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Announcer
This is what everyone's talking about.
Myron
Everything's on the table.
Announcer
This is what champions come to take. This is what everyone came to see. No do overs, no second chances, no more Mr. Nice Guy. This is winner take all. And it's all happening now on the home of the NBA Finals. Don't miss it. June 3rd on ABC and the ESPN app.
Podcast Intro/Outro Voice
This is Matt and Myron, the podcast.
Matt
It is Matt Myron here on ESPN Radio. During the break, Myron told me he's taking two weeks off in June to become a survivalist.
Myron
That's not what I said. You don't support me the way you should, man. Sometimes.
Co-host/Analyst
Well, tell people real quick what you
Matt
said you were going to do during your vacation. You're thinking about going off the grid and learning how to do what I'm doing.
Myron
A lot of fun stuff, but my dream has always been to get dropped in the wilderness with just, like, basic goods, maybe a machete, and just live off the land for like 48 hours. Decade. Like, to be able to get my own food, start a fire, pitch a tent. That's always been something because I watched five of the shows.
Matt
But why do you want to do that? Like you.
Myron
I just think it's cool skills to have, though. I think it's cool skills. I think it's. I think it's just a cool thing I've always wanted to do.
Matt
But what are you gonna do with it?
Myron
I want to go to the woods and see if I can do something cool and just, you know, and.
Co-host/Analyst
But what if you. What if it doesn't work?
Matt
Like, what if you get in the woods and you. Your machet is not enough and that you're just walking around the woods getting ticks and not being able to find food and, like, what's the point?
Myron
I mean, there'll be a distress call, I'm sure, you know, like a flare or something like that. But I just. I just want to be able to know how to do it. And there are. There are these survivalist camps here in Minnesota you can go to.
Matt
Oh, it's a camp.
Myron
I've thought about going to it. Yeah. For a couple days. Not like my whole vacation, but just being able to live up.
Matt
Sometimes I'm in a request.
Myron
Sometimes I need you to just say, hey, man, go follow your dreams. You know, I don't need all the extra commentary sometimes.
Matt
All right, Aaron Rodgers, if you would like to go follow. Follow your dreams into the woods.
Myron
Want to learn. That's all.
Matt
All right. I just want to make sure we have A cameraman there to watch you attempt with all you want. Some machete?
Co-host/Analyst
Can you see Myron just walking around with a machete?
Matt
Oh, never mind. I can't do it. You can. Tune in to baseball action tonight.
Co-host/Analyst
The Cardinals host the Cubs.
Matt
Coverage begins at 6:30 Eastern on ESPN Radio and the ESPN app. You're a Minnesota guy, Myron, and I don't know. I don't know that I've ever heard two teammates less on the same page than they were. This week, Kyler Murray was asked about his battle or competition with JJ McCarthy.
Co-host/Analyst
And let's just. Let's do Kyler first.
Matt
Here's what Kyler had to say about it.
Kyler Murray
It's been great. It's been great. Obviously, I know he's a younger guy, so any. Any way I can help him. Obviously, I feel like, you know, I've played seven years now going on eight, so I'm considered a veteran, even though I don't see myself as that. Give him any knowledge that he needs. Again, you know, we're both competitors and I know, you know, we both want what's best for the team.
Narrator/Ad Voice
Has he been receptive to hearing Kurt?
Kyler Murray
Of course.
Co-host/Analyst
Of course.
Kyler Murray
Yeah. He's. No, he's overly acceptive, you know, and he's. He's always communicating, asking questions, stuff like that. So it's been good.
Matt
Very magnanimous, very leader, like I thought in his comments, and that's what you want from a veteran. Now, the other guy, J.J. mcCarthy, younger guy.
Co-host/Analyst
I wonder what he had to say about it.
JJ McCarthy
I mean, yeah, it's a true competition. That's what I was told. But at the end of the day, it matters what I do out here every single day, and that's the only thing I'm focused on. Jj, what's your relationship been like with Kyler so far? You know, it's just like two guys in a classroom. You know, he sits on one side, I sit on the other side. And it's the coach's responsibility to teach us and coach us.
Interviewer
So is there any awkwardness, like, between you two?
JJ McCarthy
Awkwardness? You know, it's just like the same feeling, you know, when you're in high school and there's another person on the other side of the room. That's just kind of how it is. So I wouldn't say there's any awkwardness.
Co-host/Analyst
Little different than Kyler's. Myron, your thoughts on the different answers as to who, as to what's going on?
Myron
I think JJ McCarthy's become unlikable, and that's gonna be a problem for him in his career and he's gonna end up going from a backup quarterback to a number three guy or someone who's on a different roster. I just, in moments like that, Matt, you just say the company line. You just say, hey, man. Yeah, it's quarterback competition. Obviously I want to win. We're looking forward to training Campbell. We can battle it out. Like, you don't have to say anything beyond that. And for him to say, I'm on one side, he's on the other side. Like you dividing the room, Are you saying you're either a McCarthy guy or Kyler Murray guy? He hasn't earned any of this. He's delusional if he thinks that he can come into this season and he feels like he shouldn't be challenged as a starter on this team. He's done nothing to have, I think the arrogance that he often demonstrates and that's a turn off for a lot of fans. That's comment you just saw has kind of been the JJ McCarthy experience. A dude who maybe lacks some self awareness and kind of how he's actually viewed.
Matt
What do you think he was trying to say?
