Loading summary
Transcript191 lines
- [00:00]
A
Hey, Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile. Now I don't know if you've heard, but Mint's Premium Wireless is $15 a month. But I'd like to offer one other perk. We have no stores. That means no small talk.
- [00:15]
B
Crazy weather we're having.
- [00:16]
A
No, it's not.
- [00:17]
B
It's just weather. It is an introvert's dream.
- [00:20]
A
Give it a try@mintmobile.com Switch upfront payment.
- [00:24]
B
Of $45 for three month plan. $15 per month equivalent required. New customer offer first three months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra. See mintmobile.com is Matt and Myron the.
- [00:33]
A
Podcast you want to talk about takes that have aged well. My James Franco Dabo Sweeney take that was before the season started. Aged well. I got some bad news, Myron. It was mentioned to me on my pregame show yesterday. What if Kentucky were to look to bring in Dabo Sweeney? If they got rid of Mark Stoops and I thought I'd have to quit being a Kentucky fan. I couldn't do it. I couldn't do it. I couldn't fake khaki pants running and sprinting like that. It would. I'd be done, Myron. I couldn't handle it.
- [01:06]
B
He'd win you over. I think. I think.
- [01:09]
A
How would he win me over? The only person who's got less of a chance of winning me over than him is the guy we're about to talk about, Aaron Rodgers. Like the two of them together? Are you kidding me?
- [01:18]
B
If he won, he would win you over. Like, I mean, if he won at Kentucky, he'd win you over.
- [01:23]
A
Yeah, he ain't gonna win me over. Now. I'll tell you who has probably won over. Some critics. He still has won me over, but is Aaron Rodgers. And tonight at 8:20 in the game of the day, it's a Packers and the Steelers Aaron Rodgers, former team playing against him. I have to say, Aaron Rodgers been a lot better than I would have thought. Even in the loss to the Bengals last week, he looked good. He has looked. I mean, he hasn't looked like prime Aaron Rodgers, but he's looked like the Aaron Rodgers of the last two or three years with the packers when he still could play. They're showing some clips of him right now on TV where he made some crazy throws in like 20, 19, 20, that era. He's kind of looked like that at times. The Steelers are all of a sudden the favorites in the AFC north thanks to Lamar's injury and in other situations. How much do you Believe in the Aaron Rodgers led Steelers at this point before they face his old team.
- [02:24]
B
I mean, to win the division is pretty high. I mean, I don't know what stands in their way. I mean, Flacco, I'm sorry, Joe Burr, I don't see him coming back. Flacco's an upgrade from what they had, but I don't think they're a playoff team. Dylan Gabriel, even though that defense I think is pretty good with Cleveland, I don't think he can lead them anywhere. And then Lamar, there's just more weird stuff happening with him. And the injury report, is he healthy? So I think they're the team to beat in the division. Beyond that, I'm not sure I got to see more. But I do think Aaron Rodgers was right. The idea of, you know, you, you, you can't measure him with the jets because the jets have a toxic relationship with every quarterback they've ever had. And you put him in a better situation. He certainly looks like an upgrade in Pittsburgh. I think there are a lot of people here in Minnesota who are like, you know what? In hindsight would have been nice to sign him rather than the quarterback situation they're dealing with. So I think Aaron Rodgers probably proved a lot of people wrong already just with the way he's played so far.
- [03:21]
A
And that's probably one of the things he likes the most, is he loves that more than wrong. I mean, that's it. That's his thing. Do you believe him when he says he doesn't consider this a revenge game against the packers and the absence makes the heart grow fonder when it comes to Green Bay?
- [03:37]
B
Absolutely not. Petty people don't change. Like, this is a life lesson for you. Like, petty people don't suddenly become not petty. They actually become more petty with a. So, I mean, Aaron Rodgers, you don't.
- [03:49]
A
Think he's become gracious and now he goes, you know what? Maybe I didn't handle the end of the Green Bay time. You don't think that's the case?
- [03:56]
B
He's, he's saying the right things because he wants to make sure he gets that ceremony when his career is over in Green Bay, and they'll give that to him. But no, he, he, that's the same dude who was bringing up the 49ers, not drafting him 10 years into his career. Like, petty people as you, you know, this man, as you get older, you just become more of whatever you were.
- [04:16]
A
It's true. In your 30s, whatever it is you are, by the time you're in the 40s, 50s, 60s, you're just that more. That's right, yeah.
- [04:23]
B
You don't stop being petty. You become more petty. And I think he certainly is going to take this personally no matter what.
- [04:29]
A
Let me ask you about the packers for a second, because last week with Micah Parsons, that started to, for the first time since week one, look like a team that you go, okay, wait a minute. And Micah Parsons, specifically like that was his breakthrough Green Bay game. If you get the Micah Parsons you got last week and you get the Jordan Love that we've seen the last couple years, why isn't Green Bay your Super bowl team in the nfc?
- [04:59]
B
You know, I think because we don't know if Jordan Love is going to be able to win a duel against Matthew Stafford at his peak or that Detroit Lions offense.
- [05:11]
A
He's already beaten the Detroit Lions offense once.
