Hour 2: Circling Back

Summary

Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron: Hour 2 - Circling Back (Released July 22, 2025)

In the "Hour 2: Circling Back" episode of "Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron" on ESPN Radio, hosts Matt Jones and Myron Metcalf delve deep into the current state of the NBA, special sports events, heartfelt tributes, intriguing state facts, and ongoing controversies in the sports world. This comprehensive summary captures the essence of their engaging discussions, enriched with notable quotes and timestamps for reference.

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1. Analyzing the Los Angeles Clippers' Prospects

Matt and Myron kick off the episode by scrutinizing the Los Angeles Clippers' roster and their potential for success in the upcoming NBA season.

• Roster Composition: The Clippers boast a star-studded lineup featuring Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, Chris Paul, and Bradley Beal. Myron humorously remarks at [02:55], "Every single star on that team has had a BlackBerry before. I think that's the age they're at." highlighting the team's veteran nature.

• Potential Success: The hosts debate whether the Clippers can emulate the success of iconic Hollywood films where seasoned characters embark on a final adventure. Myron muses at [03:14], "Will they succeed?" while Matt counters with optimism about their contender status if the team remains healthy.

• Kendrick Perkins' Perspective: A notable highlight is a quote from Kendrick Perkins at [04:33], where he bluntly states, "The Los Angeles Clippers have officially become the nursing home for the NBA for the players that are on the back end of their career." Perkins critiques the team's age and depth, questioning their competitiveness against younger, more dynamic squads like Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder.

• Health Concerns: Myron emphasizes the significance of health and durability for the Clippers' success, noting at [06:40], "Bradley Beal is coming off injury issues. Kawhi Leonard has had injury issues his entire career..."

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2. Special Sports Events: MLB Speedway Classic at Bristol Motor Speedway

Transitioning from basketball, Matt introduces an exciting crossover between baseball and NASCAR at Bristol Motor Speedway.

• Event Details: The Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds are set to compete in the MLB Speedway Classic on August 2. The unique aspect lies in the specially designed uniforms that pay homage to NASCAR aesthetics. At [16:05], Matt describes, "The jersey numbers include bold outlines, shadowing and movement meant to represent NASCAR vehicle designs."

• Uniform Design: The Reds opt for white custom numbers with checkerboard patterns on their caps, while the Braves maintain their traditional colors with flame-inspired details. Myron adds enthusiasm at [16:52], "Yeah, I like this... baseball knocked it out of the park with the Field of Dreams game."

• Venue and Experience: The hosts appreciate the innovative approach to integrating different sports, with Myron suggesting that other sports could adopt similar strategies to enhance fan engagement.

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3. Tribute to Malcolm Jamal Warner

A somber moment unfolds as Matt delivers the news of Malcolm Jamal Warner's passing.

• Announcement: At [18:39], Matt shares, "Malcolm Jamal Warner, who played the son Theo on the Cosby Show, died at 54 after drowning on a family trip."

• Legacy and Impact: Myron reflects on Warner's influence, stating at [19:17], "To see that image, it meant a lot... Malcolm Jamal Warner was sort of like everybody's big brother, little brother..." The hosts honor Warner's contributions to television and his personal character, expressing heartfelt condolences.

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4. 50 States in 50 Days: Spotlight on Arizona

Engaging in their "50 States in 50 Days" segment, Matt and Myron explore fascinating facts about Arizona.

• State Highlights: They discuss Arizona's nickname as the "Valentine's Day State" due to its admission to the Union on February 14, 1912. Myron shares at [24:12], "I've been in Arizona but have not been in the Grand Canyon yet. So, my bucket list."

• Unique Facts: Matt reveals, at [32:02], "The London Bridge... is in Arizona." They delve into quirky state traditions, such as Arizona's official state neckwear, the bola tie, and intriguing natural phenomena like scorpions that glow green under UV light.

• Local Records and Trivia: The discussion includes records like Trenton Hayward's 1,700 tennis serves in an hour and Corey Nielsen's million-penny pyramid, reflecting Arizona's diverse and unique contributions to both sports and culture.

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5. Sports Headlines: Memphis Tigers' Conference Realignment

The conversation shifts to college sports, focusing on the Memphis Tigers and their recent conference affiliations.

• Conference Announcement: Matt highlights Memphis' tweet celebrating their status in the American Conference, despite their unsuccessful bid to join the Big 12 with a $200 million offer.

• Humorous Take: The hosts humorously compare Memphis' eagerness to secure a conference spot to someone desperately trying to impress a date, with Myron jesting at [14:13], "Memphis is like buying drinks for a group of women at the end of the ball."

• Skepticism About Commitment: Matt expresses doubt about Memphis' commitment, suggesting their declaration might be a pre-scheduled statement rather than a genuine association.

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6. Controversy Over Team Names: Washington Commanders and Cleveland Guardians

A heated discussion ensues regarding the potential renaming of the Washington Football Team and the Cleveland Guardians back to their original names.

• President Trump's Intervention: Matt brings up President Trump's recent remarks urging teams to revert to "Redskins" and "Indians," tying it to stadium approval for Washington. He asks Myron for his stance on reinstating these names.

• Myron's Stance: At [38:08], Myron firmly opposes reverting to the offensive names, stating, "You can't bring back any of those names for a lot of reasons... I hope they don't bring the name back. It would be silly to do it no matter what anyone is calling for."

• Listeners' Unity Through Sports: Ian emphasizes the unifying power of sports, questioning the necessity of reigniting such controversies and pondering the lack of positive outcomes from changing longstanding team names.

• Imagined Press Conference: The hosts entertain the idea of how Myron, as an owner, would handle press inquiries about the name change, humorously suggesting he would simply say, "No."

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Myron Metcalf at [02:55]: "Every single star on that team has had a BlackBerry before. I think that's the age they're at."

• Kendrick Perkins at [04:33]: "The Los Angeles Clippers have officially become the nursing home for the NBA for the players that are on the back end of their career."

