Hour 2: College Football Playoff Expansion?

Summary

Podcast Summary: Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron

Episode: Hour 2: College Football Playoff Expansion?
Release Date: May 11, 2025
Hosts: Matt Jones and Myron Metcalf
Platform: ESPN Radio

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1. Mother's Day Celebrations and Berea College

The episode kicks off with Matt sharing his plans for Mother's Day. He reveals that he will be meeting his mother at the Boone Tavern in Berea, Kentucky, known for its signature dish, spoon bread—a Southern delicacy that resembles a soft, pudding-like bread.

Notable Quote:

Matt Jones [02:30]: "Boone Tavern in Berea, which by the way was the first Berea College, is a free college in America where poor students can go and you can go to school for free. You just have to work during the entire time you're in school."

Myron responds appreciatively, highlighting the unique model of Berea College where students receive free education in exchange for labor, fostering a symbiotic relationship with the local community.

2. Bill Belichick and Miss Maine 2025

Transitioning to sports headlines, Matt discusses the surprising appearance of NFL coach Bill Belichick at the Miss Maine 2025 finals held at the Holiday Inn in Portland, Maine.

Notable Quote:

Matt Jones [05:15]: "Isn't that. You don't think I have a presence?"

The conversation delves into the media frenzy surrounding Belichick's personal life, particularly his relationship with Jordan Hudson, a contestant in the Miss Maine pageant. Myron critiques the potential distractions this might cause for Belichick, considering his prominent role in the NFL.

Notable Quote:

Myron Metcalf [07:16]: "I think we're all in that boat. I think people just have different perspectives on it."

Matt speculates humorously on the impact of this storyline on Belichick's public image, expressing fascination with the intertwining of personal and professional lives in sports personalities.

3. Sports Headlines Overview

The hosts briefly cover various sports news, including:

• NHL: Carolina Hurricanes defeating the Washington Capitals with standout performances by Andrei Svechnikov and Freddie Anderson.
  Quote:

  Joe Fordham [15:15]: "Andrei Svechnikov pounced on a loose face off puck for his sixth postseason goal."

• MLB: The Colorado Rockies experiencing a historically poor season, matching the worst 39-game start in major league history.
  Quote:

  Joe Fordham [17:52]: "The Colorado Rockies are 6 and 33 after a 21 to nothing drubbing in the hands of the Padres."

• WWE Backlash: John Cena retaining his WWE title against Randy Orton through controversial means, sparking discussions about Cena's character arc and legacy.
  Quote:

  Myron Metcalf [20:07]: "I hate it for him, man. And you heard the crowd, you know, John Cena stinks."

4. NBA Playoffs: Denver Nuggets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

A significant portion of the episode focuses on the NBA playoffs, specifically the Denver Nuggets' performance against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Hosts analyze Aaron Gordon's impact, Nikola Jokić's unique playing style, and the broader implications for both teams in the series.

Notable Quote:

Myron Metcalf [27:40]: "He's one of us in that way where it's like, I'm going to go to work, I'm going to do what I'm really good at, and then I want to go home and do the things that I really enjoy."

Matt praises Jokić's unconventional yet effective approach on the court, noting his exceptional vision and anticipation despite lacking traditional athleticism.

Notable Quote:

Unknown [29:14]: "Nikola Jokić has great vision and anticipation. It's so fun to watch because it's the stuff that you don't necessarily expect as a spectator."

The discussion also touches on the Thunder's pressure to perform and the Nuggets' strategic advantages, emphasizing the emotional and tactical elements influencing the outcome of the series.

5. College Football Playoff Expansion

In the latter part of the episode, Matt and Myron delve into the proposed expansion of the College Football Playoff from 12 to 16 teams. They discuss the implications for major conferences like the SEC and Big Ten, which would receive four automatic bids each, and the potential benefits and drawbacks of such a system.

Notable Quote:

Myron Metcalf [39:10]: "It's inevitable. I mean, it's not surprising. Does it make the playoff better? I don't know. But at the end of the day, college sports is dictated by whatever the Big Ten and SEC want to do."

Matt expresses support for the expansion, arguing that it would likely result in the SEC and Big Ten securing multiple playoff spots regardless of the formal structure.

Notable Quote:

Matt Jones [39:54]: "I actually think that the sort of hand wringing about the SEC and Big Ten getting four is kind of silly because, Myron, I think if you were just to pick the 16 teams, you'd probably end up with four in each of those leagues anyway."

The hosts contemplate the balance between maintaining competitive integrity and accommodating the dominance of powerhouse conferences, with a consensus leaning towards the inevitability of the change.

Conclusion

The episode concludes with Matt and Myron reiterating their commitment to covering the evolving landscape of college football playoffs and teasing upcoming sports analyses.

Notable Quote:

Matt Jones [43:53]: "Yeah, I don't think it's about accepting that. I think it's the reality that if you're in charge of the ACC right now, you know that this destabilizes your league even more."

They express anticipation for future discussions on how these changes will reshape college sports, ensuring listeners stay informed on pivotal developments.

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Note: Advertisements, musical interludes, and non-content segments were omitted from this summary to focus solely on the substantive discussions between Matt Jones and Myron Metcalf.

Transcript

[Matt Jones]

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[Myron Metcalf]

This is Matt and Myron the podcast.

