Myron Medcalf (2:15)

Magically being a relationship with someone's like I'm going on a few dates just to get your attention. It's not a good situation. Right. You probably would be looking for another place to live under those circumstances. I get it though. I don't, I don't want any team to be emotional in these moments. Like Jason McCarthy missed the first year young quarterback. He was hurt last year, hurt again. But we saw him make a lot of big mistakes and I think the biggest thing with him, Matt, is so many of his colleagues in that class have done pretty well for themselves. Caleb Williams what he did the resurgence in Chicago Drake May 2nd in MVP voting B Knicks takes the Denver Broncos back to the the the playoffs. Jay Daniels got hurt, but we know what he's been able to do and out in his career. And then Mike Michael Penck maybe there's some. The jury's still out on him. But JJ McCarthy is the one guy where you're like what do we have here? So I think you got to bring in somebody not to get his attention but to start over him if he's not the guy and there's no evidence

Matt Jones (3:15)

that he basically Dan Graziano's report is essentially saying it'll be two tiers. Kyler Murray and Gino Smith would be like top two choice and if they didn't get that then they would go to what I think is quite a group. Flacco, Cousins and Aaron Rodgers. The only thing that would scare me about that group is the AARP potential of them. Yeah, which of what would you do if you were the gm? Would you spend some money on Geno and or, or Kyler Murray? Or would you go and just go hey, I'm going to get an old guy who can hold down the fort.

Myron Medcalf (3:51)

I get two personally, I go get two.

Matt Jones (3:54)

It's going to cost you money though. I mean two is going to cost you a significant amount of money.

Myron Medcalf (3:58)

You know it's going to cost even more money selling the house and buying moving trucks like Kellen o' Connell will have to if he doesn't find a quarterback this year because he's going to be on the hot seat. So like at the end of the day he here's the thing. You always talk about this and Sam Donald prove your point. I'll give you that credit. You. You want a quarterback who's worth what they're giving you. The 30 million plus they gave Sam Darnold has been perfect for Seattle. They have overachieved. It worked out. At the same time, you can't be so cheap that you just settle for a young quarterback on a rookie. Deal is not going to take you anywhere. You got to find a solution. Tua has had moments when surrounded by a lot of talent and the one thing he would have in Minnesota is he would be surrounded by a lot of talent that could help him out. I just think you got to go and find a starter whether it's Tour, Kyler Murray, stay away from Geno Smith. But you can't come back and decide that JJ McCarthy is your starter after what you saw last year.

Matt Jones (4:54)

So TUA is the one you believe in out of that group the most.

Myron Medcalf (4:58)

I hate the money situation, but here's the advantage you have. The Dolphins are on the hook for that money. Like, you don't have to pay all that money you negotiate, but some of

Matt Jones (5:05)

it goes against your cap a mount will. But you know who I would take?

Myron Medcalf (5:09)

Yeah.

Matt Jones (5:10)

All right. I'm going off the radar. The person I would take if I were the Vikings. I'm not saying this for every team, but if I were the Vikings and I had a possible solution in J.J. mcCarthy, I would take my man, Mr. Neck Davis Mills of Houston, and here's why. He is twice played in the last couple of years and played pretty well. And he's been good. He's been solid. He at times was better for the Texans last year than C.J. stroud was a team that was successful. I would bring Davis Mills and J.J. mcCarthy and I would have two options that collectively would cost me less than any of the people we're talking about individually. And. And I'm not convinced Davis Mills would not be as good as all these names that we are talking about.

Myron Medcalf (6:03)

It's possible. The number of guys who are backups who suddenly became prominent starters like that, that's more prominent.

Matt Jones (6:10)

Good enough.

Myron Medcalf (6:11)

What I read. I guess what I'm saying is, would

Matt Jones (6:13)

I rather spend 25, 30 million dollars on Kyler Murray or Tua or would I rather spend 4 million, 5 million, 6 million on Davis Mills?

Myron Medcalf (6:27)

If you're Kevin O', Connor, you're gonna get fired if you don't like. Here's the reality. But you think.

Matt Jones (6:31)

Do you think it's certain Kyler Murray would be better than Davis Mills?

Myron Medcalf (6:37)

Yeah, I don't know if it's certain. I think he would be. But every solution that we're talking about, to me, the upside appears to be higher than what J.J. mcCarthy can deliver. You're gonna have to spend because you got to fight Jared Goff and. And Jordan Love and Caleb Williams just to get out of that division.

Matt Jones (6:54)

But do you think any of these people were mentioning can fight those three guys? Any of them?

Sponsor/Announcer (6:58)

Yeah.

Myron Medcalf (6:59)

I mean, with the. With you got Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, all the skill pieces they have, I think they'll be able to put you in a good spot. JJ McCarthy didn't do anything consistently to make you feel like he's a franchise player or even a starter in this league. That is a major problem for the Vikings. You don't plan to be in this situation. You plan. You Had a good situation. You moved up to get a guy that you thought would be the dude on a rookie deal. It hasn't worked out. Now you got to pay for it. And if you don't pay for it, fine. But people are going to get fired.

