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Matt Jones
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Myron Metcalf
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Matt Jones
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Myron Metcalf
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Matt Jones
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Myron Metcalf
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Matt Jones
Download the State Farm app or go online@statefarm.com like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. This is Matt and Myron, the podcast.
Myron Metcalf
It's another Sunday morning and that meets Matt Myron with Matt Jones, Myron Metcalf here on ESPN Radio, ESPN App, Sirius XM Channel 80, presented by Progressive Insurance. It is a great morning here in Kentucky. Myron's in Minneapolis. We'd love to hear from you. You could text the text machine, 772 77-4525 or call 888-7A ESPN. Myron, big day of sports. You know, I, I may. Saturdays make me happy because you can just turn. You can be like, okay, here are softball regionals. There's the PGA Championship. Here are random people fighting over. Here's the Preakness. Over, here's the playoffs. There's so much going on, and I enjoy that for my sort of scattered, skedaddled mind.
Matt Jones
Not. Yeah, it's a, it's a good time, I think, to be a sports fan. College sports, a lot of cool college sports. Obviously the NBA coming down to the final stages. NHL is as well. Yeah, no, it's. It's one of those days. You just turn on the TV and you can just kind of let it stay on ESPN all day and you'll see some great sports.
Myron Metcalf
I have a treat for you this morning that I am going to do a little later in the show that no one involved with this show knows about. I did a segment on my local show this week in Kentucky where we talked about words that they say in the mountains in Appalachia in eastern Kentucky that they don't say anywhere else in America.
Matt Jones
Okay.
Myron Metcalf
And. And they're what? They're fine. I see the look on your face. Your words. What words? These are.
Matt Jones
Yeah, Like, I want to know who.
Myron Metcalf
Check. These are completely benign words.
Matt Jones
Okay. And I'm somebody non mountain. Check them.
Myron Metcalf
And before I've gone with some non mountain people. And I'm going to read you some of them later and see what you think of them. Would you like that, to sort of be taught mountain English?
Matt Jones
Yeah, No, I want to. I'm down. Yeah, they've been checked. Yeah, I'm down.
Myron Metcalf
They've been checked. Don't worry. All right, so let's talk for a second about some things yesterday. Obviously we're going to talk basketball, playoffs, hockey, playoffs, football, etc. But let's talk about some other stuff and go off the top. What are we thinking about? I'm trying to think, but nothing happens. Nothing happens.
Matt Jones
Time to find out. This is off the top.
Myron Metcalf
Flash off the top with Matt and Myron. All right, today is the final round of the PGA Championship and the leaderboard is kind of wild, actually. Alex Smalley has a two shot lead. He'll play in the final group with Maddie Schmid, which is a person that doesn't seem real. Nick Taylor and John Rom are right behind them. But there are at this moment, 33 players that are within or. Excuse me. Yes, 33 players that are within five shots of the lead. And there are 32 players within three shots of second place. Literally 30 different people could win today. Are you excited about what is a maybe the most tightly bunched major that I can ever remember?
Matt Jones
I'm always excited about the competition on Sunday. I just don't know the names like, the names you read like, you tell
Myron Metcalf
me you don't know Alex Smalley.
Matt Jones
It's like any small town city council. Those are the four guys on it. You know, it just. I don't know them.
Myron Metcalf
All right, well, let me tell you a little bit about him. How about that Alex Smalley? He is. He is from Rochester, New York. He went to Duke. He's 29 years old. How about that?
Matt Jones
Okay.
Myron Metcalf
Nick Taylor is from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Right. Have you ever been to Winnipeg, Manitoba?
Matt Jones
I've not been to Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Myron Metcalf
And then Manti Schmid is from Bavaria, Germany, but he went to college at the University of Louisville. So there you go. Those are your three top contenders, but John Rahm and Xander Shoffley right behind him.
Matt Jones
I mean, you know, I think Rom is keeping people interested because you want a notable name. Always in the chase. It's hard to just have all fresh names.
Myron Metcalf
So.
Matt Jones
So it'll be interesting to see kind of how it all plays out. But I do wish golf did a better job of telling us the stories of the up and coming talent because
Myron Metcalf
you don't know it. Right. Yeah.
Matt Jones
So we get to Sunday and we have something to root for or something to understand that connects us to these guys. Like, I mean, so you'd like to
Myron Metcalf
know something about Nick Taylor besides he's from Winnipeg, Manitoba and he went to the University of Washington.
Matt Jones
Yeah, like, I mean, you know, these Guys, again, everybody has to start somewhere. But tell us something so we can connect to who these guys are on Sunday.
Myron Metcalf
I remember. You may remember this. You and I were doing a show, I want to say, in 2020, maybe 2021. And we were. The US Open was on, I think it was 2020. And a golfer at the time whose name was Scott Scheffler was in the lead. And you and I had an argument about somebody called in and said, they don't call him Scott, they call him Scotty. And we were like, who's a grown man named Scotty? And then six years later, he's a felon. And he ends up.
Matt Jones
He got arrested.
Myron Metcalf
He got arrested on a young. He ends up being like the best golfer of all time. So maybe Nick Taylor, Maddie Schmid or Alex Smalley, this can be that day for them. It could be.
Matt Jones
You're right. And, you know, maybe this is sort of the start of. Of something. But I. I think you want to see Rory John, RH D. You want to see those kinds of people in the chase next to some of these up and comers. I think that's the best Sunday.