[Matt Jones]

It is Sunday morning here on ESPN Radio, presented by Progressive Insurance, Matt Jones, Myron Metcalf on a beautiful Mother's Day. At least it is here in Kentucky. Wherever you are, I hope it's beautiful. I'm meeting my mom at 2:30, Myron, at the Boone Tavern in Berea, Kentucky. Do you know what the Boone Tavern in Berea, Kentucky is known for? Myron, in terms of food, do you.

[Myron Metcalf]

Know what would make you think I know?

[Matt Jones]

Well, I don't. It's just a setup for me to tell you and so you're supposed to say no, I don't know. So go ahead. Do you know what the food the Boone Tavern in Berea is known for?

[Myron Metcalf]

Surprisingly, I don't. Matt, why don't you tell me?

[Matt Jones]

Okay. And the answer is spoon bread. Do you know what spoon bread is?

[Myron Metcalf]

Nah, I don't know what spoon bread is.

[Matt Jones]

Look up spoon bread. It's a Southern food. It is basically bread. Okay, think about bread in almost like a pudding form. Okay, so, so look up on. Look up spoon bread.

[Myron Metcalf]

It is amazing pudding. Like bread pudding?

[Matt Jones]

Well, no, because bread pudding is mostly pudding and this is mostly bread. It's like bread that is so soft it like melts in your mouth. Like, it's not like cornbread.

[Myron Metcalf]

Like this looks like corn.

[Matt Jones]

It's like cornbread, but if it was a little more melty than even cornbread and it's. And you eat it sometimes with a spoon, hence the spoon bread. Right. And it's very Appalachian bread. It's very good. And like, people don't make it as much anymore. But Boone Tavern in Berea, which by the way was the first Berea College, is. I don't know if you know this, Myron. You don't. It's, it's a free college in America where poor students can go and you can go to school for free. You just have to work during the entire time you're in school. You have to be low income in Appalachia and it's free college and it's a great school and, and you work all the way through It. That's Berea College. That's where I'm going for Mother's Day.

[Myron Metcalf]

That's a. That's a great lesson. History lesson. A spoon bread lesson. That's cool, man. I hope you. I hope you enjoy it, man.

[Matt Jones]

But I mean, isn't that a neat idea for a college? A college that's completely free and it's completely free. You just have to agree to work. And so all the towns, the businesses in the towns, they employ these students and that's how they get to go to school. So the whole town, like all the businesses are run by the students from the school. I think that's kind of interesting, don't you? Yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

Where is Berea?

[Matt Jones]

It's in Berea, Kentucky.

[Myron Metcalf]

Where's Berea, though?

[Matt Jones]

Berea, Kentucky. It's about 30 or 40 minutes from Lexington, Kentucky. So there you go. Just a little piece of news now. That's what I'm doing for Mother's Day. What are you doing for Mother's Day?

[Myron Metcalf]

Well, my mother's in Milwaukee. Barbara. Happy Mother's Day. So I sent her this really impressive bouquet of flowers that she likes. She liked the. Is it.

[Matt Jones]

You didn't think about go. You didn't think about going down there?

[Myron Metcalf]

Well, I thought about it, but you know, that stuff here. But my mom was happy. Me and my mom are good, I think, you know, we're okay. So. I don't know that. I don't know. This is your time to question if my way of celebrating Mother's Day is okay Just cause I didn't eat cornbread with my mama at noon.

[Matt Jones]

You don't think you like. Would like. Yes. Food bread on Mother's Day?

[Myron Metcalf]

We're okay. I didn't go and get spoon bread with her, but she loved it. I don't know if it's vase or vase, which. I don't know. People say two different ways. Well, some people say vase. I mean, that's.

[Joe Fordham]

I think you should continue to say it that way.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, go ahead and say.

[Myron Metcalf]

I think more educated people say vase, you know, but she, she. She loved the vase.

[Matt Jones]

Okay.

[Myron Metcalf]

Told me she had never seen a bouquet like the one I sent.

[Matt Jones]

And what'd you send it in again?

[Myron Metcalf]

A vase. She said it was the most. It was the most beautiful vase she had ever seen.

[Matt Jones]

I don't think that's what she said.

[Myron Metcalf]

A card. And then I also sent a. With this QR code, I sent a video of myself. So, like, she picks up her phone and goes to this QR code.

[Matt Jones]

Wait a minute. You Bought your mom a cameo of yourself for. For her, basically.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah. You could. You could toss it in as part of the package, and then I put it all in a vase.

[Matt Jones]

That's good. You were able to get something nice and save money in the process with a package. That's very nice. Both beautiful and frugal.

[Myron Metcalf]

I got a card, too.

[Matt Jones]

A card, too, and a vase.

[Myron Metcalf]

And then. Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Myron Metcalf]

And then this afternoon, I'm hanging out with my girlfriend and her family, and. Yeah, I'm having a good Mother's Day.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. Good. Well, I'm good. Well, I'll tell you who's doing something different for Mother's Day. Bill Belichick. Because Bill Belichick today will be at the Miss Main 2025 finals for Mother's Day. Yes.

[Myron Metcalf]

Can I say something real quick?

[Matt Jones]

If you want. Yeah, go ahead.

[Myron Metcalf]

Do all the states really need a missed campaign? I mean, doesn't it feel like Maine, Rhode Island, Vermont?

[Matt Jones]

You think they should come out together.

[Myron Metcalf]

And have one pool, have one contest?