• Myron Metcalf at [19:17]: "Malcolm Jamal Warner was sort of like everybody's big brother, little brother..."

• Matt Jones at [32:02]: "The London Bridge... is in Arizona."

• Myron Metcalf at [38:08]: "You can't bring back any of those names for a lot of reasons... I hope they don't bring the name back."

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Conclusion

In this episode of "Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron," the hosts provide insightful analysis on the Clippers' prospects, celebrate innovative sports events, pay homage to a beloved actor, explore intriguing facts about Arizona, scrutinize conference realignments, and engage in a meaningful discourse on the sensitivity surrounding team names. Their balanced perspectives and engaging banter offer listeners a comprehensive overview of the current sports landscape, enriched with personal insights and relatable humor.

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Tune in Next Week: Matt and Myron continue their "50 States in 50 Days" journey, exploring new states with the same enthusiasm and depth. Don't miss their next episode as they head to Arizona, unveiling more sports stories and state-specific trivia.

Transcript

[Amber]

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[Ian]

You can Venmo that.

[Amber]

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[Myron Metcalf]

This is the Amber and Ian Podcast.

[Ian]

It is Amber and Ian here on ESPN Radio. Meyer Metcalfe, who did not know after eight years of working together that I wear glasses during the show, but found out tonight is with me. We are. We're normally on Sunday mornings from 10 to 1. We we are your NFL pregame show. We are your Sunday morning relaxing time. And now we're here for Amber and Ian from how about them cowboys to pit bull. And you know, Myron, I don't know how much you follow the entertainment business. I don't know if you're like on the streets of Hollywood, but about every.

[Myron Metcalf]

Five what's that mean? What's on the streets of Hollywood?

[Ian]

Like, doing well, not people you want to be around. Not mostly. Y by the way, if you're out in the country, if you you think of Hollywood as glamorous and I guess it is, but don't go down Hollywood Boulevard. It's not what you think it is, especially at night. It's just. It's not what you think it is. But anyway, about every five to seven years, Hollywood gets together and they put out movies or TV shows about with the same premise that a group of old men come together to have like one last adventure. Yeah. So a few of these are. There was the movie Bucket List. I think they had Morgan Freeman and I don't remember. And there was a bunch of people and they're like, we got to do all these things for we. Then there was. There was a show called Men of a Certain Age that starred I think Everybody Loves Raymond and the Quantum Leap guy. And that was on tv. That one's a hard one to find. There was a show called a movie called Wild Hogs, which was like old men on. Yeah. And John Travolta. Like old men on motorcycles. So the point is, this is a trope that we hear a lot in Hollywood. Old people come together, men, to have one last they ain't as good as they once was, but they're as good once as they ever was. Well, because it's in la, the LA Clippers have decided to have that old man thing happen again. They have put together a who's who of 2012. You've got. We've got Kawhi Leonard. You've got James Harden. You've now got Chris Paul and Bradley Beal. They basically have decided, just like Martin Lawrence, John Travolta, Morgan Freeman and Everybody Loves Raymond, the old men will unite for one final run. Will this be as successful as. As those wonderful films were?

[Myron Metcalf]

Well, every single star on that team has had a BlackBerry before. I think that's the age. That's. That's the age they're at. Right. Like, you know, you. If you had. If you had a BlackBerry and you used it, that's all you need to say for someone to know how old you are. Right. You don't have to tell them your age. They know based on that.

[Ian]

Will it succeed?

[Myron Metcalf]

I don't know what success is. Right. I mean, I think they did get better. James Harden.

[Ian]

Well, success is maybe going to the Finals. I mean, the Clippers were a contender last year, and I think they would assume they're a contender if healthy, they're a contender this year. So, I mean, I think they would. I think success has to be. Have a shot to win the whole thing.

[Myron Metcalf]

I mean, Bradley Bill gives them a third star. I think that's real. But to me, comparing them to the Oakland Oklahoma City Thunder, I don't think they're there. I don't think they're better than a Houston Rockets team with Kevin Durant. That next tier feels open, though, to me. Could they be the third best team in the Western Conference? I think that's possible. It's not because of Chris Paul, who's going to be a reserve and play minimal minutes, I think for this team. I think they. I think they basically gave Chris Paul a locker room guy contract, you know what I mean? Like the dude who does the pregame speeches, the guy who kind of, you know, mentors maybe some of the young.

[Ian]

Players, but I think they don't have any young players.

[Myron Metcalf]

Well, everybody's younger than him, you know, but can they be third or fourth in Western Conference? Sure. I don't think they've done enough to be OKC or Houston, though.

[Ian]

Well, Kendrick Perkins, who the last time I checked did have gray in his beard. He had a strong. He had a strong take on this today.

[Kendrick Perkins]

Congratulations to Steve Ballmer and the Los Angeles Clippers. They have officially become the nursing home for the NBA for the players that are on the back end of their career. If we think that this is about to Move the needle for the Clippers, for us being a competitor, not just a title contender, but competing in a tough Western Conference, it's not, and I get it, Chris Paul, he brings great value whether he's playing or whether he's on the bench being in the extension of Ty Lue. But when I look at their roster, I look at a guy like Dunn. Yes, he's a guy that could defend at a high level, but the Clippers look old and they still, to me, have a problem at that wing position. When it comes down to depth from guys that could compete and play at a high level on the defensive side of things, offensively, they got enough to, to put up points. They're going to have a good regular season. But when it comes down to them competing in the Western Conference, especially when they get post postseason time, can they compete with the likes of a Houston, okc, Denver, even the Lakers? Now, I just don't see.

