Pardon My Take – August 22, 2025
Jerry O’Connell’s Fantasy Preview, Camp Barstool Recap, Mt Rushmore Of N64 Games + Fyre Fest
Episode Overview
This episode of Pardon My Take (PMT) features the show’s annual “Fantasy Football Preview” with recurring guest Jerry O’Connell, live from Camp Barstool. The hosts (Big Cat, PFT Commenter), along with Hank, Max, Zach, and others, recount experiences from camp, discuss nostalgic N64 games in a spirited “Mount Rushmore” draft, and close with the always-hilarious Fyre Fest of the Week.
The centerpiece is Jerry O’Connell’s comedic, deeply offbeat, and genuinely obsessive approach to fantasy football. Between camp shenanigans, the crew dives into football news, draft strategies (and warnings), and delivers a ton of classic intergroup banter.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Camp Barstool Recap (03:18–14:00)
- Setting: The group has spent days at Camp Barstool, sleeping in cabins, playing games and doing classic camp activities — with plenty of drinking, friendly fights, and reminiscing.
- Games: Euchre and Werewolf became focal points. Zach reveals his cutthroat lying as a werewolf, which unnerves everyone.
- Quote: “Zach is a great liar. I am officially terrified by Zach.” — PFT, (03:54)
- In-House Drama: Hank is subject to internet ire for being "anti-American" in an ongoing bit about the Super Bowl in England, which becomes fodder for intra-show teasing.
- Quote: “I’m going to shit on the United States of America on the number one sports podcast and let everyone come after me. Thank you for your service.” — Big Cat to Hank (05:05)
2. Preseason & Sports Headlines (07:42–16:24)
- Roster Cuts & Trades: Discussion of fringe NFL players getting traded pre-cuts (e.g., Skyy Moore, Harrison Phillips).
- Strange NFL News: Andy Reid’s office at the Chiefs was shot at last season — a story that fascinates and bemuses the crew.
- Quote: “If somebody shoots three bullets into the Chiefs [facility], that feels targeted to me.” – PFT (09:38)
- Baseball Bits: The Cubs’ luck, Kyle Tucker’s long-standing finger injury, Aaron Judge’s disagreement with Aaron Boone, and candid takes on MVP races.
- Vibes Watch: Yankees have “bad vibes all season,” Kyle Schwarber has “MVP vibes.”
3. Camp Games & 40-and-Under Football Leagues (14:09–17:24)
- 40U Football: PFT is obsessed with amateur men's “40 and under” football leagues’ viral clips.
- Quote: “I’d love to watch a documentary about them. Not even playing. Just going to work on Mondays.” – Big Cat (15:21)
4. WNBA & Nostalgia (17:30–20:00)
- Emergence of Superstars: Paige Bueckers vs. Caitlin Clark is framed as the “LeBron/MJ” of the WNBA’s future.
- Quote: “She’s gonna be better than Caitlin Clark. She’s a better winner.” – PFT (17:46)
- Standings and MVP Chatter: The group fails at WNBA standings trivia, but throws out predictions and praises star players.
5. Mount Rushmore of N64 Games Draft (25:40–44:45)
- A hilarious, heated, and nostalgia-fueled draft of Nintendo 64 games follows. Trash talk is relentless, especially between Max (Zelda truther) and other hosts.
- Consensus “S-Tier” Games:
- GoldenEye 007, Super Smash Bros, Mario Kart, Super Mario 64, Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Mario Party, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, Donkey Kong 64, Pokémon Stadium, Star Fox 64, NFL Blitz, Banjo Kazooie.
- Notable Bit: Max’s defense of Zelda as the “best game ever” leads to a running joke and derision.
- Best Zinger:
- “There are two types of guys in the world: Guys that like Zelda, and guys that like Mario Kart.” – PFT (37:57)
6. Jerry O’Connell’s Fantasy Football Preview (47:43–1:39:33)
Structure:
- Opening Bits: Jerry’s Excel “proficiency,” confusing Che’s spreadsheet for an advanced program, AI-driven strategy, and tales of co-owner trauma.
- Camp Antics: Negotiating “night terrors” accusations with Hank, and a Diddy party anecdote.
- Draft Philosophy:
- Theme: Be “open to the universe” — compare fantasy drafting to intercourse: “Don’t get fixated, just stay open to opportunities.”
- “It’s like dating…Whoever will intercourse with me, I can intercourse with them. That’s what we’re going to do with our draft.” – Jerry (66:26)
- By Division Fantasy Team-by-Team Run Through:
- AFC East: Miami’s “scary” vibes (“watching Dolphins games is frightening”), Buffalo’s Hard Knocks season being a turnoff, confusion over Jets and Bills skill guys.
- Key takes: Jaden Daniels is THE QB target (projecting 5,000 pass/1,600 rush yards).
