The Dave Pasch Podcast - Budda Baker - podcast episode cover

The Dave Pasch Podcast - Budda Baker

Aug 17, 202135 min
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Episode description

Ep. 2 - All Pro safety Budda Baker joins The Dave Pasch Podcast to preview the 2021 Arizona Cardinals season and much more. Baker talks about the need to hold his teammates more accountable this year and why Kyler Murray is already a better player than he was in 2020. Also, we learn about Baker's upbringing, what helped him decide to play at the University of Washington, why he will do anything to be present for the birth of his daughter in December, how using American Sign Language has opened doors to new friendships and the one pre-draft question an NFL team asked that made him very uncomfortable.

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Transcript

Speaker 1

Hey everybody, and welcome to episode two of the Dave Pash Podcast with your host Dave Pash, ESPM broadcaster and Arizona Cardinals play by play announcer. I want to thank you guys so much for checking out episode number one with Hall of Famer Kurt Warner. Had great response from you the listeners, all the downloads, the promotion we got from the Arizona Cardinals on their Twitter page at asy Cardinals as well as the website asy cardinals dot com.

Big thank you to all my friends in the broadcasting business in the sports world for all the likes and the retweets. You can check out everything there is to know about the Dave Pash Podcast, information on previous episodes, on upcoming episodes on our Twitter page at Pash Pod. We also have some new presenting sponsors, bet MGM and Hilo River Hotels and Casinos. Bet MGM is the official sports betting partner of the eros on A Cardinals and

once legalized sports betting launches here in Arizona. Bet MGM plants to open retail sports books at the three Arizona Hila River properties as well as State Farm Stadium, which of course is home to the Cardinals. So we kicked off the Dave Pash Podcast with Kurt Warner, a former player. Today we're going to visit with a current player, All

Pro safety Buddha Baker. And if you've ever been told hey, you're too small, you don't look the part, then you'll be able to appreciate Buddha's story undersized, passed over at one point, now an ascending star in the National Football League. His given name is Boichard. He was nicknamed Buddha by his mom and aunt when he was a child, and

the name stuck. He grew up in the state of Washington, outside of Seattle, and in this podcast he talks about being recruited to the University of Washington and what then head coach Chris Peterson did that impressed him enough to stay home despite offers to play elsewhere in the PAC twelve, including with his best friend. Buddha also discusses his NFL career, why he's tired of the Cardinals being quote unquote average. He discusses holding teammates accountable and in what area Kyler

Murray has improved his game the most. Baker talks about preparing to become a father and why there's a game in December that has a big red circle around it on the calendar. How American sign language has opened new doors for relationships, and what question one team asked him before draft day then made him really, really uncomfortable. So here we go Episode two of the Day Pash Podcast

with All Pro safety Buddha Baker. Buddha Baker, fifth year in the NFL, second round pick by the Cardinals, already two time first Team All Pro and three time Pro Bowler. You're such a great player, but you have such a great story, Buddhist. So I want to go back to your childhood. When did you first fall in love with football? Oh? Man,

I think by the age about twelve. You know, I was a big soccer guy growing up, played soccer, just watched football on TV, played soccer, you know, basketball, track, but I really like soccer. So growing up I was a soccer player. Then finally, you know, my family put me in youth football over in Bellevue, Newport Nights and that's all she wrote from there. So why the transition from soccer to football? Was it because physicality you could hit somebody? Oh yeah, a little bit of that. You know.

Soccer was always my love, but football exactly what you said. The physicality. You can hit people, you know, of course, you got to hit him the correct way. And I knew that growing up at a young age. So just being able to, you know, hit somebody and it be totally legal, it is great with me. So soccer, football and other sports. You played basketball at all growing up?