- [05:13]
B
Yeah, we got. But. But in the postseason. Right? I mean, the, the thing about the Packers, I think they're very good. Christian Watson now getting healthy, Micah Parsons starting to figure it out. And I think more than anything, Michael Parsons is probably healthy now. They started the season not 100%. They have all the pieces to win a Super bowl and to get there. But you know this, Matt. I don't care who you were in the regular season, in the playoffs, in this era, your quarterback, nine times out of 10, is going to have to outplay the other quarterback in order for your team to win. That's just what it is. Do you trust Jordan Love to do that in the NFC playoff picture? He's got to show me more to make me think he can do that.
- [05:53]
A
Well, that last week was the first time I thought, okay, I mean, Micah Parsons in that fourth quarter last week, that was a, that was an epic Micah Parsons performance. And you know, he got traded right before the season starts. So there comes a point where you say, okay, maybe it takes him a few weeks in this defense, but if you get that, by the time, if you get that on a semi regular basis, I think this team is a huge load. I expect them to win today in Pittsburgh. Do you?
- [06:25]
B
I don't know. I mean, to me, this is the kind of game Aaron Rodgers wins and the Steelers win. Because I do think it's very personal for him. I think this defense is better than what people realize. I think offensively, I do think the Steelers can keep up with Green Bay. The run game's gonna play a major factor. I think this is where your DK Metcalfs, like who. Who has the big kind of game breaking play.
- [06:47]
A
How about how good he's been. I mean, how good he. Like another player that I think people kind of had thought time had passed, and he's been awesome this year.
- [06:58]
B
And I mean, it's, it's working out, I think. I think for all of those guys, they're just in a better situation. Um, and Aaron Rodgers, I think if you tell me there's a big target who can get open and Aaron Rodgers can just hurl the ball 50 yard, like, that's when he's at his best, especially as he ages. So I think he's in a good spot, but I think they win it. I just think Aaron Rodgers is going to really take this personally. It'll be a close game that the Steelers find a way to win.
- [07:25]
A
Now the jets play the Bengals. The Bengals maybe save their season with this change to. With the change to Joe Flacco. They've gotten their fan base kind of reignited. It's been only 10 days, but if you're in Cincinnati. Joe Flacco is my uncle. Is a shirt I've seen around town. Would you wear one of those? Myron.
- [07:47]
B
I don't think I only I would wear those, but I understand.
- [07:51]
A
So you're already out on. Diego Pavia is my brother, and you're not gonna do. You're not doing a. Joe Flacco is my unc.
- [07:59]
B
Yeah. I don't think we're in the same malls growing up. I think we were at different. I think you were on one side of town at that mall, and I think I was on the other side of town. We didn't. We had somebody who would make our shirts gay. I don't. You know, yours are already. Yours are already on the rack. Yours are.
- [08:16]
A
Yours are. What is it? Not tied, dyed. What's the word I'm looking for?
- [08:20]
B
Yeah. No, like, yeah, there was a dude outside the mall. We had the shirts that.
- [08:25]
C
For us.
- [08:25]
A
Yes.
- [08:26]
B
Well, yours are already hanging on the rad.
- [08:27]
A
But Joe does have some sound that I love, you know?
- [08:31]
B
Yeah.
- [08:31]
A
As a man in his. We don't like to talk about ages, but I'm single at this stage of my life. I, I, I enjoy and I enjoy.
- [08:41]
B
Being the dating profile. Like, what are you doing?
- [08:43]
A
I'm not asking. I'm just saying to you that, like, I'm explaining. So, like, I end up eating out a lot by myself, and a lot of people don't understand that. How can you go to dinner by yourself? I go to dinner by myself all the time. I sit in a restaurant. I, I usually bring Like I usually bring the New Yorker, Myron and I read while I'm, while I'm eating and, and a lot of people, especially in Kentucky, have given me a hard time about that. But now, Joe Flacco this week had a comment that made me realize I have a brethren in Mr. Flacco. Go ahead and play that.
- [09:19]
C
Ghosted at a restaurant by myself and realized that, man, that's pretty enjoyable to do. I tell you, I, I tell people all the time. I mean, I used to see guys sitting at a bar by themselves or you know, just sitting by themselves, eating and grabbing a little meal. And I'm like, man, I feel so bad for that guy. You almost want to go join them. And now I realize like that dude was in heaven.
- [09:36]
A
That's exactly right, Myron. I liked Flacco before, but I'm now all in on Flaco, a fellow alone eater who is in heaven.
- [09:46]
B
Listen, I do the same. I travel a lot. I mean, people get weirded out when you go do your own thing and eat solo, but they should try it. But let's also be clear who Joe Flacco is. My guess is his family stayed wherever they live. And this is Joe Flacco, maybe for the first time in years, being out and being able to just kind of do his own thing. So I mean, going to Skyline, right?
- [10:08]
A
Going to sky by himself?
- [10:11]
B
Yeah. I want to know what his wife said about these comments. Cuz he sounded like a dude who was a little too excited to be able to eat by himself.
- [10:19]
A
He did.
- [10:20]
B
I want to hear the followup.
- [10:21]
A
He's a man with married with kids who said heaven is being by himself.
- [10:25]
B
That is a different kind of.
- [10:27]
A
Can I ask you one question about eating alone? What's the nicest level of restaurant? You feel comfortable eating alone? Because the one thing I found is if it's like a really fancy place, sometimes I'm not as big, I'll eat at the bar. But at the bar, in a table, in a fancy place sometimes can make you feel a little. Whatever.
- [10:48]
B
Once you pass 35 as a man, you gotta realize there's something called creepiness factor. And you gotta know your creepiness factor. So even though you want to do something, you got to ask yourself the question we all need to ask ourselves. Does this look creepy? So there are some situations where, like yes, sitting at the bar, doing your thing, that's allowed. But just getting a table for one at a restaurant like that, I don't know that that's.
