The Pat McAfee Show - PMS 2.0 1363 - The Florida Panthers Win Back-To-Back Stanley Cups, Adam Schefter, Florida Panthers GM Bill Zito, Dan Orlovsky, Darius Butler, & AJ Hawk

Episode Date: June 18, 2025

On today's show, Pat, Darius Butler, AJ Hawk, and the boys chat about the Florida Panthers going back-to-back after dominating the Edmonton Oilers. They also discuss all the news from the NFL including Jaire Alexander signing with the Ravens, Caitlin Clark’s big night in the W, the College World Series continuing, and more. Joining the show is ESPN NFL Insider, Adam Schefter to discuss his role at the Travelers Championship this weekend, Trey Hendrickson’s situation, TJ Watt, and everythign else going on in the NFL. Next, Florida Panthers GM and 2x Stanley Cup Champion, Bill Zito joins the show to chat about the team’s culture, how they’re going to try to pay everyone, the atmosphere down in South Florida, how new players fit into the locker room, how he’s going to celebrate, and more. Later, 13 year NFL Quarterback, ESPN NFL Analyst, Dan Orlovsky to talk about playing 100 holes for ALS research, Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh, which young QB’s he thinks are going to make a leap, and more. Make sure to subscribe to youtube.com/thepatmcafeeshow or watch on ESPN (12-2 EDT), ESPN’s Youtube (12-3 EDT), or ESPN+. We appreciate the hell out of all of you, we’ll see you tomorrow. Cheers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello beautiful people and welcome to our humble abode the Thunderdome on this back-to-back Stanley Cup champs June 18th, 2025 this program begins now Sports are happening and a champion has been recrowned ladies and gentlemen last night The Florida Panthers completed the journey of a back-to-back Stanley Cup championship run completed the journey of a back to back Stanley Cup championship run for the 13th time and have become the eighth franchise to accomplish such a feat. Congratulations to all the Florida Panthers fans and the Florida Panther. Okay, Darius J. Butler is pouring a beer into Bay of the Lordo here in celebratory of back to back. Obviously that would not be a celebratory beer of course not Darius J. Butler here nine-year NFL vet lifelong Florida Panther fan and if you go back five ten years from now Florida Panthers were

Absolute shite nobody talked about that boy over the last few years though They have become a dynasty through and through two Stanley Cup Championships three straight finals in a team that is locked and loaded to represent hockey, how hockey's supposed to be played every single night that they step onto the ice. So many stars, so many studs, and a guy in the net that you never put a question mark next to.

Congratulations to the Florida Panthers becoming an official dynasty down there, and the elbow room has been popping off just like Darius J Butler has been all morning walking around with this particular tarpaulin. Great great time to have when you mentioned five six years ago That is not water or pop. That is beer. That is ice cold. That is gold. Yeah, so the apple juice maybe um, but yeah, you mentioned five six years ago I remember growing up been to elementary school middle school and you get like the honor roll, you get a little coupons, get two, four tickets to the Panthers game.

You know, get some of the publics, get a Pub's up, maybe get a couple of Panthers tickets on the way out. So, Barry Zito and the boys have built down there back to back champions, you know, been in the Stanley Cup final three times in a row. I mean, unbelievable. Shout out to the lads that was a scary Barry scary bears guy that runs the facility Everybody down in Elbow room celebrates for you. Yeah, all the last down in South Florida. We go. Yep Then ahead we go congrats to the Panthers and full beer in that thing That's what it's all about you there in mindset I'm gonna beat you there in sobriety Yes, that in the cup is gonna be taken into the ocean and Stanley cups gonna be taken onto a beach in this Stanley cup Is gonna be dumping beers off the top of the elbow room for the next foreseeable months as you look at summer

We currently have a live shot from the patio cam down there of the elbow room for the next foreseeable months. As you look at the summer, we currently have a live shot from the patio cam down there at the elbow room. Obviously the place is packed out outside, it spills into the streets. Everybody down there is having a blast, enjoying being the state of hockey. Back to back Stanley Cup championships is obviously incredibly difficult to do. A lot of people say you got to get lucky with injuries, but then we learn afterwards that they're stud Matthew Kachak Chuck the man who represents what? American hockey is all about

dog Guy's been good to our program has come on our show and chit-chatting about the culture down there He had a chance to get interviewed after winning his second straight Stanley Cup And this is what he had to talk about as an update on how his life has been since the four nations basically I I tore my adductor off the bone and that had some hernia thing and all on the same side. Wanted to throw in the towel a bunch of times. I'm sure I got to thank a lot of people.

I mean, for getting me healthy enough. I'm sure I wasn't the easiest to deal with. I mean, my fiance did a great job at the house on days where I probably wasn't the in the best mood coming to the rank the trainers maybe when I wasn't in the best mood when I was in pain I just owe them so much to doctors and I really didn't think I'd be playing and or at least playing to my capabilities so the longer the playoffs went, the better I felt. And I owe that to the guys for giving me some wiggle room to feel good.

Yeah, just got to skate. Don't worry about the adductor that is ripped off the bone and then hernia on the same side. And then you think about that compounding on top of all the physical other physical ailments, I assume, happening through a hockey season. You earned the right to have that particular moment in the middle of the change room as the entire place is going upside down to pink What a banger yeah daughter Mackenzie loves that song by the way I would like to thank miss ron for that song because that was the first one me and my daughter really started dancing to and now she has

The rhythm of the beat every single day of her life But they were celebrating with that afterwards having a time of their lives because this is so much hard work the hockey life Okay, obviously they play a shit ton of games. Let's go to Nicky skates in the back How many games in a regular season 82? Then you play all the playoffs that's seven series then you obviously have preseason everything like that so you got like you know 95 100 games okay and hockey is brutal the ground does not give it all you know like people talk about the surface of turf being hard the old Astro turf is hard obviously grass

can be hard but at least there's a little bit of give even if it's on top of concrete you you put it there. Ice is just concrete. Okay? That is what that is. The amount of falls, the pads they have on, they have pads on, but it's what kickers pads used to be like when they're walking out there. Just not real pads.

And then obviously they're playing with a puck that's getting shot, you know, 100 miles an hour and they're putting their face in front of it. So the amount of beating that these hockey players take throughout a season, just playing hockey, let alone if there's something a little extraordinary, like a big time shot, maybe a cross check to the teeth, maybe to the back, something like that. You just get your ass beat for 82 games

during a regular season, then oh yeah, now it's the most important time of year. So for a team to be able to do that all season, then to be able to climb the mountain of the best seven series in the, some would say the most intense playoffs because of how fast it's going, how much is at stake, how much can change and how these barns get. These barns are outrageous.

You think back to some of these teams that were involved, Carolina Hurricanes and the Caniats. I mean, that was a hell of a run during this entire playoff run. There was none of the big six, the original six teams that were in the playoffs this year. So everybody wondered how it was going to go. Well, the hockey was fantastic. The stars showed up in a big way.

Connor McDavid was all the way to the finals yet again. They lose yet again. Now people are saying McDavid needs to get the hell out of head. He's gone, maybe. So many different storylines developed and then one came to a beautiful, maybe maybe beginning this dynasty in Florida is seemingly going to be impossible to stop they have a lot of

free agents they do we have some good news we'll be talking to general manager of the Florida Panthers Bill Zito in about an hour or so and I cannot wait to ask him a lot of questions about what he does going forward hey let's live in a moment Bill okay this guy used to be an agent They obviously used to be a coach for hockey He loves the sport of hockey now his general manager of a dynasty in the middle of it and he got some big names that Are up there I think three of the top five pending free agents in the NHL are all Florida Panthers players This group is very very good together gonna have to lose some people obviously not gonna be able to pay everybody

How do they keep this going? Who knows? We shall see. What's that D-Bud? Maybe Bill can figure it out. But I mean the squad is stacked and everything that you've seen after just shows you who they are as a team, real family like and I love like every team kind of does their own thing when they win the Stanley Cup. Obviously it starts out with the captain getting out there but them passing that thing off to all of the first time winners of a cup regardless of what role they played on the team How much time they played some guys didn't even play for them to get in obviously it gets to Marsha Who's won one before and then it goes around just unbelievable moment and that whole squad is that hopefully? Hopefully Zito can bring the guys back, but it's tough. You know how it is a lot of money

I don't know how I'll be able to pull it off especially in the NHL But maybe they will because they understand what they're in the middle of, which is chasing all-time greatness when it comes to conversation. Let's go to the talk table, obviously at Ty Schmidt at Boston Connor. Marci goes down to Florida, fits in perfectly for them, especially as Kichuck is out. Marci was able to fill the role. Then he finally are all able to get back on the ice and it's magic immediately. Culture fit, the way he plays. He's not scared to be a menace, and that's a team full of menaces that play hockey in a tough, menacing fashion, but they're also wildly skilled. He got a chance to play on the third line

against maybe lesser opponents than he had when he was at the Boston Bruins. Wins a cup immediately, his second ever Stanley Cup. You know, maybe this is just the beginning of his Florida Panther run. Is he going to be remembered forever as a Florida Panther because of how great he played in this particular postseason? What a time for Marshaan to get traded to a team that's in the middle of a dynasty.

Yeah, it's awesome. You know when the Panthers first won the Cup those first few moments, you're pissed off, okay, as Bruins fan. Not only just because hockey's done, but just the thoughts of Brad to what you just said. Hey, people might only remember him as a Panther. I don't think that'll happen because it has occurred in the past where legendary Bruins have left. Ray Bork wins the Stanley Cup. He actually brought it back to Boston, but I was so pumped for Marci. Immediately, you're kind of cursing the television.

Dropping names that probably don't need to be names that have nothing to do with hockey. I was still mad at some Knicks fans. I called them all pissed off. I'm pretty sure I said some bad things about John Mellencamp again last night. We don't need to do with hockey. I was still mad at some Knicks fans. I called them all pissed off. I'm pretty sure I said some bad things about John Mellencamp again last night. We don't need to do that. No, no, exactly. You don't because then you remember like, oh, it's so nice that Brad Marchans able to do this. And he's one of those free agents. I think he does end up staying. There was a tweet about just the team in general, about how close they were,

how on the road sometimes People get dinner at different points, but usually it was the entire team Usually it was Bill Zito picking up the tab for the entire thing. I think something like that Yeah, Echblad who's another free agent? One of those top guys is the one that kind of talked about that entire thing But it does make sense for everyone to say, you know Florida being the no stadium contact, we talk about that with football, be how important that is, I'm sure with hockey, it's just the same. And then you think about, you know, the scene that they have right now

in South Florida, that is the coolest place to win anything, whether that be, you know, a Stanley Cup or Marcy with a cup right now at elbow room. Yeah, I shot down there from elbow It's unbelievable And I don't know if you guys saw Marsha's family kind of to do the players Tribune thing and they you know We're leaving voicemails for Brad or I don't know how they do that if they send them to the players Tribune Then they put together a video like just being pumped for Brad Especially after the disappointment the Bruins have had the last few years and how big of a part of the Bruins he will always be having him you know lifting the cup how sweet that is it is it's awesome it stinks if you're not a Panthers fan but it's cool. Early reports are that there's already been a couple dings to Lorto in the overnight celebrations there are some shots at

1 30 a.m of Reinhardt I believe. Barky. Barkov captain goes onto the ice and lifts up the cup alongside the arena employees there's been a lot of celebrating obviously we just saw marshy out there at 135 Barkov brought Stanley Cup back out to the ice and he's celebrating with you yeah yeah yeah who knows how the suite is but that's an entire building operation I think last time we talked about to people in the Florida Panthers organization after they won the Stanley Yeah, who knows how the suite is but that's an entire building operation I think last time we talked about To people in the Florida Panthers organization after they won a Stanley Cup They're talking about how the entire building counts and it's like when you talk about culture they got it

Yeah, you know you talk about going out to dinner and 99% of the time Bill Zito picked up The check we need to check what that does with a salary cat Pittsburgh Penguins fans have some questions But with that being said your GM is paying for your guys's meals as you're all eating out together at this professional level It's like that's what you're looking you're trying to bottle that as much as you can and whenever it's a lot of the like I saw a Dairy Queen trip to I believe was reported about how they on the road They all went to Dairy Queen together, then they lost or something They're like, you know why we need to maybe do this at home as well. So they all went to Dairy Queen

It's like they all live in the same area of town. They all do the same thing. They're all enjoying warm weather and being on the beach like 35 minutes away from here as Foxy's computer rings, I do believe. And. Yep, yep, yep. That is what it was. They're living like a great community life down there.

Now business is going to get in the way because you want to Stanley Cup You're part of the dynasty everybody wants your shit You know like there's gonna be some people that are gonna offer a lot of money I assume to some of these guys because they're gonna want whatever that is in their building Will they be able to sell the future down there in Florida? I have no idea, but I do know Sam Bennett's back. Yeah, and this guy wanted to cons might He was the favorite through this entire thing. He's free. He's one of the free agent. Oh shit Eight more years

No way they're gonna let him Future's gonna be good. The future's gonna be good. That's a bad. It's gone Marshy potentially leaving their same act black black going Marsha go nowhere Just I'm telling you though. This is a lot of work for bills You know, you have to do this off-season. And it sucks that we're looking ahead already because of how great they were. But it's like Sam Bennett with 15 goals in the postseason, they said he was the odds on favorite to win a Con Smythe.

Brad Marshawn made a run at it there late because of how great he was. And obviously the whole team is incredible. But it's like what a run by a group. Coach Mo afterwards was asked, you have been on the record as saying this is the most talented team and your favorite team you've ever been around. And it looked like he didn't want to say his favorite team because obviously all your former players are listening. But he said this is by far the most talented team

and the tightest team that I've ever had. What a beautiful thing, especially when you're already been to the top of the mountain, you have that type of culture in place. That's going to be tough to emulate. If you're anybody else in the league right now you gotta be hoping that Bill Zito can't get the deal. The deal is done with these guys and if he is able to it's like how long can this go? It feels like they're very very very ready for the run. It does look like that because I mean you look at Marshy's 30 gonna be

38 like does he really want to go to a new team a different team a worse team and try to win there or would he rather just you know take whatever deal the Pan a worse team, and try to win there? Or would he rather just, you know, take whatever deal the Panthers can give him and try to go on a run to end his career and potentially get into the NHL Hall of Fame? And then, yeah, I mean, Sam Bennett's the one, he's 28 years old. He's the one who's going to get, you know, the biggest price tag. But if, like, we need to, we talk about this all the time in the NFL, Florida, that state tax is a real thing. Like, there's, there's gonna me a lot of teams that can't compete with that in that situation so there's a chance these all these boys stay together lifestyle to the beach go golf

you know do you think I mean look he's just tampering no no I mean everything they're saying is is basically recruiting as well the pitchers I mean it's just part of it it's real you just telling the story but you talk about the the talent and like the coach how much they love each other is one thing Obviously you need the talent as well But you would mention up Sam Bennett kind of been the awesome favorite like it was like four guys that could have realistically You know wanted obviously marshy Bobby in that he's been all world pretty much the whole run throughout should Rhino I see he wasn't gonna win it but Rhino had four goals last night in the closing game. Like, so you talk about depth,

Seth Jones coming over from Chicago, fitting right in. I mean, this is unbelievable what these guys done from the ownership. Obviously it starts in ownership. GM, head coach, and then the whole squad. I thought about Rhino with that hat trick last night. People at the Stanley Cup final. Like, this is a good hat.

Yeah, sure. But, but, but. Got a new 2025 Stanley Cup champions. True. Yeah, you're right. Right. I replace, throw that thing out there. What a moment in the Stanley Cup final.

Clincher having a hat trick. That is the way they've been celebrating. I mean, there's more videos coming out of the elbow room. Obviously the dumping beer. I mean, South Florida as a Pittsburgh person, Pittsburgh Penguins person, when South Florida wins a title, it's very easy to just say they're hockey. They're not. It's too too warm down here.

You guys don't even got ice. You don't want to hear it. It's hard not to just say that. Then you watch the way they acted. Then you watch the way the team plays then you watch how the fans react to how the team plays which is a hard-nosed style it's like the team and the fans go hand-in-hand like the fans love that that's how they play it's like they got some dogs down there and I think their fan base obviously only going

to continue to grow if you continue to win now speaking of continuing to win we need the Pacers to do that because the NHL is over now. Oh, shit. It's a good run. It's a sports. Good run, Oilers. Maybe next year, Connor. Well, maybe he goes to another team. Yeah, I thought, see,

I thought you were talking about me and the Bruins. Now you're talking about McDavid going to the Bruins? No, he was talking about McDavid. He needs to sit to teach him how to win. Oh, Connor McDavid going to the bros. No, he was talking about McDavid. He would say he needs said to teach him how to win Oh Connor McDavid. Yeah. Yeah Hmm think about coming Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I know he's very close with Stoner as well He might He needs someone of his peers Stoner is great, but he's not people in Edmonton right now We're like boys place. We saw this with Wayne. Okay, we don't need this again. Oh, sorry

Hey, I mean, yeah finish you could finish the Gretzky story. To be honest, I wouldn't mind them at the Utah Hockey Club. Oh, the Mammoth. Excuse me. The Mammoth. Brand, brand, brand. Brand, brand, brand, brand. It is the Mammoth. Tuss, tuss, tuss.

I wouldn't mind them there either. I think that would be kind of cool. Hockey Town would love them. You guys got a team still, that's great. Yeah, you know, one of the most historic teams in the whole league. We could really use Econor McDavid. Who owned that team for a long time? You know, Mr. Pizza Pizza himself owned it when the team was very, very good.

Father Illich, we love him. Rest in peace. Ever since he has passed away, it hasn't been quite the same in Hockey Town. That's why we need a Econor McDavid. rest in peace ever since he has passed away. It hasn't been quite the same in Hockey Town. That's why we need a Connor McDavid. Yeah, I think, you know, the Red Wings are certainly one of those teams that's been playing hockey a long time. Version six. Thank you for your service to hockey, Detroit.