Matt Jones (7:26)

Like, these guys are sure things. I don't know that any of these guys are good, but a sure thing

Myron Medcalf (7:32)

is that you're going to get fired if you have another bad season and you don't live up to your potential. They paid Justin Jefferson a ton of money. David Mills.

Matt Jones (7:40)

Why don't you believe in Davis Mills? You could trade for him. You could give a fourth, fifth round pick and get him, and he would be, in my opinion, just as good as these other guys.

Myron Medcalf (7:51)

Well, I don't even know if he's available. I mean, if you're the Texans, why would you ever try to give him up considering the season?

Matt Jones (7:56)

Because you, because at some point you're going to. After this year, you'll have to pay him and.

Myron Medcalf (7:59)

But you don't even know if you don't give up. C.J. i mean, C.J. stroud, you don't, you don't pay him right now. I think you got to see what comes this year. So you got to keep Davis Mills. I just think you have to upgrade and you can't bring in someone who just, you know, is supposed to get J.J. mcCarthy's attention. You got to bring up. Bring in somebody who can lead the team in a really difficult division.

Matt Jones (8:20)

Why do you generally hate Minnesota quarterbacks?

Myron Medcalf (8:23)

I don't genuinely hate them.

Matt Jones (8:25)

I've never known you not to hate the Minnesota quarterback.

Myron Medcalf (8:28)

Listen, I don't, I don't, I don't hate. I just think if you don't have the right guy at that position and many times Minnesota has not had that person. It's just hard to win big. You can get into the playoffs, you can be one of those fun Disney movie teams, but you're not going to win anything unless you have that guy. And Minnesota gave up that guy and Sam Darnold for J.J. mcCarthy. You didn't really like. You didn't really like Sam Darnold.

Matt Jones (8:54)

When he was with Minnesota, he couldn't stand Sam Darnold. Like he's playing revisionist history. Like he likes Sam Darnold and he's picking this year.

Myron Medcalf (9:04)

Remember I, I remember I did multiple games on the sidelines for ESPN Radio. I was around Sam Darnold.

Matt Jones (9:10)

Yeah, a bunch.

Myron Medcalf (9:12)

And I had no problem with Sam Darnold. I just thought the worst of Sam Darnold could doom the Vikings, and that's exactly what happened.

Matt Jones (9:19)

And you were. You were wrong about that when he got to Seattle.

Myron Medcalf (9:22)

But then in Seattle, it didn't haunt in the way I thought it would. I was right about it in Minnesota, though.

Matt Jones (9:26)

So would you like to say, though, you were wrong?

Myron Medcalf (9:28)

No, I wasn't wrong that season. I wasn't wrong about the worst of Sam Darnold being the. The demise of the Vikings.

Matt Jones (9:34)

But to be fair, you kept saying that would happen in Seattle as well.

Myron Medcalf (9:38)

I did think that would happen. That, that the. That the floor was really low on Sam.

Matt Jones (9:42)

So, again, the words are, I was wrong about Sam.

Myron Medcalf (9:47)

Darck, listen, you know, you. You say things are based on what you're feeling in the moment. I think that's the gig. Right? So I, I think what I said was valid at the time. And he outperformed what a lot of us thought, you know?

Matt Jones (10:01)

Okay. I don't know.

Myron Medcalf (10:02)

I don't apologize.

Matt Jones (10:03)

I think. I honestly think it would help your soul to just acknowledge when you are wrong.

Myron Medcalf (10:09)

It's a good.

Matt Jones (10:10)

It's good. It's good. It's good for your. It's good for your. Your chi. If you were. If you. If you will just let yourself go. I was wrong about Sam Darnold.

Myron Medcalf (10:20)

Misguided, erroneous, overly ambitious.

Matt Jones (10:25)

All fair, but not wrong.

Myron Medcalf (10:28)

Wrong's a strong word, I think, in this context.

Matt Jones (10:31)

Alpha male. Myron will not admit that he is wrong. What is the best team in college basketball? Who should you be ready for in March? We will deal with that. And what about Rick Patino's white suit last night? Were you a fan? Linen white suit in the garden. Did you like it? That's next here on Matt and Myron on ESPN Radio.

Myron Medcalf (10:55)

Matt and Myron, the podcast.

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Matt Jones (13:00)

Matt Martin here on ESPN Radio. Duke and North Carolina women have tipped off. The Blue Devils lead 12 to nine. Both teams are ranked. It's one of four matchups today in women's basketball where two ranked teams play each other in the men's side last night. Let's let me ask my fashion friend here, Myron. You. I've always felt like you are a good I always felt like you were a good indicator of fashion. Rick Patino had a linen white suit on last night. He's brought it out for a handful of games going back to his time at Louisville. Did you see it and do you think Rick looks good in the all white?

Myron Medcalf (13:43)

I saw it. I love it. It's on brand. I wouldn't recommend anyone try it. Right. It's like a Rick Patino thing. Who can pull it off? Rick Patino, Jay Wright, probably the only two coaches maybe in college basketball history.

