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The Pat McAfee Show
PMS 2.0 1336 - Quentin Richardson, Ian Rapoport, Ryan Whitney, Darius Butler, & AJ Hawk
02:22:14
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- [00:02]
Pat McAfee
Hello beautiful people and welcome to a sports program on the Cinco de Mayo Overreaction Monday. It is a lovely time to be alive. Sports are happening all around us. I can't hear a word any of the boys just said into their speakers right there. But I will say it is nice to be on a wall here in the Thunderdome and Overreaction Monday is certainly a fantastic one. But whenever you add in all the majestic mag majesty that happened over the weekend in the NBA, in the NHL, even in G1 football news happened, everything happened and we are here and so lucky that we get to talk about it for another couple hours. We have a couple huge guests joining us. Q. Rich will join us 12 year NBA veteran or 13 year NBA veteran to chit chat about everything that happened in that Game seven ass beating Golden State gave to Houston and also all the series is as we look ahead to who's going to be the next NBA champion. Then we'll be joined by Ryan Whitney, former NHL star and superstar, also co host of Spitting Chiclets. He'll join us in the next hour to chit chat about that double overtime thriller up there in Winnipeg. One of the loudest barns in the history of barns. Got to enjoy a situation that doesn't happen nearly as often as we would hope it would, which is a Game 7 double overtime thriller as the St. Louis Blues and the Winnipeg jets did battle in the Winnipeg jets come back down from 31 with two minutes left to go on and get the win. And then you know we'll be joined by Ian Rapaport at some point today to talk about all the news that's happening around the NFL. Now it's not just me here in Omaha, Nebraska. I also am very lucky that the toxic table at Boston Connor and at Ty Schmidt are here. Boys, your big takeaways from this weekend.
- [02:00]
Boston Connor
Biggest takeaway for me would probably just be that the NHL playoffs are basically the best thing that's ever happened. I'd say to sports. You know I'm sure we'll get into all the highlights going forward but you know, let alone all the injuries that are going to come out for some of these teams that finished, I thought that was amazing.
- [02:16]
Ty Schmidt
Yeah. And I think you know obviously the NHL and the NBA kind of took center stage but it was a great weekend for all the other sports too. You know we had a massive boxing cards multiple nights. The UFC had a huge night, Scotty Scheffler had a big Sunday and obviously MLB was going on so just and the Kentucky Derby. So Overall, just an incredible sports weekend all around.
- [02:37]
Pat McAfee
I completely forgot about the Kentucky Derby. How about Sovereignty making a run on Journalism? You know, whenever absolute power beats Journalism, people say, wait a minute, wait a minute. I was hoping that that McAfee horse would have made it, because if McAfee and journalism would have been coming down back stretch down there in Louisville, Kentucky, that would have been a moment for my life. Journalism heavy favorite. Feels like that was done by, you know, some people with money, people with power, and people with hope that Journalism could be on top. Journalism wins the day. Journalism wins the Kentucky Derby to start this magical Triple Crown. But instead, Sovereignty said, I don't think so. Journalism takes the dub, has a massive celebration. We'll be joined by a man that was down in Louisville during the Kentucky Derby with A.J. hawkins. Was he with a married man?
- [03:26]
Ty Schmidt
What looked like it.
- [03:27]
Darius Butler
Who?
- [03:27]
Boston Connor
Devontae.
- [03:28]
Ian Rapaport
Few of them, huh?
- [03:29]
Pat McAfee
Devonte, I think is Cobb. I think is money. Team Ed, I believe is Jimmy Graham's married to the game of life, Aaron Rodgers. Look at his left hand. Boom. Ring finger. Unless that's one of those sleeping things, you know, at least that's one of those sleeping things. That's reading your heart rate, which Aaron Rodgers might do, to be honest. I mean, there's a chance that that is something he would be accustomed to. Or maybe this guy got married or maybe, maybe, maybe he got engaged. Maybe he got asked.
- [03:57]
Darius Butler
Oh, okay.
- [03:58]
Pat McAfee
That could happen. Yeah. Maybe instead of like an engagement ring the other way. I don't know. All these things are on the table. We'll talk to the guy that was standing literally to his right. A.J. hawk. You know, it's not just the talks table. It's not just great sports. It's not my dumb ass in Omaha while concert is happening behind me right now. It sounds absolutely delightful. They're getting after it playing these bangers here. There's also one half of the Hammer cowboys, Tone Diggs, AP Tone. Listen, Bob, I don't know how you did on a Kentucky Derby. I don't know how you did on all the other stuff, but I do know the Canelo Alvarez night over there. Riyadh sees in Saudi Arabia. You hit on boxing, brother. Did we know you're a boxing sharp? Did we have any idea that was the case?
- [04:39]
Tone Diggs
No, no, we did not. Did really, really well on the Canelo fight. The Canelo unanimous decision, I believe was plus 180. Got that one fight to go the distance. Plus 140 over nine and a half rounds. Minus 130 over ten and a half rounds, minus 110. And you know, if you kind of listen to the tea leaves, before that fight, there was a lot of people saying, you know, Canelo's going to play it safe here tonight. Probably going to go the distance, probably going to win the unanimous decision like he did the last five of his fights. Because this was setting up a much bigger fight with Terence Crawford. So, you know, not a lot of. Not a lot of punches thrown. There was a lot of that this.
- [05:14]
Pat McAfee
Weekend, but what a weekend. They're saying that. They're saying that these guys are now. Now that they're getting taken care of. Right. Which was Booker T's big takeaway throughout the entirety of the weekend while we were doing the boxing, which I enjoyed, by the way. I enjoyed learning the stories, I enjoyed being a part of. I enjoyed us having to do a boxing show that was pretty cool. I'm impressed by the whole team, by the way, great work by the team putting together a boxing show. I'm also impressed by Booker T. And his knowledge of boxing. The guy loves the sport and his vibes around us were immaculate. His entire conversation was like, now the fight are going to get taken care of. You know, the fighters for so long had been just basically taken advantage of. You're basically just pawns out there. You got to pay everybody. Everybody gets a cut. Normally, you know, you come from nothing to something. You blow through your money very quickly. A lot of boxers on the back end of their career don't end up in that great of a spot. Now, if you're a superstar, a mega legend, and you're able to sell your own pay per views like Canelo Alvarez or Floyd Mayweather or any of the guys of the past that have been able to succeed, obviously that's one story. But a majority of the boxers end up, you know, out of the spotlight and broke like a lot of professional athletes. So Booker T. Big thing was like, hey, we're going to be taking care of these boxers. Now with the backing of his Excellency Turkey and the crown prince, God bless him, there's going to take care of the boxers. Now we're hearing that because they took care of the boxers. These fights are going to suck. Three of the lowest punching rate fights in the history of boxing happened over the weekend with Haney Garcia and then Canelo's fight. Canelo wins, sets up for him and Terence Crawford September 12th in Allegiant Stadium. The first TKO group alongside Turkey promo or boxing promotion that is going to happen is that night right There a mega fight, a super fight. Who knows who else will be on that card. That man in the middle there, Turkey is willing to spend whatever to bring back boxing in a big way. But it's like they're saying that's part of the problem. Let's go to nine year NFL vet Darius J. Butler. I don't know how much you follow boxing debut but they're saying that these guys are getting paid too much and they stink because of it and the fights are going to suck because of it. That's a bummer. I don't like to hear that.
- [07:14]
Ian Rapaport
I mean it wasn't a great start I guess, but it is a start. And the guys getting paid, that's important. Obviously you're putting your life on the line pretty much when you stepping to that square circle as the highlight of my weekend and my week when I saw Bruce getting there and really show me that sweet science to get this weekend kicked off. But yeah, I love the guys getting paid and you know the era we kind of grew up in with the great heavyweights, you saw the back end of Tyson, Holyfield, Lennox Lewis, all those guys then moved on to Mayweather and Pacquiao and now this is kind of a new generation. We saw Raleigh with the big upset knockout. That was great to see Garcia get his ass knocked out. We'll see if he bounces back against Haney. But I love guys getting paid, you know. Now just like the conversation with Liv Goff, is it too much money? Do these guys care? Is it, does it kind of become more irrelevant?
- [08:00]
Ryan Whitney
We shall see.
- [08:01]
Ian Rapaport
Hopefully it comes full turn and boxing gets kind of back on top as it used to be back in the day.
- [08:07]
Pat McAfee
I would assume Dana and Nick Khan are going to do big incentive based contracts for these guys. I think Dana understands the business, I think Nick understands the business. I think Turkey obviously has brought them in to do that. Very thankful that Dazn was able to get the Friday night show off the ground in Times Square. Excited for what it is moving forward. Shout out to Lampley. I heard he absolutely killed it in his debut back ringside. So what a weekend of boxing. But I hope that the money being dumped into the sport doesn't ruin the sport more. It's supposed to do the complete opposite. It's supposed to be an exciting time. Those fights a little lackluster. A lot of, you know, happening around a lot of people, especially with how late it was. Hopefully they'll get going now. Boxing happened, the Kentucky Derby happened, basketball happened. Tone Diggs, why don't you give us a little recap of what happened around the NBA, the associations in its most important time of the year, the playoffs. All eyes are on the court. What happened this weekend?
- [09:03]
Tone Diggs
Yeah, Pat, we had a couple game sevens and the round two kicked off this weekend. Let's start with those. Game seven. Let's start in Denver on Saturday night, where the Nuggets absolutely dominated the Clippers 12101. And everyone contributed, starting with Nikola Jokic, who had 16, 10 and 8. And he averaged 24, 11 and 10, which is a triple double for the series. The Nuggets won 11 playoff series before Jokic came to Denver. They've now won 10 since. But everyone contributed. Aaron Gordon had 22. Michael Porter Jr. He had 15 with a bunch of threes. James Harden, guess what? James Harden had seven. So that kind of contributed to the Nuggets victory there. Jamal Murray had 16, which he had a great series. Christian Braun had 21, who, you know, was also just a huge contributor during this series. And then finally Russell Westbrook, who had 16 on the night. This was not the one that gave.
- [09:58]
Pat McAfee
Him the Russell Wilson Westbrook. Yeah, that's who I'm talking about.
- [10:01]
Tone Diggs
That was the one that not gave him the tee.
- [10:03]
Pat McAfee
That's right.
- [10:03]
Tone Diggs
Again, he was getting a little spicy. This one though. He had the steal. This was basically to steal everything. They're up by 20 at this point, gets the tee, tells everyone to take their ass home. Russell Westbrook was awesome to end the night. And the dug it. The Nuggets dominated that Game 7 against the Clippers.
- [10:19]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, I agree. I like the way this Nuggets team is playing and you know, D. But we talked about this. Whenever they fire the coach and the gm. Yeah, you say, especially that close to the playoffs. I think Quentin Richardson came on, I believe and said, you know, you kind of just throw the Nuggets out here. You just kind of throw the Nuggets out here. They're kind of mailing it in saying this isn't the year. Whenever you fire a coach in a GM this close to the playoffs now I'm starting to hear things, you know, not that I'm a sources guy, but I do happen to have sources now in places that I never could have expected. You know, maybe Joker feels a lot more free now that coach isn't there, you know, and obviously that's been chit chatted about, I think by other people. And he's been a little bit more talkative. He said last night in his interview postgame with the Inside The NBA boys who have a great show, still have a great show, he said. You know, I think the media is just covering him. Talking in the. In the huddles a little bit more. He's opening up a little bit more. He said he thinks the media is just covering it differently. It's like, Joker, we've been following you pretty close because you're such a damn spectacle. You were a guy mouth shut, showed up, did his job, and then went back to Serbia to hang out with horses. And then you came right back and dominated yet again. We are big fans of the Joker, and I think what we've seen this playoff series is like the most empowered Joker that there's been. Obviously, they got a lot of dogs on that team, including Russell Westbrook, who doesn't even try to get a tee on the first one and then tries to get a tee on the second one and then times it up perfectly with the ref on the second one. The second one where he actually gets the technical. He, yeah, this one I wish we would show. Can we. Yeah. Boom. Him timing it up with the ref and then doing it afterwards was poetry. I believe this is just like, watch him and time set up perfectly with him. Says he knows exactly what's coming. I mean, it was. It was great. You add a Russell Westbrook to that team like a little engine, a little dog that can kind of close things out and lift the spirits if you need it, especially on the defensive side. But then you rattle through the rest of that roster. It's like, I think the Nuggets feel very good about their chances now. They're taking on a good Thunder team. That Thunder team is going to be tough, but congratulations to the Nuggets getting by D Bud. And I think I like. I like Joker post firing more than I like Joker, who I love pre firing Malone and the G's should be.
- [12:26]
Ian Rapaport
A hell of a matchup around two. And the thing we've always heard about Joker is how coachable he's been not only here, but even on his national team over in Serbia. Very, very coachable. Always taking coach coaching. But I love seeing him taking ownership, I guess more at least from the outside looking in, it looks like it, him taking that leadership role, bringing in Russ. We know if we don't know anything else about Russ, we know he's an absolute dog. First ballot hall of Famer when it's all said and done. But he's a dog in between those lines. And these guys have championship pedigree, too. You know, Brown, Aaron, Gordon, Michael Porter Jr. Jamal Murray, who just passed with Dame Lillard, now in the all time point scorer in the playoffs. So he's quietly having a great postseason career as well. So, yeah, this Nuggets team, even without a coach, when you fire a coach right before you go into the playoffs, I don't care what sport it is, you always anticipate, okay, this team's kind of out of it. But when you have the best player in the world, which most people call Jokic, you always have a chance. And those guys are showing it with a big, big Game 7 showing to move on and advance to, you know, round two against okc.
- [13:27]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, the Clippers were a fun little story there for like two weeks, con man. It was like a two week run there where we thought they were all the way back. And James Harden, Game 7 People are going to draw attention to. But also a team that hasn't played, I don't know. That's going to be tough. I love what Ballmer did. I love what Ballmer did. Yeah, Buying those tickets, bringing their fans to an away game, away playoff game, obviously. I love everything about that. A game seven, trying to fill that place up with your fans. You. You would have thought that would have helped. Then I turned on a game, it was already over. I mean, this thing was over seemingly pretty quick, con man. Yeah, yeah.
- [13:58]
Boston Connor
Love what Ballmer did, too. And then I saw some people say after, like pretty cruel and unusual punishment by Ballmer flying those people out. But it was sweet trying to build that wall. Denver, you know, with the Nuggets especially, because it is now just purely Jokic's team. You wonder as they just have one night off and then head to Oklahoma City, does Jokic have any new things implemented for the team when it comes to the rest? Does he have some sort of cool Serbian juice or powder to rub on everybody to get them going? Because now we had this conversation last week. The Thunder, you know, they've been out for a full week. The. The Nuggets legitimately had one day of rest. They're playing tonight and it should be a great one. I can't wait to see the Jokic first, Chet Holmgren, because as we know, chet Holmgren's about 150 pounds soaking wet, and Nikola Jokic is a big old son of a bitch. So I think the matchup is going to be incredible. Also quietly, Jamal Murray, this guy tweeted out. I don't think anybody noticed. Jamal Murray passed Damian Lillard already in playoff scoring. So him being unbelievable, Russell Westbrook off the bench Michael Porter Jr. Now, but yeah, when you mentioned the Clippers, I think this is three straight first round exits. Now you wonder if Ballmer continues to go with Ty Lue, with Kawhi, with James Harden, or if we're seeing another kind of complete transition turnover with the Clippers. Once again.
- [15:24]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, the Clippers are an interesting spot. I love Ballmer spending money and buying tickets for his team. But they are gone in the first series or first round for the last five years, I think or something like that. I forget the stat that was given out. They have not gotten, not gotten past the first round. Long time. There was also an ass beating last night. Tone Diggs.
- [15:41]
Tone Diggs
Yeah, there was another game seven down in Houston. The warriors went down to play the Rockets and they won 103 to 89. See Buddy Heald right here, he was the high scorer of the night with 33 for the Warriors. He was awesome from three point all night long. And then you have Jimmy Butler who added a, you know, a nice clean, casual 20 for playoff. Jimmy, who's been awesome for them in his first playoffs with the Warriors. And then you have the man, the Myth, the legend, Mr. Fourth Quarter. Steph Curry, who had 22 on the night, but he had 14 in the fourth quarter. He. Here's a stat. He had 14 of Golden State's 33 fourth quarter points.
- [16:17]
Pat McAfee
How many steps? How many steps?
- [16:18]
Tone Diggs
This, this, two, three. He didn't walk or whatever. He's the only player since 1997, 1998 to record 10 plus points in the fourth quarter of four, game seven. So he has been Mr. Fourth Quarter for them in game Sevens. And now they go on to play Minnesota tomorrow night where they are six and a half point dawgs.
- [16:37]
Pat McAfee
Jimmy Butler back playing D. Butch, I know you love him from down his Miami Heat days. And then whenever he said get me the hell out of here and went up to Golden State, they immediately became a different team. He got hurt. He's seemingly all the way back healthy. Steph Curry's allowed to do what he does. I was thinking he was maybe going to have a hardened Game 7 situation. I can't believe I thought that about Steph Curry. No way. Steph turns it up in the fourth quarter, does his thing in the biggest moments and D butts this Golden State team. Why not? Why not? This Golden State warriors team, they got the toughness, they got the ability, they got the defense, they got the dogs. Feels like they got the guys. D Bud.
- [17:08]
Ian Rapaport
Yeah, why? Why not? They have obviously the leadership once again championship pedigree I know Jimmy didn't win one, but he carried us to a few finals, few Eastern Conference finals when he was down in Miami. So, you know, he has that dog and he came out and said, like, look, I can be Robin. You know, Steph Curry is my Batman. I will be his Robin. So. And obviously, we know with Draymond Green and the rest of that team, Steve Kurzweil and the Rockets, it seems that they can never get past the warriors, no matter how many times they face him. I think Steph Curry's five zero now in series against the warriors, so, yeah, they can get it done. They can figure it out down the stretch. Always a team you got to be wary of. I see people taking shots to Steph, calling him a front runner. Oh, he's scoring a bunch of points when they're already up and the game is out of control. But no, that's what you're supposed to do. Foot on next foot on your throat. That's what Steph does. And if he gets this fifth championship, if he gets another finals mvp, it's going to be some uncomfortable conversations in this off season, but we're just going to look now to this next matchup against the Timberwolves and Edwards. That should be fireworks.