Myron Metcalf
Do you agree with Bryson DeChambeau, who missed the cut after shooting nine over par, that he doesn't need the PGA Tour? He can just play golf on YouTube
Matt Jones
if that's what he wants for his life. I mean, if he. If he wants to be viral, he could. He could do that. I think people just don't take him seriously anymore as a pro golfer because everything's gimmicky. Yeah, 3D club. Like, when did he stop caring about being a pro golfer? I think that's the thing.
Myron Metcalf
The thing is when he said his best, he's really good, but he seems. I agree with you, he seems kind of gimmicky. Now, the treatness was yesterday. You may not have watched it, but it was won by Napoleon Solo. That's actually something where I think they do a really good job telling stories. Cause I'll turn the race on an hour and a half before. I might not know any of the horses, but by the end, I find I'm crying and I'm rooting for somebody and I'm cheering others on and I'm not liking others. I think they actually do a really good job of getting you excited about it.
Matt Jones
I mean, get the horse people with the golf people then, you know, part of it is horse racing. Those horse races, they interview everybody for like five hours until the actual.
Myron Metcalf
And those people have never been on TV before, so they don't really know what to say. And they're kind of unfiltered. I do like that about them.
Matt Jones
Yeah. They say what they want, you know, sometimes it's a little. It's a little odd, I think, with some of the jockey stuff and all that, but they tell you, you know who they are by the time the gun. Did they do a gun at the horse race? Is it a gun?
Myron Metcalf
They don't do a gun.
Matt Jones
Well, how do they. How do they launch them?
Myron Metcalf
You think there's a guy shooting a
Matt Jones
gun up in the air.
Myron Metcalf
It's like the Kentucky Derby.
Matt Jones
I'm asking the question, how do they do it? Is it. Is it a gun? Is it.
Myron Metcalf
You literally think there's a guy at the start of going, I'm literally asking you the question. I might freak the horses out, don't you think?
Matt Jones
I don't want to.
Myron Metcalf
They don't have the horses to follow for the gun, so they can't. They can't do both.
Matt Jones
What do to get by the way. The horses don't.
Myron Metcalf
That's another thing. The horses are not of the intelligence level where they're like, I'm. I'm waiting for someone to tell me to run.
Matt Jones
I don't.
Myron Metcalf
They have a gate.
Matt Jones
Yeah.
Myron Metcalf
And the gate just opens and then they run.
Matt Jones
They just know to run isn't.
Myron Metcalf
What do you mean they know?
Matt Jones
Why couldn't they know to react to a gun?
Myron Metcalf
They're trying to run.
Matt Jones
Train them to react to a gun.
Myron Metcalf
But what if they were like. But what if they were like being raised in LA would. How are they supposed to run every time they hear a gunshot?
Matt Jones
I don't think these horses are in a place where they're going to hear frequent gunshots. Like, what do you. Was one of these kids, like an up and comer from a tough neighborhood? A horse that came from a bad
Myron Metcalf
part of the Cinderella stories. He raised his. He raised the horse on the problematic, as you would say, side of town.
Matt Jones
Horses got out of a tough stable and now he's trying to turn his life around. Come on, man. That was.
Myron Metcalf
Wait a minute. That was the exact story of Smarty Jones. He came from a rougher part of.
Matt Jones
I don't know. I don't know. I mean, I hear the. I know they launch out. I don't know how it happens.
Myron Metcalf
Well, they do. And that was how that race occurred. Now also, you were excited. You went viral. I did this week, which is very rare for Myron. Myron very rarely gets a lot of attention outside of his. His Circle. And he went viral. And he went viral for these comments as he was talking to Minnesota Timberwolves players before the game against the Spurs.
Matt Jones
Well, I can tell you that they were bumping Drake's Iceman album before practice, and they don't think they're going to freeze tonight. Mike Conley said that they are on red alert, going now.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, that went viral.
Matt Jones
Explain to me.
Myron Metcalf
Explain to me, random dude in the middle of Kentucky, why that went viral.
Matt Jones
So Drake releases his Iceman album along with two other albums. I was at the Timberwolves practice, and they were playing the Iceman album before the game. So Sports center had me on, and they were like, what happened before the game? And I mentioned they were listening to Iceman. And then I came up with the line on myself. I don't know. In high school, I had a rap album. I don't know if you know that. With my buddy. No, with my. No, it was me and my buddy, Ill Skill. And then the.
Myron Metcalf
Oh, Ill Skill. He's good. He's good.
Matt Jones
He. He was very underrated.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, very underrated. He was.
Matt Jones
Yeah, me. Ill Skill in the Cat. So, you know, I. I know a little bit.
Myron Metcalf
Oh, wait a minute. Hang on, hang on. Was the name of the group Myon Ill School and the Ill Skill of the Cat?
Matt Jones
No, I was M Diggity. That was my rap name.
Myron Metcalf
Oh, you were Indignity.
Matt Jones
M Diggity.
Myron Metcalf
M Diggity?
Matt Jones
Yeah, like, no Diggity.
Myron Metcalf
No Diggity. You were M Diggity.
Matt Jones
M Diggity. Ill Skill in the Cat. So when I came up with the
Myron Metcalf
line, I got right. Hang on. I got to write this.
Matt Jones
Where can we find. Is there any proof of this?
Myron Metcalf
M Diggity.
Matt Jones
He produced us.
Myron Metcalf
And. And why did the one guy only get the name the Cat?
