Hour 2: Beard Talk

Summary

Podcast Summary: Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron

Hosts: Matt Jones & Myron Medcalf
Episode: Hour 2: Beard Talk
Date: February 4, 2026

---

Overview

In this fast-paced and witty episode, Matt and Myron serve up their trademark blend of sports analysis, playful banter, and whimsical detours. The main subjects: breaking NFL news, the Westminster Dog Show cult, the notorious Luka Doncic trade, rising tennis star Carlos Alcaraz, the need for kindness in sports, NHL expansion, and, as promised, an extended and hilarious foray into the world of hairpieces and beard envy.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Bill Belichick "Snub" & Hall of Fame Party

Timestamps: 00:32–02:39

• Matt shares breaking news of Jordan Hudson, Bill Belichick’s partner, throwing a “huge bash” for him since he was snubbed from the Hall of Fame.
• Matt suggests, tongue-in-cheek, that Hudson’s party “will be more fun than the Canton, Ohio hall of Fame party.”
• Myron questions who would attend and whether Belichick had any say, humorously doubting the appeal (“If I have a big disappointment… I don’t know that I want to come to a party…” – 01:54).
• They riff on the awkwardness of “celebrating” someone’s letdown.

2. Inside the Dog Show World

Timestamps: 02:39–07:14

• Two callers, Mo from North Carolina and Bill from Cincinnati, weigh in on dog shows.
• Mo reveals dog shows are like a “cult” (03:05), sharing an anecdote about the highly specific and sometimes absurd standards for show dogs.
• “We had a dog called a Saluki…the dumbest dog on the face of the planet. Did not even know his name.” – Mo (04:03)
• Matt and Myron riff: “There are dumb dogs, sir. Don’t you agree?” (04:36)
• Bill likens dog show culture to show horses or timeshares, where handlers and stylists may “own” the dog more than the family does (06:43).
• Key Quote: “It’s like the people that drink coffee with the pinky up. Every one of them…” – Bill (07:07)

3. Re-evaluating the Luka Doncic Trade

Timestamps: 07:47–11:44

• One year after the controversial trade, Matt and Myron debate its legacy:
  • Matt: Wonders if the deal looks better given the Mavericks now have Cooper Flag and Anthony Davis (“…if you’re judging just the end result… I don’t think it’s as crazy as people act.” – 10:02)
  • Myron: Still adamantly calls it “the worst trade in the history of sports” (08:25), refusing to absolve Dallas even with Flag’s emergence.
• They dissect the importance of money in rookie deals, Luka’s future and work ethic (“You can’t give up a guy who’s the only player in the history of the league to be All-NBA first team five times by the age of 25.” – Myron, 11:00).

4. Rapid-Fire Sunday Headlines

Timestamps: 13:19–21:26

• Carlos Alcaraz completes the Career Grand Slam at 22, beating Djokovic. Matt notes he’s “not even 23” and laments how few Americans know him (14:05).
• Rick Barnes’ (Tennessee basketball head coach) joke about betting: “Sometimes I wonder my guys are betting on games. I shouldn’t say that…” (16:17)
  • Myron is critical: “You can’t say that…there was just a big scandal in the sport.” (16:46)
  • Playful banter follows about “offensive” slip-ups by older coaches, with Matt giving Barnes a pass for his age.
• NFL appoints “Chief Kindness Officer” Dhar Mann:
  • Both struggle to imagine what the job entails.
  • Matt: “It sounds like one of those made-up jobs that HR does after there’s been some sort of scandal…” (19:10)
  • They imagine NFL stars in Sesame Street-style PSA content (20:08).

5. NHL/Boxing/Wrestling & Pop Culture Crossover

Timestamps: 24:22–36:59

• Guest Art Ocal joins to discuss the NHL Stadium Series taking place in Tampa (with Miami previously hosting). Art explains how they built a refrigerated tent to preserve the ice, ironically, on a day with unexpected cold weather (27:09).
• Olympic Hockey: USA seen as a genuine contender for gold. Art details increasing global hockey competitiveness and the expanding NHL fanbase in southern states.
• Gary Bettman’s legacy: Ocal gives credit for NHL expansion, especially into non-traditional markets (31:02).
• Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia: Matt expresses disappointment with the event’s energy; Ocal offers production & cultural context. Brief speculation on wrestling “mystery men.”
• Star Wars detour: Discussion of how “Andor” can be enjoyed as a standalone show.

6. The Hilarious Beard & Hairpiece Segment

Timestamps: 39:06–46:22

• Matt gleefully relays the viral moment from boxing: Jerrell “Big Baby” Miller’s toupee flying off mid-fight, landing in the stands (40:30).
• Myron muses: “Do you carry glue with you?… Are you told, ‘you probably shouldn’t go into a boxing ring with this hairpiece’?”
• Both share fascination with modern hairpiece technology. Matt lauds Bill Self (Kansas basketball coach) as “the best hairpiece in sports” (42:33).
• Highlight: Myron confesses a dream of getting a beard hairpiece:
  • “As someone who’s looked at hairpieces for the beard…I want to…I’ve always been jealous of people with beards. And I want 2026 to be the year where I get one.” (43:28)
  • Matt is stunned: “You’ve considered getting a beard hairpiece?” (43:51)
  • Myron describes talking to his barber, trying (unsuccessfully) hair-growth products, including Beyoncé’s (!) hair kit: “I spent a lot of money on them to try to get a beard going.” (45:18)
  • Matt: “You bought Beyoncé beard hair products? They’re expensive? Did they work?” (45:11–45:35)
  • Myron, undeterred, doubles down: “I want a beard. When I walk in the room, everybody stops talking… That’s the impact I want to have, when I walk into a room.” (45:59)
• Matt: “That’s the stupidest thing that I’ve ever heard in my entire life.”