- [18:05]
Pat McAfee
I mean, and nobody's talking about it. Somehow Steph's been able to do this in Under Armour shoes. You know, that is. That's a whole nother conversation. Those first ones that he had to battle through is like whenever Michael Jordan was talking about those first couple Jordans, where his feet were bleeding all over the place. And we were in the late 2000s, whenever Steph had those shoes, and shoes had been figured out. But Under Armour was like, we're sorry, brother. This is our first go at this entire thing. They might look like grass cutting shoes. They might be incredibly uncomfortable. We need you to be able to perform. And he has his newest set of shoes. They're sick. They look nasty. The all whites he had on last night is insane. And for the people that are saying he's a front runner, you're only scoring whenever you're up a bunch. There's been a lot of 20 point comebacks seemingly over the last couple days. Oh, yeah, maybe even the last couple weeks. The NBA doesn't care. You get cold at the end. The other team, it gets hot, it's over. So you got to continue to go all four quarters, all the way, even in that. Which I assume we're going to talk about. 121, 112. Okay. Indiana Pacers take game one against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Even at the very end of that game, both sides were acting like that was over. Both sides were acting like that game was over. And I was just sitting there because I put out a very early tweet. I put out a tweet early in that game that was like, the Pacers are a problem, brother. Everybody thinks I'm just bullshitting because I'm friends with the most overrated guy in the league. And yada, yada, yada. It's like, uh, if you've watched this team since the All Star break, which we have, if we've been able to. Now, obviously some of the games have been blacked out in our area on NBA tv. What the the do I have NBA TV for if I can't even watch the Indiana Pacers play in a playoff game? Whatever the case. But if you're able to watch the Pacers, which not a lot of people have been able to, how about they put this game on TRUTV so they do TNT countdown, okay? Inside the NBA. Send it over to TruTV for Pacers Cavs because iRobot had to be shown on TNT. I robot show me this, show me the ratings on iRobot. And then True TV's Indiana Pacers, Cleveland Cavaliers. So then obviously, whenever game seven happens for Golden St. Houston, they're on both TNT and TruTV. Nonetheless, I define Lizzerlichtoing an impractical joker's channel to watch this Pacers Cavaliers game. And all I could think to myself is how proud I am of this Pacers team. Obviously, Tyrese Haliburton is the superstar. Pasco Siakam is the NBA All Star. But they got boys all over that team and they've all bought in. And the way Carlisle plays, they play their ass off. Mathurin there goes up and says, pins his ass against the backboard, knocks his ass down. There was no fight there, no foul called either. That's in Cleveland. Obviously. Spite is a guy. Donovan's been a guy and old buddy right there actually just hit a three off the side of the backboard, then tracked him all the way down and swatted him right there. The team's like, buy in. The teams give the team's resolve in that type of shit from Tyrese, it's like this team's a real deal. Nemhard makes a bunch of shots. Miles Turner is able to get things done underneath. It's like when you're talking about a team which I think we're all pulling for in all sports, like an actual team. This Pacers team is tight. This Pace OB toppin too, doing his. I mean he is. He's not supposed to just knock down threes at will like that, but he has been doing that, which is the entire Pacers team. It's like when you think about a team, a team, a team, it's like the Pacers really have a chance here. Joining us now, ladies and gentlemen, is a man who is a 13 year NBA vet, co host of the Knuckleheads podcast, and an absolute of a basketball guy. Ladies and gentlemen, Quinn Richardson. Let's start with what I was just talking about right there. They had the Pacers and the Cavs on true TV last night. Okay. Which I appreciate coming off an NBA TV series the Pacers had or whatever, but them going into Cleveland getting that type of win and I think they were 3 and 1 or 2 and 1 against the Cavs during the season. But Tyrese said neither team was healthy whenever we were playing against each other in the regular season. So you really judge that. This Pacers team, I think has what it takes, you know, a lot more than I do. How much does like buy in? How much does like grit, how much does like, obviously they have the talent and ability as well, but how much does like that team culture, truly, how far can that carry you in the NBA? Q. Rich?
- [22:14]
Ryan Whitney
I mean, it's a real thing. Obviously, you know, that cohesiveness and that togetherness me means a lot in any team. You know what I'm saying? Setting. But what you saying from this patience team, man, I knew going into this series that it wasn't going to be sweet for Cleveland. I mean, obviously they were down Darius Garland and that was a big deal. But to me, I mean like you, you guys just went over everybody that was balling out for, for the Pacers that, you know, the Halle from Hallie Burton, from Nemhard to everybody else. But for me, there's no way I'm thinking, and this is, this is, with all due respect to, to Ty Jerome as a, as a, you know, a bench player. I was a bench player once upon a time in the league, so I respect it. And it's not to say that you can't jump up and go crazy and have big games. And Ty Jerome absolutely has been doing that all season and playoffs long. But if you see a game, going to a game and I find out Darius Garland isn't playing, there's no way I'm thinking that the dude that takes the second most shots out of Donovan Mitchell is going to be tied. Jerome. I'm thinking it's going to be Evan Mobley. And with that not happening, like, I feel like Evan Mobley is kind of like the X factor on this team, especially in a game where they. Where Darius Garland, the other one of the three All Stars that was out. Evan Mobley is the other all Star. He got to step up and be. I don't know if they weren't running plays or whatever, but either way, say, as an All Star, he has to be more aggressive and, and be more formidable in a game like that, I'm.
- [23:32]
Pat McAfee
Just gonna let you know, sometimes you're not going to be formidable. Whenever Tyrese Halliburton's dancing all over the place. What the helly? What the hell? What the hell, Barry? What the hell? I mean, he was cooking yesterday. I mean, absolutely cooking. And they were able to bench him, too. They were able to have him rest. He had a wrap around his back. I don't know what that's all about. It's a playoff serve. Nobody's playing 100%. But they had their bench players in and they were still running it up up on Cleveland. They were still. T.J. mcConnell was doing his thing. I mean, there is, there's depth, there's a team. And it feels like this Pacer. If you don't have a team, like, I know there's a lot of people that watch from Pittsburgh. I know there's a lot of people that watch maybe from cities that don't have an NBA team. This Pacers team is dotted. They're taught they're very rarely talked about. They're hidden away from the national spotlight. Put them on true TV last night, taking on number one overall seed, Cleveland Cavaliers. They had them on NBA tv blacked out. This team is a team that is. Could be fun to rally around. Now, let's talk about some other series that are taking place. Q. Rich, Tone has a question for you.
- [24:30]
Tone Diggs
Yeah, Q. Rich, obviously Denver gets the big Game 7 win and now they got OKC waiting, who's been waiting for a long time. And they're almost 10 point favorites, which is. Which is crazy to think about against a. A Nuggets team that has the championship pedigree. What do you think about this series? What should we expect tonight?
- [24:47]
Ryan Whitney
I expect OKC to win, man. I know that Denver has the joker and I'll be interested, interested to see how Murray does in this series because he's gonna be. I mean, obviously he's gonna be huge. And what Denver's able to do. But in particular, just against this type of guard heavy and this. This guard heavy, defensive type of approach that OKC has, they got a number of guys that they could throw at him and switch out and just throw bodies at Jamal Murray. And I also like that. They, you know, as far as Joker goes, they have chat, they have Chad Holgram, obviously, but I like Hart Hardenstein against him. He's a big burly guy that can get in there and move some. You know what I'm saying? Move some of the meat around and. And get physical with him. So, hey, I want to see how. I think Murray, if he could. If he can go and be. Yeah, 30, that's the big deal. If he can't do that, this is. This is going to be the sweep of a gentleman.
- [25:42]
Pat McAfee
As the great Booker T Would say. No water, no bread, man, just meat. Love. Big meat moving around. Hey, that's two time WWE hall of Famer you're talking about. No water, no bread, just meat.
- [26:06]
Ian Rapaport
I'm running out of pauses over here. It's crazy.
- [26:10]
Pat McAfee
Oh, you. You guys go pause Booker T. Yes. You're going to pause Booker. Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay. All right, all right. We'll see. We'll see.
- [26:19]
Ryan Whitney
We'll help sometimes.
- [26:24]
Pat McAfee
Let me tell you about Booker T. I. I got a chance to spend about 36 hours with Booker T. I love that man. I. He's 60 years old. You know that? He is 60 years old.
- [26:36]
Ian Rapaport
Legend.
- [26:37]
Pat McAfee
And I'll tell you what D. I'll tell you what D. Butch. He keeps up with me. He keeps up with me.
- [26:42]
Ian Rapaport
Okay?
- [26:43]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, yeah. For real.
- [26:45]
Ian Rapaport
I get like any time scout report.
- [26:47]
Ryan Whitney
He was like, Booker T. Is the man, man. I've been watching this since I was a shorty. Harlem. He T.
- [26:55]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, yeah, absolutely. All right, let's get back to the no bread, no water, just meat conversation. Shout out Booker T. Joker. I talked about this earlier, Q. And you have sources. We all have sources, okay? Everybody has sources in this world. Feels like Joker is more empowered post Malone firing than maybe before. Now. He said to the inside NBA guys last night that the media is just covering it differently. He's always been like this in the huddles and during timeouts and yada, yada, yada. Feels like a Joker led team right now. How is this. Is this sustainable? Like, is this. Can they win? Can. Can the Denver Nuggets win this entire thing with the way they're. They are stacked. You forget how many. About how many players they have. You forget about them winning the Championship just a couple years ago. And then you forget about Joker being the best player on the court whenever he wants to. Is there a chance? I know Oklahoma City has had this miraculous year, thunderous year, last two years. SGA is a guy, I get a. Chet's a guy, you name it. Yeah, you get it. I understand that. But is this team capable to go on a run here? Are they capable to win the whole damn thing even though they fire their coach in GM like a week and a half before the playoffs start?
- [28:02]
Ryan Whitney
I mean, after watching them in the first, in the first round, I mean, obviously you looking at what Joker can do. And he, he didn't even have the greatest series. That's what's most impressive about what they were able to do in the first round. He didn't have like the most dominant series that he could have had and they still were able to advance. So I mean, I mean knowing that and knowing how he can, he can go on this 30 point triple double tour and lead them like, yeah, they do have a chance. But I mean, to me it hinges on too many different variables. Mainly Jamal Murray. And I think like I say this OKC team is. They are so guard heavy and defensive guard heavy. They got, I mean Shay himself is a great defender, but I mean they got Lou Dort, Alex Caruso, Isaiah Joe, they got Wiggins, they got a lot of Kayson Wallace. I'm probably mid. Missing some guys, but they got a lot of different guys that they can throw specifically at Jamal Murray to try and make him have a miserable time. So if he's not able to do that, I don't see them being able to advance without. Without Jamal Murray being able to be a huge, like a superstar in this.
- [29:02]
Pat McAfee
In this series plus 3300 obviously is agreeing with what you're saying in this entirety. Let's go to a plus 185 team Boston. Connor has a question.
- [29:10]
Boston Connor
Yeah, Q Rich. Look, the discourse between the Celtics, Knicks.
- [29:14]
Ryan Whitney
I like the shirt. I see the shirt today. I see.
- [29:16]
Boston Connor
Thank you. I got, I also got a Pritch.
- [29:18]
Pat McAfee
Please.
- [29:18]
Boston Connor
Peyton Pritchard. Respect the six man.
- [29:23]
Pat McAfee
Hey, as you could imagine. Hey, as you could imagine. Q Rich, Peyton Pritchardson is loved in Boston. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. More so there probably than most places, if you know what I'm saying. Get Rich. Anyways, back to Yukon, man.
- [29:35]
Boston Connor
Yeah, I love him up in Oregon too. You can, you can just call that for what it is. But look, Peyton Pritchard is the sixth man of the year. Everyone should respect his game. But the conversations about Nick Celtics is basically if the Celtics don't sweep this team, it's a failure for the Celtics, it's a win for the Knicks. We had some stats sent over before the show and the odds for the Celtics to sweep the series are plus 300. And the odds for the Knicks just to win the series are plus 500. So basically the books think it's more likely that the Celtics are going to sweep the Knicks than it is for the Knicks to actually be beat. The Celtics, they're 20 and 4 in their last play five playoff series. So the Celtics are absolutely rolling. But what are your thoughts about this? I personally as a Celtics fan think it sucks for the Celtics because the basically the two outcomes are the Celtics did what they were supposed to do or they, you know, had the biggest upset ever letting the Knicks, you know, even hang around, let alone beat them. How do you see it going? And everyone's talking about basically it's, it's up to Cat kind of to get it done because they expect Brunson to be able to score his 30, do his thing. But do you see this being as easy for the Celtics as everybody on planet earth is making it seem like it should be? Or do you think this might be a little closer?
- [30:57]
Ryan Whitney
Man, lucky for you, B.C. i don't believe that. And I'm sure the guys in the Lakers locker room and Joe Mazzullo doesn't, doesn't pay any attention to what the numbers or the odds say. This New York Knicks team definitely deserved to be respected the right way. And I know the Boston Celtics will take them seriously. They're not looking at this series like they have to sweep for it to be a success. They want to win in advance, but however that comes, that's what they want to do most teams and most players want to do. So with that being said, I, I don't, I don't, I don't look at this as a sweep. I mean, Jalen Brunson is, is the most plush player in the NBA. He's been on an absolute heater doing, doing things that nobody thought he was going to be able to do coming into this league. And he's turned himself into a superstar. And if he gets that support that they talking about how they putting a weight on Cat Anthony Towns, if Cat Anthony Towns can be that 25 point guy hitting threes, facing the floor and being a dog in there as opposed to scoring like barely 10 points, like that would be the difference in this series. And obviously the Josh Harts and The Mikhail Bridges and OGs, they all matter. But I mean those are the two biggest factors for the Knicks. I mean Brunson has been a constant. He's been consistent league very good and leading the way for them. But if Kat Anthony Towns could be that Batman, I mean that Robin to his Batman and be getting 25, 27 and still getting big time double doubles, this could be a series. I do not take the Knicks lightly at all and I don't think it's going to be a sweet.
- [32:22]
Pat McAfee
I think Hembo sent me a stat that basically, basically said there's better odds. Yeah. For the Celtics to sweep than there is for the Knicks to even win the series. So you know, it's like that's a wild amount of pressure. That's, that's all, that's a wild amount of pressure. Let's talk about some teams that aren't moving on. DBut has a question for you.
- [32:43]
Ian Rapaport
Q Rich Yeah, I got to talk about your former squad, man. It seems like Steve Ballmer is doing everything right from the ownership level over there with the Clippers. I know Kawhi Leonard still locked up. I believe James Harden has a player option. Norman Powell, Zubot, they had some pieces but didn't move on past game seven, third, first round exit in the row. Where do the Clippers go from here? In your opinion? Where should they go? How do they move forward?
- [33:07]
Ryan Whitney
I mean I think you, I think you still bring the main pieces back. I mean obviously Kawhi is locked in, but you got to bring back Big Zoo. You bring back. You said, did you say Norman Powell was up?
- [33:16]
Ian Rapaport
I'm not sure if he's up or not. I know Harden has a player option.
- [33:19]
Ryan Whitney
Yeah, Norman Powell's not up. But Harden, Harden and Big Zoo, you bring him back, you bring him back. I mean obviously you know you want more from Harden in the game seven, in the closeout game like that. But I mean what he's done this season, he was an all NBA player. He was an all star and he deserves a big contract and he deserves to be back there. He was good for this team. And the chemistry that he has with Zoo, the chemistry that he had with, with Kawhi importantly and Norman Powell and the rest of them guys, I think he was, he was the leader this year in my opinion. He, he was played most of the games. He was available. That's how he was able to be an all star and all NBA player. I think you bring him back and you do it, you do what you're supposed to do. You try and, you know, you try and retool and fix some things where you think they need to be fixed, fixed. But I mean, those main guys, I think you definitely bring those guys back.
- [34:05]
Ian Rapaport
Q. How, how does that happen though? Like the big game seven, no shows, I guess, for Harden from the outside, looking in as just a fan, but you've been in those series, you've been in those locker rooms and this is a big, this all time great player. Like, how does that happen? I can't recall another player of his caliber, I guess, folding these big situations time after time.
- [34:24]
Ryan Whitney
I, I would. I can't call it like a no show though. I. Now, should he have been more aggressive? Yeah, you can say that. Cause he only had eight field goal attempts. But I mean, when you think about it, to have 13 assists, there's no way you, you not out there not playing you, you doing something. The man had 13 assists. Now should he have been more aggressive? I think that's what everybody wanted to see. They wanted to see if you're gonna go out this game seven, we know who you are. James Harden hit 40, 50, and all type of crazy points. They want to see you go out and get 20 attempts or whatever and 25 attempts and go out, you know, guns blazing. He didn't do that. And, and I don't know if it was because the game became such a blowout before he had a chance to really insert himself. Because if you pay attention. So a lot of games, yeah, James has had big first quarters, big first half, but a lot of games, he starts out as the point guard, he's getting everybody else involved because he knows that he has the ball the whole game and he can get his stuff off when he wants to. But I thought that that game got a little bit way out of hand before he had a chance to really settle in and do that. And you know, the wheels came off the wagon. But if I'm him and I'm the guy that he is, I'm gonna go out getting 20 to 25 shots up. So I understand why people complain and were disappointed that he didn't do that.
- [35:34]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, people are saying he's not letting the gloves fly. You know, he looks like a boxer from this past weekend. You know, he's a little hesitant. He's not going for it. Game Sevens, there's a lot of it. It wasn't just this game, you know, it's a lot of it. Throughout his career, I hope James Harden has massive success just because I appreciate the way he's gone about his life, just not giving a second single about anything, seemingly. And the guy could hoop. He changed basketball. Not as much as Steph Curry, but you get it. Speaking of Steph Curry, his Golden State team beat the hell out of the rockets in Game 7 last night, but they had a hell of a season. Everybody thought they were going to be a team that could go. Ty has a question for you. Q. Yeah.
- [36:07]
H
Q.