[Ian]

Well, they're better than the Lakers. So I respectfully to Kendrick, can they compete with the Lakers? The Lakers stink. So I, I'm not, I'm not listening to that. But I do think the question of whether they're too old is fair. But I would, I would say this to, to people who sort of completely downplay this as that there's, you know, no way it could work. The Clippers were competitive last year, like really competitive. Not kind of competitive. I mean, they, they lost in seven to a Denver team that then took OKC to seven. I mean, you could, you could make an argument that on playoff performance alone, yes, they lost in the third first round, but they were maybe the third best team. So I don't think it's crazy to say after adding Bradley Beal, they can't be at least that good or better.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, I agree. I mean, I think they can be the third best team in the Western Conference. You know, I think Kevin Durant, why.

[Ian]

Can'T they be better than Houston? I think what's Houston done? What's Kevin Durant done recently?

[Myron Metcalf]

They got great defense and they just added the greatest post Michael Jordan era scorer.

[Ian]

The greatest post Michael Jordan era scorer who's not made the playoffs in two years. Well, that's like, I mean, if you're going to criticize these guys on the Clippers for being old, why can't I criticize Kevin Durant for being old?

[Myron Metcalf]

You can't. I mean, he's older than these guys. He's 37. The Suns were a disaster, but I think Kevin found the right team. A bunch of Young dudes who would defend like crazy. And that's going to make his life a lot easier. But I think they can be top three. I mean, I think they can be in the mix. I don't think anybody's going to be better than okc, but I think this Clippers team can be in the mix with what they added. The question will be what all these older guys is healthy concern. Bradley Beal is coming off injury issues. Kawhi Leonard has had injury issues his entire career. James Harden has been mostly durable. But what kind of shape is he going to be in now going into his mid-30s, that's always a concern for him. So if everybody's available, they can be competitive. But at that age, how many guys are going to be able to give them 82 games or anything close to that, plus a postseason run?

[Ian]

Yeah, I, I'm not. They're not going to be better than Oklahoma City, but then again, I don't think anybody is. But I don't know why they can't be in that group with Denver and Houston. Like why can't that they're better than the Lakers and assuming healthy now if they're not healthy. But that's true of all these teams. If Shane gets hurt, Oklahoma City's not. Yeah, right. Like, I mean there's a level of yes, if they get hurt, none of these teams are going to win. But I don't see why they can't be as good as these teams. And I still don't understand why it is NBA people try to tell me that the Lakers are good. Why? I mean the Lakers were not good last year and LeBron's older and I'm not sure that they got significantly better during the off season. Yes, they added Ayton, but they lost a lot of the other sort of secondary guys. Why am I supposed to be certain? And by the way, LeBron doesn't seem particularly happy with what has happened with the Lakers. Why are they better?

[Myron Metcalf]

Well, I mean, well, they've been kind of messed this off season. So if LeBron standing it appears that he is staying. He is getting older but still playing at a very high level. I think the question comes down to is Luca completely healthy and in shape? So if they get locked in Luca with an entire off season to get ready. Remember last year, coming into the year, he's coming off an injury having to deal with that. So locked in Luca, I think puts him in that conversation to be in the top half of the Western Conference Lock.

[Ian]

You call him locked in Luca.

[Myron Metcalf]

I Just made that up on the spot. I lit. I literally just made it up just now.

[Ian]

Alliteration.

[Myron Metcalf]

If people want to take it, fine. Just give me credit for it, though. Don't.

[Ian]

What did you think, by the way?

[Myron Metcalf]

Don't take it.

[Ian]

What did you think of Shay's outfit to the ESPYs, the. The sort of suit, but then the coat sitting on top of his suit. Did you see that?

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, he's. He's got too much money. I think that's what it comes down to because, like, that's the kind of stuff.

[Ian]

The outfit that the guy Don Caprice Wore in Godfather 2 when he would try to dip. Dip. Get a dip. The beak to get people's money. And then he got murdered at the end of Godfather 2. I think that's important to remember.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, I don't. I mean, that's when you have so much money that nobody in the room is willing to say, don't do that. I mean, that's kind of what it comes down to for me. But yeah, I mean, the Western Conference is interesting. After okc, I think Houston will be very good. The Clippers can be right there if everybody stays healthy and, you know, we'll see what happens from there.

[Ian]

I love watching these guys when they were at Kentucky, who I saw come here and they had like, T shirt and ripped shorts, and now they wear like, you know, Paris Fashion Week items. Like Tyler Hero was like that too. Like, all these guys, you know, they get to the NBA and now all of a sudden it's like, I remember when you came from Wisconsin. Don't get too big for your raisin. ESPN Radio is presented by Progressive Insurance. If you're a renter, make sure you're protected. Renters insurance includes options that cover stolen property, personal injury, and living expenses if your place is damaged. Cash. Get your quote at Renters Insurance. Quote for renters [e-mail] There are lots of stories out there that don't necessarily make the top of the news, but you still need to know those are called headlines. And we'll do them next.

[Myron Metcalf]

This is the Amber and Ian podcast.

[Rachel]

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[Amber]

On WhatsApp, no one can see or hear your personal messages. Whether it's a voice call message or sending a password to WhatsApp, it's all just this. So whether you're sharing the streaming password in the family chat, or trading those late night voice messages that could basically become a podcast, your personal messages stay between you, your friends and your family. No one else, not even us. WhatsApp message privately with everyone.

[Ian]

You all are gonna make me lose my mind. Up on Amber and Ian here on ESPN Radio, presented by Progressive Insurance, Matt Jones and Myron Metcalf, trying to keep you up to date on the news of the day. Not a lot going on in the world of sports. You got baseball games, you got a little tbt. But there's still other headlines, things you need to know, and sometimes we don't get to them in the regular course of the day.

[Amber]

So.

[Ian]

So this is where we bring you headlines from around sports. Rachel, hello. What's our first one? No, go ahead.

[Matt Jones]

I thought you were gonna say hi to me. Like, introduce me. Say hi, Nolly. Okay, whatever. Fine. Number one.

[Ian]

Hi, Rachel.

[Myron Metcalf]

Give her.

[Matt Jones]

Hi, Matt. How's it going?