Matt Jones (13:57)

I feel like your guy with the Heat, he could do it, right?

Myron Medcalf (14:03)

Oh, yeah, yeah. Pat Riley could. Pat Riley.

Matt Jones (14:05)

Not Pat Riley. The, the, the. The current one. How I'm surprised. My name come on he head coach. Let's go.

Myron Medcalf (14:13)

Talking about the current head coach.

Matt Jones (14:15)

Yes. Of the Miami Heat.

Myron Medcalf (14:16)

Spoelstra.

Matt Jones (14:17)

Eric Spoelstra. Well, I can't think of y' all be like I'm making up a basketball.

Myron Medcalf (14:22)

I was thinking about Pat Riley, Eric Spolzer, he could. Pat Riley could definitely pull it off though. That's what I was thinking. Like Pat Riley could have Done it. But Patino, that's just his brand. You know what I mean?

Matt Jones (14:34)

Well, they won the game and one going away. It was interesting earlier in the week that, you know, UConn beat St. John's and they asked Danny early before the game, what kind of relationship do you have with Rick Patino? And he said, none.

Myron Medcalf (14:49)

Yeah.

Matt Jones (14:50)

Which I like. Do you like when coaches just actively dislike each other?

Myron Medcalf (14:55)

Put it out there. I. I love it. You know what I mean?

Matt Jones (14:57)

Say it with your chest.

Myron Medcalf (14:59)

And Hurley and, you know, Todd golden we talked about earlier, they're those kinds of people. They're going to tell you who they don't like. You know, I think also, you know what they are, too, is they're the late 30s, early 40s guys who were assistants under these dudes, you know what I mean? And, like, kind of they've waited for this moment to kind of have their own thing. And I do think it's interesting how

Matt Jones (15:23)

college basketball has kind of completely shifted to a new set of coaching generation, and it's kind of okay, you know what I mean? When all those people retired right when NIL started, Tony Bennett, Jay Wright, Williams coach Roy Williams, Mike Krzyzewski, all these guys retired. And there was this thing of, oh, college basketball's ruined. All these guys are getting out of it. And now this new era of Danny Hurley, Nate Oates, Todd golden, these guys have come up Dusty May, and I don't think anyone, anything has missed a beat. And I think that's interesting.

Myron Medcalf (16:01)

No, and they're different. You know, I mean, a lot of these guys, they don't have sort of the old school vibes.

Matt Jones (16:06)

They're.

Myron Medcalf (16:07)

They're more players, coaches, if you will. And I think they've done a great job of kind of preparing the next generation of college basketball players for what's ahead. And I'm glad the guys got out who didn't want to deal with the NIL stuff. I respect that I'm with rather than get out.

Matt Jones (16:24)

Like, don't be. Don't be in and complain. I'm completely with you. Now. Miami of Ohio has been a great story. We saw their coach break poor Western Michigan speaker system this week. But they are now, what, 30 and. Oh, 30 and. Oh, so they are going to finish the season. They got one more regular season game, and let's assume they win, they're at home and they finish undefeated. Then they go to the conference tournament. The question is, what if they lose in the conference turn? What if this team that's undefeated were to lose in the conference tournament. Should they go to the ncaa? Bruce Pearl, a former coach of Auburn and now current commentator on world issues was on TNT and here's what he had to say.

Myron Medcalf (17:07)

Miami, Ohio, here's the deal. Are we going to select the 68

Matt Jones (17:11)

most deserving teams or we're going to

Myron Medcalf (17:13)

select the 68 best teams?

Matt Jones (17:15)

If we're selecting the 68 best teams

Myron Medcalf (17:18)

then my Mohal is going to have

Matt Jones (17:19)

to win their tournament to qualify as a champion because as an at large they are not one of the best

Myron Medcalf (17:24)

teams in the country.

Matt Jones (17:25)

And that's going to be a difficult

Myron Medcalf (17:26)

choice for the committee to make.

Matt Jones (17:28)

So I think Bruce hits it. Should the NCAA tournament be the 68 best teams or the 68 most deserving? If it's best, I don't think there's an argument Miami of Ohio is one of the best if it's most deserving. Undefeated in the regular season is pretty historic. They then almost certainly are deserving. Which one should it be?

Myron Medcalf (17:52)

Maybe a combination of both.

Matt Jones (17:55)

That's a good answer.

Myron Medcalf (17:56)

Here's the thing. I think we exaggerate in this get in this business in college basketball how bad some of the power four teams are that get in. Like we assume that because you have a brand name and you're a bubble team and you get in what makes them one of the best. UCLA just went to Minnesota and lost at Minnesota. Donovan Denton, who was an all American last year, my most player of the year matters. Shooting 16% from the three point line. He scored three points in that game.

Matt Jones (18:23)

Okay, you say that, but let me give you. Let's just talk practicality. The last team in currently right now in the ESPN bracketology is Indiana. They're the last team in.

Myron Medcalf (18:36)

Yeah.

Matt Jones (18:37)

If Indiana plays Miami of Ohio on a neutral court, who's winning?

