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Myron Metcalf
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Myron Metcalf
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Myron Metcalf
helping you quickly write, analyze, create, and summarize so you can cut through clutter and clear a path to your best work. Learn more@Microsoft.com M365 copilot this is Matt and Myron the podcast. David Dennis Jr filling in for Matt Jones. I don't know where he is, by the way. Does anybody know where he is? What's he doing? Anybody know? Nobody knows.
David Dennis Jr.
He's taking the day off for Black History Month.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, I see. Like, how did he get a day off? And I'm here, we're over here working.
Shaquille O'Neal
He should be working.
Myron Metcalf
He should be doing both roles.
David Dennis Jr.
Both roles today and cutting us, giving
Myron Metcalf
us the money from us.
David Dennis Jr.
That's how you, that's how you. That's how you celebrate the day. Now he's off.
Myron Metcalf
Now he's off. And I'm.
David Dennis Jr.
And we're working.
Myron Metcalf
And I'm. Catch a flight. The United States won a gold medal. And it's one of the biggest moments in Olympic sports history. Certainly one of the biggest moments in hockey history. 46 years to the day the United States wins the gold medal. I've been talking throughout the show about the blizzard that's coming. I got to catch a flight. I realized, David, I don't know how to read the Delta app.
David Dennis Jr.
Okay.
Myron Metcalf
Like, I don't understand where my plane is. I was reading it and it looked like it was saying the plane was good, it was on its way. Now it says the plane that's supposed to be here is, quote, awaiting takeoff and that it's delayed 42 minutes.
David Dennis Jr.
All right.
Myron Metcalf
And I don't know what any of that means. I'll tell, I'll tell you right now. It seems like where the plane that you're supposed to be taking off in. Yes. Has not reached its destination of Hartford, Connecticut. So I would have said so that. So it means it's still at its previous destination. Okay. That's. It says awaiting takeoff. Yeah. So that's probably not good for me to have an on time departure from
David Dennis Jr.
the place that it's at. Right.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah. So, like, because the plane has to be there.
David Dennis Jr.
Where is it now? Where's the plane now?
Myron Metcalf
It looks like it's in Minneapolis. It doesn't look like it's moved yet.
David Dennis Jr.
Okay. It's in Minneapolis.
Myron Metcalf
And I have a 3 o' clock flight you got saying this plane is delayed already 42 minutes from the flight I'm supposed to take. The blizzard. Supposed to show up 4 to 6 range. I think. So it's not looking good. I don't know.
David Dennis Jr.
Yeah. So I would say cozy up.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah.
David Dennis Jr.
So I should get a nice. Get, you know, stop by gas station.
Myron Metcalf
Yep.
David Dennis Jr.
Get yourself. Or, you know, get yourself a little libation for a couple of days.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah. It's one of those.
David Dennis Jr.
You're. You're right behind the Popeyes. Get all.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah.
David Dennis Jr.
Get a good old, you know, a family sized bucket, 100. And just enjoy that for two days.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah.
David Dennis Jr.
Do your thing in Bristol and enjoy. Enjoy the. Enjoy the vibes. Enjoy the weather.
Myron Metcalf
Enjoy it. Yeah, that's just not very good.
David Dennis Jr.
The blizzard. You don't get a lot of those. You know, you don't get a lot of those in Minneapolis, I'm sure. Right. So just enjoy vibes.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah. Play my Motown playlist.
David Dennis Jr.
Play the playlist. Maybe they got a gym at the.
Myron Metcalf
They do. They got everything.
David Dennis Jr.
They got everything you need right there. They got a bar.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah.
David Dennis Jr.
They got a little. A little situation. You be. You'll be great.
Myron Metcalf
I think I'll be good. Yeah, it'll be good.
David Dennis Jr.
Just going ahead and just cozy on up, brother.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, I think I have to do that. I was. I was hopeful, and then I realized that I don't understand flight plans.
Kodiak Waffles Advertiser
Yeah.
Myron Metcalf
Evidently not good enough. Just. It doesn't look good.
David Dennis Jr.
It doesn't look good. Stop by the grocery store up the way. Get a little couple target across the street.
Myron Metcalf
I'm low on socks.
David Dennis Jr.
Yeah.
Myron Metcalf
I didn't plan for this. Yeah. I'm down to one parasite. I don't know how this is gonna work out.
David Dennis Jr.
Get some stocks, get some draws.
Myron Metcalf
That's why the targets right across the street. But what if they shut down, too? I don't know.
David Dennis Jr.
Hopefully go into the target.
Myron Metcalf
Hopefully. Hopefully everything is on time and we all figured out. I think I'm gonna know here in the next hour. Last night, there was more than hockey just going on. This weekend you have the Knicks versus the Rockets. The Knicks are down 18 points in the fourth quarter. I was ready to turn the game off. I was like, it's over. Right. This is where the Rockets prove how good they are. Kevin Durant had 30 points, and then Carl Anthony Towns leads this incredible comeback. The Knicks obviously are viewed as certainly maybe the biggest threat to the Detroit Pistons in the East. Now, some of that's contingent upon whether or not Jason Tatum comes back for the Celtics James Harden and Donovan Mitchell are trying to find their way in Cleveland, but I think it was a statement victory for the Knicks, beating a Rockets team that could be a contender in. In the Western Conference as well. Carl Anthony Towns is the reason the Knicks won. He was great in the fourth quarter. And Shaq and Carl Towns, after the game had an interesting exchange about who Carl Anthony Towns has to be with this team if they want to compete for a championship. Take a listen.