- [11:11]
A
I think it's creepy to get a Table by yourself?
- [11:14]
B
No, it just, it, it just looks a little bit like the start of a date line special. Like, you don't want to be that dude. Just sit at the bar, enjoy yourself off in the cut. I'm all for it, but people should be able to do stuff alone. I go to movies by myself all the time, dude.
- [11:27]
A
I've, I, I, I've only, I've seen 95 of the movies I've seen in my life are alone. I don't understand why we decided movies need to be with a person you're not even supposed to.
- [11:36]
B
Well, some people need to be around people all the time.
- [11:38]
A
Yeah, but why? Like, I don't get it. James sitting there looking at me like he, he doesn't understand. I'm just. Well, he's married too, though. He's in love.
- [11:46]
C
But like, yeah, right. But like, whenever, like sometimes my wife and kids don't. In, like during the summer, they go to Pennsylvania without me because I have to work and she works from home, so she can kind of work anywhere and it'll just be me up here. And I go to like, I think the, like, you're talking tiers of restaurants. It's almost like.
- [12:02]
A
Yeah, it'd be weird to go to like a Michelin star restaurant by.
- [12:06]
B
Yeah, you don't want to do that.
- [12:06]
C
Kind of like a, the, it's like a bar and grill kind of thing.
- [12:10]
A
That's like the, I'll go to anything, though. I'll go to any level outside of like, elite. Elite. I'm by myself and I am perfect.
- [12:18]
C
That's like what you're looking for. It's like somewhere where you get a drink, you eat your food. If you want to sit at the bar, you can sit at the bar. If you want to sit at a table, you can sit at the table.
- [12:25]
A
We got more to go, Matt. We're gonna have to keep going. Myron, I know you want to jump in about your food preferences, but it is Matt. Myron here on ESPN Radio.
- [12:34]
B
All right?
- [12:37]
D
Avoiding your unfinished home projects because you're not sure where to start. Thumbtack knows homes, so you don't have to. Don't know the difference between matte paint finish and satin or what that clunking sound from your dryer is. With thumbtack, you don't have to be a home pro. You just have to hire one. You can hire top rated pros, see price estimates and read reviews all on the thumbtack app download today. The latest NBA Topps collection is now available at Lidstores your new home for all things Topps Trading cards. The collection features one of a kind autographs from LeBron James, Victor Wembanyama and the first professional autograph cards from rookies Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper and ace Bailey. Text NBA to 29017 to sign up for text messaging and for your chance to win an NBA Topps hobby box, you'll also receive a coupon for 20% off your next in store headwear or apparel purchase exclusions apply. See a Lids teammate for details. Message and data rates may apply.
- [13:37]
B
Matt and Myron the Podcast it is.
- [13:39]
A
Matt myron here on ESPN radio presented by Progressive Insurance Dr. Pepper col 888. Say ESPN, you big oasis guy.
- [13:47]
B
Myron, is that who this is? It's Oasis.
- [13:52]
A
Yes. You know, I felt like this would be your kind of band, right?
- [13:55]
B
Like, I thought it was Green Day. No, I thought I was. Get them in Green Day. It's about the same era, right?
- [14:00]
A
Yeah, well, same era, right. Oasis was. Was British. Green Days.
- [14:04]
B
Green Day doesn't like all those songs came up, like all the things I like. They used to sing like that. Is that Blink 182.
- [14:13]
A
That's a different song.
- [14:14]
B
What's Green Day? What did Green Day sing? What do they do?
- [14:18]
A
They did the. The one. The final song on Seinfeld. You remember the. What was it? The. We had the Time of our Life or whatever, you know, behind the.
- [14:27]
B
Those songs.
- [14:28]
A
Yes.
- [14:28]
B
That they played.
- [14:29]
A
But Oasis is British, so you should know them as being a little bit different.
- [14:32]
B
And they just did the song. You just.
- [14:35]
A
Yeah, they also did I Want to Be an American.
- [14:38]
B
Oh, yeah.
- [14:38]
A
There.
- [14:39]
B
Those songs I used to play where y' all would start punching people for some reason at the party. This is where this. Y' all would get violent at the party. I used to be like, why are they punching each other? Why are they. Why are they jumping on each other?
- [14:49]
A
It never made sense that we liked a song and just started beating up the people next to us. You don't see that.
- [14:54]
B
You all just agreed. You just agreed to create like a hole in the center of the concert and just start running at each other.
- [15:01]
A
That's true.
- [15:02]
B
You know, what do they call that?
- [15:03]
A
A pop pit?
- [15:04]
B
What do they call that?
- [15:05]
E
A mosh.
- [15:05]
A
Mosh pit. Mosh pit.
- [15:06]
B
A mosh pit, ma'.
- [15:07]
A
Am.
- [15:07]
B
Yeah, I got away from that.
- [15:09]
A
You didn't do that at Frank Sinatra concerts. You didn't just see people unless you owed a.
- [15:14]
B
Well, you couldn't do it at a no Limit concert because somebody would get shot, you know, so you couldn't do a mosh pit, you know, somebody get hurt. You try to do that at those concerts.
- [15:23]
A
Who you think you are, man?
- [15:25]
B
You go to an outcast concert, somebody ain't coming out the mosh pit. You know, it's gonna be one of those Eagles play.
