Hour 2: Sports Conspiracies

Summary

Matt & Myron – ESPN Radio

Episode: Hour 2: Sports Conspiracies

Date: August 4, 2026
Hosts: Matt Jones, Myron Medcalf

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Episode Overview

In this lively and entertaining hour, Matt and Myron dive headfirst into the wide world of sports conspiracy theories, crowdsourcing bizarre, legendary, and amusing claims from callers across America. Along the way, they highlight the unique scrutiny surrounding WNBA star Caitlin Clark, debate the expectations placed on athletes to voice opinions on divisive social issues, and slip in plenty of irreverent banter about ESPN Radio host throwdowns, unlikely celebrity encounters, and the real story behind a famous “bloody sock.” The show keeps things sharp, funny, and relatable—blending insightful takes with classic sports radio camaraderie.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Who Would Win in an ESPN Radio Host Fight?

[00:29-02:06]

• Matt recalls intense listener debate over “which ESPN Radio host would win in a fight,” with most agreeing Chris Canty would prevail (“Evan Cohen last, I think that was one thing we could all agree upon.” – Matt, 00:53).
• Michelle Smallman critiques the debate as a "very guy conversation," prompting discussion about including women hosts and legendary radio tag-teams like the Golics.
• Myron jokes about whether the Golics fight as a tag team:
  “Does Mike Golick Senior have a chair as you’re fighting Mike Golick Junior and he hits you with it?” – Myron, 01:28

2. Caller Segment: Sports Conspiracy Theories

[02:06-08:22]

Immaculate Reception (NFL, 1972)

• Callers Rodney and Cliff both question whether the ball actually hit the ground during the Immaculate Reception – suggesting conspiracy due to a sudden camera angle change in archival footage.
• Matt agrees, highlighting the odd editing:
  “Find me another play in history as celebrated as the Immaculate Reception where the camera angle changes. You will not, you say.” – Matt, 04:56

Wilt Chamberlain’s 100 Points

• Myron is skeptical about the accuracy of the stats, noting the lack of modern verification: “Like Larry on the box score, writing with a number two pencil and no digital devices. Maybe he missed a point or two or added a point or two.” – Myron, 04:36

Michael Jordan’s “Baseball Exile"

• Caller Travis (West Virginia) revives the theory that Michael Jordan's baseball hiatus was actually a secret NBA suspension for gambling.
• Matt emphasizes the oddity:
  “This would be like the equivalent of LeBron James saying, no, I’m going to go play for the Pawtucket Red Sox… Michael Jordan did that at the height of his powers.” – Matt, 06:17
• Myron: “It’s not crazy because you couldn’t have suspended MJ at that time. The business machine was too strong.” – Myron, 05:51

"Bloody Sock"–Curt Schilling

• Caller Rob from Detroit argues Schilling’s "bloody sock" was actually ketchup.
• Myron: “If anybody in sports history was going to pull a Ric Flair…catch up, it'd be him.” – Myron, 08:14
• Both hosts enjoy the outlandishness of the claim.

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3. Caitlin Clark, Athlete Scrutiny, and Social Issues Debate

[08:22-17:30]

Caitlin Clark’s Response on Transgender Athlete Participation

• A Caitlin Clark soundbite is played, in which she declines to comment substantively on her teammate Sophie Cunningham’s anti-transgender remarks, saying:
  “It’s not really a discussion we really have in our locker room. I think it’s for leagues and the governing bodies to work with their athletes to find solutions. But our focus is on basketball.” – Caitlin Clark, [~09:23]
• Matt notes the firestorm generated by political pundit Megyn Kelly calling Clark “a coward” for not taking a stance. He laments that media and political actors pressure Clark to speak outside her sport:
  “I’m not sure I’ve seen an athlete that more wants to simply play basketball or play their sport than Caitlin Clark. And yet…people want to use Caitlin Clark for their own means.” – Matt, 11:27
• Matt draws attention to the hypocrisy:
  “For years people have come out and said we want our athletes…to just play basketball…and not get into politics…But then here comes an athlete who actually wants to do that…And bad actors outside of the sport won’t even let her do that.” – Matt, 11:55

Myron’s Perspective

• Myron points out that scrutiny for star athletes is nothing new, but says the WNBA's conversation has become “toxic,” making it hard to focus on actual basketball: “There are so many great storylines that we’re not looking at because the conversation around the league is toxic.” – Myron, 13:22
• He emphasizes that Clark’s sponsors make a more “vanilla” public stance likely, but she’s also simply protecting herself from fallout:
  “I think it’s situations like that that might compel someone like Caitlin Clark to say whatever I respond right now is going to be gas on the fire…which is why I think she’s stepping back from it.” – Myron, 16:19

The Changing Media Landscape

• Both acknowledge Michael Jordan and other superstars previously faced political questions, but Matt argues the scrutiny for Clark is much harsher in today's media environment:
  “When [Jordan] said [‘Republicans buy sneakers too’], there were not political commentators making it the lead of their news shows. That just did not happen.” – Matt, 16:02

Closing Thoughts

• Myron: “The WNBA is being placed in this position where it’s about everything but the exciting sports product that they give us every day.” – Myron, 16:55

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4. Callers Return: More Sports Conspiracy Theories

[22:44-34:17]

Tuck Rule (NFL, Raiders/Patriots, 2002)

• Steve in Tulsa claims the “tuck rule” was invented on the spot and never truly explained or used again (“I don’t know that there was ever a rule.”).
• Myron agrees: “I don’t think we’ve talked about it since either…very isolated.” – Myron, 24:00
• Matt likens it to “Bush vs Gore,” a one-time Supreme Court decision with no future precedent.
• Both hosts riff:
  “Did you just do a C-SPAN segment?” – Myron, 24:56

Michigan vs. Ohio State 2016

• Jay in Cincinnati alleges officiating bias handed Ohio State the win.
• Banter follows about “Hillbilly Days” in Kentucky, leading to callers debating whether Myron should attend with Matt. (“Myron would be treated like a king at hillbilly days. Bring him next April.” – listener message, 37:21)

WrestleMania—Was Hogan Cheated?

