WBC Hero Vinnie Pasquantino, Bill Raftery Talking March Madness, Conf Tourney Week, Bam’s 83, NFL Free Agency And Fyre Fest

Summary

Pardon My Take — March 13, 2026

Episode Overview

On this episode of Pardon My Take, Big Cat & PFT Commenter recap a frantic week in sports that included the chaos of NCAA Conference Tournament week, the drama of the World Baseball Classic, an NBA 83-point explosion from Bam Adebayo, and a wild NFL free agency period. They’re joined by two special guests: WBC hero and Italian-American slugger Vinnie Pasquantino, hot off a 3-homer game, and college basketball broadcasting legend Bill Raftery, who talks all things March Madness. The show features the gang’s trademark mix of humor, fan-level passion, and sharp sports insight, with notable debates on bracketology, team selection, and why Hank might secretly be Dominican. The episode closes with the weekly Fyre Fest — personal disasters both real and trivial.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Madness of Conference Tournament Week

Timestamps: 02:57–18:29

• Miami (Ohio) Loses: The panel opens by processing Miami of Ohio’s stunning first-round loss in the MAC. As the last undefeated team, their exit kicks off a bracketology debate:

  • “The fact they did in the first round. You really. Thank you for starting the conversation, Miami of Ohio.” – PFT Commenter [05:12]
  • “March Madness, to me, is the greatest thing we do as a country.” – Big Cat [06:42]

• Bracketology Fights:

  • Should Miami (31–1, but weak SOS) get in over a middling Auburn (17–16, strong schedule)?
  • “I’d rather have the story of Miami (Ohio). I want to see what happens when they play their first quad one game in the middle of March.” – Big Cat [07:06]

• Play-In Game Suggestions: The gang imagines a live Sunday night play-in as “an extra play in” for the last bubble teams. [08:27–09:31]

• Villanova and the Sad Bubble: Max and others dissect the worst bubble year ever; Villanova’s fate is debated.

  • “There’s a 0% chance Villanova gets to the Sweet 16.” – Max [11:00]

• Big East/Conference Tourney Love:

  • “I think [Big East tournament is] a top three favorite sporting event in the world.” – Max [11:54]
  • “Big East is an Italian league. The ACC is a North Carolina league. It just is.” – PFT Commenter [13:12]

2. NFL Free Agency Craziness

Timestamps: 20:27–34:41

• Trey Hendrickson/Baltimore Ravens Saga: The hosts break down the failed Max Crosby-Ravens deal, ultimately replaced by signing Trey Hendrickson.

  • “That’s the thing about making these trades where you give up picks. It leaves it so that if you are wrong... you’re screwed yourself.” – Big Cat [21:00]
  • “Nobody’s more upset about this than me. That is definitely the thing that you say when you’re not upset.” – PFT Commenter [24:08]

• Kyler Murray to Vikings, Daniel Jones News: Quick recaps on quarterback musical chairs and the uncanny Colts QB carousel.

• Other Free Agent Moves: Notable signings and speculation about Kirk Cousins, Bradley Chubb, and a new logo/uniform for the Tennessee Titans (“Powder blue is a cheat code,” Big Cat, [31:53]).

• NFL Scheduling Expansion: Hot take on the possible addition of a Wednesday night Thanksgiving week game.

  • “Part of why we love the NFL is the scarcity...” – Big Cat [33:29]

3. World Baseball Classic & Team Italy’s Glory

Timestamps: 36:45–47:02; 58:29–80:25 (Vinnie Pasquantino interview)

• USA’s Narrow Escape & Manager Gaffe: Mark DeRosa’s confusion about advancement rules and the risk of USA’s elimination is roasted.

  • “Mark DeRosa, you were 3–0 going into that game... I would not trust Mark DeRosa to be the master strategist.” – PFT Commenter [38:26]

• Italy’s Amazing Run:

  • “It’s pretty cool to get some baseball over there and try to help build some development culture.” – Vinnie Pasquantino [59:42]
  • Team’s Jersey roots: “The state of New Jersey has a ton of connection to Italy.” – Vinnie [61:57]
  • Pork roll debate, espresso celebrations, and call-outs for the Pope to notice.

• WBC Atmosphere:

  • “I’ve never been more nervous standing at first base with nobody on base, winning by eight runs in my life.” – Vinnie [67:33]

• Italian Stereotypes: Clubhouse is “leaning into Italian stereotypes” for the good of the game (and comedy).

4. Basketball: Bam Adebayo’s 83-point Game

Timestamps: 47:41–55:15

• Wild Individual Scoring:
  • Was Bam’s record (vs. Wizards) “cheapened”? The guys compare it to Kobe, Wilt, and how we contextualize great performances.
  • “It did give them a good opportunity to talk about what Kobe would have done... always a treat to see people do that.” – PFT Commenter [52:23]

5. March Madness Preview with Bill Raftery

Timestamps: 82:06–113:46

• Bill Raftery on Tourney Energy:

  • “Turning the page is the biggest thing for these kids and coaches... Each [phase] brings a different personality.” – Bill Raftery [82:35]

• Rowdiest Fans at MSG: “St. John’s is good, obviously... UConn’s got to be another one... Villanova probably would be the third.” [84:02]

• Coach & Ref Stories, Hurley Bros.: Hilarity on Bobby joining Danny at UConn and legendary sideline personalities.

• Big Ten Analysis: Thoughts on Purdue, Michigan State, bubble teams, physicality, Nebraska’s promise, and the need for post scoring.

• “Onions!” and March memories:

  • “I do think there’s an evenness around the country that, you know, the first weekend, there’s going to be great games...” — Bill [98:59]

• Raftery’s Coach Stories: From Rick Majerus ordering all appetizers, to after-hours drinks with coaching legends.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote/Moment | |-----------|----------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------| | 05:04 | Hank | “If they lost first round of the conference tournament, you said 100% they’re in.” | | 06:42 | Big Cat | “March Madness, to me, is the greatest thing we do as a country.”| | 24:08 | PFT | “Nobody’s more upset about this than me. That is definitely the thing you say when you’re not upset.” | | 38:30 | PFT | “Mark DeRosa, you were 3-0 going into that game... I would not trust Mark DeRosa...” | | 31:53 | Big Cat | “Powder blue as a color is a cheat code. Put it on anything and it looks good.” | | 59:42 | Vinnie Pasq. | “It’s pretty cool to get some baseball over there... to help build some development culture.” | | 67:33 | Vinnie Pasq. | “I’ve never been more nervous standing at first base with nobody on base, winning by eight runs in my life.” | | 83:56 | Bill Raftery | “...people thought the [Big East] league was down, it’s still very competitive...” | | 98:59 | Bill Raftery | “I do think there’s an evenness around the country that... there’s going to be great games...” | | 112:53 | Bill Raftery | “I’m not giving up on Houston... There’s just something about this Houston team...” |

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Additional Highlights

• Hank’s Dominican Republic Love: Hank professes a strong rooting interest for the Dominican Republic in the WBC, leading to a classic group roast (“Dude, I like to be entertained... The Dominican team is electric,” [44:17]).

• Fyre Fest of the Week (115:47+): Each panelist catalogs the week’s personal headaches, including Hank’s flat tire, PFT fear-injecting himself, and Zach discovering Chicago’s river (“I may have wasted several months inside of my apartment,” [133:28]).

• French Hours Discovery (131:03+): Big Cat & Max get overexcited about a movie set’s “French hours” — no lunch break, but food constantly available.

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Important Segments & Timestamps

• 02:57 – 18:29 — NCAA Bubble, Bracketology, and Conference Tourney Breakdown
• 20:27 – 34:41 — NFL Free Agency Updates
• 36:45 – 47:02 — World Baseball Classic, Team Italy
• 47:41 – 55:15 — Bam’s 83-Point NBA Game
• 58:29 – 80:25 — Interview: Vinnie Pasquantino
• 82:06 – 113:46 — Interview: Bill Raftery (March Madness Preview)
• 115:47 – end — Fyre Fest of the Week, French Hours, Offbeat stories

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Tone & Language

The show is fast-paced, irreverent, self-deprecating, and loaded with pop culture references, group inside jokes, and recurring bits (“This is March,” “put ‘em in,” “onions!”). The banter is playful but anchored by genuine sports analysis.

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TL;DR

PMT dives deep into Conference Tourney Week and March Madness fever, debates NCAA bubble chaos, roasts NFL free agency and WBC managerial gaffes, and chats with WBC folk-hero Vinnie Pasquantino and legendary hoops voice Bill Raftery. Notable for lively debates, high-volume sports nerdery, Italian-American pride, classic PMT bits, and a healthy dose of self-owning Fyre Fest woes.

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Recommended Segments for Non-Listeners:

• Conference tournament debate & Miami-OH/Auburn bubble [02:57–09:40]
• NFL free agency drama [20:27–34:41]
• Vinnie Pasquantino’s tales of Team Italy, Italian pride, and espresso-fueled heroics [58:29–80:25]
• Bill Raftery’s all-time coaching stories & March Madness wisdom [82:06–113:46]
• Fyre Fest of the Week: everyday disasters and camaraderie [115:47–end]

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Let me know if you want a breakdown of a particular interview!

Transcript

[Big Cat]

Hey, pardon my take listeners. You can find every episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify Prime. Members can listen ad free on Amazon Music.

[PFT Commenter]

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[Big Cat]

on today's part of my take presented by DraftKings. We got a two for for the people. We've got our good friend Bill Raftery talking some March Madness Conference Championship week. And then we have Italian American hero from the World Baseball Classic, Vinnie Pasquintino, who hit three home runs to make sure that we didn't have the most embarrassing exit possible in the World Baseball Classic, which we will talk about. We also have to talk about Bam's 83 points. We're going to talk some college basketball free agency kind of winding down. Kyler's got a new place. Trey Hendrickson is a Baltimore Raven, which is very funny. It's a great show. It's a Friday show. It's brought to you by Venmo. Get in the game with college branded Venmo Debit card and earn up to 5% cash back at some of your favorite brands with Venmo Stash Rewards. You can add your Venmo debit card to your mobile wallet as soon as you sign up and pay online or in store right from your phone. And the best part? The card is tied right to your Venmo account. Got paid back for dinner. Immediately access the money in your Venmo balance and spend it on what you want. Game day, snacks, tickets, new merch. You can easily split purchases in the app and there's no monthly fee or minimum balance. Score more with college branded Venmo Debit card and get up to 5% cash back with Venmo Stash. We actually was using Venmo today because we are doing Golden Mug for Stella Blue Coffee was hitting some people in the Venmo on the stream so sign up [e-mail] college card. The Venmo MasterCard is issued by the Bancorp Bank N.A. select schools available Venmo Stash Bundle Terms and exclusions apply at Venmo me stash terms max $100 cash back okay, let's Go.

[Bill Raftery]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Martin might take welcome to part of my take presented by DraftKings. The crown is yours. Today is Friday, March 13th. Oh, shit.

[PFT Commenter]

Friday 13th.

[Big Cat]

Friday 13th. Spooky. It's college Basketball Conference championship week. We just watched so much ball today.

[PFT Commenter]

And I got ball coming out of my ball.

[Big Cat]

I got balls everywhere. Yeah. Hank, how are you feeling about balls? Hank, actually, he watched so much ball, his foot fell asleep. And then he fell. My whole leg. His leg fell asleep.

[PFT Commenter]

They call it the stranger.

[Hank]

He fell, thought I was paralyzed. Yeah, that' is March.

[PFT Commenter]

This is March.

[Big Cat]

That's March. This is March.

[Hank]

Everyone's hurt this time.

[Big Cat]

Warrior.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

So we started the day with a bang because we had our only undefeated team remaining, Miami of Ohio, which feels like a year ago, lose to UMass.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, that was. That does feel like it was two days ago. But real quick, before we get to that, I. I feel like we should address on Wednesday. So we recorded late on Tuesday night after the Max Crosby thing. And it was one of those days where we woke up on Wednesday and. And I felt like by the time 10am rolled around, like I wanted to record a brand new part in my take.

[Big Cat]

I. I don't even. I don't think 10am I was. I was up till like 11:30 at night and I was like, I wish we could record some more right now.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, we had the bam thing.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Which, yeah, we got to get to bam. We got wbc. We got to get to Trey Hendrickson. We're going to hit all of it.

[PFT Commenter]

All that stuff happened. And on Wednesday morning, I honestly thought about hitting you guys up and be like, you guys just want to do a. Just a quick one for old time's sake. It's been a while since we've smashed the emergency podcast, but, yeah, it's been crazy.

[Big Cat]

Zach was ready. He's always ready.

[Zach]

Yeah, you gotta be on the lookout for the emergency pod.

[Big Cat]

Were you up?

[Bill Raftery]

I was up.

[PFT Commenter]

Love it.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. So we. But. But yeah. So today was college basketball. We're going to talk about all that stuff. Today was college basketball. Miami of Ohio, last undefeated team goes out in the first round of the Mac tournament. Now we get to do the debate. Should Miami of Ohio be in or should a 16 loss? Auburn team be that had a double. Pearl freak out. Bruce Pearl freaking out and Stephen Pearl, the coach of Auburn freaking out as they blew. They were up like 10 with eight minutes left. Ended up losing by 10.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

And that's the kind of day it's been. It's been. It's been Madness everywhere. I think we've said this before, but Miami Ohio, in my opinion, should be in.

[Hank]

I asked the question if they lost first round of the conference tournament, you said 100% they're in.

[Big Cat]

Well, I don't know if they will. I think 100% they should be.

[PFT Commenter]

I think they should be in. I also respect the hell out of Miami Ohio for. For losing in the first round to really kick up the debate an extra notch. Like, if they had lost in the championship, then I think everybody would been like, yeah, put them in. The fact they did in the first round. You really. Thank you for starting the conversation, Miami of Ohio. Yeah, I appreciate that.

[Big Cat]

We need to just focus on the fact that they're, I believe, 31 and 1 and not do anything about strength of schedule. Because I saw the graphic midway through whatever game we were watching, And Auburn is 17 and 16, and they have the fourth hardest schedule in the country. And my. Ohio is 31 and 1, and they have the 340th, I think it was.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

So we got to just erase that from our memory. Just go with our. Wreck the record. They've. They've only lost one game.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. Miami Ohio's record against Quad One is zero and zero. So they haven't lost a single game to Quad One. That's. That's what I would lead with. And then after that, I'd say, and, oh, yeah, by the way, our record overall is 31 1. Pretty good.

[Big Cat]

Yes.

[PFT Commenter]

It's also. It's hard to go an entire regular season without losing a game. I don't care who you're playing. If you're playing other college basketball teams, if you're playing other teams that have the same. They're in the same conference as you, so they have similar resources, similar recruiting pools. If you're able to go an entire season without losing game, that's hard to just wake up every day and not stumble once and not 100, like every. All these small, tiny margins of victories that they have, it's still hard to do to go full season. So it's also. It's put them in.

[Big Cat]

It's also just like a good litmus test for what you believe in as a person. And when it comes to March Madness. And March Madness, to me, is the greatest thing we do as a country. When we put 64, now 68 teams, been 68 for a long time into a bracket, it's the perfect tournament. Is it the fairest way to decide a champion? Absolutely not. Because we know every year that there's Going to be some crate one game elimination, having to win six games in a row. The best team doesn't always win. Last year's Duke team, 1999 Duke team. Like all these teams that are incredible, they don't always win. But I still love to have the little guys in there. And I don't want to see just some middle of the road, 500, you know, power conference teams. I'd rather have the story of my. How I want to see what happens when they play their first quad one game in the middle of March.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. And you know what? If you want to make it so they give you a little bit more consideration. Auburn. What if Bruce Pearl came back and he said, you know what? I'll coach the team in the tournament. They might be in. They might listen to that. That might be what pushed them over the edge. Put Miami of Ohio in.

[Big Cat]

Put my.

[PFT Commenter]

If they don't get in, it's a disgrace. I will boycott. What am I going to boy, the halftime show of the first playing game.

[Big Cat]

I was gonna say just boycott the early games tomorrow.

[PFT Commenter]

I'm going to boycott. Well, no, if they don't get in.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, I know, but just pre boycott. You'll do your boycott and then that will stand.

[PFT Commenter]

A pre boycott?

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

It's never been done.

[Hank]

I'm not a bracketologist, so this probably doesn't make sense.

[PFT Commenter]

I don't believe that for a second.

[Hank]

Why can't they just have them both play the play in?

[Big Cat]

Well, they still have to be in then. Right, Right. But that's not like.

[Hank]

Can they do that? Is that a possibility?

[Big Cat]

What do you both be in?

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, it's a possibility. But then another team would get left out.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Hank]

For ratings. That would be electric.

[Big Cat]

Well, I've, I've said this before. The.

[Hank]

They want the playing game to matter.

[Big Cat]

The way they should do it is

[Hank]

I'm tuning in for an Auburn.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, no, Sunday night. They should have. We should know before Sunday in the brackets are revealed. It should. It should basically say, here are the four teams that are on the. Officially on the bubble and we have two spots left and they play Sunday night right after the bracket comes out. That's what it should be. So it's like an extra play in. I know that I don't want to go to 72, but that would be. Or whatever. It would be 70, but that would be cool. They're actually. We say they're not officially in the tournament. The Sunday night game does not count as the bracket. No one can fill that out. Yeah, it's Just this is how we decide the last two.

[PFT Commenter]

I do think that Auburn's definitely played their way into having their. The live feed on screen when they do the bracket reveal.

[Big Cat]

Dave.

[PFT Commenter]

Of the team. Like having the team in the. In the auditorium.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

And. And having the. The camera person there and going to see their reaction. No matter what happens, they have the right, They've earned the right to have their disappointed faces broadcast to the world during the bracket.

[Big Cat]

Yes. They've also, they've played their way into Jay Billis doing like at least five minutes about how they should be in because they played such a strong schedule.

[PFT Commenter]

And honestly, they have played a really tough schedule. They beat Florida.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

They've got impressive wins.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. They played Purdue. They played Houston. They played a lot of tough games early in the season, but they didn't win them. So that's like the old age old. Like if you play the tough game but you don't win it. What. How much credit do you get?

[PFT Commenter]

Auburn could lose by single digits to any school in America right now. That's how good they are.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Or double digits.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, they've had a lot of like, single digit losses, though.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. But they've also lost double digits. Yeah. Max, Villanova.

[PFT Commenter]

Safe.

[Max]

Yes.

[Big Cat]

They lost to Georgetown.

[Max]

Yes.

[Big Cat]

They're safe.

[Max]

Correct.

[Big Cat]

Right.

[PFT Commenter]

We're sure.

[Max]

Yes.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. No, worse.

[Max]

No, Nova's just gonna be the team they're gonna get in and then everyone's gonna be like, oh, yeah, this team. This team's losing first round pick against pick against Villanova.

[Big Cat]

But we're sure they're in.

