Pardon My Take: Filling Out Brackets With Mark Titus, The Dumbest Fun Facts For Every Tournament Team, Hot Seat/Cool Throne And More

Release Date: March 19, 2025

In this electrifying episode of "Pardon My Take", Big Cat and PFT Commenter, alongside their esteemed guest Mark Titus, dive deep into the madness of March Madness. From dissecting tournament brackets to unveiling bizarre fun facts about each team, the trio delivers an engaging and comprehensive analysis that promises to captivate both seasoned fans and newcomers alike.

1. Welcome and Episode Overview

[00:40] Big Cat kicks off the episode by introducing the main topics: breaking down the NCAA tournament brackets, presenting fun facts for each team across the four regions, and exploring the new segments Hot Seat and Cool Throne. The hosts emphasize the excitement surrounding March Madness, highlighting the unpredictability and the potential for upsets that make the tournament a thrilling spectacle.

Big Cat [00:40]: "On today's part of my take, we have our very good friend Mark Titus. We're going to break down the brackets from a basketball standpoint..."

2. The Bracket Breakdown and Fun Facts

The heart of the episode lies in the fun facts segment, where each region's teams are explored with quirky and often unexpected trivia that adds a layer of intrigue to the bracket selections.

Auburn Region Highlights

[08:44] PFT Commenter delves into Auburn's historical chant, "War Eagle," recounting the legendary story behind it. This anecdote not only serves as an amusing tidbit but also underscores Auburn's rich traditions.

PFT Commenter [09:00]: "But he had his pet eagle in the stands. Then the eagle just turned straight downwards from the sky, flew into the field and killed itself. War Eagle."

Louisville vs. Creighton Fun Facts

[12:36] PFT Commenter shares a surprising legal fact about Creighton, revealing that the Toronto Blue Jays sued the university over logo redesigns—a quirky crossover between MLB and college basketball.

PFT Commenter [12:36]: "The Toronto Blue Jays sued Creighton in 2014 over the redesign of the Blue Jay logo... the judge ruled that the Toronto Blue Jays logo was not famous enough to be infringed upon."

BYU and Baylor Insights

The discussion moves to BYU and Baylor, where Max uncovers Baylor's significant dairy production and a grim historical event where the entire team perished in a bus-train collision in 1927.

Max [28:31]: "In 1927, they were busing the team to a game and the bus driver ended up putting the bus on a train track. 10 of their players died..."

3. Hot Seat and Cool Throne Segments

As the episode progresses, the hosts transition into the Hot Seat/Cool Throne segments, offering personal anecdotes and humorous takes on various personalities and situations related to the tournament.

Hot Seat Highlights

• PFT Commenter recounts a humorous encounter with Ed Sheeran in a bathroom, blending pop culture with podcast banter.

  PFT Commenter [24:18]: "He did craps because he got scared... he did the fake flush like he pissed, but he didn't."

• Mark Titus discusses the volatile nature of teams like Auburn and their unpredictable gameplay, adding depth to the bracket analysis.

Cool Throne Highlights

• The hosts humorously discuss potential celebrities and mascots taking their Cool Throns, adding a playful layer to the episode's dynamics.

4. Bets, Picks, and Bracket Predictions

The episode is peppered with discussions about betting strategies and bracket predictions, with each host and Mark Titus sharing their picks and the reasoning behind them.

• Big Cat leans towards Duke, citing their consistent performance and lack of noticeable weaknesses.

  Mark Titus [104:08]: "I have Duke winning the national championship because I think Duke is in a position... they're way better than everybody else."

• PFT Commenter and Max contribute their unique perspectives, often blending humor with their predictions, such as betting on Michigan State to outlast Auburn.

• A notable prediction includes Mark Titus's confidence in Michigan State reaching the Final Four, despite recent struggles and key player injuries.

  Mark Titus [97:15]: "I have Michigan State going to the Final Four because I think Auburn's going to get tripped up somewhere."

5. Insights and Conclusions

In the concluding segments, the hosts reflect on the nature of March Madness, balancing the excitement of upsets with their prediction of a predominantly chalky (favored team) bracket this year. Mark Titus draws parallels to the 2015 tournament, suggesting that this year's tournament may lack the unpredictability that often defines the event.

Mark Titus [104:14]: "I think this is a very top heavy feeling I have about college basketball entering an NCAA tournament since 2015."

The episode wraps up with plans for future discussions, including a nod to upcoming episodes featuring Mount Rushmore and rapid-fire segments, ensuring listeners that the excitement will continue beyond this deep dive into the tournament.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Big Cat [08:44]: "Auburn is the one seed out of that. Out of that division. They are the Tigers. We know them as the Auburn Tigers, but they also chant War Eagle."

• Max [28:31]: "In 1927, they were busing the team to a game and the bus driver ended up putting the bus on a train track. 10 of their players died and they had to suspend the season."

• Mark Titus [104:14]: "I think this is a very top heavy feeling I have about college basketball entering an NCAA tournament since 2015."

This episode of "Pardon My Take" masterfully combines sports analysis with humor and offbeat trivia, providing listeners with a rich tapestry of content that enhances their March Madness experience. Whether it's through the lens of bracket predictions, fun historical facts, or light-hearted segments, Big Cat, PFT Commenter, and Mark Titus deliver an episode that's both informative and entertaining, solidifying the podcast's reputation as a must-listen for sports enthusiasts.