NBA Finals preview, a Night with the Savannah Bananas & Max Greenfield Talks Tom Thibodeau

Summary

Throwbacks with Matt Leinart & Jerry Ferrara Episode Summary: "NBA Finals Preview, a Night with the Savannah Bananas & Max Greenfield Talks Tom Thibodeau"

In this engaging episode of Throwbacks, hosts Matt Leinart and Jerry Ferrara delve into a range of topics spanning the NBA Finals, the unexpected coaching change of the New York Knicks, and an entertaining evening with the Savannah Bananas baseball team. Their dynamic conversation, enriched with humor and heartfelt insights, offers listeners a comprehensive look into the world of sports and beyond.

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1. Knicks Season Recap and Tom Thibodeau’s Firing

The episode opens with a brief recap of the Knicks' season, quickly transitioning to shocking news about the firing of head coach Tom Thibodeau. Matt shares his initial optimism about the team's performance, only to be blindsided by the managerial decision.

Notable Quote:

• Matt Leinart [00:05]: "The season was fucking awesome. You could be a little disappointed because we were right there."

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2. Discussion with Max Greenfield on the Coaching Change

Seeking emotional support, Matt invites actor Max Greenfield to discuss the implications of Thibodeau's departure. The conversation navigates the camaraderie between players and coaches, the potential future of the Knicks, and the broader shifts within the NBA's coaching landscape.

Notable Quotes:

• Matt Leinart [02:27]: "I just think about Tom Thibodeau as, like, a guy and a coach."
• Max Greenfield [04:15]: "I thought, from this point forward, I don't care whatever I think or anybody else thinks, I'm with this guy."

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3. NBA Finals Preview

Transitioning to the NBA Finals, Matt and Jerry analyze the matchups, emphasizing the strategic depth of teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers. They discuss the evolution of team-building in the NBA, moving from super teams to more depth-oriented rosters.

Notable Quotes:

• Jerry Ferrara [47:01]: "Because I just think we're entering this. I mean, look at the Thunder and the Pacers. We're entering this."
• Matt Leinart [46:33]: "I think it's OKC's year. I think that's easy to be."

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4. A Night with the Savannah Bananas

A highlight of the episode is Matt's recounting of his experience with the Savannah Bananas, a unique and entertaining baseball team known for their showmanship and athletic prowess. He details the behind-the-scenes interactions, the dynamic performances, and the positive impact on his family.

Notable Quotes:

• Matt Leinart [21:13]: "It's a pure. It's a, it's a spectacle to see in person."
• Jerry Ferrara [27:41]: "They are a true show. They couldn't have been nicer. They're awesome, man."

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5. Personal Stories and Life Lessons in Sports

The hosts share personal anecdotes highlighting the emotional highs and lows of sports. From Matt's challenging moments as a backup quarterback to Jerry's experiences on set, they emphasize the importance of resilience, teamwork, and supporting one another through tough times.

Notable Quotes:

• Matt Leinart [62:32]: "It's a great thing about sports is the raw emotion, for better, for worse."
• Jerry Ferrara [68:33]: "Follow through with what you say to them."

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6. Mailbag Segment: Emotional Moments in Sports

Responding to listener feedback, Matt and Jerry discuss poignant moments in sports, such as Ronnie Simon's heartbreaking performance and the universal experience of athletes facing failure. They reflect on their own experiences, offering empathy and encouragement.

Notable Quotes:

• Jerry Ferrara [66:34]: "So keep your head up, man. It happens to all of us."
• Matt Leinart [68:19]: "It’s pure, it’s pure."

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Conclusion

Throughout the episode, Throwbacks seamlessly blends current sports analysis with personal stories and memorable interactions. Matt and Jerry's candid conversation not only provides valuable insights into the NBA Finals and the Knicks' future but also showcases their genuine camaraderie and passion for sports. Whether discussing the innovative Savannah Bananas or sharing heartfelt experiences, this episode offers a rich and engaging listen for both avid fans and casual followers alike.

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Listeners can look forward to more in-depth discussions and unforgettable stories in future episodes of Throwbacks with Matt Leinart & Jerry Ferrara.

Transcript

[A]

I know we don't want to spend too much time on the Knicks. We can recap the season in 30 seconds for you.

[B]

The season was fucking awesome. You could be a little disappointed because we were right there. The fact that some Knicks fans now also want to fire Tibbs, it's just bananas. All right, what's up, everybody? We taped a really, really great podcast, and you're going to hear most of it shortly. But we did sort of wrap up the Knicks season and the future and how we felt about the Knicks, especially me, only to find out right after we wrapped, as I was picking my kids up from school, that the Knicks fired Tom Thibodeau. Obviously, that wasn't going to work, and Matt's already on a plane from Reasons why You'll hear later. So we had to fix that. And also, I had to get some therapy out, and I thought, who is the person I call who's my break in case of emergency? Nick's friend, where I work out all my feelings? Max Greenfield, friend of the show. Awesome actor, best friend in real life. So Max is going to come on right now, and we are going to hash out how we feel about the Knicks firing coach Tom Thibodeau. All right, Max. I just did probably like, 40% of an episode where I talked about the Knicks future and how bright it was and how it was such a great season, and there's no way Tibbs is going anywhere. And then Sham's messed up our whole day. I'm a little devastated and shook, and you're my go to emotionally for this stuff. Where are you at mentally right now?

[C]

You texted me. I had to pull over the car. I got so scared. This is what you texted me. Whenever you do this, I get very nervous. I have no idea what's happening.

[B]

You.

[C]

You just texted, omg. Is it question mark? And I just went. Let me go to espn. Because if there was. If there's not like, a big red marker that says breaking news and something like, really bad, just.

[B]

Right, right.

[C]

Rather than have an opinion on the decision itself, I just think about Tom Thibodeau as, like, a guy and a coach, and he. I'll never forget, there was a. It was like when the Knicks were on that sort of Derrick Rose tour.

[A]

You remember?

[B]

Yes. Early Julius Randall. Yeah.

[C]

And they went to Chicago where there was. It was obviously like a big celebration and the press conference afterwards. Thibodeau's up there and he's doing his usual thing, even though it's, you know, like this emotional sort of.

[B]

Yeah, you're gonna go watch the culmination.

[C]

Of Derrick Rose's career. And he's just sort of like, you know, very, very blunt with his answers. And at some point during the press conference, Yokino comes in and disrupts the conference. And he made some joke about, like, his wedding or something, or. It was a very personal joke that was very inside that nobody understood. And he came, like, Noah came in a little bit hot, and Tibbs, for a second, had to, like, figure out what exactly was going on. He cracks a smile, which cracks Noah. Noah comes up to the. To, like, you know, the table, whatever. Tib stands up and they give each other a hug. That was like out of a movie. Like, ah, this is, like, this is my coach. And they love history and we love each other. And from that point forward, you know, I mean, like, look, the, The. The complaints about Tom Thibodeau's coaching are. Are. Are not like, you know, secrets I've.

[B]

Uttered quite a few times and texted you quite a few times. This playoff run, like, fucking Tibbs, man. What is he doing? And I don't know shit either about basket. Like, I know, but I don't know, right?

[C]

So I don't know anything. But when I saw that moment, it. It really was like, for me, I thought, from this point forward, I don't care whatever I think or anybody else thinks, I'm with this guy.

[B]

Let's play a little game, okay? If we were journalists and Leon Rose said, all right, hold on, I'm going to get. I'm going to. Yeah, you go. Now he's on glasses.

[C]

Now I'm a journalist.

[B]

Leon Rose has granted me and you an interview. Just two of us. We're going to sit down for five minutes. We get one.

[A]

We get.

[B]

We get one question each. Do you want me to go first and you have a minute to think? Because I know what I would ask them.

[C]

Okay.

[B]

Okay. Hey, Leon. Sir. Jerry Ferrara from Throwbacks. Was anything short of the finals always going to be this result? Meaning, like, because with. I feel like with that question, you could imply. Yes, on the outside world, it looks like chemistry was high, teams playing well. But was this finals or bust? And we didn't even know it because of the moves. It's. It was so quick, Max. So that's what I would ask Leon Rose. I would say, you know, if they lost to the Celtics, this was probably going to happen. Was this, or was it something that happened in a Pacer series that you really said, fuck, this has got to end. Now, that would be my Question to Leon Rose.

[C]

Yeah, I don't know. It's. It's. It makes me worry, too, because, you know, it felt like all year long, we. They. With the Towns trade, they assembled this new team and they were figuring each other out and. And what the lineups were and what the chemistry was, and there was times where the Brunson Towns thing looked unstoppable, and there was times where it felt like they completely went away from it. And then Brunson gets injured for a while, and then all of a sudden, the team looks like a totally different.

[B]

Team, but Bridges gets unlocked.

[C]

Bridges is playing great and OG is scoring 30 a game, and you're like, whoa, there's a lot here. But it also felt like, for me, at least, I was like, this is a great starting point. I think we're a year away. And there was Boston looming out there, who I thought, well, we'll never be.