[Max]

Yeah. I'm like, not phased by this bit at all.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[PFT Commenter]

I'm curious.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, right.

[Max]

I mean, you and Titus just did it for the entire second half of the game, which was.

[Big Cat]

Because we're telling you that we're sure they're.

[Max]

Yeah. Which was like, annoying to just listen to while I'm trying to watch the game. But other than that, like that, it. They're in. So it doesn't faze me at all.

[PFT Commenter]

Max, I got a question.

[Max]

It's the worst bubble year of all time.

[Big Cat]

They have 20. Everyone in the bubble keeps.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, the bubble is terrible.

[Hank]

Yeah.

[Max]

So like, yes, they'll probably drop a drop to the 8, 9, which sucks because then even if they do like it, just it. There's a 0% chance that Villanova gets to the Sweet 16. Now, there was probably a 0% chance as a 7 as well, but it doesn't really matter. More rest going into next week.

[Big Cat]

There you go. I mean, listen, I'm You. Today you wanted to win because, like, I'm in the same boat.

[Max]

I don't know. I just.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, I wanted to. I wanted to win. Today. They fucked around, almost didn't beat Washington. But tomorrow it's like. Or today. If you're listening to this, I'm. I'm kind of done with. If you can't. The conference tournaments, like, they just fuck you. Like. Like, if. If you have to play four games, you're just going to. And you get to the final, which the Badgers did, I think the last two years, you just get screwed. You. You just. It doesn't make your seed better and you. And you end up being more tired. But today you should.

[Max]

Biggie's tournament's different.

[Big Cat]

I know.

[Max]

I love the Big east tournaments. I think it's like my. I think it's a top three favorite, like, sporting events in the world. Like, I love watching the Big east tournament.

[Big Cat]

But again, it doesn't matter because you're in.

[Max]

Correct. But it still just makes me sad that I'm going to watch Biggie's tournament tomorrow with, like. No.

[PFT Commenter]

Without a team.

[Bill Raftery]

Without.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. What are your. What are the rest of your top three sporting events in the world?

[Max]

I don't know.

[Big Cat]

Okay, good.

[Max]

Top.

[Big Cat]

Good. Good point. Good call.

[Max]

MLB playoffs.

[PFT Commenter]

Mlb.

[Big Cat]

Mlb.

[Max]

MLB play. MLB playoffs.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[Hank]

I don't know.

[Max]

There's a lot of good sporting events. Shut up. Don't make me answer questions like that.

[Zach]

I'm.

[PFT Commenter]

I. No, I know you love it. I know you love it.

[Max]

The biggest tournament is also.

[PFT Commenter]

I know. You know what?

[Hank]

I.

[Max]

There's no recency bias about that either.

[PFT Commenter]

I grew up loving, absolutely loving the ACC tournament, and it's something.

[Max]

Tournament is not. Big east tournament's the best tournament.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay, well. Well, Max, you just got done talking. Now I get to talk. And you.

[Max]

You're right. You're right.

[Big Cat]

You don't.

[PFT Commenter]

Yuck my yum. I wasn't over here being like, no, it's not as good as accurate. I grew up loving the ACC tournament. I don't love it anymore because it's not Greensboro.

[Big Cat]

Now imagine it's not the same. Pft. Imagine if it was the Big east that you loved.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. If it was Italians. Right? No. Like Max says, the Big east is an Italian league. The ACC is a North Carolina league. It just is. That's what it's always been. It's. It's a tobacco league. Put it back in Greensboro.

[Max]

I like that. I like that.

[Big Cat]

Take.

[PFT Commenter]

No, you don't.

[Big Cat]

You hate.

[PFT Commenter]

You hate the accident.

[Big Cat]

You Were talking about the Big East.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, the Big east tournaments.

[Max]

I mean, whatever.

[PFT Commenter]

The crown jewel.

[Max]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

It is a great tournament.

[Max]

Shout out the crown.

[Big Cat]

We lost the CBI today.

[Max]

I know. That's crazy.

[Big Cat]

That's fucking nuts. I love the cbi. The CBI was the moment that I realized that, like, regular life wasn't for me. I was. I. I had dreams of going to business school when I was like, 25 and couldn't figure out what I wanted to do in life. And I paid for a business. What is it called?

[PFT Commenter]

The.

[Big Cat]

What's the test? Gmat.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, with gre.

[Big Cat]

You know, I think it's a gmat.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay.

[Big Cat]

I paid for a class. It was like two grand. It was like a lot of money to pay for a class to, like, get good at the gmat. And I was just sitting in the back of the GMAT updating scores because I had, like Oregon State and the cbi.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

And I was like, this is. This is like one of my business schools.

[PFT Commenter]

Not.

[Big Cat]

They're trying to teach me, and I'm just gambling on games in the back on a. On a made up tournament. So. I love the cbi.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, the cbi. It's sad to see the tournaments go away. They should have just. That was my favorite tournament.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, that was.

[PFT Commenter]

Was that. What was the trophy for that?

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Hank]

Iconic trophy.

[PFT Commenter]

I'm trying to remember. I felt like they did have an icon.

[Big Cat]

You got it one time.

[Hank]

Probably like a long stick with a basketball on top. Guess.

[Big Cat]

Long stick with a basketball.

[Hank]

Maybe like a triangle stick.

[Big Cat]

A triangle stick.

[Hank]

Like three sticks.

[Big Cat]

Oh, three together type. Like. You talking about a bundle of sticks?

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. What do you call that?

[Hank]

I just called it a teepee.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

Or triangle.

[PFT Commenter]

Is there a different word for it? Is.

[Hank]

You tell me.

[PFT Commenter]

I think there is, but I don't know. Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Well, just search it.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Bundle of sticks.

[PFT Commenter]

Bundle of sticks. I'm searching for the trophy.

[Big Cat]

No, search. Bundle of sticks. Tell us if.

[Hank]

Oh, no, it's a. It's a. It's a. Just a basketball.

[Big Cat]

Oh, okay. Read us other words for it.

[Hank]

Crystal basketball.

[Big Cat]

It's a crystal basketball. And that's the cbi. That was our CBI talk.

[PFT Commenter]

It does look like a trophy that you could smoke out of. This is just a bong. The trophy's a bong.

[Big Cat]

What other. What else did you find for us?

[PFT Commenter]

Bavin.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[Hank]

Sheaf.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Kindling. Yeah. Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Any other words?

[Hank]

Truss.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[PFT Commenter]

You got safe. Search on.

[Zach]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Hank]

Did I say bunch?

[Big Cat]

I think so.

[Hank]

That's all I'm saying. Oh, really?

[Big Cat]

That's. You got a little smile on your face. Okay.

[Hank]

Fat show.

[Big Cat]

Is that what that is? Yeah, yeah, that's exactly. That's French.

[PFT Commenter]

Oh, no, that's a linebacker from Navy.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. We're gonna bleep out everything that was said. Why?

[Rico Bosco]

That's mean.

[Max]

I'm editing. Not gonna bleep it.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Max]

Hank Gotten my whole Villanova. They were the worst team ever tonight.

[Big Cat]

You know what that is? That's you being a good pot.

[Max]

Yeah. All right.

[Big Cat]

All right. So Duke almost lost. Yeah, that's the other big one, fsu taking a three there at the end was crazy.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay, so. So Duke, obviously pretty dominant at times. They can't shoot free throws. No, that's going to be a problem for them.

[Big Cat]

Let's see what they're. What? Their free throw rate. I mean, listen, they're the best team in the country, so I'm not very worried about it.

[PFT Commenter]

Right. But Florida State, they. They weren't scared.

[Big Cat]

They weren't scared. Yeah, they're.214 in free throw percentage.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Their free throw defense is pretty good, though.

[PFT Commenter]

That's very important.

[Big Cat]

Set.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Very, very.

[PFT Commenter]

I like those stats. The free throw defense, the. The, like, field goal defense in football.

[Big Cat]

They're great. They're great.

[PFT Commenter]

Very important stats.

[Big Cat]

Okay. Any other college basketball. I'm just excited. Friday is going to be great. Friday actually is one of the best days because it's like the dirt Wednesday conference tournament week, you get a lot of shit teams. Thursday, you kind of get into gear. Friday, you have all the good teams playing well.

[Bill Raftery]

Every.

[Big Cat]

Every good team that had to buy everyone is now entered the tournament and it feels like, holy shit, this is the day.

[PFT Commenter]

The stat that we were talking about earlier was how they're. It's been, what, like, how many dozens of years since a team that has lost the first game that they played in, in the conference tournament went on to win the national championship. So you have to win at least, like, one game. Yes. In your conference tournament. Then after that, it doesn't really matter. And then you get to the NCAA tournament and everything happened and you're able to win. But if you lose that first game, I guess it's just more about limping in. Yeah. To the big dance. So Duke avoided that one barely today.

[Big Cat]

But we have, like, I mean, some banger games tomorrow. And it's like I said, all the. All the buys are now in play. And you have, you know, Ohio State, Michigan starts off today. I know that Michigan should probably kill him, but, like, Kentucky. Florida's playing My Badgers are playing Illinois, Tennessee, Vanderbilt rivalry game. Pug going up against St. John's that's a good root for Saint Roofer. Seton Hall, Max.

[Max]

Yeah, I would like Seton hall to win.

[Big Cat]

That's how you get back in it.

[Max]

Sneak their way into the. Into the. The tournament.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Okay. Let's talk some other stuff before we do that. Quick word from our friends at Twisted Tea. Twisted Tea. We love Twisted Tea. Twisted Tea is a refreshing hard iced tea made with real brewed tea and 5% alcohol. Twisted Tea is the perfect drink to keep the good times going all day and all season long. Whether you're hanging out at a friend's house, catching a game at the stadium or at the bar, or day drinking with friends, Twisted Tea is there to turn your day up a notch and make a good time, a great time. Grab a refreshing twisted Tea today. We love Twisted Tea. The half and half delicious. The original delicious. The peach incredible. Weather's getting a little warmer. Twisted Tea season. We're also brought to you by our friends at DraftKings. The tournament is coming. 64 teams, buzzer beaters, bracket busters, upsets nobody saw coming. And this year, DraftKings is giving you a free shot at $1 million. DraftKings has you covered all tournament long with a $1 million free to play Survivor Pool. Pick one team each day of the tournament. If they win, you move on. If they lose, you're out. Keep surviving, and if you're the last one standing, you win $1 million in cash. If multiple players make it to the end, the million gets split. It's simple, it's intense, and it's completely free to play. Enter now at DraftKings and see how long you can survive. Download the DraftKings sportsbook app. Use code TAKE. That's code TAKE to enter the free Survivor pool for Your shot at $1 million in partnership with DraftKings. The crown is yours. Gambling problem. Call 1-800-GAMBLER in New York, call 877-8-HOPE and wire text hopeny 467-369 In Connecticut, help is available for problem gambling. Call 888-78-97777 or visit ccpg.org 21 and over 18 and over in D.C. kentucky, New Hampshire and Wyoming. Eligibility restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. One free entry per customer must enter prior to tip off. $1 million prize split if multiple winners terms at DKNG Co Mania, Survivorpool. No colleges or universities or the NCAA are affiliated with this promotion. Okay, boys, where do we want to start? We have a lot you know, let's do NFL free agency.

[PFT Commenter]

Love it.

[Big Cat]

Trey Hendrickson's a Raven. This is where we. We alluded to it, but this is where the Spidey senses go up that the Max Crosby deal falls apart Tuesday. Say the Ravens deny his physical, and then Wednesday morning we wake up and Trey Hendrickson is signed for exactly the same contract that Max Crosby has.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. It's almost like they had it ready to go.

[Big Cat]

It's almost like they're like, oh, we can get Trey Henderson, who, by the way, Max Crosby is better than Trey Hendricks.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. Completely different players.

[Big Cat]

Completely different players. Trey Tre. Tre Hendrickson is, you know, a pass rusher who not doesn't hold up in the run like Max Crosby, who's just does everything incredible and never gets off the field. But the Ravens are like, hey, we could get Trey Hendrickson. So let's say it's 80% of Max Crosby for the same price and we don't have to give up our two first round picks and we could pivot if we get like. Yeah, that's the thing about making these trades where you give up picks. It leaves it so that if you are wrong on the trade, you're really kind of screwed yourself. Whereas in free agency, teams screw up free agents all the time. You just eat the cash. Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

And with this one, they send Max back and they sent him back to Vegas. I don't know what Vegas is going to do about the salary cap situation. Like we said on. On Wednesday's show, if any team is built to absorb that they have enough money, it's probably the Raiders and they'll probably be okay. But then I started to wonder if the Raiders were going to, like, what would the market be for Max Crosby? And I guess not that many teams have reached back out. Maybe they got scared off by the alleged failing of the physical, which, by the way, yes, Max Crosby failed a physical, but everybody knew he was going to feel the physical. That's the thing. It's like, you knew this guy had surgery. I don't necessarily think that there was anything that was crazy when they looked up the imaging and they thought to themselves, like, this guy's knee is not going to get better. I think it was just because they found out that they had a good option in Trey Hendrickson and they wouldn't have to give up the draft picks. And they had, by the letter of the law, they had the ability to fail him for the physical because he's not ready to play. So technically, the Ravens didn't break any Rules.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. So Albert Brewer did a really good article breaking down, like, how the process works. And it. Essentially, what he said was that when you agree to a deal, the Raiders doctors and trainers and the Ravens doctors and trainers get on a call together, and they share all the information. That's just how it works. So before the physical even happened, the Ravens had all his medicals, so they. They had a pretty good idea of what they were doing.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

And then the physical happens, and, yeah, it's kind of shocking that they failed the physical because, like, it. Listen, they could pretend that they were. And I know that Eric Dacosta then said that they were in on Trey Hendrickson and Max Crosby together. Whatever. They could say whatever they want. The timing is a little coincidental, and it feels like this was like, hey, we got cold feet. Because the Ravens, too. Like, that's the thing where I think we were all a little shocked when the first. When the deal was first announced, because the Ravens. That's not what the Ravens do. They don't trade picks like this and take these type of shots. So it was kind of out of their norm as a franchise. I think they were out of their norm as a franchise. And then we're like, oh, we're out of our norm. We.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

We.

[Big Cat]

We get it. We're getting cold feet. Let's not do this.

[PFT Commenter]

Well, let's go back and do the thing that we really love to do, which is fail guys for some shady physicals so that we can sign somebody else.

[Big Cat]

Right.

[PFT Commenter]

That's better than just came available and

[Big Cat]

just drafts really well, which, again, they haven't, you know, been hitting home runs, but they have, over their history, been a really good team that's drafted really well.

[PFT Commenter]

I was kind of on the fence on whether or not to believe the Ravens and all this, and then Eric D. Costa spoke about it, and his quote was, nobody's more upset about this than me. That is definitely the thing that you say when you're not upset.

[Big Cat]

He's basically walking around being like, God damn it.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. No, we.

[Big Cat]

I can't believe this happened.

[PFT Commenter]

We say that all the time about our friends that are going through bad losses in sports. Max, nobody is more upset than I am about Villanova tonight.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Eric Tacosta is just walking around sighing in people's ears. Oh, yeah. Damn it.

[PFT Commenter]

Damn, that stinks. I really wish, you know, I wanted Max Crosby.

[Big Cat]

What's wrong, Eric? I was just thinking about Max Crosby again.

[PFT Commenter]

You got to get over that, Eric. Oh, so. So Max goes back to the Raiders, and Then I was like, what are teams gonna give? Like the same deal that he got for the, for the Ravens.

[Big Cat]

No.

[PFT Commenter]

And it seems like they're not. But then I, I started reading some quotes from Max Crosby and he put out this tweet. Everything happens for a reason. Believe nothing you hear and half of what you see. I'm a Raider. I'm back. Run that.

[Big Cat]

Yep.

[PFT Commenter]

And he tweeted out an undertaker gift.

[Big Cat]

The perfect undertaker gift. Got me fired up.

[PFT Commenter]

And so now, now I'm actually thinking that, like, maybe the price just went up on Max Crosby. He's. Because you got. You got a pissed off Max Crosby now that just got shamed for having a up knee.

[Big Cat]

He's ready to go.

[PFT Commenter]

Like, if I'm the Raiders, I'm like, okay, you know what? Make it three first round picks.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

And then we'll talk because I think Max is going to be better than he was when he was just going out to Baltimore.

[Big Cat]

It pumped me the up when I. Yeah, me too.

[PFT Commenter]

I feel like awesome. I feel like, watch out for the Raiders.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, watch out for the Raiders. So other free agency news. Kyler Murray is a Viking. We all kind of expected it. It happened.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

So he's now going to be awesome again.

[PFT Commenter]

Well, yeah, I mean, they lost. They lost Naylor, their speedy slot guy went out to. To Vegas, so they needed a new wide receiver, so they went on guy Kyler. This is still nines team.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Don't get it twisted, but Kyler's going

[Big Cat]

to be really good in like two years. He's going to be the next Sam Darnold, maybe. The NFC north now has three number one picks at quarterback with Kyler Murray, Caleb Williams, Jared Goff. Kind of cool.

[PFT Commenter]

That is cool. He's going to look smaller in the purple. I did a little Photoshop work today with the Instagram draw feature. He looks very, very small. Yeah, purple, it. It shrinks him up quite a bit. Yeah. It's gonna be an open competition. And you know what? This iron sharpens iron. So I think that we're gonna see a very. A very sharp nine at the end. The sharpest, sharpest nine you've ever seen.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. We also had Daniel Jones signed. His two year deal. $88 million base value, 50 million guaranteed. I don't know.

[PFT Commenter]

There was a time, big cat, not too long ago when people wouldn't pay $80 million to a guy that just tours Achilles.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

And I feel like that's changed in the last three years or so.

[Big Cat]

I don't know.

[PFT Commenter]

Achilles used to Be something that they. They pretty much shoot you for. It's like, okay, you're done. You won't play sports anymore. Enjoy retirement.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, listen, Daniel Jones had a good half of a year. The Colts. At what point are we like, hey, the Colts? Are you. Are you ever going to get over the Andrew Luck thing? It's been like 10 years now, I think. I don't think they'll ever get over.

[PFT Commenter]

This is. This is their. Their attempt at it because.

[Big Cat]

But they've made a million attempts.

[PFT Commenter]

I think that Daniel.

[Big Cat]

Matt Ryan, Phil Rivers.

[PFT Commenter]

Daniel Jones is different.

[Big Cat]

Who else was it Carson Wentz? No.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Carson Wentz on that list? Yes.

[Big Cat]

Dude, there's someone I'm missing too.

[Hank]

Anthony Richardson.

[Big Cat]

Anthony Richardson.

[Hank]

Carter Minshew.

[Big Cat]

Let's see.

[PFT Commenter]

Curtis Painter.

[Big Cat]

No, I'm thinking of like, they did that one. They did the. All right, since. Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Gardner Minshew.

