Why the USA should fired Berhalter before the 26 World Cup
Thoughts on Bronny James getting drafted
The Euros have been awesome
Will England finally bring it home?
Mac on sports
Berhalter should be fired, Bronny James drafted, Euros talk
On today's episode of Mackle and Sports, we talk about the NBA draft, Bronny James to the Lakers and his first NBA Summer League game. We talk about should Greg Berhalter be fired? I think it should have already have happened. We're going to break that one down. We're going to talk about a little bit of the Euros, the European Championship that are going on in Germany right now, and oh my lord, has that been absolutely electrifying? To say the least, every game comes down to the wire, penalty kicks left and right, and we're going to talk about that, and we're just going to catch up. First show back from vacation. You would think we would have a lot to catch up about, but we are in the summer, and the summer is the month of dread, to say the least, but we have enough to talk. So let's jump right into it. It's been a while. Let's have a day. Let's ride. [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] What is going on, guys? Happy July the 8th. Hope you all had a good 4th of July. It's been a while. It's been about a week and a half, two weeks. Since we've had a show, I went on vacation, something I don't do a lot in the three and a half. Coming up on four years, actually, in this podcast, guys. That's crazy enough as it is. We're about two, three weeks out from this being a four-year podcast. Absolutely wild. Just even put that into words. Done over 340, 50 episodes. It's incredible. It is incredible. And I love it. I never get old. This never gets old. I love doing this. And yeah, it's just kind of crazy to think about. But that celebration is for another day. But I am back. And you would think, oh, yeah, we got a lot of catch-up about. Mac hasn't-- we haven't had a show for two weeks. Lot to catch up about. Well, they call it the dog days of summer for a reason. They call it the dog days of summer for a reason. Because as a sports fan, it is dreadful. It may be the best weather, which I actually don't think so, and Bryce debate. I don't think the summer's the best weather. I do enjoy the heat. I do enjoy the warmth. But do I want to be melting in 95 to 100-degree weather in the south? No, not necessarily. So give me a fall. A nice crisp morning. The leaves are falling. You have a nice pumpkin spice, a coffee in your head, another in Bryce debate, and pumpkin spice, best coffee. There is, arguably the wall on that one. But you got college game day going on. It's a beautiful feeling. You look out your window, and it's a nice crisp morning. That, right there, 60-degree weatherish. That's the best weather. And I don't think that's a debate. But here we are in the summer. A lot of people enjoy it. And there's a lot to enjoy about the summer. You have the beaches, you have the lakes, you have the pools. Of course, everybody wants to get a nice tan on. It is great. Everybody loves the summer. Who doesn't, right? Especially kids that are in school. It's summer break. You guys are having the time of your life. It's what you live for. You love it. Two months off school. Of course, it's the best. But sometimes it can be too good to be true. And when that is too good to be true, your downfall is on not having sports. Look, we have major league baseball going on. And yes, the All-Star break is coming up next week. We will talk about that. And that is something to kind of get us through. That's great. Love it. Woohoo. Major league baseball. It's a 162 game season, guys. 162 game season. There is a lot of baseball. A lot. Sometimes you can get bored out. That is why they call it the dog days of summer. All right, well, when the NBA Finals and the Stanley Cup come to an end, you get dropped off with MLB Baseball regular season. And you get dropped off with, if there's an international soccer tournament, you have to talk about that and watch that. Well, we've been blessed enough where it is the Euros this year. And the Euros have been absolutely phenomenal. And we're going to get into that here shortly, too. But long story short, as we come on every summer to this podcast, we talk about how-- yeah. We have to talk about the sports that are not as talkable, not as enjoyable. And kind of just a spot, kind of a holding marker. Just trying to all these major league baseball, these soccer games, they're just trying to get you to the point of enjoyment of being able to watch college football. Because look, we're about eight Saturdays or so out from college football. We're almost there. It's right around the corner yet. It is so far at the same time. But we're getting there. The college football video game comes out in about a week. That's going to stall time for college football to be right around the corner. I'm so excited for that game. Haven't been this excited about a video game, and who knows how long. That is going to be a fun ass game to play. I am so, so unbelievably excited to build Kentucky and Kennesaw State into a powerhouse. It's going to be an absolute time of time in your life. It brings you back to your childhood days. But enough with me, yippee yippee yapper. And let's move on here and let's talk about the stuff that you came to listen to