Thank you. But I mean, it's very nice. No problem. When you say Hockey Town, I mean, you go back to that live shot of Elbow Room. That's Hockey Beach, you guys. That is. If you pan a little more to the east you won't see the Atlantic Ocean. That's why this one's so much cooler man. Like you just mentioned it about the fans.

Like last year there's probably so many people who were like fans of the Panthers who probably hopped on the bandwagon towards the end in the playoffs. Like that's what happens when you know a team is in your city and you're not really a fan of them This year probably all those people followed the team the entire year. Yes the amount of new Panthers fans that are like newly diehard good for hockey Yeah, great for hockey in not like new bandwagon fans like new Genuine Florida Panthers fans being there like it just it is sweet that they went back I don't know if anybody's drinking Yeah, that's like a couple later, I guess there's a couple people just ah boom yeah, I guess you get a couple drop Yeah, maybe one guy was a huge out there. You know, who's that guy that DJ throws the cakes? Yeah, Steve Aoki

He's actually what? Unbelievable. Yeah, he's a gun case Oh, you never seen this. Have you ever seen this guy? No, I mean, I know I know she cake or whatever I can't get this fucking huge thing of cake and there's like a Like us, I don't know what's that thing you put down to like bake so it doesn't get stuck a big break She's like a baking sheet underneath And this guy will no handle. I don't think no handle just takes this thing and then he and we're talking like dude like That wall. Yeah, like 15 what yeah, there's a man 15 yards. I think it first time Basketball right right my bum bang right here boom. I don't know if he's still doing it

I'm pretty sure did actually funny enough. I think like last month I saw I saw one of him doing it at a fest you've never seen this I've never seen this gimmick. It's a great gimmick. Yeah, he was just busting out these fucking sheet cakes to him Someone on someone's shoulders Duck on her with the she it'll be a mile anyways any check. Yeah, here he is. Hold on No handles. Okay, you want it? Yeah, you asked for it. Let me get you. Oh shit. Yeah Yeah, yeah Skill this was the video that I was actually referring to can find it about Zito. Yeah, that's and

You can get it. Wow. Pretty square shot too. That wasn't like a going shot. Between the arms. Yeah. That's incredible. It's impressive. We'll see if he gets down to elbow room, maybe toss some sheet cakes as the boys continue to toss beer from the Stanley Cup to the wild Panther Nation that is now celebrating being back to back Stanley Cup champs. But once again once again a reminder cold one ice cold like the ice

They were skating upon in the beers that they are drinking currently The NHL is over. Yeah Now all eyes are on tomorrow night here in Indianapolis, Indiana as the Indiana Pacers look to extend the series. They lose in the Oklahoma City Thunder or NBA champions. They win and we got a game seven down there in Laudan, Oklahoma City. All eyes are on that man. That is the biggest on the right side of the graphic Tyrese Halliburton. It is being chatted about that he will be a game time decision for

the Indiana Pacers. Obviously he's the Olympic gold medalist. Some people are calling him the moment which I don't think is a nickname that will carry past this particular playoff run. Although he has shown up for all of the moments up until this point. Incredibly clutch even though he's voted the most overrated player in the league by people around the NBA So this guy a friend of the program absolute dog has changed the way this Pacers team and culture is in Indianapolis since getting traded here from Sacramento alongside Pascal Siakam Who's been traded here from Toronto last year fit in perfectly was an NBA all-star the Eastern Conference finals MVP is a guy who

would be a star on any team he played on. We got a great group here. Oh Tyrese play or not. There's a calf soreness reported. There was an ankle before that reported. It's been a few games. It feels like if you've been watching and now obviously he has not played his best basketball. I think it is potentially difficult as a basketballer when your ankle and potential calf and all the other stuff.

I don't like foot. The reporting has all been like lower leg injury. We all see it though, when he's running. I've sent messages of well wishes, have not pride though, do not want to get involved. Game time decision if he can walk he'll play and that's why we love you on the other side there's oklahoma state team they seem we are uh fit fresh and uh ready for the challenge yeah they're a very good ball club aren't they yeah they're a good outfit

and their fans i think if they were to win would appreciate the moment and that parade. Oh man. Legit. Yeah. Think about the scenes that are going. You remember Cleveland? Yeah. When Cleveland had the parade and it was like the whole state came out. I was in Indiana. I even thought about going out. Man, think about heading over to Cleveland. This looks like this would be a good time. You know, fall brawn around. And then there were shutting down flights into Cleveland. Do you remember that? They were shutting down transportation into Cleveland

at one point because there were so many people flocking for the parade, the first ever. The Cavs. Shutting down transportation in there. So then you think about what Oklahoma City will do. We've already seen them at 3.30 AM at the FBOs on their flights back from finals games I assume that entire state will show up for this Oklahoma City Thunder team. What's the population Oklahoma City?

20,000 You don't know the population the team you're trying to take them. That is an interesting thing. I should know I think they got 13 guys on the roster. Yeah We're trying to beat that's what we're trying to beat. That's what we're trying to talk about 15 Big three and a little 12 from miles of that UD, yeah population of Oklahoma City 702,000 767 that's off 2023. You never know. Okay, sure a lot of people need an updated sense Indianapolis. Well, Indianapolis

879,000 293 Tulsa, Oklahoma Well, Indianapolis 879,293 Tulsa, Oklahoma 411,894 so that's Tulsa in Oklahoma City, you know, there's other cities out there. Oh, yeah still water. We love those cities out there Shoot boom boomer sooner than land Norman. Absolutely. There it is. is. Oklahoma. That place is awesome. Uh-huh What's the what's the Oklahoma City? Still water said that one? Check that one off

Hey that Oklahoma University of Oklahoma that place was awesome. Yeah, that place was beautiful great game to great game That place was awesome. They have a stadium for their softball team, who I am a big fan of. Yeah, Patti Gasso. Wanted to showcase a little bit better. Yeah, and it's as opposed to the complete opposite in that entire potential conversation piece,

but that place was wild. Yeah. That fan, and now the Oklahoma City, with the team that they have, they're young, ready to go. So you talk about the Florida Panthers fans enjoying all year. Oklahoma City, all year their fans have been like, hey, we're the team. Nobody's talking about us. We're the team.

So the amount that they have to feel like fulfillment about what they've been saying about their team, I assume that parade and that celebration would be epic out there in Oklahoma. Yeah. And they've already been through it like Kevin Durant Russell Westbrook They go to the finals They have like a potential dynasty on their hands and then those guys they lose I believe to the Heedles and you know They end up blowing that team up eventually and so they never get back to the finals

Like they've been waiting for this for a long time the reason you know Seattle wants a team so bad again with the Super Sonics is because they moved that team to Oklahoma City because Oklahoma City was such a great fan base and now unfortunately it looks like they are going to get the job done on Thursday. And then think about that parade possibly on a Sunday or a Saturday. I mean it's the summer so it doesn't matter as much but still if no one's working I assume they call off work in the state of Oklahoma no matter what.

Yeah, I assume the governor will come out and say that it's deemed a holiday or something like that. Like, that's what it means. I don't think that gets talked about enough. You know, I don't think it gets talked about enough like how much these teams do for these cities. You know, it always comes up whenever there's a new stadium or a new arena that needs to be built and there's potential tax dollars going in.

Once again, not a fan of that. If I was a billionaire, I would want to own my building I wouldn't want the state to own the building but there is a business method that owners use that have State funds get used during taxes and everything like that So it's always a debate on whether or not the state should send money to a new stadium or not That is kind of the reason why teams leave usually that is the big Talking point so I feel like you should always own it. But whenever you Like when you get a team that is representing of the entire city There's nothing that can bring or cultivate people more like these Indiana Pacers games

The people that are showing up at those games, the people that are outside of those games, everybody in our city, like everybody in our city, like surrounding areas, everybody in the state, even parts of Ohio and Illinois, it's just like it rallies everybody. The amount of business obviously downtown, the amount of money and revenue that takes place obviously immense, but just a sense of like pride that the smaller, not that New York doesn't, I'm not saying that because I was in New York whenever everybody was in the streets, you feel it.

But out here it is like, it feels like it's an entire state versus everybody. Like whenever Canada had Toronto on their run, they were like, it was the entire country of Canada was representing for Toronto. That's how it is. And I feel like Oklahoma is the same way. It's that entire area pulling for them

and Indiana is the same. I hope Tyrese plays and I hope this thing goes seven. But if Oklahoma City wins this, which area's the chance? I don't want to, you know, there is a chance. That Oklahoma City wins? Yeah. Yeah, the whole thing or the next game. I've come to the realization that there is a chance.

What are the books? That the Oklahoma City, yeah. And it's changed, it's only gotten worse. Yeah, the numbers as well. What are the books? That the Oklahoma... Shit. Yeah. And it's changed. It's only gotten worse. Yeah, the numbers as well. And the sports books have been on, but it's like I've come to the realization that the Pacers might not win.

It was a good season. Yeah. Gotta play the game. It's not over. Gotta play the game. You can celebrate this season at least. It's kind of over. Last year we talked about how after the Eastern Conference Finals you can't even talk about

it being a good run. This year you can talk about this Pacers team as legendary. They felt they fell short, but still still We got a game to play that way. I don't like the way you that's why I haven't even let it creep in Because the way you guys are acting I don't need you getting me into Who did we pick yesterday in the hockey game so we could get another hockey game in game seven the oilers And i'm not doing it again Okay, cuz I came in here this morning bone that fucking idiot He goes oh, I thought everyone was on the Oilers. I thought you were on the Oilers

It's like no, I just want the Oilers to win for another game. I'm not doing that again Okay, we all see the writing on the wall. It's over It's over. I like it. It's not over man. I'm not going that far. We got another game. No. No. Oh you're not going that far. But. These paces have been good to us. Great to us. If Tyrese isn't somehow miraculously 90 to 95 percent come tomorrow. 90 to 95 percent? Nobody's 90 to 95 percent at this stage. Exactly. So it would be a miracle, but that's that's currently what they need They need that we can't we can't be trotting Tyrese out there at 60 percent and say hey go Do what you did all season when Teige comes out triple-tilt well we know Teige is gonna be going 125 percent bingo

Okay, we need tricky Ricky to pull a rabbit out of his hat. That's what we really yeah, and he does He has and he does we come out of one one, three, one, okay, tomorrow night. Just trapping the ball, trapping corners. Maybe they come out and just walk off the court and say, you know what, no, we're not playing without our best player. And then nobody will ever know if they would have won. Bingo, and then what, oh.

It's not a bad idea. That's at home, that's gonna be a tough move to do at home. Yeah, but everyone will cheer for him. I don't think so. Yeah, I don't think so either. I don't think so. I don't like the way I what's happening. I think it was a two point game boys. Come on. We can't give up. Thank you Foxy. Foxy's on my side. Yeah. Yes sir. That's why I didn't. Yes sir. Yes sir. More Tony Bradley please. Wrong. Bingo. Yeah. Let's get Tony Bradley running the point maybe time. All right, let's talk about some what?

We uh, we have breaking news From the elbow room. Oh lordo is leaving the building. Okay. No, you know where it's going now Matthew kachak, I believe has his golf cart outside of the elbow room to go back to the lifestyle that the florida panthers players are living Um, they just roll around from their house to different places on golf cart, go to practice, get better, go get in on a golf cart, pick up the kids, go have some ice cream, go back to the house, maybe go golf a little bit, get a lift in, and then just put that on repeat for their entire lives.

That's what life is like as a Florida Panther. It'd be tough not to want to be a part of this. If you're coming back or if you're a free agent, be room time. Is that Rhino next to him? Who's next to him? It's so hard. That is Rhino right there, Sam Reinhardt. Yeah, it's so hard to tell because some of them

shaved their playoff beards. Yeah, and it's also hard to tell because. I think it's going to the other side. You don't know what these guys look like. Yeah, we don't really get to do FaceTime as much. No. With these. Kachuk, we know Kachuk. Sunglasses, veteran play. Been there before. It do FaceTime as much. No.

With these, Kachuk, we know Kachuk. Sunglasses, veteran play, been there before, it's his second Stanley Cup. Yup. You know, he knows like, hey, by the time 12.30 comes around Eastern, my eyes are going to be pretty bloodshot. It might be tough to keep them open with where I'm at, but we'd like the body to continue to party without getting judged by how my eyes look. Yeah, I'm tired.

I haven't slept. Yeah, I'm pretty drunk. Yeah. I've been drinking out of this thing. Yeah, I'm tired. I haven't slept. Yeah, I'm pretty drunk. Yeah. I've been drinking out of this thing. Yeah. Dehydrated too? Yeah.

You think I'm expected to keep up with my hydration levels? Look at these. I can't open my eyes. You finished 105 games. Put sunglasses on, nobody questions. He goes, this guy looks cool. Yeah. Look how cool this guy looks.

He's got it all figured out. They're veterans and celebrating the Stanley Cup now. And them giving it to the first time winners first was awesome. It was awesome. That is a cool play That's like that team in a nutshell cannot wait to talk to Bill Zito at 1 15 Eastern time to chitchat about How do you create a team like that? What do you look for? Right? Yeah, it may be Dubas up there in Pittsburgh Will hear it's taking note or share ideas

Or think to himself man. That's how I feel about picking a team. Because it feels like they got it figured out down there. Feels like they got hockey figured out right now. And I assume they are a Monkey C Monkey Do league as well. So people trying to build a tough, physical, skilled team is a good thing for hockey as a whole too. Because they are fun to watch. Alright, let's put it away from the NHL because it's over. Hell of a season though. NBA still got two good games left. Hopefully. Two! Two! Two! Two! Two! No chance. Two more games left in the NBA. And then what are all eyes upon? The W. Agreed. Club World Cup. Agreed. The Open's not.

The Club World Cup. Definitely the W. Especially if Sophie Cunningham is going to continue to fight people for messing with Caitlin Clark. Because it feels like Caitlin Clark is going to get treated in a certain way in this league for a long time. She's not a rookie anymore. Okay? She's already proved herself. She's won.

And then there were some ladies last night that were trying to get a little physical. And then last year, I think something we noticed, and I think a lot of people noticed is, when Katelyn would get bullied, nobody would do nothing. Nobody would do nothing. It was like, hey, they didn't know, like whoa, whoa, I can't believe this is happening.

I can't believe people are doing this. Two Katelyn Clark teammates weren't jumping in there. They bring in Sophie Cunningham. I had no idea. Sophie Cunningham was a black belt at the age of six. Yeah. Boom! JC Shelton, that's cute. You want a poker in any I then push her into a boom maybe breathing the head I'll take a take foul and you'll eat the deck a little bit here and then we'll get out. I love it I like also I know people aren't gonna like this. I

like the Connecticut team Doing what they did. Yeah, I don't like the blindside cheap shot. I don't like the poke in the eye, but I don't mind the- Fizz called. Yeah, I don't mind a little bit of like a competitive, how you doing, keep it moving, especially at the WNBA with how much is at stake. You know, right now they're at a pivotal time.

There's CBA coming up, I think. I believe there is a some sort, cause remember they're talking about holding out. Oh yeah, that's right. Yeah, so there is some sort, I believe there is a CBA coming up. So it's like there's an opportunity now. What is the pivotal time? It's like having good having good basketball good having cheap shots not good probably but having like good competitive fire I think great and if Caitlin's gonna continue to pull up from the fucking logo So you will and drop it with no hesitation last night double team step back sideways

Drop it with no hesitation. Last night, double team, step back sideways. Get it? Yeah, I got it. How you doing? Keep it moving. Then hop on her to the bench afterwards with a... You like that? Yeah, you like that, but that last one right here,

this is a... Get to it. Get to it. Get to it. The punch is a, I'm the one. And... She punched somebody? No, she punched somebody no she punches herself and she basically says like yelling in the face like fuck with me basically it was awesome as soon as I watched it I was so excited let them know is my entire thoughts because they were both they were

trying to body her oh yeah they were trying to body her a bit. Oh yeah, big time. They were trying to body her a bit. And she just in their face answers, I dog. Sophie Cunningham coming in there too. She was barking the whole time too underneath the hoop I thought. When she was grabbing the head. Uh huh, uh huh. Is that who, is that like who she is? She's like an enforcer? Yeah.

Yeah, it feels like she was potentially brought in like a James Johnson type role for Tyrese Halliburton. And it's like, thank God. I think this is a good play, not a bad play. You always need some, I don't know if they still call me, you need some goons on your team for sure, especially when you have a star like that. Yeah, when you have the Golden Goose just like MJ was and you had his teammates who were kind of protecting him at times and the dirt bag Detroit Pistons had those MJ rules. So this is what the greats is going to go through. Candice Parker

kind of went through this. She came the league but yeah Caitlin Clark's gonna continue to deal with it and you know she's a dog she's she's an asshole she's a competitor she's cutthroat and I love it and what did this get them into the Commissioners Cup? They won the East of the Commissioners Cup okay yeah we're representing on the East of the Commissioners Cup and then on the West we're representing on the east of the Commissioner's Cup. And then on the west, we shall see. You know, there's a lot of great teams up there. And we'll be excited to see who we got to take on for the first ever Commissioner, second

ever. I think it's the second or third. Say I think Commissioner's Cup. Come on, let's go. We want that. Caitlin, Caitlin's awesome in watching her in the games or electrifying. Even if one of the reasons is because how the other team op acts towards her that's a part of the reason to watch you know and then like watching her figure it out last year she's a

rookie and she was being treated like she like this but the whole season and her just having to transfer from like okay Iowa into professional basketball and then how she navigated it changed her game and then also she started taking over like yeah she's the one it's it's a league filled with a lot of greats I'm not saying that she's the only talented person in the WNBA I'm not saying that but she yeah this is a part of the reason why yeah she is awesome to watch like she is a needle mover she's done a lot for Indianapolis already we're appreciative all right let's move away from the WNBA. Good call.

