Loading summary
National University Ad
Hey, if you've been thinking about going back to school, here's your shot. National University's Year of you scholarship can get you up to $6,000 a year on your bachelor's or master's degree. And don't worry, their flexible online courses fit your schedule, so you can stay in the game while you study. Plus, you'll get free tutoring, career counseling, and a lot more. Make this your year and apply by February 28th at Nu Edu. Terms and conditions apply. Check out the site for details.
Myron Metcalf
This is Matt and Myron the podcast.
Matt Jones
It's Sunday morning here on ESPN Radio, ESPN app SiriusXM Channel 80, presented by Progressive Insurance. This is the day every year where we switch from countdown to kickoff to Sunday morning transition on Valentine's Day weekend. Hope you had a good one. This is one of the bigger sports weekends of the year, if you're just talking about how many different events are going on at once. And Myron Metcalf is ready to rock this morning. He's already been up writing stories for espn, getting himself ready and grumpy. Myron, how are you doing this morning?
Myron Metcalf
What you doing, grumpy? I'm not grumpy.
Matt Jones
I just hear a little grumpy. I can tell sometimes. Did you eat breakfast this morning?
Myron Metcalf
I'm not, I'm not, I'm not grumpy. Let's, let's pull back the curtain. I was writing a story. I was writing a story for ESPN and then I showed up late and then I was making some tweaks to a rundown. Matt didn't like that. So, you know, we had one of our pre show back and forth.
Matt Jones
It's totally fine. You were growing. It's all right. But, but we're here now and on a weekend, I want you to just, I'm gonna give you all the things in my mind that are going on this weekend. Yeah, it's, it's, it's one of the most loaded weekends that I can think of in, in all of entertainment. So let's just go through it. You got the NBA All Star Game weekend. You got the Daytona 500. You got something called the Four Nations Face off where they decide to put four different countries and have them play hockey against each other. You had a massive weekend of college basketball, including the first number one versus number two game in five years. Only the fifth all time between two teams that are in one state. You have the 50th anniversary of Saturday Night Live is tonight. You got my personal favorite of all these, the premiere this Evening of the White Lotus. The new season of White Lotus. So there are a million things going on. Here's my question for you. I gave you six. Tell me the one of those that you're most interested in and then the one you are the least interested in.
Myron Metcalf
Well, I'm regretting that I didn't catch up on White Lotus, you know, because now I gotta wait again. But it looks promising. So I wish I had watched the former seasons of that, but I think.
Matt Jones
SNL haven't watched any of it. No, no, it's not just catch up. It's actually watch.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, it looks great and it got great reviews. But I mean, SNL definitely, the concert the other night was wild. I mean, the.
Matt Jones
So SNL is the one you look forward to the most. Even Mr. Sports Guy.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, SNL. I mean, that's. That's history, right? I mean, 50 years of SNL. But in terms of the sports element, man, I'm really into this. Four nations, like, I've been watching and like, the idea of hockey just will, like, stop its season and it'll be like, okay, go find your country and we're going to play each other and beat each other up for like two weeks and then we'll just rejoin like nothing ever happened a few weeks later. It's just. It's fascinating to watch. Day four.
Matt Jones
Are you watching the games, though? Are you watching the actual, like, besides the idea of it, Are you watching it?
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, I've been watching. Yeah, watch all last night. I mean, I couldn't believe they could hit Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby that way. Like, you could you imagine LeBron getting, you know, clothesline by Jokic or something, or Luca knocking down Steph. Like, that's what it was in that game. So, I mean, that was really cool. Cool to see, but college basketball is. If you don't like college basketball, then I hope you watch yesterday, because that was special.
Matt Jones
Well, let's go first to your little hockey thing. So the four nations face off. It's usa, Canada, Sweden and Finland. I'm not sure how they decided which ones to which ones to invite, but they have those. Last night, USA played Canada and there were three fights in the first nine seconds of the game. They basically started playing and then it was like essentially the battle over the Trump tariffs occurred through the first nine seconds. Each person took a side and they just started going, yeah, 20% is good. The other, like, you kill our economy. And the. And it was Chuck and Hagel, Kachuk and Bennett, Miller and Pareco. I Don't even know who all those people are, but they were fighting. Then the other. Earlier in the day in a game, maybe not as many people watch. Finland and Sweden went into extra time. So you're enjoying this. I like hockey. I'm a big Carolina Hurricanes fan. I hadn't gotten into this because I don't really know what they're playing for, but it sounds like their goal is to get, like, you who don't watch hockey to care. So it sounds like it's been successful.
Myron Metcalf
It's the old Cedric the Entertainer joke that still matters. They get to let you fight in hockey. Like, that's still fascinating to me that you can start a game the way that they did. And then again, these guys are all on the same teams, right? So. So they're going to go back to their NHL teams in a couple of weeks. Am I a fool, though? Maybe. I don't understand hockey. You know, is Russia supposed to be one of the teams? Like, am I?
Matt Jones
I think they're not in it because of the whole war and all.
Myron Metcalf
Okay.
Matt Jones
Which makes. If you were. I know. I mean, you could make your political statement. We don't do that on espn. I'm just. But I think if you were just talking about the ones that are the best at hockey, they would be in it. But I don't. I think that's the reason they're not in.
Myron Metcalf
Which is okay. Which is okay. But, no, it was fascinating. Fascinating to watch that man. And in the dunk contest. I didn't mention that man. It's been a lot this weekend.