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Dog Shows:

  • “We had a saluki…beautiful, absolutely gorgeous dog. Was the dumbest dog on the planet. Did not even know his name.” – Mo (04:03)
  • “There are dumb dogs, sir. Don’t you agree.” – Matt (04:36)

• On the Luka Trade:

  • “Still the worst trade in the history of sports. I mean, you gave up a guy who is a generational talent.” – Myron (08:25)

• On Rick Barnes’ joke:

  • “Sometimes I wonder my guys are betting on games. I shouldn’t say that…” – Rick Barnes via clip (16:17)
  • “You can’t say that. No, you can’t say that. There was just a big scandal in the sport.” – Myron (16:46)

• On kindness in the NFL:

  • “I think this show needs a Chief Kindness Officer because Myron can be really rude to me sometimes…” – Matt (19:10)
  • “Is he reading books to people?” – Myron, on the job description (19:59)

• On Star Wars’ iconic line:

  • “It’s also one of the most misquoted… the actual line is ‘No, I am your father.’” – Art Ocal (25:56)

• On beard envy:

  • “You’ve looked at hairpieces for the beard. You’ve considered getting a beard hairpiece?” – Matt (43:51)
  • “Yeah, I want a beard hairpiece. I can’t grow a beard… I want to walk into a room, and people just see me.” – Myron (43:51–44:23)
  • “[I] spent a lot of money on [Beyoncé’s products] to try to get a beard going.” – Myron (45:18)

---

Timestamps for Big Segments

• Bill Belichick party: 00:32–02:39
• Dog Show callers: 02:39–07:14
• Luka Doncic trade debate: 07:47–11:44
• Headlines (Alcaraz, Barnes, Kindness Officer): 13:19–21:26
• NHL, Olympics, Wrestling, Star Wars: 24:22–36:59
• Viral toupee moment & beard talk: 39:06–46:22

---

Tone & Style

The episode is conversational, irreverent, and playful, with Matt and Myron’s chemistry shining through well-paced ribbing and good-natured (sometimes absurd) tangents. There’s insightful sports commentary, but the real energy comes from their willingness to dive deep into “cult” dog shows, coach hairpieces, and Myron’s beard aspirations, all with infectious humor.

---

Perfect for listeners who want:

• Sports talk without ego or pretension
• Authentic on-air chemistry and unscripted laughs
• Tangents that surprise and entertain, from dog breeds to the science of fake beards

---

Next up: “Toupee Gate.”—The show promises even more on the saga of sports hairpieces and personal grooming confessions.

Transcript

[A]

The world moves fast. Your workday even faster. Pitching products, drafting reports, analyzing data.

[B]

Microsoft 365 Copilot is your AI assistant.

[A]

For work built into Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other Microsoft 365 apps you use, helping you quickly write, analyze, create, and.

[B]

Summarize so you can cut through clutter and clear a path to your best work. Learn [e-mail] M365 copilot this is Matt and Myron.

[A]

The podcast. Have some breaking news here, Myron, before we get back to the dogs and Paul George Luca trade Super Bowl. But I got the biggest news of the morning just coming in from the New York Post. Jordan Hudson is planning a, quote, huge bash for Bill Belichick on the same day as the hall of Fame ceremony to celebrate him since he was snubbed from the HAL hall of Fame. What do you think about that? How's that for a woman standing up for her man, throwing a party, saying, we don't need your Super Bowl. We got the Jordan Hudson. Excuse me. Hall of Fame. We got the Jordan Hudson hall of Fame.

[B]

Yeah, Bill, this was supposed to be your moment, but let's make it mine, is what I see. But, you know, you do whatever you want to do. You know, I wonder who's going to show up to the party. Like, who. Who's going to be there?

[A]

People show up. You don't think that's nice, like, he's getting snubbed so you make sure he has his own party instead.

[B]

Matt, you think Belichick had any, anything to do with any planning? He was just told to show up to Jordan Hudson's party. She just wants to throw a party, and this just gave her an opportunity.

[A]

Can I make the argument that Jordan Hudson's party will be more fun than the Canton, Ohio hall of Fame party?

[B]

It'd be more fun if Bill Belichick were in it like he was supposed to be. I mean, I don't know that I want somebody if I have a big disappointment in life and I miss out on some opportunity I really wanted. I, I don't know that I want to come to a party where everyone's like, I know you didn't get the thing you've always dreamed of, but we're going to have a party to make you remember that you're supposed to get what you wanted today, but you did it. Like, I just, I'd want to be left alone. If I were Belichick, I would tell.

[A]

You if I would come to your party to celebrate you not being entered into The Journalist hall of Fame. I would come because I'm supportive of you, just like Jordan Hudson seemingly is supportive of Bill. But.

[B]

But I wouldn't come. I mean, that's the thing. Y' all be partying by yourselves because I don't want to go to party.

[A]

So we were talking. The Westminster Dog show is this week. Mo in North Carolina apparently has judged shows like this. Go ahead, Mo.

[C]

No, no, not judged. I got roped into the cult, though. My first wife wanted a show dog, and so we got a show dog. Hey, Matt, before I tell you about the dogs, the comic you were referencing early as Beetle Bailey.

[A]

Yeah, we made. We got there. Now, what about the show?

[C]

Okay, so the. So the dogs are judged against predetermined standards. Each breed has a predetermined set of standards. How tall he is, how big his shoulders are. His ear has to come down to a certain point and da, da, da, da, da. So all of this stuff is predetermined. Now, the guy who judges them, that's. He's like the guy y' all were talking about earlier when he called an offensive foul in a. In a college game. He's just as much of the show as the dog is. And so when he, you know, gets up there and he checks. Yeah, he checks his mouth and he checks his ears and holds his ears up. Holds the dog's tail up and stuff like that. But trust me when I tell you it's a. It's a cult, guys.

[B]

So did that. Did that in the first marriage? Hold on. You said your first wife. Did that. Did that affect the first marriage?

[A]

Wife, yeah.

[C]

Did it affect that? That. That was not the. That was not the cause of it. But we had a. We had a dog that's called a saluki, which is the fastest running dog in the world. Beautiful. Absolutely gorgeous dog. Was the dumbest dog on the face of the planet. Did not even know his name. Did not even know his name.