[Big Cat]

All right, since Andrew Luck. Jacoby Brissette for a year. Phil Rivers for a year. Carson Wentz for a year. Matt Ryan for a year. Gardner Minshew for a year. Anthony Richardson for a year. Daniel Jones for a year.

[PFT Commenter]

I think Daniel Jones is different because I, I do think that he played good enough last year to get an extension to be the quarterback that they want to stick with. It just sucks that he tore his Achilles. He. He was a really good player. The. The Colts offense was. Was very good last year.

[Big Cat]

He was.

[PFT Commenter]

I know you think back to the games where he was. He had like the broken fibula for a couple games too. I think Daniel Jones a good quarterback. I would have given him the extension. But then the Achilles, it's like, yeah. You know what I'm saying? Like four years ago, if you had an Achilles, it's like, that might be the end of your career.

[Big Cat]

I mean, look at Jason Tatum.

[PFT Commenter]

Jason Tatum's back in like nine months now.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. What's going on in the Celtics game, Hank?

[Hank]

You're locked in down to one second left.

[Big Cat]

Okay. Max pointed to it when he was just like, look.

[Max]

Well, you kept talking about the Villanova loss, and I was like, look, you kept. And you're being mean to me. And I was like, be mean to Hank.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Hank]

This isn't a tournament.

[Big Cat]

It's all a one tournament.

[PFT Commenter]

When you think about every night you go out there, you want to win. Hank.

[Big Cat]

Any other free agency signings you want to. That were notable?

[PFT Commenter]

The commander signed an entire new defense, which I'm happy about.

[Big Cat]

There you go.

[PFT Commenter]

If you were 27, 28 year old defensive player, we signed you. So welcome to D.C. bradley Chubb to the Bills.

[Big Cat]

Feels like the most Bills move ever.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Okay. We're gonna get him. We're gonna get. All we need is just a pass rusher who's maybe a little injured. Get us over the hump.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. Feels like a perfect move for them.

[Max]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

I think Kirk Cousins might be going

[Big Cat]

to buyers on the Patriots now. C.J. gardner Johnson's on the. On the Bills.

[PFT Commenter]

I think Kirk Cousins might be going to the Raiders.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Which would make a lot of sense as like, him and him and Mendoza together out there in the desert. Mm. Would love to see that.

[Big Cat]

Yep. That would be fun.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Just. That would be very fun.

[PFT Commenter]

Paint the town red.

[Big Cat]

Keaton. Keaton Mitchell. Oh, Memes. LD over in the Kansas game. That was. That was what? That was huge. I love that.

[PFT Commenter]

Thank you for that meme.

[Big Cat]

Keaton Mitchell put his hands up. This is March, baby.

[PFT Commenter]

No, I had that over.

[Max]

This is March.

[Big Cat]

This is March. Keith Mitchell to the Chargers.

[Bill Raftery]

Right.

[Big Cat]

Kevin Neal back on the Giants.

[Hank]

Boom.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. Boo this guy.

[Big Cat]

You see him at the Willowbrook ball.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

Boom.

[PFT Commenter]

I do love these.

[Big Cat]

Never stop booing them.

[PFT Commenter]

I love the Chargers just continuing the bit. It's like we're gonna. We're just gonna get old Harbaugh players and we're gonna send them to the new Harbaugh. They've just been player swapping. It's like if they're. If you're good enough to play for my brother, you're good enough to play for me.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Also, Titans new logo. What do we think?

[PFT Commenter]

The new jerseys?

[Big Cat]

Yeah, new logo and new jersey. Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

I. I like the uniforms.

[Big Cat]

I think the new logo is cool.

[PFT Commenter]

I think.

[Big Cat]

I actually think the new logo is like, if you're a Titans fan. That's a. That's a pretty sick tattoo you can get. I think it's very simple logo.

[PFT Commenter]

You pull it up, it's pretty clean. It's very clean. I. I like on the uniforms. I like the. The block numbers. I like the te with the three stars.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

The helmet is good. It's got the six string stripe.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Down the top of the helmet for a guitar.

[Big Cat]

Good job. Titans.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, Titans.

[Big Cat]

Really well done. Oh, yeah. Those are sick. I hadn't. I just saw the logo. I hadn't seen the jerseys.

[PFT Commenter]

It's good uniforms. Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Those are sick. Okay. Titans. It's, you know, got my attention.

[PFT Commenter]

You know, I like about it. It's like, you know that we love the old Houston oiler powder blue uniforms, and you did just enough to make us think about them without Actually realizing that we're thinking about it.

[Big Cat]

Well, and also, powder blue as a color is a cheat code. Yeah, it's a complete cheat code. You put pow blue on anything and it looks good.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

It's just a fact. So good job. Titans kind of look like Ole Miss.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, I can see that.

[Big Cat]

But I like it. I can see those Ole Miss uniforms are awesome.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Okay, let's talk. Let's talk World Baseball Classic real quick.

[PFT Commenter]

There's one other NFL story.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

The NFL is probably going to put a game on Wednesday before Thanksgiving. So the Wednesday night blackout Wednesday, that's the next date that the NFL is targeting in its quest to have at least one game of football every day between, like, November 1st and December 31st. I love it. I like it a lot. I know. I know that people are sick of the NFL expanding to days that they normally don't play games on, like, a Wednesday night game might feel kind of weird that Wednesday night is begging for a football game. I don't think I would like to get rid of the Black Friday game and instead have that game on that Wednesday night.

[Big Cat]

So this is a take that we. We talked about this off air that as 41 year olds, this game is great for us. If you're in your 20s, you're like, what the fuck? Because that's a big drinking night. I will say, though, the NFL is getting into a little bit of dangerous spot where part of the reason why we love the NFL is the scarcity is that it's one day a week. It's Sunday. It's, you know, a big deal. You play like, it's not every single night. So I'm in for this one. But they got to be a little careful here with, like. Do you know what I'm saying?

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

The scarcity does make you grow the game. Hank, don't do this.

[PFT Commenter]

I do. Like, no. I like, don't.

[Big Cat]

Don't not listen to what I'm saying. And then. And then. And then say the opposite.

[PFT Commenter]

Big cat's actually kind of agreeing with you.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, I am. I. The NFL, if it was on every single night, would then become like the NBA. It would still be the NFL. But, like, part of why the NFL special is there's a. It's Sunday. It's a religious experience with Sunday. We watch the NFL. That's what we do. And then also think about. And this happens where we have just shitty Sundays because they've spread games all throughout the week.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

And it's like, Sunday should be sacred. I don't Want them to ruin Sunday. I'm cool with this one. But, like, just be careful. NFL, they're not. You might take away the thing that we. That makes you special, and that's that Sunday is a special thing and you only get 18 of them.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. And if you think the NFL is not going to take over a night that's, that's like very special to a lot of people because they like to drink a shitload of beer on that night. Yeah. The entire league is based around church day. Yeah. On the Sabbath. So they don't give a fuck about interfering with somebody's like, bar night. And guess what? If you're going to be at a bar, you're probably going to be watching football, too. I don't have a problem with, with doing it on that Wednesday.

[Big Cat]

But you get what I'm saying, though.

[PFT Commenter]

But I'm saying, like, at this point, I do agree with what you're saying. At this point, it should be one in, one out.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

So you got to take away one of your other little Mickey Mouse correct games.

[Big Cat]

Just be careful.

[PFT Commenter]

NFL take away Black Friday. That Black Friday is for college football.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Just be, Just be careful. It's, it's. We're getting to this point where it's like, I just, I just want it to still be special. And if you start putting games, because I always just assume whenever they do these, like the, the one offs, it's just a trial balloon to just be like, we'll just do NFL every single night.

[PFT Commenter]

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. And guess what? It's. We're a matter of years away, not decades from the NFL doing a spring game.

[Big Cat]

And, and, and I, you, you and everyone in this room, our job is to, to watch football. So if they do it every single night, I'm not going to complain in the fact that, like, I'm going to watch every game. But then you have to, like, kind of like, you know, we're 41. We have nothing to do on that Wednesday night. You have to like, step outside and be like, wait, there are people who, like, probably don't. Can't watch NFL every single night.

[PFT Commenter]

It's true. That's very true.

[Big Cat]

So. But just be careful, NFL.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Because I'm saying I love you to death, but just be careful.

[PFT Commenter]

They're. They're definitely going to do a spring game.

[Zach]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

100%. Which now that I think I might, I might be kind of into that. Yeah.

[Big Cat]

I mean, spring football. Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Just one spring game.

[Big Cat]

It would be kind of sick.

[PFT Commenter]

Max. No.

[Big Cat]

How.

[PFT Commenter]

Just think about It. I don't.

[Big Cat]

Figure it out there.

[PFT Commenter]

I don't know how. Because it'll make them millions of dollars.

[Big Cat]

It's like saving one for later. So just save one for later.

[Max]

When would you do the draft?

[PFT Commenter]

The game wouldn't count.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, it's like one for later.

[Max]

Oh, okay.

[PFT Commenter]

College football programs do their spring game, and it's like a practice.

[Max]

I don't think anyone would care.

[Big Cat]

No, no, people wouldn't care.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, I'd watch.

[Bill Raftery]

But you.

[Max]

You would watch like you watch a Hall of Fame game. You would be like, oh, this is fun. And then it would be like, actually

[PFT Commenter]

like a way to see your new rookies.

[Rico Bosco]

But.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Okay, so World Baseball Classic, real quick. We're gonna have Vinnie on. And he is Italian American hero Vinnie Pascratino for the three home runs against Mexico. But what happened is on Tuesday night, we lost to Mexico and Mark DeRosa, the manager. Italy, sorry.

[PFT Commenter]

Italy.

[Big Cat]

Italy. We beat Mexico, then lost to Italy, then Italy played Mexico. Mark Drossa, the manager of Team USA, 100% did not know the rules and that if things had gone differently on Wednesday night, the Team USA could have been eliminated. Before the knockout stage, he went on an MLB Network show and said before the game against Italy, we're going to try to get some guys in who haven't played. We're going to get some guys off their feet because we've already punched our ticket. He then afterwards said he misspoke. But anyone with a brain, when watching the game against Italy, when he was warming up Clayton Kershaw and then brought in Mason Miller, you can know the moment that he was like, hey, dude,

[PFT Commenter]

we, like, actually want to win this. It's important.

[Big Cat]

Run differential and all this actually matters.

[PFT Commenter]

If you looked at the lineup he put out there, too, there were a few guys that he wanted to play. It did appear like it was being treated like an exhibition.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Because he thought he was through to the next round.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

And then. Yeah. So after the game, everybody's seen this. This clip from Mark deroza. And then he did a press conference earlier today. Yeah, you see that? And he goes, there's some false narratives. I was well aware that we had to win that game based on all the scenarios. They went in 2 0, we went in 2 0. Actually not true. Mark Derosa, you were 3030 going into that game.

[Big Cat]

3 0.

[PFT Commenter]

I don't really. I would not trust Mark Derosa to be.

[Big Cat]

No.

[PFT Commenter]

The master strategist.

[Big Cat]

We got a problem.

[PFT Commenter]

In fact, like, a lot of people were talking about the last name Is Italian.

[Big Cat]

Very Italian.

[PFT Commenter]

And he seemed to throw this game to Italy. I'm just saying, connect the dots.

[Big Cat]

It's a problem. Paison, I will say this. We play Canada tonight. Tonight we play Canada, right?

[Max]

Yes. Friday night.

[PFT Commenter]

This is. I'm worried about this game.

[Big Cat]

It is everything that we've been puffing our chest about for the last month can be taken away from us tonight.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

And like, I know we. We. We kind of skirt. We know with the four nations was an exhibition. If Team Canada beats us, they have just an insane amount of, like, right back in our face. It's going to be brutal.

[Max]

We are minus 800 on draft. We cannot lose as minus 800 favorites. We can't and not.

[Big Cat]

And we were talking about earlier, but when you have something like this rivalry, you can't lose the most recent one because there's not going to be another one for a while here. Maybe in the. In the World cup, but, like, Olympics. What? Oh.

[Max]

Oh, I thought you meant in baseball.

[Big Cat]

I'm saying if we lose this, we are. They have bragging rights for the foreseeable future. We could be like, oh, yeah, we took hockey. They'd be like, yeah, we took your pastime that you are the only country that played for the longest time. I guess hockey's a little bit similar, but still.

[PFT Commenter]

No, that's a good point. We. We dominated Canada and the most important thing in the world to them.

[Big Cat]

Yes.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, but. Yeah, you're right. We don't want them to hit us.

[Big Cat]

Can't have this.

[PFT Commenter]

We can't. Not as what you said. Minus 800. Can't lose that game.

[Big Cat]

Can't lose it.

[PFT Commenter]

Who do we got on the bump?

[Max]

Logan Webb.

[Big Cat]

Very good. Okay.

[PFT Commenter]

Who are they? Who are they sitting out there?

[Max]

Michael Soroka.

[Big Cat]

All right.

[PFT Commenter]

He's.

[Big Cat]

He's Italian.

[PFT Commenter]

Italian Canadian.

[Big Cat]

He has an A going up against another Italian.

[PFT Commenter]

Can't get rid of these guys.

[Big Cat]

Team Italy. By way, we're gonna. Like we said, we're gonna have Vinnie on, so. But that was team Italy. That's a crazy upset and a crazy asset. Like, they beat the out of us.

[PFT Commenter]

Can I just say that I feel like the Italian team is more American than the American team. A little bit, the way that they're acting. Yeah, I'd like to see some of that same stuff from the Americans.

[Big Cat]

The double kiss.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, the double kiss. They. They seem like they're having a great time. They're loud, they're boisterous, they're arrogant, they're fun. That's what I want out of My American teams.

[Big Cat]

I don't.

[PFT Commenter]

I don't want Aaron Judge striking out in the ninth inning. No looking sad.

[Big Cat]

Hank, are you gonna be.

[Bill Raftery]

Are you.

[Big Cat]

Are you pumped for. Have you watched any World Baseball Classic? Yeah, you can in.

[PFT Commenter]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Big Cat]

It's fun. I've been having a. I mean, we have to. We have to win. We have to win on Friday.

[Max]

We have to win and I like the team.

[Hank]

I want, I want. I want.

[Big Cat]

Whoa, whoa. What'd you just say? If.

[Hank]

What's the situation?

[Big Cat]

What's the.

[Max]

If we win in the doctor Wins tomorrow, then we play them in the semis.

[Big Cat]

You said you like Dominic team. I thought you said you like the Canadian team. No, but you want.

[PFT Commenter]

But if the Dominican team is. Is awesome.

[Max]

They're. They are very fun. Yeah, but if it's US versus the Dominican team, you're rooting for the US of course.

[PFT Commenter]

I don't think.

[Max]

What was that smile?

[PFT Commenter]

No, he's not.

[Max]

What was that smile?

[PFT Commenter]

He's not rooting.

[Max]

What was that smile?

[PFT Commenter]

Nope, he's not. I'm telling you right now, he doesn't need to talk anymore. Hank is a hundred percent going to root for Dominican Republic. A hundred percent.

[Bill Raftery]

No.

[Big Cat]

Why don't you just.

[Max]

Liar.

[Big Cat]

Why don't you just leave? Why don't you leave? I wouldn't even say that. Why don't you leave? Be like Ellen didn't go live in the Italian or English countryside. I would be rude. I didn't.

[Hank]

I. I'm rooting for a lot of chicks.

[Max]

Why is it so hard for you

[PFT Commenter]

to say I didn't. I said it every time I answered

[Big Cat]

it, the answer correctly.

[PFT Commenter]

Wait, what do you mean correctly? Not honestly. You said correctly.

[Big Cat]

I'm rooting for the U.S. you're telling us what we want to hear.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. So it's not. That's not the.

[Max]

This isn't a right or wrong answer. This is your opinion.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, we know, but it is also

[Big Cat]

a right or wrong.

[Hank]

The Dominican team is electric and I like to be entertained when I'm watching sports.

[PFT Commenter]

You always say this is crazy.

[Max]

I wouldn't even say that I was rooting for Italy.

[Big Cat]

It's not a real thing. It's also very much in line with you.

[Max]

It's not just a real.

[Big Cat]

This might be the most perfect Hank

[PFT Commenter]

take out there grow the game. The Dominican team is like.

[Hank]

I would rat like. Games with the Dominican Republic team.

[PFT Commenter]

I want.

[Hank]

I want more.

[Max]

How many games have you watched from The Dominican Republic? 2. You've watched.

[Big Cat]

You've watched.

[Hank]

I came home Drunk on Friday and watched the highlights.

[Max]

That does not count.

[Hank]

And I watched the game last night.

[Big Cat]

You watched the full game?

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Hank]

No, I mean most of the game.

[PFT Commenter]

No, you highlight.

[Hank]

I had the game on.

[PFT Commenter]

All right, listen. I want every single person out there that said that Hank was so mad about the Patriots losing the super bowl that he got racist about the halftime show. I want all those people to listen to what Hank's saying right now and apologize to him and be like, you're right, Hank. Hank, you're not racist. I'm sorry. You are. You're just a. Hank.

[Big Cat]

This is the best you. This is. This is as pure, like straight from the tippy top of the mountain. Pure. Hank, we. I want to bottle this Hank up and drink it because it's the best.

[Bill Raftery]

You're.

[Big Cat]

You just always find a way.

[Max]

Why do you want people to fucking hate you?

[Big Cat]

I don't.

[Hank]

I don't give a fuck.

[Big Cat]

That's why. It's beautiful, actually. The Dominican team is electronic. Like he's giving his opinion. His opinion just always is the one that will piss off the most people. And I respect that. I don't like if you're pissed off.

[Hank]

These people are also aren't watching the games.

[PFT Commenter]

Like, it's not. It's a fucking enter it.

[Hank]

This tournament is for entertainment.

[PFT Commenter]

Everything's for entertainment, right?

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

And when I don't really have a.

[Hank]

Like, I guess, whatever.

[PFT Commenter]

You don't have a dog in the fight.

[Max]

Oh, my God.

[Big Cat]

You are the worst, Hank.

[PFT Commenter]

I don't want to.

[Big Cat]

I love this. I don't.

[PFT Commenter]

I don't want to do this to you, Hank, but I think I. I can.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

You.

[PFT Commenter]

How many players on the Dominican Republic? More than probably usa, more than the Aces.

[Hank]

More than the Aces.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[PFT Commenter]

All right. So that'll be fun.

[Rico Bosco]

Let's.

[Max]

Let's hear it.

[Hank]

Tatis, Vladimir Guerrero, Martel.

[Big Cat]

Oh, this is where hit us with a Tom Soto. Okay.

[Max]

The most electric guy that. The guy who's had the most electric celebrations.

[PFT Commenter]

Name.

[Max]

No, I'm letting you get to it line.

[Hank]

I don't got it.

[PFT Commenter]

Austin Wells.

[Max]

That's another one.

[PFT Commenter]

He is on the team the most.

[Max]

He's the most Dominican.