Matt Jones
Okay, so two of the countries, Finland and Sweden, said if Russia was in, they would be out. So it was probably the easiest way to bring harmony was. Was to have it. Now, the duck contest. Last night, Mac McClung became the first player in history to win the event three times in a row. He won. He jumped over a car and a person. He tied Nate Robinson for the most slam dunk contest wins overall. I have to tell you, the whole Matt McLung, Mac McClung narrative is hilarious to me because I go way back with Mack, all right? He's from the app. He's from the Appalachian Mountains. He was one of those people that used to. In the mountains, they'd be like, there's this boy up in Virginia who can do some crazy stuff. And you'd go, whatever, It's a boy up in Virginia. Come on. And then they go, no, Matt, you understand? There's this boy up in Virginia. He can dunk over the goats and I was like, come on, what are you talking about? And then he goes to college, and he has some moments in college. We watched him in college, Myron. He had the Mac McClung experience, was always exciting. But then he gets to the NBA and he's not quite good enough to play in the NBA, at least regularly. So he plays in the G League. And he found basically his. His sort of niche, which is go dominate the dunk contest every year. Do you like that Mac McClung, a player that no one knows outside of these abilities. Do you like having him an annual feature of this event?
Myron Metcalf
I mean, I think he's the only thing making the dunk contest relevant. I mean, the last three years, him being in it is the only reason that I think it's just been interesting. I will say, between Cooper DeJean and Matt McClun, this is not what I expected for Black History Month.
Matt Jones
But exciting to them.
Myron Metcalf
Kudos to them, I think. Matt McClung, though, did you. I don't know if you saw all the stars. John Morant, Giannis were like, we'll be in the next year. If he's in. Is the only reason that I think the dunk contest is hanging on. Like, you can make the case. Matt McClung has saved the dunk contest because I'll say, you know, yesterday, those were four dunks we've never seen before. And I don't know the last time I thought someone was in the dunk contest and they did things that had never happened. But he certainly did that. He cares. He's excited about it. I hope he does this for the next decade.
Matt Jones
Do you think part. First of all, he's a great dunker, so let's not take anything away from maybe one of the best ever.
Myron Metcalf
Yes.
Matt Jones
Do you think part of his appeal is he's this little country white boy and he does it? Do you think that's part of what makes it such a thing to people?
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, I think people see him and they go, and he's not. How tall is he? Like six feet.
Matt Jones
He's not. That's what I'm saying.
Myron Metcalf
Little.
Matt Jones
I don't know. He's not very tall.
Myron Metcalf
He goes against every image that you would think of and even to his background. To your point, like, you know, I think a lot of people, probably city.
Matt Jones
Virginia, like, people don't realize he's from the hills of Appalachia. He's not just a country boy. He's like a mountain country boy.
Myron Metcalf
I think people look at him, they're like, oh, man, he's probably from some neighborhood in Chicago or something. Right? Like, you know, like he's not that. So I think the image is a big part of it. He seems like a real humble, quiet dude. You know, he's not out there like going crazy after every dunk. But if he can get some of the stars. Because again, John Morant tweeted that he would do it next year and other guys are like, we'll join you. I think Matt McClung is the only reason that the dunk contest is still happening. I think he's that important and he's made it fun because what else was fun about All Star weekend beyond Matt McClung? Not much.
Matt Jones
Well, Tyler Hero won the three point contest. That was good for us in Kentucky. He also, he was.
Myron Metcalf
Kentucky win. The. Kentucky win. NBA All Star Weekend. Basically, we.
Matt Jones
Yeah, except we lost to Texas yesterday. But when it comes to, when it comes to dominating the NBA, we, we do pretty amazing. Let me ask you a question. So tonight I guess they took the all star team, the players, they divide them into three teams. Then they're also bringing up this team that won the, the first year game. Right?
Myron Metcalf
Y.
Matt Jones
They're bringing up a group, the rising stars. Do you think they get absolutely destroyed tonight? Is that what happens?
Myron Metcalf
Maybe. I mean, those rising stars don't care. So I mean, to me like All Star weekend is in San Francisco. You can tell that that's when players go out to hang out. They're at the parties. They're not taking it very seriously. So there's a world where this could be, you know, an upset for the rising stars just because I think it will matter to them in ways it's not going to matter to the other guys.
Matt Jones
How many people do you think out there realize what the format is for this game tonight? I mean, how many people do you think realize there are four teams playing in the All Star game? I will tell you, I didn't realize it until Friday. I mean, I don't think people are going to realize that. Like they're going to turn it on and it's not going to be east versus west or international versus American. It's going to be just random sets of teams and then a group of people who aren't even all stars who are like first and second year players.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah. Anthony Edwards is in the game and I bet he doesn't know. You know what I mean? Like, so I bet there are a lot of people who don't know. And kudos to the NBA for trying something. I don't know if it'll work. But I admire that they're trying to find a way to make this interesting.
Matt Jones
Well, we're going to, we're going to talk about whether or not the NBA should look to the NHL to try to have a better All Star week. And plus, you know, this is one of my favorite days. We Talked the Daytona 500 and Myron gets to hear about cars for one day. Plus college basketball. It was a huge day yesterday and we're getting towards a tournament that's going to be unprecedented in lots of different directions. And some news yesterday that the NCAA seems dead set on trying to make it bigger. We'll deal with all of that. That's next here on a happy Matt Jones grumpy Myron Metcalf Sunday morning on ESPN Radio.
Myron Metcalf
The 74th NBA All Star Game on ESPN Radio. It's an all new format.
Matt Jones
Three all star teams of eight players each along of the rising stars game.
National University Ad
Battling it out for all star game supremacy.
Myron Metcalf
Coverage begins tonight at 7 Eastern on ESPN radio and on the ESPN app presented by indeed Matt and Myron. The podcast.
Matt Jones
Get in zone AutoZone.
National University Ad
Welcome to AutoZone. What are you working on today?
Matt Jones
My check engine light's on. That could hurt your gas mileage.
National University Ad
The AutoZone Free Fix Finder service can help find the fix for free.
Myron Metcalf
This whole report for free?
National University Ad
That's right. Printed and on your phone for free.
Matt Jones
But what if the fix is too tough?
National University Ad
We'll recommend a local shop fix finder only at AutoZone.
Matt Jones
Get in zone.
National University Ad
Auto zone restrictions apply. This is a mini meditation guided by Bombus. Repeat after me.