- [15:31]
A
Today Brandon Graham is coming back after a short retirement to play with the Eagles. The Giants have been kind of America's team, but they blew the game last week against the Broncos. One of the great collapses you'll ever see. The biggest fourth quarter lead to have been lost in a regular season game. So here's my question for you. What's going to be harder, the Giants coming back from that loss or the Eagles coming back from a locker room that continues to get stories and leads to bringing back a guy out of retirement?
- [16:04]
B
Well, first off, we saw Joe Flacco say he loves to eat alone, you know, away from his family. Brandon Grammer's retired for like three months and was like, I want no part of it. He was like, I gotta get back to football. I think it's harder for the Eagles because like, like having the Giants already won to some degree. Jackson Dart looks like he can be a quarterback that you can invest in for the next couple of years. Right. He continues to develop. There's something there you don't want.
- [16:31]
A
You're already ready to say.
- [16:32]
B
I'm not saying, I'm not saying like franchise quarterback, but you feel like you have a dude who will be a starter this year and you know you're going to go into 2026 with Jackson daughter's your starter. I think he's already answered that question. No matter what happens going forward, the Eagles are trying to win Super Bowls. Like that's what they've invested in. And you have the non stop chat with AJ Brown who it just feels like it's disconnected from everybody. Jalen hurts.
- [16:57]
A
He's got. Trying to leave the last two weeks. Like a part of me wants to go. Why are you still upset? The Eagles did seem to put out the report today. They will not trade him.
- [17:05]
B
Yeah. Yes. But any. If they're, if you're putting out a report, they're saying we won't trade some. It always tells me that there's a price that a team will take.
- [17:14]
A
They were considering it, right? Yeah.
- [17:16]
B
Yeah. But I think it's hard when that's the headline. How many times we talked about the Eagles on this show, Matt, where It didn't involve A.J. brown and his feelings about whether or not he's getting the ball enough. I mean, you bring, you brought back Brandon Graham to deal with A.J. brown like there's no other. He's not coming back to help you become a better defense. He's coming back to be your AJ Brown translator, the dude who can kind of make everything better in the locker room. And if you need a locker room dude at week eight, you got some big problems trying to defend a championship.
- [17:48]
A
That's true. At the same time, though, they have problems and I'm glad they're trying to address it because they do have a Super bowl contender team. They're going for back to back, which is, you know, you, you don't get to do that very often. So I think they, it's worth trying to salvage. Was a little surprised at the decision to announce that about A.J. brown because I would have thought you'd at least like to keep that open. I mean, I don't know that A.J. brown determines whether this team wins a Super bowl or not. You don't want it to be a distraction for the rest of the year. But I do want to ask you about the Giants. They had so much good Mojo going. Can you lose the mojo in a quarter after the end of that game last week?
- [18:32]
B
I mean, you can suddenly be a, you can be a team that had a guy who had that ending not happened, we would have been talking about Jackson, Darden, how amazing that finish was, right?
- [18:43]
A
And football is like a dominating game until the.
- [18:46]
B
I mean, the Giants were dominating and they should have won. I will say this. I think as a Giants fan, you got to look at it as you're in games that you never were in last year or the previous years. And is it disappointing? It'd be a lot more disappointing if you had a veteran quarterback who put you in that situation. But you got a young guy, man, who is putting you in a spot that you just weren't in enough in the past. They should have won that game, but you have a guy that you can trust maybe into the future, and a lot of teams can't say that.
- [19:17]
A
Tell me why I would watch the Titans and the Colts at 4 o' clock today.
- [19:22]
B
Well, I mean, you heard her. I mean, the Colts are. They're playing really good football. I just don't know that it'll last. But right now, I mean, they're the team that I think everyone is sort of shocked by. So you watch it to see if they can continue to get better. You watch it because Cam Ward after the game is going to say something crazy. But you don't how bad his team is.
- [19:44]
A
You don't believe this is going to continue for, for, for Daniel Jones. You, you are clearly like I should put you down as the biggest skeptic.
- [19:54]
B
Yes. Because again, I do think the regular season again in that division you can look really good and they do every year. A team from the AFC south usually looks pretty good. But I think going into the playoffs, my question is do you trust Daniel Jones to beat anybody?
- [20:13]
A
You know, I would argue Daniel Jones was never as bad as people acted like in New York. He never had an offensive line and he had a really good season. The one year he had an offensive line and a healthy Saquon, he was good. That was a good. That's why they gave him the money that year. So I would argue you saw it with Daniel Jones. While this is still very surprising, it's not like it was a complete anomaly. He did Myron have a year like this in New York.
- [20:43]
B
A year. But like quarterbacks don't suddenly become great in the NFL. It's just never happened. So I don't think it's going to suddenly happen.
- [20:49]
A
It's happening more Baker Darnold Jones. You can tune in for a football double header today. Panthers and the Bills followed by the Titans and the Colts coverage begins at noon eastern on select ESPN radio stations. Glad we fought James to get that Titans Colts game. That's a good one to have.
- [21:07]
C
Let's go.
- [21:08]
A
That's one you want in the afternoon. It is time for headlines all around the world of sports. Next. I'm Matt Myron.