Matt Jones
Well, that's what we called him. He was. He was the Cat.
Myron Metcalf
And then you all got cool names. You were M Diggity and Ill Skill. Producer's name was Yiftak.
Matt Jones
What was talk? We produced. We did it in his top bedroom.
Myron Metcalf
Was he Jewish?
Matt Jones
Yeah, he was. We did it in his. He. He had studio set up in his bedroom.
Myron Metcalf
And we did. Okay. Oh, good old Yev.
Matt Jones
But I wrote the line of the Timberwolves. Don't think they're going to freeze. That was all me. That was original. That wasn't somebody handing me a line. People were going crazy about it. You know, the production team loved it. But now everybody's blaming me for the curse. Like, they think I'm the one that somehow cursed the Timberwolves. And I was just reporting, so it's a big one.
Myron Metcalf
This is, this is from the legacy of M Diggity Ill Skill and the cap.
Matt Jones
Yeah. So on the scene in Minneapolis, we
Myron Metcalf
bring in reporter Myron Metcalf covering the Timberwolf.
Matt Jones
So, Myron, what are you hearing about the T Wolves locker room ahead from elimination game? Well, I can tell you that they were bumping Drake's Iceman album before practice and they don't think they're going to freeze tonight. Mike Conley said that they are on red alert, so.
Myron Metcalf
So was the, was the cool part they don't think they're going to freeze tonight?
Matt Jones
Yeah, that was the product.
Myron Metcalf
But you know, In Batman Forever, Mr. Freeze, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger made similar jokes.
Matt Jones
I don't know anything about that. You know, what I know is that I came up with that on the fly. I wanted to stand out. People were talking about it. But now, now I've got a lot of San Antonio fans who are coming at me and saying haha. And it's like, listen, I was just reporting what happened. But this is what happens in hip hop beef. You just get thrown into things sometimes that.
Myron Metcalf
So you're telling me you didn't plan that line before she went to you? It just right off the top of the head.
Matt Jones
It just, it just again, we used to freestyle with you and that's how
Myron Metcalf
I came up with that thing. Yes, I could give talk brings that out of people. That's good to know. Well, you did a great job and you went viral and it's good to see that rap career reigniting itself. ESPN radio has been presented by Progressive Insurance. Progressive Insurance makes building home and auto easy. Learn more@progressive.com Coming up, who's got the most pressure on Game 7? It's Matt and MDiggity right here on ESPN.
Matt Jones
Matt and Myron, the podcast Foreign.
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Matt Jones
I was, I was vibing to MJ and I think we lost my guy Matt Jones who I think is just trying to work through some technical difficulties. I was vibing, I was like let this play all day and somebody probably is listening and they're probably like wait a minute, are we playing Michael Jackson's hits or is this Matt Myron? It is Matt Myron, Matt Jones and Myra Metcalf who I think is just trying to get reconnected on ESPN Radio, the ESPN app Sirus channel 80. We are presented by Progressive Insurance. 888- say ESPN 888-729-3776 is the number to call. We go in today obviously to. Will decide who advances to the Eastern Conference finals to face the New York Knicks Cavs and Pistons. That will be the matchup here. But before we get to that, as we're trying to get Matt reconnected, I. I have something that I think everybody should know about because I just found this on the Internet. And here's Matt. He's back. But let me just.
Myron Metcalf
Sorry about that. I was, I was jamming during the break to give me ill skill and I accidentally knocked the cord loose from my machine. So I'm back. Sorry about that. The music was just too much for me to be able to stay connected.
Matt Jones
Perfect moment to come back because this is a report that just dropped just now. Someone has paid $115,000 for a used signed knee brace that stone cold Steve Austin once wore. I Actually think that's my question is, was that James, what do you do with that? Like, I can understand cards and other memorabilia.
Myron Metcalf
A used knee brace from Stone Cold Pickup women. I think they would be pretty impressed.
Matt Jones
You wear it. You wear it into the club.
Myron Metcalf
I don't know. I mean, that. That is a. That's a very niche thing to have. But I will tell you, when I think of Stone Cold Steve Austin, the knee brace is a big part of it. I mean, he. Especially towards the end of his career, he had it. So. So I get it. I want to read you just a couple of messages that came in during the break. One per on the text machine. 772-774-5254. One person writes, Matt, I love the show. I'm not sure cookies should be. Cookie should be allowed to talk about horse racing. But I do like that he believes that horses may come from the other side of the tracks. I like the idea of a horse that just grows up in the city and then works its way up and ends up in the Preakness. I enjoy that.
Matt Jones
Adopted by a family in the country, shown the finer things in life.
Myron Metcalf
That's right. They see it wandering down the streets of Queens, and they're like, you know what, honey? We'll bring it to Kentucky. We'll teach it to race.
Matt Jones
Biting other horses. And they're like, hold on. Somebody steps in, it's like, no, no, no. I got him. Bring it with me.
Myron Metcalf
I love it. It's like. Like the Blind side, but horses. All right, let's. Let's switch again.
Matt Jones
You. You going to have a bed tonight, honey?
Myron Metcalf
All the hay you want.
Matt Jones
My goodness. Like, that was so sad. The saddest movie of all. People always ask, like, do you watch those. I don't watch those movies twice.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah. Whoa. And Tim McGraw's in it, which is really random. Yeah. All right, let's. Let's go to something related to sports, which is game seven of the NBA East Eastern Conference semifinals. Cavs and Pistons. I'm not sure there's been a more competitive, close, important series that I just can't get myself to care about more than this one, but I will watch a Game 7 lot on the line here. Cavs had a chance to win at home, blew it. There's all the James Harden stuff from his entire career. The Pistons trying to get to the Eastern Conference finals. What do you make of this game today?
