Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron: Hour 1 – "Jimmy Buffett or Neil Diamond" (November 2, 2025)

Overview

In this lively edition of "Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron" live on ESPN Radio, hosts Matt Jones and Myron Medcalf dive into the weekend’s biggest sports stories, with sharp banter and cultural asides. Broadcasting live from Cincinnati ahead of Bears vs. Bengals, the hour is packed with analysis of the Dodgers' historic Game 7 World Series win, college football upheaval, debates about fan culture, and playful riffs on the music of Jimmy Buffett and Neil Diamond. Regular guest Herm Edwards joins for spirited NFL and coaching talk.

Main Discussion Points

1. Bears vs. Bengals & Fan Culture

• Setting: Matt is on location in Cincinnati for the Bears-Bengals game, noting the strong presence of Bears fans and their continued veneration of former coach Mike Ditka—even 40 years after his tenure.
  • Quote: “Does any fan base have an allegiance to an old coach more than the Bears do with Mike Ditka?” – Matt (00:52)
• Myron jokes about the Bears’ championship drought as a reason for hanging onto Ditka.

2. Dodgers Win Epic World Series Game 7

• Game Recap: The Dodgers defeat the Toronto Blue Jays in what the hosts describe as one of the greatest Game 7s in their lifetimes.
• Historical Context: Dodgers clinch back-to-back World Series—first time since the Yankees, only the third team since the 1950s.
• Game Tension: Both hosts discuss the heartbreak for Toronto fans, referencing the near-miss moments and how emotionally taxing such a baseball game can be.
  • Quote: “It might have been the most miserable experience ever...like a three and a half hour surgery.” – Matt (06:09)
• Key Plays: The hosts break down sequence of near-wins for Toronto, iconic home runs, and game-changing fielding plays, notably a catch by "Pace."
• Legacy: The Dodgers’ developing "dynasty" and the importance of having a "bad guy champion" for the sport’s narrative.
  • Quote: “You gotta slay Goliath. I think that’s kind of the attitude.” – Myron (10:01)
• Will Smith Oddity: The quirky stat that a "Will Smith" has been on the roster of six straight World Series-winning teams sparks a call for listeners named Will Smith to be a celebrity guest picker.

3. Jimmy Buffett vs. Neil Diamond: Song Confusion & Culture Clash

• Comedic Exchange: Myron admits he didn’t really know “Margaritaville,” confusing it with Neil Diamond’s “Coming to America.”
• Cultural Reflection: Matt probes the subtext, teasing about which America considers “Margaritaville” a top-5 song. They riff on musical crossovers, cultural divides, and generational tastes.
  • Quote: “Five most famous songs in your America?” – Myron (14:20)
  • Quote: “You always go to a level nine...I’m at, like, level two.” – Myron, on Matt escalating the debate (16:39)
• Legacy Bits: Lighthearted back-and-forth about who can authentically mourn Jimmy Buffett and whether Myron is allowed to say “we lost Jimmy.”

4. College Football: The Brian Kelly & LSU Saga

• Coaching Drama: An in-depth look at the chaos following Brian Kelly’s firing at LSU, his infamous “my family” accent, and the wild scene with politicians and boosters interfering in coaching decisions.
  • Quote: “If you do something weird [in your first press conference], unless you win big, that’s going to be the narrative about you your whole life.” – Myron (17:32)
• Impact: Discussion centers on the importance of authenticity for modern coaches and the dangers of political meddling in athletic departments.
  • Quote: “You don’t want to wake up and you have to respond to, ‘Hey, the governor said this about LSU football.’” – Myron (20:08)
• Call-in Antics: Brief comic detour with an overzealous caller from “Margaritaville,” leading to Matt’s PSA against Bluetooth phone-ins.

5. NFL Analysis with Herm Edwards

• Guest Segment: Herm Edwards joins, lauded as Matt’s favorite radio guest.
• Coaching Job Hazards: Herm jokes about wanting no part of coaching jobs where politicians are too visible.
  • Quote: “No, but I know who they should hire. Nick Saban.” – Herm (24:24)
• Game Previews:
  • Bills vs. Chiefs: Billed as must-see TV with the two “best quarterbacks in the NFL.”
  • Vikings Quarterback Troubles: Debate on how fast teams should move on from highly-touted young QBs, citing recent examples and contrasting approaches.
    • Quote: “We put so much pressure on the quarterback...if he’s not all that within a year or two...” – Herm (27:53)
  • Colts’ Ownership Dynamics: Discussion about team owners being too involved during games.
    • Quote: “Owners own and coaches coach and players play...But when the game starts, that’s not your place.” – Herm (32:41)
• Team Analysis:
  • Debate about the Colts’ surprise start (7-1) and whether they’re legitimate contenders, comparing “old money” vs. “new money” teams.
  • Matt and Herm argue the league is more fun with fresh contenders, but caution against overreacting to fast starts.