[B]

Sure. This didn't play a role because I think if you talk about. She's in the cult of dogs and you're calling this dog dumb. I don't. That probably didn't help, right?

[C]

Or you had to be around the dog. The dog was an idiot.

[A]

See, that's exactly right.

[B]

Myron.

[A]

Are trying to say there are dumb dogs. There are dumb dogs, sir. Don't you agree.

[C]

Dog?

[A]

Oh, we lost him.

[C]

Grew no inch out of standard and he was no longer welcome in the dog shows. Could not gain any more points.

[B]

So your first.

[A]

Yeah, well, here. I appreciate the call. This is Why I appreciate dog show. I'm anti dog show because they have a standard and if you don't meet it, then you're not considered worthy. That's not how I believe we should treat our human beings, Byron, or our dogs.

[B]

And the thing I'm against is people not telling the full divorce story. Right. I don't think that saying we were in a cult and we had a dumb dog helped your situation if your wife was really into it. That's all I'm saying. Like, give me, give me the full story on that. I don't think we got that.

[A]

Let's do one more bill in Cincinnati. Go Bill.

[C]

Bill, is that you on a BlackBerry? Yeah. So out of Saint. Yeah, I had a Saint Bernard and I just was taking him for a walk after running down to grab some groceries from the store. And I had a guy who actually does judge these AKC dog shows. And my dog was about 6 months old and he stopped me flat dead on a dime and said, your dog's beautiful. You should, you should think about showing him all this stuff. And it's kind of intriguing the way he was talking about it. And he invited me to a show and. And then when I got there, I realized it's not necessarily a cult. It's like the dog version of if you own show horses. Like you gotta hire a handler. You have to have hairstylist for this dog. And it's like hairstyles and I mean you invest hundreds of thousand dollars. And I'm looking at my, my wife now girlfriend at the time, I'm like, I'm. What? This is, this is insane. He's just money.

[A]

So you're telling me, you're telling me like dog shows are a little bit like, you know, they're a little bit like timeshares. Like it's something that once you get into it, you can't get out of it and cost you a lot of money.

[C]

You know how you have like, like people that breed this, like the specific breeds. Once you have a breeding dog, that's what it's there for. It's there to be a. The bread and make you money. And that's what it is. You show the dog to win prize money just like you have show horses. It is crazy. That's why I told you guy when he answered the phone. It's like the people that drink coffee with the pinky up. Every one of them, they have a. They're not own the dog, but it's not their dog anymore. It's the handler's Dog.

[A]

All right, well, I appreciate the call I got you. So you're saying they're. They're. They're pinky ups people. I understand that.

[B]

Well, when he mentions horses, Matt, I gotta say, I remember the first time I drove from Lovell to Lexington.

[A]

Right.

[B]

And I don't know the name of that road, but it's that road with all the ranches with the horses.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I didn't realize that there was that kind of investment in horses until I did that. And it was sort of eye opening. When you see that this is just a different level. And I'm sure the dog culture is a lot like that.

[A]

Pretty much all the best horses in America are bred in Kentucky. And yeah, that's what we. That's what we do. But do dogs are stupid now. It's been one year since the. It's been one year since the Luca trade. It was one year ago yesterday when we all heard. I was actually on the air doing a post game show that Luca had been traded. And a year later, that trade has worked out for the Lakers, not really worked out for the Mavs, although they did get Cooper Flag. Something that people always, always skip over. How do you look at this trade? One year later, still the worst trade.

[B]

In the history of sports. I mean, you gave up a guy who is a generational talent. And again, I think the one thing I hate about.

[A]

For Anthony Davis and Cooper Flag.

[B]

Yeah, what I. What I hate about it is Anthony Davis got caught up in this and, you know, people kind of knocked his legacy as a result. I don't think that's fair to him. Cooper flag is an incredible talent. Maybe he's a generational talent. One day we'll find out. But you still can't give up a guy like Luca, a guy who helped you get to the finals a year ago, a year previous.

[A]

Question. Let me ask you a question right now. If you were to go to teams in the NBA tomorrow and you were say, okay, you can have one of these two people on your roster for the next decade. Luca, Cooper Flag. Who they. Who they take?

[B]

Luca?

[A]

Are they Cooper Flag making rookie money? You don't. You think they're definitely taking.

[B]

I don't know. I mean, when you get into the money, I don't know how to do all that. Like, I know you're big on, like, the money matters.

[A]

The money matters.

[B]

Yeah, but. But I think, again, Luca's a guy because he's been in the league so long, you think he's 29, 30, 31. He's 26. Like I'm taking Luke, but he's not.

[A]

All right, I'm, I'm, I'm probably taking Luca, but I don't think it's crazy. Now, granted, when he made that deal, they didn't know they were going to get Cooper Flag. So it's a. So, like, if you're trying to judge the deal from the GM standpoint, I still think it's a disaster. But if you're judging just the end result, would I rather be the Mavs with Cooper Flag and that asset of Anthony Davis, which I think they'll eventually trade, or Luca? I don't think it's as crazy as people act like it's just not. Now, again, you. They didn't know they were going to get Cooper Flag, so that's not to absolve him of the decision to do it. But once, now that it's been done. Cooper Flag and Anthony Davis or Luca, I mean, yeah, I don't, I don't think it's as crazy. I really don't.

[B]

But part of it for you is you were one of the guys who said you don't sign a guy like Luca to a max deal if he's not in shape. Like, that was a big part. Like you, you, you questions work ethic.

[A]

I think you have to do it. But I do question his work ethic.

[B]

Yes, but I think this year has proven. And you watch how he came in in the off season, he clearly has a different dedication. But.

[A]

But we're not even the all Star Game yet. But we're not even.

[B]

Yeah, but you can't, but you can't give up a guy who's the only player in the history of the league to be all NBA first team five times by the age of 25.

[A]

Really, for anybody.

[B]

I mean, that's the thing.

