Hour 2: GOOGLE ME!

Summary

Summary of "Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron" – Episode "Hour 2: GOOGLE ME!"

Release Date: March 2, 2025

In the second hour of "Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron," hosts Matt Jones and Myron Medcalf delve deep into a variety of pressing sports topics. From the challenges faced by college athletes in the age of social media to controversial debates surrounding Hall of Fame inductions, the episode offers a comprehensive look into the evolving landscape of sports. The hosts also explore significant events in women's basketball, provide insightful analysis on the NFL draft, and critique current narratives within the NBA.

1. The Dark Side of Social Media for College Athletes

The episode kicks off with a poignant discussion about the recent struggles of Kansas basketball player Zeke Mayo. After Kansas suffered a 78-73 loss to Texas Tech, Mayo publicly apologized for his performance and shared screenshots of the hateful and racially charged messages he received on social media.

Matt (03:14):
"Kansas player Zeke Mayo posted the fact that he was sorry about how he had played. But then he also posted screenshots of hateful social media posts he had received... including racial slurs."

Myron expresses his concern over the increasing vulnerability of college athletes in the digital age, highlighting how the rise of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals and the pervasive gambling culture exacerbate the issue.

Myron (04:19):
"It's scary to think that a guy like Zeke Mayo... he's still a college student, but in a moment like this, he's vulnerable to these kinds of attacks."

Matt outlines four key factors contributing to this problem:

1. Gambling Culture: The rise of prop bets linked to player performance attracts negative attention from non-fans and rivals.
2. NIL Deals: Athletes now receiving compensation can provoke more intense scrutiny and criticism.
3. Coarse Modern Culture: There’s a general trend towards increased bluntness and aggression in public discourse.
4. Social Media Accessibility: Players are more accessible to fans and critics alike, making it easier for negative interactions to occur.

Matt (04:19):
"Social media has made these people accessible... these players are accessible to grown men who all of a sudden feel like they can say whatever they want."

The conversation underscores the lack of resilience and coping mechanisms among younger athletes compared to seasoned professionals who have developed strategies to handle criticism over time.

Matt (09:10):
"But these kids, the age of Zeke Mayo, there's been a phone clasped to their hands since they were five... this thing that's such a huge part of their life becomes an instrument of hate."

2. Pete Rose and the Hall of Fame Debate

The hosts transition to a heated discussion about Pete Rose's potential inclusion in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Commissioner Rob Manfred is reportedly considering allowing voters to nominate Rose, despite his lifetime ban from the sport due to gambling violations.

Matt (21:09):
"Pete Rose, Commissioner of Baseball Rob Manfred is considering... a full pardon... but I don't believe that... after 35 plus years of Pete Rose being banned, just coincidentally, two days after Trump's tweet, it comes out that they're considering."

Myron challenges the timing and sincerity of this consideration, questioning whether Rose deserves his place based solely on his on-field achievements.

Myron (20:32):
"If the hall of Fame is going to be about character in any sport, then you're going to have to go through the hall of Fame and take a whole bunch of people out of it across sports."

Matt counters by arguing the necessity of including all-time greats regardless of personal misconduct, emphasizing the integrity of statistical accomplishments.

Matt (21:19):
"You can't have all fame that doesn't have the hits leader and the home run leader."

The debate highlights the ongoing tension between honoring athletic achievements and maintaining ethical standards within sports institutions.

3. NFL Draft Insights: Top Picks and Team Strategies

Shifting focus to football, Matt and Myron analyze the current NFL draft, particularly the strategic dilemmas facing top teams like the Tennessee Titans and the Cleveland Browns. Both teams must decide whether to prioritize selecting elite talent like Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter or address their pressing need for a quarterback.

Matt (25:40):
"I don't think anybody would see me as that. But in a good draft at quarterback, that's what he would be in this draft."

Myron criticizes the tendency to oversell quarterbacks, expressing concerns about their immediate readiness and the impact of organizational support on their development.

Myron (26:40):
"He's the first person I've ever heard say that... he's not an immediate starter in the NFL..."

The hosts debate whether teams should gamble on quarterbacks given the limited standout prospects or invest in other high-impact players who can immediately influence their team's performance.

4. Rise of Stars in Women’s College Basketball

The discussion moves to women’s basketball, spotlighting the stellar performance of Juju Watkins from USC. After leading her team to a victory against UCLA with 30 points, Watkins is positioned as a future superstar in the WNBA.

Matt (37:35):
"Juju Watkins has been incredible... Juju is unlike any player I've ever seen in the women's game."

The hosts predict that Watkins, alongside other prominent players like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, will significantly elevate the profile and competitiveness of the WNBA in the coming years.

5. NBA Critique: LeBron James’ Comments on the League

Matt and Myron tackle a controversial topic regarding LeBron James’ recent comments criticizing the NBA's media coverage and the constant negative commentary from prominent voices within the league.

Myron (40:12):
"Just say it's him and then move on."

Matt reflects on LeBron’s unique position as both a league superstar and a frequent target of criticism, contrasting it with other sports where similar levels of public scrutiny aren’t as prevalent.

Matt (43:35):
"I don't see a movie unless it's 70% from critics..."

They discuss how the NBA's media environment, filled with former players like Charles Barkley and Shaq who frequently voice critiques, affects the league’s public image despite its high-performance standards.

6. Women's Basketball Highlights and Future Prospects

Returning to women’s basketball, the hosts highlight USC's recent games and the prospects heading into the WNBA draft. Juju Watkins’ exceptional skills and the potential influx of talent from players like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese promise an exciting future for the league.

Myron (37:35):
"She's Euro stepping in the lane, reverse layups. Like, juju is unlike any player I've ever seen in the women's game."