Shaquille O'Neal
We're from Jersey, so I always keep it real at the beginning of the game. I said you were playing soft because I've seen you at times when you play great. And what you must understand in New York, you need to be great for you guys to win the championship. It's high aspirations. You know, if you guys won the championships, of course they're going to talk about Brunson. But it's you and your play. You have to be dominant. You responded very, very well. You played well. You played in the paint. That's how you should play. You should always play great. Being from Jersey, good ain't good enough, for sure.
Myron Metcalf
But what you said, too, is if we win a championship, they could talk about anybody. As long as we all get a ring, that's the most important thing. No, but you.
David Dennis Jr.
I don't care.
Myron Metcalf
I don't care about none of that.
Shaquille O'Neal
No, but you. You gotta play great. One, two, punch. Are you part of that one, two punch?
Hell, yeah.
Myron Metcalf
Hell, yeah. But, you know, I want to make sure we all understand the biggest goal, the main goal here is the win. You know, it don't matter about who gets the credit or whatever.
Shaquille O'Neal
You gotta play great. Nope, you gotta play great.
Emily Kaplan
I hear you.
Myron Metcalf
Okay, Legend.
Shaquille O'Neal
I agree with you.
I agree with you.
You know, I got you, Jersey, baby.
Myron Metcalf
Yes, sir. This is the conversation that so many of us have had with anybody older than us, right? I mean, this is sort of the OG versus the young guy, Shaq, obviously, one of the greatest centers of all time, Karl Anthony Towns, an all star in this generation, but also viewed as a guy who maybe has fallen short of his ceiling. And, David, a lot of that has to do with what people think Karl Anthony Towns is supposed to be. And I think that was sort of the crux of that conversation. What did you make of Shaq kind of, you know, doing the OG thing to Carl Anthony Towns and daring him to be great?
David Dennis Jr.
I mean, I think part of it is what you're saying is that Carl Anthony Towns doesn't do the things that you expect a guy that size to do. And when you watch a guy like Carl Anthony Towns and you see him settle for threes or you see him take threes, you see sort of a more finesse game. You know, you see a team that's not as good defensively when he's on the court as it is when Mitchell Robinson's out there, I think that that's where the criticism comes from. But also, I think what's so frustrating sometimes about Carl Lane Towns is you see him do it sometimes. I think that's what it is. Like when you see a game like last night where he's aggressive, or in the playoffs last year, when Jalen Brunson's out and Karl Anthony Townsend leading the charge against the Celtics and the Pistons, and he has before this a long stretch of double doubles, of a few 15 rebound games, things like that, where he gets aggressive and puts people in the basket and then sometimes just goes away. And I think that is what some of this comes from. Now, Shaq is gonna do that with everybody. If you're over 7 foot tall, say you need to have 40 and 20 before he's satisfied with you. Right. But. But beyond that, there is some valid criticism to the way Carl antowned. Because when you. Because we see him play the other way also.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, that's fair. My thing is, Carl Anthony Towns is just who he is.
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And.
Myron Metcalf
And a lot of times, for me, the attitude on Carl Anthony Towns comes from this idea that he's supposed to be Jokic, healthy, prime, Embiid, Giannis. I've never saw him. I've never seen him as that. Like, I always thought he was a step below that tier, but. But it's like people want him to be that if he plays hard enough, maybe he can be that. I don't think he can be. I think he is what he is.
David Dennis Jr.
And.
Myron Metcalf
And I think at this stage of his career, he's never going to change. I think people, David, want Carl Anthony Towns to be a great number one on a championship team. I've never believed that he could be anything more than a great number two on a championship team, potentially. I thought that in Minnesota, I thought that at every other juncture he's had in his career, and that's where my pushback on Shaq comes from, is he's not you. He's never going to be that kind of a player on the court. He's never going to have that kind of DNA on the court. So my expectations, I feel like, with Carl Anthony Towns, David, are just a lot different from other people's.
David Dennis Jr.
And also, let's be real about why some people talk about Carl Anthony Towns. The way to talk about. Not Shaq, I think Shaq is going to do that. But I think some of the criticism that comes down on Carl Anthony Towns comes from this corner of social media or whatever about his mannerism, voice and things like that. That he's some sort of soft dude because of that. Right. Because of his, you know, the way that, that he emotes. Right. And that's really on an unfair way to talk about him. Right. Like, we sort of put this idea that Carl Anthony Towns needs to be overly aggressive because to offset sort of the way that we think about it. Right. The way, you know, he talks certain way and say, well, this dude is not the kind of guy do. But we've seen him do it. Right. And I think he can be like, I absolutely think that when the Knicks are doing what they should, I think he can absolutely be the second best player on this team that gets to a Finals. Absolutely.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah.
David Dennis Jr.
And I think that that should be something that he keeps in mind, is that Jalen Brunson is going to be the guy to give you 30 or 40. Carl Landing towns need to step up defensively, to step up getting, getting rebounds for. In order for them to win. Otherwise it's going to be another disappointment.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, he's David Dennis Jr. On Myron Metcalf here on Matt Myron. I mean, for me it's, you know, we don't talk about Rudy Gobert that way. We don't talk about other number twos. Like, like, to me, if the Knicks win, you're gonna. Jalen Brunson is going to be phenomenal.
David Dennis Jr.
Yeah.