[Matt Jones]

I don't know. I hadn't really thought about it. I didn't think we'd have a situation where Ms. Maine would come up on this show. We usually don't cover it extensively, but. But Bill Belichick's girlfriend, Jordan Hudson, is in the Miss Main contest as of this moment in the fan vote, which is part of how they pick the winner. It's not the only way they pick it. Miss. She is in second place. And you can vote on Ms. Maine. It only cost a dollar to make a vote, and you can vote. And she is in second place. I'm a little surprised with the money Belichick has that she's in second. I would have thought he would have gone ahead and, you know, sprinkled some dollars around, but people who wondered if the relationship was. Was on the rocks. No, because he was at the Holiday Inn last night in Portland, Maine. I can't believe I'm saying that sentence. He was at the Holiday Inn in Portland, Maine for the Miss Main contest. Now, Myron, I have to say to you, everybody, it's become a thing since that CBS interview. Always Bill Belichick, okay? Is he being exploited, et cetera? Julian Edelman was worried. You know, Pablo Torre had a story this week. I find this story fascinating. I know it's not the kind of thing that people should care about, but I can't help but care about it. Everything that happens is crazier and more entertaining than the last. Is it weird that I think the Belichick story is some of the better Entertainment of 2025.

[Myron Metcalf]

I think we're all in that boat. I think people just have different perspectives on it. You know, college sports, Matt. And you know, college administrators. Can you imagine Bubba Cunningham, the AD at North Carolina, getting a phone call this weekend? Hey, Bill, where are you gonna be this weekend? We'll be in Portland, Maine, at the Holiday Inn. Cause my girlfriend's in the Miss Main contest. Like, that's the thing for me. I think co quietly. And you know this. I think the difference between the NFL and college. The NFL is like, whatever. If you win, we'll leave you alone, do whatever. College is so image conscious. Like, college is like you have to put on. You're the face of the program and you represent everything we are. And you know, all those people in that building, they are so about whatever the UNC culture is, this has to be crushing them that this has become a story. I don't care about that.

[Matt Jones]

Unc. UNC has always seen itself kind of above other public universities. Right? It was what it's like Virginia and Michigan, Cal, they kind of see themselves as one of the elite public institutions. And they're at the Miss Maine contest at the Portland Holiday Inn. Like, I do think that's kind of funny for people who've been around UNC and Chapel Hill. Now, what do you. So Pablo Torre came out with a story that said basically that she had been banned from the North Carolina facility. And that made some news. And then this was crazy to me. The University of North Carolina issued an official statement from the university saying that Jordan Hudson was welcome anywhere she wanted to be at uncle. That was. I mean, can you imagine the PR people drafting that statement this week?

[Myron Metcalf]

I don't think we've talked about actual UNC football in three months, by the way. Like, who's their quarterback? Like, what's their prospects of the acc? No one has a clue because we've been talking about this stuff. Here's what I say about Pablo Torre, who was a former employee at espn. I think he maybe does some stuff still. One of the great reporters of my generation. Like, Pablo has done incredible work in reporting one of the smartest individuals you will ever encounter. I think he's 100% right. And here's why. If you read that statement, the statement does not actually contradict what Pablo said. It says she is still a welcome guest at the facility who can handle Belichick's affairs. Matt, you and I can fly to the UNC football facility right now and walk in the doors. Like, they're not going to ban us at the doors. What there's, what Pablo is saying is she doesn't get to have a role in the program anymore. She doesn't have her hands on anything related to UNC football. And I just think, unless he wins 11 games, Matt, how on earth does this not end in disaster at unc?

[Matt Jones]

I probably will, but I'm going to enjoy watching every minute while it happens. I mean, the videos of her at the spring game, the CBS interview, like, her walking around with that jacket around her elbows the one time. And then Belichick. I think what's partially unbelievable about this is if you had told me any sports figure this could happen to Belichick might have been last on my list. Like, Mr. No distractions were on to Cincinnati. All of that. Like, the fact that it's happening with him, I think is partially why people are so baffled by. And the fact is, if she were to win Miss Maine today, is he going to go up on stage? Like, is he going to be standing there next to the Ms. Main Sash that she's wearing? And if so, is that like the best picture of 2025? I mean, what happens then, Myron?

[Myron Metcalf]

I don't, I don't know. But like, again, if you, if you're Bubba Cunningham, like, hey, man, are you supposed to be here, like, designing plays for your new team? Like, what are you doing? It's, and I'll say this, the storyline part of it for a lot of people has become her age, the age gap, all those things. This could be a spouse, it could be a friend, it could be a brother, it could be a lot of things. At the end of the day, it's a distraction. And that's the most odd thing. But I'll tell you what, because he's one of those stubborn guys and that's his entire personality. Matt, if you tell him, don't do something. If you tell him this is bad, a guy like that is going to dig his heels in even further and show you that he is never moving on from this woman.

[Matt Jones]

I hope she wins. I hope she wins. Because if she wins, this will be the highest rated Miss USA pageant in the history of mankind. With Bella. Check up there. Like we. I hope she wins. Go in Miss Maine. I mean, like, it's fine. I hope they give us celebratory lobster at the end of it. We'll do it now. This is not. That's not the only headline, though. There are other headlines, arguably bigger than that one. We will deal with them next on Sunday. Headlines on ESPN Radio.

[Mike Cousins]

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[Myron Metcalf]

Matt and Myron.

[Matt Jones]

The Podcast There's Joe Fordma here on Sunday Morning. Matt and Myron no rap lyrics in his love to his mother. Maybe not because it maybe I do like that he said I wouldn't be here without my mother. I think that's true of everybody actually.

[Myron Metcalf]

We all in the same.