Myron Metcalf
I'm comfy.
National University Ad
I'm cozy.
Myron Metcalf
Cozy.
Matt Jones
I have zero blisters on my toes. Blisters.
National University Ad
And that's because I wear Bombus.
Myron Metcalf
The softest socks, underwear and T shirts that give back.
National University Ad
One purchased equals one donated. Now go to bombas.com espnpod and use.
Myron Metcalf
Code espnpod for 20% off your first purchase. That's B O M b-s.com espnpod and.
National University Ad
Use Code espnpod Here we go.
ESPN Hockey Commentator
Point wins a draw and we've got a fight. We have a fight. Off the opening face off. Brandon Hagel and Matthew Tkachuk. It took two seconds. Tkachuk's helmet is up. Hagel has it arm free. One punch. And now Hagel takes Tkachuk to the ice. How do you like it so far? It's safe to say this is the.
Matt Jones
Loudest I've ever heard any building in 40 years that I've been involved in this game.
ESPN Hockey Commentator
Brady's taking the draw against Sam Bennett. And we have another fight. One second later. Tachuk with a right, Bennett with a right, lost his helmet. They're exchanging blows. And now Tkachuk takes down Bennett. Three seconds into the game, two fights. And the Tkachuk brothers will be side by each in the penalty box. Have you ever seen a start to a game like this? Charlie McAvoy gains the zone, throws it right on the net. Another stoppage. Scrums in front of the net. J.T. miller drops the gloves with Colton Pareco. Miller and Pareco. Pareco's got a right three. He catches Miller. Miller falls to the ice. Falls Pareco. Big reach. Knocked his helmet off. And now the linesman step in. And our third straight fight.
Matt Jones
Three fights in nine seconds. There hadn't been a fight in an international NHL tournament since 2004, and there were three and nine seconds. Clearly, Myron, the first one is like, we're fighting because we're fighting. And then I think the longer you go, it becomes real fighting. The crowd loved it. You know, it is weird that they just let him fight in the NHL, but then on the international stage, it's us, it's Canada. Did you love it?
Myron Metcalf
It was amazing, man. And again, like, I assume that, like, the referees know that's about to happen because they did it right off the opening face off.
Matt Jones
And you're allowed to do it until somebody falls down, basically.
Myron Metcalf
Which is which. That's amazing.
Matt Jones
It's a great rule.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, yeah.
Matt Jones
Rule. And it's funny to me when I see a hockey fight, it's like both sides want it to happen. So they each hold each other up. I don't know if you've ever noticed, like, when they fight, it's not a two handed fight. They each put their left hand on each other to balance each other and then just start wailing on each other's face.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah. So what are the rules? I saw one fight where the guy's helmet came off, but the other guy.
Matt Jones
They try to stop it then, but.
Myron Metcalf
The guy without his helmet kept going like they were trying to stop. And he was like, let me die. Like, I don't care. That's how he was.
Matt Jones
I think when it falls off, the refs are supposed to try to stop it, but they will let him go as long as it's equal and nobody's falling down. And I think that's hilarious and odd.
Myron Metcalf
And again, this is amazing to me because this is in the middle of the NHL season. A bunch of these guys are on the Same teams. Right. So to see it play out like this, it's just wild, man. It has been fascinating. I think the NHL is where there's the most international pride. Like, people are saying, like, oh, the NBA student. I don't think the NBA has that same pride. Like, NBA is like, let's all.
Matt Jones
The US Is too far. Yeah. The US Is too far ahead in the NBA. I think so, like, even though these Olympics, I think, get closer and closer and we could have lost, you know, it's not exactly the same. You're. What's. What's great about the NHL, and even though Rush is not there, you could throw them in. There is that there are four to six countries that can each claim to be the best.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah.
Matt Jones
And so the usa, Canada thing, you know, Canada had not lost a game in 26 straight games where Sidney Crosby played, but the US has always been right behind them. Then you throw in all the tension of, like, literally of life recently and then have them play, and I think it's. It's a perfect storm for people to care. But even if you think about it, you go through team sports in history, Myron, it's odd that hockey has always kind of had some national pride for this country in a way that you wouldn't necessarily expect for a sport that's not dominant here.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah. I mean, there's always drama. Right. And there's a sense of pride there. And, you know, I don't watch a ton of hockey, but certainly watching this, I was definitely like, you know, forget Canada. You know, like, you want to win the game. You want to prove a point, and.
Matt Jones
I think that you wanted to show Canada a lesson. You were like. You were kind of. You were wanting to make America win again, right?
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, I was like, shit, I don't. I don't care, you know, what y'all got going on. Like, get the win. Let's go, America. Like, I think a lot of people probably felt that way.
Matt Jones
So who are your favorite American hockey players?
Myron Metcalf
Jake Wintzel had a big goal yesterday. It was an important player.
Matt Jones
That's not. That's good.
Myron Metcalf
Who else for what he do? And there's, like, some other guys here and there.
Matt Jones
There's some other guys. Like, some. But who are some that stick out that you. You tend to like?
Myron Metcalf
Man, it was kids. Kids named Jacobs. I'm trying to think of the guy's name.
Matt Jones
Okay. Yeah, it sounds like these are big. You're big fans of these guys, though, right? Like. Like, yeah.
Myron Metcalf
But I'll tell you what. Connor McDavid like, they beat him up. I didn't know you could do that. Like, usually in the NHL, in any major league, the stars protected. They were clothesline and Sidney Crosby and Connor mcdavid were there stars on our side.
Matt Jones
You wanted to see protected some guys that maybe you thought would be good to get protected.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, there were definitely some different guys.
Matt Jones
Okay.
Myron Metcalf
Austin Matthews, Jake Eichel, this guy, you know, Dylan Larkin had the big goal.