Myron Medcalf (18:42)

Miami of Ohio. I picked him.

Matt Jones (18:44)

Stop. You don't believe that.

Myron Medcalf (18:47)

Do you think Isaiah Thomas is.

Matt Jones (18:50)

I think Indiana played Miami of Ohio.

Myron Medcalf (18:52)

You're picking the brand.

Matt Jones (18:53)

I would bet you that Indiana would be 8 1/2 point favorite if they played Miami.

Myron Medcalf (19:00)

Matt, this is not a college football game. But no, I'm.

Matt Jones (19:03)

But look, I'm talking numbers. If Indiana played Miami of Ohio, my Indiana would be an eight point favorite. Here I'll look at the Kin palm. That's the closest thing we have to objective numbers. Indiana and the Kim palm right now is 42nd plus 17.89. Miami of Ohio right now is 87th plus. Let's see. Plus 9.48. So eight points lower which means probably an eight and a half point spread that was just in my head before anything else. Indiana over Miami of Ohio.

Myron Medcalf (19:36)

Why do you all forget about the turn? I don't understand y'. All. Like, I really don't. We have a history of teams just like Miami of Ohio.

Matt Jones (19:44)

They make up sets winning games against

Myron Medcalf (19:46)

the teams you're describing. Matt, you didn't pick Matt, you're not.

Matt Jones (19:50)

Them lose, then they win. But.

Myron Medcalf (19:51)

But Matt, you're not picking Indiana in the scenario that you just described. You're picking the. No, you're picking the brand.

Matt Jones (19:56)

You're picking the brand. Better team. I hate Indiana, but they're a better team.

Myron Medcalf (20:00)

Based on what?

Matt Jones (20:01)

If Indiana plays Miami of Ohio in a best of seven series, you're picking Miami of Ohio.

Myron Medcalf (20:06)

But that's not what college basketball is.

Matt Jones (20:08)

I understand in a one game scenario, Myron, I agree with you. Anything can happen. But when you're putting teams in the tournament, the goal is to put in the teams that would win more often than not. In a one game scenario they can lose. But Indiana. You will not agree with me. Indiana is better than Miami.

Myron Medcalf (20:27)

No, I won't agree definitively. Here's. Here's the thing, Matt. Why do we decide that we have to defend all of these Power 4 bottom feeders who sneak in based on affiliation? Look, that's how they get in.

Matt Jones (20:40)

Let me be clear. I want Miami of Ohio to be in the tournament. Even if they. I do, it's better. It's more fun. But don't try to argue with me. They're better. They're not better. Indiana and Auburn, those are the two power teams that are the last ones in. They would both pound Miami of Ohio most of the time.

Myron Medcalf (21:00)

The same Auburn that needed overtime to beat Bethune Cookman in the non conference season. This is the problem with our sport. We're not telling truth. We're not telling the truth.

Matt Jones (21:10)

Do you think in a best of seven Miami of Ohio beats Indian?

Myron Medcalf (21:13)

But you keep bringing that up. I don't know how to do best accepting because that's not what we do in our sport. Miami has no way of proving how good it can be unless it gets into the tournament. It has the same opportunity.

Matt Jones (21:24)

Put them in. But I will tell you, put them in. They'll probably be an 11 seed. I'm picking the six. I don't even sight unseen I'm picking the six.

Myron Medcalf (21:33)

But Indiana is not going to be a six. I mean that's the thing is like Indiana is not that. If you're telling me it's the Indiana's the bubble teams in the world.

Matt Jones (21:40)

How about this? Put them in the play in game.

Myron Medcalf (21:42)

Okay.

Matt Jones (21:43)

With Indiana in Dayton, I'm picking Indiana.

Myron Medcalf (21:47)

I'm picking Miami every time.

Matt Jones (21:49)

I hope it happens.

Myron Medcalf (21:50)

Yeah.

Matt Jones (21:50)

And I don't even want to be a Hoosier who's your sound like a

Myron Medcalf (21:54)

stupid pants you sound like right now.

Matt Jones (21:57)

And they and they haven't been Good since like 1995. Okay.

Myron Medcalf (22:01)

For now. I didn't realize you were.

Matt Jones (22:04)

I want Miami to win.

Myron Medcalf (22:06)

Yeah.

Matt Jones (22:06)

But I know that Indiana will be more likely to win. All right, that's fine. Myron is a friend of the little man. We'll talk NBA next right here. Matt Myron on espn.

Myron Medcalf (22:18)

Matt and Myon the podcast.

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Myron Medcalf (22:57)

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Matt Jones (23:29)

Matt Martin here on ESPN Radio, rocking your body with all the talk of the world of sports. Presented by Progressive Insurance, joined by Norris Cole, two time NBA champion. You know that March Madness star. You know that, but you may not know he's also the Trinity High School girls basketball coach. What state is that? Norris?

Norris Cole (23:53)

Pennsylvania.

Matt Jones (23:55)

In Pennsylvania. And you went viral. Norris. I was flipping on my little TikTok and I saw you come up and you were playing in a student teacher game and you were just dusting these students. I mean, these students. You're crossing them over. You're making them look like, well, I don't know, children. Students. Norris, it's like Adam Sandler playing against children there. What were you doing?