[Ian]

Good. What's up?

[Matt Jones]

First, I'm really upset that I laughed at your joke coming into the segment now.

[Ian]

Yeah, you usually don't, but that was a good joke. I like to quote dmx.

[Matt Jones]

All right. Just like Chris Candy.

[Ian]

Well, I mean, listen, he and I are BFFs, so when we get together, we quote DMX. And interestingly enough, both as honoring our mothers, we do it that way as well.

[Matt Jones]

All right, so in a tweet today, Memphis Tigers.

[Myron Metcalf]

That I understand.

[Ian]

That's right. He just wants to show you that he understands. Nobody knows what we're talking about, but go ahead. No, they don't go ahead.

[Matt Jones]

It's an inside joke on national radio. It's fine.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, it's okay.

[Matt Jones]

All right. The Memphis Tigers today tweeted that they are a proud member of the American Conference. Hashtag, go, Tigers. Even tagged the American Conference with a nice little picture that says built to Rise with the logos. But here's the thing. Earlier today, they also acknowledged that a proposal from the university to join the Big 12, quote, did not ultimately move in their favor. So they literally tried to bid their way.

[Ian]

They offered $200 million to the Big 12. We're told no. And then they sent out that they were proudly committed to the American Conference. This would be a little bit like that CEO at the Coldplay concert. It's putting out a picture today that says proudly married. I'm sorry, man. That may be what you want, but I don't know if that's going to be what it is. So, Memphis, forgive me if I do not believe that they necessarily are proudly committed to the American Conference.

[Myron Metcalf]

Honey, the woman at the gym said no. So I'm back home. What's for dinner? I don't know if it really works like that. It's interesting that they would put out a statement. You don't have to put out a statement today. You don't have to put out that picture today.

[Ian]

You gotta give it a little bit.

[Matt Jones]

Of a pre scheduled tweet.

[Ian]

It might be. Memphis is like, when I would go out with my buddies. Yeah. And like, they would. There's always one who would try too desperately to be the woman. Like, they just try too hard. And everybody was like, listen, man, it's not happening for you tonight. Can we just hang out? Memphis is. Memphis is the most desperate, thirsty team in college sports and no one wants them. And they are. So they're like, I got money. I got a good job. I'll buy you jewelry. And they're just like, no.

[Myron Metcalf]

Memphis is definitely buying drinks for the group of women at the end of the ball, like on a Friday night. Like, that's definitely there. That's definitely that.

[Ian]

Wait a minute. It's your 21st birthday. I got shots for everybody pointing to.

[Myron Metcalf]

Him across the room. He's definitely. Memphis is definitely doing that.

[Ian]

Me, you, me. You know what's next?

[Matt Jones]

All right, so the Atlanta Braves and Matt Jones's very own Cincinnati Reds are going to compete at Bristol motor speedway on Aug. 2 for the MLB Speedway Classic. Okay, so special, special moment. You need special uniforms. Atlanta and Cincinnati's threads, they're pretty much the same, but they do have details that pay homage, if I'm feeling fancy, to the unique venue and the game. So the jersey numbers include bold outlines, shadowing and movement meant to represent NASCAR vehicle designs. The Reds change their numbers. They're not going to be red like normal. They're going to be white. The custom numbers are going to be on the caps. The Braves are sticking to their traditional normal colors.

[Ian]

These uniforms are. Rachel, these uniforms are awesome. Let me just say they are awesome. I mean, they're basically NASCAR baseball uniforms. The Reds hat has, like, checkerboards.

[Matt Jones]

I do want one of the hats.

[Ian]

And then the Braves has like, fire. Like, they're like flames.

[Matt Jones]

Makes them go fast.

[Ian]

And then the numbers are like NASCAR numbers in their font. I think they look cool and I think the fact they're doing this race or game at Bristol Motor Speedway is a cool crossover for baseball. I like this, Myron. I think baseball, they, they knocked it out of the park with the Field of Dreams game. I think doing things like this is a great.

[Matt Jones]

I do think the numbers on the front of the Reds look really good. You can't really tell what the numbers look like on the Braves photos.

[Ian]

Yeah. Do you like it?

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, I like it so much that I think other sports should do it. Like, you know, why are we taking more games, especially basketball?

[Ian]

We had a college football game at Bristol Motor Speedway a few years ago, Tennessee and Virginia Tech. And it was awesome. I just love it. I base, you know, Bristol, like that's a area that doesn't have a lot of, you know, there's no pro baseball teams close. So why not put a baseball game in a college football stadium or something, Myron? I think it's a really good way to reach out and NASCAR is a good way to do it.

[Myron Metcalf]

Can I tell you a secret?

[Ian]

Yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

I didn't know until like last year that it wasn't in Bristol, Connecticut.

[Ian]

What do you mean you thought it was in Bristol?

[Myron Metcalf]

I thought there was like some hidden speedway somewhere in Bristol near ESPN for a while I didn't realize. I don't know enough about nascar.

[Matt Jones]

See, I had the opposite. I thought that ESPN was in Bristol, Tennessee and I could not figure out how they had two major things at the same time.

[Ian]

Yeah, I didn't know by the way. I just, I got kicked off of the, of the thing here, but go ahead. What's up next?

[Matt Jones]

Oh, great. No, I was going to continue with the Bristol thing. So they have the biggest permanent outdoor center hung force blade display called the Colossus. Do you think that's in any danger? Do you think you get extra points if you hit the colossal.

[Myron Metcalf]

What did you just say, Rachel?

[Matt Jones]

Massive, like big screen. What do you call those things?

[Myron Metcalf]

A Jumbotron.

[Matt Jones]

A big huge Jumbotrons. The biggest one outside. Is it in it? Do you get extra.

[Ian]

I don't think you realize. I don't think you realize how big these NASCAR tracks are.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, I do, I do, but I'm.

