The Pat McAfee Show - PMS 2.0 1546 - Chris Paul, Cherie DeVaux, PK Subban, Jason Licht

Episode Date: May 5, 2026

On today's show, Pat, Darius Butler, AJ Hawk and the boys cover all things happening in the world of sports, including last night’s NHL & NBA Playoff action, all the latest NFL news, and much more. In the first hour, we are joined by 12x All-Star, 9x NBA All-Defensive team, 22-year NBA Veteran, Chris Paul, who takes us through CP’s Top 3 Takeaways, covering Anthony Edwards and the T-Wolves stealing game one in San Antonio, Jalen Brunson leading the Knicks to a dominant win over the 76ers, and the adjustments the Detroit Pistons need to make heading into the second round. We also dive in to the San Antonio Spurs last possession, the Lakers chances against the Thunder, and much more. Also in the first hour, we are joined by the first woman trainer to win the Kentucky Derby with Golden Tempo, Cherie DeVaux to talk us about training Golden Tempo’s late closing style, whether or not he will run in the Preakness, and more. In the second hour, we are joined by 13 year NHL veteran, Olympic gold medalist, & ESPN Analyst PK Subban to talk about the Carolina Hurricanes dominating through the first two rounds so far, Seth Jarvis and his buddies taking the internet by storm, the controversial non-icing call in the Ducks vs Golden Knights game, what the Minnesota Wild have to do to slow down the Avalanche offense, what makes Quinn Hughes such a great Defenseman, and much more. After PK Subban, we are joined by the GM of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jason Licht, to recap an exciting draft that saw Miami DE Rueben Bain Jr. fall to them at #15, WR Mike Evans leaving the organization, what they need to be successful next season, 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 will be back tomorrow LIVE from the ThunderDome. Cheers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello, beautiful people, and welcome to our humble abode, the Thunderdom. On this Cinco to Mayo Tuesday, May 5th, 2026, this sports program begins now. Sports! We are the greatest, and we're so incredibly lucky that we get a chance to chat about them here on this glorious May 5th. Now, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day, okay? Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of a battle that took place Puebla in 18th. 62 as the French forces who were much mightier and more equipped took on a Mexican regime down there and the Mexicans win and all of a sudden, Ola, Cinco de Mayo, au au au revoir to the French and we celebrate their seemingly 300 story to this day here in the United States of America.

And the reason why this particular Cinco de Mayo is so damn special because the NBA playoffs and the NHL playoffs are delivering for us night in and night out. We also have incredible action taking place across all sports. MLB, they're hitting don shots all over the place. The NFL obviously always has some drama building. There's off-season pickups. There's new season pickups in today. We got people chit-chatting with us about their particular sports that we can't wait for. Chris Paul will be joining us in about 15 minutes or so.

Sherry DeVoe, okay? Trainer of Golden Tempo, winner of the Kentucky Derby. She will be joining us at 1245-ish. P.K. Suban. Okay. We'll be making his return to the program. Can I wait to chat with him? 13-year NHL veteran.

He's been dressing. I think this year he's dialed it up even more. Looks good. Yeah, he's got a lot of costumes every single night to deliver the greatness for ESPN hockey. And then General Manager of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Jason Light Super Bowl champion will join us today as well. The toxic table is here at Boston Connor in Toxic Ton.

I see the cowboy hat on. Is there any reasoning for that? No. As of late, there has been no reason. to, or rhyme or reason of why I wear the hats that I wear, it just felt like a good cowboy hat day. Oh, I thought it was potentially because the PBR World Championships are just three days away here.

I thought there was a chance that you were thinking about a bucking bull, bucking some bull riders all the way to the damn moon. Now, we do not know if this bull or this rider is anywhere near the PBR, but we know that bull's buck out. And we know that's possible whenever you get your head on. And these bulls don't play games. That's a good call. Remember, a lot of people think that it's a bull rider that you need to be talking about.

We saw Mr. Kinsey this morning on Sage, Super. I think he was on good GMFB. Yeah, good morning football. Mr. Kinsey there, he's bull riding sensation. Big old cap, the whole thing. Oh, yeah. Belt buckle earner, not just a buyer like myself. But the show isn't really the bull riders.

Bull riders hanging on for that eight-second ride is certainly something that is special. The Bulls are the show. And these bulls have come through the levels to get up to the PBR. These are the best bucking bulls that these bulls have ever seen. So whenever these bull riders get on top of the PBR World Championship, what we need to be looking for is those. bad ass bulls that'll hurt your ass right out of the damn pit. Now that is this weekend as well.

Sports provides so much, nine-year NFL vet. Derrish Jay Butler's here. DeBuch's sweet onesie there. I know you're heading down to the PBR World Championship. Of course. I know that's something you're certainly looking forward to. What I left out whenever I'm talking about all the sports is F1 had a fantastic weekend down in Miami.

They're talking about the Indy 500. Qualies are already starting to happen here. We're also in the middle of race season. NASCAR. I don't know if you saw this. Kyle Bush this past weekend, whenever he was racing, got squeezed down by a car. Okay, squeezed down by a car.

They had his comms to his pit and to his spotter and everything. Love that. Crazy was happening. And Carson Hossivar, I believe, was the man. He was driving next to him. And Kyle Bush says, hey, why that guy's a goddamn asshole. Starts calling this Carson Hossvar guy, a full asshole in this entire thing.

I'm like, wow, Rowdy's getting a little jacked up. His crew actually says, hey, well, it's been like 10 years since we've been in the top of ten. And why don't you relax? He goes, oh, you're a psych major now. So Kyle Bush for this guy, it's a great piece of content. Carson Hawson, as far, though, I just heard as an asshole. He was at the Met Gallo last night. Is that right?

Yeah. That's hard, Robert. Is this the radio? Turn us up? All right, let's lose out here for a second, all right? We haven't run on the top 10 in like three years. We're having a great day here today. Keep it together.

I know it's not perfect. Just keep your . Together, and we're going to have a good day. Okay, all right. So that's after it all happened. He started yelling out of him. That's his pit telling him to relax the entire thing. But he was at the Met Gala last night.

I thought he was having a time of his life. We really learn a lot about a lot of things whenever this Met Gala comes around, especially the Internet. Because obviously, massive Knicks game last night, round two of the NBA playoffs at home in the garden. Team had been on a streak where they had been up 30 in two consecutive playoff games. Would they make it an NBA record three straight consecutive blowout,

playoff wins? and we learned Ben Stiller wasn't going to be able to make it. Wow. How do you feel about what happened over there in Madison Square Garden last night with the New York Knicks? How do you feel about MetGala as a whole?

Because I understand from looking on the outside in, this felt like a non-negotiable, allegedly, for the Stiller family. Okay, we're going to the Met Gallo because I understand it's a big to-do. We understand it's a big to-do because everybody says it's a big to-do, okay? We don't know what happens in there.

We know everybody comes dressed in out of Halloween costumes. for some sort of theme. Looks like it's costume party. Everybody's super well dressed. Everybody's super famous. Ben Still, it doesn't make to the Knicks game. Nick still win by a lot. How do you feel going forward if Ben should go to game?

Or if Nick's really even noticed that he wasn't there? I think the Knicks definitely noticed he wasn't there. I'm sure young Shalamay was there. But yeah, like you said, it's non-negotiable. I'm sure this was on the calendar for a long, long time. A list celebrity. He's been doing this with the fam for a while, I assume. No problem with this.

He probably expects, hey, We'll be there. The Knicks will win. Knicks fans had problems with it. Did they even win in 35? Oh, yeah. Trampling, J.R. Smith? I mean, they were trampling, J.R. Smith afterwards.

I mean, he was in the middle of a ride outside that we have seen, and we love the fact that sports can make an entire city come together and celebrate the way that they do. The Knicks fans go crazy. Yeah. Out in the streets, there's a lot of people, a lot of people there, they go crazy. J.R. Smith was in the middle. I don't think he fully understood what was about to happen. But I'd seen the song and dance on a ear and that before we're happy.

He's okay. Yeah. But obviously. the Knicks get a massive win. And I mentioned it earlier. They've become like most dominant playoff team in like the play by play era or something.

Like I forget the stat. Like since the 60s, they're dominating people right now, D-Bud. And that kind of led to charge last night until we had a little drama in the late night game. Yeah, I didn't expect this ass beating. As we know, I picked the Sixers.

Not only to win last night, I picked them to win this series. I don't know if I overreact to this belt-to-ass in game one. Jalen Brunson is unbelievable. I'm not sure if the same. Sixers had time to really go over a real game plan for number 11, but they just let him do his thing all night long. Kat, he did his thing. I mean, it was a whole team effort just built to ask from

wire to wire. But I'm still, I'm still in on the Sixers, not only winning this game, but I like them coming out of the east, even after that, Shalacking last night. And like you said, the next game after this with the Wolverine slash Ant Man coming back with spectacular. Yeah, Timber Wolverine, Ant Man for Minnesota. He, nine days ago, hyper-extended his knee in a disgusting fashion so much show that I didn't even want to run it on the show one of those types of injuries like hey don't even want to see it again when it gets on the algo you want to make sure that your phone doesn't see you seeing it and pausing on it because they will feed that type of shit to your algo so whenever those types of knee bends start popping on the algo you got to make sure out

out out out out don't want to see it there's a little bit of a run there on x where they're showing us terrible things and if you accidentally were like what is it good good for you there's more right around the corner, you're going to get that. That type of injury. It was disgusting the way his leg bent. I don't know how he didn't tear anything. I don't know how I didn't break anything. Instead, he just bruised a bone, I guess, just bruised his bone. And obviously, he was under an incredible amount of pain. And nine days later, he comes off the bench, puts down 18, talks his shit, gets a huge win. In the San Antonio Spurs house, we'll talk to Chris Paul in just a matter of moments about all this. I'm sure he has much better thoughts than we do. But the thought that Wembe gets a triple double,

okay? And then some of them, they're saying, He's getting calls on the defensive side. Fascinating thing. A lot of great basketball players get calls on the offensive side. Yeah. Because they're so good, they assume that if something happens, it's definitely a call. I think every NBA player that we've talked to, every NBA person we've talked to who said you can go back and check history.

Every good player gets calls. Like that is kind of how it's always been. It's kind of how it works. How about when being calls on the defensive side? Such a good blocker in my eyes that the reps are hesitant to call anything. Now, feels like a couple of these, my dumbass eyes, who do not play hoops. Clay said that definitely hit the backboard.

Now, one of them, I don't think we could really be able to figure out. But I think Wemby has become such a monster that he can touch anything that the refs do kind of give him calls on the defensive side. And I think that's why the Timberwolves coach immediately afterwards was like, hey, would have been nice to get a couple of those gold tank. I think they're all trying to put a little public pressure on this thing to start happening because there's a chance that this does become a thing for Wemby. That refs are scared to call it because it's almost like disrespectful to the greatest

shot blocker in the history of the game is what some people are calling Wemby. Yeah, 12 blocks in the game and a playoff game at that is, I mean, it's ridiculous. Every time you go in and take a shot, you step inside that three point line. It's a risk of him getting up there and getting it. He is, I mean, he's an alien. When he's stepping into that paint, he's a threat. 12 blocks, what are you saying? Maybe one or two of them were possibly a goal 10, some 9, 10 ethical blocks.

But I love what I'm seeing from Wemby. Obviously, he has to get more done in the fourth quarter. You know, throughout the season, he was around that 30 minutes. minute mark and I think he had 38, played the entire fourth quarter last night, didn't give his team enough. But it should be a great series. I like how the Timberwolves showed up. Last possession here. The Spurs still have a chance to either tie or win. Wide open look for three. Oh, good luck. Clankety clank. No thanks. Timberwolves up 1-0 in San Antonio in the second round. Anthony Edwards is just saying he's going to play is insane. The fact that Ant Man really has

become this superhero like in this series. And then the humility obviously to come off the bench, but then to come off the bench, be completely comfortable, understand who he is, what he is, when he is, and didn't look like there was any hitching his giddy up at all. The gate seemed very clean. And I think even at one point, he screamed

um-back, con man. We love professional athletes that are dogs. Feels like Ant-Man personified it yet once again last night. Yeah, big time. Feels like he's kind of becoming a different type of player with the T-Wolves. I didn't see it while watching, but there's a clip after and he was motivating one of their young guys. I don't know who exactly it was,

but it does seem as though he's stepping into more of a leadership role. And, you know, that's the other thing about the T-Wolves. They've been here a few times. It's not like, you know, with the Spurs, the spurs are kind of slowly getting their playoff legs under him, kind of understanding the moment, understanding the game. The T-wolves have, you know, they've beaten teams in multiple years that have been better, quote-unquote, better than them.

I mean, obviously the T-Wills were 12-and-a-half-point underdogs last night, but still, like, they have that experience, and now the Spurs are trying to figure that out, but the Ant Man's a dog. I don't know how the hell we are hearing about one-on-one, two-on-two, three-on-three-on-three-on-four-on-four, four-on-five for some players when Ant-Man basically blew his knee out and then nine days later is playing.

Well, it's just a bruise. It's not a torn ligament or a pulled muscle, and it's like just a bruise. I think a bruise happens when something hits something that's not supposed to hit. So, like, especially bone bruises, I believe that's when something, like, hit. That's not, yeah. Looks so bad.

Yeah. I would like to know what he was potentially... What was the cocktail? Grit. Yeah, people said he had his PR voice, so it was a good one. What do you mean? What is that mean? I didn't know he had the people on the internet were saying that this post-game interview, I've never heard Anthony Edwards talk like this before. Whatever they got him on, it has created a PR voice for instance.

I like that. That's just what they said. The internet is the greatest. Joining us now for his top three and then an NBA, conversation. Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. CP3. Hey, C.P. 3. Mr. Chris Ball, thank you for joining us. It is time for CPs top three, one of them being Minnesota stealing one on the road in San Antonio and obviously Ant Man being a stud. These top three, what I think we're going to do going to forward is after we talk to,

it's going to be our three big takeaways from our conversation with you so you don't have to actually piece them together. But this felt like a massive piece of our convo earlier, Chris. Yeah, man. That's a big win for them, especially for coming off the bench. I think they said that was his first playoff game coming off the bench. He finished where 18 had 11 and a fourth.

When you're going on the road in the playoffs, you just want to try to steal one. And if you can win the first one, then you're feeling really good going into the second game. Okay, so him coming back after nine days with a bone bruise. I know it's been talked about a lot with like, it's not a torn ligament, it's not a pooled muscle or whatever.

But with other players in the past, all we've heard about is a need to go, one-on-one, one-on-two, two-on-two, two-on-three, three-on-two, three-on-three, like what is the entire process? And can anybody just say, I'm playing, and they're kind of forcing the team's hands to let them play? How does that whole process work? It's the playoffs.

It's different, right? When he hurt his knee and I saw him hyper-extended, I was uncertain. You just never know probably until people get MRIs back. But for him and knowing, sort of what did somebody say, the grip or whatnot? he plays with. He's a gamer, right? So, Ant's a gamer. Everybody different, too. Everybody not built the same in this league. Some guys at times that may get injured, let it linger. You just

never know. You can't detect how hurt somebody is, but he's one of those guys and just love a hoop. So I wasn't surprised to see him playing. Okay, does he feel like an old school player whenever you meet him, play against him, watch him play? Because I think that is something we, as outsiders look at Ant, as he's like, oh, it feels like an old school guy. Is that something that's an accurate depiction? Yeah, he definitely got an old soul. And he played with a lot of joy. He's going to pop it.

He's going to talk a little bit. You know what I'm saying? But he can back it up. You know, and I think one of the dofest things that he did is if you listen to his post-game interviews, he was talking about how he could be better, right? He's talking about his turnovers. He was talking about things like that. And that's leadership.

Whether it's his fault or not, he understands who he is and how to build up his teammates. So that's big. That little mid-range thing that he's always been very committed to him and SGA both. It's like just feels different. Yeah, it feels different than what it had been though for a while, right? Because Steph kind of changed everything when everybody that seemingly was under 6-5 was like, all right, every shot is going to be a three. And then there felt like there was a lot of room.

It happened in our sport. Everybody got real small and real fast. And then you can take advantage of people, you know, a little bit of power. For you guys, it felt like everything got real spread out. And then the mid-range became wide open. The mid-range, too. Mid-range killer, entire career. Yeah, so did that happen? What changed the game was analytics, right?

Analytics. Everybody started talking about, you need to shoot this shot, you need to shoot this shot, and what it really is, you just need to make shots. And if you watch games, usually the most crucial shots of the game end up being mid-ranges or spots where guys are just a little bit more comfortable. The very first practice, when I got to the Houston Rockets, years ago when I left to L.A. They put up a shot chart in the locker room.

They showed us where they wanted us to shoot the ball from. I never forget it. It was, they had a shot chart from the year before, and I think it was one shot that Ryan Anderson that took outside of the paint. And they was like, yeah, we don't want no shots from right here. I remember sitting in the locker room like, what the hell y'all bring me over here for?

Yeah, no doubt, because you point card, obviously driving and running everything out there. So whenever you think about the high percentage, whenever you're deciding where you're going with the rock, okay? And you said analytics and you said, made shots as opposed to which shots is a winner. We say that with, every time they say seven points is more than three points, whenever people decide to go for it.

It's like, well, three points is more than zero points though. So where do we, where do we kind of draw the line on what matters in comparison to? But when your point guarding, does your game change with the players? Does your game change with the style of play? And did you realize there was a vastly different style of play from beginning of your quarterback career,

first end of your quarterback career? way different way different and i also believe in analytics too but i think there's a happy medium when i first came into the league i realized the final score was 75 to 70 or 80 85 to 80 that's the score at halve-time sometimes now in the league but what made us really good in in houston i tell you while i was there was because it gave us the ability to shoot threes and then those teams that were being a crazy drop and try to stop james or different guys to get to to the rim, I was able to do the mid-range and just mix it in. At the end of the day, you want to win the game.

Whatever you got to do to win the game, you do it. Can you still shoot it or no? Did you lose that? No, don't play with me like that. Never know. I didn't know. I don't know. I didn't know.

Don't try me like that. Can you still kick it? Can you still kick the ball through the uprights or you? I doubt it, man. Actually, I doubt it. I don't know. By right. Remember TSD and left.

I was both those. But TSD, you remember. Remember last time I kicked the ball, I literally blew out my hip flexer. And I love him for you. My last time, yeah, that's my last time ever doing it. That's what every time we do this college game day, like field goal kick thing, you know, and people are you going to kick it for him? It's like, I doubt it, man.