- [36:07]
Ty Schmidt
Rich, when you look at the Rockets, even though they were the two seed, I think, you know, no one really gave them much of a shot to actually beat the Warriors. And now we're starting to hear some rumors or, you know, the conversation around, hey, maybe Durant, Durant goes to the Rockets because they're so young and they have so much talent. Do you think that's the type of thing that they need to do to kind of take that next step and make either a conference finals appearance or a finals appearance? Like, would Durant kind of make the most sense going to Houston and kind of taking that young team to the next level?
- [36:39]
Ryan Whitney
For me, I think whatever KD wants to do makes the, makes the most sense. I mean, I think we've seen over time, if the player isn't aligned with whatever's being going on, it's not going to work. But with that being said, I think Houston, I mean, whether it's KD or whoever it is, they need, they need a bonafide bucket. They need a guy that can score the ball when things get rough, that you could give them the ball and say, give me a bucket. And they need more shooting. That was. Those things were ever present in these playoffs for them. They didn't have a consistent wing score like Shangun was, was pretty consistent, but he could have been better at different times, but he was more, he was probably the most consistent guy. And then in the second half of the series, Van Vliet became that. But from the wing, they need us. They need a bona fide bucket. I mean, obviously, if they, if KB Was to go there, that would, that would solidify all of that, because we know what he is and who he is, and he would solve a shooting problem and give somebody the ball and go get a bucket problem. But, but they need that desperately. That was clear. They got all of the athleticism, all of the defense, they got all of the other things that they really need to have those guys play hard as heck. They respond to. IME Eme did a great job with them. They got a defensive mindset. I like everything. They just needed a guy that could go get A bucket and probably one more 3&D guy that could shoot. They got a lot of defensive guys, but they need some more shooting.
- [38:04]
Pat McAfee
Kevin Durant takes a team to the title. Next place he goes, they win a title.
- [38:11]
Ryan Whitney
Depending where he goes. I mean, he's definitely that type of guy that fights. You know, he can. He's a. If he. Wherever he goes, that seismic movement, and he makes them immediately a contender. Like. Like, absolutely. Wherever KD goes, they're immediately viewed as a contender because he came there.
- [38:27]
Pat McAfee
We like KD winning. I like KD playing during the playoffs. I like KD playing whenever the world is watching basketball. Like when in the Olympics, when everybody on earth who's great basketball just was like, you know what? It feels like we're just going to give it to that guy for the entire day. Tarantula is on fire right now. Let's just let him knock out an entire country or two here at the Olympics. So hopefully it's Houston, maybe the Pacers, you know, Come here. Come here to the Indiana Pacers. Do what you got to do. All right, Q. We appreciate the hell out of you, man.
- [38:57]
Ryan Whitney
Yes, sir. Anytime, fellas.
- [39:00]
Pat McAfee
You're the greatest. And literally whenever you say anytime time, you're one of the only humans that has an ESPN contract that whenever we reach out, you say, you got it. So we are thankful for you. You need to know that. Very, very thankful. Yeah.
- [39:11]
Ryan Whitney
Hey, man, you know, I was with y'all. I was rocking with y'all before y'all got to the big times and came to espn. So it's all love, you know what I'm saying? I gotta keep it consistent.
- [39:19]
Pat McAfee
You're a good man. Ladies and gentlemen, Quentin Richardson. He has been around for a while, I think. First time he's on the show like three, four years ago.
- [39:27]
Darius Butler
Yeah.
- [39:28]
Pat McAfee
Time ago he started that Knuckleheads podcast, and I was like, good idea. Hey, I don't. I didn't know you from your basketball career. I know you won the three point contest. I don't know you from your basketball career as much as I probably should. I grew up in Pittsburgh. I apologize. You know, the set, not NBA town. What is it?
- [39:42]
Tone Diggs
Come on.
- [39:43]
Ian Rapaport
Him and D. Miles.
- [39:44]
Pat McAfee
Oh, yes.
- [39:45]
Ian Rapaport
Okay, okay, okay.
- [39:45]
Pat McAfee
So that's from him.
- [39:46]
Ian Rapaport
Yeah, D. Miles. Yeah. Flippers.
- [39:49]
Pat McAfee
Okay, so that makes. Okay, so that makes. I did know the celly. Didn't know the origin. It's like whenever I know the lyrics to a song song, but I don't know who the singing it, you know, like, that is a. That is. That is kind of an issue. Or. Yeah. Or wrote it. Which is a whole nother animal because who's.
- [40:05]
Ryan Whitney
Who do.
- [40:05]
Pat McAfee
I agree. Anyways, this is his celebration. That was a great celebration.
- [40:08]
Ian Rapaport
Oh, yeah.
- [40:09]
Pat McAfee
Okay. Anyways, so I told him that like one of the first or second times we had him on the show, it was like, hey, I didn't know enough about your basketball career. I apologize. But you're really good at talking. You should continue to do this. So I'm happy to see the success of the Knuckleheads podcast. I'm also happy to see the success of him getting on espn. Every time I see him in a shirt and top in his room doing his thing on tv, I get pumped up because he celebrates the sport. He likes the sport. He likes all of the players that are in the sport. Now we're going to be chit chatting about a sport here in a matter of moments that is always making moves. A massive announcement came from the NFL over the weekend. Next year's draft just got done with Green Bay. Last year was Detroit is going to be in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is going to be awesome. I mean, Pittsburgh is a football town through and through. Also, all the towns around Pittsburgh are football towns. So people are going to be coming in from everywhere place with the way the views could potentially be. The only thing that could be a problem is the weather. But that might make it even better, don't you think? AP tone over there in Pittsburgh next.
- [41:05]
Tone Diggs
Year for the draft, like, it could be could be 45 and rain or it could be 80 and sunny. We're going to have to find out. But no, if it's a little bit of weather, they'll still show up. We're not worried about that.
- [41:14]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, it'll still look great. Like Green Bay was phenomenal. Pittsburgh's going to be great. Detroit was great. Obviously everybody goes back to Nashville and remembers how fantastic that was. They've made the announcement on where the 20267 NFL Draft will be. It's going to the nation's capital, Washington will host the NFL Draft in 2027 on National Mall. Okay. A lot of things have happened obviously there. I've seen a Forrest Gump movie and many other tabloids and such. The official announcement is expected to come Monday at the White House, according to that source. Says Mark Mask, who does not have a blue check. Mark Elon Musk. I'm not giving you three bucks for this entire thing. Joining us now, ladies and gentlemen, is a man who's a senior insider for the NFL at the NFL's network. Ladies and gentlemen, Ian Rapaport. What's up? What's going on? Rap Rap sheet. Looks like you just got out of like lunch or something. Maybe heading to fourth period.
- [42:07]
I
I mean, it's a casual day around the house, you know. I know I'm dressed up. I'm dressing down a little bit.
- [42:14]
Pat McAfee
Okay. No, I think you look great. You just look young. You look incredibly young. Obviously the moisturizing is working. Congratulations to you. And we are in a time now where you just, just don't work. Right. This is kind of like a no work time. This is golf time for you and like travel to Legoland town and stuff.
- [42:27]
I
Yeah, I mean, I'm keeping up with all the work. Obviously that's the most important. Now. Again, spent the weekend in Kentucky. Was not a lot of work going on there. Although a lot of football people, including some people near.
- [42:40]
Pat McAfee
There you go.
- [42:40]
I
That's. That's Friday. That was a great outfit. Vineyard Vine Shout Out.
- [42:44]
Pat McAfee
I appreciate you not standing on your tippy toes. Are you standing on your tippy toes or no, you're not? Not.
- [42:50]
I
The left foot is flat now. The right foot is a little elevated, but that's more style than it is function.
- [42:57]
Pat McAfee
Okay, so that's not. To catch up to Leah there. That, that's a. You understand the situation here right now.
- [43:05]
I
Look on the red carpet and also sort of in life.
- [43:07]
Pat McAfee
I think you look good.
- [43:09]
I
I appreciate that she's going to be. When she wears heels, she's a little taller than me. I am good with that. I am good with my place in life, so I don't worry about tippy toe situations.
- [43:19]
Pat McAfee
Okay, good. Well, you look fantastic. I know you're networking down there, even though you're saying you're off and you're always trying to find a new source, you know, always trying to find a new source. And I appreciate the fact that you go down there every single year and that you like horse racing. Shout out to sovereignty. Beating the hell out of journalism, brother. I mean, I'll tell you what, I was pulling hard for that replacement. I was pulling hard for that. As I was sitting, you know, this past week hearing about who the favorite is. Journalism, journalism, journalism, journalism. I was just like, please, God, anybody. And then it rained. You know, when everything started going a little sideways, journalism kind of couldn't take it anymore, you know, and then sovereignty comes in and gets a big time dub. How was the weekend down there? Before we start talking some NFL news And did you find out if Aaron Rodgers is married and where he's playing football.
- [44:09]
I
Well, first of all, the race was amazing. We.
- [44:13]
Ryan Whitney
I.
- [44:14]
I
This might actually surprise you. I was rooting hard for Journalism. Journalism and Sandman were the two horses that were rooting hard for. In the end, Journalism did well, but came in second.
- [44:26]
Pat McAfee
Just not as good anymore. Yeah. Just not as good or real anymore. Yeah.
- [44:30]
I
Good showing. Really good race.
- [44:32]
Pat McAfee
Great showing. Supposed to be. Supposed to be here, you know. Yeah, but just kind of, you know. Just kind of, you know, that's. That's journalism, baby. You know, that's 2025. That's the Edge journalism. 2025. Yeah, that journalism in sovereignty. Wow. What a run. What a run for sovereignty. That's not great either. I just want to let everybody know I'm not pulling. No, no.
- [44:54]
I
I wish Just the horse. Just the horse.
- [44:58]
Pat McAfee
Yeah. I wish Freedom was running, you know, I do wish there was a horse named Freedom running in. Maybe Unity. Maybe running in there. Anyways, okay, great weekend. Let's talk about some NFL news that I did see.
- [45:08]
I
I did see your buddy AJ Was down there. I believe Aaron Rodgers was down there. Walked right by me at the Sports Illustrated party on Friday. Didn't realize till after he was by me. Otherwise we would have exchanged our usual hug and, you know, hello, whatever.
- [45:24]
Pat McAfee
There's. The whole crew.
- [45:25]
I
Saw Randall. There's Ed Barry looking nice in a, you know, a bow tie that he absolutely didn't tie himself. Devonte walked right by me as well. So, yeah, I didn't have any. No Aaron Rodgers updates. And I'd say people who know him very well are still kind of like, yeah, we'll see when he makes a decision. But he looked great.
- [45:44]
Pat McAfee
Yeah. Looked happy. Looked like he had a ring on his ring finger. What's up, aj?
- [45:50]
Darius Butler
Yeah, I'm.
- [45:51]
I
I'm curious about the update there.
- [45:52]
Boston Connor
Super bowl ring.
- [45:54]
Pat McAfee
Me, too. No, not a Super bowl ring. It looked like. Looked like it was a wedding ring. Or maybe he got engaged, too. We talked about this earlier. Maybe somebody got engaged to him. Maybe they flipped the script and said, hey, who says it has to be one way to the other? Maybe somebody got engaged to him and said, aaron, will you take this ring and be with me forever? And Aaron said, yes, I will. And then they'll. I do it later. Who knows? We'll talk to A.J. hawk. Maybe it's just one of those sleep rings. Maybe he said that he's sick of that finger being so tied to marriage. I would like my middle finger to be marriage or pinky ring to be a marriage. There's a chance Aaron's making any decision. We'll hear from A.J. let's talk football. Washington D.C. picked as the NFL draft for 2027. Obviously there is a groundswell of support happening around Washington. They're going to have a new stadium back at the RFK grounds now. They're going to have the draft over there. This is as easy as just getting a new owner. Like why do you think all this is happening Rap and how did we fall on Washington D.C. for the draft?
- [46:54]
I
Well, first of all, just the logistics of it. There's going to be an announcement in about 14 minutes from the White House. President Trump will obviously be doing it. Roger Goodell will be there. Josh Harris will be there. According to reports you mentioned one right there we'll have the location of the 27, 2027 NFL Draft. So we'll see if there's any additional details in the announcement. But I mean when Josh Harris bought the Commanders, I think what he wanted to do is first and foremost like more important than anything else. Build a really good respectable team. Like rebuild the organization, rebuild where they are in our, in like the minds and hearts of fans. Which, you know, you really cannot argue with what he's done. Coach, hire, GM higher, selecting a quarterback. The team is good, they're well run, they're exciting. Like it's all the things that you would sort of hope a new owner would bring. He has brought it unbelievably quick, quickly and then it's like, all right, well if, if that happens as it and it has, what he wants to do is basically bring D.C. back to the NFL landscape. So you know, obviously we know that wheels are kind of in motion for a potential new stadium in Washington D.C. at the Old RFK site, which is just as it should be. And then you try to make D.C. a place that can attract big time events. Maybe when the new stadium gets built it'll be a Super bowl. But in the meantime, according to what Masky is saying, it'll be the draft on the Washington Mall. Probably set the new attendance record, you know, considering how many people were in Green Bay. I mean, you know, just that Lance, there was going to be more fans there. It's. I mean that's going to be pretty cool.
- [48:40]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, I think so. I can't wait to visit. Obviously going to D.C. i went in like sixth grade. Was it sixth grade to be one of the field trip, sixth grade. You go there and you have no idea how much shit is so interesting until you get there and you're just walking around. I don't know how much sightseeing we'll be able to do, but it will be an honor to kind of be a part of an event that takes over our nation's capital. You know, in Green Bay, they had Mark Murphy represent the city along with others. Detroit, they had MCDC and others represent the city. Nashville. I think they brought out Kid Rock and the boys to represent Nashville. This announcement's coming out of the White House today. Is there a chance the president. President is making an announcement. Ty?
- [49:19]
Ty Schmidt
Yeah, I think, you know, Goodell's gonna go up there and it's just gonna be like, you know what, Roger? I'm gonna have to step aside real quick. Everybody, you know, booing, booing Roger. We don't love Roger anymore. Makes a lot of money, shields the owners from a lot of, you know, negative pub. I know about that. But with the first Pick in the 2000 and he's doing the.
- [49:41]
Pat McAfee
You think he's coming out and doing the.
- [49:43]
Ty Schmidt
Without a doubt.
- [49:45]
Pat McAfee
You think he's doing a first pick?
- [49:46]
Ty Schmidt
I think so.
- [49:47]
Pat McAfee
Excited. I will be excited to see what type of negotiations happen for this to take place in D.C. and what this looks like. I am very excited to see what it looks like. But congrats to the commanders fans and the football team fans and the artists formerly known as fans. Their team's all the way back into relevancy and it's a fantastic thing. D Bud has a question for you. Rap.
- [50:08]
Ian Rapaport
Yeah. Who won't be getting his first first or second pick at a jersey number? Abdul Carter appeared with the Giants, obviously their third overall pick. Reports have said he's reached out to Phil Sims. Super bowl winning, has his jersey. Super bowl winning quarterback has his jersey retired by the Giants. Obviously reached out to Lawrence Taylor. All time great pass rusher. Also got denied there. So no. 11, no. 56. Does Abdul Carter have a jersey number yet? Still update there.
- [50:37]
I
No jersey number yet as far as I can tell. And you know, I don't remember this really being a thing. Is this the first year that this has been a thing? Because like feels like it shouldn't he? I mean, look, Abdul Carter is an awesome athlete and I think going to be an excellent, excellent player. And at Penn State in college it's a little different. Like he had the 11 that Mike also had and then Mike has gone to the NFL and you know, in his organization created that legacy there. Shouldn't Abdul Carter just choose a number and create his own legacy?
- [51:07]
Ian Rapaport
Yeah, go tell him that.
- [51:09]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, yeah. I mean, we're all kind of on the same page. We're all kind of on the same page here. Yeah. Especially after, like, yeah, like the LT thing. Like, it's like, come on.
- [51:20]
Ian Rapaport
Michael Jordan.
- [51:21]
Pat McAfee
Yeah.
- [51:21]
Ryan Whitney
Yeah.
- [51:22]
Pat McAfee
It's like, come on. Now I write him asking, I. I appreciate his confidence. And then the 11th thing. And I like Sims coming out and saying, it was my family. It wasn't almost, but my family, which might be legit because I think that is why people retire numbers. So that your great grandkids and your future generations and whenever the team's around 100 years from now can come in and say, hey, these were the people that made this organization what it is. So it's like, I'm kind of an old school guy on that entire thing. Mostly because I've seen some of my friends numbers just get sent out to somebody brand new, like, a month later. And it's like, do we have no respect for anything here? Like, I love Eric Walden Ewall. Came to the Colts from the Green Bay Packers. I loved him. I thought he was a great teammate. I think he would have been great on any team. I loved him as a person. I've tried to hire him here multiple times. He just lives out in the sticks of Georgia and he's a dad full time. But he got the number 93, like, three weeks after Freeney left. It was like, Dwight Freeney left 93. Dwight Freeney, obviously, first ballot here, hall of Famer Freeney goes, and then ewald gets number 93 because it's a brand new regime. And it's like. Like, I just. I didn't like that personally. Now I like Ewall. Ewall made his own name for himself and yada, yada. So I think you thought we were going to be on. You thought we were going to be on Abdul Carter's side in this entire thing. We're not. I'm like, go create your own legacy, brother, and have that thing hang in the banners forever, you know, for eternity in this entire thing.
- [52:45]
I
Well, well, it's like I saw over the weekend that the Seahawks gave away Russell Wilson's number three to Nick Amanware. Yeah. So, but I was thinking about this, and in a way, it's kind of like, all right, like, he was one of the greatest, I don't know, maybe the greatest quarterback in Seahawks history. Sort of depends on how you see it on the other end. It's been a couple years, right? Like, it wasn't like they. He, you know, they trade him and then they just give away. So it's been a couple years It's a high draft pick. It's a good player who's like a good, respectable, like, I think that's. I don't know, a couple years later. I think that's okay because there's not unlimited numbers.