7. Pop Culture Moments and Light-Hearted Segments

Interspersed within the main discussions, Matt and Myron share light-hearted dialogues, including commentary on Oscar-nominated films and playful banter about classic songs like "Come on Eileen." These segments provide a balance to the heavier topics, showcasing the hosts' dynamic chemistry.

Matt (35:11):
"If you're like at a middle-aged bar and it's late in the night, they'll play it and white people will point at each other and sing."

Conclusion

"Hour 2: GOOGLE ME!" of "Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron" offers a multifaceted exploration of contemporary sports issues. From the vulnerabilities of college athletes in the digital age to the ethical debates surrounding Hall of Fame inductions, the hosts provide insightful and thought-provoking analysis. Their discussions on the future of women’s basketball and strategic insights into the NFL draft, coupled with critiques of the NBA's media landscape, present listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the current sports environment. The episode successfully blends serious discourse with moments of levity, making it both informative and engaging for a broad audience.

Notable Quotes:

• Matt (04:19):
  "Social media has made these people accessible... these players are accessible to grown men who all of a sudden feel like they can say whatever they want."

• Myron (07:39):
  "We're headed to a place where this is going to spill into real life... What happens when the player decides, I've had enough and guy throws a punch?"

• Matt (21:19):
  "You can't have all fame that doesn't have the hits leader and the home run leader."

• Myron (25:09):
  "It's a terrible idea... the value in the later rounds is still there at running back."

• Myron (40:12):
  "Just say it's him and then move on."

This episode encapsulates the complex and evolving nature of modern sports, providing listeners with a deep dive into the issues that matter most in the athletic world today.

Transcript

[Matt]

Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile with a message for everyone paying Big wireless way too much. Please, for the love of everything good in this world, stop with Mint. You can get premium wireless for just $15 a month. Of course, if you enjoy overpaying, no judgments. But that's weird. Okay, one judgment anyway. Give it a [e-mail] Switch upfront payment of $45 for 3 month plan equivalent to $15 per month required intro rate first 3 months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra. See full [e-mail] this is Matt and Myron. The podcast is our number two here of Sunday morning. Matt Myron on ESPN Radio. Been a fun first hour. Not gonna lie to you. This Myron calls first college basketball radio game. We got some catchphrases going. We learned about Myron's affinity for the movie Big and then we also talked a little about a little bit of sports. So if you didn't hear it, you can get it on the podcast. Sunday Mornings with Matt Myron is on podcast. Just wherever you get your podcast, your iTunes, your Spotify, whatever, tell your friends about me. That's exactly right. And then tell your friends about us. Sunday Mornings with Matt Myron, college basketball. You know we are. Selection Sunday is two weeks from today. That's exactly right. Matter of fact, in two weeks we will not be on this show because we will be on the bracket selection show that night. Myron and I are flying to Bristol for our once every two years being in the same place and socializing together evening. I didn't think about that. You and I can get dinner, Myron. How about that? Won't that be exciting?

[Myron]

That'll be fun. Yeah. I mean, one of those days. Saturday, probably you should.

[Matt]

Also, I'm not coming till Sunday. I have to go to the SEC tournament. So.

[Myron]

Yeah, okay.

[Matt]

But, but nevertheless, we'll be on that, that, that Sunday night. So it should be a lot of fun. But with college basketball going on yesterday we was a big day. Auburn clinched the SEC. St. John's clinched the big East. But a story that is gaining some momentum is what happened in Lawrence, Kansas. Now it's pretty notable that Kansas lost at home again, this time to Texas Tech. 78, 73. Kansas has 10 losses. It's going to be the second straight season that Bill Self has double digit regular season losses, which is not something that had happened before. It's now been two straight years. But the bigger story is after the game, Kansas player Zeke Mayo posted the fact that he was sorry about how he had played. But then he also posted screenshots of hateful social media posts he had received, and they were awful, some of which use the people's real names, saying really terrible words, including racial slurs. May only scored five points in the game, and he's one of three seniors that has kind of struggled on the team and led to clearly a ton of social media hate. Myron, you know, it's. It's an open secret for people who've played basketball that in the social media era, especially with the passionate fan bases, people can be awful. Bill Self came out last night, put out a statement in support of his players. Basically said, blame me for anything that happens. What did you make of all that out of Kansas?

[Myron]

I mean, I hate to see it. You know, for me, it's. It's scary at this point, right? I think the spotlight on college players has changed in recent years with name, image and like this, because there are a lot of people who go, okay, you're getting paid now. You're a professional. So if there was any sort of protective barrier between. Between them and fans, that's kind of gone because of the money. And then I think the other thing with these guys that's happening is the gambling culture has just been even more magnified. So the prop bets and all these things that are tied to how they perform. But I just think, man, it's scary to think that a guy like Zeke Mayo, who, even though he's getting nil money, even though he's on a big stage, he's not really like a public figure. Like, he's still a college student, but in a moment like this, he's vulnerable to these kinds of attacks. And I'm always fearful, Matt, of those attacks going from social media to real life. And I think that's why Bill Self put out that statement, to say, that's how serious this is. Everybody back off and blame me.