We won't be focusing on the MLB, but we will pay attention to MLB stories. Yeah. I think that's, I mean, a lot of baseball left. So yeah. But mostly NFL future conversations. Sure. And golf, ladies and gentlemen, let's put those two together. Joining us now, a man who will be a fairway side reporter

for the travelers. He's inside the ropes. He's inside the ropes. We got a golf insider? Mm-hmm. I believe pundit, analyst, insider for golf, and then senior NFL insider at ESPN. Ladies and gentlemen, Adam Schefter.

Yeah, ESPN! All right, what are we doing out there? Let me get my golf voice ready for tomorrow. Let's whisper and see how it's just me! Alright, what are we doing out there? Let me get my voice ready for tomorrow. Let's whisper and see how it's done. How Rory McIlroy and Keegan Bradley are gonna hit them from the fairway. Are we all ready for tomorrow? I think we are. Okay, so what are you?

You're gonna have that little pack on your back that's gonna have the connection and the ears. You're gonna have a handheld and you're gonna be following them on the course? Is that your role tomorrow? That's my role tomorrow. Basically, it's 18 holes with Rory and Captain Keegan. Be walking and honestly, look, I mean, Robert Dameron's gonna provide golf commentary, all the people back in the studio.

I'm just there to observe, have a little bit of fun. I love golf, I love watching these guys, in all honesty, on on Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday I watch ESPN plus I'm like in this golf pool. I watch my golf or whoever I picked that week I watch every shot that he hits So this is just taking me up close and personal to these guys and I had the chance to meet Rory last October Jack Taraputo the producer for happy Gilmore invited me out to New Jersey they were filming for the day and it was the day where Rory was there, Scotty Schaefler

was there, Bryson was there, Brooks Koepka was there. Got to hang out with those guys for a morning was kind of cool and yeah now we go out tomorrow to Cromwell Connecticut to the Travelers Championship and I'm honored to be a tiny, any bit see part of the broadcast. Yeah. ESPN Plus obviously has a lot of different streams to cover golf this year and more specifically the Travelers, which is a signature event this year for the PGA, who's got a new CEO who we are all pumped up about in the roll up world. Let's go, Brian. Let's go, Brian.

How much of this do you plan on doing in the future? Because I remember whenever Wode retired, there was a thought that the other insiders would maybe just pick up basketball. And then you were potentially going to become a basketball insider alongside of a football insider. Are you thinking about becoming a golf insider as well? How much more of this coverage are you going to do? And what are the opportunities here other than just tomorrow? Well, I mean, just tomorrow is the opportunity, to be honest, but I do think there is an opening in the golf space.

Yes. And I think that in time, that's something that would interest me. Like, I love what I do. I'm very happy doing what I do. I wanna keep doing it. But I've done it for 35 years too. And you know if you have grilled chicken every night, every once in a while it's nice to

have the stir-fry chicken. It just makes it up a little bit, right? Yeah. And so try some different things. And that's all this is. When I did the NBA sidelines, that was unbelievable. I love it. And you know what it's like in the sports world like when you were playing football pad if there are athletes and entertainers that show up in your universe they love to be a part of the football world the people the football world love to be a part of the athletes and entered or the entertainment and artists world so there's a little bit of overlap there and I love stepping into a new venue where I don't know what the hell I'm

doing tomorrow I'm just there to try to observe, watch, learn, have a little bit of fun and we'll see what happens. I have no idea. All I know is, I'm thankful to have the opportunity and hopefully I don't disrupt Captain Keegan and Rory in their backswings or anything like that. Well, Rory needs a pick me up. So maybe you'll be the one that does it. Yeah. Yeah. Rory's been tossing clubs. Yeah, pretty good club tosser though, if I might add. Maybe the best in tour's history.

That little bounce pass to himself with the club. I thought he was going to maybe throw it again. Could you imagine he throws it once, not good enough, throws it again? That would have been two club throws and one club throw. That would have been a couple, a combo. World record. We hope he's in a better mood, better spirits. Hopefully you're able to do that.

Let's talk a little bit about football, shall we? Big conversation in Baltimore right now. Go ahead, D-Bucks. Oh, yeah. Lamar Jackson is making a little wave speaking about his former college teammate, Jair Alexander. We got a little video right here. Accomplished cornerback available. Have you got a chance?

Go get him, Eric. I love all our corners. I'm getting it wrong, but go get him, Eric. Have you got a chance to talk to J Love all our corners. Don't get me wrong, but go get them Eric. Have you got a chance to talk to Jair about coming here? Yeah, I hit him up. I hit him up, but you know, you don't know. You never know with Jair. That's my boy, man. Obviously, that's a franchise quarterback speaking there, so that's gonna make waves. But what is the market out there for Alexander right now? Well, I think the thing is, is that he's got interest from other teams like Carolina is interested in Jair Alexander and there are other teams that are offering him I think

more money than Baltimore can, but that relationship right there cannot be underestimated. I think there were college roommates together Lamar and Jair and we're talking about Lamar speaking to Jair but it's gone both ways. Jair's also reached out to Lamar and I think that there's a mutual interest on both sides and somehow having this happen. Now if they can get it together, great. If not, then they can't but definitely the Ravens are in the conversation and I think wherever he goes, the chances are it's going to be a one-year deal.

He gets to become a free agent after the season. I think that's been part of the goal here. And he can hit the free agent market with a fresh slate after hopefully having a strong season. But I think Carolina's in play. I think Baltimore's in play. I think there were some other teams in play. And we'll see ultimately what Jair wants to do.

Love that Carolina's in play. Love everything about that. And shout out to the Panthers fans. It may be seeing some happy times with your team as opposed to laughing stock, which they had been for a long time Let's talk about him saying he wanted to be a free agent after this year basically a proof of year Well, you would want to win then you'd want to win like so you would you would certainly write his primetime games Probably what you would think conversation We're having the Panthers like you want to obviously you always want to pluck if you're another team and pay guys that are coming from winning

organizations. Yeah so you would think that the Ravens would have and let alone him being best friends seemingly with Lamar Jackson and anything we know about that Baltimore Ravens culture like Jaiyur would be great. Yeah. As a Baltimore Raven. Coached by Chuck Magano. Yeah Chuck Magano is in that building. Jaiyur would love Chuck. I mean that would be a great relationship between the two but why don't I come to Indianapolis? I'm here. Hey He's the only thing with Jair's health if he stays healthy and he can he plays how he's always played in the league He will be one of the highest paid corned in the league

I think let's talk about the sacking of the NFL. Go ahead con man chef D reports about Trey Hendrickson and the Bengals talking again were reported. Is that real? Is that kind of BS? Is this the Bengals front office getting this out there so that they kind of look like the good guy here? And do you expect this deal to get done for about 30 million? Well, they're talking again, but they're not any further along.

They're talking. It doesn't mean a whole lot right now. It'll mean something if and when they can figure out a way to get a deal done, which they've been unable to do so far. I think there's a disagreement over value, and I think most important, there's also a disagreement on length here, a length of deal. I think that's also an issue here. The Bengals would like a shorter deal, Hendrickson would like a

longer deal and they can't even find common ground on the length of the deal right now. Now again it's June 18th so if it's still not sold by July 18th that's more of an issue. If it's not sold by August 18th then that becomes a real issue but I think Trey Hendrickson is Absolutely frustrated right now and disappointed with the way this whole thing is gone and we see some of these other pass rushers getting paid And look it's in the best interest of both sides here the Bengals and Trey Hendrickson to get a deal done There are your highest paid guys right now The list is gonna be increasing Micah Pars Parsons is going to become the highest paid defensive player in history. At some point this summer, he's gonna pass

up Miles Garrett. And so I don't know that that has a dramatic effect on Trey Hendrickson, but it could have some type of effect. And look, Trey Hendrickson, the last two years, more sacks than anybody, led the league in sacks last year. A guy you want in your locker room. But again, they're talking, but they're not any closer to a deal today. Okay, so they're talking, not closer to a deal, but at least there's communication happening,

because for a long time there hadn't been, which I think Trey felt kind of disrespected by if I'm picking through the way he has handled this entire situation. Even going to a voluntary day. Hey, how you guys doing? Where's the media? This is all bullshit.

You know, he didn't say that exactly, but basically how we explained it is last year, two years ago, I thought this was going to happen. Last year, I thought this was going to happen. I was told if I do this again, I've just got the most sacks out of anybody. Three years feels like the right one. In my, normally this would be a three year type deal. Are you thinking that Trey one's longer, Cincinnati Bengals one less than that? I think that the Bengals would like a low deal, like one year.

Oh, okay. One year. They would like a trial run. Wow. Prove a year for a... Wow. I think they would like to boost what he's going to make probably for the final year. Wow is right.

Like kind of what the Giants did with Saquon, right? When he wanted that running back deal. Yeah. They like boosted it for like 3000 or something. Yeah, it wasn't that much. Or maybe Austin Eckler. No, Eckler had the boost, but with Saquon, he had the tag and then they gave him like a 10.5 million.

Yeah, an extra 800,000. So maybe they're just trying to give him a boost and,5 million instead of $10,000. $800,000. So maybe they're just trying to give him a boost in, hey, you're going to make this. We're trying to boost it up to this and then you'll be free. Well, interesting. Eckler's was the one that was like $3,000 more. Yeah.

Yeah, that one was disrespectful. Yeah. That one we thought, oh, geez, I don't know if we want that one to be made publicly. OK, so that's Trey Hendrickson in the AFC North. Let's stay in the AFC North with a quarterback tackler. Go ahead, Tone. Yeah, Shetty, you talked about Micah being the highest paid defender of all time, passing Miles Garrett. You did not mention TJ Watt passing Miles Garrett. What's the latest on

that situation? Do you think he will get more than Miles Garrett? I don't know if he's going to get more than Miles Garrett. I think TJ Watt's going to get a nice, strong, healthy deal. And I think at some point in time, the two sides will be able to figure out a way to get this done. And I can't imagine that TJ Watts wouldn't be there for the starter training camp, that Pittsburgh would not get a deal done. We heard Mike Tomlin last week at mandatory mini-camps saying that both sides working to make it happen. But TJ Watts, seriously, he's seen all the money that's gone around and he wants to make sure that he gets rewarded in the appropriate way. And again, I just think that these two sides will be able to figure out. I think Miles Garrett is in his own class.

Like Micah Parsons is four years younger, I believe, than Miles Garrett and had more quarterback pressures, more wins against opposing offensive linemen and Miles Garrett is a Hall of Fame defensive end, a Hall of Fame pass rusher. But Mike Apparsians had numbers that beat his and he's four years younger. And that's why I think Mike is gonna become the highest paid defensive player. TJ Watts is gonna get a really, really strong deal,

but I don't know exactly where it's gonna come in. I think he'd be surprised if it was higher than miles Garrett. How come everybody just assumes that deals getting done You know, that's that's how it's been. He missed mandatory mini camp. Everybody's like a TJ Watts Steelers. Yeah. Thank you. Just because you think you know, there's no definitely get it done They'll figure out a way and He's so important to that team in that city that it's hard to imagine that they wouldn't figure out a way to get it done. But he has to think that they're not going to get it done, right? That's why he didn't go to mandatory.

Yeah, no, no, no. He said he opted to absorb the hundred and seven plus thousand dollars in fines by not showing up at mandatory mini camp. That's a big statement to make. Like one hundred seven thousand dollars is a lot of money. going up in mandatory mini camp, that's a big statement to make like $107,000. It's a lot of money. But if you're talking about 35 plus million dollars a year, what's $107,000. So he could afford to make a statement that was what he opted to do. Tell him that he's not happy.

He's so unhappy that he's willing to stay away and that'll continue if the deal is not done in the right way. So when this is like $38,107,000 a year, for the next three years or whatever it is, we can obviously laugh about the fine, but everybody's just saying the deal is going to get done, the deal is going to get done, the deal is going to get done. And it seems like with the way TJ is operating

is he doesn't think a deal at this stage is going to get done. I'm very intrigued by that. Like I, and I think JJ talked, JJ Watt came on and was like, I just feel like from my perspective, whenever you do these deals earlier, you save yourself grief, you save anxiety, you save money, you do all these things. So whenever it continues to roll out, it's like Trey's dealing with it now. Obviously TJ was dealing with it. Miles Garrett was dealing with like money can solve it, but it all ultimately Jerry Jones normally has to deal with this because he passes it off. It's like that number just goes up and up and but it all it's really Jerry Jones Normally has to deal with this because he passes it off

It's like that number just goes up and up and up and it's like if you're gonna get a deal done inevitably get just let's Let's get a deal especially with TJ the record of when TJ plays versus when he doesn't for the Steelers I forget the exact number but wasn't with air Roger. Yeah, like who wants to hold out longer? That's a team want to hold out longer or does the player want to hold out longer? Somebody the Cowboys love Jerry Jones likes the drama. Yeah, you think that he likes You know Shafi just said Michael Parsons will be the highest pay like why not just get that done now before somebody else I remember when Jim Hersey said Andrew's looks gonna be the highest paid quarterback in history, brother everybody was like

Just lost a lot of leverage yeah don't care don't care yeah we all see it brother it's like yes we do yes we do all right intrigued by it all especially decision makers and how they go about doing things last question for you speaking of that there's a brand new decision maker in the land of cheese good time yeah chef see we've heard from Packers new CEO and team president Ed Ed Policy, about some of his new policies and he basically said, hey, I'm not ready yet to give extensions to both Matt LeFleur and Brian Goodekinst. How pivotal is this season for the Packers, not just for the team, you know, to kind of

take that next step, but like, I don't want to say these guys are on the hot seat, but how pivotal is this season that the Packers perform well? That was a very interesting statement. He said a couple of interesting things yesterday He's mentioned something about the fact that the Packers Aren't exploring options of moving and I'm like the Green Bay Pat. When did we ever hear about the Packers moving? So clearly there's something going on with the stadium that the team is not happy with right now that he's trying to get rectified and using some leverage. And he brought up the fact that he's not ready to extend Russ Ball, Brian Gudekinst and Matt LaFleur.

And I think Gudekinst and LaFleur have two years left on their deal. This is a time that a lot of teams would be doing deals if you believe in your guy. Right now, policy is taking over and I think he's just taking a wait and see approach. The coaching market, the GM market is what it is. It's not like by waiting it's gonna cost them a whole lot more and each guy will have another year left on his deal after this year. But I just thought it was interesting

that he would even open the door there to start that conversation because at the end of the season everybody's going to go back to Ed Policy and say where are we at on Brian Gudekinst and Matt LaFleur and he set precedent by talking about it now so you would expect that he would be once again willing to talk about it after the year and we'll get a stance if he all of a sudden says after the season I'm not talking about that. Well, that's not a very good sign for those guys.

So I think we have an idea of where he's at right now, wait and see. Both guys have done a great job. I would have thought that they'd be taken care of, but he's waiting and seeing on them both. I think if you asked him, he'd say, Ed policies, policies are stern but fair.

Yeah. He's saying, I'm gonna have to see with my own eyes. You know, I got ideas. He's appointed by a board. Yeah. So then if the board has appointed this guy and he brings up the, we're not thinking about leaving Green Bay.

That means there's probably some sort of something. Could you imagine the Green Bay Packers leaving Green Bay? That'll never happen. That'll never happen. We can just add that. Ty's an owner of the Green Bay Packers leaving Green Bay. That'll never happen. That'll never happen. We can just end that. Ty's an owner of the Green Bay Packers. We can end that. Ed Policy was also the guy who basically started like the Title Town expansion.

So like he knows what's going on around there. He's going to make sure that- Ed Policy's policies are good. Yeah, bingo. He was also general counsel. Like Ed Policy's a bit of a big swinging dick. So he just needs to kind of get into his own here and he will I like it I kind of like it put their feet to a fire to the fire a little bit I'm tired of hearing hey is the youngest

team like Packers are coming on they might challenge to win a Super Bowl this year and then you get you know first round playoff exit I like it hey let's go let's go let's have a deep playoff run then we'll talk great first round of the draft great host of the draft anything else we should be chit chatting about either golf or football with you, Shafty, as we come up on a hard out. No, but we wish good luck to your Pacers here tomorrow night. That's a big game for your team here. We'll see whether Tyrese can go.

That's a big deal. Certainly sound like he was going to go. And now they are listing him as questionable. I'd be surprised if he didn't play. Boom. Love that. Ladies and gentlemen senior golf, NBA, and NFL insider at ESPN Adam Scheffer. Thank you buddy. The band man. The band man. Brad Marshawn looks awesome on top of a car down in Florida right now Cigar in hand coffee in hands all that Surfside spiked coffee or iced tea spiked iced tea elbow beer

What hey I saw a video Sam Bennett just like just taking in everything and speaking to the crowd he ain't going anywhere either Ladies and gentlemen as we get out of here We had to ESPN to the college world series continues on the other side of this break tie Who's playing and what do we need to know? We got Louisville and Coastal Carolina Next Coastal Carolina is undefeated if they win they will move on to the championship series if Louisville wins Then there'll be like a little bit of a mix-up basically right now We have two teams who have not lost two teams that have one loss. We're if you lose two games, you're eliminated So we're just trying to get to the championship series here, which will be a best two out of three should be a great game

The game starts at two o'clock. Oh shit. Oh, well, okay. Hey, so we got now we're here to you know Chew through some of the stats and everything. Nice. Boom. Yeah. A deeper dive. We'll do a deeper dive on the other side. That's right.