Matt Jones
Okay. So you looked at. You got it looked up now. That's what I was wanting. Well, good. I'm glad you enjoyed it. You are what they want to do with this. So. So that's good. Now that this is kind of. They're using as their All Star game.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah.
Matt Jones
Tonight, the NBA is trying to do. They took the teams. They made them three teams of eight. I think there's a Kenny, a Shaq and a Barkley team. Then they took the winning team from Friday's Rising Stars game. They're in it now. They'll play two semifinals. The winners will play in the finals. Do you think this is going to be a system that will make an event that really, I think used to be the best All Star Game then has really fallen off? Do you think this will help it get back to where it was if.
Myron Metcalf
The rising stars win? Like, I think that to me is the. And I'm not saying when the whole thing. If the rising stars win a game that will add a new flair because then next year you can go, okay, they're not just in it, they're competing. But if they lose and get crushed, then it's like, all right. Like, I don't know why, Matt. They don't just go do it in. The NHL is doing just give us international versus America. Like, are you telling me a team would win?
Matt Jones
Well, they did that one year. They did that and it didn't work. Nobody.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, I mean, like.
Matt Jones
Because you're asking the inner. But you're asking the international players to see themselves as a community that they're not. So for instance, they do this in golf where they. The. They take the USA versus the rest of the world besides Europe, in the president's camp. And the rest of the world is like, you know, I'm from Brazil, you're from Australia. We don't really have anything in common. So I do think there's a little bit of. It's a very American mentality to go, let's put the rest of the world together and they're going to care. Like, they. They may not feel close to each other at all.
Myron Metcalf
But do we really care what they. I mean, let's just.
Matt Jones
Well, we do care if you want it to be a competitive game and you want them to care.
Myron Metcalf
But I think. I mean, I think with Wimby. Are you telling me Wimby sg.
Matt Jones
I'm telling you Wimby would care. I don't think Wimby is. I don't know that Wimby, Jokic, and SGA feel like they have anything in common. Those are two. There's a three very different places.
Myron Metcalf
Well, let's call immediately, get them on the same page.
Matt Jones
SGA feels more in common with Wimby than the people in America that he's been with most of his life. I mean, I think the answer is probably no.
Myron Metcalf
Let's call a meeting and get them together and figure out what the issues are.
Matt Jones
Well, I actually think this. The issue is you want people to care. I don't know if this is going to work, but the theory as to why they think it might work is these are short games to 40, right, Myron? So you don't have time to take time off. You got to go score immediately. That's, I think, the thought process. And Myron, I could see it working. I'm not saying it's going to, but I could see how it might.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, Again, if they take it seriously. But. But I think a bigger part is going to be if the rising stars win one of these games, then you can carry that over the next season. And then there's a passion here because then, you know, the next team that faces them would really have to take it seriously because they wouldn't want to lose to the young guy. So this format works if they're competitive. If they're not, patriotism.
Matt Jones
Patriotism does work for these things.
Myron Metcalf
But the problem that happens in the NBA, you don't think there's enough of it.
Matt Jones
No. I think there's country patriotism, but if you go individual countries, they don't have enough guys. But if you do inner, the US Might care, but the international team doesn't feel any connection to each other because they're from all over the world. And that's not. We think of it as one big lump, but that's not what it is. So we are close to one of the greatest basketball teams of all time. Is that right? Well, we'll let you know right here next on ESPN Radio and ESPN app. Hey, it's your resident super bowl champ, Chris Candy coming up Monday. While there might not be any more.
Myron Metcalf
Games on the field.
Matt Jones
I'll tell you why this is a huge week. Indiana NFL it's unsportsman live weekday mornings at 6 right here on ESPN radio, ESPN2 and ESPNU.
Myron Metcalf
Matt and Myron the Podcast as the.
National University Ad
Number and severity of third party breaches continue to rise, companies are increasingly vigilant not just about how they handle their own data, but how their vendors do as well. For security and compliance leaders, this means more security reviews are coming across your desk every day and valuable time is being wasted on manual security reviews. With Vanta questionnaire automation, security and compliance teams can complete security reviews up to five times faster, giving you time back to focus on running your security and compliance programs. Over 8,000 global companies like ZoomInfo, smart recruiters and NOIBU use Vanta to save time on security reviews. Visit vanta.compodcast to learn more about Questionnaire automation. That's V A n T A dot com Podcast when you think about businesses that are selling through the roof, like Aloe or Allbirds or Skims, sure you think about a great product, a cool brand, and brilliant marketing. But an often overlooked secret is actually the businesses behind the business making, selling and for shoppers, buying. Simple for millions of businesses, that business is Shopify. Nobody does selling better than Shopify, home of the number one checkout on the planet and the not so secret secret with Shop Pay. That boosts conversions up to 50%, meaning way less carts going abandoned and way more sales going. So if you're into growing your business, your commerce platform better be ready to sell wherever your customers are scrolling or strolling on the web, in your store, in their feed, and everywhere in between. The secret's out. Businesses that want to grow grow with Shopify. Upgrade your business and get the same checkout untuck it uses. Sign up for your $1 per month trial period at shopify.comnetwork all lowercase go to shopify.comnetwork to upgrade your selling today. Shopify.comnetwork.
Matt Jones
Shanai spins on the right side.
ESPN Hockey Commentator
Of the lane in the lane with six up with the left hand.
Myron Metcalf
Got it.
ESPN Hockey Commentator
Aubrey's gonna dribble it away at Tuscaloosa.
