PMS 2.0 1543 - Mark Schlabach, Philadelphia Flyers Head Coach Rick Tocchet, Danny Green, Pete Thamel, & AJ Hawk

Summary

The Pat McAfee Show 2.0, Ep. 1543 (April 30, 2026)

Host: Pat McAfee
Guests: Mark Schlabach, Rick Tocchet, Danny Green, Pete Thamel, AJ Hawk, The Toxic Table (Boston Connor, Ty Schmidt), Tone Digs

---

Episode Overview

This episode of The Pat McAfee Show delivers a blend of high-stakes sports talk and the show’s signature comedic camaraderie, diving into the NHL and NBA playoffs while tackling breaking sports news, gambling, college athletics, and league business. With special guests including ESPN's Mark Schlabach (golf), Philadelphia Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet (NHL), NBA champion Danny Green, and ESPN insider Pete Thamel, the crew unpacks big moments in hockey and basketball, provides perspectives on LIV Golf's demise, NIL and expansion in college sports, plus shares candid, heartfelt moments about life off the field.

---

NHL Playoffs & “Thank You Pens Thursday”

Celebrating the Penguins’ Iconic Run

• 00:00–06:30
  • Pat opens with “Thank You Pens Thursday,” expressing gratitude for the long-running Crosby-Malkin-Letang Penguins dynasty and reflecting on Pittsburgh’s playoff loss to the Flyers.
  • Vivid color about the heartbreak (“Philadelphia Flyers send the Penguins to Cancun... I just want to say thank you to them”—Pat, 01:30), fan reactions, and social media ribbing from Philly (“Facetime immediately from Shane Gillis... then I get texted immediately, cowardice…”—Pat, 02:39).
  • Tells stories about Philly fans, playful memes, and hockey rivalry shenanigans. Praises Flyers' young core (Tippett, Sandheim) and goalie play.
  • Acknowledges the magnitude of the moment for Pittsburgh, the Flyers’ grit, and sports as emotional theater.

On the Flyers Upset and Playoff Drama

• 06:33–09:19
  • Preview of Flyers coach Rick Tocchet as guest.
  • Analysis of playoff dynamics—emphasis on “go on or go home” games with high stakes across NHL and NBA.

Betting and Playoff Atmosphere

• 09:19–12:26
  • Knocks down trends for playoff betting: “In NHL, your best bet is damn near, hey, overtime”—Ty Schmidt, 09:19.
  • Contrast of NBA and NHL parity; odd results, underdogs covering, high scorers emerging.
  • “Most watched NBA playoffs in 33 years ... Adam Silver might be an alien”—Pat, 12:45.

Memorable Quotes

• “Sports are the greatest. What we're saying is sports are the greatest.” – Pat McAfee (16:30)

---

LIV Golf, PGA Tour, and Golf World Dynamics

The LIV Golf Experiment

• 19:12–38:41
  • Explains the rise and fall of LIV Golf, impact on PGA player contracts, and fan/viewership issues.
  • Mark Schlabach’s sharp takes on LIV: “Somebody said this morning they tried to reinvent a 200-year-old sport with a checkbook” (Schlabach, 22:57).
  • Discussion on the transition process for LIV players returning to the PGA (“Brooks came back because he made a phone call and said, look, I'm out of my contract…”—Pat, 25:13), hard feelings in pro golf, and potential for select reintegration.

Golf Culture & Tour Storytelling

• 28:16–38:41
  • Schlabach storytelling: Augusta National media lottery, “barrel over the waterfall,” Peyton Manning’s favorite caddy.
  • Michael Block’s Cinderella story, reality checks for PGA “local heroes.”
  • Rory McIlroy’s changing schedule, the potential for new golf spinoff formats, and the lasting impact of content-driven events in golf.

Memorable Quotes

• “Best thing about a four mile walk? Pat, it's only six Widespread Panic songs.” – Mark Schlabach, 27:41
• “I think there's still some hard feelings on that side...there’s gonna be some guys walking back with their tails between their legs. It's the equivalent of Lane Kiffin showing up in Oxford, Mississippi saying, I'm sorry, I was wrong, please take me back.” —Schlabach, 26:12

---

Interview: Rick Tocchet, Flyers Head Coach

(43:53–56:39)

Flyers’ Build & Playoff Mindset

• Tocchet reflects on his connection to both cities, respect for Pens legends, and Philly's young, gritty roster (“A team that bought in... January was our worst month... West coast trip, the guys went out, they bonded... we started to believe”—Tocchet, 45:19).
• The team leans on “new age toughness”—emphasizing mental fortitude (Crosby, McDavid) over old-school fighting.
• Details on Philadelphia’s unsung heroes—“Tippett... almost has that kind of speed... I think he had 11 hits one game... a power forward”—Tocchet, 48:35.

Goaltending Heroes

• Tocchet credits goalie “Vladdy” with a superhuman overtime—“He went to superhuman lengths in overtime”—Tocchet, 50:21.
• Discussion of how a hot goalie can carry teams (“If your goalie gets hot, you can win… That’s what a goalie can do for you”—Tocchet, 51:23).

Young Star Spotlight

• Porter Martone’s shock impact as a 19-year-old rookie from college: “We didn't know he's going to have this impact… all of a sudden he's playing 15, 16 minutes and playing on our power play. That doesn't happen very often in hockey”—Tocchet, 54:10.

Playoff Wagers & Philly “Mana”

• Hilarious bet set: If Flyers win the Cup, Pat pledges to walk to Philly in a Speedo and pick up team bar bills. “That's a real bet. The boys will love it”—Tocchet, 56:12.

Memorable Quotes

• “You got to ride your guy... war of attrition, man, you're all in.” – Tocchet (52:31)
• “Playoffs is pretty... war of attrition. People are playing with broken stuff in the playoffs.” – Tocchet (53:11)

---

NBA Playoffs, LeBron Drama, and League Storylines

NBA Playoffs: Stars and Stories

• 64:05–70:02
  • Lakers up 3–0, now threatened by surging Rockets (“Houston Rockets now are on two game winning streak. Do they have all the momentum?”—Pat, 64:06).
  • The fickle sports media: “It’s amazing how quickly things can change... now LeBron is washed”—AJ Hawk, 64:08.

LeBron — The Spotlight and Scrutiny

• Media reaction to LeBron’s postgame interviews; the reality of daily sports takes.
• “If he actually does engage in all the talk about him after every single thing he does… it would be a roller coaster”—AJ Hawk, 69:04.

Memorable Quotes

• “What I do love about what we do for a living… nothing on earth does that more than a daily sports show. Every day, you’re in the moment.” – Pat, 64:14

---

NFL News Roundup

Contracts & Roster Moves

• NFL Tag News: George Pickens finally signs $27.3M franchise tag with Cowboys. “He’s a Cowboy for the year… 50/50” — AJ Hawk, 71:16.
• Steelers’ Aaron Rodgers Drama: Tone Digs voices Pittsburgh fatigue with Rodgers’ stringing along: “We’re all done with it” (74:27).
• Referee CBA Progress: NFL refs near resolution with 6.45% raises, $385K average; vital to avoid replacement official debacles ("Fail Mary" memories, 78:41).

Heartfelt: Valerie, the GOAT Dog

• 58:14–61:09
  • Pat shares a deeply personal story about losing his dog Valerie Ann, the inspiration for his animal cancer charity. Emotional wisdom: “It’s perspective, you know, we gotta enjoy the hell out of what we have right now… Because at some point, we’ll just be looking back on these moments as memories.” (59:45)

---

College Sports Deep Dive

Eligibility, NIL, and Academic Realities

• 97:09–101:00
  • The crew debates whether college athletes are actually doing school since NIL (“It would be surprising to me if there was NCAA clarity by June 30…”—Pete Thamel, 107:39).
  • Pete Thamel: “Most college athletes... take classes online. Rare, rare, rare do they become ineligible over academics anymore.” (104:00)

Sorsby Gambling Scandal – Supplemental Draft Option

• Sorsby’s NCAA gambling investigation, potential exit via the supplemental NFL draft, and unique loopholes for ineligible players to go pro.
  • “Coaches have done it with the NCAA… this would be a player doing it. Investigation’s about to happen, actually, I’m going to go to the NFL.” —Pat, 108:33

March Madness Expansion

• Pete Thamel reports on NCAA basketball tournament expansion: “As much as some people have cast this as a money grab… it’s really an access grab… They want more of their mid-tier teams in the tournament.” (113:11)

Big 12 Private Equity Deal

• Redbird Capital offers schools $30M in exchange for future revenue; Pete explains few will opt in due to repayment obligations (“There’s no free money anywhere other than the field goal kick, Pat”—115:08).
• Concern over leadership turnover and making big financial decisions for future institutions.

---

NBA Segment: Danny Green Guest Appearance

• 81:44–85:15
  • Spurs/Wemby outlook (“Wemby is a special, special talent. Some things you can’t teach… They showed some of that in the first round.” —Danny Green, 83:28).
  • Spurs’ youth vs. playoff pressure; Pat’s wary about Danny’s “in-transit” interview (safety first!).

---

Notable Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Wayne Gretzky texts the show: “Great interview with Rick. Thank you for promoting hockey. 99.” (121:51)
• Mark Schlabach on LIV: “We’ll just call it the Barely Living Tour.” (22:52)
• Rick Tocchet, on young players: “You give him that token game, see how he’s going to be. All of a sudden, he’s a 19-year-old kid playing in the second round of the Stanley Cup.” (54:10)
• Pat, on life: “Let’s remember we’re lucky to be alive. Good. Is there things around you that are ass? Certainly. Should we try to move on? Yes. But remember, life good. Death alternative not great. Let’s enjoy it all.” (123:20)

---

Timestamps – Key Segments

• 00:00–06:30: Opening monologue, Penguins’ legacy, Flyers clash
• 12:42–16:26: Sports ratings surge, NBA/NHL playoffs viewership
• 19:12–38:41: Deep LIV Golf/PGA dissection (Mark Schlabach)
• 43:53–56:39: Flyers coach Rick Tocchet interview
• 58:14–61:09: Valerie Ann tribute
• 64:05–70:02: NBA Playoff drama, LeBron narrative
• 97:09–104:23: College athlete academics/NIL, eligibility
• 114:35–121:00: Big 12 private equity deal, March Madness expansion
• 121:51–122:08: Gretzky thank you (“99” moment)

---

Closing Reflections

This episode blends passionate fan perspective, sharp insider analysis, humor, and humanity. Whether lamenting a franchise-defining loss, picking apart flawed sports leagues, or celebrating the privilege of being alive and connected through sport, McAfee and company provide a singular, authentic sports experience.

Final Quote:

“Be a friend, tell a friend something nice, it might change their life. We’re in this thing together. Lot of mana. Team on me. Team on three. One, two, three. Team.” — Pat McAfee (124:37)

Transcript

[Pat McAfee]

Hello, beautiful people, and welcome to our humble abode, the Thunderdome. On this. Thank you pence. Thursday, April 30, 2026. This sports program begins now. Sports are fantastic and obviously a unifier and something that brings happiness into everybody's lives, especially when your team is winning. And that is why this particular Thursday is called. Thank you, Pens Thursday, you know, because the Pittsburgh Penguins led by these three icons of sport, these three three time Stanley cup champions. These three who have played 3,924 games together, accruing 3,974 points with 1,365 goals. Three Khan Smyes, three Hearts. 20 years together, longest tenured trio in North America, pro sports. And if it's over after what happened last night, I just want to say thank you to them. Obviously, we've developed a little bit of a kinship with them here over the last year or so of this entire run, both for the Penguins and our program. Always fan from afar. Never got a chance to really meet them. And last night they're saying it might be the last time that they play. And the people that did it to us were the Philadelphia Flyers. It was a great game. Phenomenal game. Goalies standing on their heads.

[Tone]

Back and forth we went, the boys battling.

[Pat McAfee]

Geno Malkin, whenever he gets off the bus to arrive at the arena, actually takes two steps and some little John over there says, you suck, Gino. He looks like it was war. They were battling on the ice. The Pens had a chance to do something special, but instead, in overtime, a perfectly sauced Cam York shot goes Tink and in. And the Flyers send the Penguins the Cancun. Now, I don't love the immediate reaction from everybody that is associated from Philadelphia. This was late, obviously. This was late. Long night for me and the family yesterday. But obviously, watch Penn's Flyers. Especially with Sidney Crosby about to accomplish something that only four teams had done in the past, which has come back from being down 3. 0. The boys showed. The boys showed grit. But this Philadelphia Flyers team did as well. And last night, not Cam York. Late night. Okay. This is late. Not as late. There's other games that are later on. Sports are really doing a number for third shifters. You know, it's really kind of moving along. Facetime immediately from Shane Gillis.

[Connor]

Okay, come on.

[Pat McAfee]

My wife's sleeping. I'm not answering that.

[Connor]

Right?

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. Then I get texted immediately, cowardice. Okay? Coward immediately. Because I don't answer the call. Hadn't heard from during the Sidney Crosby comeback era, this entire thing. Then I get Texts from other Johns. Haha bum Gritty's dumb ass face getting sent to me. Different AIs of gritty doing stuff.

[Connor]

Oh come on.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, that's low. Gritty doing stuff. Not just the Penguins by the way. Pittsburgh heroes can't have it. I don't even want to tell you what they're doing Mr. Rogers in some of these photos.

[Tone]

Seriously.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, it's a Pennsylvania thing. These people know us. Hey, they know stuff about us.

[Tone]

Gardell, don't you leave him.

[Pat McAfee]

There was no Billy Gardell. Slander and quite surprisingly, no Brett Michaels.

[Connor]

Really.

[Pat McAfee]

Which I will say that's Brad Michaels, universally love. Yeah, you're right. That is, that is all it is. But it got loud. And then the Philadelphia Flyers let me know that they've been listening. Yep. Yeah, they quote tweet of me saying Sidney Crosby and seven from days ago before Sid started cooking and coming back and the boys started going crazy D and out. They even take our shit in there. And that was a good job putting the jersey on. Classic chat GPT operation. It does appear right there. So I got massive respect for the play and now Governor Shapiro is gonna expect me to wear a suit.

[Connor]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh yeah. Gotta get one of those, right? Okay. Gotta get one of those. Certainly once I do, I will wear it and I'll do the entire. I'll even do a gubernatorial address.

[Connor]

Okay.

[Pat McAfee]

Yes, I will do one of those in the entire. Maybe enter the race. But I would like to say as a person that was saying the Flyers are assigned and as somebody who has always gotten the opportunity to go into a microphone and celebrate the Flyers being asked and the Pens being great, I would like saying in this moment of Hassan some humble pie and in this moment of getting a chance to get eyes on your guys team. Last Monday when we were there, you got some dogs on this team. Yeah, they're cold blooded. They're big, they're strong, they're fast. This 74 character, he doesn't get talked about. I never heard this guy. I didn't know this guy existed. 74K. Tippit's his name. Almost scored overtime. Almost did a lot of things. I guess he was the number one overall pick way back in the day. Was with the Florida Panthers. Gets traded up to the Flyers. Obviously the Panthers have success. Okay. After he leaves, he sees all that. This dude's 27 years old, he's the fastest guy on the island. I've never seen somebody be as fast as this guy is. And he's orange. He looks like who's old Buddy in the back of Santa Claus. Not Santa Claus. A Christmas Story. The back hall. Chris.

[Connor]

Scotty Farkas.

[Pat McAfee]

Scotty Farkus. This guy, Scotty Farkus. He is Scotty Farkas. But he's faster than everybody. He's unbelievable. They got a 19 year old kid that was just playing college hockey a month and a half ago. Hell yeah. He almost scored in overtime last night. Then they got Sandheim. This guy, he looked me in the eyes. I feel like I was looking in the eyes of a killer.

[Pete Thamel]

Sure.

[Pat McAfee]

Goalie upside down on his head last night. Outrageous. And then the coach talk it. He's a Pittsburgh Penguin hero.

[Pete Thamel]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, so I. I don't know how now. I don't think we should just be hucking sticks into a crowd of people.

[Connor]

I think that's fair.

[Pat McAfee]

But the Flyers haven't had a lot of success and that's Phil and I would assume the Flyers fan that almost got decapitated. I bet you that thing was snapped in half. Multiple people taking pieces at home. I assume that is going to be a celebratory piece. They just knock out the Penguins, maybe break up the longest tenured trio in North American sport history from the other side of the state. And they continue on their journey to Lord Stanley Cup. So I would just like to give a shout out to the Philadelphia Flyers for being a good team, being a gritty team too. Oh, yeah, Face washing, sure. There's a lot of. There's a lot of shenanigans which there should be coming out of Philly, head coach of the Flyers, Rick Talkett will be joining us in about 34 minutes. Okay. Is he running our social media?

[Tone]

He might be.

[Pat McAfee]

Hey, you got your Twitter fingers on that thing, right? Is this, is this from your back pocket? Just so I know. And also, hey, you know everything about the Pence, okay? Coach, these boys play. You know everything. Do you think that potentially helped? And is that cheating? Should you be allowed to do that? Fair question. These are all the things I have to ask. But also NHL playoffs right now, five series are left after the Flyers punched their ticket last night. The other two series that are over were sweeps. Everything that's happening from here on out, very, very important games, both in the NHL and the NB Tonight there'll be five games. All of them have go on implications or get your ass home. Implications. The NHL, any game that's happening, go on or get your ass home. Implications. This is when playoff sports are at its absolute finest. Or worst. If your team gets booted and then you get called a Card for not answering your phone immediately upon somebody wanting to celebrate in your face. This is what sports are for. The NFL is always cooking. They have things happening. Major League Baseball is doing its thing. And don't look now. Major League Volleyball taking over. Hell yeah. We got delivered a gift package today by the indie Ignite. They're in the Major League Volleyball League. It's over here. In Fishers number one league.