[Ian]

Just saying can you just hit NASCAR track and there's no way. There's no way they can hit it. I mean, these NASCAR tracks are huge and this is one of the smaller ones and it's still huge. I go look at the pictures of the field and look how little of.

[Matt Jones]

The stadium did not figure out how they were going to put it in, like, how they were going to shape it. It looks really cool.

[Myron Metcalf]

What are they putting?

[Ian]

30. 20.

[Myron Metcalf]

30,000 in there? Like, how many people can they fit in there?

[Ian]

No, 60,000. It's going to be set up. 60,000 people? Yeah. It's going to be awesome. It's next Saturday night.

[Myron Metcalf]

What's the final?

[Ian]

1,000.

[Matt Jones]

All right, the final one is some sad news. Malcolm Jamal Warner, who played the son Theo on the Cosby show, died at 54 after drowning on a family trip in.

[Ian]

Oh, he drowned. Oh, I didn't know.

[Matt Jones]

Yes, he did drown while. While swimming.

[Ian]

Oh, that's awful. Yeah. You know Malcolm Jamal Warner. Well, Martin, let me. Let you say this. You know, I like the Cosby show, but you were talking about this earlier, how much it meant to you.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, I mean, obviously, Bill Cosby put a bit of a stain on the legacy, that show, but, like, you grow up in, you know, a black family in the 80s and 90s, and to see that image, it meant a lot. You know, Malcolm Jamal Warner was sort of like everybody's big brother, little brother, depending on how old you were. And he was actually just on the podcast, man, recently, talking about being a new father and husband and all that stuff, and such a tragedy, man. So it's just. It's sad, but it also made me realize how many of us are connected through shows we watch as kids, you know, in a moment like this man. So rest in peace to him.

[Ian]

Yeah, I'm so. I'm really sorry to hear about the. I mean, I was obviously sorry to hear he passed away, but that's even sadder how it ended up happening. What was your favorite? I mean, obviously the legacy of the Cosby show is different now, but. But when you. When. Leave him out of it, Bill, what's your favorite Theo episode? I like when he got. What was it? Lisa Bonet. What was her character? Denise.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah.

[Ian]

To make the shirt for him. Do you remember that? The. What was the name of the. What's the name of the designer? It was like. Yeah, well, anyway. But you know what I'm talking about. That was my favorite, Malcolm.

[Myron Metcalf]

The earring. The earring. When he was trying to hide the earring from. From his dad, you know, that he got.

[Ian]

He always would have his head.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Matt Jones]

One is the best one.

[Myron Metcalf]

Monopoly was good. Yeah, yeah.

[Ian]

So those are all. But, yeah, rest in peace to Malcolm Jamal Warner. It is unfortunate the legacy of that show has changed.

[Myron Metcalf]

It has.

[Ian]

But at the time, it really was an important show in America and Malcolm Jamal Warner was a huge part of that. So rest in peace and prayers to his family. We've got more to do. Matter of fact, our 50 states in 50 days. We head out to Arizona. That's next here on Amber, Amber and Ian, the podcast.

[Amber]

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[Matt Jones]

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[Amber]

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[Matt Jones]

Oh, sorry.

[Amber]

I almost couldn't breathe when I saw the discount they gave me on my first order. Oh, sorry. Namaste.

[Matt Jones]

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[Myron Metcalf]

SportsCenter. 50 states in 50 days. We going coast coast. We going close to coast on ESPN Radio.

[Ian]

We are going coast to coast here on Amber And Ian on ESPN radio. Ready to rock. We are doing 50 states in 50 days. And today we at SportsCenter are in Arizona. Arizona. What is the event? We're in Arizona for the sports Center. Where were they today? The Arizona.

[Matt Jones]

They were white. White water rafting.

[Ian]

Whitewater rafting.

[Myron Metcalf]

Why would you say white? I don't know what was happening.

[Ian]

Well, it was. They are there for the white water rafting nationals. You ever been whitewater rafting, Myron, in your life?

[Myron Metcalf]

What do you think my answer to.

[Ian]

That question would be, Matt, on the white water rafter? Well, I thought you would enjoy whitewater. I've been whitewater rafting. I'm not even a swimmer, so I would have thought that you would have done it.

[Myron Metcalf]

But how many brothers have you seen whitewater anything wrapped in hanging? I don't know that there's a lot of white water anything happening with us.

[Ian]

So you're telling me the River Wild, which starred Kevin Bacon and Meryl Streep, did not also have Chris Tucker in it?

[Myron Metcalf]

Okay, it did not have Chris.

[Ian]

All right, well, Arizona was our 48th state. It was the last contiguous state in the United States to be admitted to the union and it's nicknamed Myron is the Valentine's Day. Did you know that?

[Myron Metcalf]

I didn't know that.

[Ian]

Why is that because of Valentine's? It was. Oh, because it was admitted on.

[Myron Metcalf]

Why you just make that up? Why don't you just make that up if you didn't?

[Ian]

Well, I mean, you got to have an answer. It was admitted on February 14, 1912. So it was admitted on Valentine's Day, which is very nice. Its state motto is God enriches, which is very nice. God. God enriches. The Grand Canyon. Of course, most of the Grand Canyon is in Arizona. Have you ever been to the Grand Canyon?

[Myron Metcalf]

I've been Arizona have not been in the Grand Canyon yet. So my bucket list.

[Ian]

I've been there. Very, very beautiful. It's. It's. I would say one of the. Maybe the most impressive place to see on Earth. It also has. Arizona is home to the biggest crater on Earth. It has a diameter of 1200 meters. The Baringer crater. Here's a little fun fact for you. I was born in a town that is entirely. Myron, in a meteor crater. Did you know that? I live in. I lived in Middlesborough, Kentucky. It is known as Cratertown, usa. But the biggest crater is in Arizona.

[Myron Metcalf]

I didn't know you were born. It's called a crater town.