and why I was gone. The NBA draft happened. And oh boy, do I have some thoughts about that. And let's just jump right into it. I think the Hawks with that first pick of the draft, look, I think this was an unbelievably weak draft class. I can't remember the last time I watched an NBA draft and could tell you that you are going to get some very good value late in the first round as much value that you would get in the late first round is as much value as you would get in the early first round. I think the talent despair was very, very similar. I think you're going to look back at this draft class in three to four years and you're going to be like, yeah, there may be two stars, maybe. Or it could prove us all wrong. This draft class can be absolutely phenomenal. This draft class could just be an unbelievable draft class where they just take the NBA by storm and have a bunch of all stars out of this class. I don't see that happening. I don't see that happening. I think Alex Sar going to Washington will probably be the best player of this draft. I think he's going to do good there, but he's in Washington. He's not going to be marketable. They don't have much to build around him besides Coosman pool and even that's a stretch. So he's going to have to take the brunt of that team on his shoulders and just do what he can, but not really thrilled with this draft class. I think Stefan Castle to San Antonio is a great pick. I actually do believe Stefan Castle might actually win Rookie of the Year. Love the fit there. Love that kid's upside. I think he's going to do unbelievable in Greg Popovich's system. He's going to be a star. So I do think San Antonio should be happy with what they have accomplished 'cause I do think Stefan Castle is going to be a really, really good player down there in San Antonio. So that's something to kind of smile about and be happy about if you're a Spurs fan. Reed Shepherd going top three to Houston never would have saw this in a million years. Never would have saw this in a million years. No, this kid was a four star out of the country of Kentucky. Not the country, but like he grew up in the country, you know, of a country town, North Laurel and Kentucky. And this kid coming into Kentucky was a kid that was thought of to be at a three, four year guy. A guy that may not even see the floor. Not even see the floor, his freshman year. You know, he's a legacy player. His dad won the National Championship here. He's coming in, he's got the legacy behind him. He's a fan favorite, but he's not a guy that's going to make a difference. Boy, were we all wrong. A top three pick. Not a million years that I ever think Reed Shepherd is going to be a top three pick in the NBA draft. Absolutely not. It would have been my life savings, it wasn't going to happen, but he proved everybody wrong. And he was the most consistent player in college basketball this year. You know, shot the three over 50%. This kid has an absolute sniper on him. Can shoot the ball at an unbelievable high clip. Can get steals defensively. You know, we can jump passing lanes. Now, his on ball defense could be a little bit of a roughness and then they're going to have to fix that up for the NBA. But I'll tell you what, he finds the ball and he's a pesky defender. He gets that from his mom. He is an unbelievable player when it comes to basketball IQ. Absolutely love that pick when it comes to Houston Rockets. I thought the Spurs could have won the draft here. When they got Castle and then in the eighth pick got Rob Dillingham. Oh my God, that was going to be a fun pair to deal with Victor Winyama. But San Antonio ships out Rob Dillingham to Minnesota. Absolutely love what Minnesota did in the draft. Rob Dillingham and Anthony Edwards, that back court is as electrifying as you were going to find in the NBA for years to come. That is going to be, you know, five star excitement on a daily basis in Minnesota. And then in that late first round to go get a guy in Terrence Shannon, two-way player there. I love what Minnesota did with their draft there. I think Minnesota was a contender last year. They're continuing to build and I think with Rob and Terrence to fit in their pieces off the bench. You absolutely love that if you're a Minnesota Timberwolves fan. I think that is an absolute phenomenal, phenomenal pick. But overall, I think this draft was absolutely terrible. And you guys came to listen to one in one guy only. And we're going to get there. You know, we have to talk about Baylor Shireman, 30th pick to the Celtics. You know, Brad Stevens did it again. Brad Stevens did it again. This guy is a 24-year-old player, but you know, he was as talented as anybody in this draft. But he's 24. The NBA wants to go young. You don't go young if you're a contender when now and Baylor Shireman's going to come in from day one. And he's going to get rotational minutes with the Boston Celtics. He's going to shoot the three at a high clip. Brad Stevens saw something in them. And I think it's a phenomenal pick. And I think the Celtics are loving where they're at. And they're going to love what they're going to get out of Baylor Shireman. Brad Stevens has done it again. This guy day in and day out does something where you just look and you're like, how did he get away with this? Baylor Shireman is a unbelievable steal late