[B]

We're not going to. We're not going to beat Boston.

[C]

And so we go into the playoffs.

[A]

And.

[C]

I thought, just don't lose to Detroit.

[B]

I was where. I was there with you.

[C]

I was like, let's just beat Detroit and then we'll get to Boston and, you know, that's what's. That's expected.

[B]

And then just put up a fight, man. Put up a fight. Whatever you do against Boston, just don't die quietly.

[C]

And then all of a sudden, the Knicks be Boston. And I think it really. And I don't know, I. I think what. The question that you asked makes me think about how did expectations shift as a result of how the playoffs.

[B]

That's the question I'm asking, basically. Essentially, it's like. Well, because also, this is something that Liner and I talked about on the show today, which we don't have to cut because of this firing. We was. It certainly does feel like the dawn of a new day in the NBA where we went from super teams and big three to. All right, maybe you could do like a superstar 1 and 1A and some role players. And that's worked, like, for the Nuggets, and that's worked for the Celtics to a degree. And now I feel like we're entering this. I mean, look at the Thunder and the Pacers. We're entering this. You got to kind of be ten deep now if you really want to last these three grueling rounds to get to the finals and go. And, you know, obviously, the Pacers were built for that. I just still wonder, obviously, like, it's just so hard to know what the expectations were like you said. Because I also don't think you make this move without firmly knowing who your coach is going to be coming off this firing. And I don't think you make this move without Max, you and I, we've talked. I feel like we've almost talked about this before. You and I have been in. In the entertainment business for almost 30 years at this point. We're not always involved in the big decisions, but, like, you know what's kind of happening if it is right. Like, if they were gonna remove your showrunner or a producer or another, you might not get a say. But you might know, maybe I'm. I'm saying you don't make this move unless you know who the coach is. And do you do this move without saying the Brunson and Cat and Hart and like, hey, we're gonna move on from Tibbs. Not saying we want your opinion, but maybe just give them a chance to die on the sword. And maybe no one did. Pure conjecture and speculation. But like, you could be. If you're firing Tibs, you have to end up with the guy that you have either always wanted or have been flirting with for quite some time. Fair. Come on, bro. Who are we gonna end up with if. If John? If Johnny, bro. All right, well, let's. Let's go down through it. Can I give. Can I just give you. Can I give you a Bring me back?

[C]

I'm gonna bring you back.

[B]

Please do.

[C]

How about. And I'm not suggesting this as our. As the next coach of the Knicks. Oh, no, but remember, Mark Jackson has incredible run with Golden State and then loses his job. Everybody's like, wait, what? And then Steve Kerr comes in and Steve Kerr wins what, 11 championships?

[B]

Yeah. Just has. Yeah. One of the best.

[C]

One of the best runs ever becomes the Oly. And it's like, you know now. But so I do think that's a.

[B]

Possibility realistically to me. And again, I know, I know nothing. I'm just looking because I watch every game. The only candidates I could imagine that you fire. Tibbs, who knocked on the door this year is obviously the Mike Malone stuff is super interesting. Champion, but offense heavy. I mean, we. The fun rumors like Jeff Van Gundy, but him and Tibbs are kind of like boys. Like, what he would he do? Would he take. Oh, I don't know. I don't know. I just don't know. And if Van Gundy wants the head coach again, I don't know. Then obviously the. The fun one is, is Jay Wright because of the Villanova thing. We'll go full Villanova. Those to me are like the three realistic ones. Then there's the, like the, the ugly side of Twitter is like Spolster is going to leave Miami. Okay, that's interesting. Her is going to leave Golden State. It's never happening. And then, then there's the wacky meta. World Peace puts his name in a hat. Rick Patino. I gotta imagine it's one of those three guys that I just mentioned. No. Or. And then lastly, sorry, I cannot forget Johnny Bryant who was with the Knicks and is like a finalist, I think for the Sun's job. Is a very, very good coach. Loved him when he was in New York. Do you fire Tibbs and hire a first year coach? So I just hit you with a lot.

[C]

I'm going to read what I texted you. If they announced John Stamos as the new coach, this means Giannis is coming.

[B]

We haven't even crossed the cap bridge yet.

[C]

New coach or the assistant coach has the last name. Antetokounmpo. I think I know where this is going.

[B]

Knicks signed Thanasis Antetokounmpo as a. As to the Westchester Knicks.

[C]

Yeah, look, I mean, truly, if, if that's a, if that's a real possibility, that then trumps whatever relationship you have with Tibbs and.

[B]

Right.

[C]

If you think that's going to make. If that, if you think that puts you in a, in a better position, or if there's some world where you know that puts you in a pole position to get Giannis, you make the move.

[B]

Okay. Right. It was interesting that the Athletic seemingly had an article written for like the last two weeks that they were just waiting for the Knicks season to end. They will change the date and launch it. That's always a sign that, you know, either there was things going on long before this or there's a coaching change about to happen and they're getting out in front of the narrative. This did feel like parting shots for me. It did feel like the cat trade emotionally, where it's like you get a little excited because you know, oh, maybe it is Spoelstra, maybe it is Mike Malone. It could, that could be an exciting outcome like getting cat. That's exciting. But the sadness of not finishing what you started. Similarly with Randall and DiVincenzo and now a coach Tibbs. But if you look at the history, every time this has happened and you feel that way as a Knick fan, they have upgraded that next year.

[C]

Right.

[B]

Has brought them to another level.

[C]

And I, and I'll say this, you know, because I feel the same way. It's really hard to digest these things.

[B]

It's sad. It's sad.

[C]

When RJ Barracan texted up and traded, I was like, what?

[B]

Look what I'm wearing, bro. I'm wearing a obi top and Nick shirt out of honor and respect.

[C]

I was sort of like. I mean, I just really wrap my head around RJ being the future of this franchise. But this idea of like having this core group together, especially as the. As these players ascend and become financially or are worth financially. What, the new cap or what. I don't understand how any of this. Yeah, but the math of it is so insane. Like, I'm not sure that these homegrown teams, these groups that started together, like the Jalen Browns and Jayson Tatums and we'll see what happens with that. But, like, you know, I don't know that that's necessarily a. A realistic possibility anymore in the NBA.

[B]

You're right. You're absolutely right.

[C]

There's a version where Leon Rose and those guys are like, we, we have. We are and have been aware of the direction this league is going to, and it's a year to year league and we need to sort of adjust and make moves based on that.

[B]

And, you know, I'll end with this and we'll let you go. I did say at some point to the liner today in terms of the season being a success. It is. This team has always felt like it was built to be Boston, and they did. I don't think anyone built the team to beat the Pacers. You know, I don't think that was on the agenda. And now that is part. And now it looks like the Celtics might be taking a year off. Who knows? I'm sure they'll fight through it and be competitive. The east is ripe for the picking, and maybe they just see a real opportunity to solidify the Knicks as the perennial number one two seed. And Eastern Conference finals now will be a failure. If it's only that five, six years.

[C]

Ago we were like. And now we're realistically talking about, you know, the Eastern Conference finals as a bust.

[B]

As a bust. Right. We're not used to this, which is also part of the problem.

[C]

No, this is all. I mean, look, this is. This is all great. This is all like, the Knicks are in a wonderful position. And as a fan base, we get to experience the potential of this team for the, for. For the foreseeable future, at least. I mean, certainly next year.

[B]

This is why you are my break in Case of emergency. Nick fan bestie. Because how we usually end most of our calls is on a high note. I feel like we're leaving on a high. I, I feel like we just went through therapy and it's out and I now, I do feel ready to move on now.

[C]

The Knicks made the Eastern Conference finals and we.

[B]

And, and very winnable series as well.

[C]

We had an awful first game. It was a very winnable series. I don't want walk into next season going. You just got to beat the Pacers. I think it's, you know, I think they're a great team but they're one of a very few great teams in the east.

[B]

Tell Tess I said hello and I enjoyed, I enjoyed seeing you stressing. Made me feel good knowing there was someone else out there that, that also had to just do things to deal with the stress. So I appreciated those posts.

[C]

It was, it was that the, the. It's. The playoffs were a long road. Every game, every game took too, too much out of me.

[B]

Keep Ozzy away from the Knicks, bro. Keep away from.

[C]

It's all Lakers, man.

[B]

Good. Well that's fine. Don't pass on your trauma to your children of being a Knicks fan. I love you, buddy. That was the best. And we'll, we'll talk again. We'll talk some football at some point. I gotta stop.

[C]

No next all off season. I'm ready. Let's go.

