built up the intensity or whatever, like the rivalry to where it ends up being like later in the series, but the Nuggets and the Wolves just like start out at that level because they've played each other so many times.

Jenny: It was intense.

Mark: Yeah.

Jenny: And it was fun.

Mark: Yeah.

Jenny: Also fun to see Cam Johnson. Doing his thing because he just I just feel like he's hustled more Like all season like from the beginning to the end What he's doing when he's not shooting a three-pointer is has gotten like more and more aggressive and impactful Yeah, even if it's not scoring.

Mark: Yeah, he had a few good drives to the basket yesterday Which was encouraging I think his first half Was really good, even though he didn't like make a bunch of shots. He was aggressive and confident It seemed like he kind of faded maybe in the second half. I don't remember him doing as much but I thought in the first half he was really good just from the standpoint of being aggressive and like if he's open he's gonna take a shot and if he gets overplayed he can drive to the basket and He didn't get in foul trouble, which is good. Sometimes he gets called for silly fouls. How about Bruce Brown yesterday?

Jenny: Oh, my gosh.

Mark: I thought Jamal was the player of the game, mostly because of the second quarter. Like, the Nuggets were down 10 after the first quarter, leading into the non-Yokich minutes. And they ended up tied at halftime, mostly because Jamal was great. He shot a bunch of free throws.

Jenny: He did not miss one.

Mark: Yes. 16 for 16 or something. Yeah. But after Jamal, I really thought like Bruce Brown was like next on my list just because his intensity and like energy. He got an offensive rebound over Go Bear and like put put it back and scored over Go Bear. and was just like as fired up as any nugget maybe I've ever seen in my life.

Jenny: He's also the one who snagged that rebound at the end of the fourth quarter when Jamal launched the like half court shot cause the shot clock was running out and everyone just thought like all of the Minnesota players just stopped.

Mark: I thought so too. I was like, wait a second. Do I not know the rule? Doesn't the ball have to hit the rim? I did not think it hit the rim.

Jenny: Well, Bruce Brown was freaking paying attention. He got that ball, launched it back out to Jamal, swung it back into AG. Oh my gosh, that was beautiful. It was beautiful.

Mark: That was a huge play.

Jenny: And that is like, I feel like that was the energy that Bruce Brown brought to the playoffs the year they won the title. And it has been so fun to see him also just kind of like finding his place again and being aggressive and hustling.

Mark: a guy like that the last two years when he wasn't here. I mean, there's no one like him.

Jenny: He's one of one.

Mark: That's true too. But man, yeah, just the, he just seems so at home on the nuggets in Denver in front of the home crowd. And that energy is contagious for sure. Like he didn't necessarily fill up the box score. I think he did have like five steals or something. Nice. But yeah, huge for those intangible reasons, the energy, the competitiveness, the confidence, the guy that's just going to do the dirty work and make hustle plays and be a pest on defense.

Jenny: He sure did have five steals.

Mark: Yeah.

Jenny: Dang.

Mark: I do wish he would quit shooting his one-handed mid-range jump shots. I don't know what... I don't remember him doing that when he was on the Nuggets before. If it's not a three or a shot at the rim, every shot he takes is like a one-handed push shot.

Jenny: And it doesn't go in usually.

Mark: Never. Yeah. Don't know maybe maybe he's always shot like that. I don't remember that but I Wish that he would only shoot like dunks layups and threes and then just do all of his other Stuff and then just keep hustling. Yeah. Yeah He's a lot of fun to watch sure is what a guy I

Jenny: Truly. I think he likes being here too. I think that's like obvious. I think he has said that publicly, like he's glad to be back here. And I remember hearing that he reportedly said he wasn't gonna leave the year that they won the title. And then he did, but I just feel like it's also like, you couldn't, you just can't tell that he's having fun playing.

Mark: He is at home here for sure. It's awesome. And the year he left, it was like, He had to for the amount of money that he was getting paid. Yeah. And the fact that the nuggets couldn't pay him anywhere close to that. But now he got paid and hopefully he's got a good money manager.

Right.

Mark: And whatever he made 40 or 50 million those couple of years that he wasn't on the nuggets can last him the rest of his life and he can just be happy in Denver. as a player until he retires. I don't know what the odds are of that happening, but I think he should just ride it out. I'm sure he could probably make more elsewhere. His time not on the Nuggets did not go great, so maybe other teams won't be tripping over themselves to pay him a bunch of money. But even if they are, I think he should just stay. The city loves him. He likes the rodeo.