If we want them to win, I don't know if that's the right thing to do right now. But I'll get back. I got kids to take care of now. Exactly. Potentially, yeah, with the kids with ES coming here very soon. It's crazy to think about actually. We just talked about right before we went live. You're full-time dad.

I mean, you traveled across the country to be dead right now. You're coaching your ass off to be dead right now. Okay, let's talk about coaching, actually. Now we're in this convo. Let's stick with that game with Minnesota stealing one in San Antonio. I noticed something, and we kind of broke it down earlier. Feels like whenever this ball is missed and a rebound is had, there is a slight little potential look to the sideline on what we're going to do.

Two timeouts left for the San Antonio Spurs right here. Right there. Yes, you saw it too. Okay, okay. So what is this, you think? And is this normal? And two timeouts left, what are your thoughts on San Antonio Spurs? Taking one there and being able to move it to?

front court or whatever the hell it is. Man, it's so hard in these situations, right? Because everyone always says, I would do this or I would do that. If you stop, when it stopped right here, if you see Deering Fox, he's looking right over at Mitch. If you see Vic right here, if you see Wimby right here, he stopped. And they're not sure if they're going to call a timeout. And I'm one of those people that I don't mind not calling a timeout, right?

Because when you call a timeout, it allows the team to set their defense, get their best defenders in. Right here they decided to go, but you could see that the guys were unsure. They still got a great shot from champ from Jew, who is a great shooter. Obviously, that's one of those things. He makes the shot. Everyone goes nuts. If he misses it, now you've got everybody saying

that all they should have called him out. Yeah, I'm the person actually that said that. Yeah, because my immediate thought is you got Wemby there. Let's draw up the perfect play for Wemby because you're down two right now. We don't necessarily need a three. So in my head, I immediately go, oh, two timeouts, which is interesting to just put the number two there

for NBC, okay, as the timeouts. Interesting, I like that. My eyes will get used to that and reading that. But it's like, I feel like you want to set something up, but then to get a wide open shot, so then you feel like a hypocrite kind of, and then you do feel like the Monday morning quarterback in the entire process. But let's talk about them getting the thing and looking over at the coach. Us in college football used to have everybody looking over to the coach call the play.

How often are coaches calling plays? And is this one of those moments where maybe he did call a play from the sideline, and they decided to run that? Well, I don't think it's a play. you don't have enough time to run a play because it's seven seconds. But if you could see Mitch here, which I can't see it in this view, but I watch this play over and over, yeah, that's not Mitch there. That's a finish.

That's the coach for Minnesota. Yeah, I thought that's what we're talking about. Okay, yeah. You can see Mitch right now. Mitch is telling him to go, right? So knowing the league and knowing Mitch and how prepared he definitely always wants to be, he is probably, they're talking about it as a team, is they just want clarity.

They want to make sure everybody on the same page. Okay, so what we're saying is Spurs can still learn from this. They keep it moving. Minnesota stealing one, though, gigantic on the road. Always, I feel like that's a Best of Seven Series combo in your guys in sports. It's like all we're trying to do is win at home still on the road. Now they get the first one against San Antonio Spurs. Go for them in the entire.

Okay, let's go to New York, a man who is unstoppable seemingly. The Brunson Burner is certainly cooking in Madison Square Garden. three straight games with at least a 30-point lead at one point in the playoffs. First time ever. They're demolishing folks right now, obviously, with what they did to Atlanta. And now to start this series, your thoughts on Jalen Brunson and how he's become so damn effective? We watched him last year. It felt like he never missed.

I guess he doesn't. That's just kind of his thing, Chris. And Jayla's so tough, man. He's one of those guys is you can't speed him up. He's going to go at his own pace. if they don't find a way to slow him down, then it's going to be a long series. It's going to be a probably quick series.

But Jalen, he just gets to his fights. He can play against taller defenders, smaller defenders, but the Knicks go as he go, and especially his captain is going too. Okay, so how tall are you? I'm maybe six feet, six and one on a good day. Oh, I like that. 5-11.

Okay, so how tall? How's all you Jaylen Brunson? Is he? About that, right? So about six foot, six one? It does feel like similar place. Yeah, it's probably about the same, right? Yeah.

Okay. So how long have you known, Jalen? I assume that you have talked to him, right? Similar play, similar positions, similar sizes, similar build. Obviously, his dad's been around the game forever. You been around the game forever. How is your relationship with Jalen?

What have you seen him kind of grow? You said get to his spots and he doesn't speed up or anything like that. It feels like he's just unflappable. Has ever? how he's always been and I just haven't we haven't all seen it as much or he's it undeniable it feels like whenever he gets in these games.

I don't know Jalen Pryce since he was like in eighth grade. Yeah, his dad actually spent the summer with me, traveling with me as my trainer. So I know him, his family. I was actually at the Final Four game with my son to watch and play when he was

at Villanova. So I'm not surprised by any of the stuff that I see. He always been steady, pulled, then he just know the game. He's fun to watch, man. He is fun to watch. And boy, you win a title for the Knicks. Cameron said he don't believe him.

What a morning by Cam. What a morning. I don't know if you got to see it. He was on first take. Cam was the entire show. And he did it. He needs to be on there all the time. Let's get Mace's ass in there as well.

I mean, it is, it was special. He's a New Yorker, though. He said doesn't know if he needs to believe in the Knicks yet. at this exact moment. You believe in the Knicks? I definitely believe in the Knicks. I definitely believe in the Knicks. I know it's going to be a tough series, though,

because as long as Tyrese maxi over there leading that team, then you always got a chance. And Maxie struggled last night, right? I think he only had eight or nine field goal attempts, which that's unusual for him. So he's going to get going at some point. I know that. He's the fastest person you've ever tried to guard?

Tyrese be moving. He'd be moved. What are you doing? You're hanging on? You're hanging on for. your life there? What is the goal there? Man, slowing down, keep the ball in front of you.

See, he's very good with his change of pace, too. He can get you going real fast and stop on the dime, kind of like Darius Garland. They both very similar like that. So you're just fouling them or where we're going? There ain't no foul. I want to let you know that's why I'll use my

six. I'll use. You just need to sit down. That's what you need to do. Oh, come on. I'm on the court. Speaking of Speaking of not being on the court, let's talk about the number one seed in the east. Here's our third takeaway from our conversation with you earlier. Pistons won't be asked to start this series.

Now, those are not your words. Those are our takeaway from your conversation about what you believe the Pistons learned in the last series. Is it all on Cade? Is it the entire team? What are your thoughts on the Pistons as they kind of hopefully write the wrong of how they started the last series?

I mean, it's their team. I think this is, you know, new territory for the next. after having the season that they had. But Cade is one of those guys, too. I've known for a long time. And he just one of them guys, you ain't going to rally either.

Right? Like, don't care what year it is for him. Cade has been the man on every team that he's probably played on ever in his life. And he's one of those guys, I think, that's built for these moments. I love Cade. He had a bunch of turnovers in his first three games.

Oh, yeah. That was kind of the big problem. He's like, hey, this guy's turning the ball over every single time he has the damn puck. Yeah, I ended up with the fifth most points in NBA a history in the seven game series in the first round. On that note, Tone has a question for you, CEP. Yeah, Chris, it kind of felt like after

the first few games that Cade realized like, oh, I need to score 40 a game. Like, how is that as being a teammate to everybody, but you do realize, like, you're the superstar and you may need to get 40 a game for your team to win? Every game is different. Every game takes on a personality

of his own, and when you're a star like Cade, you got to fill it up. You got to figure out which games you need to get your teammates involved, and which games you got to go score and you got to go get it. It's interesting. The 0708 playoffs, which seemed like a long time ago when I played against the Spurs, their game plan was to let me and David West score. Me and D. West were scoring 36 and 38 just about every game and they weren't letting everybody else score. So you got to see what the defense is doing. Because some teams,

their game plan may be, hey, man, let him get his 40 and we still going to win. The end of the day, you got to see what's working and see if you win them. That'd be a great night if they let you get 45 and you win. That'd be considered a successful evening in the association. Okay, thank you for that. That was a great afternoon. Ladies and gentlemen, let's run them down here. CPs top three from our conversations with him earlier this morning.

The Brunson burner. Minnesota steals one on the road and the Pistons won't be asked to start this series. We appreciate that, Chris. We appreciate it. Always, fellas always. You're not leaving. We still have more questions, obviously. Jeez, Louise.

Conman has a question for you, Chris. Yeah, Chris. On that point, just about, you know, letting players score, what do you think this Lakers' Thunder series is going to be? Do you think the Thunder are going to kind of let LeBron and Reeves go? And then you kind of just lock everybody else down for the Lakers. Are they going to go at, you know, SGA, Holmgren? Like, what do you see as kind of the strategy for both these teams?

And how do you see it playing out? because I mean, LeBron's a 15.5 point underdog. It's going to be impossible not to bet on him, not that you know anything about that, but that is his biggest spread or deficit as a NBA player in his entire career. But how do you see it going between these two? Two things.

First of all, I know, Braun, I know players in this league, is that if you, first of all, he had no idea probably that they're 15 point underdog. He just probably know that people picking it under the thunder the win So that drives you and motivates you anyway, right? No matter what, you want to shut people up, especially on the road. It's always nice to win road playoff games.

And then as far as OKC letting people do stuff, they just not built like that. They just not built like that. They're not going to give anybody anything. Now, I'm not sure what that game plan is, but I know whatever it is going to be. It's going to be to play team defense, play with pace. And it sounds simple, but they play the same way every night. Who does SGA remind you of in the history of basketball? Or if you were to mix a couple players from the past that create SGA.

Because he, as I just mentioned with Jalen Brunson last year with his run with the Pacers, getting to see it in real life, how he would just not miss. SGA, I mean, it was, he was so silky. It was the cleanest I've ever seen. And then he was getting free throws left and right. Some people were getting mad. I just thought it was like incredible body control that this guy had. He seemingly, every piece of good battle.

basketball that you can have. It feels like it's hard. I don't think of somebody else when I think about Shea. And I think Shay would probably tell you he just the mix of a whole bunch of there. He just tried to be itself, right? And he just, he going to get to the bucket if you let him. He's going to take the midrange if he can. But, you know, his whole game and everything changed when he started shooting more threes. He would have been at the Mac Gallo last night, just absolutely crushing. Oh, yeah. Cool caption. been you ever been to the met gala no i haven't been yet really feels like a lot of NBA guys kind of do the super fashion stuff yeah doesn't feel that way oh yeah was there last night yeah but

dwayne wait was also but it feels like uh yeah the james hardin video is one of my favorite from paris fashion week where he real oh yeah that him and a sap or trapp's gone too high for this feels like NBA super fashion especially with the arrival shots and everything like that you Why do you think that? Absolutely. I'm into all that stuff too. It just opened up a whole other revenue for guys to play, and it gives guys an opportunity to show their personality, their style.

You know, there's so much difference in every player and what they're into, and it just gave another element. You know, remember, my rookie year is when the dress code was implemented. Right? My rookie year is when they said no more warm suits and all this different type stuff. But if you watch, I mean, when guys walk into the arena now, this is literally a runway. So businesses have been able to start and thrive over, you know,

players and what they're doing. I love that. What are the rules? Oh, we got to take pictures. Got it. All right. We'll create our own little clothing. You need to come on the show one day with a tunnel fit.

Okay. Certainly to do that. What's that being? Is that what Heidi Kloom wore last night? Is that a tunnel fit? Or you put yourself in a costume. I wonder, like, how the bird's fit, time. Yeah.

Like this? Is this one who you talk about? Who was this? That's how I clue from the MacDala? Oh, dude. That's fashion, Chris. You're not going to get invited. You don't pay attention to this type of stuff.

Yeah, sure. The Rock showed up. He's wearing... What did you used to wear the games? I'm curious. What did you used to wear the games? I mean, pretty much what you saw me every single day. I actually created a shirt because Chuck Pagano

institutes some rules on what you were allowed to wear. Had to have a different color than it was shirt. and it had to have, I forget, I think six buttons or something. So he's trying to get rid of the Henley. I created a Henley that had six buttons and had like a stiff color and then wore a sport coat. So I'm pretty basic. I wear Amazon T-shirts every single day

and basically the same pair of jeans on repeat, just like 10 pairs. There you go. That's cool. I like it. I like it. Yeah, but I don't, I understand the fashion. Tyrese Halliburton is doing the fashion. I like the fashion. Dark bees. I don't fully understand all of them.

So like, what are they, they're just saying, I can wear this? Yeah. Is that why they wear that? Individual expression. It depends on the theme of the gala. The theme of the gala changes everything. And then it also, you know, like, Bab Bunny, he showed up and he was,

as an old man. He was 90 years old. I love that. He was like Johnny Knoxville from that bad grandpa movie. I love that he did this. So it's like a Halloween party? It kind of. Yeah, kind of just wear what you want.

I fucking love Halloween now. How come, Ty and he did this? Reese wasn't there? What's that? How come Halliburton wasn't there? I'm telling you, I think he's still battling right now. Oh, I thought he's at Raw. Yeah, it was one of that raw last night, too. Also, I'm watching Oba. Yeah, that I mean, the Oba Femmy's doing his thing. Sorry, Chris.

So you'll go to the Mecca next year, probably, if we had to do it soon? I may. I may. You know what I'm saying? I think it's something I've never had an opportunity to do in my career. Pat will go with you. No, no, no. Make sure I would not be invited to that. I have you seen no way. I don't think my day would ever make that list. But on that note, we need you to kill that. shit okay Joe Burrow Justin Jefferson last night crushed it Wayne Wade had a tank top looked pretty jacked last night you know sports represent out there's a good

thing we want what goes on inside do you know I haven't been I haven't been yeah but you yeah but you know you know it feels you're in a know maybe we'll never know know hey we're not supposed to know I know that I know that we're not supposed to okay let's continue to talk a little bit about playoff hoops shall we go ahead D butt yeah Chris your experience what's the biggest change once you get to the playoffs and how many years did it take you to get over to hump and win a playoff series as kind of like that lead player because you got young players win be obviously k they have playoff experience but what does it take really getting over

their hump and what's the biggest adjustment especially for young star players in this level yeah um my first time making it to the playoffs was my third year in the league my third year in the league and we actually beat dallas uh four one the first playoff series and what you learn is that every game is different. When you win by 30, 35 in one of the games, it doesn't matter. That game is over and done, and the series is all about adjustments. A seven-game series can be long. Injuries can happen.

Guys can start making shots, missing shots. But the thing that I think I learned over my career and what I always tried to pass on the teammates when I did become a bet was don't get too high and don't get too low. We just all saw that in that last series. can be up 3-1 and lose, and you can be down 3-1 and win. But in a playoff series, this is the craziest part. I told one of my friends I was playing in the playoffs in the first round, I said when you win a playoff game, you feel like you're never going to lose again.

When you lose a playoff game, you feel like you're never going to win again sometime. So you just got to try to stay even killed. You have a friend that was playing a playoff game? That's so cool. Who was? You're so cool. He was it. He was talking to him.

He was talking to. He was talking to. That was so cool. Could have been anybody. Got played 21 years in the NBA. Yeah. How many all defensive teams? Well, it depends.

Seven. Seven. Seven. Seven, guys. Seven. Unless we start talking about the second team. No. Oh, then he had nine.

I'd count those. Yeah, I'd count those, too. Yeah. I would. It was a thing. You know, it's a thing in the NBA, too, when guys guard and they play the defense, they, they like, put their thing in there. First team, first team.

Oh, really? Really. Now I got the patch to you. When do you do that? Okay, so when I'm playing pickup down here and I'm locking people down, which I will, though, because we all, I'm bopping wood.

This would to be specific, but also any wood that we're playing on. That's my mind. I'm doing what now? I'm holding when, whenever they're coming down, I'm bopping wood with one hand? When am I talking about you?

After you get a stop, after you get to stop? And they missed a shot. Just put up the first team, first team. Yeah. I'd probably be 13th, though, I think maybe fourth.

Some guys that do that and they really ain't, but they just, they're just talking. So it's how many two point guards, or is it position-based, or is it just defense-based five and five? I think they changed. I think the league changed it almost like they did the All-Star game, whereas, like, positionless now. It used to be like two guards, two fours in the center, but I think it's positionless. Now it's just like if you bop would, we want to acknowledge that. Yeah, it's crazy how they do some of the. the voting things and whatnot,

because a lot of times the defensive awards or whatnot, it just go to stats. What do you mean? Because I think Wemby was the unanimous this year. He probably won 10 in a row. Yeah, he's going to win a bunch of them because the books. Now, listen, listen, it ain't going to be up for question for a long time. Because Vic is different.

He guard everybody. He guard everybody. He going to win defensive players. He would have won it last year. I forgot who won that. He just didn't play out games. Okay, so do you think he's going to start getting calls on the defense side? That was my entire take.

Everybody had been talking about, you know, a couple maybe goal tendings after the ball touches the backboard, then he blocked it. There was two where we think probably that was the case. And then one that would have been a very tough one. Yes. That was one. There's another one too, that one. That was the other one. Yeah.

But neither of those are going in, but certainly goaltending call would have given the points. But on that note, do you think he's getting calls on the defensive side? Like, everybody talks about getting calls on the offensive side? Do you think he's getting calls on the defensive side because they don't want to disrespect his shot blocking ability? So maybe there will be some goal tendings that will probably slip by here because he's so dominant. I mean, you could say that,

but it's goal tends to happen every night in the league. I get scared for Vic from plays like that. When you see him go block the shot and his other arm just to be in the rim or all this different, I'll be scared that he going to get hurt just because, watch that. Look where his other arm is at, his hand, his wrist. It's on the other side of the

banging it off a metal. I mean, gets in a finger there. He starts having like broken fingers every night because he's battering him off the bottom of the backboard. Yeah. Gets a concussion from the bottom of a room because he's in there going so crazy. He's outrageous.

Hey, see, Chris, you know him, obviously a lot better than we do. And you know people of this size a lot better than we do. What is realistic expectation for how big he is? And this is so rude of us to do to him, but we don't think he would ever listen. this show anyway, so maybe he won't hear this. But 15-year career for somebody that size, it seems like

a little bit of an anomaly, right? Because the way the humans have been built and seemingly have operated, especially at that size. For him, it feels different, though. They were training, like, his feet, muscles, and tendons whenever he was growing, because they understood he was going to be a giant athlete, basically. What should we expect from when? Because it feels like he's in

the best shape. I don't want to sound mean, but the best shape for, like, that tall of an individual that we've ever seen. Yeah, Vic, just expect to see him for a long time. He's not just playing basketball is how he prepares for the game. He's doing the stretching. He, like, be juggling and stuff. Like, he is different in every aspect of it.