When I was young, I played basketball, but I ran track, you know, ran track when I was young, did the list select national you know, track teams, and then high school ran a little bit of track. Didn't really practice much, but we ran track and it was fun. So were you a Sonics fan? Like my first year doing NBA for ESPN, my first game was a Sonics Lakers game in two thousand and six, and that was I think I think they left two years after that because Katie

got there. And think when Russ got drafted, he got drafted by Seattle, but they were moving, so it was around the time at the end of their tenure there in Seattle. And I'm guessing at that point you were probably eleven ten years old. So were you a big Sonics fan at that point? Wow? Not really, you know, like he said, I was nine ten years old, but I was a big player fan. I like guys like, of course, the Ray Allen shooting. You know, he's a

Steph Curry of the modern day. Ai Alan and I were just led the way he played one hundred percent each and every play offense and defense. And uh yeah, I like guys like that. You were saying off the year before we started this year, A big Lebron fan. Yeah, of course you met Lebron. Yeah, I met Lebron, met a d They were good guys, crazy tall, but it was cool. We just seeing their relationship as you know, friends and brothers. They were laughing, joking around there. They

were just like kids, you know. First time I think I realized how big Lebron was. You remember Ben Wallace, Yeah, he was on Cleveland. This is when Lebron was early on in his career. And when I saw Lebron standing next to Ben Wallace, who was so big and like you always thought about Ben Walls as a muscle bound rebounder and Lebron was bigger than him. Yeah, I'm like, oh my goodness. So when you see Lebron, I mean

he's six nine, two fifty five two sixty exactly. I mean it's like and running, running fast, exactly what you said. It's two fifty five guys six five. Man. I just have so much respect for him, just what he does on each team, every team he's on. Why Allen iverson? You said? Ai? Yes? Ai, just man. I love the way that crossover was crazy. I love, you know, him crossing people over and making them go the other way. And how his quickness. You know, I'm I would like

to think I'm kind of a quick guy. So just seeing that quickness in and out of that you know, step when he crosses somebody over, and just the way you played the swagg he had, and you know he kind of he kind of put on for the guys with the longest shorts nowadays because back then the shorts were a little higher, but you know, he kind of sagged him a little bit. Had the wrist bands, the

finger bands, the headbands. I like that. What was your recruitment like, because not only were a really good high school player, but you won fourteen to no I think three straight years, right, three straight state titles. What was your recruitment like? Were you heavily recruited? Did you always know where you were going to go? To? Washington? Yeah? I mean I was heavily recruited whole pack twelve. Besides, of course Stanford the great stand for the hod to

have a three point six or something. I had like three point two, so it wasn't good enough for them. But you know, I was heavily recruited PAC twelve sec and for me it was kind of I knew, kind of I was gonna stay home. My best friend at the time was Miles jack He plays now for the Jacksonville Jaguars, and he was committed to UCLA and he played there. He was a great above me, so I almost went to UCLA just because that relationship with him, but I knew right when I would get there he

was one year and done. So for me, I just wanted to put it on myself. And who did I think was the best opportunity for me school and football wise, and University of Washington bringing in Chris Peterson from Boise State at the time and his staff. I just really loved those guys. And Jimmy Lake, who's now the head coach at U dub He was my DV coaching man.

He was a great guy new football, and I would like to say he helped me a lot when I got into the league because we were already kind of running you know, NFL defenses in college, so going to the league, I kind of didn't really miss a step. I was going to ask you about Jimmy, what is the biggest challenge you think that he faces, because it's not just about Washington right now in the Pac twelve, it's about relevance. It's about getting into college football playoff,

which has been an issue for the Pac twelve. Yeah, exactly, I mean Pac twelve, they just he just got to go in and feed it each and every year. You know, we went to the College Football Playoff thankfully, and I think we lost a game to USC that year, but we were Pac twelve champions, and you know, all that stuff matters. But you know, for him, I feel like they always have the team each and every year. They

just got to put it together. And especially with these last you know, a couple of years with COVID, you know, it's definitely hard. So you know, we'll see how he does. You know, I haven't talked to him in a while, but I planned to talk to him, you know soon. Do you have a story from when you were being recruited?

Was there any one particular coach that you thought was a certain way and that surprised you, or any crazy story that you have, I mean crazy story, maybe not, but you know, with Chris Peterson, I just remember he kept a photo of me in his wallet because he knew that me being a hometown guy. He his biggest thing that was on his mind was to try and get me to stay home because he knew that would kind of be a triple effect. So that was a crazy story. And then just them come to my house.