first round for the Boston Celtics. Expect major minutes out of Shireman and expect big things out of Shireman in year one. But to end the NBA draft talk, you guys came to listen to about one guy and one guy only. And that's the number 55 pick of the NBA draft. Usually you don't spend this much time talking about a second rounder, but here we are. The best way I can put it, and I'm going to, you know, maybe ruffle feathers. I'm going to probably rub some people the wrong way. You know, LeBron lovers and all this. Bronnie James is the definition of a nepotism pick. Bronnie James is the definition of a nepotism pick. He is a guy that if LeBron James was not his father, he would go undrafted. If you disagree with me, argue with a wall 'cause you're wrong. It is a complete fact. He felt a 55th. And the only reason he got drafted is because he is LeBron's kid. I think we already knew that. But what gets more absurd is him signing a four year guaranteed $7.9 million contract with the LA Lakers. What are we doing there? What are we doing there? Because it's not, he shouldn't even get guaranteed money because a lot of these second rounders are not going to make the team. Or they're not going to, you know, they're going to at least be on two ways. LeBron's not playing J-Link basketball in his first year with the Lakers. And I think that's absolutely assonite. You know, maybe later in his career, he can develop himself into a role player. Maybe he can develop himself into a sneaky good three and D player. I could see that, I could. But oh my God. LeBron James getting Bronny James of the Lakers. It's just insane to me. And it's nothing against Bronny. I hope Bronny has a great career and I hope Bronny does great things. But there's no way he should have been drafted. And okay, you want to draft him fine. That's one thing. Cool, that's a great story. But second, to give him a guaranteed contract to $7.9 million is a wild, wild. Now maybe he will prove people like me wrong. I am not a hater. I just am speaking my honest opinion and how I truly believe this. And I don't think that Bronny James should have gotten drafted in the NBA. I really don't. But when you look at Bronny, what are we doing here? Once again, I will say over and over, what are we doing here? Because I think it has absolutely wild that he was picked and guaranteed the money. You look at his first, first summer league game. He had four points to assist two rebounds. He shot two for eight, oh for two from three. Yikes. And he got dropped by the way. He got crossed over and he dropped to the ground. Look, I'm not saying Bronny's not going to develop into a good pro or anything. I get it. At summer league, it's game one. There's jitters. I get it. But oh my goodness. I think a lot of people making it out that he deserved this. And he's going to be great is just falsities. We're important falsities there. Let's be real. And if we are being real, Bronny James to the Lakers is a ridiculous pick. And we knew it was coming. We knew it was coming. And Laker fans, look, you love the storyline. It is a great storyline. Don't get me wrong. It is a great storyline. It's a great story. Good for LeBron developing a kid into the NBA. That is awesome. Great for him. But the Lakers are trying to win a championship. I love the pick with Dalton Connect. I think Dalton Connect's going to be a phenomenal pro. I think that was a great pick. But in the off season, we have the LA Lakers who have hired a podcaster and JJ Redick. And they have now drafted Bronny James in the second round to give him a actual guaranteed contract. I think it is absolutely wild to me. Could it work out? Yes, will it work out? I don't think so. I'm more skeptical than others, but we will continue to monitor that. And I just do not think it is a good pick. That's my opinion. And that's the great thing about America. You know, everybody has an opinion. And if you disagree, that's your opinion. You're wrong, but it is what it is. That's what makes sports great. And that is why we embrace debate. Now, let's move on to some soccer talk here. We have the European Championships going on. And England just finds a way to stay alive. I don't know how they do it. Gareth Southgate should have been fired a long time ago. He did get England in the 2020 Euros in England and lost to Italy in the final. That was a painful one. Had a disappointing World Cup where they came up short. Now in the Euros with all the pressure on, Gareth Southgate's back. England is a country that wants to achieve that does not put up with failure. And they have been calling for Gareth Southgate job for quite some time now. Gareth Southgate with his job on the line had a pretty bad group stage. England is pretty unwatchable. They're boring. The type of tactics they play. They're not a fun team to watch, but you know what? It got them through the group and that's all that matters. They won the group. Then they're around to 16. They played, I believe it was Slovenia. Took them to extra time. Had to have a Jude Belliam absolute ridiculous late game goal to send it to extra time. Then Harry Kane put one in the back of the net and the 91st minute of extra time. And England brushes their way to a quarter final, which then they meet up with Switzerland. Switzerland has had a good turn of it up to this point. Switzerland