Jenny: Where else are you going to find that? Texas cowboy hats you gonna go to Texas Bruce Brown.

Mark: Come on That's right I said it I don't like Texas Texas also has no state income tax so that Does play a factor I know some people Game two is tomorrow.

Mm-hmm

Mark: You're going? Yeah, with our sister. She has a suite somehow because that's just what she does.

Jenny: That's her life.

Mark: I told her she should be on our next episode and we could talk about going to game two. She said she is down.

Jenny: Great.

Mark: I think if the Nuggets are serious title contenders, they should win game two instead of messing around like they tend to do And it will, it'll, I feel like it'll show us something important depending on how they come out tomorrow night. If they come out and they're like casual, we already won game one. Now we can kind of relax. Even if we lose, we know we'll get one in Minnesota and we'll still have home court. That is not how they did it in the title season. The title season they won. Round one in five games, round two in six games, round three in four games, round the finals in five games. They didn't mess around. Then the next year, they beat the Lakers four games to one, so that was good. Also the Lakers just stunk. But then they played the Timberwolves in round two, They lost game one, they lost game two by 26 points. And it was just like, yeah, like they didn't even, it was like they didn't care. They weren't really trying that hard. Came back one games three, four and five to go up three, two. So you're thinking, oh, they have all the momentum. Like they figured it out. They can go ahead and put, The Timberwolves away in game six, they lost by 45 points. 115 to 70. Oh my. And then they famously blew the big lead in game seven and lost the series four games to three. Then, last year, they played the Clippers in the first round. One game won, lost game two. lost game three, won 17 to 83. What are they doing? That's against the team that they won the series against. They lost by 34 points. And yeah, of course they ended up coming back to win, but this trend continued, so they played the Thunder in round two last year. One game one, okay, feeling good, they got a game in hand now, things are looking good. Game two, Thunder 149, Nuggets 106. Oh my. So that's why I think tomorrow is so important. Like if they are serious, they know that like their health is so important. They know that the path they have is so hard. If they could end this Minnesota series in like four or five games, that would be huge. To get extra rest, to save the mileage on AG and Jamal and Cam Johnson. Maybe give Peyton Watson time to like heal up before the Spurs series. That that would be like I just think so important because if they go they like mess around tomorrow Lose by 40. Yeah, and then they end up having to go seven with minnesota And they go have to go seven with the spurs I can't imagine that like the spurs series is going to be a short one And then they have to go like seven against the thunder just to get to the finals like that just seems like it's already gonna be so hard. And if they can do anything to like save themselves a couple games and earn a couple extra days of rest, it would make a big difference. So I'm excited to see how serious they are when they come out tomorrow night.

Jenny: Yep, I think you're right. I do get the sense that that is... something that David Adelman is like, that's not what we're here for. I don't know. I don't know if he really motivates them or if he's just like the guy that like draws up the plays, the one that decides on the rotations. But I feel like the sense I get from him is that he's like, you're a professional. You're here to do a job. That job is not like turn it off and be like, let someone beat you by 40 points.

Mark: No, I don't think it should be up to him. I don't think, Like that kind of like locker room speech where he's like, you know, like making the brave heart.

Jenny: I don't think he does that. I think he's like, all right, this is my job. These are your jobs. Like everybody do our jobs. Yeah. And then it's up to the players in the world. Like figure it out.

Mark: And if Jokic is out there like throwing the ball away and Jamal is not closing out on people and Whatever not throwing stuff on the court. Yeah throwing his ice back on the court He's not doing that anymore He's not he's he hasn't grown up so much since then. Yeah, he's done some maturing But yeah, it's I it's got to be the players and if they come out with like a sense of urgency and they're like we Know we can make this a short series. We're better we can do it in four or five games, then I think they totally can. But if they come out and they're like... I'll just be very frustrated. Don't do that, Nuggets.

Jenny: Don't do that. All right, well, yeah. Do you have any other thoughts about the game yesterday? Game one?

Mark: Anthony Edwards doesn't look like he's 100%. He had a few drives where he looked like himself and just like got to the basket so easily. But most of the game he yeah, he just looked. a step less explosive, less confident. There were a couple of times where he like came down after a rebound and like winced and kind of like felt his knee. So, I mean, if he's, if he can't play like better or like be more of his like 100% healthy self in the series than he was yesterday. I think that makes it extra tough for the Timberwolves.

Jenny: Yeah.

Mark: Rudy Gobert had like a great game. I don't expect him to play that well consistently. He had some stupid Rudy Gobert plays too, but overall he defended Jokic really well and scored more than he probably will in most games in the series.