[Ty Schmidt]

No big deal.

[Pat McAfee]

They got a mascot named Pepper. Okay. Because in volleyball you have Pepper, I think baseball, you guys, Pepper as well. Back and forth, I guess. We got the number one team in the league. They got eight teams. Going to have 11 teams each. The salaries range from 65,000 to like 125,000. 16, 15, 16 women on each roster.

[Connor]

It's like not bad.

[Ty Schmidt]

Pretty legit.

[Pat McAfee]

And then we look at what's going on with Nebraska. I think the. The attendance at this is real.

[Tone]

Oh, yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

So I think they're. I appreciate them coming through here and giving us a gift package, but also. Yeah, there it is. Hey, congratulations.

[Ty Schmidt]

Keep it going.

[Connor]

Going to the off.

[Pat McAfee]

That's Pepper right there with the orange hair. That's the mascot. Yeah. Everybody else on there so good.

[Connor]

Bombsets, spike it.

[Pat McAfee]

Sports are the great sports. The great. Yeah, that's right. Bombset, spike it.

[Connor]

That's the way we like it.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Certainly the toxic tables here at Boston. Connor at Ty Schmidt. Boston, obviously in the middle of it all. How do you feel, Powell, how do you feel about the playoffs? And also whenever you're looking at games or parlays to potentially hit. What do we need to be seeing at this point? Because Philly in Pens little cagey affair last night. Oh, yeah, very cagey. You know, let's not make too many mistakes. Let's not go ahead and lose just one. It's a big one. Felt a little bit tighter for the Pens earlier than it had the previous two games. Previous two games. When the pen started mounting a comeback. Felt a little freer through the entirety last night. I felt like it was kind of tense. All these have playoff implication, go home or go out type stuff. What would you be looking at? Con man. And as a gambler and a fan at the same time, what are your worries as you go ahead?

[Ty Schmidt]

I mean, with the NHL, I feel like, especially because all these series are 3, 2. Your best bet is damn near, hey, overtime. You know, two of the three last night between the Golden Knights and the Mammoth. They went to double overtime, obviously. Philly versus Pittsburgh, they go to overtime. The Canadiens versus the Lightning. They have their fourth straight 3, 2 game. They probably could have went to overtime. Three of the first five have gone to overtime. So overtime in the playoffs, especially in these series that are so close, everyone's battling so much. That's probably the best bet in hockey because you could say we'll just take the home team. What are we talking about here? That, that kind of seems like the simple bet. No, it's not. Not. Not in hockey. Basically every single series has had a victory on the road already. And then with the NBA, it's, it's damn near the complete opposite. For, for the NBA, you think every other night do you take the heavy favorite or do you take the underdog? Last night every single underdog covers only one underdog actually wins outright with the Lakers losing, which is pretty nuts. But it is very difficult to navigate these gambling waters.

[Pat McAfee]

The NBA has six series is left. Obviously last night the underdogs all covered. There are some wild spreads. Yesterday we, we had been chatting about how crazy the spreads were for the playoffs. Let's go to 1/2 of the hammer done. Cowboys Aptone, you said yesterday that feels like the lines were set up for how the regular season was for these teams as opposed to what the postseason had been. What did you see last night? Congrats to the underdogs. We love when the dogs are barking out there, brother.

[Tone]

Yeah, we were talking about it yesterday. Just like the Cavs in Toronto before last night was 2:2 and then obviously the Pistons were down 3 to 1 going into that game and they were double digit favorites. Cavs were almost double digit favorites. I think it closed at nine and a half. So it just felt like it was crazy. And Toronto was leading that entire game. Cleveland was. Was lucky to get the win in that one. The Stones was. Was an absolute battle in that one between Cade and Paulo Bonairo.

[Pat McAfee]

The Stones are the Detroit Pistons. Nobody other than Evan Fox and maybe five of his friends know that. The Pistons are called this. Fans call them that. I just learned that this week. Yeah, so.

[Mark Schlabach]

But.

[Pat McAfee]

But when we' show where people are listening, I think we should explain to them that the Stones are not the Rolling Ones, which are incredible band. The Stones are what? I guess we don't know if this is true. So we don't want to speak for Detroit people. I guess this is what the Detroit people call the Pistons, you know, because you can see Stin right there at the end.

[Connor]

Stones.

[Pat McAfee]

So then you get the stone.

[Ty Schmidt]

Stone they don't know how to spell

[Pat McAfee]

up there, which is a little bit harder. I think Than Stins. Let's go. You know, so he probably dropped into stones if I had to guess. So we're just letting you know the stones last night were a part of history. And two young bucks getting added in a big way. Tone.

[Tone]

Yeah, that was awesome, them going back and forth last night. Last night, the first time that's happened since Shaq and I. That was unbelievable. But tonight, tonight feels a little bit different. Tonight's one where it feels like the favorites just might go ahead and get things done. And then Connor was talking about the NHL. It's so up and down. I started looking at maybe over unders. The over under is normally five and a half in a hockey game. The two games tonight, four of the five games in each series has gone to the over. I'm not saying it will tonight, just

[Pat McAfee]

something to look at. Okay. So we will certainly keep an eye on that. I. I think what's so great right now is sports are clearly in a huge uptick. Okay. Ratings are coming out for everything. Sports are up for everything. NBA, most watched NBA playoffs in 33 years.

[Connor]

It's crazy.

[Pat McAfee]

Congratulations.

[Ty Schmidt]

Let's go.

[Pat McAfee]

Adam Silver obviously negotiated a deal with so many different platforms. Okay. Some people are calling it maybe the greatest deal that has ever been done because the amount of money that was obviously had and then what the ratings were saying versus maybe some other leagues and what had been happening in history. Adam Silver obviously able to get the deal done because he is maybe not from here. We've seen him. He might be an alien. He is seemingly very, very relatable to the players. Very good at business. Very forecast type leader in this entire thing. He gets his deal done. There was a lot of people chirping about people overpaying, overpaying, overpaying. Everybody was saying that about the deal. Most watched playoffs in 33 years. Congratulations to Adam Silver saying, hey, we got it. Congratulations to the NBA. Figuring it out. All the teams, all the players. I know the 65 game rule was certainly a big conversation piece around it all. I know the tanking during a regular season was a massive issue. We had like a 24 point spread a couple different times throughout the end of the season. Can't have that in any professional league, obviously. And when teams are trying to lose, which they. They're trying to take care of now, people thought maybe the NBA was dead and gone, dead and gone. But instead they got the biggest deal in history so good that people say it was a bad deal. And then now they're putting up the biggest numbers. They've ever put up. Good for the NBA, good for sports. And shout out to everybody over there for getting that done.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah. And all the stars are showing up. Like that's the biggest thing. I mean we just saw last night Kate and you know, Ban Caro, they both go for 45. But even LeBron, him carrying the Lakers on his own without Luka. And Reeves, Reeves played last night, but still getting that 31 lead. SGA with a sweep. Wemby, like the biggest names are also showing up. Very surprising too with the whole streaming conversation. Like people were pissed going into these playing games. Playoffs. Like how the hell are we supposed to watch all these games and you know, pay for all these streaming services? Like at the end of the day people are. And they're still going to watch it. And mostly because most people have them to begin with. The sports being on a different streaming platform every single night gives them something to bitch about. And people love to bitch.

[Pat McAfee]

Absolutely.

[Ty Schmidt]

But us included. Absolutely.

[Pat McAfee]

Why not? We are a human.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah. Yeah. And it's fun most of the time, especially when your team's losing. But it, it has been an incredible playoffs for both sides, which I think

[Pat McAfee]

we all kind of. We. And I'm. We're not saying we created this theory or thought, but we were projecting that the playoffs are always going to be good for the NBA. Yeah. Because the playoffs is where it's a whole second season and that is literally where the stars are born. If you're a big time, big name player, we don't know about you. If you're only playing in the regular season, you have to play in the playoffs because everything's prime time. That's when everybody starts watching. I know it used to be like NBA starts on Christmas, which it certainly did for like hoop fans, I think, and people that liked hoops. The NBA doesn't start until playoffs for a lot of people that aren't hoop fans. And the numbers that are only getting bigger is good for all parties. This whole lowest three get the 3

[Ty Schmidt]

to 4% dumbest thing ever.

[Pat McAfee]

Just think about how much thought went into that. We, we respect Adam Silver a lot and we like the people that Adam Silver brings in to do his think processes. But like to get to this point, the amount of shit that had to. I mean, so many dry erase boards just getting burned through. I mean just so much, so many math equations I couldn't even imagine. Hopefully this will help, you know, hopefully this will only help the product that is seemingly doing better than it's ever done. And then for the NHL Their numbers are up and to the right as well. New deal for them. Bettman's gotta be incredibly excited about his league and 2 million viewers for the Flyers and Pen the other night. Plus 190% year over year over the game five. Okay. From a previous.

[Ty Schmidt]

So Ms. Pittsburgh. Certainly are gonna miss them big time in the playoffs.

[Connor]

And we're still gonna be locked in.

[Tone]

Yes.

[Connor]

I mean, eyes on Puck sports.

[Pat McAfee]

Why would we.

[Tone]

Yeah, of course.

[Pat McAfee]

Sports are the greatest. What we're saying is sports are the greatest. Okay. And we're incredibly thankful and we appreciate the fact that it seems like only more and more people are getting into sports. It's a good time. Go ahead and release for a while. Go ahead and. Go ahead and put your entire happiness on somebody else's shoulders. And then when they let you down, go ahead and feel that misery.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah. Take a week.

[Pat McAfee]

And then guess what? You got another one coming.

[Connor]

That's right.

[Pat McAfee]

Hey, we got to get back up for the next one now. We got to put our hope onto somebody. Then they're going to let us down. Then guess what's coming. Another one. Let's do it again. Then they're going to do good. Now we're riding the wave. Okay. That is what sports can do for you. We're appreciative of everybody buying in. Now, sports can also divide.

[Connor]

Yeah, yeah, for sure.

[Pat McAfee]

Every once in a while, it can kind of divide parties into two, especially when a competing league comes through and seemingly has a bottomless pit of cash. Now, over the last 24 hours, that bottomless pit of cash, we have learned, is reportedly around $5 billion to create a golf league that could potentially rival the PGA Tour, or at least provide an alternative to the PGA Tour while poaching a lot of massive names with massive paychecks to kind of launch their league and start their content company, which is what I think Liv was trying to be. It was golf, but louder. And it felt like it exposed a lot of things that had been happening in the PGA or in the professional golf world that maybe us as noobs or casuals didn't fully know. I had no idea that players were losing money every single week when they were playing in these tournaments because they don't get any guaranteed money. I had no idea that there was no real contract. I had no idea about a lot of the things. Paying for your own this, paying for your own that. You don't really have this. This is what you got. You're not guaranteed any money. There's no. It's like, we Learned a lot about the PGA quickly, whenever this LIV got launched. We also learned a lot about how pissed off the golf purists were going to be about the best golfers not golfing in the same place. Well, it turns out we don't got to worry about that. We don't. LIV is dead, officially. They lost the power for seven hours down there in Mexico a couple weeks ago, less than 24 hours after an announcement was made, basically that, hey, this is probably gonna be done soon. Then they lose power. I thought that was how they were going out. I thought it was like one of the most legendary moments in the history of something. How you going out? We're gonna get everybody there. We're gonna start a tournament. Then we're actually just gonna pull the plug on it. Like, actually just pull the plug. That thing was like, seven hours. They get back out there, they start golfing. I was surprised. I'm like, holy hell, we're still doing it. Then their statements come out, we're still doing it. We're still doing it. Now it's beneficial that there will be no more pif, Saudi Arabia, PIF funding after this season. They've assembled a new board that's got ideas, and they certainly have been in this type of situation before, and they're going to continue to try. But I think a lot of us wanted to give me. Not a super golf purist guy can score anywhere From, I'd say, 82 to 102 on any given day. Good range, like golf will watch. Wanted live to have success because I wanted athletes to have more money. I also like the fact that it seemed like it was helping the PGA maybe evolve how it's treating their particular athletes. But it wasn't until I started watching that I think I got bummed out about them not competing against each other, because then, you know, the. The. The leaderboard. Yeah. Just missing names for a while. Yeah.

[Connor]

Not great.

[Pat McAfee]

I realized that mattered big time. And then I try to watch live. Where is it?

[Ty Schmidt]

I don't know.

[Pat McAfee]

CW sometimes spending $5 billion, we can't even find what this thing is. Is there any ideas, any strategy in this entire thing? And then you watch it, you find it, and it's like, DJ Khaled, who I love, he's literally screaming, everybody put your hand Rombo, that knee knocker, to win a tournament. I just don't know. Like, Teddy Payne. I'll tell you what, I don't think I've ever been in a bad mood when Teddy Payne is playing ever. Any of his music Is playing. Any of his streams are playing. I'm in a good mood. I don't need to hear him on the 18th tee box.

[Connor]

No.

[Pat McAfee]

When somebody's trying to win a tournament and then I look at this person, they're wearing shorts. Looks like it is like us out there.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

We just ran a thing. It's like golf has been figured out on how you run, how you air it, I think. And I appreciate you guys trying to make it a party. You're allowed to have par threes down in Australia where everybody goes crazy. Bert Kreischer's there. They got a waistband. You're allowed to do things differently. But I think the way they went about it was poor. I think the way they planned exposure for it was terrible. I don't think anybody really knew about it. And I think the tournament's not mattering. It was a big part of golf. So, like, whenever you turn it on and it looks like you're just watching, like, I don't. I'd rather watch Bob does sports or does Go for it. I'd rather watch DeChambeau on YouTube as opposed to that. Because that's like good content. Like, and then I don't have to watch the people that I don't know playing in between. I can watch, like a 20 minute thing with the Good. Good.

[Pete Thamel]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Like, I can for. I can watch all those. I'd rather watch those than having to watch live. The product experience itself was bad. And if you have a bad product, it's not gonna work, let alone all the other stuff. The broadcast television product was no good. Joining us now, ladies and gentlemen, is a man who has a lot more information on it, and I'm excited to actually hear his thoughts on it from the very beginning till now. Yeah. This guy's become our golf authority, ladies and gentlemen, from espn. Go Dogs. Mark's Law,

[Mark Schlabach]

guys.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, so I gave my views of Liv from the very beginning. I loved that there was a massive amount of money going to athletes. A lot of people are like, where the money's coming from is not good. It's like, well, that money's in a lot of things. I think we're much more educated on that now versus whenever this whole thing started. But it did get very loud in that entire department. I think they had a chance to maybe make things better, feel like they executed poorly. And inevitably, for the golf purists, they also kept the best golfers away from each other. Is there anything that I missed in this entire thing and that I should be thinking about? Whenever I look back on the live experiment that was.

[Mark Schlabach]

First of all, let me commend you on the transition from record ratings to a league with no ratings.

[Pat McAfee]

Thank you. Cheers to you, Schlabaugh. Thank you, bro. Go Dogs. Yeah.

[Mark Schlabach]

Now, I spent much of my morning walk pondering how to refer to it because you got upset when I called it the Saudi League. And obviously I can't call it that anymore. So now I think we'll just call it the Barely Living Tour.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay. All right.

[Mark Schlabach]

No, I mean, you hit it. Look, a bunch of guys got. A bunch of rich guys got richer. Their agents got richer. They disrupted the game. I think their legacy will be that they made the PGA Tour evolve to bigger purses, you know, signature events with. With more elite fields. But, you know, they tried. Somebody said this morning they tried to reinvent a 200-year-old sport with a checkbook. And, you know, the way they went about it, I think Greg Norman was the wrong guy. I think he was too arrogant in how he did it. The fact that a bunch of its players sued the PGA Tour didn't help. And the fact, you know, frankly, I think those guys are still. The guys that are still there are starting to figure out you can't prepare for the Masters in the US Open by playing in a city park in New Orleans and a municipal course in Bolingbroke, Illinois.

[Pat McAfee]

Well, the New Orleans one actually got canceled. So if you can please have a little bit more respect for that one. And we love the city of New Orleans, and Governor Jeff Landry does great work there, welcoming in the PGA who had a fantastic weekend last weekend. We regret to inform you that the live one will not exist. Okay, so you say they tried to change a 200 year old game with a checkbook. The devastation to splitting the players away from each other, to your point about not playing, I think was on display when, what, the Champions Tour had a better performance than LIV did at Augusta. Right. And we very rarely saw any of the LIV guys go. So it was, like, clear that they got paid massive amount of money. And it's like you're not working as hard or you don't have to be as good. So it affected the best, some of the best in the world's game. Now, we talked to Brian Rolap, new PGA CEO, formerly of the NFL, and we said, hey, what's the transition process back into the pga? And this is what he had to say.

[Ty Schmidt]

Mark talked about some of the rumors with the other tours and now with

[Pat McAfee]

Big Game Brooks coming back to PGA Tour.

[Ty Schmidt]

We saw some of the stipulations, I

[AJ Hawk]

guess, with his deal.