- [53:24]
Pat McAfee
I don't know if it's not retired and if the team lets it happen, you know, I guess you just kind of gotta live with it. But I'm excited to see what number Abdul Carter goes with, and I'm excited to watch Abdul Carter's career and we all think he has the capability to have his own jersey number retired. But the Giants have a lot of history over there. I think this just kind of started a little bit ugly. Warren Moon obviously offered up Cam Ward, the number he was on Houston Oilers as opposed to the Tennessee. So who knows knows if it's. That is cool. Like it could go either way. But I think if you're asking, it's just. That's a weird thing. Anyways, let's move along now. Another big player that could potentially be on the move. Go ahead. Tone Diggs.
- [53:58]
Tone Diggs
Yeah, Ian came up right before the draft that the Dolphins and Jalen Ramsey probably were not going to be together anymore. That was the Dolphins decision talking about trading him. And we thought maybe it could happen draft weekend. I don't think a lot of us realized because I was looking into the contest contract. If they traded him pre 6:1 pre June 1 this year, they'd lose 12 million, 12.5 million in 2025. If they wait till after 6:1, they actually save 6 million. Is that why the Jalen Ramsey trade has not happened yet? And should we be waiting till after June 1 for that to happen? And who do you think might be involved?
- [54:30]
I
Okay, so you're right. What you're talking about is cap, though. So if the Dolphins trade Ramsey before June 1, it's $13 million additional cap charge charge. But they are saving the cash, right? So someone else will acquire either the whole contract or a portion. However it's handled, I think it's $21 million that's still due to him. So additional cap charge, which is accounting, you can always sort of figure a way out of that, but save a lot of cash. So that would probably be the most valuable thing there. I still expect them to part ways. I do expect him to get traded for the Dolphins. You know, I think it would help them to wait until after June 1. But if the right deal happens, they probably just do it anyway because it's like, you know, if, if negotiations bring them to a point where deals getting done. Just do the deal and figure out everything else. Capitalize out later. The Rams are an interesting possibility here. I mean, Sean McVeigh has come out and said they're still interested in Jalen. They've had conversation. He and Jalen still talk like they are still friends. I know McVay considers him to be one of his favorite players he's ever had. Like they're not there yet but and I don't get the sense conversations have been recent, but that would make a lot of sense as a landing spot for Jalen Ramsey.
- [55:50]
Pat McAfee
Obviously love the city of la. He goes down to Miami, it ends up not working out. If he was to go back to LA and play for the Rams, that'd be a great story for Jalen Ramsey, who's an absolute Quickly we got one minute to a hard out Rap Report Is Brock Purdy deal going to get done soon or no?
- [56:09]
I
I've not gotten the sense that it'll get done soon, but it does at least seem like it's going in the right direction. Like Kittle's deal was sort of a little bit quicker. They got the Fred Warner deal they could do. Quarterback deals usually take longer, but it seems like it's positive and head in the right direction. Just we'll see if they get that good landing spot somewhere in the 50s to get Brock Purdy locked in long term.
- [56:34]
Pat McAfee
And when would that be? A week before training camp. Training camp? What do you think?
- [56:38]
I
Usually it's like, is he going to sign right before training camp? And then if he doesn't, it's like he'll hold in a lot of times, but that's kind of the next it's like mandatory minicamp deadline. Okay, Sort of training camp deadline. That's kind of the next thing.
- [56:58]
Pat McAfee
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- [57:53]
Ian Rapaport
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- [57:58]
Pat McAfee
This episode is brought to you by Chevy Silverado.
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Ian Rapaport
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Pat McAfee
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Ian Rapaport
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- [58:17]
Pat McAfee
Duramax 3 liter turbo diesel engine. Where other trucks call it quits, you'll just be getting started. Visit chevy.com to learn more. Sports are happening all around us. Not just with humans, but also with horses. We'll be talking about it all. We're incredibly lucky that we get to do this for a living. We can't thank you enough for following along and allowing us to have this as a day job. The talks a table is back in a Thunderdome at Boston Conner and at Ty Schmidt. Boys, you look fantastic and sound fantastic. I can't wait to get back there and see you and give you a high five for your performance in the first hour of the show today. Boys.
- [58:58]
Ty Schmidt
Appreciate you very much.
- [58:59]
Pat McAfee
Pat.
- [59:00]
Ty Schmidt
You know, you as well, obviously you're basically at an ACDC concert for a little bit of that. So you know, fighting through that. Hey, I don't know if there's a. If you see Gunther tonight, I don't know if he's back. I don't know if he's allowed there still. Do me a favor, smack him in the mouth.
- [59:14]
Tone Diggs
Uh huh. Smack him right.
- [59:15]
Pat McAfee
Okay, I will. You know, I will if I see him.
- [59:19]
Ryan Whitney
I will.
- [59:19]
Pat McAfee
Now with that being said, I don't know if I want him to get a feel.
- [59:23]
Ty Schmidt
Sure.
- [59:24]
Pat McAfee
You know, for the heat that's coming. I think there's a lot of wrestling. Hey, that's pretty sick, by the way. Yeah, that is. That's pretty nasty. Now I got green eyes, which I think you know, is the lowest percentage of people in the world. I believe if you look up stats, I know blue eyes are obviously remarkable and beautiful and I think brown eyes are magnetic. You know, my wife is a beautiful brown eyed girl. But whenever I seen this graphic, I said, you know what? That looks like a guy that could potentially beat the man who's a world champion. Just a few weeks ago that looks like a man who's supposed to be representing for all the good things. Whenever people try to bully their friends. You know, what Gunther did to Michael Cole and what Gunther did to me is just unacceptable. And who would I be if I didn't stand up for myself and Michael Cole? But not just me and him, but for everybody that maybe gets bullied or pushed around by somebody that doesn't like the way you go about doing your business, even though you got to do your business, how the business is supposed to be done. Throws Michael Cole's damn near 60 years old glasses, pushes me over three chairs and a bunch of wires and then a table. Then he tries. What's he going to do? He's going to choke on Michael Cole. Is that what he was planning on doing? Choking on Michael Cole? I don't think so, buddy. I had the snake skins on. Obviously wasn't prepared for a little bit of a brawl there with. With a former world champion, but things got to be done. You must ride for those who ride for you. Which is exactly what I had to do there for Michael Cole. He would then attack me from behind as I was trying to get back to commentary desk because I thought it was all under control. And then speaking about riding for folks that ride for you, all the boys would jump the barricade, full chaos would ensue, and I'd end up being snoozed at. Now, tonight, I believe Gunther is going to be back in the building. How is this going to go? We shat shall see. But just know I'm dumb enough to know that I'm not afraid of anything.
- [61:13]
Tone Diggs
Hell yeah.
- [61:14]
Pat McAfee
But I'm smart enough to know that I'm probably not supposed to win this, but knees, hands, lightning in this boot. There it is.
- [61:25]
Darius Butler
Yep.
- [61:26]
Pat McAfee
Bomb. So any given moment, any given time in St. Louis this Saturday, I'm excited for it. And tonight, we shall see how it goes down. 1/2 of the Hinge Hammer podcast. AP Tone is back there. Tone, good gambling week for you in boxing. I don't know how you did on ball sports or puck sports, but I do know. Or horse sports, but I do know in the boxing world, you did great. I'm very proud of you, buddy. We need to take advantage of that maybe a little bit more often.
- [61:52]
Tone Diggs
Thank you. I appreciate it. You know, it's. It's. As long as you pay attention to what's going in, going on in the sweet science, you. You got a good chance. And the Canelo Alvarez storyline with the Terrence Crawford fight coming up you know, really gave some good tea leaves going into what this would be. Maybe going the distance, maybe winning, unanimous decision, all those things, you know, a couple of the other guys. Munguia did not get the knockout that I was looking for. Moongia Jaime. Jaime Munguia. The Bacoli fight with the distance, which I did not see coming. The big boys, I thought they would knock each other out, but, you know, there was, there were some good things going on there. The ball sports. I decided I'm never going to bet on the horses again. I just lose too much money doing the. That every single year. The ball sports was good. And then I was gonna, I was gonna bet on auto racing and F1, but I said, you know what, in, in your honor, you know, I'm just not gonna do anything European anymore right now because of Gunther. So I decided G1 was not okay.
- [62:43]
Pat McAfee
Okay, I. Hey, I kind of respect that move. I kind of respect that move a lot. And obviously we can't hold against all Europeans what one Austrian asshole did to Michael Cole, which led to what's going to happen on Saturday. But to your point, let's go to nine year NFL vet and G1 superfan, Darius J. Butler. There was a race this weekend, right? Somebody did some racing or cars run. I saw they had a drone shot of the cars moving so fast and I thought that was the actual race. I guess that was Legos. Tell me about this weekend. And were those. They were sitting in Lego made cars. And is that a more exciting race than whenever they're sitting in the actual car?
- [63:20]
Ian Rapaport
You know, it was different. It was different. But there was a huge, huge race this weekend at F1 and there will be a lot more weekends here in Miami. They got extended through 2041. Steven Ross and F1 made that agreement. So there will be many, many more races. And yeah, the Legos. That was an awesome piece of the driver's parade. Over 400,000 Lego bricks. I think over 22,000 man hours to put these things together actually one to one scale. So life size F1 cars out there. So all the 10 teams, two drivers in each car, they had a nice little driver's parade before the race. And also before the race, obviously there's a bunch of celebs down there, always. Justin Jefferson, the biggest star in the NFL, One of the biggest stars in the NFL. He linked up with Oscar Piastri, who went out there and did his thing and actually won this race. So this is the fourth F1 Miami. This is. Hey, relax. All right?
- [64:14]
Boston Connor
This is third.
- [64:15]
Ian Rapaport
His third win in a row. Row. Only the fourth driver to win three in a row since F1 went hybrid. And now he's kind of, I think, square number one on that McLaren team. It was Lando who won this race last season, but now he is the number one driver, in my opinion. He is leading the driver standings as well right now. Oscar Piastri. Oh, there's the gritty right there. Oh, yeah, he made a bet with Jefferson, if you wanted. That was. I mean, that was. That was sick. I mean, him and Chuck had gritty off. That'd be tough. But yeah, he. He made. Made good with his bet. I love that. Won it from the fourth position. So as no one has ever won this race from pole position in the four races. And now you take a look at the driver standing both drivers from McLaren up there at the top, 131 and 115, respectively. And then obviously the team standings in the Constructor cup, they're up there on top as well with Mercedes in red bull. Yeah, F1 was exciting as it usually is, and it was exciting in Miami. And Miami made a spectacle of it, as they will do for the next, what, 20 some years? Almost 20 years.
- [65:17]
Pat McAfee
As a guy who's driven on that racetrack down there in Miami, I got respect for the roads down there. I got respect for the barricades. I got respect for the bridges that go over top of it. Hilarious that we're. We're extending it to 2041. Yeah, well, we'll take this thing another 16 years if possible. How many extensions can you get? I. I mean that. Let's, let's extend it out to 2100. You might as well, especially if you're a part of the Steven Jones family. Who's making what, 50 million every single time they come down there? Allegedly.
- [65:44]
Ian Rapaport
Yeah. Steven Ross is making, I think the last number. Last number I saw was 25% more than all the Dolphin season tickets throughout the year. So every year that they bring this down here, they make at least 25% more. And I think it only get bigger as they, you know, move the races into different spots. Everyone's trying to get to that Miami level because everyone wants a trip to Miami anyway. So it's panning out good. And as far as American auto sports go, Cadillac will be on the grid next year to make the 11th team. And I believe headquarters are out here as well. So I'm looking forward.
- [66:18]
Pat McAfee
That's what we're talking about. That's what we're talking about. Yeah. Indianapolis Indiana The Homer Racing Cadillac headquarters for F1. They're going to go do their thing. Thank you for that breakdown and congrats, Austri. I mean, what a gritty he did. I appreciated Justin Jefferson's content from down there because if you talk to like four of the drivers, you're, you're guaranteed to get one of the winners. What you just got to get Vander Stoppen, Piastri. Who's the others?
- [66:41]
Ian Rapaport
Lando.
- [66:42]
Pat McAfee
Lando.
- [66:44]
Ian Rapaport
Somebody else probably George Russell this year. Lewis Hamilton. He went to Ferrari. It's not, not going great right now for Lewis.
- [66:52]
Pat McAfee
I, I appreciate Oscar Piastri did a terrible gritty before the race and he did a worse one afterwards. But I like that Justin Jefferson went down there and had a good time. Shout out to the F1 folks doing racing and shout out to the Lego people that pieced that together. May the fourth be with all of them. Happy birthday to my daughter, by the way. That was a great thing this weekend. She turned 2. I celebrated the hell out of that. It was great to see her. Also a lot of war stuff happening yesterday and Lego stuff stealing the weekend. Joining us now is a guy who's part of one of the biggest stories in the NFL this weekend down in Louisville, Kentucky. Although he had a suit on and his fingers were busted, he was smoking a bunch of cigars. This guy could have got to the bottom of it if he wanted to be a journalist or will he be a member of the sovereignty. Ladies and gentlemen, A.J. hawk. A.J. did you do any second place horse down there? Did you do any journal? Aaron Rodgers is married. Was that a, was that a wedding party you guys had down there? What the hell was that?
- [67:46]
H
It was, it was not a wedding party from what we knew. But yeah, all of us were a bit surprised we showed up as well. And to tell you the truth, I don't really know. I don't know if I have any answers for you when it comes to that situation. He's very, he's very private and mysterious when it comes to things like that. And, and this is definitely one of them for sure. He seems very happy. Very happy. He's doing very well. Looks good physically, mentally, but not a lot of clarity on this situation, I'm not gonna lie.
- [68:15]
Pat McAfee
So as soon as the, as soon as the rumors started coming out, my wife showed me some memes from like the pop culture world about Aaron being married, I guess probably from that video or whatever because everybody obviously sees the clear wedding ring that is on his, that is on his finger there, you know, it's like, okay, is that a wedding? Five, six. I thought we were gonna get a maybe a full 10 count there. I thought I could keep up. That was a great voice. Whoever that is, they should let them do a promo tonight. They got a hammer of a voice box and a vocal cord there. But obviously they picked this up as this guy's married and he put left hand over top of right hand, too. During photo. If he was trying to hide that, you know, he could go right over left. He was doing left over right, almost trying to showcase it. So as soon as I see that, I text A.J. i go, AJ, what's going on? Your text back to me is one of the greatest things I think I've ever read, because what you just said there is. He's very secretive and mysterious in what he does. That's basically. That is basically what you said. Now, let's talk about the vibes. You said he's very happy, mentally, physically. Did football get brought up at all or we just trying to enjoy some horse racing and the boys all weekend?
- [69:18]
H
All right, well, you see. You see Ed Barry in the background right there, and the agent to. To all the stars and upcoming stars. We know that, but honestly, football did not. Oh, no, this guy brought up too much. I mean, I feel like you said it like the whole. Whole wedding ring situation kind of overtook the weekend before football, I think.
- [69:38]
Pat McAfee
Okay, so let's talk about the race itself. Did any of you guys have sovereignty? You guys wanted power over journalism. How were the bets? Any boys win?
- [69:46]
H
Yeah, we won a little bit here and there. I always go and partner with Matt Flynn on every single race, and we go in together.
- [69:51]
Pat McAfee
We.
- [69:51]
H
Luckily for Flynn, he put. He put sovereignty in a couple, like, you know, trifecta situation. So we won some money on that race. But I believe Randall Cobb had sovereignty strength and took him. So he was juiced that whole time.
- [70:03]
Pat McAfee
Shout out to Randall Cobb. Getting it done. It was a little bit of a mud tracker, and journalism just couldn't keep up. You know, that's journalism in 2025, just fading away. Sovereignty kind of taking over. Can't get through the mud. Creates a lot of mud. Just can't get through it. Since the beginning of time, journalism has been striving and striding through mud. That's the kind of their business now. Sovereignty, absolute power. And ends up taking the lead and getting a big time win down in Louisville. We wish for freedom and unity to win next year, but the fact that there was a McAfee horse that was trending towards the Derby. That would have been. I know nothing about the horse. I do not own the horse. Did not have anything to do with the naming of the horse. Never met the horse. But there was a McAfee horse that was racing through this season eyeing Kentucky Derby. Imagine if that horse, instead of six studding on a couple nights before these races, just like cold tubbed and stayed focused and won a little bit. We would have had McAfee and journalism potentially down the back. I mean, that would have been. That would have been awesome. It would have been. For me, it would have been great. Joining us now is another man who does journalism at the highest level. You would never expect it, especially with his accent, the way he talks. He's a former fifth overall pick for the Pittsburgh Penguins. He is a founder of Pink Whitney, which is a drink that is really captivated the world because of how delightful it is, while also getting you pretty boozed up. Ladies and gentlemen, co host of the Spitting Chicklets podcast, Ryan Whitney.
- [71:30]
Darius Butler
Guys, guys, it's a pleasure to be here. Thank you so much for the invite. What an intro. Just thinking of a horse doing a cold tub had me laughing even before this started. So appreciate it very much. Pat, how you been?
- [71:42]
Pat McAfee
Hey, no problem. Yeah, they got those big tubs, you know, you need big tubs with a lot of water to get those horses in there. McAfee was boozing. He didn't even get any of that lotion. That old. What was Blunt Baffert was rubbing on his horse's ass. Yeah, I think if you were to ask McAfee that horse. Hey, you want to take a little extra? You want to do a little. I think McAfee would have done it, anything to get to the big dance. Instead, they probably killed that horse. Now, rest in peace, which is. I hope not. I hope not. Whit, let's talk a little hockey, pal. I think what you guys have done with spitting Chiclets has made hockey bigger, better, and more notable. So I appreciate the hell out of your work, especially for the fact that you have ties to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Let's talk about this playoff series or this playoff group as a whole. No Boston, no Pittsburgh, no New York. What are your thoughts on going into the playoffs, what it was going to be and where we stand right now. After a double overtime thriller last night.