Matt Jones
Well, I mean, what I make of it is, I think, to your point, you got two competitive teams. I think last week we were Saying there isn't really a competitive series outside of Timberwolves and Spurs, because at that moment it looked like that was probably the most competitive series in the NBA. And I think you combine the James Harden stuff and the criticism, the storyline of Cade Cunningham, does he have enough help? And now you're going into a game seven that I think everybody's paying attention to, everybody's excited about. And you got to give them credit, man, for turning this into a must watch game.
Myron Metcalf
Well, let me ask you about James Harden, because James Harden had a really good game to a pretty terrible Game three, but a great Game four and a really great Game five. And it looked like playoff jet. Like the whole James Harden playoff narrative. Maybe he would, Maybe he would bust it this series because he had played so well hitting shots down the stretch. And then game six, he's. He wasn't the only one. The whole thing kind of fell apart. I mean, I hate the whole narrative question, but how much is on the line for James Harden today? I mean, even though it's Donovan Mitchell's team, it feels like it's been James Harden series.
Matt Jones
I mean, he'll be.
Myron Metcalf
Except for the 1:45 point game for Mitchell, but go ahead.
Matt Jones
He'll be judged by it. I mean, that's the narrative about James Harden. He's a first ballot hall of Famer, undeniably top 75 all time. Like he, he's statistically one of the greatest players we've ever seen. But I think if he struggles here, it'll be another knock against him and how he performs in the postseason. So I'm sure something he's thinking about.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah. Are you. But I mean, are you going to judge him on this game? Yes. Yes.
Matt Jones
You have to. Like we, we judge every other star in this moment.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah.
Matt Jones
Why not him? Especially the best.
Myron Metcalf
You know what I was excited about in this series? The return into my life of, of, of Paul Reed, you know, you know, what's his nickname? What it is that they call him? Something Paul. What is it? It's not playoff Paul. What is it?
Matt Jones
There's a. It's not.
Myron Metcalf
There's a nickname for Paul.
Matt Jones
Paul.
Myron Metcalf
I don't know. No, I don't think. I don't think it's playable, but whatever. I haven't seen that guy in years.
Matt Jones
Yeah.
Myron Metcalf
And it's, it was not. I mean, he came in for Jalen Duran and actually was kind of important. Yeah, it's had high quality minutes, so he's been big. I'm looking forward to game seven and we'll see what kind of atmosphere we have in Detroit. Guess who's back, back again and no one asked for it. Aaron Rodgers. They're running it back one more time next with Matt and Cookie on ESPN Radio.
Matt Jones
Matt and Myron the Pod.
Myron Metcalf
Harry Douglas here. Game day brings the excitement.
Matt Jones
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Myron Metcalf
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Myron Metcalf
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Matt Jones
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Myron Metcalf
Aaron's back and will be annoying. It's Matt Myron on ESPN Radio presented by Progressive Insurance. We enjoyed the morning 888 say ESPN if you want to jump in. We still have ahead some talk about what how do you how do you become a fan of a team? How do you go on the road in difficult environments? And then I'm going to do some word stuff with Myron but let's start with Aaron Rodgers. I can't stand Aaron Rodgers find him to potentially be the most annoying player in sports. Although Draymond Green is coming, let me just say he is to use Preakness parlance, he's coming on the outside and trying to get a get him at the wire. But Air Rodgers is back for another year. This is not a shock but do you think it is the right decision for the Pittsburgh Steelers?
Matt Jones
It feels like the only decision to me. You know I think a lot of people who are disappointed it's like where do you turn? It's a terrible free agent market. The only really quality player available in a trade was Kyler Murray and tua. So I don't know. I think it says more about the fact that they just don't believe in Mason Rudolph, Drew Aller, or Will Howard yet, you know, and they feel like Mike McCarthy, first of all, when you
Myron Metcalf
say Mason Rudolph yet, he's been there and he has been. He has been picked over so many times, like poor Mason Rudolph. They just go out on the street and try to find somebody to start over him. He's like the woman that's like, are you gonna keep coming back to me? And there's, you know, I mean, poor. But anyway, go ahead.
Matt Jones
Yeah, they still have a guy behind Air Rodgers that they trust. And if you're Mike McCarthy, you feel like you have a familiar face. Maybe that pairing works out. So I get why you do it. I don't know what else they would have done. What's the other. What's the other option?
Myron Metcalf
Well, there isn't another option. I mean, they picked Drew Aller, a guy who, you know, I would say will never be able to play in the NFL. But even if you think he will, he's not going to be able to play this year. Yeah, you're right. I mean, the other option would be go sign Kyler Murray. You know, I. Is that an upgrade? Maybe. But you can't just sign Kyler Murray for one year. You're committing to him for at least two or three. And I can understand how you would decide. I don't want to be in the Kyler Murray business. Aaron Rodgers, the things I was most worried about with Aaron Rodgers, he kind of didn't have that happen last year. I mean, he wasn't particularly great, but he also didn't blow the team up. So I guess the theory is he'll just not blow the team up for another year. And Mike McCarthy, maybe he gets. I don't know what he's going to get out of him. Anybody else would, but you're just basically signing up for another year of mediocrity. They're not going to be a contender. And, you know, you fired Mike Tomlin and you're probably going 9 and 8
Matt Jones
again, or maybe not. I mean, that's the thing is, like, there's another. There's another element of this. I think the complaint from Steelers fans was we're tired of being.500, tired of not advancing in the playoffs. Okay, well, the opposite of that is potentially with Mike McCarthy, who hasn't been a great coach in over a decade. Like, I don't. I don't know. Like, if people can point to me where Mike McCarthy is a great coach, I'd love to see the evidence you hate Mike McCarthy. I don't.
