PMS 2.0 1523 - Sweet 16 Night 1 Recap, Night 2 Preview, Iowa Head Coach Ben McCollum, Coach K, Daniel Jeremiah, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Jordan Reid, & AJ Hawk

Summary

The Pat McAfee Show 2.0 Episode 1523 Summary

Date: March 27, 2026
Theme: Sweet 16 Night 1 Recap & Night 2 Preview, College Basketball & NFL Draft, Special Guests—Coach McCollum (Iowa), Coach K, Daniel Jeremiah, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Jordan Reid, & AJ Hawk

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Episode Overview

This episode celebrates the magic and drama of March Madness with a high-energy recap of an unforgettable Sweet 16 night, previews for the upcoming matchups, and in-depth conversations with key figures from both college hoops and the NFL. Pat and the crew dive into game recaps, betting struggles, unique sports culture moments, and interviews with legendary coaches and rising sports stars. NFL Draft talk heats up with insiders, adding a multi-sport flavor to the episode.

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Key Themes and Discussion Points

1. Sweet 16 Recap & Night 2 Preview

• Big Ten Dominance: Iowa, Nebraska, Purdue, Texas, and Illinois highlighted for standout performances. Illinois, in particular, viewed as a team peaking at the right time.
• March Magic & Cinderella Stories: Iowa’s run under new coach Ben McCollum is front and center—not a Cinderella, but an inspiring underdog story. Emotionally charged celebration, especially for Iowa fans.
• Late Game Scheduling Frustrations: Games running late into the night; crew jokes about aging and sleeplessness but declare: “the games are worth it.”
• Upcoming Battles: St. John’s vs. Duke, Alabama vs. Michigan, Michigan State vs. UConn, Tennessee vs. Iowa State—all anticipated as potential instant classics.

Notable Quote:

“Last night was the biggest Iowa basketball—maybe the biggest Iowa win—of my lifetime, regardless of sport.” —Ty Schmidt (02:10)

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2. Pat’s Betting Chronicles & Darts Tangent

• Struggles with Betting Accounts: Pat jokingly laments losing bets before Sweet 16, illustrates the pain of the Crown system and the elusive “winning streak.”
• Darts Deep Dive: Spirited, comedic segment about betting on international darts, unreliable athletes, and sports gambling’s ups and downs.

Memorable Pat McAfee Rant:

“I was in darts yesterday… betting on a gout guy in Munich for a league based out of England. And I'm not betting on the guy who's been winning since I’ve known he existed.” —Pat (05:01)

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3. “Oh No’s” of the Week: Sports Bloopers & Mishaps (11:22–17:00)

A rapid-fire segment roasting the week’s embarrassing sports moments, including:

• Chris in Baseball: Costly error in the outfield.
• Savannah Bananas Baseball Prank: Lighthearted chaos.
• Tampa Bay Rays Catcher: Ball to the groin moment.
• College Basketball Fan MVP: Florida fan suffers double heartbreak.
• Dan Orlovsky Social Media Blunders: Gentle ribbing for viral tweets.
• Message to Athletes: “Everyone has ‘oh no’ moments—it's just part of putting yourself out there.”

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4. Interview: Ben McCollum, Iowa Head Coach (17:47–38:02)

Fresh off leading Iowa to their first Elite Eight since 1987, Coach McCollum delivers candid insights:

• Coaching Philosophy: “It’s not about being spectacular TV—it’s about honest relationships and old-school accountability.” (19:18)
• Viral In-Game Moments: Recalls the viral “sleepwalking” team speech—balances intensity with real connection.
• Big Win Reflection: Stays focused—“it’s on to the next game.”
• Recruiting Toughness: Seeks “gritty, no-drama” players; values parental support and fighting spirit.
• Impact on Campus: Celebrates the fun and togetherness sports have brought back to Iowa’s students and alumni.
• Pressure & Growth: “Sports make you better men. Money matters, but growth is more important.”
• Fun banter: Pat jokes about hair bets and playoff beards if Iowa goes all the way.

Quotes:

“You can’t just go in and start screaming at people. You’ve got to have a relationship—brutal honesty, and they can come right back at me.” —Coach McCollum (19:18)

“Starts said, ‘he slammed his whiteboard, broke a marker, ink everywhere—just told us we sucked.’ Gotta earn that relationship.” —Pat (32:29)

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5. Coach K Joins: Analysis and Real Talk on Modern Coaching (40:08–63:58)

A legendary segment with Coach Mike Krzyzewski (“Coach K”):

On Ben McCollum:

• Praises their past matchups (Duke vs. NW Missouri State).
• Lauds McCollum’s authentic, relationship-driven coaching—"every coach in the country should hear that."
• Riffs on the importance of holding players accountable in a “truth-telling relationship.”

Tournament Analysis:

• Big Ten’s Strength: 5 teams left in Sweet 16—“they’ve earned respect.”
• Arizona’s Style: “Six guys scored 16+ points, they only shot eight 3s—shows you can score big in other ways.”
• Halftime Adjustments: Loves to see tactical changes pay off.
• The Evolution of the Big Man: “Bigs are back, and if you have two, you’ve got a shot.”
• On Coaching: “It’s not just X’s and O’s, it’s the mood of the team. Painter and McCollum deliver the same message, in their own ways.”

Coach K Reality Check:

“Stop calling it ‘old school.’ It should just be how it should be.” (43:18)

“You don’t have to have the same personality, but you all have to have the same mentality.” —from Mike Vrabel, echoed by Coach K (50:08)

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6. NFL Draft Deep-Dive with Daniel Jeremiah (73:52–98:13)

A thorough and insightful segment with NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah, covering:

• QB Debate: Ty Simpson vs. Fernando Mendoza—traits, comps, risks, and draft stock (“You only need one team to fall in love.”).
• Jets & Raiders Draft Plans: Discussion of likely picks, possible trades, and draft strategies.
• Edge Rushers & Versatility: Arvell Reese’s upside, comparisons to Micah Parsons, and use on defense.
• Running Backs and Value: Could Jeremiah Love be a top-10 pick? The economics of positional value in the draft.
• O-Line & Contract Structures: The big money for top interior linemen, and the impact of rookie deals.
• Mock Draft Insights: Who’s rising, who fits where, which prospects are under-discussed.

Quip:

“Look, you can love Ty Simpson and not hate Fernando Mendoza—this isn’t a zero-sum game.” —Daniel Jeremiah (80:27)

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7. March Madness, MLB & More: Pete Crow-Armstrong Interview (100:42–117:43)

Rising Cubs star and Team USA WBC outfielder joins for an honest, funny, and insightful segment:

• Handling Losses and Longevity: “161 games left—just part of the grind.”
• WBC Vibes: The energy, pressure, and emotional letdown returning to MLB spring ball.
• Clubhouse Culture: Navigating language barriers and multi-national team culture.
• Young MLB Talent: On the influx of successful under-25 players—“failing in the majors can actually accelerate growth.”
• Chicago Weather Struggles: “You just have to adapt to the elements at Wrigley. Nothing can prepare you.”
• Lineup Decisions & Mindset: On being benched in a huge WBC moment—"At first, you’re pissed...but you have to support your team and be ready."

Quote:

“You hit that wall in July...It’s a constant battle with failure. That’s what I’m learning—how to come out on top day in, day out.” —Pete Crow-Armstrong (103:41)

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8. NFL Draft “Three Things” with ESPN’s Jordan Reid (136:27–146:58)

• Reuben Bain’s Stock: Miami DL, praised for NFL-ready motor/skill; possible top-2 pick despite “short arms.”
• Ty Simpson’s Risk: Stats on QBs with <16 college starts—“Drafting him high is betting on him as an outlier.”
• Arvell Reese’s Versatility: Projects better as off-ball LB, but compares to Micah Parsons; debate on best NFL fit.
• Quarterback Rankings Beyond the Top 2: Nussmeier, Beck, Granowski in mid-late rounds.
• Reid’s Process: “The only way to know a player is to ‘test drive the car’—go see them live, meet the person.”

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9. End-of-Week Banter & Wrap-Up

• Pat & Team Reflect: Express gratitude for their platform, poke fun at Pittsburgh’s draft traffic chaos, and riff about gambling superstitions, spray tan mishaps, and the ridiculousness of sports radio life.
• Weekly Rituals: Skipping stones (baseball lingo and inside jokes), ribbing Midwest weather woes, and embracing the rollercoaster of sports fandom.

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Sweet 16 Recap / Betting Drama: 00:00 – 11:22
• Oh No’s of the Week: 11:22 – 17:00
• Coach McCollum Interview: 17:47 – 38:02
• Coach K Joins: 40:08 – 63:58
• NFL Draft with Daniel Jeremiah: 73:52 – 98:13
• Pete Crow-Armstrong MLB/WBC: 100:42 – 117:43
• Jordan Reid’s Draft Insights: 136:27 – 146:58

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Memorable Quotes

1. On the Madness:

   “March Madness—sports are absolutely the greatest and we’re so incredibly lucky we get to chat about them every single day.”
   —Pat McAfee (00:00)

2. On Authentic Coaching:

   “It’s not about being spectacular TV—it’s about honest relationships and old-school accountability.”
   —Coach McCollum (19:18)

3. On Modern Coaching:

   “Stop calling it ‘old school.’ It should just be how it should be.”
   —Coach K (43:18)

4. On the Draft:

   “If you love one player, it doesn’t mean you have to hate the other.”
   —Daniel Jeremiah (80:27)

5. On Handling Setbacks:

   “It's a constant battle with failure. That’s what I’m learning—how to come out of that on top day in, day out.”
   —Pete Crow-Armstrong (103:41)

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Overall Tone & Style

• Fast-paced, candid, playful, and deeply passionate.
• Pat is self-deprecating, transparent about wins and losses—whether on the field, at the book, or in studio.
• Guests are given room to “be themselves”; interviews often blend humor with real insight.
• The show’s DNA: irreverence, friendship, and genuine sports love.

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For Listeners Who Missed It

• This episode delivers a one-of-a-kind, insider’s look at both March Madness and the NFL Draft, mixing heartfelt fan moments (tears for Iowa, joy for young MLB stars) with the analytical rigor of veteran coaches and draft experts. It’s packed with laughs, wisdom, and energy, and leaves fans excited for another weekend of sports miracles.

If you only catch one segment: Listen to the Coach McCollum interview (~17:47–38:02) and Coach K’s reflections on what makes great coaches and great teams.

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Transcript

[A]

People, and welcome to our humble abode, the Thunderdome on this Sweet 16. Feel good. Friday, March 27, 2026. This program begins now. Sports are the absolute greatest and we're so incredibly lucky that we get a chance to chat about them every single day. The Sweet 16 is happening tonight and yes, last night was a Sweet 16 as well as the Big 10 prevailed in a big way as Iowa, Nebraska, Purdue, Texas stole the show. Then Illinois. The big itches from Illinois are certainly a team that is maybe ready to do battle. But can anybody keep up with Arizona? We shall see today. Sweet 16 Friday. The games will be just as late as they were last night. Geez Louise. St. Jones and Duke. Hell yeah. Alabama, Michigan. Something going on with Alabama. There's been a release of thing in trial system. Their second leading scorer potentially playing right. Is that how this whole thing's going to be?

[B]

He's going to be there for travel? Yeah, I think he can travel but he was listed as out already, so I don't know if they can change that.

[A]

Judge Joanne Janik this morning is granted Aiden Holloway's request to travel out of state. Big deal.

[C]

Big deal.

[A]

Yeah, big deal. Because obviously that means couldn't have been right if we're letting him.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Okay, so that's good news. Hopefully this is just a little bit of a speed bump in a life that is often running in a big way. But also for Alabama, maybe best team is showing against Michigan who's obviously ready to do battle. Michigan State taking on Yukon, Dan Hurley. We know he's ready to go. Yeah, we. You know he's ready to go. He used to be fat.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

No longer fat because he doesn't eat. All he does is shove basketball down his gullet. As does Tom Izzo, which should make that a fantastic battle. And then Tennessee and Iowa State will do battle as the SEC and the Big 12 represent on this Sweet 16 Friday. We have a great program today. I cannot say that enough. We got coach Krzyzewski joining us.

[D]

Hell yeah.

[A]

We caught up with Coach McCollum earlier today of Iowa, fresh off a massive dub over Nebraska last night. Let's go to the Toxic T, Boston Connor and at Ty Schmidt. There's some magical moments in March and it feels like one of them that we're living is you having the time of your life with this Iowa Hawkeyes basketball team.

[C]

Yeah, without a doubt. I mean we kind of talked about it back when Ben McCollum got hired. I was very excited. This is the most invested I've been in an Iowa game or an Iowa season in a really long time. But at this point, it's just like Iowa's not exactly a Cinderella, but, like, that's. I, I'm. I get to play that role right now. Like, everything at this point is kind of just house money. Last night was the biggest Iowa basketball, maybe biggest Iowa win of my lifetime, regardless of sport. And so just the opportunity to be able to watch them go another week, another game, like, it's. It's the best. I'm loving it.

[A]

Nebraska had never gotten this far. Right. And Iowa hadn't been here since, what, 1987 or something. I was born 1987. That was a long time ago. That's like wake up in the morning, back sore amount of time.

[E]

Yeah.

[A]

You know, that's like hangovers, like three, four days. That's where I'm at right now in life. That's how long it's been since Iowa has reached the, the elite eight. And that's, you know, that the videos coming out of Iowa, they're celebrating as such. We like that. We like everything that brings people together and have a good time. Sports certainly doing that. Shout out to March Madness and shout out to Coach Callum joining us. And I'll tell you what, local Indianapolis kid, Lawrence kid right near here. This kid playing for Illinois last night. Great hair. Great hair. Davis, late games. Illinois and Arizona just kind of did their thing. Yeah, that was just kind of what it was. The Purdue Texas game and Iowa Nebraska game. Obviously nail biter going on at the same time. Fascinating. YouTube TV. You can split them, but it's almost smaller when it's two than it is with four. Kind of a lot of blank screen. So late games, Illinois, Arizona did their stuff. Arizona might be the best team of all time. Who knows with the way they're playing, how big they are, how old they are, how talented they are. And Purdue, obviously. Painter's on a run right now with a squad that's all the way bought in. College basketball has been showing up. Hated the scheduling last night, but enjoyed the madness as we continue to roll through. Let's go to one half of the hammer.

[C]

Dad.

[A]

Cowboys, ap. Tone, Tone. What's betting going on? Because out tell you, I ran out of money yesterday before I even got a chance to get a sweet 16. That'll happen. Yeah. The had to get in, log in and gave me the video.

[D]

Yeah.

[A]

Telling me, hey, oh, no again. Let's shut this thing down. Year. Eight years, 10 years. How long do you want to kind of maybe think about this whole thing? You Want to call your friends? You want to call our friends? Do you need something going on? It's a full play on there before I get in there. Oh, yeah, I know. I lost a lot there, but I'll pass for now. Let me get back in there. And I looked. I didn't have a single crown. The crown was not mine one time.

[D]

No crowns.

[A]

I've been all over the world I've been all over the world looking for this crown. I was in darts yesterday.

[F]

It's elusive.

[A]

I was in darts yesterday and I was told this was a sure fire thing. Don't worry about it. The gout guy is back on the dartboard and he's looking for an absolutely dominant performance. Against who? Johnny Rock.

[B]

Josh Rock. Okay. And it turns out the gout guy needs his gout. It's cured. And now he's not winning.

[A]

But this is where I'm at right now. I'm betting on a gout guy in darts in Munich for a league that's based out of England right now. And I'm not betting on a guy named Luke Litler who's been winning since I've known he's existed. And from the very beginning, he's only been motivated by a couple things.

[C]

Yeah, you know, vapes, kebabs, and maybe a Coke from time to time.

[A]

He's a sure. That guy's a sure thing. Didn't bet on him because I heard about gal guy beating hell out of this Rock guy. That's where I'm at right now looking for the crown. Can you tell me some things about these sweet 16 lines that I might look at that might, you know, maybe I find a crown tonight if I deposit more money.

[D]

In your defense, Johnny Clayton was at top of the Premier League table. Okay. He's leading the Premier League or was leading the Premier League before yesterday. And then Josh Rock had never won a match in his life. So that's just where you're at right now, trying to find the crown. Sweet 16 last night. As far as it.

[A]

Never won a match in his life.

[D]

That was his first Premier League win.

[B]

First. First year on the tour in the. Just had no luck.

[D]

It was zero.

[A]

Okay. Let's get away. I'm not doing it.

[D]

I'm done with darts.07 coming in last night versus a guy who was leading the Premier League table going into the last.

[A]

Maybe these darts guys aren't as locked in as we need them to be whenever we're potentially looking for a crown on their.

[D]

Maybe someone got to John Clayton.

[A]

How many? 180. They doubt Guy have 180. For those who don't know. Certainly don't. You certainly have no idea what we're talking about right now. There's a promo premier dart league that is electrifying. Okay. And these are pretty out of shape guys. I mean, there's not really out of shape the better.

[B]

But things looking better.

[A]

I don't think so. I honestly jacked.

[C]

He's. He's really went to work on his body.

[A]

These guys are not professional athletes. And it's obvious, but boy, they get an entrance as if they are gods.

[G]

Okay.

[A]

Which go son of them. Exactly. And what's

[B]

bunting right there?

[A]

Yeah. So the guy in the background there, not the one in front, that kind of looked like maybe athlete. The one in the back that you're talking about is the one that gets the best entrance bunt in the bullet. All this thing. That is a. That's triple 20 there. Okay. So that's worth 60 points. If all three of your darts go into the triple 20. That's a 180. That's what we're looking for whenever we're trying to Count down from 501 to zero, whatever the hell it is. And 301, whatever it is. Is it 501?

[H]

501?

[A]

Yep. 501 down to zero. It is electrifying. But I'll tell you what. I'm starting to think these guys might not be reliable. Whoa. These guys? These guys might not be consistent. I'm starting to think there's decisions being made around darts. Oh.

[C]

Certainly for the dark doors that can

[A]

lead them to not being that consistent. I'm not seeing a lot of discipline. I'm not seeing a lot of anything, really. Whatever. I'm looking at these guys that I'm not putting money on because this guy's at the top of the table. This lad can really fucking spin a dart if he needs to. That is what I'm being told. And then all of a sudden, I watch. Guy could barely go get his own darts out of the board. Oh, that's gout guy. He destroys somebody. He can barely stand up. So now he's super healthy at the top of the table, taking on a guy that's never won before. And this guy, naturally, because he's a darter, goes, just have me compobs in face. I want. Doesn't even focus on a thing gets slaughtered. We can't rely on these darters, is what I'm starting to think about now. On that note, tell me about these 18 to 27 year olds that I've never met before.

[D]

Bingo.

[A]

That are playing in this sweet 16 because we need to get back. I need to find a crown somewhere, somehow into the darters in the dark community. Congratulations on creating something electric.

[C]

Yeah, good on you lads.

[A]

Good on you lads. Feels like you guys are just stealing songs and I love it. I don't know how that works.

[D]

Yeah, you got walk ups.

[A]

It's a walk exactly like baseball. Exactly. And it is phenomenal. They really are doing it well. But I would like these guys to maybe be a little bit more locked in in their day to day so that these darts may be 180, a little bit more. On that note, we need to find a crown. 10. What should we be looking at?

[D]

Okay, so the story of the tournament coming out of the first weekend was the favorites dominated against the spread and straight up they just absolutely dominated. So going in tonight or going into last night, we thought would that be the same situation? It was not. The favorites 1 and 3 against the spread last night. Arizona being the only favorite to cover. And then they were two and two straight up. The only favorites that won were Arizona and then Purdue. And Purdue was in a close one. The dogs, Iowa and Illinois took care of business there. So are we going to see similar things tonight as the dogs. Are the dogs going to rule the sweet sixteen is the question of tonight. The dogs tonight would be St. John's Bama, Michigan State and Tennessee. A lot of people love the Johnny's. Michigan is a. That is a large spread. That's the largest spread of the Sweet 16 weekend. And with the news coming out of Bama, we will see in that situation there The Michigan State, UConn, Tennessee and Iowa State are closer spreads, more similar to what we saw last night out

[I]

of the few games.