- [72:34]
Darius Butler
On Sunday, I think there was some worry about maybe, you know, some fringe hockey fans who just really get looking forward to the playoffs about no, you know, some original six teams missing the ones you just mentioned. And. And to me, it's like following the season all along I knew we were going to have special matchups. I knew. Never pictured for a second. The first round. We just got. I mean, I, I understand the popularity of the NBA, but like if you're watching some of these playoff hockey games and then clicking over to an NBA game, it's just the, the excitement level is so different. And then we had all these storylines from Tom Wilson almost killing someone and changing that series in the Bell center in Montreal to two game seven comebacks. I, I read a stat that was three, three, three times in the history of the league a team was down by two or more goals in the third period of a game. 7, 79, 2014, 2019. It happened twice back to back. Saturday, Sunday night with Dallas, Colorado and then Winnipeg, St. Louis. So that kind of shows how wild it's been. Amazing to see. Kind of like how popular the game has become. I know there's obviously a ways to go for, for some of the other leagues, but I feel like hockey's growing. You talked a lot about four nations and that led into a first round round that no one expected would be as crazy as it was. So it's awesome that. Tears of pain and agony as Toronto loses again in the second round.
- [74:01]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, it's nice to watch Biz go through that and everybody kind of dump on him. Feels like he is having a great time. Last year was on the Oilers, this year obviously on the Maple Leafs. Can we talk about that double overtime thriller that happened last night? Is that a better barn in the league for that to happen to, to be showcased in a Game 7? Because Golden State, you talk about the NBA, you watch these NBA games. Golden State was going to win that game the entire time, no questions asked. They were up. Houston wasn't able to figure it out. Golden State's going to win that. I actually flipped over to that game. They were up 20 during the intermission, heading in to overtime. So then he flipped back. That crowd showed up. It was an insane barn, but it's like a historically loud barn right in this place, like, known to be one of the best environments in all of sports. So for them to host the double comeback is perfect, don't you think?
- [74:45]
Darius Butler
It was. It was the perfect spot for it. And, and kind of like a tortured fan base in a way. Last year they get smoked by Colorado and Hellebuck was a no show. And then this year they, they win the, they win, they win at home, then they get spanked on the road. They come back, they have a Chance to win in St. Louis. Spanked again. Hella Buck pulled again. And then the game starts. Game seven. Now look at that crowd outside. It's insane how early people get there to watch these games without a ticket in Winnipeg. But they came out flat. They had three shots in the first period. They're down two nothing. Seven minutes in, and it's. And people are wondering, like, do they have to pull Hellebuck? All of a sudden, they get 1, 2, 1, but boom. Faxa scores. It's 3 1. I'm thinking it's over. Two minutes left, they're down two. The crowd was quiet even though in the second and third, Winnipeg picked it up. The crowd started getting a little bit more rous crazy. And now they get it to 3, 2. It's like, all right, we got a ball game here. But as those final seconds wore down, I'm. I'm like, I don't. I don't think they have it. And all of a sudden, Ehlers, he. He actually whiffs at the point on that play, goes back to him, fires it over Kyle Connor, who's a stud, an American stud that should have played in the final game of formation. He whiffs on a shot, but lucky enough, it goes to Perfetti. He gets his second of the night, and it's a tie game. 1.6 seconds left. Colby Armstrong, part of our crew, was spitting chicklets. Another Pittsburgh guy, he was saying he was in the building, he's like, I've never, ever experienced anything like that. You couldn't hear anything. You're looking around, you're jumping around. It's a sea of white. And they move on. And that's without Mark Scheifele, their best forward, and Josh Morrissey, their best defense, would only play two minutes before he left with a shoulder injury. So just. Just a scene. That was insane. I mean, the night before, Dallas had no chance. That was times 10, having no chance, being down two with two minutes to go, and they make it happen. And then in a thrilling victory in double overtime, that. That's it. Unreal story. And I'm happy for the people of Winnipeg. They need. They need some good things to happen to them up there.
- [76:38]
Pat McAfee
Yeah. Amen. And I'm telling you what, they willed it into happening. I think the way they've showed up for the playoffs, I don't know if that's all year, but you talked about that outside. We started noticing that and talking about that the last couple years. I didn't know that happened, that that's the Whole city shows up for that. Like the whole, I don't know, what do you guys call province, I guess is what they call the whole goddamn province. Seemingly shows up for this Winnipeg team, for them to get a big win. Awesome. Let's talk about one of their dogs. AP Tone has a question for.
- [77:03]
Tone Diggs
Yeah, with Neil Peon, because of the defensive injuries, plays 46 minutes of ice time, has three apples last night in the, in the game. Like, what is that? What is the 46 minutes of ice time compared to. Like, is that, is that just absurd?
- [77:16]
Darius Butler
That, that's crazy.
- [77:18]
Pat McAfee
That's.
- [77:18]
Darius Butler
That's basically you're on the ice the whole, I mean, half the game, which is like kind of unheard of. I mean, it was a little more big back in the day. Chris Pronger, Nick Lindstrom would play 30 minutes in most 60 minute games. But for this guy to do that with their number one guy out. Now, he was thrown in. I'm not thrown in, but he was part of the trade when Jacob Truba was traded to the Rangers years back. But people didn't expect much and he's turned into a legitimate number two defenseman on any team in the league. They signed him to a long extension right before the playoffs began. And then to show up the way he did and even that, that play in double overtime, like, he's kind of dancing the blue line. He makes sure he gets that shot through. And I was just happy for him because to step up that way when, when your team needs you after signing the extension too, to make it like that, you're that much more proud of yourself, you know, and it's all about the team in hockey. We, we always talk about that on Chiclets. But this guy, he showed up, he did exactly what they needed, and now he's gonna have to do more of it because I don't know the Morrissey status. But Pat, quickly about the celebration outside, there was a video made of the. Basically like the governor of the province, I don't know what they call him up there. And the mayor of Winnie, Winnipeg, they leave the game and they're sitting there doing a video and they're like, everyone's allowed to be late to work tomorrow. Like, this is, this is just hockey country. This is, there's nothing like it in Canada. And we got three teams, three Canadian teams in the elite eight for the first time in 21 years. So it's, it's going to be a special second round too.
- [78:42]
Pat McAfee
Foxy, can you go back to the beginning of this video and Turn the sound up. This one. They score in double overtime. What a pop.
- [78:54]
Darius Butler
Dude, that's a paw.
- [78:56]
Pat McAfee
That is a pop. And they were down 3:1, obviously, with two minutes left. So a lot of those people could have bailed. They chose not to. The place is wild now. A lot of pressure on them and others. Go ahead, A.J.
- [79:05]
H
Yeah, what you mentioned, three of the eight teams remaining are, you know, Canadian teams. Is this the year that you believe a Canadian team finds a way to, to win it all? I know it's been at least a couple decades since that has happened. Do you think this is, this is their time?
- [79:19]
Darius Butler
Yeah. I, I, so you could see by my sweatshirt where I lie. I was a member of the Oilers. I was pretty much booed out of town. So you'd think that I, I'd have some, maybe hatred in my heart for those, for those fans. But I knew, I knew I deserved the booze. I knew I was not living up to the contract. And I totally understood where they were coming from because of the passion they have. And then McDavid came along and I'm like, I'm all in. Like, I, I, I, I've actually been using the analogy of people who every year bet Rory to win the Masters. It's going to happen. He's too good. And now it's, for me, it's Connor McDavid. He's going to win a Stanley Cup. And every single year. It's difficult. The west is better than the east, and now they got to go through Vegas. This is going to be an enormous test. They were dead in the water against LA until Jim Hiller, the LA coach, had a, had a, a fumble of a challenge in game three. All of a sudden they went four straight. They're moving on. So I think it could happen this year. I think Edmonton has the best chance of the Canadian teams. Then Toronto, Toronto, then Winnipeg. Winnipeg fans get on me a little bit. I'm not totally sold on them. So happy for them, and an amazing thing. But until Hella Buck turns into Hella Buck in the regular season, in the playoffs, I really can't trust him. But it's been 22 years, I think, or no, 32 years. 93 was the last cup in Canada. The Montreal Canadiens. Yeah. So that's a long time for, for a nation that, well, this was on with you guys. And he was saying it's mostly Canadian players and all the roster. What I told him, I don't care, buddy. It's American cities.
- [80:46]
Pat McAfee
Let's actually talk about a Russian on a Roster in America's capital. Go ahead, con man.
- [80:52]
Boston Connor
Yeah, Whit. You know, the Ovechkin and the Capitals have kind of had the headlines for a lot of the season because of the goal chase. Obviously he gets it done. We just had a graphic up there. The Capitals are plus 900. They got the longest odds to win the Stanley cup, and they're going up against the Hurricanes in this next round. How do you feel about these two teams, do you think? You know, Ovechkin and the boys in Banzamaker Dance might have a chance to go on a run here or will Brindamore finally get the job done for Carolina?
- [81:23]
Darius Butler
So I like Washington in this series. I've really flip flopped on them. I think end of November I was like, ah, they're going to come back to life early in the new year. I don't think they can continue. And it's just kept going and going. They rebuilt their team last year. They were in the playoffs, got smoked, swept by the Rangers. Looked like they had no business. And I was like, it's going to turn into just the OV goal chase kind of it for the Caps, but they brought in some big names. Jacob Chickren's been excellent there. Dylan Strom wasn't even given a qualifying offer from the Blackhawks years back. He's been like Nicholas Backstrom for OVI earlier in his career. And Washington's a big, tough team. Tom Wilson is a unicorn. I know I'm copying biz on that one. But he puts the fear of God and other players and Carolina while being faster than Washington. They're not an overly physical team. I think Washington is going to be able to get that done. If you remember years ago, the other Russian on Carolina, Schwechn, he squared up with Ovi if you want to YouTube that one. I don't think he's going to be doing it again because Ovko so OV OVI could score goals and then if you want to around you find out. But I like Washington. They're big, they're strong, they're tough. They have a great locker room vibe. You'll see interviews and the way Spencer Carberry talks to the team after in the locker room when the videos come out. It just seems like a great group. They signed Nick Dowd, who's a fourth line center there, to an extension at the end of the the year. He chugged a beer in the room in front of the boys.
- [82:42]
Pat McAfee
It's just.
- [82:43]
Darius Butler
It's a fun group. I like Carolina's team, but I Just think Washington has something special going. And Logan Thompson lost his job as the starting goaltender with Vegas. They went on to win the Stanley cup. And he's got a lot to prove, right? He got Wally pipped a few years back and now he's there. He came back from injury after game three against the Canadiens first round, played game four when everyone thought he'd be out, and he was great. So we're going to see what happens here. But, but I like Washington in that series, especially with the home ice.
- [83:09]
Pat McAfee
They're currently the underdogs. You can get some good money on Washington against this raging kayaks down there in Carolina. You talk about the team we had? Oh, we got Ovon because he had a required media I think with espn. So we got him on our show and it was honestly we, we knew this was wild, that it was happening in the moment that it was happening. He starts the thing. I don't know if you saw this by introducing every human on the plane. I'm surprised he didn't go up and show us who the pilots were. But like he was like, oh, this is by all say hello Sail. And then Tom Wilson goes up. I call him a son of a. Because obviously everything he's done with Pittsburgh. But you talk about how tight that group is. For them to be able to like kind of put their egos aside. I guess that's hockey as a whole. But the whole year to your point was just ov ov ov ov. They had OV cam. They had a full time OV cam on them. All those other guys who have had a lot of success on that team could have kind of got a little bit jaded by it. Instead it feels like they rallied around it because of who OV is. This guy obviously greatest goal scorer of all time. I don't know if that's what you're saying to Hockey World, but like he has the stat that can back that up. He'll be considered. Where will he be considered? Whenever it comes to like great hockey player in the history of hockey as a whole. Because feels like he lives up to everything the hockey players are. Obviously he's great on the ice, works his dick off, loves to have a brew or two, loves the lads, positive in the change room. It's like he's a beauty, right? As, as an alternative timer in this entire thing. How do you guys judge him?
- [84:35]
Darius Butler
An all time legend. I, I, I've talked to a few guys like TJ O. He just kind of asked about him, right? Because unless you've played with Washington. Nobody really knows him. And then they just, they just smile when you ask him on. They're like ov something else. I mean the guy is crushing Dr. Peppers on the bench.
- [84:51]
Ryan Whitney
He's.
- [84:52]
Darius Butler
He's hammering Cheetos every day before the game with a subway sub. It's like all the new age of protein shakes and no alcohol and working out ova movie's like I score goals, I run people over, I drink when I want, I eat what I want and I show up and I just dominate for 20 years. So it's been incredible to watch. I think that, I think that how he's played physically is the most mind boggling thing for me. Like he, he's been running people over for 20 years. He somehow without. And by the way, this year, like him breaking his leg. He broke his leg, it came back back and still broke the record. He might have brick broken the record in February had he not had that injury. But. First time I ever played against OBI World Juniors 2003 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He's a 16 year old and that's a tournament for 19, 20 year olds. And he had a hat trick against us in the first game and he had a cage on. Full cage. You're allowed to wear a half Shield Once you're 18. I said, who the is that guy? And he also ran a couple guys over that game. So it's been amazing to witness and be a part of. And I actually, it sounds a little soft, but I was watching with my sons when he broke the record. I made sure we were watching that game and, and I was like a little emotional just thinking like that's an all time NHL record everyone said would never be broken. And it was just more like I got the chance to play against him like we were rookies the same year I actually got fined 2500 bucks for spearing them right in the beanbag. I didn't mean to, I didn't mean to, but I got fine.
- [86:21]
Pat McAfee
Of course.
- [86:21]
Darius Butler
I got fine, of course. And I got him and he was like, oh. From the ice. I was like, oh, somebody's gonna kill me.
- [86:28]
Pat McAfee
Tom Wilson would have been that guy if he had been around.
- [86:31]
Darius Butler
Thank God he wasn't in the league, Pat. Thank God he wasn't.
- [86:33]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh, wait. Would have got a little bit hit there on the return. She had a receipt coming back to Whitney. But you think about OV and how physical he is. We saw him fight people in the Penguins here like that. That was a great rivalry for Us to watch Pittsburgh and Washington, obviously Sidney and everything he's been able to do, but Tom Wilson becoming like a gift. Gifted goal scorer, 30 plus goals, 200 plus hits, only guy in the NHL. It's like, I love that team. I love everything they're about. I also love everything going on down in Florida because South Florida is not supposed to be the home of hockey, but it certainly feels like a D. Bud has a question for you, Whit?
- [87:07]
Ian Rapaport
Hell yeah. New New hockey town wit. But we talked about great locker room. It's an absolute great locker room down there is what Great change room, as you know, we call it. But when all the guys get back together, how do you see this going.
- [87:20]
Pat McAfee
As we call the rest?
- [87:21]
Ian Rapaport
So I was out there, you know, Pittsburgh in the change room with the Lats, but how do you see this, this series going with Toronto down here at, with the Panthers?
- [87:30]
Darius Butler
I, I think Craig Barubi being the coach of the Leafs, winning the Stanley cup with St. Louis being a no bullshit guy changes this Leafs team. I think they're more mature, I think they're more patient and I think they're still going to get completely dominated. And I. It's, it's, it's nothing really against them. It's just Florida has this bully mentality. Like they go into games and they say, we are going to drive you insane. We're going to spear you, we're going to elbow you in the head. We don't mind guys taking suspensions. This is how you win a cup. And there's people who hate watching them. But what does their fan base love? They love the Panthers and they love the way they play. And they're able to continue to come at you wave after wave. They got physical guys, they got rats, they got skilled players and they have one of the best goals, bullies who, who will be a Hall of Famer, and Sergey Bobrovsky. I mean, you look at this Sam Bennett goal on the screen right now. Sam Bennett will put his elbow right through your chin and then laugh as you're sitting there with a broken jaw looking up at him like, they have sickos, they have like sociopaths on their team, but that's what wins Stanley Cups. It sounds crazy and there's so much skill that goes into that. So I think the crowd has become amazing down there. I played there for seven games before my NHL career ended and I was sent to the Min Niners. And it was a dark time and it'd been a dark time for a long time in, in Southern Florida. And now they've just turned into a wagon. And they'll beat you with skill, they'll beat you with brawn, and they'll really, really shove it in your face after. So I like this Leafs team. I do. But Brad Marchand's on their third line. Like, you say that. I mean, that's like, enough said. That shows the depth, and that shows what that team could bring every night. So I like Florida in six, maybe five. Biz is saying we'd have to beat him in seven. I know he knows in his heart that they're in one.
- [89:09]
Ian Rapaport
Biz knows.
- [89:10]
Pat McAfee
Yeah. And I think that's why he's so loud. I know that's why he's so loud. And every time he gets a chance to talk to Kachuk, I saw him doing some real journalism on spitting Chiclets on a morning. Yeah, it was a lot of heavy questions he was asking. As soon as he came on the show, Biz just started unloading. Hey, we can do any late hits. What do you think about this? He just started raveling on. I mean, it was real deal. I think he knows, though. That's why he's trying to help. He's trying to get into Kachuk's head. He thinks he can be the sixth man off the ice for this Maple Leafs team. I think, personally, if you put a.
- [89:40]
Darius Butler
Lie detector on him and asked him, are you on the Maple Leafs? Like, he's. He's saying, yes, and he's passing the lie detector. He's completely deranged enough to think like, I'm a part of this team. He said that they picked him up on waivers the same time the Coyotes did, but the Coyotes were lower in the stand. He's like, I would have been a Leaf, too. But I said, all right, bud. But Kachuk came on, and he's dropping Eck.
- [90:01]
Pat McAfee
Blad.
- [90:01]
Darius Butler
Steroid. Steroid bombs. He's talking about Kachuk's late hit on Jake Genzel. And I. It's funny. Yan was just. Yan was. What are you doing? I just brought one of the best players in the league on the show. But Biz, I knew when I saw him pop on and go.
- [90:13]
Pat McAfee
Biz is.
- [90:14]
Darius Butler
He's in Leafs mode right now. He's lost in the sauce of the Leafs. And this. This is not going to be softball questions. And he said after. I don't give a. I'm not asking softballs. I'm about to go to war with this guy. Said, biz, you work. You work for tnt. Biz threw confetti. He Had a speech and confetti falling from the ceiling. When they won the first round against Ottawa, they were the seventh team in the conference. So I love his passion, and I love the fact that he truly, truly believes it's our year, as he says. But 1967 was a long time ago, boys. And the Florida Panthers.
- [90:46]
Pat McAfee
Long time ago, brother.
- [90:47]
Darius Butler
Oh, they don't give a shit. The Panthers. They did it to him two years ago in game five, and I think maybe they get one more game this year. It goes to six.