They were great people. Just how genuine there were. You know, for me, it was definitely easy to see the genuine people versus the people that would you know, kind of car salesman type of coaches and guys like that. So with you, Dug, everyone was so genuine. They told me the truth, of course, you know, told me right on, like you're not just gonna start right away, You're gonna work your way up to the top. And you know

that's what I did my freshman year. Were you upset then when you didn't get picked in the first round. What was your reaction when the hardinals traded up though to get you early in the second round. Yeah, I definitely thought I was a first round pick. I definitely

thought I was the best safety coming out. But for me, you know, the negative thing about me was my size and my height, and I knew I can't really do anything about that going into mine, you know, at the time my true junior year after that season playing Alabama had a great game, you know, lost to them, but the biggest things was your height and your size, and can't really change that. So for me, I knew I wanted to go out and I knew all it takes

is one team. So for me is as soon as I get my foot in the door, I felt like I was gonna take that opportunity in For the Cardinals to trade up for me, that was definitely special because that showed me that they really, you know, wanted to get me when a team trades up for you, So I was definitely excited and happy. I didn't think I was gonna go to the Cardinals just because of you know, the players they kind of had, so for me to get drafted by them, it was definitely excited and definitely

my rookie year learned from those guys. Did you meet with the Cardinals at all or was it a complete shock because you didn't really know anybody in the organization. You know, I met with like twenty eight teams at the combine, which was definitely hard because you have those fifteen minute interviews each and every day. I feel like I had like twelve interviews and one night, and I was like very tolling of course, with having to run to forties and the benches and all that type of stuff.

But that's all for you know, your mental They do that for a reason. They want to see who can you know, still comprehend those things and still you know, show out on the field once it's time to go on the field. And you know, I met with Cardinals and they were great. I met you know, at the time it was BA and Steve and you know those guys, and they were all cool and it was it was great.

Any strange question from any of those interviews, anything you remember that You're like, man, I can't believe that dude just asked me that. Yeah, I mean I think it was the Bengals. The Bengals, Cincinnati Bengals. I go in and first of all, when you go in, usually guys like you know, they greet you and stuff. But when I went in there that everyone was just quiet and staring at me, and I was just like, hey, how are you guys doing? Just some guys looking at me?

And then first question was what is forty percent of two hundred? I was like, you know, I kind of took at it like I was kind of you know, I didn't really know I was going to get a question like that. I'm like nervous that. I'm like, okay, forty's running through my mind. I better get it right. Yeah. I'm worried about my plays, like making sure you know what's under over, like making sure I know my defenses and stuff. And the first question is what's forty percent

and two hundred? So that's not the weirdest thing the Bengals have done. But that's so I'll have a whole podcast on that, maybe with AJ Green at some point or Carson when we get them on. So, you're the second highest paid safety in the NFL now with Justin Simmons getting his deal. Yeah. Um, recently you have the Madden ranking, the ESPN ranking, the Pro Football Focus ranking, which I assume you want to hit on that. How

did they come up with number sixteen? That's what I want to know, you know, for me, it's just like, I just feel like someone over there doesn't like me. Um they said, I I'm my coverage grade is like a sixty percent or and I gave up five touchdowns last year. And it's just like, man, where are you getting this stuff? But those are guys opinions, Guys who you know, I don't know if they played the game

of football or not. I don't know if they know our defenses, they know our playbooks, and they know you know, who's getting scored on who and what stuff. But you know, I kind of just let that go in one ear and out the other. I definitely was kind of disrespected when I saw that, But at the end of the day, it's their opinions. It's a free world. They can have their opinions. I'll just I'll just keep showing out each and every week exactly. You change your number of this

year to number three, which makes my job harder. I've had to relearn the roster. I'm like looking at like, who's number three, Oh, that's foot up and you know, doing college college football every week, so I'm used to seeing like a defensive lineman wearing number six, but now it's in the NFL. So it's I know, obviously that's far from anything you're concerned with, but why the number three? You were thirty two in high school and then thirty