[A]

Excited to watch, excited to win Stanford, Steve's hot right now. His parlay that he was promoting did hit. Congrats, Otter guy. Appreciate you seeing the board. That's great news. And you know in a week of sports there's always great highlights like the other guy here cashing in, finding a crown. It's not easy find a crown. Especially with that guy's.

[C]

Yeah, big crime.

[A]

Big crime. He looked good yesterday. Oh yeah.

[D]

The best performance he's had on the show.

[A]

Okay, so you're. You guys judge quality is what you're saying. Like coming out of his mouth was good as well. So I don't even think. I just think good conversation. However the conversation got. I'm not even judging. I strictly go by. I'm Going off how he looked. He was glowing. He looked phenomenal, was he not?

[D]

Is he on the road last now that game day's over?

[A]

Oh, yeah, I forgot he was on the road 162of181.

[D]

Oh, yeah. Monday Night Football too.

[A]

Yeah, during the football season. And while he was traveling, he's also like swimming like six miles in the morning in these pool. I'm like, Steve, I don't know how you're doing. Right. He was old school professional wrestler on the road. I mean, he was working four gigs a night in a different town. Each one of them. He was really special. But I thought he did really good on the program. I thought he looked good too. So we were certainly happy for him, especially because he's winning. Those are highlights of the week, you know, and there's plenty of them last night. You know, getting in the line, boom, bang, boom, pow. How you doing? But also in sports, there's some embarrassing happenings.

[D]

Yep.

[A]

There's some things that make you go, oh, no. Ladies and gentlemen, it's time for the oh nos of the week. You'll know him when you see him. Cause when you're watching them, you go, oh, no. For instance, let's head to baseball, shall we, with oh no. Chris. He's in the outfield. He's a shortstop, has played center field before. Fuck it. Ball just goes over his head. Bases loaded in first inning. Polskine's pitch. And his ERA for the season is 67 and a half or something like that. Because, oh, no, no, Cruz is in the outfield and he has no idea what he's doing in baseball. What are we doing? A Savannah banana trick potentially happening to the fun loving inflatable Whaley peoples. That was outrageous. And as you're watching it, not only are we, but Paul Skeens is going, oh, no. Oh, he's not done. Let me get in a batter's box. Let me see what I can do. Two strikes on a board. Bang. Third strike out. And try to kill a kid with a bat. I mean, that is the trifecta of oh, no for o'. Neal Cruz. Hey, o', Neal, it's gonna get better.

[B]

Bounce back.

[D]

Can't get worse.

[A]

Ladies and gentlemen, let's head down to the Tampa Bay Rays catcher's groin. Yes. This man, Nick Fortes is in to catch a baseball from Jax. Not looking. It's a ball. It's a balls. Actually, it's not just a ball. It is a balls nightmare. Actually. They went to the abs, it came back pure balls. On that particular pitch. And all it makes you think is, oh, no. All right, let's hop on the train away from baseball, because they're not the only one. Let's go on the oh, no train to hockey.

[B]

What?

[A]

Yeah. Let's go to the first inning, shall we? Our first period. Sorry, I'm at baseball in the mind. First period, Chicago Blackhawks goalie Spencer Night Scott Dangles. I got it. Nope. Turnover. Immediate goal from alex bump. That's 48 seconds into the game. Tough way to start. Congratulations to the Flyers taking advantage into old Cuzzy in the net. Oh, no. It's not goalies doing on those. It's also people trying to score goals against the goalie in hockey saying no last night. Columbus, who's in a battle right now with the Pittsburgh Penguins, has a sitter. Has a sitter on the doorstep. Mason Marshman. Oh, no. That was tough. That was. I couldn't even imagine how that feels. Actually, I have before because I have done it in a different sport, which makes me say, let's hop on the no train to soccer. Okay. Yeah. Croatia. He's playing Colombia in an international friendly. Getting warmed up for the World Cup. Croatia. Columbia tied at 1:1, 28 minutes into the game. Nice pass. He's onside. Good timing, Bia. No. Selfless. Suarez. Wisky. Oh, no. Croatia will go on to win 2 to 1.

[J]

Are you kidding me?

[A]

Are you kidding me? Oh, no. Yeah. Two to one. In the old days, we'd be worried. Yeah. Even though it's international friendly, now we know they're just getting ready. That won't ever happen as wars. He'll never have to say, oh, no, that's. We had the college hoops, and this one's not on court, this one's in the stance, and this one is incredibly jacked. Hate to say it's a big layer. Oh, no. Florida loses. Then he says, I still got tickets. I'm gonna pull for the Nebraska Cornhuskers to take out Iowa. And then last night, we all know what happens. Big lair shows up in your jersey. Oh, no. All right. That's the old nose of the week. We certainly appreciate all the athletes going out there and putting themselves in positions to be embarrassed. That's a part of doing it.

[C]

Exactly.

[A]

So whenever we're calling you out, we're not saying that you should be embarrassed. We're just saying, hey, this happens to everybody in every sport. Whenever you are maybe within a fishbowl and you got a lot of eyes on you, if you don't perform your absolute Best. Especially in the world that we're in right now. You're going to provide the Internet with a lot of opportunities nowadays. They're going to take it.

[B]

Oh, they should.

[A]

And I think the modern athlete and modern person. Big lair.

[C]

Yeah, yeah.

[A]

Understands that. So whenever we say. Oh, no. So I was making fun of you. No, no. It's not saying. We've all been through a couple oh, no moments. Yeah, no doubt. I think you guys did miss one from the week. That was a massive. Oh, no. Foxy from the background. Yeah, it's our good friend Dan Orlovsky. He's a mean guy, but a Foxy frozen. Oh, no. We said we're not gonna do this.

[E]

This.

[A]

We. We all agree. I guess Foxy said it has to happen. I mean, that's a hilarious tweet. What big golf tournaments has Scotty Scheffler won? But that was the only one. I mean, Dan.

[E]

Oh, no.

[B]

Does roll off.

[A]

I know. And we have. Oh, no, Don. Oh, before. Yeah, we're not done, though. Here's another one. Dan. Oh, did you grab Dan? Oh, no. What big wars. Did Julius Caesar even fight? Wow. Oh, no. That's really deep. Caesar salad. Cesarean section wars. Ob.

[H]

I mean.

[A]

Yeah. The whole. We could go even deeper if you guys want to. Oh, no. Oh, no. Final. This was. I did see this one float around. Yeah, that was a. And I thought to myself, that one's definitely going to get into Dan's algo. That one's going to make him not be happy about it.

[C]

Bingo.

[A]

Yeah. So, Dano, we want to say. No, we don't. And that was Foxy. Yeah. I left pat on the screen the whole time there. That was mean. I shouldn't have left you on the screen there. Said, no, we're not doing it today.

[B]

No.

[A]

And I said, oh, no, Dano. Okay, on that note, Dano, we love you, man. We appreciate the hell out of you. Let's get to our conversation from earlier today with the story potentially coming out of night one of Sweet Sixteen is D2 Sensation that is now the head coach of the Iowa Hawkeye men's basketball team, who is now in the elite eight for the first time since 1987 as a program. We. We caught up with Ben McCollum today, ladies and gentlemen, fresh off a sweet sixteen sweet victory for the Iowa Hawkeyes, who are headed to the Elite Eight for the first time since 1987. Holy shit. Coach McCollum. Yeah, Coach. How are you, man?

[E]

I'm great, man. How about yourself, dude?

[A]

We're fantastic. I. What a game. First of all, I thought the way you in Nebraska battled last night was spectacular for college hoops. Obviously with Nebraska coming out early and dominating. And then we see a video of you going, like, we're sleepwalking out here. It seems like how much of that is everyday stuff or in the moment? Are you thinking, like, I'm tired of looking at this, like, how do we get to that exact moment? And is this how you coach all the time? Is this what we should expect from the, you know, former D2 national. National, national, national champion? Is this what we should expect from you? Because it is spectacular television, sir.

[E]

And it's not an attempt to be spectacular television. No, we. I was coached by a guy by the name of Steve Tapmeier in Division 2, and it was probably more old school coaching. I felt like I could be similar to that, but slightly different. I think with kids nowadays, you do have more of a relationship with them to where, you know, like, when I grew up, it was just. You just respected your coach and you'd play for him. Now you have to respect him and like them. So the ability to coach guys hard, you have to have that relationship before you can. I don't just go in and start screaming at people, but we have a relationship. I always tell them the truth. You're brutally honest with them, and sometimes they can come back at me with the same. The same intensity. And we're trying to find solutions in the moment. And so, yeah, that's a pretty consistent thing if they're not ready to go. But if they're ready to go, then, you know, you don't really need to do that. I don't know what my message was there. Somebody sent me it. I'm like, man, I can't look any dumber than that.

[A]

Hey, it worked. It worked. You won. Now, if you lose, you know, coming out of that timeout, you got four guys on the court or something like that, you know, then. Then you look like an ass. How about that? That was a wild scene, wasn't it? Have you ever seen anything like that? And are you trying to not alarm anybody? But also, hey, boys, we understand what's going on here. How do you kind of react in that situation, especially with how big the entire moment is?

[E]

Obviously, I'm gonna be honest. I had no idea. I mean, Bennett and then Alvaro and Cale knew. So we had three guys. The inbounder, Bennett knew, and then Al knew the guy that made the layup. And so, so I was like, why is he so open? I mean, I didn't. I didn't think I drew up something that good that he could just be open to start. And so Gael saw it and they threw it deep and he made it. And then afterwards I'm like, how was he? I asked my staff, I go, why was he so open? And they're like, they only have four guys. I said, well, it's a heck of a deal for us, so it certainly helped us to pull away from him.

[A]

Tell me about the message to the team afterwards. You know, I just mentioned it and obviously Ty has a litany of questions and remarks for you because he is riding so high at this moment. There's a bunch of stats coming out about Iowa Hawkeyes basketball and how many tournament wins and how many you've brought already in your quick time. And I know your Iowa guy obviously didn't go to Iowa, played at Northwest Missouri, but you are from Iowa and I believe Ty has told me this, that you have said like, the Hawkeye's job is like, yeah, I'm like very proud to be here. So this all has to be a pretty, you know, huge moment, not only for the state, for the team, but also for you, I'd assume. How do you manage that and what is your messaging to the boys afterwards whenever you're kind of changing the way Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball fans are kind of living this time of year?

[E]

Yeah, I mean, we just tell them we're on to the next. I don't. I remember in 2017, we won the. The national championship and I thought it was going to be like this, this wow moment. And it is for about 10 seconds and then you realize, man, this is what it feels like. It doesn't feel like it should. I mean, it's the kind of the memories that you make throughout the season. So for us, it's on to the next. Onto the next game and have business and need to try to get to that final Four.

[A]

We can't wait to watch it all. I love the messaging. And as you were speaking over there, Ty, who had, I don't know, 45 Jack and Cokes last night celebrating, you think was just nodding his head like,

[E]

I thought he was from Iowa. We didn't have Bush light.

[C]

Well, you know, liquor before beer and you're in the clear, so.

[A]

Sir. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know that. Go ahead, Ty.

[C]

Coach. Yeah, no, Pat mentioned it and I have no problem saying I. I can't remember I. Of so emotion. I. I was crying last night after the game just because it's like you Just you, when, when you got hired, everyone in the state was so excited. But you still, you know what limits are in place at Iowa with basketball. And man, in terms of just everything I've experienced in my sporting life, my entire family, my brothers talking about it, like, last night was one of the best nights of my life. No cannot wait for the next one.

[A]

So, hey, that's awesome.

[C]

First and foremost, like, hey, thank you

[A]

for delivering that to our boy.

[C]

Thank you. Than. Thank you for that. But I am curious, what was the message at halftime? Obviously, Tate Sage hits that huge three to kind of give you guys momentum going in. And the, the rebounding woes that were kind of there early, like those completely dissipated and you guys kind, I mean, you were making shots, but you looked like a different team in the second half. What did you tell the guys to kind of, you know, get them back on track? Because Nebraska was shooting lights out and it was one of those things where, where if, if we weren't responding, there was a chance that they were kind of just going to run away with that one.

[E]

I mean, I thought they were dictating what, what we were doing. I thought they imposed their will on us, meaning when they came down offensively, we were chasing, trying to predict what they were doing rather than telling them what they're going to do. And so at halftime, it was, it was more just, hey, we've went over this. We understand the scout. It was simple mistakes that we typically don't make, and we made a ton of them. Now, fortunately, we spent about three days working on our offense, making sure we could score on them because we couldn't score on them the last few times. So that was dialed in. But, you know, I won't make that mistake again. We need to make sure we work on both sides of the ball.

[A]

What a win.

[B]

Unbelievable.

[A]

I mean, what a ride. I had a March Madness feeling on Thursday night. You know, like, that is a beautiful thing. And you didn't even get a chance to see the Purdue Texas game. That was happening right alongside of it. I mean, it was. Last night was great for college hoops. And I don't know what the ratings are going to be, but I assume it's going to be ridiculous. Your teams are fun, coach. Your teams are very fun. Now, you're also very new. You're an old school guy, new to our world. Obviously you've been coaching it in basketball world for a long time, but new to the national scene. We'll say your team's having great success. Seems like it doesn't have, you know, all the notoriety everywhere else and you're a Big Ten team, it's starting to draw some comparisons. Tone has a question for you.

[D]

Yeah, Coach. Obviously you're a coach, and sometimes coaches just live in a bubble and have no idea what's going on in the outside world. So just letting you know that before I ask, but the Internet is comparing you to Coach Signetti of IU football and you know, his run of going from smaller schools and winning. And winning, winning, getting to IU and immediately having immediate success on the greatest stage. I'm not sure if you've seen those comparisons on the Internet, but it is a huge compliment. Just want to know if you had any thoughts on that.

[E]

Yeah, I mean, probably a huge compliment. I don't really pay attention. I think the second you, you start to read clippings about yourself, you're going to have issues. Yeah, I mean, if I, if I can win, if I can win to the level that he's won at the Division 1 level, I mean, that's a heck of a deal. You know, I'm. I'm more of a Kirk Ference fan, though.

[A]

Hell yeah. Good answer to him. No offense.

[E]

Offense to Signetti. He's obviously a fantastic coach, but I

[A]

don't want to get into what you just said right there. I don't want to do this.

[G]

Okay.

[A]

I don't want to do this. Me and Dan Orlovsky had a moment the other day. I'm not doing it again. Coach, congrats on a huge win in Sweet 16 and the Big Ten Pro. You know, a lot of great Big Ten basketball going on right now in this tournament. And then obviously with football, you guys feel it, right? I think we talked about this last time. Last night was a Big Ten showcase there in that first game. And it was obviously going the way it was going. Best league in the country. Has it prepared you, you think for this tournament? And how do you feel kind of going into the elite Eight now? What all do you kind of scout? Are you doing a lot of self scout right now before it all gets fit? Like how do you kind of go ahead with the team at this exact point?

[E]

Yeah, we do a lot of scouting them. So like last night I downloaded all the Illinois clips from however many games and, and then, you know, watched it throughout the night, watched it this morning up to this point and, and you just try to figure out exactly what you can do to be able to p things and, and yeah, not a lot of self scout right now. We just need to make sure that we're. We're dialed in and play better defense than we did last game.

[A]

Those itches are crazy. There's an itch here. There's an itch here. And those itches seemingly everywhere. And they got an Indian. They got an Indiana kid from, like, right here. The kid with the ponytail.

[F]

Oh, yeah, he's from Davis.

[E]

He's a good player. He's a good shooter. He's really good. Tough kid.

[A]

Yeah. I'm happy he got out of Indiana. I mean, this guy. This guy's unbelievable. I was watching. I was watching their entire team last night.

[G]

Night.

[A]

Because obviously Houston talks about how physical they are and everything like that. They weren't rattled at all, the Big Ten last night. It was a showcase. It was a. It was a Big Ten showcase last night, actually.

[C]

Yeah, it is tonight, too, because Michigan State and Michigan are playing, so.

[A]

Yeah. Oh, man.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Greg Sankey's down there right now at the. The SEC microphone going, we got teams. We got teams down here. They are on their way. Petit saying, where are they? You know, and fascinating times. Big Ten is lucky to have you, coach Legit. Very, very, very lucky to have you. It has been very cool to get. They've been telling it very well. I know you're not listening to your press clippings. They're talking about you being maybe the greatest of all time in D2. You could have won four, I believe. Go ahead, con man.

[B]

Yeah, coach. You should have won four if it wasn't for that thing in 2020.

[E]

But we. We won four.

[A]

We won four straight. Four straight. Sorry. Four straight.

[F]

Yes, sir.

[B]

Yeah, but you know, that. That is in the past. Now let's talk about right now. Your team is clearly very gritty. You know, it's fun to watch because it's. It's basketball, but you're damn near playing football out there because of how tough your guys are.

[C]

Are.

[B]

Tate Sage. Ty mentioned it after you chewed the entire team out, or at least in that little timeout. Tate Sage went on to have, you know, 11 points, couple boards just in the first half. After that. How do you know when you're, you know, recruiting a guy or if you're, you know, just getting to know a player, whether they can take, you know, a Ben McCollum ass chewing, because clearly it does really kind of get to you, especially when you know, you. You're a fiery guy. I. I could see some of those kids kind of. Of going into themselves maybe, especially in today's day and age. But how. How do you know Whether a player can play, you know, now an Iowa brand of basketball.

[E]

Yeah, I mean, it's a lot of work. I mean, that's what we try to evaluate first is, you know, parents, you know, I guess the parents that they were raised by and then just to feel when you get to know them and to meet them, we, we do love them just as much as we, we come at them with that same intensity. Meaning we, we love them just the, at him with that same amount of intensity on that end of the spectrum too. But yeah, it does take a certain kind of guy. I mean, I grew up in small town Iowa. I'm naturally just love toughness, love grit, love effort, love energy. And I want my team to do the same thing. So that's probably the number one thing that we evaluate. I think the kids that can't handle it a lot of times are probably. We've said this before in other interviews as moody kids.

[F]

Kids.

[E]

I just, I just can't do moods. You know, if you're up and down, you're not like, you don't have to be excited about life every day, but, you know, you gotta be ready to go. And, and you know, the guys that come in, it's like, you know, woe is me. It doesn't usually work for me. And so we try to find those ones and, and those kids want to be coached hard like those kids and their parents want them to be coached hard. That's the other thing that we don't realize is I've got really good parents. Those parents allow that, you know, and they don't have any really control over it. But they, they, they, they have my back in those situations. Like, well, coach told you to do that. You should probably do that rather than,

[A]

hey, we can get out of here. Coach is being mean to my kid. Yeah, I could see that. Especially the people around college athlete right now. Very important, very important. I mean there's deals happening at other schools by people in the circle where the player doesn't even know what's happening. And it's probably obviously very illegal. Legal parents potentially hearing some things, hearing some things, hearing how you're talking to their kid. Let's move on. I think what you just said there is a good observation, but also something that isn't talked about enough probably in this entire thing.

[E]

Correct? Yeah. I mean, your circle and who you go. Because there's going to be times when it's like, you know, a kid's going to be sit there and say, man, this. I don't know if I can do this. I don't know if I like this. And probably Bennett searched it his freshman year, but, you know, he calls dad and dad says. And mom says, says, okay, well, go ahead and tough it out, boss, because. Because you ain't going anywhere. And. And that's a good message for parents to give their kids. But that's also why kids need to choose the right program for the people that are coaching them so they can trust those people, you know, rather than getting sold on either nil or whatever it may be. Because ultimately, it's still about trying to become the best human that you can be. Now, I know there's an nil component and there is a money component and there's something to that, but if you can add the fact that, hey, we want to go to a place that's going to make me a better man first, money second, a lot of times, then you can coach those kids with that kind of intensity.