- [90:55]
Pat McAfee
Okay, so my question on. You talked about the dogs and how Marshawn is the third liner. Boston. Connor gave up on the Bruins because they traded Brad down there.
- [91:09]
Darius Butler
I don't blame you, Connor.
- [91:12]
Pat McAfee
How'd that happen? Did. Did everybody in the league know that Marshawn was available? And how does he go to the Stanley cup champions? Like, how is that even possible? How legitimately, how is that even possible? As soon as it comes up, we thought it was a lie. We thought it was like a NHL Sentel tweet. We didn't even know that it was possible for Brad to leave. What the hell happened there? How did we get to that spot? And what are the Bruins going forward? Whit. Wow, that's.
- [91:38]
Darius Butler
That's a tough question. The Marshawn aspect of it. He wanted to be a. A Bruin. I mean, Patrice Bergeron, they came up together. I think he taught him everything he knows about leadership and how to be a leader and a professional and. And he wanted to retire a Bruin, but they lowballed him. They really did lowball him. He wanted to stay there, and at one point, he said, I'm not signing this deal that you guys are telling me he's taking or believe it. And then he ends up in Florida. Actually, I believe that was Don Sweeney and the Bruins kind of doing him a solid in a way, like, giving him a chance to go somewhere where he wants to win.
- [92:10]
Ian Rapaport
Come on.
- [92:10]
Darius Butler
Or has a chance to win. I mean, I. I respect that, though. I respect that. Like, if you're gonna lowball him, at least help him out on the way out. So they sent him to a team that did not need him. Let's put it that way. For Panthers haters out there, nobody. Anyone who hated the Panthers and didn't want to see them repeat was just like, oh, that's where he's going. That's the last place the league needed to see him go. It's Bennett, Tkachuk, and Marshon together. It's just three lunatics running around that can all score too. So I think that the Bruins now are in a really tough spot. They have a great goalie, they have a great defenseman and they have a Superstar forward, swayman, McAvoy post, that is an awesome nucleus. But after that there is not much. And a lot of years of really tough drafting has put them in a spot where yeah, while an original six great hockey town that can get free agents, it's hard to win with, with just doing it through free agency. You need guys on entry level deals having a big part of your team and a big part of the success. And they don't have much coming for prospects. So I don't know if they end up really tearing it down. Maybe Swayman gets traded. This is all kind of crazy talk. Or they, or they reload quick.
- [93:20]
Boston Connor
They need to get rid of Sweeney. Okay, Sweeney needs to go. It's time for him to pack his back. You just said, how does this guy have a job if he sucks at drafting? And then he trades Brad Marchand, like, what are we talking about? You said that, not me. But I think everybody in Boston, as far as Boston sports goes right now, you know, the Celtics are the Celtics, the Patriots are, the Patriots are Vrabel, the Red Sox are even winning games. Like Sweeney is public enemy number one in New England. Like, how's this guy have a job? When are they just going to cut his nuts off and let him go? Go.
- [93:51]
Darius Butler
So I, if I shut my eyes right now, like I'm in the Eerie pub in Dorchester right now talking to that is disgusting. Bruins and gone. Sweeney, I don't know is.
- [94:02]
Pat McAfee
Yes.
- [94:03]
Darius Butler
Yeah, I, I, I, it's a great question. Obviously Cam nearly believes in him. And while, while the drafting hasn't gone well, he's made some great trades. I mean, that year Florida got them when they lost to Vegas. Like, that was a, that was a great team. They beat Florida, they're going on to the cup final, I believe. And they had traded for hall and they traded for Lindholm and they'd made some great moves in Orlov. But the drafting part of the game now is so important based on the salary cap and having guys making 850, 900 for three years that are doing something for your team and they don't have that. So I, I would think if this year's a disaster too, maybe they look to make a change. And I thought that they might this season, but it seems with the success they've had had in the regular season that, that Cam Neely's willing to Keep Don Sweeney and, and believes that he can be the guy that, that gets them back into prominence and as a cup contender. I don't know that that is a huge source of contention in this city right now. I'll say that.
- [94:57]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, pretty loud. As soon as it happened the next day, Connor basically said, burn them all. Burn the Bruins jerseys. I'm out of here until that guy's out of here. It's nice to know that that's how everybody feels up there. Before AJ has the last question about the current playoff setup, let's talk about the playoffs and what they are missing. And he could feel it with, you know, depends.
- [95:17]
Darius Butler
Crosby. I'm sorry to interrupt you, Pat. It's your show, but I know what you're saying. I know what you know, Sydney, he.
- [95:26]
Pat McAfee
Needs to be in the playoffs. This guy deserves to be in the playoffs. He throw a football? I don't know if you saw for a million bucks this guy threw a 30 yard football throw. And I, I talked to him the night before. I talked to Tanger. Great guy. Talked to Gino. Hilarious human being. Talk to the boys. I go, hey, you guys are going to come up. I appreciate you doing this. Ben Roethlisberger is going to throw a football for you guys. Just kind of give motivation. And Tanger goes, sid's not going to let somebody else throw football for him. I'm like, what? What do you mean? He goes, sid will throw and Sid will make it. I'm like, I haven't even told you what the throw is. He goes, sid will make it. Like, this isn't even. That's how they literally spoke about. So then I go up to Sid, he shows up like 20 minutes later. He must have been doing some sort of training and recovery or whatever. And I go, Mr. Crosby, it's an honor to meet you. Thank you for everything you've done for Pittsburgh. I've got in so inebriated because of the success that you have had on the ice alongside these boys here. So thank you for everything and thank you for coming tomorrow night. Ben Roethlisberger throw football for you tomorrow or you think you'll throw it? I'll. I'll throw it. He said. I was like, okay, okay, good. It's gonna be about a 25, 30 yard throw. He goes, I have no idea what's gonna happen. Tanger yet again goes, he's gonna make it. This is no questions asked. They just believe in him. I think to do any. I think if that was any technical task that was needed, they would have said Sid will figure it out. Tang cut a promo, though. Then at Big Night out, that was like, you're lucky this guy's here. Basically about Sidney Crosby. Obviously, he's special in hockey. He's been great for Pittsburgh. He's been super quiet and humble. But now we're at a point where this team is trying to, you know, find its new way. And it's like Dubas has got a lot to do. What do you think the future looks like for Sid and the Pittsburgh Penguins? What would you do, Whit, and how do we get back into the playoffs? Because we need 87 running wild on the ice, brother. When all eyes are on hockey, it's.
- [97:08]
Darius Butler
It'S very, very sad for me to watch the playoffs without him in it. And that is why Biz and I are so relentless on the fact of get, get out of there, Sid. And I get it. I, I, he, he is the most loyal guy. He loves the Pittsburgh Penguins. And I think, I think based on what you're saying, like, they know he'll get it done. I don't know if there's anybody that believes in themselves more than him. Like, I truly think he's like, I, I, I can win another Stanley cup here. Just, just give me something to work with. Or maybe I don't even need anything because I'm Sidney Crosby. But it's just. You talk about prospects with the Bruins. It's very similar with the Penguins. Now Mike Sullivan's gone. Elliot Friedman, who's a big insider with the NHL, says that Sullivan wanted to get the Penguins better, quicker. And the, the GM Kyle Dubas is like, I think we need to kind of break this down. It's going to be slower now. Crosby's off to the World Championships. He's going to the World Championship chips, which for. He does not need to do that. He's a hockey junkie. He needs to play. And McKinnon's going, too. So now the discussion becomes, can McKinnon convince this guy to come over to Colorado? That is businessman talking about this for five years. Penguins fans are sending them death threats. But it's, it's like that would be, that would be the storyline that really can attract some more eyeballs to the game. If Crosby was somewhere else. I also think it's part of, he could break all the records, all Mario's records with the Penguins. Those are all within grasp of him. He's one guy that maybe wants to play for one team. You know, you think of Lemieux, you think of Eisenman. There's special players that were, were the face of a franchise for 20, 25 years. And maybe that's him, and maybe he's so proud he doesn't want to go anywhere else and have to try to do it that way. But I personally would love to see him on a better team that has a chance to win. And all of us sudden, if he goes to another market, like, I can't imagine the jersey sales, the, the noise, the what, what it would do to the world of hockey. I, I, I don't know what's going to happen. I don't know.
- [99:03]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, it'd be great for hockey, I guess. Another headline, okay, you guys do anything for clicks over there at Spit Chicklets? I guess. Yeah, let's just kick Sidney Crosby out of Pittsburgh. This guy who has been basically the face of Pittsburgh. I don't know if Dubas is going to do that. I genuinely don't know. Sidney Crosby at Big Night Out. Dubas is solid at Big Night out. And he said Hazy potentially get an extension too. I, I mean, they were having conversations behind closed doors. Hazy was pitching league men for another couple years to Dubas while I was sitting there. What a beauty that guy is. But Sid on Big Night out said, we're gonna do this for a couple more years here. And I, that's all I need to hear. Okay? Sid wouldn't lie to me. Sid wouldn't lie to Pittsburgh. Sid wouldn't lie to Big Night Out. But to your point, point, as I take my body and remove it from the situation, as a die hard Penguins fan, since I'm a kid, my 30th birthday was a Pittsburgh Penguins themed party. Okay. As an adult, I did that, had a Penguin cake out there. So as I remove that from it, Sydney going to Sydney getting traded would be huge. That'd be huge. Huge news. Him going to a contender. Huge news. Him going to play with somebody who's been his best friend since his whole life would be huge news. So, like, I understand for the state of hockey, it'd be great, but boy, Pittsburgh people would understand, but we'd also be bummed out. I think Mark Andre Fleury is also playing in that world championship for Canada as he reunites with Sid and McKinnon and everything like that. Fresh off his last game in the NHL. Now, let's talk about the playoffs a little bit. Speaking of Mark, Andre Fleury, he's no longer around. AJ has a question for you.
- [100:34]
H
Yeah, I feel like as a, as a somewhat casual hockey fan, that doesn't understand everything going, going on. I feel like if a goalie stands on his head for six, eight weeks, a team could find a way to win a cup when a goalie just finds a way to get in the zone. Out of these eight teams left, who do you think has the best advantage at the goalie position? I know D butts in studio there. He thinks Bobrovsky, obviously. He's been a big mark of his for a long time since he got to Florida. Who do you think has the advantage when it comes to goaltending?
- [100:59]
Darius Butler
I think it is, it is Florida and obviously it's recency bias. Bobrovsky did that last year and he's just a machine. Like his work ethic. He also. They lost three straight in the final final. Then they had the two days between game six and seven. He took away a day away from the rink, went down to the beach, just kind of collected his thoughts and was a beast in game seven. So I'm very surprised if, if, if Stolars is able to outplay him, especially considering he was the backup for him last year on Florida. Now he's in Toronto, so they're facing each other head to head. After that though, this Jake Ottinger, he is just a calm, cool collector.
- [101:33]
Pat McAfee
Damn right. Damn right.
- [101:36]
Darius Butler
Yes, yes. He, he. There's never like, you never want to see guys get too high or too low. Like the roller coaster of the playoffs. You got to be even keeled. And it seems like he's dialed in right now. He's very confident in himself and Dallas's depth in front of him makes it, makes it easy for him some nights. So now Hellebuck should be a guy that you're like, he could win Winnipeg, the Stanley cup for some reason, the Swiss cheese there. Swiss cheese on the road at least. So I, I think right now it's Bobrovsky for sure. And then Aiden Hill, 11 2, Vegas. Unfortunately, my team, we have two goalies, we have no clue who's going to be like playing if they somehow win the series in the clinching game. We're starting our backup to start the series who just won four straight starter couldn't save the puck. So my team is in the worst spot goaltending wise. But you're right, A.J. like, you catch a goalie on a hot streak, you're, you're, you're possibly raising the cup too much months later.
- [102:32]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, can a goalie get hot mid playoff run? Like, you guys have two goalies, which means you have no goalies. And in Halabak is not playing as great. Can he get hot again? Or is it normally once a guy gets in the playoffs, that's kind of the zone.
- [102:45]
Darius Butler
I think that you can figure it out midway through. I mean, even last year, Stuart Skinner, the Edmonton starter, even though he's not going to start this series, as you just said, he got pulled in the second round against Vancouver, but then he was phenomenal in the third round against Dallas and even the cup final against Florida. Florida. So you could figure it out. Hella buck. What I could see happening is them getting through that they scored two goals while he's on the bench to tie up game seven. But maybe it's just the relief and the weight of the world off his shoulders of getting through the first round where he is able to turn it back on. Like something clicks where it's like, all right, it. We just won with me playing like three of the seven games. And now we're able to just like dial it in. We're playing Dallas. I got another great goalie I'm going against over there. I'm going to be the Vezda trophy winner who he's going to win. His second is third in his career, second back to back. And he might win league mvp. So maybe getting through the first round for him was all he needed to find his game again. And if that happens, Winnipeg could beat anyone. It's a big if, but that's like the ability to pick it up after you've been struggling is a crazy thing. It's mental toughness. So I don't think you have to be to be hot off the start and ride it all the way through. You can find something middle of the pool, playoffs, and then go on this crazy run. And that's what Winnipeg would need to have. Have happen with Helbuk.
- [104:02]
Pat McAfee
Maybe dabbles with little Ayahuasca. What we've learned.
- [104:07]
H
Yeah, I mean that could help. It could help or hurt, we don't know.
- [104:09]
Boston Connor
Could get married.
- [104:11]
Darius Butler
That's what the McAfee horse was doing when he was supposed to get ready to race.
- [104:15]
Pat McAfee
He went the wrong way. The guy got lazy instead of got more driven. Yeah, I know. I guess that can happen because it's coming out of the basement in the addict. From what we know, right. Whenever we're talking Ayahuasca, you gotta really commit to that. But you got a chance. Maybe you start standing on your head afterwards. We don't know. Give it a go. Somebody who got a little zipper burn. Whenever you mentioned Otter being a top guy in the back. Gumpy has a question for you, Whit.
- [104:35]
Darius Butler
Yeah, we keep seeing Romo and Heiskin and on the ice.
- [104:39]
Pat McAfee
Do you expect them back earlier or.
- [104:41]
Tone Diggs
Later in this series against the jets here?
- [104:44]
Darius Butler
I think that Heskin would be earlier. I don't know if they'll be ready for game one, but based on DeBoer's comments. Comments, it sounds like both of them will be in. Maybe Robertson a little bit later. The fact that they beat Colorado without those two guys, and McKinnon said it right after the game, he goes, they had their. They didn't have their best forward or best defensive. We still couldn't beat him. I don't know what we do now. Like just total shock and disgust. So you get those two guys back early in the series. They're going to be so difficult to beat. I do think that Heskinen's a little more important to me. Robertson's a complete stud. After four nation snub, he went on a tear, just ripping through the league. But heskin, and that's 28 minutes. He's averaged 28 minutes a game in his playoff career. He's one of the best skating D in the league. Harley's awesome. But to add that that's a game changer. So I think if anything, if they had to choose, they'd rather him back sooner. But they need both to get it done to win it all. I'm saying I think they could get by Winnipeg even without Robertson. I think we're going to see both though. And if they can get out to a lead. That's the best part about possibly starting off the series with a lead lead is that you almost can rest them a little longer.
- [105:47]
Pat McAfee
All right.
- [105:47]
Darius Butler
We could lose game three if we're up two zero. We don't need to push them. Let's save them as long as we can. But when they come back. That's just a disgusting team. And the fact of boar is 90 in game seven like that, to me, I don't even understand. The odds of that is just nuts. I think it's with four different organizations to never lose a game seven. I don't know if we'll ever see something like that happen again.
- [106:09]
Pat McAfee
Yeah. Whenever you look, Steph Curry at game seven, it's got to feel pretty good. Dallas Stars have a chance. Who's going to win this whole thing, Whit? Who's going to win the Stanley Cup? Who's lifting Lordo at the end of this?
- [106:19]
Darius Butler
My heart is the Oilers. My heart is the Edmonton Oilers. My Head is telling me Florida is going to do it again. And it, it disgusts me. It makes me sick. But I just don't see how over the course of seven games, like, you can beat that team four times right now. And injuries play a huge, huge part of the playoffs. Everyone knows that. But with them healthy, I don't know if they be beat.
- [106:42]
Ian Rapaport
Hell yeah.
- [106:43]
Pat McAfee
All right, we appreciate the hell out of you joining us and thank you for everything you've done for hockey and for the city of Pittsburgh. Wait, okay. We would never boo you out like Edmonton did. I would like to see out of there too, Pat.
- [106:52]
Darius Butler
I got booed out of there too, but I appreciate it. I love you guys. Great show and, and thanks a lot for having me on. It's appreciated.
- [106:59]
Pat McAfee
You're the man. Ladies and gentlemen, co host of the Spitting Chiclets podcast, founder of Pink Whitney. How's that going? Very good, I assume.
- [107:05]
Darius Butler
Yeah, it's great. I mean, I, it's. It's a drink for younger kids. Kind of an odd thing to say. Hey, butt. 21 drinking age. 21 drinking, ladies and gentlemen.
- [107:17]
Pat McAfee
Right with me.
- [107:22]
H
Like seniors in college.
- [107:27]
Pat McAfee
I, I don't like, I don't like the way it sounds coming out of my mouth, what I just said here. But it is a little bit for younger people. 21 and over, obviously, if you're in Canada. Canada. 19 in order. Yeah. Biz and him just yelling at each other. Yeah, it is that Kachuk clip. Whenever Kachuk comes on and biz just starts rapid fire. Everything made it impossible. Adam, like just as soon as he got in. Bum, bum, bum, bum, bum. But I think the reason why Biz is doing that is because exactly what Whit said. This Florida team has a chance to do it again. D. But you're going to be lifting Lordo again in your short hockey fan career. You're living quite a high life over there, brother.
- [108:04]
Ryan Whitney
Yeah.