• Donnell raises a wrestling conspiracy: in an old WrestleMania, Hulk Hogan was not counted down properly when Andre the Giant fell on him.
• Myron and Matt riff on the passion of wrestling fans and the aura of today’s stars:
  “There’s a pageantry…these dudes, the women and the men, they all have aura.” – Myron, 28:22

1992 Royal Rumble & College Basketball

• Alex from Kentucky references the “It’s not fair to Flair” catchphrase and the 2017 Kentucky vs. UNC NCAA officiating controversy.
• Matt tells the story of being sued by a referee for calling out officiating bias (“A lot of you out there have your freedom to criticize officials thanks to folks like me, Myron, paving the way in the court of law.” – Matt, 30:42).
• Myron disputes the severity of the alleged bias (“I didn’t see it that way…” – Myron, 31:37) but recounts a brush-off from Magic Johnson.

MLB Perfect Game Denial

• Denny from Florida suspects a conspiracy behind Jim Joyce’s blown call, which robbed Armando Galarraga of a perfect game in 2010; theorizing MLB didn’t want two perfect games in a week.
• Both hosts agree the aftermath was genuine (“He was crying…that was like a real emotion.” – Myron, 33:23), and the moment made both Joyce and Galarraga famous.

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5. Irreverent Banter & Storytelling

Matt’s Natasha Bedingfield “Meet Cute”

[20:00-22:44]

• Matt recounts at length an unlikely encounter with Natasha Bedingfield, which entailed him literally picking spinach out of her teeth at Courtney Cox’s Malibu birthday party.
• Myron humorously speculates it was a failed romantic opening:
  “You realize it wasn’t about the spinach…that’s not a normal thing!” – Myron, 21:45

Athlete Jersey Number “Bribes”

[37:54-42:56]

• Matt and Myron discuss a story in which Davante Adams was asked for $1 million for a jersey number, after offering $17,000 in cash to a rookie.
• They poke fun at the idea of walking around with $17K in cash (“That strikes me as walking-around money.” – Matt, 40:11), riffing about off-the-books cash-only businesses ("If you got a restaurant that’s off the books, its primary use is not as a restaurant." – Matt, 42:01).
• Myron shares a story about a barbershop that "never existed" after a few months—likely a front for something else.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Evan had a lot of fun with it…I would not count Michelle [Smallman] out…you don’t want to get on her bad side.” – Myron, 01:28
• “Why does it change camera angles?” – Matt, 04:30 (on the Immaculate Reception)
• “I just believe it happened…I’m not messing with historic plays…” – Myron, 04:10
• “If anybody in sports history was going to pull a Ric Flair…it’d be [Schilling].” – Myron, 08:14
• “I'm not sure I’ve seen an athlete more wants to simply play basketball…than Caitlin Clark. And yet, as has happened…people…want to use Caitlin Clark for their own means.” – Matt, 11:27
• “Say what you want to say, but deal with the consequences.” – Myron, 15:01
• “The WNBA is being placed in this position where it’s about everything but the exciting sports product…” – Myron, 16:55
• “Most people, I think, take $17,000 cash for most things, right? In that situation…” – Myron, 39:40
• [On possible fronts] “If you got a restaurant that's off the books, its primary use is not as a restaurant.” – Matt, 42:01
• [On picking spinach from Natasha Bedingfield’s teeth] “That was her way of breaking the ice.” – Myron, 22:23

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:29] – ESPN Radio hosts "fight" matchup debate
• [02:38] – Start of sports conspiracy theory calls
• [06:17] – Michael Jordan’s mysterious baseball years
• [08:22] – Caitlin Clark’s stance on transgender participation; ensuing debate
• [22:44] – Return to sports conspiracy calls (Tuck Rule, Michigan/OSU, wrestling, referee lawsuits)
• [30:42] – Matt’s story being sued over criticizing referees
• [37:54] – Jersey number compensation stories; Davante Adams and "walking around" cash
• [20:00] – Natasha Bedingfield “spinach” story

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Conclusion

Hour 2 of Matt & Myron’s “Sports Conspiracies” episode delivers a playful, incisive mix of sports lore, fan theories, athlete media dynamics, and charming detours. From the legitimacy of the Immaculate Reception and Wilt's 100 to the cultural circus surrounding Caitlin Clark, the hosts balance humor, skepticism, and sharp media analysis—making the show accessible and engaging whether you’re a sports diehard or a casual listener.

Transcript

[Commercial Narrator]

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[Myron]

Matt and Myron the Podcast

[Matt]

Never Again Myron's famous words to the Coppin State and LEHIGH Baseball Team 888 say ESPN we are in hour two of day two Matt Myron Daily show here on ESPN Radio. Been a lot of fun. A lot of attention was given yesterday on social media to our conversation about whether or not people who would win in a fight amongst all the ESPN Radio hosts. I think all the shows dealt with it at some point. Today most people said we forgot the Golix. So I want to make sure to throw that in there. And Michelle Smallman said this morning that that was a very guy conversation to have, which is probably true, but nevertheless one that I think generated a lot of interest and the universal opinion was great. Chris Canty wins. Evan Cohen last I think that was one thing we could all agree upon.