Like, he prepares, he trains, he does all the little details. And even though he may not watch or whatnot, he's not a dummy. He hear what people say or whatnot. And he acts accordingly. Well, congratulations, my frere, Wemba, Yama. Congratulations, mon. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Merci beaucoup for to play or basket.

Yeah, yeah, of course. Thank you. That's very good. He knows everything, too. Like, pop culture, he knows everything is going on. Like he is, he tapped into any and everything. Oh, so you think he walks up, I go, bonjour, sava. He goes, sava, Pat.

And I go, je ma'amapel, Pat, yeah. We. He probably started laughing at you. We, we. Yeah, that is, and then I'll drop an au revoir. Sure. And I'll keep it moving. Then I want to come back for an actual conversation.

Sir, can I talk to you for three minutes? Are you, where are you from? Are you actually, you're an alien? How do we go about doing this? He's special, man. Feels like he's a special. And I like the people who are already coming after him a little bit. They're not real blocks.

Okay, this is all fake. It's a triple double. Coach potting after the games. I do want to ask you, though, Chris, his usage throughout the regular season, he was around kind of that 30-minute mark. And obviously, a lot of these playoff games, you're going to play more than that. How do you feel about him handling that extra load now? Obviously, you want to go deeper into the playoffs and hopefully win the championship in that team.

He's going to be fine with it. And this is what I'll tell you, just sort of behind closed door is, guys prepared to play for double overtime or not that's just the rotations of how it go like when you get ready for the playoffs you're training and the guys that are the guys the stars the main guy that's why you see these videos all the time of the star player like everybody left and that guy's still shooting right or practice is over everybody leaving this guy still on the bike or whatnot these guys who are the guys they don't just become that overnight. They put the work in because they know

in the fourth quarter, they're going to get the ball. They're going to be, the responsibility is going to be on them. So, yeah, Vic prepared for a war. The work ethic tales from the NBA are absurd, because obviously the Michael Jackson or Michael Jordan

ones, I apologize to both parties there, you know, Jackson, Jordan, game six. But anyways, Michael Jordan's work ethic, outrageous. Kobe Bryant, obviously, they talk about it. Sounds like, and I think you and the way, LeBron James, obviously, clearly 41 years old, it's like the amount of cardio conditioning, the amount of running, it's traveling,

lack of sleep. It does feel like that is a massive benefit or a bonus, if you have it or not. Does everybody have to be in shape? Like, how does basketball, and is it obvious whenever guys aren't? And it's like they just get left behind? Like, should we assume that everybody that's a star in the NBA is working their asses off? Like, I think there's a legendary star. about your team potentially working out after a playoff game happened or something like it.

Should we assume that everybody we know in the NBA is like that and has that trait or gene? Just about every team has that, right? Depending on what the weight lifting coaches into, a lot of guys have to lift after the game, before the game, everybody sort of has their own regimen and what works. But there's a, what's it called, low minute games? Like, the guys who don't play much, usually like on a day off. So say to play off. was last night. The guys who didn't play much in the playoff game tonight say today was off,

those guys still going to come in and they're going to play. They're going to hook. They're going to play. They're going to play a bunch of games because you've got to get that cardio in and play games or you just become out of rhythm. Man, maybe we get in some of those. They're called a little minute game. Yeah, I got involved in some of those for a little bit with the clippers this year. Oh, really? You're in the clippers? Just for a hot second. because I saw there was a card game that was card yeah cards

that came out yeah that was that yeah but I still was there for a little while yeah but I won't let you know a lot of people on the internet saying I didn't believe you I will let you know that

they're saying nope I don't believe that happened at that time we believed we believed you we believe Cp3 yeah I should have took a video of us playing cards shouldn't I

yeah remember 11 cards six rounds you've only told me a couple things about I'm already trying to learn. You know, I'm trying to get out there. Yeah, yeah, of course. Listen, yeah, that's how that whole thing goes, especially if I'm trying to fly out to L.A.

When last round of Oons. And then post-da, just want to make sure that motherfucker is dead. I can't wait to do that. I can't wait to do that. I cannot wait to do that. Do you want to pick some games tonight? Certainly. Let's make sure that you can have friends all around.

Caves Pistons, 7, NBC, Pistons, favored by 3 and a half. What about this Cavs? team makes you think that they could cover. And what about this Pistons team brief makes you think they could definitely win in cover as well? Well, Donovan Mitchell is on the court. So that's what the cab is always going to have a chance. Don is just a gangler.

You know what I mean? And so it should be a really good matchup, especially with Don and Kaye leading their teams. Okay. So we like both teams there. Lakers, Thunder, Thunder favored by 15 and a half. Connor said it earlier. This is the biggest underdog in a playoff game. LeBron James has ever been.

I feel like Draft Kings is potentially tempting us with the crown for the man who's had the crown for the NBA for a long time here. Chris, your thoughts on this Oklahoma City team who shows up every night the same way you said earlier. Yeah, they just, they just one of those teams that I think JJ said it the other day. It's one of the best teams probably ever just because they're not going to beat themselves, right? And now the hardest team, they say to beat a lot of times is a team that's gotten there and won it. right they they prove that they can get over the hump that they can take all the tough battles so they're not going to beat themselves but the lakers they understand they battle tested brine going on there try to steal one all right well good luck to everybody tonight and we appreciate the hell

out of you ladies and gentlemen that's chris paul yeah chris hey chatea baby chris we go from one legend in chris paul feels like he likes the Oklahoma city too yeah oh yeah big time and i'll tell you what after watching the nix do what the nix just did a couple of times it's like 15 and a half. I know it's a lot. Yeah. But we've seen a couple games this season. We saw during the playoffs we've seen a couple.

But we've also seen some electrifying moments. Will LeBron James be able to cook up a few more here with Austin Reeves? As Luca hasn't even done one-on-ones yet, I don't think, right? That's what Sean said yesterday. That is what Sean said. Is he back in America? I think so. You're shooting a basketball, but not one-on-ones.

Yes, Lucas back in America. I just want to know. I don't like that he has a hamstring, though, because this was the best shape that we've seen Luca ever in, right? I mean, he looked unbelievable. So the fact that he got a hamstring worries me a little bit. I don't know how quickly he'll recover, but obviously the NBA's missing Luca Donchik into playoffs.

Luca and LeBron going crazy with Austin Reeves right now against an Oklahoma City team that's trying to build a dynasty. Whenever you talk about attention and aura coming from a series, that would be it. But instead now it's how much can LeBron do it, 41 against a team that might be the best of all time. Austin Reeves doesn't deserve that kind of slander, you know, because they're kind of just shooing him out because this kind of was his big coming out year.

And then he got injured, so he kind of disappeared. But Austin Reeves and LeBron James battling against this Oklahoma City, it has me a little bit scared because like you said earlier, Connor, I almost want just for, because I've seen LeBron's ride. Yeah. I almost want to just ride with him in his biggest. You should. Critic from the sports book in the history of his playoff career,

which, by the way, he's played more playoff games of anybody in the history. Foxy, I don't know how to feel about this one because I feel like Oklahoma City could be a little bit of a runaway. Could be a little bit of a wagon. I'm taking the 15 and a half points with LeBron all day. And if I'm proven wrong, then so be it. You know, the thing is, I immediately thought to myself

might never get this opportunity to do this again with LeBron. Exactly. But if they lose by 30, it might get even worse. Game to you. Next game. And I don't want that. I don't want that one bit. There's no way.

LeBron plus 15 and a half. Yeah. Get it to me. That's not happening. I'm not confident, though. I'm not sure where the crown lies right now. Because it might be right there on SGA's head. Good.

It has. It is actually. We're going to be really mad if LeBron covers and we don't take it, though. Yeah, you're right. We'll be so disappointed ourselves. We'll be just as mad if O.K.C. wins by 30. Because we knew it was potentially coming. It's a tough thing.

You know what else is tough? Winning the Kentucky Derby. There's been so many legends of the past. There's been so many horses that'll be remembered forever. Jockeys that are talked about and trainers come into the spotlight week of. And you hear a lot of different names. You see a lot of different personalities. And this past weekend for the first time ever a female trainer, the trainer of Golden Tempo,

won the most electrifying Kentucky Derby that I have ever seen. That trainer, the icon, the one that will be stamped into his three books. Ladies and gentlemen, Sherry DeVille. Yay, Sherry. How are we doing, Sherry? How are we doing? I'm doing all right. How are you? I'm great. Thank you so much for asking.

Had a birthday. My daughter's birthday, Cinco de Mayo. Can be nowhere near how great you have to be feeling as you at your name in history. And also the horse that you obviously love and care for and trained has a massive dub in the biggest race on Earth. Can you tell me about the feelings as you watch Golden Tempo fall behind and then start moving? Was this the plan all along, Sherry? And how much faith did we have? So he's a deep closer. He finds himself towards the back of the pack.

I think he just likes to let all of his buddies do the heavy lifting. And then he has a really nice turn of foot towards the end of the race in all of his races. So he comes with a with a burst of speed. So I was watching the race unfold in front of him and felt there was pace. And it was up to Jose to navigate the run with Golden Tempo. And he executed it perfectly. But as he started making his run, your heart gets pumping. And then when he came up to renegade and those two hooked up and we got our head in front,

it was just surreal. Okay. Well, congratulations on all those feelings. Obviously, that's what all the work is for. So you can feel that as it's coming down the stretch. And then the excitement immediately upon realizing that Golden Tempo has done it. You said and talked about Golden Tempo as if it was a human. Golden Tempo just lets all his buddies kind of do all the hard work at the beginning

and then kind of catches up and does it. Is that kind of how I should be viewing horses? Like they all do have their own individual personalities. Like when you're training them, whenever we're coaching somebody, we try to reach the person that we're coaching. Training is similar with horses. You have to like, there's different ways to reach each horse. And how do you figure that out with golden tempo?

Well, most definitely it is an individualized approach or the way I train anyway. Each horse is going to be different, just like players are going to be different. and you have to taper your training to get the most out of them. So, you know, Golden Tempo, he's a relaxed horse, and that's his whole being, and it's his whole demeanor around the barn. But, you know, he is talented, and when he needs to make that run, he makes it.

So, like, we were in kind of a holding pattern in our derby preps. And then coming out of Louisiana and the Louisiana Derby, we've really keyed him in to just really try to hone in. and try to tighten him up. He was kind of a little on the heavier side, so we needed to really put a couple stiff works into them, and that made all the difference. Stiff works is like a cardio session like you would do with a player or an athlete,

like a workout. Right. And then how does Golden Tempo handle that? You got to, hey, it's for your own good. It's for your own good. How do you got to do it? How is that relationship between trainer, horse, player, coach? Because from my understanding, these horses are like mystic being,

like, they're very intelligent, obviously, incredible athletes. The relationship probably matters pretty big, I would assume. Well, it does. So I'm the coach, but we also have exercise riders and Jose Breesdom once.

His key work, Jose was on. So I give it the plan, and it's up to them to enact it. So the riders are pivotal in in getting, enacting what I come up with in training. And it just worked out, you know.

And the horse has to respond and come out of those works in great order. So, you know, unlike human players, they can't tell us how they're feeling if they feel knocked down from the work or if they're hurting anywhere. So we really have to hone in on those little key nuances. Yeah, I love it. And obviously, those two minutes are absolutely electrifying. But obviously, those aren't the only two races of the season. 23 to one odds, wild. Fun win for a lot of people.

Go ahead, Conmay. Yeah, Sherry, when it comes to racing and not just the derby, just every race, because you've been training for so long, do you have a sense that you'll win every single race that your horse is in? Are you that confident regardless of what the odds are, or is there kind of a realistic expectation going into it? And did you feel different about Golden Tempo? Did this feel like, okay, this might be the year that we win the Kentucky Derby?

Well, I do try to have realistic expectations. and after he won his first prep at the Lecombe, we can see that the speed figures needed to improve and he needed to improve. So we did talk and he finished third in his subsequent derby preps. And the conversation was, let's get him to the derby and make sure he's improving so that we have him peaking on Derby Day. So his odds were 23 to 1 and they were rightfully so just by his past performances. I was feeling super confident in Golden Tempo and Jose's ability to get him there.

But realistically, it's a Kentucky Derby. Many go their whole life. Many trainers go their whole life without hitting the board in that race or being in the race. And to be a one in, you know, I went there once and we got it done. I had, you know, I had confidence, but I couldn't believe it actually happened. Okay. You talked about the many trainers that never get to the Kentucky Derby. Obviously, you've won it.

Congratulations. can't wait to see what you continue to do as a trainer. How did you get into all this? We saw that in 2018, you started your own. You kind of became a head trainer, I believe. You left Chad Brown and Chuck Simon, rest in peace. I believe you were assistant trainers with them. When you were, have you been in the horse game?

Did you do like 4-H? How did you, were you on a farm? How do we get into horse racing in training? It's kind of a funny story. My parents are involved in harness racing, and they took a sabbatical. They lived up in Saratoga area, so they took a sabbatical, moved to South Florida.

I always have had horses in my life. I used to compete in rodeos. I went to school for pre-med, mainly because I wanted a job that I could afford horses in my life. And my parents, I paid for my own college, and my parents unceremoniously dropped me off

at college and went back to New York and changed my residency. but that is what forced me to move back to New York, and I went to college up there. And my mom, I needed a summer job, and she said, well, there's this job. You just walk the horses. You can be done by 10.

And I was like, that's good. I can wake up early, be done. And I started as a hot walker, you know, just by happenstance of where my life led me. I love the story. Wow. I love the story. Pre-med, yeah, going to have to become a brain surgeon

if we want to afford these damn horses because how expensive they are, Obviously, we've seen that celebrated as we look at the Kentucky Derby. Now, we got Preakness coming up here, and I know this is a big conversation about, like, does the Derby winner run it or not? And I'm not going to act like I'm a horse expert. Feels like it is a huge convo every time it happens. Have you made the decision, or how does that, is Mr. Vinnie Viola, incredible owner, obviously, of the Panthers. Yeah.

Golden Temple. How does that all come together? So I just got back. It's been a whirlwind couple days, and I just got back. back to Lexington and he's going to go back to the track tomorrow. We'll give him a couple days just to see how he is. And Golden Tempo, he's going to dictate the decision, but we're also going to talk about, you know, whether we think a cut back in distance off two weeks rest is really what's best for him. So there's a lot of conversation right now. We're all just enjoying

the moment. But we'll get to that. We'll start that tomorrow and hopefully by Thursday we have decision. Okay, so you'll do like a full horse physical, for lack of a better word, see how golden tempo came out of the race, because obviously once the adrenaline and everything kind of wears off, where do we land after the celebration? If horses able to train and stay in shape, we'll then go to Preakness. If not able to train because something lingering, we'd take rest time there to hopefully get Golden Tempo healthy so then we can race again down the road. Right. And he'd actually have to come out of the race with more energy because we are going to cut them back in distance.

You know, so there's a lot of factors that go into that. And, you know, we just haven't had a chance to have an informed conversation and put everyone's input in. And then, like I said, Golden Tempo, you know, he could be sound, but a hard race can knock him out. And, you know, he just might need a little bit more time to get in, to get back into feeling himself. Hey, how about it? You're now in the position to have to figure out whether or not we're going to run for it. Like a lot of trainers, a lot of trainers probably talk about it. A lot of there's probably a lot of Monday morning quarterbacking that happened whenever other people are making decisions.

And obviously, the outside world that loves golden tempo, especially after what we just watched at Kentucky Derby, would love to be able to bet on this horse again. We have our thoughts. And now you're sitting in the barn, actually, to make the decision. Congratulations on that. Congratulations on being obviously historic, not just in the horse racing world, but in sports as a whole. And thank you so much for the time. Thank you so much, and I hope you have enjoyed your birthday celebrations.

See, I was going to come down to the Derby, actually, but because it's the birthday, you know, with kids. Yeah. It is chaos down there. Hey, it is the one right for all parties. Everybody thinks that trainers, owners, fans, Kentucky Derby is just the, as does it all right? Why is that? It's just, it's a pinnacle race.

It's exciting. There's a lot of buildup. And something like the Breeders Cup, where you have a lot of categories, of racing, you have multiple shots to try to achieve a Breeders Cup win. You have one shot at the Kentucky Derby. And he did it. And he did it. And he did it. And golden tempo.

Took it. One opportunity. Don't miss your change to blow. Golden Tempo. Set him out of here. Congrats to you. We can't wait to follow along with the rest of your horse training career. We appreciate the hell out of you. Thank you so much for having me on. Good luck with that decision. Yeah. It would be nice to be able to bet on Golden Tempe. I just learned about this horse. Ladies gentlemen, I'm a share of a move.

Tough decision. Yeah, I mean, gonna need to see that triple crown run, at least to go for it. And we're gonna need to see Golden Tempo's odds. She's got to make a lot of tough decisions, though. Who's gonna play her in a movie? Oh, there's definitely coming. Because this is a pinnacle for her to win that race, make that history.

How about her saying there's a lot of trainers that will never win in Kentucky? That was her as a trainer saying, hey, a lot of trainers never win. Can't believe her. And then now she's, hey, how many of these? once you taste of confetti you know it's almost like Rupoli not a trainer but like think about him like oh for nine

you're going in yeah and you're going into it this year like hey we're the favorite now this is the time just the pole position got him yeah well yeah down in there which hey I'd rather have it he said yeah yeah hey family one okay do you listen to me boy

kiss me that was the most Italian conversation of all the time amazing a lot of people were saying there was some cooking going on the NHL last night Connor was all work up. Really? Yeah, there was icing, no icing, led to a go-ahead goal, led to a coach losing his mind and having

Connor tweet out in the morning saying, how in the world of hockey is that not an icing? The guy's behind the red line, which is the half waypoint, clearly, dumps it in, nobody touches it, goes all the way, how is that not icing? Yeah. I personally,

from the back view, now this particular view shows a different story, obviously, with the race. It looked like Jackie Aces with kind of in there maybe a little bit and could get on there. And from my non-hockey playing, but just hockey viewing world, I believe it's a race from the puck drop circle there, I believe is the, is considered to the dot, okay, perfect. It felt like he was kind of in it, you know, and then he wasn't.