[Ty Schmidt]

Is there, like, a defined path for

[AJ Hawk]

players to come back to the PGA

[Ty Schmidt]

Tour, and is it kind of, I guess, situational?

[AJ Hawk]

Situations are situational.

[Ty Schmidt]

With a player by player situation, how is it?

[Pete Thamel]

Yeah, I think we're thinking about it. Listen, we're reading all the same headlines you're reading. We don't know what's going on over there. We don't know.

[Pat McAfee]

We know those guys are under contract.

[Pete Thamel]

We'll respect that.

[Pat McAfee]

Brooks came back onto the Tour because he made a phone call and said, look, I'm out of my contract. I'm ready to come back. So we're thinking about it. You know, we're. We'll react when we have an opportunity to react, but right now we're focused

[Pete Thamel]

on the making the PGA Tour better. But listen, I've said it publicly, and I'll say it again.

[Pat McAfee]

I'm interested in whatever makes the PGA Tour better. That's what. That's what my job is.

[Pete Thamel]

That's what I'm interested in doing, and

[Pat McAfee]

that has no limit.

[Pete Thamel]

So that's how I'll focus on it.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, Mark. So obviously, situations are situational, and he's thinking about thinking about it. And Brooks calls and he says, you're good. Patrick Reed, allegedly a year. I remember there was some real heat, though, like potential lifetime ban roll up was not there at the time. Obviously, that was the person that was before him, that he is now filling in the role of. How do you see it kind of all unraveling? Will it be situations or situational? Like, hey, Rambo. Yeah, we'd certainly love to have you come back because you're so good at golf. Like, how do you kind of view it, Mark?

[Mark Schlabach]

Yeah, I think the PGA Tour obviously has all the leverage right now. I think there's still some hard feelings on that side. You know, I had people in the last 24 hours tell me, screw those guys. I don't care who they are. I think Brian Rolapp coming from the NFL is all about the bottom line. If Bryson Dechambeau and John Rom can. Can make his product better for television contracts and those sort of things, he'll figure out a way to get it done. But I think it's going to hurt. I think it's going to sting. I think there are some guys who won't want to come back to the PGA Tour. I think there are some guys like Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter. Some of the older guys will just go back to the DP World Tour. Some of their younger players who never played on the PGA Tour gonna have to go to the Korn Ferry Tour to try to get a PGA card. But there's gonna be some guys walking back with their tails between their legs because, I mean, this is the equivalent of Lane Kiffin showing up in Oxford, Mississippi saying, I'm sorry, I was wrong, please take me back. It's like the 19th Eagles reunion. Pat, when hell freezes over, we'll come back. It's pretty damn cold when you don't have the Saudis money.

[Pat McAfee]

Thank you, Mark.

[Connor]

Good line.

[Pat McAfee]

Thank you for all of it. The football metaphor, you know, for the doofuses like us that can maybe feel what is happening over there. And then also, you know, it's cold world out there, you know, and just one last. Hey, remember what you did from Schloss?

[Mark Schlabach]

I had, I had, I had a four hour walk, four mile walk after I got your text. So I thought about some things. This is the best thing about a four mile. Best thing about a four mile walk. Pat, it's only six Widespread Panic songs.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, that's not bad. Is that every morning?

[Mark Schlabach]

Do you do that every morning? Every morning.

[Pat McAfee]

So you're listening to Widespread Panic going, the Saudis ruined golf.

[Mark Schlabach]

Saudi's ruined golf.

[Pat McAfee]

It's like, what's its own barrel?

[Mark Schlabach]

Barrel over the waterfall. Yeah, that's good.

[Pat McAfee]

All right. Can we ask some questions about golf that's happening now as opposed to just a.

[Mark Schlabach]

I do got to tell you, I got to play the patch in Augusta. I was glad to hear you made it to Augusta national. But I played the patch. The new Muni that Tiger redesigned. And I played with this kid from Ireland and it was first trip to the Masters. And I said, what was the highlight? He said, I saw Pat McAfee on the 14th hole or something. I was like, oh my God, even over there I was like, this is insane. But I did learn something about the Iris. This kid had never played golf before. 10 yards, hits it again. 10 yards, hits it again. Goes on and on for like three hours. The Irish never pick up. It was miserable. But he got in his eyelight with seeing you. But I did get to play the big course last year. I finally won. I was 0 for 9 in the media lottery. And I got to win. And I'll.

[Pat McAfee]

Tell me about the media lottery. Tell me about the media lottery.

[Mark Schlabach]

You enter a lottery, you get to play it once. Once you. Once you win, you can't play again for seven years. So I finally win. Last year they picked like 18, 15, 18 people to Augusta National. I'm the only dude that ever rolled down Magnolia Lane with a Weber grill on the back of his truck playing Widespread Panics. Ain't life grand? Getting ready to play Augusta National.

[Pat McAfee]

I know you did.

[Mark Schlabach]

It was. It was amazing. And life was grand. But I played terrible. I'm not going to tell you my score. No, but we had a. We had a caddy in our group who was Peyton Manning's favorite caddy, your guy. And he said the last time he had been out there, he hit it in the ball, hit it in the race creek three times on number 12. And he said. Finally the caddy turned around and said, damn, man, it ain't the freaking Mississippi. Hit it on the damn green.

[Pat McAfee]

I think I've golf with that guy actually in that particular golf course before. He's good at Reading greens.

[Mark Schlabach]

That guy greens? Yeah. Yes.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, he is. That guy's great at Reading greens. I thought you were gonna say that. They told you that although it's only seven years that you can't win again with the lottery. You got a lifetime ban for the fucking grill in the whole thing. But no, instead they said that slob off football.

[Mark Schlabach]

There was a cover.

[Pat McAfee]

They said that schlab off football. That's smart. Okay, let's talk a little bit more about golf. Huge news, especially in this Thunderdome. Go ahead, Connor.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah. Schlabach the goat is back. Michael Block, aka Block, aka the guy that probably would be the number one golfer in the world if he could drive it 20 yards further, will be playing in the PGA Championship. What do we think? Does he have a chance here to take home a major title? It feels like now that he has one under his belt, that this could be the year that Blocky gets it done. Yeah, this is one of the goats of the greens. He damn near never misses. I don't know if we have it, but he actually had a message to some people that maybe don't believe in him. I don't know if Ty even qualifies that anymore.

[Pat McAfee]

Did your career. I mean, the support's insane.

[AJ Hawk]

Like, ridiculous.

[Pat McAfee]

And I mean, I can't thank everyone else out there enough for the support and for all you haters, whatever behaviors. He's talking to Utah goat frick. But anyways, is Blocky gonna win this thing? Yeah. And how much more Block? I like Blocky. I met Blocky. Blocky was a good man to me. Ty hates that. He went on a podcast and said if I hit like roar, I'd be the Best golfer in the world or whatever. He was just. He was getting gassed up. He was just having a time.

[Ty Schmidt]

He was back.

[Connor]

You know, I'm very interest hear Mark's take on blocky. Very interesting.

[Mark Schlabach]

Yeah, he flew a little close to the sun that first time. He little. Got a little too arrogant, too little big for his britches. But look, it was great. You know, I think Koepka went up there in Rochester when he played, and he had the hole in one. But, yeah, it. It doesn't make PGA Tour players happy when a. When a pro shows up and. And kind of steals the spotlight. But good for him.

[Pat McAfee]

He does steal the spot.

[Mark Schlabach]

He's got what I was at Bannon Dunes last week, and I was about 30 shots worse than him, I'll tell you that.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, so you. You think he's on top? You got a chance to see him a little bit. He's playing good right now. You're thinking he's playing pretty good?

[Mark Schlabach]

Yeah, he's playing well. He won't contend. He'll be lucky to make the cut.

[Ty Schmidt]

You don't know that.

[Pat McAfee]

All right.

[Mark Schlabach]

Am I a hater?

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. Yeah. He's talking to you, Mark. And by the way, Ty knew what you were going to say. Ty knew that. He was so excited. I want to let you know, Mark, you, within the first 15 seconds of you being talking on this show, won over the entire Thunderdome. I forget the exact conversation it was, but you murdered 15 people within the first, like, 20 seconds. And everybody in Thunderdome's like, yes.

[Ty Schmidt]

Probably fastest ever.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, it's fastest. Yes. We've ever got. So you. You are in high regard, sir. I. I just would like.

[Mark Schlabach]

I appreciate it. Yeah. I'm just not very. I'm not a subtle guy. I mean, get to the point.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. But the way you get to the point is also part of China. You got that accent, the Go dog. Yeah. Very Go dogs at all times, it feels like. So life is good. Go ahead, Tone.

[Tone]

Yeah, Mark, I was. I was looking at it. I was looking at the Cadillac Championship this weekend. It's an elevated event, and I was looking at this odds. Rory's not there. Feels like Rory has not played much golf this year. I think it's five times, maybe in three or four months. I was. I'm confused. I thought they had to play elevated events, or is Rory going to pick up his schedule through the summer? I just didn't know how that worked because I saw there was a lot of talk about it online, how they have. People haven't Seen Rory a ton besides the players and Masters this year.

[Mark Schlabach]

Yeah, I mean, he was part of that group that came up with the signature events to get all the good guys in the fields more often. And, you know, and then he ended up skipping the one after he blew the late lead at Augusta national and got fined for it. But they've kind of done away with it. You know, I don't know. It's. I think it's the new Rory.

[Pat McAfee]

Maybe.

[Mark Schlabach]

We saw it a little bit last year after he won his first green jacket. He took some time off. Probably celebrated a little too much, he'll tell you, but, you know, didn't win again. But he's playing well. Yeah, he's been playing a little bit more around the world. Maybe if Liv stays together, Pat, he'll find a home over there.

[Pat McAfee]

Well, that's the thing I have yet to reference is the global impact that they had on golf.

[Mark Schlabach]

Look, I don't. I don't think it's dead yet because I think there are enough rich guys, really rich guys that have a lot of money, love golf, but it's not going to be anything like. Like its current form.

[Pat McAfee]

But I think if they love golf, they won't want to do that. Right? In that kind of the love golf

[Mark Schlabach]

people's thing, they love money more than golf. If they can figure out how to make money off the golf, then it's a perfect world.

[Pat McAfee]

I think there are some answers there in the content driven world. I don't think you should ever be trying to market yourselves as a PGA competitor going forward, though. I think that is a. I guess, like they got the. What's that? The grass league? Yeah, they're playing like at night or something like that with some part three.

[Connor]

Part three?

[Pat McAfee]

Part three. I don't want to say the YouTube content, golf people, but they're doing a lot of content as well. If you viewed live as like. Like when Liv was about to. Was there a time where they were about to be together? PJ and Liv, it felt like there was a time where they were meeting a little bit more.

[Mark Schlabach]

Strategic Alliance Framework Agreement June 2023. June 6, 20. 20. 23. Yeah, 2023. They signed an agreement to form an alliance with the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour and could never come to an agreement. And I think it was probably because the Saudis thought Liv golf was worth a lot more. They couldn't get into their head that nobody cared about the Range Goats or Ripper dc.

[Ty Schmidt]

Whoa.

[Pat McAfee]

I got a. I gotta raise those hats. I gotta Raise those hats right here, Mark. Yeah. You're the guy, dude. Mark Baba gifted it to us. Yeah. Shout out to Aces, too. Yeah. Bubba is a dog. I got a driver head here. What happens to the Range Goats? They're done.

[Connor]

I'm worried about it.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[Ty Schmidt]

Starting their own league.

[Pat McAfee]

That's right. Bubba's got enough money from his previous golf. He's got a candy store.

[Connor]

Yep.

[Pat McAfee]

He's got, like, 10 different things.

[Connor]

Owns the Blue Wahoos

[Mark Schlabach]

and a golf course outside of Athens called the Rose.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, really? He's competing with the Masters. I like it. Bubba's not giving up at all. I. I appreciate he's competing with Augusta. I. I did not play down there, but I did have the time. My life, the golf world is special. That's why I think whenever you mention that the guys that have a bunch of the money, I think they would want to work with the pga. I don't think any many people that love golf are going to want to go against PGA again. Maybe you can find some of those heels out there. But if they turned live into, like, PGA guys doing scrambles or, like, two on two or, like, gimmick golf, like, if you took the PGA guys in turn live into what gimmick golf could be. So, like, basically their YouTube portion of it. I think that would have been good if we could have saw four PGA guys battle against each other in a scramble, and it, like, what would they shoot? How would that whole thing go if you hosted it? Right? Like, I thought they were gonna do that. I thought live was gonna become, like, gimmick golf, and I guess that's not the case. Sounds like Saudi Arabia wanted them to be the Masters. Yeah, man. It was supposed to be louder, though. But DJ Khaled was always showing up with big putts because he's such a good time. It was hard for me to take it serious, Mark. I tried. I tried my best. It was ass. Yeah.

[Mark Schlabach]

I mean, it's the sad part is you don't get to see Sergio Garcia play six more times.

[Ty Schmidt]

I wish. Boom, boom, couples.

[Pat McAfee]

All right, let's. Sergio. Sergio. See, I think the big thing, Serge, whenever you did what you did, the Masters, did a thing. Did you think you were gonna win? So I think that's the thing. Like, at some point, there has to be a look in the mirror, and it's like, hey, probably not gonna win today. So if I miss it a shot, let's just roll with it. You know, like, when he was younger, bashing a thing, maybe you thought you were gonna Win this stage of life. I don't think anybody's thinking Sergio Garcia is one of the Masters, Right? So everybody just kind of looks at

[Tone]

you and goes, but those Spaniard golfers run hot.

[Mark Schlabach]

Thank.

[Pat McAfee]

He's.

[Mark Schlabach]

I think he's made the cut there twice since he won. When he won, like 20 years ago. It was a long time ago.

[Pat McAfee]

All right, let's throw.

[Mark Schlabach]

I haven't thrown a golf club in, like, 25 years. I almost took a guy's head off one time, and that was the last time I threw one.

[Pat McAfee]

What was it?

[Mark Schlabach]

Helicopter three wood off the fairway.

[Pat McAfee]

Did you duff it?

[Mark Schlabach]

Wasn't bad. It's my dad. It was my buddy's dad, too. That would have been bad.

[Pat McAfee]

Did you duff it or what happened? Top it?

[Mark Schlabach]

Oh, I'm sure I hit a form burner down the middle about 30 yards

[Rick Tocchet]

like I usually did.

[Pat McAfee]

And then you turn directly to your side.

[Mark Schlabach]

Landed on the top of his golf cart.

[Pat McAfee]

So close.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

So close. I mean, that's pretty good. Yeah. Did you go? Yeah. Did you?

[Mark Schlabach]

Let's put it this way. The club went further than my damn ball. All right. Path.

[Pat McAfee]

Hey, that's because you're. Hey, go dogs. Go dogs out there. Let's talk about good golf, shall we? Maybe the greatest of all time when it's all said and done. Go ahead, Ty.

[Connor]

Mark. Obviously, the elevated events are nice, and we know Scotty a lot of times will go out there and, you know, maybe not have his A plus stuff, but end up, you know, grabbing a top five or a top 10. But what do you think of his form going into the pga? And then also just a little sidebar. Have you been doing any digging on the Brendan Sorsby situation?

[Mark Schlabach]

Oh, no. On Swordsby. Pete Thammel's handling that and doing a fantastic job on it, as he always does. Yeah, Scotty, look, the iron play hadn't been great, and we've talked about it ad nauseam, but, you know, he has B plus game at Augusta and finishes second, so he can still put it together. I don't think he's had a finish outside the top 25 and like two years. So, you know, his bad golf is a lot of guys best golf. So I think you'll be. I think you'll be in contention. I think he's going to win the career Grand Islam at the US Open. I called that.

[Tone]

Hell, yeah.

[Mark Schlabach]

At the beginning of the year, I think he'll win at Shinnecock in June.

[Pat McAfee]

Tell me about the Fitz boys down in New Orleans. Little brother punching the ticket and the older brother having what, the season of his life right now? Yeah.

[Mark Schlabach]

Matt had really struggled about 18 months ago and. And, you know, was one of the best iron players in the world when he won the US Open at Brookline up in Boston, but had struggled for a while and found it again. And, you know, I mean, my God, to win with your little brother and secure his PGA Tour card and a spot and all the signature events the rest of the year and the players next year and the PGA Championship next month. I mean, I don't think it gets any better than that. And I think he's expecting his first child here shortly, too.

[Pat McAfee]

Wow. What a run.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Had a baby, Fitz. A Hell, yeah. And that Northwestern.

[Mark Schlabach]

Northwestern hasn't won this much in about 30 years.

[Pat McAfee]

Amen, brother. Amen. Hey, what do you know about this Schlawbop? What is that? You know what it is.

[Ty Schmidt]

Come on now, Spider.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[Connor]

Oh, he knows.

[Pat McAfee]

Last time I went golfing, I got it.

[Mark Schlabach]

I got a 3D printed one Michael Collins gave me.

[Pat McAfee]

Comedy Caddy. ESPN Caddy.

[Mark Schlabach]

ESPN Caddy. Yeah, he sent me a whole set. Don't tell anybody. Somebody accidentally sent him a right handed set and forgot he was left handed.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, so that's not a bad place to be right there on sidecar of ESPN Caddy's golf cart. Good for you, Mark. Yeah, we see ESPN caddy everywhere.

[Ty Schmidt]

He's a beast.