[Ian]

Well, we call it Crater town. It got hit by meteor crater. So, like it's in the mountains and there's a deep hole in the mountains and that's where we put Middlesborough or we. I wasn't there, but. But where they put Middlesborough and it's in a crater.

[Myron Metcalf]

I didn't. I didn't know that.

[Ian]

Yuma, Arizona. You remember there was a movie Last Train to Yuma. Yuma, Arizona gets more sunshine than any city on Earth. How about that?

[Myron Metcalf]

That's fascinating.

[Ian]

Yes.

[Matt Jones]

I feel like you're making me feel like Florida is just alive. Right? It is the Sunshine State.

[Ian]

Yep. Well, they're lying because Yuma, Arizona gets the most. The Arizona is the only state in the union that has an official state neckwear. They have an official state neckwear, the bola tie in Arizona. The bowl of tie. When Arizona high school graduates graduate, historically they were given. The males were given a bola tie by the state government.

[Matt Jones]

Do you know what a bolo tie is, Myron?

[Myron Metcalf]

No. Is that like a tuxedo? Is that. What is it?

[Ian]

It's that thing where like they have a little thing and the strings hang from it, and you pull it up.

[Matt Jones]

Think of a cowboy where they. They pull the. The string on their. Their tie because they can't have real time.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

I don't gotta have rope at all times.

[Ian]

Would you.

[Matt Jones]

Would you think about a pull?

[Ian]

Would you wear one of those? Okay. In Arizona, scorpions, if put under ultraviolet light, have a green glow to them due to radioactive substances in the earth. In Arizona. So if you were to catch a scorpion in Arizona and put it under a UV light, it will glow green.

[Myron Metcalf]

Scorpion bit my buddy on the foot once as he's putting on his shoes. He had to get rushed to the hospital. That was a pretty pitiful thing.

[Ian]

Did it glow green?

[Myron Metcalf]

I don't know. But he said he was putting on. Apparently that's a thing down there in Arizona. He's put on a shoe because, you know, they have the scorpions, rattlesnakes and all that. But he's put on a shoe, and it bit him. And he had to go get rushed.

[Ian]

To the hospital in Scottsdale, Arizona, once.

[Myron Metcalf]

Care more about my friends.

[Ian]

I hope he's okay, but, you know, we got to move on.

[Matt Jones]

Say he lost his foot. You just said he got bit. And.

[Ian]

He'S not Myron's friends. Facts. These are Arizona facts.

[Myron Metcalf]

He didn't die.

[Ian]

Every five years in Scottsdale, Arizona, they have a Batman memorabilia auction.

[Myron Metcalf]

I'm into that.

[Ian]

Every five years, they will bring Batman collectors and have an auction. The largest item ever been there was a Batman car from the original Batman. It was bought for $4.6 million. Was that Joe 2013?

[Myron Metcalf]

You know, Joe Burrow wanted one of those, right? And then he decided not to buy one after his house got robbed. He was about to buy one.

[Ian]

Yeah, well, that's okay. But again, they have this, the auction in.

[Myron Metcalf]

He doesn't believe me. That's why he said, okay.

[Matt Jones]

No, he's gonna ask, is that where he was gonna find.

[Myron Metcalf]

That's 100% true. He. He was going to buy, like, a $4 million Batmobile, and then he got robbed, and he was like, I don't want to do that anymore.

[Ian]

There are many record holders in Arizona. In Flagstaff, Arizona, in fact. This is a sports comment. Trenton Hayward, a professional tennis player, broke the world record for most tennis serves in an hour. Can you guess, Myron, how many tennis serves Trenton Hayward served in one hour in Flagstaff, Arizona?

[Myron Metcalf]

It's just him hitting across. Does it have to be inbounds?

[Ian]

Yes. He had to put the serve in bounds. He had to serve in the air. And he had to serve into the strict regulations of tennis and the. There were official scorekeepers and cameras to make sure he did it. How many do you think he hit in one hour?

[Myron Metcalf]

I mean, I could probably do a thousand, but five thousand?

[Ian]

He. He did seventeen hundred serves. You think you could do a thousand.

[Myron Metcalf]

By that at all? I thought he had way more than that.

[Ian]

Wait a minute. You think you could do a thousand?

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, I don't think that's. That's not that impressive.

[Ian]

You think you could do 20 serves a minute for 60 minutes?

[Myron Metcalf]

1700 is not impressive. I thought you were going to say like 5, 10,000. I'm not impressed.

[Ian]

Hang on just a second. You think you could put 20 serves in a tennis court a minute for 60 minutes? There's no way you could do that.

[Myron Metcalf]

Do I have a rack of balls and someone's sitting next to me handing me.

[Ian]

Yeah, I'll give you all the balls. I'm saying to you, there's no way you could do that. You would. First of all, I don't think you could hit 20 in. In any minute, much less 60 straight minutes.

[Myron Metcalf]

It's just. It's not hard. I'm hitting 1, 2, 3. It's not hard.

[Ian]

Have you ever served a tennis ball?

[Myron Metcalf]

Yes. Is someone handing me the balls? I don't have to go retrieve the ball?

[Ian]

No, you reach in, you get the.

[Myron Metcalf]

Ball out of the hopper.

[Matt Jones]

Two.

[Myron Metcalf]

But that's.

[Ian]

First of all, if people could see at home, that's not how you serve. Okay? You don't. You are serving by putting the racket in front of your face and hitting it. You throw it up in the air and then you catch it at the top and hit it.

[Myron Metcalf]

No, I'm not playing Agassi. But that's what it gets over the net.

[Ian]

That's what the record requires.

[Myron Metcalf]

1700 is not impressive to me at all. I'm just. That's just me. I'm not impressed by his world record. That's all.

[Ian]

All right. Corey Nielsen from Phoenix, Arizona. He also set a world record in Arizona, the world record for building the most pyramids with pennies. He made a pyramid of pennies. That was one million pennies high. 65 stacks across back and high. Each stack was 11 pennies. It took him two and a half years to make his one million penny penny pyramid.