Myron Metcalf
Like, that's their path. Like, I've never seen it as Carl Anthony Towns leading the way. I've always seen him as complimentary of whatever Jalen Brunson does. And I think that to me is where maybe some of the disconnect is. And you're right. There are folks who look at Carl Towns and feel like he's not tough enough. But he's achieved so much in his career and I think he's just a great Robin and he's never going to be fully Batman. He's David Dennis Jr. On Myron Metcalf. Coming up, we're going to talk more about this gold medal winning effort and also what's happening in the NBA draft. Matt and Myron, the podcast.
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Myron Metcalf
Matt Myon on ESPN Radio the ESPN App Series XM Channel 80 ask your smart speaker to play ESPN Radio. Matt Myon is presented by Progressive Insurance. He's David Dennis Jr. I'm Myron Metcalf. We are joined by Emily Kaplan, ESPN hockey reporter who is in Milan and has just been a part of this historic moment. Not even just for men's hockey but but for anybody affiliated with international competition. Emily, you were there when all of this unfolded. What was that like when Jack Hughes scored the game winning goal to give the United States its first gold medal in this sport in almost 50 years?
Emily Kaplan
Well, first, hello guys. Thank you for having me and chatting about hockey. It was a really nervy game, I'm not going to lie to you. Like it was a really intense crowd, very energetic. I think it might have been like 60% Canada, 40% U.S. both were loud, dueling chance and I've never seen a game like that where there is just so many world class players. The best players in the world just miss opportunities and you could just see how it was getting to all of them. For it to be Jack, for it to end like that, it was huge. I mean this team talks such a big game leading up to this tournament. Like in the months before the US Players were saying gold or bust and they had to back it up. And honestly for a lot of that game they weren't backing it up and Canada looked like the better team but they just found a way. And I just think there was a Moment of catharsis afterwards. For all the people supporting USA Hockey,
David Dennis Jr.
there is something. Whenever we have an around the horn reunion, I just feel like that's something that we should. We should have at all.
Emily Kaplan
You can mute me, David. It's fine.
David Dennis Jr.
There we go. There. Never, never will never mute you. In fact, we're going to do the opposite. We're going to do a little buy or sell here, because I'll need you to help me buy or sell this idea that Sidney Crosby, if he had played this, would have gone a different way.
Emily Kaplan
I don't think that's true, to be honest with you. Because if you look at this top line that Canada started in this game and the guy is were their big dogs that played the most minutes that were out there for their power play. It's three of the top four scorers in the NHL. We went to break. That's Macklin Celebrini, Connor McDavid, Nathan McKinnon. So, yeah, Sidney Crosby is a generational leader. I think he calms a lot of nerves in that room. I think the way that he plays defensively still at his age of 38, is world class. But it's not like you don't have Sidney Crosby and you don't have talent. That is our supremely talented team. And I think they had every opportunity to win that game and they just couldn't find a way to do it.
Myron Metcalf
Emily, how meaningful was it for that United States team to bring out Johnny Goudreau's jersey and hold it up after winning the gold medal?
Emily Kaplan
Yeah, there's just something so special about this group. I was listening to Dylan Larkin talk about it, and he was just saying that everyone feels included. And he thought it began with the Tkachuk brothers, but they really were a family. No matter where they came from, they did it for each other. And Johnny Goudreau and his brother Matty, they were part of that family. And Johnny had a very good chance to be on this Olympic team. I know USA Hockey loved him. He went to the World Championships. He is part of the fabric and identity of the program. And it's the biggest loss that any of these players, a lot of these players, had ever had to deal with, and the USA Hockey family had to deal with. And the way that they've incorporated and included the Goudreau family, I think speaks to the identity of this team. Like Larkin was talking about the fact that they bring out Johnny's dad, they bring out his widow, Meredith, they brought the girl and the boy onto the ice. It's really special and I think it just shows how selfless they are. They're thinking about others. And I think it was just a really beautiful tribute and I know it meant the world to the Gattreau family.
David Dennis Jr.
Can you put in a sort of context what we saw From Conor Hellebuk? 41 of 42 shots stopped and half of them looked like they were just miraculous stops.
Emily Kaplan
Yeah, like if you don't follow hockey closely, like Conor Hellebuk was the best goalie in the world last year. He won not only the Vezina Trophy, but the Hart Trophy as a league mvp. And then he had the worst playoffs that you could possibly imagine. He was pulled three times in the first round against the St. Louis Blues, a team that really didn't have any business being in the playoffs. And he had this reputation, all of a sudd as this is a guy that can't shine when the lights are the brightest. So for him to go out there and have the game of his life, Jake Sanderson told me, I think that was hands down the best goalie performance I've ever seen in my life. I mean, he no longer has to carry that. He completely changed. This is not around the horn, so I'm going to say it. He completely changed the narrative around him. And this is now his legacy is he's the guy that's gave 41 shots and some of them absolutely insane and spectacular like that one stick in the crease and you know, I can go on and on. This is him now. This is his legacy.
Myron Metcalf
Emily Kaplan, ESPN Hockey Reporter we'll get you out of here with this. What's the reality? This is a changing of the guard in men's hockey internationally or this is an anomaly for the United States?