Like one hour from right now. Okay, perfect. Okay. No frills delivers. Get groceries delivered to your door from No Frills with PC Express. Shop online and get $15 in PC optimum points on your first five orders. Shop now. Delivers. Get groceries delivered to your door from No Frills with PC Express.

Shop online and get $15 in PC Optimum Points on your first five orders. Shop now at NoFrails.ca. In 1979, the first words spoken on ESPN weren't just an announcement. If you're a fan... They were a sports prophecy. What you'll see in the next minutes, hours, and days to follow. Glad you're with us tonight. May convince you you've gone to sports heaven. And right now you're standing on the edge of tomorrow. This fall, the next era of ESPN begins. Sports forever.

Sports forever. Sports are happening all around us. We have a Stanley Cup champion for the 2025 NHL season. And that is once again, the Florida Panther. Hell yeah. Big win last night as Darius J. Butler, nine-year NFL vet, South Florida native and Florida Panther diehard fan celebrates here in Indianapolis as all of South Florida has turned once again into hockey beach. Yeah. Hell yeah. Florida native and Florida Panther die-hard fan celebrates here in Indianapolis as all of South Florida has turned once again into Hockey Beach. Yeah. Oh, yeah, Lordo has been bouncing around down there near for Laudie Dottie and

Sunrise Florida from the elbow room two houses I assume to a golf course later this afternoon as the Florida Panther boys Enjoy the hell out of being crowned the best team in hockey for yet another season. In the middle of a dynasty, congratulations to you Darius Butler having a hell of a run. Thank you.

Congratulations to you, giving us a team to be proud to root for. And uh. Yeah, is that going to happen in any other sports? I mean, dolphins are on the clock, but the heat and the, you know, the heatos they had their run when they went to four straight finals. Now we've got three straight finals with Marlins.

Marlins won a couple of those things. So Dolphins been, I think 26 years now since we've had a playoff run. So it's great time to have one here. You guys might be trying to trade for Kevin Durant allegedly. That could maybe change from things down there. I don't know if that's gonna be his final destination.

I did, I saw some people comment whenever we posted another kevin duran update That uh, is there anything being talked about every day? We're talking about kevin duran nothing really. I'm just kind of yeah Well, it's fluid though. Well, it is a fluid shams did say like hey This could happen in the next couple days So that kind of creates the urgency of like we got to be talking about this because duran's about to get traded will and behold It's been several days since he said that. Now there's a report that Shams said that the Phoenix Suns are going to trade for whatever the best is for the team, even if it is not a part of Kevin Durant's desired destination.

I saw that as a lower third. I didn't hear the interview though. Yeah, I saw that as well. I think the biggest Shams tidbits that he has shared with us that he didn't even mean to Was that the Spurs are going after a different somebody a different superstar? Yeah that on their timeline as opposed to the Kevin Durant timeline Yeah, I think that I don't know if he meant to say that because he just kind of slipped that in and then you kind of Pushed him on in a little bit like because he said they're packaging pieces for maybe another star on their own timeline. Yeah, exactly Yeah, what does that mean? I think it means there's I mean, there's one team the Boston Celtics that have

Stars that are in the range of the Spurs stars like Katie. I love Katie I I want Katie on the friggin Celtics Okay, but he's 37 and all their players are in their early 20s So if you were looking at the Boston Celtics like a Jalen Brown who's still in his 20s Who's still in his prime who would have not just one or three years? He is the exact piece they need they have a point guard with Fox they have Wembe they have Castle if they were to add like a wing like Jalen Brown, they would legitimately be perfect. So you guys would get the number two overall pick too, or what would you guys do?

I mean, yeah, that would be the thing. The Celtics would get probably the second overall pick. I'm sure Brad Stevens has some sort of plan. And then, I mean, whether they stay at two or they like someone who was probably projected a little after those top three guys. Maybe that's what they do. Maybe they try and trade that pick. Most craziest off season ever.

Yeah, exactly. It's what Shams called this off season. We shall see if it lives up to the hype. You know, Joe Nardo never did this. And I don't think any meteorologist or weather people here in Indianapolis would do this. But it does feel like every once in a while, seemingly every storm is the biggest storm of all time. Correct. Skyman! Bunker Tours!

You know, and then they get the Doppler up, oh this one broke up here actually. We're interrupting the show that you want to be watching right now to show this Doppler of this area that is nowhere near where you live. And you're being forced to watch it because you see we got these triangles here and it could potentially hit you and then All we're gonna go back to your schedule program Okay, because it wasn't that big of a deal every once a while a big storm will come but normally it's a boy who cried wolf Type situation, you know, and that's everything for the NBA. It's like Whenever I don't know about the NBA but in sports whenever they say something big is about to happen It's been a dud for us throughout our run.

Most of the time. This show, right? Yeah. That kind of, so whenever I hear Shams go most craziest ever, in the moment I get real excited. I'm like, Oh, that's great. And then once like reality settles in, it's like, we always kind of get sold that there's a dream.

And I think it's because a lot of teams are very active. And then when it push comes to shove to make an actual play, do you do it? That's why that Luca to the Lakers thing was so huge because it's like, what? That type of conversation happens. It never really takes place. So maybe the NBA is wild. Maybe Kevin Durant moves. Maybe the Boston Celtics do a big time trade. Maybe there's a lot of movement. Maybe there's none, which has happened in the past. There has been some movement on a massive, massive free agent in the NFL.

The Toxic Tip was here at boss Connor and at Ty Schmidt. You're gonna wanna hear this. One half of the hammer, cowboys AP tone. You're definitely gonna wanna hear this piece of news. Live from an attic in Ohio, a college football national champion, a Super Bowl champion, the all time leading tackler for the Green Bay Packers, AJ Hawk is here.

AJ and I know you know this former captain of the Green Bay Packers Jair Alexander has signed with the Baltimore Ravens. Wow, that was quick. Lamar Jackson's words to Jair Alexander's ears and the Baltimore Ravens have signed Jair Alexander to join that Baltimore Raven team that is yearning for a Super Bowl. From what Schefter told us is probably a one-year deal looking to become a free agent after this year. Did that change in negotiations? Who knows? Jair feels like a perfect fit with the Baltimore Ravens culture and once again the conversation

is can he stay healthy? That's the entire combo debutch? That's the only conversation that comes to him. He's still in the prime of his career. Great ball skills, can play man-to-man can Play zone then you put him in the secondary with a guy like Kyle Hamilton young superstar Marlon Humphrey coming off one of his best years in NFL Nate Wiggins young corner They got out there with a lot of talent as well man some great pass rushers up front Chuck P back in the building It's a great great sign in for the Baltimore Ravens. Love that Lamar came out, spoke publicly about his guy.

I'm sure he already knew, kind of the wheels were in motion. Him being in the building and getting it done. Why Shep Shepty could have told us. Shepty had to know he was in the building. But this is great, great news for Jai and the Ravens. Yeah, Eric DeCosta getting the deal done. Let's go to AJ Hawk, who said in the group text,

he'd be a great fit. Why do you think that? Just because of personality, style of play? What are your thoughts? Yeah, I mean, all of the above. D-Butt, there's not really like, Jire can kind of do it all when it comes to how he covers. But I think just, especially if he's on a one year

kind of prove it deal, let's get to a big old contract. Jire would fit in beautifully with that secondary because this dude has some moxie. We know what he's done. Like we know the whole captain situation where he thought he was gonna be captain. He was in his hometown, all of that stuff. But I just love, I think he'll fit in beautifully cuz I think when you get a change of scenery like this and all of a sudden he's gonna be like reinvigorated.

The question obviously, can he stay in the field? If this dude's on the field, he absolutely makes plays every single game. And also it's gonna be very easy. Everybody knows who Jair is in the NFL. Everybody knows exactly how he's going to be when he gets in there. But you have the franchise quarterback basically cosigning you immediately upon getting into the locker room. That makes transition very, very easy.

Not that it wouldn't be for Jair, but I'm just saying you get dropped in there. It's going to be just like Marchand whenever he got put in the Florida Panthers team. It's a perfect fit all the way around there. And then you have to wonder, the Green Bay Packagers said enough. They're just moving on Ty Schmid. Yeah, I think it was more so just like they wanted him to take a pretty big pay cut and he was just like no, you know, you signed me to this deal. Like I'm not when I'm healthy, I'm one of the best cornerbacks in the league. So I think it was it was always trending towards this. But for him too, like this is by far the most talented secondary he's ever played in, You know, for the longest time when he was in Green Bay,

he was kind of the glue that was holding everything together. And it was, you know, kind of just like a bunch of a bunch of dudes and then Jair. So for him to go out there and not have to be the one who's necessarily always shadowing the number one receiver, you know, he can kind of just fit in. Like I if he can stay healthy, I expect him to have a massive year for the Ravens. God, the Ravens are loading up. What are the Steelers doing?

We brought in a four time. I mean, the underachiever. That conversation is awesome. No, I mean, the Ravens, the second four time NFL MVP underachiever dude. Yeah, I mean look I get it. What's this guy done? Well, that's it we're talking about the heat you know that is that's rain culture and that's rain culture is bullshit Okay. All right. Well that whole thing. I think it has to matter a little bit, you know, I think there's a There's such a such an interesting, you know, like underachieve. Okay, I guess he didn't win enough rings. But

then whenever you compare, I think this is definitely why tick tock for sure. Yeah, it has to be good. Yeah, 1000%. But good. We just got back on at 109. Oh, got banned from tick tock for gambling for what new L rep. So ESPN bet obviously has been doing the L rep here. We don't have commercials during the show. So it's a little bit different.

I think whenever it comes to linear marketing and sponsorships and kind of creation of the show and innovating the entire industry. So, you know, the L repsRaps though are certainly very real. Not that we created L-Raps, but you get it. And they made a new one and they added this whole thing here. And TikTok was like, you just think. Yeah, no. They banned us.

Yeah. You're banned. It's a good deal. TikTok ain't like good deals. Yeah, you bet 10, you get a hundred bucks in bonus bets. Wow, do you do that anywhere? Right away? Where's the fine print? No, yeah. Well, you always got bucks in bonus bets. Wow, are they doing that anywhere? Right away?

Where's the fine print? No, yeah, well you always got to must be 21 obviously and then down there, but you can get 100 on your promo code to DSPN bet. Tomorrow night obviously the Pacers take on Oklahoma City Thunder and all eyes are on that to see if, you know the NHL ended last night, we'll talk to Bill Zito in about five minutes about his team going back to back. And then now we got a basketball title game happening tomorrow night. And that means the NBA season could be over as well.

I have just come to the understanding that there is a chance that Oklahoma City could win. Sure. That's possible. Lario will be- I did not come. I don't like that. Because of win. Sure. Uh-huh. That's possible. I did not come. I don't like that. Because of that.

No. At all. It was. But if the Pacers win, possibly. Explosion. Sure. All around town. But this could be Oklahoma City dancing

with their confetti on our court. And obviously it's been a great year for the Pacers no matter how this ends up. But we need the Pacers to win, not only for the good of Indiana and the good of this program But for the good of sports as a whole what's your problem? I mean, I just it's thinking about it now about the entire Situation that could unfold tomorrow. Could you imagine if OKC wins and they roll out that stage and then you know, maybe the owner Maybe SGA maybe Mark Dags says, you know, in 49 states,

it's just a trophy. Oh my God. But in one state, it's ours. And they raise this thing. They need to do that. That's a good idea. You should send that to them. Yeah, how do we TM dump that?

How do we send that to a KC? We don't need that, okay? That is not what we're looking for. That's a good line though. Yeah, it is a very good line that would hit hard especially with the t-shirts yeah they bought this is Indiana yeah I have come to realize that this is a possibility yeah I don't like that you come to our realization because now Pacers fans out here they're watching

you they're gonna stop no no no you're you're you're a spokesperson for the indian-added Pacers, no, I'm not. There's a lot of other people that are spokespeople for the Indiana. I believe the Pacers are going to force game seven and win this entire thing in Oklahoma City and they're going to do the whole thing right there in Oklahoma. I believe that's going to happen. But I got a game seven hat for you if you really believe it. Two of them right over there.

Bottom. Shout out Moose. Shout out to Mark. Moose. Great hat. Yeah, great hat. I got a game seven hat for you if you really believe two of them right over there bottom shout out boo Great hat yeah, right game seven everybody knows what it's about exactly It's a beautiful hat with that being said the game time decision thing with Tyrese. I didn't like that news Okay, I did not like that news at all But I like the depth of our team our team anybody can go off on any night and it feels like in the NBA I like the depth of our team. Our team, anybody can go off on any night. And it feels like in the NBA, it would be very wild if, now I think Tyrese is gonna play too.

If he can walk, he can play. So if they're giving him an opportunity, he's gonna play. Schefter said it feels like he's gonna play. I don't know what Schefter knows, but Schefter said he feels like he's gonna play, which is great news. If that's the case, there isn't even a sense of reality being Oklahoma winning.

But if there is a chance he doesn't play, it's like, we're gonna need the people that have big games like every three games to like all have their big games. Like on one night. And I think that can't happen. Tricky Ricky can have the boys ready. Yeah, he can have the boys ready. I just fear that no matter how ready they are,

Oklahoma City is just a better team this year. Ladies and gentlemen, well, it's who's better team tomorrow night. That's right. Well said. Okay, it's not about this year. True. We just need to look at one series at a time. Exactly.

One possession. One possession at a time. One dribble at a time. Yeah. Boom. Fuck. One breath at a time. Yeah.

One step. Every single sip of water matters tomorrow. Mm hmm. Every pregame dance, every pregame handshake. Yup. The introduction which they showed Oklahoma City's I hope they show ours. They should. As well and they should get OB Topping rocking that room. Yeah. He takes off from the foul line, grabs that thing and then he lands back on the foul line. Could be a half-time entertainment. Could be.

Well. What he does. Make sure they get red-panning tomorrow, too. We can't have the fucking BMX guy back. Bike guy? I know we won that game. That guy cannot be out there tomorrow night. What about the national anthem?

Oh, boy. That guy can't ever do a national anthem again. The one we saw. They need Saxman. They need Saxman. Saxman. Saxman. Get Saxman. anthem again the one we saw they need sax man they need sax man sax man sax man ladies have been joining us now as a man who knows everything about winning championships all his team does is win especially the last two years they become the eighth team franchise to win back-to-back stanley

cups only 13 times in the modern era has it happened since 1967. It's obviously a compliment to the culture, the players, and the building. The man who pieced that together or helped piece that together is actually a Pittsburgh dude. His dad played for the Steelers. This man played at Yale. An absolute hockey mastermind. General manager of the Florida Panthers. the Stanley Cup champions yet again, Bill Zito. How are you? How you doing? Bill?

Actually, I'm doing great. Thanks for having me on. My dad played for the Duquesne Ironmen who was the taxi squad. I guess he played at Pitt and then graduated and, uh, I don't think they had, they didn't have a reserve squad. So whoever kind of lived in town. Played played and I think they were just there for practice so you think you were a football guy you think you football guy growing up obviously have that oh yeah right I have my Franco's Italian Army t-shirt the whole

thing as we all do we love that bill obviously everybody in Pittsburgh John of course yeah Penn's gone back to back a couple times Pittsburgh guy down there in Florida taking it to South Beach and that place has become an immaculate fan base Let's talk about the culture down there whenever you get the gig Do you obviously dream about the Florida Panthers and the Panthers fan base and the experiences that you're having right now? And then for it happening is there is it better than you could have expected at this stage of building a dynasty Uh at the beginning of building this dynasty. Do you dream of these times? Are you nowhere near done? Like where do you currently stand on how you feel about the job you guys have done down there? so

I'll answer the first part first So when I took the job, we we absolutely had a plan and a script for a destination franchise. It was part of my interview process saying, listen, you've got everything. People should want to come here. People should just, independent of the hockey. And then let's make the hockey great to sort of match the weather, the environment, the travel and everything else that comes with it. Then once we started the hockey, I think it started with Patrick Hornquist. I know another Pittsburgh. Yeah. Yeah. And he came in and and he had that pedigree and he had the energy and the personality very similar to

Brad Marshawn and it's almost like it kind of went full circle as far as the culture and moving forward, you know, I think almost by definition because of the culture that we've been able to start We don't feel that it that it's finished or that like it's always evolving and always trying to be better Without trying to I listen to you talk about the basketball every drink of water Everything to be as efficient as we can and professional and trying to be excellent But without going overboard or

wasting time and energy on silly things. Okay so let's talk about things that aren't silly in our eyes especially because we've been on teams before. The boys going out to eat before every game publicly or on the road. You picking up the tabs allegedly for this entire thing. Them going to Dairy Queen the night before every like them talking about how together they are as a team. I mean, that's exactly what you're trying to build whenever you piece these players together, right Bill? And it's all sincere.

It's all true. And it's all real, even the coaches. So the night before every road game, coaches meet at 6 30 in the lobby and Rob Talas has the restaurant picked and we all go. That group has figured out a way, both the coaches and the players, to enjoy each other and to try to have as much fun as they can. We asked them for an inordinate amount of work. The work, it's hard when they do it and there's a lot of it, but when we're not working, it's

you know, enjoy your life, have fun, enjoy each other. And we're blessed that we have guys who have bought in and who truly are, I think right now, they're having a lot of fun. Yeah, I would say. I'm not sure I like that, but no, they've earned it. Yeah, I think they're just beginning to, if it's anything like last year, Bossman, you know,

just next couple of days, gonna have to just get a green flag there, you know? The elbow room's getting a lot of the franchise's money right now, you know, that is currently happening Go ahead Put mattresses in on the apartment stuff Exactly Lordo's got one and the boys all have one diehard Florida Panther fan D. Bud has a question for you Oh, yeah. Thank you Bill. First of all for this team, putting it together. I was telling the boys earlier, I remember the day, back in the day, a few decades ago, how the Panthers were viewed from the outside looking in and even being a Florida resident.