But boy, people are saying, really interesting how this all worked out. In Vegas Golden Knights, go ahead, knock in the go-ahead goal with less than five left in the third period. Interesting corruption, con man, is what people were saying. pretty ridiculous, but it is tough. It's one of those things, especially on the icing where, hey, how many times is the guy actually, you know, over the line? Now, that one was egregiously behind the line, but the race to the puck as well, like, even just rewatched it now and Cuvenville is flipping piss, man. Not having it whatsoever. Even more rewatching that replay,

though, how's the ref on the right side call and no icing when the ref on the left is right there? Like, I would rather to see that guy maybe make a call. I did see someone say, It's a race to the hash marks, and you can kind of see Jackie Ace's left skate ahead at the one on the left is a linesman. The one on the right is a referee. So it is the linesman's call. Okay, of course. Way down there.

Whatever the case, hockey's delivering every night, as is the NBA. P.K. Suban will join us on the other side. Be a friend, tell her friend something nice. It might change their life. We're seeing about three. Three. Hey, sports fans. the ESPN app has all of ESPN all in one place.

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Sports. We're the greatest. We're so incredibly lucky that we get a chance to chat about them. Happy Cinco tomorrow. We hope you enjoy the hell out of it. Obviously, this celebrates the Battle of Puebla in 1862, where the Mexican forces who were outmanned, out-equipped, found a way to beat the French and celebrate the hell out of life.

And that is what we will certainly do today. Congrats on the big win. That's kind of huge. It feels like it's reading. up on it and obviously Cinque de maa has been utilized as Americans for a long time to get absolutely hammered drunk off of margaritas and tequila and things like that and celebrate and salute obviously are neighbors to the south of the united states of america once you start diving it it's kind of a 300 story oh yeah yeah no what was the spread was a lot that way was huge

they the french were minus 10 000 i think for my understanding just the way i was reading it the French for minus 10,000. The Mexicans did not have a lot of people or shit. Yeah. I guess they had the people and the shit. And then on Cinco de Mayo, 1862, finally. Kind of started a tough run for the French, actually. Well, and then he made that terrible deal for Louisiana.

Yeah. I mean, what a great buy-bye. I mean, we worked them pretty good. Now, I will say French fries are delightful. French toast, phenomenal. Cresson. Creson. The fonts are so good.

They got little hot dogs they put in their baguettes. So good. A little ketchup in the hole. Oh, really? Then you go ahead and lob that thing down in the baguette, and they kind of toss it around like it's a set it and forget it thing. And then it kind of molds its way it through there. French got that.

Wembe? Sure. Wemby? Thank you. Very French. Thank you for that. Wembe, yes. He's very French.

We, we spoke French. I said, Wendy? No. I thought you said Plan B. I was like, oh, that's a French. Well, I think they would call it actually Bay, because I think it's a Bay, C-D-U-F-J, if I had to guess.

Toxic Tabor was here at Boston Conner, at Ton Diggs. Don't want to have to do this history for Mexico and France, but just kind of the reason for Cinco de Mayo, I thought for sure that some people, not me, I would never think this. People I know, though, were like Mexican Independence Day, Cinco de Mayo.

I'm like, you stupid. We're here to educate. It's the Battle of Puebla. Yesterday we celebrated May the 4th, even a lot of us don't watch those movies at all. But all of us... We had a lightsaber in here. We had a whole... We did the father.

That's what this program does. We educate and we inform people in what day it is. And we explain reasons to celebrate. Nine-year NFL vet. Darius Jay Butler is here. A lot of reasons to celebrate if you're a OK-She fan. A lot of reasons to celebrate if you're a Carolina Hurricanes fan. Have you used to celebrate if you're a Carolina Hurricanes fan?

Have you? seen what they've been doing? Six straight. These dudes haven't lost. Yes, last night. Flyers had a two-one lead for a large portion actually of this game, but instead it goes to overtime and the Caniaks at

home, get another six straight playoff when the boys have not lost. This is obviously Best of Seven Series. They win the first four. They sweep and then now they're starting to do the same here for the Philadelphia Flyers. This is a great team. These caniacs and I'll tell you what, they're ready for it

there. Their fans have been fantastic and spectacular from Jump Street down there. I love a good team, a hot team, and especially with a great fan base behind them. That's my favorite part about kind of still learning about hockey is watching these different barns, these different environments, these different

buildings, and Carolina has one of the best ones. Certainly, and they got good traditions. Yeah, they have a siren at the beginning. Hey, what was old buddy's name? What was his name? Seth, Jarvis. Seth Jarvis. Seth Jarvie, okay, is what they call him. Jarvis's boys from Manitoba.

Is that where these lads are from? Oh, yeah. The lads have become a traveling circus, which everybody absolutely loves. They're like, hey, the boys are actually coming to town. They let them do the sire. They actually railed to sign. Yeah, his boys, Jarvis' boys are in their. They did no justice?

He scored, they won, and they gave this pre-siren crank interview. Yes, Ron, we are moments away from sounding the siren, and you know these guys, familiar faces from north of the border, the traveling crew of Seth Chervis' childhood buddies. So, guys, I have to ask, you're all here, and there's a lot of you, but there's only one siren. So how did you decide who gets to crank this thing up?

You know, we went out for dinner last night. We asked Jarvie, who would you least want to sound the siren? We ended up with this guy right here. It's because he's using PEDs. Is that true? Yeah. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. So they would go on to crank the siren.

siren, Jarvie's boys would do that. Jarvie would score in the game and then they would win. That could completely backfire on all parties. Carolina Hurricanes, who's hitting your siren, you know, before massive playoff game? Oh, Jarvie's boys from Manitoba, they've been kind of traveling around raising a lot of hell. Those boys are going to wail on the siren. Obviously, in the arena, have to have the support of the arena to be able to do this. It's Jarvis boys from Manitoba.

Imagine Jarvie has a worst game he's ever had. Imagine they lose to the flyers. That could have all won the completely wrong direction. But instead, classic Jarvie fashion. Jarvie puts one home and the Keynes continue to win in the playoffs. And now Jarvie's boys potentially cranking sirens all damn here. And I'm pretty pumped up about that. You remind me of the roller boys in Buffalo.

They got to do their drum thing up there, which got the crowd hyped. And then Jarvis boys doing the siren. The pregame intermission stuff for the NHL has become one of the things to watch that you have to do now for the NHL playoffs, besides what's being done on the ice. Nothing will ever be able to top Ty Schmidt potentially decapitating somebody with a real sword. Sure. As he was 45 drinks deep.

I saw him. I don't know. That guy crushed it last night, too, by the way. Oh, the golden night? Yeah, the golden night getting the crowd going with the sword and the shield. It was fantastic. It's worn down now, by the way. The doll blade.

I've been doing it so much that the shield. No, not the plate. the shield is worn down the Vegas Golden Knight's logo. Half of it is missing because it's just gone through the gold paint and it's just becoming a silver shield. It's a real sword out there that the Golden Night has. Yeah, he uses a wet stone to sharpen it every night.

Yeah, and Ty Schmidt was hammered drunk, having his own little make-a-wish night for the Las Vegas Golden Night. Where he was able to crank the siren. He rode the Zamboni. He got a chance to go in a change room afterwards, and the Golden Knight wanted to add into his great spectacular evening. And they gave him this sword and that real shield. And he said, all right, jumbo-trollins coming to you.

You just need to hit this thing. Bang. Dang. Dang. And Ty almost hit the suite right next to us with an actual sword. And then he yelled at the night for being rude to him. And then the knight took the sword, did the thing, place went crazy. Golden Knights win.

It was considered a celebration. Could have went the wrong way, just like the Keynes did. Joining us now, ladies of gentlemen, is a man whose family is Stanley Cup champion. I guess you could say that hockey's in his blood. a college football national champion, a Super Bowl champion, a Ryder Cup winner. Ladies and gentlemen,

is that Jack Johnson's brother a little? A.J. Hawke. Hey, that's up, Hawk. Yeah, it's in my blood, I guess, through marriage. But getting back quickly, you mentioned pigs in a blanket, and you said the French are responsible for that. I don't believe they are.

No, pigs in a blanket a little bit different, you know. I think that is... I don't know how different it might be. It sounded pretty spot on. No, isn't pigs in a blanket with a pancake or no? No, no. Pigs and a blanket is with the... Pillsbury Doe Boy, Crescent rolls over the hot dog, if you will.

Crescent rolls sounds like it's pretty French as well, but I don't want to just automatically say it's there. Pigs in the blanket are unbelievable. The way I took it exactly how AJ took it. You were kind of describing the pigs in the blanket, but you said the hot dog was in the crescent. In the baguette. In a baguette.

More of a hog. But then you said you wrap it around. Is it sticking out at all? Ketchup already in there? What's that? Is it sticking out? Is the hot dog sticking out at all. It's not a bagged corn dog.

Yeah, the... Okay, so that's... They took the bread out and it slides in. It's stuck in there like this. Copyright. Are you unfamiliar with pigs in a blanket? I think I've had pigs in a blanket. It sounds like I've definitely had...

It doesn't sound like it. Pancake wrapped around sauce. No. Not a pancake. I mean, no. That might be a breakfast thing. I don't... Yeah, that's a breakfast like thing.

Okay. So you guys are putting a French? For this guy? I'm just saying, stop giving the French credit for that. You can't give them credit for it? You said it's in a crescent roll? Yeah. Hills me.

It's American. Hello. Yes. We know for sure. You've seen them many, many times. Okay. I'm poor. I'll set. Oh, yeah.

No. So there would be a bottom to that, and it would be much different bread. Baguette's like big. This thing's like a football. Okay. So the French fucked it up again. No.

I don't think so. Yes. Pigs are like of our vastly superior foods of what you're going to say. Let's get away from this. Ladies of gentlemen, joining us now. He's a man who probably speaks French. have some thoughts on this it is incredible to have him back on the program 13 years he spent

in the n hl now he is wearing a different outfit every night on a usp and that makes you go holy hell what will he do next ladies and gentlemen p k suban hey pk hey great to have you what's up boys we had to wait until the we had to wait until the celtics were eliminated to have you on because we didn't want your tatum shit coming you didn't want the jk yeah we didn't want it so it's It's great to have you back. We understand that there's maybe some stuff going on with your house as well, so we appreciate you making time. Happy NHL playoffs, PK.

Happy NHL playoffs. Feels like numbers up into the right. Let's immediately talk about your outfits. Okay, so Dawn Cherry, hockey night in Canada, right? Is that what it's called, the show? Yes, yes. Always known for these very loud suits, like very loud. Like, that was kind of a thing.

Do you feel like that is becoming your thing? and how do you top yourself every single night? Because I think last night you had, what's going on, P.K.? No, this was my favorite meme. Like, what the fans did with this picture, I love the mold. No, the pants up, the pants up to the, like, the back of my head was unbelievable.

I'd have me on the floor. Well, the box pants that came, and then the huge sweatshirt that came, and then there was the onesie, the green onesie. It's like, how do you top yourself every day? It is a feat, I think, now with where you're headed with this entire thing. Yeah, you know what? I don't think there's ever going to be another Don Cherry, but I love Don Cherry.

I grew up watching him. I still love him. I miss him so much, especially in Canada. He's probably, between him and Bob Cole, they're probably the two reasons of why I love the game so much outside of just playing it. I just wanted to listen to those guys. But Don suits, like, okay, we got to dive into that. Don's suits were like pouch material that he used to cut. Like his suits, his jacket would go all the way down to his ankles.

Everybody thinks it was cut off until I met Don Cherry at like 10 years old. I think the first time I met him when I was a little bit younger, but when I remember, like 10 years old, I remember meeting him. And I could not believe it. It went down all the way down to his ankles. And I was like, dude, what's this made out of it? It was a couch material. So I don't know if I can ever replicate what Don does.

did. His suits were above and beyond. But like what I, like, look at that. Like, you can't, you're not getting a suit like that anywhere. That's what makes Don Don Don. It's crazy. So, but to be honest, you, Pat, I've always been a fashion guy. I love fashion, but it's always been kind of towards me. I've never really gone to a fashion show or, you know, went to Milan to any of these, you know, big fashion events.

I wasn't really into that, to be honest. I just like to wear what I like to wear. And, uh, the NHL allowed me to kind of. open it up with the suits a little bit. Now they don't have the dress code. I would have loved that when I was playing. But now it's like on ESPN, I feel like you just got to be yourself. Like mess and leaves, they're their own people.

I'm my own guy. They gave me the green light to say, hey, dude, you can dress the way that you like as long as you feel good. And that's what it is. So I bring the heat every night. I love it. You do bring the heat. I do love that.

You guys are a great team in ratings up and to the right. So congratulations to all parties over there at ESPN NHL. Let's talk about this Keynes team that we were just chatting about. As the Jarvie boys who've been traveling around from Manitoba got pretty boozed up and they cranked the siren a little bit. And then Jarvie scores and they continue this win streak that they have in the playoffs as being just absolutely dominant. Can you tell me about the Canes a little bit more from a hockey perspective on why they are what they are right now?

And are they legit? Are the Keynes going to win Lordo out here? I'm so happy you're asking me about the Cades because Cain's fans absolutely. can't stand me. I've never picked the Canes to win a series, I think, in the past four or five years. I can't even step into Raleigh right now, I don't think. But

I will say this. They've always been a competitive team. They've always been in the mix. The reason why I haven't picked them is because you've got to show me, and they are showing me right now. You know, the acquisition of Taylor Hall and some of the other veterans on that team, you know, you think

of Stan Kovin and how hot he's been. Euler's coming over. They tooled defense picking up K. Andre Miller, who just eats, like he's playing the best hockey I've seen him play since probably his first year with the Rangers, right, the way he's skating. So I got to give Rod Brindamore credit, but he gets a lot of credit as he should because he's been a phenomenal coach. He's been a top coach in the league. So he's squeezing the juice out of these guys, but I have to give Carolina credit. They have been dominant since the start of the playoffs. Now, the competition's going to get tougher. You know, Philly right now, they got to

get tippet back in the lineup. I think that's going to change the series a little bit. I feel like if he was in for game two, I think that would have changed it. But I'm not taking anything away from Carolina. They've been unbelievable. Their execution, I question marks about their special teams in Power Play, Pat. They've executed on the powerplay. I've had question marks about them scoring timely goals. They've scored timely goals. Guys stepping up and being accountable. They have it all going on. So they have to sustain it. Their goaltending's got to hold up. Freddy's got to hold up.

But if their goaltending holds up, they could easily be in the finals, right? You know, I got Montreal getting to the finals. You know, I did not plan on the teams this being the luck going into it. I didn't think Edmonton would be out this soon. I'm not surprised by it. But Carolina's got a real shot to make it to the finals. Like that's as legitimate. This is as legitimate of a year for them to contend as I've seen since I've retired.

So 100% they're in the mix. Good for the Caniaks down there. They've been obviously supporting for a long time. And Jarvie's boys, certainly. Jarvie was great too. By the way, sorry, I didn't even say Jarvie. I had the pregame interview. He's my favorite player on the Canes.

He just shows up to play. Unbelievable guy. Great guy. You know he's a great teammate. But he works his bag off every game. And he'll block shots. He scores big goals. But I just love the way he's played in this playoffs.

Because as a guy that's relied on to score big goals, Pat, you can't forget the intangibles of what playoff hockey is. And Seth Jarvis hasn't forgotten that at all. He set the tone for Carolina. The block shots in round one against Ottawa, big blocks, big defensive plays, saying

all the right things, and staying composed. And then when he gets his opportunity, scores a big goal, you know, so he's doing everything right, but Rod Brindamore's got these guys going in the right direction for sure. Yeah, and the Manitoba boys are certainly showing up for Jarvie as well, which we appreciate. Last

Let's go boys. Yeah, let's go, lads, huh? From Manitoba, traveling around, having a couple tall boys, a little bit of a runaway as Jarvis. That's one there for us. The Cains, obviously, went in overtime. That's huge. Last night, also in the West had a big game.

Go ahead, Tone. Yeah, Pek, a bit of controversy in the Aces and, or sorry, Knights and Ducks. Acese. I had Jackie Acese on. Hey. W.N. This weekend, Tony, Ticken us. This weekend.

Go. Here we go. Angels in Atlanta now. Asia's over there. WN.A. Hey, Van Liff, no longer in Chicago. I had Jackie Aces on my mind because he was going down on the puck in the corner

on this controversial, controversial no icing call. What was your take on this P.K. Last night, because obviously Joe Quinville was not very happy about. The ducks were not happy about it. What was your thoughts on the no icing call that led to the deciding goal? Initially, everybody in studio was like,

That's insane. Cues going nuts on the bench. And I loved it. I was telling, I was, I want to see Vegas win this series. So I was saying toss them, toss him, toss him out of the game. Right? So guys didn't like that in studio. But I knew right away.

I saw it. And if you see that replay, Jack Eichol gets a step on, on Lecombe. And I feel for Lecombe because this is a top defenseman, a young defenseman in the league that's learning as he goes. This kid's going to be a stud. He didn't have his best game last night. But this was a, this was a moment. that he's going to have to learn, you got to play right to the whistle. And it's not just him.

We saw it in the Montreal series, actually, with Kirby Doc when J.J. Moser scored that overtime goal. If you watch, Kirby Doc puts his hand up because I think the puck either went out of play or he thought it should have been called. That extra second might have been the reason why he couldn't get to J.J. Moser, who circled the top and then ended up going to score. So we've seen it. And it's funny.

I was talking to Spencer Carberry about it last night in studio that he has. us. He's like, hey, I notice a lot of guys, whenever the puck goes up now, they're always putting their hands up. And is that just a reaction thing? And it is a reaction. This is a reaction play. Jackson Lecombe's gone back for this puck a million times over this season. He thinks it's going to be icing. But it wasn't icing because when he gets to that dot, if you watch, Jack Eichol is a half a step in front of him. Watch this. He gets ahead of him here. Right now he's ahead of him right now. He's ahead of him right now. So that's why the linesman goes like this. And then Jack, because he's a dog, slides in behind.

They get the turnover, bucks in the back of the net. So Jack Eichol has been all world for Vegas in this playoffs. I don't need to ask John Tortorello about how he thinks he's playing. They changed up the lines. They separated him and Mitch Marner to balance out the offense. And Jack Eichol has just taken this team on his back. He's pulled Barbosheb. Brett Howden had to pick up his game.

He's scoring big goals now. Vegas is hot right now. You've got to be very, very careful of this team. They're very capable. Mitch, look at his past. Like, what is that? Like, everybody's talking about Mitch Marner in round one. Where is he?

Well, no, he knows when to make the plays at the right moment. This is a series I think Mitch is going to break out in as well. We love the Vegas Golden Knights team. And obviously, Jackie Ace is American Hero Olympic gold medalist. So good luck to everybody in Vegas. Torts going over there, set in a whole new tone. And I like the fact that you're like, that ain't icing because it was really loud. It was really loud on the internet, PK, as you know.