scores, puts the pressure on England. Southgate can feel his job coming to an end. And then Bekai Osaka scores an absolute screamer. Screamer of a goal to tie it. Send it to extra time. It goes to penalties. Penalties have not treated England well at all through the recent years. But that doesn't matter because they had ice in their veins and England advanced to the semifinals with a match versus the Netherlands and the Dutch. And that is going to be a phenomenal game. The Dutch have had a good tournament, one loss, and that was to Austria, one draw, and that was to France. But they find themselves in the semis that it doesn't matter how you get there as long as you get there. And with Van Dyke and Akke in that back line, Memphis to Pi up front, they have what it takes to beat England and get to a final. But I do think this is going to be an unbelievable game on Wednesday afternoon. And the other semifinal, you're having Spain versus France. That is a beautiful, beautiful final right there. France has kind of been like England, kind of unwatchable. You look at France, I believe in their five games that they have played. Only one goal, maybe two have became an open play. You know, they've had a couple of own goals, but a lot of it have became just no little draws. They've been boring. They've not been able to put the ball in the back of the net. It's kind of been, you know, lackluster performances from France. Nonetheless though, France find themselves alive. Spain on the other hand, they have been arguably the best team in this tournament. Roger in that midfield being the holding anchor, midfielder that he is, has been phenomenal. They did lose Pedrai to a bad injury. And that's a big loss for Spain. But I believe Spain's gonna be fine here. I do believe Spain and France is going to be an absolute cracking game that we deserve. Because these euros have been down to the wire. The goalkeeping in this tournament has been absolutely off of the charts, phenomenal. And I do think Spain and France is going to be an absolute belting, belting semifinal Tuesday at three. I'm excited for that one. And then to end the show, I know it's a quick show, but look, it's the summer. We don't have a ton to talk about, but we are gonna talk about a little things. And here we are. We're gonna talk about Greg Berhalter to end the show. 'Cause I can't think of a better thing to end the show than to talk about Greg Berhalter. Awful, awful, awful. Greg Berhalter should be fired. Greg Berhalter should be ashamed. Greg Berhalter should be canned from the United States soccer as a manager. He is a failure to this country. He has done nothing but been a failure ever since he took over as a manager of the United States national team. His buddy Matt Crocker, who is the director of US soccer who decides the hiring. He is buddy buddy with Berhalter. He wants him to stay. Berhalter should be fired. It is a joke that he is the USA manager. He is absolutely atrocious. He is absolutely pathetic. He came up short in the Copa America group stage on his home soil in the United States. You had a group with Bolivia. You had a group of Panama. You had a group of Uruguay. Yes you uraglized the favorites. That's fine, but to lose the Panama embarrassing. To not be able to get out of a group with Panama and Bolivia. That is a fireable offense. He has done nothing but been short of his accomplishments ever since he has taken over the US manager job. I don't think this is a controversy. I don't see why this is taking so long. Greg Berhalter should be fired as the USA soccer manager. You have the 2026 World Cup coming to the United States in two years. This is considered your golden generation and they have been nothing but bronze. They've not came close to winning a gold or being a gold. They've been a failure, a consistent failure and the best US soccer has been in the last four years was when Greg Berhalter got a suspension for two months and BJ Callahan won the United Nations tournament against Mexico in the finals. That was the best that US soccer has been. Ever since Berhalter has taken over he has been nothing but a failure. And the fact that he is still to this day as we record this on Sunday night, not fired is a shame and a problem. Greg Berhalter should be canned and fired from this job and the US soccer have two years to get this shit fixed before it comes to their home soil. You have a lot of expectations in 2026 on your home soil. You have a lot of eyeballs that are gonna be watching you. You have a lot of expectations that you are going to need to meet. Greg Berhalter is not that guy. He has not been that guy and he's been nothing short of a success. He has been just a failure and that is a simple fact and changes need to be made and hard discussions need to be had and Matt Crocker is not the guy for the job. Greg Berhalter is not the guy for the job. There needs to be a cleaning out of the United States front office and they have a lot of expectations to meet in 2026 to make this country proud. Nothing but a short failure of a summer for the Copa America and the United States national team and a lot they need to learn from. But that's gonna do it this episode of the Mac on sports podcast. It is good to be back. I love you guys so incredibly much and I will see you guys on Thursday. Peace out. [BLANK_AUDIO]