[Big Cat]

Who?

[Max]

Junior Caymanero. I think I'm. I'm double Yes.

[Big Cat]

I. Hank. I love you. Do they also have so good.

[PFT Commenter]

Do they also have o', Neill, Cruz.

[Max]

Yeah.

[Zach]

And o'.

[PFT Commenter]

Neill. That is a fun ass team

[Big Cat]

from the guy who wants Super Bowls played overseas. For his next act, he's rooting for the Dominican.

[Max]

Julio Rodriguez is another one.

[PFT Commenter]

We're not there yet.

[Hank]

We're not there yet.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, we play who he plays.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, you probably. You actually probably. If we're, if we're really breaking down, you're probably rooting for Canada. So you don't have to be split. No.

[Max]

So, so do you want to have,

[Big Cat]

do you want to have.

[Max]

We got to have Dominican Republic onto the cave at 5:30 then, right?

[Hank]

Sure.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Max]

Oh, wait, you're not gonna be watching.

[Big Cat]

I mean, he'll be watching.

[Hank]

Oh, there's, there's, oh wait, there's only TVs in the cave.

[Big Cat]

I forgot.

[Max]

I, I swear to God. That wasn't a, that wasn't a, that wasn't.

[Big Cat]

No, I think he was not.

[PFT Commenter]

That was not a shot.

[Max]

No, I, I, I forgot. I truly forgot.

[PFT Commenter]

A shot. And I'll make sure that Hank's watching. Dominican. Yeah. Hank, are you gonna be rooting for the Dominican Republic against South Korea?

[Big Cat]

Yes.

[PFT Commenter]

Oh, so you're gonna be rooting for the matchup of USA Dominican.

[Big Cat]

I kind of need you to get like a full jersey. Yeah, whatever.

[Hank]

It's not that this, this has been like. This is, this is. It is what it is. People can hate. I haven't, I didn't give that much thought into this until I realized they were matched up against each other. But it is what it is.

[PFT Commenter]

You are gonna have the like Latin music fans brains in a pretzel based on, on the last like three weeks of your life.

[Big Cat]

Dude, I like to be entertained. I want to hear from bad body not entertaining Dominican awls. He wasn't. Yeah. Embrace the out of Hank. I want you to be like Dominican Hank.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, there might be.

[Big Cat]

I want you in the parade.

[PFT Commenter]

There's.

[Big Cat]

I want you in the parade. In New York, there's probably a rivalry

[PFT Commenter]

between Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, right?

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

So they. Dominican Republic probably loves you.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Let's embrace him.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

Hell yeah.

[Max]

Dr. Hank SK also will be pitching that game if we get to it.

[Bill Raftery]

Let's go.

[Big Cat]

Paul Skeens is really good.

[Hank]

I like Paul SK Yeah.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

You love them.

[PFT Commenter]

Absolute skins.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Okay. Last I saw.

[Hank]

Hope it's an entertaining game.

[Big Cat]

Bam. 83 points. Do we care?

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. I mean it's a lot of points.

[Big Cat]

It's a lot of points.

[PFT Commenter]

My take is that it should that

[Big Cat]

that record staying on near city.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. Yeah. The 83 should mostly be giving credit to the Washington Wizards. It should be like The Wizards allowed one man to score 83 points against them on this day. It was such a weird game. And I did what I was watching part of the Game live in the first half. And Bam had, I think, 43 points at halftime. So it's not like the whole game was him getting fouled, going to the line, etc. Etc. Like, it got weird at the very end of the game when they were very clearly trying to get him the record. But Bam had a great game. He played really, really well. But the fact is, like, when you think of the top 100 basketball players of all time, you probably won't think of Bam at Adebayo.

[Big Cat]

So. Yes.

[PFT Commenter]

And what happened was this was the Wizards master masterpiece. What we saw. They. It's not going to get any more Wizards than that. Like the Wizards. Wizards showing up to cities and playing basketball games should not be tolerated by those cities there. You should look at the Washington Wizards presence showing up in your town. Like the way you would look at the Westboro Baptist Church and be like, no, no, you're not. Not.

[Big Cat]

I don't want you.

[PFT Commenter]

Not in my city. Washington Wizards. I'm not. That's more offensive than Magic City Night. Is the Wizards coming into your city?

[Big Cat]

Yeah, I. It's a lot of points.

[Hank]

I don't.

[Big Cat]

I don't buy the whole, like, oh, it's cheapened because, you know, the fouling and all that stuff. Every. I mean, Kobe took every shot in the last seven minutes of his 81 point game. Will. They were just feeding him the ball constantly. Like, to get that many points, you have to do something like that. So I have no problem with that. I do find it funny because it was like. It was like one last stand for. For. For Kobe fans to just go nuclear online and be really upset about things

[PFT Commenter]

and a lot of Kobe fan fiction out there.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. I also. I also think Laker Dan think about making a comeback. Laker Dan respects Bam. He's a true, true number one points all time. Because that was the funny.

[PFT Commenter]

But it's not.

[Hank]

That's.

[PFT Commenter]

It's also number two.

[Big Cat]

Right. I know, but that's the funny thing. To me, I thought the biggest winner of the night was Wilt, because when Kobe was number two, Kobe fans started doing the conspiracy theories that no one. That thing never happened.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

I don't think they're gonna do that for Bam.

[PFT Commenter]

No.

[Big Cat]

No.

[PFT Commenter]

They don't care.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. So we'll. We'll. You're Back to number one.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

There was a one with an asterisk for the. For the. Whatever 15 years that Kobe had it. Now you're back to one.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. The Kobe fans, they.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

They.

[PFT Commenter]

It did give them a good opportunity to Talk about, like, what Kobe would have done.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

If he was in this situation, which is always a treat to see people do that.

[Big Cat]

Bam Also was. I mean, he was on fire. I know the ending was a little weird and there's a lot of free throws. Did he have like 50 at half?

[PFT Commenter]

No, I just said he. Yeah, the first half he was really good. Yeah. Like, he was dominant and he had 43 at half, I think.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. So he. He had an insane game. And I just. It's. I think it's more about society is at large. And this is probably too deep of a conversation to have like a lengthy conversation, but I do think we're all just. Whether it be social media, the amount of, like, content we consume every single day, I think we're all guilty of it. It's really hard for, like, big moments to have lasting power. You know what I mean? Where it's like, to be wowed. It doesn't feel like when we had a monoculture 20 years ago, 30 years ago, and like a big performance happening. Like, I'll always remember that. It just doesn't. We just move on so fast.

[PFT Commenter]

Well, if you think about the guys on this list, right. Wilt Chamberlain was a superhero. He was like the strongest guy ever. He could bench press like £500. He claimed that he banged like 40,000 women.

[Big Cat]

Believe him.

[PFT Commenter]

He was. That's as close to Paul Bunyan as you can get. He scored 100 points in a game. We look at him the same way. We look at almost like a. A deity. And then Kobe. Same way. Like, he's got a die hard group of fans. Even people that don't consider themselves like die hard Kobe people, they recognize, like, Kobe was a incredible basketball player and a unique personality that like, changed the game and continues to have an effect. And also it's very sad, like, obviously the way that he died so suddenly. I think that looking at that now, it's. It almost elevated Kobe to now. We think of him in that same, like, rarefied air. Like, don't. Nothing that anybody does is worthy of being compared to Kobe Bryant now.

[Big Cat]

Yes.

[PFT Commenter]

And then to have Bam Adebayo go and score 83 points when he's a. He's a fine player.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

But have his name. Hall of Famer people. People are like, well, no, that. That this can't be right.

[Big Cat]

Right.

[PFT Commenter]

Because he's not Kobe Bryant.

[Big Cat]

Right.

[PFT Commenter]

And he's not Wilt Chamberlain.

[Big Cat]

Right.

[PFT Commenter]

And so it's also just not a pure score.

[Big Cat]

Like, if it was Luca or Steph. I mean, Steph's different because Steph isn't that rare. But, like, there are pure scores. Remember when Devin Booker had. What did he have, like 70 or something where it's like a guy like that is such a.

[PFT Commenter]

Had a big game too, didn't he? Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Like pure score that, like, they can just get hot like that. Bam is not in that mold. So it's weird for people to contextualize and be like, oh, yeah, he had an insane game. I respect bam. I respect the 83 points. I don't give a about me. Everything. Every fan base is going to say something else is Mickey Mouse.

[PFT Commenter]

So this was a great clip that was going around yesterday. It was an interview with Brian Shaw and he said that Kobe had 62 points and his teammates were like, you got to go back in the game. Kobe in the fourth quarter. And Kobe said, Nah, we're up 30. We don't need it right now. I'll do it another time. And so then now that kind of fed the.

[Big Cat]

So that's easily a 90 point game. Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Being like, well, Kobe could have done it, but out of respect, he decided not to. And I also like the fan fiction about, like, what Jason Tatum would have done.

[Big Cat]

Oh, did you see that viral tweet? It was pretty funny.

[PFT Commenter]

Yes.

[Big Cat]

Jason Tatum just gets strays every. Everywhere, which is not right.

[Hank]

It is what it is.

[Big Cat]

So it was from Cordell ll E D Rook on Twitter. Jason Tatum would have subbed himself out at 81 and texted Kobe.

[Hank]

Yeah, I mean, you guys would like. That's like kind of the joke that people have been running into the ground for four years.

[Big Cat]

That's funny.

[Hank]

That's.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, I thought it was funny.

[Big Cat]

We didn't say it. I didn't even.

[Hank]

No, I know it's funny.

[PFT Commenter]

Tweet.

[Big Cat]

I can see why Cordell did it.

[Hank]

It was funny. No, I understand.

[Big Cat]

You don't think. You don't find any little.

[Hank]

It's. It's like Jason Tatum, anything he does, it's like Tex Kobe. That's been a running joke that people have been doing for five years.

[PFT Commenter]

This was funny, though, because Kobe was kind of in the news.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Because of the game. Right, I understand.

[Big Cat]

And there's a gif of Stephen A. Smith when he's like rolling his eyes and it's like Vanessa when she sees another text from Jason Tatum.

[PFT Commenter]

That's.

[Big Cat]

That's funny. That's funny. It's funny. Funny's funny.

[PFT Commenter]

Although, I mean, I think the Celtics don't you guys play the Wizards next couple days. I don't know, I feel like Tatum's gonna try to go off against us. Like he. Tatum might be out for 314. He might be out for blood to avenge Kobe, right?

[Hank]

I don't think so.

[PFT Commenter]

No, I think he might be. I think. I think he's right. I think he circled this and he's like, kobe, I got you. I'm not gonna let Bam steal your shine. It's me, Jason Tate. You know what Jason Tatum might do? He might go out there, break Bam's second place scoring record and then change his name to Kobe Bryant so that the record books will show Kobe Bryant has his rightful spot in number two.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Hank]

Jason Tatum, first guy to idolize Kobe.

[PFT Commenter]

That's what I would do if I was Jason Tatum.

[Big Cat]

I can't believe you're rooting for Dominican Republic. It's fucking crazy. It's so good, Hank, I seriously, I don't think I've ever loved you more than in this moment. Sure.

[Hank]

Let's go, doctor.

[Big Cat]

Okay, let's get to our interviews. We got Italian American hero Vinnie Pascantino and Bill Raftery talking some more March Madness. And then we will finish with Fyre Fest. Okay, before we get to Vinnie Pasquin, Hino, we're brought to you by Every Man Jack. You're a grown man making better decisions about what you put in your body. And you are you paying attention to what goes on it? Here's the thing. Using grooming products with harsh chemicals is like washing your car with dish soap. Sure, it gets the job done, but you're stripping away the protection and doing long term damage. Most guys think they have to choose products that work or products that are better for you. Every Man Jack says that's B.S. they're clean. Naturally derived formulas have none of the garbage the other guys use. No parabens, no dyes, no shortcuts. And they're incredibly effective. Their coconut based body wash cleans while hydrating. Their new 48 hour antiperspirant has unbelievable glide and staying power. Every Man Jack. Clean, effective, made for men. What more could you want? Start your new routine and find Every Man Jack at Walmart, Target, Amazon, Kroger, or wherever men's personal care products are sold. We're also brought to you by our friends at Simply Safe. If you're like me, you're desensitized, sensitized to the dozens of notifications on your phone each day. But if that latest ping is from your security camera, ignoring it could spell disaster. Picture this. Somebody's breaking in, but you're giving a Huge presentation at work, at the movies or on a flight at 3, 30, 30,000ft. You'll see the footage in a couple hours, but by then it's too late. That's why you should choose Simplisafe. Simply safe is customizable whole home security system backed by 24, seven monitoring agents. You can rely on to act even when you can't. Traditional security systems only act after someone has already broken in. That's too late. Simply safe active guard outdoor protection can help prevent break ins before they happen. While other security companies lock you in, Simplisafe comes with no long term contract. They earn your trust every day by keeping you safe and satisfied. They're so confident in the protection they provide, they even back it with an anti theft guarantee. Right now, listeners can get 50 off their new Simply Safe system at SimpliSafe.com pmt that SimpliSafe.com pmt there's no safe like Simplisafe. Okay, here he is, Italian American hero Vinnie Pascantino. Okay. We now welcome on recurring guest friend of the program. Very, very, very, very, very special guest because he saved our ass on Wednesday night in the world baseball classic. It is Vinnie Pasquintino and he is off of three home runs and American hero. Vinnie, you are an American hero. Thank you.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

Yeah, you're welcome.

[Big Cat]

Okay, that's great.

[PFT Commenter]

Yes, grazie.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, thank you. You're, I, I said in the middle of the game, I think we should give you your American citizenship.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

That'd be amazing. I would, I would appreciate that a lot. Yeah. When you said you sent me that after the game, I was dying laughing like. That's what, that's what this tournament's all about, trying to grant citizenship for, for those Italian Americans.

[Big Cat]

Yes, yes.

[PFT Commenter]

Are you still beamed up from last night? You had so much espresso after the home runs.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

I would imagine that I got my coffee here. So yeah, I'm freshly beamed up now for this morning. I got, I went to sleep at like 2, 2:30. I did what any, any, any, any guy does after they have a nice night. I ordered some Taco Bell and Insomnia cookies with my wife and we had, you know, we had a good time. So it was good, it was a good night last night.

[PFT Commenter]

I love that. And then I, I, I gotta ask you though, playing for Italy, have you been to Italy?

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

Yes, in 2022. We took a week long trip with the 2020. So the team that played in, in the WBC then we, we did go out there. So I know all the jokes. Are out there. How we're not really Italian, but we have actually been there. So we've been there. That's all that matters.

[PFT Commenter]

Have you heard from anybody back in the old country, anybody celebrating how this team's playing?

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

I'm hoping to hear from the Pope at some point. That's. That's kind of the goal, is hear from the Pope. So we know he's a White Sox fan, so hopefully he's a Team Italy fan, too. But I did an interview yesterday for. For Italy tv, which was. Which was fun. And I know they had the game on. On television out there. I think it was at midnight last night. So that's. It's pretty cool to. To get some baseball over there and try to help build some development culture

[PFT Commenter]

that would be great for the Pope to reach out. I bet you he has watched. I think. I. I don't think that's crazy.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, definitely.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

There's no way the Pope doesn't know what we're doing. There's no way.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, absolutely. He's absolutely aware. I mean, he. He actually probably was upset. The Kyle Teal. Cause he's a White Sox fan. The Kyle Teal got hurt.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

That's. Some of my favorite Twitter jokes are like, man, how upset do you think the Pope is that Kyle Thiel got hurt the other night? It's very funny thinking of random things like that. Of what do you think the Pope is thinking about the White Sox catcher?

[Big Cat]

Right? Yeah. Is there. Is there on Team Italy, Is there like a haves and have nots for guys that don't have a vowel at the end of their name?

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

Oh, big time. Like that video that came out where the guy was talking about how the team was recruited. That's exactly how it happened. If you have a vowel at the end of your name, we came after you. So think about how Italian you have to be if your name doesn't end in a vow. Like, that's. We were going deep trying to. Trying to get guys to play. So. Yeah, I mean, some of the names on this team are. Are absolutely incredible. Like, the names in themselves make you eligible for Team Italy.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. I. Yeah. That's why when I saw Kyle Thiel was on the team, I was like, this is bullshit. Like, he should.

[Bill Raftery]

He.

[Big Cat]

Like, how does he pass? But I guess he passed. How many is it? I would imagine, like, in terms of camaraderie, is it just a lot of dudes talk about the jets free agent signings.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

Yeah, that's basically what I'm doing. That's. That's all I'm doing, letting everybody know how much value we're getting. I did actually talk to the jets general manager last night after the game, and I told him how. How much value I think we're getting. So I think I told him I think we're doing a great job and that, you know, I. I love not overspending for free agents. It's been. It's been fantastic.

[Big Cat]

Okay. Yeah. Because, I mean, like, I. I feel like whether. Whether directly related or. Or like one off, everyone's got. Everyone on the team has more of a connection to the state of New Jersey than Italy.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

Yeah, but the state of New Jersey has a ton of connection to Italy.

[Big Cat]

Should just be the team. New Jersey.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Jersey boys.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

But, yeah, it's good. A lot of. A lot of pork roll, egg and cheese happening in our clubhouse.

[Hank]

We're.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

We're getting back to our Jersey slash Italian roots. It's been good for the. For the fellas.

[PFT Commenter]

Do you guys debate that, like, is. Is half the clubhouse? Taylor Ham and half the clubhouse is pork roll.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

Andrew Fisher, this beautiful psychopath that he is on his Evo shield, like, shin guard, it says pork roll, egg and cheese on it instead of his name. It says pork roll, egg and cheese. So you guys are the Jersey clubhouse.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

This is. This is a New Jersey national baseball team.

[Big Cat]

It's very funny. You guys are just probably that. It's like jets and Giants is the biggest fight that goes on during this. This. During this group. What? So Kyle Teal gets hurt. How close. Let's be honest. How close were we to. To maybe calling up Max? Were we going to. How many guys away were we to getting Max? Cause he did play catcher at Hofstra,

[PFT Commenter]

so that stairs of the ucla.

[Max]

I played catcher for, like one fall season of my ninth grade baseball career, but I had a picture. I had a picture of me playing catcher.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Hey, Zach.

[Big Cat]

Zach, by the way, Vinnie is trying to get your home runs from last night to go to last year's Dingers Only team. He just absolutely count.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

But yeah, we were. We were a few phone calls away at Max. I tried to get you a tryout last week, but, you know, showed us. So I know I was ready to go.

[Max]

I was ready to go.

[Big Cat]

We were. It was like, Vinnie was nice enough. I was texting him and he was like, hey, if Max. Because he listened to the show last week, he's like, max wants to come down and be the team meatball. Like, we could do that. Schedule didn't work, but he was he was offered.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

So you could be the espresso boy, Max. You could, you could pour the espressos for us in the dugout.

[Max]

That's an unbelievable honor.