[Myron Metcalf]

That's when you just made a life decision to stay single for a while. Like you've just decided that I'm done with the dating apps. I'm just gonna. I'm gonna that's when people say things like, I'm gonna date myself for a while. I'm gonna learn more about me.

[Ian]

I'm gonna focus on myself.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, I'm focus on myself.

[Ian]

I mean, it took him two years.

[Myron Metcalf]

That's first of all. That's a lot of that time, by the way.

[Ian]

That's a lot of pennies. That's a thousand dollars of pennies.

[Myron Metcalf]

Where's he getting all these pennies from?

[Ian]

$10,000 of pennies. They did it in Arizona and the town gave him a parade to congratulate him.

[Myron Metcalf]

They should have found him a date because it wouldn't have been all that. That's what he really what he's looking for. You don't take all that, get on the app, man, go out, you'll do all that.

[Ian]

The first McDonald's drive thru in America was in Sierra Vista, Arizona. How about that?

[Myron Metcalf]

The first McDonald's. Oh, wow. Okay.

[Ian]

Are you. Do you. Do you do a lot of Drive thru at McDonald's?

[Myron Metcalf]

Try to stay away from it. But the first. I'm always suspect of first because a lot of people claim to have the first of a lot of things. So. But if they say so.

[Ian]

I guess if they say so. Okay, let's do real quickly famous athletes.

[Matt Jones]

That played for my favorite fun fact about Arizona. What is what the London Bridge is in Arizona. Like the actual one you sing. The little London Bridge is falling. Yeah, it's in Arizona. Yes, it is. Yes, it is.

[Ian]

The London Bridge you sing about was based on the plague.

[Matt Jones]

But the first, like the actual London Bridge that was over the River Thames is in Arizona. Like the one that's there now is.

[Ian]

The River Thames is not in Arizona.

[Myron Metcalf]

How did Arizona get it?

[Matt Jones]

They. They bought it. They bought it and they moved it to Arizona.

[Ian]

Oh, okay. Oh, so you're saying the physical.

[Matt Jones]

The actual bridge, like the one they built originally has been all to Arizona. That's there now is not that like it. It's the London Bridge, but it's not the London Bridge that you think of. That's actually in Arizona.

[Ian]

I did not know that. Well, before we, before we let. But that's an interesting fact before we go, best athletes, professional athletes to play in Arizona. I'm gonna give you the top five on this list. You tell me if what order you would put them in.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah.

[Ian]

Phil Mickelson, who played at Arizona State. Steve Nash, Charles Barkley, Larry Fitzgerald, Randy Johnson, which one would you say is the best athlete to have played in Arizona?

[Myron Metcalf]

I'll probably go. Randy Johnson maybe. Probably and then Barkley right behind him. Mickelson third, fourth. Steve Nash, then Larry Fitzgerald.

[Ian]

I'm going to put Mickelson last because I think his exploits were not in Arizona. So I'm just going to take their careers in Arizona. So if you're talking about careers in Arizona, I'm going to put Randy Johnson first, Barkley second. I'm going to go Fitzgerald third.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah.

[Ian]

Nash fourth. That's. And then I'll put Mickelson fifth because he played at Arizona State. But he's, he was known for his time in Arizona.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, that's a good list. That's a strong list though.

[Ian]

Strong list. Babe Ruth, also born in Arizona, but they didn't have a baseball team. It is Amber and Ian here on ESPN Radio.

[Myron Metcalf]

Who the singer Jordan Sparks. I'm looking at these celebrities from Arizona.

[Ian]

Frankie, the singer Jordan Sparks is from Arizona. Then that's how we should end the segment. There is a team name that is back in the debates again. We thought this was over, but thanks to the president. That's back. What should the name of the Washington football team be? That's next here on Amber and Ian.

[Myron Metcalf]

This is the Amber and Ian podcast.

[Ian]

Hey, it's Ryan Reynolds here for Mint Mobile. Now I was looking for fun ways to tell you that Mint's offer of unlimited Premium Wireless for $15 a month is back. So I thought it would be fun if we made $15 bills but it turns out that's very illegal. So there goes my big idea for the commercial. Give it a [e-mail] Switch upfront payment.

[Amber]

Of $45 for a three month plan equivalent to $15 per month required new customer offer for first three months only. Speed slow after 35 gigabytes of network's busy taxes and fees extra. See mintmobile.com after zoomies at the dog park. It's time for drive up at Target. In goes a big bag of kibble and one squeaky chicken toy for the good boy. Drive up. That's ready when you are. Only in the Target app, just tap Target.

[Ian]

It is Amber and Ian here on ESPN Radio presented by Progressive Insurance, Matt Jones and Myron Metcalf. Baseball going on all around the country. My Cincinnati Reds were down eight nothing to the Washington Nationals. But they've come back. It is now 86 iron in a comeback for the Reds. You enjoy the fact my Reds are in the pennant race. Does that make you happy or actually wild card race.

[Myron Metcalf]

It makes you happy. So yeah, I'm happy for you and.

[Ian]

You'Re happy when I'M happy, right?

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, that's good. Cruz and those guys.

[Ian]

Those guys. Those guys, you know, all those other guys. Well, there was an issue that was very controversial in sports for a long time, but had kind of seemingly become settled, which was the names of the baseball team in Cleveland and the football team in Washington, D.C. the now the Washington Commanders and the Cleveland Guardians. But United States President Donald Trump came out yesterday and said both teams should change their name back to their original names of the Indians and the Redskins. Today the President went further and said that if the Washington team did not change its name, he would not approve a deal for their new football stadium. Now, it's a question whether or not that's something that can or can't happen. But just in general, Myron, this has led to the conversation about these names again, and it's entered into the world of sports now. Again, I think most people thought this issue was dead, but when the President speaks, you can't help but it be in the news again. What are your thoughts on the Washington and Cleveland name? And do you think there's a chance that they could get changed? The Cleveland baseball team came out today, said they were not planning on doing it. The Washington mayor said the focus is not on changing the name, but the team owners, which are new, by the way, have not made a comment either way. What's your take on it?