Myron Metcalf
To be fair, though, you. You. You have two enemies in the world. Mike McCarthy and Kirk Cousins.
Matt Jones
No, he. He's. He's the Doc Rivers of NFL coaches. He's been given a lot of talent. He has one ring to show for. At the end of the day, I don't know that Mike McCarthy is an automatic upgrade for Mike Tomlin. And as much as people.
Myron Metcalf
I agree with that. I agree.
Matt Jones
As much as people don't want to be 500. What happens if you're below that? Because there's a world where this thing is even worse than 500 that I
Myron Metcalf
think is very reasonable and true. I. You know, at the end of the day, you can only make a decision based on what you have before you. Living in a theoretical world doesn't really work. Once you've made the decision this year and you go to the draft and really there's nobody you want, maybe you want to take a shot on Drew Aller. At that point, you just, you can ask yourself, is Aaron Rodgers good? Is he bad? You have to deal with the choices before you. And as you said, you laid it out, your choices are Tua and Kyler Murray, and you're probably going to have to sign them into a deal that's going to require you to pay them for a couple of years for as much, if not more than what you're paying Aaron Rodgers or try Drew Aller. And I can see how you would look at that and go, of those options, which are the only ones before me right now, Aaron Rodgers is the best choice.
Matt Jones
Well, I think you pointed to something too, that matters, Matt. Like, we started the year feeling like the 2026 quarterback draft class was going to be historic, and it just wasn't. It became one of the most overrated classes that we had. So I think a lot of teams were in Pittsburgh situation where maybe they assumed there was going to be someone at the top of the draft who would have been worth the pick, maybe can come in and start and you find out that's not the case. So you got to go back to Aaron Rodgers.
Myron Metcalf
It's fascinating with quarterbacks because this doesn't happen in basketball. Like, when you think a class is great in basketball, it ends up great. I mean, we thought coming into this year that this draft class at the top would be great, and it ended up even better than we thought with some guys like Keaton Wagler jumping up that maybe people would not have thought was there. In football, one year can completely change the profile of Quarterbacks. We thought this would maybe be one of the best historic quarterback drafts. And not only was it not, it was horrendous. And a guy that two years ago wouldn't have been in anybody's top 20 list went first in the draft. And a lot of other guys, some of them didn't even get picked. Guys we thought were going to get drafted, you know, now next year's is supposed to be good. Maybe you're Pittsburgh, you're thinking, all right, we'll try to pick one next season. But you could end up with the same thing. Next year's draft might end up being bad.
Matt Jones
Well, you could end up with that. And then here's the other thing. They're also fighting against college football because there are a bunch of guys who could have entered the draft who said, wait a minute, I can get $10 million, $5 million to come back to school. I'm going back. So that's the other element of this
Myron Metcalf
conversation that's the most unreported. I mean, some people have reported it, but it's not talked about as much is the effect NIL is having on all the drafts. I've been reading about this. I was kind of fascinated by this, so I went and read about the four major sports. College hockey is having more people come and play than have ever played because of nil. There's Nil even in hockey. Baseball is seeing a lot of kids. Fewer kids are coming straight out of high school because they can get nil. In college baseball, where you're really seeing it is in the basketball. The back half of the first round of the NBA draft is just collapsing because everyone's going back to college basketball. Unless you're in the lottery, it doesn't really make sense, Myron, to go to the NBA draft now.
Matt Jones
Well, and the money that's available is you can make comparable money than what you would make at the back of the.
Myron Metcalf
Oh, there's more money. There's a kid named Milan Momcilovich.
Matt Jones
Oh, he's about to get paid.
Myron Metcalf
Okay. He would probably go 26, 27th in the draft if he goes back to college basketball. Kentucky St. John's and Louisville are offering $5 million. That's more money than he would make in the draft, which is why a lot of these dudes are going back.
Caller
Yeah.
Matt Jones
And it's just changing, I think, what the pros can do. Because to me, unless you have a high draft pick, if you. If you're the Steelers, unless you are top 10 and you think there's A candidate there, you don't want to reach for a quarterback. And just the talent pool was weaker than people anticipated. So it helps that Aaron Rodgers, because all of a sudden he gets a $25 million deal. Up to 25 million and another chance to be the leader of this team.
Myron Metcalf
Let's go to. Jordan is in Texas. Jordan, go ahead, sir.
Caller
What's up, Diggity? Hey. I'm working on a rap album. I want you to be my co star in my rap album. Of course. You can tell by my voice. I got bars, dog. Hey, we're gonna name it the Fireman because you're so coherent with Iceman. We're gonna make a hit, baby. You're gonna be my star. Love you, man.
Myron Metcalf
Wow.
Matt Jones
Wait, what wrestling organization is he with? What is that?
Myron Metcalf
No, he says he's, he's. He's got bars and you. So I. I do. I think it's worth going back to you. You did, like, put out some rap hits as M diggy.