Jenny: He's not a very good free throw shooter.

Mark: He had some bricks yesterday. He also shot like a seven foot floater, like wide open. That was like the worst brick you will ever see. Oh my gosh. I was like, how are you an NBA player and you can't Put the ball like even within like a reasonable distance of the rim on a shot from so close. I don't understand How did you get here? This is your job. I know he's not like a jump shooter. He's not like a good score He mostly gets his points off of like offensive rebound dunks or like lobs, but come on. Like it was not close.

Jenny: Did it hit the backboard?

Mark: It hit like the far right side of the backboard, like pretty high up and very hard. And then like rocketed down and I think glanced off of like the very right side of the rim.

Jenny: Oh, interesting. And away.

Mark: Yeah, it was terrible.

Jenny: I'll have to see if I can find it. Ah, Rudy, he's been on my do-do list since he grabbed Christian Brown by the neck last year, the year before, because Christian Brown dunked on him. Do you remember this? And he did his, like, the thing he's done since he played at KU, where he, like, flexes. But I think Rudy Gobert thought he was, like, trying to grab at him. And just grabbed him by the neck and flung him. And no, no, no, we don't do that.

Mark: Rudy. Rudy. He's been... Rudy. One of my least liked players since he was on the jazz with Donovan Mitchell and the Nuggets would play against that team and he is just annoying So French I mean, I don't really want to besmirch a country I remember in the past, he's like complained about not getting the ball enough on offense and I'm like, you suck on offense. That's why people don't pass you the ball. Oh, and he just like sometimes he'll be strutting around on the court after he makes a good play. And like, he's always been a really good defender. But then like yesterday he had a steal in probably the first quarter. And instead of just like giving the ball up to a guard, he tried to dribble the ball up the court himself and immediately stepped out of bounds. And the Nuggets got the ball right back. And then there was another play where he had the ball like at the top of the key on offense and he tried like a behind the back pass to some Anthony Edwards or Jaden McDaniels or somebody and immediate turnover, fast break dunk for the nuggets. Great.

Jenny: We'll take it.

Mark: So it's stuff like that. It's like, yes, you're very good on defense and you're very tall, but You don't know like you're not yoga Trudy.

Jenny: Yeah, get out of here.

Mark: You don't know how to just like focus on doing the stuff that you're good at and letting the other like good offensive players on your team handle the offense, which isn't that kind of like a French vibe? What is your problem with the French? I'm just kidding.

Jenny: I don't have any problems with the French. Which French person hurt you in the past?

Mark: I do remember that now after 9-11, you were like big into freedom fries instead of French fries.

Jenny: It's yeah, it's all just political history. I'm just kidding Oh, man, I do like fries though, whatever whatever we're calling them. Yeah fries are delicious Well All right. Here we go. Game two. Game two. You're going to be there. Are you going to wear a jersey?

Mark: I don't know. Some kind of nuggets, something.

Jenny: Cool.

Mark: Yeah. Have you decided yet? Any suggestions? I don't know.

Jenny: I'd wear a jersey, but I only own one and you have more than that.

Mark: Yeah.

Jenny: So.

Mark: Could wear my bright yellow Galanari jersey. Yeah. Maybe you'll be on TV. I won't.

Jenny: Probably won't.

Mark: Yeah, I don't know. That's fine too. Yeah, it'll be very fun.

Jenny: It's gonna be exciting. What time does it start?

Mark: I think it's late.

Jenny: Eight.

Mark: Eight. Eight o'clock. Eight thirty. Yeah, so I'll have to drink some caffeine before so I don't get sleepy.

Jenny: Ice cream yeah, yes big ball of ice cream Come on you might need to take a nap too Yeah, but... That's all right. That means the Nuggets will be ready. I hope so. Because it's not a mat in any time.

Mark: Yeah.

Jenny: They'll come to play.

Mark: That was the other encouraging thing about yesterday is like, they usually don't play well in that time slot.

Jenny: The beginning of the game, I was like, oh no, it's one of these.

Mark: Yep. And they missed a bunch of open threes and Aaron Gordon was in foul trouble and Jokic didn't look great. Like he was just very... He had a bunch of turnovers early and was kind of like passive and on the perimeter a lot. And in spite of all those things, they still won.

Jenny: Do you think he does that on purpose? Like early in the game, he's just gonna go slow? Like is it a horse racing? Is it analogous to the strategy of... Is that even the right way to use that word? Analogous?

