As the Broncos surge into the Super Bowl conversation on the strength of an 11-game win streak, After the Horn welcomes longtime Denver sports voice Vic Lombardi for a wide-ranging conversation that goes far beyond football. Lombardi joins Tom Green, Ron Zappolo, and Woody Paige to discuss why this Broncos team feels different, whether Denver is in the midst of a rare golden era with the Nuggets and Avalanche also operating at elite levels, and how expectations change when teams truly matter again. The conversation expands into the chaos reshaping college football, including the College Football Playoff debate, Notre Dame’s place in the sport, NIL, the transfer portal, and Vic’s recent one-on-one time with Deion Sanders at Colorado. Lombardi also reflects on the evolution of Denver sports media, the importance of authenticity, and his ongoing battle with aggressive prostate cancer, sharing perspective on mortality, purpose, and legacy in one of the most honest and meaningful episodes of the season.
With the Broncos riding an 11-game win streak and Super Bowl talk heating up, After the Horn welcomes longtime Denver sports voice Vic Lombardi for a wide-ranging, deeply reflective conversation that goes far beyond the standings. Tom Green, Ron Zappolo, and Woody Paige discuss why this Broncos team feels different, how expectations change when a team truly matters again, and whether Denver is in the midst of a rare, city-wide golden era with the Broncos, Nuggets, and Avalanche all operating at elite levels.
The conversation expands into the chaos surrounding college football, including the College Football Playoff debate, Notre Dame’s place in the sport, NIL, the transfer portal, and Vic’s recent one-on-one time with Deion Sanders. Lombardi offers thoughtful perspective on Prime’s leadership, the challenges of winning at Colorado, and why authenticity — in coaching and in media — ultimately matters more than public opinion.
The episode takes a powerful turn as Vic opens up about his ongoing battle with aggressive prostate cancer, sharing how it has reshaped his outlook on life, fear, honesty, and purpose. It’s an emotional, honest discussion about mortality, legacy, and helping the next generation find their voice — a classic After the Horn episode that blends sports, history, humor, and humanity.
00;00;00;06 - 00;00;13;00
Tom Green
But a huge win for the Broncos this weekend. Now with 11 straight. People are starting to talk about the Super Bowl. With that in mind, we reached to find one of the great true sports journalists of our time.
00;00;13;02 - 00;00;36;12
Vic Lombardi
Hello, I'm Vic Lombardi and I'm Marie Liddy. The television sports market has undergone a change in recent years.
00;00;36;15 - 00;00;59;23
Ron Zappolo
Got those old videos. They always come back to haunt you. Hi, everybody. After the horn here runs with polo, Tom green, Woody Page, our guest today. You've seen him is a friend of the three of ours. And I will speak for myself here. He is unquestionably the best sportscaster in Denver on any level, and has been so for quite some time.
00;00;59;24 - 00;01;06;14
Ron Zappolo
We are pleased to welcome our friend Vic Lombardi. It's always good to see you fellas.
00;01;06;17 - 00;01;24;02
Vic Lombardi
There are a lot of podcasts out there. There are a lot of and this is one of them. And I can honestly tell you, I was so excited to be here because as soon as you guys developed this enterprise, I said, I'm it's must watch for me because I grew up watching, listening, reading all of you guys, and it's truly an honor.
00;01;24;02 - 00;01;35;09
Vic Lombardi
But I do want to say this, you know, in this business you get called a lot of names via social media. Grandpa, Boomer, old man. If I'm an old man, what the hell are you guys?
00;01;35;12 - 00;01;38;05
Tom Green
We have one more. One more. Ring around the tree.
00;01;38;08 - 00;01;39;06
Ron Zappolo
I mean, where do we go?
00;01;39;06 - 00;01;49;16
Vic Lombardi
Where does that end? Because I look at that video of, that I think I was maybe 19, 20 years old there. And those are the formative years when I learned from guys like.
00;01;49;16 - 00;01;54;08
Tom Green
We wanted to get Marie Liddy, but she couldn't do it. So we got you for the show today.
00;01;54;09 - 00;02;03;09
Woody Paige
I have two questions to start out with. Is, in that when you were doing that. Yeah. Had you gone in for lips with a.
00;02;03;14 - 00;02;04;17
Vic Lombardi
Mouth, Botox.
00;02;04;20 - 00;02;06;28
Woody Paige
Yeah. That's what it looked like.
00;02;07;01 - 00;02;07;14
Vic Lombardi
I don't know.
00;02;07;14 - 00;02;14;22
Woody Paige
What the hell that was, but you talk about how old you become. How long have you been in the business in Denver?
00;02;14;24 - 00;02;19;24
Vic Lombardi
25 years. 27 years. I got here in 1998 right before.
00;02;19;26 - 00;02;20;18
Ron Zappolo
He's a newbie.
00;02;20;23 - 00;02;37;25
Vic Lombardi
Yeah, yeah, I got here at the tail end of the 90s. You know, as Ron and Tom understand, the 90s, 80s and 90s were sort of the halcyon days of of local television. Right? That's when everything was big. And booming. And then it sort of went downhill from there. So it was probably at the end of that era.
00;02;37;25 - 00;02;38;26
Tom Green
But you'd grown up here?
00;02;38;29 - 00;02;55;26
Vic Lombardi
Yes. I was born and raised in Denver. Yeah. And I and I grew up again watching and reading and you guys and I say this with ultimate sincerity. You guys are the reason I'm in the seat today. I mean, you're the reason. And that's the sort of the path I took as a child that.
00;02;55;26 - 00;02;58;05
Tom Green
Credit or blame, I'm trying to see.
00;02;58;08 - 00;03;05;19
Woody Paige
So, Tom, what a there's a point to all this, tell people how long you've been in Denver.
00;03;05;22 - 00;03;09;24
Tom Green
43 years. I started in January of 82.
00;03;09;26 - 00;03;11;06
Vic Lombardi
Okay.
00;03;11;08 - 00;03;19;19
Ron Zappolo
Summer of 1977. So what's that? 40? 48, 48 years.
00;03;19;22 - 00;03;20;03
Vic Lombardi
Woody.
00;03;20;03 - 00;03;21;11
Woody Paige
50 years. Okay.
00;03;21;16 - 00;03;21;28
Vic Lombardi
Born and.
00;03;21;28 - 00;03;29;07
Woody Paige
Raised. 50th anniversary. When you add it up, that is basically 200 years. Yeah, something.
00;03;29;12 - 00;03;31;05
Vic Lombardi
But, see, you guys are still all transplants.
00;03;31;11 - 00;03;32;25
Tom Green
Yeah. No, it's you're.
00;03;32;25 - 00;03;34;15
Ron Zappolo
The near the only true.
00;03;34;19 - 00;03;50;11
Tom Green
I think it's interesting because you you when you said 25 years I thought it was longer, but because of growing up here. Yeah. So much of your sports knowledge is from stuff you learned when you were eight. And 12 and 15 and, you know, watching games and admiring and becoming a fan.
00;03;50;11 - 00;04;05;00
Vic Lombardi
Yeah. I mean, and those fandom days are long gone. Obviously, you get a little jaded when you're in this business. But that was my life. I wanted to be a sportscaster ever since I turned on the television and saw Runs a Apollo, I said, that's what I want to do.
00;04;05;01 - 00;04;29;11
Woody Paige
I got, I've addressed 5000 college and high school classes, and I get this all the time. People say, who are you a fan of? And I go, me. And I like short, you know, I like short games and, and games that are exciting. And I said, I'm not a fan of anybody's, I went to school.
00;04;29;12 - 00;04;49;17
Woody Paige
Tennessee. I really don't cheer and holler about Tennessee, the Broncos. I said, I sort of cheer for people that play for those teams or coaches that I, I like, and I just, I have an affinity to pull for them quietly. But I said, I'm not a fan.
00;04;49;17 - 00;05;00;09
Vic Lombardi
Are you serious, though? I mean, you've never really had a team, and I don't know if I envy you or if I sympathize because you never had a team that you live and die with that you get nervous about. Palms get sweaty.
00;05;00;13 - 00;05;26;19
Woody Paige
My first college game that I covered, I covered civil rights in the South. Yeah. The assassination of Doctor King and, marches. And I got tasered and I got teargassed and everything else in the world. And that was my path. And we'll go through the story. But I ended up in sports because I wanted to write a column, because I wrote one in college for my college newspaper, and the only column that was available to me was in sports.
00;05;26;19 - 00;05;53;16
Woody Paige
So they moved me to sports, and they sent me to the Tennessee Ole Miss game in Jackson, Mississippi. And I'm so excited because Tennessee was my school and I'm just going to go well on a first drive. Tennessee is fourth and one. The pass is made, right at the edge of the pylon. And I get up and I'm going, get it, get it, get it, get in.
00;05;53;18 - 00;06;17;25
Woody Paige
150 Mississippi media people are staring at me, and I'm thinking 140 of them are carrying guns, okay? They in Mississippi. And I sat down and I said, I can't be a fan, I'm going to do this. And Tennessee lost 30 to nothing, and the quarterback for Ole Miss, vaguely. Remember, our.
00;06;17;25 - 00;06;18;15
Vic Lombardi
Church man.
00;06;18;15 - 00;06;20;01
Tom Green
Is good. Good football player.
00;06;20;03 - 00;06;30;28
Woody Paige
So so so when Archie and I are together, he introduces me to people. This meet Woody Page of the Memphis Commercial Appeal. And I said that was 55.
00;06;30;28 - 00;06;31;09
Vic Lombardi
Years.
00;06;31;09 - 00;06;50;18
Woody Paige
Ago. But he remembers that day also. So I decided, if you're going to do this, you can't have a feeling, because I don't think as journalists, which we all are, that you can write with your tears in your eyes or.
00;06;50;20 - 00;07;06;06
Ron Zappolo
You can't do that, but you can be a fan of you cannot be a fake. You teams you cover, you cannot I could not I, I care about a couple teams. I could not cover them. What you can do if you're human is you can root for people.
00;07;06;08 - 00;07;14;28
Ron Zappolo
Certain individual people to succeed. I think you can do that. And it doesn't affect your, objectivity.
00;07;15;03 - 00;07;17;12
Woody Paige
I want a John Elway to win a Super Bowl.
00;07;17;14 - 00;07;26;01
Tom Green
But that's what I think of you, boy's heart. Like when you grew up here. Your favorite player, your first sports hero was Elway. Really?
00;07;26;04 - 00;07;31;16
Vic Lombardi
I'm a child of the 80s here. And Elway, you know, developed it. Listen go behind.
00;07;31;18 - 00;07;33;25
Ron Zappolo
You and nuggets ball boy back in the 80s.
00;07;33;25 - 00;07;35;04
Vic Lombardi
Yeah I was a ball boy for hands.
00;07;35;11 - 00;07;50;04
Ron Zappolo
Did you know when you were a ball John okay I know you were a boy when you were the ball boy. Did that convince you? I'm never going to be a professional athlete, but I can definitely. Yeah. Have a life that involves sports.
00;07;50;04 - 00;07;55;08
Vic Lombardi
It's a great question and it gave me a wonderful perspective. And I want to thank Pete Babcock. Do you remember that.
00;07;55;09 - 00;07;56;21
Ron Zappolo
I don't remember, no.
00;07;56;24 - 00;07;57;16
Vic Lombardi
Well, yeah.
00;07;57;16 - 00;07;58;29
Woody Paige
So I hear from him.
00;07;59;05 - 00;07;59;13
Ron Zappolo
Yeah.
00;07;59;13 - 00;08;01;19
Tom Green
So is he writing a book?
00;08;01;21 - 00;08;16;16
Vic Lombardi
I don't know, but he's writing a book. He came to, our high school to speak one day, Holy Family High school, and, I think I was a sophomore at the time, and I sort of cozied up to him and said, hey, I would love to get into this business somehow. And he gave me the opportunity to be a ball boy.
00;08;16;18 - 00;08;32;03
Vic Lombardi
And you're still right, though, because I saw these giants, these men that were just like, look at me. What am I going to do? And that sort of ease me into a different platform, a different way of life. And, and it made me a little more comfortable around being a ball boy. We can be comfortable around professional.