[A]

Iowa Hoops, man. Ty just dropped a tear right there. Ty said that. Damn, that's my guy. Now starts here. Starts said a hilarious quote here. He slammed his whiteboard and broke his marker on the floor. Ink went everywhere. He was just telling us we sucked into weird soft. You got to earn that relationship with the boys, though. Like, you got to earn that relationship. Like, I don't want to. I don't want to compare our lives because I'm not coaching people, but obviously, like having the conversations with people here that I don't want to say I employ.

[C]

You can say you employ.

[A]

Yeah, but it is a weird way to describe the relationship, though. But it is like having you have to earn these things, you know, like, you can't just say, like, hey, you're fucking up. Like, you have to. And how you approach people. I'm not the greatest with some is good. And that mood thing. Hilarious what you just said there. It's like, I think delivering a message from a leadership position can be done in many different ways, but it feels like there's been one way throughout of entire history basically of sports that has worked every time. It does feel like there has been a particular blueprint that is since the beginning of time. I think that kind of threw it all. Accountability is a massive piece of that. I love that you are looking for that first seemingly before everything else. Ben, the more I learn about your you, they think the more more I like. Now I do have to ask it. Can we grow that out? Can you. Can you grow that entire thing out? Can we get that all the way down, all the Way, you know, we

[E]

used to have a full head of hair, but you're talking about my hair

[A]

growing that out Hulk Hogan style. Yeah. What Hulk did you know what Hulk had with that thing?

[E]

Party in the back. Party in the back.

[J]

Absolutely.

[A]

If you win at all, I think this is something you should commit to. I think this is.

[E]

Talk to my wife. Fortunately, I've been married for quite a while, so, you know, I don't need to look great anyway.

[A]

Everything you're doing is working, brother. You just keep doing it. But if you do want to start a playoff, beard or something with that hair, we would be supportive. I just want to let you know, Coach, you're the man. Thank you for allowing us the conversation. Congratulations on the big win. I think Ty has one last question for you about life as an Iowa Hawkeye, but basketball fan.

[C]

Yeah, Coach, Obviously everyone's going to talk about Bennett, Sturts and Big Al, and rightfully so, because they've been so good. But, like, do you have premonitions almost going into games thinking, like, hey, I don't know why, but I think this guy's going to have a big night tonight. Like Tate Sage in the first two Nebraska games played 15 minutes total at 2 points, 3 rebounds. Last night, he plays 29 minutes, has 19 points and 8 boards. Tavian Banks obviously was huge against Florida and not so much last night. Like, is that all just in the feel of the game, or do you ever going into a game feel like, you know what, he may have not played a bunch last game or whatever the case may be, but I feel like he's going to have a huge night tonight, and we're going to need to rely on him to win.

[E]

Yeah. With this team, it's more feel and matchups. You know, usually you kind of have an idea. Obviously, I, I, I'm pretty sure Bennett's going to play, you know, well into the game.

[G]

Game.

[E]

And so then it's just, okay, what's the matchup say to do? Who's completely ready to go? Because we're a group that has to be at 100%. Like, if we're not at, if we're at 97 and say, hey, we want to play at 97 and run at 97, it's just not going to work for our group. So I got to have dudes that are out there at 100 and, and we have a lot of dudes that like that. We have a lot of dudes that, like, you know, they, they, they like, they like to fight. Not actually fight, but they like to fight in the games. And so we just got to which ones are. Are there.

[A]

Good luck. Why not Iowa?

[C]

Why not?

[A]

I don't know if Ty's liver can handle it.

[C]

Oh, it certainly can. I. I got three more games in me.

[F]

Without a doubt.

[A]

No problem, coach.

[D]

He's been training his whole life.

[C]

Exactly.

[E]

Ty going to come back to brothers if we make the final Four. Is it brothers or no?

[C]

You guys are coming to Indy?

[E]

Indy.

[C]

I'll be. I'll be boots. I'll be boots on the hardwood if you guys make it here.

[A]

I think you just talking about after the win. Are you going to go back? I saw the union. Is that what the name of the place is?

[E]

I. Yeah, I don't. I haven't frequented them, so I don't

[A]

look at this place. Dude.

[E]

I probably has.

[C]

Oh, yeah?

[E]

What's that?

[A]

Look at this place. This is your bar in Iowa City last night. I don't know if you saw this video or not. I mean it. That is what college experience is supposed to be like, right there. Yeah. That is like, literally what sports bring to colleges. And the experience, the tailgating. We talked about this literally whenever we saw this video. I went to West Virginia at a time where our basketball team was really good. Football team was obviously really good. Rifle team was starting our 21 national championship. That. I mean, it was good times. And I think Bin Laden got killed during that time. There was a lot of happenings, and, like, our campus was alive and it was like enrollment went up. Everything goes up. It was just like, great times back then. Like, you get good times. Sports can provide that. And I think, like, the schools that understand that and embrace that are normally gonna have a better college experience. That is a moment they'll never forget, that union moment. And I assume that was everywhere. And congrats to you guys for providing that. And I hope you can. Can continue to do so, you know, because football teams got.

[C]

Doing just fine.

[A]

Got the odds stacked against you. You got Signetti in your guys. You got Ryan Day. They gonna be all right.

[E]

They gonna be all right.

[A]

We.

[E]

We got this. They gonna be all right.

[A]

Okay. Hey, maybe. Maybe. Especially with what's going on in basketball. I don't think anybody.

[C]

I was g. Say it's. It's basketball season right now.

[A]

We.

[B]

We'll.

[C]

We'll address that when it comes.

[A]

We're.

[J]

We're.

[C]

We're trying to go win a national championship right now.

[A]

Why not? We appreciate you, coach. Good luck. The rest of the world way.

[E]

Thanks, guys. Appreciate you.

[A]

Yeah, coach. McCullough. I, I love that guy.

[C]

Me too.

[A]

He's been great to us here. In his quick career with Iowa, we've talked to him more than we've talked to May any college basketball coach. Yeah.

[C]

Active. Yeah.

[A]

Well, Izo came on. Right. Didn't he come on once or twice? Yeah.

[B]

Hurley. I guess.

[A]

There you go. All the same style. Seems like.

[C]

Yeah. Very similar.

[A]

Isn't it Interesting.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You think football team is going to benefit from how the basketball team's playing? Taj? You think maybe there's a little bit of a. An ooze that radiates through the athletic department over there and gets that football team back on track in a Big Ten that is absolutely stacked? I mean, just full throttle from top to bottom. Yeah. And in hoops, it's the same exact way.

[C]

Yeah. I mean, we'll see. Again, you know, like I said there, I'm three. Three games away from winning a national championship, so I'm really not, you know, thinking about football right now. But what I hope it does is kind of to wake up everybody who is potentially an Iowa alum who's got a bunch of money, like, now's the time to donate. Okay. We got the. We got the best coach in the ncaa. Okay. Kirk is.

[A]

Kirk is Kirk.

[C]

He's gonna send guys to the NFL. If you have a lot of money, you know, just burning a hole in your pocket.

[A]

Con, you're talking about. He's talking about himself, right?

[C]

I don't, I don't. I have two kids. I got another one on the way. I do not have a bunch of money burning a hole in my pocket.

[B]

But your first baby's kind of Iowa Hawkeyes.

[C]

Yeah, you. Exactly. Well said. But, you know, I, I, I'm not talking about myself. I'm, I'm talking about guys like, you know, maybe Ashton Kutcher, who.

[A]

Oh, we're using names.

[C]

Who was making 25 million bucks, you know, an episode of Two and a Half.

[A]

Well earned, by the way.

[C]

Well earned. Absolutely. But if we know what it takes now to kind of get to that next level. Pony up if you got the cash.

[A]

Pony up if you got $5.

[C]

Yeah, exactly.

[A]

We'll put $5 to good use. We'll get a good power forward for you for the next two years or so.

[B]

Where's John Deere at? You know, that's what I want to know.

[A]

That's a good question. How about all that sweet corn? 2.8 billion bushels.

[B]

That's a lot of bushels.

[A]

Can we get at least a bushel or two donation to the. That's what college sports is now.

[C]

Exactly.

[A]

We don't think that's good. It's wrong. We let you know that's reality. That is. This is really joining us now, ladies and gentlemen, is a man who is a great of all time at his profession. Five time national champion. He's become a phenomenal conversation on this show. Show. We'll see if that continues. We'll see if that continues. Ladies and gentlemen, Coach K. Yeah, Coach. How you doing, coach?

[G]

Thank you. Yeah. Boy, that was a great conversation with Ben.

[A]

Okay, tell me about him. Tell, tell me your thoughts about him. I'm sure he'll be excited to hear this. Whenever he hears it months from now.

[G]

I told you. Yeah. I'm not sure how much you remember, but I, I, no, I'm still learning about you. Okay. And elephant, I think you, you have to be given a Scott and report multiple times and not one time. But I told you that I, my Duke teams played against Ben's Northwest Missouri State team twice. Oh yeah, I remember the Division 2 National Champion. We always played an exhibition game against that team. The, the, you know, the following year year actually, you know, like in the NFL when you, when they said we're going to Disney World, it started, we started a tradition where the Division 2 champion after they won said, we're going to Cameron.

[A]

Let's go. That's awesome.

[G]

So heck, he almost beat us one time and I, I love the guy. So I've been following his career. Every once in a while I'll touch base with him. I have not done that this year or this spring, but I've, I've really admired Higher all the stuff he's talking about. Every coach in the country should hear that, you know, at all levels, you know, where you hold people accountable and then you do, you know, the establishment of a relationship is the start of it. Like if I was recruiting you.

[J]

Wow.

[A]

Yeah. Welcome to the Thunderdome.

[G]

Now I have to is no. The very first thing I tell you is, look, I'm going to be one of the only people in your life that will always tell you the truth. Hell yeah, always. And I promise you that from now forever. And. But two things. When we talk to each other, look each other in the eye and tell the truth immediately. And what will establish is trust and the speed to trust. So it's not just the way the message is put across, it's how quickly will you trust the message. And what he said is terrific. I mean, just terrific.

[A]

How do you feel about his Mannerisms I loved. He was telling the boys that they were sleepwalking out there and he was obviously completely locked in. Does not care that he's on tv, but just literally utilizing every aspect of his being to motivate the boys. Feels like he was born to be a basketball coach. Feels like he loves it and he feels like one of the old school guys. Is that kind of what you took away from it? Obviously.

[G]

And I wish that we would stop calling it old school and say, should be how it should be.

[A]

Yeah.

[G]

You know, and again, you don't have to necessarily be yelling and screaming or, you know, I cursed probably more than most people and not necessarily the people your team, but thank you. We appreciate that and how you. But be honest and in the moment. And he, you know, to me, the way he coaches is real, you know, and we should like real more and not fake. And, and by the way, the kids should be listening to one voice and that coach's voice or the voice of the program, not to other voices. You know, people want, you know, know, getting in your ear and all that. And it looks like he has that and, and that's why they won. That doesn't mean Nebraska didn't have it either because he's a good coach. But we should, we should teach that more.

[A]

Yeah. Life, like, life should learn that, I think more, you know.

[G]

Yeah. And, you know, he made an interesting point about parents and, and parents need to have your best back. Although he did. I don't know if you caught it. He said, well, it didn't really matter.

[A]

Yeah, yeah. Oh, yeah, I caught it. As soon as he said it, I was like. Because he, I was like, well, that's quite an omission there, you know, that the parents are. Have to be in. It doesn't really matter, though. He was him correcting himself. Like, if there was to be a situation, we would certainly not do that. So this is a necessity. But I did appreciate how he talked and I also appreciated the fact that his team won a hard game. I mean, Iowa, Nebraska was, Purdue, Texas, fantastic last night. Obviously, Illinois and Arizona have done their thing. What's your big takeaway from last night? Last night's Sweet 16 action?

[G]

Coach K. Well, the Big Ten, right. I mean, there are 12 teams remaining and five of them are Big Ten teams. Come on. You know, one Big Ten team is going to make it because Iowa and Illinois are going to play against one another. I, you know, for me, I like when I'm watching a game from timeouts or after halftime adjustments that are Made.

[A]

Made.

[G]

And I thought I would made a big adjustment at halftime just as far as increasing the attitude, you know, and, and what, and what they're going to do. The most impressive team was Arizona. You know, they, they have eight dudes that can score. They had six guys who scored 16 and more. And you talk about old school, you know this thing about the three point shot with which I'm, I'm a proponent for the three point shot.

[A]

But okay, that's good news. That's good news.

[G]

No, but not where it's your only weapon. Arizona, you know, for the year about. Only about a quarter of their shots are threes. I think they only shot eight of them last night. They scored over 100 points. So he, he. Tommy coaches his way and, and they have that mix of international. There's so many good international players playing right now and young and then old, you know, it's. They're really deep. They have the most international players and I've really enjoyed that game. And I thought, you know, the Texas team really had an amazing run. And you know, Purdue on the last play, real interesting thing. You know, a lot of people would call a ball screen, you know, right at the end for Braden Smith. They kind of faked the ball screen and the guy who faked it then rolled and he was actually the guy Kaufman Wren who tipped it in and so he didn't get the pass off of the, off of a typical roll on a ball screen. He faked it and went around and he got the tip. It was I. Those are the kind of things I love watching, like adjustments.

[A]

I like the play call there actually. And as you break it down, I see a little, little roll through. Okay, let me carry into a little bit of a dead space over here. We got an ISO now all of a sudden over there. And then he stays alone.

[J]

Look at you.

[G]

Look at you talking basketball for crap.

[A]

Hey, I like what they're doing on the wood. You know, I like what they're doing on the wood out there. But also Purdue from the state of Indiana. Obviously Purdue and Indiana people aren't the tightest. And Indiana people would never publicly say that they're ever cheering for Purdue and Purdue would never say it about Indiana. Purdue people are definitely like, okay, Indiana's national champs in football. Why not Indiana? The state represent here in basketball as well. They got a great point guard. Their coach is also.

[G]

So

[A]

it's all good coaches. It feels like coaching really matters. That why you guys get the big paychecks. That's why you guys get Vils named after you. How much does coaching because you talked about the halftime adjustments McCullough made and we starts came out and said that he caught a soft and said we sucked and just all this stuff and then they came out in a second everywhere and it got to go crazy. Painter obviously gets the massive win. It feels like there has been some real coaching coaching. It matters even more now as we get down the stretch or is this more players just making play plays here as we go forward?

[G]

No coaching of course and teaching are critical, you know, are critical but also not to over coach and not just coach X's and O's but coach, you know, get the feel of the team right now, what they need. Are they satisfied? Are they content? You know, are they hungry? You know dose adjustments and, and how you before you ever give a game plan or even after you give a game plan, how do you make those adjustments? You know Ben talked about moods. That was a cool thing he was talking about. When I say mood right now, it doesn't mean they're in a bad mood but they are we all in the same mood and seeing how they do do that. Matt Painter is one of the top coaches of all time of the Big Ten and he, he seems always in control. You know, I don't. He. He doesn't look to me like he gets his match message across the same way that Ben does, but it's the same message. You see what I mean?

[A]

Yes sir.

[G]

Like what we're talking about is the same message. How you get that across has to be your personality and the personality of your team. Team.

[A]

Mike Vrabel said what I've learned through coaching is that we don't all have to have the same personality but we all have to have the same mentality. And it's. I think that's a, I think that's a good way to kind of describe it especially with how you different ways go about winning things and you talk about Painter always being in control. He's had gigantic human beings on his team. It feels like there's some cyclicality going on in ball. Go ahead, Tone.

[D]

Yeah, it does Coach. When, when you're watching these games it feels like majority of these teams have good to bigs and it felt like the game we. You talked about it with the three point shot earlier. It felt like the game maybe went away from the bigs a bit in the last few years or maybe five years or so, but it feels like now it's coming back to getting the bigs involved and how you have to have good to great bigs to go far in the tournament. Do you agree with that or no?

[G]

Yeah, there's no, no question and hope. Multiple bigs, you know, that's what makes Purdue good. They have two bigs playing at one time. Time, you know, Michigan State to tonight they have two really good big guys and, and Carr who is a 68 really strong dude. That's why it's important for our team, Duke to get the gambo back and he'll be playing and we're. That if you have multiple bigs, you can have a fresh big in there all the time. Time and your rotation is important. I think when we hit a few speed bumps, we were playing the first couple games like we were. When we're healthy we, we're going to get that back because I think Pat will play tonight. I also, I'm pretty sure that Caleb Foster will get minutes tonight, so that'll be good. But the big guys are, are huge. You know, look at Arizona, they're. They got strong dudes, man, and they have multiple, multiple guys. You're going to see one of the best ones. St. John's big guy is, you know, Biggie I think is Biggie's player of the year. And if like for our game against them, if we can get him in foul trouble, that'd be a.

[A]

Okay, so you're coaching that up. You're saying, hey, obviously we would like him to not have as many minutes tonight. That would be fantastic.

[G]

And because the best way to, the best way to defend somebody is to get them in foul trouble. Like when I coached, there were some coaches that when you get too early fouls in any game, they take you out and don't put you in. Well, if that, if I knew that that was a guy's strategy, especially if it was a perimeter guy guy, the first four minutes we try to drive him, you know, you know, try to get his hands on us because sometimes too early in a game, an official, they call a few more fouls early, set the tone and so. And then say, boy, you guys did a great job on, on that guy. Well, yeah, his butt was. His ass was on the bench.

[A]

Yeah.

[G]

Trouble.

[A]

I love to hear that. That's chess. That's actual chess. Let's remove this, this piece. Okay, let's remove this. So what's the best way to stop it? He might get a couple early, but let's drive him. Let's see what these refs are going to do. They'll make the decisions like are you what players are you do. You're picking, obviously, the players to do that, too. Right. Because you don't want your guys getting foul.

[G]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And. But you. You also. You might put something in for that game that would be a little bit different from your normal action. You know, a new thing or a couple new things. Things that would isolate that guy. You know, that's not part of how, you know, the scouter report. You actually put new stuff in, you know, not. Not a lot. And it's. That's another adjustment. And so it's cool to watch and see how people are. Are doing that from timeouts game to game. You know, like Connecticut with the kid Reed in the first game of the tournament, he goes 31 and 27. Well, that didn't just happen. You know, Danny Hurley did something where he saw that going to him more than we normally do would. Would benefit us. He hit the jackpot.

[A]

Yes, he certainly did. Yeah. Yes. Yeah.

[G]

The next game, he scored 14 and whatever, and he played a good game. Game. But they didn't go to him the same way because Danny saw something else. I mean, not that I called Danny and talked to him about this, but I like watching how the tournament progresses and how the guys who are winning, what they do the next. Next game, what changes do they. Do they make.

[A]

I love to hear you.

[G]

Yeah. I think. I wish all the TV people would look at that, you know, try to get the fan involved in that type of thing a little bit more. Yeah, I think in football they do. You know, again, there's more time to do it between plays and that.

[A]

Yeah, we're circling things that are happening, why they're doing stuff like we have, obviously different packages of people coming onto the field, coming off the field, different sets and everything. And that's being. That's. That's a part of the strategy of that is football coverage. Basically, they're in 12 personnel right now. They're doing this. They're doing this stuff, and then the analysts have enough time to be able to break it down. What you were just saying right there, that's incredible. I love hearing like, oh, this guy's a good player, huh? All right, we'll get our sixth guy here. Fifth guy. Sixth guy. You need to go to his left hand. He gets a little handsy whenever he's over there. He's a little late with his feet. Let's go. Is that. We're trying to get him late with his feet. Hands late. What are we trying to get?

[G]

The whole damn body, if you can, and. But Hands are. Hands are the biggest centers and fouls, you know, or you know, arms like you, you. You'd fall out in a second.

[A]

No, I got good feet. I got good feet.

[G]

The way you, you have no control over your arms.

[A]

Yes, I do that. You know where they're going. Boom, boom.

[B]

Ball.

[A]

Boom.

[F]

Bang.

[A]

Ribs, elbow, ribs, elbow. Strip. Oh, he gets by me. Classic punch out the back. I never hit.

[G]

That's an automatic foul.

[A]

No, I'm getting the ball.

[G]

Going behind's an automatic foul.

[A]

No, I'm not hitting the elbow at all. I'm not breaking my hand on.