[Big Cat]

That'd be the highest honor you could get.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

That's incredible.

[PFT Commenter]

Vinnie, I, I, I got a, a weird question for you about how things were, they shook out before that game. Was there any conversation at all about, hey, if we lose to Mexico and Mexico scores like, like two runs, both of us can get in. It's like the Chargers Raiders game from a couple years ago in the last week of the season, you guys both had the opportunity to advance. It would have left the US out, but it was that something that ever crossed your mind,

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

not, not colluding with Mexico? The, the only question that we asked was, if we're losing four nothing or three nothing, whatever it is in the top of the ninth, what do you do? Because the only way you can guarantee yourself to make it to the next round is by not winning the game. Because if you go up five, four in the top of the ninth, and then they score two runs and beat you, then you're out. So the only way to 100 guarantee that you make it through in that specific situation is to not win the game. But the goal of the game was to win the game like we did. So we never, thank God we didn't get into that situation because that would have been really awkward of just trying to, like, how do you finesse that? So I'm glad we didn't. And we never talked about what are we going to do? Because I think everybody kind of felt gross talking about it, but it was something that was talked about of what do you do in that situation? Like, it puts teams in a really unfair spot knowing, knowing the way that it could have worked out. But I'm really happy we didn't get into that situation.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

So speaking of New Jersey and Italians, there is some conspiracy theorists out there. Mark DeRosa is from New Jersey. He is Italian. Was there any handshake, back of the, you know, you know, back of the bar type of deal that went down before the game where he was like, hey, I'm going to pretend that I don't know the rules, or was he

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

just, he just didn't know the rules? Yeah, I think he just didn't know. He's doing his best to not talk to any other team. So even though he talks about it, his job is quite literally to talk about every single player all year long. And yeah, but he's got the best 30 guys over there in those clubhouse, he's made sure to let everybody know how good his guys are.

[Big Cat]

Oh, I like this.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

So, yeah, it's. It's been. That's been. That's been a quite interesting dynamic of having the guy who talks about everybody all year managing the USA team and talking about how good they all are, which everybody knows how good they are.

[Big Cat]

Right?

[PFT Commenter]

They're very good.

[Bill Raftery]

Right.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

I like D Row a lot. It's just been. It's just been. That's a. That's a weird spot to be in for him, managing the team, trying to get your guys fired up. But then at the end, you do have to go back to your real job at some point. Like, if he ever says anything nice about me on MLB Network, do I believe him or do I? You know, I think a lot of players are wondering that right now, like, what's going on with that whole situation?

[Big Cat]

Yeah, the. And it was. It was very weird. You could also see the moment. I think that's the thing, is now you guys have the trump card. If he ever trashes anyone, it's like, hey, remember when you didn't know the rules? That was crazy.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

Kershaw was up in the. The joke I keep seeing on Twitter is like, kershaw was up, and then all of a sudden, Mason Miller was up, and it was like, wait, is this the moment that they found out?

[Big Cat]

Yes. Had to have been.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

But the players knew. The players knew, by the way. Yeah. So I think. I honestly do think it was misspeak, because the players knew going into that game that they were not clinched. So I don't know what happened there, but, you know, they. They found a way to make it in, and, you know, they've got an opportunity to try to go win the thing, but there's eight teams left. Anybody can win it at this point?

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, no, it's been a great tournament. It feels like the. The atmosphere has been almost like a postseason atmosphere. Like, do you guys get. How amped up do you get before these games?

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

Dude, I, I. Last night and the night before, I mean, we were winning by eight in both of those games, and I thought we were tied or up one. The way the crowds were. The crowds were phenomenal. I've never had a. I've never been more nervous standing at first base with nobody on base, winning by eight runs in my life. Those did not feel like games where you were up by that much. The crowds in Houston, the USA crowd on. On whatever night was. Was fantastic in the Team Mexico crowd last night. I mean it's the loudest building I've ever been in and you know, been in some playoffs games, been fortunate enough to play in some of those atmospheres, but second to none, these atmospheres we played in the last few nights. It was incredible. This tournament is, is amazing. Getting 20 countries together to try to build the sport of baseball and bring people together through the sport couldn't better what did.

[Big Cat]

So we had the, the, the situation with Cal Raleigh, who we love is a friend of ours and Randy Rosarino, which I think has been settled now. But were you like, you have teammates? You know what I mean, that you like Bobby Wits playing? Like, are you, are you talking to the guys? Are you chumming up with the guys? Are you. I like that it's a little bit of tense moments going into these games where they're not. Everyone's not all Buddy. Buddy.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

Yeah. Well, I had like this weird moment the other day where I had a press conference and USA was right after us and I was still in the line, still needed to go shower after practice and the entire USA team was just standing there waiting for me to get done. That was the most awkward experience of my life. I'm trying to like chop it up. But also we kind of hate each other I guess in this tournament. Yeah, Bobby was being all weird because he wasn't sure if he was able to talk to me or not. But I don't care like whatever the rules are, like I, I'm just having a good time. But that, that situation, from my understanding, Cal and Randy talked to each other before the game and Cal said please don't do this. I don't know if that's, I don't know if that's true or not, but I heard that, that they had discussed it prior and Randy knew that he wasn't going to do it which is why that that happened and that they're fine. That this is a nothing story in that it just became bigger because you know, it happened in 2023 with Will Smith and Randy as well where you know, trying to fist bump or whatever and didn't do it. But then you see in the Dominican Venezuela game they're like full on hugging before the game.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

So there's just a bunch of different, a bunch of different opinions on it. But we're all just competing to try to win games and, and, and some guys need to lock in more and don't like to talk as much. I'm the opposite. I, I'm sure Cal hates me because I'll just Talk to him. My entire at bat. Yeah, that's what he needs. Good for, you know. Good for him.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. So. So who do you guys have next?

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

We've got Puerto Rico on Saturday, and I believe I'm facing a teammate in Seth Lugo. I think he's pitching for Puerto Rico, so I'm. I'm excited for that. He's probably going to try to hit me. He loves throwing inside, so I'm excited to see. I'm. If he hits me, I'm going to charge the mound. So we'll get a little Royals on Royal fight.

[Big Cat]

I like that.

[PFT Commenter]

I like that. Yeah. Is there. Is that an advantage for you, or is that a disadvantage because you're around him all the time, but you also never go up against them?

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

It could be a little bit of both. I think I faced them twice this. This season already in live at bats, so I've got a little bit of an idea of what he's got. But that guy's got 25 pitches, so he just could pull anything out of the. Out of the toolbox at any given time. So we'll. We'll see.

[PFT Commenter]

Is there any amount of home runs that would be too many home runs for you to say? No, I've had enough espresso, thank you very much.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

No, no, never. Never too many home runs. Any. I don't hit enough of them, so any that I can hit. And, like, honestly, I'm just doing it for Zach. Anyway, when you think about it, it's. How many. How many home runs can I put up for Zach? That's all I'm thinking about.

[Big Cat]

Are you. Were you in the zone last night?

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

I was somewhere last night. I don't know if in the zone was the correct answer, but I was somewhere and it was just working out. Although I don't think I really hit any of those balls hard. Thank God we were in Houston and. But it was just one of those nights you just. I mean, I was over 12 going in, so it was more hope and pray than anything. I tried to bump my first at bat right before the first homer, so just praying that I could do something offensively to help the team and maybe not go over in the entire tournament.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, it was a. It was a great game.

[Big Cat]

Speaking of ballparks, talk us through. I want to hear about the moment that you found out that the Royals were moving in the fences 10ft. Is that one of the greatest moments of your life? Like, how does. Who tells you that's gotta be up there with, like, holy, this is Gonna rock.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

Yeah. I think I found out in October maybe that it was, you know, 95 sure that it was gonna happen. General manager told me he was all fired up. But I'm kind of a prick. I don't know if you've noticed. So my immediate reaction was like, okay, sick.

[Big Cat]

What is it?

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

I just, you know, I just hit. I just hit a bunch of homers. I'll just do it again.

[Big Cat]

But.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

Because when it first happened, everybody was like, oh my God, what a hitters ballpark. Now it's going to be crazy. And I'm like moved from 389 to 379. It's not like it's making it Yankee Stadium in right field.

[Bill Raftery]

Right.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

But yeah, I mean, that 10ft is going to make a big difference, I think. And they did a lot of research, like credit to the Royals. They did a ton of research on figuring out how it was going to affect this specific team, pitchers and hitters. Because I, you know, I think they have, I think we have five more years on our lease in Kaufman Stadium, so who knows what's going on with that. So I think it's kind of a test run for if we are fortunate enough to get a new stadium, what, what that stadium's dimensions could look like.

[PFT Commenter]

So I'm looking at the. Somebody did do the math on it and they said that last year you would have had an increase of about 10 more home runs with new fences. That's millions of dollars, Vinnie.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

My ARB number would have looked a lot better if it was 42 homers instead of 32 homers. But. Yeah, maybe, maybe. But it's less. It could be less hits though, depending on where the outfielders are playing. So, you know, can't change what you're doing and just try to, try to stay out of that conversation.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Do you like the nickname Pasquatch?

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

Yeah, Pasquatch is the one that I like. So I, I'm fortunate enough to have a mascot when I get on base, which is pretty cool. He comes out there and walks around. Yeah, I like the Pasquatch. I got my necklace on at all times. I don't know if you can see it. I got the Sasquatch there.

[Big Cat]

Oh, I love that.

[Bill Raftery]

Good.

[PFT Commenter]

What's it sounds like? There's a nickname that you don't like,

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

like Italian Breakfast, which was given to me by a buddy named Joel Penfield. He, he, he does some media with Kansas City and Billy Butler was the country breakfast. And I'm a big first baseman, so they named me the Italian breakfast. And no offense to Billy by any stretch, but I don't want to be a dh, so I try, I'm trying to stay away from. I don't want to be known for eating food. That's not the goal here. So I feel like the Italian stay away from all off food.

[PFT Commenter]

Probably just like coffee and a cigarette, right?

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

That's exactly what it is. Yes. I'm trying, I'm trying to be a bill of health here. So coffee and a cigarette doesn't. Doesn't do it for me.

[Big Cat]

How, how pissed is your dad during this stretch that his name's Dennis? Like, if he's hanging around with Team Italy and that's. It's got it. So I know we talked about it last time you were on, but like, this is the time that you need a. You need a Paul, a Christopher, a Vinnie. Like.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

This is brutal.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

Yeah, Dennis. Dennis doesn't really fly, but he, he's busy with his high school team, so he, he's not even here. He's got games of his own to win. So he's trying to get away from Team Italy a little bit and try to. He's focused on Spring Hill High School baseball right now, not Team Italy. So he's, he's very happy being Dennis at this current moment.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay.

[Big Cat]

All right, good. So, like, if you guys. Will he come down if you guys make it to the final?

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

Probably not. He'll just watch on TV and rip my bats somehow.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Cause he's Dennis. That's. I guarantee you he's.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

He's kind of not allowed.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. If he was Paulie, he would be down there and he'd be having the time of his life. He'd be.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

He'd probably be on this interview in a. In a white tank top right now with a few change for everybody to see. There are. There's one of the guys family, Gordon Graceffo. His family is wearing green jumpsuits to all the games with like, with the tank tops underneath and sunglasses. It's amazing. I think I'm about to order a few jumpsuits just to. If we do go to Miami, if we're fortunate enough to win on Saturday, make. Make a nice impression down there.

[Big Cat]

This is awesome. This is like when. Remember the summer when Jersey Shore, like the, the show kicked off and everyone just started dressing. You guys are basically doing a Jersey Shore, like party mixed with a high level baseball.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

Yeah. I'm trying to think of what the. What is it? Gym, tan, laundry. I'm trying to think of what it could be in baseball, I don't know. But yeah, we're having a good time. We're passing out wine post game. Like, it's. It's been incredible, this being able to lean into the Italian stereotypes and it being okay is great for a few weeks. Yeah, yeah. This. This tournament. This tournament's awesome. We're wearing suits all to every game. Like, it's. It's good.

[Big Cat]

You need to get. If you guys get to the final, you need to get everyone's grandmother, everyone's. Nona all together because that's really what's probably, you know, getting everyone. Everyone is just talking about their grandmother or grandfather and being like, yeah, the gravy they made. And.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

And, yeah, they're all going to make their own. They're all going to make their own gravy, their own sauce, and we're just going to have a pregame and post game in the clubhouse. We make it to the final, it's going to be. It's going to be the most Italian celebration of all time.

[PFT Commenter]

And then you should go to 11 afterwards. Italian national anthem.

[Big Cat]

We'll tell you about 11 later.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, yeah.

[Big Cat]

Probably don't know about it, but we'll tell you about it. Zach, you got a question for Vinny?

[Zach]

What's going on? Vinny, good to virtual see you again.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

All right, man.

[Zach]

I was just. I was curious.

[Bill Raftery]

I just.

[Zach]

I do want to say I appreciate you so much for, you know, the blood, sweat and tears you put into this Dingers only season that was last year. And I was curious, if, given the opportunity, what it would take to know, get you on an extension, you know, maybe pick you up for next year. Anything you need, I'll get. I'll get it covered.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

I want to finish my career on your Dingers Only team, so.

[Zach]

Okay.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

I would love nothing more. I'd love nothing more than an extension with you. So you just.

[Max]

You.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

You have your people contact my agent and just let me know.

[PFT Commenter]

One Jersey guy.

[Zach]

I don't really got guys like that. I know you probably do. So I can reach out.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

Yeah, perfect. I got you.

[Zach]

That's awesome. Thank you for your time.

[Big Cat]

Good job. Yeah. Good question, Max.

[PFT Commenter]

You have a question,

[Big Cat]

Max, are you getting swept up a little bit in Team Italy?

[Max]

I am. I love Team Italy. It's. Are you guys. I can. You guys.

[Bill Raftery]

Are.

[Max]

You guys want to play us again until the final, right?

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

That's right.

[Max]

All right, so we.

[Big Cat]

I.

[Max]

We're in a good spot. If I can still, I can now root for Team Italy fully and Team USA Fully. What are the chance. See, you already asked. You already asked my question. My question was, what are the chances that you saw that picture? You guys saw that picture of me catching. You're like, we got to get this guy out.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Probably low.

[Max]

Probably low.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

But, like, we had a conversation last night with the GM where we were looking for a guy because one of our guys went down. I said, hey, I don't know if you've heard about this guy. His name's Max. He's on a podcast. He's ready to go. There we go. That's all.

[Max]

That's all I needed to hear.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

He was at Hofstra for half a season, and he's ready to rock. Three dingers.

[Max]

Three dingers.

[PFT Commenter]

When you guys were going through the list of guys whose names ended in vals in baseball, did anybody just, like, throw out, like, Juan Soto just, like, as a heat check? Sodo, you know who texted me the

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

other day and said he loved the opportunity to represent the Italians was Tommy Fam. So we're trying to. We're trying to find a way to get Tommy. To get Tommy with the Italians. We'll trace it, trace back his lineage and see what we got. But if he's from Italy, he's eligible.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. All right, Vinnie, you're the best man. I got one last question. Roback question. Rhobac.com promo code Taylor, take 20 off your first purchase. Q, zips, polos, hoodies, joggers. Shorts. Roback.com promo code Take. Are you guys as a team, like, I. I know this might sound wrong, but, like, are you, like, re watching the Sopranos or anything, like, in the clubhouse? That would be really cool.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

No, we're not. We do have some Italian music because the. We do have, like, some. We have. I think we have six guys who are, like, play in the Italian league and are, you know, purebred Italians is what I'm. What I've been calling them.

[Big Cat]

Right.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

Finished the game last night. Gabriella Quattrini. He finished the game for us last night. They're providing the. The music for us and the atmosphere of letting us know how to really get back to our Italian roots. But no, no, no Sopranos. We've talked about it quite a bit, but a little bit of Godfather references. Some good fellas in there. So we're really trying to get back to our roots with the Italian movies and conversations in there. But, no, I haven't watched anything yet.

[Rico Bosco]

But we do.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

If we. Like I said, if we're fortunate, Saturday, we've got another flight. Maybe we'll, maybe we'll lock in on Saturday with something.

[PFT Commenter]

If you guys do win, is there going to be a trip to Italy? Are you going to go back? Have to get a parade?

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

Parade. I don't know why the pope hasn't invited us yet, but, but we'll, we'll see. We're. We're waiting on the Pope to make it happen. Okay.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, you should never have to buy a canoli for yourself ever in Italy

[Big Cat]

if you guys win.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

Yeah, exactly.

[Big Cat]

The pope's in awl for sure. So he'll hear this and he'll be like, oh, my bad.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

Somebody will get back to him.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, yeah, absolutely. All right, Vinnie, you're the best, man. Thanks for joining us.

[Max]

Especially.

[Big Cat]

It's like seven hours ago you hit three dingers in a huge game. You're an Italian American hero and we appreciate you and we'll hopefully see this summer when you come through Chicago.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

Yeah, sounds good. Thanks, guys.

[PFT Commenter]

Vinnie Pasquatino is brought to you by Chevy. Our great friends over at Chevy, they know that football season's over, but you know how it goes. The minute the big game ends, we're already talking about what's next, free agency, the draft, who's getting paid, who's grinding. Because for football guys, there's no off season. That's exactly why they roll with the Chevy Silverado. Silverado is the truck that shows up every time. Built to haul, tow, built to take a beating. Never feels a physical. But smartware accounts with modern tech that makes life easier. Big screens, they've got available camera views that help with towing and parking. And a cabin that feels right. Whether you're road tripping, heading to practice, or loading up for the weekend, during the season, it's the MVP of the tailgate. After the season, it turns into your training camp truck. Hauling gear, tackling home projects, doing all the work that never stops. Because the grind doesn't take breaks. And neither does Silverado. Check out the current offers. Build your own [e-mail] learn more go to chevy.com and check out the Silverado today. And then Bill Raftery is brought to you by our great friends over at Body Armor. If you're. If you're up all night holding court at the hotel bar like Bill's been known to do a time or two in the morning, you might want one of these body armor flash IVs I got right here. We got the strawberry kiwi right in front of me. It's a great way to rehydrate, even if you had a tough workout. Crush a Body Armor Flash iv. Long night out Body Armor Flash iv. It's packed with electrolytes, delivers faster, longer lasting hydration without any artificial dyes, flavors or sweeteners. If you're training, if you're traveling, or if you're just feeling the heat, work hard, hydrate hard. With body armor flash IV. Grab yours today at 7:11. And now here, here is Bill Raftery.

[Big Cat]

Okay. We now welcome on a very, very, very, very, very, very special guest. Probably the most special guest we could have on in March. It is the legend recurring guest Bill Raftery. He is, we're getting ready for the madness. He's in New York City ready to call the biggies tournament. First of all, thank you so much, Bill for coming back on. We love having you on. How excited what, what, what's going through your head right now as we're on the precipice of the best couple weeks of the year?