[Matt Jones]

I think that's a universal truth. None of us would be here without me that I think everybody listening could say that no matter whether you have a good relationship with your mother or not. Sunday morning is presented by Progressive Insurance. Protect your auto, home and business [e-mail] now it's just not just basketball, you know, Belichick and horse racing. There's other headlines you need to know about and that's why we do Sunday morning headlines. Extra, extra. Read all about it.

[Myron Metcalf]

Read all about it. The Sunday headlines.

[Matt Jones]

All right, let's get started. James. Give me the first one.

[Joe Fordham]

Yeah. Andrei Svechnikov pounced on a loose face off puck for his sixth postseason goal. And Freddie Anderson had 21 saves as the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Washington Capitals 4 nothing on Saturday night for a 21 lead in their second round playoff series. Matt, I know you're a big kayniac. How you feeling about that?

[Matt Jones]

So I got. I got up yesterday. I walked. I went for a long walk. Myron. I walked to Skyline Chile from my house. That's an hour and 45 minute walk. 8. Skyline Chili walked back home so I could be home in time for the Hurricanes in the Capitals. And with that 9, 10 mile walk and a belly full of Chili rooted. Mike, Hurricanes on. They got the victory 2:1. Now they play again tomorrow night, ready to potentially take out our rivals to move to the Eastern Conference finals. Turn that music down just a little bit. Thank you. It feels like I'm the Brian Setzer Orchestra over here. I. Go ahead, Myron.

[Myron Metcalf]

Do y' all have taxis down there? What's your situation?

[Matt Jones]

Well, we know. I just. I like to go for walks and Skyline Chile, it sits heavy on your stomach, so I feel like if I'm going to eat it, the way to do it is to walk it off. Going there and going back.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, you got too much money to be walking that long. But anyway, I think Carolina, yeah, big move for them. I mean, the Ovechkin. You know, everybody I think, is rooting for Ovechkin and not me. Capitals and me wanted to put. No, everyone loves Ovechkin, right? He's. He loves.

[Matt Jones]

Who? Why. Why would you love him? He. He's on our rival. You. I mean, you're not supposed to love the guys on your. Plus, he looks 73. He looks like he's been through. He looks like he's been through a winter storm.

[Myron Metcalf]

He looks more and more like, you know, the ten Commandments in the movie, when Moses comes down with the like, that's how he looks.

[Matt Jones]

No, he looks like in a movie. In a movie when they're about to raid like a. A log cabin that nobody's been to in 10 years and they walk up to it and a man walks out and goes, what are you doing on my property? That's what Ovechkin looks like.

[Myron Metcalf]

He definitely looks like he's one of those, like, Yellowstone. One of those.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. He looks like a guy who's not been in public in three years and wants you to know you better not be on his property without a good excuse. That's what Omen looks like. And so, yes, we need to beat him. What are you talking about? Who's up there?

[Myron Metcalf]

But the General fan wants to see, I think him finish the story. You know, not me. I do. I want to see.

[Matt Jones]

All right, well, you're wrong. Who's next?

[Joe Fordham]

He's not Cody Rhodes. We don't want him to see it.

[Matt Jones]

We don't want to watch him finish the story.

[Myron Metcalf]

The Colorado.

[Matt Jones]

Stay off. Stay off my property. Hurricane.

[Myron Metcalf]

NHL. The NHL.

[Joe Fordham]

I think the Colorado Rockies F A 6 and 33 after a 21 to nothing drubbing in the hands of the Padres Saturday night in Denver, matching the 1988 Baltimore Orioles for the worst 39 game start in the major since the 1900s. Pretty bad.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. I watched three games of them because the Reds played them a couple of weeks ago and they're the worst baseball team I've ever seen. I mean they can't hit, they can't pitch, they can't field. Like they're awful. And the Reds played in Colorado with that thin air and the Rockies scored like two runs the whole time. They're the worst team I've ever seen. And now I'm hoping they break the record for worst baseball team in history because I think it's fun when records are set.

[Myron Metcalf]

Myron, A good measuring stick of a team and how good or how bad they are is run differential. Run scored runs against their run differential right now is minus 134. Like that doesn't seem.

[Matt Jones]

It feels like 40 games and they've only played.

[Myron Metcalf]

But it feels like you should be kicked out of baseball once your run deferential differential goes below 100. Right? Like I've never seen a number like that. Minus 134.

[Matt Jones]

They're only a few. They're only a fourth of the way through the season. It could be they might finish their run differential at minus 550 or something like it's. It has a chance to be insane. Go. You know, hey, go Rockies. Folks in Denver, good seats still available for the rest of the games throughout the season.

[Myron Metcalf]

I walk in at this point. Security at this point. All right.

[Joe Fordham]

Next is the Is the biggest headline coming out of Yesterday out of St. Louis, WWE Backlash, where John Cena retained his WWE title against Randy Orton. Hometown boy Randy Orton via nefarious means a low blow and a shot to the head with a title belt. And then in the post show press Conference, put r truth through a table.

[Matt Jones]

A few things here. First of all, I think it's hilarious they now do press conferences at the end of wrestling.

[Joe Fordham]

It's really fun to watch.

[Matt Jones]

These guys need to talk to the media after the wrestling's over. I was glad Travis Scott wasn't involved. I kept waiting for Eddie Vedder to come out and be involved in it, but that didn't happen. It is weird watching them. These are two OVW guys, right? So these are my. These are my people. John Cena and Randy Orton. But they. You could tell their age. There was a little bit of, you know, a little bit of Ovechkin in that match as well as it went. But it makes Myron so mad that John Cena is a bad guy now. And you just kept texting us about it last night. Why does it upset you so much?