[G]

Elbow's pretty automatic too. No, no, the elbow leads to flagrant.

[A]

Think about this, coach. Think about this.

[G]

You would lead the league in flagrance.

[A]

I think what with my moth with the ref potentially. Is that what happens? Because I don't like the calls that they're already making. I could tell because the way you're judging me. So I assume the refs are going to be doing the same. These big quads are going to get around though. I mean I'm. I'm going to lock it down and I'm always hand handed. Always, always. Maybe a fake faint to the. You know, instead of hands in the face. Fist to the. Yeah, just a little bit, then bang. S. Yeah, I'm mean, coach, you don't understand. Strategically happen over, then bang. We're getting the ball. Boom. Outlet.

[C]

Look at that.

[A]

That's a full court over shoulder like Caitlin Clark used to do at Iowa. Bang. Wearing a thing.

[C]

Back on defense.

[A]

Now we're back. Now we're guessing.

[B]

Play ball.

[A]

Oh, I'm let.

[G]

I love that. I love that you slap the floor.

[A]

Yeah. Yeah. I bop wood. You do too, right? Isn't that kind of your style? You bop wood.

[G]

Yeah, I do.

[A]

Yep, you do. You slap that wood.

[G]

Hey, just like tonight, make sure you stay up all night and watch these games in the east. St. John's and Duke's going to be an incredible game. And then you followed up with two guys and. And obviously Rick Patino has won national championships. And then you followed up with Hurley and is. So it's. You talk about physical intense. Too intense physical games tonight that it's going to be. That is a Final four. You know that east region is. Is a final Four. Not that the Midwest is bad. Yeah. But it'll be interesting if the kid from Alabama is allowed to play.

[A]

Alabama has come out and said that there is no status change with the team. So I think he'll probably. He'll probably be there. But I Think they have said status with team has unchanged or something like that.

[G]

Yeah. You know what though? Nate Oates has his own style and he's a terrific coach for the year. Half their shots are three point shots, you know, and the, the last game, 42 out of, I think it was 68 shots were threes. So yeah, you know, the three point shot can kill you both ways, but that'll be a tough thing for Michigan. And they come down, they don't take what you would call necessarily all conventional shots. They take some shots and says, oh, I didn't think he was going to shoot that. Yeah, yeah. And not only, I didn't think he was going to hit that. Yeah, well he's doing it again and

[A]

so can we stop it? Yeah, he's pulling up from the logo. Yeah, we, we would like to stop that though because it's fallen is what you're saying.

[G]

Yes. And, and, and then I'm interested in the Iowa State Tennessee game. If Jefferson plays for Iowa State. You know, he, he's a guy, you know, they shoot ball really well and they play great defense, but so does Rick Barnes, Tennessee team. You know, to me, if Jefferson plays, I'd give a note, nod to Iowa State. Otherwise I think it's a real toss up game. And Jefferson is a man and not that the other guys are, but he's of course, yeah, he's the man force for them. Yeah.

[A]

All right, Coach, we have about a minute and a half left and if we didn't ask you about the UNC job, we'd be doing a disservice to journalism. So if you have a quick thought, how do you feel about the UNC job being open? Are you going to go coach them?

[G]

Oh, yeah. Well, that would really one, they would not want me to coach them. Second thing is, the second thing is I, I, I, I'm through with coaching. So, you know, but Hubert Davis is a good friend, actually. His wife Leslie, her father who passed in the last year, was one of my teammates at West Point. And so I, I think Hubert's one of the great guys. I, yeah, I'm sad that that happened. You know, I think every coach in the country has empathy for him. You lose a player the caliber of Caleb Wilson, like he, he's a top five pick in the NBA draft, draft and you don't have him the last few weeks of the season, that's a big thing. That's a huge thing. But look, they can do what they want to do. I just have a lot of empathy for Hubert And a lot of respect for him. And it's one of the great programs of all time in any school sport. And so I'm sure they will get a coach that is worthy of that position. It's. It's one of the big time positions in sport.

[A]

Yeah. Duke, UNC special for college basketball has been for a long time, will continue to be with the Big Ten just basically becoming basketball.

[B]

Probably not.

[A]

Coach K, Go ahead.

[G]

The Big Ten. Yeah. We talked about them not winning a basketball national championship, I think since 2001 one and but now five of the 12 are Big Ten teams, so I'm

[A]

not good at math. That's almost 50%. Yeah.

[G]

This is, they're, they have one team in the Final Four already. It's either going to be Illinois or, or Iowa. And I I And by the way, M1 eye is Illinois is undervalued some because in the last month or so the season their only four losses were all in overtime by one possession. They could have been undefeated for a long period of time. And you talk about a good tough coach. Their coach, like he's come from the juco range, you know, he, you know, you know, like they didn't fly private airplanes and whatever. They, they had bus stops, you know.

[A]

Yeah.

[G]

So he comes from that school. And they played terrific defense against Houston last night.

[A]

We love the teams that are still left and we appreciate the hell out of the fact that you're joining us throughout this entire tourney. We'll talk to you next week. On the other side of this sweet 6 16, who's going to be making it to the Elite Eight? Who's still alive to make to the Final Four? And who's going to be a national champion like this man was five times. You're the best. We appreciate the hell out of you.

[G]

All right, thank you, guys. All right. I didn't get any questions from your team. I feel.

[A]

I know. We'll do it.

[B]

How much, how much hair dye did you put in this morning?

[G]

Look, you know what? One last thing I did pluck out the one gray part of my eyebrow.

[F]

Good ring.

[B]

Great USA ring.

[A]

You didn't want to represent. Yeah, I didn't want to represent you

[G]

to notice that as much as you were looking at my eyebrows.

[A]

Hey, let's see. How many other rings do we have on there? Just. Just one? Yeah, might as well.

[B]

Yeah, no big deal.

[A]

The hell with it. I'll have a couple others on tomorrow. Coach K, you're the best. He's the greatest. We push the out two times throughout

[C]

that thing had to coach K. Good to know.

[A]

He's the greatest. He is the greatest. Yes. He's awesome. Our FaceTimes with him are awesome. I mean, they are. He's been a great asset to our lives.

[B]

Unreal.

[A]

Be a friend. Tell a friend something nice might change your life. We're back on the other side. We'll move the sticks. And A.J.

[G]

hall.

[D]

Hell yeah.

[F]

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[A]

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[F]

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[A]

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[A]

Magical and last night we had a couple more magical moments. Somebody that is sitting on this stage actually cried some tears of joy. Well, celebrating with another Jack and diet as he saw his school do something it hadn't done since 1987. And that's just one piece of the magic that is March Madness. Well, they have their one shining moment. Or will the shoe come earlier than midnight for the Cinderella story that is the Iowa Hawkeyes. We talked to Coach McCollum this morning, aired it in the last hour. He seems awesome. D2 national champion 4 times. Could have been 5 times if they would have had the COVID year. They didn't have hoops that particular year at Northwest Missouri. He won in 2019, 2021, 2022. We assume that Team Door in 2020 would have gone go ahead.

[C]

I believe they were undefeated and then the tournament just got canceled.

[A]

So we assume that that team would have won as well. So he would have five total D2 national championships with four straight which is impossible in basically anything, let alone the level because you're playing with that level of players as well. Everybody's playing with the same level of players. So whenever you are able to win like that, it's obviously something that attracts some people. Thank go, Drake. Then you go to Iowa, and all of a sudden we're doing something that Iowa Hawkeyes fans haven't seen since I was born 38 years ago. So special time in Iowa, but it's not just there. Arizona had a big one last night. Illinois had a big one last night. Purdue continues their magical run. Who will punch their tickets to the Elite Eight tonight as games are on at 7, 10, 7, 35, 9, 45 and 10 10. Come on, we can't be old all the time. Tonight's gonna be awesome. 10 10, that is subject to change. That could be 10, 20, 25, 10 30. That is anything but. We will stay up and we will watch because college hoops has been magical, and we only got a few games left. The talks of tables here at Boss of Connor at Ty Schmidt. Ty, congrats to you, con man. March Madness has been magical.

[B]

Yeah, it's unbelievable. Especially yesterday, having two games that kind of went down to the wire. That's what we were talking about earlier. That is tough, is because the later games both stunk. So it's kind of like, hey, why are these on at the same time or the earlier ones? You know, both are great. I'm honestly hoping for one blowout in each slate so that we can kind of zero in. You know, I'm hoping St. John's and Duke goes down on the wire. You know, Alabama's been cool. Michigan, go ahead, you know, just run away with it. And then in the second time, the second slate as well, you know, Michigan State, UConn. Let's bring that down to the wire. Tennessee, Iowa State. Why don't one of you guys just step up and blow the other one out? Okay? I really don't care who wins in any of these games, actually. Except aside from St. John's I need St. John's to win, or else my entire bracket's busted. But look, let's just try and please

[A]

talk to Coach K. Yeah.

[B]

Okay. And I love Coach.

[A]

And they got a guy coming back. I think he broke some news.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, which. Which is sweet, but Coach lying about his hair.

[A]

What happened? Did he break the news that the guy's coming back?

[B]

No, he played in the Round of

[C]

32 and is listed as questionable. There's another player, Caleb Foster, who has not played at all, who might be back as well. He said that. He said he expects him to get some minutes tonight.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, that's the guy, he broke that.

[A]

Did he break that news?

[B]

Yeah, he did.

[A]

Yes, he did.

[C]

Dumbass. Sitting right here.

[A]

It's all right. You have a lot of other things going on. I like the self accountability that quick though, publicly. That was in both years, right? Not just my writing. No, no, Bruce. I do think he broke some news. But my conversations with him off air in between the rounds, him talking about how much is adding one more body or like a specific type of player, how much it helps literally everybody else and everything else. So listening to him describe why that's such a big deal not only for his team, but for all these teams. It's interesting because the wear and tear of a season is long. But they're getting guys back now as the tournament continues to roll on. And it's like one or two days can really do a lot for people. Like, it is crazy how basketball recovers, but I've enjoyed the hell out of this barge. Benis. Haven't won a bet. Got all the picks right last night. Didn't have any money in my account.

[B]

I got a great one for you today. No, no, no. It was a tough start to the baseball season on one Wednesday. I think Aaron Judge might hit a home run today.

[A]

All right. One half of the hammer.

[D]

You heard the rules yesterday.

[A]

What was that, Don?

[D]

No more.

[A]

Team rides in, the team rides dead.

[B]

And after tonight, run it back, man. Judgy. Let's just think about against a lefty

[A]

plus 20,000 for Aaron Judge to hit.

[E]

I put in a. I put in

[D]

a six leg home run parlay for 125,000 this morning.

[F]

If anybody wants to get.

[A]

Yeah, I saw you texted that into the group saying, hey, come fall, follow along. Hey, bud. How about no? Okay, how about one? I just need one.

[D]

213 for Judge Day to home run tonight.

[B]

Oh, my gosh. It should be plus.

[D]

Sorry, A thousand. Should have.

[G]

I should have said that.

[A]

Let's go to an attic in Ohio. Ladies and gentlemen, a man who's a college football national champion, super bowl champion, Ryder cup winner and a depressed Cincinnati reds Loser. Gentlemen, A.J. hawk, baby hog. You look. Jeez, you look great.

[J]

Oh, you see me? I got sprayed. I got sprayed. You see me?

[A]

Oh, yes. It looks good.

[B]

Yeah. Holy hot.

[J]

Go light. I said go light in my face. But it looks like kind of dark on my face.

[A]

Yeah, they never go. Yeah, they never. That never happens. Especially anytime. So what do we got? A wedding? You look. Are you modeling? You look unbelievable.

[J]

I mean, I might. I might go into modeling now after this, but no, we got a trip set up with the kids, so. And I saw somebody on the Internet talk about, like, you're not allowed to get spray tanned or whatever. That just guaranteed me. I was like, yeah, I'm getting sprayed.

[A]

Okay. So I appreciate the fact that that is what really drove you to get a spray tan is that somebody on the Internet said you shouldn't get a spray tan.

[J]

Not directly to me, just in general, I guess, like, guys shouldn't do it. I said, okay, well, cool.

[A]

So you. As you know, I'm. I'm a spray tanner. Have been for a long time.

[J]

Nice.

[A]

Have been for, you know, that, you know, you've seen me dripping.

[J]

Actually, I think I. I've seen you in. In Orlando, I believe, with like, the. You got. You got a serious spray.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Which I think you potentially might have got here today as well. And I don't know if. If, you know, because they tinted or.

[D]

How long did it take Bob to spray.

[F]

Do the spray you?

[A]

Yeah. And was it handheld spray? And did Bob have two guns? Like,

[J]

surprisingly, Bob's wife actually does spray people. She didn't spray me, but she does spray people. I'm sure Bob has. Has dabbled in the game as well.

[A]

Certainly.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Right. Quad. Need to get a good little shading me. Some shading on the bottom there. So I get that teardrop. Teardrop tattoo. I want to let you know, you look fantastic. Whatever you did was great. I do think my entire body had a fungus reaction. Remember that?

[C]

Yes, I do. Yours came out orange.

[B]

Orange, too.

[A]

Yeah, there was. Well, that's also potentially because of my particular pigment color. You know, I have a lot of people that say, hey, wear sunscreen. It's like, I gotta help my.

[J]

I'm.

[A]

I'm a red. I'm red. I am a red person. So if you mix that with the wrong spray tan, it tell you, you know, it's like I'm doing it with my daughter right now. We're painting. You're mixing colors together.

[B]

Chemical reaction.

[A]

Yeah. There's a couple places that are good for my particular pigment. Of what? And then there's a couple places that really make me look like an. And then there was one particular place that was really, in a pinch. Had to go. Didn't know I had to do something. Just kind of went in there and went willy nilly on that thing. Did all the. All the. All the things and then did the thing and fungus. My whole body.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

You remember that? That was like four weeks of having a fungus on my body.

[E]

Yeah.

[C]

Itchy and all over.

[A]

Yeah. I had to get, like, steroid cream. Had to do this entire thing. I was like, whoa. So I've been a little bit gun shy with spray tan. Let's hope same thing doesn't happen to you, A.J. joining us now, ladies and gentlemen, is a man who's in the middle of his super bowl season. Obviously, he is a football pundit all year round. He's a Keller commentator as well. But whenever we want to talk to this man, it's whenever he knows more than everybody else. And it's about draft season. Ladies and gentlemen, from NFL Network and front of the program, Dan Jeremiah. No spray tan for D.J. i get it. It's not the draft yet.

[F]

No. By the way, Taylor Lawan still has the best combine spray tan of any prospect in the history of the company. Combine.

[A]

It's a good idea.

[F]

It was incredible. It was incredible.

[A]

I'll tell you. You can't tone it. Tan it, they say. And if you can just spray that thing on, you certainly do that, and I do respect that. Taylor, the one's. The one. Yeah. He's awesome. Remember, he's got a what?

[B]

Right hand man.

[A]

He's got a tattoo of a little man. Right. Yeah. That is a good.

[F]

Look at that.

[A]

Shave the arms, too, obviously. Shave it up. Let's go ahead and spray tan that thing. If you would have put a little bit of. Of, you know, hair conditioner.

[G]

Sure.

[A]

On the arms.

[F]

Listening.

[A]

Just kind of lather that thing up a little bit. The hair as well. He. Which he might have. Hell yeah. He looks unbelievable. Became what? Top ten? Top five.

[F]

Yeah. You get a phenomenal workout. That thing. That thing made him run a little bit faster, I think.

[A]

Yeah. Dang. Yeah, I like that thing. Let's talk about that thing. That is the draft in Pittsburgh. We cannot wait for it. April 23rd in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania will be round one one of the 2026 NFL Draft. We cannot wait to get to Pittsburgh and for Pittsburgh to showcase how big of a football town it is. From then, from that moment and now, everything in between. How much should we be believing? How much should we be believing right now in DJ what are your thoughts on how far in we are to a team making a decision? Obviously, you've been a scout. You're into his now you do tv. Are teams knowing what they're looking at right now or when do we get to that kind of point of the entire draft process?

[F]

I think if you're picking up their high, I think if you're in the top five, you kind of Know who your top five guys are? It's not that, you know, it's not that complicated. Everybody's had a chance, the key decision makers, to watch those key guys stacking those up. You know, if you're. If you're in the bottom of the first round. We would always have meetings in early April. And our last thing, if, you know, if we were picking 26, you know, Ozzy would say, okay, here's the 10 players. We feel like it's our. Our pick's going to come down to one of these 10 guys. So everybody in the room, if you haven't already watched all of these guys, maybe you've watched six of them, maybe you've watched, you know, nine of them. But let's just finish it up so we can have that last little discussion to stack those last few guys so that can go on, you know, over the next couple weeks. But if you're picking up their high, I mean, I think you kind of know what direction you're going.

[A]

Have they separated themselves the top of this draft from the rest of the draft? You know, obviously, we all saw it. You saw it. We all saw it. We are a part of it. We're there, Dan. Or, you know, the, you know, you know, you know, the whole thing. And his take that Ty Simpson is the best quarterback in this draft is from his film study and his. His thoughts on what an NFL quarterback will be with the traits that Ty Simpson has. We love Ty Simpson. We. We would like to let that be known. We love Ty Simpson. Dan Orlofsky started saying things about Fernando Mendoza to kind of justify what he was saying, you know, and then everybody just kind of picked him apart for that, and that's going to happen. You know, you live in the paint. Every once in a while, you're going to get dunked on. That's going to happen with Dano. It's happened to us before. He's kind of in the middle of it. He'll move on. But his point, I think, remains, like, he really likes Ty Simpson as an NFL prospect. What are your thoughts on the quarterback class this year, and what are your thoughts on Ty and Fernando's kind of potential over the next couple years as NFL quarterbacks, especially with Las Vegas is free agency, where they spent a lot and got a lot of good pieces. What are your thoughts on both of them, basically, and the conversation right now, how it's going?

[F]

Yeah, there.

[D]

There's a lot there.

[F]

I mean, first of all, I'll start with with Dan, because Dan and I are buddies as you guys are and texting all the time over the last month. And this is something as you, you know, he was kind of building up to this and doing all the work. And I just told him, look, if you've done all the work and watched everything and you believe that way, then absolutely stand by your opinion. And, and, and that's what he did and that's what he gets paid to do. So I, I thought it was a, it was a good conversation you guys had. It's, it's mimics what happens in the room. You, you'd be surprised. You'd think there's some no brainer, there's no discussion or debate and there you'll have somebody in the room who feels differently on just about every single player. So that's a little bit of what goes on in the draft room. Now for me, I've, I've been a Fernando guy from jump. You know, what he has is, you know, is exceptional. You talk about the size, the intelligence, the arm strength, strength, the accuracy, all that stuff is, is, is excellent. You know, the criticisms, the two criticisms I've heard the most have been the RPO's in the offense. And then I would say that, oh, he's can be a little bit robotic and he's more of kind of a drive thrower than a layer thrower. Whereas Ty Simpson, you know, can get balls up and down, you know, that type of touch and the, the feel on some of those throws. Well, look, I've called every single one of Justin Herbert's games in the NFL. NFL. And Justin came out. Those are the exact same criticisms that people had of him. He was okay, maybe he's a little bit stiff, he's a little bit robotic. And then they threw a ton of RPOs at Oregon. But you can't get caught up in grading the offense that he's in or grading what he's being asked to do. You have to grade the skill set and what he does in big moments. And if you got a second Pat, I can rip through a couple here

[A]

because yeah, we do got a few seconds now. Okay.

[F]

It, okay. I, I, you know, if you're going to coach Kate of me, I'm like, you got somebody more important on the horizon. I can trim this thing down a little bit here. But this is third and seven plus throws this last year. I highlighted a couple of them. Iowa 136 to go in the fourth quarter. 1313 game reads. That reads the blitz, hot route, slant touchdown. Oregon third and eight, six minutes to go. Fourth quarter, 20, 20 game. Back shoulder TD to take the lead. Penn State. The throw everybody knows about. About 41 seconds left, down by four. Ohio State, third and eight. Eight minutes to go. Third quarter, down 10 to 6, back shoulder, touchdown. Like, that's just a little glimpse of it, and then you go pull the red zone numbers and he's 27 touchdowns, no picks. So I can make a strong argument for why he should be the first pick in the draft.