[Pat McAfee]

Crushing everything, just like you. Thank you so much for joining us. And how many tournaments are left now in the golf season?

[Mark Schlabach]

17 on the PGA Tour season. We still got three majors, though. A lot of golf left.

[Pat McAfee]

Man, we can't wait to see you again. 24 weeks. We appreciate you taking time.

[Mark Schlabach]

See you. We'll see you in Philly, pg.

[Pat McAfee]

Yes, you will. That's what PGA Championship. Oh, I thought it was a home run derby. July. They do have that, too. Yeah, Philly's got everything.

[Ad]

They do.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[Tone]

And the UFC fight. Yeah, that was kind of the big.

[Pat McAfee]

And I gotta put that suit on.

[Connor]

Yeah, perfect.

[Mark Schlabach]

Perfect place to go when the PGA wants to clean up fan behavior. Patience.

[Tone]

A lot of mashed potatoes, huh?

[Pat McAfee]

You're the best. Ladies and gentlemen. Go dogs. Mark Schlabach.

[Tone]

It's funny, we talked about that earlier.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, Schlabach, you on?

[Mark Schlabach]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Hey, can we get a ranking on these SEC coaches swinging? Saban obviously plays all the time. Shot his age last week or two weeks ago. 73. Kirby Smart. Go dog. Awful. Okay. Huh? Huh?

[Ty Schmidt]

Oh, who's that?

[Pete Thamel]

NATO.

[Mark Schlabach]

That's not great.

[Connor]

Pete.

[Pat McAfee]

Golden Pete. Golden's got a good little baseball swing, don't he? Tommy Topper.

[Mark Schlabach]

Senator Tubbs.

[Connor]

Is.

[Tone]

Is Tommy still coaching?

[Connor]

No, no, no.

[Pat McAfee]

Who do you got? Kaylin, Deborah. Oh, not that one.

[Mark Schlabach]

Not oats. I'll go. Pete Golding's not bad. He gets through it pretty good. I mean, Tubervill smoothest.

[Pat McAfee]

Not Nick.

[Mark Schlabach]

I'll go with the goat. You got that little. He's got that little hitch at the top, though.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[Mark Schlabach]

I mean, Nick Saban should play. Well, he owns about four damn golf courses.

[Pat McAfee]

He owns everything, I think, brother. Including a resume that says he's a goat of everything, just like you. We do believe you're the man. Ladies and gentlemen, Mark Schlage. I mean, I didn't know he owns a bunch of golf.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, he owns golf courses.

[Pat McAfee]

He's the best.

[Tone]

Duh.

[Pat McAfee]

Guy owns everything. Guy owns everything. We're just moments away from talking to a guy who. Ladies and gentlemen, join us now. He's a man who is an 18 year vet in the NHL as a player. He was drafted by The Flyers in 1983, played for the Flyers for 11 years. This is his first season as the head coacho Flyers. Penn's taught him everything he needs. No. And then last night, he sent the pens to Cancun. Ladies and gentlemen, the head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers, Rick talking. Congrats, coach.

[Rick Tocchet]

Thanks, boys. Hey, Pat. I want to be your friend because I know you pay big bar bills, man.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[Rick Tocchet]

You're the man.

[Pat McAfee]

Hey, USA Hockey. Hell, yeah, I know.

[Rick Tocchet]

They beat. I was on the Canada staff. I mean, we. I had to. I had to watch that. That party where you paid the big, big bill. We lost. Yeah. We got the silver medal, so. Thanks, man.

[Pat McAfee]

Was that you guys?

[Mark Schlabach]

Yeah.

[Rick Tocchet]

Canada, buddy.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, was it? Oh, I didn't know. Take me back to that day because I don't like this day at all. I love that day. You're right. Oh, payback.

[Rick Tocchet]

A little payback. A little payback.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, a little bit. Obviously, we appreciate you joining us and everything that you've done for hockey. I would like to talk about your team here and very rarely will I ever pay the Flyers compliments. I think you understand that you're a Flyer and also know Pittsburgh very, very, very well. It's been one of those things where we have been successful and the Flyers have not. You know that. You understand that. Flyers fans understand that. But always been a good team and a town that cares about hockey. So it's a good thing for us to talk shit about because you people care and we definitely have better run than you, so it's been a good run for us. So then we run into this team. I'm expecting Crosby, Tanger, Geno, guys that you know very well, the rest of that team to kind of do what they do, especially against the Flyers. Then I'm there watching your team. Holy shit, you got dogs all over the place. These guys are big, strong, fast, mean. Obviously, grit is a part of the Philadelphia way, but can you tell me about your team and why did you know that you guys are going to beat the Pens in this series with how much knowledge you have of this Pittsburgh Penguins team?

[Rick Tocchet]

Well, first of all, you know, I feel about the. I've been there as a coach or player in Pittsburgh six years and won three cups there. So there's a. There's a. Pittsburgh Penguins are dear to my heart. But now I've been, you know, obviously on the other side being part of that rival. I knew you'd have to put the stake in them to, you know, to kill him type of thing because Sid doesn't go in the way. Tanger, who I thought was great the last three, four games, they don't go away, obviously, Geno. So we have a young team, you know, inexperienced, but a team that bought in right from the. From training camp. January is probably our worst month. And I think for us, Pat, the West coast trip, when we were, you know, I think we were five games, three games over.500, and we swept the west coast trip. The guys went out, they had a lot of dinners together, they bonded, you know.

[AJ Hawk]

You know.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, yeah.

[Rick Tocchet]

Bonding in sports. And after that road trip, we started to believe, hey, man, if we start stringing some games together, we can get back in this thing. You know, our big tagline of 3.8% chance of making the playoffs at one point. And that's a big thing we always talk about, you know, so 3.8% chance and all of a sudden now we're going to the second round. So got to give the young guys and our veterans too, that. That have bought in for our team.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, congratulations to you guys. And I saw the 3.8% chance. Marketing and I had not followed your guys this season as closely. So, Yeah, I was 100% sure we're going to beat your guys ass. These guys 3.8% chance to get in. These guys are living on a miracle, okay? Miracle was whenever we beat the Soviets. That ain't happening with.

[Rick Tocchet]

Yeah, that's right.

[Pat McAfee]

That was what my thoughts were. Getting to watch your team, man, I love It. I really do. The culture of your team and obviously hockey is an incredibly physical and tough and everything like that, but it does feel like your entire bench is tough, guys. Is that how you feel and is that what you have to have in hockey? And how many teams are built that way? Are all teams built that way nowadays?

[Rick Tocchet]

Yeah, I think the game's changed a little bit than when we played.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[Rick Tocchet]

Physically, our physicality always is important in hockey. It's probably a different than it was 10 years ago. You know, for me, it's. It's, you know, intimidation with speed, you know, controlling the puck, you know, wall battles wall work. You know, you know, you look at like, look, look. City Crosby. To me, he's tough, right?

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[Rick Tocchet]

You know, he'll. He's fought the odd time. Don't go me. He's tough. He's a mentally tough guy. That's to me is the, the new age toughness. Carter McDavid, Jack Eichel, all these guys. Do they drop the gloves once in a while? Maybe once in a blue moon. But they're tough. They're tough every shift, whether it's with puck possession, body position. So that's the new age hockey player.

[Pat McAfee]

Tell me about gritty in human form. Tippett, number 74. Tell me about this guy. Okay. That was my takeaway after watching your team. Sandheim might be a serial killer because I looked him in the eyes and he didn't blink. And he appeared to not change his face one time throughout the entire game, which was wild. And 74. This guy was faster than everybody else on the ice. It was very clear. And he was also built like an ox. Almost has the game winner last night in overtime. Obviously incredible player. Should. I should know of him, obviously. I feel like you got a lot of people that maybe the world does not recognize if that. I don't want to talk shit, but no, you're, you're.

[Rick Tocchet]

I'm glad you said it to give props to those guys because Tip wasn't on the radar last year. Year this year he's put himself on the radar. He's. He's one of the. Listen, I coached with Connor David in Canada. He's almost got that kind of speed like you saw it. You know, you just mentioned some of the games where he had the speed through new zone. I think he had 11 hits one game. I mean, that's, that's tough to do. So he's a power forward. And then I thought Sandheim and Rissolanen were terrific. We matched them against Sid Most of the series, they played 25 minutes a night. I got to give them a lot of credit. The twin towers, they were great. And you're right, Sandheim notched his game another level. And you're right. His demeanor, he is right. It was like, flat. I don't know if he was happy or sad half the time because he has that face, which is great for me.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, Gravy. I was a little intimidated. I had a neck brace. Obviously, we didn't know if I had a broken neck at that point. Sure. Now I was sitting there on the glass. I didn't know what. I know if you boys wanted some and just let them know because of my neck, I would not have been able to fight them. Just. Just like. That is the only reason. That is the only reason. Yeah. Right. Okay, let's talk about standing on head, shall we? You guys saw it in a gold medal game against Hallebuk. Go ahead.

[Tone]

Yeah, yeah, Taco. Obviously a scoreless game through three. When you go into overtime, it's not like there was a lack of chances that it was up and down. Hockey was awesome. Game to watch. Bladar has 42 saves in a shutout. Can you just talk about him a little bit and how huge that was last night?

[Rick Tocchet]

Yeah, you're right.

[AJ Hawk]

The.

[Rick Tocchet]

The most of the game was, you know, back and forth, but I think overtime, let's, you know, call it as is. The Penguins had the puck a lot. We were, you know, we had the pre.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, Prevent. The.

[Rick Tocchet]

I get it. The prevent defense. And that's when you need your goalie, and that's when. I mean, Vladi was great all game, don't get me wrong.

[Pat McAfee]

But he.

[Rick Tocchet]

He went to superhuman lengths in overtime. Like he was, you know, I think Mantha had something on the doorstep who's had a really good year for him. And I think Vladdy stopped him. There's some saves there. Like Sid said after the game, they're one shot from going to game seven. So, yeah, we. Whether you want to say we're lucky in overtime or resilient or Bender, don't break defense. The guy behind, the guy with the mask on really was the key for us, especially in overtime.

[Pat McAfee]

I think that's my favorite thing about hockey, actually. And it was kind of showcased on a global stage there in the gold medal game. Every single playoffs. If your goalie gets hot, you can win like that. It is. If your goalie decides you're not going to lose, you can win. We got a chance to do it in Pittsburgh. Obviously, you Were there. We got to experience that with Matt. There was a couple times MAF just decided, yeah, we're going to go ahead and win. Jari actually, his first introduction to Pittsburgh, he stood on his head throughout the entire run. It's like Matt Murray, Sorry, Matt Murray went on the right. It's like. And I remember that from Tommy Barrasso.

[Rick Tocchet]

Tommy B. Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. So it's like a goalie can decide basically for you.

[Rick Tocchet]

Like, I go back my memories, like when we won the cup one year, Flurry was a net against Washington, Game seven. And they were all, we're in their building. They were all over us. Like they were like, I'm behind the bench. And it was like they put on a clinic. And we come out of the. We come out of the. The first period, 00. And I said to Mike Sullivan, we're going to win this hockey game. And our team went, you know, we were on our heels and Flurry stopped. I don't know what. He had 18 shots and he was terrific. And then we took our game and we beat him. And that's what a goalie can do for you, you know, just give you that one period of, oh my God, this guy's going to. He's saving us. And now then the players wake up and then, you know, we took over the game.

[Pat McAfee]

I love that. I absolutely. Because it's like a pitcher, you know, it's like when a pitcher has a team that can't hit for shit, it's like the pitcher can decide, hey, we are going to be in this thing forever. In goalies, those who get hot are the ones that kind of win. It feels like in the playoffs, obviously you have to have a great team, but you're in the playoffs, you're already a great team. That's kind of the deciding factor. Good luck to you having to make all decisions. When do you play them? Especially a hot goalie. Got to give him some rest. Can't strain the eyes. Is that kind of the thought? Is that always the thought? Is the strain? What is it? Well, the.

[Rick Tocchet]

Well, regular season, playoffs, you know, you put your throttling down. Unless something, you know, injury wise, you know, listen, you got to ride your guy. But you know, regular season, obviously you're trying to give the guy a little bit of rest, but playoffs is pretty, well, you know, war of attrition, man, You're. You're all in. And I mean like Pittsburgh, they had guys banged up, we got guys banged up. You know, people are playing with broken stuff in the playoffs and Usually at the end of the year, on the media day, you find out, hey man, this guy, you know, this guy had a fractured foot. This guy's got, you know, you know, a cracked rib. Some guys are, you know, taking some Tortol to get through stuff. So yeah, that's what the playoffs are. It's playing hurt.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, that's hockey as a whole. That's why there's always an excuse basically for every hockey player at any moment if they don't play well and then it comes out later through a memo, the player doesn't even say it. That guy had a fractured back.

[Connor]

Makes sense.

[Pat McAfee]

He's playing hockey. What does that even mean? Hey, this guy's a little slow. What a bum this guy was. Comes out later, tibula, fibula and C4 fractured. He's out for how long? Two years. He was just playing. That is hockey as well. Okay, let's talk about a 12 year old you have. Go ahead, Connor.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, Ricky. It feels like another thing that Stanley cup teams have is just some young sensation coming out of nowhere. And you have that in Porter Martone. What has he kind of meant to the boys as he's basically taken the world by storm? I remember after game one, we were all like, who is this 15 year old who is basically going to carry the Flyers past the Penguins? And how do you handle something like that where a guy comes in late from a college season and kind of get him in with the boys while also knowing like, hey, this guy's going to be a huge contributor to our team.

[Mark Schlabach]

Yeah.

[Rick Tocchet]

I think obviously it started at draft day for me, was. And I didn't know a lot about him. And usually, you know, the coaches aren't really involved in the drafting part. We don't really see these prospects. But when he fell to us and I was in that war room to see all our guys being so excited, we picked them. Right. And then his development at Michigan State was incredible. Getting stronger. Honestly, we didn't know he's going to have this impact. You know, we were going to give him a game. You know, you give him that token game, see how he's going to be. And all of a sudden I think he scored his first game and then he gets an assist, a big assess, he gets another goal and all of a sudden he's a 19 year old kid playing in the second round of the Standing cup playoffs, you know, playing an average of 15, 16 minutes and playing on our power play. So that's amazing. That doesn't happen very often in hockey.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, Fighting Tanger almost scoring in overtime. I mean, he didn't look scared at all. Once again, here's another thing I saw from being on the ice, because Nick was like, hey, that kid was just in the frozen. He literally. He was just playing college. And I was watching them all. You gotta be a little scared maybe. He's big.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, he.

[Pat McAfee]

And he was not scared at all. I mean, there was. It felt like he was wanting more. So you guys aren't. Are gonna be good for a while now. Come on, man. Come on, because this shit's happening on yourself. Is this you? Did you do this? That's you, coach? Huh? Is that you? Yeah.

[Rick Tocchet]

Oh, I didn't do that. Look at. Look at that. Holy geez.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, that's next. Was that after.

[Rick Tocchet]

Was that after the game? Were you.

[Pat McAfee]

All right, Enough. Okay. Now I got to wear a suit too, because the governor was pulling for you guys. A lot happened in my life, but what I did come to realize is.

[Rick Tocchet]

Yeah, what was the bet? What was the bet, by the way? I forgot. What do you got to wear? You got to wear something.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, Coach, I wear a suit. Yeah, I got to wear a suit. Full on suit. Gubernator. Yeah. Yeah, that's it. That's like me selling out my everything that I have, Coach.

[Rick Tocchet]

I mean, come on, you have to make a legit bet. Like, you have to. You have to walk to Philly in a Speedo.

[Pat McAfee]

Whoa. You win the Stanley Cup.

[Rick Tocchet]

That's a real bet. Hey, that's a real.

[Pat McAfee]

You win the Stanley Cup. You got it, pal. How about it? Okay, you win a Stanley Cup. And now if you don't, we'll see in Thunderdome, right? You have to make a visit. You won't have to walk in a Speedo. Your head coach of a team. But I will walk to Philadelphia. You guys win Stanley Cup.

[Rick Tocchet]

Yeah, man, that's. Yeah. Yeah. That's a good incentive. The boys will love it.

[Pat McAfee]

You know what?

[Rick Tocchet]

And you'll pay the bar bills all summer.

[Pat McAfee]

All right. Forget to walk one weekend. Okay? One weekend. But there will be a cap, okay? Because I did this at a media event.

[Connor]

Yeah.

[Tone]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

And some of the found out I was paying and they went through the toppest of top shelf. We're not having that with the Flyers. But on that note, I'm a fan. I appreciate you. Ladies and gentlemen, Coach Rick talk. We're back on the other side. We'll see you then. Goodbye.

[Mark Schlabach]

From the lights above the stadium to the jerseys Athletes wear sports run on energy oil and natural gas help create thousands of everyday products, from the rubber and equipment to the synthetic fibers and uniforms and the fuel that gets teams and fans to the game. Behind the scenes Energy transfer helps safely deliver the energy that keeps it all moving. Because from everyday life to game day, it takes energy. Visit ittakesenergy.com to learn more.