Co-host/Analyst
Like, what was he trying to say? Clearly it didn't come out right. But what do you think was his. Like, what was he trying to do?
Myron
He was saying, he's trying to win the job, I'm trying to win the job. I don't care anything about what he's trying to do. I'm focused on myself. That's what it sounded like.
Co-host/Analyst
But that's not what. But that's not the message you want
Matt
to portray though, right?
Co-host/Analyst
You want to say we're all in this together. I'm hoping to win, but at the same time, we got to work together for the team goal. I mean, isn't that a better way to do it?
Myron
Not if you're delusional. If, if, if J.J. mcCarthy thinks that he was supposed to come into training camp without a challenger, without somebody pushing him for that number one spot, that's already the problem. He hasn't done anything. And I'll tell you what.
Co-host/Analyst
So you said, is he, Is he like this? Like, I, I haven't spent. I mean, I don't know that I've actually, for a guy that's kind of as famous as him, I don't think I've heard a lot of talks with him. Is this just how he is?
Myron
If you talk to people that I know around the team, they'll tell you that, yes, he comes off as arrogant. And even, I mean, that's just kind of what he is. And again, if you're like that, you can have a little bit of that. Like, if you're like that, you can have a little bit of that bravado. And people go, okay, yeah, maybe a little arrogant, but fine, he's a really good player. People accept it. J.J. mcCarthy is not in that situation. And what Kevin O', Connell, who now has to face a new gym, what he's saying with this move with Kyler Murray is, hey, man, you're not going to get me fired. I'm not going to let you get me fired. Which is why Kyler Murray's now probably going to get the number one spot, which is why they resigned Carson Wentz. JJ McCarthy is the kind of quarterback that gets you fired if he plays the same way he did last year. And I think Kevin o' Connell is trying to prevent that.
Matt
Would you.
Co-host/Analyst
What did you think of Mike Greenberg,
Matt
our colleague, saying this week that he would take Kevin o' Connell number one in an NFL coaches draft?
Myron
I. I think that's something that would have been true in 2025. I don't know if it's as true this year because I think last year we saw a lot of missteps. Granted, there weren't a lot of. There were health concerns, injury issues. Kevin o' Connell wasn't the coach he was, I think, in the.
Matt
But do you think.
Co-host/Analyst
I mean, part of that was.
Matt
I think part of the reason people felt that way about Kevin o' Connell was because of the success that Sam Darnold had. And, like, people didn't want to give Sam Darnold credit for it.
Co-host/Analyst
So they were like, well, it must be this coach who was able to
Matt
get something out of him.
Co-host/Analyst
But when Sam Darnold then goes to Seattle and is able to win a
Matt
championship, don't you think that takes some,
Co-host/Analyst
like, maybe at this point, Sam Darnold
Matt
deserves the credit for it, not just Kevin O'.
Co-host/Analyst
Connell.
Myron
I think people see Kevin O' Connell as a guy who missed out, who picked McCarthy over Sam Darnold and wasn't able to mold McCarthy so far at least, into this kind of elite player. So I, I think at the end of the day, Kevin o' Connell is a guy who is going to be a head coach for a long time, and I think he is viewed as one of the best coaches in the NFL. At the same time, if this goes south with Kyler Murray, if he can't develop JJ McCarthy, there has to be a hot seat conversation About Kevin o',
Matt
Connor, I do need to let it be known. I'm just told that that quote that I was on the screen here was from 2025. Okay, which would. Which would have been good to know.
Myron
Okay, well, he said it going into the season. I mean, he said it early in the season.
Matt
I understand.
Rachel
To be fair to Greeny, it's on the screen.
Co-host/Analyst
I understand.
Matt
But I mean, if you put a quote up from 2021, I mean, there
Co-host/Analyst
is a level in which I'm gonna
Sports Analyst
go, well, that's get up from September 9, 2025.
Matt
It's all right, well, from now on, I will make sure to focus in on the year.
Co-host/Analyst
But the point, I think your point, though, about o'.
Matt
Connell.
Co-host/Analyst
It is odd how a coach that
Matt
was that, well, revered going into the season can have one year to where
Co-host/Analyst
you said you think because of the new GM he'd be on the hot seat.
Matt
If they don't have a good season,
Myron
if this falls apart, I mean, you get Kyler Murray for next to nothing. You got to make a decision about him. He's going to have his options after the season. If J.J. mcCarthy doesn't develop into a guy that you can trust. What? Coaches escape this, man. Yeah, coaches escape this.
Matt
You know what? You know what the Vikings need with this Kyler Murray and Jax, or. Excuse me, Kyler Murray, JJ McCarthy on opposite ends of the. Of the room is they need a Jameis Winston to bring. Right? They need a Jameis Winston to do what he did with Jackson Dart and Abdul Carter and bring them together. Did you like jj? I'd like to play it, but it's a little long. Did you like Jameis Winston's comment about.
Co-host/Analyst
I don't really know what he was
Matt
saying, but it was great.
Myron
Nah, it's like people are getting in a fight at Thanksgiving and then your crazy uncle comes in and makes it all worse. There were people who were praising Jameis. We gotta get away from taking, like, two people fighting on Twitter about politics or whatever it is and turning that into some gigantic thing where you're invoking serious situation. It didn't make a lot of sense to me. It really didn't. And a lot of people were praising James Winston. And I'm like, for.