[Myron Metcalf]

I wanted to be a man, you know, Want him to look me in the eye and tell me that he's happy with what he's done with his legacy. I just. The late career. He'll turn, man. I just. I. I hate it for. For him, man. And you heard the crowd, you know, John Cena stinks. You know, this. This guy is supposed to be one of the good guys. That wasn't a word. But, like, he's supposed to be one of the good guys. And then the way he won, you know, just kind of cheated. It just. It just doesn't sit well, man. It doesn't sit well.

[Joe Fordham]

I don't know, but you look like, look like, look like after that match, he kind of couldn't believe what he was doing. The monster he became. I don't know. Looks like maybe he's regretting things.

[Matt Jones]

You think he's looking in the mirror, Myron, and he's upset? I mean, has he stared into the abyss and now the abyss stares into him.

[Myron Metcalf]

He's tapped into the darkness already. It's too late. You don't get it back.

[Matt Jones]

Is that right?

[Myron Metcalf]

The problem? I think he wants to go back and then.

[Matt Jones]

And let me tell you something, you sound like Nietzsche.

[Myron Metcalf]

Listen, if he turns. If he turns and tries to go good again, any fan who embraces that is a fraud.

[Matt Jones]

You can't. Well, you know, pretty much every wrestler at some point, Myron has gone heel and face. Like that's kind of how it goes.

[Myron Metcalf]

I don't care about every wrestler. I'm telling you about John Cena. If he turns good and you embrace him. Fraud.

[Matt Jones]

All right, well, I guess you will not have seen at your party anytime soon, but I want to see. Congrats to Cena on retaining the title. Although you will never retain Myron's respect, the Thunder and the Nuggets are going for Game four. We will help get you ready for it and more here on Sunday Morning with Matt and Myron. Does it ever feel like you're a marketing professional just speaking into the void?

[Myron Metcalf]

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[Matt Jones]

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[Myron Metcalf]

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[Myron Metcalf]

On your next campaign. Get started at LinkedIn.com results, terms and conditions apply. This episode is brought to you by State Farm. Knowing you could be saving money for the things you really want is a great feeling. Talk to a State Farm agent today to learn how you can choose to bundle and save with a personal price plan. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer. Availability, amount of discounts and savings and.

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[Myron Metcalf]

Matt and Myron the Podcast it is.

[Matt Jones]

Sunday morning here with Matt Myron on ESPN Radio. Right now, if you were in Spain, you could be, well, you could actually watch it in America and El Classico Barcelona and Real Madrid. Barcelona's up four to two and we were just talking about him in a very exciting game. Byron, you even have it on and you hate soccer.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, man, Barcelona, Real Madrid has been intense. But Bobby and Rapanina, that's his name. There's a dude on Barcelona named Rapanina who I think is playing well too.

[Matt Jones]

That's a great way to sell. You seem you can hear the excitement in your voice as you were talking about it. Mike Cousins is ESPN's radio play by play one of his whether one of our personalities, he'll be on the Nuggets Thunder game. Mike, let's start with this. Before he came on, Myron goes, I'll tell you what now you and I, Mike, have not met. And Myron said, I'll tell you what, Matt, Mike's a lot taller than you'd think he is. And I said, well, we've never met, so I didn't have any predispositions about his height whatsoever. But just so you know, Mike, Myron believes you are much taller than the average person would think you are.

[Unknown]

You know, I actually looked this up out of Curiosity. I am on the far right of the bell curve, the 99th percentile of height at 6 foot 4. But it also comes with a caveat of 190 pounds. So it also comes with no athletic ability whatsoever.

[Matt Jones]

Well, I'm six foot four as well. And I think maybe it's just Myron's jealousy, Mike, that has his problem. You and I being on the end of the bell curve, we are kind of, I think he thinks maybe superior to him.

[Myron Metcalf]

No, Mike.

[Unknown]

Myron, what you're missing here is you don't, you don't realize how easy you have it in terms of fitting into airplane seats, buying clothes, appreciate what you have.

[Matt Jones]

Yes, clothes, Mike, is to find shirts that fit and like that aren't. They're either too wide or too baggy. Like it's very hard being 6 foot 4.

[Myron Metcalf]

It was a compliment.

[Unknown]

Oh, why don't you just go to the big and tall store? Because you have to be big and tall. It's not the big or tall store.

[Matt Jones]

And they know it's not like Mike has a fashion trends to the big and tall store. It's not like Versace is trying to get ready for the big and tall store. It is very. It's a very difficult life for all of us.

[Myron Metcalf]

But I don't see you all the same. Mike has a presence when he walks in the room, is what I was trying to say. Like, you know, you don't think I have a presence? Not. Not like that? No.

[Matt Jones]

How do I not have a presence? I.

[Myron Metcalf]

It's not the same way.

[Matt Jones]

That's very rude. All right, Mike, as before, since Myron's going to take more shots at me, let's go to the game today. The Nuggets great win in game. In game three, a surprising win in some ways. Aaron Gordon hits a big shot. You know, the Thunder had the ball up three with 40 seconds left and ended up losing the game in overtime. I feel like today though, for the Nuggets to win the series, I still feel like they have to win this game today. I think they need to go up 3 1. Do you agree with that?