[A]

But. But the Lakers still are not going to win anything this year. And I just, you know, I wonder where in three years. In three years, I'd rather have Cooper Flag than Luca. This year I'd rather have Luca, but I still think long term, it wouldn't be crazy to prefer to have Cooper Flag. We're going to do some headlines. Also, the NBA Action Tonight Knicks host the Lakers, presented by. Indeed. Coverage begins at 6:30 Eastern on ESPN radio. We'll do some headlines. That's next.

[D]

As you know, managing maintenance, repair and operations is never easy. But for the ones who always rise to the challenge, Grainger has your back. From professional grade products you can count on to fast, dependable delivery, they're there to help you keep things running smoothly. Plus, their technical product specialists are here to help answer your toughest questions. And because Grainger knows safety is always a priority, they're committed to being your partner in protecting both your people and your facilities. Call 1-800-GRAINGER, click grainger.com or just stop by.

[C]

All right, here's some breaking breakfast news as we start the new year. Everybody's talking resolutions, eating better, staying on track, and this one's actually easy. Kodiak frozen power waffles and flapjacks are a quick win, heat and eat. No prep, no excuses. They're packed with 12 to 14 grams of protein per serving, a good source of fiber and crafted with 100% whole grains, not refined white flour. You have plenty of options, too. Classic buttermilk and vanilla blueberry chocolate chip, even gluten free. And it doesn't stop there. They've expanded their roster the to include French toast sticks, flapjack puffs, and brand new breakfast sandwiches. So whatever your game plan is, there's something that fits. Breakfast that works. Snacks that work. Resolution friendly. Find Kodiak frozen waffles and flapjacks in the frozen aisle at your local grocery store. They're the ones with the bear on the box and a proud partner of U.S. ski and Snowboard.

[B]

Matt and Myron the Podcast.

[A]

It's Matt Myron here on ESPN ra, presented by Progressive Insurance. And we are ready to go. It is Headlines. This is all the news need to know. We call them Sunday headlines. Extra, extra.

[B]

The Sunday headlines.

[A]

All right, James, let me know what's happening in the world because I haven't gotten to read the paper.

[B]

All right, let's start here first. Carlos Alcaraz is the youngest man ever to complete a career Grand Slam after beating Novak Djokovic, who had never lost in his 10 previous finals at Melbourne Park. Alcaraz is 22 years and 272 days old.

[A]

Pretty amazing. He's won the career grand slam and he's not even 23. Young guy. I mean, the amount of guys have won the career grand slam. I think he's like the 11th, but I don't feel like he gets nearly the attention he should. I mean, in America, I think there's a lot of people who still don't even know Carlos Alcaraz is wins today. It was in the middle of the night in America, so it makes it harder for people to know. But are you a Carlos Alcaraz guy?

[B]

Yeah, I mean, I was. I was a Carlos Alcaraz guy when he beat Nadal you know, a couple of years ago, and that kind of started this run. I think more people will know him over time because it feels like whenever Joker retires, he's going to be the guy. And it also is a very competitive landscape. So I think it's a good thing for the sport that they have sort of a young face to lead the next generation.

[A]

Well, he. He's already. I mean, he and center are already the two best players. Yokovic, Djokovic actually upset Sinner in the semifinals.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

First time center had lost in a. In a while. Those two guys are going to be tennis for the next five or six years. And I don't. Part of the thing that happens with tennis is like. And this is a recent phenomenon, but in the last 15 years, just like a couple guys dominate the sport. It was Federer, Nadal, then it was Nadal, Djokovic, now it's center and Alcaraz. But pretty amazing to be almost 23 and already have the career Grand Slam on all surfaces. Got to give it up to him. He's got a chance if he, if he keeps it up to be one of, if not the best player of all time.

[B]

No. And I think we're so spoiled because it feels like we get one of these guys every 10 years in tennis and he'll win the chance to be the best.

[A]

He'll win the French Open every year for the next decade. Like the other ones. There are guys that can compete with him, but on clay, he's going to be like Nadal. He's going to win every single one of them. So you can guarantee a ton of majors just from the French Open. What's next?

[B]

Yeah, so Tennessee beat Auburn 77 to 69 yesterday, but some of the. Some of the passes Rick Barnes volunteers were throwing yesterday had him wondering about his team. Take a listen to what he said.

[C]

Some of the passes that we throw.

[A]

And I mean, just.

[C]

I don't know what to say other than sometimes I wonder my guys are betting on games. I shouldn't say that, but, you know, that's what Ray said. I don't want to, but I just wonder what's happening. I mean, because I know we're too good of players to do that. Was that a bad. I saw. I apologize. I shouldn't have said that.

[B]

Clearly a joke, but yeah. What do you guys think about that?

[A]

Myron? I like it. Why not?

[B]

You can't say that. You can't say that. No, you can't. No, you can't say that. I mean, real betting stuff is happening investigations and there was just a big scandal in the sport. That's not something you could. You got to take that off the list of things you can joke about in our sport right now.

[A]

I would say how old is, how old is Rick Bard? Is he. Has he reached my 70 plus? See, I think that's the threshold. When you get to be 70, you can't be offensive. But I'm not going to get mad if you like just slip up a little bit. Like if you say something offensive, I'll get mad. But when you're 70 and you're like, oh, well, you know, we were out here betting on games, hehe, I'm sorry. You know, like I'm gonna give him a break. He's made it 70 years. He's Rick Barnes. He coached Kevin Durant. He's never going to go to a Final Four. Let the man make a joke about how his players can't pass and how they must be betting on games. I'm all right with it.

[B]

Listen, I'm a, I'm a Rick Barnes fan. I've done a lot with Rick, hung out with him and.

[A]

But here he goes again. He's always, everybody's always done something with, he's always friends. Like, he can't just go, I like Barnes. Myon has to say, oh, Rick Barnes. Our guys, we used to play World of Warcraft with each other. You can't just, you can't just say Rick Bars. You always have to tell us how you know him.

[B]

Listen, he took me to his favorite Mexican spot in Knoxville. Like I've been, you know, we've hung out so. But he can't say that he did. He did. No, he did. That's the best enchiladas you've ever seen in your life. Best enchiladas you've ever had.