00;08;32;03 - 00;08;46;08
Ron Zappolo
I'm sure you did something else too, that neither Tom or I did. So I get Woody's in a different realm. But you ended up being a nighttime network sportscaster in the city in which you grew up, which I am.
00;08;46;11 - 00;08;50;12
Tom Green
That's why I was wondering about the the fandom versus the profession. I would have.
00;08;50;12 - 00;08;52;27
Ron Zappolo
Loved to have done it, but I don't know if I could have, which.
00;08;52;27 - 00;09;14;03
Vic Lombardi
Is good and bad, right? I mean, it's funny because that was my dream and my aspirations to come home and work here and home. Right? But there's a lot of crap that goes on with that. There's a lot of shit that, people don't understand. I guess, maybe if you grew up here and then, you know, when you, when you get home, as I did and, like, okay, I've, I've done it.
00;09;14;06 - 00;09;22;03
Vic Lombardi
Wow, man. The amount of pressure I felt when I first got back here, I had to go through some stuff for that for a while because it wasn't easy internal.
00;09;22;03 - 00;09;25;25
Tom Green
Or did you feel that external, like, were people really saying things to you or are you just.
00;09;25;25 - 00;09;42;05
Vic Lombardi
Internal, just like I'm here? I was very sensitive to that. I hey, there was a there was a time there where, I struggled, I struggled because, you know, you reach to a point in life where you think you've made it and you really have it, and you're still trying to find yourself. I remember he gave me some advice.
00;09;42;07 - 00;09;42;24
Vic Lombardi
You're not good.
00;09;42;27 - 00;09;47;27
Ron Zappolo
I hope you didn't listen to it because I was probably lousy. I've given time advice to. It didn't work.
00;09;47;27 - 00;10;06;24
Vic Lombardi
Out. I think I was a senior in high school, and I just randomly called Ron, and he was working at channel four, and I said, hey, I want to come in and check out a sportscaster. And he was like, yeah, whatever. So I come down and I'm watching him do his thing again. I'm just a kid. And I remember asking him for some advice and he said, hey, you just got to learn to be yourself, but find your own voice.
00;10;06;25 - 00;10;15;09
Vic Lombardi
Be yourself, because you always have role models, right? You always want to be somebody. But it took a long time to longer than I thought.
00;10;15;12 - 00;10;16;02
Ron Zappolo
Oh yeah, well.
00;10;16;02 - 00;10;17;06
Vic Lombardi
That's fine myself.
00;10;17;06 - 00;10;22;25
Tom Green
That's terrifying advice because you got to go. I don't know me yet. I'm I'm far, but I'm.
00;10;22;27 - 00;10;23;05
Woody Paige
Was.
00;10;23;08 - 00;10;40;10
Ron Zappolo
You know what one of the one of the many reasons why I like and respect you. You you did find your voice. And I'll tell you why I watched I watched you forever on for. Because I know a little bit about being the main sports anchor on channel four. Yeah, and I know how cool that was. You were always authentic.
00;10;40;15 - 00;10;41;14
Vic Lombardi
I appreciate you.
00;10;41;14 - 00;11;01;11
Ron Zappolo
Were always authentic. You weren't doing me. You weren't doing Tom. You were Vic Lombardi. You took it in a different direction than I took it. And I watched you. And I said, he gets it. He's authentic. He's being himself. And I always felt Vic like, if you're going to do the jobs that we did, they're going to fire you.
00;11;01;11 - 00;11;10;06
Ron Zappolo
If you're not good, so you might as well go down doing what you know. You think is right. And I always felt with you that you did.
00;11;10;06 - 00;11;18;07
Vic Lombardi
That, I appreciate it. I mean, it's easier said than done. I mean, trying to be authentic. Sometimes you live by that imposter syndrome. I don't know if you guys have gone down there.
00;11;18;08 - 00;11;22;21
Tom Green
I talked about it with Ken Christiansen. It's real quick. I think we all experience it, every.
00;11;22;21 - 00;11;23;09
Ron Zappolo
One of us.
00;11;23;09 - 00;11;44;07
Tom Green
But you, you had the chair. You were the preeminent sportscaster in town, but you left and it was tricky because the business was changing and the opportunity at altitude had come up and it it struck me as a really difficult choice for you that you really wondered about before and after what you did.
00;11;44;07 - 00;11;54;27
Vic Lombardi
I thought I made the wrong choice for a long time, to be honest with you. I mean, I remember taking that job going, oh shit, what did I just do? And it took a while. Now it's a best choice ever made. But the reason I know you know who to blame.
00;11;54;27 - 00;11;55;29
Ron Zappolo
Me, Vic? Because I told.
00;11;55;29 - 00;12;14;17
Vic Lombardi
You. Yeah, yeah, well, you know, I suck counsel from a lot of people. And I was making that decision, and it was a difficult choice. But I made the choice for this reason. I came home one day for dinner. It's like 2014, 2015, and I look at my son who's in high school, and I said, hey, wait, do you see this dunk I'm going to show on the sports cast tonight?
00;12;14;20 - 00;12;17;17
Vic Lombardi
Pulls out his phone. He goes, you mean this one?
00;12;17;20 - 00;12;18;00
Tom Green
Yeah.
00;12;18;00 - 00;12;31;10
Vic Lombardi
We've been looking at this for two days on YouTube. And at that point I said to myself, what what am I doing? What is my role exactly? What am I going to give these people that they don't already have in this? That's why I got out of local news.
00;12;31;12 - 00;12;31;24
Tom Green
I look at.
00;12;31;24 - 00;13;01;24
Woody Paige
Our talking about homes, if I can just. Yeah, bring this into the conversation. I came to Denver and I'm writing like I did in the South. And I'm a young columnist, and I'm writing honestly and honestly includes negatives of. Sure. And I'm watching the anchors on TV stations referring to the Broncos as we. Yeah, well, we played well against the Chargers, but, you know, 55 to 6, you know, it didn't turn out so well.
00;13;01;27 - 00;13;29;26
Woody Paige
And I'm writing my first column was I tell you people. But when your team comes on, your team comes on TV, everybody I know turns it off and I go, you have a lousy team. And why do I understand fandom? And I said to my young wife, they're going to kill me. I mean literally because I was getting death threats when death threats were not in vogue.
00;13;29;28 - 00;13;57;27
Woody Paige
And people coming up to me and downtown, diners and saying, you know, go back to New York. And then Jon Ralston, who was the coach of the Broncos, I was told one day by the PR director that John wanted me in his office that day, and I said, well, I don't play for the team. I said, I come into my office at three up, down, up, down to the Rocky Mountain News.
00;13;58;04 - 00;14;17;24
Woody Paige
No, he wants you here. So I came and he said, you need to go back to New York. And I said, I'm from Memphis, Tennessee. I'm not from New York. He said, that's not the way things are done in this town. And so it's following up on whether you. Yeah, I thought, man, I have I have fucked myself beyond all reasonable.
00;14;17;28 - 00;14;41;10
Woody Paige
I said, I need to go back to Memphis. And I said to my wife, don't unpack anything because we're going to get out of this town because there go this, it's not going to go over here. And it suddenly turned. It suddenly turned where people wanted honesty. And Ron and I talked about this because Ron was shortly after me, that the mood changed here.
00;14;41;10 - 00;15;05;02
Woody Paige
It became a city rather than a town that when I came here, kids were going up and down 16th and 17th Street on Saturday nights, like you would in a small town. You know, they were trolling. And the other thing was when I saw the Christmas decorations on City Hall in late January, I when they leave them up all year long.
00;15;05;02 - 00;15;25;27
Woody Paige
And so I said no, they leave them up until the stock show so the Cowboys can look at the Christmas decorations and the Nativity. They can go up and touch the nativity scene. And I went, I don't know that this place, there wasn't much sports out here, really. The Broncos were so bad. The hockey team was a minor league hockey team.
00;15;25;29 - 00;15;51;03
Woody Paige
The rockets were terrible and of course there was not baseball. And I said I had a chance to go to Atlanta, which had four teams at the time, including a hockey team. And I took a chance on this and I stayed and I thought they didn't. And you guys who carried on the tradition of being honest, that's all I called it.
00;15;51;03 - 00;15;55;12
Woody Paige
I said, you know, my parents taught me, to be honest, I wasn't.
00;15;55;18 - 00;16;03;27
Vic Lombardi
Well, look where we are now. And if you're speaking honestly about Denver sports, I mean, look at this town right now. Look at the Broncos, the avalanche. We could have we.
00;16;03;27 - 00;16;05;00
Ron Zappolo
Could have three champions.
00;16;05;07 - 00;16;07;01
Tom Green
Look at this at least potential.
00;16;07;08 - 00;16;16;07
Vic Lombardi
Do you guys remember in your careers here this this good at the same time this much greatness at the same time? I've never seen.
00;16;16;07 - 00;16;37;17
Woody Paige
It. I looked back, weeks ago to see about the avalanche and the nuggets in the same season. There were so many seasons where one would get playoffs and the other team was off. It didn't get into the playoffs. Then I looked up how many how many cities have won? 3 or 4 championships in the same season, same calendar year, whatever.
00;16;37;24 - 00;17;16;11
Woody Paige
In Detroit calls itself, the City of Champions. But that was three. And then the wings won a year later. But there is not a city where three teams in the same city won championships in the same season. And we could have that. And, I shouldn't say that in a calendar year, because the Broncos could win in the 25 season and the avalanche and the nuggets, and I know this is crazy to even think about it, but they could win in the 2526 season.
00;17;16;11 - 00;17;17;05
Woody Paige
So.
00;17;17;07 - 00;17;24;24
Tom Green
Right. But it's interesting because it's not just championships. It is like you talked about the level of play with Jokic and with McKinnon and MacArthur.
00;17;24;26 - 00;17;28;26
Woody Paige
Two and three of with MacArthur could be MVP.
00;17;28;26 - 00;17;43;00
Tom Green
But then you also flip that over and you look at the play Pat's written made this week. Sure. Last year's defensive player of the year last year he made the play that changed the season against Gardner Minshew and the Raiders. Now he makes this play against against the Packers.
00;17;43;01 - 00;17;45;22
Ron Zappolo
He may get a chance to make a play against Gardner Minshew again.
00;17;45;27 - 00;18;01;07
Tom Green
I know he's going to see Gardner in a couple weeks, but the level of players too, because when you talk about growing up with Elway, I mean, no, it was I mean, the nuggets had good players, but Elway was Elway. Sure. But if you're a kid now, you've grown up watching these guys play. I mean you got your choice.
00;18;01;12 - 00;18;05;25
Woody Paige
Oh, and you're absolutely right. They can watch them now.
00;18;05;27 - 00;18;08;09
Vic Lombardi
Well that's another story. But you know.
00;18;08;09 - 00;18;09;28
Ron Zappolo
Colt Vick I'm better. Yeah.
00;18;09;29 - 00;18;24;12
Vic Lombardi
You know, I, I would love to talk more openly about this, but a few weeks ago I was watching the show and Ron instructed me to take my mortgage and all my money. I did and put it on the Chiefs, and I did that. And, I got my mom and dad's house ever since.
00;18;24;12 - 00;18;25;21
Tom Green
How did the Queen of chicken hands?
00;18;25;23 - 00;18;27;25
Vic Lombardi
Yeah, we both commercial spots.
00;18;27;25 - 00;18;32;08
Ron Zappolo
Oh, God, I, I feel so unsatisfied.
00;18;32;10 - 00;18;50;27
Tom Green
Oh, so glad you brought that. One thing that you've done a lot of lately is talk about your health. Yeah. I had you on when I was still doing over at nine, when you had your prostate cancer diagnosis, and you've been really OutFront with it, and we've seen other people do this. The impact that has is immeasurable, but it's positive.
00;18;50;27 - 00;18;52;23
Tom Green
So bring us up to date.
00;18;52;25 - 00;19;10;29
Vic Lombardi
Well, I'm currently in limbo. And and thank you for bringing that up. And the reason I'm OutFront with it is because it's my therapy. I mean, some people deal with it privately, and I respect that. I deal with that publicly because the more I talk about it and the more I get it out there, the more feedback I get, the more people.