Co-host/Analyst
What do you think, though? Like, I think it's kind of odd that people got as upset about the Dart Carter situation, because I would assume in virtually every locker room, in every sport, there are going to be players in the locker room who disagree about politics. Like, why is it. Why is that surprising? It doesn't mean they can't be friends or play together. Well, I don't understand. Was it just because he said something publicly? Is that. Is that the difference? I. But these young, young guys, they live their lives online like that's what they do. Myron, I didn't. I didn't understand why people thought this was going to be some sort of locker room dividing thing.
Myron
We don't know what. What it'll mean to the locker room. The problem is Jackson Dart isn't good enough to become a distraction at the end of the day. I think that's what it comes down to. A lot of guys in this league
Co-host/Analyst
understand why it's a distraction. Like, yeah, so what? He goes up and he. I mean, I disagree with Jackson Dart about politics, but what do I care
Matt
who he goes and introduces?
Myron
I think people have a problem with it, in part, obviously, the political climate, but there's also an element of, again, we're talking about J.J. mcCarthy. When you haven't earned something, when people don't see you as sort of the guy and they feel like, wait a minute, man, focus on.
Matt
So if Sam Darnold does it right after winning the super bowl, fine, baby.
Myron
But I mean, the guys who've done. Brady's been open about his politics. We've had conversations about Mahomes and his politics. Drew Brees was open about his politics.
Co-host/Analyst
There have been a lot of be good.
Matt
You just have to be good.
Myron
If you're good, people don't say anything. I think it's Jackson Dart being a guy who people feel like has to prove something and this being maybe a setback to that. Well, I. Whether that's real or not, that's how people see.
Matt
Here's the thing. Here's the difference between me and Myron. I believe in America, everyone should have an equal voice. Myron believes you have to be good in order to be able to express your opinion. That's the difference. Ignore your fans, Byron's elitism, and my egalitarianism, 100%.
Myron
If you're not big time, I don't want to hear you talk. You can't. Like, at the end of the day, there are privileges that come with achievement. That's just the reality.
Matt
All right, Myron A. Smith and Matt Jones here on Matt Myron on ESPN Radio. We'll do some more on the NBA playoffs and other news. That's
Podcast Intro/Outro Voice
Matt and Myron, the podcast.
Interviewer
As you know, managing maintenance, repair and operations is never easy. But for the ones who always rise to the challenge, Grainger has your back. From professional grade products you can count on to fast, dependable delivery, they're there to help you keep things running smoothly. Plus, their technical product specialists are here to help answer your toughest questions. And because Grainger knows safety is always a priority, they're committed to being your partner in protecting both your people and your facilities. Call 1-800-granger. Click granger.com or just stop by.
Matt
It is Matt myron here on ESPN Radio, presented by Progressive Insurance, 888CSPN. Say ESPN.
Co-host/Analyst
You can, by the way, get the Matt Myron podcast. It is on all of your podcast
Matt
platforms, whether that's Spotify or Apple or anything else or just espnradio.com please stop singing. You can do Matt Myron. I'm just trying to promote our show.
Myron
I couldn't help it. You put on Brittany. Not just.
Matt
Is that the. Is that the musical artist that does it for you?
Myron
I love Britney.
Matt
Yeah, no, Christina.
Myron
I'm a. I'm a Britney guy more than Christina, I think.
Matt
See, I was a Christina guy. She's just a little more saucy, more my. More my.
Myron
Okay, that makes sense.
Co-host/Analyst
Well, you know, I mean, you.
Matt
You kind of like that. We each have things that we prefer. It's Matt Myron here on ESPN Radio.
Co-host/Analyst
So this week, the project or Protect
Matt
College Sports act of 2026 was released.
Co-host/Analyst
Now, a lot of people have been hearing Congress talks about this, and you've
Matt
probably glazed over and said, you know,
Co-host/Analyst
wake me when something passes.
Matt
And I could totally understand why someone would say that. But what I think is important about
Co-host/Analyst
this is this is the bill, Myron,
Matt
that if college sports is going to have legislation. Yeah.
Co-host/Analyst
If they're going to have Congress get involved, this is the bill that will work.
Matt
Or not.
Co-host/Analyst
All the other prior attempts, the president's commission, the SCORE Act, I think we can safely say none of those are going to work. The only one that has a chance to pass and really become the new
Matt
laws of college sports is this.
Co-host/Analyst
It's Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell, one
Matt
Republican and one Democrat.
Co-host/Analyst
And because of the rules of Congress, whatever they pass has to be bipartisan.
Matt
This is the only bipartisan one.
Co-host/Analyst
Now, it has a number of provisions in it. And I just want to quickly go over, what if this passes, Myron, what
Matt
would be the new rules and whether you think they're good or bad?
Co-host/Analyst
Number one would be nil national standards. That basically puts a salary cap, for
Matt
lack of a better term, on college athletics.
Co-host/Analyst
What that number is, who knows? But then it puts A salary cap on it. Myron, do you think that is a good idea or bad idea?
Myron
Yeah, I think it. I think you need some sort of salary cap. I think you need. You need something. So I think if you can execute makes sense to me. I just want to see more details about.
Co-host/Analyst
It says that each athlete in college starts the year after they graduate high school. They get five years to play.
Matt
Five years.
Co-host/Analyst
So you get five years of college eligibility. You can transfer one time and that's it.
Matt
What do you think about that?
Co-host/Analyst
No exceptions.