[B]

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[A]

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[B]

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[A]

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[A]

Yeah, I'm surprised. I'm surprised. Yeah. I mean if your boy, they came across social media years ago. I think it was like they started like 2016 and they're in A league. And. And they just. They were. They just became a phenomenon, slowly but surely. But you would always see them on social dancing, singing, playing baseball. Everyone's kind of like. Like, who are these guys? And they just caught fire, obviously. And fast forward about eight, nine years later. This is like a traveling. I actually talked to. I talked to the guys about this. It's that it's not necessarily Harlem Globetrotter s. That they have the trick plays. They have this kind of show, right? It's entertainment, but the game itself is not scripted at all. So the game is playing a real game with their rules that are different, but they're playing a real game. They're trying to get each other out. The bananas don't win every game at all. Like, it's not. It's not like that. It's just this. It's. It's made up of a lot of former baseball players, former D1, D2, some minor leaguers, really good high school players that are great on social media, can entertain fans, but also can play baseball. And they have these insane tryouts and all that. And as of the last year or so, they've traveled around the country. They've sold out. They've sold out baseball stadiums. They. They've even sold out. They sold out Clemson, I believe.

[B]

Better attendance than.

[A]

I believe this weekend. I believe this weekend or next weekend. They're. They're out in Charlotte for Carolina Panthers. So they sold out Carolina Panthers Stadium.

[B]

Jeez.

[A]

Yeah, man. And they're just. And they're. And so how I got involved.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Was my boys. My boys love their Instagram page because they just. It's just a bunch of, you know, like, I'm sure your boy. Like, they're into their songs, right? They love these songs, and they see these baseball players dancing. My boys play baseball. So they just. They just have fell in love with that. So sometimes, like a couple nights a week before bed, instead of reading all that, we'll watch some Savannah. Savannah Banana video. So my Cason's, like, got socks and all this stuff. So they were coming out to Anaheim, right? And they had. They don't come out to the west coast very often, if at all. I think they've been to Utah. I. I hit up one of the guys on Instagram. I was just, like, slid into some dms. No shame, bro. No shame. And I was like. And I was like, you know, I'm like, I'll buy tickets, whatever. It's just like online, you couldn't find them because they do a lottery. So they Do a pure lottery. You have to sign into the lottery, and then you get. I think it's $40 a ticket. So they charge hardly anything, but you could sit in the nosebleeds or you could sit first row. So it's a pure lottery. So online, they were, like, being resold or sold for, like, 700. I'm like, dude, I'm not gonna spend.

[B]

Like, I hate that they even do that.

[A]

Yeah, these are just. Yeah, whatever. So I hit one of the guys up. Jackson Olson, one of their biggest. One of their biggest stars and couldn't have been more awesome. Yeah, dude, Take care of you. Blah, blah, blah. So, like, we're messaging for a couple weeks. I get in touch with their PR guy, who also does a lot of their sideline reporting stuff. Good, dude. And long story short, we end up going to batting practice the day before at Angel Stadium, just shooting the shit on the field. All of Cole came. My other boys, they. They're running on the field. Cole's getting tips on how these trick plays. Who, by the way, these guys are unbelievable athletes.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Like, the shit they're doing between their legs, the flips with the baseball. Like, it has the globe trotter feel. And just getting guys out at first, like real baseball players who have a crazy skill set. So Cole's out there. The boys are hitting bp they're getting chased around. Like, it just. It was so awesome, man. Because I've All. I've. I've been on the other side as an athlete. When kids come out and you take, like, they are. They know exactly who. Who they are and the meaning behind. Savannah. Savannah Bananas, right?

[B]

And the kids will remember it forever.

[A]

Oh, dude. So that's B. So that's BP and then Jesse, who. Who runs the show, who's always in the yellow tux, right? He goes, hey, dude, what do you think about throwing the first pitch tomorrow night? And I go. I go, I'll do whatever you need me to do. I mean, you guys are taking care of us. Whatever you need. So his whole thing was like a baseball, then changed it to a football.

[B]

Yeah, that's what I was going to ask you. Was that your. That. Was that their idea? Because I thought that was genius. Go watch it on Social if you haven't yet.

[A]

That was. That was his idea. And so I'm like, cool. So then I'm just fired up, dude. Because I know, like. And they're like, dude, you guys can hang in the dugout. I'm like, really? They're like, yeah, just hang in the dugout, whatever you got, whatever you want to do during the game. So I throw the first pitch. I was a little nervous. I was more nervous about, like, I just want to. I wanted to throw a strike because in there, in, in banana ball, that first pitch counts as a ball count.

[B]

Which, by the way, that is a great.

[A]

By the way. Some of their rules need to be adopted by the mlb.

[B]

Yeah, they should actually run them. They should elect that guy as a commissioner.

[A]

Oh, yeah. Well, I want. Well, I want to get Jesse on because he's a fascinating guy and just his story of how he's grown, it's. It's unbelievable. Anyways, throw the first pitch. Strike, high five it. And then, dude, I'm in. I'm in the dugout probably for six of the nine innings with Cole. The little ones ended up going back up to the seats. And I'm just in there, I'm just thinking, like, they're putting on a show. Like they're, they're interacting with me and like, they're just like. Some of them were football guys growing up. So like, I'm at that age where some of them, like, watch me when they were like 12, you know, like, they're like, dude, I remember USC, which also makes me feel old. But it was cool, dude. And I will say this to everybody that's listening to this, if you get it, even if you don't like baseball, even your boys, if they ever come to Cleveland. It is a pure. It's a, it's a spectacle to see in person. The clips don't do it justice. Right? The clips are like tick tock dances and little skits and they're. And all of this stuff that they do, and they do a great job of that in person. And even if you watch it on tv, because sometimes it's on TV in person, you. You have to go. It's like one of those sporting events where you like, you just have to go in person to see it. You would love it even if you had knew nothing about it. So shout out to Savannah, Bananas, Jesse, the whole crew, for taking care of us, the hospitality. Honestly, an experience for me I'll never forget. And for. And honestly the one who had the most, the most fun. Cole. Cole. Cole was like, dad.

[B]

Good for an 18 year old too, right?

[A]

It was great.

[B]

Cole was social media. Yeah.

[A]

And he, he befriended some of the guys and all that. And they're like following, you know, they all follow each other on Instagram now. And so he was, he was so happy. But the last Thing, I'll say, he goes, dad, if football doesn't work out.

[B]

He could be on the bananas.

[A]

But I think I could bring, like, a football element. Element to banana. Like, and I'm like. And some of the guys are like, hey, we don't have that.

[B]

So anyway, well, I got two follow ups. When they switch it from a baseball, which you grew up playing, to a football, is. Are you like, okay, dope? Are you like, man, I really wanted to throw a baseball.

[A]

I probably. I probably had. I would have had more confidence throwing a strike with a baseball than a football.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Because I was a pitcher. So, like, I was a pitcher my whole life. I still play. I play baseball all the time with my. My kid. Like, I. Playing catch, you know, you're loose.

[B]

You're ucl. Feels okay.

[A]

Yeah. Football. No Tommy John over here. Football.

[B]

Football.

[A]

I throw a lot with Cole. But, like, on a mound, throwing down to a catcher, like, you know, like, I will. I would just say this, Jerry. I would say this. And it's kind of like riding a bike, dude. Well, that's. That's my next question. If you don't act for a couple years, you can kind of dive right back in and you can give us a great scene, because it's just like, you just. It's just. It's in grain, you know? Yeah. It's ingrained. So, like, throwing a first pitch for me, as. As. Like, I've thrown a handful, like, probably three or four in my life, which is pretty awesome. Like, it's. It's more just like. Yeah, don't make a fool of yourself, you know, like. And a football is different. I will say that. A football was different. And it was, by the way, when I threw a strike, I was so fired up, dude, I was about to get the crowd going.

[B]

That's. I want to ask you, too. Like, you know what? Like, hoops. It's like, all right. Like, if you could shoot, you could kind of. The last thing. Of course not go. But, like, you could still always shoot with a quarterback, though. Like, even if you hadn't thrown for two years, it never, never. It never leaves you. Right?

[A]

Right. Yeah. I mean, unless you got an injury or something.

[B]

No, unless you have a bad injury.

[A]

I could. Yeah, I could go. And my arm still feels pretty good, so, like, I could go if. If NFL receivers right now needed me to throw for them. Like, to just warm up. Like, to warm up. Yeah, I. I could easily do that. Now, I probably couldn't throw the ball more than 50 yards, but, like, everything Else I could just, you know, like, I can give him a workout, you know, like. Like, I throw that with Cole with some of his receivers because he need. He had like, eight receivers one day, and I'm like, shit, man, let me dust off the old arm. I was taking drops because I got new hips. I was feeling good, dude. So I. I last thing I'll say, Savannah bananas. Go check them out, follow them. Honestly, get. Introduce your boys to them, even if they don't.

[B]

Like, I'm going to. Tonight, I'm going tonight.

[A]

Yeah, they are a true show. They couldn't have been nicer. They're awesome, man. I. And I'm gonna get. I really want to get Jesse. I want to get a point to. I want to get him on because I want. I have. I had. I was like, you, Jerry. I was in the. I had a thousand questions, like, yeah, like, why this? Or when did. Like, I was like. I was fascinated. I didn't even get them all answered because they're like. It's just like this. The weekly schedule. Like, they have so much. They do it back to back night. So they play, like, Friday, Saturday night, they fly back to Savannah. Savannah. They all live in Savannah. It's like a big old frat house over there. And they just like, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, they just go over. They practice. They practice their trick plays. They do BP and they go over all of their dance and songs that they want to do for the next week. So it's like every week, they're just. They're hustling, man. The Grinders. It was. It was fascinating, dude. So. Well, I almost wore my jersey on the show.