00;19;10;29 - 00;19;29;08
Vic Lombardi
Oh, really? You're trying that? Oh, really? You're doing that. And it's helped me. It helped me get into different doctors. It's helped me get in front of people that I otherwise wouldn't meet, to be honest with you. So a lot of is is selfish because I really want to fight this thing. I have aggressive prostate cancer. It's it's not just prostate cancer.
00;19;29;08 - 00;19;52;12
Vic Lombardi
It's aggressive and it's aggressive enough. Where if I hadn't found out when I got it, I would have been dead, pretty quickly. And. And now I'm at a point where it returned, a year ago and it attached itself to my bladder. And I got some target radiation done. And, now I've got to go back in a month to see if it hit, if it worked, and if it didn't, we go on to the next level, whatever that may be.
00;19;52;12 - 00;19;53;06
Vic Lombardi
So that's where I stand.
00;19;53;07 - 00;19;56;21
Tom Green
But you look so fit and healthy. Do you feel fit and healthy I.
00;19;56;21 - 00;20;13;14
Vic Lombardi
Feel great, yeah. I mean, it's, you know, it's a hidden disease. I mean, it doesn't really attack you until, it attacks you, right now. I know I have cancer, and I'm going to live with cancer for the rest of my life. Just a quick story. I was at the cancer, radiation ward at Mayo, and I'm sitting there and two and a half weeks treatment.
00;20;13;14 - 00;20;29;28
Vic Lombardi
I'm sitting next to this young girl, and, she's in a wheelchair. She's bald. And she'd been in that radiation center all week with me. And, I start talking to her, and somebody goes up and rings the bell, and I was like, well, she goes, man, I'll never get to ring that bell. She was there and she had four months to live.
00;20;30;00 - 00;20;47;07
Vic Lombardi
And it just gave me a new perspective that when you have cancer, my opinion is you're going to have it and battle it for the rest of your life. And that's just the way it is. And I'm alright with that. I'm good with it. You know what? If someone says to me, you're free and clear, I won't believe them, right?
00;20;47;09 - 00;20;48;14
Vic Lombardi
Because I think it's always lurking.
00;20;48;14 - 00;20;51;08
Ron Zappolo
How has it changed your life?
00;20;51;11 - 00;21;13;23
Vic Lombardi
It's made me less afraid to say whatever the hell I want. It's made me more, I want to say it's made me a better family man, but I'm not. I'm not sure it has. It's it's. I try and try and and really, savor those moments. It's made me appreciate that life. I never knew what mortality was.
00;21;13;25 - 00;21;25;25
Vic Lombardi
You know, when you're living and you never sick and you're like, yeah, I'm gonna. I don't that doesn't affect me. I'll be fine. Right now. I know what mortality is. And that perspective, I think, has given me a new look at everything.
00;21;26;01 - 00;21;50;07
Woody Paige
Yeah. My daughter and I both went to cancer this year. I had melanoma, which is people were, oh, it's melanoma, but it's cancer. Sure, sure. Dying. My daughter having breast cancer. This year and, my mother died of of liver cancer. And when you mentioned the word mortality.
00;21;50;09 - 00;21;57;20
Woody Paige
I think people have to understand that for men, prostate cancer is.
00;21;57;22 - 00;21;59;13
Woody Paige
Very much a certainty. Almost.
00;21;59;13 - 00;22;01;01
Vic Lombardi
Yeah. You're going I mean, eventually die.
00;22;01;01 - 00;22;37;24
Woody Paige
Yeah. And you have prostate cancer. And for women, breast cancer and we can talk about what's going on in the world. But there are scientists and doctors that are in companies all throughout the world that are making advances. Sure. And we hope that for your kids and for the next generations that we stop talking about wars and hatred in this country, and we all get together and say the enemy is not just Russia, the enemy is not in the Middle East.
00;22;37;24 - 00;22;44;05
Woody Paige
The enemy is right here with us, with somehow we've got to solve the cancer issue.
00;22;44;07 - 00;23;01;29
Ron Zappolo
We can't, you know, if you're over 70 now, a lot of these insurance programs, they won't even check you for prostate cancer anymore. So you have to ask your doctor. And being over 70 well into it, I've had like five years now where you when you get your physical, you have to say to your doctor, oh no, I want to be checked.
00;23;01;29 - 00;23;19;00
Ron Zappolo
Yeah. You know, draw my blood, do an exam. Whatever you have to do. Because lost too many friends. Sure. To that particular, cancer. And I echo what Woody says. You know, I lost really close closest friend you could have this year to pancreatic cancer. And we have to get a handle on this.
00;23;19;03 - 00;23;41;09
Vic Lombardi
You know what? What age I'm at right now, and I'm 56, and some would say, 50s are young. I'm at that age where in the last five years, I'm now going to the obituary section of the paper and reading it. And I never thought I'd get to that age. And actually reading it like causes like. And I know that's morbid, but I don't I don't know if you guys do that, but that's what I've been doing.
00;23;41;09 - 00;23;44;05
Woody Paige
Well, there's two stories about that. I wasn't a big jury. Right.
00;23;44;05 - 00;23;46;06
Vic Lombardi
We really and that explains a lot.
00;23;46;08 - 00;24;10;23
Woody Paige
And that's where in newspaper businesses they put you that to kind of learn to get names, right. Yeah. And to get diseases. Right. And I wrote in Memphis that the Commercial Appeal, I was a kid and I wrote that somebody died of cancer and they threw that back in my face. They said, we don't say cancer in an obituary.
00;24;10;26 - 00;24;32;22
Woody Paige
And I went, what do you mean? That's a terrible disease? And whether they said long illness. And so I had to write that Tom Jones died of a long illness. And so one day I turned in a bitch way and I said, Fred Smith died yesterday of a short illness. And the and the city editor said, what in the world is this?
00;24;32;26 - 00;24;35;21
Woody Paige
Said he was in a traffic accident that was cut pretty.
00;24;35;22 - 00;24;36;16
Vic Lombardi
Short, said.
00;24;36;18 - 00;24;44;20
Woody Paige
So I was making fun of that. But now I mean it. It's common to you couldn't say the word. It was. You know, we I don't.
00;24;44;20 - 00;24;46;05
Vic Lombardi
Mind talking about it.
00;24;46;08 - 00;24;54;07
Woody Paige
You see, but, it's just an incredible disease that we do need to all stress.
00;24;54;09 - 00;24;56;03
Ron Zappolo
Touches every single.
00;24;56;03 - 00;24;57;27
Woody Paige
Not one person.
00;24;57;29 - 00;24;59;03
Tom Green
So you mentioned all.
00;24;59;03 - 00;25;22;18
Woody Paige
About my go ahead. Just had man, when I was a bitch were a writer. She said I read the obituaries every day like you. And I said, I understand that, she said, but since you're writing these, would you explain to me why people die in alphabetical order? I know it's not a joke. She wrote.
00;25;22;20 - 00;25;24;11
Tom Green
She started reading because, you know.
00;25;24;13 - 00;25;26;13
Woody Paige
So I don't know when you're looking at it.
00;25;26;15 - 00;25;28;12
Tom Green
You're good.
00;25;28;14 - 00;25;33;22
Ron Zappolo
I said, great shape. I'll tell you. I knew it was a reason I was.
00;25;33;25 - 00;25;34;04
Vic Lombardi
Back.
00;25;34;04 - 00;25;36;00
Tom Green
Of the class. We don't always get this.
00;25;36;00 - 00;25;36;17
Vic Lombardi
Exact.
00;25;36;19 - 00;25;44;09
Woody Paige
Exactly, but when he's reading the obituary, is it he's going to read them. You're going to be. He may not get all the way in.
00;25;44;11 - 00;25;45;16
Ron Zappolo
That'll be just fine.
00;25;45;22 - 00;25;50;02
Tom Green
I said you're less afraid now to say whatever the hell you want. I never thought you were.
00;25;50;05 - 00;25;54;24
Woody Paige
Getting that opportunity. Let's talk about whether the Broncos will be in this. Well.
00;25;54;27 - 00;26;13;24
Tom Green
No, but it's like your roles now. You know, we see. We hear you in the mornings. We see in the evenings talking about those things. And I always thought you were pretty free talking about whatever you want. And some of the stuff like, is about Denver, like you're the north side of changes. Yeah, yeah. Are you allowed to call?
00;26;13;26 - 00;26;14;18
Tom Green
What are you.
00;26;14;20 - 00;26;15;14
Vic Lombardi
It's north Denver.
00;26;15;15 - 00;26;17;11
Tom Green
North Denver. It's can't have another name.
00;26;17;12 - 00;26;19;08
Vic Lombardi
No Highlands and any of that bullshit.
00;26;19;08 - 00;26;20;28
Tom Green
No, no North Denver.
00;26;20;28 - 00;26;27;23
Vic Lombardi
It's north Denver. And that's and that's fine. You can call it whatever you want. But for me and in my ilk, it's North Denver.
00;26;27;23 - 00;26;29;24
Tom Green
And that includes an ethnicity. Right.
00;26;29;26 - 00;26;49;25
Vic Lombardi
But not necessarily because, listen, I grew up in North Denver when it was mainly Mexican and Italian. Right? My best friends were Mexican and Italian, Italian and Mexican. And that's what it was. If you go to North Denver now, it's not that, okay. It's a different world and that's fine. But I just remember when I grew up there and that's how I choose to remember.
00;26;49;28 - 00;26;58;27
Ron Zappolo
Are you free to say the same things on altitude that I know you were free to do on channel four, 100%?
00;26;58;27 - 00;27;21;01
Vic Lombardi
And one of the things that I really cherish at altitude, and I mean this at no point has anyone ever said to me, you can't say that because I had this conversation coming in. I had when I started the radio show there, I said, if you don't let me say stuff, if you don't let me criticize the teams when I need to criticize them, we're done here.
00;27;21;03 - 00;27;23;29
Vic Lombardi
Well, we're done here. It doesn't mean because your credibility.
00;27;23;29 - 00;27;24;12
Tom Green
Yeah, exactly.
00;27;24;18 - 00;27;47;02
Vic Lombardi
Because listeners then in a and I've actually had this conversation with coaches, I said consider this a gift. Like when the nuggets were coming on and they became a championship team. I said when you're criticized in town for maybe a lackluster effort after a win, you've arrived. Yeah. Congratulations. That means you matter. You matter when you don't matter.
00;27;47;04 - 00;27;54;11
Vic Lombardi
Nobody gives a crap. Nobody talks about you. You matter now. And when you graduate to that I matter stage, get ready because it's coming.
00;27;54;11 - 00;27;58;12
Tom Green
So what happened with the Rockies at second base? Because that's what it took away.
00;27;58;14 - 00;28;14;13
Woody Paige
I always thought about you when you were doing it, being fair and honest and using that word honesty again. But we work for a radio station that had the nuggets and the avalanche. Yeah. And nobody ever said to us.
00;28;14;15 - 00;28;37;05
Tom Green
Well, I was in a I was, you were you're you and I worked with Doug Moe and then Dan Nessel and the only sensitivity would be mostly I felt is whenever we had Drew Goodman was doing the nugget games at the time, we'd have drew. One was a great guest and a great guy, but he felt you had to be careful because he thought Bernie Bickerstaff was always lurking to.
00;28;37;07 - 00;28;44;25
Vic Lombardi
Worry about your welfare, your job. Yeah. You know, now there's stuff I know that I see behind the scenes that I just don't think it's appropriate.
00;28;44;25 - 00;28;45;00
Ron Zappolo
To.
00;28;45;02 - 00;28;52;15
Vic Lombardi
Say exactly. It's not proper to get it out there. And I would never do that even if I worked for a competing station.
00;28;52;15 - 00;29;02;29
Ron Zappolo
You just. But I did watch you the other day was a couple of weeks ago, and you did take a shot at the nuggets. You were concerned after one of those home losses, and I sat in my house and said, where to go?