[Matt]

I think there's. I've talked a lot about this over the years on my local show, but I think there's four things that have happened that have all come together to make this much more difficult for college students in this specific area, which is where we're talking about harassment. Number one. I think you hit it. I think a little bit of it is the gambling. I don't think that's as much as other people say, because I think a lot of the people that are doing this are not necessarily betting money that matters, but I do think that's part of it because it makes people, Myron, who aren't even fans of Kansas maybe have an opinion. Right. Second, I think the nil is a huge thing. I think the fact these guys are now getting paid makes people think that they can treat them in a way that they couldn't when they were, quote, unquote, playing for the love of the game. So there's a sense of if you got paid a half million dollars, with that comes criticism. And so I think it leads people to be significantly, you know, more aggressive. I think the third thing is culture as a whole has become a lot more coarse. I don't think anybody would disagree with that. People are a lot more likely to be mean to each other, to say it out loud. I think there's, especially in recent years, been a belief of, like, I should be able to say anything to anybody, and they can just deal with it or else they're a softie. And I think that's part of it. But then I think all of these things, the fourth thing, the thing that amplifies it to an 100th degree, is that social media has made these people accessible. They didn't used to be accessible. Like, if you got mad at a college basketball player, unless you went and stood outside his dorm, how are you even going to talk to him? Right? Like, there was no way for them to know. Now any goober with a phone can write anyone. Now, the professional athletes, most of them learn, tune it out. But in college, a lot of these guys are not used to it yet. They're not used to the attention. And all of a sudden, what used to be a really positive for them, social media, they'd get a lot of likes from teams that recruiting them, girls would be interested in them, they'd get their highlights, all this stuff. Then all of a sudden it's used by people who don't like them or who are mad at them. So they're still reading it, they're still digesting it. And I think that's why you see this happen at the college level. These players are accessible to grown men who all of a sudden feel like they can say whatever they want to them. And the player, unlike later in life, is still listening.

[Myron]

Yes. No, I think you nailed it all, man. I think that social media element has just changed. You know, how people can reach out and connect with these guys. They are viewed as pros to a lot of folks, the difference is a. If you're a Kevin Durant or Steph Curry, you've been dealing with this for such a long time, right? It's almost just a natural part of being a superstar. Zigmail isn't a global superstar. He's a guy who's trying to help kids Kansas get into the tournament. But because the spotlight has grown so fast, I don't think people realize how difficult it is for these young people to handle stuff like that. I think about mental health and all these other components of this that are serious, man. And you're gonna have guys who are really, really broken down by this stuff maybe years later because of the things that are happening in their dms. It's just unfair. I hate that adults are doing this stuff to young people.

[Matt]

And it's happening with college kids, Myron, who their entire lives, yes. Have been online. So they can't detach. Like take somebody like LeBron. He didn't grow up online, so, like, it's easy for him to kind of, if he wants to, although they don't always do it, detach from it. These kids the the age of Zeke Mayo, there's been a phone clasped to their hands since they were five. The idea of saying ignore it is not really something that they even think they can do because their lives have been wrapped up around this. And so all of a sudden, this thing that's such a huge part of their life becomes a instrument of hate. And Myron, I think that's really tough for that generation.

[Myron]

Yeah, it's hard to separate, you know what I mean? Because engaging in social media is such a big part of what they do. Heck, in the nil era, it's a required part of what these guys really is how they make money and build their brands. But I also worry, especially in basketball, in football, with so many players, for the most part at the collegiate level, people know the quarterback. They might know one or two other stars. In basketball, you see kids faces. Yeah, you do, you know, on the tv, there's nothing covering them up. And I think that's why if you are a Zeke Mayo in a Kansas, you're going, does this translate to somebody doing something off the court? And I think that's my fear, Matt, is with this stuff spilling over into real life because of what these kids.

[Matt]

Are facing, just going to say, I'm just going to use myself as an example. Okay. I'm 46 years old. I didn't grow up with a cell phone. I didn't even have a cell phone until I was like 25 years old. But because of the nature of my job, I now have to be online a lot. But I didn't grow up with it. People will say awful things. To me, and I am a grown man, and I will be completely honest that sometimes it gets to you. I've learned better to separate it. But I had to work through that because I had to be online. I didn't want to be online. I had to, to do this job. I was like a, like a breaking news guy. And so I had to sit and listen when people got mad at me for being a Kentucky fan or for being a political view, all this stuff. If I had to go through that when I was 19, I don't think I could have done it. I really don't. It was hard enough when I was 40. Right. Much less when I was 19. So I actually really feel bad. These guys, to be honest with you.

[Myron]

And you're right, man. We forget how young they are, you know what I mean? Because they're on TV and we just assume that they're equipped to handle this. And also, like the difference between the Zeke males and the Kevin Durant, they're not going home to some private compound with security standing outside and you being able to remove yourself from everything. They're not flying private every single place they go in their everyday life. Sick. Mayo's going back probably to some apartment or condo or maybe he's got a home in Lawrence, Kansas. Living in a regular neighborhood, man. And this stuff has to stop because we're headed to a place where this is going to spill into real life. And I tell you what, I'm not even talking about just fans doing something to players. Matt, what happens when the player decides, I've had enough and guy throws a punch?

[Matt]

Yeah, I mean, Kentucky played at Oklahoma this past weekend. A dude threw a full beer can at one of the players and hit him in the shoulder. Like I. He got held back. But what if there hadn't been somebody to hold him back? He might have gone in the stands and beaten that guy up. You know, you just, you gotta, you gotta, you gotta be careful. Now switching gears, the Major League Baseball hit king, Pete Rose. Now, Rob Manfred has said the Major League commissioner that he's going to consider letting him in the hall of Fame. Is that a good decision? Plus, part of that was because the president weighed in. Are we going to see more sports? Things changed by the day like that it's make Myron uncomfortable segment next here on Sunday Morning with Matt. Myron, if you like true crime stories, listen to this one. But as you listen, put yourself in the place of this IT manager. Because he never dreamed this would happen at his company on his watch. He came in on Monday and tried to log in and couldn't a ransom pop up. Informed him that company data, customer files, bank accounts, apar everything was being held for ransom and if they didn't pay $250,000 in bitcoin no less, all of it would be wiped. Nearly a third of mid sized American companies got hit by a data breach last year and that number is going up. It's your choice. Trust your current cybersecurity infrastructure like he did or outsource protecting your precious data with the leading managed security services provider in the US Thrive. It all starts with a comprehensive Thrybe cyber risk assessment. Thrive security analysts identify security gaps and deliver proactive solutions to help keep your network healthy and protected. It's not a matter of if, it's when. Are you ready? Get your no obligation security recommendations and consultation. Your business relies on it. Visit thrive next gen.com that's ThriveNextGen.com as the number and severity of third party breaches continue to rise, companies are increasingly vigilant. Not just about how they handle their own data, but other vendors do as well. For security and compliance leaders, this means more security reviews are coming across your desk every day and valuable time is being wasted on manual security reviews. With Vanta Questionnaire Automation, security and compliance teams can complete security reviews up to five times faster, giving you time back to focus on running your security and compliance programs. Over 8,000 global companies like ZoomInfo, smart recruiters and Noibu use Vanta to save time on security reviews. Visit vanta.compodcast to learn more about Questionnaire automation. That's V A N T a dot com Podcast Vantage.