So thank you for that, number one. But what are some of the things that goes into, I guess, identifying a Panther? Who's going to fit into that locker room? We all play sports up here. We know how difficult it is to bring in new guys, new energy, new contracts. So what goes into identifying a Panther? You talked about Marshawn, obviously Jonesy and even the other guys you brought into the building. Yeah. I think when we started, you know,

you're looking and you say in the scouting meetings, we want someone with the character and all this and what have you. And, and of course that's part of it, right? And the scouts is part of their job part of their job it's to try to figure out the character of the players who they've been assigned you know to scout but we've reached a point almost where the room can accept almost anybody and they pull the they pull all the good qualities out of that person and I think it's because it starts with Paul Maurice and and the leadership in the room Fail it's okay to fail. So come in and be yourself because you're gonna screw up We don't really care. We all screw up all the time But we have a lot of good players around us who will help us when we do

I think that puts makes puts people at ease and I think it's easy to fit in With Seth I knew him from Columbus. I know him as a person He's he's as good a guy as there is that was a no-brainer. That's easy and then and marshy is the same He's almost like a planet. He has so much energy. It's unique and he he has that presence He walks in the room and it's it's on it's just he it's the marshy show But in a really good, positive way. And then the final piece of it is, is they're really kind to each other.

Everybody, they're just decent, decent fellas. Decent boys down there, the Florida Panthers, good men. Is there a way to identify all those things? You said the room can take anybody. Is there a way to identify people that can't fit into there? Or do you legitimately think any person that is good enough hockey player? Will buy into the culture immediately upon getting to the florida panthers and with that being said

I don't know if you know this TSN up there in canada Three of the top five free agents all florida panthers. Good luck. Good luck bill Good luck bill. Good luck bill Good luck, good luck Bill. Good luck Bill, good luck Bill. You know, there's going to be some poor soul who we're going to ask to move down here, maybe get a big house on Las Olas, have to take a golf cart to work in Flip Flops, and you might have to play with Kachuk or Barkov or Horseling.

I know it's a tough ask. This is goalie. You know, someone will want want to AJ will come out of retirement put skates on Yeah, you mentioned earlier we're talking about the culture and everything and you said like Pat was saying every sip of water every single Moment like intentional where we're all working for the same goal Like you mentioned you got to do you got to that culture, but not go overboard with silliness, as you said. We've seen coaches and GM try to come in and implement a culture and go over the top and almost be corny and cheesy with it.

How do you find that balance in what you do ask of your players? So for me, trial and error, right? And I look back and I was probably that cheesy guy that was over the top trying to, are the shoelaces tied right? And I look back and I was probably that cheesy guy that was over the top trying to, you know, are the shoelaces tied right? You know, is the print on the water bottles the right way? I don't know, I'm making that up. But I think what happened was, as these pros like pretty good at what they do, and so they know the details and the coaches, the coaches will specify, okay,

here are the things we need to work on. And then the other things it was, I had been an agent for a number of years. So that helped me as well. Like there's just things you don't need to worry about. We used to wear a suit and tie on the plane on the road. So you'd go to an FBO where you'd see no one and with a suit and tie on, and then fly three hours, landed an FBO and not see anyone. So we got rid of that.

Little things like that that maybe make life easier, let them focus on hockey. But at the same time, there is a time and place for suit and tie. And so that's when we wear it. Yeah, once you establish the discipline and the attention to detail, if it's already there, then you can kind of evolve with the culture as it goes.

I just, from somebody that that our show I think is big on like the locker room mattering like the locker room matter. I think we talk about that a lot more so maybe than any other show in the history of sports media, sports television because it matters more than anything and with what you guys have it's very evident that it is working, that it is a good one and I think hockey people appreciate the culture that you guys have in representing hockey as the champs. Now you mentioned a guy there who walks into a room and takes it over. Let's go to Boston Bruins fan, Boston Connor. Bill Zito, you stole hockey love out of his heart with one trade this year. Yeah, thanks a lot Bill. Really ruined the entire

hockey season for me and I blame that solely on you. When you guys trade for Marsh and obviously I believe it was right after he got hurt or during his injury. What's that like kind of trading for a guy where you know right when he gets there he's not going to you know get on the team immediately. He's going to have to go through a little bit of a process there and also did you go to Dairy Queen at all? The DQ seemed to be sort of a good luck charm and Brad said the boys did it before game six. Yeah, well, when we acquired him, we knew what his injury was and we knew sort of the timeframe of recovery.

And so that wasn't that big of a deal. We thought that he had enough time to play meaningful regular season games to prepare. And I mean, he's Brad Marshawn. So you know what his playoff pedigree is. That part wasn't really a big concern. I guess if he had arrived and had struggled, we would have been, oh boy, but that worked out. Okay. Yeah. I'd say I did not go with the boys to DQ, but they, they went, I think it started in Carolina. And then, then they remember Marcia had honey during the game and someone asked him, he said, Oh yeah, that was a blizzard.

And then it took off. And then I do think that they went in Edmonton. So you know what, that's just a great example, a great example of something that you pointed And then I do think that they went in Edmonton. So You know what? That's just a great example a great example of something that you pointed out Pat They have a good time. They're having fun. Yeah, they like to eat ice cream. They're burning the calories They got good taste buds though, too, Bill Dairy Queen blizzards. I put Dairy Queen blizzards at the top of snacks I put Dairy Queen blizzards at the top of snacks. That's dessert. But they'll, they'll bring it back for everybody.

That will tell you as much about the trip. There is when you come, you know, they were there because in the lounge there's DQ for everybody. When Barkov comes back from Finland, there's finished chocolate on everybody's desk and in everybody's stall. And I heard a great story about Barkov from last night. Apparently he went home at like five in the morning to change and clean up before they kept going and walked around his neighborhood and banged on everybody's front door.

Hey, coffee with a cup? Yeah. Yeah. Amazing. That is like the perfect team. You have like the perfect team right now. Oh, the boys go get Dairy Queen blizzards for everybody. You hear about this in like youth camp, like high school. This sounds like a high school type operation

Can you bottle it with that being said it is professional? You guys have won a lot and you got some great players that other teams are gonna want to try to pluck go ahead Ty yeah Bill Pat mentioned it You know, you obviously got three massive guys who are free agents right now who made a huge impact on your team. When it comes to those guys in particular and then maybe just free agents as a whole, the hockey speaks for itself, obviously winning back to back cups. How much when you go into negotiations, are you hammering like, hey, the no state income

tax, the amenities, you talked about being able to drive a golf cart, you know, to the facility and flip flops, the golf, all that kind of stuff. Like, how how much of that is coming into the negotiations? Whereas these guys probably already know what the hockey is going to be like, you guys are going to compete for a cup, you know, year after year. Yeah, well, those guys know, right, because they live here now. So that one it's we're going to spend to the cap and the Viola family ownership has empowered us to try to do everything we can to have the best team we can. So it I don't we're going to spend it all it's just trying to keep everybody together and have a meaningful team and if players sign up to come here we want to be able to

also have other good players so hopefully they they can appreciate that sometimes when someone's coming in from the outside and we're trying to sell them on what we're trying to do there's the hockey piece but the environmental piece I'll call it right the weather the fun the flip-flops That's all part of it because it's too hard to not be happy. When you're at the rink, we're asking an awful lot of you. It's an 82 game schedule. It's constant travel.

It's away from your family. It's the grind. When you're not doing the work that you're doing at the rink, enjoy yourself, be happy. And that, and that, look, it kind of works here in our environment, but it's also a mindset of how we're trying to do things. So I think they work in tandem and, you know, so far, a few guys have bought in. The other, the other piece of this is our coaches. Our coaches have managed, if you look at the people who have come to our team, whether via trade or via free agency, almost to a man they've had their best career years with us.

And that's the room, right? That's the players making other players better. That's the coaches making other players better and using them to their strengths. When Seth Jones came here, his job was just be Seth Jones. You don't have to be anything more. Just you be yourself because you fit here with us. And to the extent that we can keep that going for most of the players that we bring in,

I think it'll work. Yeah, Marshy is a third liner, you know? Like that is, yeah. Him getting to take on people that he would have never faced with the Boston Bruins because of where he is. And then obviously he's, I mean, we're dangling folks. Not that he didn't do that before, but it's just like his confidence, everything just fitting in with you guys was beautiful to watch. We're big fans of Marshy. We are big fans of the way he operated. Like them in Boston.

Florida Panther legend. He is a Florida Panther legend, isn't he? Yep. Thank you. Thank you. And what he did for those kids on his line, so they're men, but I mean, they're, they're, they're young players and he made them better. He pulled them into the mix.

He helped them. It was like having a tutor with you at work all day, every day. When you're doing your tasks and a hilarious one. Yeah. You know, also,, also absolutely, yeah, exactly. Last question here from Pittsburgh native AP Tone. Yeah, Bill, it looks like you're at the facility. So do you get no time off? When are you gonna go see the boys again?

And are you, for those free agents, are you allowed to take advantage of them today? They're pretty inebriated probably. Are you allowed to just throw a contract on them if they can't sign it today? Get them on microphones yeah if I can I will I'm not sure they'll be even be able to write I have to do your print early reports are no they would not be able to write from what we've been seeing from elbow room don't want to out anybody I think I think we might all get together as a

group tonight and so we'll see everyone again there. And I mean, these guys have really earned this. They're having a great time and they're with the fans. It's a neat relationship. If you saw the parade last year, it was a dangerous thunderstorm. But nobody left. Everybody got drenched and you sort of that galvanized kind of that relationship. So I know that it's important to them, you know,

just to go with the cup to the local watering holes and just kind of have a good time with the fans. We talked about this in the last hour. We talked about this in the last hour. There's people probably down there in South Florida. We don't want to judge a book by its cover from Pittsburgh, a hockey, time. You know, South South Florida everybody judges

immediately like oh I don't deserve it they don't deserve it but the people down in South Florida I think last year if they weren't hockey fans or maybe new hockey fans they saw how awesome it was to be a Florida Panther fan and then they follow you guys all year I think it's only growing I assume you feel that as well right the fan base oh yeah it's growing and then and but the feeling from the players it mirrors that it's real like they're like these fans are awesome we have so much fun they feel totally comfortable I don't know where they are right now but I guarantee you they could walk in any place and right

now in Fort Lauderdale walk in and have a great time with whoever's in there and laugh and sign autographs and take selfies and have a couple beers and enjoy themselves. How many beers go in Lordo, Bill? Do you know? Say it again. How many beers are in the cup of Lordo Stanley cup? How many beers in the top? I don't know. It was six and a half to seven. Seven beers. Okay. Good luck. I think that's what you got to do, Bill. I think all at once. Could you imagine? Like the boot. Yes. Yes. Yeah. Like the boot. You got to turn, Bill. All at once, yeah. Could you imagine Sam? Like the boot. Yes. Like the boot. You got to turn it, too. You got to spin.

Get the bubble out of there. Congratulations, man. I know you're not only doing amazing things with the Florida Panthers, but you're also doing amazing things in the community. Panthers on the Prowl is an initiative for the American Cancer Society that you and your wife back. Wonderful, amazing stuff happening down there with the Florida Panthers you obviously a massive piece of it it's beautiful to watch hockey kind of captivate an entire region and

Obviously make the world better. So thank you for what you're doing for sports and your community bill Thank you guys so much. Yeah, we're just trying to this was a nice way to combine the hockey and the Panthers with the charitable Element to try to raise money to fight cancer and then to get people something sort of tangible that they can personalize and make it their own and then display them and we're gonna have a whole Kind of an elaborate auction in the fall as well. I Think I read that if I donate five thousand bucks I to design a panther statue that'll be placed around town that'll then be auctioned off Oh, you do it and in this day. I'll accept that as a contract in the state of Florida No problem. I'm not even boozed up like the boys are you need to go get Sam Bennett to do this Darius Butler

Oh, absolutely. Thank you. The Butler is gonna do it as I got two down. Thank you. Hey, no problem I'm sure thank you. I'm sure there'll be more Panthers on the prowl and helping the American Cancer Society. AJ will also like one, won't you, AJ? Absolutely. AJ Hoffman like one. That's true, I'm in. I think the elbow room needs to buy one too, don't you think?

Yeah, maybe a couple. Yeah, we'll put one up for the elbow room. I volunteer to go down on that sales mission. Okay. Uh-oh, I'll go. I think right now would be a good time to do that. We appreciate it. Congratulations, Back to Back Stanley Cups,

eighth franchise in the history of the league to be able to accomplish that feat. 13th time in total in the modern era. You're the man, we appreciate you, Bill. Thank you very much, appreciate it. And thanks for the support on the cancer initiative. Hey, no problem at all. Thank you for offering up the opportunity.

Ladies and gentlemen, Bill Zito. AJ wasn't going to do it. No, no. I had to throw his hat. Wait for 5k I get to make a statue that goes up somewhere. Yeah. It's called Panthers on the Proud. Yeah. No, his dog. Can the statue be anything that I designed? Like it's my design. Right? I'm an artist. By the way, we saw on TV the other day, we saw one of your favorite artists.

Yeah, Pricoso was on True TV. I heard he's going mainstream. Be careful. Wait, Pricoso? You still alive? Yeah, Pricoso. A little different version. A little different version to you, bud. Very related. Same type of painting. He uses all his tools. He uses every tool he was born with. That's cool.

We have one on the TVs set up for True TV because there was a sport happening. And then we turned on the TVs in the morning and then there's this guy, cheeks out, blurry, lower left corner, painting. Oh, his cheeks out. He paints now. It doesn't feel like a mainstream thing.

It was on True TV and Danny Bonducci was there. He was. Saw him on True TV. Legend. Danny Bonducci was back this morning as well on True TV. It's interesting. True TV's diverse portfolio. Yeah, very.

They got coffin flop all the way to like NHL final four. Seriously, coffin flop, dude. Still trying to save it, man. Cornco TV. That's what True TV kind of is. And then they got contracts through the Turner deal, where they got like real. So we put on the sport and then the overnight,

for a long time for linear television, a lot of the ratings is overnight for games. So people have their TVs on at night as we're Lord Stanley Cubs beating the hell out of a microphone. Blue's dog, blue's dog. He's thinking about it. Better run away, better run away last night.

But the overnight, keeping the TV on, falling asleep, wake up, those linear numbers have been something that have been a big deal. Overnight, into the morning, kind of just carry over. For us, this true TV carry over has been pretty electrifying. You have no idea what's coming on that lower left screen in there. NBA finals resume tomorrow night, game six in Indianapolis, Indiana. All eyes are on whether or not Tyrese Halliburton

will be playing, it'll be a game time decision. Coach Rick Carlisle on local radio here in Indianapolis said they are obviously preparing for him to play and for him not to play. That's why he is a game time decision. Sure. So that got taken, did you see that that got taken? There's a couple people that just said he's preparing for Tyrese Albertin to not play and

then the other half of the quote was but also, yeah, it's game time decision. We have to have two different plans here and I assume Oklahoma City, guess what they have? They're probably having two different plans as well. Yeah. If Tyrese is playing, if he's banged up, if he's not playing, depending upon what it is, this Oklahoma City team is unbelievable and they have they've certainly showed their teeth here lately. Yes They have like like oakmore on Sunday very similar I believe Dan or a lot skew will be joining us here in a matter of moments He he and the 23 others that he golf with yesterday raised four hundred thousand dollars for a nice Wow That's

awesome. When he did a hundred holes of golf. It was raining all day. He said it's been nothing but rain in Connecticut this summer. I guess Connecticut is just getting rained on. I assume it's very green out there. The rain can obviously affect things. He was wearing two gloves. Yeah. Might have saved them. Oh yeah. Definitely. For sure. Might have saved them from this entire thing. He played a hundred holes. How long did it? Hundred holes. In one day. Speed gone. Your hands would be gone. He said he entire thing. He played 100 holes? How long did he play? 100 holes in one day. Speed gone. Your hands would be gone. He said he felt okay.

He said, we'll ask him whenever he joins us. We got a little bit more information on Jairo Alexander's deal. $4 million deal, up to $6 million in total with 2 million obviously in incentives there. Who knows what the incentives are? Are those team-based? Is it personal-based?

I assume we'll learn at some point point but if that's like playoff bonus and then Super Bowl bonus for the two million or if it's Pro Bowl all pro different stuff we shall see go ahead Tom from Garofalo Alexander can earn 500k for each of the following playing time thresholds 35% 40% 45% and 50% of the playing time Those are each 55. Yes, so if you sell me, that's exactly what the deal is Thank you brilliant incentives to for both sides and Jair and approve a deal one year You make more money if you play and also you get a bigger deal if you play. Yeah feels motivated What a great idea what I mean, it makes sense for everybody. You get Jai Alexander, a franchise type corner

on a great deal that he is going to be highly, highly motivated, not only to chase a ring, but also he knows what it can do for him as an individual player too, like if he has a great year. Yeah, maybe Baltimore ends up having to pay him a shit ton of money after this year. There's a chance. I mean, that defense can be legendary.

So it was steel. Joining us, not steel. Six million bucks in total was a steel. Yeah, Alexander If he can remain healthy top corners were getting 20 even yeah at least 15 13 12 10 Something in that where I assume 10 million bucks. Yes is what I in my head Jairo Alexander 10 million bucks Especially if it's gonna be a proven deal instead It's a 4 million with 6 million. Congrats to the Baltimore Ravens and congrats to Jai here getting a deal

seemingly he was able to get more elsewhere I think is what Scheffer was saying. But he's picking the Baltimore Ravens. Talked about him going to a winner. Yeah exactly, Baltimore Ravens have a chance to go do it all. Joining us now ladies and gentlemen is the man who golfed 100 holes yesterday

and helped raise $400,000 for ALS research. He is the guru for the NFL on ESPN. Whenever the football season takes place in the off season, he's just dead. Ladies and gentlemen, Dan Rolofsky. Yeah! Yeah! That season! That's what he's in right now. Did not know you were wearing that. Works out perfectly.