00;29;03;01 - 00;29;18;19
Vic Lombardi
Well, I mean, I thought because they lost four straight at home and I sort of got into it with our co-host. And it's great because you always have to have somebody else. Sure. And it's healthy. It's healthy. And some people afterwards were like, and this is the part I hate. Oh, you know, you shouldn't go there or, you know, on social media.
00;29;18;19 - 00;29;28;22
Vic Lombardi
Oh, that's that was what do you mean? It's just better go to sports. Sports. This is the sports debate. We're debating the team. We're not debating like.
00;29;28;24 - 00;29;31;04
Ron Zappolo
If someone's not mad at you all the time, you're.
00;29;31;04 - 00;29;32;05
Vic Lombardi
Doing it wrong.
00;29;32;07 - 00;29;34;06
Ron Zappolo
You're not doing your job exactly right.
00;29;34;08 - 00;29;57;04
Woody Paige
But there are instance for all of us where you have to be careful. And I worked with drew and he said, just don't put me in a situation. Bernie Bickerstaff and I said, no, I'll never did, you know, had to talk about it. And I said, Bernie Bickerstaff said, we. Because he would call you at night and call you racist.
00;29;57;07 - 00;30;06;20
Woody Paige
And I said, he's a terrible coach and is a terrible general manager. And I know drew agrees with me.
00;30;06;23 - 00;30;08;04
Tom Green
Oh, thanks. Thanks.
00;30;08;04 - 00;30;11;05
Vic Lombardi
Good group response.
00;30;11;08 - 00;30;11;26
Tom Green
So that's what.
00;30;12;02 - 00;30;19;28
Woody Paige
I did, put him in a bad spot. But I said, but he's not going to join us in this conversation.
00;30;20;00 - 00;30;32;07
Ron Zappolo
But when you're a play by play guy, that's that that's part of the deal. You're going to have to put yourself in positions where if the team you're covering is not good, you're going to have to figure out a way to navigate that. And it's not easy.
00;30;32;08 - 00;30;40;15
Woody Paige
So let's go back to what you were talking about, though. Growing up, loving Elway, loving the Broncos when they won their first Super Bowl.
00;30;40;18 - 00;30;43;07
Vic Lombardi
What.
00;30;43;10 - 00;30;54;23
Woody Paige
Because when they won I'm thinking about what I'm going to write. Right. This one's for John. What was your feeling about fandom may have been and were you.
00;30;54;23 - 00;30;57;04
Vic Lombardi
More you want to know what my feeling was?
00;30;57;08 - 00;31;01;10
Woody Paige
You were just getting into? I mean, you were early on in.
00;31;01;12 - 00;31;23;05
Vic Lombardi
Super Bowl 32, all right. I had just experienced, you know, devastating Super Bowl defeats with the Broncos as a fan. Super Bowl 32 I'm working in in Phoenix, Arizona. I'm the sports director at the CBS affiliate. Well, I managed to get press credentials for that game in San Diego, right? I know you guys were all there. I really shouldn't have been there, but I'm a Bronco fan.
00;31;23;05 - 00;31;32;13
Vic Lombardi
I wanted to go cover the game. Sure. Seth Joyner was a linebacker for that Broncos team who used to play for the Cardinals, so that was my end. I was like, hey, I got to go cover sets.
00;31;32;16 - 00;31;36;12
Tom Green
We have a scene with me. So you're asking Seth Joyner story.
00;31;36;12 - 00;31;56;18
Vic Lombardi
If you're asking what my reaction was, my reaction was as I got onto the field and the Broncos are celebrating, and I turned to do a live shot, why is my dad standing next to John Elway? My dad got in on one of the credentials that I had. That's what my question was. I did the worst thing you could possibly do.
00;31;56;25 - 00;32;04;27
Vic Lombardi
I got a family member into the game and back then remember how Super Bowl credentials looked? They're basically like little red coupons. Yeah. Here you go. Go in and watch the.
00;32;04;27 - 00;32;05;29
Tom Green
Super Bowl today.
00;32;05;29 - 00;32;08;24
Vic Lombardi
You got to give up DNA to get into a game.
00;32;08;26 - 00;32;27;11
Tom Green
I was going to ask you about the nuggets because we were doing that. But let's do Broncos. This team has got something going on. And I think for all the doubters and stuff, this last weekend was a big weekend. The way they won the team they beat, they still have a gantlet to finish this off this regular season, but it's a wide open.
00;32;27;12 - 00;32;36;03
Tom Green
It's the most wide open NFL tournament I can ever remember. So this team might have a why not us attitude as well as who's going to beat us.
00;32;36;03 - 00;32;52;09
Vic Lombardi
You know what this team reminds me of? And, I'm glad I'm in the right room to make this comp because every time I bring this up on the radio, I get a lot of empty stares. This team reminds me more of that 77 team than a lot, because they had a lot to prove that year they hadn't done anything right.
00;32;52;15 - 00;33;09;16
Vic Lombardi
So you go through this valley for ten years of nothingness here, and now you're building up this product again. And the Broncos had to prove themselves in 77. They had to prove it against the Raiders. The Raiders stole their their cookies and their candy every year they had this year. This team had to prove it against the Chiefs and they continue to have to prove themselves.
00;33;09;23 - 00;33;28;03
Vic Lombardi
I'm not saying we got a remake of 77, but it's the closest comp I have to any other team. Everybody questioning back then, did they have the right quarterback? Remember they had an old quarterback back then who was constantly hurt this year they have a young quarterback who's constantly trying to prove himself. So to me.
00;33;28;03 - 00;33;35;17
Woody Paige
Yeah. And they were having coveted that they were winning in a similar style in.
00;33;35;17 - 00;33;37;19
Vic Lombardi
Sort of dirty, you know, like dirty game six.
00;33;37;25 - 00;33;38;00
Tom Green
To.
00;33;38;00 - 00;34;04;02
Woody Paige
Nothing. Yes. And they were winning 12 defensively. You know. And there was a in the defense. And I want to do a comparison of the defenses of 77 then. And this team at some point go through. You know because that team had 6 or 7 guys that would end up playing in the Pro Bowl from the defense and that's not going to happen here.
00;34;04;02 - 00;34;20;14
Woody Paige
But it's close in terms of certain. And everybody talks. And they may have another defensive player of the year. Although his numbers have kind of backed off in the last 3 or 4 because they're guys like Zach Allen that are so.
00;34;20;14 - 00;34;32;13
Tom Green
But Zach Allen I was going to say he reminds me of he he kind of makes the whole thing go like a Reuben Carter did back then. Like he doesn't make the tackle. He doesn't get. Yeah I but he allows everything to happen around him.
00;34;32;13 - 00;34;47;25
Woody Paige
I tend to compare, more Jones in the middle to Reuben Carter irking DJ Jones. And I thought you were going to say Al Zito because, well, he was a destructor. He was a guy that.
00;34;47;27 - 00;34;48;21
Tom Green
Just wrecked.
00;34;48;23 - 00;35;03;12
Woody Paige
Destroy people. And that's exactly what we see out of Zach. And we started again Sunday and they had Louis. Right. Guess what Patrick sir. Then the second they had Steve Foley.
00;35;03;15 - 00;35;05;11
Ron Zappolo
What they don't have is Randy Bradshaw.
00;35;05;18 - 00;35;07;05
Vic Lombardi
Yeah I mean they don't have that kind of guy that.
00;35;07;05 - 00;35;08;23
Woody Paige
Eats up Greenlaw.
00;35;08;25 - 00;35;10;11
Ron Zappolo
He's not Randy granite. Randy.
00;35;10;11 - 00;35;11;07
Vic Lombardi
Randy he's just a.
00;35;11;07 - 00;35;12;24
Woody Paige
He's coming around. He's coming.
00;35;12;24 - 00;35;13;21
Ron Zappolo
Around. But he's not ready.
00;35;13;21 - 00;35;15;15
Woody Paige
And he's coming around before the game.
00;35;15;15 - 00;35;16;07
Tom Green
So which I.
00;35;16;07 - 00;35;38;26
Ron Zappolo
Like I like the analogy though, because that's still my all time favorite team. I remember every player on that team covering all the games. But let me throw this at you. Yeah, I think the Broncos have achieved so much this year that in my mind, if they don't at least get to the Super Bowl. Yeah, the year is a disappointment.
00;35;38;28 - 00;35;41;24
Vic Lombardi
Based on what your original expectation or your change.
00;35;41;27 - 00;35;52;05
Ron Zappolo
You know, based on where I am now, right now, looking at home field advantage, having to win two games, it doesn't matter who comes in here. They're going to be confident against anybody.
00;35;52;05 - 00;36;01;17
Woody Paige
But I think you're right. Bring that up with him. That I think the expectation was win a playoff game. Yes, sure. If you could win up that was.
00;36;01;17 - 00;36;02;14
Vic Lombardi
The initial expect.
00;36;02;14 - 00;36;03;04
Ron Zappolo
That's initial.
00;36;03;04 - 00;36;22;19
Tom Green
When you say change that you say they can beat anybody who comes in here. The question is are they going to make people come here. They have these three games left. The Kansas City game now is a weird Thursday night. No Mahomes. They're done. But those two home games, Jacksonville and the Chargers will dictate how people come here.
00;36;22;20 - 00;36;24;07
Ron Zappolo
And Jacksonville's the biggest game.
00;36;24;08 - 00;36;34;07
Woody Paige
Isn't it odd because I was right in the middle of the last time? Isn't it odd that Jacksonville could destroy another season?
00;36;34;14 - 00;36;34;23
Ron Zappolo
Yeah.
00;36;34;23 - 00;36;36;23
Woody Paige
Two seasons.
00;36;36;26 - 00;36;37;20
Ron Zappolo
And there is no.
00;36;37;20 - 00;36;39;16
Woody Paige
One. When I say destroyed Lawrence.
00;36;39;18 - 00;36;57;15
Vic Lombardi
Well, it was supposed to be green Bay though, right? Oh, green Bay is going to be the measuring stick. Yeah. They stood up to the Packers. If they could stand up successive weeks to two very good offensive teams, then I'm sure I'm already sold. But I'm going to go back to your expectation thing because I think that's what makes sports such a beautiful thing.
00;36;57;17 - 00;37;17;07
Vic Lombardi
Our expectations constantly change at the beginning of the season. Make the playoffs, win a playoff game. And you got me now it's like, oh my God, if they don't make the playoffs it's it's it's a terrible year. I go back to 2005. Do you remember 2005 when everything fell the Broncos way. And they hosted the AFC title game and they lost in devastating fashion in Pittsburgh.
00;37;17;09 - 00;37;20;29
Vic Lombardi
They win that game. I think we all agree they're probably Super Bowl champions right? Right.
00;37;20;29 - 00;37;24;27
Woody Paige
And about once a week the guy who was quarterback sits in that same chair.
00;37;24;28 - 00;37;39;11
Vic Lombardi
Exactly. But but I look at that season and maybe it's my perspective now that more that was a great season. Well they they they went beyond expectations. It ended badly. It sucked. But would you classify that season as a bad season?
00;37;39;11 - 00;38;05;24
Ron Zappolo
Not looking back I would not. But every city and every organization has their own unique set of expectations. I'll give you the Pittsburgh Steelers. I know what their level is. They've got a whole fan base there that says playoffs. Yeah, that's no good. We're not playoffs every year. So I think looking at this, you have a head coach who told his team, in the summertime they were good enough to win the Super Bowl.
00;38;05;26 - 00;38;20;06
Ron Zappolo
Now he's convinced an entire fan base and a bunch of people that were doubters that they are good enough. So I don't think you can go out and get homefield now with a whimper and lose in the first round and say, hey, it was still a great year. We won 13, 14 games.
00;38;20;06 - 00;38;28;14
Tom Green
Who, who do you not want to play in the first round? Let's. Hey, that's what I was going to say because it's not Pittsburgh or Houston. Buffalo. Buffalo is that.
00;38;28;17 - 00;38;29;28
Vic Lombardi
Well, we were talking about.
00;38;30;04 - 00;38;48;28
Woody Paige
Before started before we started and he said Buffalo and the two of us, I'm like, no way. What you said we said the Texans. I think the Texans, it's tough for us to beat a team twice. But that's not the Texans. The Broncos. Nope. That's it. That is a much, much stronger team. That would be my second.