- [108:04]
Ian Rapaport
I'm looking across the stage at con man. He's next to his Larry O'Brien. It's like, damn, it's a good chance we both run it back. But yeah, he talked about health there and obviously Chucky missed a big chunk after four nations, but he's back. We got Marcy in the foe. Obviously, Bobby, he's doing his thing when he's standing on his head. We always got a chance. Ekblad, he had the 20 game suspension. He's came back. He's got one more suspension tonight and then he's back. So we know how it is. Just like in football. Just like in Other sports, when you get a group of guys who have that continuity, you got a great coach in place and you get healthy, you get rolling at the same time, you know, belief is a hell of a thing right now. Co favorites. I got all the faith in the world in the boys. Drove by elbow room too yesterday and it's buzzing. Yeah, it was the air show over there going on, but it was buzzing.
- [108:52]
Pat McAfee
Air show. Do we see any UFO looking things flying around?
- [108:56]
Ian Rapaport
So weather kind of threw some of it off. But you know, seeing some of those fighter jets, you obviously hear them before you see them. So hearing them for about 10, 15 seconds before they actually show up and then, you know, do their thing and then get the hell out of there and you still hear them like that was dope, dope to see. But yeah, man, boys are buzzing. I'm excited. And nh like hockey playoffs, even as a cat. I don't care if you've never watched hockey before in your life, if you watch the playoffs, that will make you somewhat of a fan. Man, it's unbelievable what these guys do.
- [109:26]
Pat McAfee
I agree. I love playoff hockey. It is majestic. We're lucky we're in there. I wish the Pittsburgh Penguins are playing, but nonetheless, we shall watch the other guys fly around at 25 miles an hour. Let's talk about Scotty Scheffler. What was that? That was light work. So is he playing putt putt and everybody else is playing golf. What the hell happened here over the week? Did you see he had a minus 1331 for the weekend. This is one of those courses that you wouldn't expect Scotty Scheffler to drop the ball. Didn't even give a tip. Well, check. 31 wins by eight strokes or something like that. He was up six strokes and he went for it on this par five or whatever and they stuck it to whatever four feet. It's like I had no idea what tournament this was. I had no idea that this is a full circle moment for Scotty. I guess he played here as a kid. This is a big deal. So he knew this course inside and out. Are we in another Scotty Scheffler season? Is this what this is going to be? Foxy? And what a weekend. Weekend a golf road. Scotty pal. Yeah, I clicked it on for literally five minutes. I saw how far he was up and I said, yep, I don't have to watch this today. Which sucked because there was no sports on until very late. But yeah, we're kind of in that era. Like, I don't know If I've ever turned the TV on and seen someone so dominant since Tiger Woods, I would say so. It's awesome to see. And it was so cool that it was in his hometown, which everyone talked about all day long.
- [110:43]
Tone Diggs
Yeah, Pat, the thing.
- [110:44]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, that.
- [110:45]
Tone Diggs
Sorry, go. No, the thing. The thing you were talking about was he played his very first professional tournament there. So that was the full circle moment. Minus 31 ties, a record for lowest score of all time on the PGA Tour through, obviously through a tournament. And then he was also. He was also minus 22 on the front nine. Okay. And then second place of the tournament was. Was 23 under. So if he. Basically, if he played the front nine, he. He would have came in second by a stroke. But for a lot of that tournament, just the front nine, he would have won. Yeah, he was hot.
- [111:12]
Ryan Whitney
Legend.
- [111:13]
Pat McAfee
Yeah. That cowboy is back down there in Texas doing his thing. Scotty Scheffler, we appreciate being alive during your run, aj. He has it all, including the moxie and swagger of a man who's been arrested before, because he has. So don't just, you know, don't. Don't just think you're getting some yuppie nerd here. No, this guy has done hard time, and he's still been able to come out and put on a great golf show. He's not as exciting or electrifying on a microphone. Who cares? 31 under through a golf tournament. That's unbelievable. It doesn't matter if the live guys were there. He's playing a course every week, and he's beating the out of that course every single week. Shout out to Scotty Scheffler. AJ Hawk.
- [111:50]
H
Yeah, shout out to him.
- [111:51]
Pat McAfee
But he.
- [111:51]
H
He's probably finally healthy. Remember, he. In the offseason, right before it started, he cut his hand on a. A ketchup bottle or whatever, a knife. And then he had to get some. Some kind of minor surgery on, I believe. So the dude, he's finally healthy. We know when he's not healthy, if he has an off day, he gets. It's like second or third place in a major. So, like, that's where this guy is already coming up.
- [112:09]
Pat McAfee
And one more thing. Yep. The majors next week, PGA Championship. He is the favorite now. He overtook Rory McElroy.
- [112:15]
H
Shocking.
- [112:16]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, I'm betting on Scotty Scheffler anytime he's playing golf ever. Let's talk a little bit of National League Lacrosse. Is that. Or National Lacrosse League? What is it, con man? I know. The plo. What's the NLO and is this the sickest goal they've had?
- [112:28]
Boston Connor
Yeah, it's definitely up there. It is the. The National Lacrosse League. You nailed it a little between the legs here from Chase Frazier. Just fantastic. These goalies are much more like hockey goalies in the nll. That's kind of what separates it. It's all short sticks, just nasty. I mean, with the bucket on, you really don't. You don't see some filthy, filthy mitts like this very often. Yeah, right there. And that was to go up 11,9. I believe they ended up winning this ball game. But yeah, this is what the NLO brings. That kind of the other lacrosse leagues don't you get. You get the lot of contact, you get the filthy between the legs, you get a different size net. So a lot more tricks and just a lot more steez. You see him here? Set the pick to knock that guy over. Give me the ball through the legs.
- [113:16]
Pat McAfee
Goal.
- [113:16]
Boston Connor
See you guys tomorrow.
- [113:18]
Pat McAfee
That's the NLL playoffs too. We knew that. We'll certainly continue to follow along with that. That's the style of lacrosse that's going to be in the Olympics, right, Connor?
- [113:27]
Boston Connor
I believe so. I think might be outdoor, but still it will be like kind of more of a seven on seven type look or I guess including the gold 60.
- [113:37]
Pat McAfee
Yeah.
- [113:38]
Boston Connor
Box lacrosse, if you will. And also shout out Matt Kavanaugh. He retired from lacrosse yesterday.
- [113:45]
Pat McAfee
Hell of a run from the lead, Kavanaugh. Boy. Obviously there's other Kavanaughs still doing sports. Nailed it, aj. Hell yeah, AJ Hawks in Ohio. I'm in Omaha, Nebraska for Monday Night Raw live on Netflix at 8pm Eastern. And all the boys are back in a thunderdome. That's the talks table at Boston. Connor and that Ty Schmidt. Good work, boys. I appreciate you. Well, is that a. That that Pirate's hat tie? What is going on there? There's flowers on there. What's going on?
- [114:21]
Ty Schmidt
So I've had a lot of people ask me this. It is actually not a pirate's hat. It is a puma hat that I got when I was golfing down in Reunion Florida. So it look. But I, I thought the same thing. I was like, you know what? That kind of looks like a pirate sat kind of looks like a baseball hat. It's different. So I bought it and it's very comfortable.
- [114:38]
Pat McAfee
If I know anything about the ownership of the Pirates, a CND will be heading down there to Reunion Florida as soon as this show ends. If I had to guess that a Pittsburgh Pirate's hat with a Couple flowers around it and I know that owner ain't gonna let any dollars kind of drift away into Puma's pockets. If you're gonna be taking my 1/2 of the hammer. D Cowboys AP Tone is here. Tone, how you doing, lad?
- [115:04]
Tone Diggs
Doing great. How you doing, Paul?
- [115:06]
Pat McAfee
Out here, there's no one way of doing things, no unwritten rules, and no shortage of adventure. Because out here, the only requirement is having, having fun.
- [115:16]
Ian Rapaport
Bank of America invites kids 6 to 18 to golf with us. For a limited time, sign them up.
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Pat McAfee
For a free one year membership, giving.
- [115:22]
Ian Rapaport
Them access to discounted Tetons at thousands of courses. Learn more@bankofamerica.com golf with us what would.
- [115:29]
Pat McAfee
You like the power to do?
- [115:30]
Ian Rapaport
Bank of America restrictions apply. CBFA.com Golf with US for complete details Copyright 2025 bank of America Corporation.
- [115:36]
Pat McAfee
If you want tools that stand the test of time without testing your wallet.
- [115:40]
Darius Butler
Harbor Freight is the place for.
- [115:41]
Pat McAfee
For you. Expert engineers design and rigorously test Harbor Freight tools to bring you top quality. Whether your next project is big or small. Harbor Freight carries a wide selection, from hand tools to power tools to automotive tools and welding equipment. And with prices lower than other top brands, but with the same top quality, you're getting more for your money at Harbor Freight. There are over 1,500 Harbor Freight stores in the U.S. so come see for yourself. Yourself. Whatever you do, do it for less at Harbor Freight. My life is good. Omaha is pretty fantastic. I'm gonna be honest, I damn near pissed my pants live on TV there. That's closest I have been. That is the closest I have been. I actually thought I did there for a second. That's how close it got. You know what I mean? It was. It was traveling out of the body while this show was wrapping up that hour. And I was sprinting through the concourse to find a bathroom. I mean, saw a sweet old lady out there in a concourse, said, hello. I'll tell you what, lady, I'm sorry. Sorry I had to hit you with a high. He and I went directly in there and I thought, we're gonna have a situation from the whole world. And these are blue jeans I got on too. So people are gonna see that forever, if you know what I mean, A.J. so I appreciate you all kind of bearing with me and my bladder and obviously my baby maker that did a good shot out there, good toilets out here in Omaha, which I'm very grateful for. But it was almost a scene, a day that I would remember forever. And why not? Actually, tonight's gonna be A big night. Nine year NFL vet Darius J. Butler is here. D Butch, how you doing, pal?
- [117:03]
Ian Rapaport
Am doing great. Got some great action to watch tonight. And you could have got away with pissing yourself. We wouldn't have saw it. Nobody would have watching. Maybe people. Yeah, that's kind of, you know.
- [117:12]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, the venue. There's a lot of people in the venue, you know, because putting this thing together, obviously a lot of WWE folks. There's the venue folks that I just ran into. There's local people that I ran into and I. People that know me, I'm. I'm a big pisser too. I got a big bag in there, you know, so it's. Anytime I'm peeing, it's a lot of pee. So if. If a little bit would have came, a lot of bit would have came. It would have been, I think from.
- [117:34]
Ian Rapaport
They saw it.
- [117:35]
Pat McAfee
I think from. I think from belt buckle to shins would have been darker blue. If I. With what I just. With what I just did. I mean, it was. I'm. I'm sprint. I was very worried. I even texted you guys. I mean, midstream there. Like that whole thing was a piss there. That whole break right there. That's what that was.
- [117:52]
Ty Schmidt
That's a big piss.
- [117:53]
Pat McAfee
So I know you. Yeah, exactly. I know you were at the Kentucky Derby and everything like that. You see them horses? Let that thing go. I don't know what the hell I drank. I guess everything. I don't know what happened there, but it was almost a problem here in section 118 here in Omaha, where the Creighton Blue Jays play. Blue Jays play here. I'll tell you what, I almost played with a little bit of danger there. A little bit too close to danger. But this hour we need to wrap up everything we haven't chatted about. For instance, AJ Hawk, have yet to get your take on the Indiana Pacers winning the NBA title this year. Your thoughts on beating the hell out of the Cleveland Cavaliers in game one of that series?
- [118:26]
H
So I honestly, I'm not gonna lie, I was impressed by the Pacers. I have watched them, you know, sporadically throughout the season. But Tyrese Halliburton, like, the way they play as a team, like, they're. They are a fun team to watch. They really are. And like to go into the Cavs house and to beat them with how hot the Cavs have been, this is a gigantic win for them. And, you know, it's hard to not feel great for. For Halliburton and the boys. You know, we'll see if they can find a way to win this series. But hey, they got off to a great start. But also after this, I know you may get to or not. Steph and the warriors are awesome. Draymond's awesome.
- [118:53]
Ryan Whitney
I love it all.
- [118:57]
Pat McAfee
Okay, before we get to Stephan the Warriors, I appreciate you wanting to move topics. Thank you for doing that age. I really do like that. Ladies and gentlemen, we're being joined by Tyrese Halliburton. Okay, fresh out, Fresh out. Can you zoom in that camera a little bit, my brother? We got Miller brother here, by the way, running the camera. So you know what that means. Yeah, you know what that means. Tyrese, quick question. Did the the hoop just look a little bigger for you guys last night? What a historic night from the three point land. And how do you feel? Fresh off a big time dub. We shot it well. We shot it well. We came out with good energy. But this is a team that doesn't lose a lot, so we know they're going to respond and we just got to be ready to go Game two. What was the message afterwards from coach Carlisle? Good fight. Felt like we competed well on the defensive end. But watching fellow, you know, today, I think there's still a lot for us to improve on. So that's the great part about, you know, playoffs in general. You. You can win a game and still feel like it has a lot for you to improve on. So it'll. It'll be a good series. Hey, when you were cooking there a little bit, that felt good. You had that step back three, nothing but net. That had to feel very nice for the Tyrese Halliburton camp. It felt. It did feel good. Were you able to watch.
- [120:08]
Darius Butler
Were you able to watch this game?
- [120:09]
Pat McAfee
I did. It was on true tv. I don't know if you know that they didn't put you on tnt. They had you on true tv, which I'm not happy about, but I found the impractical joker's channel. I found Lizard Lick Towing's channel, and I watched you do your thing. What did your dad think of the game? Was he able to watch it? And what is his messaging since the 1 oh start to the series. He watched it. He called me after the game. He was. He was excited. I'm sure he was yelling at the TV back home. But yeah, he had good energy when he called me.
- [120:37]
Ryan Whitney
So he's.
- [120:37]
Pat McAfee
He's telling me to be ready to go for game two. Did he call Spider too, just to get a little talk in or. No, no, no.
- [120:44]
Boston Connor
I'M pretty sure he just called me.
- [120:46]
Pat McAfee
I'll tell you what, if he starts FaceTiming your opponents now that he can't get into the arena, let him know that. We would appreciate that move. We would. Thank you for answering. Rest up, get healthy. What a performance last night. Yeah, appreciate it, man. All right, see you. Ladies and gentlemen, Tyrese Halberton. He was one of the people that I texted while it was a long time there. You get kind of bored. So I was like, man, what a game by you guys last night. And he answered. Now, I didn't ask him if I could cold facetime him, but I knew he answered, so I knew he was going to be on his phone. So let's go ahead and give him a call. He had a hell of a night. Not just him. I mean, Nemhard is pulling up from logos at this point. This team's a real. Hey, this team's real deal con, man. Legit. This team is the real deal, brother.
- [121:29]
Boston Connor
Yeah, no doubt about it. And they're deep. You know, like, I feel like that is kind of what separates a lot of of teams sometimes is when you can have your star like Halliburton or Siakam kind of go off the floor in for the, you know, second group, not to completely blow the lead or whatever momentum they might have. Like, we talk about T.J. mcConnell a lot, too. When he comes in, the team is still buzzing. You know, Obi Toppin coming in like the. The Pacers are very legit. I'm excited to see where this series goes just because of what Tyrese said. Like, Cleveland, also very deep, also has a bona fide stud. We'll see what happens with Darius Garland if they can get him back. But, yeah, I watched this game last night, was so fired up, I said, you know what? Screw it. I'm going to the Pacers on Friday, so I'm going to go pay my respects. Game three as well, when they come to Indiana, but feels like this is going to be one of those series that goes six or seven. A lot of great games, competitive games, you know, because the Pacers were up. I mean, at one point they had a 15 point lead, and then the Cavs came back. And then for the Pacers to kind of hold them off was incredible. Like, right there, you know, the Cavs get that bucket right there, they go up by three. That becomes a very, very different end of that game. But instead, massive block to Hal Burton. Step back three. Like, it was incredible for the Pacer. And now is the time you Know, for the NBA, we talk about the NBA in the first round kind of being a whatever. And there were a couple good series, the Wolves, the Warriors. But now is the time where the NBA kind of makes their stamp on TV and also just their sport in general. So it'll be interesting to see all these second round matchups.
- [123:13]
Pat McAfee
Yeah. Nine and a half point favorites are the Cavs at home. You know, and I, I forget who I was talking to last night. It was somebody from Cleveland. I assume it was the Miz. You know, it's nice to see the Miz lose. Even though we love the Miz, it is nice to see the Miz lose. Miz Golf, by the way, the new face of Golf followed on YouTube should be a spectacle. Just watching him do anything, let alone a sport that he loves and is terrible at, should be amazing. But I fully expect the Cavs to win game two. Fully expect them. I, I don't think there's any chance of the Pacers stealing both of these in Cleveland. And the fact that they're nine and a half point favorites. I, I just don't think the NBA is going to let that happen. Con man, that is the back to.
- [123:56]
Boston Connor
Backs like Tyrese already, he, he just said it that I think the Cavs might have lost back to back games like three times this year. So it.
- [124:03]
Pat McAfee
Yeah. And also like not only the team bouncing back, but like the NBA everything, you know, but it's like us stealing one, especially the first one of the series on the road. Like I put that tweet out. I put the huge debut. I put that tweet out last night about the Pacer a problem. They're like, oh, getting excited after game one. It's like, yeah, we just throw one on the road, brother. I'm very, very excited about that. D bud. Yeah.
- [124:23]
Ian Rapaport
When you, whenever you still home court, that, that's huge. And then I mean it's scary when you're facing a team like the Pacers, who at this point, obviously it's early in the season, but they're kind of, I mean, early in the series kind of playing with house money because like you said, everybody expects them to lose. Nine and a half point underdogs and the style of play that they play with. I guess I think Kobe talked about it years ago when he's talking about how James Harden plays and why, you know, he doesn't see that style of play winning a championship. Like just ISO ball, whole defense is looking at you. Like the ball is always moving. Guys is. Guys are always moving. You know, Halliburton is the star player and he's going to take the big time shots, but outside of that, the ball is always moving and that's a lot of stress on the defense. So I wouldn't be shocked if the Pace Pacers come out of Cleveland with a 20 lead. Obviously, like you said, everything's against them and the Cleveland Cavaliers have been great all year long, but this Pacers team, man, this is the time. Like con man said, this is the time when teams get on the big stage and big time players really become big time players to the world. So I'm excited what Halliburton these boys are doing.
