On The Ball with Ric Bucher

Ric reflects on the impact made by Ft. Worth-Dallas sports figure Roger B. Brown, Sacramento Kings beat writer Marty McNeal and Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan. Also: who and what to blame when your team falls short of a title and how the Toronto Raptors may have started a new trend in how champions are made. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends . Hosted on Acast. See acast....

Ric questions the accuracy of describing Michael Jordan as a bully, the possibility of a player today operating the same way, two numbers never considered when comparing MJ and LeBron. Ric also discusses his issue with the audio clip of him used in Episode 9 and the person responsible for the Bulls not coming back to pursue a fourth consecutive championship. Support this show http://supporter.acas...

Ric examines several controversial topics in the ESPN documentary "The Last Dance," including what the 1992 Dream Team really represented and why Isiah Thomas was excluded from it. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ric knows the two combatants as well as anyone and pinpoints why Charles has taken shots at Draymond for years and why the general criticism of Draymond's contract, conduct and accomplishments all miss the mark. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ric & Will discuss how Michael Jordan has changed since his playing days, why the Baltimore Ravens consistently draft well, the secret ingredient every college DB needs to make it in the NFL and the one person who should not be with a draftee on draft night. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ric gets to turn the tables on Fox Sports TV/Radio star Colin Cowherd and ask the questions. Colin explains why his ideal golf foursome would not include an athlete, the one athlete he hasn't interviewed that he wished he could and what the effect of the current quarantine is having on Colin's show and will have on the sports world going forward. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher...

Ric identifies the aspects of Jordan's character that have led to his timelessness, along with the disservice done to today's stars that diminishes their chances of ever eclipsing Jordan's accomplishments, on or off the court. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ric examines why LeBron James is an unrelenting and polarizing subject of conversation by fans and media alike. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ric and Alaa swap stories about a variety of NBA legends, including those gone far too soon, preserving a love for the game when it becomes a business and one of the all-time great pranks pulled on one of his Blazers' teammates. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ric catches up with Alaa, whose five-year NBA career with five teams afforded him a chance to play with an array of legendary players and experience everything the league has to offer, from starting out with a veteran-laden, championship-chasing Blazers' squad, joining the Celtics' brotherhood to a young and wild Sacramento Kings' squad. Hear never-told-before insight into such legends as Moses Ma...

Ric and Todd Ramasar, CEO & founder of Life Sports Media & Entertainment, discuss the growing buzz that the NBA will find a way to hold playoffs this summer, re-schedule the draft and potentially move back the start of future NBA seasons. Also discussed: the creative ways in which players are staying ready isolated at home and why Ramasar's clients who play in China are willing to go back....

Ric reminisces about discovering the difference between Michael Jordan and his champion predecessors, Magic and Bird. Also examined: how LeBron James showed NBA players to fully utilize their influence and power -- and why that may have led to today's prospects taking far too much of a business approach to the game. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends . Hosted on Acast....

Ric and Will discuss why a home gym won't keep a pro athlete in shape, what they don't have when they can't train in a performance center and who stands to be more successful without the other, Tom Brady or Bill Belichick. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ric looks back at who he interacted with and how at the Nets-Lakers game and then discovering who tested positive for the novel coronavirus, as well as how the NBA could return to action and why it would be the best way for the league to contribute to beating virus. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ric talks with Lance Allred, the first legally deaf player ever to play in the NBA, about the inspiration for his new book, "The New Alpha Male," the super power being deaf developed, his unlikely and extraordinary path to playing in the NBA and the danger defining ourselves by our athleticism presents. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends . Hosted on Acast. See acast.co...

Ric discusses the challenge for foreign-born NBA stars to lead a championship team and why Luka Doncic may be a different breed; why it would be a mistake to permanently close locker rooms to the media; and a few observations from Kobe's memorial at the Staples Center. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In an episode of the ever popular Bucher, Friendless, Ric channels his inner Chris Paul and provides a new format to solve the NBA dunk contest's issues, outlines all that we learned in that epic fourth quarter of the All-Star Game -- including that there are no Kobes currently in the league -- and why he may have appeared less than prepared for a debate with FS1's Colin Cowherd on load management...

Ric and Chicago Bulls' star Zach LaVine sit down in front of a live audience to discuss Kobe Bryant's impact, Zach's evolution from dunk champion to team leader and go-to scorer, questions about his defense, who he can count on to tell him the truth and how he's been preparing for the three-point contest since grade school. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends . Hosted o...

Former NBA centers Ryan Hollins and Kendrick Perkins join Ric to hash out their argument on Twitter about who the best players in the game today are, as well as what it was like to personally play alongside stars past (Kevin Garnett) and present (Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook). Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more infor...

Ric reviews all his trade deadline predictions, including what led him to believe Marcus Morris was headed to the Lakers. Also discussed: seeing in person the center-less Rockets befuddle those same Lakers and looking at Jimmy Butler's previous stops and why his Miami one could be different. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy fo...

Ric and Will discuss where the 49ers fell short in Super Bowl 54, which Kansas City Chief deserved to be MVP, the meaning behind Tom Brady's Super Bowl commercial and the emotional effect Kobe Bryant's death had on the Super Bowl competitors as well as the NBA -- and if playing poorly is understandable under the circumstances. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends . Hoste...

Orlando Magic DJ Augustin, listed at 5'11" and 183 pounds, is in his 12th NBA season. DJ and Ric discuss how being displaced by Hurricane Katrina shaped DJ's perspective on life at an early age, how he handles mentoring young point guards brought in to take his job and what it was like to be constantly mentioned in trade rumors early in his career. Note: this conversation took place prior to the t...

In a special podcast with Ric and his rotating co-hosts Will and Ryan, the threesome discuss the shock of Kobe Bryant's death and his legacy. Ric and Ryan also share their personal interactions with Kobe, while Will discusses how he and other pro athletes outside of basketball measured Kobe and his accomplishments. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends . Hosted on Acast....

On the eve of Zion Williamson's debut, Ric and Ryan list the unlikely events that would have to transpire for the No. 1 pick to win ROY over Ja Morant. Also, halfway through the NBA season, Ric and Ryan revisit the 2019 draft, their picks to win the Eastern Conference, the battle for the last playoff spot in the Western Conference and why the Blazers acquired Trevor Ariza from the Sacramento Kings...

Ric and Will discuss the allegedly novel strategy Conor McGregor used to defeat Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone in their recent UFC showdown, the NFL championships, their personal ties to retiring Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly and how to develop the mental speed that beats foot speed every time. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pr...