I know. Yeah, really loud. I thought I knew. Yeah. And Pat, Pat, I'll tell you. Initially, I understand everybody's frustration, but it's those details. And like in hockey, you've got to play to the whistle.

You know, it's like a cliche thing, but like you have to play to the whistle because it, the margin for error now in the national hockey league on a nightly basis is so minute. It's insane. Like, honestly, I, you know, playing in this league for 13 years. I didn't tell you, Pat, there were sometimes when I played, we could circle games on the schedule

where we knew it was point night. That doesn't exist anymore, right? And in the playoffs, you're not getting free shifts. You know, you could think that you look at most teams, their third and fourth line, some of the guys couldn't skate, they didn't have skill. Now everybody can play. So as a defenseman, you have to play to the whistle.

And that's a learning moment for Jackson, Lecombe, for sure. No more ass hockey players anywhere around the NHL, Everybody's skilled nowadays. They got rid of the goons. They developed the skill in the game is beautiful. And they're saying there's a team that might be the best of all time in the West. Go ahead, AJ. Yeah, PK, obviously, Colorado's up 1-0.

They travel to Minnesota to play tonight game two. I guess do you have any questions about this Colorado team? They seem to be rolling and no one, they haven't really slipped up yet. But I guess what kind of things are you looking for? Well, if I'm Minnesota, apply major pressure. To me, Minnesota proved that they can score goals. against this team, that's all you need to know. Because defending is what I

think Minnesota is built to do. You look at their third and fourth line, they got guys that can get the puck in and keep it in the offensive zone. You know, like, I look at that Montreal series for a quick second. Where they struggled was to sustain offensive zone pressure.

They were able to come out of that series, but I feel if that series went another game or two games, you know, Tampa would end up coming out on top. They didn't. Montreal figured it out. But I look at the same. Same thing for Minnesota. They have to make Colorado play defense.

You know, you want to talk about their weakness? Great players and offensive and skill players do not want to play defense. So you have to force Kail McCar and these guys to play 200 feet from your net. In order to do that, their third and fourth line got to go to work. They have to get pucks in deep. They got to cycle. They got to bring that offensive pressure. They got to put that offensive heat on Colorado.

If you don't, they will pick you apart. This series will be over very, very quickly. So for me, the luxury of playing against Dallas, Dallas had a great power play. And I think Minnesota learned how to deal with an offensive team that was clicking at that rate. So Colorado scoring goals isn't going to shake Minnesota. I think we saw that when they went down 3-0 and came back. So what's my message to Minnesota? Apply more pressure.

You need to tilt that ice. They got to be skating. Their D got to be involved. Minnesota can't sit back. And that's the whole message of this playoffs. Players are too skilled and too talented for a team to say that we're going to sit back and rely on our goaltending and our defensive structure. You have to push the envelope at some point in time. And when you open the game up, that's when the NHL is the most exciting because guys are going to make mistakes.

There's going to be bounces. So this series, I don't expect this game tonight to be another high scoring game. It could be. But I think these guys tighten it up. And if I'm Minnesota, they're going to have to tighten it up. but their breakouts and coming through the neutral zones got to be clean. Because if they're not clean, Hale McCar and company will pick them apart. This is an experienced team, championship pedigree.

They know how to win. And they showed that in game one. So for Minnesota, I think there's a lot of positives to take from that game, even though they gave up, what was it, eight goals, nine goals. There's a lot of positives in that game. I saw things that Minnesota was able to do against Colorado that teams aren't going to be able to do. So they're going to have to play to those strengths. and that's just being on their toes, pat.

14 different goal scores in that game, 15 goals in total. Cale scores, too. Everybody else has one. Quinn Hughes, you talk about defensemen having to be active. Feels like he's all over the place. I love watching him play. The angles are filthy. He's an undersized defenseman, huh?

Isn't he kind of, is he the smallest of all time? Maybe while still being just so effective? Well, when you consider that right now, he could be the frontrunner for Conn Smyth and in the MVP conversation, it puts everything in perspective, When you look at his size and the fact that he's not the biggest guy, this guy controls the whole game out on the ice. And I'm not saying that because I play with his brother Jack and I know their family and I love him. It's that simple.

This guy's dominant. When he's on the ice, he changes the game. He actually controls the whole game. And offensively, defensively, through the neutral zone, he can pick up the pace. He can slow it down. I don't know a player that we've seen, a defenseman in the league that comes in that plays like. Quinn Hughes in a very, very long time. You know, Kail McCar, probably universally known as the best

defenseman right now because of his resume and what he brings. And he showed it again in game one, watching these two go back and forth. I know they're never going to talk about each other, but watching these two go back and forth is going to be a sight to see. Like the Stanley Cup bio is going to be great. For me personally, I want to see these two go back and forth at it all night long. Oh, yeah. all night long, you know, and when you watch Quinn Hughes,

you think about the top-tier talent in the NHL. It's like only a couple people have the dangles and the speed to be able to do some stuff. We saw it in the Olympics. It was like, hey, it feels like we only got a couple of people that can do what McDavid is able to do. On that note, Conman has last question for you here, P.K. Yeah, P.K. kind of mentioned you didn't think the Oilers would get booted,

but they did. And now the whole question again. Again, they fall short. And now the question kind of is like, hey, is McDavid done? in Edmonton. Do you have that sense? And does this feel like a big offseason? Because allegedly, the Maple Leafs just basically hired a fantasy football manager as their GM. Great press conference. Now maybe Austin Matthews is going to be on the move this offseason. What's kind of your read on some of these big names, especially those two, McDavid and Matthews,

going somewhere else possibly? Well, you know, listen, Pat, for the sake of your show and out of respect, I'm not going to dive into the management decisions. because we would take all day on that, especially when it comes to the Leafs in Edmonton. I got to be honest, I got a lot to say on both teams. Okay. But when it comes to McDavid specifically, the reason why I picked Edmonton

is that I can't bet a Gates Connor and Leon until they lose. Like those guys have found ways to pull their team out of series, moving on, series to series, when I couldn't tell you how they get it done. Edmonton has had a slight defense for years. Edmonton has been suspect in goldendant in the net for years. They haven't addressed those issues. I don't understand.

And I'm going to go back to it again. How do you let Broberg and Holloway walk? I don't know what the reason was for it. I'm going to go back to it. No one wants to talk about it now. But I don't know how you let a 30 goal score and a top four defenseman walk from your team. Like, I don't get it. So in Edmonton, I got to look at where they're spending all the money.

they signed wallman they got 20 million or 30 million between three defensemen on their team that you know bouchards an offensive defenseman but these guys are underperforming like we got to talk about it it's not good enough so in edmonton we can look at the players we can point the finger we can look at connor but who put this team together like how are you building this team to get them to the final edmonton you got the best player in the world and the second best player in the world it's not good enough in Toronto, they got a whole lot of work to do there in retooling. I'm just happy to see that they're bringing Matt Sundeen. And I love Matt Sundeen.

I grew up in Toronto, watching him on TV, practicing on the backyard rink and listening to bow, talk about Matt score and overtime winning bowl on the radio, all that stuff, the glory day. So it's about time they bring him back in. And I'm just happy to know that he's going to be overseeing things or being a part of it. Because, I mean, you're talking about the greatest Toronto Maple Leaf of all. all time. That's a positive thing when you get a guy like that that wants to come in and help. Okay. So, you know, that's my take.

Good luck to Toronto. It seems like they're never going to get it done. No. And then Edmonton, it's insane because McDavid is just must watch. You know, he is so good for hockey. And we only time a lot of people get to see him is in the playoffs. And whenever their playoff run gets cut short. And then he comes out and says, we're an average team all year. We're an average team in a series. It's like, is there a little bit of a thought for McDavid that maybe for the good of hockey, we go to, another barn. Nobody in Edmonton wants here. That obviously the Oilers fan, some of the best

barn and best atmosphere in all of hockey, which leads to DeBud's question. Speaking of the Barnes, in your opinion, PK, obviously as a player in the analyst, you've been in a lot of these buildings, probably all of them. What's the best, biggest, I'd say home ice advantage right now left in the playoffs? You know, I don't think there's

any advantage to home ice right now. Unless you're considering in the finals, like Colorado's got it. You know, maybe it matters to them because they're comfortable playing at home and they've won championships before. But the story of the whole playoffs is that like home ice, I don't think it really matters to a lot of these young guys because we have a lot of young players that are in the playoffs right now driving things for their team.

And these guys haven't had a lick of the playoffs. If they have, they've had a little taste of it. And they don't seem to be caring on whether they're playing at home or on the road. These guys are just going out and playing. So I think sometimes we get too caught up into the home ice. And I, as a player, I always love to start every series on the road. Like, I wanted to be on the road. I didn't want to be at home.

I wanted to come into your barn and punch you right in the mouth and steal all the energy, come in. And, you know, like, there's a bunch of other things that I want to talk about doing. But we want to come in and set the tone in your boat. Slu-foot. You know what I mean? Hey, hey, whatever it takes, you know. Like, it is what it is.

This is playoff hockey. So you want to come in and establish that. I think starting on the road would be my. preference, to be honest with you. Okay, Montreal people are going to say, what the hell? Okay, I think that is going to be something that is told to you. The Buffalo people have it going to go. Absolutely

hum, obviously. The Caniaks from the beginning of the siren all the way through going, absolutely crazy. Philadelphia people go on P.K., you don't think a bunch of John's saying despicable things to people on the ice is. Minnesota, the state of hockey. Oh, my. And then the docks, the coach almost fought a ref last.

Yeah. Yeah. Hey, if you win a cup, if you win a cup, you don't care where they got to win. Listen, Montreal starts their series on the road. They get a big road win. It sets the tone. So to me, you got to win a game on the road, right? Like if you have home ice, you're thinking about it, okay, we don't have to win a game on the road.

But I always think going into a series, we're going to have to win one on the road. So let's start this. If we're starting on the road, what a great opportunity to come in and set the tone with this team. And that's the other flip side of it. So I think you can look at it any way you want. If you're a champion, you're going to spin it in your favor and go out and execute. You are a champion. We appreciate the hell out of you.

Great seeing you. Congrats on another incredible season. Can't wait to talk to you again soon. Thanks, Pat. Thanks, AJ. Thanks, thanks, boys. Love you guys. Thank you, Pek.

I believe something broke at his house last night, late last. Yeah, he looked at it when you mentioned it. Yeah, I guess there was something that took place where life had to happen real quick for a person who does television. You know, that's always an interesting dynamic. Hey, you need to do this. It's like, I don't think so. I got like an actual thing happening.

Nope, you don't actually. It's like, well, what about like life stuff happening here? Who cares? It's a fucking playoffs. It happens. It happens. It happens. Whatever you're a worker.

But on that note, the playoffs have been delivering for us, AJ. Playoffs have been delivering. Overtime last night, beautiful. Almost every night. Yeah, legit. There's a free hockey happening seemingly every night. MBA's been cooking for us. MLB, I, I, I,

or we got a good MLB season. Judgy, I think, is leading everybody in home runs after a cold start. I think Shoah is going crazy out there. Judgey and Murakami are their co-leads. He's got power. You know about. Mona talk of Murakami? Yeah.

They both have 14. They both hit one yesterday. To the bushes. Murakami hit one off of Soriano, who's been unbelievable. And then Judgey hit one as well, just a bomb, a two-run shot in the bottom of the first. So they are leading in the home runs with 14. only three AL teams are above 500, Pat. Well, because they're ass league.

That's what I heard. Al in the A stands for ass. Only three. It is an ass league. It stands for aggression because everything's so cool. And the NL Central has every single team above 500. Maybe the NL Best is what they're going to call the NL Central. And that's where the Buccos are at.

But it's been a great season so far. Who did the Pirates just have a series with? They just had the series. Is it the Reds? Yeah. How'd that end up, AJ? Did you pay attention to that series? No, I didn't pay attention what happened.

You tell me. Oh, sweep. Pittsburgh Pirates. Really? It's good that we gave him one early. We like to let them feel good to keep the division going strong, you know, until it really matters. I would also like to shout out the Kansas City Royals team. I guess there was some profanity maybe on a broadcast, and they had to obviously address it.

We're aware of the use of colorful language at the end of last night's broadcast. We want to take this opportunity to assure fans. Kind of said it best, no notes. you thought he was going to apologize? You thought I can't say Rose are going to say sorry kids? I did. You didn't take time to read that.

No, I did not. Okay. Yes, absolutely. We like that. I just assumed a press release that they were just going to, you know, cower and geez.

Do what most organizations. There's a drive to left field. Yeah. Yeah. Well, a little different there. A little different there. No, I did not see the end of that. Yeah, they said, yeah, right.

It was the only way to describe what had happened there. Speaking of describing things that were happening in baseball. Last night, I think Big Night for the Yankees, right? As you guys paid tribute to absolutely icon on the microphone, Bruce? Yeah, it was really cool. Unfortunately, John Sterling, the longtime radio voice of the New York Yankees

passed away. It was announced yesterday morning. And yeah, they did a sweet tribute pregame with Michael Kay, the TV voice and Susan Waldman, who does the color commentary. And then after the game, something that I'm hoping they continue to do forever,

they added John Sterling's the Yankees win right before they played the Frank Sinatra, New York, New York. So hopefully after everyone at home going forward, we continue to do that to honor John Sterling. But it was awesome. And Michael Kay did a John Sterling call for Judge's home run, which is sweet too. Yeah, it was nice to hear that. It was also nice to learn about the amount of respect and appreciation every Yankees fan had for him as he passed away. Anytime anybody contributes to sport in a fashion in which an entire fan base loves you,

I think you've done good. And that would be dope. They had a little remix to that song. I mean, that's a perfect way to kind of send it off, it feels like. Yeah, yeah. We need it every time the Yankees win. Start spreading the news. I'm leaving today.

Hey, Jay, let me hear it. I want to be a part of it. That's the NFL draft. So I won't be a part of. Every year. There's a man that's been a part of it because he's the general manager of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He is a Super Bowl champion.

And when I read a couple of these quotes coming out of his mouth post-draft, I think we're all going to see quite a resemblance of what's cooking down there in South Florida with maybe the Miami Hurricanes, which certainly makes sense with how the draft went for this man. Ladies and gentlemen, Super Bowl champ, Jason Light. Yeah, Jason. How you doing, boss?

What's going on, fellas? I can't see you here. Oh, you can't see us. What the hell happened? We can see you. You look fantastic. Could you hear us singing? I don't know. Could you hear us singing in there? I did. It was awesome. It was awesome. Okay. Can you see us now. Can you still not see anything. We can't see you right now. Can't hear him either. We just took you off the screen, Jason. I want to let you know that you looked fantastic though. Oh, yeah. Absolutely fantastic. The lighting was great. The hair perfectly kind of pieced together. Beautiful office. AJ, I'm going to read one of his quotes here from post draft. We want to to add more players that love the game,

who are extremely passionate about the game, addicted to the game, and who bring energy every day in practice with the way they carry themselves. We always say that the first pick that we have in the draft sometimes sets the tone for the rest of the picks that follow, and they sort of evolve in the same type of mindset. I can't think of a better person to be the leader of that draft class

than Rubin Bain, just with everything that he is about in the terms of his overall makeup and passion for the game, we try to get more players like him, and he's definitely going to be a great leader in that regard. guard. And obviously, when you look at also Keontes Scott out of Miami, Rubin Bain out of Miami, and you listen to his quote, it's like, this guy in Mario Cristobal seemingly have a lot in common whenever you talk about who you're looking for. I love that this is a main trait that they're trying to find in Tampa Bay, AJ. Yeah, it is. And I think a lot of teams will tell you that's

what they want. They'll tell you like, yeah, we want you to want you to love ball. We want you to make sure you're addicted to it and all of that. Of course, you want your star players. You want everyone in your roster to be that way. But it's another thing to actually go out. there and do it and really do all the work that it takes to find these kind of guys. So yeah, I think I would say you got your bell cow there and Ruben Ruben Bain Jr. just snatching the hat right off the mirror situation.

From the jump, we realized this was the right pick. And I guess there was 21 mock drafts that were done by ESPN people. None of them had Rubin Bain lasting until pick 15. And Jason Light's quotes coming afterwards said, that was the loudest I've ever seen a draft room when the

Buccane was going to be available at 15. He would also go on to say that he got a lot of calls from people that wanted to trade up or trade down. Once he thought that Bain was potentially going to be available at 15, they weren't answering or moving at all. Feels like they got exactly who they wanted. Joining us now, General Manager for the Tampa Buccaneers, Jason Light. Hey, I just read through your quotes about wanting dogs

and how excited the draft room was when Ruben Bain was available at 15. Whenever I read your quote about loving ball and everything, sound exactly like Mario Cristobal. Whenever you're going through this entire process, obviously you pick up Keonté Scott as well. How much are you learning from him about Rubin Bain and how much are you falling in love with him immediately upon the thought that maybe he'll be available at 15 somehow, Jason? A little of both, but, you know, as we talk, Coach Cristobal has done an amazing job restoring that program to where I remembered as a kid. I was a big Nebraska fan. I went there, went to Nebraska, played there for a little bit.

But, you know, the U was, they were unbelievable. And they had all those players. I mean, we could list them all and take forever that just love football that were just very passionate. And, you know, as we talked to their staff, it was Ruben and Keonti, there were two that they said,

described as the heartbeat of the team. And we're looking for those kind of guys. And when he walked out there and snatched that hat, I got to tell you, that was a six to midnight moment. It was they, you know, like, you know, I said, I think you're reading, like, usually that first pick sometimes takes on the, you know,

his personality in the way that he, you know, prepares and works and loves football, it's addicted to it. It kind of bleeds into the whole class. So couldn't find a better person to lead that class and all the work that Duke Preston and Tyler Thompson and our player development do with these guys, these rookies. They spend a lot of time with them. It sure makes it sure makes a lot easier for them, too, to know how to be a pro because I think these guys know how to be pros.

Yeah, especially these days. They're making money at a younger age, especially if you're a game record like Bain certainly was. We saw him during a college football playoff run from the field. He was special. I mean, he took over at Texas saying he took over every game, basically whenever he wanted to. But his arms obviously weren't as long as everybody had wanted or in the past NFL dreams. Hembo told us that there was 21 ESPN.com mock drafts. Not that it matters because it's ESPN.com and it's media people, not necessarily actual general managers. but I think they try to get as much information from you guys as possible before they put it together. He was never available at Pick 15 in any of those moks. It sounds like maybe you guys felt the same way, didn't expect him to be available. And the arm size thing, what is that?