[Ad]

Most protein drinks ask you to choose between results and taste. Bucked up decided. That's a ridiculous trade off. Bucked up makes lightly carbonated protein drinks, 25 grams of protein per can. Clear protein, not milky or thick, and they taste so good. The 25 grams of protein almost feels like a bonus. Bucked up is so confident you'll love their drinks, they're giving away an island vacation just to prove it. That's the kind of brand this is. No purchase necessary. Giveaway ends May 30th. Enter and find your closest Bucked up at buckedup energy.com Grab a Bucked up and feel like a million bucks

[Pat McAfee]

Sports up there on the wall over there as we zoom in every single day. In the middle there is a picture of a dog that is Valerie Ann. She is a pit bull Shar Pei mix that my wife got from one of the shelters downtown. Used to be a street dog whenever she was young. Sam adopted her and then shortly after the adoption couple, two years after being adopted, me and Sam get together and Sam just kind of moves into the house. Just almost brings this dog. First dog ever that I had a relationship with and she's the greatest dog of all time. I had to put her down last night. It was one of the heaviest experiences I've ever had in my entire life. I don't know if I could compare it to anything that I've ever had to do. There was this incredible company that they did it at the house. So instead of having to go to the hospital or vet and so many great memories kind of reminisced about with Valerie. Just want to let her know I absolutely love her. There was a little rainbow up in the sky shortly after she left, like right outside of our window where we were looking. And for us it was just like a hey, see you later. For Mackenzie, our daughter, this is the first time she's had to experience anything like it. She was not around whenever it happened, but immediately upon coming upstairs she goes, where's Valerie? You know, because she hasn't been very mobile for a while. So yeah, it was just heavy night and sports. Immediately afterwards, wife and I and daughter got a chance to watch and kind of just escape from everything. But Valerie was an Incredible dog. And I would say greatest of all time. I know a lot of people feel that way. And we started a charity because of Valerie's battles with cancer. She had five bouts with cancer. She died with cancer. First four got treatment, got surgery for. It was so expensive. And we realized and found out how expensive it was that Sam and I thought about. If we were kids growing up with our parents, with how much money was available for everything, if we were told that that was how much it was going to be to save our dog whenever she was like 6 years old, 7 years old, or whatever, there was no way that we would be able to say yes to that. So we started a foundation to raise money for families to be able to get surgeries to take care of their animals. Hundreds of dogs went through it all because of her badassness. And it's like, yeah, it was a heavy night last night for the wife and I as we bawled our eyes out for hours and just kind of reminisced about it. And I would just like to say thank you to Valerie. More tears this week than any maybe in my life. And it's perspective, you know, we gotta enjoy the hell out of what we have right now. We gotta enjoy the hell out of the moments. Because at some point, we'll just be looking back on these moments as memories. And I hope we all get to say that in the moment, we enjoyed the hell out of them as much as we should have. And that's why we're so thankful we get to do this every single day. And that's why we're so thankful that we get to do sports. And that's why I genuinely now, outside of a WrestleMania run, sure. Where I was not trying to bring

[Tone]

people together, trying to fix a business.

[Rick Tocchet]

Go ahead, say what you got to say.

[Pat McAfee]

I'm not saying anything. But life is good. Let's never forget it. Because when it's gone, we'll never be able to say, I wish. Talks and tables here at Boston. Connor at Ty Schmidt. One half of the Hammer Done. Cowboys. AP Town is here. Joining us live from Anatican, Ohio, ladies and gentlemen, a college football national champion super bowl champion Rider cup winner, ladies and gentlemen, AJ Hawk. How you doing, pal?

[AJ Hawk]

I'm doing good, Coach. Coach Taco was great on here, actually. He dealt with all of your guys kind of shenanigans very well.

[Pat McAfee]

Shenanigans?

[Tone]

Questions.

[AJ Hawk]

Well, I mean, kind of like he would. You. You could take it as, like, not disrespect, but, you know, you're. You're angry that he beats your squad again.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, you couldn't take it. I I think they did take some of it as disrespect. Just from the feeling that I had being on the glass at one of those games, I I it was in the moment when they're inches away from you, where you go, wow, I've said a lot of stuff about this team in like a pen's fandom way.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

That a lot of Pittsburgh people have certainly told them in their past. But they know that I said it. They definitely heard it. That's kind of the world we're in right now. And I'll tell you what, I think they would have done that to me. I think that stick throw would have been done to me at one point. But instead the Flyers move to the second round of the Stanley cup playoffs after a massive win over the Pittsburgh Penguins last night. Taco was awesome. I can't wait to watch them. And they're a good team and if their goalie's going to do what the goalie did last night, they got a chance to win it all. Hopefully the pen's big three get figured out and play 10 more years. That's what I would like. Five of eight series are left now in the NHL Stanley cup playoffs. Six of eight NBA series are still happening right now. Two out of the west gone. Okay, so the west is Oklahoma City sweeped the Suns and then the spurs beat the Blazers 41 and the spurs might be the real deal, brother. With Wemby we shall wait and see if they can get past the OKC test. The Lakers we're up three zero behind LeBron James. Don't look now. That Rockets team has won two straight. Got people wondering is this the big collapse? Is everything that's going on with this Lakers team just become too much and they won't be able to keep up with the young Houston Rockets team that has maybe figured out how to attack this Lakers team without a Luka Doncic playing. Austin Reaves returns. He gets more than 12 points. I'll have you know LeBron didn't get a double double though. I don't know if you knew that. You pair LeBron double double with a win last night, you get pretty good little hearts. You can have a nice little return to your draftkings account after losing, you know, a massive amount of money on Flyers beating the Pens and everything like that. But Instead Austin Reaves, LeBron James and the boys aren't able to get to home win. Houston Rockets now are on two game winning streak. Do they have all the momentum? And if the Los Angeles Lakers don't win, this is LeBron James. No. Nowhere near the goat.

[Tone]

Oh no.

[Pat McAfee]

That's what people are going to say. AJ Hawk.

[AJ Hawk]

It's amazing how quickly things can change. So now LeBron is washed and he's run out of steam. That's what I've been hearing on the headlines this morning.

[Pat McAfee]

What I do love about what we do for a living. And I just talked about enjoying a moment. I don't think anything on earth does that more than a daily sports show. Okay. And you can pull some takes that end up not being good from a daily sports show anytime you want. Oh yeah. Because we can only go off the information that we have right now. When LeBron put the cape on then put the entire Los Angeles Lakers team on his back at this age of 41, after the amount of minutes he had all season. Okay. After the amount of minutes he had all season and just starts cooking this Rockets team with or without Kevin Durant. It was hard not to just immediately go that's never been done before. That's never going to be done again. That's the greatest of all time. People got loud. Evan Fox in the back got real loud. Oh yeah. People in Chicago are getting louder. You know they're on microphones getting louder. Let's not. Let's show them respect for sure. But let's make sure we remember that's what was happening. And now they couldn't wait. Could not wait for a Jordan ever. This is weird. Was Jordan ever up 30 and then lose best? We certainly showed him his respect. But there's a chance that happens and LeBron knows that and the sports world knows that. But that would be a massive story. Especially with where we were just a few days ago. A.J. hawk.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah, but do you think it's actually going to happen? You think they are going to collapse and not win this series?

[Pat McAfee]

Force game seven after trailing a series three ohs only happened four times. Celtics versus the Heat. Trailblazers versus the Mad Nuggets versus the Jazz in 1951. We all remember the Knicks versus the Royals.

[Ty Schmidt]

Good team.

[Pat McAfee]

That was a. That was one sided.

[Connor]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Royals were just smacking around.

[Ty Schmidt]

They got hot.

[Pat McAfee]

Everybody in New York was like 1951. I'm sure they had. What do we are. We have Pete. Definitely have good pizza.

[Connor]

But good pizza, huh?

[Tone]

Those were good times.

[Pat McAfee]

Do you have. Were they black and white television in 1951.

[Tone]

A lot of babies were written made.

[Connor]

I don't know if it's there yet?

[Pat McAfee]

Is. Is TV happening?

[AJ Hawk]

One TV's happening.

[Danny Green]

I don't know.

[Ty Schmidt]

There's not happening.

[AJ Hawk]

It's not color.

[Connor]

TV is definitely not colored.

[Pat McAfee]

How many channels?

[Ty Schmidt]

Oh, two.

[AJ Hawk]

Most so many.

[Tone]

Two to three.

[Pat McAfee]

If you have oval teen here we're doing oval.

[Connor]

Oval, yeah. On the radio. Dakota rings.

[Pat McAfee]

And they were like the Royals. Problems. People are walking and getting on a. What type of vehicles did we have in 1951?

[Tone]

Model T. No, that was 1950.

[Pat McAfee]

We had some 50s. Yeah.

[Connor]

Oh, yeah, definitely.

[Tone]

I love

[AJ Hawk]

people.

[Pat McAfee]

What's that, A.J.

[AJ Hawk]

did you think they were still riding horses in 1951?

[Ty Schmidt]

Some people.

[Pat McAfee]

I thought they did get in a buggy there to go to New York to tell them how ass they are after they go down three zero.

[Connor]

They're still doing horse and buggy in New York. They're definitely doing it then.

[Tone]

First televised beer commercial for Paps was in 1951.

[Pat McAfee]

BBR trail blazing. I can't believe it. I wonder what that commercial was. Have one? Probably, yeah.

[Tone]

Was your number one country that the Studebaker.

[Pat McAfee]

I like what we got here. Cars were immersed in mercury. 1951 mercury. I'll tell you what, I don't know how they drove those things at all with how small the roads were. No power steering, obviously. The gears, definitely. Yeah. I mean a lot of protection. A lot of metal on those. Yeah, I mean there's a lot of metal. I don't know if it gives it all. I don't know it. When did the fender come in? The rubber fender? Because that was a game changer for

[Connor]

the pretty much shot.

[Pat McAfee]

Khan kind of changed the entire thing anyways. It doesn't happen often is what we're saying. Where the Rockets would be able to come back and it's never happened where they've come back and actually won it. If that was to happen against LeBron James, people go crazy now. There's certainly LeBron post game interviews coming like this.

[Tone]

He feels like obviously the Rockets are the better team. What's the best way to respond to a group that obviously has some confidence growing over there?

[Pat McAfee]

I don't care about like that, bro.

[Rick Tocchet]

The game is one between the four lines.

[Pat McAfee]

I don't give a damn.

[Rick Tocchet]

Who cares.

[Pat McAfee]

I mean, of course you say it.

[AJ Hawk]

Why would you say no, we're not the better team?

[Pat McAfee]

Like. But I don't ask when them young guys that question. I'm too old for that. What was he supposed to say? What was he supposed to say? His team wasn't better than our team? Come on, get out of my Face. How about that guy thinking, I'm gonna get LeBron here.

[Ty Schmidt]

Does he think his team.

[Pat McAfee]

This guy said his team's better than yours. Go ahead. Anything. Yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

That is a wild question.

[Pat McAfee]

Get out of my face, bro. What an answer by LeBron. You can see he's obviously a little frustrated, though.

[Tone]

Oh, yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

You see, he's not exactly thrilled with what's going on. Now, I do appreciate the fact that everybody in the NBA seemingly understands that people have to answer questions in a certain way, because remember when Joe Flacco was asked if he thought he was elite and he said yes, and then all of a sudden it was this dipshit thinks he's an elite quarterback.

[Rick Tocchet]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

What are you supposed to say, AJ Hawk? I like how passionate Bron Bron is, though, it appears.

[Rick Tocchet]

Yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

I mean, yeah, I think it's wild. Like, if he actually does engage in all of the talk that is about him after every single thing that he does. Like, I hope he doesn't engage in a lot of it because it would be a roller coaster trying to figure out, like, one day he's obviously the greatest of all time, the next day he's washed, he's terrible, and he's not in the top 25. So it's just. It's crazy.

[Pat McAfee]

You know, I think he does hear a lot more than we can imagine. I. I think he's very knowledgeable of the conversations that happened. I think whenever he Talked to Dave McManaman, I think that one where there was a lot of conversations about the goat debate with him and Jordan. And then he even came out and said he hopes he did Jordan proud with the number 23. Like, I think he showcased some humility in there while also saying, like, hey, I do hear a lot of people shitting on me. It's like, why do we got to do. Why do we always got to do that? Like, why? I think he understands what's going on. But I'll tell you what, the Lakers currently minus 330 to win a series. Yeah. Nobody's dying. You think LeBron's gonna lose the series?

[Connor]

Yeah, right.

[Ty Schmidt]

I heard some LeBron fans earlier this morning really bitching and moaning about the fact that Brawny Braun no more.

[Connor]

Whoa.

[Pat McAfee]

We will get back to some NBA conversation with a former 15 year NBA vet. Let's do some NFL quick hitters here, shall we? George Pickens has officially signed his $27.3 million franchise tag. Reported last Thursday before the first round of the NFL draft by every insider that George Pickens had signed his franchise tag. Then Sunday came and went, and on Monday we were talking about that being an indicator of something happening on our show. And then during our show, Mr. Todd Archer puts out a tweet into the oblivion that says, hey, just a heads up, Pickens has not signed his franchise tag to get traded. Pickens would have had to sign his franchise tag for anything to happen. He would have had to sign the deal. It was reported that he signed a deal. But then we asked the same insiders, you know, both of them, we go, what, what happened here? He's intending to sign, he's gonna sign. They just know he's going to. We thought maybe there was some games been shipped out of George Pickens saying, yeah, no problem, just in case a trade was to come through during a draft. Now the draft has passed, maybe he won't sign his franchise tag. He has, as being reported now by Mr. Archer, signed his franchise tag. Nothing else can happen until he does this. What does this tell you, AJ He's a Cowboy for the year.

[AJ Hawk]

I still don't feel super confident. He's a Cowboy for the year. This obviously opens it up for him to, to be available to be traded, I guess. But you know what? I think it's 50, 50 now. I thought the other day, like, yeah, I don't think there's a chance he's playing for the Cowboys. I think he still could play there.

[Pat McAfee]

He literally came. Not he, I'm sorry, people came on the show back to back. It was Tannenbaum and it was somebody else. I forget who it was. Rap sheet, rap sheet, rap sheet and Tannenbaum back to back, come on the show and go, george Pickett's probably playing for the Cowboys this year. And I'm like, that's the first time I've even heard somebody with conviction say that. Because going into a franchise tag year as a number one wide receiver with Mulaguetta as his agent, with what has happened in the past, it feels like that would be a no go for a one year contract with no future guarantees and a potential another year of franchise tagging coming on the other side of that. That just feels like a no. But then you start thinking about it from George Pickens angle where he's getting 27.3 million. He's got another prove it year. He probably enjoys being in Dallas versus what was going on in Pittsburgh. Him and Dak have a great relationship. Obviously. Maybe George Pickens does this year. 1 year 27.3. We get to watch another bag chasing show for a year. On primetime every single week. And then he gets a huge one after the season. I don't think any of us truly know, but maybe he is a Cowboy, and that would be a blast. Because last year, watching him on the Cowboys was a great time. He was all over the place all the time on national television, especially when

[Ty Schmidt]

they're playing at 425 kind of prime time. Brady and Burkhart, I want to say. Yep. Okay. They are amazing with George Pickens. Think about how much more fun they are to watch. And if it wasn't for T. Higgins and Jamar Chase already doing it, I would say there's no way this is going to happen. But because of that brand of football, and maybe the Bengals go out there and absolutely dominate this year. And Joe Burrow stays.

[Pat McAfee]

Big Dexie coming over there.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah. Dexter Lawrence comes over, which is kind of what the Cowboys already have with Kenny Clark and Quinn and Williams and Rashawn Gary. Like, there is a world, it feels like, where after this season, after the franchise tag, they could pay him upwards of $35 million a year.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, so George Pickens signs his franchise tag. Way to go. Is Aaron signed anywhere? Well, Rooney owner Rooney says about the OOFA tender that they put on Aaron Rodgers. We alerted Aaron and his representatives that we're gonna do it. Answer. No real big deal. Just something that in the unlikely event he goes somewhere else, we're eligible for a con pick. Sound business.

[Mark Schlabach]

That's right.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah.

[Tone]

It'd be stupid not to.

[Pat McAfee]

We move forward now. Is that what you read there, Ton?

[Tone]

Yeah, that is exactly what I read. Because if you don't do it and you go somewhere else, you look like idiots. Everyone's saying you guys are idiots for not getting a compact out of this.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, they're laughing at you guys. Face.

[Connor]

Face.

[Mark Schlabach]

Yeah.

[Ty Schmidt]

Oh, now you want them.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, not so.

[Tone]

No, that's not what I said. I never said those words at all.

[Pat McAfee]

What's going on? It sounds like. I don't think Tony hates the guy. I think not the person.

[Tone]

I like the person. We all like the person. I just don't like that for the second straight years. Just stringing us along like we're his little lap dogs.

[Pat McAfee]

Like you're not the Pittsburgh Steelers.

[Tone]

Bingo.

[Ty Schmidt]

It's Pittsburgh Puppies.

[Pat McAfee]

See, that's what.

[Ty Schmidt]

Oh, man, I wish I didn't even think of that.

[Mark Schlabach]

What's his.

[Pat McAfee]

Don't do that. Don't be doing what you're doing. This is how Pittsburgh people, I believe because Tone has come back from the draft where there was 805,000 visitors, most of them from Pittsburgh.

[Tone]

Talked to a lot of people.