00;38;48;29 - 00;38;54;13
Ron Zappolo
The other reason Buffalo's defense is not that good. Yeah, Houston's defense scares me.
00;38;54;18 - 00;39;01;09
Vic Lombardi
Yeah. But I just don't know if you'd see them as in your first game. You know I think they're good enough. Who knows how it all goes.
00;39;01;12 - 00;39;02;10
Tom Green
It's going to shuffle through.
00;39;02;10 - 00;39;06;26
Ron Zappolo
There's so much to be involved in. Denver could still end up with the fifth seed.
00;39;06;27 - 00;39;10;18
Tom Green
Yeah. Who do you want to play. Because Pittsburgh to me looks like a mess.
00;39;10;18 - 00;39;20;18
Vic Lombardi
Yeah. You know that's a great question. I mean you're anybody's gettable guys. I'm talking to the right again in 96. Did you guys think Jacksonville would pose a problem.
00;39;20;20 - 00;39;23;06
Tom Green
They no, no, that was it. Did you think that.
00;39;23;08 - 00;39;23;25
Vic Lombardi
Did you think.
00;39;23;26 - 00;39;24;12
Ron Zappolo
Baltimore.
00;39;24;16 - 00;39;26;27
Vic Lombardi
They did you think Baltimore would pose a problem.
00;39;26;27 - 00;39;28;00
Tom Green
Unique weather day.
00;39;28;00 - 00;39;40;03
Vic Lombardi
Earlier in the season, by the way. You're right about that because remember this season that they lost to Baltimore the Ravens here. Yeah the Broncos more and more and beat them and here they come. Yeah I mean this stuff happens even better.
00;39;40;03 - 00;39;44;20
Tom Green
Teams but trend in. How wasn't he the only guy who got in the end zone really twice. You got to.
00;39;44;21 - 00;39;45;06
Ron Zappolo
Right.
00;39;45;06 - 00;39;56;25
Vic Lombardi
Yeah. You know that's the one thing about this team that they have yet to prove to me. Because if you recall that game that lost to Baltimore, the weather was awful. I was a holder that was -1,000,000. You ever been on Fox?
00;39;56;25 - 00;40;04;08
Ron Zappolo
Yeah. When I think John, I mean, Elway decided he wanted to fire John Fox. Yeah. Is when Peyton Manning got the ball with, like seconds.
00;40;04;08 - 00;40;05;22
Vic Lombardi
Set on it.
00;40;05;24 - 00;40;07;24
Ron Zappolo
I think. Oh, we looked at that and said, that's.
00;40;07;24 - 00;40;09;17
Tom Green
A lot of people. Look, a lot of people saw that.
00;40;09;23 - 00;40;10;24
Ron Zappolo
Yeah, yeah.
00;40;10;26 - 00;40;11;25
Tom Green
Yeah. People. They said.
00;40;11;29 - 00;40;14;11
Ron Zappolo
Only one guy had the vote, but he was like.
00;40;14;11 - 00;40;20;18
Tom Green
But nowadays 40s especially with the field goal kickers even in that whether it's 47.
00;40;20;18 - 00;40;24;26
Woody Paige
Then. No, I mean for a guy like Manning and you don't give him a chance. Yeah.
00;40;24;26 - 00;40;25;02
Tom Green
No.
00;40;25;02 - 00;40;39;03
Vic Lombardi
He couldn't feel his hands for not I mean he could not feel his hands. And that's why I bring this up with this team. Hey, they proved a lot by winning against green Bay. That was a tropical Paradise game. Yeah. I want to see how they react to the bitter cold of playoff football.
00;40;39;06 - 00;40;40;23
Ron Zappolo
But I in the yet.
00;40;40;25 - 00;40;59;05
Woody Paige
And you know you and I say the Texans I wanted to be the Buffalo bills here for one reason I want to see Josh Allen in this in a serious game in this stadium. And I want him when he loses. Say it still sucks to be right. Yeah.
00;40;59;07 - 00;41;06;16
Ron Zappolo
No it is it. It has never in his career set up better for Josh Allen than it is right now.
00;41;06;18 - 00;41;07;24
Vic Lombardi
Even though I can say.
00;41;07;26 - 00;41;26;15
Ron Zappolo
We have to go on the road. No Mahomes, no Lamar Jackson, no Joe Burrow. And and to your point about Buffalo, he's the reason that, you know, when a guy can be responsible for six touchdowns and the guy's never out of a game. And a guy can run over your best linebacker and get up and go, you tried.
00;41;26;17 - 00;41;28;13
Ron Zappolo
Yeah, that's a problem.
00;41;28;13 - 00;41;38;27
Woody Paige
I would like to see a repeat. We think about Broncos in Super Bowls in the past. I would like to see them play Carolina again. Yeah.
00;41;39;00 - 00;41;55;04
Tom Green
We we'll have you know hey every morning you get up and you do the show and you have, Mark Mosher Brett Kane I know Brett's out now Matt Smith's filling in, but, this must be different for you. Like having an intelligent conversation with with normal people as opposed to I.
00;41;55;05 - 00;42;01;10
Vic Lombardi
I'm not used to actually having a retort that's not about music or.
00;42;01;12 - 00;42;04;05
Tom Green
Some abstract thing that puts Moses head.
00;42;04;12 - 00;42;13;17
Vic Lombardi
It's when when we get people say we listen to your show and love the show, guys, I'm not joking. When I get done with our show in the morning and I walked around, I don't even know what the hell we just talked about.
00;42;13;24 - 00;42;14;14
Tom Green
Hey, remember I.
00;42;14;21 - 00;42;31;20
Vic Lombardi
Am I, you know, you just. And that's when you know you're having fun at your job because you're just talking. I, you get paid to just talk sports. And in this day and age, it's not just sports. It's more than that. And, when I'm tired of it is when I'm going to walk away from it. I'm not tired yet.
00;42;31;22 - 00;42;37;06
Ron Zappolo
It walk away until you. Yeah. Squeeze. Yeah. You know what? The right out of it. You can.
00;42;37;06 - 00;42;51;29
Vic Lombardi
Run. You know what the truth is? And people ask me all this, you know, I'm a television guy who does radio. That's what I've always been. I started in radio, but I'm a television. For the first time in my life, in my career, I'm actually having more fun doing radio than television. Yeah.
00;42;52;04 - 00;42;53;29
Tom Green
Yeah, it's it's a freer form.
00;42;53;29 - 00;43;07;05
Woody Paige
And what's what's fun for me is I had this great idea of, going to news anchors and saying, wouldn't you like to go back to talking about sports? Yeah. Because,
00;43;07;08 - 00;43;08;21
Tom Green
And that's why we're here.
00;43;08;27 - 00;43;16;04
Vic Lombardi
Well, these guys, what they did is an amazing transition. And something I could not do. These guys were able to go from sports to.
00;43;16;05 - 00;43;17;04
Ron Zappolo
Yeah, you could have done it.
00;43;17;04 - 00;43;18;01
Vic Lombardi
Oh, I don't know, man.
00;43;18;01 - 00;43;36;18
Ron Zappolo
I'm gonna tell you why. You could have done it. You have the broadcasting savvy to be able to do it. You're incredibly bright, sophomore. I could do it because you would change your. Yeah. You would use the same skill. You would just read differently and approach it differently. You don't sell yourself short you to do it.
00;43;36;18 - 00;44;01;04
Woody Paige
But a guy that's here, that did it and I did it in 1984, I switched from writing. Yeah, it's done writing a general column, and I never felt that my type of writing style fit. And I was told that by my bosses, they go, you can't, you can't treat it like it's sports. And I said, I'm treating it like it sports.
00;44;01;04 - 00;44;03;08
Woody Paige
The politics is like.
00;44;03;10 - 00;44;04;17
Tom Green
They are.
00;44;04;19 - 00;44;24;27
Woody Paige
A field. And so I went back, and when I thought about doing the show, I said the two people that I had the greatest, respect for made the transition and made it so smoothly. They must want to go back like I did.
00;44;24;29 - 00;44;30;02
Tom Green
Quite well. I think Ron always did want to go back. I don't I don't think I did as much as I.
00;44;30;04 - 00;44;30;19
Ron Zappolo
Talked about.
00;44;30;19 - 00;44;31;07
Tom Green
Because I.
00;44;31;07 - 00;44;32;19
Ron Zappolo
Missed it more than you did. Yeah.
00;44;32;20 - 00;44;35;09
Vic Lombardi
How did you get run off the golf course?
00;44;35;11 - 00;44;36;09
Tom Green
Because whether.
00;44;36;12 - 00;44;36;23
Vic Lombardi
I mean.
00;44;36;23 - 00;44;39;15
Ron Zappolo
Whether it's we I'm we because we do the.
00;44;39;20 - 00;44;48;24
Woody Paige
Show today and, then he'd and he's like,
00;44;48;27 - 00;44;56;12
Woody Paige
Those guys do game shows on network television. He does five shows in one day, but they have to show up for a month.
00;44;56;15 - 00;45;05;09
Tom Green
Yeah. And so we used to do it with sports on tap. Who do listen to on talk radio? You know, everyone listened to Irv and Joe at some point.
00;45;05;09 - 00;45;06;08
Vic Lombardi
Irvin, Joe, Sandy.
00;45;06;11 - 00;45;07;01
Tom Green
Sandy.
00;45;07;02 - 00;45;26;24
Vic Lombardi
Sandy was the the authority figure. You know, he was the guy that listen, we all have different styles, right? Different demeanors different personalities. Obviously, Sandy's personality is much different than mine. But when I wanted to learn something, when I wanted to learn the rhythm of how to deliver the information, the news I learned from everybody, I gleaned from all of you.
00;45;26;26 - 00;45;31;04
Vic Lombardi
But it was there anything better than sandy cloth after a Broncos game?
00;45;31;07 - 00;45;35;15
Ron Zappolo
No, man. No, because he brought an East Coast radio talk show.
00;45;35;19 - 00;45;46;02
Vic Lombardi
Something that no one ever. And I would sit there with glee, just couldn't wait for postgame. And I wanted the times for the Broncos to lose because.
00;45;46;02 - 00;45;46;10
Tom Green
So I.
00;45;46;10 - 00;45;47;25
Vic Lombardi
Could hear Sandy talk about the.
00;45;47;25 - 00;45;53;22
Tom Green
Game the best if when he went full on somebody. Oh yeah. Yeah, he went full light up. It was there was must listen.
00;45;53;25 - 00;46;06;21
Ron Zappolo
I worked with Sandy a ton of that for during that time. And he would do those shows and he would come over the next day and go, did I go to for.
00;46;06;23 - 00;46;08;04
Vic Lombardi
Just outstanding radio.
00;46;08;07 - 00;46;09;17
Ron Zappolo
Oh he was great.
00;46;09;19 - 00;46;29;15
Woody Paige
So and I so I worked with her for 7 or 8 years. Yeah. And I'd gone to him and I said quit fired him. They got rid of everybody. And I would tell him and I said, why don't you do a show with me? I said, we are opposite ends of the world. And you live in.
00;46;29;15 - 00;46;32;00
Woody Paige
No. Did. I'm sorry.
00;46;32;02 - 00;46;34;23
Tom Green
Towards Broomfield. Yeah.
00;46;34;26 - 00;46;36;22
Ron Zappolo
Take it slower up north. Yeah.
00;46;36;24 - 00;46;38;25
Vic Lombardi
Yeah, yeah.
00;46;38;28 - 00;46;59;10
Woody Paige
I'll be home soon, honey. It's the, the the thing. And he said I can't do talk radio I can't, I can't do talk radio. I said, what are you gonna do. He said was substitute teach and continue to referee. And I said, do you know what they pay for? It's up to teaching. I think I can, and I think when we started together, we probably were making about the same as substitute teachers.
00;46;59;13 - 00;47;24;01
Woody Paige
But I really enjoyed it because he would say to me, I'd say, Doug Moe would say, they lose by 40. You go, oh, that was great. We're going to win tomorrow night. I said, you're going to Philadelphia tomorrow night, I promise you. And they go into Philadelphia and win. And so Irvin, I heard in this discussion that I said they're just games where you give up and say, get to the next one.
