Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron

Hour 3: Rich Eisen Joins the Show!

Date: April 12, 2026
Hosts: Matt Jones, Myron Medcalf
Special Guest: Rich Eisen
Podcast: ESPN Radio

Episode Overview

This lively hour of "Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron" features a reflection on the culture and quirks of the Masters golf tournament, a spirited discussion of the college basketball transfer portal, and an in-depth interview with broadcasting legend Rich Eisen. The show delves into sports traditions, generational changes in broadcasting, and the evolving landscape for athletes—and even fits in some predictions for NBA games and the Masters.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Masters: Elitism, Tradition, and Hypocrisy

Timestamps: 00:08–10:12

• Augusta National's Exclusivity: Matt and Myron riff on the club's "elitist, exclusive privilege." Myron acknowledges the club's lack of diversity but appreciates the experience as a bucket-list sports event.
  • "Wouldn't the Masters be like, the one thing that we still somehow like. Well, that's cool." – Matt (02:22)
• Respecting Tradition (or Not): They joke about whether they'd address club officials as "chairman" and compare the club to other elitist American institutions.
• Merchandising and Pricing: The hosts discuss Masters' unique combination of affordable onsite concessions and sky-high merchandise prices.
  • "That shirt cost $135." – Matt (04:23)
• Bucket List: Both say seeing The Masters in person is a dream, with Matt sharing a story about attending in 2013 and seeing firsthand how off-course distractions can impact a golfer's performance.
• Masters Fashion and Caddy Outfits: The white painter overalls worn by caddies are described as "pretentious" and unnecessarily archaic:
  • "Why do they have to make them look like they're doing, you know, labor for you?" – Matt (32:44)

2. Rory McIlroy, Golf Stars, and the Human Side of the Game

Timestamps: 07:05–10:12

• Discussion shifts to golf's generational stars—Rory McIlroy, Scotty Scheffler, Justin Rose—and their mainstream recognition.

• Myron and Matt muse about the pressure on big names, loss of leads (especially by Rory), and even joke about golfers getting "tweaks" (cosmetic surgery) to maintain their TV appearance.

  • "I think they all have surgeons ... they do tweaks." – Myron (09:45)

3. Sergio Garcia Incident at The Masters

Timestamps: 10:46–11:44

• Historic Code of Conduct Warning: Sergio Garcia receives the first-ever code of conduct warning at the Masters for breaking his driver.
  • "He broke his driver by pounding it on the ground. The Masters has had never given a code of conduct warning to a player..." – Myron (11:04)

4. Masters Champion Dinner Menus

Timestamps: 11:44–13:23

• Listener Question: What would Matt and Myron serve if they won the Masters?
  • Myron goes elaborate: "sauteed and seasoned brussels sprouts, honey glazed pork chops, cosmic crisp apples, jasmine rice."
  • Matt's rebellious menu: "Skyline chili, wings, and a $20,000 bottle of wine."
  • "I would want to be everything Augusta is against." – Matt (12:42)

5. The College Basketball Transfer Portal: Positive Change or Chaos?

Timestamps: 13:23–19:03

• Transfer Culture: Over half of Division I basketball players are in the transfer portal. The hosts defend it as both fair and beneficial:
  • "I think it just is. ... That's the economy, like that. That's the American dream." – Myron (13:58)
• Quality of Play: Matt argues that the portal has raised the level of college basketball and made for a more competitive NCAA tournament.
• Life-Changing Opportunities: Both cite players moving from low- to high-major schools and receiving huge salary jumps due to NIL deals.
  • "Prominent player ... went from making $200,000 at the mid major level to $3.2 million this year." – Myron (16:02)
• Loyalty Arguments: Matt dismisses critics who lament a lack of loyalty:
  • "Nobody cares, right? That's what I would tell them." – Myron (17:28)
• Generational Coaching Shift: The hosts note a shift from old-school coaches to new, adaptable leaders who embrace player empowerment and the new rules.

6. Broadcasting Legends & Generational Sports Nostalgia: Rich Eisen Interview

Timestamps: 20:21–31:36

• Rich Eisen Returns to SportsCenter: Eisen shares his excitement about returning to host SportsCenter after 23 years.
  • "I'm excited, you know, I'm very excited to do this ... The way I'm returning is definitely not the way I walked out 23 years ago with a cardboard box in my hand." – Rich Eisen (21:14)
• Love for Radio: Eisen waxes poetic about the unique connections radio can create.
  • "With radio, it's like, here's the phone number ... a fan can talk with you. There's no other medium that can do that." – Rich Eisen (24:37)
• SportsCenter Nostalgia: Eisen describes the heyday of ESPN, working alongside luminaries like Stuart Scott, and the difference between broadcasting in the '90s versus today's social media-driven landscape.
  • "It was a dream come true. It was like winning the lottery, walking around and seeing all the colleagues ..." – Rich Eisen (28:03)
• Upcoming Podcast: Announces a nostalgia-driven project: "This Was SportsCenter," interviewing colleagues and revisiting legendary moments and SportsCenter culture.
• Bucket List for Broadcasters: Both Matt and Myron reflect on SportsCenter’s legacy, saying for their generation, talking with Eisen is a career highlight.

7. NBA and MLB Predictions – "Take Your Pick"

Timestamps: 33:51–39:31

• Hosts and show producer make picks for the final day of NBA regular season and upcoming MLB games.
• Fun on the unpredictability of late-season NBA lineups, the rarity of players completing all 82 games, and the quirks of covering meaningless games with stars resting.
  • "How many NBA players this year in the whole league played all 82 games? ... 18." – Matt (38:40)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Masters Elitism:
  • Matt: "Wouldn't the Masters be like, the one thing that we still somehow like. Well, that's cool." (02:22)
• On Calling Someone 'Chairman':
  • Matt: "Would you call the guy chairman? Cause like, the people who aren't even members call him chairman. Like that's normal." (02:45)
• Rich Eisen on Coming Full Circle:
  • Rich Eisen: "The way I'm returning is definitely not the way I walked out 23 years ago with a cardboard box in my hand." (21:14)
• Rich Eisen on Radio:
  • Rich Eisen: "With radio, it's like, here's the phone number ... a fan can talk with you. There's no other medium that can do that." (24:37)
• Myron on Transfer Portal Critics:
  • Myron: "I would look them in the eyes and I would say, I just want you to really hear me when I tell you this. Nobody cares, right?" (17:28)
• Matt on Masters Dinner:
  • Matt: "So I would probably go like skyline chili, you know? And wings maybe. ... one thing on there that's gonna cost them a ton of money." (12:42)

Key Timestamps

• 00:08–04:36: Masters' exclusivity, culture, and fashion quirks.
• 10:46: Sergio Garcia's code of conduct first at the Masters.
• 13:23–19:03: College basketball transfer portal—debate and defense.
• 20:21–31:36: Extended interview with Rich Eisen.
• 33:51–39:31: NBA, MLB picks, and sports talk with humor.

Tone & Style

The tone is loose, witty, and insider-y—two sports friends riffing and debating with playful teasing and story-trading, keeping things grounded yet insightful, even when industry legends like Rich Eisen drop in.

For Listeners Who Missed It

This episode shines in its blend of humor, sports culture critiques, and real talk on athlete empowerment, with Rich Eisen’s interview offering a blend of nostalgia and industry wisdom. Great for fans craving both serious sports insight and a relatable, hangout vibe.