[Bill Raftery]

Well, when you, when I hear barstool, it, you know, resonates, you know, it just has a nice ring to an Irish guy. But just the excitement, I, I, I think turning the page is the biggest thing for these kids. And coaches like you've gone through the gauntlet of a regular season with the ups and downs, personalities, interference, people telling kids things that sort of distract from the success in some ways, but all of a sudden it goes away, you know, when you're, when you're good enough to obviously be a factor in your conference tournament, but also commence CEA time. I divided into three schedules, almost regular season tournament and then NCAA tournament. And I think each one brings a different personality and I guess the one that wins sustains it the longest or brings it from one section to the rest. So but from the terms of the excitement, you know, we're in New York and, excuse me, just walking around the streets, you know, another sellout for the Big east tournaments. And you know, people, even though people thought the league was down, it's still very competitive and obviously, you know, here rooting for their own team. But a lot of these people stay, it's like a feast for them.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Which, which fan base at the Big east tournament is the rowdiest?

[Big Cat]

Wow.

[Bill Raftery]

Well, again, when St. John's is good, obviously, which they are, you know, you've got a lot of these guys can afford the price of tickets, right? So for the hand me downs, you know, UConn's got to be another one when you think of it. And then Villanova probably would be the third in Terms of particularly local interest, where a lot of those fan bases. The kids are from the local high schools here.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. Yeah. Bill, I, I just reached out to Dan Hurley yesterday when his brother was let go by Arizona State. We're advocating for the Hurleys to team up as a duo again and maybe get Bobby back on the sidelines for the NCAA tournament as an assistant coach. If you see him just put that bug in his ear, tell him America would, would love to see the guys back together.

[Bill Raftery]

Well, I saw him this morning at their shoot around and we never broached the topic, but it's close to home, obviously for him, but I think the referees union would be in protest of those two together. Just.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Bill Raftery]

You know, very interesting. Com Nation as you know. And some people always say to me, well, what was the father like on the sideline? And I said, he won all the games, so he was fine. The most he'd do is put his arms over his head once a game and say to refs, you're kidding me. But not quite that way, and then sit down. He used to win 35 games a year.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, yeah.

[Bill Raftery]

But, you know, it's. I, I wouldn't say it's like father, like son, but. But I think the intent and the, the aggression of how important every play is and how, you know, each game, you know, Danny's still thinking about the Marquette game the other night, about some of the things that they did wrong. And I'm sure he didn't bring up him and his actions, but I'm sure he's had conversations with his family and I'm sure himself in the league. So it is an interesting idea, but I, I just don't think unless you had boxing gloves that it would work out.

[PFT Commenter]

The refs wouldn't know who to tee up. Yeah, they'd be, they'd be confused. They'd turn around and be like, I got double hurleys. I guess I got to pick one.

[Bill Raftery]

They were, they were together at Wagner by.

[Big Cat]

Oh, yeah.

[Bill Raftery]

And from what I heard, that was interesting.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Bill Raftery]

Those days, you know.

[Big Cat]

Yes.

[Bill Raftery]

Really strong minded, aggressive kind of guys.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. So you said you're, you're obviously there. You're talking to some of the coaches. Has Coach Patino given you any inkling, the elder Coach Pitino, any inkling of when if the white suit's going to come back out? Because we feel like that is the most unfair advantage a team could potentially have is when Rick Patino says, hey, it's white suit game, you, you basically might as well not show up. Or get off the bus.

[Bill Raftery]

Well, yeah, I didn't see him. I'm not doing his games this afternoon. You know, I'm just on tonight, and then I leave tomorrow for the Big Ten. I'll. On the weekend. But I wouldn't put it past Rick to reach back and buy most of the tickets that are available if it gets to the end of this thing and he's got to play a couple of these heavyweights.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Bill Raftery]

Hey, listen, if it works, you know, I remember doing a game in Louisville and the. He was perspiring and his underwear leaked into the white suit.

[PFT Commenter]

That happens with him. Yeah.

[Bill Raftery]

Somewhat, you might call, was very unusual, but I don't think I'll do the right soon here. I doubt it.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. By the way, you're. You're more than invited to come by the barstool offices this weekend if you have any free time.

[Bill Raftery]

We're.

[Big Cat]

We're about an hour or. Sorry, we're about a mile from the United center, so we'd love to have you come by. And you can bring anyone you want. Uh, we have beer on tap for you, so.

[Bill Raftery]

Well, I. I would love it, but I think it's pretty. You know, we get in Friday, I stay in the room to look at the games. Yeah, you can't really go to the arena and watch. You know, you can't put your iPad on and see a game before kind of stuff. And then the Saturday we got. We got a double header. And then Sunday, get up to the game and then get on a plane and try and figure, well, they'll let us know either before we take off or a little later in the evening where we're going.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Big Cat]

That was the nicest way to say not a shot. I appreciate that. You let me down very easily. Yeah.

[Bill Raftery]

You know, just judging by the atmosphere there, I don't think it's what you call a fine dining spot.

[Big Cat]

That's true. You're absolutely right.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

All right.

[Big Cat]

Let's talk about the Big Ten tournament, though. Big Ten is. Is loaded this year. There's a lot of really, really strong teams. When you look at a season where Purdue is the seventh seed and they were one of the top teams going into this year, what team right now do you think outside of maybe Michigan? Because that's obviously the answer to who's the best of the Big Ten, but what team are you most interested in playing really good ball right now that you're. You're excited to watch?

[Bill Raftery]

You know, I'm curious to watch Purdue, to be honest with you. Now You've got time off to reflect. Do you, you know, sort of look at the lineup and say each opponent, should I play a little smaller, should I play a little bigger? You've got experienced guys. I would think this is a great couple of days off for Purdue. You know, you know how good they can be. Of course, preseason prognostications don't always follow through. I had them the Iowa State game and Iowa State really got after them. As you recall. It was a wipeout, basically. So I think they've had some games where they've learned lessons. I think hopefully they've learned some, you know, we're Indiana or Northwestern, like maybe falling asleep a little during the course of the game. So that, that intrigues me. The other one is without Cason. This is a little bit of a dilemma for Dusty.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Bill Raftery]

By that you don't have a, a guy that you could say is your backup point. I know he can shoot. He's a terrific defender. So Yaxel now, I think he'll be handling the ball more in that point forward kind of a concept now, you know, with Cado or without Cadot. But McKenney is a kid. We're going to see play in the NBA. So that's really not much of a come down when you think of it.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Bill Raftery]

So. But that team in a sense too. So those two sort of intrigue me as Michigan State, the bench plus Scott making shots, have gotten to become a better team. You know, they're not the same team as they were three months ago. I know they lost at Michigan. Michigan, but you know, they're a team that's. They're going to come and play the same way. Can your team do that? And I think that that's the key when you play in Michigan State, but that's not slaying anybody else. You know, Nebraska is a dilemma with the five out and the way Mass plays who can, you know, make shots outside and also load up in the lane. So I just think it's like a heavyweight and I think that's part of the dilemma. Over the years, they beat the heck out of one another. You know, come tournament time, I think physically and mentally they're. They're somewhat whipped.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Bill Raftery]

Now the team that have won the championships have all been pretty good since 2000. And so that's another point of reference. But I just find that league is strenuous mentally and physically, maybe more so than any of the others in the country.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

What's. What's one team from the conference that you think can play their way into the tournament solidly. Play their way in. Not. Not, you know, winning the conference tournament, but win enough games, play themselves off the bubble, which.

[Bill Raftery]

Wow, that's interesting. Are you giving Miami a bid?

[PFT Commenter]

I mean, I would do that, yeah.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. I think you go undefeated in regular season for the, for the full season,

[Bill Raftery]

you should get it.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, it should mean something.

[Bill Raftery]

I thought Indiana before you posed this question. No, I think Ohio State is one that can really help themselves. You know, they've been close. They've been like Virginia Tech when Seth was down there, who's on the bubble every year, if you remember. But I think Ohio State has an opportunity to do some damage.

[Max]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Great coach Seth Greenberg. Yeah. The Indiana, I mean, they. They are. There's such a disappointment. They. They lose to Northwestern on Wednesday night. Their. Their season's over. The fact that we're even considering them still on the bubble kind of actually speaks to how soft the bubble is this year, where teams just are losing. Like, you have a Texas who knows is on the bubble. They lose to Ole Miss. All these teams that feel like they can make a move have all kind of faltered at the exact same time. So it's, it's interesting to watch that happen.

[Bill Raftery]

So you guys, as a fan, look at it one way, and I say going into that game the way Chris Beard guards, to me, that's an even game. Yeah, like, you know, we take for granted that you should win it because of certain reasons, and then you don't realize how demanding it is to compete. You know, he lost to Auburn, gave them a heck of a run in the sweet 16, if I'm not mistaken, last year. But, you know, it's tough and you pay for your sins. I think you have to schedule strong in November and December, and you've got to win those games or else you're going to be on the bubble within your conference come this time of year. So it pays to do well there. The one thing about Indiana I found, and again, I know everybody is, you know, threes and top twos, you know, the clinic kind of conversation. You got to still score in the low post area. It's like, you know, do you go four times in a row taking a three and come up empty or maybe get a two here? So it goes 10 to 4.

[Big Cat]

Yes.

[Bill Raftery]

12 to 2. So I think that was part of, you know, some of the reasons they struggled a little bit because they weren't making shots and they could key on their best players, which there were some. But I just think you got to have a well rounded approach where you can score with threes and you know, you know, by the guy the guards turn in the corner, find the people and your bigs able to finish at the rim or offensive rebound, kick out threes that. I mean, that's obviously the best shot in the game right now.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Darren Devries actually said, I saw a quote where he was like, you know, first year in the Big Ten. One of the things that he's learned is like that the four or five position, you need, you need big bodies. There's just guys that are, you know, if you, if you look across the league, Purdue's always got a monster. Michigan with Mara. Yeah. Like there's guys just, just massive, massive guys, you know, the, the freshman in Washington, like there's guys that are just monsters and you need to have that to compete in the Big Ten. Which speaks to what you're saying about beating each other up.

[Bill Raftery]

Yeah, yeah. You gotta hire armed guards to help you underneath, you know.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Bill Raftery]

But it is, the physicality is one thing. Obviously the ability of the four man to play out on the floor is a major issue if you do play bigger. And that's like a really important thing, you know.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Bill Raftery]

Getting back to Purdue, that's what I find interesting too. Clough and Wren are very tough to defend against. Does Matt fool around for minutes playing Ren where he's a monster in that low post with the floater and he's, you know, he's got a counter as well, so that, you know, bringing them back into the conversation and their physical play is impressive. And Jacobson, another big kid who can pick and pop. So, you know, size is important and points inside are important not to be overlooked.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

Right.

[PFT Commenter]

Wait, what about. Interesting team in the Big Ten, Nebraska. They've had a great season. Still haven't won an NCAA tournament game. But everyone's expectation this year is obviously this would. This should be the year where they find some success in March. What, what, what should the expectation be for Nebraska if we, if we just thought of them as a team that, that did not have this, this past, that's just kind of hanging over their heads. Like, what should the real expectation for this Cornhuskers team be?

[Bill Raftery]

You know, digressing for a moment. I think it was Rick Cobb, Al McGuire. I'm making it up at Al McGuire. Rick Cobb told Al, I think I should be starting. And he said, ahead of home. He said, your son, allie. And Al McGuire said, I think it was Rick, could have been another player. Rick, I like you, but I Love my son. And you look at this Nebraska team. When your son plays, he's got to be the best player or the worst player. And that kid exemplifies what college sports is all about. He is fantastic. And you know, there's better players on the team, there's guys who can shoot better, but I think he just drives the spirit of the unit. I don't think his dad has to do much of that. The emotional end of things. But they can score, which is really, you know, in the tournament, it's hard to score. Sometimes kids think a little more. Is this a good shot? They don't have the rhythm or the comfort zone of a home crowd. But I think, to your point, I think this team can do some damage, to be honest with you. You know, I mentioned Mass before. He's a very unusual guy to have to guard Buchental. I'm not saying his name right, but the kid from ucla, you know, he gives them some size and some strength. They've got outside shooters. Jacobson can make shots. Frank can make shots. So, you know, they're, they're, they're a really solid basketball team. I don't know how deep they can go, but I. But I do think there's promise of winning the game, obviously.

[PFT Commenter]

I saw an interview with you the other day and they brought up the double onions call that you made. Is there any chance that we're going to get a double onions this March?

[Bill Raftery]

Do you know who that was against?

[PFT Commenter]

No. No. Who was that?

[Bill Raftery]

Well, it was Siena against Ohio State and Ronald Moore was. The kid who makes it was that Dayton. He makes a shot at the buzzer to tie it. So that was the onions. And then, you know, he makes the winnings three. And that was the double onions.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Bill Raftery]

Fran McCaffrey was at his wedding and they got. They called me at home from the wedding. Years later, you know, they say it, say it again, you know, kind of a thing, which is pretty funny anyhow, you know, these conference tournaments. To answer you, yes, I hope we do get them in the tournament as well. But I do think there's an evenness in around the country that, you know, the first weekend there's going to be great games. That may be the first day we didn't have other years. I just think there's a lot of talented teams that, you know, are going to be hanging around and trying to steal it late. So I think this might be one of those years.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Yeah. What's the most impressive team you've watched or maybe impressive performance that You've called this year.

[Bill Raftery]

I was impressed with Arizona on the road to Connecticut. Yeah, early on. And a lot of the better teams I've had beat the opponent easily, but from a distance. I. Duke, Florida State, unfortunately, with these injuries now with Duke, Gumba, I believe, and I don't know factually will be back. Foster, I don't think it sounds like he's out, but the twin Caden has really shown strides where it's not, you know, the most. Well, you never want to lose a kid of that talent, but defensively it's maybe a drop off just a little bit it. But I'm impressed with Duke able to take on everybody and what the big kid, you know, Cameron, the bigger of the two, I should say of the Twins, the positions he can play that he is a nightmare to defend. Who do you put on him? The unselfish play. I like to compare him to Cooper Flag because he never forces the game to come to him. He's a different player than Flag, obviously, but. But he's just one of those, what do you need right now? Kind of a kids. And it doesn't come from John suggesting it. He just has that innate ability to read. And it's time to post up, it's time to cut, it's time to make it three. It's time to screen and slip. You know, he guards and, you know, they certainly have to protect them on the defensive end because, you know, without him, they're not quite as good.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. We've got a guy here, our good friend Rico Bosco. He's actually a Staten island guy. Huge hoops fan. When I told him you were coming on, he was. He was like, oh, my gosh, I can't believe you got raftery again. He's the best. So he had a couple questions for you. We have him in the. In the booth. Rico, go ahead. Fire away.

[Rico Bosco]

Uh, yeah, Bill, we actually met in Houston. You gave me a couple minutes of your time, so thank you for that

[Zach]

at the Final Four.

[Bill Raftery]

Rico. What high school?

[Rico Bosco]

Zavarian.

[Bill Raftery]

Okay. We had a lot of kids. St. Peter's Yep.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

We.

[Rico Bosco]

We actually won the city in 05. You called some Ofance's games.

[Bill Raftery]

Oh, okay.

[Rico Bosco]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

So you guys basically are family and.

[PFT Commenter]

And then he gave me some of his time in Houston.

[Rico Bosco]

Yeah, he's a great guy. One of my favorite things on the broadcast is when Jay or Jim, they talk about, you know, you holding court after the games, putting away a couple of beverages, hanging out. Who are some of your favorite coaches to. To hang out With.

[Big Cat]

With.

[Bill Raftery]

Most of them were deceased, unfortunately, at this point, you know, I. I had nothing to do with their demise. Maybe I contributed a little. You know, Jay Wright was great, win or lose. Let's see. Louis at Dante's used to hold court, win or lose. A lot of guys can't handle the lost night, you know, but let's see, who else. Tom Young at Rutgers, years ago. Oh, trying to think. I'd love to say John Wooden, but, you know, certainly I don't think he was much of a hang guy. He just kept winning championships.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Bill Raftery]

Let's see. Around the league,

[Big Cat]

is there is Bay.

[Bill Raftery]

Bayheim, if he won.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, I was gonna say, is there

[Bill Raftery]

worst loser in the world?

[Big Cat]

Okay, that was my question. Going to be. Is like, is there a guy that there was absolutely zero percent chance that you would ever text or call after a loss?

[Bill Raftery]

He beat PJ and I could be wrong. Either 24 or 26 straight times. They went out to dinner every night. PJ finally won in, like, the middle. Just, you know, a couple of years before he made the tour, you know, made the finals. Bayheim wouldn't go out. It's like, talk about. About a sore, you know, sore loser, obviously.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Bill Raftery]

Dave gave. It would have been one, because it was both coach and ad, and then Big East. Only because of his grasp of. Of the climate of college sports, you know.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Bill Raftery]

Because he was always Donald D. Row, God bless him, was another guy. He didn't drink, but he made you drink kind of. You know, he had lasting power and a great sense of humor.

[PFT Commenter]

But

[Bill Raftery]

I'm sure when I get off, I'll think of some of the other. Ed Donahue was the Kings coach, but he was at Niagara. He recruited Calvin Murphy. We had it. We had an agreement. Either way, he would go out some nights, regrettably, because he, you know, wasn't worried about a curfew.

[PFT Commenter]

Good question.

[Big Cat]

Good question.

[PFT Commenter]

Great question. You ever go out with Coach K? Would he hit the bar?

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

Yes.

[Bill Raftery]

Yeah. Coach K liked his wine, you know, but, you know, at Army. At army, generally, they would go back, you know, the ECAC tournament. We had a very good friendship. All my friendships were good with coaches because they usually beat me.

[Big Cat]

Right.

[Bill Raftery]

So we got along. We got along well. But Mike would be in the Dave Gavitt category, where it would always be interesting, his take on the current climate.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Bill Raftery]

And I have not said this to him, but I'd love him to step in the middle of this thing and, you know, maybe get some respect from Congress and sort of square it away. A little bit, you know, what's going on, but for another discussion, listen, I'd

[Big Cat]

love it, too, but I don't think Coach K doesn't seem like a guy who's going to come in and, like, make the thing about himself, know, so he's. He's not going to get involved.

[Bill Raftery]

No, he. But I. He would make it about the game.

[Big Cat]

Right, Right.

[Bill Raftery]

Which I, you know, I think that.

[Big Cat]

That.

[Bill Raftery]

That's foremost in his thinking, you know? Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

I think he cares about, you know, Duke basketball. I. I don't think he would do things that would impact other teams. Kids.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, right.

[PFT Commenter]

He's. He. He's focused on. On what happens to that building. Do you think. Has Coach K reached out? Has he been active at all this year with Duke? Because I know he had, you know, the office in the building.