- [125:24]
Pat McAfee
Pacers are also healthy, knock on wood. That's a big deal. Pacers are also healthy, which I appreciate and respect. Good luck through the rest of the series. Indiana's in a great spot basketball wise. AJ Obviously Indiana University stole West Virginia's coach and was this kid ever hurt? I don't know. He's playing for Indiana and what they got going on, Purdue obviously always going to be good. The Pacers are right now up 10 over the number one seed in the east, the Cleveland Cavaliers. And then I don't know if you saw Caitlin Clark in the Fever beat the entire country of Brazil by thousand. Yeah, I, I don't know how Brazil's team is normally. I don't know if they had all their stars or not. But over there in Carver, the Fever had a preseason game and Caitlin pulled up from two feet behind her 22 logo. You see the 22 on the court right there next to Mediacom. That was where she broke the record from. And obviously that is where we all fell in love with Caitlin Clark's basketball style. Pulling up from wherever, whenever and it falls she huge, huge momentum behind the women's basketball game because of one person. And I know a lot of people hate to hear that, but every game that she's playing on the road, the team she's playing is trying to get into a bigger arena. I'm sure they're doing that with everybody else in the wnba, but I know for Caitlyn it is certainly a fact actually. So they're trying to fill up bigger arenas and trying to get more eyeballs on the wnba and it feels like this year there might be a little bit more buy in from on the people in the WNBA that kind of understand like Caitlin Clark is electrifying. Caitlin Clark will pull up from half court. Caitlin Clark will shake the shit out of you. And Caitlin Clark in the Fever. Good team. This year, A.J. good team. She's thinking about winning the whole damn thing. Them starting a preseason game in Iowa, taking it back home. I respect a lot. I appreciated the spectacle that was this weekend. AJ yeah.
- [127:13]
Darius Butler
Who.
- [127:14]
H
So who exactly was this. This Brazil team? Who was the roster? Is this like, their world team team?
- [127:18]
I
Their.
- [127:19]
H
Their team that goes to the Olympics? Like, what is it?
- [127:21]
Tone Diggs
Yeah, national team. Yeah, it's.
- [127:22]
Boston Connor
It's some of them.
- [127:23]
H
Beat him by 100.
- [127:24]
Boston Connor
Yeah, it's kind of some of their national. It's some of their national players, because a lot of, like, the players who are in the WNBA who play for Brazil are with their teams right now.
- [127:34]
Ty Schmidt
It was young girls, too. Like, there were a couple girls who they said have signed national letters of intent to go play college basketball. So, like, it was, yeah, kind of just a. A mix and match hodgepodge of, like, who's remaining, training in Brazil outside of. Because I think that, like, Cardoso, you know, the girl who went to South Carolina who's like six, seven footer. Yeah, exactly. She's Brazilian. But she obviously wasn't playing with them because she's playing with her, you know, WNBA team.
- [128:00]
Pat McAfee
I hope this year, the WNBA as a whole, and we are not a part of the WNBA media, never say that we would, but I hope the WNBA as a whole just understands that they got a cash cow, okay? And as opposed to trying to make it impossible, possible for this person, you might as well just embrace it and ride a wave. They want a new cba. They want a new contract. Respect. Everybody does. But if you got a. You got the golden goose. You got it. And she wants to be the golden goose. You listen to her do interviews. She's like all the little kids that wanted autographs afterwards, all the people that are getting exposed to women's basketball at a younger age, all the young girls that are coming on these things, like, she loves what she's able to do for the game. She has seemingly stayed above it all. But it would be nice if maybe, maybe, you know, you make it easier for this person to be the face of the league as opposed to resenting this person that is automatically the face of the league. And I think that's going to be the case. I think they've already made some business decisions that prove that's the case, and hopefully WNBA is able to be a stronger league than it's ever been. A.J.
- [128:58]
H
Yeah, they should. I don't know if you saw the clip or not. They're miked up from that situation. The Brazil. The Brazil coach Actually tells Caitlin, you change basketball. Like, he basically says that, like you changed the game. Which, yeah, it seems like she definitely has an. I would imagine going into year two. You're right, there's more buy in and like her and her teammates probably feel much more comfortable together as well to go on a run.
- [129:17]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, I think her teammates understand that she's the one, you know, not that her teammates were ever against that. But I thought about this as I was watching that Iowa Carver thing, because I thought that was cool. I thought that was sweet. If you can sell out an arena for a preseason game, do it. If you could sell out a stadium for a preseason game in any sport, do it. If you can get any eyes on preseason games, do it. Good business. I think this is good news. As I was watching, I'm like, they have to understand now that this is. This is what it is. You would think everybody understands. But then I go back and just think about why they maybe didn't buy in last year. And it's like, I guess there's a lot of people that are just flashes in the pan, supposed to be special, yada, yada, yada. I wonder if she's gotten to the point where she has earned the respect of everybody in that league that was kind of talking down about her and not expecting her to be as great as she is. And if that's the case, I think WNBA has a good chance. And we still have the Indiana Fever schedule on our office wall. A lot of people don't talk about it, bro. Culture. We took our show to Iowa to celebrate the Women's March Madness because of Caitlin Clark. I did a 15 minute rant about Caitlin Clark's merch, ticket sales and ratings last year. And then I said something very stupid immediately afterwards. And yeah, nobody even really talked about that. So just know we cover and follow the WNBA women's basketball in our own way. We don't know enough about it. But I do have respect for the fact that there's a chance that they're on a wagon right now, Ty. A full wagon. And maybe it does continue to lead to prosperous futures for their entire association. Ty Schmidt.
- [130:51]
Ty Schmidt
No. Yeah, without a doubt. And it's funny you mentioned that, because I did. I watched like the first half of this. You know, just, I mean, shit. Carver hasn't been that full since she was there, unfortunately. We'll see what, you know, the men's team can do moving forward, but yeah, anytime you can pack out 18,000 people in there. But they showed the Fever's first like 11 or 12 games from last year. I think they had like six back to backs. They were on the road seven of the first, like 11 or 12 games. Because you remember they were talking about how, you know, they were having to move some of the. Some of the games to bigger arenas because the demand for tickets with Caitlin was. Was so crazy, crazy. This year, I believe in the first, like 11 games, the Fever have eight home games. They have no back to back. So like, the league is kind of. I think they do realize, like, hey, we want the Fever to be good this year. We want them to be one of the top seeds. And then to your point about, you know, like, the league as a whole, like, she led the WWA in assists last year as a rookie, you know, so it was like everyone who said.
- [131:47]
Pat McAfee
That that was going to happen potentially. Did we say that? Yeah, we said that.
- [131:51]
Ty Schmidt
I think so. You know, and it wasn't just like I did, you know, like, she. She is appointment viewing. And again, it has nothing. Like, I went to Iowa, I went maybe went to a couple women's basketball games while I was in school there. Like, she is legitimate appointment viewing, if you like basketball, because she just plays so differently than anyone else before. And I think the league is starting to do that. And then just the Fever in general, like, they went out and like, had a bunch of acquisitions, you know, I think people are starting to want. Want to come to play with her. They got a new coach. Like, it feels like they. They really do understand, like, hey, we have the golden goose here and we can't this up.
- [132:27]
Pat McAfee
I like it. I like what they did. I like bringing attention to a business. You know, that's why I didn't mind the NBA cup in the middle of the season. It's like, I like that people are trying to promote. Like, that means you're at least giving effort to your product as opposed to just whining about your product. So I love what they did. I think it's cool. I think it's gonna be a great season. And the Fever going to win and the Pacers are going to win. So we got two parades coming to town. Big deal.
- [132:50]
H
Love that Indy 500 month too, right? Big day at Indy 500.
- [132:55]
Ty Schmidt
May, baby.
- [132:56]
Pat McAfee
May, brother. Absolutely. The rev. The I. I did. Did you put yours out in honor of. I got.
- [133:02]
H
Yeah. In Ohio, we don't have as much hoopa towards the Indy 500, but people love it, so I'm trying to get one.
- [133:07]
Darius Butler
I put my flag.
- [133:08]
Pat McAfee
Hoopla.
- [133:09]
H
Yeah, hoopa.
- [133:09]
Pat McAfee
Okay. Thank you for What? Thank you for putting your flags up. There's a. There's a lot of hoopla and hype. There's a lot of hoopla and hype. It's the largest sporting event in the world. It's right here. It's right there. I'm in Omaha. It's right there. Omaha has a big event, too. It's right there in Indianapolis, Indiana. Yeah. Indy's up. That's all you need to know. If our Colts team can figure it out, that'd be cool. That'd be really cool. I seen some. I seen some videos. D. But I don't know if you saw Anthony Richardson, little flick of the wrist. I think it was like a 45 yard bomb. Then I saw Danny Dimes, Dietballers. They're in a quarterback competition. We made some good draft picks. We get Tyler Warren. We signed some free agents on the back end defensively, brought some dogs in, you know, it might be a clean sweep for Indy. Now that I think about it might be a clean sweep. Pacers Fever, Colts, Indy 500 are going to definitely be better than any F1 race or NASCAR race. I mean, you're talking about Indianapolis. Up, up, all the way up. I love everything about it.
- [134:07]
Ian Rapaport
D. All these teams you mentioned, I'm surprised you just skipped right over the Fisher's freight. I saw some highlights from them over.
- [134:13]
Pat McAfee
I think they've lost a few.
- [134:14]
Ian Rapaport
Oh, no, I think they've. Well, they'll turn around.
- [134:17]
Ty Schmidt
Long season.
- [134:17]
Ian Rapaport
It's a long season. Who they got next?
- [134:20]
Ty Schmidt
I think a team from Tulsa, maybe. Tulsa's tough.
- [134:23]
Boston Connor
Who gives A Pirates.
- [134:24]
Pat McAfee
Tulsa tough. That's what they're called. They're called. I think they're called the Tulsa tough. They're coming to town. There's also tough for coming to town. And they're trying that again. Absolute dandy. Arena football, right?
- [134:37]
H
Well, you got. You guys talk about the minor league baseball team, the soccer teams, all of them. Like, Indy has everything. It seems like you're right.
- [134:43]
Pat McAfee
The Indy 11. Andy. Indianapolis Indians are doing their thing. The Fisher Freighter, the Arena Football League team. I'm not sure they've won a game since Bruce went to that one game, but we haven't really. Haven't kept up with them. But let's get back to the Colts. D. But there's a chance they're a real team this year and that would be cool.
- [134:58]
Ian Rapaport
Yeah, Chris. Chris Ballard, I mean, look, he's done a great job this offseason. He's done things that people have asked him to do. Open up the checkbook. He signed some big time free agents, especially on defense. And then once again, we got some shots from the draft room where he's laughing, laughing at my fans for skipping over Tyler Warren and letting him fall right in our lap. And he is a Colt through and through. And you mentioned the quarterback battle. Look, competition usually brings out the best in athletes, so I hope it brings out the best. And Anthony Richardson or Daniel Jones, I'm obviously pulling for the guy that we drafted in the top five to be the future of the franchise, but we'll see how it pans out. You know, the competition is a true competition. It seemed like it's going to be open and we have some good weapons around him, starting with the rookie Tyler Warren. Hopefully Pierce can take another jump. He's a big time player. AD out there as well. AD Mitchell, Josh Downs, like we got weapons. Jonathan Taylor, obviously how this new makeshift offensive line look in front of whoever's starting at quarterback. But what is it? May 5th?
- [135:59]
Pat McAfee
5Th. Cinco de Mayo.
- [136:00]
Ian Rapaport
Cinco de Mayo. Yeah. Pretty optimistic about the Indianapolis Colts and where we're going right now.
- [136:06]
Pat McAfee
Me too. Pacers win, Fever win. Colts win. Indy 500 wins. Indianapolis Indians send a few guys up to the Pirates to get shipped somewhere else so they can go win.
- [136:15]
Boston Connor
Hell yeah.
- [136:16]
H
Jeez.
- [136:17]
Tone Diggs
They're saying the competition between 5 and D is basically like Montana and Steve Young.
- [136:23]
Pat McAfee
Thank you. Yeah, I agree. And on that note, show's over. All right, A.J. great work in Ohio. Tonight in Omaha, raw on Netflix, 8pm Eastern Time. I don't know what the hell is going to happen tonight between me and Gunther.
- [136:36]
Ian Rapaport
Keep your eyes peeled.
- [136:39]
Pat McAfee
I don't know what part of our. I don't know what part of Austria is from, but I'm from Pittsburgh, Bob. Okay? I'm from America. America. I ain't worried about a damn thing. You might knock me out shit before. Got stitches right here. There's a chance. There's a chance you're gonna get me. But guess what I'll do. I'll get right back up and say, did it again, bitch. Yeah, that's what, you know, for the good of my friend, for the good of Michael Cole, for the good of society. So tonight will be a blast. I think we got some great NBA games tonight. Obviously, the NHL is in full swing. We got Monday Night Raw and then we'll be back tomorrow. A.J. are you going to get an answer for us?
- [137:15]
H
You know what? I am not super confident I will have an answer for you, but you know I will. I will Continue to. To explore.
- [137:22]
Tone Diggs
You're the best man to you to.
- [137:23]
Pat McAfee
Pry pound the pavement. Yeah. You giving a speech at this thing? If it's already happened. Are they just. Are they going to do a reception at least?
- [137:30]
H
I don't know. I mean, I would hope so, right?
- [137:32]
Ryan Whitney
If they.
- [137:33]
H
They did the official thing with that. I would hope.
- [137:35]
Pat McAfee
Yeah.
- [137:35]
H
You have a big party.
- [137:37]
Pat McAfee
Did he get engaged too? Did you hear that? Like, did she ask him to marry him and that's why he has a ring on?
- [137:43]
H
I don't know. I don't think so. I don't think that was the case, but I, I. Like I said, I think anything is possible.
- [137:49]
Pat McAfee
Is it a heart rate monitor? One of those. One of those rings that monitor your heart rate and stuff?
- [137:54]
H
I. I thought that possibly for a second, like an aura ring. Those things have little lights, like a sensors in them, but I do not believe that is what he had on.
- [138:02]
Pat McAfee
What if he's trying to change, like, so everybody says if I wear a ring on my left ring finger, I'm married. What? Is that what it is?
- [138:10]
H
I mean, maybe he's trying to change the whole dynamic of everything.
- [138:12]
Ryan Whitney
I don't know.
- [138:13]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, maybe he's sick of this just being how it is. I'm sick of it. Why is this got to be the cat? I'm not allowed to wear a ring on my left ring finger. It's called a ring finger unless I'm married. All my friends get to do it when I'm not allowed to. Why? Because society says I'm all allowed to. Is that. Is that. Did you hear any of that this weekend?
- [138:29]
H
I did not hear any of that. But I mean, with hearing you say that, I mean, it could. It could be the case.
- [138:34]
Pat McAfee
Case Any DMT this weekend or football.
- [138:38]
H
No, there's not.
- [138:40]
Pat McAfee
All right, not.
- [138:42]
H
I mean, there might have been somewhere in the derby, but not. Not in the. The derby crew I was a part of.
- [138:47]
Pat McAfee
Okay, sounds good. All right, boys, back in the Thunderdome. Great work today. Great work. Ready? Get this done.
- [138:51]
Ian Rapaport
Great work.
- [138:52]
Tone Diggs
Yep.
- [138:53]
Pat McAfee
How'd you feel about me on the back wall here?
- [138:56]
Ian Rapaport
Pretty sweet.
- [138:57]
Pat McAfee
You can zoom that out. Zoom that out a little. Foxy. I don't know if you can actually. I don't know. Not you, Mr. Miller. Pretty cool. It's like I'm there.
- [139:05]
Boston Connor
Yeah, it looks good.
- [139:07]
Pat McAfee
Hey, good to see you. Great work today, man.
- [139:10]
Ian Rapaport
See you too, brother.
- [139:12]
Pat McAfee
Yeah, absolutely. I grew in size. It's just.
- [139:19]
Boston Connor
Boom, boom.
- [139:24]
Pat McAfee
There's a delay. Toxic table. Great work, boys. You really crushed it. A B tone Way to go, boys in the back. Great work, all WWE people that helped set this up. Thank you all so much. Even the people in the truck that turned off the audio right before we went live. You were the greatest people on earth. Thanks for making that happen. They change it back immediately. Very, very cool of them because other people that I've worked with would say, we didn't do anything. I mean, there was no sound. Something had to happen. I had no sound. Then I got sound. No, no, nothing at all. A lot of accountability at this particular business, which is why I respect it and appreciate it so damn much. This is magical. Can't wait for tonight. Very grateful to be here. Thankful to be here and tomorrow's show should be great. Be a friend. Tell a friend something nice. It might change your life. We're in a sing together team on me. I'll get done, I'll get done, I'll get done. Team on three. One, two, three, Team. Goodbye. Rapper Sean Diddy Combs was a king maker. He had wealth, fame and power until it all came crashing down.
- [140:31]
Tone Diggs
Federal investigators raiding two homes owned by.
- [140:34]
Ian Rapaport
Hip hop mogul Sean Diddy Combs.
- [140:37]
Pat McAfee
I'm Brian Buckmire, an ABC News legal contributor. As Diddy heads to trial, we trace his remarkable rise and fall. And what could be next? Listen to Bad Rap the case against Diddy, a new series from ABC Audio. Listen now, wherever you get your podcasts.
- [140:59]
Darius Butler
Hey, I'm Brad Milkey.
- [141:00]
Tone Diggs
You may know me as the host.
- [141:01]
Pat McAfee
Of ABC Audio's daily news podcast, Start here. But I'd like to add aspiring true crime expert to my resume. And here's how I'm going to make it happen.
- [141:11]
Tone Diggs
Every week I'm going to unpack the biggest, biggest true crime story that everyone is talking about.
- [141:16]
Pat McAfee
ABC's got some unique access here, so.
- [141:19]
Tone Diggs
I'll talk to the reporters and producers.
- [141:21]
Pat McAfee
Who have followed these cases for months, sometimes years. We'll bring you the latest developments and.
- [141:26]
Tone Diggs
The larger context on the true crime stories you've been hearing about.
- [141:30]
Pat McAfee
Follow the crime scene for special access to the people who know these stories best.