Myron
You know, to me, I don't have a problem with people deciding to transfer, you know, if that's what they want to do and coaches are allowing them to do that. I think one transfer, one time is pretty restrictive, especially with some of the nil offers. Like, at the end of the day, Matt, you're going to have people who can go from making six figures to seven figures depending on the opportunity. I don't like the idea of potentially restricting someone when they have that opportunity.
Matt
So you don't agree with the transfer.
Myron
Don't agree with the transfer rules.
Matt
Okay, next rule.
Co-host/Analyst
Coaches cannot leave their teams in the
Matt
middle of the season. They would have to wait until the
Co-host/Analyst
season is over before they go to another team.
Matt
This is being called the Lane Kiffin rule.
Myron
Yeah, I don't. Unless you move the. Again, if you change the transfer portal window, maybe. But it's going to be hard because teams want to get sort of a head start on assembling that next team when they get a different coach.
Matt
But this would ban that. You would not be able to do it.
Myron
Yeah, but there are so many things in this, Matt, where you and I know there's another two or three things that have to happen to make it work. And this feels like that to me, by the way.
Co-host/Analyst
I want to know if this passes. A lot of people are like, well, it'll get overturned in court. I actually don't think it will. I mean, we don't have to, as
Matt
a, you know, I used to do practice law.
Co-host/Analyst
We don't have to go into the details of why, but the reason it gets overturned in court, all these things is because of the antitrust laws.
Matt
That's why all this stuff gets overturned.
Co-host/Analyst
If this passes. Congress is saying the antitrust laws don't apply to college sports, which means all of this stuff will be upheld. So, like, there's a worry. People have said, well, whatever they pass will get overturned. I actually do not think that will happen. I think if they pass this, almost all of it actually would get upheld.
Matt
All right, what about this?
Co-host/Analyst
A college scholarship guarantee. If you offer a kid a scholarship, you. You are guaranteeing them the college. The scholarship for the rest of their college and medical coverage during college and after college for any injuries they occur while a student athlete.
Matt
That's not what happens now. Do you like that?
Myron
So you're saying if someone's on. If you give someone a scholarship, they're on your roster. They get that scholarship for they have it.
Co-host/Analyst
Unless they choose to transfer, you can't just pull it from them.
Myron
I like that because, Matt, you know this. I don't know if the general public knows that scholarships aren't guaranteed. Yeah. How many. The problem with this portal conversation that I hate is a lot of people assume that kid just wants another opportunity. He doesn't want to stay at one school. You have no idea how many coaches are pulling kids into meetings and saying, listen, man, there's a kid we're bringing in and we need that scholarship. So I'm going to try to help you find a new place, but you're not going to be here. That happens all the time. So I think the medical.
Matt
The medical care thing is huge.
Myron
That's a big thing.
Co-host/Analyst
And what also makes it huge is some of these schools, small schools, allege
Matt
they can't even afford that. Whether they can or not, this is now. This is now going to be.
Co-host/Analyst
And then finally it keeps conferences. Once this is passed, teams will not be able to merge into the power conferences.
Matt
You will not.
Co-host/Analyst
There'll be no new teams in the SEC, no new teams in the Big Ten, etc.
Matt
Do you like that?
Myron
I don't like it because it's not real. Like. Like the revenue is going to demand that these things happen. My thing, Matt, is everyone will make it illegal. But where's the money coming from to execute all this? That. That's the part that doesn't make sense to me. There's a financial gap in this whole conversation.
Co-host/Analyst
The ncaa, by the way, has said they support this,
Myron
of course, because they're not the schools who got to come up with all the money to make it work. So I'm curious to see how it's executed.
Matt
Well, it is.
Co-host/Analyst
This is something, if you care about college sports, you should follow.
Matt
It's a huge sport because this, this will.
Co-host/Analyst
This will Govern the next 20 years of college sports. And some of these rules are fundamentally changing. Stuff also refuses to say one way or the other whether college athletes should be employees.
Matt
That's also important.
Co-host/Analyst
It gives college athletes still the chance
Matt
to Argue that they're employees. Be back.
Podcast Intro/Outro Voice
Espn, Matt and Myron, the podcast.
Narrator/Ad Voice
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Myron
Yes, baby.
Matt
It's a good song.
Myron
Good song, man. Christina. It's a good, good song, man.
Matt
Yeah, I have other Christina songs I like better and we don't have to get into which ones they are, but I, I'm. But I do like Christina Aguilera. I thought Myron's more of a Mandy Moore guy.
Co-host/Analyst
Everybody has their group that they like,
Matt
but you know, the ESPN app is
Co-host/Analyst
home to WWE Premiums live events, including today's Clash in Italy.
Matt
Or as Myron calls it, Cats in Italy, which begins at 2pm Eastern. If you want to be there for
Co-host/Analyst
the biggest WWE moments, you need the ESPN Unlimited plan. So sign up, go to stream.espn.com if
Matt
you get ESPN through DirecTV, Spectrum, Xfinity,
Co-host/Analyst
Verizon, FiOS, Cox or Fubo. ESPN Unlimited is included at no additional cost. Just head to activate.espn.com follow steps to get set up.
Matt
See, it's easy. Sign into the ESPN app and you're
Co-host/Analyst
in all the biggest WWE Premium live
Matt
events all in one place, anytime, anywhere. Two o' clock is the event. Of course, that's because of the time change because you know, it's.
Myron
What time is it over there? About six.
Co-host/Analyst
It would be seven or eight depending on where you are.
Matt
In Europe it can be five or six hours difference.
Myron
Do Europeans hate that about it? Like when they have to adjust to our time?