Dan, thank you for doing what you did yesterday. You're a good man. Thank you, Dan. Oh man. I'm the smallest part of the big puzzle. It's a, that was, I think the people, if I get it right, the people who, two guys who coordinated the most, I think are Corey Sullivan and Alex Litt,

who I think both lost parents, I want to say, to ALS and those guys. I mean, Pat, you know what it's like to put on events like they bustle for in grind for sponsorships and people and you know and kind of airtime I guess or awareness and they've done a remarkable job I think in three years they started three years ago they've raised over a million bucks so they've done an awesome job. Unbelievable work by them and shout to you for putting it on to our radar. We saw you're wearing two gloves because

it was rainy. Do you think that helped with the fingies? Do you think you didn't get as many blisters because the fingies? And how does the body feel after golfing a hundred holes? I feel totally normal. It doesn't feel like I put a hundred holes yesterday at all so I don't have any muscle though. Like so I think people who had like AJ like if he had to swing and turn that. So I don't have any muscle though. Like, so I think people who had like AJ, like if he had to swing and turn that much, but I don't look at me, I don't have any muscles. So I feel normal.

The two gloves, they're rain gloves. So the two gloves, like they, it wasn't just me rocking two gloves, they're rain gloves. So, how often do you buy two gloves? My hands feel fine. You a two glove golfer. You get those weird, uh, sun lines on both hands.

I do. It looks like you got the white gloves on like you're a mortician. I got a good, I got a good 10 there from my Apple watch. So, um, yeah, this is a good ball right here. I absolutely had to do this drive. You remember every shot or just this particular post very Ernie L's like okay slow down I hit it well yesterday yes yes yes they hit it well I missed some big butts at the end though Chuck

and I finished and I think like a bunch of different Groupings of how they do gross and that we finished I think in third and one of them and I missed three birdie Puts the last four holes. So are you guys playing as like a scramble or is everybody playing their own ball? so the first the first 72 holes For maybe first 54 holes everyone plays their own ball like and it's a two-man team Chuck holes, everyone plays their own ball, like, and it's a two man team, Chuck and I, everyone plays their own ball. Each team, each two men teams got to get a score, right? And then it's, you know, they added up score. And then I believe

the next 36 holes were a shamble, which is everybody hits the drive, you choose the drive that you like the best out of your two man team, and then you play your own ball from there. And then the final nine holes were a scramble, which is everyone's hitting the shot and then you choose the best shot going into the green. And then the final hole, everyone played together. 18th hole, everyone played together. Love that.

When did you start? When did you finish in the day? Uh, first team, my first ball went in there at 5 a.m. So we used like blowing the dark balls for the first, I want to say two holes. And then we like sprinted to get done at 8.35. We probably finished putting 8.35, 8.40. Okay. Hey, great work.

Wow, long day. Great work. Oh yeah. Have you been able to keep up with all the news around the NFL? I know you have your own contract negotiations going on. Yeah. Oh no. We heard it was good news, didn't we?

Good luck. We heard it was good news. He's out of here? We don't know. We don't know. No, that's not great. That would not be great news. You never know.

I have the beholder as they say. And from what we were reading on the internet and some of the reports, it sounds like things are slowing down in that particular world. I don't know if you're back to focusing on ball now or what do we what do we got in being dad? You know, are we where's Dan Roelofsky at right now? Life cycle. By the way, there's so many people that now that I'm around that say the word Dan or Don the way you do with your Pittsburgh accent.

Thank you, it's a better way to say Don to be. Yeah, yeah, I agree. I probably do it too much now. Yesterday though can be left. Yeah, yesterday. Yesterday. Yeah. Yeah, that can left. Yeah yesterday. Yeah yesterday. Yeah. Yeah. That can go down if like a little bit. Yeah. You know if I had to. I would say that that report feels accurate. It's close. It's not done. Wow! Close, close, close. Wow! Welcome back.

Happy for you, Dan. I haven't signed anything. You know, I haven't, you know, nothing I guess is in concrete until it's on paper and signed, but it feels to be in a good place, yes. We're proud of you. We're happy for you. You've earned it, buddy. Let's go, Dan-o.

You've earned it, Dan-o. You've earned it with great football takes. Some of them great in their own ways. Sure. Driving a lot of chatter. You know, that chatter might have been negative towards Dan, but it's still chatter. Other takes, wow, I didn't think about that. Thank God Dan watched all the film so we didn't have to.

We're appreciative of everything you've done and we're proud of you. We're happy for you as well on that front. Let's talk a little bit about football. Aaron Rodgers to the Pittsburgh Steelers, whenever you were given one of your last takes before this entire Contract negotiation thing became a thing you said the Pittsburgh Steelers have the worst quarterback situation in the history of football You can see that was in the first six games All the other quarterback rooms are better than the Pittsburgh Steelers You put the Jets in there Jets obviously just signed Justin Fields to 20 million dollars a year quarterback. You put the

Vikings in there, the Vikings obviously have JJ McCarthy, we assume they'll be okay. I think you put the Cleveland Browns in there, they have literally the worst, if you were to accurately describe the situation with their quarterback room with Deshaun Watson's deal, maybe the worst quarterback room in the history of football just from a contractual setup, if you will. You said they were better than, all those teams are better than the Steelers with where they were with Mason Rudolph.

Now, Aaron Rodgers on that team. Arthur Smith had been building an offense for Aaron Rodgers. Obviously the boys are buzzing over there. What are your thoughts on the Pittsburgh Steelers with Aaron and how does he fit in with that particular offense in your eyes? Yeah, ever since Aaron signed there, my thought is that they're in the worst place

they can be in as a football team and as an organization for the future. So the reason I say it is this, anyone who tells you that Aaron can't play at a high level anymore just doesn't like Aaron, the person or some of the things that he said. Aaron can still play. So he's good enough with where their roster,

I think their roster is a solid roster to probably win you 10 games, which is going to flirt with being in the playoffs or, you know, having a playoff game. They're not good enough to go beat the Baltimore Ravens, the Buffalo Bills, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Denver Broncos. They're not sort of matter in the playoffs. If they peek out, they're not good enough. They're also not bad enough to get a top five, top seven, top 10 draft pick because of again, the head coach, the talent around the roster and Aaron. So it's like you can, we continue to kick the

can down the road, so to speak. So Aaron's an absolute upgrade. I still think the offense has some big question marks. This offensive line was an issue last year, unless they get markedly better markedly better in their past protection. That'll create some problems. DK is a superstar. They don't really have somebody opposite DK that's viable to hurt defenses. And nowadays in the NFL, like Friar Moose are really good Pydan, but I'm talking a perimeter guy. I don't have anybody that's really gonna fear deep or scare defenses. So Available yeah Player yeah, potentially there's a lot of guys out there still and also yeah But like it but look at it from this perspective like just with the way football's played in the NFL nowadays

It's very different offense wise than it was five years ago The game is in Diba and AJ wouldn't know this You know really from the the X's and O's point football is so different than it was five or six years ago five six years Ago in the NFL was so spread out. We were trying to stretch sideline to sideline Nowadays in the NFL and Mina and I were talking about this the other day because of I think the infusion of the Shanahan tree and so many formations being shrunk down. People are playing a little bit more compact on offense. So they're trying to play a little bit more physical football. And they're also trying to shrink you down on a defense and then take advantage of some of the space on the perimeter rather than the space in the middle of the field. So, Buffalo's got like seven guys that are really

good options. Baltimore's got like seven guys that are really good options plus a dominant run game. Kansas City, multiple options that are legit top two guys. The Denver Broncos have added offensive talent. The Cincinnati Bengals, we know. So it's like, as far as Pittsburgh goes, you got two guys in the pass game that you really have to focus on. And then everyone else is like, okay, we're gonna make you beat us. Seems like you don't wanna say the Steelers are gonna be good. And I wanna let you know people in Pittsburgh have heard that.

Soon as you started talking, Tone over there started getting his little we've why and when you said the Denver Broncos the first time he said did he just say the Denver Broncos and then whenever you reiterate the Denver Broncos again the Broncos are gonna be better than the Steelers time would you like to say anything to Dan Orlovsky about his take about your Pittsburgh Steelers this could become a second take you know. From now until week six. If Dan's on, pretend I'm not here. What do you mean?

I don't want to talk to this guy. I don't want to look at this guy. Respect. I don't want to deal with him. All right, well let's move on then, I guess. There's a real heat between Pittsburgh and Dan Orlovsky. Dan, you asked for that, though. You asked for the city of Pittsburgh

to act the way that they're acting towards you. You did. You decided that. I've got a full folder of Dan's. So like I said last year during the season when I said the offense wasn't gonna be good enough and everyone told me I was a completed idiot and then we get to the end of the season

and the offense wasn't good enough. Oh! Heavy as the head says Dan Ornowski! Don't call him Dan! Actually, if you watched any ball, it was the run defense. Oh! You don't know ball says Pittsburgh. With that being said, excited to watch this team.

Got hopes up, you know, got my hopes up. They got to sign TJ Watt. Why isn't that done? Who knows? Alright, let's move along, shall we? Connor has a question for you. Yeah, Dan, I was just joking around. It's great to see you. The stuff you did yesterday was really cool. I'm not going to ask about the Patriots because I know how you feel about them.

11-12 wins probably this year. Mike Vrabel, Josh McFadden, Drake May, they're going to be fantastic. But quarterback questions in Atlanta. What do you think the Falcons are going to do or should do with Kirk Cousins? It feels like not everyone's going to take that contract, but that many teams could use him as their QB one what do you think happens down there? Yeah I think that's the nicest 30 seconds you and I have ever had so I'm gonna say thank you to you in that

regard it's a good step in our relationship so by far I think Atlanta is interesting in regards so when we did their Monday night game during the season last year sitting down with Raheem Morris, who's their head coach, like he was so adamant in regards to the drafting of Penics after they gave Kirk all that money was like, I know what it's like in this league to not have a good starting quarterback. I'll never experienced that. I won't be the head coach of a team that doesn't have that plan in place. And so while Penix is the future, there's no question. I really don't think that Atlanta is just going to move off Kirk because, you know, it makes

sense in other people's eyes or, you know, they're paying him all that money to be the backup. They were going to pay him that money to be the starter and get to the playoffs this year anyway. So whether they're paying him that money to be the backup, they were going to pay him that money to be the starter and get to the playoffs this year anyway. So whether they're paying him that money to be the starter and Penex takes him to the playoffs or they're paying him that money and at some point they have to turn to him and he can re kind of regain some of his past success and form and get to the plus. That's all that I don't think this organization is going to move off of perk just because they're paying him a ton of money to be the backup.

And I do think Atlanta is really, really, really interesting because there's a lot of strong belief in Penix. They loved them last year. What happens if Penix comes out as just an absolute dog? Like what happens if Penix, their offense is loaded. They got really good perimeter players. Their offensive line be top 10 in the NFL. Penix could be in, and then all of a sudden, like Atlanta becomes a really, really big player in the NFC. So I, I think there's

really high expectations at the quarterback spot for Michael Penix in, in Atlanta. And I honestly think he's capable of like being a problem in that division. So he might be the answer to this question from D. But yeah, you're talking about very highly of Pinnix Obviously Connor brought up Drake May you got Caleb Williams J and Daniels Bo Nicks all these guys Which which one of these guys out of that bunch do you think makes the biggest jump this year this season? If I had a bet on one it it would be Bryce. I would tell you Bryce Young. I just, I think what he went through last year and not breaking and then having some of the success he had at the end of the season and then the addition of Tet Macmillan, you

know, one of the things that probably doesn't get talked about enough in regards to the whole situation in Carolina is can also really good coach. We've got three different places where he's gone and been their coach and he's had success So I believe in their head coach. I believe in the young quarterback. This is also an offensive line It's gonna be really physical and really good. And so I think Bryce Young just rebounding the way he did last year I love the Tet McMillan edition, you know like D But think about their perimeter players you're talking six four and six four So they're just physically a problem and I go back to you know

when the Titans probably under Arthur Smith six years ago seven years ago had AJ Brown and gosh who was else that was the other big-bodied receiver that they had Western mission, but they, overall. Corey Davis. Yeah, big bodied guys that just physically present problems. And so, you know, Bryce was the number one pick, not because he wasn't talented. He just went through some tough times as rookie here. And so I do think highly of a lot of the young kids,

but I think Bryce is on the board to take a really big jump. Let's talk about another young kid in the league. He's an adult. Yeah. Grown ass man. As we lead into a college world series game here on ESPN. Who's going to be playing Ty and why should we be watching?

We got Louisville and Coastal Carolina first pitch at 2 p.m. If Coastal Carolina wins this game they are going to move on to the championship series. Louisville has to you know beat them and then they're looking at you know winning another game. So right now we got four teams left two teams with one loss two teams who have not lost yet If both those teams who have not lost yet win We have our championship series set and you should watch it because all these games have had many fireworks Probably going down to the late innings Louisville yesterday one with a walk-off in the bottom of the ninth boom So yeah, you know Coastal Carolina's won in a row. Something's got to give today.

We'll see. We got a spot in the championship series online. Louisville was up six, three going into the ninth inning. Oregon State tied it up. Then Louisville gets the win. That'll continue here. We'll continue digitally. Goodbye. I think we did it. That was that was very great. Really good. Great work by you guys. That was really good out of us. I'm so proud of us for pulling that off.

You know, like, what a lead into that game too. Yeah. Yeah. Highlights, walk off. See, you said walk off and I think a lot of people who maybe didn't know the outcome thought walk off bomb. Sure. Especially as a, no, sacrifice.

No, no. That's called baseball. Walk off sack fly, baby. Can't corn. And they celebrated with the guy who hit the sack fly not the guy who was injured at home plate For sliding in the home plate, which is what you do. Yeah What's that Dan oh, I was thinking the same thing Why would you with bases loaded tie game count to one throw a hook?

It's his best I mean he missed it. He was trying to throw You know, he's trying to get the bottom half of the plate there and induce a double play induce a ground ball I don't know. No, it's hard to like not a flame thrower You're not a flamethrower you gotta hit your spot come what's guys name, you know, he's fucking bag of pitches Yeah, the gourd on you. You don't know Apparently apparently you guys all do well, we know that what you know is nowhere near what his coach or catcher fucking bag of pitches there yeah the gourd on you you don't know apparently apparently you guys all do well we know that what you know is nowhere near what his coach

or catcher fucking yeah we're calling the pitches question I go slider maybe too soon you fuck you pitch guy is he just a fastball curveball guy Barry Zito of college baseball yeah he's got him all, dude. He's got them all. College World Series. How are you as a pitcher? Pretty good. I was like the like the that story little league baseball player. Like I was a ridiculous, ridiculous 12 year old baseball player. You're taller and bigger than everybody. I would strike out everybody. I hit a home run every at bat type of thing and then I turned 13 and I stunk man those are good old days though when you were that kid oh oh my god

showed up to school at sixth grade all the girls six home runs last night yeah can you get then you get to junior high oh no this became batting practice what you couldn't throw the curveball dude I don't know what it was I threw hard as a 12 year old and then I threw puss as a 13 year old I didn't throw a good curve I couldn't like I just wasn't good anymore and I was like a ridiculous hitter at 12 and I just wasn't good anymore I don't have any fast-twitch muscle though So how'd you play quarterback? Weren't you a pretty good quarterback? Don't you have pretty good arm? You talk about having no muscle and everything like that. Don't you have to have a pretty good arm to play quarterback? Didn't you do good at Connecticut

too? Yeah, QB Challenge. Like a 95 video game. Yeah. I could throw, but it wasn't like I threw gas. Like, Oh, you were're a touch passer you're a little noodle arm I was a precision guy Precision guy. That's why you almost won us out of the Andrew Lux sweepstakes. That's right. It's precision was so good. What a run. What a run It was it was a good run classic classic Earth Day story there So what are we doing here? Are we winning? Are we winning? Imagine. What's going on?

What the hell? We've, we've three quarters this season. We've been fucking ass. Terrible. What are we doing? Can't win a game. Why are we trying to win a game now? Dan? I think if you I think if you would have played quarterback All year, I think Dan baby career Indianapolis called quarterback. Yeah bring honor Potentially. Yeah, probably they'd still be playing. I think probably still be our quarterback Dan you came in and that was some good times man. Those are some fun games

I'll never forget like that Houston game on Thursday night because you cut me like fired me like Rick Smith was the general manager. And like that training camp, it was the third year of a three year deal. They gave me a three year deal to go back up shop. I got overpaid. There's no doubt about it. Or how good I was. After the first year, come to me second year to have to take a pay cut. And I'm like, what the fudge, dude? I don't want to take a pay cut. Fudge, man, it's best to have 10 pick sixes.

Yeah. I don't want to take a pay cut, gotta take a pay cut. I'm like, you're gone. I'm like, gosh. Third year, you're gone. So they fired me, you're not good enough anymore. I think I got replaced by like Rex Grossman and Matt Liner. Dogs.

And so. Absolutely. Understandable. Fired in camp. I think I went to camp with you guys that year. Fired in camp. I think I went to camp with you guys that year. Fired in camp, I think. I got cut like the last week in camp. And so I wanted, we played Houston on Thursday night. TJ Yates, who's a coach in Atlanta now,

was the starter. They had drafted him. That's when they went to the playoffs, but I think they were like the two seed in the playoffs that year. I wanted to beat them so bad. Reggie was the game winner. Yeah, were you captain that game? I seem to her I Don't know if I was or not. I don't know if I was sure want there. Yeah, who walked in listen music

It was awesome watch old Dan. Oh, you had a great run. I thought you were gonna be a guy I think we're gonna get paid money nobody I'll never forget that sideline story Remember the sideline story when we beat Houston and you're like you are gonna get so rich Like you're gonna be so rich because of this game good team. Yeah, you're right. You know, there's no doubt I we are gonna make I'm gonna get so much money this offseason that didn't happen at all like remotely close Yeah, but just know that message was coming no matter what I ever share you the the story with Clyde Christiansen and going into week 17 at that point.