Matt Jones
So 60 copies at lunch. 60?
Myron Metcalf
Oh, at lunch. How much did they go for?
Matt Jones
5 bucks a piece.
Myron Metcalf
So you made $300?
Matt Jones
100% we did.
Myron Metcalf
Oh, but you had to split it between you, Ill Skill, the Cat, and
Matt Jones
Yiv Talk, and that was some funny accounting. I don't want to get into it, you know, I don't know if I got everything paid. I don't think I got my full cut. I don't know. I don't know if that was between Yiv Talk and the Cat. I don't know who took. Oh, it's.
Myron Metcalf
Of course it was the Cat and Yiv Talks. It's not yours?
Matt Jones
No, we, we. We used to sell at lunch. Like people bought them, man. We had a list. We'd written down a list and people would come up to us at lunch and.
Myron Metcalf
All right, so can I just. I mean, I. I have to ask kind of on behalf of the people.
Matt Jones
Yeah.
Myron Metcalf
Can I hear just a little bit of like a bar or two?
Matt Jones
We had a song called Haters. Haters over here, haters over there. Why do all these haters really want to care?
Myron Metcalf
Did you have Haters?
Matt Jones
Not as many as we thought at the time, but, you know, it felt like it.
Myron Metcalf
So how did it go? It went. Haters over.
Matt Jones
Haters over here, haters over there. Why do all these haters really want to care? Because. What? Because we. I think. I can't remember the next slide. It was a long time ago.
Myron Metcalf
I just. Myron, was this on cassette or Was this on CD? 8 track?
Matt Jones
No, it Was. It was. It was right when you had the. When you could burn CDs for the first time.
Caller
Remember that?
Matt Jones
Like Rachel.
Myron Metcalf
No, no, no, no, no. I would like to plead or beg whoever. Yeah, we need to hear anybody. We've tried to find 60 copies.
Matt Jones
I talked to Ill Skill a couple years ago. We've tried to find what does Ils.
Myron Metcalf
Can I ask you a question? What does Ill Skill do now?
Matt Jones
I think it's in accounting.
Myron Metcalf
I think we've seen accounting.
Matt Jones
I think. I think he is.
Myron Metcalf
That's what a lot of really big rappers like. Once their career's over, they go. It's a great name, though.
Matt Jones
It's an incredible name, though. If you think we. We were all jealous because the name was incredible.
Myron Metcalf
Wait a minute. Was. Was Ill Skill, if you don't mind, Was he. Was he white or black?
Matt Jones
He was white. He was white. Dude from Florida. And then.
Myron Metcalf
Which most good rappers are.
Matt Jones
Yeah, yeah, that's a lot of good Florida. A lot of good Florida rappers.
Myron Metcalf
See? Did he become accountant because you guys
Matt Jones
stole the money from him? No, we didn't.
Myron Metcalf
He didn't get his cut. All I'm saying is he became an accountant.
Matt Jones
There wasn't a contract, so I don't know, you know, if I got my full cut of the proceed.
Myron Metcalf
Well, I wish I could hear these bars because I can. I can tell they were. They're fairly good. I have a question for the listeners at home. I have a situation that's coming up where I have to go into enemy territory and I want to ask all of you out there for advice. What's it like when you're a road fan going to another team's arena, but especially a hostile one. That's next here on Matt and Myron.
Matt Jones
Matt and Myron, the podcast.
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Matt Jones
Today
Myron Metcalf
I feel like this would have been a. This would have been a good m diggity ill skilled joint back in the day. It's Matt Myron here on ESPN Radio presented by Progressive Insurance.
Matt Jones
Put me back in the studio.
Myron Metcalf
888 say ESPN. I want to hear from you. We got Scott on who's going to come up next. But then I want to hear about, hear about this topic. All right, Myron, I have a dilemma.
Matt Jones
Okay.
Myron Metcalf
First of all, tomorrow night we got a Game 7, which I'm excited about in the NHL. You got the Canadians and the Sabers. I don't know how much people been watching this series. Been a good series. Two teams with passionate fan bases. I don't know if you've seen inside the arena of these games, both in Montreal and Buffalo. It has looked wild. Yeah, take whatever NFL, NBA baseball stadium you want. It doesn't look like those two stadiums have been. And then you throw in Carolina where it's also like that. The Eastern Conference playoffs have had insane environments. Now I'm a Carolina Hurricanes fan. The winner of that Montreal Buffalo series will play us in the next round. I am planning on going to game three, whether it is in Montreal or Buffalo. We will be on the road. I'm going to go. I want to experience the environment. I've been to Carolina Hurricanes home games, but I playoff games, but I want to go to a road one. So I was all excited about this. And then yesterday there's a video that was floating around online of a Buffalo Sabres fan walking into the Canadiens arena.
Matt Jones
Yep.
Myron Metcalf
And the entire. I thought Canadian people were supposed to be polite. The Canadian fans are just yelling at this man. He is with his girlfriend who looks like you want to talk about somebody who looks mortified. He's wearing a Sabers jersey. He's not taunting them. He's just walking in and people are booing him. People are throwing things at him, Myron. Literally throwing things at him. So I am going to end up in one of these arenas in 10 days, either Montreal or Buffalo. My question for you is what do I do? Should I wear the jersey like this guy did and get things thrown at me or do I try to play it incognito and then sneak in and as a as if I'm infiltrating them with once the game starts. Cheer for my canes.