[A]

I think everybody can. And I think Dan's realizing that in real time. You know, I think he is because I think he did fall in love with Ty. Let's go to Ty Simpson as well, because we know incredible leadership. I think everybody talks about he doesn't have a lot of starts, but he was playing against Alabama every single day in practice, you know, through multiple coaches and having multiple situations, was able to win them. Some games. Does have a pretty ball, very fluid athlete, I think you could say. The only issue, took a couple shots, doesn't have a lot of starts. And he's 6 foot 1, which is not as small as what a 5'10 or a 5'11 would normally look like in the draft season. Probably Process.

[F]

Yeah, this is, this is the part that I, that I don't like about this gig. And, and the process.

[A]

Don't tear him down. Talk about what he has. That's good. No, no, no, no.

[F]

To me, it's just you, you. You love one player automatically means you hate the other player. And I think we're, we're. We're drinking from the, the. The same cup here of saying we like Ty Simpson. I think Ty Simpson's a good player. Ty Simpson, you talk about, like, the footwork, the release, all that stuff is excellent. You can tell he's a son of a coach. He plays the game, you know, that way in terms of how he sees things, he processes. You see him make some of these touch throws. The throw. And Dan highlighted against Missouri is probably one of the best throws that you'll see in college football. Last year was excellent. But with. With the job is not just identifying what they do on the field. It's called an evaluation because you've got to place a value on it. And you can't ignore the fact that you don't have elite size, that you've got 15 start starts, and that there's concern about how you're going to physically hold up because your body wore down. I know he got sick, but his body did wear down at the end of the year. So I Like him. I just value him with that risk assessment as this high second round pick. And if somebody wanted to do it late in the first round, I can, you know, I can understand that. I can get behind that. But that traditionally that has not been something that's been valued as a top 15 pick in a draft. So that's. That's where I like him. I just value him a little different.

[A]

Got it. And obviously all you need is one team, one GM, one owner. Oh, 100% to believe that.

[F]

That Arizona. Arizona makes all the sense in the world to me.

[E]

Like that.

[F]

That if I could pinpoint one team, it's Arizona. Now that three. I. That. That coffee's too rich. I cannot see that happening. But then they're picking at the top of the second round, so if they wanted to come back in to the bottom of the first round, I mean, I think he's, you know, it'd be. It'd be a pick I could totally get behind. So. So I like him. I think he's got a chance to be a good player. I just, you know that there's worrisome trends and we can go all the way through them. Cam Newton being kind of the only guy you know, since 2011 with under 17 starts, and Cam Newton's a cyborg. Like, that's not a normal human being.

[A]

He was awesome to watch. The first time you see him on a football field, it's crazy.

[F]

Oh, my gosh. No, that's stupid. I saw him. That's a quarterback around.

[A]

That's the quarterback right there. There. Yeah, right?

[F]

I did. Same thing, dude. First time I saw him at the combine, it was just like I. I was like. I've never been speechless looking at another dude. Except for the tan that AJ's got going on right now.

[A]

Respect.

[F]

That was the moment agreed on all

[A]

that there about Ty and Fernando. AJ looking phenomenal.

[B]

I can't believe. I can't even look at it.

[A]

Have you showered yet? Yeah. No, you haven't?

[B]

Yeah, I have.

[J]

Yeah. Now that I see myself on camera, it's a little darker than I expected.

[A]

No question.

[J]

I'm okay with that.

[A]

Hold on. How many hours did you let that thing settle for? That's. That looks like overnight, like.

[J]

Then showered super early this morning.

[A]

Oh, white sheets. How do we do that? You put towels down. What you do?

[J]

Long sleeves, towel on the pillow. Oh, yeah.

[B]

A.J. haini.

[A]

He's 12 hours into this. You took a shower this morning? Normally it goes in the shower. Nothing?

[C]

Nope.

[A]

It was clear water on the. On the ground. In the, in the shower. That's unbelievable. You look good, bro. Yeah, Blending in with the books in the back.

[J]

Yeah, I know, I know. I caught myself a few times. It is kind of weird. This might just be what I do every week. I'm probably gonna have to get sprayed now, but DJ getting.

[A]

How about you look at yourself saying h, H new look. You look good, dude. How about those teeth?

[B]

Unbelievable.

[A]

You look, Catch a glimpse.

[J]

When I catch a glimpse of myself, it reminds me of when the bodybuilders get sprayed way too dark for competition. You see them and you're speaking to them, but either way you're not too dark.

[A]

You look perfect. Okay. Anyways.

[J]

Okay, thank you. I appreciate that.

[A]

DJ.

[J]

DJ Fernando Mendoza, are the Raiders 100% locked in on him? Are you getting any kind of read from that building? And also, do we see any kind of anything happen in that top five? A team comes up, team gets out of there. Like any kind of shenanigans happen in that top five?

[F]

Well, I mean, look, I, in talking around to people not with the Raiders, but other folks, it was, you know, Fernando Mendoza is working with Brian Greasy right now. And it's not so much that they're working on footwork, they're, they're installing the Raiders offense. So he's nice. I mean, he's full speed ahead. I think this is the same thing that happened with Burrow where you can use this time to really try and, you know, learn a lot of the core verbiage and, and concepts along with an offense. So it feels to me like I would, I would shock, stunned, astonished if he's not the first overall pick. I, I don't see that going any other direction. So that's where it is at one. And then after that, you know, it looks like the jets. Everything I hear about the jets is that it's 27. You know, that's kind of the, the, the destination for them. Everything's building towards 27. They have those picks, those three first round picks this year is trying to build, trying to build somewhat of a foundation so that that quarterback can come in there and be, you know, successful in 27. I don't see them as a quarterback team at 2 or 16. I think they take, you know, I, I, I would think that Carnell Tate, if they were picking maybe four or five, that he would be in the mix there. But I think where they are at two, two, it comes down to, you know, whether or not you want ARVL, Reese or Bailey. And then at 16, I would think A receiver, probably for them.

[A]

Okay, you just mentioned a man there, Arvl Reese. If you're trying to build a foundation, not a bad idea. Go ahead, tone.

[D]

Yeah, D.J. obviously, when. When you're projecting for Arvell Reese, he was mostly off ball at Ohio State. Did play some edge. And then you get comparisons to Micah because he did the same thing at Penn State. And I've heard. I heard. I've heard you talk on your podcast about Dan Quinn and what he did with Micah every day after prod or after practice in the transition. Does he. Does he definitely project to an outside, you think in the NFL and with the jets, because they, you know, are projecting for the future and not so necessary this year. Is that why Arvel kind of fits right there?

[F]

Yeah, that's why I ended up switching him and putting him in there, because I had Bailey. I think Bailey's more ready to go as a rusher. Like, day one, he's polished and, you know, it's not like you're sacrificing all this athleticism. He's super, you know, explosive and twitchy and all those things. Arvell Reese has more in his body. Like, there's just more potential and upside there. He's got a little more snap, a little more power. He just doesn't have quite the plan at this point in time that Bailey does as a rusher because he's been spending a lot of time off the ball. So I could see some teams, you know, hey, we want to use him in this hybrid role. We're going to play him off the ball, and then we'll. We'll let him rush some on third downs. I usually when you get guys like this, it almost always ends up with them being edge rushers eventually, initially. And so that's where the timeline for the jets for me was like, okay, if It's. If it's 26, it's Bailey. But if you're picking a guy that you want to get the most out of as you go off into the future in 27, I think you can make the case for Arvell Reese there.

[A]

Okay. I love that. That photo coming out of the pro day.

[B]

Come on.

[L]

Very rude.

[F]

I didn't see it.

[A]

No, me neither. Yeah, it didn't come across. My. Bobby Carpenter is the one that introduced it to. To me. So if you're judging a guy off a phone from pro day and not watching a tape, you need to.

[F]

Oh, is this the bag drill stuff?

[A]

Yeah.

[F]

What are we doing?

[A]

Yeah, I don't know. I don't know.

[F]

Yeah, like, just stop. Yeah, just stop.

[A]

Yeah, it's amazing.

[F]

I just.

[A]

Now, granted, on that note, gives Arvel Reese even more chip on his shoulder work.

[E]

That's right.

[A]

The whole thing. I. I think all these things end up having a good positive, but it was fresh off of what Bane was doing, too. We watched Bane at a different camera angle. This one's from the ground, by the way, looking up as opposed to from a different angle as well. So I'm not saying that maybe it's camera angle, but then you see this one with Bane from the front whenever he's exploding through the other side. Which one are you taking? You know, that's kind of how the Internet immediately does. It's just the world that we're in. But I do appreciate the fact that Arvell Reese just had an entire new heaping of just like, yeah, you stink, dude.

[B]

Oh, I stink.

[A]

Okay, we'll see how that goes. That's always good for elite athletes. Let's see. Stick with the Ohio State Buckeyes. Go ahead. Ty Schmidt.

[C]

Yeah, dj, what are you hearing about Caleb Downs? That at post combine there was a thing coming about his, like, knee, and I think that was largely bullshit maybe, but then we didn't really see him do that much at his pro day. What do you think his, his ceiling or his. Excuse me, his floor is for where he's going to get picked. A lot of people we've talked to have basically said first time he set foot on campus at Alabama, hey, that was a gold jacket guy. A lot of people think he might be the best overall player in this draft class. What do you expect for him?

[F]

It's a tricky one and I like him a lot as my player. I think he's my eighth overall player on my list. But the safety position is tricky, man. Like, Derwin didn't go in the top 10. If Hamilton didn't go in the top 10. If Ian Warri fell to the second round, which is insane. Like, I don't know that you just say like it's a lock. Just lock it in. He's a top five. He's going to go guaranteed even in the top 10.

[G]

10.

[F]

I, I would say the floor for me is probably Cowboys at 12, you know, maybe more in that range. But it's just, I, I don't think you can look at and say the fact he's not. He's not six foot four, he's not 220 pounds. He didn't have, you know, six, seven picks like some.

[I]

Wow.

[F]

Wow. Production. He's just a darn good, like, just consistent, you know, everything he does is right. And he's a force multiplier in terms of the communication and the leadership and all that stuff. It's just the safety position can be a little fickle on draft day. So I don't quite just put that in ink that he's going in the top five or the top 10, even though I have him as a top 10 player.

[A]

You added a little nuance there. You said on draft day. So they can like a safety then on draft day, push comes to shove, we go, we're taking four or five over 435 right now. That's what we're doing right now. That's what we're. That's what you're alluding to, basically, with the safety position as a whole.

[F]

Well, I think you're just looking at it and saying, man, look at what these pass rushes are going to cost us on the open market. Look where that market is right now. OA didn't start for the Chargers last year, I think, at 25, their third rusher. So you're looking at that saying, well, we can save. Like, we can go get one of these pass rushers early, not only get a good player, but we're also. There's a cost component to this whole thing. Whereas, you know, safeties just has. Haven't been valued in terms of how they've been paid that way. So that can impact some of the

[A]

thinking, ah, let's save the salary cap with young contracts here with our top picks, as opposed to going to get the premium contract up here that we have to get. That's why, like rookie quarterback. Yeah, yeah, yep. That deal.

[F]

Oh, it's the best deal going, man.

[A]

That deal is such it. It's a. A wild card. You just got basically a wild card dealt to your hand. Here you go. If it works out, you are in cap heaven right now. But if this guy's ass and you were preparing for that and then you spent a bunch of money on the roster and then you got to go pay for a quarterback as well. You can't do it. Yeah, you just can't. And it's so.

[F]

Look at all the fun. Look at all the fun that New England had in free agency last year. Like, they got the quarterback, cost him nothing. You can go out and throw out all kinds of money, got messed around and got themselves almost to the finish line.

[A]

Now, on that note, you can also get a guy who's already being talked about as a goat get him on a deal for like eight years and have it be underpay every single year. And he comes back 100 days after a surgery and spinning the pill. Yeah, that's true. He could do the Patrick Mahomes angle as well. Matthew Stafford got a good deal out there and everybody, but, you know, money's going to be big. I, I appreciate the fact that, you know, let's get a pass rusher in here because the money they're getting is 40 million plus.

[D]

Yes.

[A]

If they get good. That's quarterback money. That's quarterback money. Let's talk about running back money, shall we? Go ahead, con man.

[B]

Yeah, a little different. DJ Might change with Bijan and Jameer Gibbs, but Jeremiah Love, it feels like he's a guy that might be picked pretty high. I think you had him at 4 to Tennessee. I think some other guys might have said, hey, you know what, maybe Bob Sala goes and gets Sonny Styles, so they bet on that. But what do you think about Jeremiah Love? Schefter told us he loves him to Washington at 7, I believe. What is your expectation with him? And do you see him getting out of the top 10, or do you see him as like, hey, this is one of, if not the best player overall in the draft?

[F]

Yeah, I mean, I have, I have him right behind Fernando, so I can't even though if you take the running back position, and people have had that, that debate really, the last decade, but this dude, he's too good. He's not getting out of the top 10. And I, I know. I saw Schefter's thing with you guys where he said no on Tennessee, which, you know, look, Adams obviously is dialed in as anybody on planet Earth, so I'll trust him on that. But, man, I, I look at Tennessee and I just think, how don't you have to do something for your quarterback, like, do something to help him out here? You take him 11 overall and you got a chance to give him a player like this, this, and, and you're going into a new building as well in a year. And that's, That's a, that's an easy sales pitch of, like, now we are a fun, exciting team with a young quarterback, a dynamic running back to throw into the mix. We can throw them the ball a ton as well. I love the fit there with Tennessee, but, you know, Adam's saying that's not going to happen. If he starts to get towards 7, I would think you might even get some phone calls, you know, from some teams. I know Kansas City already signed Walker, but I, I, I mean, this guy paired up with, with Kenneth Walker, Kansas City would be pretty insane.

[A]

Yeah. And we'd all say, of course.

[B]

No, thanks.

[A]

The Kansas City Chiefs are the ones doing that. Did we expect him to run a four, three, whatever he ran?

[F]

Oh, yeah. You can see it like, he, he, he's got another gear the, the pit game when he's running full speed and spins without gearing down and then just explodes out in the open field. I was like, yeah, he's, he's legit fast. There you go. There's the runner that night. You guys are producing the heck out of this thing today.

[A]

Hey, I'll tell you why. Hey, the boys back there up for an Emmy back there. Good job, boys. Good job, boys. But, yeah, we put it in slow mo, though, just so you could see it. But what you were saying is that thing did not slow down, actually. There was an ass.

[F]

No, that's just stupid. And then it was, Right then it was. Then he just kind of hit the gas and you could see him go. I mean, he's, yeah, that, that was, he's got real game speed to go along with the time speed.

[A]

Yeah. And is everything we've learned about him, the person would love to have him in your program?

[C]

Yes.

[A]

Like, that is seemingly. Well, our thoughts. Thoughts are every time he's been on our show, he's been awesome. He was on game day, he was awesome.

[B]

We saw him at Indiana. We literally 98 yards to the house.

[A]

Yeah, he is. Yeah, he's a weapon. How's the Tennessee Titans offensive line? I don't know. I just, they don't.

[F]

Well, they got a couple good pieces there, but, you know, look, they gave Dan Moore a lot of money in free agency last year at the left tackle spot, and I don't think he necessarily played to that contract yet. So that, that's one of those tricky things where you're, like, looking at it going, okay, dude, we, how, how long do we stay committed to a contract that we sign versus we need to get some better folks in there.

[A]

Yeah. Because you talk about bringing in Jeremiah Love, their top five pick to go with Cam Ward, and it's like, do we get Cam Ward protection, though, first? Do we, do we, do we try to figure how's that? How are the offensive line in this particular draft class? I don't think we've talked about that at all.

[F]

Yeah, I, you know, I think the tackles, we're gonna have six go in the first round with, you know, with a potential Seventh, I think will go early in the second round. So we're going to see those tackles all go off the board. Then I think we'll see a little bit of a gap after those guys go at the tackle position. And then interior offensive line wise Yane from Penn State is, is a total stud. I mean you can make a strong argument he's the best lineman, period in the draft. Like he's, he's awesome. So he'll go in round one and then day two is the sweet spot for interior offensive lineman. There's, there's six or seven of them that I think come in. They're plug and play and it'll have a real good impact. So if you're some of these teams, the Chargers are one of them. Looking for interior offensive linemen. Day two is the, that's the honey hole.

[A]

What did Linderbaum just get paid? 30?

[C]

Yeah, yeah. 20.

[F]

29.

[A]

29.

[G]

Yeah.

[A]

It's like, hey, that's big money for interior offensive line. Yeah. But what everybody's learning is whenever you got four first round D linemen, which all the teams at the top do the inside of that pocket starting you to little get, you got one on one, one on two guys that can beat those guys now. And it's like I feel like the offensive line as a whole is going to prosper because of that if you're a guy. But that Linder bomb deal was huge. Yeah, that was gigant. Tom Brady's probably a massive piece of that.

[D]

It's like he's fully guaranteed too.

[A]

Yeah, we need a center in here for if we're going to get a rookie quarterback. It's like good for the interior offensive lineman, you know, just a couple years too late for aq. You're all right, aq. All right, aq.

[F]

By the way, that contract contract, I heard from probably, you know, a handful of teams. This is the worst contract ever signed in the history of mankind. I heard from a handful of agents. This is an absolute dream. Thank God for this contract. Like there was literally weeping and celebrating on opposite sides of the aisle when that deal was done.

[A]

I think one agent was probably pretty proud of the work and everybody else was getting talked about, hey, how come you can't. So, you know, it feels like there's a little bit of, a little bit of a different view on things. A.J. has the last question for you. D.J. we appreciate the hell of out of you, brother. Yeah.

[J]

D.J. what about Jacob Rodriguez? Where do you see him going? Could he sneak up there? I, I, I saw someone Mock him to the third round, which seems crazy to me. I feel like that guy could be a day one starter for you. Where do you see Rodriguez?

[F]

I would say I think he's going to go in the second round, but if you gave me a choice between the first and the third, I would take the first. Oh, he, he's just a really, really good player. And then I thought he, he probably had the most impactful combine of anybody. He ran 4, 5, 6, 7, which, you know, any, any of the criticism of questioning his athleticism and stuff, he kind of put that to rest. And then you've got all the production to go on top of it. You've got, you know, the interviews which have been off the charts, and, you know, the leadership, the intelligence. He goes to the Senior bowl, he's punching out balls at the Senior bowl like he did on tape. It's, it's just, I don't know what else this guy has to do. He's kind of aced all the tests. He's in my top 50. I think I have him in the 40s. But. AJ if you told me that, you know, we, we went to bed after night one and he's already on a jet going somewhere, I wouldn't be shocked.

[A]

I love that. Fall in love with the person, I think. And then you start seeing agility. Then you see, oh, he's a quarterback as well, so his brain and then his mustache.

[D]

Perfect.

[B]

Need that.

[A]

Phenomenal.

[F]

Fantastic.

[A]

And then when he needs to throw one under pressure, he'll hit it. Only guy.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Unbelievable. I'm a big fan of his. The provision that might have people talking in Linderbaum's deal, we looked it up. Is the notion of tag thing at the end. It's a good deal. It's a good deal. Good deal. That's a good deal. We keep it moving. You think these refs are going to get a deal done with the NFL? D.J.

[G]

i don't.

[F]

Yeah, it's outside. I don't think that's outside of my window. Can I ask you one question, though? Sure. Did you guys meet Scuba when you were doing your WBC stuff?

[C]

Now, he was kind of removed from the Team USA portion of it. Yeah, he was already.

[F]

He was already.

[A]

Yeah. Man.

[F]

I went to that game yesterday. Yesterday. Look, when you go to baseball games and you sit down front, I don't know what. Like, I did not realize how thick he was. Like, he was like Quentin Nelson in the lower body, man. And it was, it was coming out 99 easy.