Matt Jones
Aubrey prevails. It's a good win. That just shows how good SEC is. You know, we want to enjoy it for a little bit and then we're gonna have to move on. We got six tough games. We gotta be ready for every last one of them. Everybody, every goal that we've got left remaining is still in our control. And that's got to be the mindset. Nobody's Feeling good today. Just lost our arch rival, the SEC this year. Has it shifted from a football conference to a basketball conference? That's something that's not a ridiculous thought. After the football playoff we had and after what the basketball league is now. It's Sunday morning on ESPN Radio. He's my Metcalf. I'm Matt Jones. For those of you that listen all the time for the NFL, you probably know, but you maybe do not know that we are college basketball guys first and foremost. And I said this this week, Myron and I actually don't think this is controversial, but you may disagree with me. I look at the SEC this year and I think, you know, we don't know what's going to happen the tournament. So I'm going to keep it at the regular season. Okay. Because. Because the tournament hasn't happened yet. But I think this, the SEC this year is the best basketball league regular season in the history of college basketball. And I actually don't think it's very close. There are a couple times in history where it might be in the ballpark. The Big east in the mid-80s, the ACC in the early 2000s and then the mid 2010s. But besides that, this is the best league it has as of the last bracketology, 14 teams in the tournament. I don't think it'll end up getting 14, but it'll get at least 12 and it'll probably get 13. It is a monster of a league where every game a team can lose. And I think when you look at Auburn, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, etc. You have nine teams that could make the Final Four. It's an unbelievable Texas A and M. It's an unbelievable league.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah. I've never seen anything like this and I've covered college basketball for 18 years. So now, now there isn't a Patrick Ewing, Anthony Davis kind of, you know, led team at the top. But in terms of depth, this is remarkable. I mean, the, the quote unquote bad teams in the sec, Arkansas, Texas and South Carolina all have guys who could be lottery picks. Like, I don't think I've ever seen anything like that. So.
Matt Jones
Okay, Oklahoma has Jeremiah fears another one? That's.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, it could be. It could be obviously a top 10 pick as well. So the fact that the teams that have maybe the top NBA prospects in this league or at the bottom of this league is really all you need to know about how strong it is. I also think the whole sec, football SC basketball league, this is what the SEC used to be in football in terms of coaches, the best coaches in college basketball are in the sec and that used to be the case in football. And I think.
Matt Jones
Well, let's go through those coaches for a minute because it is. I agree with you. This is the best coaches in the SEC maybe of my lifetime. You've got Bruce Pearl, Nate Oates, John Calipari, Chris Beard, Mark Pope, Rick Barnes, and then young guys that have huge potential like Todd Golden, Mike White. What's the guy's name at Missouri?
Myron Metcalf
Dennis Gates.
Matt Jones
Turnaround. He's been the, the, the dentist. Dennis Jans, Buzz Williams at Texas A and M. I mean that is a murderer's row group of coaches. And you know, there's used to be, as a Kentucky fan, there were like five coaches in the league that I knew their teams were going to be ill prepared every year. Yeah, I don't think it's like that. I mean, the only one that seems to struggle is lsu, but they've got a dude who won at Murray, so you maybe he'll be able to do a job there. But like it's just. I mean, Dennis Gates at Missouri, they were oh and 18 in conference last year and now they're like 8 and 4. It's crazy.
Myron Metcalf
Again, the coaching is just, it's the greatest pedigree I think in the country. You look at the two team, you know, Arkansas and Oklahoma have struggled in this league. They have two coaches have been in the final four. So I just think the coaching is unmatched. And you talk to coaches in that league and they'll tell you there are good teams at the bottom of the SEC that would be contenders in other leagues.
Matt Jones
Well, South Carolina, South Carolina's not won a game. But you know what they did in the non conference? They beat a Clemson team that just beat Duke. Yes, right. I mean that's the kind of thing, that's what you see. Oklahoma was undefeated in the non conference. Undefeated including beating a Louisville team that's in second place in the acc. I mean it is unbelievable. And then yesterday we got a game that is a historic game. Auburn and Alabama, first win over an AP top two team for Auburn since 1988 when they beat Kentucky. I watched all of this game. It was in Tuscaloosa and Auburn basically led from start to finish. I mean, Alabama at one point tied it up, but pretty much Auburn led the whole game. Is in your mind, Auburn the best team in the country?
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, no, I think they pulled away. Their depth is unmatched. Janiyah Broom, you know him and Cooper flag are 1A, 1B, and National Player of the Year. I think Bruce Pearl's probably going to win National Coach of the Year. If not, he'll be right there. And they just have a collection of wins that nobody can match. I mean, they lost a Duke in December, but Duke.
Matt Jones
And they could have won. I mean, they were right there at the end.
Myron Metcalf
I think a lot of people see that, like, on a neutral site. Maybe that's. That's probably a different game, but I just think they have it all, man. Everything you want. I spent, you know, like, a week in Alabama before that game and wrote a piece about it, man. And, like, for Alabama to have two of the best teams in America, that's all you need to know about how college basketball is changing in this new era.
Matt Jones
I have spent a lifetime watching bad SEC games in basketball. Like, that has been my life. Is. I'm. Yeah, I'm an SEC guy, and I always felt like I was the one person in the south that cared more about basketball than football. And it is also crazy to me, Myron, to see how these SEC arenas are embracing college basketball. How many people are at these games? Let's just go through it. Kentucky's always had a huge crowd, but now you get 20,000 people at the Tennessee games. That Auburn, Alabama environment yesterday was one of the best environments. I don't think the Alabama fans sat down the entire game. They were into it the entire game. Auburn has an amazing environment when it's rock in Florida. Ole Miss and Mississippi State this year are producing amazing environments. Missouri, Arkansas has actually struggled with their environment this year, but historically has had great ones. It seems like to me, the fans have bought in on basketball in a way. Myron, I don't think that they ever have in the years prior to this.
Myron Metcalf
No. And I've been almost all the arenas in the sec. I think I'm missing a few. But, you know, to watch it this year, it's just different. I went to my first Auburn game a couple weeks ago. How?
Matt Jones
Awesome environment. Awesome environment.
Myron Metcalf
That's like the perfect new arena, right? If you're not a Kentucky or Tennessee, you should build what Auburn has and.
Matt Jones
Like, nine or ten thousand people, very nice, packed in people overhanging the court. It is the best. It is the best small environment at school that I know of.