Norris Cole (24:21)

Yeah, so it was a staff versus students game and my girls basketball Players, they were the coaches for the, for the staff. So they asked me to be a celebrity guest. So I came out there and was celebrity guest and some of the kids was talking trash and they wanted me to, you know, they kind of wanted me to put on the show to see what I could do. So I just gave them a little bit, you know, I showed them a little bit of shot making ability and I played 10% defense. They wanted to see if I could steal the ball from him. So I just stole the bar from him a couple times. Made a couple, couple nice highlight shots. I only did that a few times, though. I didn't do it too much.

Matt Jones (24:55)

He's acting like my admiring. He's acting like he didn't get all in these guys. I don't know if he's being honest.

Myron Medcalf (25:03)

Norris. Man, I wonder like, how many times has this happened where you play guys and they don't realize how good you have to be to be in the NBA until they see something like this?

Norris Cole (25:15)

Yeah, it's definitely for some, can be a humbling experience. I always try to tell people the NBA is the 1% of the population, less than 1%. It's 360 of us that make it out to 7 billion in the world. So, you know, even if a guy is retired or he's not even in the league anymore, he's still an elite athlete. And they wanted to see it, though. They. They asked me to see. They're like, show me something. Show me something. So I just gave them what they wanted to see a little bit.

Matt Jones (25:45)

And you turned all those poor kids into memes. You should feel bad, Norris. I hope you. I hope you understand what you did to them.

Norris Cole (25:55)

They enjoyed it. They took pictures afterwards. They asked me to sign some autographs afterwards. It was a cool thing. I just. If I was a high school kid, I wish I would have had an experience where an NBA player would have been willing to come play an open gym with me. So I was just kind of fulfilling my childhood dream while trying to help them have high school memories as well. So it was, it was really cool, actually. It was pretty fun.

Matt Jones (26:16)

Well, I like it. Well, let's talk a little NBA. You know, obviously the Thunder are the favorites, but this is an interesting year to me because there are another six or seven teams that I have a hard time differentiating. Denver, San Antonio. Sometimes I feel that way about Houston. Sometimes I feel that way about San Antonio. Detroit Tatum comes back for Boston. If we assume Oklahoma City's 1, how would you rank? Like 2, 3? 4.

Norris Cole (26:48)

I would say if all of them are healthy, I would say Denver is still, too, because it took, it took a heroic effort for OKC to beat Denver last year, and they had three people injured and barely beat Denver last year. So I would say Denver would be my number two, San Antonio my three, and then Detroit, four if I had to rate today. I mean, San Antonio is 111 in a row, so I can't, you know, not give them their credit right now. So I would say Detroit is number four, and then maybe, maybe Boston or Minnesota at five, and then Houston.

Myron Medcalf (27:27)

We saw Lou Dort, trip Jokic, and then we all thought Jokic was going to end him. And you can see his teammates, they weren't really sure what to do. Norris. I mean, what's that like when a teammate picks a fight with somebody that nobody actually wants to fight?

Norris Cole (27:43)

Well, I mean, you gotta, you gotta put on a united front. You gotta try to have it. You gotta have his back no matter what. But afterwards, you have to let them know, like, hey, we're not intimidated by anybody, but be careful who you pick your fights with.

Myron Medcalf (27:56)

Now,

Norris Cole (27:59)

not only is he a big guy, but he's also, you know, arguably the best player in the world. So you're turning up the best player in the world. So, you know, that's, that's, that's, that's a tricky situation. But okc, they're competitors. We all know Denver, the joker, you know, they don't back down from anybody. So I just think it's great tv and I think in the playoffs, going to see them again, possibly in the Western Conference finals.

Matt Jones (28:21)

Yeah. He's also got those two brothers up in the stands that I wouldn't want to mess with either. Man, they, you know, Come out those days. That's right. Let me ask you about him. Watching him play. I watched almost all that game against the Thunder Friday night. I look at Jokic, he is to be kind, pleasantly plump. He is quite slow.

Myron Medcalf (28:50)

He.

Matt Jones (28:50)

You watch him and you go, there's no way this dude is good at basketball. And he was shooting poorly that night, but he still dominates a game. Why do you think he is so special? What is it that he has unlocked? How is it that makes him just the one, maybe the least on the paper, athletic player to be great that I can remember in my life?

Norris Cole (29:13)

Well, I would say he uses the gifts that he has. You know, most times when we watch a basketball game, we see a guy who's quick, twitch, tall, athletic, lean, jump out the gym, but he uses what he Has. He's tall, he has quick hands, but he has the one thing that can override everything he has. Know how he has IQ of the game. So he positions himself perfectly every time. He gets the perfect spacing every time so that when he does have a chance to create a mismatch, he does it. So I would say his IQ is second to none. You know, his size. He uses his size and strength to nullify guys who may be faster than him or who can jump higher. It's hard to jump high when he puts that body on you, you know. Plus, he understands. He understands your tendencies. He watches film. So that's why he's able to do that with not being able to be as athletic as everyone else.