Emily Kaplan
Well, I think this is just an incredibly fierce rivalry now going forward. And hopefully NHL players do return to the Olympics in 2030 and beyond that and we'll see it continue to grow. I think that the rest of the world is catching up a bit. You know, Finland and Sweden are already world powers. They had bad tournaments. A lot of it was derailed by coaching. Finland did finish with the bronze medal. Czechia should have had a better tournament, but they showed up in a massive way against Canada. You've got emerging programs like Switzerland and Germany and Slovakia who are like the Cinderella's here. So I just think hockey is in a really great place. But United States, for the next four years, they can claim that they're the top dogs and I think that's going to be huge. In the United States, hopefully to inspire the next generation. We've been talking about 1980, 1980. It's been 46 years. There's now a new gold standard. And hopefully this opens a lot of fans eyes to how incredible hockey is, how much hockey has grown and what a wonderful sport it is.
Myron Metcalf
She's the great Emily Kaplan, ESPN hockey reporter. Thank you as always for your time.
Emily Kaplan
Appreciate you guys have a great night.
Myron Metcalf
It feels like, David, that this is going to be a movie one day, you know, and that there's a generation of sports fans who will view this the same way that sports fans view the Miracle on ice in 1980. Again, different circumstances. If you haven't had an opportunity yet. There's an incredible documentary on Netflix. ESPN hasn't done a documentary. Right. I probably shouldn't be promoting Netflix if we have an ESPN Miracle on Ice documentary. Go find the ESPN version of the Miracle on Ice. There's a movie which is a Disney movie, but there's a documentary.
David Dennis Jr.
Watch it all the time on.
Myron Metcalf
On probably on Disney plus somewhere. So watch that one first. But then there's one on Netflix that's also really good. David. I believe Save. Good save. There is a 30 for 30. Well, go and watch the ESPN 30 for 30 on the Miracle to the
David Dennis Jr.
one on Netflix of Miracles and Men.
Myron Metcalf
Of Miracles and Men is the greatest documentary that has ever been done.
David Dennis Jr.
The one you were thinking of.
Myron Metcalf
That is exactly what I was thinking of. Yeah. With Tim Champagne on it. Tim. Yeah, go watch that one. Timberlay Shyamalay, Go watch that one on Disney+ ESPN+. You really enjoy it.
David Dennis Jr.
And the guy who stars in Hamnet
Myron Metcalf
is in it too, whatever that dude's name is. David, this generation, they're gonna be people today who are saying the Miracle on Ice too. That's what they're gonna call it. I do wonder how people who watch the Miracle on Ice will feel about that. Is it fair if you weren't alive in 1980 to call this Miracle on Ice too? Or do we have to leave that alone as its own thing?
David Dennis Jr.
I think miracle may. We may have to leave out miracle. Yeah, but this was still a monumental thing. And you got. Let's, let's remember the moment that hockey is having right now. Hockey is having a mainstream moment that I don't recall since probably like Wayne Gretzky in the 90s. Like, we're thinking about four nations last year which got mainstream appeal. We're talking about the, the show heated rivalry that has everybody talking, right? That folks are talking, you know, the Ticket sales are going up in hockey because there's more interest in hockey because of this show. And now you have this gold medal for Team usa. Like, hockey is having a real legitimate moment. And if there is documentaries and movies about this moment, like we are going to have, similar to us growing up watching Gretzky, this sort of moment where hockey is right back in sort of that mainstream because remember, like it seems so long ago, but it was baseball, hockey, basketball, football. It was a big four.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah.
David Dennis Jr.
And hockey is right now trying to get back to that. And I think with all of this mainstream stuff, we may be on the precipice of hockey coming back to that moment.
Myron Metcalf
Well, and I think hockey's done a good job to sort of seize the moment.
David Dennis Jr.
Yeah.
Myron Metcalf
The Four nations tournament. I mean, you watch the USA versus World format in the NBA All Star Game. Well, hockey did that. It was such a hit with the Four Nations. The other league said, well, maybe we should do that too.
David Dennis Jr.
Right.
Myron Metcalf
And now you go from that, which felt almost like a mini Olympics in the middle of the season to what we just witnessed today with the United States and Jack Hughes getting the game winning goal against Canada for the first gold medal in almost 50 years. I don't think you could have scripted this any better than you have. If you are the folks who are trying to figure out the future of hockey, we'll turn our attention to college basketball. Duke beat Michigan last night in a heavyweight battle. We'll talk about that next on Matt, Matt and Myron the Podcast.
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David Dennis Jr.
Heat and eat.
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Myron Metcalf
This is Matt and Myron on ESPN radio. The ESPN app SiriusXM channel 80 David Dennis Jr filling in for Matt Jones. I'm Iron Metcalf. Ask your smart speaker to play ESPN Radio. Matt Meyer is presented by Progressive Insurance. We've had an incredible show. United States gets the gold medal victory against Canada and men's hockey in the Winter Olympics for the first time in almost 50 years. The ESPN app is your new home for WWE Premium live events and that includes the Elimination chamber on Saturday, February 28 at 7. And to watch the Elimination Chamber you can get the ESPN Unlimited plan. If you have a paid TV provider, you might already have ESPN Unlimited included at no additional cost. Head to activate.espn.com follow the instructions to get set up and you're good to go. That's activate.espn. then sign into the ESPN app with the same account, hit the Watch tab and boom. The biggest WWE events all in one place, anytime, anywhere with the ESPN app. It's a lot going on in that read. There was a lot going on in Duke versus Michigan in Washington D.C. last night. Duke pulls it out. Michigan was the number one team in America. They'd only had one loss prior to that matchup. Everyone was wondering who will Cameron Boozer be against this incredible Michigan front court? And Cameron Boozer proved proved once Again, he's the best player in America. Maybe not the top NBA Prospect, David Dennis Jr. But the best player at this level and the favorite to win the Wooden award. Yet there are a whole lot of people who don't think that he is a number one, number two or even number three pick in the NBA draft. You are an NBA guy. You are a great NBA mine. I want to make you GM David Dennis Jr. Let's say of the Atlanta Hawks, who could have the number one pick? How do you look at Darren Peterson, AJ DeBonta and Cameron Boozer if you've got the number one pick going into this NBA draft?