[B]

I don't want to bring the mood down, but since we're on the.

[A]

We already talked about the.

[B]

No. Since we're on the topic of first pitches and Andrew, I don't know if we could roll the clip.

[A]

The worst pitches of all time.

[B]

Jeremy Piven, my. My former co star from Entourage. Great actor. Obviously, he threw out the first pitch at a Cubs game, not his first time, because he threw it about 48ft. But I almost want to say that is way more courageous than what you did because, like, we know you're gonna read. We know. All right. You may not throw a strike, maybe you' but it's going to look good. I got to imagine Piven goes into that knowing he's not going to reach and still does it, but something I would never do. I would never. If I couldn't get the ball to home plate, I would just be like, skip Ski. I don't want to throw the first.

[A]

I don't see. I don't, I don't know. I feel like if someone asked you. I'm trying to think. Because basketball you could shoot. So like if someone asked you to go out and do a three point contest during an NBA game at halftime. And boys, yeah, you would golf, you would do anything. Hockey, you probably wouldn't do much, right?

[B]

Hockey, I wouldn't do. I would not show up to the thing you showed up to. That's a hard pass. I'll say.

[A]

Can you throw? Can you throw? Can you throw? I've never seen you throw. Shooting a basketball doesn't translate into throwing.

[B]

I could throw. I could throw. Am I saying I'm clocking in in the low 80s? No. I'm probably coasting one about 65 miles an hour.

[A]

I was, I was.

[B]

And I aim for the catchers. I threw out two first pitches, which we'll cover later. And the only tip I ever got too is like, especially from the mound, just aim for the catcher's helmet and that'll ensure that you don't bounce it. And I just had to imagine Piven knew he, he can't reach from there.

[A]

Where does Piven. Yeah, where does he can't reach? I went online. Where does Piven rank amongst all time worst. I know your boy 50 is number one.

[B]

That will never be defeated. I don't think you could defeat it.

[A]

I mean, he threw the ball 40ft to the left like it was undeniably. By the way, Stephen A. Smith was awful too.

[B]

That might be number two. That might be number two. And again, I more marvel at the balls it takes to stand up there for Stephen A. Yankee Stadium, knowing you have no idea how to throw a baseball. Zero.

[A]

So I, I looked this up. Like Snoop had a really bad one, actually, but he made it. You know who had a sneaky bat? Carl Lewis.

[B]

I remember Carl Lewis threw the ball.

[A]

8Ft in front of him.

[B]

I forgive Carl Lewis because it's like Carl Lewis probably spent his entire youth. Like, he probably never played baseball. Maybe he did, but if not, he was too busy becoming one of the greatest athletes in his sport of all time.

[A]

Yeah, like he can get away with it because he's literally.

[B]

Yeah, like, come on, pivot. And Steven, you guys never threw a baseball and if you did, you decide, I, I don't know, I wouldn't do it for me, if it was like, hey, do you want to, you know, do a breakaway against the goalie in hockey with skates on? I'D say absolutely not.

[A]

This goes back to your guys conversation this past weekend. We don't need to get into details, but we're just talk. We're talking about life.

[B]

You can talk about the fact that we got into our first podcast host friend.

[A]

We got. We got.

[B]

Right.

[A]

We got to an argument, a friendly fire coral. That was that. But by the way, this is why I love you, man. We just, you know, we're like, we're like two brothers, but we're like a married. We're like. We are like a little bit of a married couple.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

But what we did say is you need to start. You need to start approaching things with a half glass full than a half glass empty. Don't just say no right away.

[B]

So even if I know I'm going to fail miserably.

[A]

Yeah. Because you know what? It's a memory and it's a great memory and it's a memory that your kids will always have and. And you had the experience to talk on the show be like, dude, remember that time when I went out to the Guardians game and I hit BP and like I struck out? Like, what?

[B]

You know, like, it's like similar to the Knicks stuff. I think I care too much. I honestly, and this is not me sounding like I'm not trying to come off as ungrateful. I don't ever need to throw out a first pitch ever again. Because the days leading up to it for me are incredibly stressful. Incredibly. Because, look, I know I could throw and it's. But, you know, you, you just don't want to end up.

[A]

I know. Well, especially now on Social. I will say this. I don't. The.

[B]

I give credit to Piven, like, he just rolled it up there 42ft, waved to the crowd and walked off like, yeah, like, get him next time.

[A]

And he wanted to think twice.

[B]

I would have went into hiding for a year after.

[A]

Also, maybe it. Maybe it's a smart play because he knows he's going to be talked about for a while too. Maybe it's like, you know, sometimes, sometimes guys are strategic. The last thing I'm going to say, I. The. The. I don't. I used to get the nerves I had before games and playing were obviously or anything or were different. Like, honestly, I had more nerves going up playing or coaching Cole's football team. Like, right.

[B]

Which I love. I love that.

[A]

No, I had way more like, honestly, like, that kept me up the night before the King's thing. I slept like a baby. I was nervous for, but it wasn't it was different. I think I'm just getting older. Like the, like the bananas thing. I was like, nervous for Josie would tell you, but I didn't. It didn't. Like, I wasn't like, thinking about it all day. I thought about it five minutes before I went out. I'm like, oh, shit, this is about to happen. Like, let's go. So it's just different, but like, I get more nervous coaching my kids. Dude, not even close.

[B]

Well, here's why we're going to talk. We're going to do a little NBA Finals talk as the game kicks off tonight in a second. But before we go to that online with this topic, and this is airing on Thursday, we're recording on Wednesday. So when, when you're watching this right now out there, the results of this are already in. So you, whether you watched it live or if you want to go on YouTube and watch the result, this is worse. To your point, why you're not full of shit is because you admittedly don't golf once or twice a year, which is normal for some people, don't really care about golf. And you are. Now, you played in the Mahomes charity. That's no pressure. That's fine. But you felt a little stressed. And now you went right from that to arguably the biggest golf YouTube channel on the face of the earth. Good, good. And they're having one of their live events, which I believe is broadcast on CBS YouTube channel. Yeah, it's going to be everywhere. And. And you are playing in this because it's all NFL quarterbacks and playing football players, and I have the roster. You are. You. You don't golf. There's going to be galleries. Are you not a little shook?

[A]

No. This one, this one, this one I'm. This one I'm extremely nervous for. Dude.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

No, I'm dead serious. I'm dead serious. No, this one. And the, the short version of my golf game is probably like 99% of. Of guys who golf, right? Maybe may. May maybe not. Because I, I am an athlete, right? So I have the athletic ability and like the, the fluidness of a swing like that at least does. At least my body allows me because I'm tight. All that being said, so that's my only saving grace. Going in to a scramble format, playing with an absolutely OG like Garrett Clark, who. I think I'm playing with him.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, we're going to talk about that real quick.

[A]

So. And a scramble format, I can for sure put together a handful of shots now just to help him and save him. I can do that. I just don't know when those shots are going to happen. So when I go up to hole one, I could drive off the tee like pretty good. I could probably hit like eight or nine fairways in 18, which probably isn't great, but like, that's good for a scramble.

[B]

That's good.

[A]

Like I, I can. Like I've done it, but like I, like we're playing 12 holes and the nine that I don't make might be the not like nine of the 12 that I play. So like I'm, I'm terrified, bro. I'm terrified.

[B]

You're coming onto Mahomes, which you had four or five guys in your scramble. This is two man scramble, so it's a friendly format.

[A]

But you know, real quick, tmi, real quick. Like the thought of me talking about this right now. I gotta go take. I gotta, I gotta go to the bathroom, bro. I gotta go take.

[B]

You gotta go do. Go ahead. Yeah, you know what? Should we just throw to a break? All right.

[A]

I gotta pull a shack, dude. I gotta pull a shack and go do like I gotta go to the bath.

[B]

That's.

[A]

That's the nerves that I'm getting right now. This the two on two scramble. Miked up on tv. We with cameras everywhere in a gallery. And by the way, I want to pose this question to you and everybody else so we could take a break because we could put this, we could put this out there. The, the, the thing that makes me the most nervous, like one of the most lonely places in sports has to be on a tee box with a gallery 10 yards apart. By the way, a thousand people on each side watching the next up to the text, Matt Leiner. By the way, guys, I suck and golf twice. Watch out. You better watch out. Honestly, dude, that, that gives me. Do they sign? They probably sign like. They sign like things, right?

[B]

Liability is liability now. But if you hit someone, you're gonna have to sign a bunch of stuff for them. Maybe have them out. That has to be USC game or something.

[A]

That scariest thing, like, it's not, by the way, it's not fourth down on a two minute drill for me. It's.

[B]

You're comfortable with that?