Co-host/Analyst
Probably, yeah, probably. But you know, at the, at the
Matt
World cup this year, they're going to be adjusting the other way some, you know, like we're going to.
Co-host/Analyst
There's some games that will kick off,
Matt
but Myron here in America at midnight
Co-host/Analyst
and they're doing that because it's in
Matt
the good time slot for people that are wherever the game is being played.
Myron
Yeah, I don't, I don't approve of that. I don't like that.
Matt
You don't think we should change to accommodate our friends overseas.
Myron
Just get up early. I don't know what to tell you. I mean, if you're serious about your team, figure it out.
Matt
Okay.
Co-host/Analyst
Are you excited about the World cup, by the way? We are only.
Myron
Just.
Co-host/Analyst
What are we? We are 11 days away from starting. I don't know if people realize it.
Myron
I just, I just Bought a World cup preview book at the bookstore. I got a Columbia jersey. I got a Japan jersey.
Matt
You bought a.
Co-host/Analyst
You bought a World cup preview book at the bookstore?
Myron
The bookstore? Yeah. I went to the bookstore the other day and bought a World Cup. What was it?
Co-host/Analyst
I mean, World cup preview.
Myron
A magazine. I'm sorry? World cup preview magazine.
Co-host/Analyst
I was about to say a book had to be published, like, six months ago.
Myron
No magazine.
Co-host/Analyst
A magazine for what?
Myron
What.
Co-host/Analyst
What magazine?
Matt
You don't hear a lot of those anymore.
Myron
It's a World cup preview. It has every team, every country, so I'm just learning all the stuff.
Matt
But, like, who put it out?
Co-host/Analyst
Who put it out?
Myron
US Athlon, I think it is. But, you know, I'm just trying. I'm trying to figure out what team to root for a little bit, you know, like.
Co-host/Analyst
Well, how about you start with the United States?
Myron
Of course. Fine, you get them. But, like, who are the other fascinating stories that you're interested in?
Co-host/Analyst
Well, do you have any that, like, you have some family connection to, or.
Myron
No? I got a Columbia jersey. I was at a store in Vegas, and this woman was like, oh, Columbia. I'm from Columbia. She was like, I love the jersey. And I. I was like, oh. She was talking to me about Colombia.
Matt
So that was all you needed, was you need to meet a woman in
Myron
Vegas through that connection. I feel like I'm connected to Colombia.
Co-host/Analyst
All right.
Myron
Yeah.
Co-host/Analyst
Well, there's some interesting stories. I mean, the smallest country to ever make it is in it. Cape Verde. Curacao. Curacao is in it.
Matt
Obviously, you've got the international story with
Co-host/Analyst
Iran coming here as well. And then you have, you know, just all kinds of interesting little tidbits. You're gonna have a game in Boston, Scotland versus Haiti.
Matt
I'll be interested to see how their fans interact with each other.
Co-host/Analyst
There's gonna be a lot of good stuff.
Myron
What's the security gonna be like for that? I mean, that's.
Co-host/Analyst
That's. That could be an international from Scotland and Haiti. Do you think they, like, hang out with each other? What do they do?
Myron
I think there's gonna be a frank first for both sides. This is gonna be a first time for everything, so.
Matt
Well, next week, by the way, just so you know, I'm going to do our official Matt Myron World cup preview. I'm gonna give you. This is my prep I'm doing between now and next week. I'm gonna give you one fact about all the countries in the World cup next week. I hope you're ready.
Myron
For that one fact about every country.
Co-host/Analyst
Yeah, just like one little fact, not necessarily about sports team, but just something about the country that you might not
Myron
know who's favored to win it all.
Co-host/Analyst
I actually don't really know.
Matt
I mean I would assume like Germany
Myron
or Brazil or Germany, England, France.
Matt
Actually, I think France might be favored. I think France is, is favored.
Myron
I saw that people were upset about some Brazilian guy got a spot. Neymar Neymarrito or something like that. You got a spot over like first
Matt
of all, there was, there was a guy named Neymar. I think he retired a long time.
Myron
Okay. There's a, there's a guy that got a spot on the Brazilian national team and there was a lot of controversy about whether or not they gave it to him because of his legacy over guys who deserved it more. So there's a whole big.
Matt
You think his name is Neymar Eto Neymarito. You just added Ito to the.
Myron
What is like. Well, the Brazilian, they do single names, right? I think it's Neymar Ito.
Matt
Rachel, you see if you can find out what he's talking about. Okay, See if you can find out someone. What he's talking about. Who made the Brazilian team in a controversy.
Sports Analyst
Spain plus 475 to win the World Cup.
Matt
They have that stamp, that like 17 year old kid or whatever that's on their team.
Sports Analyst
Francis right behind him at plus 500.
Myron
And then Messi. Is Messi on that squad? Is Messi.
Matt
He's on Argentina. He has not switched his citizens since, since the Last one.
Sports Analyst
Argentina +900.
Myron
Why do I have him in Spain? He played for Real Madrid. Is that why?
Matt
He maybe did, but, but he's. But he's been Argentinian and they won it the last time, so you should, you should keep up. Now the NBA finals will begin this week. It is going to be Knicks and Spurs.
Co-host/Analyst
Let's just. Myron, who's the favorite? Who, who do you think? Who do you think's got the best
Matt
chance to take it down?