[A]

America, America could have Used that. Yeah, we could use that.

[F]

Nice.

[B]

Thanks a lot, Boris.

[A]

How'd the. How'd the. The slam Diego Padres do yesterday?

[E]

Got their asses.

[F]

Tough, buddy. That was tough, buddy. Yeah. We were facing the wrong Cy Young Award winner, apparently.

[A]

You shut your mouth. You shut your mouth. That was a tough first day. And we had a guy who's never played baseball before at center field.

[E]

O'.

[A]

Neill, Cruz. Everybody liked him.

[D]

Uncalled for.

[A]

I hope everybody really enjoyed his time on the show.

[C]

That was pretty good.

[B]

Brought that thing home.

[A]

Joining us now, ladies and gentlemen, perfect timing. What if that would have been o', Neal Cruz.

[B]

Yeah, you, Dana, Jeremiah.

[A]

That would have been amazing if we would have been able to pull that off. A.J. i'm telling you. Telling you, it's stunning. It is stunning.

[J]

What's that?

[D]

You know, they're calling him Spray Jay

[E]

Hawk on the Internet.

[A]

Spray Jay Hawk. That's awesome. The Internet's the greatest. You look good, Bob. You do look good. I like it. I like what you're doing. You know, there's another meme that was going around about sunscreen. You know, that whole thing. I don't know if you got into that whole conversation yet.

[J]

No, what was. What was happening? What?

[A]

Same conversation. Is spray tan. Kinda like what you're kind of. What's in it? What is?

[J]

Oh, I mean, everyone says everything gives you cancer. That's cool. Just do it. Live your life. No matter what you're. Enjoy your life.

[A]

Just live your life.

[J]

No, actually, if you're. If you're properly hydrated, you won't get sunburned. Well, pal, I got some albino skin that'll speak otherwise because I'm very hydrated.

[A]

Me, too. I'm peeing all the time, brother. And that thing is light yellow. Very light yellow. And I turned lobster quick, and it hurts. So if we can figure that whole thing out. But I do. I think I get burned with sunscreen on, too, is what I realized.

[C]

What SPF you using?

[J]

You got to reapply, like, every 25 minutes.

[A]

Burn sunscreen on 50 all the time.

[D]

I think it's a U problem, Paul.

[H]

Exactly.

[A]

That's what I'm saying. Doesn't matter. Moving on. Ladies and gentlemen, joining us now is a Gold Glove winner, a man that we fell in love with during WBC because he did his country pride.

[D]

Yes, he did.

[A]

On the diamond, ladies and gentlemen, center fielder for the Cubs, Pete Crow Armstrong.

[C]

Good clap.

[A]

Good clap. Pca, how we doing?

[L]

Oh, I'm great. I'm great. I was. I was wondering if the My intro was going to be about the albino skin and all that stuff, but I, I could have joined in on that conversation really easily.

[A]

Okay. You ever spray tan? You ever spray tan before?

[L]

Come on, man. What would I look like with a

[A]

spray tan right there? Look right on the screen. We got it. We got a little research being done. Congrats on the new deal, brother. Congrats.

[C]

Hell yeah.

[A]

Oh, obviously well earned, well deserved. Such a storied franchise in the Chicago Cubs. To be the leader of that group or perceived as the leader of the grab group is obviously a huge honor. What's it like being the guy that you are now at this stage of your career? When a big deal like this comes, there's obviously a little bit more pressure, obviously a little bit more notoriety, but I would assume you're wearing that well in Chicago. And how do you feel at this stage?

[L]

Oh, man, I mean, I feel, I feel good. I, I feel like I still got to go compete every day and I don't know if the, the money really changes that, but man, I, I, I love being here and I love, I love representing this, this city. We got a really good group too. So, you know, the Nico, the Nico news is, is about as good as it gets. And you know, I'm following his lead, frankly, for, for the next six years, learning how to lead from him.

[A]

I love that we got, you got Dansby over there too, which is also a friend of the program, has had massive success in the past. It's not the greatest opening day for you guys. And I'm new to the baseball pca. Okay. I'm new to the baseball. Got a hit off Clayton Kershaw. I'm new, I am, I'm new to baseball. Opening day. You got 161more game. I mean, I looked at the score, score there. You guys kind of got your kicked yesterday. It looked like the Pittsburgh Pirates. We got our asses kicked yesterday. Do I need to just give up? How, what do we, that's just one of 162. Is the mindset like you guys fail so much, it feels like you mentally have to deal with it more often. Than anybody else. But when opening day goes like that, what is the mentality going forward? And when you hit a lull in the season, what, how do you guys kind of fight through that shit?

[L]

Well, I mean, the 161, having, having that left is, is kind of the, the, the, the easiest way to look at yesterday. You know, there's going to be more of those games too, is, is the, the funny part. The, the funny, not so funny part. I mean, that, that just happens like the wind is, Is howling in at 20 miles an hour, and these guys are finding a way to, to put the ball out of the park, and they swung the out of it. So, like, you know, opening day is opening day, and I think it's just nice to get everybody back in the stands and, and us on the field.

[F]

Field.

[L]

So that's what that is. But you definitely hit that wall in, in July and August when, you know, you're looking at the, at your record and you're like, oh, my God, I've played 120 games already. We still got 40 to go. Like, you know, it's a constant. It's a constant battle with the failure. But that's what I'm learning right now is just how to, how to come out of that on top. Day in, day out.

[A]

Yeah, it's hard, dude. Yeah. Seemingly. That's why you're getting paid all the money, and that's why you have to top. You don't like failure. But baseball, naturally, I think, is a failure your sport, because you guys are walking in there and you're getting exposed, too, like, and embarrassed, you know, while you're doing that. Like, judge, I don't know, your Merrick's teammate, he struck out four times. That has to be the most humbling thing of all time. As everybody is celebrating that that's happening, that is around you, and then you guys are just expecting, yep, get your ass out there tomorrow. We got another 35,000 people that want to watch you do that again. That's a, That's a mental toughness that I don't know if I'd be able to, to get through. So I have massive respect for that out of you baseball players. I just want to let you know. Well, I would be.

[L]

We appreciate the acknowledgment, for sure.

[A]

No problem. I'd look in the mirror and the things I would be saying to that guy, oh, my God, would not be able to survive the life. I, I don't think I'd be able to put myself through it, especially with what you guys do. Hey, we needed to win that World Baseball Classic. Pete. He tried.

[C]

He did everything he could.

[L]

Tried telling me, telling me, yeah, that was. That was a bummer. That was a big bummer. I, I, I don't know if I'm quite over that yet, but actually, tell

[A]

me about it a little bit PCA here, because I was down at the Ponche game there. Okay. I I. I was down there at Ponche, Venezuela. I was in the middle of it. Okay. So I got to experience that. That environment, that vibe was outrageous. And I know opening day also huge. But that has to be something that's interesting at the beginning of your season to experience. And then, bang, we're into this. Has that been a little bit of a mental thing? A little bit of. I don't want to say hangover, but certainly an emotional dump, potentially.

[L]

Yeah. Braggy and I were talking about that, actually, like, coming back and having to play, not having to play. I get to do this. But, like.

[A]

Yes, but.

[L]

But the. The spring training, the return to spring training. And, you know, in my first games, a night game against the Cincinnati Reds and Sloan park. And Sloan Park's great. The Cubbies do a great job of putting spring training games together. But, man, like, the. The noise, the energy, all. All that stuff that is not always tangible that, like, you could really feel, I'm sure, being in the crowd and then obviously being in the dugout, being in the box. Definitely a bit of, like, an emotional letdown in a way.

[E]

Yeah.

[A]

I had it just because I was walking outside here, Ponchan in my face. Okay, Pete. Yeah. I was there with you guys. Was down in the dumps.

[L]

I went to sleep hearing that. That was. I mean, but that's so cool. Like, that's. That's the coolest part about the WBC is, like, you see how these other countries, fans just show up and they. They support with some real passion. It could be a 300 count in the first inning and. And they're all on their feet, cheering, clapping, chanting, all that stuff.

[A]

It was incredible. It was. I'm happy to hear you guys loved it as well, because that sounds good for female future WBCS as a whole. We know you got a negotiation that's going on. Not you directly, but baseball has a lot going on. It felt really cool to watch this baseball World Baseball Classic and feel like everybody really wanted to win it. That was a good thing. I think baseball is headed in the right direction, and next time, we're going to win that thing. Go ahead, A.J.

[L]

yes, we are.

[J]

Yeah. Hey, you mentioned that you have a good group there in the clubhouse, and, you know, the guys get along, I guess. How important is that culture? I think baseball, you have so much more downtime than a lot of other professional sports where you're just hanging out, hanging out in the clubhouse together before, after games, all that stuff, I guess. What's it like for you right now? And think about all the different backgrounds guys come from the different languages spoken in the major leagues, I guess. What is it like in that clubhouse for you guys, man?

[L]

I mean. Well, I think the, the group you got is, is the most important thing just because you're together for however many days out of the year and we spend all our time in the clubhouse. So like, we're here for, if it's a night game, we're here for six hours before the game ever starts. And you know, like, you get a lot of time to get to know people, but it's everybody from, from myself and guys like Dansby to the, the clubhouse staff. Like, I've gotten to know those guys really well and like they're here today grinding, getting ready for our road trip coming up. And you, you definitely see that everybody is integral to, to the success. You know, like, when travel's easy, guys are probably sleeping better and you know, like there's everybody in here makes this run. So like the group is, is huge. And then, you know, you spend a ton of time with them at the park and you end up wanting to spend more time with them off the field as well. So. But I mean, we got a lot of different languages in here. We got, we got Japanese and Spanish.

[A]

How's your Japanese? How's your Japanese? Pretty good. Oh, how

[L]

non existent, man. I.

[J]

What about Spanish?

[L]

I. Spanish is not bad. I understand more than I speak. My du Lingo streak ended like 100 days ago.

[A]

So I gotta get back, get back in there. Let's talk about the Japanese a little bit. Are you going? So you, you walk up. Hello. And you go right to translate. I need you to tell them and then you do that. Is that what's happening?

[L]

Yeah, kind of. I mean, mean, Seiya and I, I think, have created our own little dialogue that works for, for us just because we've been together for almost four years now. So like say. And I, I think we have that, that connection. Shota. Shota's English is actually very good. So he's been on.

[D]

Yeah, Mike Imanaga.

[L]

Yeah, yeah, Mike.

[G]

Sorry, Mike.

[L]

The second, the second.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, exactly. Yeah. Your guys's culture is awesome because of how many different languages in the different countries that are involved. Like hockey obviously has its own. Baseball has its own. Football obviously very, very like different parts of America. So it's. Baseball has been cool to learn about. And I learned what strikeout or punch out means in Spanish. Ponce. And I'm never, ever, ever going to forget that. Go ahead, Tone.

[D]

Yeah, Pete, I have a question. Obviously you're only 24, also at 23. Gold gloves it at 23. So you've had incredible success at a young age already. But it feels like you're not the only one. Like, obviously, roman Anthony, your WBC teammate, is young and awesome. McGonagall for the Tigers had four hits yesterday. Deler had two home runs for. For Cleveland yesterday. There was a. There was a weather Holt for the OR for the Cardinals had a home run yesterday. There's a lot of young Pittsburgh boy. Yes, he is Pittsburgh boy from Mars, same school as Bednar. Paul obviously didn't have the greatest day yesterday, but he's absolute stud. This new generation and all these, like, all these young kids having so much. So much success. Why do you think that is? Because it feels like for a while in the MLB, like, you had to be 27, 28 before you actually, like, hit your prime.

[L]

Yeah, well, I think that's. That might be the thing is, like, I don't know if you ever had to be, like, totally ready to, to play up here. I think there's a lot of value in getting called up at a, at a young age and instead of maybe like, finding your. Your footing in the minor leagues and like, really, you know, seeing a lot of success in the minor leagues, like, I think I've gained a lot more from failing up in the big leagues. Like, it hasn't been the easiest, easiest road to start my career, but. But then, you know, you, you. You find a way and then you're

[A]

also dropping a deep end thing, you know? Dropping deep end.

[L]

Absolutely. Absolutely. Just take the training wheels go. Like, I think that, you know, not everybody can do that. But you mentioned McGonagall and Roman and whoever else. Like, I think those guys are all very capable of finding success very quickly in the big leagues. And then I think that's just. It's even better that they can then fail at the highest level as well. Like, I think that's probably the most important thing, but not everybody is ready to. To be up here and do what. What Roman's doing, what Paul did and will be doing doing. So it's a, That's a tricky question, but guys are just getting so, so much better, so young and, and probably in the way that they're training and they're all getting used to how guys are starting to throw and.

[G]

I don't know. How old are you crazy?

[L]

24. I just turned 24 a couple days ago.

[A]

You talk. Happy birthday. We told you Happy birthday. All right, last question for the birthday boy. Here, Palm J. Go ahead, Ty.

[C]

Yeah, pca. First and foremost, I'd be remiss if I didn't say that Little Big League is one of my favorite movies of all time. So next time you see your mom, just tell her that I appreciate that she used to keep Bill Haywood accountable when he was starting to turn into a piece of. When the Twins started winning. But being from California and playing these, you know, and I know you played in, like, Des Moines, so it's not completely foreign, but playing these March and April games in Chicago, like, we saw the. The weather yesterday. Chicago itself, it's 40 degrees with 20 mph winds. And then you have all these, you know, the suburbs where it's 85 and sunny. Like, how difficult is it playing day in and day out when it's just cold as you're getting jammed all the time? Like, are you kind of just waiting? Like, hey, just. Just get me to. May. Get me to the summer when I. I feel like I can really heat up and get going.

[L]

Yeah, there's. There's a little bit of that. Last year. There was a lot of that, for sure. Like, I. Last year was. It was tough to get used to. To. To that kind of weather, like, maybe smacking into the wall, like, just, you know, it's. It's. I think it's. I have more fear about it before the game, and then, like, adrenaline kind of kicks in and I'm fine. I forget about it. But you're definitely waiting on. On the sun to come out and the ivy to grow back. Whenever the ivy starts growing back, you know, you know that we're. We're getting a little hotter, but. Gosh, I don't know if anything could prepare for the elements at. At Wrigley, if I'm being quite honest. Like, you just gotta find a way to adapt real quick.

[A]

You're the man. We'll be back tomorrow. Goodbye. Perfect.

[C]

Killed it.

[A]

You just did great. We're still alive. We're still alive. We're still alive. We are still alive. We're just not on TV anymore. We're just on the Internet now. Okay.

[L]

Okay.

[A]

And you saw the countdown clock and Good timing, by the way. Yeah, exactly. Good timing in this entire thing. I feel like that's what we needed at Team usa. You know when you're told you're not playing? Okay.

[L]

Yeah.

[C]

Coming off hitting two homers. Yeah.

[D]

Bombs.

[A]

Are you saying. Hey, I'm seeing it. Yeah. But against this pitcher you have. But, but, but right now. I'm seeing it right now. Is there that conversation? Is that happening or what's going. We love D Row. We love D. Ro. I think I've supported D. Row publicly more. Anybody. So I. I would like that to be known. I know privately he's got a lot, at least not in the baseball world. I love D. Ro in the national anthem for that championship. The way he looked and the way he looks on tv. I'm watching his show every day. This guy's unbelievable. But whenever you find out that you are, first of all, seeing the ball, whenever you find out while you're in the middle of seeing the ball pretty well, which I assume is something that kind of. Either. I don't want to say comes and goes, but in a season, you never know when it's going to really start and then you're told you're not playing a championship game. What. What is the thought there? What? Because I want to let you know, we put in a Anytime home run on. Already had one in before the lineup came out. And then we found out, yeah, put your head down. We need you to fight a little bit more in the club. So whenever that lineup came out, we were like, 10 of us. 10 of us had it. We're like, we know this guy's going to do it. And then we had to change everything. And then DraftKings was like, actually, we will. This will be okay. You'll be good. Or whatever. Even though you got in that. Back that later. So how do you take that? Yeah, well, because it's like an All Star game, I guess.

[F]

Yeah.

[L]

Well, I. At, you know, at first just being a competitor, I'm like. Like, I would love to. I'd love to. To be able to change that, but, you know, then. Then it's. Then it's about understanding who. Who's playing center field for me, and it's Buck. And like, that's a. That's one of the most talented players I've ever seen in my entire life. So that was the beauty of playing on a team like that, where it is all these All Stars and. And, you know, it's like. It's like Buck could go do it at any time. And he got. I think he got put in a pretty shitty situation, too, getting hit in that first game and then having to take some time. Like he couldn't find his rhythm either, I'm sure. And, you know, it was all just

[A]

of kind of a.

[L]

You know, I don't know, actually.

[A]

But, but, but what you're saying is, I'm trying. I was good teammate. Buck's a great player. Yeah. Yes. I was seeing it. I was not happy. Yeah.

[L]

Buck is the man. De Rosa has a. Like, the managers have so much to. To deal with and think about before the game, during the game. Like, lineups, matchups, whatever you want to say. Like, immediately, I'm pissed off that I'm not playing. I'm pissed off I can't contribute right away. But then it's like, all right, well, you know, you're going to get in there. So some point, like, there's going to be a righty that comes in. You're going to be off the bench as a. As a bat and be ready for that. And if you're not, then. Then that's when. That's when you're doing everybody else a disservice and yourself. Like, grow up. Deal with it. Get ready to support your boys and then get ready to. To taking it. Bat when your name is called.

[A]

We love you, dude. 24 years old. We'll see you at the next WBC, too. Good luck the rest of the way. We can't thank you enough for taking the time and. Thank you. And as soon as you got into the circle. What's it called?

[C]

Batter's box.

[A]

The on deck.

[C]

On deck, circle.

[A]

On deck, circle thing in front of us. We were very boozed up at the time. We all stood up immediately. Yeah. Opened our app, you know, tried to get in there to put an anytime home run. Obviously, we're in Florida, can't have it. So just know that you affected our entire day and how much we love baseball. So we appreciate the hell out of you.

[L]

Hey, thank you for that. I really appreciate that. That, too.

[A]

We thought you heard us. Turns out you didn't. He's right there. You're screaming right there.

[J]

I thought he was gonna turn around

[A]

soon as he stepped up into the thing and you got in there, literally, Connor and Fox were over here. They huge. Look over. Oh, yeah, we stay.

[K]

Yeah.

[A]

Stayed up immediately. Pca. Need it now. Need it, bud. Need it. Good to see you. And then Connor immediately goes, nice to see you so late in the game.

[B]

Yeah. Fucking A. I mean, about time. Well, I mean, that's the thing, too.

[A]

He was awesome. Yeah. Yeah. That guy's awesome.

[C]

He's great.

[A]

I'm a big PCA fan. Chicago Cubs know what they're doing up there.

[C]

They gotta go one.

[A]

Yeah. Seems like they gotta go. All right, let's take a break and we'll wrap up this beautiful week on this Feel Good Friday with Jordan Reed, Next generation of ESPN NFL draft coverage.

[B]

Man, let's go.

[A]

This man has come up to me every time he is seen me and said, I want to be on the show. He has hustled his way onto this particular program, which I respect, but also, I think they got a daily draft show that he's on, like, I think he is. And this guy has worked his ass off to make it happen. So I think we should pay it off.

[C]

Hell, yeah.

[A]

Absolutely. I think we should pay it off Friday with Jordan Reed.

[C]

Boom.

[A]

Three things. Threed. Jordan. Threed. We need three things this week that happened that he thinks are the biggest to what's going to happen on draft night. Let's assume that this is maybe a weekly thing. Okay. I like that. We'll see. Yeah.

[B]

Tbd.

[A]

No pressure.

[J]

What's he got to do?

[C]

Good luck.

[J]

What's he got to do to make it a weekly thing, you think?

[D]

Speak with your crush.

[A]

I need three good things, and even if they're not good things, I just need them delivered in a way that we can have a good time.

[D]

Speak with your chest.