Is that not real if the guy's a football player? Is that how we should view that? Well, everybody's got a prototype, and we kind of viewed him as a problem, not a prototype. And, you know, that short-arm thing, I've seen that movie before, and it's called AQ Shipley playing a decade in the league. And Ruben's arms are a lot longer than AQ's. Of course. You know, when, probably by, by five inches.

Maybe 10, AQ. Maybe 10. So, but when you factor in his get-off and his power, I think it added about three inches. So we, we, that was never a problem for us. We just saw him as a, you know, a game wrecker. And at the college level, now he still has to prove himself at our level. And we're excited to get started with that. But, you know, if you can't play with short arms, then obviously the tackles in the ACC, Big Ten, and, you know, the playoffs they were playing, and they didn't get that memo.

The SEC, one of the top tackles he did jousting with in the first round of the college football playoffs. Obviously, the ACC all season, Big Ten had to jouse with him. Big Ten. Yeah, I mean, he's, he was certified, certainly. And his, I mean, it is a hell of a presence. It is a hell of presence in it all. Debutt has a question for you, Jason. Yeah, obviously, Ruben Bain will be a part of this as well.

You mentioned he's got to prove it on the next level. But you had to replace two pillars of your organization this offseason with Mike Evans and Levanté, David, retiring. Is that like a conversation you have with maybe a Baker-Mayfield or a Winfield on the defensive side, or is that something you just kind of naturally let happen? Well, it's a little bit more of just naturally let happen. I think there's nobody here in the organization that was. happy to see those two go to see Levanté retire or to see I mean it was bittersweet for him I think he it was you know he kept an off awesome career

very under appreciated career here in Tampa and retiring when he did I mean I understood it was a tough conversation for me on my end to to hear because we would have certainly welcomed it back but and then to see Mike leave it was tough but I think everybody just realized it's you know it's time to, to, we have to reset, we have to move forward and we have to, we have a great receiver room, awesome receiver room, awesome receivers coach, awesome offensive staff. And so, you know, we picked Ted Hurst not to replace Mike Evans by any means, but I think he's somebody that comes into a perfect situation to learn from the guys that we have, not being expected to be the

savior right away, but he certainly has a lot of talent that we're, we're all, we're all very, excited to have him in here this weekend for rookie minicamp, that's for sure. Yeah, more on him. Go ahead, Tom. Yeah, Jason, how, like, obviously, he was a darling coming out of the combine, just being 6'4, running a 4-4, I think he jumped 38, 39 inches or whatever.

But how is it, how is it scouting a guy like that? How is it scouting a guy like that who goes against a lower school competition and then projecting what he will be able to do in the NFL? Yeah, that's always, that's always a little tough, but when he went to the senior bowl, he

dominated there, the practices, he stood out. And, you know, sometimes you have to take a little bit of a roll of the dice. We did it several years ago with Allie Morpet. We moved up in the second round and took him out of Hobart. And that was the days before NIL and transfer portal. So, but we just, we saw everything that we thought all the traits that he, we, that he needed to be successful at some point. And, you know, like I said, sometimes you got to roll the dice a little bit. But we, we saw them all. So now it's, And we've got a great coaching staff to develop, too. Yeah, I, Baker, obviously, the guy. Whenever you make that decision and you know it's a,

because you've already won a Super Bowl, right? So now it's like, how do we get back? How do we get back? Baker's the guy. We know that Baker can make everybody good. We just got to find pieces that it can go. And then on the defensive front there, I think three of your first four picks were all defensive.

It's like, was the draft more defensive heavy? Is this kind of how you think you get back to the Super Bowl? Like, how do you kind of, How do you kind of view the development of your team and where you're at right now as you try to rebuild another champion? Well, knock on wood, we've got to stay healthy on offense. Right now, everybody's, we're looking very good there. I think when we're healthy, we have one of the better offensive lines in the league, and very, very happy with that.

And, you know, last year we went through a lot of injuries along the offensive line. I had a lot of different combinations there with both tackles being hurt and Cody Mop being out most of the year. Then Bredison being hurt at some point. I think Graham Barton, our center, was the only one that played every game on the entire offense, played every snap. But to have that offensive line, get that run game going again, and then keeping Baker healthy, I think is going to make a huge difference. And last year, when we lost Collijah, that was huge. We lost a rookie who we were expecting some really good things for the whole year. And then now with the additions that we've made, we kind of made a little bit of a conceited effort to – a concerted effort to –

to add to that defense and to get our pass rush going and bring in some versatile pieces that Todd likes to use in the blitz packages. And we, you know, it's one of those drafts where we were able to accomplish the things that we wanted, which made it feel very good at the end. I love that. The draft changes. You're good, con man. Yeah, Jason, you just mentioned the time and I don't think it took much time to submit the first pick for you with Ruben Bain. But was there anything with the eight-minute change and then the time being a little less? Did it feel better from the war room just kind of realizing like, oh, nice, we're not going to be here for 10 hours tonight. We might get out of here before, you know, dinner time. What was kind of the feel with the time change?

Well, I do always like to have a cold one after the draft. That came a little quicker this year. Wasn't it one in the morning. You know what it did for me this year is I think I was deathly afraid because all of our scenario is only a couple of them where Rubin was there. and it was on all our conversations, we're definitely just running that card in, or entering it now in the portal as fast as we could. But I said, let's wait 15 seconds, 20 seconds, to see if the phone rings,

and then I just couldn't help myself. So I think if there was more time, it would have just been more. My heart was beating out of my chest. I was about to pass out. It was like, there was so much excitement just because of the shock a little bit that he was there, that he fell to us. Now, you've got to expect the unexpected. in the draft. And I can understand why the teams took the players that they did ahead of us.

Some very good picks, some great picks, actually. So I think we just got a little bit fortunate that there were needs with other teams in front of us, the run of the tackle class. The fact Caleb Downs fell a little bit. Dallas, we were afraid they're going to take the best available defensive player and didn't thought maybe it'd be Downs. Quarterback going, which I think is a smart picked by the Rams, but quarterback going, all those factors, and then dating back to free agency, the whole... Wait, you were

going to take Ty Simpson? I didn't say that, no. Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, I didn't know. I said it was a smart pick by the rater, or by the Rams. Okay, all right, sounds good. Yeah, because you made sure to say that it was a smart pick, by the way, I like the thing. They do surprise you at all, Jason.

I just wanted to compliment them, and I'm thankful for that pick on them. I think it helped us. Quarterback, great pick. Yeah, yeah, really good, really good, John. Then I think going back to free agency, when the Raiders, Ravens trade didn't work out, I think that in some way I'd like to think helped us a little bit.

I was a little afraid if the Raiders made that trade, that, you know, SpyTech, you know, he and I are very close. He was taunting me a little bit, hey, we're sitting right in front of you. I know what you need. And then, you know, Crosby goes back to the Raiders. Then the Ravens are sitting there again with their pick, and I know they love their edge rushers too.

So that had me nervous. And, you know, they took Vega, which is an awesome pick. You know, they need offensive linemen. So maybe the fact that the Raiders signed Lindbaum helped us get Rubin. So, you know, we're all trying to help each other out here, especially the people that are good friends. So thanks to bi-tech. Yeah, of course.

And then that trade not going through absurd. I don't think we'd ever seen anything like that, especially with a player at Crosby's kind of magnitude of success that he's had. Steve Jobs has a quote about something about not being able to look forward and understand what it is. You can only connect the dots looking back. I love the fact that you've run through all the scenarios. Linderbaum did this. That ends up with us getting Ruben Bain.

Ty Simpson. Great sign. Great draft. Way to think for the future. I love that. And then you saying I wanted to wait 15, 20 seconds for the pick. Heart's beating out of my chest. Let's turn this thing in.

I love that. Ruben Bain should love it. Hendrickson being signed by the Ravens. We were in on that a little bit. you know, felt a little bit, you know, dejected at first, but now maybe it worked in our favor. So I'm not saying Rubin's better than Hendrickson. I'm just saying now we got our draft pick that we're all excited about.

Everybody's excited about the shining new toy. Okay, so Trey Hendrickson, potentially a Tampa Bay Buccaneer, until the Ravens come in with the offer that they had. Trey Hendrickson said he was being told from Baltimore that Crosby was, and he were going to potentially be together. That's what he came out and said. Sounds like there was other conversations. a place for Trey Hendrickson.

And then all of a sudden, whenever you miss out on that, you go, is Ruben Bain available at 15? Yeah. We'll take him. What a play by you. Congratulations, man, on it all. I'm hoping that you love the hell out of the rest of your draft picks as well, that we should have talked about a little bit more about.

And good luck on your hunt for another championship, my brother. Appreciate you guys. Always a pleasure. You're the man. Ladies and gentlemen, that's beer drinker, noted. Jason Lai. Yeah, Jason. So many decisions have to be made.

So many things happen. He says, who cares? All roads led to us getting Ruben Bain at 15. Let's keep it moving. That's what you want to hear if you're Ruben Bain. We'll continue to talk on the other side digitally as SportsCenter takes you from here on ESPN. Felt good about to sign off. That was a great one. Okay, so Trey Hendrickson was in with the Tampa Bay Bucking and hears. Wild.

Yeah. Okay. Ty Simpson, I did not say I was going to draft him. No. I was like, ooh, you did go out of your way to compliment. A good pick. You know, was it just because whenever that pick happens, they go, you. The rest of the NFC West said it was a smart pick.

as well. Yeah, everybody that was potentially aiming for somebody else immediately after them was just the thought of light sweating there. Just like... Yeah, because... Is this guy going to fucking drop all the way to us? I don't like you compliment the dolphins in their pick. What do you mean?

A couple of picks in front of them do. Two different conference, so I think the smart pick is the funniest compliment you can give. Well, it's not a good pick, but it's smart. You know, right now. Oh, you think kind of. It's just a smart pick, okay? It's not a With all due respect?

Yeah, it's kind of like, yeah, we'll see. We'll see if it was a good pick. It was smart. Really smart people would make that pick. Oh, this guy's a genius. Yeah. Yeah, you think that's what that was? I don't know.

I don't want to go that far because I'm sure less need and like our good friends and all that stuff. But I don't think calling it a smart pick is a common. Okay, let's talk about some other general management taking place. Trent Williams' deal with the 49ers has a no holdout bonus. 37 million of Trent Williams new contract is fully guaranteed. He can fully secure another 11.5 million more as a 2028 roster bonus

only if he does not hold out or miss any of the offseason time. Lynch said, I'm sick of it. Every fucking year. I got to deal with this. Okay? How about this? We'll put this in here. All you got to do is just come and we don't need to we need to do it. Now, Trent Williams is certainly a guy that has earned every single dollar. They're talking about him

being generational goat at tackle. He is certainly special for the Cowell-Shanahan offense. His ass has been in motion before. and he's certainly a leader of the pack as he comes out with the boombox at the very beginning to fight everybody. He is one of the faces of this 49ers team. He's one of the faces of football

as a whole, especially when the story is told in the Hall of Fame. So I appreciate the fact that he's the first one and go, all right, I'll be here. No worries, 11.5 million. Let's go ahead and do it. Because that's kind of precedent now for everything that John Lynch has going forward.

Is this new? I don't know. I don't know if I've heard this is a couple. I'd put that in a lot. We had the OofahRod and then now. You know, Oofa, you know, Ufa does mean something. Yes, it does. Which I kind of like. We need to start maybe saying

a little bit more because the Oofah is kind of a Oofa. What does it mean? I think it means like, fuck off. Yeah, I got a DM from someone I believe it means fuck you in Samoan. Oofo. Kind of cool. Is that why they called it that? Is that why he's going to the Arizona Cardinals? What's that all about

age? He's going to the Barclos? Who came up with that? Yeah, who came up with that? Aaron did. You tell us. Aaron Floyd did. Aaron floated it out there. Complex Sports reporting. Aaron Roder, Steelers, Exx, rumors heat up with Arizona Cardinals twist details and I got people recruiting them you got people saying hey you love Arizona out here Arizona it's fine Steelers get a compact back yeah because they put the oofa down on them smart business on that note I'm just

trying and I might be completely wrong I'm not saying I'm smart or anybody else sure literally ever no I think I've done some things that'll prove that I am but I think you know never really gonna say it this makes no sense they this wouldn't make no sense. This is zero communication from Aaron Rogers since this report. This is not me being a source situation from Arizona, but yeah, recruiting. We're waiting on you. Wow. Yeah. And then you start looking at the Cardinals. It's like, why in the blue hell would Aaron Rogers go to a floor-led team in Arizona that has allegedly worse facilities than the Pittsburgh Steelers? Now, we love the city of Phoenix.

Sure. We love the state of Arizona. We love the weather. We love the stadium. We love everything that is possible with what could be an NFL team in Arizona, but it's notoriously ass out there. I don't know why you would just necessarily sign up for that

if you're Aaron Rogers. This doesn't make sense to me, but there has to be a reason that's being talked about somewhere. Has to be a reason somewhere somehow. Maybe it's a cardinal trying to cook it up a little bit. Like, hey. You didn't need a quarterback. Yeah.

trying to get Jacoby back in the building, you think? Maybe. For Brissette, yep. Yeah, maybe. That's why they're doing it. Maybe it is a leverage play completely. I wonder if Aaron even... Or maybe it's some random guy on the Internet that just said something.

I'll tell you what, I've seen the guy who had like 1,300 followers, write an article for some other platform that has a lot of followers, and all of a sudden people started believing with it. Like, the guy, this is a fucking, no brain. It's an opinion. Yeah, what are you been talking about here? But on that note, Aaron Rogers, to the Cardinals.

Aaron Zona. Oh my God. The story writes itself on the... What are you saying, tone? I mean, they've got great weapons out there, especially with the addition of Jeremiah Love. It's warm. He's getting older,

so his body will be loose all the time. It's indoors. He has played great in Arizona. Yes, golf. Yeah, he'd fit in at the Phoenician. Close to California. Just an easy, probably a quick 45-minute plane ride to his house or whatever.

So I think it makes all the sense. He won two MVP's playing for LaFloor. Bingo. Back in the glory days, he can recapture that magic. I believe Nathaniel Hackett might be the O.C. I believe he loves that guy. Yeah, what's this all about? Well, I'm sorry.

We're just wheel. Was that the first thing Nick said all show? I think so. We're not spinning wheels. You asked us, does it make sense? And we laid out all the reasons why it does make sense. And I said Aaron Zona, A-A on the front of Arizona is the right play. Forget the Erin.

Let's keep the eye in the middle there. It does make sense. but you guys pushing it way too hard. Not pushing. It kind of feels like you guys are pushing. Just doing my job here on the show. I was asked a question on why it would make sense and just answered it succinctly.

Foxy, are you feeling it back there? Because up here on a stage from tone, we can feel a little bit of excitement from... I don't like what's going on because Aaron is about 10,000 times better than Will Howard and that other guy you guys just drafted. So do you want to win football games or not, Tony? I don't like you saying that about Will Howard, first of all.

Now, on that note, Aaron Rogers certified first of first bout hall of famer we think. Yeah. Talking about freaking Drew Aller, man. He's not an utter guy. He's one of the guys. He said he's true utter. That's what he just said.

First off, he's third string. Mason's second string. So. He's a veteran NFL quarterback. We know that. He's had stadiums chanting his name before. He's raised in hell. A little bit too much of hell if I had to guess.

Who, Mason Rudolph? Yeah. Yeah. I'm not sure what stage of life Mason's in, but he has certainly raised a little bit of hell throughout it. AJ, Arizona does, A. Arizona. Sorry, I didn't say it right. A Arizona. That doesn't make sense to me. Would it make sense to you if you had to start laying out some reasons on why he would be? If I try to lay it out, like Tone said, you know, you present like these were great points. It does not really make a whole lot of sense to me. I would imagine if Aaron plays this year, it would be in Pittsburgh, but then again, like, nothing would surprise me either at the same time.

Who knows? Maybe his in-laws are from Arizona. No, they're not. He told us where they're from. No, he did not tell us where they were from. I thought he did. No. Aaron. Hey, Aaron. Good luck, man. Good luck, man.

People in Pittsburgh, though, are done with two years are just waiting on this guy. This guy. Yeah. That's how they view it, AJ. That's how they view it. And that's how's Coach Deigs feel. How's Coach Diggs feel?

I feel like he speaks for the city. He feels a certain way. I can't stay on there. Oh. So Coach Diggs is one particular portion of the city. And he does not speak. Okay. Then there's, yeah.

Exactly. For me, I took him as the boss. There's younger, those guys, there's diehard Steeler fans. You know, I think when tone went back for the draft, he found himself in many different settings and in many different conversations and heard the same words coming out of everybody's mouth, basically. And then tone felt very free to get on this particular microphone. It was over there at the time before Ty.

Miss, he goes like, all right, we all feel this way. This guy needs to make his fucking decision. He needs to get the fuck out of town. Done with it. That is what Tones, boots on the ground. research basically found out. But the Steelers have never said that. Steelers have still, I think, been very much like,

hey, whatever you need to do, let's go ahead and get this done. Owner Rooney said, we'll get an answer before draft. And then the owner Rooney was told, hey, this is Aaron Rogers here. Okay, we don't know if we're going to hear from him by the draft. We have. Then they're like, we're in constant conversation with them. We're actually in very much communication with him. So it's like, I think this is on his timeline.

I think he knows that. I think the Steelers, once again, probably in on that timeline. but Yenzers are already done with it. Maybe this is still his fault. I'm sorry. They're enabling in this behavior. They are. Put your foot down.

I mean, I agree. Thank you. What's your A class organization? It's Cinco to Mayo and 31 other teams know who their quarterbacks go to this season. Yeah. Give him a deadline.

You want to do that? Yeah. Hard deadline, AJ. Like, yeah, like when a girlfriend forces a boyfriend, hey, if I don't get engaged in the next six months, we're not getting married. I'm like, well, buddy, you better run because that's not going to work. That works.

Okay, I like the metaphor because, obviously you're talking about forcing somebody into a lifetime commitment there. And if you have to do that, then you probably didn't want to do that. So bingo. Why are we doing that? Which is kind of how the injures feel, I guess. So it is a good metaphor. It's like, if you want to be a steers quarterback, don't be a stewardback.

Okay. I didn't even go to the derby. I'm worried about him. He always goes to the derby. Is he in the right mindset? Too much sex. Yeah. So much sex, dude.