Matt Jones (30:10)

He's got to lead the league, Myron. And hip checks. My man puts his hip into everybody at every moment.

Myron Medcalf (30:16)

He's tough.

Norris Cole (30:18)

He buries people under the realm. He buries them under the realm.

Myron Medcalf (30:21)

You played next to another phenom, obviously, LeBron James. And everyone kind of knew at some point he was going to take over the league early in his career. What, watching Wimby kind of experience something similar. It feels like it's only a matter of time for him. How close do you think he is to winning an NBA title and how close is he to being the best player in the NBA?

Norris Cole (30:42)

He's very close to both. I mean, he's. This year they're title contenders. This year he's in the argument for mvp and being the top player in the league right now, he sped up their process. I'm pretty sure they probably didn't think they would be this good this soon, but he sped up their process to where he can be in that conversation every year from now until 15 years from now, you know, so the league, though, is so good. He's not the only one in that discussion. You have him whose championship window is now open and MVP windows open. But you also have Ant, who's going to be in that conversation. Best player in the world every year. K. Cunningham is now going to be in that conversation every year. Sga, Giannis and Joker, they not going anywhere. So Wemby is in the conversation now, but the league is so, you know, it's so balanced right now with star young players. He's going to be competing against those for that title. And Luca, I forgot about Luca as well. So he's not the only one in that conversation.

Matt Jones (31:41)

Yeah, Luca doesn't. You gotta play defense once to be in that conversation.

Myron Medcalf (31:45)

Not like Luca. Don't like Luke.

Matt Jones (31:49)

Luca's not. Those guys you all mentioned, they all make dudes better. I don't think Luca makes his teammates better. Talking to Norris Cole. What are you talking about?

Myron Medcalf (31:59)

He makes people better.

Matt Jones (32:00)

Clearly.

Myron Medcalf (32:00)

Yes. That's wild.

Norris Cole (32:02)

I'm not. I can't agree with that. Cuz he just.

Myron Medcalf (32:05)

Yeah. Let him know. Norris. He's anti Luca.

Matt Jones (32:09)

You two can have all the conversations you want. I. I watch Luca. He hasn't guarded anyone one since 2022, but I will. I want to ask you about SGA for a second. Norris. I. I'm a Kentucky guy. SGA came in here from high school and when he first got to Kentucky, did not even start. He was playing behind a guy named quad A Green. And then halfway through the year, he took over and he ended up starting. But if you had asked me at that moment, who, what is the chance that SGA will be the best player in basketball, I would have thought you were insane. I mean, insane, because he didn't even start when he came to Kentucky. What is it that he's done that you think has made him a transcendent star?

Norris Cole (32:53)

He doesn't stop. He's always looking to improve. He understood that college was just one step. A lot of people get to college and think that's the final step or be the number one rated player in high school and they think that's the final step. He understood the process of continually getting better year by year, day by day, game by game. And so his ability to stay in the gym and work on his craft and be 6, 7 as a point guard, you know, that helps as well. That's what took him to the next level. His Kobe mentality.

Myron Medcalf (33:25)

Norris, we're watching LeBron KD. I know Steph is hurt now, but guys playing at a level in their late 30s, early 40s that we've never seen before in NBA history. As someone who's been through the NBA, like, how impressive is it what those guys are doing at that age to be able to continue to play at this level?

Norris Cole (33:48)

I mean, it's great. It's amazing for our game. It's just a testament to their commitment to the game, a testament to their work ethic and their hunger and love for the game. Because let's just be honest, it's not like they need the money anymore. They're playing for something bigger. They're playing because they love the game. It's who they are. And I believe that that's one of the reasons why they're able to do it. But their commitment to getting up every Morning. Working on their craft, keeping their bodies in shape, keeping their minds in shape. To be this competitive at this age, it's just the beauty. I hope that we don't take it for granted. I know we criticize a lot of our star players sometimes when they don't play well, which is fair, but we also need to make sure we give them their flowers, you know, while we can. Because it's going to come a time where we're going to miss a Steph Curry, we're going to miss a LeBron, we're going to miss a KD, we're going to miss a James Harden. You know, they've been in the league 18 plus years now and so we better appreciate them and give them those flowers while we still have them in our game.

Matt Jones (34:45)

I agree with that. Great stuff. I met Jones with the presidents of the Luca fan club, Norris Co and Myer Metcalf. Appreciate your time, Norris.

Norris Cole (34:56)

I appreciate you guys for having me.

Matt Jones (34:58)

There you go. Myron loves him. Luca.

Myron Medcalf (35:01)

You just don't. I don't understand why you don't like him.

Matt Jones (35:04)

You acknowledge he plays no defense, right?

Myron Medcalf (35:07)

A lot of guys don't play. You think Steph Curry's an all world defender?

Matt Jones (35:10)

I didn't say he's all world, but he tries. When's the last time you've seen Luca try on defense?

Myron Medcalf (35:14)

He's trying, he's trying. You got something against, you just never liked it. When you don't like a player, it lasts for you forever. He's on that list.