[Pat McAfee]

Tone was around a lot of Pittsburgh. Tone sits down in his chair and he goes, you know what? Now's the time. Actually saying, we're done with this guy. It feels like Tone went and did a little focus group, a couple of them. Yinzer group. How you doing? I pulled the city. Different ages, different groups, different cities, different parks, different events, different everything. How we doing? We. We're all. Yeah. All done with it. Okay. Thought so. Just wait till you hear me on Monday. And the first thing came out of his mouth is, hey, we're done with it. It does feel like that is how Steelers fans are, because it is two seasons in a row now where they are being told like, hey, maybe, maybe. And it's like, the Steelers fans are like, get this guy the fuck out of here if he does not want to be a Pittsburgh Steelers. And now, from the other side of it, okay, that is just me reading Tone, who was talking to everybody, and me potentially talking to similar people that Tone was talking to.

[Tone]

You read me.

[Pat McAfee]

Well, me as Aaron Rodgers. Okay. Person that understands Aaron and has massive respect for who Aaron Rodgers is in the history of ball and currently in ball in this entire thing, the guy's allowed to figure out what he wants to do with his life. Okay. Okay. Show some respect. Coach change. Life changed.

[Connor]

Yeah, you bet.

[Pat McAfee]

He's living. He's in shape.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah. Okay. He signed in early June, I believe, last year. Tone, is there a deadline in June? You have, like, what if he signs here in two or three weeks? Are you gonna be happy all of a sudden?

[Pat McAfee]

So he signed in June because there's something going on. Right. Last year, wasn't there something. Was that last year?

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah. He had a personal situation. He said that he left.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. So I think everybody.

[Tone]

We all know that.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay. So, like, that kind of happened. And then now this year, it's like. Like, I. I don't know. Don't you and McCarthy know each other? He's a newlywed.

[Ty Schmidt]

The guy can't enjoy his new wife for a little.

[Tone]

There's a lot of newlyweds in the NFL that are on teams they know they want to play for that team.

[Ty Schmidt]

Not ones that are goats.

[Pat McAfee]

What about ones that are 22 years in, trying to figure out what they want?

[Mark Schlabach]

Yeah.

[Tone]

Well, if it's not. If you can't figure it out already, it's not in your heart to play.

[Pat McAfee]

You don't know that because he didn't find every part of his heart Yet.

[Tone]

And I don't know how I'll react to AJ until that day comes.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay. He's Italian.

[Tone]

I'm sure. I wouldn't change my tune, AJ.

[Pat McAfee]

I'm sure Pittsburgh won't immediately go.

[AJ Hawk]

Never would.

[Pat McAfee]

Got a goat back.

[Connor]

Yep.

[Pat McAfee]

That's what I'm talking. You better play good now. He kind of strung us along. Hey, the future's here. Maybe we'll hire. Maybe Drew Hour, you know, wouldn't come out of my mouth. Yeah, exactly. As soon as Aaron gets back. A.J. what do you know in that situation? What has Aaron told you?

[AJ Hawk]

Honestly, I don't have really anything for you on that situation. I don't know.

[Pat McAfee]

Big derby weekend would be.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah, I don't know. What, there's no deadline. I don't know anything when you get

[Pat McAfee]

downer and derby this weekend or no,

[AJ Hawk]

no, I'm not going.

[Tone]

Really.

[Ty Schmidt]

Don't lie.

[Pat McAfee]

Smart play by you to act like you're not going if you are going. But if you're not going, also smart play to get that public because we will be peppering you with questioning certainly on that. The NFL has distributed crew assignments to referees this week amid indications of continued progress toward a deal on a new collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Referees Association. Sources have told Seifert over at ESPN now there are some numbers and stats coming out that we found pretty interesting at the time. The talk stalemated this spring, the NFL had offered the NFL RA the referee association a six year deal with the average annual raises of 6.45%. That's more. That's more of a raise than the players get, percentage wise. Yeah. The average NFL official earned $385,000 in 2025. Now, refs in other leagues, professional leagues, get paid more money, obviously a lot more games in those other leagues. I believe they're also full time referees as opposed to NFL refs that only have 17 regular season games. And if you're not ass, you also get playoff games in this entire thing and then you're done for an entire offseason. So the negotiation is fascinating. That felt like a lot of money. If you let players know that that money was available if they got into a pipeline to become officials, I think a lot of players would be excited to do that to give back to the game. But I do think it's good news that we're kind of making progress with the stalemate that has potentially happened over the past couple months with the referees association. Because the last time we had replacement refs, it was ass, AJ Yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

And I think people may, like, it's easy to overlook this and think it's not that big a deal, but if you were around for the old situation with the replacement refs. I was on the field when the Fail Mary situation happened with replacement refs. I saw, like, the impact it could have. So I think it's a lot bigger deal than people think. So the fact that there's progress and they're not. Both sides aren't killing each other publicly through the press, I think it's a good sign.

[Pat McAfee]

They were there for a bit, though. They were killing each other publicly, which was a lot of public. Let's try to win the mob here. Let's try to win room. And then I assume there was a conversation like, hey, it's not good for any of us here for people to think our refs are ass, okay? But we do need a little bit of accountability. We do have to be able to say that we can get rid of people that stink. Like, I think for the good of the league, for the good of the integrity of the game, we have to be able to do that. That's where the NFL is coming from. And the Referees association says, we've always had the greatest deal in all of sports. Basically, we don't have to answer for anything. We have to be offseason.

[Connor]

We don't have to train.

[Pat McAfee]

We don't have to do anything. Yeah, you pay us, and guess what? Never fired. So if you want to get off of that contract a little bit, if we want to start there, which is where we have negotiated the last hundred years, we can certainly do that. Both of them have a good stance, because if the replacement refs come in again, the Referees association will have leverage pretty quickly, which is why the NFL was like, we'll have New York make the calls. And it's like, all right, well, that's gonna piss people off. The refs are gonna get some leverage there. Something terrible is gonna happen. The refs are gonna be able to get you just like they did after the Fail Mary. And I think because you're on the field and because I had a chance to, you know, ride alongside some teams, I think we care more about the ref thing than anybody else. And if it becomes a big deal, I would like them to say, we did journalism.

[Ty Schmidt]

Okay?

[Connor]

Yeah, they won't, but we've done some journalism.

[AJ Hawk]

Is there any chance, though, that the replacement refs come on and they've done this vetting process and they've worked them out a little bit to where it kind of Goes off without a hitch and they do a decent job.

[Pat McAfee]

Maybe.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah. And it did say in that article that there were some college refs from, you know, the NCAA obviously that were willing to go up. So it wasn't like a unanimous, hey, we're not doing this because of the union. It was kind of like a. There were a few that would come along which would be massive.

[Pat McAfee]

Is it?

[Ty Schmidt]

I sure hope so.

[Pat McAfee]

Is it Vander?

[Connor]

There's no. No way that guy's a scab. Him and his crew are not Vanderbilt.

[Pat McAfee]

And the boys getting the call up to Sundays, Thursdays and Mondays could certainly be something. And then they're so good that the Refs association will be a force. Yeah, but you can afford to be. But I don't think Vanderbilt will do it because he's so close. Yeah, so close. It's fascinating. Okay, let's go to the NBA, shall we? In the middle of the playoffs, obviously the six series that are left all have go home implications happening in the NBA playoffs. There will be three games this evening as the Knicks play the Hawks at 7. Celtics take on the Sixers and the Nuggets take on the Wolves after a two day break. Fascinating to see how that all affects everything. Joining us now, 15 year NBA vet, three time champion. Ladies and gentlemen, former NCAA champion McDonald's All American Stud, ESPN NBA analyst, Danny Green.

[Danny Green]

Appreciate you guys having me, man. I'm on my way to 2 ESPN now. That's the biggest job. That's the most important job that I have now. So I'm heading to the studio.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay. Are you driving right now? Like actually. Are you driving, Danny?

[Danny Green]

No, I just have my seatbelt on in the back.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay. Because it looked like you put your hands onto a wheel there after you gave the double deuce and then went to the wheel. We just want to make sure you're not doing anything stupid, Danny, you know what I mean? Don't be stupid.

[Danny Green]

No, not at all. Not at all.

[Pat McAfee]

Just turn on a turn signal, did you, Daniel? What do you. Do you have a hand? Because I guess you NBA guys, you could reach from the back seat, I guess put it on the steering and just kind of drive from the back seat.

[Ty Schmidt]

With sunroof though.

[Danny Green]

You guys, I got you guys. You guys are hands free. We got you guys magnified in. We got sit stands, you know you do when you do media stuff, you gotta have stands to make sure your phone is stable.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay. I wanna let you know, I don't love what's going on here. I don't like that you're we cannot be a distraction, you understand? You are a very. See, now you're at a red light right now. Now you're at a red light right now. Yeah, I can tell. I can tell right now.

[Danny Green]

We're totally safe here. We're totally safe here.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay. All right, let's make sure we're doing that. Let's be smart about it. Nice car, by the way. 15 years in the NBA does certainly have its. Appreciate you joining us. Let's talk about some of the stuff happening around this NBA. You obviously won a championship as a spur back in 2014. Very different team now with Wemby. Can you tell me about this spurs team and can you tell me about Wemby a little bit from an ex player with obviously still connections around the league?

[Danny Green]

Yeah, I mean their team is, is very good group. Wemby is a special, special talent. Something things you can't teach. You know, him being 74 and that wingspan. I was lucky enough to play with some really great big men like Tim Duncan, like Anthony Davis, Dwight Howard, even Marcus all, you know, Serge Ibaka, like guys that I could play defense and not have to worry about, you know, the rim and because they're going to protect it. For me, he's just another level of that. Like a lot of guys go in there deterred and scared to shoot the basketball because of him. And he still gets four or five blocks a game with guys knowing that he's there and scared of him. So I could imagine, you know, what his blocks game would be had you tried to challenge him more often, which if you're smart, you wouldn't do that. So, yeah, this is a really good, special group. They're young. They showed some of that in the first round. So if I gave them a grade for round one, it would probably be like a B plus because they as a Portland team, don't respect them. They're really good. But if you want to put yourself in the same conversation as the Oklahoma City Thunder, you know that team in a championship contention, you shouldn't be playing behind in the series. And I feel like in that series they were playing from behind a lot, but I think they learned a lot from it. I think they grew from it and it'll make them better and more prepared for whoever they face in the second round. That could be the Denver Nuggets, it could be the Minnesota Timberwolves, we don't know.

[Pat McAfee]

I hope Wemby does the dunk contest next year. That bounce in between dribble behind is sick. That'd be a winner if it was to happen. Spurs trailing in games, but obviously won the series 41 over to Blazers, Oklahoma City, reigning champs. They Swept the Suns 4 0. Hey, Danny, call us when you get to the place. I'm getting anxiety. You're the man, ladies and gentlemen. Stay great. I'm getting anxiety. I can't do it. I can't do it.

[AJ Hawk]

We're good, we're good. We're totally safe here. When he's at the red light, how many kisses?

[Pat McAfee]

Red light. Look, both hands here. I'm like, yeah, right. I can't do that. I gotta get. No, no, no, no. Tell him to hang up. Up. Okay. He's still talking. And call us whenever he. This has always been a thing with the show. I can't my.

[Ty Schmidt]

No one's ever wanted to be on the show more than Danny Gruden right there because that was the most unsafe thing I've ever seen.

[Pat McAfee]

Ever. I don't know what he's doing. That was. Because then I did think, oh, he is in a backseat maybe. And I saw him literally turn on turnstile and he's checking traffic. It's like, yeah, right. Can't have that happening. I'm not going to be associated with that. I'm also a motorcycle driver.

[Connor]

He's driving in LA too. I'm pretty sure he's.

[Pat McAfee]

No, he's at espn.

[Connor]

But don't they do NBA today from la? Maybe they don't. That's. Immediately I thought it's. Jesus Christ. He's. He's on the 405 right now. Just, you know, looking down.

[Pat McAfee]

No, no, no. I hope that's not the case. I hope that's not the case. I would like to say that that has always been a part of this program. AJ. We. I have always. AJ. Probably not. I guess AJ's like, yeah, may roll. Might get a little action out.

[Tone]

AJ watches movies on an iPad when he drives.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah. He'll close his eyes for drive, see what happens.

[Pat McAfee]

30 minutes.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, 30.

[AJ Hawk]

Absolutely not.

[Pat McAfee]

Ty, you know, he is an ass driver. Uhhuh. Documented ass driver.

[AJ Hawk]

That's very subjective. It's very subjective. But you can, you know, we're talking wemby, I think some kind of sports.

[Pat McAfee]

No, we're talking about all time leading tackler for the Green Bay Packers. Being on the record as saying when the sun's going down, it's tough for me to drive. I just fall asleep.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah. That doesn't mean I'm a bad driver. That means I fall asleep when I'm Driving into the sun as it goes down.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay, so falling asleep while you're driving would be a trade. I think that would say you're a bad driver.

[AJ Hawk]

No, no, like a bad driver would be like lack of awareness. Like you can't figure out

[Pat McAfee]

you are asleep.

[AJ Hawk]

Well, I'm aware of it. So I can beat it. I already. I know going in. Hey, this is when I get tired. I gotta find a way to stay awake.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay. And we're appreciative of the fact that you beat it now, but there was a time in your life where you're just out there falling asleep behind wheel, waking up with two feet on, right foot on the gas, left foot on a brake, brake lights on the entire time while you're falling asleep. I mean, that would be considered a bad driver. Okay.

[AJ Hawk]

I just want to let you know, tough situation, but. Yeah, I've never been in a situation as dangerous as that.

[Pat McAfee]

I promise you that is okay. All right. That is how you describe it. I don't like that that happened at all. What I do like, I like Steve Bushotti saying, I want a draft pick for the first time in his relationship with Acosta. I do believe first time maybe in his ownership of the Baltimore Ravens. Our favorite owner on a microphone, Steve Boschotti, the Baltimore Raven said he negotiated with his GM to make a pick. What unfolded cinema.

[Steve Bisciotti]

Hello?

[Pat McAfee]

Hello.

[Steve Bisciotti]

Hello, Is this Adam?

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, it is.

[Steve Bisciotti]

Adam, this is Steve Bischati. I'm the owner of the Ravens.

[Pat McAfee]

Yes, sir.

[Steve Bisciotti]

Well, I'm good friends with your coach, Dabo, and yes, sir, my gm. This is the first call I've ever done because. Because my GM and I negotiated something this year for the first time and that was that I was going to get a pick that I get to pick by myself. So I started working with Dabo a little while ago and he told me that you are the highest character player he's ever had in his program.

[Pat McAfee]

Yes, sir. Appreciate that.

[Steve Bisciotti]

Well, that's how highly he thinks of you. And so I started watching you and I found out your whole story about conceding being a wide receiver and doing what Dabo needed you to do most. And you've got a lot of growing to do and to become a good running back. But what. What with your character and your pass catching skills, I believe we just got you a year earlier than everybody else is going to find out how good you are. So, yes, sir, we are about to put you in as a. As the newest Baltimore Raven.

[Pat McAfee]

Yes, sir. I appreciate y'. All. It sounds. Sounds good.

[Steve Bisciotti]

Where are you today, I'm in Myrtle

[Pat McAfee]

beach at home with.

[Steve Bisciotti]

With who, your family?

[Pat McAfee]

Yes, sir.

[Steve Bisciotti]

So they're going to be excited that you're going to be taking handoffs from Lamar Jackson.

[Pat McAfee]

Yes, sir, they are.

[Steve Bisciotti]

All right, good. I'm gonna let you take talk to Ed, coach, mentor.

[AJ Hawk]

Okay.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay.

[Steve Bisciotti]

Welcome to the Ravens.

[Pat McAfee]

Hold on. Appreciate it. What a moment. Hey, that's beautiful. I like the behind the scenes stuff of this. And how about first time ever? The owner drafts, Adam Randall drafts anybody. The guy's gonna get a lot of opportunities.

[Connor]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Jesse, mentor, first year head coach. Yeah, yeah, yeah. He said, how's it going? Tell your family you're gonna be taking handoffs from Lamar Jackson. He's gonna be doing okay. I think he sounds like the person that Bashadi would build a team around for that to happen. I hope Adam Randle understands how special of a moment that is, and I hope this works out because we love Bashadi now that we're learning of him over the last couple months only.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah, I didn't. That's the first time I'm seeing that video, too.

[Danny Green]

That.

[AJ Hawk]

That's really cool. I like how Bashadi says with your. Like what, your high character and your past catching ability, you're going to have a good chance here. Like you. It's not. This isn't like a charity case because you're a good dude because you're. You're a stud on the field as well. That's why I like that you have both. Both those.

[Pat McAfee]

You conceded the fact that you're running back to go play wide receiver. I think we're a year ahead of everybody knowing that you're supposed to be a running back. It's like Bashadi might know ball a little bit, huh? And how about dabo? Dab boy still got the fastball with the mouth, huh?

[Connor]

Oh, yeah, Dabo. I mean, he. He's the goat, obviously. Still, part of me when I'm seeing these, because I feel like maybe it's. Maybe it's just recency bias. I feel like this year we're getting every single one of these kind of like behind the scenes looks at when these guys are getting drafted. And part of me is kind of like, I don't love that because this is, you know, one of, like, the more personal a lot of these guys are crying, but the more you do get to see these, like, it is just such a cool moment. And that is one thing that I really do appreciate, that all these teams put out because, you know, I mean, we see everything in the first Round with the dap ups with Raj and stuff like that. But like, this is the stuff that's really special. When you see a fourth round pick or like a late round pick and it, it's still, I mean, it means this. They might as well be going, you know, first overall.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, look at the family, look at the. I mean the whole team, the community, everybody's been working for that their entire lives. Draft is still so special. We're very lucky that we get to be a part of the coverage. I think a lot of people watch the draft.