Is he in great shape? I assume he is. Yeah. Because he's just being panding. Yeah. Just absolutely. Maybe he couldn't go to the derby because all the talk about studding out and stuff. And he would like, he would just, oh, I got to have sex right now.

There's a chance. I mean, we don't know what stage of life. And by the way, seem to be happy. I mean, that's why May 4th, like you got to assume his, or May 5th, excuse me, his plums are almost completely. I couldn't get it out. I couldn't get it out. Damn.

But they got to be almost completely. He should not have told. I mean, that answer. We're doing journalism. Hey, you look like you're in good shape, man. You're still spinning and working out. Come on. You know the deal.

I'm fucking putting on a show. Just trying to... Every night with a wife. Maybe even in the morning. We talk about coffee, boning. Lunch, boning. Dinner, boning. Oh, yeah.

Late night snack, ass getting cracked. Boom. That's why I'm in good shape. I mean, yeah. That's what he said. That's what he said. That's what he said to everybody. National TV.

I mean, this is just, hey, I'm fucking doing push-ups so I can bone. Like, I don't give a fuck about football right now, okay? I care about two things. I'm not spinning it. I'm slinging it. And when it comes time to get back on a field, know that my hips have been properly executed all off. Yeah, he looked at me, he said, hey, tone, you're not from the bone inside of town. Yeah.

It's basically what he said. You're from a long line of non-boners over there. Big-go. Vingo. That was rude. But on that note, Jensers would like to hear if you're boning and playing football for them.

Yeah, sorry, he can't answer. He's fucking. So you're going to have to ask that question again. He actually changes voicemail. Hi, this is Aaron Rogers. I can't come to the phone right now. I'm too busy fucking my wife. Yeah, and also, there's no storage show anything.

There's no time to record. It's actually, the voicemail is filled because I haven't been able to check my voicemails because all I've been doing is burning. Yeah, voicemails filled unlike my balls. We hope he's happy. Are you guys playing in Tahoe, AJ, or is he busy? Oh, we know what he's doing.

That's a good question. That's a good view. Holy shit. That view? Hope you're not invited anymore. Hope you're not saying to that house this year. Going to need multiple caddies. Hey, you're going to maybe walk around with an umbrella because you never know what's

off. Yeah. Poncho. Ebo, where are you going, buddy? He got a horde up. You got a horned up. What happened? But she's going to beat off because he's so jacked up about Rogers.

Thinking about. Think about talk. I hope he's got his ears and give his ears in. He's back there just yanking on that thing with his ears. We don't know. We don't know what's happening back there. We hope everything's okay in all parties. But we're happy that he's happy with his wife.

That is Aaron Rogers. Yeah. And yeah, we're just reporting what we heard from the end of the deal. They would like an answer. No. Now in Philadelphia, they got answers. Big Tom. Thank God.

Nowhere. Wow. Thank God we got this news. Gratzi, Pregal. Philadelphia Eagles is going to. deal done with Dom, you know, extending him for a longer period of time. Mr. DeSondro's official titles are Senior Advisor to General Manager. A, not junior right here. Senior advisor.

There's other advisors. I come in, I advise in a senior level. Gratz. That's Big Dawn. He's also Chief Security Officer, CSO. He's in a C-suite. Of course. Which we appreciate. And he's game day coaching operations to make sure everybody on sidelines kind of functioning well.

everybody that leaves Philadelphia sings this man's praises. And the more titles he gets, I think the more confusion happens on what exactly he does. Feels like he's the actual glue of the entire organization, holding it together with every piece of Italian limb that he has. I feel like that is kind of what it is. Congrats to him. And who would have thought that a contract extension to Dom Desandro would be NFL news? So good on him. You've done good, Dom.

You've done really good. We've heard amazing things about him as a human being. But other fan bases and the general public has, with the news yesterday, the kind of vibe on the internet was, why do we need to know this? What? Yeah, it felt like the internet thought there was a bit of an Icarus situation. That's just me reporting. What's that? Icarus, that Russian steroid?

No, Icarus. No, Icarus flew too close to the sun. Oh. And I believe his wings got burned up. I think that's how the story goes. I could be wrong. Throwing a lifeline out there. Thank you, Nick.

Thank you, guys. In Greek mythology, Icarus is the son of Daedalus, who died after ignoring warnings and flying too close to the sun. Oh, we always say fly too close to the sun. Happened also a couple times. That's Icarus. Yeah, we flew way too close to the sun a couple times. Oh, yeah, no doubt.

And then we lost our wings for a baby, and we had to grow those sons and bitches back out. I mean, that is part of it. And Icarus had to deal with that. Big Dom DeSondra, he's nowhere near Icarus. I was just telling you what the year. Because he actually moves the sun. Yeah, he is the son.

Yes, the Eagles organization revolves around him. We don't really hear Big Dom speak, though, to, you know, defend Big Dom. I know Tone's all upset and frustrated by, but we don't see Big Dom holding press conferences for himself, do we? It's not, none of his own doing. Which is why we say, grats. Yeah. Did you guys actually have a Big Dom character in your NFL buildings, or is Big Dom actually one of one? Uh, we had everybody, every room has a security.

Yeah, you guys have a big cowboy head guy. Yeah, Tats had one. Tex was there. Doug Collins, a guy in Green Bay named Doug Collins, Shaped head guy. You'll see him behind the head coach always ready, just ready to strike anything that happens within the other opposing head coach. Guy named James is there for a while, I love James.

Always got a security team and then a player development team who are kind of always guys or gals who just take care of what needs to be taken care of. And I think, I think Dom does take care of the thing. Is he a fixer? Do the NFL teams have fixers? He's both. I think he takes care of the thing. Okay.

What's the thing? Yeah. What about in this world? Coaching operations. Yeah, I'll take care of the thing. Yep. What about in chief security? Yeah, I'll take care of.

You need that. Senior advising. He works at the GM and the coaches. Uh-huh. And the security team. And the scouting department. Is he also on social media one? Is a guy running tweets?

Probably throwing ideas out there. We'll probably learn from the schedule of you. Jonathan Gannon. Deep shots, explosives. You got that fire in your tummy? Well, his. fire has taken its way to the Green Bay Packers, a once dominant defense coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles, is now back to being a D.C. for the Green Bay Packers, and he had this to say

about the quarterback for Green Bay. Yeah, personally, I think, you know, when you look at, like, the organization, the people that are in the organization, so the place, the people, and then, you know, our players, you know, having competed against them last year, you know, the people on defense and not just the people on defense, people on offense. This is a good crew on offense, you know, having to try to defend them for, you know, a couple different years. But Jordan Love, that was a huge thing to me, you know, and I think he's in the top tier. So, you know, if you got those things right, you probably have a chance to win. Ty Schmidt, we love you, buddy. Can't wait for you to get back, but also congratulations on life and happiness for the family. On that note,

Jordan Love, top tier. Do you feel that way, AJ, about the Green Bay Packers? What is the tier? How many tiers are there? I know on the Internet, there's a lot of tiering. People do. I always find it very difficult. The naming of the tier is always funny.

Yes. Always very clever. I do appreciate when the Internet does that. Jordan Love, though, top tier NFC quarterback is what Gannon's saying. I appreciate it. I respect it. How do you feel as a Green Bay Packer legend? Yeah, I mean, first of all, I think it's smart by Jonathan Gannon.

Of course. Why would you not want to come in there and pump up the offense? And I think he genuinely feels that way. Yeah, I think, Jordan Love is one of the quarterbacks in the NFL that can win you a championship. Obviously, he hasn't done that yet. He's been a bit inconsistent at times and been banged up. But, yeah, I think he's a guy that gives you a chance, no question.

Who's in top tier? Okay, we got, how many tears? How many tears you got? I don't know. That's interesting because, you know, what do you separate them from? And how many are in the top? Like, do you have to have a ring to be in the top tier? Yeah, would you separate Stafford, Mahomes, Rogers, and those guys?

Sam Darnold. Super Bowl chance. Can you be in the top tier without a ring? Yeah. Yeah. He should be able to. So Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, in top tier. Yeah.

About Joe Burrow, is he in there? Joe Burrow is in. Would Burrow be more so May? Like, would the May tier be that right below it? Drake May is with Joe Burrow? Because they both made Super Bowl is what you're saying? Yeah. Joe Burrow, I think.

He looks so cool last night, first of all. In his time. He's a handsome fella. I think I would say good player, Joe Burrow. Yeah. I think I'd put him there. Would I put him in top tier, though? I think Herbert and Love are in the same tier, whatever tier that one is.

Herbert, Love, Joey Burrow. I put Burrow above them. Yeah, slightly. Just because he had a run at least. Like, he's only had one really, really good year. What's Dak Prescott? What tier is that? That's in the Herbert.

I put him right there with Love and Herbert. Herbert, Dak. Joey Burrow up here. You're putting Drake up there too because he made a Super Bowl? I am. There's also young guys here. Drake could be with the Daniels and the... You're not putting Burrow over Herbert?

I'm not putting her over over that. Okay, Josh Allen, Matthew Stafford, Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes. I put up my homes and Stafford probably in a tier of own. Okay. It would probably be Tier 1. Okay. And then after that would be Allen, Lamar. Yeah, like MVP's, you put them right there.

And that's kind of, then you just got to go from there. Where's Darnell there? Okay, so that's the four right there sounds like. So that's tier one, tier two, and then you go. to Herbert and Dack. So on that note, Stafford is only NFC quarterback there? Yeah. Okay, so whenever Gannon comes in to the Green Bay Packers

and says he's top tier, NFC quarterback, that would be, right? He'd probably be in that Herbert Love, Dak one that's right underneath. So he's all golf in there as well? Yeah. Is that the one right under those four? I mean, even Khalib, after the year he had last year,

I'll put him right up there. Wow. See, I think there's a separate. See, I think Drake and Caleb. and Jaden. Yes. I think they're all in like a maybe, maybe going to need to see more, but certainly lack where they're head.

In a tier. You know, we have you in a tier. Is Darnold still there? Do you need to see more? I mean, we do need to see more out of Darnel, but what did you put him?

Super Bowl champ. Didn't even mention his name. Oh, and he followed it up. A lot of people didn't think that was going to happen. Oh, I feel so fucking bad there. I'm so sorry,

Sam Darnel. And that's why I like the year. Sam Darnold slightly. That's true. That's why the young guy thing. See, I think Sam could be in there now with, you know, the DAC and Herbert's, even though he did win a Super Bowl, and those guys have not even close to it.

So don't you got to slot him above that group there, don't you? But is a team successor just won? Yeah. Because like Drake Mays, that season last year is better than basically everybody we've listed their best season. But Sam Darnold has won a Super Bowl. So it's like, it was very, very good. That's why the tiering thing is. And Bo Nix was potentially leading to Denver Broncos.

Sam Donald has offensive. a player of the year does that hurt him or does that help him paul and then Aaron Rogers is first ballot we need to do yeah yeah he is playing currently so it's an old guy for him old guy tier okay well I like what Gannon said he said hey we're doing tear talk fucking jordan's in it so let's have a good time pump you got you got you got you do but not too but he could have avoided it this team one got mic you can tell they're invested in like his answer could have went that's a real answer too though like because code that's the thing you're going to look at probably alignment at the top with the ownership and all that stuff but then hey do you have a quarterback like too because we all know as even as players whoever like that quarterback is driving the ship you're going to be on prime time more you're and then that's going to be him getting a head coach job again if he's good for a couple of years we kind of people do this to jail and hurts a lot we kind of did the jail that hurts too we don't know hurts too we don't really did the jailer hurts too much out of them okay but he's one of soup ball yeah so is he in the sam darnal one that's above them because they probably want to

Sue bowl, you know? It's kind of disrespect for rehearsal. I got to be honest. No. We were pretty good. That's why we don't think of the tier. I got to be honest. That's why you don't do stuff.

I just assumed Gannon was basically saying anything except for, look, I want to come and beat the fuck out of Calais for two weeks out of the year. He went to Minnesota. Okay, sounds good. I'll go to. That would be great. That would have been a great answer. You know who we certainly left off as well here?

Who? And at the time, he maybe had the greatest rookie season of all the time. Joe Flacco? We did leave Lachgo. And Aaron are in the same tier. Okay, bang, CJ Stroud. Oh, yeah, we did. CJ Stroud, haircut and thinner, it appears,

maybe less fat, so he's more jacked out there. Here's DeMiko Ryan's chitchatting about C.J. Stroud in the entire team at a golf event where he looks super cool. Is the extra stuff like the body, is that like an emphasis or is that just something that he decided on? No, it's the things with the body is what all our guys are doing. I mean, I single CJ out because it was asked about him, specifically, but I can say that for all of our guys.

That's what this time of year is about. It's about, you know, first off, getting the rest that you need from such a long season. And then you come back and you assess your body and you see where can you grow, where can you improve as a professional? So that's what all of our guys would be. Owner, Kyle McNair, who we met at league meetings, cool family. Great. Very, very kind.

He also spoke about C.J. Stroud. Well, as you know, we'll leave that up with Nick and those communications. are behind the scenes. But yeah, we're fully committed to CJ. I think we saw we extended it. We exercise his fifth year option. And so we'll see how it all works out. I'm not saying shit about his body.

He's going to ask Nick Sarat Dabiko. Ryan Zett. On that note, we just set his fifth year options good. So we like C.J. Stroud here. What are your thoughts on how C.J. looks, obviously, a new version. Also, he hasn't been doing any of the bullshit here in the off season. No, he doesn't feel like C.J. has kind of won into witness protection a little bit to get back.

on top, hopefully down there in Houston. Yeah, I mean, I think playing the NFL can be a rollercoaster. And playing quarterback can absolutely be a roller coaster of ups and downs. CJ has weathered the storm a little bit. But I think, yeah, this is like the natural progression that you be a professional. That's what Damiko is talking about. Like, you're professional after every season, you reassess, okay, what can I do better? What do I need to do in the offseason to either change my body?

Do I need to gain weight? Do I need to lose weight? What should I be working on? And that's like your whole career, that's a constant thing. You're always trying to tweak yourself, like, physically. I guess to continue to play well and play at a high level as you get older. We respect the shit out of C.J. Stroud.

Had a tough playoff. Yeah. Got really, really loud. He seems like one of those guys, AJ would probably know this better than we would, like, who's been, like, mature, who's been kind of a pro, even on the collegial level. I remember when we first saw him, boots on the ground was at against Georgia. Yeah, Atlanta, and we're like, okay,

this is a legit NFL guy. He had immediate success. He's played in six playoffs games, one half of them. But, yeah, it's going to be loud. the question there and then especially when the organization, that's probably what Cal was asked about when the organization is paid. You know, DJ Stingley made him the highest paid corner at the time, paid him early, I believe after this third year. And now did the same thing with Will Anderson, who was in that same draft class of pick after C.J.

Stroud. So now the question is going to, hey, I know you picked up the fifth year option, but when are you going to pay him? Do you really believe in him? Because, you know, you can say what you want, but we all follow the money. That don't let you know how much you believe in the guy. Yeah, and you wonder how many guys. I assume he's on a very short list of players, or, these quarterbacks to win a playoff game in each of his first three seasons. But it does feel

like there are some owners that are just waiting for that quarterback to not take the highest money of all time. Big news out of the NFL, especially for Legerius Sneed. His case has been completely dismissed. Dallas-based criminal defense attorney Michael J. Todd announced that all criminal charges against his client, former Chiefs and Titans quarterback, Ligerius Need, have been dismissed. A originally charged with aggravated assault that was reduced by the grand jury to the misdemeanor offense of failure to report the commission of a felony. The state of Texas dismissed the misdemeanor completely on Friday, which Todd said leave Sneed without conviction or admission of any kind.

Legerius Sneed, quote, tweeted that and said, been such a toll on me to pass two years. The wait is finally off until that devil, I'm coming back for everything he tried to still, okay? Legerius Sneed, obviously we remember him whenever he was with the Chiefs. He had to punch out of the Baltimore Ravens at the half-yard line, obviously in the playoff game. He is a guy, I think, is synonymous with playing great football. He also went on to say there in his tweet, last two years, it's been tough. A lot's been happening. Debutt, what is Legerius Sneed at this stage?

And what do you think this all means for a team potentially in the future? You mentioned at his peak, and it was the reason why Tennessee paid him all that money. He was the best cornerback available at that time in Kansas City. And that was kind of been Kansas City's thing. They let Ward leave. They let Sneed leave. And he was the best of the bunch. Tone-setter can tackle, can cover.

It didn't go well on the field with Tennessee. He only played in 12 total games. games in a couple years. So it's about healthy. And we always look at players and what's happening on Sundays or Mondays or, you know, Thursdays whenever they're playing. But they're human. So they're dealing with a lot of shit off the field as well, whether that's family,

whether that's some shit that's taking, you know, going on in the courts or whatnot. So now with all that being behind him, hopefully we see him back at that elite level out there playing corner. I love to hear it. I also like that he quotes when his Schefter's newsbreak and say, hey, hey, hey, just so we're all all. Hey. Mm-hmm.

Okay. And I would like to go ahead and let everybody know that I am still who exactly you think I am. Good luck for, good luck to him and congrats to him. Yeah. I mean, legit. The amount of weight that that probably is as it's all just kind of looming over your head because you have no idea how it's going to all go for it to get completely dismissed. Congrats to you, man.

Some other cases going on right now that we're watching. Yeah, I'm excited to see what happened today. Those have been fun to follow up with. Man. We got cameras everywhere. Yeah. In the court, I mean, we got 4K. I got 4K.

I'm hearing a lot. I'm learning a lot through interesting thing. You know, and this is something that normally, just from experience it feels like in the world that we have in covering daily stuff, it's like this stuff very rarely gets to court. You know, it's always like something that happens. So like Stefan Diggs' court case that's currently happening

very publicly with videos happening everywhere. Very rarely does this make it to. this stage of it all. Wild. What's going on in there? And who knows how it ends? But I guess the judge today was like, hey, answer the questions. Yeah. Not for just shit.

Yeah, it is, it's wild because this is, I mean, careers, future generations of, I mean, there's a lot of the lines for all this. So like, when Legerius Sneed says, like, man, I finally feel free, you could see how that would be real. Because you think about losing everything whenever that type of stuff is happening. Like, hey, it's all over.

Everything I've ever done worked for, it's all for not. So then whenever you get away from that and you get publicly, you know, exonerated, which I'm not going to say is happening in the one we're watching currently. I'm just saying from the videos that we're seeing, it is crazy. What is kind of available at this stage of life, certainly. But it's like I do think he's probably very excited to get a chance to prove himself, yet again, in rewrite how this entire football life goes. And hopefully it gets an opportunity to do that back with a team that is great.