6. Back to Jimmy Buffett: "Cheeseburger in Paradise"

• Continued Music Confusion: Myron struggles to understand the appeal of singing about cheeseburgers in paradise vs. ordering steak; Matt frames it as an “elite vs. common man” thing.
  • Quote: “You are exactly...a member of the elite...We common people would like a cheeseburger and fries.” – Matt (38:11)

7. Upcoming Games & Playoff Race

• Colts and Steelers: Preview of a pivotal AFC clash and whether a win would quiet doubters about the Colts’ strength.
  • Quote: “I want to see the Colts against tougher competition...Today represents that.” – Myron (39:43)
• Daniel Jones Debate: Matt and Myron disagree on whether Daniel Jones can win “the big one,” with Myron skeptical about his playoff ceiling.
  • Quote: “You’re just not going to tell me that a team led by Daniel Jones can win a Super Bowl...” – Myron (42:13)
• Steelers’ Ceiling: Can Mike Tomlin get to more than 9-8? They review AFC North dynamics, especially with a resurgent Ravens and healthy Lamar Jackson.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the heartbreak of baseball Game 7:
  “When I saw the dead ball, Matt, I was like, it’s over...those things don’t happen to teams unless you’re about to lose and suffer some tremendous heartbreak.” – Myron (05:29)

• On cultural musical confusion:
  “You always go to a level nine...I’m at, like, level two. Like, you always skip seven.” – Myron to Matt (16:39)

• On coaching authenticity:
  “Isn’t the lesson of Brian Kelly...you just need to be authentic? That...code-switching he did...you can’t do that.” – Matt (18:18)

• On NFL coaching with meddling ownership:
  “I would basically try to win as much as I can and get out of there and get another job somewhere else.” – Herm Edwards (32:34)

• On Colts’ schedule and legitimacy:
  “We’ve got to differentiate between a good story and a good team. And I’m still waiting for the Colts to prove they can be a great team.” – Myron (38:48)

Key Timestamps

• 00:36 — Bears/Bengals fan culture and Ditka nostalgia
• 02:00 — Transition to Game 7 and Dodgers’ World Series win
• 06:09 — "Most miserable fan experience" and Game 7 tension
• 09:12 — Dodgers’ back-to-back championships, playoffs analysis
• 10:04 — “Slay Goliath” and Will Smith World Series trivia
• 13:53 — Jimmy Buffett/Neil Diamond confusion, “Margaritaville” cultural bit
• 17:32 — LSU/Brian Kelly discussion; importance of authenticity for coaches
• 23:29 — Herm Edwards joins: coaching chaos, Nick Saban hypothetical
• 24:50 — NFL game previews: Bills/Chiefs, Vikings QB situation, QB patience
• 32:41 — Colts’ owner on the sidelines controversy
• 37:37 — More Jimmy Buffett music; “Cheeseburger in Paradise” bit
• 38:48 — AFC playoff race, Colts/Steelers breakdown, Daniel Jones playoff debate
• 42:29 — Can Daniel Jones win playoff duels?
• 43:58 — AFC North shake-up, Steelers and Ravens outlook

Tone & Style

Matt and Myron’s tone is playful, irreverent, and culturally savvy, blending sharp sports takes with comedic jabs and pop-culture riffs. The addition of Herm Edwards brings gravitas but the conversation stays lively and accessible—even the serious football talk is couched in mutual ribbing and rapid-fire banter.

For Listeners

• You’ll get a concise, energetic review of the huge World Series finale, college football upheaval, and deep NFL insights.
• The show is as much about the social and cultural edge of sports—as seen through music debates and fan antics—as it is about stats and scores.

Note: Timestamps above are approximate, matching the MM:SS format within the episode. Ads and intros have been excluded from this summary.