[Bill Raftery]

He goes to the game. Regrettably, I have not talked to him, which I do all my colleges. I usually call and say hello when I see him on air, which I did recently, but I have not talked to him. But I. I know he's enjoying what John's done, you know, like, you know, sticking with high school kids and being able to get the best players and, you know, just fantastic beginning of this kid's career as a coach. I mean, he's. He's very grounded, John. He's got great insights. He really talks to a lot of coaches, particularly NBA guys. He's got a great relationship, one with Joe Missoula. So I. I think the better coaches keep growing. They keep, you know, they're. They. They investigate or they. They try and pick people's brains because I don't think he can stand still anymore.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Yeah. Rico, you have another question?

[Rico Bosco]

Yeah. I don't know if he's much of a drinker, but the other stories I love hearing. My favorite coach of all time, Rick Majeris. You ever share a meal with him? Famous eater?

[Bill Raftery]

We. He was very friendly with our kids. Yes. Casa Dante in Jersey City. We were at the ABC Camp Camp and we. It's now closed. Was really one of the great restaurants. And we sat down and he said to the waiter, give me all of the appetizers started. And he would eat some of each dish, and if he really liked it, he would finish those dishes.

[PFT Commenter]

I love that. I love that.

[Bill Raftery]

We were in El Paso, Texas, Utah, and the Bear was a Coach Haskins. And we said, where should we go? It was a late game. He said, well, the only place open is the truck stop. So we went to the truck stop and I Ordered a beverage. He used to like umbrella drinks. He wasn't much of a drinker. It was sort of embarrassing, this big strong guy, you know, having an umbrella in his dress. But the waitress came over and he pulled the table next to us in and did the same thing. So he ordered the appetizers and then he ordered a few meals. And I had a white egg omelette. I felt like I was a little altar boy sitting next to him. But having said that, brilliant, incredible understanding of the game. His people skills were beyond the norm. Such a quality human being. Just enjoyed eating and partaking of conversation. Very sad to lose him at such a young age. He was, you know, he had a lot to do with Al success. He and Hank Raymond. Yeah, they were sobering influence. And I don't mean out alcohol, just the way they looked at things and, you know, could get in. Al's here.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. Yeah. It's honestly a joy to talk to you because I can. I can tell you still love the game. You still love basketball. Is there something like this time of year that gets you especially fired up?

[Bill Raftery]

Yeah, well, you know, being with Jim. When he started Jim Nance years ago, I did his first. First two games, I think with him. One in Arkansas, one in Miami and I did his first studio show. Then we did games. And then of course, you know, he became the prime number one. And then to get back with him late in my career was. Was sort of, you know, just a thrill in a lot of ways. So I went from him being a young guy coming from Utah where he did this. He wasn't from you of it. He did the pro team there. And then to have Iron Eagle, who I spent eight years with sort of at the end of my career, who's one of the up and coming while he's there, superstars. And having been a friend of his doing net games because it was, you know. But anybody who wants to announce should do pro teams that struggle and you're trying to figure out. Out how to get through four quarters of a 15 win season.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Bill Raftery]

And Bird was magical and brought the same energy and it, you know, obviously for me watching him, it certainly rubbed off. So. So those bookends and in the middle have Vern. You know, Verne was a problem because we come back from dinner and a very festive night with everybody and the bar at the hotel would be open and he'd look at me and he'd say, should we have one more? And of course I would say, why not? And then we'd go over and all the young people, all the young guys on the crew and gals would come, but. So I've been very fortunate to be. And I'm leaving a lot of names out, but that's made my life really enjoyable to be in partnership with so many talented guys.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, absolutely. Well, Bill, we'd love having you on. I had one last question. The Roback question. R, H, O, B, A, C, K.com promo code. Take 20% off your first purchase. Q, zips, polos, hoodies, joggers, shorts. Roback.com promo code, take. And it's actually. I'm gonna give it to Rico. Cause I know Rico's got. He's probably got, like, 10 other questions. Rico, why don't you hit him? Why don't you hit him with two more? Because he. Rico, is just a college basketball guy through and through, and he loves you. And so we thought it'd be cool for him to be part of this. So, Rico, go ahead. If you got just one.

[Rico Bosco]

I'll give him one last one. You'll be an indie, obviously. We'll be an indie. I'd love to buy you a drink at the pump party if that could be my honor. Like, you know, bad.

[Big Cat]

Last question.

[Bill Raftery]

That's a deal.

[PFT Commenter]

That's a deal.

[Big Cat]

All right. Awesome.

[Rico Bosco]

I'll have to get your number, add you to the Rolodex, if you're okay with that.

[PFT Commenter]

You don't want that, Coach.

[Rico Bosco]

We'll organize it. I don't want that, but, yeah, I appreciate that, Bill. That would be a lifelong honor. So first one's on me.

[Bill Raftery]

Okay. I lost. I lost the.

[Big Cat]

Okay. All right, perfect.

[PFT Commenter]

Rico has agreed to pay for one drink.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Bill Raftery]

Can ask one more question?

[Big Cat]

Yeah, go give. Give him a real basketball question, Rico.

[PFT Commenter]

Come on.

[Max]

All right.

[Rico Bosco]

Who's the pick to win the title? I mean, it's obviously top heavy, but, you know, a lot of people sometimes can go outside the box box. Is it just going to be chalky like it is last year, or who's the team you think is cutting them down?

[Bill Raftery]

I know they've had a couple of bumps on the road. I'm not giving up on Houston.

[Big Cat]

Oh, smart man.

[Bill Raftery]

There are two freshmen are. Sack and Flemings are the real deal. The guy on the sideline is just amazing what he gets to do on the defensive end. And I think in the tournament, we talked a little bit about optimization offense. You really got to be a good offensive team to score against Houston. Now, there's other teams that are really good and talented, you know, Arizona, Florida, I like a lot they're coming on, but you know, just something about this Houston team that's they're, they're being overlooked and nobody mentions them much. And I just so I know they bring toughness every day they're on the floor, much less during games.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Okay. Well, Bill, thank you so much. We appreciate it and you know, have a great march and we'll see you in Indy.

[Bill Raftery]

I look forward to it, guys. Thanks for having me.

[PFT Commenter]

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[Big Cat]

Okay. Fire fest of the week. Henry, get us going.

[Hank]

I my firefighter week is that I got a flat tire while driving to work.

[Big Cat]

In your sick car.

[Hank]

In my sick car. I wanted to really trade it in. Yeah, I've had. I've had. I feel like I might be getting banged by the dealership just because I brought it in, got everything fixed. Felt like I've got banged a little bit there, but it was just like, oh, you need to get this fixed. And we recommend you do this, this and this. And I was like, fuck it, just do it all that. I won't have to come back anymore. I've since had to go back three times. This one, I think there was just a puncture in my tire.

[PFT Commenter]

So why'd you drive over a nail?

[Hank]

I think they said it was a pothole. Potentially.

[Big Cat]

Look out for those, by the way. This just popped in my head, like, why there should be a service. Just guy for hire that he's not a mechanic. So he doesn't have a mechanic shop. But he knows everything about cars. He takes your car into the mechanic shop and just make sure you don't get banged. Yeah, he knows everything. You just. He comes, picks it up. As a man, 50 bucks.

[Hank]

That's tough.

[Big Cat]

I would do it. Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

A lot of times guys are too embarrassed to admit that sometimes we need husbands too.

[Max]

Yeah, that's an awesome idea.

[Big Cat]

I think this is a great idea.

[Max]

I would spend a lot of money

[Big Cat]

for that service, pick you up, pick up your car, take it to the. To the auto shop and be like, hey, man, whatever happens, I trust you. You're going to get me the best deal.

[Max]

I'm willing more than a. Because him just picking it up and getting it. There is also a service within its own.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, well, what about. What about talking on the. I feel like if the mechanic calls you, you can at least look it up online.

[Big Cat]

No, you need face to face.

[PFT Commenter]

I got it because, like, I've got. Got. I've gotten banged by a few mechanics in my day, trust me. But mechanics last like year and a half.

[Big Cat]

But mechanics can smell guys who know Cars. So, like, they know they'll immediately just be right in line like, oh, this guy knows cars. I'm not with this.

[PFT Commenter]

I think my. My current mechanic and I have a good understanding. The first question he asked me was like, you carry. When I brought my car in, he's like, you care? And I go, absolutely, I do. And so he respects me as a gun owner.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

But, yeah, no, you have to. You have to just, like, kind of go along with what they say with car confidence.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. So we need to get this service. Okay. And we could call it Husbands for Guys.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. Like, it's actually not just for Craigslist.

[Hank]

Yeah. Go to Craigslist and say, I'm looking for a husband.

[PFT Commenter]

Looking for a husband. It could be for a lot of stuff. Like a guy coming over to, like, look at your roof.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Clean your gutters.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. Help with a tree in the backyard.

[Hank]

I saw a kid on the street doing the, like those. Those videos I think we've talked about on the show where they. They clear the gutters. Like, they're all blocked by leaves, and they. The guy like, like, goes and finds them and clears them out. I saw someone just doing that the other day.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Hank]

Respect.

[Big Cat]

Like, there's a lot of talk these days about, you know, like, the masculinity crisis in America. I don't think we have a masculinity crisis. I think we have being open about our masculinity crisis. Like, it's okay to say, hey, guys, I'm kind of a. When it comes to this, not all

[PFT Commenter]

of us can hammer in a nail like Dave.

[Big Cat]

Right.

[PFT Commenter]

So you could. You could get on the phone, be like, hey, can you come over? I need you to take my car into the shop. Can you cook this steak for me? Yeah. Bang my wife. Like, all this stuff, like, stuff that guys should not be afraid to ask.

[Big Cat]

The masculinity crisis is really that we are scared to be called bitches, when really we should just be open about it and be like, hey, I need a husband for this.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

So he's going to take my car in, he's going to get it fixed, he's going to bring it back, and I'm going to keep my pride as a human being and as a man intact.

[PFT Commenter]

But also, you shouldn't have driven over that nail.

[Max]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

That was your fault.

[Hank]

Well, it was two things.

[Big Cat]

It was.

[Hank]

It was kind of thrilling because I got in the car and it's like my. My low tire pressure thing went off. And I'm like, surely that's just an error because I just. I just got it fixed two months ago, and I started driving. I'm like, this doesn't feel good. I got out. My tire was basically completely flat. And so the drive.

[Big Cat]

It's not a sick car on a

[Hank]

flat tire to the dealership is like, this is kind of exciting but a little bit scary. And then the second thing is, like, despite everyone besides, you know, everyone is like, there's no need for you to get a new car, but it's like, I kind of want to get a sicker car.

[Big Cat]

You've been sick car?

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. By both of us.

[PFT Commenter]

Hank's up now. He's next.

[Big Cat]

We. We both got sicker cars than you.

[PFT Commenter]

Our cars are way sicker than yours.

[Big Cat]

And now you're a little. With a flat tire, you got.

[Hank]

Well, no, I'm good.

[Max]

Now you got.

[PFT Commenter]

No, it's a good family car.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. Like, maybe you could fit, like, one. One baby and a dog.

[PFT Commenter]

Dog.

[Hank]

Well, yeah, I don't have baby or dogs.

[Big Cat]

Right. I know, but that's what I'm saying.

[PFT Commenter]

Like, you're, like, going to soccer practice. That's the thing. It's very functional.

[Hank]

Good for, like, a righty set of golf clubs and a lefty set of golf clubs.

[PFT Commenter]

Both your kids in there?

[Hank]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Do you think the day that when. When. When you're on your deathbed many, many years from now, and I want you to live a long, long life, do you think your golf clubs will show up for To. To comfort you? Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay. Are you gonna. Are you gonna leave stuff to your golf clubs?

[Bill Raftery]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

You think your golf clubs will hold your hand as you. As you go into the great unknown?

[PFT Commenter]

Probably.

[Hank]

Okay, good. Hopefully take them with you.

[Big Cat]

He's got his pitching wedge in his hand as he's slowly slipping into death.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. Bring your sand wedge for when they lower you down into the ground. I think that there's definitely been some doctors that have, like, gone into a room. Somebody's passing away, and the guy's like, can you bring me my driver? Just, like, go out.

[Big Cat]

Hold it.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

Let me hold it. Let me.

[Big Cat]

Let me get one more practice swing.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, I think I fixed something here. I figured something out.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. I got my grandma grip. I got my grip dialed in. Let me just make sure I go to heaven with my grip. Ready to go. All right, so sick car no longer, and flat tire should have driven over a nail, and you're a. For getting banged at the auto mechanic shop. Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay. All right.

[Big Cat]

That's good. Fire fest.

[Hank]

Possibly future sick car, possibly future Sick

[Big Cat]

car I need, by the way.

[PFT Commenter]

Wait, wait, wait, wait. What are we thinking there, Hank? What are you about to say? Say I need.

[Hank]

I need to get in an accident that totals this car so that I don't. I have no choice but to get a new car.

[PFT Commenter]

That sounds.

[Hank]

I wasn't gonna say that. I didn't say that. I think I was thinking.

[Big Cat]

He gets in an accident. He's like, are my golf clubs okay? He just runs out. He's like, oh, no, they're bent, Hank.

[PFT Commenter]

I. I think you just loan your car to Mincy for a little bit. Like, Jesus, take the wheel.

[Big Cat]

Let him go to bridge.

[Max]

You could sell it to Zach for $3.

[Hank]

Oh, is that exact.

[Big Cat]

In the market for a car, not a driver. We've learned that he's been in seven accidents.

[Zach]

Everybody who crashes gets back behind the wheel.

[Big Cat]

No, that's not true.

[Hank]

That's true.

[Big Cat]

No, there are fatal crashes all the time.

[Hank]

What do you mean?

[Zach]

Those are really unfortunate people who died.

[Hank]

What about the guy from.

[Zach]

That's Worst case.

[Big Cat]

Hope everybody's okay, but no, everyone's not okay.

[Zach]

You got to get back behind the wheel.

[Hank]

Who's the F1 guy that got his face burned off? I made a movie about it.

[PFT Commenter]

I'm not sure. You're talking about Brad Pitt.

[Hank]

No, it's Chris Hemsworth.

[Big Cat]

Schumacher, maybe? No, Schumacher got in a ski accident, and he basically did the most dangerous entire life, retired, and then got a skiing accident, and is. Hasn't been seen since, actually. Really sad story. Movies.

[PFT Commenter]

Rush, rush, rush, rush.

[Big Cat]

Okay, Good. Fire fest.

[PFT Commenter]

I only care about Connor Daly when it comes to race car drivers. He's racing, by the way. He's back. He's racing at the Indy 500. Nice going. Hard on Conor. You got this, Connor.

[Big Cat]

You got it in, like, two months.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, but they just announced it, like, yesterday.

[Hank]

Nikki Lauda got it, Got his face burned off and then got back in the. Got back behind the wheel.

[Big Cat]

Remember our F1 face? That was funny.

[Zach]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

I never. Never was able to.

[Hank]

I was into it.

[Big Cat]

I tried.

[Hank]

I was the first. Well, no, the. The. The first two seasons of drive to survive are really good. Then I was like, I'm going to try to watch a race. And that's when y. It kind of fell off a cliff.

[Big Cat]

Same. I was like, oh, it's perfect. It's like early in the morning. I can watch it before the day gets started and I turn it on. I was like, nah.

[Hank]

I still generally like following from a distance.

[Big Cat]

I like to know. No, actually, no, I know. I Don't even.

[Hank]

Like a few weeks can go by, but I'm like, oh, who's in the lead? Like, yeah, but yeah, I haven't. The new Drive to Survive came out. I don't really have much of an interest in watching.

[Big Cat]

I would say it's now. Everyone is. Is. Is.

[Hank]

I watched them. I cried. I cried. I watched the. Do you know you cry on planes because of the altitude?

[Big Cat]

Is that what they told you?

[PFT Commenter]

I did not know that.

[Hank]

I was like, I watched. I watched the F1 movie on a plane. I wasn't even that into it. And then at the end, I. I was like tearing up.

[PFT Commenter]

Yes.

[Hank]

I was like, I wasn't even. I didn't even like the movie that much, but like, the end got me. And they're like, oh, it's because you're on a plane.

[Max]

That's a thing.

[Hank]

Yes.

[Big Cat]

I actually. I actually shouldn't be judging because I got a little teary eyed today seeing a. A mashup video of dudes surprising dudes after not seeing each other for like 20 years. It was like my dad's 70th birthday. He hasn't seen his best friend in like 10 years and he just shows up, up. And I got a little. Ted.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. No, I. I do think there's something to what Hank's saying, though. I watched this. I watched the Smashing Machine on a plane and I started to cry. I was like, this movie's not even Sad.

[Hank]

Yeah, the F1 movie. I was just like, it was on and I was like, it was fine. But then the very end, I was like, I. You know, whatever. Spoiler. He like, wins a race or whatever. And I started tearing up. I was like, why am I crying?

[Big Cat]

But F1 is. Is. Is in the camp now where I'm never going to seek it out. If someone tells me, I'll be like, oh, that's. That's interesting. Yeah, push, push. Yeah, push, push, push. Okay. Pft.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. For me, I feel like that movie is. No, no different than Ford vs Ferrari. Same movie, Ford vs Ferrari.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

Way better movie.

[Max]

Way better.

[PFT Commenter]

Same movie, way better.

[Max]

F1 is a fun. Is a fun movie.

[Hank]

It's a good plane movie.

[Max]

Yeah, it's very.

[Hank]

But I had no emotional connection yet. Still teared up.

[Bill Raftery]

So.

[Hank]

Good ending.

[PFT Commenter]

Top Gun 2 is the best play movie. My far fest the week actually pretty good week. Not a lot to complain about. Except. What?

[Bill Raftery]

What?

[Hank]

It's a block. Whatever. That's technicality. What I'm talking about movies to watch on a plane.

[Big Cat]

Yeah. He's saying he Likes to watch plane movies on planes.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. I feel like you're in. That's like a block best environment.

[Max]

Also huge blockbuster.

[PFT Commenter]

I think I might just cry on planes because I.

[Hank]

True.

[PFT Commenter]

Because I love aviation and it's beautiful.

[Hank]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Like this is great. Having a wonderful time. But yeah, I had a pretty good week. I had a good clean week overall. The one thing just. Quick one. We got some. Some medicine delivered to the office this week. And you guys got some medicine.

[Big Cat]

I haven't yet.

[Max]

I haven't got mine yet either.

[Big Cat]

You haven't got any confirmation yet?

[PFT Commenter]

I got. It'll. It'll arrive.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[PFT Commenter]

It'll arrive. Mine got to the office on Tuesday and it involves injecting myself. And so I opened up this big box filled with these hypodermic. I felt like a junkie when I was taking it. I was like, we got to store these needles in the office.

[Big Cat]

Office.

[PFT Commenter]

And then. I've never been a needle guy. When I go to the doctor, if I'm getting a shot, I'm always like a look away guy.

[Rico Bosco]

Same.