- “Jaden Daniels is going to break all QB records this season.” – Jerry (69:40)
- Committee Run Games: Avoid unless forced.
- Loyalty Issues: Refuses to fall for perennial traps like Kyle Pitts or certain Rams/Patriots running backs.
- Rookie Watch: Cedric Tillman (Browns), Bill Crosby/Merritt (Commanders), and others.
- AI/Spreadsheet Influence: Jerry touts AI/Excel “advice” on mid-round targets; skepticism abounds.
- Hot and Wild Takes: Fade C.J. Stroud (“will regress even more”), Chase Brown as Bengals RB, Mike Evans to break a record, “open to” a Panthers stack.
- Personal Touches: Poetic Rollback ad read for Zach (“Zacky Zacky Zacky…”), stories about parenting teens, and not swearing in front of Big Cat's kids (but not really succeeding).
- Best Moments:
- On Kyle Pitts:
- “Let down. Lets us down every year. I'm not falling for it again.” – Jerry (139:43)
- On his parenting:
- “It's the lying that makes me so angry… it's like Euphoria, some kid on Fentanyl pointing to a rave room.” (142:52)
- On being open at camp:
- “I'm open to the universe. I'm just an underwear guy.” (163:41)
- On Kyle Pitts:
7. Camp Barstool Antics Continue
- Fyre Fest of the Week (150:05–end):
- Everyone shares their “minor tragedies” (puking after a 100-yard swim, being 5th designated hitter, Max’s stress as team captain, Jerry’s misadventures at “Werewolf” and in showing up late to meetings, etc.).
- Quote: “I would like to retire from being a captain at camp.” – Max (165:12)
- Innuendo & Friendship:
- Jerry and Zach agree to dress up as each other for Halloween.
- Classic PMT: banter, bits about underwear, late-night campfire “Stand By Me” questions.
Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)
- “Zach is a great liar. I am officially terrified by Zach.” – PFT (03:54)
- “If somebody shoots three bullets into the Chiefs [facility], that feels targeted to me.” – PFT (09:38)
- “There are two types of guys: guys that like Zelda, guys that like Mario Kart.” – PFT (37:57)
- “It’s like dating…Whoever will intercourse with me, I can intercourse with them. That’s what we’re going to do with our draft.” – Jerry (66:26)
- “Jaden Daniels is going to break all QB records this season. 5,000 passing, 1,600 rushing.” – Jerry (69:40)
- “Let down. Lets us down every year. I'm not falling for it again.” – Jerry on Kyle Pitts (139:43)
- “I'm open to the universe. I'm just an underwear guy.” – Jerry (163:41)
Important Segments by Timestamp
| Segment | Timestamp | |--------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------| | Camp recap & Werewolf/Euchre bits | 03:18–06:47 | | Super Bowl in London & Hank bit | 04:20–05:59 | | N64 Mount Rushmore Draft (highlights start) | 25:40–44:45 | | Jerry O’Connell’s Fantasy Football Preview | 47:43–1:39:33 | | Poetic ad read (Zach poem) | 144:08–148:29 | | Fyre Fest of the Week (swimming, camp mishaps, more) | 150:05–end |
Tone & Style
- The episode is high-energy, full of quick banter, relentless ribbing, pop culture tangents, and running in-jokes (especially about fantasy football, camp roles, and various “traumas”).
- Jerry brings eccentric, heartfelt, and self-deprecating humor, seamlessly transitioning between wild fantasy takes and tales of parenting, acting, and bunk life.
- “Open to the universe” becomes the humorous through-line — both for life, fantasy, and camp adventures.
Summary for First-Timers
If you missed this episode, you got:
- An absolutely unfiltered, hilarious preview of the fantasy football season from Jerry O’Connell, who’s equal parts spreadsheet-believer, comedy tornado, and wild speculator.
- Glimpses of real-life Barstool team dynamics at camp — a true summer-camp-for-grown-men vibe.
- A rolling list of sports and viral news hits, lampooned and lightly analyzed in PMT’s signature style.
- A Mount Rushmore of N64 games that devolves into genuine nostalgia and friendly abuse, perfect for fans of classic gaming.
- The sense that PMT’s best resource is its own chemistry: jokes build, bits run forever, and the line between planned segment and chaos blurs — just how listeners love it.
TL;DR
This is an episode you need to hear for the classic Jerry O’Connell fantasy insanity, Mount Rushmore mayhem over N64 games, real camp-life shenanigans, and the perfect mix of sports takes and life talk — all delivered in PMT’s uniquely chaotic, affectionate style.
Skip the ads, bask in the Fyre Fest confessions, and let Jerry remind you... always keep your fantasy draft open (and your mind, and maybe your pants) to the universe!