PMT DB
PMT DB
Best of 2019: Gary Busey, Stone Cold, and the Boner Dogs Saga
We made it to the end of the year, and to celebrate, Big Cat and PFT Commenter are looking back at a year that featured everything from legendary NFL quarterbacks to Hollywood actors and a very confusing amount of discussion regarding dog anatomy. Before hitting the highlights, the show opens with a look ahead to Week 17 and the College Football Playoff. Big Cat is already locking in his final regular-season parlay, even if he doesn't have much faith in his own Bears.
Big CatI'm taking the Packers, Cowboys, and Broncos in a can't-lose parlay for Week 17
My can't lose parlay this week is the Green Bay Packers, the Dallas Cowboys, and the Denver Broncos.
While the NFL regular season winds down, Big Cat is fully prepared to jump on the Clemson bandwagon in the Fiesta Bowl, despite having a future on the Buckeyes.
Big CatClemson will beat Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl
I have a future on Ohio State, but I think Clemson is going to beat them.
Hollywood Wisdom and Attitude Eras
The guest list for 2019 was arguably the strongest in show history, starting with the absolute whirlwind that was Gary Busey. He didn't just give an interview; he provided a masterclass in "Busey-isms" and shared a surprisingly deep perspective on the afterlife.
Gary BuseyHell is a self-imposed condition you create within yourself
Hell is what you make it within yourself. So hell is a self-imposed condition... hell is really something you create yourself. The difference between organized religion and spirituality is organized religion is built for people to be afraid of hell. Spirituality is for people who have been there.
Transitioning from Hollywood legends to sports royalty, Stone Cold Steve Austin joined the show to discuss the glory days of the Attitude Era. While Austin enjoyed reminiscing about driving Zambonis and monster trucks into arenas, he offered a blunt assessment of why modern wrestling doesn't always hit the same way for him.
Stone Cold Steve AustinToday's wrestling has lost the spontaneity and sense of urgency of the Attitude Era
To me, it's just maybe, I'm not picking on today's product, but I just think the spontaneity is lost. Like that feeling that anything could happen is lost. And if you bring it back and create that excitement, I don't think you need to go to filling up this with that or crushing things. Sense of urgency I think is the most important part.
The Legend of Blake Koepka and Life Lessons
One of the most transformative moments of the year was Brooks Koepka essentially becoming "Blake" in real-time. The four-time major winner proved he is the ultimate "normal guy who is elite at sports," admitting that he doesn't actually like the time commitment required for a round of golf.
Brooks KoepkaGolf takes too long and should be reduced to 14 or 15 holes
Nobody wants to spend five and a half hours out there... Literally, I would just make it like 15 holes, 14 holes. Because then you get to go in the 19th hole a little bit quicker.
During the summer, Ryen Russillo and Mark Titus joined the show for an evergreen "Life Advice" session while Big Cat was on paternity leave. Russillo, leaning into his role as the elder statesman of the group, dropped some cold truths about being in your 20s.
Ryen RussilloNo matter how smart you think you are at 20 years old, you are actually an idiot
No matter how smart you think you are, you're an idiot... This is why everyone older than you hates you, because they all went through the exact same thing where it's like I got everything figured out, and then you just realize you don't. And it doesn't mean you're not smart. It doesn't mean you're not creative... [but] you can't have any of this perspective that you're going to need.
This segment also featured a Mount Rushmore of things the guys are elite at. While most people pick athletic skills, Big Cat went with a more practical talent for the frequent bar-goer.
Big CatI'm the number one person in the world at finding open tables at packed bars
I think I'm number one in the world at finding open tables at packed bars or seats in general because of my figure and I don't like to stand very much... I will always find an open table.
NHL Legend Kerry Fraser
The episode features a brand new interview with legendary NHL referee Kerry Fraser, who might have the best hair in the history of the league. Fraser told incredible stories about "career-banning" coaches and the time his dad had to smuggle him out of a rink in a stick bag to avoid an angry mother. He also offered a serious critique of how video replay is changing the way officials approach the game.
Kerry FraserNHL refs rely on video replay too much as a safety net, which creates inconsistency
With that sort of difficulty now that they've infused this video replay that is such a safety net for guys, they rely on it too much. It's not even they don't... a goal goes in the net and they're standing so deep in the corner. They don't even signal it. They might not even see it. You got to see everything and use the replay to verify.
Fraser believes the solution to the replay drama is simple: get the people who actually know the rules into the room where the decisions are made.
Kerry FraserThe NHL video replay room in Toronto should be staffed by former referees
The problem is that they should have former referees sitting in that room [in Toronto] to make the decision [on video replays].
Boner Dogs and Monday Readings
No recap of 2019 is complete without mentioning the "Boner Dogs" saga. What started as a riff became a legitimate pitch to Adam Sandler and Kevin Garnett. The year also gave us some of the most bizarre Monday Readings yet, including the tragic tale of a man obsessed with Dave & Buster’s. Big Cat, ever the problem solver, offered the only logical way to break that addiction.
Big CatThe only way to cure a Dave & Buster's obsession is to beat the person and get a higher score on every single game
The only way that you can actually beat this [Dave & Buster's obsession] is if you get better at Dave and Buster's than him. That's the only way. ... The only solution, if you really don't want to go to Buster's, is you have to get the high score on every single fucking game. ... You have to win more tickets than him one time. ... And he will never go again.
It was a massive year for the program, and as we head into a new decade, just remember: your tape is your resume. See you in 2020.