[Unknown]

Yeah, I do. Because you're going to go back home, back to Oklahoma City. And one of the things that I think, you know, I'm curious to get David Adelman's take, the interim head coach of the Nuggets on this is that when they went seven against the Clippers, they had a day of rest versus like a week of rest for okc. And then unless this series goes seven, it's a game every other day for the Nuggets. Not to mention that you've got an injured Michael Porter Jr. Who can't raise his left arm above his head without a significant degree of pain. So, yeah, you want to be able to do that. Now, if you go up two games to one, the odds are already historically in your face. Teams win the series 74% of the time. But against this team, I mean, you just look at the way that the Thunder plate, yes, games one and three haven't gone their way, but they beat the Grizzlies by 20 points a game. They won game two by 43 points. So if you don't show up at your best every day against them, we've seen what can happen. And so Denver can't take it easy here. Looking at the way that Knicks went into their game yesterday, and it didn't work out very well for them with complacency.

[Myron Metcalf]

Mike, Aaron Gordon has had a, you know, a very difficult year. Losing his brother, you know, helping raise his brother's kids. And now he's been a hero for this Denver team. What kind of emotional boost has he given this Denver Nuggets team?

[Unknown]

I think it's been tremendous. You know, he's a. He's a leader on and off the floor. Now, in his 10th year in the league, he's had his nephews come live with him, so he's proven to be a great role model. His three point shooting, this is far and away the best of his career. Last year he shot 29 from three. This year he's at 44%. And when he's, when he does well in a game, that's a harbinger of good outcomes for the Nuggets, because in his career in Denver, since he got here, this is his fourth full season, they're 11 and 1 in the postseason when he scores at least 20 points. So in two games in this series, he scored 22. Game two, nobody played well. He only scored 10 points. But he's been phenomenal with the dunk to beat the buzzer in game four against the Clippers. And then two clutch time shots in this series as well.

[Matt Jones]

Talking to Mike Cousins, ESPN's play by play guy, and according to Myron Metcalf, a presence. When you actually, when you see him.

[Myron Metcalf]

In person, stand next to him, you would see it.

[Matt Jones]

I feel like I'm a presence, too. And you did just completely ignore that.

[Unknown]

You just assume mine is like pig pen from Peanuts and I've just got a cloud of dust around me. I think that's what my.

[Matt Jones]

A guy that seems like a presence to me, and I've actually never watched him in person. I and I want to fix this before his career is over. Is is Jokic, and you have seen him up close and I just almost wonder is like the wizard wizardry of what he does as impressive when you see that he sort of is this hulking figure going down the floor, not particularly fast, not particularly strong, not particularly athletic. And yet the things he does are just absolutely amazing.

[Unknown]

It the first time I saw him play in person was maybe two or three years ago, and it defies the expectations of everything that we've been taught to think that an amazing athlete would be. You know, let's say that the poster for that is Jordan, a high leaper, a fast mover, a tremendous burst. Jokic has none of those things in particular. He's not fast. He doesn't have great bursts, but he does have great vision and anticipation. And it's so fun to watch because it's the stuff that you don't necessarily expect as a spectator, as a player and a teammate. You have to be ready for any pass at any time, anywhere. And so just watching him play defies all of those things. And I think that's what makes it fun for me, too. I think the fun part is like, this is a guy who just, if you've ever read Michael Singer's book, who covers the Nuggets, and he put out a biography on Jokic last year. It's a guy who he plays basketball and likes to win. But given his choice, I think he'd be, you know, we know he'd rather be watching horses in Serbia. And so he comes out here, he does this, and then, you know, when they, when they wanted a couple of years ago, he goes, how far away is the is the championship celebration? Oh, brother, I need to go home. I can't stay for this parade. You know, so it's he's. He's one of us in that way where it's like, I'm going to go to work, I'm going to do what I'm really good at, and then I want to go home and do the things that I really enjoy. But to Oklahoma City's credit, you know, the last two games he shot under 40% for the season, he shoots 58%. So that's a significant deviation. He's averaging a career worth seven turnovers in the three games in this series, and yet Denver has still found a way to win two of three. So if he really starts to get going. You know, in game one, he scored 42, but if he gets going, then watch out. But they're. Oklahoma City is making a gamble. We're going to collapse the defense on him and hope that the other guys don't beat us.

[Myron Metcalf]

OKC swept the Pelicans the first round last year, lost 2, 4 in the next round, swept again this year. Now here they are down. How much pressure are they feeling to. To not be this team that comes in as the top seat again and doesn't even get to the Western Conference finals?

[Unknown]

Yeah, I think. I think it's significant. And when we talk about, you know, what difference does youth and inexperience make? I think that's going to be one of the big questions that we're going to ask. And we'll hear it on pregame today, 3 Eastern, here on ESPN Radio with David Adelman and Mark Daignall is how much does that experience matter? And David Adelman talked about it a little bit the other day is maybe it does in. In clutch time. They're the second youngest, number one seed in NBA history, second only to themselves a year ago with the core of this group really swapping out Alex Caruso for Josh Giddey. So, yeah, the pressure is on here to say, you know, of course they've got a lot of draft capital down the line, but with a team like this and with a presumptive MVP with Shay Gilgis Alexander, there's a lot of pressure to get it done. So I think that's got away on these guys. Whether they say it or not, it's just human to have high expectations of yourselves after you were the best defensive team in the country and you won an NBA record 54 games by 10 or more points during the regular season.

[Matt Jones]

I gotta ask you one last question to get you out last during game three, they flashed the sideline in overtime and Russell Westbrook sits down in the coach's chair and it looks like he's coaching the team. I mean, honestly, you would have thought he was in charge. Is it like that during the game? Is he like Coach Russ during these. During these games?