[A]

Like true to Mexico, the best enchiladas.

[B]

You Knoxville great enchiladas.

[A]

Was it next to the world's fairball.

[B]

Incredible enchiladas. That's, that's what I can tell you for sure.

[A]

All right, when you. Ladies and gentlemen, when you would like the best enchilada in America, go to Knoxville, Tennessee.

[B]

I'm not kidding.

[A]

They will have true to form enchiladas. What's next?

[B]

The NFL has named mega popular creator Dhar Mann as the league's chief kindness officer leading up to Super Bowl 20 in 2026. Man who's known for his scripted, wholesome and kind hearted content. It's garnered billions ofviews, has 26 million YouTube subscribers 16 million TikTok followers and 4 million Instagram followers. What do you guys think of a Chief Kindness Officer in the NFL?

[A]

I think this show needs a Chief Kindness officer because Myron can be really rude to me sometimes and it would be nice to have one someone come in and go, as the Chief Kindness Officer, Myron, I think you should be nicer to your compatriots. I don't know what the job entails. It sounds like one of those made up jobs that HR does after there's been like some sort of scandal. You go, okay, well, let's, let's bring in a Chief Kindness officer. I like the idea though, of him going into a locker room, Myron, after a game and asking the players to be kind to each other. I think that would be nice.

[B]

Yeah, like Chief Kindness Officer. I don't know, like, what that actually entails. He likes sort of diffusing situations. Is he like reading books to, to people? Like, I don't really know how that works in the NFL, but I think.

[A]

They'Re going to try to make content online that promotes the kindness of the league.

[B]

Okay, well, yeah, I mean, I want to see it and kind of see what that. Look, it sounds to me that they're going to do a bunch of those Sesame street moments, you know what I mean? Like where they're talking to you like a kid's voice. Kind of like, I feel like we're going to see, you know, Joe Burrow being like, I like candy. You know what I mean? One of those things.

[A]

Jamar Chase is like, kids spell vegetable. Like, I think it's gonna be that kind of thing.

[B]

I think it's gonna be like one of those Sesame street kind of things.

[A]

Well, I, I am for having a Chief Kindness officer. We should do it here at ESPN so that, so that people are nicer to each other. And I would, I could name some people, our co workers who I would like to have go see the Chief Kindness Officer. But I don't want Myron to turn his microphone off because he gets very nervous whenever I do something like that.

[B]

We all need kindness, man. We all need. We all need kindness.

[A]

I'm just saying there are some people, one or two, who could use a cheap.

[B]

But don't name them. Don't even do that. You can't help yourself. You can't help yourself. You just, you don't know how to stop, man. Like, sometimes you got to just stop yourself because you're like a kid who's told no and that you still want to do it like that's, that's where we get into trouble.

[A]

See, you've learned a lot about me. There's a big hockey game today. The Olympics are coming and we roiled, rumbled. That's all coming up next here. I'm Matt Myron on ESPN Radio.

[D]

If you've shopped online, chances are you've bought from a business powered by Shopify. You know that purple shop pay button you see at checkout? The one that makes buying so incredibly easy? That's Shopify. And there's a reason so many businesses sell with it. Because Shopify makes it incredibly easy to start and run your business. Shopify is the commerce platform behind 10% of all e commerce in the US from household names like Mattel and Gymshark to brands just getting started. Shopify gives you a leg up with hundreds of beautiful ready to go templates to express your brand style and forget about the code. Tackle all those important tasks in one place, from inventory to payments to analytics and more. Spread your brand's word with built in marketing and email tools to find and keep new customers. And did I mention that iconic purple Shop pay button that's used by millions of businesses around the world? It's why Shopify is the best converting checkout on the planet. Your customers already love it. If you want to see less carts being abandoned, it's time for you to head over to Shopify. Sign up for your $1 per month trial and start selling today. Shopify.comNetwork Go to shopify.comnetwork shopify.comnetwork watching someone close go through loss really changes your perspective. You see how quickly grief can turn into financial stress, and it's something no family should have to deal with during an already difficult time. Experiences like that make people think differently about planning ahead and protecting the people they love. Life insurance isn't about expecting the worst, it's about being prepared and knowing your family will be supported if something unexpected happens. That's why life insurance through Ethos is worth considering. They make the process fast and easy. Everything is 100% online, so you can get a quote in seconds, apply in minutes, and even get same day coverage. There's no medical exam, just a few simple health questions. You can get up to $3 million in coverage and some policies start as low as $30 a month. As of March 2025, Business Insider named Ethos the 1 no Medical Exam Instant Life Insurance Provider and Ethos has 4.8 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot with over 3,000 reviews. Protect your family with life insurance From Ethos. Now, by going to ethos.com sports in as little as 10 minutes, you can get your free quote and up to $3 million in [e-mail] sports. That's Ethos.com sports. Ethos.com sports application times and rates may vary.

[B]

Matt and Myron, the Podcast.

[A]

It is Matt Myron here on ESPN Radio today in Tampa, Another stadium series, NHL event. The Olympics are coming. And Art Ocal, he's our ESPN NHL and WWE analyst. He also hosts the Never tell Me the Odds podcast. Art, is that a Star wars podcast? I heard?

[C]

It absolutely is. And obviously, ESPN should have a Star wars podcast, and we do one, so natural fit, right? The sports network has a. I know he had one.

[A]

Let me ask you a question. On just the Star wars thing, I. Everyone always says that show andor is really good. Like, really, really good. And I've never seen it without. Can I watch that without having seen, like, clones in my face and all the other Star wars things and understand it?

[C]

Absolutely. It's a standalone show. You would be rewarded if you were a Star wars fan with all of the callbacks and everything. But you don't need to be a Star wars fan. You can pick it up right now having not watched a single second of Star wars. Or maybe you watched the original trilogy 40 years ago. You can watch that show and be entertained. The way I describe it is it is good television, not just good Star Wars. It's very unlike anything we've seen in Star Wars. And honestly, it is a very, very good show.