[Myron Metcalf]

You can't bring back any of those names for a lot of reasons, man. My thought was always when you would bring up these names that were offensive to some members of the Native American community, there were always people would say, but there's this group that is okay with it. You know, it honors this group. My problem is always if it offends anybody, if the name itself is that offensive, don't use it. And so many people fought to get rid of those names. I don't know why you would bring that back and offend them all over again, man. So I just, I always thought the conversation was silly because it was people saying, well, everyone's not offended. Well, but some people are and that should be enough. So I hope they don't bring the name back. It would be silly to do it no matter what anyone is calling for.

[Ian]

And sports is a unit, supposed to be a unified thing. Right. I mean, at the end of the day, I always, I'm kind of with you. I always hear people say, well, people shouldn't get offended so much. And. And sometimes I agree with that. But a lot of times I think, okay, are you saying people shouldn't get offended that much, or do you just want to offend people? Right. Like, which is it? Do you think people are being too sensitive or. Or is your goal just to be a jerk? Yeah, because I think the goal of trying to bring these back. I'm not going to sit and say that I know what every Native American thinks on this issue. And I'm sure, like most issues, there's divided opinion on it, but at the same time, what is the upside of bringing it back? Okay. You know, there was an argument maybe before it was changed to say, okay, well, there's some history with this. There's whatever, but society has now moved on. Okay. Whether you enjoyed calling them the guardians or the Commanders, now people do. So what in the world does this accomplish except to make people mad? Like, what. What is the positive of it? And since I see virtually no positive, I don't understand why this would even be something considered. But I do wonder if these owners, especially in Washington, will feel a pressure because a person of a high office is telling them consistently to do it.

[Myron Metcalf]

I hope not. You know what I mean? Like, again, it. It took so much to remove the name. I mean, you're talking about decades and decades, protest. And, you know, I think we had on our show maybe a couple years ago a woman who kind of spearheaded the move to remove the name and just how passionate the people were behind it. I think this is about one of those things where sometimes people want to feel like they can say whatever they want to say without consequence, and they feel like their rights are being threatened.

[Ian]

But why in the realm of sports. Okay. Even if you have that view about regular life, in the realm of sports, I think. I don't care where you are on the political, economic, religious, whatever spectrum, geographical spectrum, we all would agree. One of the great things about sports is the way it unifies people. Right. Like, I mean, who doesn't think that's a great thing? Sports does?

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah.

[Ian]

Well, why. What does that. What. What does it accomplish? I don't understand. What is the. What it would do except just lead to people being angry at each other, which I think this country has plenty of right now.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, it would. It would create more unnecessary controversy. Right. I mean, it would be problematic in a lot of ways. Why is it happening? Sports people think that they know a lot more than they really do too often. Right. Like, sports people sometimes don't understand that there's a world around us that really doesn't care about sports. Yes. Whereas a name like this, it's so much bigger than what's happening on the field. It's so much bigger than the NFL. Even so, I just don't understand why you would bring something like that back. That clearly there are a lot of people against.

[Ian]

If you're the Washington owner, if you're Myron Metcalf and you own the Washington football team, which, by the way, I liked that name when they were the Washington football team for a couple years, I thought that was a really great name. Let's say you're the owner, though, of the commanders. What are you doing right now, like, knowing you need a stadium and knowing this? Like, what are you doing?

[Myron Metcalf]

I'm not changing the name. I know that.

[Ian]

I mean, but you're going to get asked about this. I mean, you're not Jerry Jones having a press conference every day, but you're going to get asked about it. What are you saying?

[Myron Metcalf]

Fine. But, like, we all connect. We also could act like there weren't decades of people moving against the old name.

[Ian]

Okay, so what are you going to. So again. But what do you say? I'm. Let me. Let's play it. I'm a reporter.

[Myron Metcalf]

Okay.

[Ian]

Hello, this is Matt Jones, Amber and ian radio on ESPN. Mr. Metcalf, Commander's owner, would. What is your response to the president saying you need to change the name?

[Myron Metcalf]

No. Next question. That's my response. No.

[Ian]

Could it give a flat no? You just go say no.

[Myron Metcalf]

You can't say more than no. Like, if I ran a PR crisis firm. You can't say more than no. Because once you get in, once you make it a conversation that's only going to, you know, add more gasoline to the flames of it. You just say no.

[Ian]

So you're going to say no and walk out?

[Myron Metcalf]

Listen. No. Next question. That's all. You know what I said? They're not a conversation about it.

[Ian]

Here's what I love. I love the Myron Metcalf school. Press gets up there. I'd like to see. I would like to see you be like, the mayor of a town. Mayor. What do you think about raising taxes?

[Myron Metcalf]

No, listen, these people answer way too many questions.

[Ian]

What about education? I'm for it. Next question.

[Myron Metcalf]

Figure it out. I don't know.

[Ian]

Well, some could take Myron's brevity to heart in the NFL. We'll tell you about him next.

[Myron Metcalf]

Thanks for listening to Amber in the End, the podcast. You can listen to Amber and Ian live weeknights from 7 to 10 Eastern on ESPN radio, the ESPN app, and on SiriusXM channel 80. Amber and Ian, the podcast.

[Rachel]

ESPN fantasy football is more than just a game. It's thousands of stories in the making. Like that one league that hasn't missed a draft since the 20th century. Or the one that decides their draft order by competing in a legit athletic combine. Or the league where they if you come in last, you have to sit in a closet and assemble a 300 piece puzzle in the dark. Yeah, that stuff really actually happened. The football may be fantasy, but the stories are 100% real. So download the ESPN fantasy app, sign up and start your story today. Insights with IBM Watson X.