sixty with the Cardinals. Why did you change the number three? I mean, of course I war thirty six with the Cardinals and then was able to wear thirty two again. But for me, it was just kind of having my own number. You know, first time they ever let dbs and people wear single digit numbers. So for me, I already knew I was gonna try and use that to

take that number and play on defense. So just a number no other defensive back and Cardinals here has had, and you know, hopefully I can do great things with that number and see those see that number in the wrap theres someday. What for fans that are listening to this going into the season, what do you think will

be different about the defense of this year? You know, in the beginning of camp, I just try to talk to guys and just say, like, we're very average these last four years, and I don't want to be average anymore. I'm done with being average. So when I see things that are average on the field, I'm going to be talking to you about it. Everybody just being held accountable of things and just let guys know we're brothers at

the end of the day. But if you mess up something, I'm gonna get on you about it, just like if I mess up something, you should get on me about it. Because at the end of the day, everybody wants to be at the top and all the guys being held accountable of things on the defense and getting into their playbooks and understanding you know, defense is because we were a game short last year and we were a way

better defense than what we showed last year. So this year, everyone being held accountable, taking it day by day, not looking at what's in four weeks or five weeks, but one week at a time, one day at a time, and things are going to be special. So we'll see. We've heard a lot about the focus of Steve come was to bring in more leadership, be more physical. Have you noticed the difference in the locker room in terms of leadership with some of the auditions and without naming names,

some of the substractions that aren't here anymore. I mean there's definitely leadership, you know on the defense, leadership on the team, and you know, Steve Kim and this staff has done a great job of bringing good guys in and guys that want to learn, and guys that you know, want to have those leadership qualities and have those leadership

qualities and has done great things in the NFL. So you know, for us, we're just so excited and like I said, we're just all being taken accountable, being held accountable, and want to get better each and every day. So that's all that matters. I know it's early in camp, but just I'm curious, based on conversations you've had with some of the young guys or what you've seen in practice or even going back to mini campus, they're a player that maybe we're not thinking about that we need

to have a rise on here. Oh. I mean, I think there's a bunch of players, you know, especially with I mean these young draft picks, these young guys. All these guys are really good guys. They want to be coach, they want to learn, and you know, I give tremendous respect, you know for these young guys because a lot of young guys when they get drafted, they kind of think they're you know, the shi t and they just don't want to do you know, they don't want to do things,

They don't want to do the hard things. But with all these young guys, they want to work, they want to get better, and I'm excited for of course, they're Zavin Isaiah who's in his second year, and I'm just excited for this defense Chandler coming back. It's it's gonna be special. Do you like camp? Do you like to come to training camp? And their players who don't like it, they would rather just get to the preseason games or even just get to the regular season. I work with

Ron Wolfley. I mean he loved camp. He loved the hitting, he loved he was doing three days that. Yeah, do you enjoy it? I'm not saying I love camp, but I'll say I embrace it, you know, I embrace the grind. You kind of embrace the suck in a sense. And this camp, of course, there's guys. You're able to go home, you know. So I'm able to go home each and every night, get my good meals, my good stretches, and come back the next morning and work, you know, my

ass off. So and I'm excited. I'm very excited. Embrace the suck. I think I'm gonna use that when I get like an assignment that I don't like, Hey, you're doing this game this week. I'm gonna be like, I just gotta embrace the sun, Gotta just embrace it. JJ Watt,

what was your first impression when he walked in? Man, big guy, you know, tall, long, strong, saw him in the weight room, a little strong, loves you know, kind of a meathead in a type of sense when I see j. J. Watt, but a guy who's a great guy, loves to work, and I'm excited to have him on our team. What about AJ Green, because it's somebody that when I sat down with Cliff, he brought up AJ unsolicited, and just watching Aj in camp, it's noticeable that this

guy still has it. What have you seen? Of course, like you said, I mean, he's in He's in the Great A Z Sunny Hot every day. It's beautiful. He still has that jew still has that burst speed that where he can go deep, but also that speed where he can go deep and then sit it down real quick in a one two punts. So having him in d hop is special just for k one having those weapons, and then especially you know Kurt in the slot, he's fast and the new additions that we have as well.