[A]

Good. All right. Well, I do want to try it.

[B]

Yeah. Is Luke, I'm not your father? Is that the most popular line in movie history? One of.

[A]

Right.

[B]

It's got to be. I mean, look, I am your father. I'm sorry.

[C]

It's also one of the most misquoted, too, because the actual line that James Earl Jones says is, no, I'm your father, but everyone just assumes it's, Luke, I'm your father. It's one of those, like.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

One of the most, like, technically misquoted quotes in movie history.

[A]

Well, Myron thought it was Luke, I'm not your father. He was. I was doing the Jerry Springer version. Yeah.

[B]

I was doing the two. I've been watching Star wars on tubi. So this stadium series is incredible because, you know, I'm up here in Minneapolis. I'm so used to those games being played in colder climates. How are they pulling this off in Tampa?

[C]

That's. That is a great question. Because in the state of Hockey, it would, it would come natural. Right. But in Tampa, this is the first time we're getting NHL outdoor games in the state of Florida. It started with the Winter Classic in Miami and now we're getting the stadium series tonight on ESPN in Tampa. So what they're doing, and first of all, we should say it might very well be uncharacteristically cold in Tampa. It might actually snow today. They were not planning for this. They were planning degree weather.

[A]

Yeah, it was supposed to be pretty hilarious.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

They didn't know that. They didn't know that, right?

[C]

No, they absolutely did not know that. The way they were planning for hot weather was they actually created this makeshift refrigerated, ice preserving tent that went over the ice. So they created the ice NHL grade, obviously, to make sure that, you know, it's the best quality ice. And then they put a tent over it that essentially refrigerated and preserved the ice until the game itself. And then there's measures put in place to make sure that the ice doesn't melt and the ice is completely NHL quality during the game as well. So all of this was thought of, all of this was planned, but it may not be necessary given the weather in Tampa today.

[A]

I want to ask you. The Olympics are coming up. I think the break comes this week for the, for the NHL teams. I love watching the Olympic hockey. It's always very exciting. I'm glad they're doing it. Do you. We had the World, the World Classic or whatever it was a couple of years ago that seemed to kind of take the nation by storm. Do you expect the Olympics to kind of, for hockey, grab the country like that event did a year or two ago?

[C]

I certainly do. I think that the Olympics, the way that international best on, best hockey is going to unfold moving forward is every four years you're going to get the Winter Olympics and then in every two years in between, you're going to get the World cup of Hockey. So we're going to essentially see Team USA compete against the rest of the world every two years. And for me, that is paramount for hockey. You mentioned four nations. You were absolutely right. That was a big renaissance. Like that was the highest rated hockey thing in the last several years. Like the amount of people that watched Team USA versus Team Canada. The interest is absolutely there and it will continue in the Olympics. And I will say Team usa, arguably the best team that they have put on the ice, certainly the best goaltending that they've ever had. The depth is incredible. They have, they have Elite goal scorers. Team USA has a really, really good shot at winning the Olympic gold medal, first time since 1980. And I talked to Mike Ruzzioni, who was the captain of that 1980 team the other day, and even he's like, I'm sick and tired of talking about this. We need new American heroes in hockey to talk about because this was 45 plus years ago that we're talking about 1980. The time has come for new memories.

[A]

I'm a big Carolina Hurricanes fan and I've gotten into hockey in the last few years more than I ever have. I think the diversity of the amount of players around the world is always intriguing to me. That show up in the Olympics. I mean, are there a lot of countries that can win or is it like still Canada's to win and everybody else kind of next?

[C]

There's certainly an A tier. If you were to say, okay, Canada, the United States, Sweden, Finland, those are Czechia, those are, those are elite teams. Right. But then you have teams like Germany who have Leon Draisaitl, who's arguably the second best player on the, in the NHL on any given night next to his teammate Connor McDavid. So there are certainly teams that will surprise. We always have a player, usually a goaltender that stands on his head is a brick wall and all of a sudden gets looks from the NHL and was previously completely undiscovered. Those storylines will certainly exist as we get through the Olympics.

[A]

But.

[C]

But yeah, like Team USA absolutely is in that A tier and many people would pick them to be among the favorites on paper to win the gold this time around.

[B]

I'm curious, you got the four nations face off, you have the stadium series. Does Gary Bettman, the commissioner, get enough credit for kind of what he's been able to do to expand the national platform for the NHL?

[C]

What Gary Bettman has done, and first of all, he's also the longest tenured commissioner in any major league. He, his first year, I believe was 1993 and he's still at it. And I, and to his credit, I hosted a community event in Florida last week. It was like a Shark Tank style competition where college kids were giving their hockey idea to help grow the game. Gary Bettman could have easily just walked in, done an address on stage and left. He stayed for the whole thing. Like every single pitch he talked to the kids. Like he's still grinding to that degree as the leader of the league, the commissioner at this, at this stage, and he doesn't have to. He's been doing this job for Decades. He doesn't need to do that. He could delegate that, but he's not. So I give him a lot of credit for that. And also particularly in markets. And you're seeing the benefit. Now you mentioned Minnesota. Minnesota, everyone believes is the state of hockey, rightfully so. But if you're looking at most recent results in the NHL, guess what the state of hockey is? Florida. Who would have said that they've won the last, what, four or five Stanley Cups. So like if you're looking at that as a marker, Florida, look at Florida is the success story. Then you have places like Columbus and Nashville. Columbus just had 90 plus thousand people at a stadium series game last year at Ohio Stadium. Like Gary, one of Gary Bettman's legacies is going to be growing the game of hockey in places that never played hockey, particularly in North America. And you're seeing the fruits of that.

[A]

Let's talk for a second. You also do wrestling. It was the Royal Rumble last night. I am a big wrestling guy. I've been watching it since I was a little child. Royal Rumble is my favorite event. I thought last night was, if not the worst one in the, in the ballpark for the worst one. And I think it was mostly for me. About the crowd, I just, I don't know. First of all, during the women's Royal Rumble, it looked like no one was there. During the men's Royal Rumble, it just feels like the crowd doesn't. They're in Saudi Arabia. Probably part of it's because it's in the afternoon. It just didn't work for me. Art, I'm glad to be talked out of it, but what did you think about the event last night?