[Myron]

Yeah, Evan, Evan had a lot of fun with it. I I will say, I mean I would not count Michelle out very nice. But I also feel like you don't want to get on her bad side. Michelle Smallman I don't want any, I don't want any problems with Michelle. And then are the Golics a tag team? Like is one of the go with a chair? Yeah. Does Mike Golick Senior have a chair as you're fighting Mike Golic junior And he hits you with it? That's the other question with them.

[Matt]

I mean they are they may not like the comparison James to the Bushwhackers. They, they may more want to be like the Steiner Brothers or something

[Myron]

is a good one.

[Matt]

But Luke and Butch, you know they did this and that. They had a long career. So I, I, I, I but yeah, but we still will say that Chris Canty is the winner. Now we were talking in the last hour about sports conspiracy theories. Myron questioning whether Wilt scored 100 but PCA questioning whether Babe Ruth existed. We asked you all for your best sports conspiracy theories. 888 say ESPN. We have a few people who want to get in. How about Rodney in Pennsylvania? What is yours?

[Caller]

Well, the immaculate recess. First of all, hating you Guys, I loved you on Sunday. Gonna love you during the week.

[Matt]

I was about to say, when people say that they loved us on Sunday, I appreciate it, but we were on three hours a week. Now we're on 10. Rodney, isn't that better?

[Caller]

Knows the truth. That's why he never told the story. The immaculate responsibility is fake news. Go Cowboys.

[Matt]

Well, he didn't hear my energy, but he was saying, well, wait, we have another person who is saying Immaculate perception. Cliff in Chicago. Give me what the. What. What it is.

[Caller]

There is no definitive replay that. That. That I've ever seen in my life, and I'm 64 years old. That shows me that that catch did not hit the ground. After further review. No catch.

[Matt]

It is interesting. On the NFL Films video of the Immaculate Reception, they change camera angles halfway through it, which there's no other play in sports history, where right before you see the definitive moment, they change the camera angle. Myron, I always thought that was odd. So this is one I might be inclined actually to believe.

[Myron]

No, I'm not touching that. I don't think you can mess with, like, historic plays.

[Matt]

Why not?

[Myron]

In moments.

[Matt]

I mean, you don't think it's possible that ball hit the ground? Why did they change the camera angle right as the play is happening?

[Myron]

I don't. I don't. I just. I just believe it happened. I mean, there are a lot of people in the stad. A lot of people watching.

[Matt]

But the people in the stadium were all Steelers fans. They're not going to say, hey, challenge flag.

[Myron]

Steelers fans are fair. They want to celebrate it. You know, they. They would have said, hey, wait a minute, it hit the ground. If that were the case, well, then, boys like that.

[Matt]

Why does it change camera angles?

[Myron]

I don't know. Reddit. I'm not sure.

[Commercial Narrator 2]

But.

[Myron]

But I can just tell you this. I trust that that was a catch. Now you talk about Wilt Chamberlain's 100 points. I'm not saying he didn't score 100 points, but like Larry on the box score, writing with a number two pencil and no digital devices. Maybe he missed a point or two or added a point or two. I'm not messing with historic plays like the Immaculate Reception.

[Matt]

I'm just going to say they change camera angles in the middle of the play. Find me another play in history as celebrated as the Immaculate Reception where the camera angle changes. You will not, you say.

[Myron]

But you say words like you say they, so you sound like those conspiracy. You say like they change it. Who they.

[Matt]

They. They do things. Let's Go to Travis in West Virginia. Travis? Where in West Virginia do you live?

[Caller]

Huntington, West Virginia.

[Matt]

Right there on the Kentucky border. Go. Heard. What do you got?

[Caller]

When I was in high school, our. One of our science teachers, his theory was that Michael Jordan was suspended when he went to play baseball for those two years. They just don't want to publish it. And when his suspension was over, he came back to win three more titles there.

[Matt]

All right, what do you think there that. That exists, Myron? The idea that he was suspended maybe for gambling and that they had him go away? Do you believe that or not?

[Myron]

It's not crazy to me. Now, mind you, you know, Jordan loses his father after the third. You know, right when he won the third ring. So, I mean, there was a real element there of why he wanted to step away. But it's not crazy because you couldn't have suspended MJ at that time. Like, you couldn't have been like, hey, everybody, he's out for an extended period of time. The business machine was too strong. So that's not actually crazy to me.

[Matt]

I also don't think it's often understood enough that how crazy the story is that he left and went to the Birmingham Barons. I mean, that would be. I mean, that would be the equivalent. I mean, I just want you to think about what that equivalent today would be. This would be like the equivalent of LeBron James saying, no, I'm going to go play for the Pawtucket Red Sox. I'm not gonna play for the 76ers. Right. Or it would be like Patrick Mahomes saying, no, I'm gonna go play for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants instead of play for the Kansas City Chiefs. Michael Jordan did that at the height of his powers. It is. It has to be one of the stranger things for an athlete to have ever done right.

[Myron]

Yeah, I don't think we've seen anything like that. I mean, for someone to go to another sport and to leave at the peak. I mean, I was thinking about Michael Jordan. It wasn't just that he left. It was he left after being the most dominant force in the sport, and then he goes to play baseball, his

[Matt]

childhood passion to minor league baseball in Birmingham, Alabama.

[Myron]

That's crazy. Not only is it crazy, it's still pretty fascinating because he was so great. He goes to baseball and people go all mad. He wasn't as good. But to go never playing baseball to thriving in the minor league system, that was an incredible feat for Michael Jordan to pull that off.

[Matt]

That's totally true. One more rob in Detroit Go ahead, Rob.