Matt Jones
I don't know if you've been following the news or not. I can't say I don't know about your news habits. I don't know that you go to Canada right now and putting the target on your back. I don't know if that's the.
Myron Metcalf
Oh, you're telling me I shouldn't even go to Canada?
Matt Jones
Not with a big Carolina jersey. It said, hey, everybody, I'm. But I'm.
Myron Metcalf
Am I not allowed to support my team?
Matt Jones
Well, the stakes have changed a little bit. You know, I don't know if they're a boo with him about hockey.
Myron Metcalf
Right.
Matt Jones
So I think if you go to Canada, I think you tone it down, you know, you don't.
Myron Metcalf
You know, Am I allowed to wear the jersey?
Matt Jones
You're allowed to do whatever you want. Maybe. Maybe. Maybe a shirt, maybe not a jersey. Maybe like a.
Myron Metcalf
So you think I'll get a different reaction in, like, a hoodie than I would a jersey?
Matt Jones
Yes. Yeah. Jerseys. Jersey is more. We see jersey people as super fans.
Myron Metcalf
So you think it's. But in hockey, everyone wears a jersey. Like. Like all the people. It's not like it's weird if everybody went to a Knicks game in a jersey. This is. In hockey. Everyone wears a jersey. You're telling me I can't because I should be worried about my safety?
Matt Jones
You could do whatever you want to do. I'm just saying I don't think a 64 dude should be waltzing into Canada with a Carolina jersey being like, hey, everybody, I come here from America. I don't know if that's the time.
Myron Metcalf
All right, well, here's my question. 888, say ESPN, if you've ever been to a Canadiens or Buffalo game on the road or any game really like that, and you're going to be completely outnumbered. I might be at this game by myself.
Matt Jones
Like, I don't really see the other thing.
Myron Metcalf
What?
Matt Jones
Yeah, I mean, you're going solo, so you gotta, you know, you gotta chill, man.
Myron Metcalf
Are you worried about me?
Matt Jones
No, I just, you know, sometimes you draw a lot of attention to yourself. Not intentionally sometimes, you know.
Myron Metcalf
How do I do that?
Matt Jones
Well, no, I could just see you being in Canada, and all of a sudden it turns into, like, a whole conversation, and then you don't want people
Myron Metcalf
going to be like a South Park, Team America guy. I just want to cheer on Rod, the Bod and the rest of the hurricane.
Matt Jones
Yeah. Canada would be different for me. I would wear.
Myron Metcalf
All right. 888 say, ESPN, if you know anything about those two arenas, or also just in general, your. Your recommendation for going into enemy territory. Lucas is in Alabama. Lucas, go ahead.
Caller
Good morning, Matt. Good morning. Cookie. I just.
Matt Jones
Hey, hold on a second, man. The cookie thing. I told you, I don't. Come on, man. I'm not. I'm not.
Myron Metcalf
Cookies, singular. Just cookie. Just cookie. Not, not. Not cookie.
Caller
Just cookie. Okay, so this has nothing to do with hockey or that, but I was a Kentucky fan in enemy territory in the SEC tournament, and it was very uncomfortable. I got sat in the one section where it was filled with Florida fan, and my recommendation would just be sit there and be quiet.
Myron Metcalf
But that's a little different, though, because you're an arena where there's a lot of other fans of your team there. You're just in the wrong section. I may be in a situation where, like, I'm the only one there in the entire arena. Lucas. That's what I'm concerned about. Like, I, you know, and I appreciate the call. You go to a conference tournament, there's going to be other team. People from your team. Myron. I might be the only one. Carolina. Her. Carolina. I might be the only Hurricanes fan.
Matt Jones
Just went to 1954. Carolina all of a sudden, like, board of education.
Myron Metcalf
We here at Carolina Hurricanes. Sorry about that. I don't know where that came from.
Matt Jones
Aaron, is this came out of you.
Myron Metcalf
It did. I didn't know it was repressed in there like that. Aaron from Toronto.
Matt Jones
Wait a minute.
Myron Metcalf
Aaron from Toronto. He's a Canadian. This will help. Go ahead, Aaron.
Caller
Yeah, I wanted to touch on what you're talking about there. Hopefully Montreal. I don't want Montreal to win. Hopefully they lose, but if they do, you gotta go rock the Hurricanes jersey. Be loud, be proud. Those Montreal fans, as crazy as they are, they don't know what it's like to win. So they're new to this.
Matt Jones
Last time y' all won, though.
Myron Metcalf
I mean, they won a lot in the past. You all don't win as much.
Matt Jones
When's the last time you all won? Come on, now.
Myron Metcalf
Oh, now, see, he's talking. I appreciate it.
Caller
Aaron.
Myron Metcalf
You're trying to be helpful. And Cookie over here.
Matt Jones
No, he's rude. No, no, no. You. He's going at Montreal because they don't like the Montreal Canadians. Don't like the Maple Leafs fans. I get that. And he was saying they don't know what it's like to win. You can't say that if you haven't won anything recently. Like, you don't get to make that statement. Right.
Myron Metcalf
Ned is in Atlanta. Go ahead, Ned.
Caller
Yeah, Matt, I don't think you have anything to worry about. I mean, you're. You're SEC territory. I'm sure you born a Kentucky jersey to a Tennessee game or a Florida game. Jack Daniels on you or urine on you. So you. This has got. It's not gonna be anything for you. You gonna be okay.