Matt Jones (35:24)

Like him, he just doesn't make anyone better. Whereas like Jokic or SGA or Wimby, they make their team better.

Myron Medcalf (35:33)

Yeah.

Matt Jones (35:33)

The biggest thing who's better with Luca?

Myron Medcalf (35:37)

I think a lot of people. The most important thing you said you. I forgot that Quad A green started over. Sg.

Matt Jones (35:44)

It's true.

Myron Medcalf (35:45)

Cow man, come on.

Matt Jones (35:47)

I for. I couldn't believe when Tom Crane was on here. Severe, severe Wheeler played with Anthony Edwards. I mean, that was. That was. I was like, man, there's a name from the past. It is time to take pics of all the games that are important today. We'll let you know who's going to win and why. That's next here on Take your pick,

Myron Medcalf (36:04)

Matt and Myron, the podcast.

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Matt Jones (37:31)

quick time out. Some breakfast intel you want to know about. Kodiak Frozen Power waffles and flapjacks are built for mornings. Heat it, eat it and you're out the door. No long prep, no complicated game plan.

Myron Medcalf (37:44)

They're packed with 12 to 14 grams

Matt Jones (37:46)

of protein per serving, a good source of fiber and crafted with 100% whole

Myron Medcalf (37:51)

grains, not refined white flour.

Matt Jones (37:54)

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Myron Medcalf (38:09)

the frozen aisle at your local grocery store.

Matt Jones (38:11)

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Myron Medcalf (38:16)

and Snowboard

Matt Jones (38:21)

it is Matt Myron here on ESPN Radio presented by Progressive Insurance Game Day with my man Jonathan Zaslow and home team Brandon Leak is coming up next. I still love that he calls himself Home team.

Myron Medcalf (38:35)

It's the great

Matt Jones (38:38)

I've done radio now for almost 20 years and I don't have any nickname. I think I got to figure out what it is.

Myron Medcalf (38:46)

No, you gotta. You have an easy name though. Matt. Being Matt Jones has helped you and your career.

Matt Jones (38:52)

Oh, you think so? You think I've had more success because my name is Matt Jones?

Myron Medcalf (38:56)

If it was like a complicated name, that'd be a little more difficult to break through. Simple name is.

Matt Jones (39:00)

But the problem is there's a lot of us. There's the former. Like every year at the combine all Of a sudden, I get people who think I'm the dude that sniffed cocaine and ran that 40 at the combine.

Myron Medcalf (39:13)

I don't know who that dude is, but.

Matt Jones (39:15)

Yeah, you do. You know that. You know who that dude is. That's. Everybody thinks that's me, and that's not me.

Myron Medcalf (39:22)

But you don't have to be that specific. You know, you just think something. That one dude at the combine, that was fairly specific, but I don't know who that guy is. I mean, but Matt Jones is easier than Myron.

Matt Jones (39:33)

It shares a name

Myron Medcalf (39:36)

that Matt Jones got accused of, that I don't remember. But Myron is a much more difficult name to cause people.

Matt Jones (39:44)

No, you're Mm. You're Mm. Myron mc.

Myron Medcalf (39:46)

But I can't be Eminem. So as a kid, I was the first Eminem. Like, maybe before the. Maybe before the candy. No, I'm not kidding you. No. In the backyard.

Matt Jones (39:55)

First of all, you certainly weren't before the candy. I thought you meant you were before the rapper.

Myron Medcalf (40:00)

You definitely way before the rapper. Back in playing football on the playground, they call me Eminem. You weren't. You weren't born before September 10, 1941, were you? I'm just telling you. I think I made the name. I'm asking in my. In my neighborhood, I think I made the name. I made the name.

Matt Jones (40:17)

So you're saying that when you were a kid in the 1980s.

Myron Medcalf (40:21)

Yeah, Eminem's got bigger.

Matt Jones (40:23)

When people thought of Eminem, they didn't think of the chocolate candy that would not melt in your hands. It won't melt your mouth. They thought of you.

Myron Medcalf (40:31)

In my neighborhood, Eminem was what they called me. So Eminem's had made it to your neighborhood yet or.

Matt Jones (40:35)

And then.

Myron Medcalf (40:36)

And then the rapper came. So now I can't.

Matt Jones (40:40)

They did not have any chocolate candies in his neighborhood in Milwaukee.

Myron Medcalf (40:44)

Called me Eminem. And then the rapper came. So now I can't call myself Eminem as a nickname.

Matt Jones (40:50)

I'm really sorry for Milwaukee that they never had Eminem. They did all those years. It is now time to take your pick.

Norris Cole (40:57)

Take your pick.

Matt Jones (40:58)

You take your peek. It's time to take your pick with Matt and Myron. They called me Mounds, and it was called me. Eminem called me. Listen to you. They didn't have the candy. You were ridiculous. Who's that? What's the first?

Myron Medcalf (41:14)

Back in the 80s, the chocolate would

Matt Jones (41:15)

always be back in the 80s, before big corporate got around and people didn't know what M&M's were.