[Myron]

Matt and Myron the.

[Matt]

Podcast it is Sunday morning here on ESPN Radio, ESPN app presented by Progressive Progressive Insurance. What are the big games today? Myron in sports, sitting here looking. You got a big women's game. South Carolina plays Kentucky at the it's the last day of the regular season for the women Nuggets and Celtics here at 1:00 on on ABC. Anything else you ready for tonight? You got the Oscars. Have you, have you seen these movies that are up for the Oscar? Have you seen which ones?

[Myron]

Which ones are they? What's up?

[Matt]

Well, there's 10 of them. Have you seen, did you watch movies this year? Let's see how many.

[Myron]

There's not. There are 10 movies where they have an Oscar.

[Matt]

Well, I mean they're not. They're only going to give it to one, but there's 10 movies nominated. Okay. Here I'm going to go through them, you tell me which ones of these you might have watched. Did you watch A Complete Unknown, the Bob Dylan movie?

[Myron]

It's on my list. I haven't seen it.

[Matt]

So the answer is no, you haven't watched it. It's very good. Like, I think it's.

[Myron]

Yeah. Timothy Shamalay.

[Matt]

Timothy Shamalay. Well done. Amelia Perez. It's on Netflix. You could watch it today if you wanted.

[Myron]

Have not seen it. I thought that was controversial, right? Wasn't that controversial?

[Matt]

Yeah, it's controversial, but you're controversial, so you should watch it. Conclave. I saw it. I loved it. I think Conclave is great. This would be my pick. Have you seen it? About the.

[Myron]

Picking a pope on my list.

[Matt]

So the answer is no. Nickel Boys. Have you seen that? It's a great book.

[Myron]

It's my list. Nickel Boys. I have the book.

[Matt]

Colson Whitehead, great book. Haven't seen that either. Okay, what about I'm Still Here? Supposed to be one of the most powerful, moving films in years.

[Myron]

I am still here. Who's in that?

[Matt]

People you don't know, but it's about like. It's about like, I think Brazil or country in South America.

[Myron]

No, I've not seen that.

[Matt]

So 0 for 5. The substance with Demi Moore, like body horror is what they call it. Have you seen that?

[Myron]

High on my list to see. Have not.

[Matt]

Oh, that one's high on your list. They got the first high. Why? You were big to me for Demi Moore fan.

[Myron]

No, it got good reviews. You like, you know, My Rotten Tomatoes.

[Matt]

All these are clearly good. They're nominated for an Oscar. So, like.

[Myron]

Well. But I don't see a movie unless it's 70% from critics. 70%.

[Matt]

Okay, what about Dune Part 2? Have you seen Dune Part 2?

[Myron]

Now I've seen one.

[Matt]

Didn't go see two, so now we're over seven. Have you seen the brutalist? About architecture?

[Myron]

Eight hours. Is that the movie that's eight hours long? And it's like an intermission.

[Matt]

It's not. It's not eight hours long. I think it's like two hours.

[Myron]

Stop making these five hour movies. Stop making these five. I got two hours and ten minutes.

[Matt]

Three hours.

[Myron]

Listen, I got two hours and ten minutes for you, all right? If the movie ain't over by then, I'm out.

[Matt]

All right, so we're all for eight. Have you seen Wicked?

[Myron]

No. That's on my list, too.

[Matt]

On your list? Nothing gets. Seems to get through your list. It gets on the list, but it never actually.

[Myron]

It's on it.

[Matt]

And then finally, the favorite. A lot of people think tonight, Anora, who is about a young woman who is a prostitute but meets like this oligarch and thinks she's fallen in love, and then bad things happen. A lot of people think it's gonna win tonight. Have you seen Anora?

[Myron]

No. Who's in that? What's the people?

[Matt]

You don't know. So we are now over 10 on best picture movies. So I don't know that you would be good to decide who should win.

[Myron]

But I am good at saying 10 movies. When do you have 10 finalists of anything in life? There are never 10 things that are equally suitable to win.

[Matt]

I'm not saying they're equal. It's the top 10, and then they're going to pick equal. No one would win right before the show.

[Myron]

You know what I do? I'd say, you know what? I'm picking five of you. The rest of you are going to the back table. Give me the five that people like.

[Matt]

Okay. Wow.

[Myron]

Why are we doing. Why are we putting 10 people at the front of the thing?

[Matt]

You would say they should at the beginning. Go. Okay.

[Myron]

Just trying to make people happy. No, you're just trying to like a still here.

[Matt]

Go back to the back. Okay.

[Myron]

Go back to the back. Not really in the running.

[Matt]

Yeah. Imagine a Heisman NCA turned 68 teams.

[Myron]

Okay. But imagine the Heisman Trophy bringing 10 finalists to the show.

[Matt]

People, you.

[Myron]

You need a. You need a stadium to do. No way, man.