[A]

Yeah, exactly. I think that is exactly put down, Dan. No, no, no. We don't need that. I think this guy's got it, though. I mean, the courage, the timing in which he has walked up to me was like, bathroom, three minutes, get back to show clearly in rush, clear, ears in. So I can do the whole, sorry, can't, can't hear. Can't hear. Which I can't. But also, I got about 45 seconds until we're back live right now, the way this thing's set up. I apologize. Just quick. Good to see you again, man. And I was like, I like that. Thank you for being like, you know, and then afterwards, conversation. Then next morning, I'm like, I like the way this guy's operating. Let's see. We shall see. Aj, It's a brand new you.

[J]

I think it's gonna be great.

[A]

We might have a brand new sec. Aj, you blending in with the library, everybody? I. Yeah, it's cedar, I think. Might need it. Might need a new stain.

[J]

Might be cherry. I think it's cherry. Gumpy. Love that one.

[A]

Gumpy's a big spray tanner, too. You know Gumpy. I'll hit the red light. Yeah, he's not scared to get a little tan in there. Nick, did you ever do a spray tan? Once, I think I forced people to do them a couple times. I was really into them every vacant.

[J]

What do you mean you forced them to go with you and get one, you mean?

[A]

No, just because people would always judge. It's like espresso martini conversations. You know, everybody judges immediately, and it's like, hey, if I was to go to a warm climate for this event, I'm gonna become this color. Okay. Day one, and I'm gonna be there Day two, still day three, so I'm gonna get that color, but I'm at least have a little bit of a tan. So I go spray myself the morning of. Normally, I try to stay still as possible for an hour and a half, two hours, let that thing set, settle in. Then you hop in the shower, just dye your entire bath. And I get out there, still get red. Still kind of half baked, though. Didn't look too terrible when I was out there, because if I just go out to a sun place. We haven't had sun in six months.

[C]

True.

[A]

I mean, I'm Pizza Hut.

[J]

Yeah.

[A]

Just like.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Boom. You know what I mean, AJ So then I'd talk to other people. They'd be like, in Pittsburgh, and they're like, oh, we're going down to Florida for something. I'm like, get you a spray tan. I'm not doing that. I'll get a spray there. Spread your cheeks in there too.

[B]

Wash it out.

[C]

Oh, yeah,

[D]

you did you bend over, grab your ankle? Yeah.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Then people don't know if it's fake. You really get pushed.

[B]

We know you did everything.

[J]

What are they doing for your dog? What are you doing? You lifting your balls up? Everything?

[A]

Yeah. You never know, dude. Somebody might say, oh, well, no, I.

[J]

I sure hope it wasn't an individual spraying. If you're bending over spreading your cheeks for him, that's a tough gig for that person.

[A]

I've actually the. The spray person only one time in my entire life. It was an interesting thing. It was like a business thing that they were trying to push. The machine's got it. You got six. You just. You walk in there.

[J]

I don't even know where a machine is. I've already had the person.

[B]

So you didn't get your.

[A]

Do it right here. And guess what? You flip that. Bang.

[D]

Suntan city.

[A]

And then what?

[L]

And then what?

[J]

It tells you bent. Grab your ankles and spread your cheeks.

[A]

You just kind of do it naturally there. Kind of feel it.

[J]

Like aq.

[A]

Yeah. Yeah, he did it.

[B]

No, he's right.

[J]

Right there.

[A]

That's good. I go see AQ in Arizona. I'm gonna go get a spray tan. So me and AQ don't look like two guys that just came out of the North Pole with our bright faces. All right. On the other side, we got the three big things that happened in Jordan Reed's eyes.

[C]

That's right.

[A]

That will affect the NFL draft April 23rd.

[C]

Hell yeah.

[A]

Be a friend, tell our friends. Have nice. Might change your life. Take five.

[K]

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[H]

Rich eisen here. The April 15 tax deadline is coming fast, but don't worry. Hand off your taxes to a TurboTax expert today. You know how April feels. Everything speeds up, Games matter more, hoops and hockey schedules tighten, your phone won't stop buzzing. And somewhere in the middle of it all there's that quiet little reminder.

[A]

Taxes.

[H]

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[A]

Sports are the greatest. That's agent JJ Hawk with a phenomenal spray tank. In that house in which he is broadcasting from is a college Football, national championship, a Lombardi Trophy, and a little flyer that says you won your matchup in the Ryder Cup. This guy's former president of the state of Ohio. And now he has found his most handsome form as he gets ready to head to the Sun. That's A.J. hawk, the legend, and baby Hoggle. Thank you, A.J.

[J]

thank you. I gotta give credit to Rob Riggle. He was my teammate in the Ryder cup match, and Rob played very well. He's a big reason we won.

[A]

And Rob's caddy, Cam.

[J]

Cammie, she's the best. Yeah, she's a professional golfer, so, yes, she helped us a bunch.

[A]

She helps out a lot, I think, during those rounds of golf. Rob Wriggle, obviously, his energy is fantastic throughout the entirety. And you two together, American power taking on Europe and a Rodder Cup. We knew Edens would get the job done. The talks and tables here at Boston, Connor, and at the Ty Schmidt, Tony Tunney's boy, He started out real hot yesterday for the Boston Red Sox.

[B]

Yeah, he's 14th player ever to reach base. Four. Four times on opening day. Which, you know, if you're doing the numbers, which we do here, just crunching them real quick. Yeah. Nine of the first 13 players to ever do that were hall of Fame ballpark. So it does look. You just shut up for a second. So, yeah, it looks like Roman Anthony's gonna be a. A Hall of Famer. And not to mention, he also hit a baseball 110 miles an hour. Damn near broke a guy's wrist on day one, so. And G, this is where it happened. Actually nailed this guy so hard, guy couldn't.

[A]

He walked off the diamond.

[L]

I. I didn't.

[A]

He literally said, you know what? Nope. Yeah, I'm not doing this.

[C]

I'm done.

[B]

Tony. Tony's too good.

[A]

I'm not doing business. That hurts so bad. I'm getting into playing catch. Or as Connor and only Connor calls it, skipping a stone. Yeah.

[B]

Skipping stone, baby.

[A]

That is all right. That is captivating. It is captivating.

[B]

We throw darts around here.

[A]

Now, we don't throw darts around here, but we watch too much of it. And at that point. Listen, gout guy. Disgusting performance yesterday.

[B]

Come on, Johnny. Need you to show up more.

[J]

Johnny Clayton fall down or what?

[A]

No. Basically, yeah. I. I think they. I'm not getting back. He looked a little weathered.

[D]

He looked a little weathered yesterday, to be fair. We got the clothes. Closeup view. When he was going to grab the

[A]

dart out of the board, he wasn't looking. But these guys just don't they don't treat themselves or act like a like professional from my dart players.

[B]

Do you wear around the pba? It's very similar to that. Okay. Except they don't have as many scandals because these darts guys, they live like freaking rock stars. They're not.

[C]

Why Johnny Blayton wasn't good last night because he usually shows up and he's like almost pissed drunk. He's had like 15 pine.

[A]

I don't think that's true. He got used to.

[B]

To the lean of the gout because. So he had to change his stance back to normal.

[A]

Whatever. We're skipping stone, as Connor says around here. We're playing catch. I'm finding my arm angle. Okay. I'm a sidearm guy, by the way. It's a lot of fun. Just kind of catch that thing, turn that thing, throw that thing. It's been a good time around here, to be honest. That's me skipping.

[B]

Skipping the stone.

[A]

I'll tell you what. Me trying to. Because I never played baseball. Me learning how to trust that mitt has become a thing. You know, Trying to trust the m. Cuz catching it in between between your pointer finger and your thumb is like a pretty weird.

[B]

Like a crap.

[A]

That's just like a weird thing if you. You know, I'm football. Yeah. Soccer ball. Even every other ball is like. So now I'm catching it up in here, you know. Got one right in the palm the other day. It can hurt that.

[J]

Put a glove on underneath it. Put a glove underneath the glove. That helps a little bit.

[A]

That. Okay. Two condoms. Nonetheless. It's still. And then I thought about that. This 110. That was just when we were having a little. Yeah. You know, turning around.

[C]

Little stone skill.

[A]

And then reverse. Reverse. You turn that thing back the other way. And then I. I go snaggle. Hey, D. Boom. And it's like, oh my God. I basically bare handed that thing.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah.

[A]

And that guy did that to a Tony. Tony's boy. Line drive yesterday. Got back in there though. Right there.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

He.

[B]

He stayed in. He's a tough son of a. Actually much respect to that guy. But it didn't matter. Crochet shoved eight of those guys. He actually straight struck out one last batter with the bases loaded. And I think he said like, let's go or something like that. Which they caught. Oh, there it is. Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. So I mean we're not lip readers, but it does feel like the Boston Red Sox got a lot of moxie. They got a lot of attitude.

[E]

You got a double.

[B]

Double hump at second base when they. When they get there.

[A]

And what happened with Cincinnati? I heard there was good times by the Boston Red Sox fans in Cincinnati last night.

[B]

Yeah, you could say Boston over owns Cincinnati now. I believe no one's showing up tomorrow because already the red lights fans are giving up because they freaking stink.

[A]

AJ Is that real? Because I didn't hear that at all about the Reds fans. I didn't hear anything.

[J]

No. I mean, I know there was some shenanigans after the game from what I saw in pictures outside. Yeah, there was.

[A]

Is the clock.

[J]

Yeah. I don't know what's going on, man. I should. That's what my first thought was. Someone better. They better be able to barricade around that clock of humans. Like, what happened? What is this? That's.

[D]

That's opening day.

[J]

It's just after the game, like, they just. The fans spilled out and started fighting or what?

[A]

I don't know. Ohio and Massachusetts together. I mean, there's a chance. There's a chance at that. But we hope everybody's okay. Hope the clock's okay and shot. That a Red Sox doing their thing. Let's go to one half of the hammer cowboys. AP. Tony, is there percentages on teams for this sweet 16 thing? Do we need to read into that as much? We haven't done much of the public betting conversation around March Madness, but the favorites have been winning, so we assume that the public betting has been hitting pretty well.

[D]

Yeah, it's. It's more of a football thing. I mean, you can look at it in things like this. Like for. For instance, St. John's and Dukes and Duke. 65% is on St. John's which is not a surprise. They are, you know, the. The sweet darling of a dog in this round, if you look, Bama is only getting 48% at the plus nine and a half, which is kind of surprising.

[L]

It's.

[D]

It's like St. John's is a darling, Michigan's a darling. I would assume UConn's getting the men the money in that one, and then Iowa State in that one as well. But I don't pay attention that as much. Football season is more important.

[A]

All right, well, we'll continue to hit every single College Basketball Sweet 16 pick. Did you know that

[J]

you hit all of them?

[A]

Yeah.

[J]

Undefeated. Well, like the 1869 Reds, you went undefeated yet last night?

[A]

Yeah, 57 and 0, buddy. 57 0.

[J]

That's what I. Congrats.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Thank you, man.

[J]

I. I underestimated Arizona. I guess I really did.

[A]

Co opit feels like he's a guy. And then they got a bunch of older guys. Illinois. That team looks awesome. I didn't expect that team to.

[J]

Paige's boy. They were showing Peja in the stands.

[A]

That was awesome. So I was at Texas down there watching their basketball team whenever he was on a visit. And they were. Everybody was talking about like, he's the. This is the. This is the one. This could be the one here. Yeah, this is. He's tall, he's athletic, and obviously his dad has his basketball IQ through the roof. And then you watch that shit and it's like, wow, Illinois might go win this entire thing. Good for Illinois. Congrats to them. Duke has a chance to continue an incredible ride. And, you know, we got a chance to talk to Coach K a couple different times. Him talking about Shire as if he's one of the ones. You know, Coach K's been talking about a lot of the great coaches, and he's been talking about Shire as if Shire is one of the great coaches going to have to win a national championship.

[B]

No doubt.

[A]

And obviously there's a lot of those around. We can. We can't wait to watch Sweet sixteen. Congrats to all the lads for making it. And we can't wait to see who ends up on top. And also we can't wait to see who wins the Super Duper Otter crown. We know West Virginia's been preparing for that. We know the Toronto Blue Jays are certainly getting buzzed in. And we know the Minnesota Gophers are potentially thinking about Baylor. All day and all night, Oklahoma and Colorado are going to have to do battle. But this one's the Mountaineers.

[C]

Yeah.

[F]

Stanford favored by one a half that track.

[A]

By who? By who?

[F]

The crown.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Attracts.

[D]

Yeah, that makes sense.

[A]

So Crown just openly says we don't know West Virginia men's basketball could be a team ride on West Virginia.

[B]

That's where Russ. Russ Hodge wants to be there, though. He likes being the underdog.

[A]

Stop.

[C]

Okay, this is the weekend of the Final Four. This thing either move it way the up. Don't do it at all. This is what this is.

[A]

Wester J is about to win the utter crap on.

[C]

That's great.

[D]

Couldn't agree more.

[A]

Who.

[C]

Who the cares? Are you kidding me?

[A]

Hey, you know what?

[L]

Let's.

[C]

Let's start another basketball tournament with all these dog teams who weren't good enough to make the tournament.

[A]

Let's.

[C]

Wait a minute. Let's do it during the weekend of the Final Four. It was their goal. Like, hey, should we see if, like 150 people watch this thing if we play.

[A]

Oh, wait a minute. What the. Are we doing M. No, no. Yeah, I understand. You want to see. See this type of basketball when there's nothing else on. I just said you want to see the West Virginia when there's nothing else. Maybe not even. What?

[D]

Maybe not even.

[A]

Not even see him play. Stanford. Yeah, right. We're gonna miss out on that. Then they got the Blue Jays. You think we're gonna miss out on that opportunity?

[C]

What if these guys.

[A]

We need to slide to the middle of the week.

[C]

What have these guys been doing? They didn't make the tournament, so all these guys just have to keep pressing. That's crazy.

[A]

I'm sure they had full squads, too. These teams were all. All used to traveling to the Final Four, so they've been. They've been playing for the entire time. Don't you worry about the other crime. We know who's taking that. Who?

[C]

The greedy corporate fat cats who think we need to do this thing.

[A]

This is one of those things, though, where it feels like people aren't in a room when decisions are made that might know what sport is. You know, like Final Fours that weekend, them.

[C]

No one cares about those games.

[J]

Got to be earlier, right? There's no way they're going half to head.

[A]

10:30 a. Oh, this is PST.

[B]

Oh, yeah. So one.

[A]

What?

[C]

N. They're going heads up.

[A]

Let's do it.

[C]

The final four.

[A]

Eight Eastern, Wednesday and Thursday.

[B]

Okay.

[J]

Yeah, Wednesday we're good. It's also.

[A]

If they lose Sunday, Saturday, Sunday. All right.

[B]

If you lose the other crown, too, you're. You're just set up for. You can even win the other crowd. What are you talking about?

[A]

Joining us now, ladies and gentlemen, is not about the crown or the other. It's about the draft, which is obviously an evening of celebration, of dreams coming true. Obviously with Nil, it's a little bit different because guys are earning life changing money earlier than that. But to live a dream of being a professional football player and changing the trajectory of your entire family tree is a huge night. The draft is a huge, important life moment for all of us. AJ Won number four. Five.

[J]

Five.

[A]

Old old cba.

[K]

Yeah.

[C]

So much.

[A]

Guaranteed.

[J]

Yeah.

[A]

The whole thing. I want every dollar. I haven't played it down. I want every dollar. That's what it used to be.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

All the way to pick 222, where I'm buying a Cadillac Escalade and almost getting that thing repoed. Okay, so it's a little bit different, but I will remember that weekend forever, as will everybody that gets drafted this upcoming April in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Joining us now, ladies and gentlemen, is the next generation of draft coverage for espn, Jordan Reed.

[B]

Yeah, Jordan.

[A]

Jordan, thank you for waiting. Obviously we're a little bit delayed, but we are excited to wrap up this week's show with you. We hope this will become a weekly thing as we get through draft season. How are you doing? How was the week? And thank you for joining us, brother.

[I]

I'm good, man. I appreciate you guys for having me. I felt like that freaking Squidward meme every time I see the set when we're at combine together and seeing you guys have fun outside while I'm inside watching you guys. So it's a pleasure being here, man. I appreciate it.

[A]

I just told the story of you at the combine coming up to me and talking to me, and I just have so much respect for your moxie. So I'm excited to see what you have. It feels like you're very well prepared. I think the world should hear it. So I think a good thing for us to kind of dive into or what are three things that happened this week that you think actually affect draft night that's coming April 23rd in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Jordan.

[I]

Yeah, Pat. Well, the first one is Reuben Bane, the Miami defensive lineman at Miami Pro Day. There was a flock of teams. All 32 teams were down there. Everybody was in Coral Gables. He only did positional drills, which isn't a big deal to me. But athletic testing is something that is a huge debate in draft rooms and among draft media as well. But this player is such a clean evaluation to me, Pat. Like we've seen this dude dominate down the back stretch. He was phenomenal in the College Football Playoff and I, I get it, he has short arms. But the way that he was able to go out and dominate the way that he did during the back stretch of the season, me personally, I think he's the best edge rusher in the draft. Yes. Ahead of Arville Reese, who I have is an off ball linebacker and I have him ahead of David Bailey as well. I think that much of Reuben Bane. And you know, if I'm The jets at 2, I think it's a serious consideration that you do take him at 2. Now, I don't think they're going to do that, but if I was in a draft room, he would be one player I would stand on the table for. I feel that good about Reuben Bane despite the short arms. And the second one for one for me It's Todd Simpson. I know. D A do excuse me. Set the Twitter machine ablaze saying that Ty Simpson is the best quarterback in this year's draft, but he's going to be a bit of a polarizing prospect in this year's draft class. And I have a list for you. So these are the quarterbacks with 15 or less college starts to go inside of the top 16 picks. It's a Keeley Smith, Mitchell Trubisky, Cam Newton, Anthony Richardson and Dwayne Haskins. So if you're taking Todd Simpson at number 16 overall with the New York jets, this is something that you're betting on him being a huge outlier. And I just don't see Ty Simpson being that first round quarterback. I feel more comfortable taking him in the second round. But of course the quality of this year's quarterback class is not great, as you guys know. And teams salivate over these quarterbacks. So The jets is 16. I just think it's a huge risk if you take this guy at number 16 overall. And then my last one would be Arvo Reese, Ohio State, man. I mean, this dude was everything that you, you want at the position this past season at Ohio State. There's some debates on if he's going to be an edge rusher, if he's an off ball linebacker. I feel more comfortable with him as an off ball linebacker just because I've seen him do it. I think he's a little bit raw as an edge rusher, but you see the flashes of him and what he can do. And I think Patricia did a hell of a job this year interchanging him a bit in that off ball linebacker spot and the edge rusher spot. So it's just a matter of comfort where you want to play him. I just feel more comfortable with this projection as an off ball linebacker.

[A]

Hey, Jordan, let's go, baby. How long you been doing this is, brother?

[I]

Eight years, man. Eight years.

[A]

You enjoy. You love the scouting. You like the film. What is the, your favorite part of it?

[I]

Both, man. I mean, I'm one of those media guys that actually travels the country during the year. So I actually go to these games and seeing these players up close and just the whole draft process and evaluation process as a whole, I kind of compare it to like buying a car. Pat. And you can watch the film, you can watch these guys online. A car may look great online, right? But when you go actually to the, the dealership, when I do go to these games, that's where you get to test drive the car. You get to see what's underneath the hood was making these guys tick. So I love the draft, man. And you know, this is something that I've done for eight years. I feel very confident in my evaluations, but I'm thankful for where I am and how far my trajectory has come so far. But I'm thankful for everything.

[A]

Hell yeah. And keep going, brother. Sounds like your work ethic is phenomenal. Let's talk about a couple of the three takeaways that you had. Reuben Bain, you stock talk about going on under the hood. He's beloved, obviously down there in Coral Gables. He was taking over games whenever there was other teams talking shit. We obviously only got a chance to see him live a few times through the playoffs. But Texas A and M, there was a lot to be made about him in the left tackle, him in the left tackle. And then that weather called for a fist fight because of how windy it was. It was like 50 mile an hour winds. It fell, it was insane. Offense was going to be very limited, but there was going to be a dog fight in the the trenches. He took that game over. Like he took that game over. Their defense took the game over. He was everywhere throughout the entirety of the playoffs. What do you like about the human that makes you think that maybe he goes as high as 2? You said you don't think the jets will do that, but if you were in there you would certainly talk about that. What do you think about the human that projects for long term success in the NFL as well? And is that what these teams are looking for in your eyes?