- [21:15]
D
If you've shopped online, chances are you've bought from a business powered by Shopify. You know that purple shop pay button you see at checkout? The one that makes buying so incredibly easy? That's Shopify. And there's a reason so many businesses sell with it. Because Shopify makes it incredibly easy to start and run your business. Shopify is the commerce platform behind 10% of all e commerce in the US from household names like Mattel and Gymshark to brands just getting started. Shopify gives you a leg up with hundreds of beautiful ready to go templates to express your brand style and forget about the code. Tackle all those important tasks in one place from inventory to payments to analytics and more. Spread your brand's word with built in marketing and email tools to find and keep new customers. And did I mention that iconic purple shop pay button that's used by millions of businesses around the world? It's why Shopify has the best converting Checkout on the planet. Your customers already love it. If you want to see less carts being abandoned, it's time for you to head over to Shopify. Sign up for your $1 per month trial and start selling today@shopify.com network. Go to shopify.com network. Shopify.com network.
- [22:31]
E
This is Kevin Clark for Manscaped. Fellas, it's time to step up your grooming game. All right? I do this show three times a week. Every single time, I have to take grooming very, very seriously. Look back in the archives, guys. Look back and see the awful mustache I was trying to trot out last spring. I hate it. The other day, I recirculated an interview with Drake May. I wanted to CGI it. I wanted to CGI the mustache out. I wanted to AI it. I couldn't. The mustache was there. And now I've got a nice little stubble, perfect length. Gonna have this for the rest of my life. Okay? Very, very, very important. It's a part of confidence. It's a part of looking good. It's a part of being on tv. It's of a part. Manscaped just leveled up with the lawnmower five and the chairman plus two powerhouses built for unmatched precision, comfort, and control. Whether you're cleaning up before a night out, preparing for a big meeting, or getting ready for game day, Manscaped has the tools to help you look and feel your absolute best. These aren't your old school clippers. They're engineered for modern men who take pride in their daily routine. So upgrade your grooming gear and experience a difference. And now you can find Manscape products and at your local Walmart.
- [23:50]
B
Matt and Myron, the podcast.
- [23:53]
A
Real Madrid is playing Barcelona in El Classico. Part of what's interesting about it is I explain this to him every year on this show. Every year on this show, this game is usually taking place during our show. And I explained to Myron that in La Liga, the two best teams are Real Madrid and Barcelona. They play in a game called El Clasico. And I've explained this to you for eight straight years. And you always talk like you've never heard this before in your life.
- [24:22]
B
I don't like learning things from you because you get frustrated. Like, you don't like me asking questions, and all I'm trying to do is learn. I don't know, but you know Bundesliga and all these words you're saying. I don't know the details, but you get fresh. I asked one question about soccer. You're like, it's El Clasico. How could you not know this?
- [24:40]
A
Well, I didn't say, say I've explained it to you many times because you'll be like, is. Is El Classico the name of the country? Is it the name of the team? Is it the name?
- [24:52]
B
You know, I thought they were all in one league. I thought pre. I thought Premier League was everybody. Now you're telling me it's all different.
- [25:01]
A
Premier League's Britain.
- [25:03]
B
I know my guy to score. My guy Bape just scored, and then they took his goal, man.
- [25:08]
A
So, yeah, well, I know that upset you. It's not just la liga El Classico going on. There's sports everywhere, and we need you to know it. So let's do some headlines.
- [25:23]
D
The Sunday headlines.
- [25:24]
A
All right, what's up? First James. Now in the first, for the first.
- [25:27]
C
Time in 24 years, a pitcher pitched two complete games in a row. Yoshinobu Yamamoto did it last night against the Blue Jays in Toronto, trying to get the Dodgers tied up with the Blue Jays in game two of the World Series. He pitched a complete game. The Dodgers won 5 to 1. Mookie Betts said, quote, it was amazing. I've been playing a long time, but I haven't ever seen anything like this. What do you guys think about the World Series?
- [25:57]
A
He's been amazing so far in the playoffs. Going back from Series one, he's been an absolute dominant player. Dodgers been dominant, lose game one, but otherwise it's the only loss in the playoffs. Exciting two games. They go now to Los Angeles, unfortunately. I think for. For baseball, the World Series kind of gets overshadowed because it starts on a weekend when football's happening. But I expect the energy to ramp up as the games go during this week. Are you enjoying Dodgers, Blue Jays, Myron, as the World Series matchup?
- [26:30]
B
I enjoyed when the Blue Jays smacked him in game one, you know, but game two, it looked like everything kind of leveled off. So we'll see what the Blue Jays do in game three. I don't know how you can root for the Dodgers unless you're a Dodgers fan.
- [26:44]
A
Like, why not for greatness? I mean, you got Shohei, you got pitcher domination. You got a lineup. It's one of the best of all time. Why don't you want to work for it?
- [26:54]
B
No way. They're, they're. They're the AAU team ran by the rich dad who goes out and gets the best players in town. Like, how do you root for that team? And that's what.
- [27:02]
A
But I mean, if the Ri but let's say he went and got. The rich player went and got, you know, Anthony Davis. You can't root for him.
- [27:09]
B
Not if he has Anthony Davis, Anthony Edwards, Devin Booker and de' Aaron Fox. Like, that's not fair. Right? So I think that's the thing you baseball fans should want the Blue Jays to win because that's good for this.
- [27:22]
A
Well, the Blue Jays spent a lot of money too, though. I mean, the Blue Jays are not.
- [27:25]
B
Like as much as the Dodgers, though.
- [27:26]
A
That's true. They're not in the poor house. Do you like the atmosphere of having these games in Canada?