[Caller]

Oh, hey, guys. So glad you're on the weekdays now. Love you guys.

[Myron]

Thanks.

[Matt]

Appreciate it.

[Caller]

Kurt Shilling in the bloody sock wasn't blood, it was ketchup.

[Matt]

Oh, love it.

[Myron]

I like that.

[Matt]

Love that. I love that because. Yeah, the bloody sock, I mean, how many. I appreciate the call. How many times in your life, Myron, have you ever seen anyone else pitch with blood on their shot sock? Never.

[Myron]

Never. And if anybody in sports history was going to pull a Ric Flair and he's the perfect guy, catch up, he, it'd be him.

[Matt]

Him or Brett Hart. That's the two people I could see doing that would be something a little shady like that. Matt Myron is presented by Progressive Insurance. Progressive can protect your home, auto, boat, motorcycle, atv, RV and more. In short, a lot of things Bundle [e-mail] I've been no. 1 Myron in sports in the last two or three years. It has been talked about more than Caitlin Clark. She obviously going back to her two years, last two years at Iowa till she got to the Indiana Fever, has been maybe one of the most discussed three or four athletes in all of sports. Now, obviously, she gets asked about many issues. And following Sunday's game against the Minnesota Lynx, reporters asked Caitlin Clark on whether she agreed with her teammate Sophie Cunningham stance about individuals transgender playing in women's sports. And here's what she had to say.

[Caller]

I think for us, like, you know,

[Matt]

it's not really a discussion we really

[Caller]

have in our locker room.

[Matt]

I think it's for leagues and the governing bodies to work with their athletes to find solutions.

[Myron]

But our focus is on basketball and

[Matt]

that's what we talk about and how

[Commercial Narrator 2]

we can get wins.

[Commercial Narrator 3]

And obviously we didn't do that tonight.

[Caller]

So you need to find an area

[Matt]

to improve in that way.

[Myron]

Do you have any, you know, reaction

[Matt]

to the I'm just answering for you. So she was very clear, look, this is an issue I don't want to talk about. I want to talk about basketball. And that, of course, stands in contrast to her teammate Sophie Cunningham, who's taking a more definitive position. Now. That led to quite a reaction in the political world on all spheres, but specifically the, you know, one of the louder voices was political pundit Megyn Kelly, who came out and said Caitlin Clark was, quote, a coward on Twitter for not taking a position. And Myra, when I saw that, it sort of led me to think about something I've been that's been on my mind a lot about Caitlin Clark recently, which I think is important to say Caitlin Clark has probably had to deal with as much scrutiny as anyone in sports in a long time. And I'm not sure I've seen an athlete that more wants to simply play basketball or play their sport than Caitlin Clark. And yet, as has happened through a lot of the WNBA in the last couple of years, people who are not fans of the sport or are fans only in so much as they can use it to their various social or political theories want to use Caitlin Clark for their own means. They want to make arguments that she should do this or she should do that. And I actually think both sides of the political aisle want to do this with Caitlin Clark. They don't want to just let her play basketball. She has to somehow be part of some larger social conscience on whichever way. And I think it came to a head with this. You know, for years people have come out and said we want our athletes to at various points just play basketball, play football, just play their sport and not get into politics. I've always thought when people said that, they were completely full of it, they just didn't want them to disagree with them. But then here comes an athlete who actually wants to do that. She actually wants to play sports. And bad actors outside of the sport won't even let her do that without trying to sort of co opt her into the cause that they favor. And Myron, it is extremely frustrating to me because I think it's totally unfair to her. She has been at the center of arguments for the last few years that really don't have anything to do with her. There have been questions about does she get hard fouls, etc. But lots of players deal with that. But specifically this idea that Caitlin Clark owes people to become involved in larger social conversations about her sport. Marin, I think that is absolutely ridiculous. And I wondered if you agree or disagree.

[Myron]

I mean, I think every superstar is going to face questions, especially if it's. It's something surrounding the league. What Sophie Cunningham said became a major issue. So I'm not surprised she was presented with those questions. I don't know what people think Caitlin Clark can do. Like to me, a lot of it is people think that Caitlin Clark or anyone can kind of shut down these folks who have these extreme ideas and opinions on. On the Internet and you actually can't. And I'm pretty sure she's aware of that, that legitimately anything she says is going to be sort of this lightning rod. At the same time, I don't think it's any different for her than it was for, you know, Michael Jordan or LeBron at his peak, or all these other athletes who were presented with these similar questions. But she's in a league where now everything to your point is a stance like. We're not even talking about basketball. The WNBA is incredible right now. And I've covered the WNBA this season, been to many games. I've done that for espn. Olivia Miles, one of the most dynamic young guards we've seen. Asia Wilson, I think, is the greatest women's player of all time. Caitlyn Clark, obviously, and what she's doing. Indiana, Kelsey Mitchell, her teammate, has been phenomenal. There are so many great story lines that we're not looking at because the conversation around the league is toxic and it makes it hard to talk about what we should be discussing, which is the sport itself.

[Matt]

But even, but look, I mean, it is a natural human tendency. I mean, we all shows to some extent talk about the things sometimes off the field more than they do or on the court, et cetera. But in this case, I think a lot of the people that want to talk about Caitlin Clark and some of these issues, Myron, they don't even care about the sport. They don't even watch the sport. I mean, you know, like, how many times do you think Megan Kelly. Kelly has ever talked about the WNBA except to talk about these issues?

[Myron]

They don't at all.