Mark: Yeah, I think so. Yeah. I'm tired.

Jenny: Yeah, you're... You like conserve your energy at the beginning so that you can finish really strong. That's like what you do in horse racing.

Mark: It kind of looked like that, except for the turnovers. He's had a few games like that this year. And I remember it mostly being when he was coming back from the injury and that he had like kind of gotten over that by the end of the season where he just... throws dumb passes that you're like as soon as he throws it you're like that's A turnover.

Jenny: Yeah, that's going nowhere.

Mark: I don't understand it And then it seemed like he kind of tried to turn it on in the third quarter And he was better but still not Not quite himself and he still was like on the perimeter a lot but I mean, he saw the triple double shot over 50%. I think most of his misses were threes. So even his like B minus games are still like a games for just about anybody else. And I'm sure he'll get better as the series goes on.

Jenny: sure hope so um kandace parker was on the call yesterday i like that group i really like her i think she's like kevin harland is my favorite play-by-play guy okay great i i was thinking about this during the game yesterday i hope

Mark: Man, I think I might have seen tomorrow's on peacock So I don't I don't think he'll be doing won't be him the game tomorrow But I was really hoping that I would cross paths with him at the arena tomorrow because I remember watching a game that he was calling like three years ago and coming back from a commercial he had to read like a whopper and ad and he read the ad and then whoever the color guy was with him said something about like Burger King and then Kevin Harlan said something like, if a whopper fell from the sky right now I would eat it gladly. I don't that's not exactly what he said and I immediately started laughing and I searched like off and on multiple times that night to see if I could find the clip of him saying it because it was just like so funny and I never found it and I just want to ask him if he remembers that

Jenny: Actually was the was what the color guy was asking something like do you actually like burgers?

Mark: Yeah, it was something about Burger King Yeah, got it, and I found it's not you may know this clip if you're listening you don't know NBA fans probably know there's like a different clip of him reading an ad for the Angry Whopper that you can find like on YouTube that is also funny. But the clip that I am thinking of is a different one that I have not been able to find in the years since. And it was just like my favorite moment. And I hope he remembers it. And I hope one day I get to talk to him about it.

Jenny: Okay. Well, great. Putting it out in the universe. Kevin Harlan, if you're listening. We want to talk to you about whoppers.

Mark: He's the best. That's awesome. Best in the biz.

Jenny: Yeah. I'll never forget that to the the image of Jamal that I can't even I don't know what the game was or the play, but Jamal standing in front of him.

Mark: Yes. Oh my gosh. When was that? Was that in the Minnesota series two years ago?

Jenny: Maybe it might have been.

Mark: I know exactly what you're talking about, and I love that image too. I cut you off. You were talking about Candice Parker. I just got so excited about Kevin Harland.

Jenny: I couldn't help myself. No, but the three of them were fun. I was just trying to point out that I really like hearing her and seeing her on TV because I just feel like she's so good at the job.

Mark: I agree.

Jenny: really knows what she's talking about. And she's like, no nonsense. No one's going to talk over her or disrespect her. She just is like, I'm here and I'm taking up space. Get on board. And I love it.

Mark: Yeah, she's great.

Jenny: And she said, death, taxes, and a yokage triple double. Those are our certainties in life. And I was like, Candice Parker, you're so cool. Yeah. You're so cool. Oops, I just hit my microphone. Anyway, yeah, that's all.

Mark: Shout out Candice Parker.

Jenny: Yep.

Mark: Come on the pod.

Jenny: Yep. We'd love to talk to you about just whatever, anything. Cool. Well, do you have any?

Mark: Taco Bell.

Jenny: Ring the bell. Do you have any Nuggets lore stories to tell today or should we just refer people back to the last episode?

Mark: Thanks again to Susan and Jay. The lore drop. Streets are saying that might have been the best episode ever.

Jenny: Streets are saying. They have the best stories.

Mark: I could have listened to them for Eight hours, just talking about the 80s nuggets.

Jenny: Yep.

Mark: It was so fun.

Jenny: It was really fun. And it was so kind of them to come share their time with us and all their stories. So, cool. Yeah. We'll have some more lore the next time. More lore. After you go to game two tomorrow with our sister.

Mark: Yep.

Jenny: Perfect. All right. Well, do you have a wreck?

Mark: Do you have one?

Jenny: I think I do. Okay, you go first. I came prepared. All right, I was thinking about it. I actually just finished a book called Vigil by George Saunders. Have you read it?

Mark: No.