[A]

I've shot. I've played golf in one tournament with a gallery years ago and I was, I felt the same way and I, I ended up okay.

[B]

But yeah, we're going to take a quick break so Matt could go get some of his nerves. Nerves out. Two, a few more quick things on this and we'll talk a little. NBA finals will be. We'll coming right back. Hurry up, Matt. Go. Hurry up.

[A]

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[B]

All right, everyone, listen up. If you're ready to take on the off road, there is only one ride built for it. The 2025 Nissan Armada.

[A]

Jerry, this car is an absolute beast. Whether I'm going to the mountains on a ski trip or whether I'm going to the lake, the towing capacity holds up to 8, 500 pounds. But probably more importantly, all the sports gear, the kids, all the stuff that I can fit in my car. There's nothing out of reach with a Nissan Armada.

[B]

Yeah, and some of that sports stuff will weigh 8,500 pounds by the time you're done with it. For me, you know, my wife loves the beach, so we're always kind of throwing the boys in the back of the car with a lot of beach stuff. But my little secret with the Armada too, is I love it for the golf trips. I. I like the drive. So get my buddies in there, throw a few different clubs in the back, bunch of shoes. That's where I really like my off roading. My off roading is also going to the golf course, to the parking lot, and then just opening up that trunk and getting ready for a great day. So the other thing is, it's also got twin turbo V6 engine, so it is good for basically all these things we just said and whatever you throw at it.

[A]

Yeah, the power, the performance, and just overall rugged toughness. It's like being behind the wheel of your own offensive line. Jerry.

[B]

It's the closest I'll ever get to being behind an offensive line, but either way, I'm telling you, this is the one. Get ready to adventure bigger in the all new Nissan Armada.

[A]

Let's go.

[B]

Let's go. With a Venmo debit card, you can Venmo more than just your friends. You can use your balance in so many ways. You can Venmo everything. Need gas. You can Venmo this. How about snacks? You can Venmo that. Your favorite band's merch. You can Venmo this or their next show. You can Venmo that. Visit Venmo me debit to learn more.

[C]

You can Venmo this or you can Venmo that. Yeah, you can Venmo this or you can Venmo that.

[B]

You can venture the Venmo MasterCard is issued by the Bancorp bank and a pursuit to license my Mastercard International Incorporated card may be used everywhere. MasterCard is accepted. Venmo purchase restrictions apply. All right, we're back. I do want to talk to you really quick. One more thing for you with the good, good tournament I'm going to just go through because I know their content really well. I'm just going to go through the lineup for tomorrow, even though the mat the event has already ended. You got Bubby, who is a very long hitter and can play with Matt Ryan, who I know was a stick. Then we got Sean Brother, who's like a essentially is a professional.

[A]

They have all the parent. They have all the pairings out.

[B]

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. With Jamal Charles. I don't know anything about Jamal Charles's golf game. I'm curious about that. Then we have you and Garrett, which I want to tell you one thing quickly. Brad Dalkey, who's could put up -8 on his own ball. And Joe Hayden. Matt Scharf, who has some of the best hole in ones on par fours in YouTube, some of the most viral moments ever with Golden Tate, who I've heard is an absolute stick. And then lastly, Stephen Castaneda, who's a really, really good player, really good scramble player with, with our boy throwback zone Patrick Peterson. Yeah.

[A]

Who's like a one or two, who.

[B]

Admitted to us on our own show that he's a two. So here's the last thing I want to leave you with. The unfortunate thing for you is you got paired with Garrett Clark. Garrett is a great golfer, but Garrett Clark is to YouTube Golf with Timothy Chalamet is to courtside at the Knicks game. You are going to be heavily featured because they want to feature Garrett as well. Heavily. So we're going to see a lot of Matty Ice on the you know what too, bro.

[A]

My last thing I got to be honest, I didn't even think about that.

[B]

Beat Matt Ryan. I will, because you're Maddie fucking Ice. I want the Matty Ice off of Matt Ryan. You beat Matt Ryan if nothing else.

[A]

Yeah, I'm the original Matty Ice. I came before Matt Ryan. Yes. Dude, you just, by the way, you just made me got to go to the bathroom again. More nervous. I didn't even think about the whole cameras thing, which is fine. But like the fact that yeah, he's.

[B]

The guy, like he's going to get.

[A]

Covered like oh shit.

[B]

You'll be all right. You'll be all right. We do, I do want to talk quickly. The finals are kicking off tonight and I know we went through my whole disappointment of the Knicks and everyone's talking about how upset the NBA must be about these, the two smaller markets in the league. Which that's one way to look at it. Which also by the way, the NBA necessarily, of course they care. It's more so like an advertiser network problem. Like the NBA signed for 11 years.

[A]

Oh, this is just that this is a network deal.

[B]

It's a network deal. So I love. Everyone says Adam Silver's upset. No, they got an 11 year deal. Of course he wants the finals to be good for when they re up, but I don't think that's the issue. But I don't know how if you do like basketball, you can't be a little excited to see the best defense versus the best offense.

[A]

Oh, for sure. I think it's a fun, it's a fun matchup the way the Pacers play. Yeah, the pace that I mean and just like they had a lot of guys that like, like, like Aussie Halliburton was awesome. But they have another gear.

[B]

They have, yeah, they have another.

[A]

Play fast. They can play a little. Like they're just fun to watch. And then OKC just absolutely smothers you on the defensive side. It's a really, it's a really, I, I, I think, I just think this is OKC's year. I think that's easy to be. Just like this is just an absolute historically dominant defensive team with an app with the MVP who's a star. But I'll tell you what, man, this is probably the best matchup for pure basketball outside of maybe the Celtics, if they were fully healthy, that we could have gotten in the NBA.

[B]

Well, yeah, that's the thing. I think that what we've learned about the Pacers is there and I think this is a bigger basketball conversation that we don't have to have today. But the teaser of it is everything with the NBA goes in these cycles, right. At first it was when, you know, super teams, right. Big threes. That is what you needed to win in the NBA. You needed three stars. Then it became, well, you need two stars and a role player here.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And I think now where we were up until like the Nuggets with Jokic, we were down to like, you need one top 10 guy and then a bunch of almost like borderline all star. Not quite. But now I think we're on to something completely deep, different. I think now Shea is obviously a star and Halliburton in my opinion, is a star. Those guys are elite. They're in the top 10. Shea might be in the top three, but I think this, you go in like 10 deep and playing a pace that we've never seen and empowering guys like, I mean I'm wearing my OB toppin shirt as a tip of the cap. Sign of respect. He's the Pacers eighth guy and he is, he had dagger shots against Knicks and pushes the pace. I think that's like what we're gonna see in basketball now is.

[A]

I hope so.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Look at the Suns, right? They did Booker and Beal and Durant and it's been an absolute dumpster fire. I think you're right. I think it's a star too. And then you build the, you get, you have to be, I mean the Lakers, you have to be Laker. You have to be, you have to be eight deep.

[B]

Yeah, the Lakers aren't deep enough. Bottom line, Lakers aren't deep enough.

[A]

They're not. So I'm with you. Well, I think it's more entertainment, more entertaining for sure. And, and just creates more parody. I mean, for sure. Look at the West. I mean, my God.

[B]

Well, that's why I think this series is going to be great. I have, I, I, I swear to you, I have it as a seven game series. But you don't need to listen to me. I'm only saying that because I just think it's going to be a highly competitive. We might get some thunder blowouts, but I think Indiana will hit into that gear that not a lot of teams have and we'll make it close. But listen to the last 10 matchups in the finals so far. You tell me which ones were your favorite last year? Celtics in five over Luca and the Mavericks. That was kind of a one man show. Kyrie too, but like it was dying. Then you had Nuggets in five over the Heat. So there's two five game series. Not great Finals viewing experience. Warriors and six over the Celtics. That was very, I thought that was very enjoyable, well played series. Bucks and six over the Suns. Good series because the Suns went up two zero first and The Bucks. But also weird times because we buck Suns. We were just getting crowds back. If you recall Lakers vs over the Heat in the Bubble. That's its own thing. I still give Lakers credit. That's its own thing. Then we go Raptors in six over the warriors, which sounded fun. It wasn't. It was riddled with injury. Durant blew out his Achilles. Clay blew out his knee. Raptors really were the team, just healthiest. Then we go warriors sweep Calves, warriors and five over Cavs. And then we have the. Probably the last great finals was Cavs over warriors in seven. And then. So that's really the last 10 years.

[A]

Yeah. We haven't. We've had a handful of competitive series.

[B]

Well, I don't know, man. Series will be of the ones I just listed. I think entertainment wise, I think this one's gonna be in the top three of all those ones I just mentioned. It's never gonna top Warriors, Cavs when the Cavs come back, but it'll be third of that last ten.

[A]

I think it's. I think. I think Thunder and five.

[B]

Thunder and five.

[A]

Like you said. I think they're going to have some blowouts, dude. That's just what they've done. This whole. This whole thing, it's like they'll win by 40 and then they'll win by.