[Matt]

It's irrelevant to them. They don't care one bit about the sport. They just want to take this cultural figure and use her for whatever it is that they want to advocate or on the other side, sometimes use her as a symbol for all that's wrong with society. And in my opinion, she deserves neither of those things. She just wants to play basketball. And while I'm fine with athletes taking whatever stance they want, want, I think that's. It's America, say what you want to say, but you should also, Myron, have the ability to say nothing. And it's. It infuriates me that they will not let her just do what she wants, which seems to be to be a basketball player.

[Myron]

Well, say what you want to say, but deal with the consequences.

[Matt]

You will have to deal with the consequence. Yes, her, Her.

[Myron]

Her teammate activated. The challenge to me is Sophie Cunningham activated the worst of the Internet. And I think she was aware of that. And now that makes it more difficult on everybody else.

[Matt]

So. But if you want to say Cunningham, then that's your choice. But Caitlin Clark should not have to weigh in because Sophie Cunningham chose to.

[Myron]

Well, in an. Maybe in a perfect world, but in this situation, the Superstar is going to be asked about something her teammate said.

[Matt]

What do you think she should have to answer? I understand why they asked, but do you think she should have to answer?

[Myron]

I, I don't know if that's the question for me as much as it is she is going to face those questions. And I can understand why you don't have more than sort of this vanilla response. I don't know if it's about Caitlin Clark just wants to play basketball. I think part of it is Caitlin Clark is like this hundred million dollar machine. I mean all the sponsors, all the corporate people behind her, she, she's had big time advertising.

[Matt]

Jordan didn't get that criticism when he said Republicans too. Not like this. Not like Michael Jordan was not leading that, that Myron Michael Jordan was not. When he said that there were not political commentators making it the lead of their news shows. That's just, that did not happen.

[Myron]

That's, I don't think that's a, it's hard to compare something that happened in the 90s to now. Right. Because social media didn't exist. So it's, it's actually, it's not an apples to apples thing. He did face a lot of scrutiny. But I think it's situations like that that might compel someone like Caitlin Clark to say whatever I respond right now is going to be, charis is going to be gas on the fire that, that has already been lit. And I don't know if you're in her position that there's a whole lot you can say that adds to the conversation, which is why I think she's sort of stepping back from it.

[Matt]

So you're okay, you're okay with her not saying anything? You agree with me?

[Myron]

I, I, I don't have, I have a different perspective on this whole conversation because I think the issue is important and I understand why people are asking about it. In a league like the wnba, I think the conversation now is so toxic that we actually can't get to the basketball. So if Caitlin Clark's response means that we're going to talk more about, about everything but the basketball, I understand why she wouldn't respond and I wouldn't either in that situation. I just think the WNBA is being placed in this position where it's about everything but the exciting sports product that they give us every day.

[Matt]

You and I agree on that. You and I totally agree on that. Which is partially why I blame what I do think are bad political actors in trying to make this what's about the sport. But I, I just think that I'm not sure I've seen an athlete maybe since Michael Jordan who wants to be part of this national conversation less that people want want to force to do it more than her. And I just think that is unfair to her. We're going to deal with more of your sports conspiracy theories. Plus my Bears, that's this team right up here. Do they have a chance to actually go and win the Super Bowl? That's next here. I'm Matt Myron.

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[Matt]

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[Myron]

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[Myron]

Matt and Myron, the Podcast.

[Matt]

There we go. That's the song I was talking about. It's Natasha Bedingfield. No one else can feel the rain on your skin.

[Myron]

Or.

[Matt]

No, that was a different line. Anyway, point being, this is the. The theme song of the Hills. A Little Funny story. Myron. Natasha Bedingfield, who sings this? I was at a party once in Malibu. It was the birthday party for Courtney Cox. Don't ask how I ended up there. I don't know her. I'm not name dropping. I just happened. Okay, well, I just ended up there. We. We have a mutual friend, right? So I go to this party and Natasha Bedingfield comes up to me and she says, do I have spinach in my teeth? Okay. And she had a little piece of spinach in her teeth, and I was trying to show her where it was and she wasn't getting it. And she asked me if I would get the spinach out of her mouth. And I reached into her mouth and got the spinach. Spinach out of her mouth. And that is one of my few brushes with actual celebrity. Wait, what? You.

[Myron]

What did you. You use your finger? It just.

[Matt]

I use my finger. She asked me to do it. So, I mean, I was. You know, but that's like. I do agree that's gross. But, like, it was her mat. Like, it was grosser for her mouth than my finger. Wouldn't you agree?

[Myron]

Well, yeah, but, like, why could. Why can't she just, like, go to the restroom? I mean, she was clearly.

[Matt]

I mean, asked me and that. And I have. That. I have a picture. I have a picture of us, which I'll show you sometime post spinach, where we're smiling and with each other.

[Myron]

It wasn't about the spinach. You realized that, right? Like, is that. Have you had that conversation?

[Matt]

What do you mean?

[Myron]

She could have gone to the restroom when she was trying to talk to you. She was trying to.

[Matt]

No, no, no, no, no. She wasn't. Like, she was. She had just dated John Mayer. She doesn't want Matt Jones. I mean, she didn't know three to five on a radio yet.

[Myron]

Hold on.

[Matt]

Before that.

[Myron]

You think a woman is going to walk up to a party, walk up to somebody random at a party and say, I got spinach in my teeth. Not only can you tell me if I have it, will you reach in and get it? You think that's a normal thing? I guarantee you that's not.

[Matt]

So you think I blew my chance? You think I blew my chance with Natasha Bedingfield?

[Myron]

I think 100. I think spinach was her way of breaking the ice in some odd way.

[Matt]

It was like an aphrodisiac is what you're saying.

[Myron]

She could have gone to the restroom and dudded herself. She doesn't know anything about you and she's just like, go get the spinach.