David Dennis Jr.
To me, I mean, and I want to get your, your take on this too because you're, you're in the nuts and bolts of these guys as much as anybody. To me is AJ I think like would that NBA level of a bag getting to the basket. He looks like a dude who could put up 20 points a game as soon as he gets to the league, you know, like that that's the kind of talent that he has. The shiftiness, the quickness getting to the basket when he's not there, he has the mid range. He looks like a guy who's built in a way that when he gets to the league and improve defensively, be a real shot blocker. And if you're talking Atlanta, Atlanta got a whole bunch of dudes who are like that. A whole bunch of wings. And you can't have too many, you know, like it's two things the NBA and Kendrick Perkins have in common. You can't have too many wings. So they, they got. You can have a whole bunch of wings on that squad. And any team is going to take somebody like AJ but the Boozer thing here is what's interesting to me is you, you said he's the best player in college. And I'm curious about how that turned because I just worry about when you have a guy like that, the explosiveness isn't there. The sort of athleticism just to jump off the page and you know the know how and all that stuff. And when I've talked to a couple people, one name that stood out that was really interesting. There was a, there was a couple people made a Tyler Handsbro comp.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah.
David Dennis Jr.
With Boozer. And, and so when I hear that that gives me a little bit of pause of a guy who knows how to play at the college level. Was great at the college level to get to the NBA, don't have the size of the other guys. And when you at that Size. Now, you could do so many different things, and there's a little bit of a concern there. Like, I think Boozer is going to have a fine career in NBA. Just when you just have that. That level of game knowledge and ability to impact the game, you're going to be fine. But we're talking 1, 2, 3. In a loaded draft like this. When I hear those type of comps, that sort of, you know, raises my eyebrow a little bit.
Myron Metcalf
I want to get to Boozer and I want to get to aj but there's a guy you didn't mention named Darren Peterson.
David Dennis Jr.
Yes. Yeah.
Myron Metcalf
And all this six foot six, effortless score. I'll say this. I know there's a lot of talk about his availability. David, the best offensive player at this level that I've covered since Kevin Durant.
David Dennis Jr.
Okay.
Myron Metcalf
I'm not exaggerating when I tell you that. But you didn't mention him.
David Dennis Jr.
Yeah.
Myron Metcalf
In your conversation for the one spot. Why not?
David Dennis Jr.
Well, because for me, I just felt like aj. I feel like AJ is just a guy who looks like he can improve so much. Right. Like that. That guy looks like somebody. When I see him, I see the health, athleticism. I mean, it's not to take anything away from Darren. Like, he is. He is absolutely great, absolutely phenomenal. I just see more sort of raw talent with aj But I may be wrong there.
Myron Metcalf
No, I think the NBA is having the same conversations, Right.
David Dennis Jr.
Yeah. Yeah.
Myron Metcalf
I think Darren Peterson, all the other stuff is becoming a narrative about him. But I think you could put him in a game tonight in the NBA and he could score 15 points. I think AJ has the highest ceiling.
David Dennis Jr.
Yeah.
Myron Metcalf
Like the. The things that he has that you can't teach, the motor. And it looks like he has better and better every single day. Yeah. I mean, I think AJ's. I think AJ is the only player in the draft who has a superstar ceiling. And that's nothing against the other guys, but I think that's how far it can go. Boozer's fascinating. I think Boozer will play for 15 years at a very high level. And the thing that I respect about Boozer is he's played against all these guys and he's been better than them the entire time. National Player of the Year, twice National champion. He comes to Duke, and, yes, there's AJ and Darren, and he's been the best player at this level. So, like, all of the things that he's supposed to be struggling at, I guess. Right. His weaknesses, they haven't stopped him from being this dominant force Jax Lindeborg is a first round prospect. He was not on Cam Boozer's level at the end of that game.
David Dennis Jr.
Right? Yeah.
Myron Metcalf
You know what? I wonder sometimes about Cam Boozer. I want to know what you think about this, David. If you said he was Cam Boozer from France, Cam Boozer from Germany, I do wonder if people would have a different perspective because that's kind of how his game is. He's. Yeah, he's Jokic. Like in terms of the skill set, he's not seven feet. I'm not calling him Jokic. But in terms of not being an above the rim guy and just being a great playmaker, I do think that's his profile at the next level.
David Dennis Jr.
Yeah, I mean, I think. I mean, the only problem we're talking Jokic, to me, is the size.
Myron Metcalf
Yes. Big difference.
David Dennis Jr.
It's the big difference in size. Like the, the guy. A guy like Jokic can make up for the lack of athleticism, the fact that he's just 7ft tall. He's a big dude. Right. Boozer to me, is just not, you know, like when you have a guy, because. How tall is Boozer? Like, he's what?
Myron Metcalf
He's. He's six, nine in college. I bet he measures six, eight, something.