- [27:33]
B
Yeah, I mean, you know, it's. They love baseball up there, so I do. That fan base is really strong.
- [27:39]
A
And it was cool to see Joe Carter and a name I had thought of in a long time, Cedo Gaston, throw out the first pitch.
- [27:46]
B
Yeah, that was. It was cool, man. Blue Jays are a fun team.
- [27:50]
A
I'm still gonna think the Dodgers, I must say, Dodgers in six. I'm looking forward to Shohei pitching. I do. I mean, that's. I hope people take a minute when he pitches and hits in a World Series. That's only happened, what, twice in the history of baseball. So I hope people take a minute to really. To really appreciate it. What's next?
- [28:08]
C
All right. London Johnson spent three seasons in the NBA G League, but committed to play college basketball at Louisville on Monday. He'll have two years of eligibility remaining once he hits the floor for the Cardinals. His commitment led to many questioning how this could even be possible. Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo said he wasn't even aware that Johnson was being recruited to play college ball and quote, said, to me, it's ridiculous. To me, it's embarrassing. And I love my job. I don't respect my profession and I don't respect whoever made those decisions. Matt, what do you think about G leaguer being able to work college?
- [28:40]
A
I don't respect my profession. That seemed like a shot at the coach who recruited him, Pat Kelsey. And then I don't respect whoever made these decisions. I'm going to probably go a little bit off the. The common view here. I'm okay with it. This is a kid that didn't play in the NBA. He's been in the G League. He's not. He's. He was on G League ignite for a couple years. He's never been drafted. I'm okay, Myron, with letting G leaguers who haven't made the league come. I think once you've played a game in the NBA Your college day should be over. But I don't see any reason why we let Europeans now who've played pro basketball, we let them play in college. Well, if we're going to do that, why do we punish the American players who've played pro basketball but have not been in the NBA? Like why shouldn't the American players get the same opportunities the European players do?
- [29:35]
B
Yeah, I actually think, Matt, that that makes Izzo's point. Right. Because I do think I was at Big 12 media day this week in Kansas City. A lot of people were talking about this. It was a big conversation. I do think it's fair to say. Okay, how far do you go with this? Because these international players are coming over from playing in the NBA of their countries. They're playing in the top leagues. There's a guy at Oregon who played in the Chinese Basketball association and he's been a two time all star and now he's playing with them. So I do think it's not an exaggeration when an ISO goes well, how far did this go? Does a two way guy suddenly get involved? Like does someone who maybe doesn't have a ton of experience in the NBA.
- [30:13]
A
Do they decide, here's my rule. So what's wrong with this rule? Okay, so let's leave aside what it's been because it ain't like that anymore. My rules is this. If you played again a game in the NBA, you're out. But otherwise welcome. Why not Myron, make college basketball the premier development league in the world. You want to make. I mean right now this year's NBA all star first team might be all foreign players. You want that to change? You want to make then make American college basketball the place that it is definitively known. This is where you go get ready for the NBA. What would be wrong with that?
- [30:51]
B
But, but I think it all. It already is. I mean your best coaching, your most resources. There was that weird stretch where overtime elite and G league ignite kind of had players and then nil kicked in. All those guys are in.
- [31:01]
A
So why not let Americans do it too? Because that's ultimately the question. If you're going to let these, the four international guys do it, why not let the Americans do it?
- [31:10]
B
I'm fine if it's universal and here's what I mean. I'm fine if you tell me if a guy didn't play in the NBA, doesn't have an NBA contract, he can go play college. Okay, but Matt, these international players are playing in the NBA of you.
- [31:24]
A
Yeah, but it's not as good. It's not as good. It's not that I don't know how we measure but well, I can measure this play. I mean watch these teams try to play against an NBA team. They'd get destroyed. I like. I actually think it's fine. I understand what is those saying but if you're going to let these international guys, I don't know how you can look at the American guys and say they can't play. What's next?
- [31:46]
C
In a little over a week, college basketball will start up again. On Monday, 19 of the top 25 teams will be in action. And with the college basketball season starting, also starting the NBA season. And who will go number one in the NBA draft? Matt, what do you think? I don't know how to frame this. So we brought up.
- [32:11]
A
Okay, so the way there are four guys in college right now who have started their college careers that all played their first exhibition game and had massive games. And I want people to understand this has a chance to be an historic NBA draft and a historic group of freshmen. AJ Demonsa plays at BYU and his first exhibition game against North Carolina, he goes for 30. Darren Peterson plays at Kansas in his first exhibition game against Louisville. He has 24 points. Myron. In the first half. In the first half he has it. Caleb Wilson is at North Carolina. He has 26 points against in that game against BYU. And then Cameron Booker, that's Carlos Cameron, Cameron Boozer, that's Carlos Boozer's son. He plays for Duke and he had 16. These are four freshmen that are. I don't. They're not Cooper flag, but I think all four of these guys might have gone second in the draft last year and they're all in high school this or excuse me, in college this year. People should watch. You're going to see some major tanking coming in the NBA Myers, because there is an historic class of freshmen coming into the NBA next year.