[Matt]

Okay.

[Myron]

Like what kind of party was this?

[Matt]

This could have been a different life. I could have been. I could have. I could have had a different. A whole different existence. We asked you about sports concern conspiracy theories to go along with Pete Crowe. Armstrong saying Babe Ruth didn't exist. Steve is in Tulsa. What do you got, Steve?

[Caller]

Yeah, well actually that was your meat cute with the spinach, but that's not why I called. So actually I talked to you and when you're on Sundays, but now we get you for 10 hours. I called in because you didn't know what anybody would be doing in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

[Matt]

I remember that actually. Yes. And you're really crushed.

[Myron]

Tulsa.

[Matt]

You're living on Tulsa time, I understand.

[Caller]

Was. Yeah, I don't know about that. But by far the number one has to be the Tuck the Tuck rule.

[Matt]

So what's your conspiracy that he didn't. That they. The rule? What's your conspiracy about it?

[Caller]

Well, I don't know that there was ever a rule and nobody's ever been explained it and then they don't have that rule anymore. So. Okay, yes, I'm a die hard Raiders fan, so I am a little bit biased, but I like that.

[Matt]

That's an it. I appreciate the call. Had you ever heard Myron of the Tucker rule prior to its application in that game?

[Myron]

I don't think anyone in the world had. You know, I don't think we've talked about it since either, by the way. Like it was like a very isolated.

[Matt]

So you think it was like a one time thing?

[Myron]

Yeah, yeah. I mean it's, it's odd and I understand, like I think they interviewed Charles Woodson about like those guys are still mad. Yeah, you know, like those dudes are still upset.

[Matt]

The football equivalent of this is for all the legal dorks out there. Bush versus Gore in 2000 where the Supreme Court said we have no precedents for this. We're going to make our decision and don't ever use it again in the future as precedent for anything. That's kind of what they did with the Tuck rule. Right. Like we're doing this but don't ever bring it up ever again.

[Myron]

So like this gonna be a show where you compare like NFL stuff to Supreme Court cases Because I I don't. Is that, is that what we're doing?

[Matt]

Just me and

[Myron]

like we're the only

[Matt]

people that do that?

[Myron]

You just did a C SPAN segment.

[Matt]

I may have. Sorry about that. I nerded out for a little bit. Jay in Cincinnati. Go ahead, Jay.

[Caller]

Hey, welcome to the weekday shows, fellas. Congratulations. I listen to you all the time on Sunday. Can hardly ever get here. Congratulations, guys.

[Myron]

Thank you, thank you.

[Caller]

So many questions about the, the, the bar soap thing, like is it wash rags involved? Why are we using so many things that, so many ways that can go. But my conspiracy is 2016 Michigan versus Ohio State. He was behind the line, his knee hit before that ball went across those officials were Ohio State tied somewhere along the line and we got robbed of a win against the Meyer. I promise you guy. Hey, and then I want to know, Marvin, did you accept the trip for Matt to go down to the hillbilly holic festival?

[Matt]

Yeah, it's hillbilly. I appreciate the call. Hillbilly days in Pikeville, Kentucky, you still haven't been. If we go this year, would you come down here and do the show with me from hillbilly days in Pikeville?

[Myron]

I, I still, to this day, I don't think anybody wants that. You know, I don't know that there's, I don't know that anybody. Actually, for those of you listening at

[Matt]

home, get online, Google hillbilly days and tell me that Myron at that event would not be fun. Donnell in D.C. what's up?

[Myron]

That's done now.

[Caller]

Hey, what's going on, fellas?

[Matt]

Donnell, should Myron go to Hill? Donnell, Should Myron, should I go, should he go to hillbilly days with me?

[Myron]

Tell him I shouldn't. Donnell.

[Caller]

Yeah, I'm not sure you want to do that.

[Myron]

That's what I'm saying. Donnell, my man. I know I can't see. I knew right away what Donnell would say. I like you, Donnell.

[Caller]

What's going on?

[Matt]

What's going on?

[Caller]

Not much, not much. I didn't even know you guys was on the air during the week until I was sitting in traffic.

[Matt]

Well, that's, that's how we get most of our listeners. They don't know we're on the air and then they're sitting in traffic. So there you go.

[Caller]

But my conspiracy theory is, is WrestleMania, I don't know, one or two when I was sitting in super hot cold field house watching it on the big screen tv.

[Matt]

Okay.

[Caller]

And Hulk Hogan lost to Andre the Giant. He got brought when he went to pick him up he dropped him and Andre the Giant just fell on him. And they didn't count Hulk Hogan out. I mean, they didn't count Andre the Giant out. Go back and look at the film. You'll see it.

[Myron]

Okay. I like it.

[Matt]

Thank you, Darnell. The Wrestling Conspiracy Theory. Are you telling me that in wrestling a ref may have missed a call? Myron, there's no way that's true.

[Myron]

It's. It's possible. Now I was just at SummerSlam and I understand, like, how real it feels to. To fans. Like how real everything seems.

[Matt]

So did you find yourself getting into it? Like it was real? Like, I understand on ESPN sometimes. Yeah, we are supposed to act like the matches are real. Like, what's Seth Rollins mindset going in? I'm sorry, man. Yeah, I've been in the business a long time. I can't do it. But did you find yourself getting wrapped up in it completely?

[Myron]

Yeah, I was. Once I started high fiving other fans and I saw how real it was to them. Yeah, I was. I was all in. Like, there's a. There's a pageantry.

[Matt]

Yes. Oh, of course.

[Myron]

And that's like a real thing. And then these dudes, like the, the women and the men, they all have aura. Isn't that the word kids use? Like they have just an aura. Like Charlotte Flair has aura. Like the way she walked out.