David Dennis Jr.
Yeah.
Myron Metcalf
In the combine.
David Dennis Jr.
So like six, eight. Like there are a lot of really just athletic dudes who could do all kinds of things at 6, 8, you know, and so when you're at that height, I kind of want some other intangible that you have. Right. Besides, again, just the. I mean, last night he just was a guy who just looks like he knows how to play basketball. Right. And when you are a guy who just looked like, you know how to play basketball, like you said, you can play 15 years.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah.
David Dennis Jr.
And no problem. Right. Like a Shane Battier type of guy. Like, he's there and he's just gonna be on a team. You're gonna look up and he's got a couple of rings. He may have come off the bench
Myron Metcalf
for a little bit.
David Dennis Jr.
He may have started. He may have been the third best player on the team. Like Dylan Brooks type of guy. Right?
Myron Metcalf
Yeah.
David Dennis Jr.
But this is a draft. I feel like this is a draft that makes it so tough because so many teams are tanking with this position. So many teams are banking their future on this particular draft. You got to get it right.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, no, I agree. And I think David Dennis Jr. Is a guy to your point who's just going to make the right play most of the time. He's just going to do the right thing most of the time. I think the questions in NBA circles will continue to be does he become a defensive liability at the next level?
David Dennis Jr.
Right. Yeah.
Myron Metcalf
When he's matched up against bigger, more athletic guys, how does he fare in those situations? I do think though, in the right situation there's definitely room for a 6 foot 8, 6 foot 9 playmaker who just is always in the right spots. He's going to be against the biggest front court in America. Had no problem getting rebounds. He's going up against the biggest, maybe the best front court in America. Had no problem scoring down the stretch, drawing fouls, passes, greatest great passer. Like, he just continues to find a way to impact the game. And I do think that is worth something at the next level, even if the ceiling isn't as high. But you know, Kingston Flemings at Houston, Caleb Wilson at North Carolina, Darius Acuff Jr. At Arkansas. There's a bunch of explosive guards and forwards coming out that could complicate Cameron Boozer's path. At the same time, David, how many times have we covered NBA drafts and there was a dude there where we said, this dude's very good in college, he was very good in high school. When I say this name, trust me, I'm not comparing Kam Boozer, but I remember the conversation about Steph Curry. I went to the Minnesota Timberwolves workout of draft picks that year. Johnny Flynn from Syracuse was there. I remember the Johnny Flynn workout and David Kahn, who was the GM at the time, we asked him about Johnny Flynn versus Steph Curry. He said, I love Johnny's personality and I love just what he brings to the floor. And we're sitting there going over the All American at Davidson who looks like he could shoot from half court. So I do think NBA teams sometimes overthink this. And I wonder if that's going to happen with Cam Boozer.
David Dennis Jr.
Which is why actually I would not mind Cam Boozer falling to. I think Camboser. Boozer is a guy who benefits from a competent organization. Right. Like, he is a guy that I worry that if you bank your future on Cam Boozer, if you're say, you know, like if you're a Kings, if you're somebody like, you know, like somebody who's you want to build around him, like if he's ends up in Dallas with Cooper Flag and Jason Kidd and that organization, I think that works out well for him. Right. If you end up even with Washington who now has some veterans there and some and some players around that you can work with, I think Things are better there. Atlanta, I think things are better there. Like if you are a team that has nobody, that is devoid of anything, if you're Brooklyn, if you're Sacramento, and if you're saying this guy needs to be 25 and 10 to get us to relevancy, I think you're barking up the wrong tree with him. But if he's in the right organization, he can really contribute to that team and mean something for 10 years for whoever he's with.
Myron Metcalf
And I'm glad you mentioned Jason Kidd, David, because it's going to have to involve the right coach, too.
David Dennis Jr.
Yes, yes.
Myron Metcalf
Like there's a skill set there clearly to affect winning. Right. And I think Cameron Boozer has it. How do you get the most out of him when he's not an above the rim guy? How do you put him in the right position? Because you can't hide him defensively at the next level, he's not going to be a rim protector. But I just think that dude has been great his entire life.
David Dennis Jr.
And play a team like Indiana, you have a great coach. You have Zubots there who's already a center. Like, you know, like, like organizations like that.
Myron Metcalf
Yes. Where, where they've taken other guys like that.
David Dennis Jr.
Yeah.
Myron Metcalf
Who weren't necessarily these above the rim highlight reel dudes and yet became really good players. All the questions people had about Halliburton and look at it now, the questions are no longer there. He's David Dennis Jr.
David Dennis Jr.
It's better that he wasn't at the Kings.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, yeah. He's in a better spot. Organization certainly matters. David Dennis Jr, Myron Metcalf here on Matt and Myron. Coming up, we're going to close the show with a little take your pick, Matt and Myron, the podcast.
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Myron Metcalf
Matt Myron on ESPN Radio the ESPN App Series XM channel 80 Astro smart speaker to play ESPN Radio. Matt Martin is presented by Progressive insurance. David Dennis Jr. Has been along for the ride here with Matt Jones out today. Before we get to take your pick, David, you told me something about the United States, which just won the gold medal in Milan, Italy over Canada, the first gold medal in men's hockey in nearly 50 years. What's happening with their travel plans?
David Dennis Jr.
Well, they've been listening to our show. I think they've been hearing about your travel situation. They said we're avoiding the Northeast.
Myron Metcalf
Okay.
David Dennis Jr.