Fast guys can get in and out of their breaks, and I'm excited for this offense for sure. But Aj, like he said, he still has that juice. He can break on a dime, catch the ball, and I'm excited to see what he can do with the Cardinals. Anything that stands out to you about Kyler Murray that's different? Oh? For me, I feel like his arm strength is definitely better.

He's always had great arm strength, but you know there's one time in practice he's rolling all the way to the right sideline and he flicks the ball to d hop and it's like a fifty five yard throw in the middle the field across his body, so and it's a dart. So his arm strength. His accuracy has always been good, which gets better each and every year, but

that armstram is special. You've made so many big time plays in a short time in the NFL, But it seems like from a national perspective, the play that everybody talks about is the DK Metcalf play. Yeah, and I'm sure you get asked about that a ton ye. I mean, is there an interview you do or a person you talk to that doesn't bring it up that just talks about you. No, not one interview since that's happened has been something about me. But of course, I mean it

was a play. It was good play on him, but you know, great play on me. They were in the red zone, they had three automatically try to go fast, long series, get the interception, take it all the way to whatever yard line, get the chance for the offense to get points on the board, and ultimately we won that game. Now, if we lost that game, you know, that would have been a spectacular play by him. But

we won the game. So or whatever, your play went longer in terms of winning the game for the Cardinals than his play did in terms of impacting the exact, which is what matters most. So, looking at this season with the Seahawks and the Rams on the forty nine ers, do you feel like there is a team that's more

of a rival than another. I know that you probably have to say we respect every team, but is there one team and maybe it's Seattle because you're from there, that like you hate and you can't wait to get on the field with them. I mean, honestly, it's every team in the NFC West. I don't like you know, I just want to beat him. Of course, like you said, Seattle, I love to go against them because that's a hometown team and a team that you know, I know a lot of the guys on that team, so I always

like to compete with those guys. And definitely when we win those games, I'm able to come home and just you know, we're able to laugh at the those type of situations. But I would say the Rams as well, just because we haven't beat him, and I really want to, you know, get that opportunity again to play them, because we got to get over that hump. They've just been a team that's had our numbers for you know, ever since I've been here, So try to, you know, beat

the Rams for sure. Larry Wilson, Adrian Wilson, Pat Tillman, Tyron Matthew, You're in that conversation and great list of safeties that have played for the Cardinals. How does that make you feel? Are you familiar with those guys? I mean, obviously, Tie, but do you remember Adrian when he played Larry Wilson? I mean, all I know is the guy played with broken hands. Like I'm too young to remember Larry when he may but you know, obviously he was a legend exactly.

Now I'm a ninety six and baby, so I'm way too young for that. But um, Adrian Wilson, hard hitter guy, um guy who played corner as well, so versatility. Of course, there's Tyrn Matthew, who's my stature. Can you know? It's versatle as well, And it's over there doing really good with the Chiefs. And for me, it's just, you know, I don't really let that get to my head right now,

going into year five. I'm just trying to be the best I can as a person player and you know, we'll talk about that when I'm out of this game. So for me, I'm just focused on being the best player I can each and every day for myself, for this team, and just trying trying to get get the Cardinals back up. You know, you mentioned a ninety six baby, and so you're twenty five. You've got a long way to go in this game. But do you have you thought about what you want to do down the road

at some point? It's interesting because there I had a conversation with Chris Paul in preseason when we were doing a Son's game and a lot of these guys now that have made the kind of money that Chris Paul's made and that you're on track to make. If they're not talking about getting into being a coach or a manager general manager, they're talking about ownership. Like Chris, his mentor isn't Michael Jordan, it's Bob Eiger, who is the

long time CEO at Disney. When I would do Clipper games, Billy Crystals on one side of our table and Bob Iger's on the other, Chris Paul, you had to go a dab up you know, uh is a dab or dap Billy Crystal because it's Billy Crystal. Yeah, but then he goes over to Bob Iger, like that's his mentor. Have you thought at all about down the road what

you want to do? Yeah? I mean for me, it's kind of just uh like investing into things, just slowly getting good cash cast that no one really knows about it, and just you know, people don't think that our people just think I'm a football player, but I like to invest into things and hopefully get more money in my investments than I am playing this game. So you know, we'll talk about that, you know, hopefully ten years down the road. Yeah, you got, you got plenty of time.