Myron
It'll be the Knicks. I think it will be favored. I mean they beat them in the regular season 2 to 1. They've been on one of the craziest streaks we've ever seen. For people that don't realize, the Knicks are literally playing some of the best basketball we've ever seen. In their 11 game streak, 11 game winning streak, they are plus 262, which is the greatest plus minus ever in NBA history. And I just think they are on a tear. They dominated the spurs the last time they played, I believe it was in March. And I don't know, man, they're. They're more experienced, they're more, they're well rested. And I think everything that San Antonio has, the Knicks have, but with more experience outside of Wimby, they can't overcome that talent gap. But everything else. Advantage Knicks on DraftKings.
Sports Analyst
Spurs are -205 to win.
Co-host/Analyst
Yeah, I thought the spurs would be the favorite.
Matt
I'm surprised.
Myron
I'm surprised.
Co-host/Analyst
Well, I mean, I'm not surprised.
Matt
I mean, they have, you know, I mean, they have home court. They are, I think objectively the better team.
Co-host/Analyst
I think the Knicks.
Myron
How do you say that, though? What do you, what does that mean, though?
Co-host/Analyst
Well, I mean, I just think if you. Okay, let's just go player for player. I mean, if you look at both
Matt
teams, best players, I think Jalen Brunson's great. I'm taking Wimby over Jalen Brunson.
Co-host/Analyst
You look at the second best player. I mean, you know, you could make a case for Carl, you could make a case maybe for, for Castle, but then you go beyond that. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. I think the spurs just are far better in 3 through 7 maybe than the, than the Knicks.
Myron
You, you all, you always get on guys about overreacting and maybe getting a little too recency bias. This, this feels a little bit like that to me.
Co-host/Analyst
Only because first of all, you had
Matt
the Knicks losing in the first round. I at least had the Knicks getting to the championship. You did not.
Myron
I was wrong about the Knicks. I will say that. I was wrong about the Knicks. Right now they're playing some of the best basketball we've ever seen. They've been the better offensive team if you look at the metrics. They've been the better defensive team if you look at the metrics. And the last time they faced off, they destroyed the San Antonio Spurs. I think part of what happened with Wimby. You're not going to stop them. We all know that. But Carl, Anthony Towns, Mitchell Robinson, that's a different thing. It is then Isaiah Hartenstein and totally agree with that.
Co-host/Analyst
Totally agree with that.
Matt
Although I will say, I mean Carl, it's.
Co-host/Analyst
Carl's not. I mean, Mitchell Robinson is going to be huge.
Matt
The broken finger. We have to see what happens with that.
Co-host/Analyst
I mean, I agree with you.
Matt
He's huge.
Co-host/Analyst
I can totally see the Knicks winning.
Matt
I'm actually pulling for the Knicks, but
Co-host/Analyst
I do think I would make the
Matt
Spurs a slight favorite.
Co-host/Analyst
Now, Rachel, did you look up what's happening with the Brazilian soccer team?
Rachel
Yes. So there is some controversy with their roster this year.
Myron
When Neymar Rito. Is that his name?
Rachel
Honestly, I only see one name. Neymar. Yeah, he was.
Co-host/Analyst
But is it Neymar like 60?
Rachel
It just says Neymar was named to the Brazil's 26 World cup squad. I told you his play has not been great recently. I told you he was. Apparently he suffering from muscle edema, which came out just after.
Myron
I got it right.
Narrator/Ad Voice
Announced.
Rachel
But they coach, the coaches staff says that they knew about it when he was selected and then just before or just after. I'm trying to read and talk at the same time. There was a substitution mix up where the fourth official apparently unintentionally raised the board to sub him off when a different player was supposed to leave.
Matt
That's just an individual game.
Co-host/Analyst
So lots of Neymar is on the team.
Myron
And that's the contrary. I got it right. I told y', all, nobody's giving me credit for getting a soccer thing right. And I don't like it. I got it right and nobody's ringing any bells or playing any noise. I got it right.
Sports Analyst
Whose name? Marita, though.
Myron
Well, I. I said Neymar or Neymarito. There's a Rito on the Brazilian team. I don't know. There's a Rito, there's an e. There's something Rito. But I said Neymar. I said Neymar and I got it right. And nobody ranging controversy is that nobody said good job.
Co-host/Analyst
But Neymar is like a legendary player.
Matt
I thought he was older than this, but I guess he is not. All right.
Rachel
Is Neymar Santos. Yeah. Santos Jr. So Myron, that name was half made
Myron
up, but it's fine.
Rachel
You were right.
Matt
All right, so there you go.
Myron
You notice how you ought to like poke a little bit and then you said you were right. Nobody can just say, myron, you got that right. Like you all are incapable of saying, myron got a soccer thing right. Let's all cheer, play a sound.
Rachel
The magazine worked. Good job, Myron.
Myron
I mean, what do I mean to get credit?
Co-host/Analyst
I don't know.
Matt
I feel like you still didn't. I feel like you still probably were wrong. But the.
Co-host/Analyst
But the World cup, the. The favorite is Spain and then France is second. They're going to be.
Matt
There are a.
Co-host/Analyst
You've also got Germany, England, Brazil, Argentina, Portugal. The longest shots, which you need to
Matt
pick one of these.
Co-host/Analyst
Here are the five longest shots. Jordan is 200. Is 2500 to 1.
Myron
Oh, wow.
Co-host/Analyst
Curacao, Haiti, Iraq, New Zealand and Qatar. All of those teams are at least 1500 to 1.