[Connor]

Oh, it sounds.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, it feels like a lot of people. The draft has officially become a massive spectacle. As it should. A lot of things happening around the NFL. It's also announced out of the Baltimore Ravens they have signed Clays Campbell

[Mark Schlabach]

will

[Pat McAfee]

be his 19th NFL season. We got to change to see this guy. Whenever Miami had their run during the college football playoffs, he was on the sideline towering over everybody, in better shape than everybody. One of the greatest teammates of all time and a man who's obviously wrecked shop on a football field at defensive line position. Not only getting to the quarterback, stopping the run, disrupting an offensive line, special teams, this guy blocks kicks all the time. He's an avatar. This man's a monster. 19 years at D Line in the interior. AJ Calais Campbell going to Baltimore. Love that. Jesse Mentor said, yeah, I think we could have a Calais Campbell in the locker room for the first year around here.

[AJ Hawk]

You know what's awesome about him? Like he can still play at such a high level. He's not like, hey, we got the old savvy vet in here to. To teach the young guys how to go about it and you know the process and how to prepare for games. Like, no, this dude is still making plays. Like just a. What a what a unique outlier. Like he's going to be 40 years old on September 1st. Can you imagine being out there? I mean, he's been in the trenches for so long and the dude continues to do it. I, yeah, I hope he plays for 10 more years.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, I think it's. I think it's a co messy mentor we believe in, right?

[Pete Thamel]

I think so.

[Connor]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

I believe in Bashadi.

[Ty Schmidt]

Definitely changed his ways. Lamar.

[Pat McAfee]

I believe in Lamar.

[Ty Schmidt]

I mean Matabk, their other stud D tackle, he apparently is cleared. So now it's Calais Campbell, Matabk, Trey Hendrickson, and then their second round pick, Zion Running who's like 270,000 free agents.

[AJ Hawk]

I know they got resigned them. That's what I'm saying.

[Pat McAfee]

I know they bring in Calais Campbell. That kind of scares me, actually, was my thought while I was watching Kus Campbell kind of do his thing. And then I thought about who Kus Campbell is as a teammate and how much of a leader he is. Remember, Tyreek was going through car that pulled over K. I mean, like, Kus is the epitome of an NFL teammate. Like that is he's forced to be listened to because anytime somebody that large talks, everybody's going to listen. You know, kind of comes with the

[AJ Hawk]

think about, like, there's never going to be any, like, foolishness on that defense. Like, if you are, say you're in a walkthrough and guys are jacking around like Clay is in the room, it's not going to happen.

[Pat McAfee]

Remember Lamar took all the TVs off?

[Connor]

Yep.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

The walls games. Yeah, there was. Yeah. Because he said he would have taken the TVs off the wall if he could too. But Mr. B paid for all that like that because Lamar, I think, was having a little bit of issues with maybe some tomfoolery happening around that team last year in the locker room. Now, obviously Harbaugh moves on. It's a new coach. I think Calais Campbell's a good signing. I, I, I'm a huge fan of, of his. And every time his name comes up, I bring it up. You walk into an event and you look, scan the crowd. And events aren't really your thing. Maybe let's say I'm talking directly for me. Okay. Hate events. Don't like anything about them. Live in Indiana, so we don't have to go to events. Every once in a while I go to event. Good time, though. Always dependent upon who's there. Okay. Who do you get trapped around at said event? There's always like a trappage that kind of happens at these events. Anytime I walked into one and you just scan and you see fucking big Calais at the back. It's like, that's where I'm headed. Okay. Head down, straight to the massive guy. And that's happened numerous times. Every time, good time. Every time. So nice to everybody. Every time. Like just complete, like the energy, the juice, the whole, it's just like he's, he's a special individual. 19 years at D line out of the U is something that'll be first ballot hall of fame worthy. And for him to continue to go, I hope we do cherish it.

[Ty Schmidt]

I think it was the Miami Hurricanes Ole Miss game in Arizona where he was there on the sideline for the U. And it was the same exact thing. He stick sticks out like sore thumb and you walk right over to him. He's like the nicest guy of all time.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, definitely sounds like he looks no doubt. Definitely. He he it's not a different voice like where was I at Raw where that guy recorded me there was that

[Connor]

St. Louis I think.

[Pat McAfee]

Or St. Louis maybe.

[Connor]

Yeah, one of the two.

[Pat McAfee]

San Jose.

[Tone]

Some sort of sand.

[Connor]

I think it was San Jose.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. Guy had a camera kind of a bigger guy and he was like you suck and I'm so is that your actual voice right there? Like that was a genuine wonder. Calais Campbell opens his mouth it's like that's how a 6 foot 819 year NFL D tack was supposed to deep. He's got this deep baritone and he's done good. Congrats to him. Evan Cohen here. PayPal is now the official peer to peer payment sponsor of the NFL, which means all the money moments that fandom creates. Whether splitting tailgate costs or chipping in on tickets and game day food between friends are covered wherever the game is played or watched. PayPal moves with fans. You could send money through text, email or directly to your friends with eligible accounts on Venmo. Just download the PayPal app and share all the moments that matter. Account with PayPal is required. Not available in all regions where PayPal operates.

[Ad]

If you've ever wanted real energy without choking down something that tastes like regret, Bucked up is the answer. The flavor is the thing people keep coming back for. Insanely delicious, which is not a phrase usually associated with energy drinks. And they're built on real science backed ingredients. Clean energy that actually works without the garbage you don't want. Bucked up is so confident you'll love their drinks, they're giving away an island vacation just to prove it. That's the kind of brand this is. No purchase necessary. Giveaway ends May 30th. Enter and find your closest Bucked up at buckedup energy.com Grab a Bucked up and feel like a million bucks.

[Pat McAfee]

Speaking of doing good, let James Cook graduated will walk on May 8 from University of Georgia. Go Dogs. Go Dogs. James Cook will walk at Georgia's graduation ceremony on May 8 after completing his degree. Congrats to him. Obviously this is something he wanted to get done. The NFL does a very good job of getting you in contact with the people to make these types of things happening with with E Learning now, who knows how many classes he had to show up for, how many he had to do at home, though certainly mightily he earned this. They didn't just hand this out. They don't just do that because investigations happen and they could lose a bunch of stuff. He had to have done something. I hate whenever people immediately say like, oh yeah, cool, James Cook bought a degree. It's like, if it was as easy as that, I'd have a degree right now. I do not have a degree.

[AJ Hawk]

I got a lot of buddies that would have them. Yeah, if it was that easy. They try. People do try. They definitely try.

[Pat McAfee]

Certainly I thought about hiring a team to get me a doctorate and I guess that's just not how it goes. So congrats to James putting the work in the effort in to make this happen. And I know his family pumped up A.J. did you graduate?

[AJ Hawk]

Yes, I did graduate post getting drafted? No, I stayed. I was still like I was still in school when I got drafted. Like I didn't finish up till that may sometime.

[Pat McAfee]

Did you red shirt or leave early?

[AJ Hawk]

No, I just. I was just there all four years. Played special teams mainly my.

[Ty Schmidt]

My freshman year and started those games and had like 15 tackles or whatever.

[AJ Hawk]

I backed up secret. He rolled his ankle so I got to start a couple times.

[Pat McAfee]

Shout out to him. Shout out to you. I'm who knows how many hours I am away now. I was at one point 13 hours away.

[AJ Hawk]

Can you imagine going to sitting. What if someone gave you a schedule and they said okay for the next three months on Monday, Wednesday you got to go to class from. You have a 10am to 12pm Just that. Just that one class.

[Pat McAfee]

I. I don't know if I'd be able to do it. I wasn't able to do it in college. So that was kind of like now she.

[AJ Hawk]

And it'd be impossible now. I feel like.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, the E learning I think kind of opens some things up for people to maybe get back in there. But it's going to be hard for me to take anything serious at this stage.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah.

[Ty Schmidt]

Because even the elearning now with zoom it's like that's still kind of a classroom. Like you're not just scrolling through like there's a teacher and you guys are all in a little box. Like we've seen those videos of people. But that was the whole thing with J.R. smith too when he went back. Like J.R. smith was like, yeah, I'm going to class every other day. Like this is very difficult. Also doing this while playing golf.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. I. They tried to get me to go back numerous times times

[AJ Hawk]

like do you have any idea how much you have left though?

[Pat McAfee]

So they wouldn't release. They wouldn't release. I had a hundred parking tickets for my scooter. Sure. Yeah, okay. My scooter had 100 parking tickets. So they would not release. My diploma. No, not my diploma. I didn't graduate. My files.

[Connor]

Yeah, right.

[Pat McAfee]

So the NFL was trying to get my files to see how many hours it was, and they were like, we're not releasing it. The guy's got 100. Some parking tickets or whatever, like, for my scooter. I didn't know they could tie my scooter back to me. I guess they, like everybody else, knew it was my scooter because that thing was never registered to anything. So I kind of did a couple different times say, that's not mine. Those aren't mine. And then they came back. Yes. So pay that bill. Get the. I think I had one semester at one point, but that was early in my career. They were trying to get me to finish it. I think it was DT David Thornton, who's director of player development, or maybe Rich at the beginning. They were trying to get me to go back and do it now. It's got to be. Be. Those hours have to be just multiplied. I would assume. Who knows how many of my classes that I actually went to and graduated from still count.

[Tone]

Yes.

[Pat McAfee]

I. I don't know if any of those things will count now. It's a whole different world now.

[Ad]

I don't know.

[Connor]

Because you didn't transfer. So if you only had 13 hours or like a semester left, I don't. I don't really know how they could fudge that and. And change that. I think that's pretty steadfast.

[Pat McAfee]

Maybe James Cook motivated me here to walk across that stage.

[Ty Schmidt]

That'd be cool.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah. Graduating. Does anyone that goes to the league graduate? I said, come on now.

[Pat McAfee]

We.

[AJ Hawk]

You really think you're gonna go back to college now? Let's. Come on. You got a lot of time. You're not doing that. We can move on from that. We know that was a quick. That came and went pretty fast, I think.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. Yeah, you're right. We are passing. But go on. What were you saying? Any of these guys that are in the NFL right now that are transferring, does anybody graduate?

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

Does anyone graduate? I know it's like a common thing. If you're a big recruit, you. You graduate high school early and you go and roll and you take part in spring ball. But then if you're going to go to the league, is that how many people are graduating are all. You just have to Count all the guys that don't play to keep your graduation up.

[Pat McAfee]

How about Coach K? Coach K was like, they don't really do school anymore. So I'm like, it was that Coach K that told me, because the nil. Because I have that question, like, do these guys have to show up at class? Like, are we still worried about them showing up at class now that we're playing? Paying them actually to do football, like, is what takes. Press what takes what?

[AJ Hawk]

I mean, I don't. A lot of guys that are strictly, like, online now.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, but are they even doing that?

[Connor]

They have to be like, you look at like, some of the big tens. Like, it. It'd be during, like, basketball season. And like, teams from the Midwest would take, like, their west coast road trip where they'd play Oregon, UCLA and usc and they stay out there. They're out there for like two weeks.

[Pat McAfee]

But is everybody just eligible now?

[Connor]

Yeah. I mean, maybe.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

Want to be an ineligible? Do it.

[Pat McAfee]

I feel like you really don't hear that. Because if I'm ineligible and I can't be a thing, so I could sue the school for taking away money from me because you are deeming me not able to get my money here. I assume there's some.

[Ty Schmidt]

Well, that they take like, kind of like teachers or kind of guidance counselors on the road with them so that they kind of have some sort of study guide. And then during the summers, don't they?

[Pat McAfee]

Are these guys called Pete Thamel? We didn't know if they're doing the school. Is anybody doing the school?

[Connor]

Even though when we get these guys who come on and commit, it's always for the next two to three years. Like there is. There's no both thought or three to four. But even that, it's like, it's not

[Tone]

because football you have to do three. And if you're doing a summer semester, plus your two actual semesters, you only have to be there for three years to get your diploma.

[Ty Schmidt]

That's why Coach K was like, hey, look, they're here for 180 days and then they're gone forever.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, yeah. Because one and done. Actually.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

To hear that. That used to be a thing that. Where people are ineligible. Andy Katz, one of the greatest linebackers ever at Ohio State, he was on the COVID of Sports Illustrated, said, like, the Ohio State is number one. Asterisks if the big cat is eligible because of his whole school situation where he didn't have enough credits or something.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, eligibility really mattered. Whenever we were going through school, that just Stopped happening. I feel like, you know what? These kids. Smart.

[Ty Schmidt]

Covid.

[Connor]

They kind of just stopped.

[Pat McAfee]

KAREN Ladies and gentlemen, joining us now is the authority on college sports, Pete Thammel.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Peter Everybody in the 3:1. Pete hey, we appreciate you for joining us. Pete do they do school anymore, college athletes?

[Pete Thamel]

So, Pat, most college athletes, I would say, and we certainly don't have a holistic percentage on this, take classes online.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, but do they do it? We, we're talking about, we haven't heard of somebody being ineligible. And then would they even be allowed to be ineligible? Because then they could potentially sue because you're affecting money and gains if you were to deem them ineligible from something that wasn't their actual profession, which is football. Has anybody been ineligible because of academics since money has started flowing towards football players and athletes?

[Pete Thamel]

I would say rare.

[AJ Hawk]

Rare, rare, rare.

[Pete Thamel]

I'm sure somebody has. I can't think of anybody off the top of my head, but that was an annual thing like he's not going to make it or, you know, is missing games or didn't go to class. But with ever since, everything has shifted online and Reese has joked about this, the. Yeah, there's been magically no, virtually no academic issues.

[Pat McAfee]

These kids are all smarter. I'm, I'm happy about that.

[Ty Schmidt]

Nice.

[Pat McAfee]

Hey, what's going on with the sourcebe stuff? Do we know anything now that we didn't know maybe a couple days ago? And what do we think the fallout's going to be?

[Pete Thamel]

Inevitably, I don't think there's anything particularly new. I think that the scope of how much he gambled, some of that has unspooled, to use one of your favorite words, Pat, in the, in the past few days. And, and I think before there's any definitive action on what happens next, I think he has to leave rehab. And it's pretty simple. Do they take an uphill fight to try to regain his eligibility, which again, precedent would tell you is something would have to radically change, be it an injunction or a rule change for him to get eligible. If then, say, enforcement finds everything as, as it has been, as it has been reported, or he goes to the supplemental draft. My understanding of the supplemental draft, which is a bit of an opaque world, is that you have to declare by June 30th we haven't had, I believe, a supplemental draft the last two years, and I don't believe anybody has been taken in the supplemental draft since 2019. If Brandon Sorsby did indeed go to the supplemental draft, he would certainly be the most prominent player since Josh Horton, which was maybe a dozen or so years ago coming out of Baylor. But ironically, Pat, the reason you do end up in the supplemental draft is you don't have eligibility. That, that I believe, without looking at the rules in front of me, is one of the tenets where this sort of loophole emerged because you weren't going to be able to be eligible to play at your school. You could then use this, you know, use this exit, ramp, ramp and, and go, and go there. So I have a feeling if it goes that way, we'll all be learning a lot more about the supplemental draft because it would be a, you know, look, he's a first round talent quarterback who was trending that way certainly, and may have even been this year. If he, if he went, it's hard to say in a hypothetical, but he was certainly in. The conversation would have been studied by everybody and, you know, would have been in the QB2/3 conversation.

[Pat McAfee]

So we know a decision will be made by July then with the ncaa. That's never happened. Right? That would have to be.

[Pete Thamel]

No, that would mean, that would mean he would have to declare by then. So this is the process right after

[Pat McAfee]

an NCAA investigation and punishment came that deemed him ineligible or.

[Pete Thamel]

So we can always count on the NCAA working slowly, Pat.

[Pat McAfee]

Exactly. That's what I'm saying.

[Pete Thamel]

If there's one thing we could do. The unique part of how the gambling situations work is he has not technically, I believe, been declared ineligible yet, but he will be declared ineligible if you have a gambling violation, a gambling allegation that arises or that that's found, you are declared ineligible and then the, the process proceeds through a reinstatement process. But before that goes, they have to obviously investigate everything. So that would all be lengthy. So I would. It would be surprising to me if there was NCAA clarity by June 30, and that's not knowing anything, like insightful, you know, from this case, but rather just covering these things for 25 years and how they tend to.

[Pat McAfee]

Got it. Okay. And I agree with you. I haven't been covering it for 25 years, but I've been around watching the NCAA operate us. Having an answer by July would be just, it won't happen. So he would potentially. Okay, what if he did this? It's been done in the past. What if he said, you know what, I'm done, actually, I'm done. And they say, well, we want to look into your stuff. Sorry, I'm actually not an NCAA person anymore, I'm gonna leave. He gets banned but he could enter the supplemental draft and then the NFL people would have to worry and do the investigation. Because if it's not any legal stuff and it's just NCAA stuff and he chooses to no longer do college stuff, is there an investigation happening? Like, is that his out actually just to say the whole thing? I don't know. That's. You would tell me more, Pete. I guess.

[Pete Thamel]

Yeah. I think, like, it would make sense to explore all possible.