[Unknown]

I don't claim the divination to be able to know exactly how that's working. I have seen some nugget stands on social media putting together the portmanteau of Nikola Kojich with how much he's been doing in the huddle, but I think that's also the sign of a good team that has gotten itself on the right track because you don't fire A championship winning coach with three games to go in the regular season and the GM on top of that as well. We should say unless things are not harmonious in the locker room and in the huddle. And so clearly this is something that has gotten this team back on the right track. If you are. Every team says it from, you know, Myron covering college basketball, the most cliche, we want to be a player led team kind of thing. But in this case when it's a three time MVP saying it and it's Russell Westbrook, the guy who's got the most triple doubles in the history of the sport doing it, I think that's a good sign in conjunction with your coaching staff not usurping the guys who are paid to coach the team.

[Matt Jones]

Mike Cousins, taller than you think, ESPN play by play radio host. We the pregame starts at 3:00. Mike, thank you very much and good luck in the department stores trying to find shirts to fit your arms.

[Unknown]

Well, with a face for radio and a voice for newspaper, I'm happy to be with you guys. Thank you.

[Matt Jones]

Thank you very much. There you go. I don't like that. You don't think I have a presence. I mean I'm tall, broad shouldered. You think when I walk in a room, no presence?

[Myron Metcalf]

No, I just said it's a different kind of presence. You also walk two and a half hours from Skyline Chile the other day, which I think that takes away some of the presence elements. Man, you know cousins ain't doing that. My cousins ain't walking two hours to Skyline Chili and walking back.

[Matt Jones]

It just means I'm unlike you and your little media friends. I am a man of the people and I will walk amongst them to go eat food that is working class food. I don't have to have your little caviar and you know, foie gras. I'm out here.

[Myron Metcalf]

Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute. Did you just tell us about going to some million dollar party the other day, Mr. Man of the people, isn't that.

[Matt Jones]

Yes. And I, I after it was over I wanted to go to McDonald's. So thank you very much. We the college Football playoff is about to change and you may not even know about it. Is the change good? We will tell you and have the final word on whether it's positive. That's next here on Matt and Myron on ESPN Radio. Hey there travelers. Kaley Cuoco here. Sorry to interrupt your music. Great artist BT Dubs, but wouldn't you rather be there to hear it live with Priceline. You can get out of your dreams and into your dream concert. They've got millions of of travel deals to get you to that festival gig, rave, sound bath or sonic experience you've been dreaming of. Download the Priceline app today and you can save up to 60% off hotels and up to 50% off flights. So don't just dream about that trip. Book it with Priceline.

[Myron Metcalf]

Go to your happy price. Priceline.

[Matt Jones]

The new McCrispy Strip is here.

[Unknown]

Dip approved by Ketchup, Tangy barbecue, Honey mustard, honey mustard, Sprite, McFlurry, Big Mac sauce, double dipped in buffalo and ranch, More ranch and creamy chili.

[Matt Jones]

McCrispy strip dip now at McDonald' Matt.

[Myron Metcalf]

And Myron, the podcast.

[Matt Jones]

It's a great song here, by the way. Papa love Mama, but lot Mama love men. That happens sometimes. What a great message. Mama's in the graveyard, Papa's in the pen. Happy Mother's Day. From ESPN Radio, Myron Metcalf. Matt Jones.

[Myron Metcalf]

What is this song?

[Matt Jones]

This is Garth Brooks. Papa loved Mama, but Mama loved Men. And now Mama's in the graveyard and Papa's in the pen. An odd choice by a producer to play on Mother's Day, but nevertheless.

[Myron Metcalf]

Did he do it?

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. I think the implication of the song is that Papa killed mom because mom was having relations with other.

[Myron Metcalf]

Oh, yeah, we know that's not. We just play Dear Mama, man. We'll just do that the rest of the show.

[Matt Jones]

Well, I mean, there was that Boys to Men. What was the Boys to Men song, Right?

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Yes, Mama.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, we play that.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, there you go.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, there you go.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. So see, that's probably more what you want rather than Mamas in the Graveyard.

[Myron Metcalf]

Why was Garth Brooks so happy when he sing it? He does.

[Matt Jones]

He is very upbeat for the murder of his parents song. It's a little bit too.

[Myron Metcalf]

A little bit too much pepper. Like, are they doing line dancing and stuff to that song? Because I don't think there actually is a.

[Matt Jones]

There is a line dance. There's a lot of songs like that though, that if you listen to the words, it's a lot more depressing than you think. I always use the example of Margaritaville. Like Margaritaville, it sounds very upbeat, right? And then when you listen to it, it's about a guy who's drunk and he's wasting away in Margaritaville because his life is falling apart and he's just drinking out of a blender. Cause he has no one that loves him.

[Myron Metcalf]

See you all in country get away with writing dark songs, but because you can do the jitterbug or whatever y' all do to em.

[Matt Jones]

The jitterbug.

[Myron Metcalf]

I don't know what dances y' all do, but you can get away with it. Cause there's a little pep in it, right? Because that was a dark song. Papa's in the pen.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, it is a dark song. But again, happy Mother's Day to all of our listeners. Day. College football has is very close, apparently, according to a number of reports, that in creating an expansion of the playoff that would basically move it from 12 to 16 teams, but would also change how it's composed. The SEC would be guaranteed four teams in the Big Ten would be guaranteed four in the ACC, two, the Big 12 to the Group of Six, one and then three wild cards. That's how it would be composed. And in the sec, at least if it's done, when the SEC championship occurs and it's one versus two, they would also have team three play six and four play five as play in games for the tournament. The winner, it would basically you would have a series like in the NBA of playing games. It's expected the Big Ten would follow suit. So essentially six teams in those conferences would have a shot to play to go to the playoff. Myron, what are your initial thoughts on this potential change in the playoff system?