I'm just curious because again it's shifted where he used to be. Players wanted to be. They either want if they stayed in football or basketball, was coaching, scouting. Now it's ownership because of the money that's available to players. You're about to be a father. How do you think that will change your life? Oh? Man, it's gonna be special for me, you know, having a little baby girl.

So of course a lot of my girl dad friends tell me that I'm gonna be as softie and all that type of stuff, and you're gonna be soft in football. But for me, I don't think I'm gonna be soft in football. I'm gonna want to go harder. But I'll definitely be soft for my little daughter. And that will definitely be a special moment to see her, you know, see her born, because I will be there for sure no matter what. And the due date is December third. December third is that game day? Off the top of

my head, I'm trying to think. Nope. We play Chicago Bears on the fifth, I believe, and that will be in Chicago. So you know, I've had that conversation with you know the ownership and mister Bidwell and Steve and Cliff, and I just told him straight up like I gotta there for my daughter's born day and I'm gonna be there no matter what. So even when we're in Chicago, if I have to go back, I'm gonna do it because my kids, my daughter will always be there long

after the game of football. And I definitely feel like it's gonna be special for me, my first blood child, to be there for her to see me no matter what, even if she doesn't remember, I still want to be there. I want to remember. So that's all always be good. That's awesome, man, much respect on that. Your demeanor in talking with you, and I've heard a lot of universe the first time you and I've really sat down and chattered,

like very different from your demeanor on the field. When you step on the field, What is going through your mind? Do you have to put yourself in a different state of consciousness? Almost? I mean I don't put myself it just you know, it just comes out, you know that what should I say? That different personality comes out when I get on that field. I'm just excited. It's party time.

Like Brian Dawkins would say, And you know, I loved watching the ed reads, the Brian Dawkins, the Ray Lewis is when they get on the field and m it was definitely special. And you know, for me, it just comes out like I'm not trying to act no type of ways. It just comes out when I get on the field, I'm excited and I want to help my team win the game. So you know, during the game,

it's all fun and games. After the game, I get back into my chill mood and probably very sore, get myself a nice glass of wine or something and chill out for the night. All right, So what do you like? What's your veno of choice? You know, I'm a peano guy. I like peeno no wars um, you know, calves sometimes with a steak, but I'm more of a smooth peeno no wir guy. Just go right into the wine celler at the house, get one out, and I get I

got a good air raidor too. You know a lot of a lot of those er raiders are you know, you need a good one to have it more clear and taste better. Smart man, you gotta figure it out. Yeah, got to figure it out. I might be twenty five, but you know, I learned some things. It's good. That's good the core OFVIN. So if the core OFVIN, you don't have to open the bottle. You can stick the core of it and poor then you can save them all. Oh yeah, exactly, you can do that as well. So

you're you're very talkative. You've been great in this setting, and you're very talkative on the field. There's a time I understand when you're not talkative, and that's when you're doing sign language. Tell me about your background with ASL. I have a daughter who she could have done Spanish or American Sign language, and she chose ASL, and she doesn't use it a lot, but it's really cool when she does because you see how comfortable it makes another person, yea,

that they can have a relationship without speaking exactly. You know, my freshman year in high school, I took Spanish and I just I didn't really get a good grade on it, So you had my junior year of high school, I actually went to a community college to do ASL, and that's when I first started it. And you know, at the time, I think I had a broken thumb, so I had sign with my left hand, So that definitely made my left hand more like coordinated kind of in

a sense. And you know, going into college at the University of Washington, I took it there for two years as well. And it's definitely special because there are deaf people in this world, and you know, a lot of hearing people can't communicate to them, whether it's it's only by text message or you know, maybe on social media, but in person it's you know, hard, you can't really communicate to them. So for me, anytime I see a deaf person, I try to talk to them and just say, hey,