Myron Medcalf (41:21)

Chocolate melting in People's hands all over the place.

Matt Jones (41:23)

All right, let's start with the NBA here.

Myron Medcalf (41:25)

The spurs are visiting the Knicks. Spurs are one and a half point favorites on DraftKings. That game is at 1pm Eastern on ABC television.

Matt Jones (41:36)

I mean, the spurs are on a roll. 11 straight wins. I think that probably continues today. The Knicks would like to make a statement as we head in. But again, these games, as I told you, no game is meaningful until April. But for this one, I'll watch to see Wimby with Cat coming back. I'll take. I'll take the Spurs.

Myron Medcalf (41:56)

This is a sleeper finals matchup, right?

Matt Jones (41:58)

Could be.

Myron Medcalf (41:59)

You know what I mean? So spurs and what they've done. And it's not just the wins. I think they're the first team to score 110 plus points in all those games as well. So give me the Spurs. They've been great.

Matt Jones (42:09)

What's up next? I can't believe. I still can't believe you said you didn't have Eminem. Come on now. All right, go ahead.

Myron Medcalf (42:15)

Sticking with the NBA, the Timberwolves at the Nuggets. Nuggets are three and a half point favorites on DraftKings. You're going to hear that right here on ESPN Radio. Coverage starts at 3:00pm Eastern.

Matt Jones (42:25)

And this, this is a sleeper. Western Conference finals. If one of these, if somebody were to upset one of these two teams were to upset Oklahoma City. I like this game a lot. Who's the home team? Timberwolves. The Nuggets. Nuggets. I'm taking them at home. They just lost the tough one at okc. I think they bounce back and get this victory.

Myron Medcalf (42:46)

I mean, national stage games. I'll pick. I think Anthony Edwards will show up. I do think they're a sneaky pick to make the Western Conference finals. I think they'll come out and make a statement today. Give me the Timberwolves to win.

Matt Jones (42:56)

All right, what's next?

Myron Medcalf (42:57)

I said no women's basketball in College. Number three, South Carolina. They are 13 and a half point favorites on the road against number 16, Kentucky. Matt, I think you're going to this game.

Matt Jones (43:08)

I'm going to this game.

Myron Medcalf (43:09)

Yeah.

Matt Jones (43:09)

As soon as this is over, I'm going to walk across town and go watch this game. It's always fun when Dawn Staley is in the house. It's the first time she's actually been at a game in Lexington in three years.

Norris Cole (43:21)

I don't.

Matt Jones (43:21)

I think South Carolina will win the game, but I think Kentucky will cover that 13 and a half point spread. Because I think it'll be close. Give me Kentucky to cover, but South Carolina to win.

Myron Medcalf (43:32)

Yeah. This is one of those South Carolina teams where, you know, they've got five or six superstars. It's. It's a deep team, but, man, I can't pick against South Carolina. Like, imagine being a coach in the SEC and women's basketball, and every year you got to play Don Staley, Kim Mulkey, and all the great teams.

Matt Jones (43:50)

And in Texas, I don't know what that old. What's the older guy's name?

Myron Medcalf (43:54)

He's got Vic Schaefer.

Matt Jones (43:56)

You know what? Look up Vic Schaefer. He looks to me like he would own a funeral home. You ever see, like, the guys that own funeral homes, they always wear, like, nice suits and they have their hair slicked back, and they're always like, I can do a wonderful thing for you and your family. Tell me that Vic Schaefer does not look like he owns a funeral home.

Myron Medcalf (44:24)

He looked like the first detective you'd have to talk to on Matlock, you know, after you.

Matt Jones (44:30)

Yeah, the one that screwed up a little bit, and Matlock has to come in. But really, he looks like a funeral. Like, there's certain people that just give off funeral home director vibe, and Vic Schaefer is one of those. I always think it's interesting he's so successful. Like, there's a type of coach that tends to work in women's basketball. And then you got Vic Schaefer walking around with his embalming fluid, and he's still good every single year for Texas.

Myron Medcalf (44:54)

Never. Never quite happy, you know?

Matt Jones (44:57)

Yeah.

Myron Medcalf (44:58)

All right, let's go to PGA Tour, the Cognizant Classic. Final round of the Cognizant Classic today. What? The Cognizant Classic. That's what it's called. Final round. Shane Lowry and Austin Smotherman tied for the lead at 13 under.

Matt Jones (45:16)

I wasn't cognizant that this tournament.

Myron Medcalf (45:21)

We're talking about nerds. Only a golf tour event would call itself the Cognizant Classic. That's what it's called. How nerdy are golfers to call something the Cognizant?

Matt Jones (45:32)

Next week, they play in the Contemplating Invitational, the Philosophical Open. Like, yeah, we are cognizant of the fact that none of the big stars are in this and you're not watching it. So Shane Lowry, the Irishman, will go and get the. Get the victory today. What's wrong with Shane Lowry?

Myron Medcalf (45:57)

Oh, God, it's been Matt.

Matt Jones (45:58)

Myron. See you.

Myron Medcalf (46:03)

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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