And unfortunately, sadly, they now have to reroute to Miami.
Myron Metcalf
They're going to Miami instead of New York.
David Dennis Jr.
Instead of New York. So.
Myron Metcalf
So they might get stuck in Miami.
David Dennis Jr.
They have to go to Miami. They have to go party tonight in Miami.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah.
David Dennis Jr.
So it's probably 80 degrees.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah.
David Dennis Jr.
There's no snow.
Myron Metcalf
No snow. Message.
David Dennis Jr.
There you go.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah. Message to the Team USA personnel now that you all are headed to Miami. Collect everybody's gold medal. Put it somewhere safe, because somebody's gonna go out and lose a gold medal. We know it's gonna happen. Somebody's gonna be on South Beach. It's gonna be a late night. They're gonna lose a gold medal. Collect all the gold medals and all of the historic trinkets. Put them away, because that's an easy place to lose some stuff.
David Dennis Jr.
David Dennis Jr. Because they might. Might see a lady named Cinnamon walking around.
Myron Metcalf
Cinnamon got gold medals. Hockey stitch for some reason.
David Dennis Jr.
How'd you want to go? I didn't see you on the.
Myron Metcalf
On the TV show last night. Are those skates? Like, where did you get. She was a speed skater.
James Steele
Yeah.
Myron Metcalf
Like, what did you. What did you get this from? Have you heard the story about the gold medals? Like, so. Well, not the gold medals, but the medals in general. I guess they're too heavy. So the lanyard that they're on, they easily fall off. I'm telling you, man, whoever's in charge of Team usa, the staffer, the equipment staffer, collect all the gold medals before they go out to Miami. Don't. Don't let them take those out. Don't let them leave the plane. Yeah, I think with the gold metal was.
James Steele
There was a video of. I think it was Trotcheck in line after getting the metal mouth. And you can. If you read his lips, you could tell what he was going to do later that day. And it was. He was gonna get messed up, basically. He's gonna get so many words.
Myron Metcalf
And now they're going into Miami instead of New York.
David Dennis Jr.
Now they're going to.
Myron Metcalf
That's probably why he said it, because he already knew they were going to Miami. So he's gonna get. He's gonna have a good time. It's gonna be, you know, three. Three women on Instagram tomorrow, you know, with gold medals. It's gonna be a whole thing, and they're gonna have to go find them. Can't keep the gold medal. So, again, make sure you put those in a safe place before they go out to the city of Miami. And now it's time, the way we always like to end this show would. Take your pick.
David Dennis Jr.
Take your pick.
Myron Metcalf
You take your pick. It's time to take your pick with Matt and Myron. All right, James Steele, what do we got for games today?
James Steele
Yep. Let's start with the NBA Cavs at Thunder. That's 1pm on ABC television. The Cavs are four and a half point favorites. Myron, who you got?
Myron Metcalf
Cavs at Pelicans. You said Thunder. Thunder.
James Steele
Thanks for listening.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, I'm sorry. No, SGA still, right? SGA still hurt.
David Dennis Jr.
Myron thinking about going to Miami with.
Myron Metcalf
I don't need to be in miam me. I think the James Harden experiment, I actually think it's a smart trade that they made. Darius Garland been hurt, wasn't going to be able to help you in the playoffs the way that I think James Harden can. Thunder getting healthier but not completely healthy. Give me the Cavs to win this one.
David Dennis Jr.
Yeah, give me the Cavs as well. I think J Dub is also still nursing. Yeah, the injury there and he's got his. He's. He's really. I mean sga. It seems like he's going to be. You know, this is a standard injury, J Dub, the hamstrings, the wrist. This is the actual concern for the Thunder. But yeah, I like, I like the James Harden Cavs thing right now.
James Steele
Cavs are on a seven game win streak. They're undefeated with Harden in the lineup. 5 and O credible single in the NBA. Nuggets at warriors this game. You can check it out here on ESPN radio coverage begins at 3pm Eastern. Can all see it on ABC TV. Nuggets are six and a half point favorites. Myron, who you got here?
Myron Metcalf
Well, it's weird because we still haven't seen the Nuggets fully healthy. Jokic comes back and now Aaron Gordon is out. They have some other Watson I believe is out. So not 100% but I still think it'll be enough for them to beat the Golden State Warriors. Give me the Nuggets to win.
David Dennis Jr.
I'm going to. I'm agreeing with you again here. Wardell is out for Golden State. They can't win without him. Porzingis made his debut. He's still ramping up. They got smacked around by the Celtics. They're going to get smacked around by these Nuggets next.
James Steele
All right, sticking with the NBA, we have the Celtics and Lakers. The Celtics are one and a half point favorites on draftkings. Myron, who you got here?
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, this is, this is interesting, right? I mean the Celtics have been really, really good. I think Jalen Brown has proven this season that I don't know that there are six players better than Jaylen Brown in the NBA. I don't know what Jason Tatum's going to do, but they've been really good even without him. Give me the Celtics to win this over the Lakers.
David Dennis Jr.
I'm actually I think I'm going to take the Lakers. You know, they need to start winning some of these games against good teams. And they got their. Their three guys are healthy for the first time. I think it's going to be the 12th game they play together. And the Lakers need to show me something. I don't really have a lot of faith in them, but there's a chance for them to show that those guys can outscore other teams even if their defense stinks.
Myron Metcalf
What's next?