Jenny: It's pretty new. I think it came out like since the beginning of the year.

Mark: George Saunders still going strong.

Jenny: Oh my gosh, he's just the best. I met him. Did I tell you this? No. I got a pick with him. In January, maybe.

Mark: Wow.

Jenny: He was here doing, well, you know, he went to Colorado School of Mines. Nope. And then he was like, he was like a petroleum engineer or something. Wow. Like at first, before he went back to school.

Mark: I did not know.

Jenny: An MFA maybe. Anyway, I'll show you the pic later, but he just released this new novel and it's called Vigil and it's, I really, really liked it. And I'm still kind of, it's still sort of like swimming around in my brain. Like, what was that part about? What was this character? What was he trying to say here? But really, I feel like what the whole thing kind of comes down to is this idea of like, I don't know that we that I feel like we've talked about a lot, like everything is going to end. It's very uplifting. But this his line that like comes through a couple different times in different ways is that like what we are capable of in this life where they're suffering and like we know it's going to end eventually, blah, blah, blah is the idea of comfort. And I was like, Just like the same with the nuggets freaking George Saunders knuckles in the nuggets bringing me comfort these days Yeah, so I won't I don't want to spoil anything else about the story But it was definitely worth reading and it's not actually that long. So it only took me a few days To get through it cool highly recommend and anything really by George Saunders, but this book in particular vigil Wasn't one of my faves Great. Yeah

Mark: I'll check it out.

Jenny: Okay.

Mark: Do you have it? Do you own it?

Jenny: No, I checked it out from the library. Also recommend libraries.

Mark: Yep.

Jenny: They're great.

Mark: So many resources. And it's true. Yeah. And like, kind people. Too many of us, myself included.

Jenny: Yeah. My local library branch. There's a guy Every time I see him when he's working there, we talk about the Nuggets. So connected.

Mark: The Nuggets bring communities together. I took a child to a school dance this week. And this guy was freaking this other dad at the dance. He was feeling real good. Maybe he had ingested a variety of substances. I could smell multiple of them on his person. But I was wearing a Nuggets hoodie and he sought me out and was just super pumped to talk about the Nuggets. and it was really fun.

Jenny: Perfect.

Mark: Other than that, I was just sitting in a folding chair looking at my phone the whole night until this guy came up to me and it was a blast talking to him about the nuggets. Thank goodness for the nuggets. Come on.

Jenny: That's awesome.

Mark: That's a bold move to go to an elementary school dance in the state that he was in, but fortunately, it was all good vibes.

Jenny: It's great.

Mark: no one was upset yeah not that I at least by the time we left which was basically the end of the dance I was gonna recommend Brian Phillips okay you heard of him he's a writer he's written a bunch of stuff I first found out about him when he had I think it was called Run of Play. It was like a soccer blog decades ago. But then after that, I think he wrote for Grantland when that was a website. And he published a book of short stories a few years ago. He writes for The Ringer now. I think his most recent article was about the quote, feud between Pope Leo and the Trump administration, which is like not really a feud because the Pope will say something like, murdering innocent people is bad. The Trump Trump will be like, why is he? Why is he talking shit about? But yeah, I mean everything he has like the last year or two maybe he Brian Phillips has gotten away from writing as much about sports and has written a bunch of stuff about like current events in American politics and like tech and that kind of thing. But just everything he writes is just so good. He's got a great voice and is like very smart and good at like kind of like summarizing fairly like complex topics in a way that makes them easy to understand but is also like really funny. At the same time, yeah, he's done a couple different podcast series, including one right before the 2022 World Cup about like the greatest goals in World Cup history and like told, yeah, 22 goals I think was the name of that one. And it's kind of like evergreen because it's about a bunch of like old World Cups and players and games and stuff.

Jenny: Does he say, like, see also colonialism?

Mark: Yeah. A lot? Okay.

Jenny: Someone else has told me about that podcast and I haven't listened to it yet, but great.

Mark: He's the best.

Jenny: Okay, so they play tomorrow, Thursday, Saturday.

Mark: And that's it.

Jenny: And then they're done. So we'll meet again next Sunday to talk about the sweep. And what happens in round two? How much rest the Nuggets are gonna have? I can't wait. That'd be great.

Mark: Same.

Jenny: And we'll be looking forward to updates about what game two was like from you.

Mark: Our sister will be here.

Jenny: Unnamed sister. Perfect. I can't wait. All right. Anything else?

Mark: No. Go Nuggets.

Jenny: Let's go Nuggets. Bye.

Mark: Bye.