[Pat McAfee]

Like, coaches have gone to the NFL before whenever there's about to be an NCAA thing, right?

[Connor]

Correct. Yeah.

[Pete Thamel]

No, that. That John Caliperi sort of invented beating the posse. We saw Pete Carroll do it. It's happened quite a few times.

[Pat McAfee]

So this would be a player doing it. Right. Investigation's about to happen. Actually, I'm going to go to the NFL. That would be the first time. So if there isn't a legal investigation, then we never really get.

[Pete Thamel]

Yes.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah.

[Pete Thamel]

My understanding is the only legal things that could emerge from this is like underage gambling, which is, you know, parking. Parking ticket stuff. That's not anything that's good.

[Pat McAfee]

So source could potentially, if he comes out of this rehab not wanting to gamble ever again, which we hope happens for him, by the way. It sounds like sincerely.

[Pete Thamel]

Yes. Sincerely hope that.

[Pat McAfee]

We genuinely hope that happens again. And then they just shut down this investigation because he decides to go to the NFL. He could basically get it brand new. Right? He could kind of get a brand new thing here with an opportunity misses out on 5 million from two Texas tech.

[Connor]

Right.

[Pat McAfee]

But this could actually be a. Coaches have done it with the ncaa. They'll say, you come back, you can't show clause, whatever. But then this could actually. That's interesting that that could be the outcome here for Mr. Swordsman.

[Connor]

Sounds like that should be what he does because regardless if he's going to get suspended, like, he's not. He's not ever going to see that $5 million from Texas Tech. Right. Like, that's. That's not happening. So he. Why wouldn't you.

[Pat McAfee]

I don't know. Yeah, I'm very fascinated. We're all talking about this live. Obviously, that's not how most shows are. But on that Note, that feels. Mr. Sorsby sounds like there is an ability and a chance for you to change your life here, you know, and that very rarely does that happen. We hope you are able to do that. But if you bet on your own teams on a regular basis, we would like to say you can't fucking do that to us. No. Can't do that to the sports world and a lot of people obviously attacking the coverage of sports, having sports gambling being prevalent. That's two different. This is a two different world in the sport. Sport. Take it from us, two ex athletes, you know, it's just two different things like talking about sports and knowing that lines exist and where money is and everything like that. That is where we are as a society with sport. And that's how some societies have been talking about sports for generations at this exact point. So I. I just think athletes have to continue to be very disciplined. I don't. I don't necessarily think it's fair, but for the good of fucking everything in sport, we have to keep the integrity of the game. I think we all kind of understand that, which is an interesting. The Sourcebee thing's an interesting thing because, like, if he gets another chance, the NFL teams are going to want to know a lot. But how are they going to get to know a lot if the NCAA's doesn't get a chance to investigate? Because didn't Coach Harbaugh just say, nah, he just wanted Chargers? Yeah, fascinating. Okay, last question from me, Pete, before we get out of here. And once again, anybody that's going through anything, any type of addiction, definitely gambling addiction, we hope you get to a point where you want to help yourself, just like Sorsby did there. And we hope that helping yourself sticks. As somebody who's been a part of a lot of different interventions for a lot of different things, it isn't until the person really wants it and obviously you can motivate them, but if you're in a spot, know that you can get help and people love you. And that should be something I hope Sorsby's hearing, even though it probably feels like his life is spiraling out of control. Last question right now from me about college. Everything. Wasn't March Madness good enough. Why are you changing it, Pete? Why are you adding teams, Pete? Why are you doing this to March Madness? I don't think I understand why you would. I thought you liked college sports, Pete. I thought you liked March Madness. Now you're going to make what, March surplus? Why?

[Connor]

Why are we turning it into a march mockery? Kind of.

[Pat McAfee]

It is kind of a little bit of a march mockery. Yeah. We don't need any of this.

[Ty Schmidt]

Sir.

[Pat McAfee]

Sir, why'd you do this?

[Pete Thamel]

Apologies if I offended you by something I clearly didn't do and just am reporting on. I would say this is something, Pat, that there's been a drumbeat for this for a while. And as much as some people have cast this as a money grab and there's certainly money involved, no one's naive to that. This is really an access grab and a byproduct of these leagues ballooning to the size where they are right now. I believe off the top of my head, it probably says something. I don't know, all this cold. We have 18 in the Big Ten. I'm confident in that. I think we have 17 ACC schools, 16 SEC, I believe 16 Big 12 when this TV contract for college basketball was enacted, or you can go all the way back. These leagues. Well, There was a Pac 12. Right. And these leagues weren't nearly the size that they were. And the money obviously that the power conferences can pay their players has created this huge separation right. Between the power leagues and the non power leagues. And we can throw the Big east in there for basketball chat at this point. So the power leagues that now control the voting and you know, have a, have a big say in this. They want more of their mid tier teams in the tournament.

[Pat McAfee]

I'm sick of it. Sick of it.

[Pete Thamel]

You know, a lot of the reaction, Pat, I mean you are not, you are not on an island. And what, what you and you and Ty and Connor were intimating there, obviously that has been, there's been a, there's been a strong rebuttal to this publicly, but we'll watch. You tend to follow the money, just like Woodward and Bernstein taught us Big J journalists a long time ago. And you follow the money and you tend to get your answers. And this is now. There hasn't been a significant expansion of the NCA tournament since 1985. So things grow, things evolve. Basically, Tuesday and Wednesday now, the NCAA tournament are going to have 12 total games. Six each one. One set of those.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, it is. Okay, so just like I was going to say to you, my reaction, everybody's reactions, everybody's reaction. But then when it comes on, guess who's gonna be paying the bill for all of it? Me.

[Pete Thamel]

Yes.

[Pat McAfee]

And us.

[Pete Thamel]

Yes.

[Pat McAfee]

Now we get to shut it down for more days. We like that. Okay, go on, boys. We never heard of go on.500 team from the Big Ten. Good luck out there, boys. Maybe you strike gold here in this March madness that has been blimped up a little bit. We have a minute left here on espn. Before we continue digitally. I'll let Tone ask you the question, but if I cut you off in the middle of your answer, it's because I got to send people to SportsCenter. Go ahead, Tone.

[Connor]

Yeah.

[Tone]

Pete, big news Yesterday, the Big 12 approved the deal with Redbird Capital, private equity, I believe companies. So now if schools opt in, believe they get $30 million. Is that on top of the 20 some odd million or whatever they get in revenue sharing already? And why would a school not opt in to get the $30 million?

[Pete Thamel]

Yeah, actually to him, very few, it feels like from the Big 12, the early feel is very few will do this. You have to pay it back. That's why you don't do it. Right. Like it's just not. There's no free money anywhere other than the field goal kick, Pat. There's no free money in America.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, you think that's free? Yeah, it's expensive. Yeah. Somebody's paying to be on every year.

[Pete Thamel]

Random sophomore in Athens. Right. So, yeah, PE is on its way into college sports. We're feeling, feeling it and seeing it in different ways. It's manifested on the campus side, it's now manifested on the conference side. And there will be more of it, not less of it.

[Pat McAfee]

As things go on to 30% or 30 million, I wonder what percentage of revenue they're looking for. For how long are you signing one of the 20 year deals then with Redbird Capital, how many people will be in charge whenever this bill actually comes, five to ten years from now, will there be people that are looking out for their asses right now? We can get an extra 30 mil right now. Who cares who's going to have to pay the bill 10 years from now? There'll be some of those types of decisions made. I assume Commish, who is the one that probably negotiated this deal, would like to see some of his teams use this. Remember we had an led basketball court. He obviously changed that. He does like to think this guy is a forward thinker. I think we have a lot of respect for your check, your mark, Hunter. Sorry, your mark.

[Pete Thamel]

No, Hunter, your check, Brett. Your mark, Hunter Yuricheck is the Arkansas ad. Brett, your mark is the Forward Thinking Big 12.

[Pat McAfee]

And I would like to let Forward Thinking Big 12 commission your mark. Know that I got respect for him and his twin brother. They are good, good business people. And West Virginia women's basketball team and our rifle team are their Big 12 champs. So I would be interested to see if WVU decides to do this. Very interesting. I don't have.

[Pete Thamel]

Yeah, as. As will I. My hunch would be no, but I'm not sure.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, but who would be making that decision? The president? The ad. Yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

What if Rich Rod wants to do it but the president AD Don't.

[Tone]

Sorry.

[Pete Thamel]

I think those would be, you know, board decisions, high end decisions like that.

[Tone]

If you.

[Pat McAfee]

I know high level. That is legit though. It has to come from somebody that's potentially going to be there. Yeah. When this shit has to get paid because there's everything so cyclical or I'm not cyclical. What that mean? Revolving. Everything's so revolving. At some of these Big 12 schools like Ren Baker, we thought we're going to lose Ren Baker when any AD job leave. So if AD Is making this decision to check into one of these private equity things, it's like, ad is he going to be here in 15 years? Does he care if we're fucking paying 15% of revenue 15 years from now? Whatever the percentage is for 30 million right now, I don't think so. And some of these people might be big risk takers. It's like, hey, if we take this 30 million, we can compound it, pay this thing off quick, and then we catapult ourselves into a monster spot. Presidents too, they change. We've had a president change the last couple of years. Like who's making that? That's a big decision. Huge. It's like high school kids signing these deals that are like a. We'll take a percentage of this for this line long. It's like you're kind of weighing everything in the future and how much striking gold now helps. You know, deferred payments are good because you know you got something coming later. But what if you strike now? Then you don't worry about what the payment is later because it's only going to grow. Good luck out there. 30 million being available. Pete Thamel, we hope you would take it because if we put a $30 million rocket on your back, you'd be at Mars, pal. You're the man. We appreciate the hell out of you, Pete.

[Pete Thamel]

Thank you. Good to see you guys.

[Pat McAfee]

Goodbye, Pete tamer, you get $30 million rocket, basically for your organization.

[AJ Hawk]

I wonder what you have to give up for that 30 mil.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. What percentage of revenue later in life?

[Ty Schmidt]

Well, you go on to win though. You get all that money from the CFB and stuff. Like I'm saying, like you don't win if I. Then you leave.

[Pat McAfee]

I think you heard me explaining there.

[Ty Schmidt]

True.

[Pat McAfee]

Okay. The downfall of this is the people that are potentially not going to be there are going to be making decisions for future generations of whatever that are going to flip the bill. What is the bill? We don't know. Okay. We have not seen that detail yet. We probably get it from your mark. If I had to guess, I'm sure we could probably find that out before tomorrow's program. We'll do some journalism. But if I'm a dog and I'm in one of these powerful positions, I get. What are we all looking for? All fundraising. Right. We're going to get $30 million to do whatever we need to do right now. I think I'm betting on the boy. I think I'm betting on the team. I think I'm betting on us to use this $30 million to. To put us into a different stratosphere. Now, if it doesn't work, I'm getting fired and I'm not there, which I don't have to pay.

[Connor]

Yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

So of course you're taking it.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, exactly. That's what I'm saying. He said he doesn't think a lot of schools are gonna do. It's like, push comes to shove, you get people in a room, hey, do you want 15 million? You can get up to 30. You want $15 million to maybe help here? This is what you're giving up? It's like, It'll definitely. That's like a reality show. They need to be filming this.

[AJ Hawk]

You got to present that to the board or the chancellors, those people that are there, that will be there 10 years from now, I guess, then you gotta. You gotta talk them into it. Yeah. It'll be interesting to see who does it.

[Pat McAfee]

They should be filming that to make the money back.

[Connor]

Yeah. There you go.

[Pat McAfee]

Right? That's what they should. They should be doing because that's a huge decision. You're. You're. Obviously, this is every negotiation, but you're leveraging the future for the moment. Can you create the moment to be bigger than what the future would be if I'm there? Mountaineers. We get 30 million right now. How much is Cody Campbell giving to their deal?

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, exactly.

[Pat McAfee]

20 million. Okay. I guess we'll get. We'll beat Cody Campbell for a year. Let's go ahead and try that out.

[Connor]

And I guess that will be the tough sell because the board of regents are all people who have either been there for, like, 10 plus or will be there for the next. You know, so you can't just do, like, well, you know, hey, yeah. If this doesn't work out, I'll just make a lateral move to a different big time conference that's kind of down there, you know, lower, towards the bottom. When they fire their gm, I'll just leak to my agent, hey, you know, it's just. I need A fresh start. I think I want to go to, you know, Colorado instead.

[Pat McAfee]

Bruce just said that the meteorites deals are up in 2031 as well. So if you're deciding to get this money, you can always sell a fake number coming in 2031. Yeah, you can always sell. Especially with some of these deals that are happening around sports. You can just say, oh, we're going to get 75 million a school.

[Ty Schmidt]

This won't even matter.

[Pat McAfee]

We're probably going to join maybe even the big ten. Yeah. I mean there's a chance, you know. So this money, I'm thinking more people are going to use it than less people. Texas Tech, they're definitely going to take it.

[Connor]

Yeah.

[Tone]

Do they need it though?

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah. Which schools need it?

[Pat McAfee]

No. Oh, they're not going to give up. 15.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, exactly.

[Pat McAfee]

What is the percentage we need to know what the percent. What's this guy I'm calling him?

[Connor]

It's Cody Campbell. He could just, just cut a check for the return right away.

[Pat McAfee]

He can get 30 million. Yeah. What the is this guy's number?

[Connor]

This is not something else. Yeah,

[Pat McAfee]

we'll find out about the Big 12 going for. I have some breaking news I do believe.

[Tone]

Okay.

[Pat McAfee]

Wayne Gretzky has texted us.

[Tone]

Wayne.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, great interview with Rick.

[Tone]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

Thank you for promoting hockey. 99.

[Connor]

Wow.

[Ty Schmidt]

Wayne.

[Pat McAfee]

Oh, love you.

[AJ Hawk]

99 signs at 99.

[Pat McAfee]

He gets it. Oh my God. Be a friend. Tell a friend something nice.

[Ty Schmidt]

Pinnacle.

[Pat McAfee]

It might change our life. We're in this thing together. We got hockey, we got NBA tonight. Wayne O. There's no way he's watching now. What a walk off. Wayne O. Love you way. Oh yeah, that's a great one. Isn't it nice to feel that?

[Ty Schmidt]

Yeah, it is.

[Pat McAfee]

That's nice. We need that. Especially after Valerie. Rest in peace. I love you, dog Bob. Rest in peace. Love you dog. O says, hey, pretty good little sausage there with talking. Hey, I got you Patty. That's good.

[Ty Schmidt]

Hell yeah.

[Connor]

Yeah, I bet.

[AJ Hawk]

Yeah.

[Rick Tocchet]

Yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

No, Universe Ball. Universe just called. Yeah. Universe.

[Tone]

Puck.

[Pat McAfee]

Hi.

[Ty Schmidt]

By way of when.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah. Figure out what Big 12's got going on.

[Connor]

Yep.

[Tone]

On it.

[Pat McAfee]

Who knows. We'll see you tomorrow. Big guest tomorrow.

[Tone]

I think huge cup.

[Pat McAfee]

I think so from what I'm hearing. Let's remember we're lucky to be alive. Every day you wake up alive. Good.

[Ty Schmidt]

Yes.

[Pat McAfee]

Is there things that you can find around you that are ass? Certainly. Should we try to move on from those things? Yes. But remember, life good. Death alternative not great. Let's enjoy it all. Thank you for being the Best dog of all time, though. I fucking love you, girl. Gotta get a tattoo. I think. Yeah, I think I have to. I don't think it's gonna be big. Cause you know. Yeah.

[AJ Hawk]

Your whole back or what?

[Pat McAfee]

Did you hear what I think? Cause I already got this one for the daughter. Yeah, I think has already got that one. I think the tattoo community knows that if I go under, if they put me out and I get a whole sleeve in my bag, like, I pay my respects.

[Connor]

Yeah, you're certified now.

[Pat McAfee]

Yeah, certified. Right here, bro. Boom. Right here, you guys.

[AJ Hawk]

That is a painful spot.

[Pat McAfee]

Exactly. It looks like it.

[Steve Bisciotti]

For real.

[Pat McAfee]

I'm gonna wake up someday. Double sleeved. Take it off. Hold back.

[Ty Schmidt]

He's sick.

[Pat McAfee]

Sup, boys? I've been under for 28 hours. Four artists. Ooh, sleeve over here.

[Connor]

Sure.

[AJ Hawk]

Oh, yeah.

[Pat McAfee]

I'll be. So much of this. So much of this. So much mana. Let's enjoy life. Lot of mana. Be a friend. Tell a friend something nice. It might change their life. We're on this thing together. We have no idea what everybody's going through. Never forget it. So maybe make somebody smile. Could be a benefit for all lives, yourselves included. Team on me. Team on three. One, two, three. Team goodbye.

[Ad]

If you've ever wanted real energy without choking down something that tastes like regret, Bucked up is the answer. The flavor is the thing people keep coming back for. Insanely delicious, which is not a phrase usually associated with energy drinks. And they're built on real science backed ingredients, Clean energy that actually works without the garbage you don't want. Bucked up is so confident you'll love their drinks, they're giving away an island vacation just to prove it. That's the kind of brand this is. No purchase necessary. Giveaway ends May 30th. Enter and find your closest Bucked [e-mail] Grab a Bucked up and feel like a million bucks.

[Pat McAfee]

Hey, sports fans. The ESPN app has all of ESPN all in one place. The ESPN app is your home to thousand 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.