James Steele
Seeing with the NBA 76ers at the Timberwolves today? Timberwolves are nine and a half point favorites on DraftKings. Myron, who you got here?
Myron Metcalf
I'm not just saying this because I'm in Minnesota. I do think the Timberwolves are a sleeper in the Western Conference with what Anthony Edwards can do and how good I think he can be. I think that All Star showcase was just him being like there's another level to his game that few players in this league can match. And I think you'll see more of that again when the Timberwolves beat the Sixers tonight.
David Dennis Jr.
I think so. What's that, nine and a half points you said?
James Steele
Yeah. Nine and a half point favorite.
David Dennis Jr.
Nine and a half points. I think sometimes the Minnesota Timberwolves, as great as they play, they put up some stinkers. They play. They play again. They play down to some teams level sometimes. Maxi Edge, Comb. Those guys are feisty. I think the 76ers are going to make it a little bit close. Even if the King. Even if the. The Sixers. Yeah. Even if they don't win the game. Yeah.
James Steele
Next, let's go to the pga. It's the final round of the Genesis Invitational underway right now. Jacob Bridgman is the leader right now at 19 under. Rory McElroy is in second at 13 under Myron. Who you got here in the Genesis Invitational?
Myron Metcalf
I don't know who Jacob Bridgman is.
James Steele
So 19 under, though.
Myron Metcalf
Yeah. I don't know who that is.
James Steele
Six stroke lean.
Myron Metcalf
Jacob Bridgman is also a very golf name. Yeah. Like Jacob Bridgman golf. Or. What was his other option? Golf or accountant. Like cpa. A villain. Yeah.
David Dennis Jr.
Or an actor that we wouldn't be able to name.
Myron Metcalf
That's true. That's probably the.
David Dennis Jr.
Who's that guy?
Myron Metcalf
Yeah, those are his choices.
David Dennis Jr.
He won Best Supporting Actor and Frankenstein. We didn't know it.
Myron Metcalf
Bridgman. Um, yeah, I want. I mean, I want to see Rory make the run here. What is Rory back? How many strokes? Six strokes. Roy. Roy is going to figure it out. Give me, give me Roy.
James Steele
I'll write it down.
David Dennis Jr.
I'll take Tim. Tim Shamlette, Simulette, Timolett. He's going to take this one over everybody and that's going to be, that's gonna be how that goes.
Myron Metcalf
David Dennis, Jr. Always a pleasure to work with you. The great David Dennis. Turn. You can see him on 19 different ESPN properties over the next week. He is everywhere, all the time. Thanks for listening to Matt and Myron the Podcast. You can listen to the show live every Sunday morning at 10:00am Eastern on ESPN Radio, the ESPN app, and on SiriusXM Channel 80. Matt and myron the podcast
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Myron Metcalf
golf club, plus two primetime matchups on Tuesday.
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Episode: Hour 3 – “Appropriate Criticism…”
Date: February 22, 2026
Hosts: Myron Medcalf (ESPN Radio), David Dennis Jr. (in for Matt Jones)
Special Guests: Shaquille O’Neal, Emily Kaplan
This episode centers around major current events in the sports world, focusing particularly on the United States’ historic gold medal win in Olympic men’s hockey (their first in 46 years), debates on appropriate criticism in the NBA (spotlight on Karl-Anthony Towns), and emerging narratives from basketball’s college and NBA draft prospects. The hosts examine expectations for athletes, generational viewpoints on “greatness,” and the significance of recent sports achievements, tying in stories with humor and personality.
“At the beginning of the game, I said you were playing soft… you have to be dominant. You responded very, very well. Being from Jersey, good ain’t good enough, for sure.” (04:58)
(Segment with Emily Kaplan, ESPN Hockey Reporter – Begins 12:01)
(Segment begins 25:52)
(Segment begins 38:38)
(Segment begins 41:33)
Shaquille O’Neal to Karl-Anthony Towns (04:58):
“At the beginning of the game, I said you were playing soft… you have to be dominant. You responded very, very well. Being from Jersey, good ain’t good enough, for sure.”
David Dennis Jr. on KAT criticism (08:59):
“Some of the criticism… comes from this corner of social media about his mannerism, voice and things like that… that he’s some sort of soft dude because of that… it’s really an unfair way to talk about him.”
Emily Kaplan on Team USA’s Win (12:42):
“It was a really intense crowd, very energetic… both were loud, dueling chants… the best players in the world just miss opportunities…”
Emily Kaplan on Gaudreau Tribute (14:37):
“…the way that they’ve incorporated and included the Goudreau family, I think speaks to the identity of this team… a really beautiful tribute…”
Myron Medcalf on Boozer (29:03):
“I think Boozer will play for 15 years at a very high level… all of the things that he’s supposed to be struggling at… haven’t stopped him from being this dominant force.”
On Team USA detour to Miami (39:20):
“They have to go to Miami. They have to go party tonight in Miami.” – David Dennis Jr.
This episode highlighted how expectations, legacy, and perception shape both athlete narratives and fan engagement. It celebrated a new “golden moment” for US hockey, questioned what we want from NBA and college basketball stars, and reminded listeners to enjoy both the seriousness and the absurdity of the sports world.
For Those Who Missed It:
Tune in for fresh insight on athlete criticism (KAT vs. Shaq), revel in a vibrant reliving of US Olympic hockey glory, and enjoy the hosts’ chemistry as they tackle draft prospects, generational rivalries, and a classic “what-could-go-wrong?” sports travel saga.