[C]

So I'll go, I'll go step by step. I'll provide the optimistic lens. I think the lights on the chairs did not do any favors to the broadcast. I did see videos where the stadium was packed and it was like sold out. But we didn't. That didn't register on the broadcast because there were lights beside every single chair. And I think maybe I don't know this for sure, but maybe the idea idea was if it wasn't going to be because they mentioned it on Michael Cole mentioned it on the broadcast a couple of times. Oh, this is a typically culturally late arriving crowd, as is custom. That was mentioned a couple times and that was probably to safeguard against the fact that it's going to look emptier in the opening matches, whatever. But the lights just didn't do it any favors. But it was like if you look at social media, it was definitely packed. It's just the problem was you also don't hear it in stadiums, especially when it's open air. Like the reason why people say, oh, like Chicago is a hot crowd because that building is so self contained. The arena is. And you hear the noise so well and you can't, you can't possibly hear that in an open air stadium. So that's how I would counter with that particular point for sure. The Royal Rumble matches themselves were fine. I think a lot of people were expecting giant surprises. Where was Chris Jericho? Where would Edge? Where was, you know, La Knight didn't win. There were a lot of like wrestling fans that wanted their thing to happen. And this happens all the time. People love making predictions. I love making predictions. And then when they don't happen, you feel like your thing didn't happen and therefore it wasn't as good as your thing. Right. So I feel like I loved the ending of the women's Rumble match. I thought the final three was a great final three. The sequences were good, the spots were good. They were entertaining. Roman Reigns kind of telegraphed the ending of the rumble match on Mac. On Pat McAfee Show a few days ago where he was like, hey, I've been gone for two years. Where have the stars been? I'm the star. I graciously give up my time. Where have you guys made stars? You haven't. Well, I got to take matters into my own hands and that's what he did. So I think Sami Zayn still has a WrestleMania moment next year in Saudi Arabia because that crowd absolutely wants him to succeed. So I could see that happening. Maybe he was his first World Championship in 2027. But yeah, that's, that's how I would unpack the Royal Rumble.

[B]

Who's the mystery man that beat up Bron Breaker? Was it Seth Rollins?

[C]

That, you know that, that, that's a great point. I'm glad you brought that up because I'm burnt out from Mystery Men. I'm just burnt out from mystery people. In math, we've had that too much like we had that at Survivor Series. It's like the Spider man meme. They're playing pointing at each other like another mystery person. Like it. To me, I wish that there was something maybe a little different, but I suppose because it was surrounding the vision already and then now a mystery person is attacking the vision. Maybe there's something there. Could it be Seth Rollins? Absolutely. That that head tilt that the mystery person did had very much Dean Ambrose vibes. I mean I don't know anything about his contract with AEW or anything like that. That but I do know that the mannerisms seem to evoke other wrestlers for sure. Could it be Seth Rollins? Absolutely. I mean people thought that for the original one at Survivor Series because of the stomp.

[A]

Right.

[C]

It ended up being Austin Theory. So I listen. A mystery is always fun. It's just another mystery person in the same way is like man, this is like really soon back to back.

[A]

There you go. Hockey, wrestling and Star Wars. That is a diverse career for art Ocal and I thank you very much. Good. Nice talking with you. And I will check out andor and if it's good I will give you the shout out.

[C]

Yeah, let me know please let me know what you think. I'd love to hear that.

[A]

I will. I'm looking forward to it. I appreciate it. Matt Myron on ESPN Radio Myron is waited for two hours because a guy has a toupee and he likes to pay and he got knocked off his head and he wants to talk about the toupee. It is Toupee Gate with Matt Myron. That's next here on ESPN Radio.

[B]

Rich Eisen here. The tax deadline will be here before you know it and you just want to know.

[A]

Your taxes are actually being handled.

[B]

But the old way, you hand everything off and then silence. Days pass, weeks pass. You start wondering should I send another follow up email?

[C]

It feels like you're chasing updates and getting nowhere.

[B]

But now taxes are different because your.

[A]

Taxes are done for you by a TurboTax full service expert. With Intuit TurboTax you can match with.

[B]

Your dedicated tax expert and hand off everything right in the app. And while your expert checks for every deduction, you'll see real time updates on your phone. So you always know exactly where things stand. Suddenly you're not refreshing your inbox, you're.

[A]

Going for a run, grabbing a coffee.

[B]

Scrolling anything other than a just checking in message because your turbocharged tax expert is handling it and keeping you in the loop. So this tax season get your best possible outcome and every dollar you deserve without the guesswork. Visit TurboTax.com today to learn more. Real time updates only in iOS mobile app only available with TurboTax full service experts.

[D]

I like things my way, my coffee, my schedule and my treatment. So I talked to my doctor about self injecting with the Vivgard Hytrulo pre filled syringe which contains Fgartegamide Alpha and Hyaluronidase qvfc. It's injected under your skin subcutaneously. It means I can inject in my space on my time. It's my treatment, my way. Visit vivgardmyway.com that's V Y V G-A-R-T myway.com and talk to your doctor about Vivgard Hyrulo Brought to you by Argenics.

[B]

Matt and Myron the Podcast it is.

[A]

Matt Myron on ESPN Radio. All right, so for those of you don't know, Myron Metcalf's a big, big boxing guy. So when I saw this, I knew Myron was going to be happy. Heavyweight contender Jerrell Big Baby Miller. Is there a rule that somebody that's big and like joyful has to go by Big baby? I feel like we have a lot of big babies. Jerrell Big Baby Miller had a viral moment Saturday night. He was fighting a Madison Square Garden. He actually won split decision over Kingsley. Is it IB Is that how you say his name? All right, I Miller had promised a knockout during the undercard, but he got a different highlight. Abe hit a right uppercut against him and it hit him so hard it knocked the hairpiece off his head. The toupee that Miller was wearing lifted off the top of his head and then later just came off. Miller tore it off in round three, flew it into the state, threw it into the stands, where, by the way, WBO heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley collected it. Miller said he had gotten the hairpiece just two days ago, but he accidentally used bleach instead of shampoo to wash his hair, which took off the glue. Miller said later, I'm a comedian. Sometimes you have to make fun of yourself. What do you think of my man losing his toupee in the middle of a heavyweight fight?