Let's head to college, shall we? you're with the Big Ten's paying their schools how much? One year one fiscal year 1.37 billion dollars from the Big Ten to its schools and its universities. Remember there was a time

whenever schools had to act like they were a non-profit you remember that? We don't make any money actually. Yeah, we're not making any money. What's that building? That's an 800 million dollar renovation we do. We don't make any money. We don't make any money. What do you expect from us? Hey, what's this over there? That new stadium. Oh, that was $2 billion.

We're not making any money. We're not making any money. Hey, what's the building downtown that you guys just redid the entire university? No, no. That was $2.3 billion renovate. We're not making any money, though. It used to be quite a gimmick on how much money is being made by who. Now, the numbers that are coming out with these TV deals,

which I think are only going to continue to increase, especially for the big sports schools. I mean, this is a crazy thing. Big Ten is, I guess, very healthy. So when Petiti starts talking about stuff, He's coming from a position of our schools are eating here at the Big Ten and we're going to continue to do so. Yeah, I mean, was it a year ago or two years ago, they signed a seven-year, $7 billion TV deal just for football. So the Big Ten has the money.

They have the best TV deal out of all of the conferences, I believe, so far right now. So in return, they have the ability to then give these to the schools. And then the schools will then profit for them because they're going to be the best in athletics, which then earns the Big Ten even more money. 76 million a school and not too shabby from the Big Ten. It's only going to go up and to the right. Remember, if we, I don't know what we want. I don't know what we think is the right answer. If society gets a college ball that's under one umbrella,

all the TV deals are going to have to expire or new TV deals are going to have to come into place, which is going to have so many people have to agree on so many things. Them having that amount of money versus what the Big 12's deal probably is or the ACC's deal definitely is. I mean, people are thinking about getting loans out of seven. $750 million to get out of those types of deals. It's going to be hard to get everybody on.

It's going to be hard. I don't know what's future of college football looks like. I don't know how many power conferences there are. But I think the thought of everybody under one umbrella is, I think it's cool. I think it's like a cool fella. That would be fun. For the teams that don't get all,

aren't bringing in all that revenue, don't have all that money. But if we're one of the teams at the top, why would you want to do that? And I think that's what Petiti was saying, right? Petiti, there was not for the TV deals, but for some other agreement, with the college football playoff.

Yeah, well, we also want this. And it's like, Petiti, come on. And Petiti's like, hey, he was a big, we're kind of running this whole fucking shit. He was the 24 team, I believe. And he wanted a certain number of teams, no matter what, to get in. Yeah, but my entire take was Petiti.

We're too early to be doing, like, leverage negotiation on something as we're trying to find it. And Petitie's like, hey, it's kind of our game right now. Apparently, we're learning. It's never too early to renegotiated deal. I can go. the NFL's doing it right now. Yeah.

The NFL's got a lot of years left on a lot of deals and they're like, we got to kind of revisit this. Fuck that. We're changing this. YouTube, they're ready to buy up everything. You think we potentially is a little bit of this? ESPN getting a percentage of the NFL, our NFL getting a percentage of ESPN, such a good.

Hindsight 10 years from now is going to be an incredible play by Disney ESPN folks, I think, but also the NFL, especially with what the NFL, especially with what the NFL network can become, but, man, the properties that they can sell going forward, they haven't even come close to just draining every single drop of juice out of the NFL if they wanted to. I mean, if they wanted to, they could fucking put a game every day. Yeah. And somebody would pay them all the money.

Nothing that compares. There's nothing that compares number-wise, is there, than the NFL? I mean, look at the draft numbers, the combine numbers, all of that. It's always going to be the most valuable property. Well, is it 92 of the top 100 rated? or 94 maybe other top 100 great things. It's like they could do that. Now, isn't there some, what are they doing?

There's some sports leagues, not a lawsuit, some hearing happening about how much money people are having to pay to watch from sport. What was that thing? Yeah, it's an antitrust case. On the NFL or is it on everybody? I believe it's on the NFL and the Sunday ticket kind of. I got sent an email asking if I wanted to come talk, you know,

and testify about being a sports fan. And I was like, oh, no. See also what's going on over there? What are you a big issue? What do you guys got going on? It's like, don't we think they're abusing the fans a little bit? Don't we think that is the thing with the new. Live Nation just lost a huge case like that.

And you know who the attorney was? It's Sorosby's attorney was the one who won that one. Jeff Kessler? Yeah, he won against the Live Nation. Jeff Kessler, he goes in there and does, is he the one off camera talking to Stefan? Maybe. Is that who we're hearing of it? What's your name?

She wanted to know. She's just trying to find out at one point. But it is like, it feels like some of these, these streaming platforms have a never-earning supply of cash and he'll pay for the NFL. You know? That's right. Somebody buy Liv.

Save it, man. I saw a guy where, how'd that go? Louis Vuitton, Travis Scott, who's the new CEO of Liv. I think he's got to figure it out. I think that was the first thing I took away as soon as I saw him. He said he was, he said he has more energy today than he has in his entire being with this. live thing. Great shoes. Rom's gone.

No. Where are they getting the billions of dollars to run the organization? They'll figure it out, dude. Don't worry about it. Okay. Okay. Scottie O'Neill? Yeah. He's got it. And just like, I think Schlaubach said, as he just completely dissected live. Oh, man. Just completely killed him. He said, there's enough rich people that like golf. He said there'll be some sort of investment from some, especially with live sports being the ratings king and the platform king i mean it's very possible that somebody does put money into it but i don't think it'll be people that love golf you know i think nowhere near the money they got from from the p if fund or whatever though five billion that's a lot of money yeah you think you think

you got like some business people that just enjoy golf a little bit hey let me let me throw a couple bill at this thing it seemed to go well some of these private equity do have like just so much i guess if they see a path that they can make money yeah but i'd rather just you got to be get very creative because I don't know how to make it work. Yeah, it's like live sports, ratings, investment brands, teams, you know. There's so much that you could walk into some equity with a pitch deck and say, we need an opportunity to showcase sport and team and brands and younger golfers. And look, we can still draft guys.

And we got Bubba Watson still. It's like there's still go-goats. That type of stuff, you know, that's going to happen. Bryson D. Shambo, he's not gone yet, but close. Need your money now. You know, we need to pay him. Rom came out and said today because he talked a lot about today. But, yes, he reached in an agreement with the DP World Tour.

DP World Tour, European PGA. Yes, and you have to be a member on the DP World Tour to be on the European Rider Cup team. And he was the only guy who was in Live, who had not paid his fines or whatever to come back to the DP World Tour to play the four events so that he could be on the Rider Cup team. So now with this, he will be Rider Cup eligible for the next Ryder Cup. but he was also asked about his time with Live today. And he said they're really good at contracts. I have several years of my contract left. I'm pretty sure they did a pretty good job when they drafted that.

So I don't see many ways out. Right now, I'm not really thinking about it because we still have a season to play and majors to compete for. John Rom, you guys are all saying Liv's over. I'm looking to my contract. 2029, he's under contract too when he said on that quote today that he is not good at contracts, but they are very good at contract. So he's, uh, damn.

He's kind of dialed into there, I believe. I think he got a lot of money, though. Ton, yeah. Can they buy them out or something? Like, can he try to do something? Maybe. Scott O'Neill's got ideas. Probably not if they're really good at contracts.

They got something in there that clearly, hey, you ain't going anywhere until 2029. Scott O'Neill opened up that contract. What do we got with Romba? Yep, he's here. We hope it's good, by the way, for the Rombone. It definitely was. Dee, but why don't you do something? Yeah.

Why don't you put up some money? I'm doing my part right here. Yeah, you are. Carrying their water. Yes, you certainly are. And that water's just getting higher and higher. Yeah. Drowning right now.

Yeah, you're certainly going under. It was good, though. I like whenever there was that much money coming in for athletes. I did enjoy that. Because a lot of other people, businesses, corporations, could celebrate getting an investment from Saudi Arabia, which we already went through how many different companies have money from Saudi Arabia. So the grand standing on like where the money was coming strictly for the athletes,

not for the rest of the businesses that would celebrate whenever they would get an investment like that. I thought was pretty hypocritical. Now on that note, it was pretty early on when we watched that bullshit, we thought it had no chance. And we thought, man, you spend so much money on golfers. Why don't you spend some money on like how to make it watchable? Yes. And it felt like they forgot about that part of it all. So if they could go back, I think they're about percent there. You know, I think there was a lot of room for growth. Yeah. Most of it, mostly just being able to watch it and not get disgusted by it. I get that it was fun to go to the event, but guess what? People need to watch it on TV and the live

production just wasn't there. I gave it a shot and it just was bad. It didn't even compare how PGA was. And you have to end on Sunday at 5 o'clock. That's when everyone likes to watch golf and they had to do that too and they just never did. Well, and shotgun starts. I mean, 54 holes. Shotguns starts, let alone music and goofball stuff. It was tough. too. We talk about Augusta in the PGA Championship. It's like the course has got to eat a little. Like when you're watching one of these tournaments

or seeing clips, I never watched that shit, but seeing clips of it and there's like dirt patches. Local muni. In the fairway and around the greens, it's like this doesn't feel like a legitimate thing at all. Yeah, it didn't feel legitimate any of it. The leaderboard

was on the wrong side of the screen. Didn't have enough things. It's confusing. I mean, the team thing. The team thing is stuff to get behind. I understand they try to say, you know, you've got a team to root for, but I don't know. I can't figure it. And that's what he came out and said today is like the focal point is still team golf. We think team golf can be successful. And it's not. And it won't be fun to watch. But the only team golf that's fun is rider cup and they don't do that style. I will say this. They should do rider cup or scrambles or things like that. Live should be the state fair of

golf for the PGA. That should have been the deal that they made. Like, hey, when the boys want to go scramble or do something like that, they'll do that. But I think it happens in, I guess, business a lot, where somebody wants to be the outlaw, you know, the maverick. There has to be like a sense of awareness on like how far, you know? Because like, hey, we're doing golf, but louder. Everything you don't like about golf, you're going to love about us. Why do they wear pants? Well, maybe because they look like professionals when they're doing it.

No, but I wear shorts on golfing with boys. It's like, yeah, but me and you a little bit different. We're not paying to watch you golf with the boys. Exactly. The music, all over everything, like, yeah, that's cool. cool, but it's like, how can I take this as a serious thing? Yeah. Beat drop happening in back swing of 17th hole, which is actually the 14th hole,

because you guys did a shotgun. It was just hard to take serious. It felt like I was at a golf outing when I was watching it. It's early. You can't have an awareness when you're trying to change the game, brother. You have to. You're going to die. You can never change the game.

You have awareness of what's the right thing to do. Look, the league that lasted, what? Well, still alive. Yes. As of right now, what? Six years? No, it has that seven years? Five years?

It took the NFL 50 years to profit. Boom. WMBA is just starting to get into the entire process. Yeah, exactly. They're still losing a shit ton of money and it's year 30. Like, you got to think there is probably someone out there who's thinking team golf does have likes. We can fix this a little bit, make it a little more professional, but still there is a blueprint here. Like, could you imagine if somehow, some way?

AJ's out on live. You're out? I don't think it's going to have. I don't think someone's, maybe they are. Maybe it surprised me. I'm too dumb to understand, but to make this thing profitable, I just think it's a huge risk for somebody or private equity, whoever it could be. You got Romba until 2029.

Can we not turn a profit out of just making him a YouTube golfer? John Romba? Could you not combine it with TGL? And do it that way. And maybe take TGL, but do it out on it, of course. The only edge they have on PGA is their international footprint. When they go to these other countries and places. Adelaide.

They look, yeah, they look forward to that or the guy or, guys that are on tour representing those. So that's the only edge they have on PJ, but you'll never surpassed it. DP World Tour needs to do these. That's where the DP World Tour needs to start just picking up the. D.P.'s huge, too. What's that?

They're huge too. That's what I'm saying, but they need to start attacking the, because the international conversation has become the big live one. Like we go to South Africa, we go to Australia, we bring the game to Asia, whatever the places are. It's like, why doesn't DP World Tour just pick those places up? assume it'll go pretty big. D.P. Rottor has a lot of history, right?

Connor said, don't ask me. No, I was looking at. I was looking at. Who's the CEO? B.J. Brian Rollout. Where do you come from? NFL. I would be surprised if they don't start doing more international.

Oh, putting all the lads on one. Now, I disagree. I think we should shrink the game, but, you know, that's what they'll do. I don't know, though. It's hard to admit. Their schedule's already pretty dead set. When are you going to throw international thing? You're right.

You're right. People can actually go. I tend to agree. They're not even playing every single PGA tour one. Like, let alone if they had to go across the course. Oh, that's Rory. Rory's kind of doing what he wants to do. Some of his favorite.

Roy's back this week. He's the favorite. Is Shephyler golfing? No, not this week. It feels like Scott is again. If they go to South Africa, I don't think many of these guys are going. I'll tell you what, maybe we take the sticks out there.

Maybe we get after it. You know what I mean? Come out of the pocket. Nellie kind of taught me something yesterday. Coca? Koda. Koda. Yep.

Coca? Cocoa. Why do you say it like that? Makes sense. It's because AJ can't swing his swing. So he's a little jealous. Oh, no, I swing my swing. I do not overanalyize my swing.

I will never do that. You swing out of your shoes. She said most amateurs don't know how I aim and they swing out of shoes. I don't know if you know. I respect Nellie. She's unbelievable. Yeah, you got to swing your swing.

I've seen Jack Nicholas. They ask him, what do you tell amateurs? He said, swing harder. You're trying to, like, control it. You don't swing hard enough. I heard that, like, 15 years ago, I said, that's all I need to hear, Jack. Yeah.

I mean, is he the fucking. or not, I don't know, you tell me. Am I supposed to listen to you ever, Jack? Okay, let's go ahead and do that. NHL has a big night tonight. Draft lottery. That's good, boys. Good luck to the Vancouver Canucks.

We certainly knew we're still a team. The Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers, Calgary Flames, and Toronto Maple Leafs. Roundout, the top six alongside the Seattle Cracken, six of the odds to win the draft lottery. Nick, what is this? Who's this? Is Gary Bettman doing a little ball-spin-y thing?

How do we kind of enjoy this tonight? Yeah, they may have changed it in years past. I don't know if they'll actually show the ball spinning, but you'll get to see a little presentation here. And this will basically be the rights to draft Gavin McKenna. He's presumed and projected to be the number one overall pick. You'll have the Rangers, Blackhawks, Kinnock's obviously with the top odds there,

or do we see a long shot jump up and make a move? It would be good for the league if he went to Chicago or New York. Vancouver would be a similar situation to Connor McDavid. It's way out there. It's West Coast. It's late night. could be interesting. Could you imagine the Florida Panthers getting...

Don't sleep on the cats stealing this one. Definitely. And the Predators, too. Let's not say, maybe Nick Saban gets in there and motivates a lottery ball or two. He's willing to deal it? Yes, he certainly could be. We don't know if the Preds are going to potentially pick up. The number one overall pick, we will follow along tonight.

No Pittsburgh Penguins on there. Obviously, that's a good thing. Not a bad thing. Yeah, playoff team. If your team's in here, it's ass. Your team's on the list you stink. We need to be trading for McDavid. it today.

Okay. You guys kind of like Steelers, right, Pergatory. Awesome, that's the same thing. I just saw a stat actually. It was a pretty funny little stat about sports cities that haven't experienced a playoff or a series win

in how many days. Who's number one? So since Detroit got the job done up there, I do believe Pittsburgh is 2,930 days. Holy shit. Can't be right. You guys forget about the

Riverhounds within that title. I think they're talking about major league. Who's back on top again. The Pittsburgh. Everything is coming up aces for us lately. Penns, I don't know what the team looks like. Thanks to work.

Bad glows is. Pirates potentially could win a wild card series. Oh, yeah. Could potentially do it. The World Series. Pittsburgh Steelers, they don't know who their quarterback is, but I believe in Mike McCarthy. Now, the draft king's account

here put Aaron Rogers down there, so maybe they know something that we don't know at this exact moment. But I do appreciate the fact that Atlanta's in the middle of the struggle alongside Phoenix and Tampa Bay. Aaron Rogers potentially going to change both of those, two of those four towns with the new leaks today. AJ, your thoughts on Pittsburgh having now? Because draft was a home run.

Obviously, it's Pittsburgh time. It's been a while. It's been a while. It has been a while. I mean, so honestly, what's going to happen with Sid and the boys? Are they going to run it back? Are we going to get to see them again? Run it back.

I would like them to run it back. with Connor McDavid on team. Plus Big Mike McCarthy's going to say that. Oh, that'd be cool. Yeah, Big Mike McCarthy actually might be on the center for fucking fourth quarter of the... He can sling it now. I've seen Mike throw it and walk through it.

He can sling it. I agree. I understand. He can do it. He's from Pittsburgh. Of course, he can throw a football. He's quarterback whisper. Didn't he play at Notre Dame?

Foreback? I think he was on a team. He was a tight end. He was a tight end in college. He was tied in college? Baker College, I believe, something like that. Yeah. Good school.

Baker was his... Absolute Savage, for sure. cheap shot and taking guys knees out giving concussions left and right yeah baker baker college i assume he was coming in late with the head okay i mean times he's speared guys i mean that guy's playing no games he's like 14 years old in that picture big eight eight now can we get a bill car photo from whenever he was wearing the neck collar down or crafting what an animal or at state mike McCarthy bill car oh in their prime bull ages baker college and cair State NFL career.

Mike McCarthy quarterback whisper, having him kind of go head to head. Who do you like? Oh, geez. Oh, that's awesome. Bill Kaur. Imagine him just bullying that entire Caliguire family.

I can't. I can see that. Did that 5-4 on? Dude, he was so good on the show. The man. Off the show. The best. He looks identical to MCDC right there.

You wish, pal. All right. You fucking win. Be a friend, and a friend, something nice and might change your life. We're seeing you guys tomorrow.

Team on me. Let's enjoy tonight. We got NBA playoffs. We got NHL playoffs. We got NHL draft lottery. We got MLB Dong Bananza. Bingo. And if you're Aaron,

you're with your wife, you know what you're doing. And all Don bananas. Maybe you guys should enjoy a couple of that. Okay, do what you've got to do to enjoy your life. We are so thankful that we get to do this for a living. We appreciate you.

We thank you Cheers to you We're just together team on me, team on three One two three team, good bye Goodbye