So we had one two in a row. We win week 17. We'll get like the two pick or something to three pick. We'll get the three wins. We're playing at Jacksonville. We went on that Thursday night to get the second, uh, win of the season. So the second to last game we went Thursday night. Coach Caldwell gave us that weekend off. If you remember, you guys got to be back, I think on Wednesday or

something or Tuesday, whatever. My wife was pregnant with triplets. And so I went home for the weekend. She had a routine doctor's appointment on Tuesday. I think we had to get back for Wednesday practice, routine doctor's appointment Tuesday. She's like, a doctor's like, hey, let's just get the babies, like get the kids out Tuesday or something like that today. Like just because my kids were born to 28, so you're getting near the first of the year. I think hospitals maybe are a little bit less staffed around that time because of holiday whatnot. Let's get them awesome. Like, all right. So my kids were born on Tuesday. I flew back

Tuesday night, sleep at the facility. Wednesday morning. I'm trying to catch up, get ready for the game. Cause again, you're trying to prove yourself all that I'm busy as all get out there in the week Friday. I'm meeting with Clyde who was our office coordinator. Clyde Christensen is the greatest human being on the history of the planet. You know, I like the nicest person, great coach. And we're meeting for the game plan Friday afternoon. And we're going over things like don't like plays a Clyde call this play. Don't call this play all that we get to third down the first third and three call was like a sprint out, heck, throw the flat route.

And I go Clyde, all this to the right. Do not call this to the left. I cannot go left I can't flip my hips. I'm not athletic enough can't go left. I've thrown Got you first third down to the game We're backed up on like the six yard line It's third and two and I'm like fudge Clyde. Do not call that play blah blah blah blah sprint left I'm a mother's fud, blah, sprint left. I'm like, I'm on the fudge dude.

Paul sprint left. I sailed a flat route. Hick. Returned to like the five yard line. We ended up losing that game. I had a shank in that game as well. I had a shank, I think the guy took it to the house. I was not through.

You did? Oh yes, they did return a punt for a touchdown in that game I had a shank last game of the year to averages what it is, you know, just trying to get through this whole thing Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I'd already been potential quarterback. I think at this point a couple different occasions Mm-hmm. So this is Houston No, this is that Jacksonville last play before the half we call Hail Mary. I rip all the ligaments in my ankle like Last play before the half we call Hail Mary. I rip all the ligaments in my ankle. Like I show up to the hospital after the game and like crutches.

My wife's bent over from a C-section. I was trying to hit the ball far when I shanked it just for the good of everything. Hindsight pretty pumped that we, you know. Yeah, I bet Jim was too. Jim Ursa. Yes! Yes! What an interesting situation. Dan, you were a great teammate and

you're great on TV. I'm happy they got that deal done with you. Well, not yet. But I'm happy that you will continue to join us every hour of every day of our life for football season, right, Tom? Yeah, yeah. Can't wait. Weren't we talking about that in the kind of our thing? Yeah, for sure. Like, you know, we need Dano on TV every day of football Some more it's unsettling when he's not, you know, and then there was a fear that maybe he wasn't exactly We couldn't live with that. No, I don't want to see this guy on CBS Sports HQ. No I Look new contract new you want your own takes. All right, just you

Thanks Steve, but I'll do everything I can to not to steal from Evan. Well, everybody, not just Evan. Evan is the latest victim, I think. He's got some good stuff, Evan. He starts the day. Yeah. He starts the day. Can't you, too. Stop stealing from Can't you, all right. Dan watches it every morning. Dan is on that show. Aren't you on that show sometimes? Yeah.

I'm usually on it during the season on Mondays, I think. So that's when you steal their shit? It's a good day. So I take it for the rest of the week. Nah, don't steal. No stealing from me. No stealing. That's good.

That's one of the things I believe here. Yeah. That's the only one. Do that. I'll take you straight to hell. I'll steal from Evan Cohen and anybody else. Yeah, he's still doing it. You talk about young quarterbacks.

Tone has a question. Can't choose from the chosen people. Huh? You can't choose from the chosen people. You can't steal from the chosen people, man. Okay. What does that mean? Can't steal from the chosen people. Chosen people? What's the question, man? What's the question? What's the pop question?

I don't think I understood what that meant. I like the way we're working. Sorry about earlier, Dan. That was Pittsburgh Tone. This is Hoosier Tone. I had a question about J.J. McCor tone. This is Hoosier tone I had a question about JJ McCarty. This is Indiana tones. Yeah Transplant are you still super high on JJ McCarthy? You think he's still gonna be an all-pro this year? And he's you know guaranteed to be successful. I think he's gonna be awesome this year. Honestly, I totally believe Production wise he'll play very similar to what Sam did last year. There's one there's there's just a scheme and a roster talent in space that Minnesota is the easiest place in the NFL to play quarterback this year. It's the best as good an offensive rosters that we have in the NFL and then you combine it with play scheme or scheme and play caller and Kevin O'Connell. A lot of guys would go to Minnesota and play good football.

I think JJ's the skills that he has and the foundation that he has of he's a play on rhythm, listen to his feet when it comes to where and when to throw the football. The timing of the way he plays the position, the way that he was taught to play the position at Michigan is perfect for what is the necessary stuff at playing that position in Minnesota. There's positions in the league that ask their quarterback to do different stuff. Like maybe that's not mandated to play on time as much as the Minnesota offense is. It's not mandated to play on at time as much as the Minnesota offenses. It's not mandated to be exceptional in turning your back to the defense, losing sight of

the defense and then snapping my head back and trying to find what or who I'm looking at. That's a skill set. And that's something that takes hundreds of reps of getting comfortable doing with. He's got that from his time in Michigan. So you know, when Kevin O'Connell can dial up these plays of these play action things, JJ doesn't have to think of, oh, it's a seven step drop to my left.

So it's really going to be an eight or nine step drop. And when I do that, I've got to flip my hips. And when I try to, you know, see rotation and find the back, he doesn't have, it's muscle memory for him. And so I think because of the offensive line and the people that they have, I think he's going to play really well. All right, Dana, we appreciate you taking time out of your life to join us. What's next? We got lacrosse, we got sports all summer, baseball, golf, what's that? Yeah. A bunch of lacrosse. My, my sons have a tournament in Massachusetts. My son's had

a tournament in Long Island this past weekend. We got, they play for Eclipse, which is like mainly comprised of Darien, New Canaan, Westport kids. They won the World Series last year. The club team won the World Series last year. So, Little League World Series? The lacrosse World Series? Yeah, so usually in sixth grade, in, it's new in your 12 year old year. That's Little League Baseball Williamsport That's usually when it happens in lacrosse. It's usually your 13 year old year So your seventh grade summer and so their eclipse team so the kids who are like 2029 graduates it goes by it goes by the World Series goes by age They won the World Series last year

So the eclipse team of 2030 has the chance to win the World Series goes by age. They won the World Series last year. So the Eclipse team of 2030 has the chance to win the World Series this year. So yeah, a lot of that. My daughter's playing club lacrosse too. So she's got a tournament at Yale this weekend. A lot of lacrosse. That team is probably nasty. Those towns in Connecticut are all very good. Really? Yeah. They're so good. They're so good. I tell you this though in Boston County the kids in Long Island are Freaking ridiculous dude. Oh, yeah, they're different. That's like all

Yeah, Long Island is damn near you could argue the capital of you know High school lacrosse just because of how many recruits from Chaminade and some of the schools, St. Anthony's even some of the schools out there. You're a PLL guy. You give a lot of love to PLL. What about the NLL? You watch the NLL ever? I've seen clips of it. I at the PLL, I think, and Rable's been great to to my family. I love there, you know, watching games live for the PLL. You know, like my the the coach that coaches at the high school here in our town

Westport Staples High School, they won the state championship again this year, third time in four years. So like, yeah, it's the best public program in the state right now. No doubt Staples High School is the best public and they beat Darien in the state title. I mean, Darien is still great, but right now Staples is the best public program in the state. Probably top five in the country. And the Orlovskis are going to carry that for the next 10 years? If they work hard enough, they have a chance.

I like that. Always coaching, always getting better. And we get better every time you come on. We appreciate you, brother. Have a great one. You're a good man, bud. Later, boys. So are you. Thanks for having me.

Spring is here and you can now get almost anything you need delivered with Uber Eats. What do we mean by almost? You can't get a well groomed lawn delivered but you can get chicken parmesan delivered. Sunshine? No. Some wine? Yes. Get almost almost anything delivered with Uber Eats. Order now. Alcohol in select markets see after details Congrats to Donald. Yeah, yeah, Connecticut is well one of those towns new Canaan he mentioned I'm pretty sure one of the best recruits for high school across played for new Canaan this year Bruce a lot of lacrosse out There in Connecticut. Hey, I didn't know that yeah on the women's side Chloe Humphrey

I didn't know that. Yeah, on the women's side, Chloe Humphrey, freshman at UNC from Darien, won the Tewaritan and the national championship. A freshman won the Tewaritan? Yeah, pretty wild. Wow. Playing with both of her sisters. They transferred in for one year and all three of them

played together. Let's stay with that microphone. Do we think lacrosse gets bigger or soccer gets bigger post Olympics? Come on now. Come on. In America? We'll count.

World Cup and Olympics. We're talking the USA? So we're talking United States of America. Do we think the World Cup spurs growth in soccer fandom more than the Olympics spurring lacrosse fandom after the Olympics? I'm going with lacrosse just because how big the Big Ten's getting into it and I also saw a Kid from an SEC club team got drafted to the PLL So the SEC teams I assume might start playing a little bit more lacrosse would be nice

Yeah, I'm just saying if if soccer's had its chance. No, I think Ty's agreeing with you. Yeah, I'm not a lax guy but when we go 0-3, you know, in the World Cup. That's not gonna happen. Thank you, Gumpy. Gumpy's Canadian. Lacrosse is a great sport. Canada's sport will never catch soccer. Yeah, but he said in America, though. Yeah, it still won't.

Soccer's massive in America. I know no one was at the South Korea-South African game last night. I get that. Those aren't the South Korea South African game last night. I get that Yeah, I'm saying our team is not gonna perform well enough in the World Cup that it's gonna like that was not practice Hey, J. That was a game. There's a hundred million dollars on the way. That is a game It's soccer and it's not even close. That's like a PLL normal game, right? Where people showing up Okay, so then we have to talk about what is success look like because it sounds like all our loves keys kids play lacrosse I think all of AJ's kids play lacrosse. I think there's a lot of people in plum that are kids that are playing lacrosse

I don't know how much out here in Indianapolis, Indiana How much it's really caught on but it feels like a lot of kids are playing lacrosse Would you say that as well AJ as you're in the middle of it right now? Yeah, my son had an 8 a.m. game against a team from Missouri this morning that I was at so yeah. how'd we do? oh we won his team he's got some studs on his team yeah it's one of those travel teams we got some they got some dudes. got some Ohio guys out there huh? we playing a little physical brand of lacrosse or no? yeah they got everything yeah physicality, speed, balance. These guys are crazy.

These kids are nuts. For real. A couple of these kids are ridiculous. He would never say it, but he showed me some clips. This boy's got some skill now. Who's this? If it's the same- Hendrix.

Yeah, Hendrix. Really? Hendrix, your oldest boy, he's a good lacrosse player? Yeah, he can be. I mean, yeah, he can. If he works hard. Yeah, okay. I like that. I like that. He's watching this potentially. player Yeah, he can be I mean, yeah, he can if he works hard. Yeah. Yeah, I like that I'm so I like he's watching this potentially seeing this clip. So he needs to know he has an opportunity

I think lacrosse does have a little bit of a boom going on Yeah, I think soccer's already big in the United States But like if we're talking about people in the United States like I get Leo Messi is Leo Messi Like no one gave a shit about the MLS till Messi got here really and like is that Is Leo Messi like no one gave a shit about the MLS till Messi got here really and like is that? Soccer being big or is that Leo Messi being big like lacrosse will never be as big as are because the professional league I don't think their wages are the same or even close to the MLS quite a head start Yeah, but as far as like growth of the game goes I think if team USA were to compete for a gold medal like that's the thing about the US soccer team.

They're not gonna get to the semis or the quarters. The team USA should make it all the way to the finals, at least the semis. USA soccer team is gonna be there. Yeah, they have to be. I'm going soccer too. They have to be there. Easy to play. In North America, they have to be there, right?

They gotta get in. We can't be locked out, right? We will physically be there, yeah. No, our team will physically be there and win. have I hope so we will they will make it to the knockout round There's no way they don't make it to the knock Oh Did you tar make it to the rock? We didn't you're better than Qatar. I don't think the man's a turn

The I'm gonna get to win for that how many games got a win to get to the knockout, right? You can even a win in a draw Maybe get through depends on what happens in your group it all depends on what the group looks like too sorry for supporting America I apologize I'm sorry for saying our standards need to be higher maybe in America well you need to be sorry for not supporting this American team and nobody support them they had a game the other night against Trinidad Tobago two thousand people were in a 30,000 seed arena. I mean, that's not good. We're at

Say I believe San Diego. Oh, so soccer state damn near you could argue I but I do think the World Cup is in our favor just because isn't our group USA and then Trinidad Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago No, no Now if they made that stipulation and that's what we did for group play I'd be I'd be all in yeah That we get a chance play Trinidad Tobago every time three times. Yeah, maybe Guam Guam in there I'm pretty sure we had our hands full with Guam last time we played them So so the crosses sport of the future actually now it was for a long time I know but now it feels like it isn't deep or dogs because there is no but there is no like you're right

The professional game is not what other professional games are but I feel like at least in the Midwest for sure There's definitely more kids playing the cross now than than ever. And college lacrosse is getting bigger. The pros who knows as far as that goes, but I think like as a college sport, it'll definitely get bigger. I think the NLL needs to continue to grow as well. That's good style lacrosse. That's good style lacrosse.

Not that PLL isn't. That's just big field. You know, I see a lot of running. I enjoy that. When they're in there mixing it up, I mean, that's when we style of course. Not that PLL isn't. That's just big field. You know, see a lot of running. I enjoy that. When they're in there mixing it up. I mean, that's when we really enjoy. We're going through the legs. How about old Cuzz?

Highlights is sick. Yeah, Chris Cavanaugh. No. Oh, Matt Trainor. Yeah, he had a filthy behind the back too. Trainor goes behind the back, like his first goal or whatever in PLL, filthy. And that wasn't like a catch in front of the net

behind the back. That was like, he was dodging down the right side. It was a long behind the back goal. It was nasty. Yeah, it was absolutely nasty. Speaking of nasty, Caitlin Clark and the fever in the Connecticut Sun got into it a little bit last night. Obviously, it all started with an eye gouge into a knockdown from JC Sheldon,

who is an Ohio girl, from what I've been told by AJ Hawk who said she's not scared of nothing and I believe Marion Mabry who knocks her down later in the game Caitlin Clark would pull up on J.C. splash it and then talk her shit to the entire bench at the very end But we weren't able to get before she hits her chest. Yeah, boom. She is she's the one. Yeah, she is Everything she'll get after the refs. She'll get into some scraps and immediately afterwards. She said I want here to talk about basketball I mean, she's a needle mover and she's got an enforcer on the team now in a black belt having Sophie Cunningham Don't look now fever about the win WNBA title just like they're about to win the Commissioners Cup also in WNBA Sabrina Mm-hmm. Yeah, Nesco goes

absurd Sabrina. Yanescu goes absurd. She has another 30 plus game, 34 points and goes absolutely maniacal out on the basketball court and I think if you think about the future after this NBA series is over after seven games, okay? If needed. God willing. Yeah. Sure. Amen. Yeah. If tomorrow night isn't the last NBA game, which we don't think it will be, we think it will go to a game seven. We, we believe that. Then all eyes are on WNBA baseball in the NFL. Okay. Golf. And I think WNBA right and golf, a lot of golf. Definitely. I think W. Tennis. Wimbledon. Forget soccer. Forget the F1 movie.

Definitely. Brad Pitt. Oh yeah, juicy. Yep. Time to use early. Yep. Yeah, it's going to be amazing. But the WNBA, if you just kind of zoom out a little bit,

there's a lot of good storylines brewing. I mean, there is a lot of, there's a lot of stuff brewing out there. Now, is Caitlin Clark going to continue to just go splash, splash, splash, splash, splash, splash splash splash for the rest of the season? Possibly. There is a chance that that happens and if she continues to play like this which is you know Caitlin Curry Clark-ish where she's pulling up from everywhere and it's falling it's like she's gonna continue to be must watch. I don't know

if it's gonna get to 20-some million. Okay like a sure a parody account reported and everybody did that. But I think, I think Caitlin and Sophie Cunningham, I think they are gonna become must watch. And I think it's good for the city of Indianapolis. What did I ask right now for the fever to win it all? I know Caitlin is up there with the MVP, probably with big fees out in Minnesota.

I don't like these cheap shots though. She got gouges in the eye. Yeah, big time. Gouged in the eye. I just got those in the titular eye gouges. Did you see the fan cam? Smack right in the eye. Smack right in the eye. Here it is. Boom. She got her goggles for the rest of the season. Boom. Right to her eyes. Rex specs. Boom. And then she bobs her too. Then she bobs her J.C. Showdown. And then Maybritt comes in and goes Whee dude! I just got poked in the eye.