[B]

I think it's the biggest thing that happened this weekend. You know, here's the deal and all the sports. So. So the story doesn't take it as far as it went. People were essentially passing the hairpiece around in the stands, and there's a bunch of videos and pictures out there of people just putting the hairpiece on. So it became the biggest thing that happened that last night was about Shakir Shakur Stevenson vs TFIMA Lopez. There was a huge fight. No one cared about that because this happened. And. And I don't know enough about hairpiece people. You know, do you carry glue with you? Do you have to have a certain kind of glue? Are you told, listen, you probably shouldn't go into a boxing ring with this hairpiece because this could happen. I don't Know the hairpiece rules, Matt, but I don't think he followed them.

[A]

Well. One of the things I always like to do is throw it to the crowd, ain't it? Ain't, say, ESPN if you have a hairpiece or know the hair piece game. I think these are all valid questions that Myron adds. Let's just talk hair pieces for a second. I'm always fascinated by hairpiece people. There was a time in America that lots of people did the hairpiece, and they tended to not look good, and sometimes they looked very fake. Now the hairpiece science seems to have gotten much better. It looks to me, Myron, like, do they glue them? Is that what they do?

[B]

I think there's glue. I think that's how it came undone as I think the glue.

[A]

Specific head glue. Or is there, like, it's not regular glue? Like, there's some kind of head glue, right?

[B]

Yeah, yeah. You saw, like, the. You saw the border of the glue on his head when it came off. I wonder if, like, probably the sweat mixed up messes it up.

[A]

How often do you have to put the glue on to keep it stuck?

[B]

Well, I mean, that's my thing is, I'm sure he was probably told, this probably isn't gonna hold up in a fight. Here's the other thing. Where'd you get the hairpiece? Cause that definitely looks like something you ordered online from overseas that just showed up.

[A]

Amazing hairpieces. Let's just. Bill Self, the coach, the best.

[B]

He's got the best.

[A]

He's got the best hairpiece. Like, he has a hairpiece that I've been. I've been fascinated with Bill Self's hairpiece for many years. I. Yeah, like, if you go look at pictures of him in college, he clearly has it, and it's a piece. It's not like, plugs. And I've sat right next to him, Myron, from, like, me to this phone, and I've sat there and looked and go, can I see the hairpiece line on his head? And if you're right next to it, you can see it, but otherwise you cannot. And I think it's the best hairpiece in sports. And then you get this guy's hairpiece that goes flying off like Popeye when he gets punched in the face. You do wonder about the quality. Why is the best hairpiece guy in Lawrence, Kansas? Is that where he is? Or there are other ones around the country?

[B]

Well, if this guy is new to hair pieces, maybe you don't know where to go. I mean, and as somebody who has looked at hair pieces for the beard. I want to get, like, you don't really know where to start to search.

[A]

That said. Stop that sentence right there. We. That. I can't, I can't skip over that sentence. What? You've looked at hair pieces for the beard. You've considered getting a beard hairpiece?

[B]

Yeah, I want a beard hairpiece. Yeah. I've always, I can't grow a beard. I've always, I'm always jealous of people with beards. And I want 2026 to be the year where, like, I get one. I want to walk.

[A]

Wait a minute. They don't make beard hair.

[B]

They do. They absolutely. They do, 100%.

[A]

And you get it. Is a beard glued to your face?

[B]

Yeah. I don't know all the science behind how it works, but yeah, I mean, it's sort of artificial, but it looks real.

[A]

You've considered doing that? Yeah.

[B]

I want to walk into a room. Like, beard people don't have to say anything when they walk into a room. They just have a presence, and I want that presence when I walk into a room. Like, I want people to just see me.

[A]

Have you, have you, have you visited a doctor's office to look at beard pieces?

[B]

I've talked to my barber. No, I've talked to my barber. I've talked to others.

[A]

Like, it's a barber's not. I feel like your barber's not a scientist.

[B]

No, but, I mean, there are people who are doing fake be. It's because it's becoming trendier, the fake beard thing. I just, I can't grow a beard, and I want one. And, like, I bought Beyonce's products to try to get one going. I've done a lot of things.

[A]

And Beyonce has a beer. Wait a minute. Beyonce has a beard product?

[B]

No, she's got, like, this hair kit that you can buy this hair oil. So, like, it's supposed to, like, foster growth. Hasn't done anything.

[D]

You bought.

[A]

You. Wait a minute. You bought Beyonce beard hair growth? That's not a thing. It's on the market.

[B]

Did you have that flea market? No, I went into, like, a cosmetic store, and I had them show me all the Beyonce products, and I spent, like, I spent a lot of money on them to try to get a beer going.

[A]

You. So you spent a lot of money on Beyonce beard hair products?

[B]

They're expensive. They're expensive? Yeah.

[A]

Did they work?

[B]

Well, I mean, tbd A little bit, you know, but not what I want.

[A]

You're in the treatment right now.

[B]

I, I, I think I'VE got to go to hairpiece route. I think I need a fake. I don't know how else to get the beard I want. I want a beard boxing last night.

[A]

And you saw his toupee flying to the stands and you decided I want that on my face.

[B]

I want a beer. When I walk in the room, everybody stops talking. That the conversations stop because they see me with my beard and they just are impressed by it. That's, that's the impact I want to have have when I walk into a room.

[A]

You're having an impact on me because that's the stupidest thing that I've ever heard in my entire life.

[B]

What do you mean?

[A]

Beyonce beard, hair product.

[B]

It's a real thing. 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. Matt and Myron the podcast.