[Myron Metcalf]

It's inevitable. I mean, it's not surprising. Does it make the playoff better? I don't know. But at the end of the day, like college sports is dictated by whatever the Big Ten and SEC want to do. So if they're saying we're the big Dogs, we want automatic bids, the other leagues can't say no to that because they don't have the power. The Big Ten in SEC at this point, Matt, the Big Ten in SEC in football could say, okay, we'll start our own championship, get our own TV deal. And it would be the biggest thing in sports. So I think everyone knows they have to kind of be on board. I think four bids is a bit much. I'm a bigger fan of 2, even though it's a giant league, but I don't know how you stop them. Yeah, I think.

[Matt Jones]

I actually think that the sort of hand wringing about the SEC and Big Ten getting four is kind of silly because, Myron, I think if you were just to pick the 16 teams, you'd probably end up with four in each of those leagues anyway. Right? I mean, I think that's. That that's probably the case. That's just my, my gut instinct about it. The, you know, the ACC and Big 12, like last year, I don't think the ACC would have gotten two in in a 16 team playoff. So they, maybe they should be fortunate that they get two in in the thing. I do like the idea of having basically on the championship weekend. One of the problems with the expansion of the playoff is that these championship games didn't seem like they mean, meant anything. Now if you have 3 versus 6 and 4 versus 5, Myron, I actually think you would have some games with implications outside championship games.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, no, it definitely helps the, the, you know, sec, Big Ten championship, all these conference championship games. And kind of what that means it raises the stakes, you know, if you're playing in a title game in the other leagues as well. So I like that. I just, my challenge is. And we're having this in college basketball. Right? Like to me, I felt like 64 teams was the perfect number. Definitely don't go past 68. I don't want college football to get to a place where they just continue to expand.

[Matt Jones]

I think 16. But the 16 I think is the most you can do just because you can't ask these kids to play many more than that. You know what I mean? Like with their NFL careers and stuff. I, Yeah, I think 16 is the, is the maximum. I'm okay with 16. I think there was an argument when it went to 12, Myron, that it was going to make the regular season not matter. But I don't think that was true. To me, I actually think it had the opposite impact. There were a lot more games that mattered than people would have thought. Like people were up on that Friday night watching Boise State, Nevada, because it mattered. Indiana had regular games that mattered. And I actually think it, in my opinion, made more interest in college football.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, it makes it more interesting certainly for the big leagues. I think if you're a group of 16, you got to be going, wow, we're really getting squeezed out. I mean, you got one shot, it feels like from those leagues and then.

[Matt Jones]

They'Ve always only had one shot. That's all they've always had.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yes, but it, it feels like you're getting squeezed out of the picture in general. Right. Those three at large spots ago to power four teams.

[Matt Jones]

But do you want them to go to those other teams? Those teams stink.

[Myron Metcalf]

I just want the best. That's all I can. Okay, well, if you don't want the.

[Matt Jones]

Best, then they might have zero of them. Well, then you might have zero of the other team.

[Myron Metcalf]

But, but I think automatic bids to me, if you again, one or two. I Understand that your champion gets an automatic bid. I get it. We haven't had a situation in any sport where a league had multiple automatic bids.

[Matt Jones]

I mean that changes. Do you see a scenario where the SEC and Big Ten don't just get four anyway.

[Myron Metcalf]

That'S fine. I mean I'm not debating like their status in the sport clearly that the two biggest conference, the two best conferences in college football, but then just earn it. Right? Like if that's, I mean I don't.

[Matt Jones]

Disagree with you, but if this is what it takes, I just don't. I think if you played these seasons out, probably most years the SEC and Big Ten are getting four anyway. Now you might say, well then let's just do it like that. And I wouldn't even necessarily disagree with you. But I don't think it's going to be unfair. I think what's it The ACC and Big 12 though have to accept now that they're not the SEC, Big 10 and that has to hurt them. That has to hurt a Clemson to accept that. Right? I think that's the interesting part is they're just going to have to accept what reality is, which is in this world, Clemson, Florida State, Miami, they're not like the teams in the SEC and Big Ten. They're just not.

[Myron Metcalf]

Yeah, I don't think it's about accepting that. I think it's the reality that if you're in charge of the ACC right now, you know that this destabilizes your league even more. Those teams are going to try to get to the Big Ten of the sec.

[Matt Jones]

Well, Clemson, Florida State are going to try to get there the moment they.

[Myron Metcalf]

Can get Duke, Carolina.

[Matt Jones]

I mean if I'm the SEC in the Big Ten though, do I even need those teams? I'm not sure you do. I feel like they're fine. Like do they really need them? I don't know that they, they even do right now. Real Madrid scores. They're only down one against Barcelona and El Classico. We will keep the keep you up to date more on the NBA and more myin fun. That's next.

[Myron Metcalf]

Thanks for listening to Matt and Myron the podcast. You can listen to the show live every Sunday morning at 10am Eastern on ESPN radio, the ESPN app and on SiriusXM channel 80. Matt and Myron the podcast.

[Matt Jones]

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