how are you. You know, introduce myself my name. They say, how are you? Where do you learn sign language? I tell them University of Washington and it's great, good conversations. They smile hard, and you know, that's definitely special for me. So you know, I'll continue to understanding, and if I'm ever losing it, of course I still you know, you still have your things to where you can go back

on and learn some things. So yeah, there a specific example, a particular story that sticks with you that it is something that you'll remember for a long time about an interaction you have. I mean, one time I was with Chandler actually, and we were, you know, taking our trips at the time in the off season, and we're at the airport and you know, we left our left our car in the airport, so we had to go walk to our car. And at the airport and I see a you know, a deaf person sitting down signing on

his cell phone. And I walk up. I go up to them because you know, deaf people like that when a hearing person likes to go up and talk to them. So I go up to him, say, hey, you know, how are you. My name's Buddha. He's like, hey, how are you. My name's you know, Ali, and then tells his friend tell him hello, and you know, I say, nice to meet you, and he smiles and it's great, good conversation. So that was definitely a special moment for me. Well,

I gotta tell you, man, you're an impressive dude. I've been such a big fan of you as a player, but just hearing and I've known your story, but hearing more about you and the type of person you are, just your compassion for people, and you know how the story about how you want to be there for your daughter, to be there for the birth no matter what, even if that means you end up missing a game. I mean,

it's just it's great. I think when Cardinal fans and NFL fans and people maybe if they aren't even football fans, here the story they're they're gonna walk away saying, man that that Buddha Baker is a special dude. So I really appreciate the time. I appreciate that for sure. Yeah, me too. And I appreciate everything you're saying. And yeah, like he said, first with my daughter, I gotta be there. I love football, you know, I know I mean a lot to this team, and you know they mean a

lot to me as well. And I love these guys. And if that conversation has to happen, I'll have that conversation before the game, before we get there. But you know, hopefully, you know, we have that bye week before. Hopefully it happens a little bit before that so I can be there. But like you said, no matter what, I gotta see my my daughter be you know, born. I gotta see however many kids I have born, so don't understand, yea,

And if they don't, that's that's there. They don't exactly like you said, my friend Bill Walton missed two of his kids' births. Yeah, so you know, uh, hey, you know you gotta be there. Yeah, exactly for me, I just gotta be there one hundred percent. Gotta be there, all right. Appreciate your Buddha. Appreciate you too, man. How can you not be impressed listening to the heart of Buddha. Baker.

He loves football, family, He even loves strangers. His story about using sign language to engage the hearing impaired was absolutely inspirational. I mean, I've enjoyed watching Baker tremendously on the field the last few years, but after spending time with Buddha, I'm gonna root for him even more to succeed. I love his leadership too. He said, Look, we're brother, but if you're not doing your job, I'm gonna walk

up on you. I'm gonna hold you accountable. I'll love you in the end, but I'm tired of being average. And he was very thoughtful talking about where the team needs to improve, but upset at the way the defense and how he's been portrayed in some circles. Part of Baker being undersized and not being a first round draft pick when he thought he should have been continues to

be motivation to prove everybody wrong. That's usually what makes a good player, a great player, that drive to never be satisfied and to be the best, and Buddhast certainly has that. And I can't wait to watch Baker in two twenty one. So that'll do it for episode two of the Dave Passh Podcast. I want to thank again are presenters BETMGM, the official sports betting partner of the

Arizona Cardinals and Hila River Hotels and Casinos. Coming up next week, the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, Cliff Kingsbury, and ESPN NFL analyst Mina Kimes. We have some great guests in the future. Expected to join the Dave Pash Podcast. Two members of the ESPN Monday Night Football team, Steve Levy and Brian Greasy. The owner of the Arizona Cardinals, Michael Bidwell, a guy that went from being a player for the Arizona Cardinals to the president of an NFL

team in less than a decade. Jason Wright from the Washington Football team is expected to join us as his actor James Rode from A Million Little Things and Psyche and comedian Frank Caliendo, Ron Wolfley, of course, and Bill Wolton and many more. Talk to you next week. Thanks again for listening to Dave Passed podcast m

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