Myron Metcalf
The noise is right on top of you. But then they win this game. They played Oklahoma, and right away the kids went and camped out for their next game against Florida. I mean, they were camped out for a week ahead of this game. That stuff that happens at Kentucky and Duke and places like that, it doesn't happen at Auburn. But I think what. What the SEC has done is. To your point, what we're seeing is when the passion of SEC fans in general transfers to another sport. Because it's always been there. Now we're just seeing it in basketball in ways that we've always seen it for football.
Matt Jones
It's always been there for football and it's been there for a handful of sport, a handful of teams in baseball. Right. Mississippi State, lsu, Arkansas, sometimes Tennessee. But now it's for every sport and it's in basketball. So let me ask you this. I have the theory the SEC basketball is replacing ACC basketball. That what we think of as the ACC for the last 30 years will now be the SEC and Duke will become the Kentucky of the ACC, where they're good, and then there might be one or two other teams. But I actually think the SEC is the new ACC in basketball. Do you think that's. That's plausible?
Myron Metcalf
It's not crazy. I mean, at all. Because, you know, what the SEC has is not just the coaching. And the ACC once had the best coaches, the talent. The ACC had the best talent. It's also the NBA guys that are coming out of the sec, which is fascinating. Like, if you're a high school kid just watching college basketball, the SEC is probably where you'd want to end up in terms of development and competition. And that was always the acc. So that's not a crazy idea, especially with the way college basketball's changing.
Matt Jones
I think it is. Last question. There are people out there who claim that winning the SEC tournament this year could be harder than winning the NCAA tournament.
Myron Metcalf
Yes.
Matt Jones
Any validity to that?
Myron Metcalf
100%. And I tell you what, man, like, somebody's going to get beat up in that SEC tournament, like to win that. What does that mean for you in the NCAA Tournament? Because I think there's an argument to be made you may cut down the nets at the SEC tournament, but the fatigue that that's going to take. Like, I know a lot of coaches, Matt, who will look at the conference tournament and go, give me two games and then let me rest ahead of selection Sunday and get ready for the tournament. This could be one of those events where the winner of the SEC tournament is just so beaten up that going to the postseason.
Matt Jones
Let's use Auburn. If the SEC tournament started today, can I give you Auburn's path to the title? Yeah. They would have to beat Kentucky in the first round, Florida in the second round Alabama in the championship.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah. That's crazy.
Matt Jones
I mean, that's crazy. That is. Those are all teams that were Amongst the top 10 seeds yesterday in the NCAA. Auburn would have to beat all three of them.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah.
Matt Jones
To win the SEC tournament. That's. That's crazy. That is absolutely crazy because. And they are the number one overall seat now. Coming up next, have we seen the last game played of one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time? And what about one of the greatest tight ends of all time? Is he gone, too? We will give you the future of Aaron Rodgers. Travis Kelsey. That's Next here on ESPN Radio.
Myron Metcalf
Welcome to 2025 NFL Draft on ESPN Radio.
ESPN Hockey Commentator
The NFL Draft is now live from.
Myron Metcalf
Historic Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
ESPN Hockey Commentator
With the first pick.
Myron Metcalf
It all begins with round one, the Tennessee Titans select Thursday, April 24th on ESPN Radio, ESPN and on ABC.
National University Ad
This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever find yourself playing the budgeting game?
Matt Jones
Well, with the name your price tool.
ESPN Hockey Commentator
From Progressive, you can find options that.
National University Ad
Fit your budget and potentially lower your bills. Try it@progressive.com Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and.
Matt Jones
Affiliates Price and coverage match limited by state law.
National University Ad
Not available in all states.
Matt Jones
Matt and MYRON the podcast ESPN's Adam Schefter reports quarterback Aaron Rodgers is unlikely.
National University Ad
To stay with the Jets.
Matt Jones
Once the jets fired their head coach.
National University Ad
And then fired their general manager or.
Matt Jones
Sh short time later, this became inevitable. And I think they just want a clean slate. So I'm not surprised at all. Think of all the different ways they've.
Myron Metcalf
Tried to get quarterbacks.
Matt Jones
They've tried free agents. They've tried high draft choices. They've tried picking up old guys, young guys, whatever. They're going to have to figure that out this year in a big way. So I take no joy in being correct, Myron, on the prediction of the downfall of Aaron Rod Rogers.
Myron Metcalf
Okay.
Matt Jones
But maybe I take a little joy a lot of. Because he. Because he's. He's the worst. Sunday morning on ESPN Radio, presented by Progressive Insurance. I have to say, if you're a regular listener of this show, Myron, would you say that Aaron Rodgers is my.
Myron Metcalf
Least favorite athlete, maybe a person? Yeah.
Matt Jones
Yeah. Well, I could. I could think of a few, but there's a lot of reasons. I generally have a view that those who combine small intelligence with the thought of large intelligence and then confidence is a terrible combination to me. And to me, Aaron Rodgers is the epitome of that. So the end of Aaron Rodgers felt fitting. First of all, he didn't play great last year. And then they, according to reports, brought him in back to the jets and said, hey, before we even consider you coming back, you have to agree on two things. Things, number one, you'll come to practice, which Myron felt like to be. Not a crazy thing to ask. Right?
Myron Metcalf
No, that's, that's reasonable.
Matt Jones
And then the second thing was you can't be going on Pat McAfee show and talking about how, you know, cheese sandwiches will, will put you in the hospital. Like at some point you have to like. And, and apparently Aaron was like, well, I'm not doing that. And so the Jet said bye. And it is. He's unlikely to remain with the jets, according to Adam Schefter. And at this point you have to wonder if his career will continue. So let's do two of these questions. Question one, Myron, do you agree with the jets that they'd. That it was smart to cut bait after having had the Aaron Rodgers experience?