00;47;24;03 - 00;47;28;05
Woody Paige
You know, this one's not working tonight. That's not really true in the NBA anymore.
00;47;28;05 - 00;47;28;23
Ron Zappolo
Yeah they.
00;47;28;23 - 00;47;29;24
Vic Lombardi
Wear them a little longer.
00;47;29;24 - 00;47;30;21
Woody Paige
Now.
00;47;30;23 - 00;47;33;05
Ron Zappolo
And there was never a nicer guy than half.
00;47;33;07 - 00;47;47;20
Vic Lombardi
Well Irv is the only guy I know who can go from calling a College World Series game to a heavyweight boxing match to a nuggets game and then do his radio show. And I've never seen someone that can cross so many.
00;47;47;22 - 00;47;58;00
Woody Paige
I missed the biggest one. He is the only guy to ever give in a national championship game. McGuire to Ted is out.
00;47;58;03 - 00;47;59;07
Vic Lombardi
It's remarkable.
00;47;59;09 - 00;48;03;28
Tom Green
All courtesy of Scott's Liquid gold. It's just liquid gold, you know, because.
00;48;04;01 - 00;48;06;19
Woody Paige
Garage fuel up on, What was the.
00;48;06;21 - 00;48;17;22
Vic Lombardi
Guard so good? Is that what you know, again, I'm learning everything from everybody, right? And I'm learning as if he had the ability to express confidence. Even if you didn't know what the hell he was talking.
00;48;17;22 - 00;48;36;03
Ron Zappolo
Yeah, that was his greatest trait. Vic, I did about five years on the nuggets cable network. Right? Yeah. Carl sure. Put together one reserve and I. And there were so many stories, but people would come up to Irv. Every Irv knew everyone. And I would say, Irv, who was that guy? He goes, oh, is dad played for me at work for you?
00;48;36;10 - 00;48;46;18
Ron Zappolo
Yeah, he knew everybody. And then there was there was a point during the games where we would do halftime interviews. Irv knew every guy in the league because he worked them in college.
00;48;46;25 - 00;49;11;25
Woody Paige
Yeah. And we would do remotes from Italian restaurants and places. And everybody come up to Irving, go and an argument. Would you play? And I'd see some guy five, four. I knew he'd play at age and he'd give me your card. Yeah. You said he would talk about it, but people. Guy yeah. He he was the most enjoyable.
00;49;11;27 - 00;49;38;19
Woody Paige
But he and I used to talk about the origins because he grew up here. Well, before you, he never would let people know his age, by the way. But when I came here, there were two talk shows. One was Bob Martin and CoA. And that talk show was good. Good afternoon. Bob, can you give me the Cubs schedule this month?
00;49;38;19 - 00;49;55;20
Woody Paige
Pretty much. And that's exactly what the. And he read it. He'd read it. Yeah. Well is it going to be home for the next week and stuff. And I went, man, I had done some talk radio and Memphis before I left and said, that's not what I grew up with. With, Franklin and Cleveland.
00;49;55;23 - 00;49;57;22
Vic Lombardi
Joe Franklin.
00;49;57;25 - 00;50;24;05
Woody Paige
And he he'd say the kids would call him and say, get off the line, go do your homework. And he'd yell at people, that was talk radio to me, nationally, because they were 50,000 watt stadium and and Koa. Well, it's not going to criticize about those or, really talk about car sports and k KW 5560 B.
00;50;24;05 - 00;50;25;27
Tom Green
Okay to be Kelsey.
00;50;25;29 - 00;50;51;19
Woody Paige
Kelsey had a guy who did Carol state sports, an older guy and he and Star Yellen would, would do a show for 30 minutes, three times a week or something. And they came to me and, I got fired at some station. There was a key problem overall. And they said, you want to do talk radio, against Bob Martin.
00;50;51;19 - 00;51;15;21
Woody Paige
And I said, yeah, because I'll do real time. I'm not going to have schedules of baseball teams. So I did it. And like two months later, the general manager of the station came and I got some bad news. And I said, oh, really? Yeah. How are we doing? He said, well, I talk about that. Our sports directors, his contracts ended and we're not going to renew it.
00;51;15;24 - 00;51;20;00
Woody Paige
And I said, well, that is really bad news. He said, that's not the bad news.
00;51;20;02 - 00;51;20;08
Vic Lombardi
Because.
00;51;20;08 - 00;51;42;22
Woody Paige
I'm thinking, well, I wonder who will get to replace him and that. So we lasted two months and and that's when Qube came to me and, said, do you want to talk do talk radio? I if I list the names of people. Mike hafner and I did it, but, before that was Mike Wolf.
00;51;42;25 - 00;51;43;25
Ron Zappolo
Okay. Remember Mike.
00;51;44;01 - 00;51;45;18
Woody Paige
Yeah. Who went to Washington?
00;51;45;18 - 00;51;50;06
Ron Zappolo
I remember Albert and I filling in for Bob Martin a couple of times. He didn't find that all that and.
00;51;50;06 - 00;51;51;00
Tom Green
No, by the.
00;51;51;00 - 00;51;51;26
Ron Zappolo
Way, I got two more.
00;51;51;26 - 00;51;54;29
Woody Paige
So that was the anyway, for me, that was kind of just the origins.
00;51;54;29 - 00;52;03;01
Ron Zappolo
Of what was it like growing up in Denver? And can the nuggets get past Oklahoma City. Yeah sure.
00;52;03;04 - 00;52;24;12
Vic Lombardi
You know Oklahoma City is obviously the superior team in the NBA. To beat them. You would need something to go your way. And that something would have to be if there's a team that can beat them it's the nuggets I believe it's the nuggets because they don't know any better right either that kind of team. Sure. And if you look at what the nuggets have done on the road the road records better than the.
00;52;24;12 - 00;52;25;03
Tom Green
Homework they'll have.
00;52;25;08 - 00;52;35;26
Vic Lombardi
When's the last time you guys have seen a nuggets team do that. Yeah right. That's the one thing that gives me belief that they could pull it off. Would it be a surprise? I gotta admit it would be.
00;52;35;26 - 00;52;38;14
Tom Green
I think even getting to the western final is going to be hard.
00;52;38;14 - 00;52;45;23
Vic Lombardi
I totally agree, but if there's one team, I'll turn it around on. If there's one team Oklahoma City does not want to play, who is.
00;52;45;26 - 00;52;49;17
Ron Zappolo
Denver because they have one player who is and who can take exactly.
00;52;49;20 - 00;52;52;13
Woody Paige
But is got to get everybody healthy.
00;52;52;13 - 00;52;54;10
Ron Zappolo
Yes, that.
00;52;54;13 - 00;52;58;24
Woody Paige
That's what happened last year. Yeah. They would have come closer this year.
00;52;58;24 - 00;52;59;24
Tom Green
The nuggets.
00;52;59;26 - 00;53;01;19
Woody Paige
To beat them if they'd had.
00;53;01;21 - 00;53;02;12
Vic Lombardi
If they were healthy.
00;53;02;18 - 00;53;02;28
Woody Paige
Health.
00;53;02;28 - 00;53;22;10
Tom Green
And their story about the nuggets story of health this year is an interesting one because they are riding the Aaron Gordon Christian Brown injury pretty well. Yeah they're doing pretty well without them. Jamal Murray's health is as big a story as any with the nuggets, because this is the first time he's ever come towards Christmas and been playing every night.
00;53;22;13 - 00;53;23;20
Vic Lombardi
Looks like a different player. Donny.
00;53;23;20 - 00;53;25;05
Tom Green
Yeah I mean he gets his health.
00;53;25;05 - 00;53;38;16
Woody Paige
He gets the all star. I think people were fatigued about Joker wouldn't give him the MVP. Yeah I think people are anti fatigued and say it's time to give him an all star break.
00;53;38;18 - 00;53;42;04
Tom Green
Tricky this year though with the world it is a little different format.
00;53;42;04 - 00;53;43;27
Vic Lombardi
So I don't know how it's going to fall. I think.
00;53;43;27 - 00;53;45;05
Woody Paige
He's got a chance.
00;53;45;08 - 00;53;51;24
Ron Zappolo
Because I think they took him seven games last year with a team not as good. I agree as the team they have.
00;53;52;01 - 00;54;09;29
Vic Lombardi
And the other thing that gives me hope that the the nuggets and again, it's weird that the nuggets and OKC won't play until February. Right. But remember how OKC guarded Joker. Remember how they put Caruso in. Basically he was a front pocket I mean yeah I think the nuggets will have a counter to that this year I think they'll be.
00;54;10;04 - 00;54;11;26
Ron Zappolo
Trusted David Adelman I do.
00;54;12;00 - 00;54;25;14
Vic Lombardi
I do and I think they they've and I think Joker is a microprocessor. He will understand the counter move. You know you can fool him once you know you can try. But the next time he plays you, he'll figure you out. Yeah. The guy's a smartest basketball player.
00;54;25;16 - 00;54;52;07
Woody Paige
And I, I, a national, expert said they're they. I wouldn't put him in the top ten of all time, and they lose sight of his intelligence. Yeah, and I'm not saying basketball smarts. You know, that's what people say. Boy, he's got basketball intelligence. You know, he is an intelligent man.
00;54;52;09 - 00;54;53;15
Vic Lombardi
Yeah, 100%.
00;54;53;15 - 00;55;25;12
Woody Paige
Thinks go beyond basketball. You don't say that. You know, someone is, Booksmart could be a genius. That's what he is. He's a genius playing basketball. And nobody in America wants to think they're geniuses from other places. Speaking of which, this could be another year with MVP. And, yeah, both leagues and the, avalanche were being the Oklahoma City.
00;55;25;14 - 00;55;32;13
Woody Paige
And I looked a few days ago, which I do every day. And they go that team that stifles.
00;55;32;15 - 00;55;34;16
Vic Lombardi
Their rivals, right? They're not losing either.
00;55;34;18 - 00;55;35;29
Ron Zappolo
No. Yeah.
00;55;36;01 - 00;55;36;23
Vic Lombardi
They're right behind.
00;55;36;23 - 00;56;04;12
Woody Paige
Wouldn't it be funny to have Dallas and Denver play any NHL? Yeah. And again, have Oklahoma City and Denver play in the NBA. And that's a likelihood heading that way. And it could be Denver and New England in the AFC championship. People don't if they're not respecting Denver they're not respecting New England even more.
00;56;04;12 - 00;56;08;10
Tom Green
Right. So well especially after this week that we've changed things a little.
00;56;08;10 - 00;56;18;14
Woody Paige
We're talking about the three teams and how well they're doing. We could see deja vu and all three of those, those leaks for the teams.
00;56;18;16 - 00;56;21;15
Vic Lombardi
Well drink it in if you're a young person because this doesn't happen too.
00;56;21;15 - 00;56;29;18
Tom Green
Often, that's for sure. I mean, how do you rank them though the three Denver pro sports teams right now, as far as potentiality to win, to win the whole thing right now, I.
00;56;29;18 - 00;56;49;10
Vic Lombardi
Still think the Avs are the best of the three because the Avs, have been there, done that. They've won it all. And they they've sort of the resume speaks for itself. Then it's the reason why the nuggets aren't number one is because of that OKC thing. Yeah because OKC still the big bully. That's exactly the reason the.
00;56;49;13 - 00;56;50;01
Woody Paige
Won one.
00;56;50;01 - 00;57;00;20
Vic Lombardi
I know I know I know. But it's just I know you're exactly right I'm not saying they're not. But the reason the Broncos aren't there is because this rendition of the Broncos has to do in the playoffs.
00;57;00;20 - 00;57;10;08
Tom Green
They have the softest tournaments theoretically ahead of Re. I think the NBA getting out of the West is going to be a knife fight, and the NHL is always guys.
00;57;10;16 - 00;57;20;03
Vic Lombardi
You guys have more football knowledge and anybody I know. Do you remember a football tournament that's going to start three weeks that has this many teams that could win it all? I think.