[Matt]

Is that what the kids use? Is that aura?

[Myron]

I think they say aura. Yeah.

[Matt]

Shimmy.

[Myron]

Is it?

[Matt]

Hello, fellow kids.

[Myron]

I think they say aura. But like Charlotte Flair, when she walked out, that was aura. You could just see just the way people responded to her when Roman Reigns came out. It's incredible, the flamboyance and personality of today's wrestlers.

[Matt]

Speaking of Flair, Alex in Kentucky, go ahead. What do you got?

[Caller]

Two conspiracy theories for you guys. Both of you will agree these are true. 1992 Royal Rumble, it was not fair to Flair.

[Matt]

That's a good reference.

[Myron]

Let's real.

[Matt]

That is a really good reference. Not a lot of people will get them. But the best wrestling announcer announcing job in the history of the sport, Bobby heenan calling the 92 Royal Rumble saying it's not fair to flare. You are 100% right. Alex, what's your other one?

[Caller]

And my second conspiracy theory is that UK was cheated in the 2017 Elite 8 games. There may have been some chicanery going on with some other people.

[Myron]

You know what I'm saying? I was there.

[Matt]

May I just say something for people who don't know? And I appreciate the call. I was sued by a Referee once,

[Myron]

because that was the whole thing.

[Matt]

In 2017, Kentucky lost to North Carolina. That's this Kentucky Wildcats right here in the. I think it was the South Regional in Memphis.

[Myron]

Memphis, yep.

[Matt]

I thought the officiating was suspect, and I express that. And the referee. A lot of people don't know this. You can Google and read about this. The referee sued me. It went to federal court, and the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals said I had a First Amendment right to criticize the officials. A lot of you out there have your freedom to criticize officials thanks to folks like me, Myron, paving the way in the court of law.

[Myron]

Are you saying you like the curt flood of criticizing referees?

[Matt]

Is that what you compare myself to, Kurt?

[Myron]

You kind of did, though. You kind of said, the question went

[Matt]

before the court, are referees public officials, public. Public figures that you're allowed to criticize under the First Amendment? And this. And it had never been decided by a court before. And the 6th Circuit said, yes, referees, when they're officiating, are public figures, and you are allowed to criticize them. And we won the case.

[Myron]

Yeah. No, that was. I think that's maybe when I first really knew who you were around that

[Matt]

the story was on the COVID of Sports Illustrated.

[Myron]

It was big. I was at that game, too. I was at. I was at that game.

[Matt]

And do you agree the referees were a little suspect against Kentucky?

[Myron]

I didn't. I didn't see it that way. I mean, what I remember is Alonzo Baldier and Fox matchup. I tried to get Magic Johnson, who was with the Lakers at the time, to give me, like, a scoop on who he thought was the better guard. He was like, hey, man, I can't talk to you. You know that? And he kind of like, shooed me away.

[Matt]

Is that your Magic Johnson impersonation?

[Myron]

Yeah. He said, hey, man, I can't talk to you. He was like, no, get away. But that was a good. That was a good match.

[Matt]

I'm not sure that's what Magic Johnson sounds like. Do it one more time for me. Do it one more time.

[Myron]

Hey, man, you know I can't talk to you. Get away. That's what he said. That's what he said to me.

[Matt]

It's a good Magic Johnson. Let's go to Denny.

[Myron]

That's what he said.

[Matt]

Denny in Florida. Go ahead, Denny.

[Myron]

That's how he sounded.

[Matt]

I don't think that's how he sounds.

[Caller]

I'm googling Hillbilly days. 2010. There were two perfect games pitched in Major League Baseball. And then suddenly in the beginning of June. I think it was Armando Galarraga. Jim Joyce, the guy was out by 10ft and he called him safe on the last out. Remember that?

[Matt]

I do remember that. And then the next day he apologized and cried and it was. It was a very special moment. Why do you think that's a conspiracy theory? You don't think it was just human error?

[Caller]

No, no, no, no. I think it was. Look, we had Dallas Braden and Roy Halladay pitch two in the same month. We've only had 20 in the history. We can't have another one. Like you couldn't have two in a week. It would have been two in a week.

[Myron]

I don't think he prevented. I don't think he. That, that, that he was devastated. I mean, I think he did a press conference and he was crying like that. We. I mean, that was like a real emotion.

[Matt]

Honestly, I still remember him because of that. Like, I can still in my mind visualize Jim Joyce. And you mentioned Armando Galarraga. That's a person who, if that had not happened, Myron, I'm not sure we would even know his name. Name. Right.

[Myron]

Yep. They're very, very. As soon as he said that, I thought of the exact play, the exact moment. But. But that, that he was very contrite. I think after.

[Matt]

I think so too. Well, I appreciate the call and thank you all. Good stuff on the conspiracy theories. We will get to my Chicago Bears and maybe Meyer Metcalf will do more impressions because they're so dead on. Actually have Magic Johnson send us to break right here. Go ahead.

[Myron]

Hey, coming up, what's up? The most ridiculous demand you've ever made. That's next.

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[Matt]

Matt and Myron the podcast this final segment. Matt Myron here on ESPN Radio. Freddie and Harry are next, two great guys that we both think could take us in fights. I so far I've heard from pretty much everybody that worked at ESPN Radio except Rich Eisen about this because I think, you know, I think he knows, Myron, that if we got in the squared circle, I'd be able to get a three count. I think that's what I think that's why we haven't heard from him.