[B]

Do you do anything? As we just saw with Carlile, I sure you could say out coached Tibbs or whatever. Carile's done it. He. Carlile took a Mavericks team that.

[A]

He's a. He's a great coach.

[B]

Was not the most talented team in the league and was a heavy underdog and won the championship. And here he is again doing it. And I love Dagon out in the Thunder, but, you know, young coach, young team. I just think it's going to be.

[A]

I think it'll be a good series.

[B]

Six or seven.

[A]

Amazing. They got enough and the. The pace and they. They got a lot of scores. They can shoot. They get hot. They can. They can play D. They got good size with Turner. Yeah.

[B]

Do you think the Pacers run McAfee back out there? Everyone's talking about the small market. Do you think they say, all right, well, we got a big star. Let's set. McAfee.

[A]

Yes. Game. What is it going to be? Game three. Right.

[B]

Game three.

[A]

Game three.

[B]

He'll cut a great promo versus the Knicks.

[A]

He did.

[B]

It's now time for Flavor of the Week, presented by Wendy's. Find your new favorite frosty Fusions flavors today with choices like Oreo Brownie Caramel crunch. It's for you, Matt and Pop Tarts Strawberry. Every week we come up with our flavor of the week. NBA on tnt, which is having its inside the NBA farewell. Even though they're not going anywhere, they're going to be right back next year. Hopefully ESPN just lets them do their thing and doesn't tinker too much with the magic that we got. I thought Charles Barkley asking Carl Anthony Towns live on the air after the game, why do you get so many dumb fouls? Only Barkley could do that. And that's the whole reason why we watch. I really don't think we want the X's and O's insight all the time, even though Kenny Smith gives us some great stuff too. But that's what we want.

[A]

But that's, that's the stuff when, when you watch the game, you're like, why are you doing so why are you.

[B]

Getting so many dumb fouls?

[A]

Like, he actually. Cat was great too. His answer was great. He was just.

[B]

He said, God only knows. Yeah, God only knows.

[A]

And he's like, oh. He's like, oh, you're talking about the one where I reached in all that. And so like, yeah, like, yeah, you know, I don't even know what I was doing. I thought it was, it was great because it was like genuine banter back and forth.

[B]

Well, it got, it got me and us thinking here at Throwbacks, what are just some of the great sports shows of all time? And then it led to a bigger thing of, hey, should we involve scripted shows? How far do we want to go? So I'm just going to open the menu and let's rattle off whether it's scripted, unscripted, post game, pregame, whatever. Let's open up some of our favorite and bring people maybe back down memory lane a little. Do you have a few off?

[A]

Yeah, it's. Yeah. Well, I think the best damn sports show, period was good.

[B]

I co hosted once. Yes.

[A]

I was on there a couple times. I think that was sort of an original.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Had like the variety show flavored. It just kind of like. And like, you know, you just had fun, fun personalities. Sally and Arnold and you had Rodney, Pete and you had all these guys and Chris felt like fans.

[B]

They felt like, yeah, fans.

[A]

And the fans are there and they just had, they just were fun. Like that was a big part of. Part of when I was started playing football like high school. Like that was, that was kind of the show. You know what one also that hit me.

[B]

I'm ready for all of it.

[A]

Semi Scripted. And you're not. You're gonna be like, holy, American Gladiators.

[B]

That's great. Well, are you kidding? That's maybe the best one.

[A]

I know. I know.

[B]

I used to roll with Hawk from the American Gladiators, so I think he passed away, but he lived in Manhattan Beach. When I first moved to la, right by El Tarrasco off Rosecrans. My buddy was rooming with Hawk from American Gladiator. Lee. Lee. I forget his last name and I. Let me just say, when we went out to bars, I felt real confident standing next to him. If anybody wanted to start something, dude.

[A]

The sad thing is, is that no one. I think they've tried to reboot it a little bit. Maybe like, part in, like, it doesn't work. It just like, it was such an. It's an iconic show for our guys our age for, like, Cole will never know. Colby, like, American Gladiators. I'm like, dude, was the greatest show ever, dude. Like, I wanted to go on that show and try to dodge, like, the balls and like, you know, like the joust, all that stuff. So I was. I was thinking, I mean, you know, obviously semi scripted, but they have, like, what's the one now they have. They have the. One of the do. The obstacle course has, like, American Ninja Warrior.

[B]

You talk American Ninja. That's different. There's no bad, like, yeah, they're not doing the. The joust, which was my favorite. I always wanted to do that thing where they shoot the tennis balls at you, like the final thing. It's a great documentary. I think it's on Netflix of American Gladiators, which you should fire up for one of your 85 flights that you have coming up. I'm going to rattle off a few. I was a big. As a kid, I was a big NBA inside stuff guy with the mod Rashad.

[A]

Mod Rashad. That was iconic show.

[B]

Essentially the way you found out about players. Now we know everything about players with social media. That was the only way you could find out Grant Hill was also an expert piano player.

[A]

Yeah, they had great stories. It was just awesome that Ahmad Rashad was the best at that.

[B]

Obviously Hard Knocks, especially the vintage early years of Hard Knock. I'm so bummed none of your NFL career got caught on Hard Knocks. I would have loved seeing you on Hard Knocks. Why?

[A]

I was a backup quarterback. It would have been no, but I.

[B]

Would have loved in those Arizona. No, it would have been.

[A]

We talk. We would be in training camp or like before and I remember or in the summer being like I think one of our Arizona teams was up for it because we had gone to the super bowl or.

[B]

Right.

[A]

We were in the play like we had some good teams, but I think they turned it down.

[B]

Did you watch Hard Knocks ever while you were playing or any guys, you know? Or was it like we're watching our life? Like, why.

[A]

You know what, you know what the big show is? Let me, let me, let me throw this out out there. The big show that I watched during training camp, there were two things that we watched religiously every year. Can you name them? Now think about the month of August. August for me. One, it was always on in the, you know, the locker room or whatever. The other one I just watched all the time.

[B]

August is not really great.

[A]

Oh, one of them, One of them is Sports.

[B]

August four. I. You got me.

[A]

Okay. Little League World Series. Oh.

[B]

Oh, that's the best.

[A]

I still watch it now. Like, I love watching it.

[B]

We should go one year.

[A]

I would love to go.

[B]

I'm like two hour drive away.

[A]

Yeah, I'm like a nine.

[B]

No fly into my. You come to my house with the kids. We all hang out.

[A]

The thing about the, the thing about out there in Ohio is like everything is within like two hours of each other.

[B]

Everything's two hours, everything.

[A]

Because like Brady lives out there. I'm like, oh. He's like, I'm driving to Wisconsin.

[B]

It.

[A]

I'm like, what? He goes, yeah. Everything's like three, four hours.

[B]

It's the truth.

[A]

And the second show. Dude, come on, bro, you've watched this. Shark Week.

[B]

Shark. Shark. It is Shark Week. I'm sorry, I thought.

[A]

I'm just saying those are the two shows during training camp. How about. Okay, how about this? And. And rest in peace to him, stump the schwab.

[B]

That's the show I want to redo on social media.

[A]

Somehow he passed away last year, but he was an absolute just legend.

[B]

And like so mad when he missed a question, he would slam his hand on the table for the few times he ever lost. He would get so pissed.

[A]

You know who needs to be the next is. Is my boy Bear. Chris Felica.

[B]

Is he genius with genius, bro. With sports trivia? Because I have a guy too.

[A]

We'll get him on the show too, because he's, he's, he's. Yeah, he's fascinating just the way, you know, like the gamblers and all that kind of stuff. And like he's, he's a walking encyclopedia for sports history. So it's like fascinating how that works. So I think he'd Be good.

[B]

And obviously I. These are the obvious ones. You know me, I like to go off obvious. I'll just list like, the. The heyday of like, Dan Patrick Sports Center. That's. That's. Chris is the greatest of all time. And obviously, like around the horn and pto. Sure. I'm going a little bit further. I mean, in the vein of Hard Knocks 24 7, which was like the boxing version before a big fight. Floyd Mayweather kind of took that. And then lastly, too, I was a big outside the lines guy like Bob Lee caught. When you inside the line player or a coach had a call from Bob Lee, it's like, oh, shit. What did we. We're in trouble now.

[A]

Outside the line.

[B]

Outside the lines. Huge.

[A]

I feel like we're missing some.

[B]

Oh, I got. Well, look, there's a goat. Saturday morning cartoon. Did you might be a little young. Do you remember Pro Stars?

[A]

I. Oh, yeah.

[B]

Cartoon with Bo Jackson, Michael Jordan and Wayne Gretzky is one of the genius ones. Pros vs. Joe's is another show that should be remade. Like, it should still be on. If it's not on, I know it's always on somewhere. It should. 100 beyond co stars.

[A]

Oh, my God. Yeah.

[B]

And NFL Prime Time. NFL Prime Time was one of the last times with sports media that I was like, I gotta. We. Okay. It starts at this time. We have to get that on for Berman.

[A]

Tim.