[Matt]

Okay, five. And I've seen, you know, since you didn't seem to care. I've seen a complete unknown conclave, the substance and Anora. So I've seen four.

[Myron]

What's the best one? What's the best four?

[Matt]

I would say Conclave one and Nora to Complete Unknown three and Substance four. But I liked all of them. I think they're all worth seeing. I have not seen.

[Myron]

Is Shyamalay going to win? Is Shamala going to win?

[Matt]

And the woman from Anora, I can't remember her name, but she should.

[Myron]

Mikey Madison.

[Matt]

Mikey Madison. Those would be the two people I would pick.

[Myron]

Okay. They're going to win it all.

[Matt]

That's what I would do. But again, I have not seen some of these other ones.

[Myron]

It's bad boys for life up there.

[Matt]

Not make it.

[Myron]

No.

[Matt]

I thought. Yeah. Paddington in Peru did not make it. Pete Rose, Commissioner of Baseball Rob Manfred is considering. Fine. Is considering a petition that was filed on January 8 to have Pete Rose become eligible for the hall of Fame. It wouldn't make him in the hall of Fame, but it would allow voters to vote for him if they want. Now this comes after just two days ago, Donald Trump gave a full pardon to Pete Rose, which I'm not sure what that did since he is dead, but they gave him a full pardon and said that he should be in the hall of Fame. Now, Commissioner Manfred says this has not, or excuse me, Don van not a junior. ESPN's writer was on Best Week Ever and said this has nothing to do with Donald Trump's tweet. This is actually something that's been going on for years. It accelerated after Rose's death at the end of September. Last December, Jeffrey Lenkoff, who is a Los Angeles based lawyer who represented Pete Rose prior to his death, filed, actually met with Manfred in Manfred's office with Fawn Rose, who's the oldest daughter of Pete rose on December 17 and asked Manfred personally to remove Rose from baseball's banned for life list. And then In January, on January 8th, this lawyer, Jeffrey Lenkoff, filed a petition with Manfred. So Trump filed something Friday night on Truth Social saying that this should happen. I think it was purely coincidental or perhaps somebody spoke to him in a backchannel way that there was a very live campaign going on to try to remove Pete Rose from the ineligible list. So finally baseball writers could have a chance to vote for him for the hall of Fame. Yeah, I don't believe that at all. I like donvan, not a junior, but you're not going to convince me that after 35 plus years of Pete Rose being banned, just coincidentally, two days after Trump's tweet, it comes out that they're considering. What a crazy coincidence. I don't believe that. Do you think Pete Rose should be in the hall of Fame?

[Myron]

Yeah, but I mean, but none of this changed that for me. Like I've always had that thought because at the end of the day, if the hall of Fame is going to be about character in any sport, then you're going to have to go through the hall of Fame and take a whole bunch of people out of it across sports. So I mean that's, you do that.

[Matt]

Like you would do it with all of it. Like you'd OJ's fine.

[Myron]

I don't know who to take out. I mean, like what? I don't know. If it's just about accomplishments on the field, then you can't take away what Pete Rose has done. The steroids guys in the integrity of the game, who do you know that was certainly on steroids outside of the Barry bonds and Mark McGuire, a bunch of those guys were.

[Matt]

So, you know, I mean, to me, you can't have all fame that doesn't have the hits leader and the home run leader.

[Myron]

Yeah, you got to put them in.

[Matt]

You got to put them in. Like, I mean, you can put something on it that says, this dude got banned for baseball. You can put something on it that said, you know, there are rumors or whatever that Barry Bonds was on steroids, but this is not the hall of Morals. It's the hall of Fame. And you're exactly right. Like, how are you going to draw the line at Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens? But we know there's other people that use steroids that are in there. Right?

[Myron]

So.

[Matt]

And how are you going to have all fame that does not have Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and Pete Rose in it? It just doesn't make sense. Now, I think Pete Rose. I'm a Reds fan. I don't think Pete Rose was necessarily a good guy at all. But that doesn't mean he shouldn't be in the Hall.

[Myron]

No, I mean, I'm a huge Jim Brown fan. Rest in peace. If you Google Jim Brown, who's one of the faces of the NFL, I mean, there were a lot of really, really bad incidents with women in his life. Right. And no one was taking him out of the hall of Fame. If it's about being on the field, Pete Rose has to be in the hall of Fame. You don't have a Hall of Fame, to me, unless one of the greatest players of all time is in it.

[Matt]

Yeah. I also think, like, ultimately the hall of Fame is like a museum. So why, if you take your kid and the kid goes, daddy, Mommy. Who had the most hits ever? I don't know. Who had the most home runs ever? Yeah, we don't know. Like, you gotta. You got. You gotta have that in the hall of Famer. What is the point? Coming up next, Myron has some hot takes on the NFL draft. I didn't know about it until a few minutes ago. We'll give them to you. That's next, right here on ESPN Radio.

[Myron]

Matt and Myron, the podcast.

[Matt]

I gotta learn how to do Greenies, like, excitement level. Do you hear what he did there? He was like, titans will take Abdul Carter first and then at second. That's when it gets interesting. I gotta learn how to do that. That's a real passionate, like, the Greeny passion there. I don't know that I could do that like that.

[Myron]

Yeah. No, it's good, man. It's really good stuff. It's I thought about that on the air yesterday, man, when I was doing the radio thing. Like it's hard to know how to balance those inflection points, man.