Myron
Yeah. You know, I think I'll probably go with give me Qatar because I think, you know, you're going to have the best resources.
Matt
They're going to have to say you're always going for the money you're looking for. You're looking for a week long trip, aren't you?
Myron
Yeah, if I can get in with it, you know. Yeah, I'd love to.
Matt
I'm gonna go with New Zealand.
Co-host/Analyst
I went out recently with a woman from New Zealand.
Matt
She was very nice. And so I'm going to take New Zealand as my dark horse pick. Give me the. The Kiwis. How about that?
Myron
Listen, it's going to be that. Now that to me is if one of those upsets happen, I would love to see that. Like, I want to see the underdogs win every single match in the World Cup.
Matt
One person writes, matt, there's a game going around online that has people see if they can point on a map to where the countries are that are in it. Does Byron think he would do well in that game?
Myron
Yes, I was.
Co-host/Analyst
If I told you.
Matt
Oh, really?
Co-host/Analyst
So if I told you, Jordan, you
Matt
could tell me where Jordan is?
Myron
Here's the problem. From the time I was in school, they got new countries.
Matt
You didn't answer the question.
Myron
They got new countries and some of the countries have moved. I don't know. Like some of the countries have moved. They've got new, they've got new lines. Not moved. But there's just different things. The globe doesn't look the same.
Matt
Are you suggesting like Sweden has moved?
Myron
No, I'm just saying the globe doesn't look the same as it did when I was a kid. So.
Matt
Okay. Do you think you would know where Curacao is?
Myron
Yes, I would never. Curacao.
Matt
What. What continent?
Myron
It's. It's. It's in the Caribbean. So it's in the, it's in the, it's somewhere over there. Aruba area.
Co-host/Analyst
Somewhere over there.
Myron
It's by Aruba, I believe.
Matt
All right, what about Uzbekistan?
Myron
Uzbekistan is in that part that's been, you know, they drew some new lines after the Soviet Union thing. So it's in that little. It's in that mix, you know. It's in that area.
Matt
All right, that's what they liked is when you say you all are in that mix. The NBA playoffs are on ESPN Radio. You can catch the NBA Finals on ESPN Radio. The ESPN app beginning Wednesday with game one. Coverage begins at 7:30 Eastern. Presented by Gusto. We will make our picks for the NBA Finals and other things. That's next here.
Podcast Intro/Outro Voice
Matt and Myron, the podcast.
Matt
This is Matt Myron here on ESPN Radio. I want to see what you think about this. A guy named James on Twitter he writes. I hope this can be taken without disrespect.
Myron
Oh.
Matt
At KY Sports Radio is a Kentucky guy.
Co-host/Analyst
Kind of seems like a blank.
Matt
He's on Sunday mornings on ESPN with a guy named Myron. But it is brilliant radio. Is that. Is that disrespectful?
Myron
Listen, brother.
Co-host/Analyst
Kinda seems like a blank.
Matt
I can't say what that word is. Listen.
Myron
If the support helps to check.
Matt
Clear.
Myron
I'm with whatever you got to say, baby. You know I'm with whatever you think. You got to listen to hate. You know you got to listen. So I'm with.
Co-host/Analyst
That's right.
Matt
As long as you is the is the money is the same. You've always been kind of money centric. So I'm glad. I'm glad. Glad to hear that. Eight, eight, eight, say espn. Although don't call because we're going off the air.
Co-host/Analyst
Go ahead.
Matt
It's time to take your pick.
Podcast Intro/Outro Voice
Take your pick.
Matt
You take your pick.
Podcast Intro/Outro Voice
It's time to take your pick with Matt and Myron.
Matt
All right, let's get started. What's up first?
Sports Analyst
Yeah, let's start MLB Braves at Reds. Braves favorite in this one, Spencer Strider on the mountain for them. Nick Lodolo on the mound for the Reds. When you got here.
Matt
Yeah, the Reds stink right now. They, they. We. We can't pitch. We can't hit the Braves. Spencer Strider.
Co-host/Analyst
I don't know.
Matt
I'm surprised this line is as close as it is. I would go heavy on the Braves and you're talking to someone that's a red season ticket holder.
Myron
I mean, it feels like the Braves are definitively the best team in baseball.
Matt
I think so, yeah.
Myron
You know, and obviously the Dodgers are doing what they do in the Yankees, but it feels like they're a step ahead. And I think that continues with another win.
Co-host/Analyst
Rest in peace. Bob Horner, the Red. The Braves, they've lost Bobby Cox, Ted
Matt
Turner and Bob Horner in the last two months. There's a team of destiny. It may be Atlanta. What's next?
Sports Analyst
The brewers at the Astros. Brewers are the favorites here. They have Jacob Mizarowski on the mound.
Matt
This guy's unbelievable. Jacob Mizaroski's thrown like 39 of the 40 fastest pitches in baseball this year for a starter. Give me the Brewers. They've seemed to. They're on a.
Co-host/Analyst
They're a wagon right now.
Matt
Myron.
Myron
I'm with the Brewers. I know, you know, people are upset about their celebrations and whether or not they're going too far.
Co-host/Analyst
What you think, what do you think
Matt
about that guy giving the DX chop? That was a little much. Wasn't.
Myron
May be a step past the line, but you don't want to get to a place where you're kind of not chopping people. Give me. Give me the Brewers. Give me the Brewers.
Matt
I kind of liked it, but his manager said he'll never do it again. We'll see. I hope he does. I hope he just does it next time. What's next?