[Myron]

I don't think that's the, that's the case. But no, everyone kind of weighed in and I again, I know Michelle said it was kind of a dude combo. Let's, let's make sure we're acknowledging the women in this lineup. I wouldn't mess with any of them. I mean, Kimberly Martin has been on Unsportsmanlike and Michelle. I would be afraid of both of them if they were upset with me. Amber Wilson yeah, if they were upset with me. If Michelle and Kimberly Martin were upset with me, I would, I probably would run. I wouldn't want that. That problem. Yeah, me.

[Matt]

Me either. One person writes well, a bunch of people have written in and said if you went to hillbilly days, you would be treated well. One person writes, Matt I'm from Pikeville. Myron would be treated like a king at hillbilly days. Bring him next April. There you go. You've got an official invite. I will take you. I will be your, your, your, your host throughout the eastern Kentucky.

[Myron]

Yeah, yeah, let's, let's, let's send me an invite and then we could.

[Matt]

Yeah, well, you want to workshop it a little bit?

[Myron]

See if we put it on the calendar? Yeah, send me invite.

[Matt]

Well, all right. So Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Devonte Adams, he was talking about, you know, there's this thing in the NFL and in other sports where when a guy gets traded to a team, he often wants to get the jersey number that he's used to, but many times a player already has it. That happened for Devonte Adams with the Rams, but it has also happened in the past when he went to the jets. And when it happened, here was a story he told recently. I'm busing with the boys of how it went down.

[Commercial Narrator 2]

The kid. You know the story about the kid from the jets, right? You ever heard about that? I told that story.

[Caller]

Which one?

[Commercial Narrator 2]

That told me you wanted a million dollars for it. I brought. So I showed up when I first got to the jets, day one, I came in with my backpack and I'm like. And it was the off day Tuesday. So a couple guys are in there, I'm like, looking for him. I got 17,000 cash in my, in my backpack. And I'm thinking like, like, this ain't nothing crazy, but, but like, certainly to give up your number as a rookie, like you ain't did yet. Yeah, like it was like year. It was week six. And I think he played four plays at that point. I'm like, you have no attachment to this right now, right? This is okay for your whole family to get new jerseys, whatever, you know, because they go out and spend their money on it. However many jerseys you need to buy, I'll do that. And how about 17,000 for, you know, for the number 17? He said, it's great to have you, big bro. I can't wait to learn from you, but I'm gonna need a million. So I went straight to Woody and said, Give me 17, bro. And he just took it off.

[Matt]

So he offered him 17,000. And the other player was Malachi Corley, a third round pick in 2024, and he ended up just getting it for free. Let's assume that you didn't know that Woody Johnson was going to just give it to him for free. Would you have taken the $17,000,

[Myron]

absolutely. Because I would have known that Devonte Adams, the superstar that he is, is going to get his way and that I, as a rookie or young player, wouldn't have any leverage. So I, I, that was a huge miss. First off, most people, I think, take $17,000 cash for most things, right? In that situation, I need to ask

[Matt]

the question about $17,000 cash.

[Caller]

Yeah.

[Matt]

Listening Devonte Adams story. He said he walked in, you know, I had 17,000 cash in my backpack.

[Myron]

Yeah.

[Matt]

Is he just walking around all the time with $17,000 in his cash or in cash in his backpack? That strikes walking around money. Is that walking around money?

[Myron]

That's walking around money for him.

[Matt]

What, what, what are you going to need 17,000 in cash for in your backpack on a Tuesday?

[Myron]

Snacks, you know, I mean, you know, sometimes you go into like a store, you're like, man, you know what, how many. There's a deal.

[Matt]

How many snacks are you eating, though? I mean, you know, you walk in

[Myron]

and all of a sudden it's like five for six, you know, you load up. So maybe, maybe that's, maybe, maybe he just is one of those guys who only does cash. Like some people are like that. They only do cash.

[Matt]

I have a hard time finding any place to, to take a hundred dollar bill. There's like, you're gonna have to have something smaller. If I walked in with 17,000, I don't know who's taking that. Do you?

[Myron]

That's because you deal with everybody who's on the books, and that's not everybody. Like some people, you know, they don't, they don't even have a bank account. They just, they just, they just vibe, you know, so you, so maybe that's

[Matt]

the difference between the two. That's kind of where you spend a lot of time. Do you spend a lot of time in the off the books places?

[Myron]

No, but I, but I dabble. I would, you know, I mean, something every, everybody doesn't take, you know. Can you give me a follow.

[Matt]

Can you give me an example of a type of establishment that might be off the books that you might go to?

[Myron]

Well, you know, I don't know. I've been to some restaurants, I've been to barbershop, different places where, you know,

[Matt]

you just been to some restaurants that are off the book.

[Myron]

Pay only cash.

[Matt]

I'll give you a little secret.

[Myron]

Pay cash.

[Matt]

If you got a restaurant that's off the books, its primary use is not as a restaurant.

[Myron]

That's what I said.

[Matt]

When you have a cash only establishment in 2026. I'm not sure if that's completely, totally a restaurant.

[Myron]

In college I went to a barbershop, only took cash. Now There are about 19 dudes in there who never got haircuts and I assumed it was a problem. And about three months later, that barbershop never existed.

[Matt]

So, you know, so maybe there was something to it. Well, Myron, I enjoyed our second day with you. Tomorrow is going to be Wednesday. We will, I'm sure, talk about other wonderful topics and potential places that when went that then ended up with the police. Freddie and Harry are next. Thank you, Wednesday. Come back on Wednesday.

[Myron]

Thanks for listening to Matt and Myron, the podcast. You can listen to Matt and Myron live weekdays from 3 to 5pm Eastern on ESPN radio. I'll be honest, shopping for clothes is

[Matt]

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