[PFT Commenter]

I can't watch. I'm okay. I can. I can deal with the shots. I just don't like to watch them go in. So now I have to inject myself and I'm not good at. It is my fire fest. I'm not good at shooting up. So I gotta. I gotta do it in two places. One is the back of my leg, which I'm good at. I can inject it into my calf to try to get that heel field. The second one is my ass. And I always thought the people.

[Big Cat]

My ass. My ass.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. I always thought that I would be like. The whole point of injecting stuff in your ass is that it's easy to inject it into your ass. I can't shoot into my own ass. I.

[Big Cat]

First time I struggle with that.

[PFT Commenter]

First time I tried it.

[Hank]

You need someone else to shoot it in here?

[PFT Commenter]

I need. I need an ass. I need somebody to. Zach, load up my ass.

[Big Cat]

Zach will do it. It.

[PFT Commenter]

If you can shoot it in the pf.

[Zach]

Cheek. I got you.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

Okay.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[PFT Commenter]

Max and I talked about.

[Hank]

He needs it in the ass.

[Big Cat]

No, he needs it in the ass in.

[Zach]

I thought it was on cheek.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, yeah, the cheek of my ass in. In my. Yeah, in my ass cheek.

[Zach]

Yeah, we'll shoot it straight in your ass cheek.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, cheek. Exactly. So Max and I were talking about. Like we should just. Because we're all going to have this.

[Hank]

It's probably good for the dudes.

[PFT Commenter]

Better dudes.

[Big Cat]

We might have to shoot in your ass.

[PFT Commenter]

We might have to just do like a circle of us injecting stuff into each other's asses.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

Because first time I did.

[Hank]

I will be letting you guys guinea pig this, by the way. I'm not. I don't. Well, first, none of this sounds appealing.

[PFT Commenter]

First time I did.

[Big Cat]

It was necessary.

[PFT Commenter]

Was technically when Billy did it tomorrow and it worked. But my leg does feel better since I've been shooting up my calf. But it's been like two days. My ass. It's like sibo. I did.

[Big Cat]

I think he actually said it 10 seconds after he put it in. He's like, wow, I feel good.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. No, my calf feels great. My cat feels really good. But my ass, it's like the first time I did it, I didn't get low enough because I'm shooting from above. So I think I like you basically

[Max]

did in your lower back. I don't know how you did that.

[PFT Commenter]

I hit the muscle the first time, which meant that I didn't get the needle in all the way. And then I injected it and then I had like a bump. So I'm just. And then I injected in my stomach yesterday instead and then I had a little bump filled with the li. So I'm just. I'm just taking bumps all day. Like a bump every day. But the calf feels one.

[Bill Raftery]

Wonderful.

[Big Cat]

Do it like Christopher put in your toe.

[PFT Commenter]

In between my toes. They'll never tell. Behind my eyeballs.

[Big Cat]

Cosette. They also crawled under there for warmth.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, I don't want to. I don't want to sit on Blake and kill him like Christopher did to Cosette. But.

[Hank]

Yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

So just like injecting myself with peptides is not. No, I'm not a drug guy.

[Big Cat]

No. Okay. I have two real quick. What? First is I went to a. I went to my son's friend's birthday party, seven year old birthday party and it was at Sluggers, which people who maybe don't know Wrigleyville. Sluggers is a famous bar where they have batting cages upstairs. And I've spent a lot of time at Sluggers in my twenties, blackout drunk. So being there for a seven year old birthday party was quite an experience and shock to the system. Stone cold sober.

[PFT Commenter]

What's it like when you're sober there?

[Big Cat]

Weird. It was like 11am on a Saturday and it was literally my son's friend's birthday party. And then right next to it was a bachelor party party. So it was. It was open to the public.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Shout out those Guys, though, the bachelor's name was Paul and they all had Chris Paul jerseys. Different teams.

[PFT Commenter]

That's a great.

[Big Cat]

Awesome.

[PFT Commenter]

We got to think of something with Max.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, yeah. We got to think something.

[PFT Commenter]

We think Max.

[Hank]

Beads.

[Max]

I got nothing.

[Big Cat]

Beads. But yeah, it was just. I don't know if you guys have had this experience.

[Hank]

Suits. Yeah, like racing suits.

[Big Cat]

Going somewhere that you have like done debauchery. Stupid shit. But as like a sober adult in charge of a young little kid is very bizarre.

[PFT Commenter]

Feeling like, I mean, seven year old

[Hank]

birthday sluggers is bizarre.

[Big Cat]

It was crazy. There's like four video games at work. We found one video game that just spit out. All you do is press a button and spit out tickets. That's all we did. We just. We just sat there and just. And got tickets.

[PFT Commenter]

In terms of a seven year old birthday party, it's like that. I feel like the floor has way too much beer that's been spilled on it.

[Big Cat]

Oh yeah.

[PFT Commenter]

For a seven year old's birthday party.

[Big Cat]

I mean, people were drinking at 11am at the party. Like it was like, again, it was a. The bar was open, so it was quite an experience. And then the other one was on Monday, Max and I went. So I can't talk too much about it because I'm in a movie. I got a part in a movie that's coming out hopefully sometime in the next year. But what I can talk about is Max and I learned something on Monday that changed our lives forever. Are you guys familiar with French hours? Do you know what French hours are?

[Hank]

I'm interested. I sound like. It sounds like something I might be interested in.

[Big Cat]

You. You guys are interested. So Max and I showed up, the call time was 6am and they're like, hey, we're doing French hours. And Max and I were like, what is that? And they explained it to us. And then Max and I both did a fist pump and high five. So that might give you a inkling to what French hours might be.

[Hank]

You just eat the whole time.

[Big Cat]

The whole time, Exactly. There's French hours. No lunch break. No lunch break, break. But rolling food all day, every two hours.

[Max]

Brand new spread.

[Big Cat]

I was. When we say rolling food, it was 6am Omelets, 8:30 sandwiches, 10 o', clock, chicken tenders and Indian food, 1 o' clock pasta, 3 o' clock tacos.

[PFT Commenter]

This doesn't make a lot of. Like in France, you go to lunch for. You take off work.

[Big Cat]

Correct.

[PFT Commenter]

Three hours. And then a lot of times you just don't go back to work.

[Max]

So that's the whole. I think they do this to keep the French.

[Hank]

Yeah.

[Max]

To keep them happy.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Max]

So it's like, okay, we're not doing. We're not doing lunch breaks, and we're going to end two hours early. Yeah, that stinks. We're not doing lunch break. But you just get an insane amount of food all day.

[Big Cat]

And Max and I look like the biggest losers because it's like a actual movie set, and everyone there is working and they've worked in this industry, and we're just walking around. Like I was. There was a point where I was just walking around with chicken tenders in my hands, just going, french hours. Got to love them. And everyone's like, dude, what. What. What are you talking about? French hours? Though we also realize that we do French hours every Sunday in this office.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. French hours is how we live life. That's. It's like French Super Bowl.

[Big Cat]

You just can never take a break. You just have to keep. Keep eating.

[PFT Commenter]

Like, in between. Yeah. Every halftime, you get up, you have another snack.

[Big Cat]

And we took it as a challenge. We ate every single course that came out. Every single.

[Max]

I at least had tried every course. Tacos. We didn't. We didn't try the tacos.

[Big Cat]

French hours. Way of life. You got to get on French hours. All right, Zach, finish us off.

[Zach]

My firefights this week is. So we live here in Chicago. There's a big body of water. We've got a lake, and we've got a river. I made it to the river for the first time this week. I took a route from the apartment on foot. My firefights just said I may have wasted an entire year inside, because you guys are right. The river's sick. The river is awesome.

[Max]

Zach lives a 20 minute walk from the river.

[PFT Commenter]

River.

[Zach]

I thought you guys were kind of just like, hyping it up a little. Like, it may be a little bit overrated. Completely well rated. I may have wasted several months inside of my apartment.

[PFT Commenter]

So you like the river? What about the lake?

[Zach]

Haven't seen the lake yet, but, like, I'm getting to that.

[PFT Commenter]

Exactly. Let me tell you, if you like the river, you're gonna love the lake.

[Big Cat]

It's way sick, dude.

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah.

[Zach]

So I. I come to you guys with open arms and an apology. You were right.

[Big Cat]

I told you.

[Zach]

Pretty cool.

[Big Cat]

No, no, this is me.

[Max]

I would tell him this once a week. I would be like, zach, you live so close to the river. Just get outside. 20 minute walk to the river. You'll feel good. This every week. Every week I would say, is me

[Zach]

acknowledging that you guys were right.

[Big Cat]

Okay. But also, you are equipped better than anyone I've ever seen for Chicago winters because you do not leave your apartment.

[Zach]

That was. That was a skill I didn't know I had, but yes.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, you have that survival skill. You're survivalist.

[Zach]

And we did go. I did go. Just recently installed third monitor. So if we need to stay inside again, I'm ready.

[Big Cat]

Oh, okay. So you're not gonna go see the lake?

[Zach]

I will see the lake in due time.

[PFT Commenter]

You got to see the lake.

[Zach]

You guys are right.

[PFT Commenter]

You're a Florida guy, right? That's true. In Florida, would you go outside?

[Big Cat]

No.

[Zach]

Yeah, I would be outside. It's different outside, though.

[PFT Commenter]

Exactly. Let me rephrase it.

[Zach]

Different outside.

[Max]

You were here this summer.

[Big Cat]

It's not an outside guy. He would go to Target, and that's Florida.

[PFT Commenter]

How many hours a day would you spend outside?

[Zach]

A day or like, per week?

[Big Cat]

He was about to say three per week.

[PFT Commenter]

So we're going to go less than an hour a day.

[Zach]

I did. Do we count driving with the windows down?

[Big Cat]

No.

[Max]

Three hours.

[PFT Commenter]

Kind of actually, like, I could be talking.

[Zach]

No, a day. Three hours a day outside.

[PFT Commenter]

Well, we have.

[Zach]

We got like an ins at the house. It's like indoor outdoor living.

[PFT Commenter]

You.

[Max]

You put.

[Zach]

Pop the slime glass door. So then you're like kind of outside, kind of in. Hit a lap.

[Max]

So that sounds.

[Zach]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Pool.

[Zach]

So the pool, like, I think accessible pool.

[Big Cat]

How often would you be hitting laps?

[Zach]

I. I like the pool a lot. The pool is nice.

[PFT Commenter]

The.

[Zach]

The pool in my apartment is just not as accessible because it's like, you gotta be hot.

[Big Cat]

I think it has to be hot.

[Max]

No. Attractive.

[Zach]

You gotta be.

[Big Cat]

Oh, only, only.

[Zach]

Only adults who are tens are at that.

[Big Cat]

Is it indoor? Outdoor?

[Zach]

No, it's just outdoor.

[Big Cat]

Outdoors, Outdoor, outdoor, outdoor. You're hot enough to go to the pool.

[Zach]

You should see this pool bake at.

[Big Cat]

I. You should see you.

[Zach]

You should see you at the pool.

[Big Cat]

No, you should see you at the pool. You're a hot body.

[Zach]

Pods out for the summer.

[Hank]

Yeah, I should go to a little pool day.

[Big Cat]

We'll do a pool day at Zach's place.

[PFT Commenter]

I think we got to do baby steps here. We got to say pool day and then I. I put the over under at one and a half times that you go to the lake to summer.

[Zach]

I'm making it once for sure. If the lake's anything like the river

[Big Cat]

Zach, maybe we add the husband app. It's like you can hire just a really fat dude to stand next to you at the pool.

[Zach]

That's not a bad move.

[Big Cat]

And it's like, oh, that guy's not so, so bad.

[Zach]

It would be such a good app.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, that would be a great ad to it. Do you. Are you a swim shirt guy? No.

[Zach]

No. You can't. No, I'm not a. No shirts belong everywhere but in the water.

[Big Cat]

The swim shirts. If you wear a swim shirt as an adult, you just. You look like a child. Child.

[Zach]

I think the shirt's worse than no shirt.

[Big Cat]

Unless you're suctioned, like, you know how you. It turns into a sausage.

[Zach]

You see, every cr.

[Big Cat]

The swim shirts are. Are built to. To deal with the water, not actual shirt.

[Zach]

I think they have, like, built in SPF as well. Yes. On screen.

[Max]

If you're a fisherman, that. That also plays.

[Big Cat]

That's fine. But I'm saying.

[Max]

No, but, like, there's. I feel like if you're a fisherman, like, then you can be swim shirt guy and. Because it just is all encompassing.

[Zach]

Right, but not from the shore.

[Big Cat]

From boat.

[Bill Raftery]

Boat.

[Big Cat]

Yeah.

[Max]

Yeah, like, but you can jump in. You could jump in the water from the boat if you're a fisherman guy wearing the swim shirt, right?

[Big Cat]

Yes, but, like, my kids wear swim shirts because, like, they're. It's like, all right, we're gonna be out in the sun for five hours. They don't want the sun. We don't want the sun to, like, absolutely crush them. So if you're an adult doing that, you look like a child.

[Zach]

They shouldn't sell adult swim shirts.

[Big Cat]

No, I agree. There's always the one ginger guy that was like, I need this.

[Zach]

That might be special, kid. They're very.

[PFT Commenter]

That is.

[Big Cat]

I. I mean, that's true. Yeah. I'm the ginger guy. Yeah, but that's also something that, like, listen, Darwinism, like, should exist for a reason. Survival the fittest. Like, if you can't handle the sun. Sorry, buddy.

[PFT Commenter]

Well, then you can stay inside.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, right. Like, yeah, you shouldn't be able to use technology to.

[PFT Commenter]

To fight Darwinism in, like, a big picture sense. What Zach's doing. Zach is the smartest one by far, out of all of us. If you had gone back in time, like, like a thousand years and said, hey, you can live in this apartment, and you have air conditioning and a toilet, and people deliver food to your door, they would never leave. They'd be like, yeah, you'd be crazy to go back. Like, my. My entire life is spent trying to find shelter and avoid everything that's outside. So, like, yeah, if we're going to talk Darwinism, Zach might be the smartest guy that we got.

[Zach]

Some days you're meant to be inside.

[Big Cat]

All days.

[PFT Commenter]

That's true. That's true. Also, I feel like we're pretty much done with winter.

[Big Cat]

I. You keep doing this, and it's bothering me. Hank ran this playbook two years ago. Bothered me then I did feel like. But then it snowed yesterday.

[PFT Commenter]

I did feel like I was right about this year.

[Hank]

Well, yeah. Tornadoes, too,

[Max]

and like an insane hail storm.

[PFT Commenter]

The hail was bad.

[Big Cat]

We already dealt with this with Hank. Please don't do this. The hail was bad. It's.

[PFT Commenter]

It's gonna be fine this weekend, right?

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Monday's last day.

[Max]

No, it's gonna be cold.

[PFT Commenter]

Not where me and Hank are. Car.

[Big Cat]

Well, no, you're gonna be back on Monday. It's gonna snow.

[Hank]

We back on Sunday.

[Bill Raftery]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, you guys will be back. You guys are golfing all weekend.

[PFT Commenter]

No, we're gonna. We're gonna watch golf on Saturday after we.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

Golf.

[PFT Commenter]

Damn.

[Big Cat]

College basketball means nothing. I thought both of you were going to be big. College basketball. Well, when did I say that? Also, actually, you didn't. Pft. Said it.

[PFT Commenter]

Well, no, I said what my schedule is. My schedule every year remains the same. And I'm pretty sure that they're going to have. Have the games on at the golf tournament.

[Max]

Monday is a high of 23.

[Big Cat]

I don't know if they'll have the games on it. So are you going to watch golf or the games?

[PFT Commenter]

Both.

[Big Cat]

While you're standing out there.

[PFT Commenter]

I'm not going to have to watch golf on tv.

[Big Cat]

So you're going to.

[PFT Commenter]

Because I'm going to be at the golf. And then at the golf, there's going to be TVs.

[Big Cat]

Got it. Where do you have, like, a suite?

[PFT Commenter]

I think so.

[Big Cat]

Okay.

[PFT Commenter]

Okay.

[Big Cat]

You. What about Friday?

[PFT Commenter]

Hanging out with Bortle.

[Max]

So whatever happens, it sounds like a sick week.

[Big Cat]

It does, but it's also college. I mean, this is Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Conference championship week.

[Hank]

My favorite weekend of the year.

[Max]

Me and Hank, one of the same. Just got it.

[Big Cat]

Just.

[Max]

Just gotta go where boss man says.

[PFT Commenter]

Yep, this is the same thing. Yeah.

[Vinnie Pasquintino]

Yeah.

[Big Cat]

Did you hear that Conference championship weekend when you made this trip?

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah, I. I initially tried to get it for a different weekend, but then the only weekend that we could do it was going to be when the actual tournament down there was.

[Big Cat]

Got it.

[PFT Commenter]

Based on a lot of different travel, it was not my first choice of weekends, but going to the tournament, hanging with Blake, It's Going to be a fun weekend.

[Big Cat]

All right, numbers.

[PFT Commenter]

23, 56, 9.

[Big Cat]

44, 69, 46, 77.

[PFT Commenter]

11,

[Big Cat]

81, 81. What's your guess, Shane?

[PFT Commenter]

One more,

[Big Cat]

one more.

[Hank]

Ner.

[Big Cat]

48, 67.

[PFT Commenter]

Oh, 60, 67. That's excellent, Hank. Love you guys. Also, happy birthday to TJ Tampa.

[Big Cat]

Did you miss a big birthday?

[PFT Commenter]

And Jay looks huge.

[Big Cat]

Hunt, did you miss a big birthday Wednesday?

[PFT Commenter]

There's a good chance that I did. Who are you thinking?

[Big Cat]

Paul Bissut?

[PFT Commenter]

I did miss business birthday.

[Big Cat]

Brutal, dude.

[Hank]

DJ Tampa.

[PFT Commenter]

TJ Tampa.

[Big Cat]

This is one of my favorite.

[Hank]

Is that.

[PFT Commenter]

I know, but who is TJ Tampa?

[Big Cat]

You gotta lock.

[PFT Commenter]

You gotta lock. Announcer I absolutely.

[Hank]

You don't know who T.J. tampa is?

[PFT Commenter]

T.J. tampa. He's an NFL football player, dummy.

[Big Cat]

You gotta. You gotta lock in on our guys though, first and foremost now that you're a birthday guy. Pft. When you don't wish a birthday to our guys, they're like, what the.

[PFT Commenter]

It kind of sucks that oh, he's a football. Like that is the. Yeah, I know.

[Big Cat]

Did you think he was lying?

[PFT Commenter]

Yeah. No.

[Max]

Okay.

[PFT Commenter]

I wish Whitney. I got Whitney on his birthday. I wish him a happy birthday.

[Big Cat]

Yeah, I screwed up, but business birthday

[PFT Commenter]

was a show day biz. I'm so sorry that I missed your birthday. Whatever I can do to make it up to you. I feel like you're the best biz. Love you this. Forgive me.

[Big Cat]

The.