[Matt]

So yeah, it's, it's. But Greeny does the. That's how you know it's serious. Tell your friends about me. That's exactly right. And I'm going to as soon as this is over. Mel Kuiper put as mock draft. He does have Abdul Carter going first. The Titans, I guess, which I think is interesting in and of itself. There are two quarterbacks, three really, to count Jackson Dart at the top of the class and Mel and the Titans need a quarterback. But Kuiper believes the Titans don't like any of these guys enough to take him number one. Plus Abdul Carter's a freak. Brown's taking Travis Hunter number two. He has the Giants taking Cam Ward quarterback as number three. I can't imagine if you do that you would want to pair him with Aaron Rodgers, who would be worse to pair him with than, than Aaron Rodgers. But then, interesting. The jets getting Shadora Sanders at number seven after the Raiders take Boise State running back Aston Genti at number six. Let me before we get to the quarterbacks. Aston Genti at one point this year was the top rated running back and he was projected like early in the second round. The fact that he's all now projected up to number six. Is that the Saquon Barkley effect reminding us that running back can like really matter.

[Myron]

It is the Saquon Barkley effect. It is also a terrible idea because to me if you're drafting, if you're drafting someone top 10 even in the first round, like to me you're saying they can become a cornerstone of this team in the future and then you would have to pay them that way. And as great as running backs are, as great as Saquon has been, the value in the later rounds is still there at running back. Like the gap between Ashton and the rest of the top running backs is not as wide as it is at quarterback and some of these other positions.

[Matt]

It'd be interesting to see though, because I don't know, you. You and I have had the same position about running backs, but I do wonder if Saquon has changed it. But let's switch for a second for quarterback. This has Shadur Sanders going seventh to the Jets. That's actually low. A lot of people think goes to the Raiders at 6, maybe even goes to the Giants at 3 if the Titans were to take Cam Ward. You said earlier you think Shadur Sanders is a second round pick and not an NFL starting quarterback. You're the first person I've ever heard say that. Why do you think that?

[Myron]

Well, let me be clear on what I actually said. I said I don't think he's an immediate starter in the NFL and I do think in a good draft at quarterback, which this isn't, he is a second or third round prospect. I think people are forcing themselves to consider him a top 10 guy. The name, the pedigree, all that stuff matters. But there are a lot of things that people aren't saying. The weird thing to me about Shadora Sanders, man, and we've covered a lot of these NFL drafts, covering the NFL for a long time. Usually with a top 10 guy, someone will say here is the thing he does that's going to translate to the NFL and make him a very good player. Lamar Jackson coming out. Anyone smart could see that that dude had had athletic gifts that were going to put him in a good spot. Josh Allen, despite sort of the up and down play that he had at Wyoming, you saw the giant arm. What is it with Chadur Sanders? Because to me, if you're telling me it's the total player, I don't believe you because the NFL is not like that.

[Matt]

Yeah, but what I mean, if you want to make the case for sure, you say great talent, great pedigree, played with two of the worst offensive lines ever, got very little protection and still was able to perform and his and the team got significantly better both years he was there. Does that matter to you at all?

[Myron]

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[Matt]

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[Myron]

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[Matt]

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[Myron]

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[Myron]

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[Matt]

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[Myron]

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[Matt]

A snow angel? Sorry, no, but angel hair pasta?

[Myron]

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[Myron]

Product availability may vary by region. See out for details. But we're talking about. We're talking about a top 10 spot. And I'm not saying he's a bad court. There's nothing wrong with not being an immediate starter. I mean, there are a lot of guys who needed time to develop and get.

[Matt]

But there's a big difference between going seventh and being in the second or third round, which is what you're saying. I mean, do you feel like. I mean, I haven't seen any of the draft gurus put him that low like you're.

[Myron]

But I'm saying in a draft. Well, hey, I'm probably not a guru. I don't think anybody would see me as that. But. But I'm saying in a, in a, In a good draft at quarterback, that's what he would be in this draft. Of course he's a top 10 guy because quarterback is the biggest need. It's the most important position on the field. But I don't think he's an immediate starter. And I think they're grading on a curve because of how weak this draft is. But what worries me is two things. One, again, we don't have to talk that much about top 10 picks. You see a guy and you go, oh, yeah, Peyton Manning, that'll translate. Which Shadour Sanders were saying a lot of things that really have nothing to do with football.

[Matt]

So you don't, you don't think there's any quarterback in this draft that you're certain will be good in the interview?

[Myron]

No, I don't think anyone could say that. There's no guarantee. And here's the other thing, and you can relate to this. You've always told me that Tim Couch, the greatest thing, the worst thing that happened to him was who he was drafted by because he was a great talent, but the organization wasn't there to support him. You're talking about two guys going to the Giants and the Jets. How does that affect their development fight?

[Matt]

It's completely. Fair point. I feel better, honestly, about the Giants situation because I do think even though year one could be a disaster, if it is, they'll just go get a coach and a GM to fit the quarterback they pick, whoever it is. So I do worry about the jets, just. Just a history thing. I mean, the owner's not going to change. He's a disaster. They have watched one quarterback after another come and be terrible. I mean, think about what all they've burned. They've burned not Only high picks. They've had hall of Famers come there and stink, too. It's like it almost, it almost doesn't matter what walks into that facility. It doesn't work. Mark Sanchez is the only quarterback since Vinnie Testaverde that's had significant success. Success. I just, you know, if I'm Deion Sanders and Shadur Sanders and I've sat here and talked forever about, I'm going to a franchise that will whatever, you know, that will be stable and that will be right. I can't imagine a worse one to go to. If you, if you were going to complain about the Raiders and you were going to complain about the Giants, how in the world would you be happy, Myron going to the Jets?

[Myron]

And that's the thing is development wise. And then also I know Shedeur is, you know, the son of a guy who's had this giant spotlight on him from the time he was born, but being the jets quarterback has not been a fun experience really for anybody. You know what I mean? So how do you handle that part? Because although Shedeur has dealt with some of like, all right, you're the coach's kid and all the benefits that come with that, for the most part, people have liked him. And I think you go to the jets and no matter who you are, it's a good chance that folks won't like you for one reason or the other.