Myron Metcalf
I have. That's true. I appreciate it.
Matt Jones
You all hate Tennessee in ways that I. I don't even fully.
Myron Metcalf
Have you ever been around their fans?
Matt Jones
There's been a Knoxville many times. I just. You all hate them in a way.
Myron Metcalf
That's just it.
Matt Jones
If you. I know Louisville and you all go at it. You all really don't like Tennessee people.
Myron Metcalf
Louisville fans are whatever Tennessee fans are. Are mean and nasty. But the again, if I go to a game at Tennessee, there's going to be other Kentucky fans there. Yeah. I'm going. There will be no one else from Carano.
Caller
Yeah.
Myron Metcalf
Like whoa. In Montreal for that game. Which makes me a little concerned sheriff in this town. Andy and Barney are gonna escort me up to the Four Calves, Pistons and more. We'll take your call.
Matt Jones
Thanks for listening to Matt and Myron the podcast. You can listen to the show live every Sunday morning at 10am Eastern on ESPN radio, the ESPN app, and on Sirius XM channel 80. Matt and myron the podcast.
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Episode: Hour 1: MDiggity and Horses
Date: May 17, 2026
Hosts: Matt Jones & Myron Medcalf
Network: ESPN Radio
On this packed sports Sunday, Matt Jones and Myron Medcalf deliver a characteristically lively and irreverent breakdown of the weekend’s sports landscape. The hour jumps between PGA Championship drama, horse racing hijinks, viral moments in NBA reporting, NFL quarterback dilemmas, and the perils/advice for sports fans traveling to hostile arenas. Personal stories and running jokes—especially about Myron’s high school rap past as “M Diggity”—weave throughout, offering plenty of memorable banter for both sports diehards and casual listeners.
[00:30-02:27]
Quote:
"Saturdays make me happy because... there's so much going on, and I enjoy that for my sort of scattered, skedaddled mind."
—Matt Jones [00:30]
[02:47-05:39]
Quote:
"Literally 30 different people could win today. Are you excited about maybe the most tightly bunched major that I can ever remember?"
—Myron Metcalf [02:47]
Quote:
"These golf names you read—it's like any small-town city council. Those are the four guys on it."
—Matt Jones [03:41]
[05:55-07:58]
Quote:
"I might not know any of the horses, but by the end, I find I'm crying and I'm rooting for somebody."
—Myron Metcalf [06:49]
[07:06-08:43]
Memorable Exchange:
"What do they launch them with? Is it a gun?" —Matt [07:27]
"You think there's a guy shooting a gun up in the air?" —Myron [07:30]
"What if they were like being raised in LA—how are they supposed to run every time they hear a gunshot?" —Myron [08:04]
[08:54-12:56]
Quote:
"No, I was M Diggity. That was my rap name."
—Matt Jones [10:18]
Quote (on going viral):
"People were going crazy about it... But now everybody's blaming me for the curse—like, they think I'm the one that somehow cursed the Timberwolves." [11:00]
[16:14-17:36]
[18:15-21:46]
Quote:
"If he struggles here, it'll be another knock against him and how he performs in the postseason… I'm sure it's something he's thinking about."
—Matt Jones [20:22]
[23:03-28:55]
Quote:
"You're just basically signing up for another year of mediocrity. They're not going to be a contender."
—Myron Metcalf [25:40]
[29:07-30:22]
Quote:
"The back half of the first round of the NBA draft is just collapsing because everyone's going back to college basketball. Unless you're in the lottery, it doesn't really make sense…"
—Myron Metcalf [29:56]
[31:14-33:47]
[35:38-41:33]
Memorable Exchange:
"Am I not allowed to support my team?" —Myron [38:17]
"I don't think a 6'4" dude should be waltzing into Canada with a Carolina jersey being like, hey, everybody, I come here from America. I don't know if that's the time." —Matt [39:05]
[41:42-44:04]
On Golf’s Storytelling Problems:
“I do wish golf did a better job of telling us the stories of the up and coming talent… So we get to Sunday and we have something to root for.”
—Matt Jones [04:29]
Horse Racing Build-Up:
“The horses are not of the intelligence level where they're like, I'm. I'm waiting for someone to tell me to run.”
—Myron Metcalf [07:44]
On Virality
"Now everybody's blaming me for the curse—like, they think I'm the one that somehow cursed the Timberwolves. And I was just reporting, so it's a big one."
—Matt Jones [11:00]
Medcalf’s Rap Legacy:
"We used to sell at lunch. Like, people bought them, man. … I don't know if I got my full cut. ... I don't know if that was between Yiv Talk and the Cat. I don't know who took..."
—Matt Jones [31:57]
Fan Travel Caution:
“I don't know if you've been following the news or not… I can't say I don't know about your news habits. I don't know that you go to Canada right now and putting the target on your back…”
—Matt Jones [38:09]
The episode is breezy, quick-witted, and peppered with inside jokes, recurring gags (M Diggity, illicit horse backstories), and warm rapport. Matt and Myron mix serious sports insight with irreverent humor, often poking fun at sports tropes, each other, and themselves. Listener engagement and playful call-ins add another layer of personality, making even casual topics feel energetic and fun.
This hour showcases Matt & Myron’s strengths: unique perspectives on sports news, creative banter, nostalgia (high school rap!), and good-natured digs. For both sports enthusiasts and pop-culture fans, there’s plenty to enjoy—even if you missed the live show.