[B]

He, you know, just like, you know, Eric Sleeping with the B Enemy. That. That was genius. Few scripted ones, obviously. Friday Night Lights. Legendary White Shadow. Taking you a little far back.

[A]

White Shadow.

[B]

You never heard of White Shadow? You're young and go. Go on YouTube and watch White Shadow.

[A]

What is that, like a.

[B]

It's a basket. It's a high school basketball show about a former NBA player who comes back who goes to a school to coach hoops and obviously Playmakers.

[A]

Playmakers.

[B]

Did you watch Playmakers?

[A]

No, but I've heard of it.

[B]

When you have characters buying heroin in.

[A]

Halftime, Ballers is good.

[B]

Ballers is good. I get. Yes. I should not. Did you. You never got called to be on ball. I feel like you would have been such a great ballers cameo.

[A]

I never did. I feel like Glaze. Glaze. Because Glazer was on.

[B]

Glazer was on there.

[A]

I feel like Glazer and I talked about it at one point.

[B]

His show was glazed and confused, which is a great. I like that. I got you it. Outside the lines, dude.

[A]

Outside the lines. Yes.

[B]

Do you have any ones before we move on?

[A]

No, I was just. I was about to look up American Gladiators for all the characters.

[B]

And we. We have to acknowledge, even though I think it's done more harm than good, but early years, Skip and Stephen, a first take, even though it's. It's definitely done more harm than good. It was a phenomenon. I used to set my TiVo DVR to record it. I had to watch it back in the day. But, yes, in the long term, might have done some more harm than good.

[A]

Let me. Hold on. Let me give you a list of some of these character names on American Gladiator. Okay, Ready?

[B]

I know them all.

[A]

Do you know them?

[B]

I know a lot.

[A]

Okay. Ice.

[B]

Ice. Great.

[A]

Siren.

[B]

Siren, sure.

[A]

Gemini. Remember Gemini. Thunder. Laser. Turbo. Diamond. Tower.

[B]

Was it Nitro? Don't forget Nitro. That's like the most.

[A]

Thor. Titan. Blaze. Nitro.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Zap. Oh, Hawk. Diesel. Blade.

[B]

Hawks. My guy, Rearman. Lee Rearman, I think his name was. So, yeah. Thank you. Thank you to Wendy's Player of the Week. And we're gonna come right back again and finish up here and get you off to go play some golf. I don't think we did Mailbag last week, so we're gonna hit Mailbag. I found a good one. Even though, to me it's a little heartbreaking. We could get sad for a minute, but anyway, Brett and Charlotte. Last week, a player for the Marlins, Ronnie Simon, committed three errors in the first four innings of the game and left the field in tears. Genuinely felt for the guy and was wondering if you guys ever saw something like this either on the football field or on a set of a show or a movie. I feel like there's not a lot of. We used to say there's no crying in baseball. I feel like there's really not crying.

[A]

Let me. Let me tell everybody something real quick here.

[B]

You can't.

[A]

I'm not laughing at this. My last game in Buffalo, I was there for. I was there for, I say, a cup of coffee. I was there for four days. It was preseason game four. And I started. I got called in, like, on a Sunday. I flew and I started on a Thursday. I tried to learn the offense. All that. All that being said, I threw three interceptions in the first half. I was four for 11. Okay, three interceptions. I stood on that sideline like, God bless my mom, she passed away. But like. Like, someone passed away in my family. Dude, I was there. I kept my helmet on so the fans, so I could. So no one could see my face because I was. No, now. I was. Now, don't feel bad. Because I was already checked out. I didn't. I wanted. I was done playing. It was a. It was a moment where I was. I was embarrassed. I. I didn't cry. I was so embarrassed that that was going to be my last time ever on a football field. And I just knew it. And I also was like, I just want to get home. I met. That's when I met Josie Cole. Like, there was a lot to look forward to. I'll tell you what, dude, I feel. I feel for him, man, because I was like, it was. It was just like, because all eyes are on you. And now football is a little worse because you got 90, 000 people and you're a quarterback. A preseason game, everybody's watching. And I felt, dude, like, it was a. It was a lonely couple hours. And then the next morning, exit meetings, I knew. I was like, I was with Doug Marone was a coach, and I was like, doug, all good, man. Thanks for the opportunity. Like, you know, whatever. I was just. I. I didn't want to show my face, dude. I wanted to get the out of there, so. Bro, that. It's tough, man, but didn't you say at one point.

[B]

I feel like you said months ago on the pod. That being said, you get love whenever you run into, like, a Bills fan. Even from that crazy moment, right? I feel like I, I. You had a good relationship with the Bills fans.

[A]

You said, well, because that week they did, like, this whole fan fest thing. So, like.

[B]

Right.

[A]

They were honestly, the sad parts. They were so fired up that, like, I was there, like, yeah, like, you know, gonna revive your career here. And I'm like, guys like, this is like, they need an arm pretty much. Like, I. I always wonder if I would have went like, 10 for 11 with, like, a touchdown if I would have made the roster. But, like, they had just drafted E.J. manuel.

[B]

E.J.

[A]

Manuals a rookie. Kevin Cobb was out with concussions. So they. So they. And then they. They ended up keeping Thaddeus Lewis. So it was me, Thaddeus Lewis, and someone else. And Thaddeus played a little bit better in that game, and he was younger, and he ended up actually playing for, like, he actually ended up backing up there a couple years because EJ struggled. And anyway, yeah, but the. But. But I. I've. I saw firsthand Buffalo, like, Like, Bill's Mafia, how awesome their fans were, and they treated me great for the first couple days. So that's why I was like, I love Buffalo.

[B]

My heart goes out to Ronnie Simon. To me, it just seeing that you just look at it and immediately we talked earlier about Little League, World Series. Like he's a little kid in that moment, right? Like, it's the same emotion. And I remember very young in Little League, we played this one team and their pitcher must have walked 20 guys. I mean we, we won like mercy rule just destroyed this kid. I remember when we were shaking hands, one kid on our team went, hey, Johnny, good game. Like sarcastically. And Johnny Freckly kid just collapsed and bawled and his dad came out and hugged him. And I just remember in that moment saying, in victory or defeat, don't be an. And I just look at that and I'm like, it's pure, it's pure. Even though it's a low moment for him on the field, it's pure because he cares. So keep your head up.

[A]

Ronnie Simon. It's a great thing about sports is the raw emotion, for better, for worse. And I've been on both sides, man, and it's, it's lonely on the bad side, it's great on the good side, but yeah, he'll be fine, man.

[B]

It actually reminds me of gotten emotional when he was younger, like little kid.

[A]

God, dude, he struck out. I'll never forget the moment. He struck out 11. We were 12, 12, 12 year old. Little League here, pretty, like, pretty good. We had a, we were, we were like a handful of wins away from going to like San Bernardino and potentially Williamsport. We had a really good team. We got all the way to the state and. But in Little league, in playoffs, right. It's a big deal. It was fun. Like, you know, you're coaching against these kids, these coaches.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And he struck out to end the game and he was, he was one of our best players. He was going up against good.

[B]

The bat you wanted in that moment though. You wanted.

[A]

Yeah, it was like we were like down 2 to 1 in the Last Inn, runner on second or for, you know, like bases loaded. Like one of those. Like he had. If a hit probably wins, you know, it's like that you couldn't have script it for a better opportunity. And he struck out and he started crying, man. Dug out. I felt. And I didn't even yell at him. I was just like, I just felt awful for him and his boys picked him up and all that. And I was just like, you know, it's just one of those. And then, dude, we lost the very last game in football. I've told you before in the super bowl when they were right after Covid, like they were 13 and we played in Sofi and we were dominant. Like, we won. We were, we were a dynasty in this league for like seven years. And we lost the very last game. Dude, I think I might have cried. Like, I talk about losing sleep. Like, he was devastated because one, his, his flag football career was over because he was going to high school the next year. And two, it's like, you know, you want, you know, you want to go out on top. And we didn't. So, yeah, plenty of moments. And case and had one of those moments pitch the other day, dude, like, we lost the last game. These kids don't know any better. Like, this is the last game. This is the championship. And like, nobody like you, you guys aren't really keeping score in these games, right? And we lost. And we were really good. It's first time we lost all year, technically, because the other coach was super competitive. And our boys, they were hysterically crying. I'm like, oh, my God. Like, it's already starting.

[B]

See, I'm still in T ball with my kids even though they're six and four. We haven't graduated, dude.

[A]

It happens, man, fast.

[B]

I remember crying, but it wasn't on the field. And this is this shout outs to my mom if you want a parenting lesson. My mom's biggest philosophy when I became a father, the biggest advice she gave to me, she just said, follow through with what you say to them.

[A]

Oh, God, yes.

[B]

Follow through.

[A]

They'll never forget.