[Matt]

Yeah, I think that's. That, that's true. Do you. Would you take Abdul Carter first if you were the Titans, or would you take Travis Hunter?

[Myron]

Man, the footstep would worry me about the stress reaction in his right foot where apparently doctors are saying he doesn't need surgery at that position. It would make me worried. But if you're saying talent, I think Abdul Carter has the highest ceiling in this draft, so I can understand picking him number one.

[Matt]

Yeah, I think if you. If what's interesting is if you're the Titans or the Browns, I think what will be interesting about their decision making is they both need quarterbacks. But there are only two players in this draft that I feel really good are going to be good no matter what. And they're not quarterbacks right there. Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter. So you got these two teams with top two picks who both need quarterbacks, but also would love to have one of the two can't miss guys in the draft. So what do you do? Do you roll the dice on a quarterback? Do you not. And you punt for another year or do you say and then go and get these guys that are kind of game changing dudes. Or do you say, look, quarterbacks are hard to come, let's try it. I think the Titans and the Browns are in one of the more unique spots you'll ever see with top two picks because of this weird context of this draft this year.

[Myron]

I also wonder, Matt, are we actually just getting set up for a big trade here before the draft too, you know, because that, that could happen as well.

[Matt]

Yeah, as soon as I actually think the team that's sitting in the best spot is the Browns because as soon as I think the Titans are going to take Abdul Carter, unless they just decide they can't risk on the injury and then, you know, it's Travis Hunter or a quarterback. All these teams below you need a quarterback. They're all probably worried. They're worried you're going to take them. The Giants are sitting there. They could end up with Travis Hunter. I just think that's going to be a fascinating having, you know, of the top seven, having all three of the top teams need a quarterback, but no great quarterback. Myron, I think makes it a really fascinating.

[Myron]

What do you think about the draft also this year being where in Green Bay, Wisconsin, man. Because I, I got a lot of friends in Green Bay who are like, oh, this is going to be so much fun. It's 25 degrees in green Bay.

[Matt]

Well, it might not be that nice.

[Myron]

It won't be that cold, but it's going to be colder than it is everywhere else.

[Matt]

The one in Nashville was pretty awesome. I could see it being similar in Green Bay. We're going to get ready. There's a lot, we've talked a lot about, you know, basketball, NFL, et cetera. But there's a lot of other things happening that you may not have seen. We'll give you some behind the scenes headlines. That's next here on Sunday morning.

[Myron]

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[Matt]

I participate in restaurants for a limited time.

[Myron]

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[Matt]

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[Myron]

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[Matt]

Now this is this year got a song, right? Myron, you big Come on Eileen guy. That feels like a cookout song.

[Myron]

Now who. Who has Come on Eileen? Who is this?

[Matt]

Well, that's the name of the song. It's not a person. I don't know who sings it, but this is very much like Midnight Runners.

[Myron]

I believe it's a one hit wonder.

[Matt]

Yeah, it's a one hit wonder. This is definitely one. If you're like at a. If you're like at a middle aged bar and it's late in the night, they'll play it and white people will point at each other and sing. It is definitely one of point at each other. I don't know. There are just certain songs that like when they come on people like point at their friends and they're like, yeah, come on, Ali. You know, I mean, I feel like that's. Yeah, she. Rachel's doing it right now. Like that's the white people like to point at each other when they're singing. It's like, yeah, they like to say, oh, you're my girl. You're my. Yeah, we gonna sing Come on Eileen. Like, I think that happens a lot.

[Myron]

That is a big difference. Okay, that's good to know.

[Matt]

ESPN Radio is presented by Progressive Insurance. Oh, I love that. This ad. And now progressive ad brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Drivers who switched to progressive could save big with Progressive. This has been a progressive ad from Progressive. See if you can save at 1-800-progressive or progressive.com it is Sunday headlines. Myron, that means we find out some things maybe we didn't know or maybe you didn't know about what's going on in sports. Nick, what's up first and we can.

[Myron]

Tell our friends about it. All right, One game that we didn't quite dive into yesterday was a big one. On the women's side, number four, USC taking on number two, UCLA in an upset. Second time this year USC beat their crosstown rival, UCLA, obviously both in LA. Juju Watkins went off 30 points. Third career game with 30 points against an AP top two opponent. Second most in Division 1 history in the last 20 years. Caitlin Clark holds that title as well. New USC clinched the outright title in the Big Ten. So football and basketball for women's a Pac 12 team on the Big Ten this year, but USC a big threat for the women. Byron? Yeah, I mean, I watched the game, man. I think juju was 10 for 22. There were like, all kinds of, like, celebrities were in the crowd. I mean, juju Watkins has been incredible. And the WNBA in the next three to five years is about to go to a whole different level. Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Paige Beckers will obviously be in the draft this year. And then juju is going to show up. And I don't know if you've had a chance to watch juju, but that is a different kind of basketball she's playing. She's Euro stepping in the lane, reverse layups. Like, juju is unlike any player I've ever seen in the women's game, and she is headed to be a big time superstar.

[Matt]

Yeah, I didn't know this game was on until I saw. I flipped that, you know, flipped the channels and saw that it was a women's game on Saturday night. It's nice that it got that coverage. They were able to do that because, you know, there was hockey on and there was like a little opening. So there was. And I thought that was a good use of scheduling, but I did not see the game. But juju Watkins is an amazing player. I've seen her a couple times this year. Women's tournament should be interesting because South Carolina, not as good as they've been in recent years. You got Texas, you got usc, you got ucla, you got a kind of a different group of teams that really have a chance to win. It should make for an exciting women's. Who's up next?

[Myron]

All right, this week, a lot of prospects spoke at the combine. Obviously, Heisman winner Travis Hunter was one of those participants. He was asked an interesting question. Obviously he plays both offense and defense, so he was compared to another such player. And he was asked who has a harder job, him or Shohei Otani?