00;57;20;03 - 00;57;21;29
Tom Green
That there's no one.
00;57;22;01 - 00;57;25;03
Vic Lombardi
Dominant. Yeah I know I don't remember.
00;57;25;05 - 00;57;28;19
Ron Zappolo
Usually if you're in it this year yeah you got a chance because.
00;57;28;19 - 00;57;33;27
Vic Lombardi
Usually it's 2 or 3 teams right. Usually it's like okay. But this year I'm like anybody.
00;57;34;00 - 00;57;43;29
Woody Paige
Yeah but it's going back to the NBA for just a second. We're not discussing a team that I watched a couple of nights ago play in Las Vegas. And that's that San Antonio. Yeah.
00;57;43;29 - 00;57;44;21
Vic Lombardi
They're scary.
00;57;44;25 - 00;57;45;10
Woody Paige
I mean they're.
00;57;45;10 - 00;57;48;02
Vic Lombardi
Scary. Beat okay. They're coming.
00;57;48;04 - 00;57;50;29
Woody Paige
Yes. It's oh that was the Olympic.
00;57;51;04 - 00;57;51;16
Ron Zappolo
In there.
00;57;51;16 - 00;57;52;05
Vic Lombardi
I agree.
00;57;52;05 - 00;57;54;03
Woody Paige
With me was played 21.
00;57;54;03 - 00;57;56;22
Tom Green
I didn't know he was that tall.
00;57;56;24 - 00;58;03;02
Vic Lombardi
He's tall at every time. Everybody's that tall to me. It does it. It's all relative.
00;58;03;05 - 00;58;04;27
Tom Green
So go ahead.
00;58;05;00 - 00;58;16;08
Woody Paige
So for the Broncos we were talking about AFC teams okay. You don't want to play. Who would you not want to play in the Super Bowl. Would there be the Ram Rams.
00;58;16;09 - 00;58;21;18
Tom Green
The Rams I think if they roll into the Super Bowl they're the best team now. And if they roll in if they're healthy.
00;58;21;18 - 00;58;22;26
Ron Zappolo
They're the best balanced team to.
00;58;22;26 - 00;58;32;25
Tom Green
Do. Yeah. And they've they've done it. So I got to get you on this though because I'm looking at the College Football Playoff bracket. Yeah.
00;58;32;28 - 00;58;34;15
Vic Lombardi
Thanks for having me guess.
00;58;34;17 - 00;58;48;08
Tom Green
And I'm looking I notice one thing the committee did that was really smart is they put Tulane and James Madison on opposite sides, so they wouldn't meet until. Yeah, until the championship game. But I noticed Notre Dame didn't make it. I don't know if you pay me. Well, I, I, I, I.
00;58;48;08 - 00;59;06;09
Vic Lombardi
Was not aware of that till I got here today. Yeah. I was just informed here's the deal by college football. Here's the deal. And I really do believe this. As angry as I was that my school and I know we started this whole conversation about not being a fan, I'm sorry. I can't help myself. It's a school that I invested a lot of money in my parents, too.
00;59;06;11 - 00;59;14;04
Vic Lombardi
But here's my deal I love the debate that comes with college football. It's what makes it special and unique.
00;59;14;09 - 00;59;14;22
Tom Green
Rage.
00;59;14;27 - 00;59;29;20
Vic Lombardi
You know what we do? You know what we do in the media. We spend all this time saying, oh, you gotta fix college football. You need a playoff, you need a meritocracy. You gotta fix all this stuff. Not really. Because at the end of the day, this is why I enjoy it. So I enjoy the debate.
00;59;29;21 - 00;59;38;16
Ron Zappolo
Do you like the fact that, like, 8 or 970 year old guys sit in a room and determine that Notre Dame, your school is out?
00;59;38;20 - 00;59;53;26
Vic Lombardi
I don't like you. Enjoy that. I don't like the fact that school is out, but I enjoy the debate that comes with it because it doesn't matter who's out. There's always going to be debate. I said this, a couple of years ago. Well, they got to expand the playoff. And I said when they expand it, they're going to be debating the teams that are 13 and 14.
00;59;53;27 - 01;00;00;02
Vic Lombardi
We'll get it to 16. When they go to 16, Woody is going to be 1718. And that was that was there's never an answer here.
01;00;00;02 - 01;00;23;20
Woody Paige
That was the hilarious aspect of all this, because I've pushed for playoffs since I was the 22 year old columnist, I wanted it. I actually had a logo that the artist put in my column in Memphis that said, Super League. Yeah, there would be a Super League. It eventually. Well, we're seeing that kind of sort of three Super League.
01;00;23;20 - 01;00;25;03
Tom Green
So it's everyone talks about it.
01;00;25;03 - 01;00;32;13
Woody Paige
It's funny when you're saying it is oh when we go to 12 there will be no more debate. There was more debate.
01;00;32;14 - 01;00;54;26
Vic Lombardi
More debate now than there were. I think there's debate because of the process, not because like Notre Dame being left out in their reaction. But listen, guys, either you can believe me or not, they were assured they would be in. Right? Notre Dame was pretty much assured. And you know what? Assured them two every week when they looked at those polls, they were ahead of Miami.
01;00;54;26 - 01;01;04;02
Vic Lombardi
And then every plays. Exactly. And then for weeks they were ahead of Alabama. And Notre Dame kept beating teams by 30. And like, what happened?
01;01;04;05 - 01;01;10;09
Ron Zappolo
I'll tell you what happened. It's like animal House fucked up. You trust this?
01;01;10;11 - 01;01;16;25
Tom Green
So it is the Wild West out there is there's nobody runs college football. Nobody runs in.
01;01;16;27 - 01;01;18;15
Woody Paige
Germany. Ball transfer.
01;01;18;15 - 01;01;42;10
Tom Green
Portal. But when I think of nil and transfer portal, I think of what what's been happening in Boulder. And you had an interesting chance last week to sit down and spend time with Deon Sanders and you guys, correlating about cancer battles. But also, I mean, he's one of the most interesting people in the sport in Colorado. And, you know, both in success and now in failure, people turn to him and want to hear what he has to say.
01;01;42;10 - 01;01;46;00
Tom Green
What were your impressions, the time you got to spend with him one on one.
01;01;46;05 - 01;01;58;04
Vic Lombardi
One of the greatest public speakers I've ever seen. And I saw him, you know, we'll is crap in person with a bunch of people in this room. And I told him, I said the two best public speaking coaches I've ever come across, Lou Holtz.
01;01;58;07 - 01;01;58;15
Tom Green
Okay.
01;01;58;19 - 01;02;16;06
Vic Lombardi
And Dion. And they're different type of speakers. But, listen, we didn't get into to football. I've been a pretty staunch critic of a lot of the stuff that he's done up there. I have been I told him that, you know, I thought it was fair enough to. I've been trying to chase down Prime since he's been here, and it took this for me to finally interview him.
01;02;16;12 - 01;02;29;21
Vic Lombardi
But I told him, I said, you know, you're going to have critics. I've been your critic. How do you deal with that? And you had a really good answer. He's his own guy. He's going to do it his way no matter what we think, no matter what I say. And I respect that you go back to it.
01;02;29;24 - 01;02;36;08
Vic Lombardi
Do it your way. Do it your way. No matter what anybody says, he's doing it his way. Do I believe in a lot of it didn't.
01;02;36;08 - 01;02;38;00
Tom Green
Look great this year. It didn't. On the field.
01;02;38;01 - 01;02;48;21
Vic Lombardi
It didn't. I know this much. He desperately wants to fix it. He. I could see the I could see the pain that he wants to fix it because his reputation is on the.
01;02;48;21 - 01;02;50;16
Ron Zappolo
Line hard without. If you like him.
01;02;50;19 - 01;03;09;09
Vic Lombardi
I like him personally, I do. I still think there's a long way to go. Coaching. I think there's some things that he needs to change. Don't hire a offensive coordinator. Don't hire your friend. You know, I never worked. It never works in any line. I mean, you coaches do it all over the time. You know, people say, well, why can't he do it?
01;03;09;15 - 01;03;16;25
Vic Lombardi
Pete Carroll has got two of his kids coaching for happens everywhere. Well, you better make sure it works. Otherwise people are going to point to that.
01;03;16;26 - 01;03;20;14
Tom Green
Well, he did do a good job with some friends like his son. And that's a.
01;03;20;14 - 01;03;20;29
Vic Lombardi
Good friend.
01;03;20;29 - 01;03;22;00
Tom Green
Though. Those are two good friends.
01;03;22;06 - 01;03;23;01
Vic Lombardi
Have friends? Yeah.
01;03;23;01 - 01;03;24;02
Tom Green
Those those he has.
01;03;24;05 - 01;03;28;13
Woody Paige
Brought in an offensive coordinator that I think has concepts.
01;03;28;16 - 01;03;30;16
Vic Lombardi
This new guy I like it. Yeah I like it.
01;03;30;16 - 01;03;41;00
Woody Paige
And I'm going to go beyond what you say. I, I occasionally been critical of him. But examine what the alternative was.
01;03;41;03 - 01;03;42;04
Vic Lombardi
There was none. You're so.
01;03;42;04 - 01;03;47;28
Woody Paige
Right. The alternative would have been to get another guy. Yeah. They went through four guys.
01;03;48;00 - 01;03;48;17
Tom Green
Yeah.
01;03;48;19 - 01;04;13;28
Woody Paige
Yeah. And there are reasons why you can't win at Colorado. There are some reasons. Someone asked me the other day who said, you know, what has he got to do? I said, well, one thing is get more African American women to go to school in Colorado. That's a hard thing to say. But, you're a young black man and you know that.
01;04;13;28 - 01;04;22;17
Woody Paige
Yeah, 90% of the population, not only at the school but in that town is white, you know.
01;04;22;19 - 01;04;30;02
Tom Green
And it's hard to talk about football coach to, to, to to manage that. Deon has been unique in that he has addressed that.
01;04;30;02 - 01;04;36;25
Woody Paige
And yeah, he has brought he gets more attention. I mean corral gets more attention than they had.
01;04;36;25 - 01;04;38;21
Ron Zappolo
He saved the football program.
01;04;38;24 - 01;04;51;26
Vic Lombardi
Four years ago on my radio show, we had a Colorado Regent who advocated disbanding football altogether down there. So we went from that to suddenly.
01;04;51;29 - 01;04;53;26
Ron Zappolo
The hottest ticket in America.
01;04;54;00 - 01;04;56;11
Vic Lombardi
You're right, you're right. They had no choice.
01;04;56;13 - 01;05;06;24
Woody Paige
I have a compatriot that I have great respect for. They wrote they should get out of the conference again and get into the Mountain West Conference. I mean, can you imagine just.
01;05;06;24 - 01;05;07;05
Tom Green
To win.
01;05;07;09 - 01;05;19;15
Woody Paige
What alumni of of Colorado would have said that, live in California, live in Colorado, whatever. No, you can't go to Mountain West. Carlos states trying to get out of the mountain western world this year.
01;05;19;15 - 01;05;23;25
Tom Green
But the good news is I don't know who's in any conference anymore. Yeah, they've all shuffled around.
01;05;23;25 - 01;05;27;26
Vic Lombardi
You know, Stanford's in that SEC. Long running.
01;05;27;29 - 01;05;28;05
Woody Paige
Yeah.
01;05;28;05 - 01;05;31;17
Tom Green
Forget about being you up. Just not the Atlanta.
01;05;31;19 - 01;05;38;17
Woody Paige
And there's talk about Notre Dame. This is the weirdest one I've heard forming its own conference.
01;05;38;17 - 01;05;39;17
Vic Lombardi
Yeah, I don't know.
01;05;39;17 - 01;05;41;22
Woody Paige
What the hell is that a one team conference. Are you get.
01;05;41;28 - 01;05;51;06
Ron Zappolo
How do you react to those the criticism of people that say, hey, if Notre Dame had joined the conference, this wouldn't have happened to them.
01;05;51;08 - 01;05;59;12
Vic Lombardi
You're probably right. But my counter would be if you were in Notre Dame shoes, if you're in any other school and you had a network.