[I]

Well, Pat, look who's coaching them. I mean, it doesn't get any better than hall of Famer Jason Taylor. Just listen to Jason Taylor. Taylor talk about Reuben bank and how far he has come. And he had some injuries prior to this season, but this year, this was a big year for him. But if you just sit down and listen to Jason Taylor talk about this guy, he just raves about him. And it's not just the person, as you mentioned, but just how far he has come as a player. And you can turn on the tape in any game this year, whether it's Notre Dame, Ohio State, Indiana, he's dominating. He's continued to check the boxes in all those games. And yes, I keep saying the short arms. I get it. I get he's going to to be a historical outlier. But pound for pound when we're putting his tape against any other edge rusher in this draft, it's the most impressive to me. I mean this dude has the hand strength of a heavyweight boxer. He's just jacking the crap out of all these offensive tackles. He's a NFL ready run defender and as a pass rusher, I think he's going to be fine rushing off of the edge. But what I love about him the most is that he's so versatile. You can kick him inside and sub package, you can play him outside five techniques, seven technique, whatever you want to play him. He's just so versatile. I compared him to Brandon, Brandon Graham, that's who it reminds me of. And we're talking about somebody that closed out a Super bowl for the Philadelphia Eagles, which is what he did when the Eagles won that first Super Bowl. So I think he's very comparable to Brandon Graham who went on to have a terrific career.

[A]

Modern NFL success comes from having four first round D linemen. And every time we watch Bane work out, especially this past week at the pro day, he looks like a monster. So I'm excited to see what the NFL can continue to become with these guys. You mentioned another man in there for from the Ohio state. Go ahead, A.J.

[J]

yeah, obviously Pat's talking about Arval Reese. We know what he is physically and what he did this year is production on the field, I guess. Are you hearing from teams how they want to use him? As you have him listed as an off the ball linebacker, can play edge as well. Are you getting any inclination that teams want to use him as an edge rusher?

[I]

It's a mixture, honestly, AJ Just depends on who you talk to within the league. But if you're taking somebody that high in the draft, obviously you want them to play edge rusher just because of the financial ramifications of it. You're not going to take an off ball linebacker that high in the draft. But with Arvel, I think he's a guy that you can interchange. And everybody's talked about the Michael Parsons comparison. I think Michael was a little bit further along in this point in his career as an edge rusher, but that's eventually who you want our bill to be. And if I'm going to take him at number two overall like the jets are predicted to do right now, I think that is great bang for your buck. But I think he would be a great foundational piece for the jets if they do end up taking them at number two overall. I mean it's. I dude, dude has explosive traits whether it's all ball or off of the edge. He has very rare power as a run defender as well. And I think he's just scratching the surface of what he can be.

[A]

I can't wait to see how it all shakes out. You know, two now could be 10, somebody else could be two. Quarterback could go two. Oh yeah, you have no idea. Trades could happen to get another quarter. Who's the third quarterback you mentioned? Ty Simpson. We like Ty Simpson as well. We think Fernando obviously has earned the right to be qb, be one of this particular draft class. It sounds like the Raiders feel that way as well. But we like Ty Simpson. Who's the third quarterback? Do we know who the third quarterback is in this particular draft, Jordan?

[I]

That's a great question, Pat. Like there's such a huge split in the league right now. If I had to guess, it's between Carson Beck and Garrett Nussmeier, who were two polar opposite. Polar opposites as quarterbacks. One is a big six five prototypical pocket passer. Nussmeier is a little bit more undersized at about 6:2, about 205 pounds. But I personally like Nuss Meyer better just because of what he brings from an in the pocket standpoint and the daredevil mentality that he plays. And I just think he's shown better throws on tape than what Carson Beck has done. Now Carson Beck is going to be a great floor setter as far as what he can come in and do, but I think Garrett Nussmeier just has a lot of those traits of those undersized quarterbacks that we've seen go on to have a very successful career. And then, I mean, Nuss has made going back to that 2024 season. That's with a damn good player, man. Like we were talking about him potentially going inside the top 10 or so picks. Obviously the injuries and things happened at LSU to deter from that, but I'm a believer in us in the mid rounds.

[A]

All right. And there's one quarterback you didn't mention. Go ahead, Ty.

[C]

Yeah, we're, I mean, Mark Kranowski, you know, we, we, we pull up his, his pro, his pro day, you know, measurables and whatnot. From his raw athletic score at Iowa's.

[A]

What was it?

[C]

Off the charts? You know, so a lot of people are saying, like, well, I don't know because. Because this guy could be starting tight end day one for, you know, someone. Exactly. So where, what about Mark Gronowski? Basically just tell me, is he gonna get drafted or not?

[I]

Potentially? I thought he did really well down at the strong, strong bowl down in Texas down there. And I mean, I mean he showed some great things at Iowa. And we know their quarterbacks haven't been known for throwing the football, but he was physically one of the more talented players that they have had in the position. Position over the past few years. But I think he has a chance to be one of those late round guys. I like him. I like Luke Altmire from Illinois. Cole Payton, who will probably go much earlier than those guys. But there's a lot of names in that late round mix. But Altmyer and Granowski are two players that I like in those late rounds.

[A]

You're the man, Jordan. We're going to see you again through this draft season, if that's okay.

[I]

Absolutely. I appreciate you guys. Thanks for having me.

[A]

What are you doing draft night? We have our draft spectacular. Are you working draft night?

[I]

Yes. So I help with ESPN radio all day three. All three days of the draft. Excuse me. That's what I normally do.

[A]

Where will you be? Will you be in the back in the green room or where will you be?

[I]

We usually have a set that's opposite of the green room, so we'll have like a building directly beside it. So I'll be around.

[A]

Should put him in a green.

[C]

Get him in the green rooms.

[A]

Jordan in the green room. We'll see how next week goes.

[J]

Yeah.

[C]

Okay.

[A]

You're awesome, man. You knew your.

[I]

I appreciate you guys.

[A]

You heard him. Kick him down inside and outside. 57. Take me hat. He rattled off.

[C]

Y likes Granowski, so I know he knows ball.

[A]

Yeah. Like him at sh. Traveled around the country. Watch these play. Players checking under the hood with these tick. I like that.

[C]

Yep.

[A]

Jordan, we appreciate you, man.

[I]

Thank you, guys.

[A]

Let's go. How old are you?

[I]

I am 34 years old.

[A]

Let's go. Let's go. Run now. Let's go. We're thankful you're joining us.

[I]

I appreciate you guys, man. It's a pleasure.

[A]

You're the man.

[I]

Big fan of the show.

[A]

Come on. We appreciate you. Ladies and gentlemen, Jordan Reed. Yeah. All right. Let's have him be. Let's do the whole draft season.

[B]

Absolutely.

[A]

Yeah, I think so. Then he would have to be at the draft, though. Spectacular. Are we doing that?

[C]

You tell me.

[I]

I saw a report that we were.

[C]

I heard that there's going to be way too many people in Pittsburgh and they might just cancel everything.

[A]

I'm here in front of people in Pittsburgh that are saying, can we not have the draft? Maybe they're sending out reports, set up blockades, what streets are shut down. It's like, okay, yeah, we got a lot of streets Anyway, anyways, Pittsburgh, yeah, we got a lot of streets. So just shutting them all down is certainly a good way, you know, because the way the city we're in hills and then water obviously. So getting in and out of it is that that's one way in and one way out. Everybody is trying to get in there and then once you get down in there, there's obviously it's full K. I mean the topography. Is that what it's called? I guess, yeah.

[L]

There was a report to the Pittsburgh public schools in the city limits, I think are moving to remote learning for those three days. Cuz just because of the logistical nightmare

[A]

of getting kids into and out of there over with. What are they expecting? 700,000 people. I've heard that number thrown out.

[L]

People are all mad about. It's like it's going to be hard to get around.

[A]

Yeah, it's going to be. Pittsburgh's going to be really. I think what people should expect is you should not try to be in a car when you're there. Yeah, it's around the area now. There's a hell of a walk if you're in a couple of different places to get to a lot of different spots. So you're signing up for that too because remember you got haulers and shit that you gotta get down around. And another thing. And I've made these drunks. Yes. I've made these drunk walks from one part of city to other part of city when you know there isn't just an Uber available on your phone, you know. But I think if you get down into the area. Okay. North Shore D casino is very close. Close. I'm not going.

[D]

Not chancing.

[B]

I am.

[A]

You should not go in there.

[J]

Thought you said it's a good one.

[A]

Nobody wins coming out.

[D]

That sucks.

[C]

You said you always have to go and you got to give your, you know, donation to ensure that you're going

[B]

to have a good week.

[A]

That's what it is. And that's how I've had to frame it. Cuz I've never won. You grew up in.

[B]

Until now.

[A]

You don't have to do that. Yeah, but I don't live there now so I do feel obligated to be like, hey, thank you. It's an honor to be be back. Yeah, yeah it is. Paying tides a little bit to the local casino. Cuz there's no smiles coming out of that place. No, a lot of smiles going in then it's all sucked out, bummed out.

[B]

Like a rub and tug.

[A]

What's that like the Experiences like.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

I think people smile on the way out of there.

[A]

I think those are going. I think there's a lot of situations around. Right. You know, I think people need to be careful. I think a lot of people aren't as careful as they need to be, probably.

[L]

Right.

[A]

That's a crazy story. Anytime it comes up. Yeah, that's a crazy story. Crazy, Crazy. And on that note, let's have a great weekend. Be safe out there. Be smart out there. Come to the draft in Pittsburgh. It'll be fun. The insers are going to be super pumped.

[C]

I bet.

[B]

Yeah. Head down.

[A]

What's wrong, Tone?

[D]

I'm thinking they. I think it's gonna be 98% uners down there.

[A]

I think so, too. I think getting there, though, is going to be a lot of.

[C]

Oh, it's.

[A]

Oh, this was genius. Oh, it's gonna be so much of that.

[D]

The absolute worst.

[A]

So much of that. People parking cars, I assume, and walking. I assume you're gonna see a lot of cars just kind of left where? Yeah, exactly. I don't know. I. I genuinely don't know how this is gonna go forever. Everybody back there. But I do know it's going to be an incredible celebration of ball, and we're hopefully going to be a part of. We are. I think. I think. Yeah, we'll be there.

[B]

Oh, yeah, we'll be there for sure.

[A]

Have that event on Wednesday night. Aj.

[I]

Yeah.

[J]

Chef's gonna be there.

[A]

I don't think so.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

A lot of people I've talked to said, feels like chef told you to go yourself on that Wednesday thing.

[C]

Oh, he's gonna try.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I want to show up for my

[A]

friend, so he'll definitely get there. Yeah. Hey. Hey.

[B]

Let's take a photo.

[A]

Yeah? Yeah, hold on.

[G]

Okay.

[A]

Thank you. It's good. What you got here? All right, so hit your tape.

[C]

That's it.

[A]

That's it. Right?

[C]

In a nutshell.

[A]

And then the other one's coming out. Yeah. Okay. Showing sweet.

[G]

Are you?

[A]

Because I think they're a willing trade participant. Yeah. If you talk to them, if you talk loud right now, you'll get from one of my phones to my other phone. This is fun. Is. What is this called? A pizza. Cool. Yeah, I think they'll do it. I think they'll do it. You'll do it, right? Yes, you will. They'll trade you right now. Yeah. Okay. Remember, tell Roger I didn't do this. Y. Hey, you two are talking to each other right now. All right, See you. All right, I'm going to get out of here. We got big.

[B]

Thanks for.

[A]

Hey, thanks for coming, dude. That's what these insiders lives are like.

[B]

Oh, yeah.

[A]

We've been around Rap sheet before. Rap sheet shows up. Hey, guys, how we doing? Where's the booze? Right here.

[B]

Yeah, a little different.

[A]

Have a conversation. But then he'll get. If he opens his phone, trapped.

[C]

Night end.

[A]

See ya. It's over. That's how these insiders live. And we appreciate their dedication to put that tweet up before the others. Because when we see the first tweet, we never go off the second or third tweet. No, never. When we see the first tweet, which is how the world. World knows we think to ourselves. Thank you for your commitment to ball, for not sleeping and not having a social life at all and just.

[I]

Exactly.

[A]

Text messages and floating shallow conversations with so many people all the time. Good to see you. Good to see you. Ah, that's so funny. How's the family? How's the family? Yeah, good, good.

[B]

What do you got for me?

[A]

Oh, new building. That's fun. Look at this photo. Fun stuff. Then he's on grock. I know. Need a graphic for.

[J]

There's no real off time. There's no like, time where he could just be like, okay, I'm good to go. Nothing can happen.

[A]

That's why when Woads retired, they all

[C]

acted like, yeah, he died.

[G]

Yeah.

[A]

Because they were like, you don't know what this guy's life has been like. He has hated every moment of it all. Taking a shower. Think about taking a shower and having to put your phone on the outside of the shower. And you got to stay down there so that the steam doesn't block the show. The phone so you could get. And your wife. Oh, Lucas getting traded from the Dallas Mavericks. That's what they were saying. That's what life is as an insider. Yeah. Thank God that's not what we do. But thank God they did that.

[B]

Need them.

[A]

Happy sweet 16, AJ.

[J]

What do you mean? Oh, my bad. Can. Yeah, you're right.

[B]

Jeez.

[D]

It's not your birthday, dude.

[B]

What happened in that?

[J]

I'm just locked in.

[D]

We got.

[J]

We got Reds. Reds are taking on the Red Sox again on Saturday. So we're going to a rebound.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Then we got another 160 talks. Table. Great work this week. Thank you guys for doing what you did for a stone.

[B]

Continue to do for the stone.

[C]

You just got to skip the stone.

[A]

I like that. That was a good little moment right there. Passing over the stone.

[B]

We're going to be skipping stone in seconds here.

[A]

Yeah, you are. Certainly are. Depending on how long this takes, I'm going to be doing it as well. Coming right here.

[B]

Out of pocket. Pocket skip.

[A]

I'd like to say both halves of the Hammer Cowboys, good work this week. And Hammer down as a whole. Hammer down is currently undergoing a full rebottle. Yeah.

[D]

Thank God.

[C]

Bit of a facelift.

[A]

I don't know if you thank God or not. We actually had a conversation about that out here. About how you guys would feel about the entire office watching the entirety of Hammer D. Oh, I hate it more than. That's what we're doing. We're watching the entirety of it.

[C]

Audio on nothing through the whole thunder.

[A]

And we have been doing that for the last couple years. But now it's full focus, full attention. Yeah. Because we're all looking for winners.

[G]

Yeah.

[C]

Trying to find the crown.

[B]

Find the crown.

[A]

Thank you guys for trying to spread the crown. Judge Homer Foxy. What a week out of you. Way to go. Good work, boys. Great week. Bruce Brown, great work.

[B]

Good work, Bruce.

[C]

Thank you, boys.

[D]

Appreciate it.

[A]

You nailed something today. We broke some news. You didn't know.

[F]

Yep.

[A]

Other than that, you crushed it. Especially the Paul skin's updates. While Sheft was giving me RA A real answer.

[C]

That was good.

[A]

Drop it in my right ear. SK Is getting shelled right now. And on a little monitor right here. I just got Skin going with a baseball going over his head.

[B]

Neil Cruz.

[C]

Yeah. It turns out he wasn't kind of just giving up routine pop flies in his center fielder.

[A]

Doesn't know what.

[C]

He didn't. He didn't.

[A]

You talking about Cruz?

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Huge bounce.

[D]

Damn, Paul.

[A]

Oh, no. Cruz is about to hit some donkeys.

[B]

Gonna be. Oh, yeah.

[A]

I think I'm putting entire deposits down on Neil Cruz.

[B]

Do it right now. Let's do it now.

[D]

He hasn't played it tomorrow, so you

[A]

don't have to do it right now. It'd be zero dollars.

[B]

No, no. But do the deposit now and then put it on.

[A]

I'm logging in there right now. There's a video showing for me. I know it. No doubt about it.

[J]

Thank you, Bruce.

[A]

So I'm gonna take a break for a little bit. The video got me.

[E]

Yep.

[A]

Are you sure? That's basically what it says. Says, hey, look at me. That's what the video says. You need to think about this.

[C]

I back talks tomorrow, though.

[A]

Would you like to expel yourself from this app for 10 years that you can't get back in? Hit this button right here. And you think to yourself, there's no way I can commit to anything for 10. 10 years.

[C]

Long time.

[A]

But then I start going through the -1100 loss and I know you're like, you know what?

[D]

You can commit to some things for 10 years.

[A]

Yeah. Like my daughter and my. My family and. Sure.

[B]

And Tony's talking about. Tony's talking about something else.

[J]

What could that be?

[A]

We'll find out later. Date. Oh, yes we can. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh yeah, yeah. Forgot about that. Turns out I will be able to. Nick Gumpy. Great work boys. Z Tim. Good work boys. Good work boys. Graphic design, boys. Good work boys.

[B]

Good work boys.

[A]

Otter guy hit some bets for us. Yeah, he did.

[B]

Need him to bring it home today. St. John's come on. Johnny's.

[A]

That's not a bad little run right there. That's not a bad little run run right there.

[G]

Wow.

[D]

I mean Jay's and Johnny's left Pirates money line.

[J]

You play football and basketball at Stanford?

[A]

Yeah. Yeah. And swimming in polo and volleyball.

[B]

Little lax for a second.

[A]

Yeah. So that's why they call him Stanford. Steve did all of it.

[C]

Actually, Stanford's all time home run leader as well.

[A]

I think he coded Snapchat. Is that what it was?

[C]

Yeah. I think you're right.

[B]

Yeah. For that guy.

[A]

Yeah. Great work, aj. Be a friend. Tell a friend something nice might change your life. Or understand. Shout out to all you guys honestly for allowing us to do this for a living. It's outrageous. It is stupid. We're very thankful. Every day we wake up, we talk about it at least five times a day. How stupid this life is and how grateful we are that we get to do it. But that does not mean that we don't take it serious. As if we shouldn't try to contribute to society. We do genuinely try our best to be good versus society and most importantly, for the good of sport. We'll be back on Monday live from the owners meetings with a lot of guests. Now, will they be able to join us live? Cuz their meetings are at the exact same times, which we did not see. This is the checkers thing.

[C]

Yeah, figure it out.

[A]

This is the checkers thing.

[C]

We'll figure it out.

[A]

Come out to owners meetings. Everybody will be there. You'll love it. It'll be great. We'll be able to get everybody on. All right. What time's your show? I think nine and local. We start our meetings 8:30, they end at 2. All right. Okay. Okay, we'll figure it out. Okay. Okay. We'll be there. We'll watch you guys meet. All right, so we'll be there. It should be a good program, we assume, and hopefully we'll be able to figure it out. The sports world is the greatest world to ever exist, and we're lucky to be a part of it. Team on me. Have the greatest weekend of your life. Team on three. One, two, three. Team goodbye.

[H]

From 30 for 30 podcasts.

[A]

Did you say someone got shot?

[D]

Brian Pata, senior defensive lineman from Miami, gunned down the key to this case.

[E]

It's Brian.

[J]

An hour before he died, he was

[A]

on the phone arguing with somebody. This might be a hit. You want the truth? They just want a conviction. Being placed under arrest. We had a killer amongst us.

[H]

Murder at the U Listen now.

[A]

Hey, sports fans. The ESPN app has all of ESPN all in one place. The ESPN app is your home to thousands of live events, ESPN shows and originals across every ESPN network and service. And now you can check if you already have ESPN Unlimited as part of your TV package for no additional cost. Visit Activate ESPN.com to learn how to access your account or sign up, then start streaming in the ESPN app. It's all of ESPN all in one place. Sign up or activate now.