[Matt]

Probably me. What I do in football, because it's.

[Myron]

A lot on your body. You know, Tony, he's a great player, but you got to do a lot of your football. So, Matt, thoughts on him saying football is harder than baseball two ways?

[Matt]

Well, it doesn't matter what's harder. It's just. That was a pretty bad analysis. I got to use technique. Yeah, I bet Shohei Ohtani does as well when it comes to hitting. I would actually say I don't know what's harder. Football is probably a harder sport on your. On your body and all that. But. But the act of pitching and the act of hitting are two completely different things, right? Like, like, they're not even, like, in the same ballpark. Whereas, like, running a route and Covering a route or at least the same vicinity of things. So I would say in terms of ski, you know, it's probably harder on your body to play football. But in terms of skill, the idea that Shohei Ohtani is world class at two completely different skills is pretty amazing to me. Myron?

[Myron]

Yeah, I feel like I got to start a communication businessman with some of these athletes because there's no way to win in that conversation. And I think if you're Travis Hunter, the only thing to do when you're asked about, show it, because he will be asked about him because he's going to be a guy playing two positions. As you just say, Shohei is great, is one of the greatest baseball players. I got a lot of respect for him, but I don't think it's fair to compare what I do to what he does. And you leave it at that because you don't want to get wrapped up in that. Who has the harder job or just say he's better.

[Matt]

Why can't guys just say like, why.

[Myron]

Can'T they just be like, just don't say anything? Yeah, you got to learn. You got to learn to say a whole lot without saying anything at all if you're a Travis.

[Matt]

Now, I disagree with that. I'm a big believer in saying stuff.

[Myron]

But like baseball, like, how do you win?

[Matt]

You win by just like always being the humble one like Travis.

[Myron]

So it's humble to say he's better?

[Matt]

I mean, yeah, it's humble to say this. I have amazing skills at this. But Shohei Ohtani is doing two completely different things. And that's pretty amazing because it is. Pitching and hitting, hitting are just completely different things. And he's good at both of them. That's crazy.

[Myron]

Yeah. But I'm not going to minimize what I do if I'm Travis Hunter.

[Matt]

There you go.

[Myron]

You got to be respectful.

[Matt]

Ego is what brings Myron.

[Myron]

No, no. End of the day, be respectful is all I'm saying.

[Matt]

That's how you be respectful. Just say it's him and then move on. Who's next?

[Myron]

All right, we talked about this a little bit, but I wanted to get your thoughts on it. LeBron had some interesting comments the other night. He was quoted at his locker room saying, quote, why do you want to be the face of the league when all people that cover our game and talk about our game on a day to day basis s on everybody? Obviously I didn't ask for it. I feel Anthony Edwards. I understand this is weird energy when it comes to it. Anthony Edwards said He did not want to be the face of the league. So, Myron, what are your thoughts on this conversation and comments by LeBron? This is why people think Jordan's better than LeBron. It's on the court. Like, you can get his back and forth about who did what, whatever. You're not going to win those conversations with LeBron vs. MJ guys. But the thing about Braun is that sometimes he takes on what feels like a victim mentality. And by the way, I don't know that you want to stand up for Anthony Edwards right now in that moment. Anthony Edwards is just. Had just drawn another Tech. He was suspended for a game as a result, threw a ball into the crowd. Anthony Edwards has not been a great leader lately. So I don't know that you got to come to his aid in this moment. But, you know, so you're in that position also because you're a great player. You're a billionaire. Who cares if there are some people talking about you being critical of you? You don't think Jordan had that. So it's weird when A guy like LeBron says, why would you want to be in this position? I don't know. The rings, the money, the status and everything else attached to it. It's just weird for me.

[Matt]

It's always been weird to me about LeBron. And then I think Durant is even more like this. Just how much they focus on the criticism because they're Both so. Especially LeBron. He's so good. You know, I think his point about the major voices in the NBA just constantly just crapping on the product is a fair point. I really do believe that. I mean, I. Some of those voices like Charles Barkley, I love, but they're always just dogging it. And there is a sense in which I do want. That doesn't really happen in any other sport. Like, there's no other sport where the most prominent voices are always talking about how bad it is and how it was better back in the day. Part of it is most of the voices that do the NBA are just former players angry all the time. Now, the good thing about Barkley, Shaq and Kenny is that they also will have fun. And ultimately, I think they love the players in it. But I don't think it's a crazy point to go, how do we get to a place where in the NBA the coverage is how bad the NBA is? It's just odd to me. You know, you would never see at an All Star Game besides the NBA people in the pregame show talking about how Bad the product is. You just want to see that.

[Myron]

Yeah, that's fair. But I think there's a case to be made that the league hasn't gotten better in ways that these other leagues have.

[Matt]

Okay, maybe so.

[Myron]

But, like, you don't.

[Matt]

I'm not saying any of that is untrue, but there's no other league where you'll see people saying that during the games or before and after. Like, I also think the. The NBA is a product that needs to be worked on. But, like, when people were saying during the Four nations, hockey's better. When's the last time y'all watched a hockey game? Like, honestly, it wasn't the Four Nations. Like, compare the Olympics to a regular season hockey game and you're gonna like Olympic basketball better than. I just, I think that it's odd to me how so much of the NBA conversation is just talking about how bad it is. Like, I just don't get that.

[Myron]

That's fair. That's fair.

[Matt]

And I do understand where LeBron's coming from. But also, you make $60 million. Nobody really wants to. The Celtics are primed for a repeat. Or not. They lost this weekend to Cleveland. We'll talk about that and a lot more next here on Sunday Morning on espn.

[Myron]

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. In case you didn't know, these young men are driven, quite remarkable, magnificent, and unmistakable.

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