- [33:25]
B
I think you just hit it, Matt. I think you got to see tanking. I also think this could be one of the biggest years for draft day trades. Like you're going to see a very good player being tossed out there on the trade market for a team that wants to move up into the top five. AJ The Bonds, if people don't know. Six foot nine guard, one of the most fabulous talents you're ever going to see at that position. Just a unique talent. Darren Peterson, 6 foot 6 wing, could be the number one pick, can kind of do everything. Cameron Boozer, really polished player at Duke and then Caleb Wilson at North Carolina. Here's what else matters outside of AJ DeBonsa. You've got a star at Kansas, you've got a star at North Carolina, you've got a star at Duke. That to me is why this race is going to be so loaded. The attention on those teams and you've.
- [34:07]
A
Got a loaded team with a $20 million nil roster at Kentucky. So like you've got this is this college basketball I know is not in a lot of people's minds yet, but it's going to be huge. And let me just say one more thing about AJ DeBonts and Darren Peterson, the kid at BYU in Kansas. If you go back to 2010 and you were to say who were the best players going into the NBA draft since 2010 from college, you would probably say John Wall, Anthony Davis, Zion Williamson and Anthony Edwards. I think you could make a really good argument. AJ deboz and Darren Peterson fit in that group. Byron, do you agree they have the tools right?
- [34:48]
B
And then Cooper Flag is Cameron Boo. Yeah. And Boozer's two time national player of the year. Like he's going to be a guy who can be really good the next level too. It's just going to be a fun race for number one.
- [34:58]
A
So just, just this group is a wow group in college basketball. This year we're going to continue getting ready for Week 8 in the NFL. Your guys with Real Madrid just scored against Barcelona in El Classico. We will keep you up to date on that and more. This is Matt Myron here on ESPN introducing Oakley Meta Vanguard the new performance AI glasses designed for athletes with hands free capture on an action ready ultra wide camera, powerful open ear speakers and.
- [35:33]
B
Built in Meta AI that syncs with.
- [35:35]
A
Your Garmin devices for real time insights while you train. Take your performance to the next level level with Oakley Meta Vanguard Athletic Intelligence is here. Learn more on Meta.com.
- [35:52]
B
When did making plans get this complicated?
- [35:56]
A
It's time to streamline with WhatsApp the secure messaging app that brings the whole group together. Use polls to settle dinner plans, send event invites and pin messages so no one gets mom's 60th and never miss.
- [36:09]
B
A meme or milestone.
- [36:10]
A
All protected with end to end encryption. It's time for WhatsApp message privately with everyone.
- [36:16]
B
Learn more@WhatsApp.com Matt and Myron the Podcast.
- [36:24]
A
It is Matt Myron here on ESPN Radio we are presented by Progressive Insurance. Progressive commercial insurance flexes to fit your business's needs from quick repairs to adjustable coverages and even payment options Progressive commercial makes it easy to get what you need. Quote, today in as little as 8 minutes@progressive commercial.com we are going to be doing King of the Mountain here in the next segment. So if you have your hot takes, be getting ready 888, say ESPN. You give us 30 seconds and you tell us what you got and make the best case and you can hold the belt. We had a new winner last week, so we have a new king of the Mountain. But before we get to that, Cowboys and Broncos Myron taking place in Denver today. Big matchup from a Broncos team that has to be pretty excited after their win last week. The Cowboys are now 33 and 1. There was some talk this week they might be interested in making a trade potentially for Max Crosby. Is this a if you're the Cowboys, is this a. If you want to take a seriously, you actually have to go win this game moment?
- [37:30]
B
I think so. You know, now, you know, Trivon Diggs now is out four games on ir. But I do think this is a team where you look at Dak Prescott and if we just say, let's just look at the numbers, you can make a strong case that Dak Prescott is the best quarterback in the NFL right now as we speak, based on what he's done now he needs a defense that's going to have to help him out and do a lot more and not be the terrible unit they've been for most of the season. But I think if you win this game, people take you more seriously. You know, you beat the commanders offensively. I think they can scroll on anybody. But you can't expect that Dak Prescott to continue to be perfect in order to give you a chance to win games. So the defense has to be better. But you beat the Broncos on the road in that building. I think a lot of people in this sort of weird NFC will say that team can get into the playoffs and we'll see from there.
- [38:23]
A
Well, defense has not been good. But I will say this. I mean, Dak Prescott, it's amazing to say a Cowboys quarterback might be a little underrated this year, but I don't think because of the success that Daniel Jones has had and even Drake May has had that. We've really had the talk as much about, you know, about Dak Prescott. He's been great, great during these games. You know, I know you've been a skeptic of Dak at times over the years. You've got to be impressed with how well he's done.
- [38:54]
B
Yeah, I mean, I think when we have that top five conversation, we always tend to leave him out. We always tend to say he's in that 5 to 12 range, depending on the year. I think Dak Prescott is the fifth quarterback in that conversation of the greatest quarterbacks in this league with Josh Allen and Joe Burrow. When he's healthy, Lamar, obviously when he's healthy. Patrick Mahomes. I think number five right there is Dak Prescott. He's been doing this throughout his career, but this might be the best stack we've seen, but it also might be the worst defense he's had.
- [39:24]
A
And now their defense is bad. They can't stop anybody. You're seeing the effects of the Micah Parsons trade. They can't get pressure on the quarterback. Would you be for them making a trade for somebody like Max Crosby?
- [39:38]
B
I think you have to do something, right? I Before them not trading Michael Parsons in the first place. Right? That's. You kind of avoid that. But now that you're here, you got to do something defensively, because you may not get a better Dak Prescott than what we're witnessing right now. He's got George Pickens, CD Lamb worker together, like, he's got it all offensively. You just got to be able to stop teams somehow.