Rivalry is great. Rivalry is great for the lead. Yeah, but every team does this. Like last year with her, I feel like she didn't respond as much because she almost looked at it like, OK, I'm a rookie. Cut my teeth. Yeah, let me cut my teeth in the W. That makes sense. This year, they're taking no shit. It is so awesome to see. Yeah, I enjoyed it.

I'm happy she's got Sophie on the team. She needed that. Yeah. She needed that on the team. And I that. She needed that on the team. And I wouldn't mind maybe some of the other members of the team, you know, doing some stuff. Send some messages. I think rookie year, I know it's hard to just, it's a tough pill to swallow. Like, hey, this new one to the league is the one.

Nobody really wants to acknowledge that. I think now we understand, right? I think now we're at the point of, hey, let's go. We got it. And that fever team's filled with stars. Oh yeah. We need to start finishing. At the rack? Catch and finish. Who? You talking about the fever? The teammates because and you got to get used to playing with a player like Caitlin Clark because obviously she's a scorer she can shoot from anywhere but her passes like it's something very different as well like if you're playing

with a joker LeBron Luke or those that like you got to catch and finish I mean, that's four or five more assists. Obviously 10 12 however many more points like gotta catch and finish But yeah, she's a dog. She's a stud. I Will be excited to see how the rest of the season How's the league you know continue to you know, cuz if there's just gonna be a hog girls on every team Just cheap shotter and God's are up. Yeah. Hey love J.C. Sheldon, you said last night. Oh yeah. I mean, she's from Dublin, Ohio.

She watched her play at Ohio State a few times. I mean, she never stopped. She's like Steph Curry, always running, always moving. But yeah, I didn't, I haven't really seen this kind of scrappy side to her. So yeah, this is, Rob is great for any league. We know that. Yes, I agree. Cheap shots can't be happening and it always happens.

No. Kaitlin is certainly going to be a storyline. But with that being said, the fever know that they Yes, I agree. Cheap shots can't be happening and it always happens. Kaitlyn is certainly gonna be a storyline. But with that being said, the fever know that they're targets. Kaitlyn understands it at this point. And I love that she is yet to waver. It's just like, single little focus of next game, I'm getting better, let's keep it rolling. She's a star, she's a dog,

and WNBA seemingly on the rise. Hell yeah. All right, let's get the hell out of here, AJ. Let's do some universe shots, actually. rise. Oh, yeah. All right, let's get the hell out of here AJ. Let's do some universe shots actually, okay Oh, yeah universe Kind of hot right behind a hot no tea last night. Yeah. No miss that one. I guess Asking Tyrese Halliburton playing tomorrow or not? Oh, yeah letter. What can he do? He's gonna have a different role is he gonna post up in the corner drain three? Okay, so what's this one for?

That's just if he's playing yeah for him to play that's yeah Halliburton 90% at least We need him now, we don't need him out there at 60% yep Shit all right, maybe 89 maybe do a hundred Hallie at 80% okay? This is you never know You never got time you go. Yeah, we'll keep shoot Halle at 80% okay, this is you never know It's money, okay We can live with 75 we can live with 75. I think he would love to be 75 Halliburton just play tomorrow. I look like miles turn. Yeah him just play My city sir, I'm hard this is for this for tires to play just a? Just for him to play, yeah. Come on, Tyrese.

We need you. It's a big shot. Yeah. Oh, no. Fuck. Oh, shit. Yeah, it slipped coming out. Yeah, that's right.

The universe is screaming louder than it's ever yelled before. We're doing them today, though, for a reason. Yeah, because we've got some more. Exactly. And it's a game time decision, so tomorrow's only that matters. Yeah, you're right, because that's game day. Boom. Game time, game day boom game time game day

Where we even shooting for fun? It was fun Yeah, to be doing so many more advanced techniques of healing tonight. He said that that they're doing everything to it Whoa Is it a calf calf strain? I believe is the most recent conversation Calf strain I believe is the most recent conversation Calf strain You can do a ton you can do everything do it all tricky. He's got it. It had a Some stem on his back. That's right at the office the other day. Yeah. Yes, sir He's what we're around much better day. Yeah, if if

Tyrese's calf responds to stem the way that Mets CVS purchased Yeah, you get the Walgreens as seen on TV. I when you see the stem unit Yeah, he strapped himself up to a two of them cuz he hurt my back How do you explain when he what do you explain having the stem on? magnetic I've never seen a kid that age as stiff as that kid all the time. I know I'm stiff yesterday I was too because of the car wreck wreck every other week I feel like. Yep. He's done with the car wrecks which is kind of cool thing. Hopefully. For now. Now he's doing two days in the gym and I think he's just you know. Yeah. He's muscle-bound. He is. He's getting ready for

Love Island. Yeah. Heard that was back. Is Love Island back? Oh yeah it's almost every single night it's every night but like two days of the week and it's absolutely fucking chaos let me tell you guys this America has control over these people and they have no idea what's going on. It's awesome Okay, so We're getting into that time of year right now. Yeah, there's some great shows coming out soon. Okay, go on Next week is the bear season 4 Chef that's yes chef. Yes chef, which is fantastic show for chef that's yes chef yes chef which is fantastic show the f1 movie is coming out very soon the friendship movie with tim robinson really good highly recommend that movie uh let

me see what else the happy gilmore too happy gilmore too i mean yeah i'm not gonna go be yes come on gotta have hope chef said scotty was there rory was there. Yeah, yeah, Scotty's, I bet a great actor. I agree. No, it's Sam, I know it's gonna be a banger. I just watched Hotel Transylvania 2 this morning with my daughter, I'll have you add. Sam man's only throwing bangers. Stick, oh yeah, stick on Apple TV with Owen Wilson.

I have watched the first four episodes. It's got some Ted Lasso in it. I don't know if it's as funny as Ted Lasso thus far, but just Wilson being Wilson and there's cool golf shots. We were going to talk to Owen for that show, I think, and then it got moved. That's a bummer. I would have liked to talk to Owen.

I would have thanked him for everything he did for our development. You know, him and Vince had quite a run there. Now they're both at Apple. Yes. monkey stick stick yeah feels like whoever was like the leader of shows there um was like hey our age but yeah like let's let's bring in the old guns and let's have them throw some heat anything we haven't covered that we need to talk about uh john moran says he's gonna be in memphis that's been an interesting conversation. Yeah. Yeah, it has. That's got it really loud. Mm-hmm. Yeah, he's got a huge contract. And also they fired the coach I thought because. Correct. Bingo. They're going with John.

But then there's conversation about maybe John to move who wants to go to Memphis. It's like we've been in Memphis a few times. Yeah. We've been in Memphis a few times. I was walking in Memphis. Walking in Memphis. Walking in Memphis. Walking in Memphis. Walking in my freedom. Walking in Memphis. Walking in Memphis. Feel the way I feel. Feel the way I feel.

Feel the way I feel. Feel the way I feel. That's where Graceland is. Correct. Outside of Memphis a little bit. Yeah Certainly is and Elvis land. Mm-hmm. That song is about that a little bit. I watched in America's Got Talent Talent act still going on on yes, it is. This is not now this is not from the current version of the show I don't know what the current version is. They used to be my dream job one that used to be my endgame I would like to get to America's Got Talent and be a judge

That is where I want to end because Because I just want to maybe, maybe 60, 70 milligrams. Okay? Sure. Maybe have some vitamins and then just have what? The world's best performers come in and do the most obscure shit? Great gig. That's a great gig. Not that gig.

That is a great gig. Especially as somebody that likes to watch people. Oh, shit. Yeah. The amount of, oh fuck, that would be, that was dream gig for a while. I don't know where they are now. Obviously everything runs its course. You kind of do your thing. I assume there'll be a new talent coming out of there.

But they, the flipper, there was flippers, guys that did flips. Like there was like a flock of like six flippers. These dudes hit back handsprings, back flips all the way down Beale Street. It was like six blocks simulator. Gymnast? Yeah, like six of them just banging

the bum with a babble. Got one guy at Music Jukebox, and he was like running in between them as they were playing. It was like literally like a flock of flippers were coming down. And I just had to move. Where you from? I was in Memphis.

Oh, black dude. No, I think the guy on the beat box was a white gentleman. Was a white gentleman. But he wasn't flippin'? He was, I think he was keeping... Vibes. Yeah, he was a big vibes guy. A big vibes guy.

Like aura? Or a calm? I saw him down at TST. Does have good aura. It almost... Yeah, it does. Can't even say hello and I can feel it, you know? But that was...

We've had good times at Memphis. Yeah. We've had good times in Memphis. Yeah Beautiful. I love Memphis. You haven't You gotta go back they have a Cabela's diner that's shaped a pyramid. Oh Yeah, some good queue down there to pray to Dan and Memphis barbecue. Yep Tough fighting off the flies were trying to get on top of it But there was you as well that were flocking part of it. It's Getting so loud these days like maybe too loud. How about this not being loud enough? Yankees are dead. Oh, no, they do this every June unfortunate It's the most goddamn frustrating thing of all time But you know they get a massive lead in the division which they have done

And I don't know if Aaron Boone just says all right boys just take off the next 15 games. We can lose 15 a row That's fine It happens all the time. It fucking sucks. I mean, for them to go, yeah, basically, you know, four or five games scoreless, that's not good. But I have heard, AJ, what's the best thing to find out about a team you're a fan of players only meeting happening. I think this is different.

I think this is different in baseball than it is football though. What do you mean? Cause you play in so many games and like coach, coach is the only really the only thing like Aaron Boone has control over like pitching decisions when guys are going to come in and then the lineup. But like these guys can read. I think they can like everyone listens to judge.

He's the guy. You can look at a guy be like, Hey, you're fucking pressing. You need to take better at bats. Like stop swinging at the first pitch every single fucking time you're up there and grounding out to third base. I'm looking at you Anthony Volpe stop fucking doing that Let's get deeper into the counts here. And maybe hey listen, I'm the big swinging dick in here We got John Carlos Stanton back. So You guys batting eighth in the order. Guess what? You don't need to be trying to hit a fucking home run every single at bat.

And it's like, yeah, and he's been only two games, but he's, you know, I believe he's currently in three for six, he's bad. Okay. 500 season. So, but this is one of the kinds of things where like, if they don't nip this in the bud right now, like you could end up losing fucking 12 games in a row.

And then all of a sudden, guess what? You're not leading the division Anymore, I saw I think you guys are still the kings of New York I think cuz I saw Juan Soto get thrown out on a fly ball. I don't know what the fuck he was doing 750 million. Yeah Come on yeah Which this this was it was always coming It was always kind of just let's laugh and get our jokes in while he's not playing well

Because he gonna start it. Yeah Juan Soto Yeah, jet passing is reporting from an airplane that players only meetings are not bad in baseball Yeah, keep your fucking eye on the ball. What do you know? Face of baseball. Let's talk about another sport. Obviously only one day a year do we get to watch it? competitive eating Let's talk about another sport. Obviously only one day a year do we get to watch it. Competitive eating. The goat has returned, ladies and gentlemen. Joey Josh Chestnut, the world record setting hot dog eater will be back at the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest

on 4th of July. Thank you so much. You're gonna be hungry. Thank you, Joey. Thank you, Joey, for doing it. He made the announcement himself in a three poster, as you can see there, one of three. And he talks about how,

while I have and continue to partner with a variety of companies, including some in a plant-based space, those relationships are never a conflict with love of hot dogs. To be clear, Nathan's is the only hot dog company I've ever worked with. A lot of people were saying

that I was potentially eating vegan dogs. They weren't vegan dogs. They were vegan burgers. I respect that there were differences in interpretation, but I'm grateful we've been able to find common ground. I'm excited to be back on a Coney Island stage, doing what I live to do, and celebrating the Fourth of July with hot dogs in my hands. Stay hungry, Joey Jaws chestnut.

So, Joey Jaws is back, sorry about it to fucking everybody else trying to down dogs. The goat is back and I remember when he stopped the rainstorm and he said we're gonna eat these fucking hot dogs, for the good of America. I think we all remember where we were when that took place. I can't wait for that to be back. That's a story tradition that is run by one man, an American man, who loves his duty on 4th be back. That's a story tradition that is run by one man an American man who loves his uh His duty on 4th of July. Yeah, that's Joey Josh chest. And if I'm not mistaken He was also the one who put the protester in the mean mean headlock when the guy came up on yeah, exactly

It's still broke a record with the dog. That's right put him down. You got it respected more, too I witnessed firsthand at the Colts game this year I think might have been the Big Ten championship what the aftermath of is Joey Oh, that's right chestnut eating and it's it's violent folks. This isn't This isn't just like hey, we're gonna eat and have fun. I've seen him banging on the door of a stall It is a it is a sad sight for one, because the guy inside is panicking, and it is a scary sight for two,

because the guy on the outside, Joey Josh Chestnut in this situation. He's about to explode. Had about what, 40, 50 ounces of St. Elmo's Shrimp cocktail sauce. Let's just say I know he brought multiple pairs of pants to with him to that game. Connor comes back to the seats that we were in for that game and he goes, I just witnessed

history. And what happened? He goes, Joey jaws chestnut is currently evacuating everything from the St. Elmo's shrimp cocktail contest in that bathroom right there. And we asked him how he knew and he's obviously told the story of Joey Jaws panicking, coming in, trying to open the stall. It's locked, banging on the outside of it. Code red, code red. Hurry up, please! World record code red.

And we've also seen Joey Jaws chestnut, not only is he great with shrimp cocktail sauce and wings and hot dogs, we saw him down 13 pints of beer in 70 seconds. That's right. And then he took down, I think, a bottle of vodka. He did. And then I think a bottle of tequila. Yep. Right. And he's not a professional drinker, he's a professional eater. There are professional drinkers as well. He could dabble in that world if he wanted to from our own experience. Joey Jaws Chestnut,

Indiana Hoosier, lives here in Indiana. We're very proud that he's back representing on 4th of July. Yeah. Love you, Jaws. I mean, I understand he's a Nathan's guy just implore you jaws Try a fucking Hebrew national and change your life. That's our ballpark With me. Well ballpark Frank shoot. Yeah, of course Was they go they had the race now any fire is not the fucking creme de la creme It's what are you talking about? I seen yeah, they're any 500 racers Yeah, the Oscar Meyer wiener guy say Hebrew nationals are fucking top-notch

Unbelievable hot dogs unbelievable. I'm all I like hot dogs me too. I haven't I've put hot dogs on the grill and oh How long got out tonight? I know I think I might hot dogs on the grill and I don't know how long. Can I do it tonight? I know, I think I might. So we just walk him in, Joey back, just open arms. Yes! Just left his high and dry on fourth and we just. No, it was a misinterpretation.

It was a misinterpretation. I'm just asking. After what you said this morning. I'm just asking. I don't like that there was an opportunity for a misinterpretation. Well, the opportunity was because Joey draw his chest and he said, such a hot Kamali,ali Some vegan place wanted to give him some burgers. Did he do the hot dog eating competition last year?

Yeah, he fucked off Kobayashi on Netflix. Oh what? Oh, I'm sorry. Netflix. So no, he didn't do the hot dog eating competition What day? They didn't allow him to do the hot dog eating competition That's not his fault Oh, they just out of the blue said hey, you're not doing the competition anymore. You don't want jaws to get paid, bro Don't I don't like it. I don't want you guys talking shit about my live guys. They're going Not about the players I think that's all gonna get sorted by the way relatively quick. I hope so roll up I think roll up roll up roll up roll up roll out Well fingers crossed he can beat turkey ala turkey in a game of fatal fury streets of wolves cuz that's what's gonna come down to

who's so Game it is Yeah, I know I'm sorry. We know I've met that's kind of, you know, just a nickname for him. Turkey, I was turkey. Yeah. Great game. Yeah, he is great gamer. Great game.

That's his game. Great game. Great game. City of Booker T took on, I believe boss of Connor in that game. No, me, I did. I played, I played a game. You did. We played a few.

Yeah. Oh yeah. You played me and a Booker T. I'm doing a lot of finger button mash Travis Kelsey is talking from mandatory minicamp. First of all, I never said that don't believe everything you read on here I am down some weight. Okay, Jeremy father reported look out for him. Maybe D be down 25 pounds. He said whoa, whoa, whoa 25 pounds. That's a lot of weight. That's a lot of weight maybe 10 15 Yeah, you can tell Looks taller

No, I don't know actually no We would you would have known yeah, yeah, but maybe they said we came here to watch Paca. Oh, yeah Sure skinny guy with a beard, you know. Let's get out of here ladies and gentlemen we're the luckiest people on earth that we get to do this for a living. We appreciate you so much. We have a we're going to announce some winners of the uh tops card. Oh nice. So the reason why it took so long for the tops card giveaway to happen is because uh we didn't receive one. Yeah. So I've given away signed cards didn't get until very recently so now that we have them uh we will announce the winners. I will sign those we cards didn't get until very recently. So now that we have them

We will announce the winners. I will sign those we will get those in the mail soon Congrats to daris j butler and the florida panthers fans for winning this thing You're boozing pretty good today Have to go get in the golf cart with the boys Let me worry you down there sunday parade Is that what it is? Mm-hmm. You gotta be on the float.

Gotta be there. Gotta be there. Try to make my way on the float. It's hammered. There it is. There it is. He'll have a hoodie on too. Mm-hmm.

No, for sure. No, no, no. 100 degrees. Down there. By the way, temperature not bad today. Not bad at all. I wouldn't have worn this if it wasn't strictly for USA keeping the cup. Did you change it? Yeah, I put it on right before the show. Temperature not bad today. I wouldn't have worn this if it wasn't strictly for

USA keeping the cup. Did you change it? Yeah, I put it on right before the show. Did you change temp? No I would never do that same same 68. I don't think it's the same but It is also hot as shit outside. It's so humid outside today A lot of steam coming out of the storm's A lot of steam. Storm's coming this afternoon. Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey,

hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey,