Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron
Episode: Hour 2: How Do You Get an F -
Date: March 1, 2026
Hosts: Matt Jones, Myron Medcalf (ESPN Radio)
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Episode Overview
The second hour of Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron offers a lively, humorous, and insightful look at a range of sports headlines and controversies from NFL player union team report cards and the infamous "F minus" food grade for the Bengals, to the nuances of sport card collecting, young NASCAR signings, and the challenges of hockey's popularity in America. Interspersed are engaging asides, listener calls, debates about nepotism in sports, and a fast-paced rundown of current college basketball power dynamics.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. NFL Player Association Team Report Cards & the Bengals "F Minus"
Timestamps: 03:03–08:10
- NFLPA Grades: The hosts dig into the recently leaked NFL Players Association's team "grades" which evaluate franchises across categories like food, facilities, and treatment of families.
- Cincinnati Bengals: The Bengals are humorously skewered for receiving the only "F minus" for food and another F minus for "treatment of family."
- Matt Barrie: "The most amazing was the Cincinnati Bengals...received an F minus for food. The only F minus given the entire report." (03:31)
- Myron Medcalf (on what an F minus signifies): "An F minus isn't even a grade. It's not even a real grade...that's a message, that's not a grade." (04:58)
- Why So Bad? The hosts and callers speculate, with jokes about rationing, forced consumption of Cincinnati chili, and families being made to work at games.
- Myron Medcalf: "For people who haven't been to Cincinnati...there's a dude in the jet bridge with a pot of chili...they just make you eat chili down there." (05:42)
- Matt Barrie: "Do they make the kids work in the garden? What is it they are making them do?" (06:57)
- Memorable Banter:
- Myron: "You get one cup the whole trip. You lose that cup, no water for you until we land!" (07:59)
2. Coin Collecting & Listener Connection
Timestamps: 08:18–10:49
- Caller "Gerard" from Utah: Shares tips for getting into coin collecting, especially through estate sales, and bonds with Myron over shared roots.
- Tom Cream (Gerard): "Estate sales is, like, one of the places that I got a lot of my coins from..." (08:22)
- Hosts Bond Over Collecting & Music:
- Gerard's Favorite Musician: "Jay Z." (10:15)
- Matt jokes, "Gerard, what do you think? You, Myron and Carolina Mike, doesn't that sound like a group that should hit the streets?" (09:52)
- Myron Medcalf: "Gerard, we should be friends, man. Send me a DM. We should be buddies, man. I like the way this dude rolls, man." (09:46)
3. Headlines: Collectibles Craze & Pronunciation Debates
Timestamps: 13:58–17:47
- "Honus" (or "Honest?") Wagner Card Saga: News of another T206 Wagner card selling for over $5 million triggers a debate over why it’s that card, and how to pronounce "Honus."
- James: “It’s honest Wagner, right?”
- Matt Barrie: “When did people collectively decide it’s not Honus anymore?” (14:39)
- Why So Valuable? Hosts agree Wagner's not the very best ever, nor the oldest card—so why is it so prized?
- Race & Collector Luck: Myron playfully notes: “Nobody discovers a Honus Wagner baseball card in the attic that sells for $6 million. That’s not a black person who’s ever had a Honus Wagner.” (15:53)
- Card Grading: Discussion about card gradings (this card was a "1 out of 10") and the historical context (cards with tobacco, etc.).
4. NFL Combine, Coach on Camera & Sleeping Scandal
Timestamps: 17:59–19:27
- Coach Aaron Glenn "Caught Sleeping": NFL Network cameras spot the Jets coach napping during the Combine.
- Matt Barrie: "It didn’t look like he was sleeping. He was sleeping. Good for him. The combine is stupid..." (18:27)
- Myron Medcalf: "Coaching the Jets is like being in a toxic relationship. You gotta rest sometimes, you know?" (18:54)
- Combine’s Value: Light mockery of the stopwatch culture still prevalent in NFL evaluation.
5. NASCAR Nepotism: Toyota Signs 13-Year-Old Keelan Harvick
Timestamps: 19:32–21:59
- Toyota’s Unprecedented Move: Signing Kevin Harvick's 13-year-old son prompts debate about nepotism and the real skill involved in racing.
- Matt Barrie: "How could they possibly know that he could drive a NASCAR?" (19:50)
- Argues anyone can be turned into a NASCAR driver with enough early training.
- Myron Medcalf: "But what’s the risk? ...If he turns out to be nothing, big deal." (20:32)
- Nepotism in Racing: Matt roasts the idea that family legacy trumps all, while Myron stands by the "brand value" approach.
6. College Basketball Power Rankings & Key Prospects
Timestamps: 25:13–34:53
- Tournament Contenders: Matt and analyst Tom Crean discuss their top five March Madness favorites (Duke, Arizona, Michigan, UConn, Florida) and debate close challengers.
- Player Analysis: In-depth breakdowns of Duke’s Cameron Boozer, defensive weaknesses, and the impact Cooper Flagg had on last season.
- Tom Crean: "[Cam Boozer’s] so efficient...He’s not a narrow player. What he doesn’t have maybe in overall go up and dunk over you, he beats you with strength and footwork..." (26:44)
- Darren Peterson NBA Draft Debate:
- Discussion of “will he, won’t he” play controversies, effort questions, and the influence of player entourages.
- Tom Crean: "A lot of the best players, they’ve got their own counsel, their own teams...That’s just the way it is." (29:34)
- Balancing Team and Star Development:
- Tom Crean: “But the number one process with Anthony [Edwards] was to make sure that every day we got him better, that he understood how to practice hard...” (32:29)
7. Hockey’s Cultural Moment – Olympic Boost & SNL
Timestamps: 37:23–46:19
- Hockey in the Spotlight: Discussion about hockey’s presence on Saturday Night Live and Olympic viewership.
- Matt Barrie: "Is this a hockey moment? And can hockey as a sport...get some benefit from a very popular television show and the Olympic success?" (40:22)
- Olympic vs. NHL Popularity: Myron argues Olympic hockey rarely translates into NHL fandom; Matt notes a recent TV show (“Heated Rivalry”) has drawn new (especially female) fans to the game.
- Myron: "I think the hockey gold is going to be huge for Olympic hockey. I think hockey has done a lot...to really boost viewership. But I think the ratings...haven’t hit a bunch of record marks." (41:02)
- Matt: "I did see a group of eight women...there because of that television show...So I actually think that can make a difference." (41:31)
- Who is Jack Hughes?: Can he break into mainstream recognition as America’s hockey star?
- Myron: "He’s the icon of that team. Like, he’s the face." (44:28)
- Matt: "Jack Hughes is a great chance, you know, major media market, handsome guy, good player, dates a pop star. And Myron, I still don’t know if people will really know who he is." (45:00)
- Iconic Teeth: Banter over whether Jack Hughes should "fix his teeth" or keep the classic hockey smile.
- Myron: "It’s part of the bit. It has to be in hockey." (43:15)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On NFL Team Food:
- Myron Medcalf (on Bengals F-): "An F minus isn't even a grade. It’s not even a real grade. It stops at F. F minus is a statement." (04:58)
- Coin Collecting Kinship:
- Myron: “Gerard, we should be friends, man. Send me a DM. We should be buddies, man. I like the way this dude rolls, man.” (09:46)
- Card Collecting & Representation:
- Myron: "Nobody discovers a Honus Wagner baseball card in the attic that sells for $6 million. That’s not a black person who’s ever had a Honus Wagner." (15:53)
- On Combine Clocks:
- Matt Barrie: "The combine is stupid. Like, they still have these old men out there with their clocks." (18:27)
- On Racing Nepotism:
- Matt Barrie: "This proves to me anyone can be a NASCAR driver. If you start early enough in your career." (21:59)
- On Hockey Teeth:
- Myron: "No, not in hockey. Not hockey [referring to fixing teeth]. It’s part of the bit." (43:06)
Additional Noteworthy Segments
- Women’s College Basketball: Brief preview of big women's games airing, noting the wide-open field with 4-5 true contenders. (12:56–13:27)
- Light-hearted Banter: Throughout, the hosts joke about sports stereotypes, pronunciation (“Honus”/”Honest” Wagner), and 'cool nerd' communities.
The Episode’s Style & Energy
Fast-paced, humorous, and unfiltered, Matt and Myron bounce effortlessly between irreverent hot takes, deep sports knowledge, and inclusive, lighthearted conversations with listeners and each other. Their willingness to poke fun at themselves, sports culture, and tradition makes for lively, unpredictable radio.
End of Summary