[B]

So my travel baseball team, which we went pretty far one year, we were basically like a game away from getting to Williamsport. But a few years before that, we were in like our travel league championship game. And I had up at school and the teacher called my house. Remember when you. I don't know if you remember this back in the day, Youngins, like, if you messed up at school, the teacher was going to call your house phone at some point. I used to unplug my house line if I thought the teacher was going to call and rat me out. But anyway, called my mom, told her how I was acting up. My mom said, you're not playing in your game this weekend. I'm like, mom, it's the championship game. She's like, yeah, right, you're not playing. Wow. Okay. I honestly, I didn't believe her. So Saturday championship games at one, we used to go have breakfast at my grandmother's. I put my uniform in my backpacks, like, come on, go into grandma's. Go have breakfast. And then I go into the bathroom, come out in my uniform. She's like, what Are you doing like, well, we got to get to the field. The game starts. She said, jerry, you're not playing in the game. It's the championship, Matt. I threw myself on the floor. I might even, oh, my. Down the flight steps. And I don't think I've hysterically cried like that, minus a death in the family since then. Hysterically. I almost vomited. And this lady, Marianne Ferraro, stuck her foot in the ground and said, it is what it is.

[A]

I'll tell you what, you probably never up again.

[B]

Oh, well, I got a lot better about unplugging the phone line. Maybe that's where I came up with that plot. But before the championship game, my coaches, my friends, my teammates were like, whoa, your mom is no joke.

[A]

That's real.

[B]

That's real.

[A]

That's real life. Real life lesson, man. Like, yeah, don't, don't test. Don't test mom and dad, dude.

[B]

I, I just never thought she would follow through. I. I packed my uniform, my gloves, my big league chew. I was read. Go.

[A]

And I, I am guilty of that. That's great advice from your mom. Like, that's, that's great advice.

[B]

Well, it's hard to do because you're like, it is a. It is a big, big time moment for any.

[A]

It's always like, well, like, let's let him play in the championship because the team needs him and then we'll punish him after. It's like one of those. You're like, nope, not my single mom.

[B]

She was like, watched it. Hold my beer. This kid ain't going anywhere. So anyway, shot. Keep your head up, man. It happens to all of us. Now we're going to do a little all time adventures driven by Nissan. Take adventures to new heights in the allnew 2025 Nissan Armada. I'm still eyeing the one that we saw at the draft house that day. So yeah, go to nissanusa.comarmada to learn more. It's interesting. We talked more baseball than I would have ever imagined. Today our Colorado Rockies are 10 and 50.

[A]

Oh, what a.

[B]

Someone put up a very interesting stat. I think it was in either in the last month or the last two months. Colorado Rockies have three wins and Scottie Scheffler has three wins. Never. They don't even where a golf hair. It's crazy. What is going on? How do you, how do you even explain that?

[A]

I don't, I don't know.

[B]

I mean, is this major league? Are they trying to move the team? Why would you want to leave Colorado?

[A]

That's What I'm saying, why would you leave?

[B]

Have you ever been.

[A]

I've been there. I've been that stadium.

[B]

Well, have you ever been on a team though? I don't think you're probably not. But even if you go back to like when you're a kid where you just like, hey, we, we stink, like, it's just not happening. We're bad. And I just feel like you can't do that with football because your life is still kind of on the line.

[A]

I gotta be honest, I've been on pretty even like baseball, I was on good teams. I was always on a good team. Well, Arizona, we were 5 and 11. We were my first year. And actually Oakland, we were 5 and 11 my last year. So I've been on like a, I've been on like a. Not a great team for NFL, you know, but you got.

[B]

I just feel like with, with football you got still.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Like, or else you could get.

[A]

Oh, you lose like three or four of those games. We lost by like three points. So like, yeah, like you're competitive.

[B]

Well, my. I obviously I don't know what that's like in sports. I have definitely been a part of some low budget independent films where you're on set and you're trying. So maybe, I don't know, maybe the Rockies are trying to. But you just know, hey, this ain't working. It don't make any sense.

[A]

Wouldn't you know, wouldn't you, wouldn't you know that when you read a script or at that point are you just like. And you're probably going to say this, so maybe I'm answering the question for you. Are you just like getting a paycheck? You're just like, eh, yeah, I'll do it.

[B]

Honestly, I've never done the paycheck thing because I've never really done like, because I, I always get paid the most in television. Right. Television. I've really only done two things with movies. It's never like, hey, you want to do this movie for 2 million bucks?

[A]

So what's the incentive of doing like a low budget indie film?

[B]

The incentive is you hope it's good. And a lot of times though, what happens with the lower budget things is the script is good, but it's not enough money in the project to execute the vision.

[A]

Yep.

[B]

Or in like this one case, I guess if you look at my IMDb you could figure it out similar. It wasn't like super low budget, but it was low enough. And it was a movie set in New York that we shot In New Orleans.

[A]

Don't tell me the name. Keep talking. I'm listening to you.

[B]

It's a movie, you know, so right away, you're. You're going into it like this. Supposed to be like a New York gritty crime story. And we're shooting it in New Orleans, which I love New Orleans. It does not mirror.

[A]

It's. It's probably called Club Life Brooklyn.

[B]

We actually. We actually shot. No, Club Life was in New York.

[A]

Club Life, Flight 7500.

[B]

No, that was a movie. Where now I had a good budget. It's a horror movie on a plane.

[A]

And it's not even on your IMDb.

[B]

Dude, is there a movie? All right, well, I'll call it out. Is there a movie?

[A]

Hold on. Oh, here we go. I got more dating in New York.

[B]

Nope. That was great. That was a low budget movie. Yeah. We have a winner.

[A]

Empire State with the rock cast.

[B]

Yeah. Have you ever seen it? Have you ever heard of it? Can you name the last rock movie you haven't heard of? It's like the only one. I think it's the only rock.

[A]

Liam Hemsworth. Emma Roberts.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Jerry Farrar. Nikki Reed.

[B]

It never came out.

[A]

Wait, it never came out?

[B]

It never came. I mean, I don't. It never came out in theaters, I don't think. And again, it wasn't that. It was like.

[A]

It was only 10, 12 years ago.

[B]

It just.

[A]

Rock was a mega star.

[B]

Still shooting that in New Orleans, I somehow get. My character gets like shot. Shot in the head. But I live and I'm like, in the next scene, there was just things that weren't. Weren't working.

[A]

And who directed that?

[B]

Just everyone just go look it up. Good director. Good director. It wasn't, I'm gonna say, necessarily wasn't.

[A]

Our boy, was it?

[B]

No, no, no, no, no. You talk about Pete.

[A]

Oh, I got him. I won't say the name.

[B]

No. But anyway, I guess this is why I have a hard time believing that the Rockies aren't necessarily trying, because I think they are.

[A]

I don't think they're trying, dude.

[B]

Well, with that movie, we were all trying because similar to baseball, like, it's on this record of it forever. But. Yeah, man, how are you?

[A]

10 and 50 in trying in baseball, dude.

[B]

In a stadium too, where, yeah, you could hit home runs a little easier.

[A]

I went to a Dodger Rockies game in Colorado. It worked out, actually, when we were. We were for big noon. We were in Colorado and the boys and Josie came. It was cool. It was fun weekend. And dude, there's like 5,000 people. And this was two years ago. I was like, and the stadium is pretty cool. Like, it was like. It's just. It was cool to be there. And it was just like, wow, this is even.

[B]

You ready for full circle? What's the bananas guy's name? The kind of founder. What's his name?

[A]

Jesse Cole, I believe I call.

[B]

If I. I call Jesse Cole and I make him the GM of the Rockies. Come here. Come in. If we're gonna go 10 and 50, at least make this exciting. At least make this fun. At least make this an entertaining product. That's what I do. So did.

[A]

He could bring. He could bring. He could bring a lot of entertainment to the mlb, that's for sure.

[B]

We're going to get you out of here because you have an insane next 72 hours between hosting shows and then going. So my last thing I'm going to leave you with is if you get a hole in one, there's zero chance. Everyone has a chance. You could hit a worm burner. You could hit a ground ball that goes in. It's always in play for anyone, regardless of handicaps. Legendary stuff. It would. You would live on in the Golf YouTube content creation. You will be a king. A king.

[A]

What we told Justin. Tom, give me something. What do you need me. If we win. What do you want me to say, by the way? If I hit a. If I hit a putt, because with scramble, right, I can. Like, I'm liable to make a putt for sure.

[B]

Oh, for sure, for sure.

[A]

I will get. If I make a putt outside of 10ft, I will give the biggest fist pump of all time. Okay, I'm a fist pump guy. But if we win, what do you need? Like with just. What was the. What was the phrase?

[B]

We said you saved it for the. For the close up. That's what we told Justin Thomas to.

[A]

Save it for that close up. If we win, I'm just gonna tell. Hey, we just saved that for the.

[B]

Like this. Hey, wait, is this my shot? And they're gonna say yes, like say shout outs, throwbacks. I was saving it for the close up.

[A]

Done. If we win.

[B]

All right. Good luck.

[A]

I don't think so.

[B]

Right now as we end. You could go on YouTube and find Matt's round right now. Go find that. Who knows? Could be a hole in one already. Thanks to everybody who listened today. We'll be back next week.