- [40:01]
A
Sean Payton versus Russell Wilson was a fight this week. Who you got in the battle of? Neither guy seems all that likable.
- [40:12]
B
I'm team Russell Wilson in this, right? Like, Sean Payton and Russell Wilson went after each other. You don't know. Whatever. It didn't work out. It wasn't good relationship. Everybody moved on. Once you move on, let it go, you know? And I thought for Sean Payton to make that comment when Russell Wilson had already lost his job to a rookie like, you don't have to kick a man when he's down. I didn't think that was fair, especially for a guy in Sean Payton who whined more than anybody when he got in trouble with Spygate, right? Who wanted everybody to know that he was sort of the victim and what happened in that investigation. And yet you're going after a dude who just lost his starting role. Like, why is that necessary? So I.
- [40:48]
A
Do you believe it's an apology that says he didn't intend for it to be a shot?
- [40:52]
B
No. Why. Why don't people admit things anymore, man? I don't understand, like, why people just don't say, yeah, that's exactly what I meant to say, and I shouldn't have said it. I just would respect you more rather than say, oh, that's not What I meant to say, like, come on, man. I thought that was a low blow from Sean Payton, and I'm Team Russell.
- [41:08]
A
In that it is pretty hard to make Russell Wilson at times the likable guy in a debate, but I do think at this one, he was. I mean, I thought that was. I'm not even saying Sean Payton was wrong. It probably is harder to beat them now with Jackson Dart than it was, but that's a pretty tough thing to say, and especially considering their past relationship. I mean, I think you have to think that if you're Sean Payton, that the words are going to be scrutinized when you do it. I agree with you, though. He did it intentionally. Acknowledge also shows you, though, how toxic that first year was in Denver, that we're now two years removed from it and people are still talking about it.
- [41:46]
B
Yeah, I mean, it was a bad marriage, right? I mean, Sean Payton was brought in to kind of write things that had gone wrong. Russell Wilson, if you remember Matt, had, like, his entire team basically had an office at the Broncos facility. So, like, his. He had a parking spot. You know, like, he had his own. Separate.
- [42:04]
A
People really get upset about that parking spot. I'm gonna go on the record and say a quarterback deserves a parking spot. I don't think there's anything wrong with him having a parking spot.
- [42:12]
B
I bet no one cares if Lamar Jackson has a parking spot or Josh Allen has a parking spot. But when you bring your whole separate team, I think that's when things got a little challenging. And I think Sean Payton had to clean that up. He had to make sure Russell Wilson knew that that wasn't going to fly. He did that. The marriage didn't work out. He moved on, and now everybody's in their separate spots. The guy just lost his job to a rookie. Okay? Russell Wilson is dealing with the criticism and the scrutiny that comes with that. We don't have to, like, make him a storyline. And I just thought it was unfair the way Sean Payton went after a dude who was already, you know, out of the headlines.
- [42:49]
A
49Ers are at the Texans today. If you're Houston, Myron, I think this is one of those games you really need to win. And if you're the 49ers, we've. I've talked a lot about how easy their schedule is. This is kind of one of the last games that you look at and go, well, 49ers could lose this. I mean, right now, if you're Houston, you're 2 and 4. You cannot go to 2 and 5 when Indianapolis is sitting there at 6 and 1, maybe about to go to 7 to 1. Is this a all hands on deck season on the line for Houston?
- [43:21]
B
Yeah, I mean you lose this game, I don't know how you win the division. Right. This is a must win game I think for the Texans. How many years we've been saying, you know, C.J. stroud went from the, the guy who was putting himself in top five conversations to last year, dealt with a lot of injuries, didn't look the part the way we had expected after his rookie season and now here he is in year three and he's facing adversity again. I just think they gotta win today. If you're gonna feel like this team can come back and get into the playoff picture, especially since it's at home, you know, you're playing the Niners at home. They got a bunch of injuries too, Matt. Like every, every Niners game is like eight people in the city.
- [44:00]
A
It's been like that. It's been like that for like three years. I will say this. I, C.J. stroud will always be my example of why I will not crown a quarterback as great until their third year. Because the CJ Strout and I'm going to be like that with Drake May I was like it with Jaden Daniels last year. You're never going to get me to rank a quarterback in the top three five until I see their get to their third year. Because the drop off with CJ Stroud has really been unbelievable since his rookie season.
- [44:33]
B
What I appreciate is that he's not doing any more of those podcasts where he was talking about, you know, me versus Mahomes, like whoever, whoever is in his camp got to him and cut all that out.
- [44:45]
A
King of the mountain 888 say ESPN. 888 say ESPN. Your job is to call in, get your take, be ready to go. We have a champion. Your job is to knock them down. You pick a topic of your choice. Make it, make it concise, make it good. This is how Rich Eisen got his job on SportsCenter. It's the same way for you. Eight, eight, eight say ESPN. It's king of the Mountain. That's next here on Matt Myron on ESPN Radio.
- [45:15]
B
Matt and Myron, the podcast.
- [45:22]
A
Talk about stepping up.
- [45:25]
B
It's time to level up your game. Introducing the all new ESPN app. All of ESPN all in one place. Your home for the most live sports and the best championship moments.
- [45:36]
A
The electricity is palpable.
- [45:38]
B
Step up your game with no annual contract required. It's the ultimate fan, except experience. Level up. For more on the ESPN app or at stream espn.com Sign up now.