Sports Analyst
If my high school was. Was run Major League Baseball, we, I would have been.
Matt
Oh, we did it all the time. I did it after an academic team match.
Sports Analyst
Exactly.
Matt
I looked over at Everts and gave him the DX chop after I was able to spell gallbladder. What's next?
Myron
Yeah.
Sports Analyst
Sunday night baseball on ESPN radio covers begins at 6:30pm Eastern. Cubs at Cardinals. Matt, who have here.
Matt
I actually did win a spelling bee on gallbladder once.
Co-host/Analyst
Cubs had lost like 10 straight until
Matt
a night or two ago. I think the Cardinals get it at home tonight. Give me. Give me the Cardinals.
Myron
Correct me if I'm wrong. I believe the Cubs are the first Major League Baseball team to have a 10 game winning streak and a 10 game losing streak.
Matt
And they did it in the first 60 games of the year. Both of them. Like, that's crazy, man.
Myron
Talk about hot and cold. But I think they're hot today. Give me the Cubs.
Matt
All right, what's next?
Sports Analyst
Stanley Cup Final begins this week on Tuesday, 8 Eastern on ABC. Golden Nights at Hurricanes. Hurricanes are favored to win the series. We're just going to go series here. Who wins the Stanley Cup?
Co-host/Analyst
I walked into Montreal and as a thousand people booed me as I walked
Matt
in for game three, I looked into
Co-host/Analyst
the thousand people's eyes and I said canes in five. Canes in five.
Matt
And then they went and did it. I'm going to go with this one
Co-host/Analyst
a little bit different.
Matt
Give me Canes in six and the Canes end up taking out the Golden Knights. Win our first cup since 2006.
Myron
I think it's a seven game series, but I just. It's hard not to be impressed with a Knights team that took out the definitive best team in the regular season in the Avalanche. And they, they did it, you know, without making it look too difficult down the stretch. So I got to take the Gold Knights to win the series.
Matt
Give me the Canes. They're a community.
Myron
You already said that, though. That was. But it was my. He asked me who I picked. You already said no.
Matt
I just wanted to make sure, though, we left good momentum by saying the Canes. So what's next?
Sports Analyst
Let's go to the NBA Finals. The Knicks and the Spurs. Game 1 on ESPN Radio at 7:30pm Eastern on Wednesday and also on ABC television. Spurs are the favorites to win minus 205 on DraftKings. Who you got?
Matt
Yeah, it's Cl.
Co-host/Analyst
I. You know, it could go either way.
Matt
I'm pulling for the Knicks, though.
Co-host/Analyst
Knicks fans deserve it. Basketball's better when the Knicks are good.
Matt
And I would love to see the city of New York after they've won a title. Give me New York.
Myron
An emotional Penny and Shaq beat Michael Jordan in the Bulls game six, 1995, to go on to get swept by the Rockets. I just wonder if it's just too much emotion for a young team going up against the Knicks, who are well rested. I think the Knicks win this in six.
Matt
Now, that'd be great. Can you imagine if they win in New York in game six? Like, what. What an awesome environment. What's next? By the way, the New York Knicks game six is the exact same time as the World cup game in New York. Can you imagine what Penn Station is going to be like during those. You got to get to Penn Station to get to the Meadowlands. And then you got. I mean, like, that's why you live
Myron
in New York, though, man, I. I
Matt
want to go to New York just to be there for that. Go ahead, James.
Sports Analyst
Clash in Italy today. Biggest match on the card, arguably rematch from WrestleMania 42. Brock Lesnar, Oba, Femi. Who you got here?
Matt
I'm going to go. I know Myron wants to take Oba, so I'm going to take him, too. That makes sense. To push Brock. Oba's the future. Give me Oba.
Myron
Oba. Only because they're setting up Brock SummerSlam Minneapolis, where I think that's his retirement match. So Oba wins this. I think to set.
Matt
Well, then it would make sense.
Myron
Brock wins this. I'm sorry. Brock wins this. To set up the retirement match you picked against Obra, you got to set up SummerSlam in Minneapolis with Brock. This is the moment to do it.
Matt
All right, well, listen, a lot of fun. Myron. Game day is next.
Co-host/Analyst
A rare Zaslow and Zaslo appearance.
Matt
We'll see you later. This is Matt Myers here on espn.
Podcast Intro/Outro Voice
Thanks for listening to Matt and Myron the podcast. You can listen to the show live every Sunday morning at 10am Eastern on ESPN radio, the ESPN app, and on Sirius XM channel 80. Matt and myron the pod
Myron
sam.
Hosts: Myron Medcalf, Matt Jones
Date: June 1, 2026
Network: ESPN Radio
This episode of “Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron” covers a broad array of topics across the sports world, including NFL quarterback controversies, the newest congressional bill for college athletics, the forthcoming World Cup, the NBA Finals, and rapid-fire predictions for the MLB and NHL. Myron and Matt's signature banter is present throughout, with memorable quips and lively debates about everything from survivalist vacations to which pop star reigns supreme.
00:35–02:29
02:33–07:10
07:10–09:35
09:35–12:11
14:35–20:56
23:31–33:51
27:22–29:44; 40:23–41:05
36:47–42:06
This hour is classic Matt and Myron: funny, sharp, and unafraid to debate. The show weaves between playful squabbles and substantive sports analysis—leaving listeners feeling both informed and entertained, whether about QB politics, college sports reform, or picking underdog World Cup teams.