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, I mean, it was, it was a wasted experience, I would say. I mean, they spent a ton of money. I think it cost him 75 million. You look at all the picks they gave up, all the players they acquired to try to accommodate him and they didn't get anything forward. Right. A handful of wins. So I think, and we talked about this, Matt, you can be weird, quirky, polarizing athlete as long as you're really good. Like, if you're really good, you get to do that and people look the other way. People, people don't even call you polarizing. They call you. He's just different. Right. That's what they say about you.
Matt Jones
Quirky.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, quirky. But the minute you are more polarizing than you are excellent, that's when you got to recognize and you got to tone it down. And Aaron Rodgers never did that. So all of a sudden the things that made him likable, relatable to certain people, all of a sudden it's like, dude, now you're just the weird old dude in a locker room full of 20 somethings and you're not helping them win. And I think that's what's going to make it hard for him.
Matt Jones
When your level of distraction outweighs your level of success.
Myron Metcalf
Yep, you're out.
Matt Jones
You're out. You know what I call that? I call that the Bobby Knight principle.
Myron Metcalf
That's a good one.
Matt Jones
The moment. The moment your distraction. I mean, Indiana didn't get rid of Bobby Knight because they all of a sudden grew morality. They got rid of Bobby Knight because he wasn't good enough to put up with the nonsense anymore. And that's Aaron Rodgers, that he's not good enough to put up with the nonsense. Now, Courtney Cronin was on Best Week Ever, said that Aaron Rodgers should be the backup on the Bears. I love you, Courtney, but no way. Like no way do you bring that toxicity to a rookie. Now second year quarterback. He has reached the level for vastly different reasons. I think this happened to Tim Tebow and it actually wasn't Tim Tebow's fault.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah.
Matt Jones
The distraction made it to where even if he was deserving to be a backup, it's just too much. And I think for different reasons, Myron, it's become that with Aaron Rodgers as well.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah. There was a stretch where you said, okay, Aaron Rodgers is going to have a bigger spotlight after retirement maybe than he even does in the NFL. Like it was all there for him to walk into the sunset and have this great life after football. And now I don't know what you do with Aaron Rodgers. I don't think you can sign up.
Matt Jones
I know what you do. He'll be like on a. Be like on the Joe Rogan podcast network. No, but that's what he's gonna do. That's all he can do.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, but I don't think, I mean, there's already a Joe Rogan. Like to me, he's a guy and this happens to people in his position. He lacks self awareness. Right. So he can't see who he really is. But now everyone else is gonna go, wait a minute, you don't want to put Aaron Rodgers with your young guy because as a backup that doesn't work. Aaron Rodgers is not gonna work as a backup. And guess what? All the attention is going to be on your backup instead of the guy that you're trying to develop into a start in this league. So I think he's just put himself in the same spot that for other reasons Brett Favre put himself in down the road, like you get this far was good.
Matt Jones
Down the road. At the very end, Farre still had moments. Now, he did have distractions that made him not worth the moments, but at least he had some moments. Aaron Rodgers in these two years hasn't even had the moments.
Myron Metcalf
Yes, but yeah, just in terms of the distractions. Right. And I don't think any team should sign him because I don't think it's.
Matt Jones
Do you think anybody will?
Myron Metcalf
Yes, because, you know, I mean, you do actually.
Matt Jones
Why?
Myron Metcalf
Because the NFL can't help itself. Like, there's.
Matt Jones
He hasn't Been good. If I thought he had even been kind of good, I would understand, but he hasn't been good.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, but the NFL can't help itself, man. Someone will give him a shot, and we'll say, all right, is there a.
Matt Jones
Team you think of that would do it?
Myron Metcalf
He's going to say that he'll be a backup. Right. So, I mean, I think there are a number of teams that'll say, okay.
Matt Jones
But would you want him to be your back?
Myron Metcalf
No.
Matt Jones
Can you imagine? Can you? I mean, let me give you an example. I don't want to name names, although I do, but I also don't want people to get mad at me. So there are certain people in life.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah.
Matt Jones
That cannot be the second fiddle.
Myron Metcalf
Yep.
Matt Jones
Right. They just. They can't. They don't have it in them to be the second fiddle. And that's not like Howard Stern can never be the second person on a show.
Myron Metcalf
Yes.
Matt Jones
Right. He's always going to have to be the first. There are people at ESPN that. That is like, they can't be second ever. Isn't Aaron Rodgers. He can't be second on anything.
Myron Metcalf
No. And the problem is he would make himself first in terms of attention.
Matt Jones
Yes.
Myron Metcalf
I'll give you. I'll give you an example. So when Kevin Ali led UConn to that national championship run, Jim Calhoun was just kind of hanging around. Right. The former UConn coach. And I remember Matt before the national championship, all of a sudden, Jim Calhoun, like, has a press conference, and Kevin Ali is, like, off to the side. And there are more reporters around Jim Calhoun than the guy who's the actual head coach. And that's what you run into with Aaron Rodgers. Aaron Rodgers is going to get more buzz than the guy that you're saying is your number one quarterback. And that, to me, would create a really difficult environment in the locker room.
Matt Jones
In a team sport, especially football, I mean, football is very unique in the sense that the quarterback is the personality. It's like a band. The lead singer is the personality, no matter what, whether they want to be or not. Right. The quarterback is the personality. And you cannot have, like, the understudy of the play be the biggest star. It'd be like if you were trying to put on A Chorus Line on Broadway and the lead stinger was the thing, and then the backup was like, Meryl Streep.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah.
Matt Jones
You can't do that, because everybody's gonna want the backup or want to hear what they say, and it just. It just doesn't work.
Myron Metcalf
But here's the thing Aaron Rodgers will convince someone that he can beat him, that but he can't be so they'll give him a chop based on he's going to play the I'm ready to help the next generation card and within a matter of days of him being in training camp, you're going to realize that that's not the case.
Matt Jones
Let me say this to my Bears don't even think about it. Like, don't even think about it. Like we have a new coach. We have a quarterback that I still believe in. Don't even fathom putting that toxicity into the room. That shouldn't even be something you consider. Plus he crushed us for 15 years.