01;05;59;14 - 01;06;00;07
Ron Zappolo
You're pulling out.
01;06;00;07 - 01;06;14;02
Vic Lombardi
Of pocket book every day and saying, do that. They maintain their independence because they can. Yeah, they were. And everybody who says what? Let me see you try it. Yeah. Let me see. Let me see another team. Try it and see how long it lasts. It is.
01;06;14;03 - 01;06;21;02
Woody Paige
The most historical, meaningful team other than the Yankees.
01;06;21;05 - 01;06;25;08
Vic Lombardi
Brand. I think you're going to brands now. It's a brand. Brand? Yeah, right. It's a brand.
01;06;25;08 - 01;06;45;11
Woody Paige
It is? Yeah. I think we're talking about I've been on probably 85 or 90 college campuses for games. Yeah. And I thought that, Tennessee, where fans would go down the Tennessee River and get out there's Oregon has.
01;06;45;13 - 01;06;46;14
Vic Lombardi
Been a fun little.
01;06;46;14 - 01;07;17;11
Woody Paige
Venue for the Army Navy aspect. And somebody said, get rid of that game. No Army Navy has a meaning in this country that goes beyond football. I think walking through the leaves pass a little chapel for Notre Dame game is one of the most. I compare it to a ceiling. Yeah, that's in the Vatican. Sure of walking through the leaves in the fall.
01;07;17;13 - 01;07;21;01
Woody Paige
Pass that chapel. Everybody would that students wouldn't. Alumni.
01;07;21;01 - 01;07;22;17
Vic Lombardi
Well, you give me goosebumps.
01;07;22;19 - 01;07;53;17
Woody Paige
Yeah. And you walk in and you see Jesus at one into the stadium. And I went, man, I've been to 85 college stadiums and campuses. There is nothing like this. And I wanted to pull out Newt Rockne, the movie from 1936 or whatever, and just look at it again. I said, people who have never experienced this don't get what Notre Dame is all about.
01;07;53;17 - 01;07;54;23
Woody Paige
It's history. It's also.
01;07;54;23 - 01;07;56;25
Vic Lombardi
Why a lot of people hate them because of what.
01;07;57;02 - 01;08;05;22
Tom Green
They have. They have the I think it's inarguable. The best grotto in college football. They lead the they lead the nation. In grotto he referenced touchdown.
01;08;05;22 - 01;08;12;09
Vic Lombardi
Jesus. I can't tell you how many times I went to the library and asked Touchdown Jesus to help me with this damn statistics exam, and it just came up.
01;08;12;12 - 01;08;13;24
Tom Green
You did find a library, though.
01;08;13;24 - 01;08;18;16
Vic Lombardi
That's pretty good. I mean, I was offered free stats, and so I was, hey.
01;08;18;19 - 01;08;25;09
Tom Green
We could talk to you forever, and we appreciate your time, but all we want to do now is just open up the phone lines.
01;08;25;11 - 01;08;27;03
Vic Lombardi
You know, we don't take calls like we used to.
01;08;27;03 - 01;08;27;24
Tom Green
Never know.
01;08;27;29 - 01;08;30;29
Vic Lombardi
Those days are gone. You know? This is it. Balls are gone.
01;08;31;02 - 01;08;52;25
Woody Paige
I want to get your comments. I vote the Heisman Trophy and I voted for the winner. Yeah, and I voted for a Vanderbilt, quarterback second. And I voted for a Texas Tech. Linebacker for third. That was my opinion. I'm getting a lot of grief for it because I put it out as you. We can't say who you voted for until after it's over.
01;08;52;25 - 01;09;01;25
Woody Paige
And I put it out and people said, oh, you got it wrong. Of course everybody's got an opinion. But then I have the guy I voted second PE all over me.
01;09;01;25 - 01;09;02;18
Ron Zappolo
Oh my goodness.
01;09;02;18 - 01;09;05;21
Vic Lombardi
Did he ever actually did he ever and I yeah.
01;09;05;22 - 01;09;06;29
Woody Paige
I mean good.
01;09;06;29 - 01;09;17;21
Vic Lombardi
Luck that the Heisman is not what it used to be. Obviously it doesn't carry the same weight. But that's a tough subjective. That's it's a hard one. I don't envy you for being a Heisman voter, because that is not.
01;09;17;21 - 01;09;21;08
Tom Green
A it's a tough, tough view to win. Not the best school in Indiana.
01;09;21;08 - 01;09;31;18
Woody Paige
Even something you know about the Heisman voting. When I first started doing it, there'd be a thousand people and they just have guys that were 90 years old and.
01;09;31;19 - 01;09;32;28
Tom Green
Had to mail them in.
01;09;33;00 - 01;09;58;21
Woody Paige
And it there were people who didn't ever. Now we could questionnaires. You had to prove you're watching football in person on television, that you're watching a lot of it. And you go through a three, three pronged qualification. I wasn't requalify until like a week or two before it because they check you.
01;09;58;21 - 01;10;00;16
Tom Green
They're vetting the voters. How do you get this?
01;10;00;16 - 01;10;03;28
Vic Lombardi
Voters? I've never been a voter of anything. No one's ever called me to be.
01;10;03;28 - 01;10;11;18
Ron Zappolo
Voted in the Heisman for 25 years. Did you really? Yeah, but it was back when they knew you were alive. You could get the ball.
01;10;11;18 - 01;10;12;03
Tom Green
Yeah, yeah.
01;10;12;04 - 01;10;14;29
Ron Zappolo
And then you had to mail it one by December, right?
01;10;15;02 - 01;10;18;17
Vic Lombardi
They wouldn't even let me vote in our HOA. I can't get any votes.
01;10;18;17 - 01;10;21;29
Woody Paige
What you used to be able to if they checked your polls.
01;10;22;01 - 01;10;25;00
Ron Zappolo
There was a lot of good. You're good. You can.
01;10;25;01 - 01;10;47;03
Woody Paige
But now I'm just telling you, it's a process that I have to go through. Is a guy started voting out in the 70s and I go, I don't know whether it's good or bad. And someone asked me how many Heisman voters. I said, don't, I can't tell you till or week before because I could be eliminated.
01;10;47;06 - 01;11;15;07
Woody Paige
My best was being on the Pro Football Hall of Fame. We're not interviewing me, but, I thought that was most incredible and most lopsided kind of thing. I sat next to a guy in that meeting who would never vote for a black player. You know it, but your votes are all. They're not announced. Yeah, and you can do whatever you want to.
01;11;15;07 - 01;11;36;17
Woody Paige
And there were guys I mean, I thought there was a punter for the Raiders, but I thought got great. Yeah. Greatest punter in the history. There's no punters in the and a and somebody if I said his name and I want I'll protect names got up and said I'll never vote for punter. And I know ten guys in here.
01;11;36;17 - 01;11;58;26
Woody Paige
No vote for one or not. I just thought he was automatic. And eventually he got in and I the talk I was talking to him, and I told him that story. Said they kept me out because I was a punter. I said he said, you know, I average 60 yards, something like that. So, the Heisman Trophy, I think at least you say it's not like the trophy itself.
01;11;58;27 - 01;12;12;10
Woody Paige
Yeah. The meaning meaningfulness of it, but they're doing it in the best right way where they eliminating people like him, that when he gets to be 70, they go to the polls way before that. I'm kidding.
01;12;12;10 - 01;12;15;07
Ron Zappolo
Was when I got the ball bother me and went over to Fox right.
01;12;15;14 - 01;12;18;20
Tom Green
Billy Sims every year. I mean, it's it's it might have passed.
01;12;18;20 - 01;12;36;01
Woody Paige
I'm going to I'm going to lead the fight, to get all three of you into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame. What? I would like some people here. Well, yeah, I was not. I was not allowed to. I'm not allowed to be one of the judges or on the committee because.
01;12;36;02 - 01;12;40;02
Ron Zappolo
I got open now that if you want to take it.
01;12;40;04 - 01;12;40;27
Ron Zappolo
It to you that.
01;12;41;01 - 01;12;43;15
Woody Paige
I was not allowed. Can you hear you.
01;12;43;16 - 01;12;53;11
Ron Zappolo
And you, I don't know, I was on that thing for, like 25 years. I think their, their official thing is don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out, so I don't think I can handle they.
01;12;53;11 - 01;13;08;23
Woody Paige
You let the door hit me on the way in because it was led by a banker, a bank president who hated me. And he made it clear that I said, but you know what? I've been here 50 years. I would actually think I would know athletes.
01;13;08;23 - 01;13;14;23
Ron Zappolo
You know, you deserved it the most of the four of us here. So now. No. So I'm glad that you did, you.
01;13;14;23 - 01;13;15;12
Woody Paige
Know, but.
01;13;15;14 - 01;13;16;03
Ron Zappolo
In.
01;13;16;06 - 01;13;41;14
Woody Paige
All three of you have paved the way for what is going on in sports media in Denver today, which is change. I'm sitting here doing podcast and YouTube stuff, and you're doing that. It's not like it was when we started. It's not like it was when you started. No. It's change.
01;13;41;14 - 01;13;42;04
Ron Zappolo
Is it better?
01;13;42;07 - 01;13;45;25
Woody Paige
Basically, newspapers have no influence whatsoever.
01;13;45;28 - 01;13;51;08
Vic Lombardi
It's more congested. That's my answer. It's better for a lot of reasons. But there's a lot.
01;13;51;08 - 01;13;52;06
Woody Paige
Of crime out there.
01;13;52;06 - 01;14;08;04
Ron Zappolo
Yeah, yeah, but the problem, I think with the. And I feel for some of the guys now and the women because I don't think because of the way it's changed, none of them had the power that we had. We did. They didn't have the access. They didn't have the power. Like when.
01;14;08;11 - 01;14;09;26
Tom Green
In not as central as it.
01;14;09;26 - 01;14;17;00
Ron Zappolo
Used back in 1985 when I went on there. And channel four, I kind of knew if you wanted to get some sports.
01;14;17;02 - 01;14;22;18
Vic Lombardi
Yeah. You got to go to a certain source, see me. You know what's lost? You know what's lost today. And I'll leave you guys with this.
01;14;22;18 - 01;14;46;03
Woody Paige
Well, but, can I say something? So you get to talk last. I'm proud to be able to sit with you guys that we have. We've had an influence here for decades, and that's why I brought up thing. And the other thing that impresses me about being with the four of you is like the California governor. This is the way we put one leg over the other.
01;14;46;05 - 01;14;52;28
Woody Paige
And they asked him if that bothered his testicle. I'm asking you, are your balls hurting? Yeah.
01;14;53;05 - 01;14;56;08
Vic Lombardi
I mean, oh, man, without a prostate doesn't bother me.
01;14;56;08 - 01;14;58;23
Ron Zappolo
One more rule.
01;14;58;26 - 01;15;00;12
Woody Paige
That's all I tried, you know, the.
01;15;00;19 - 01;15;02;20
Vic Lombardi
Oh, that,
01;15;02;22 - 01;15;04;14
Ron Zappolo
We'll leave us with something good.
01;15;04;16 - 01;15;30;16
Vic Lombardi
Well, I first of all, guys, you know how much I care for you guys and how much I, I admire you, and I think what's lost in today's world is, that deep admiration. It's. It's becoming tainted. There's so much hate in social media that sometimes the admiration that you have for people that carved the way for you paved the path as you guys have done for me, that gets lost.
01;15;30;16 - 01;15;46;03
Vic Lombardi
And I think we're losing our way. And that's that's my only messages to those who are coming up. Help somebody else come up, too, because you guys help me. And I've made I've made it up my first order of business. I'm trying to help as many people up as you guys did yourself. So thank you.
01;15;46;11 - 01;15;47;13
Ron Zappolo
Yeah, well thank you. Yeah.
01;15;47;13 - 01;16;08;25
Tom Green
It's great to see you. Thanks for coming by. Continued. Good luck with your health. And, we'll always be watching and listening as we do. Reminder to anyone out there, if you want to get in touch with us, you can always reach us. At at gorilla Sportsnet next week show may not be as good because we won't have Vic, but we'll be doing a show next week, so we hope to see you then.