Myron Metcalf
That wouldn't work in Chicago. I think Chicago would fight that. The whole city.
Matt Jones
They should. Aaron Rodgers is the worst and he is getting the karma from football. I don't mean life. Like I don't want bad things to happen to him. But in, in terms of football, he's getting what he deserves and the league should just let him go out to pasture. That would be the best thing for everybody. At least in my opinion. The best thing for us is one last visit with Herm Edwards before the end of the season. That's next on ESPN Radio. Hey, it's your resident super bowl champ Chris Kennedy.
Myron Metcalf
Coming up Monday, NBA All Star Weekend.
Matt Jones
Huge college basketball matchups and I'll react.
Myron Metcalf
To it all in my upon further review. At 7:00am Eastern, it's on Sports for Life weekday mornings at 6 right here.
Matt Jones
On ESPN Radio Radio, ESPN2 and ESPNU.
Myron Metcalf
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 SiriusXM Channel 80.
National University Ad
Matt and Myron the Podcast alright, let me ask you something. Ever feel like you're juggling at all? Work, family responsibilities and still trying to keep your eye on the ball? Yeah, you're in Ander and National University gets the hustle. That's why they have flexible online classes and support services for folks who are balancing jobs and kids and everything in between. If you're ready to take the next step, National University can help you level up your education and score your goals. Check them out at NU EDU to learn more.
Podcast Summary: Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron
Episode: Hour 1: Saturday Fight Night
Release Date: February 16, 2025
Hosts: Myron Metcalf and Matt Jones
Platform: ESPN Radio, ESPN App, SiriusXM Channel 80
1. Introduction to a Jam-Packed Weekend
Matt Jones and Myron Metcalf kick off the episode by highlighting the multitude of significant sports events happening over the weekend. Matt lists six major topics:
Notable Quote:
Matt Jones [00:35]: "It's one of the bigger sports weekends of the year, if you're just talking about how many different events are going on at once."
2. Deep Dive into the Four Nations Face-Off in Hockey
The hosts delve into the unique format of the Four Nations Face-Off involving USA, Canada, Sweden, and Finland. They discuss the unprecedented start to the game with three fights in the first nine seconds, highlighting player rivalries and the international tension reflected on the ice.
Key Points:
Notable Quotes:
Myron Metcalf [03:35]: "It's just fascinating to watch."
Matt Jones [14:25]: "Three fights in nine seconds. There hadn't been a fight in an international NHL tournament since 2004."
3. Spotlight on Mac McClung and the Dunk Contest
Matt enthusiastically discusses Mac McClung’s historic performance in the dunk contest, where he became the first player to win three consecutive times, tying with Nate Robinson. They explore McClung’s unique role in rejuvenating the event and his cultural impact.
Key Points:
Notable Quotes:
Myron Metcalf [07:35]: "Matt McClung is the only thing making the dunk contest relevant."
Matt Jones [08:11]: "Do you think part of his appeal is he's this little country white boy and he does it?"
4. NBA All-Star Weekend and New Game Format
The conversation shifts to the NBA All-Star Weekend, emphasizing the league’s experimentation with a new game format involving three teams of eight players each, including a rising stars team. They debate the potential success and challenges of this revamped approach.
Key Points:
Notable Quotes:
Matt Jones [10:17]: "How many people do you think out there realize what the format is for this game tonight?"
Myron Metcalf [10:45]: "Anthony Edwards is in the game and I bet he doesn't know."
5. College Basketball’s SEC Dominance
A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to the explosive performance of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in college basketball. The hosts laud the depth, coaching excellence, and passionate fan bases, suggesting that the SEC might be surpassing the traditional powerhouse, the ACC.
Key Points:
Notable Quotes:
Matt Jones [26:48]: "The SEC this year is the best basketball league regular season in the history of college basketball."
Myron Metcalf [27:11]: "I've never seen anything like this and I've covered college basketball for 18 years."
6. Discussion on the SEC Tournament’s Difficulty
Matt and Myron analyze the potential challenges of winning the SEC tournament, arguing that it might be more arduous than winning the NCAA tournament due to the high caliber of competition within the conference.
Key Points:
Notable Quotes:
Myron Metcalf [34:23]: "100%... somebody's going to get beat up in that SEC tournament."
Matt Jones [35:14]: "That would have to beat Kentucky in the first round, Florida in the second round, Alabama in the championship. That's crazy."
7. Critique of Aaron Rodgers and the New NFL Landscape
The conversation takes a critical turn as Matt and Myron discuss Aaron Rodgers’ tumultuous tenure with the New York Jets. They express skepticism about his future in the NFL, citing personality clashes and perceived distractions outweighing his on-field contributions.
Key Points:
Notable Quotes:
Matt Jones [36:35]: "Matt and MYRON the podcast ESPN's Adam Schefter reports quarterback Aaron Rodgers is unlikely [to stay with the Jets]."
Myron Metcalf [38:54]: "If you're really good, you get to do that and people look the other way. But Aaron Rodgers never did that."
Matt Jones [40:03]: "You're out. You know what I call that? I call that the Bobby Knight principle."
8. Closing Remarks and Upcoming Topics
Matt and Myron wrap up by teasing upcoming discussions, including the future of legendary NFL players and ongoing developments in college basketball. They reiterate the significance of the SEC’s basketball prowess and tease their next topics on ESPN Radio.
Notable Quote:
Matt Jones [46:35]: "Thanks for listening to Matt and Myron the Podcast."
Conclusion
This episode of "Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron" offers an engaging analysis of a diverse array of sports topics, from the electrifying atmosphere of international hockey fights to the transformative rise of the SEC in college basketball. The hosts provide insightful commentary, supported by notable quotes and timestamps, making the podcast a valuable listen for sports enthusiasts seeking in-depth discussions and expert opinions.