PMT DB
PMT DB
Blake Griffin on Clippers, Donald Sterling, and the DeAndre Jordan Fiasco
The Cavaliers are officially dead. Again. Big Cat and PFT opened the show by eulogizing the 2016 Cavs after a brutal Game 2 blowout at the hands of the Warriors. While Big Cat has been wrong before, there is a certain stench to this series that feels terminal. Between Kyrie Irving's disappearing act and the general lack of grit, it feels like the Larry O'Brien trophy is already being engraved in Oakland.
Big CatThe Cavaliers are officially dead after Game 2 of the 2016 NBA Finals
The Cavaliers are officially dead. I feel confident about this time. I've done this before, and I had to eat some crow... because the Cavaliers have been blown out now two times and it looks like [it's over].
The fallout from the blowout also included a serious concussion for Kevin Love. While nobody likes to see an injury, the guys pointed out that from a pure basketball standpoint, Love's absence might actually be a blessing in disguise for a Cleveland team that desperately needs to find a way to stop the Warriors' perimeter attack.
Big CatCavaliers fans should be rooting for Kevin Love to miss time with his concussion
Kevin Love is seemingly concussed. And if you're a Cavs fan, are you rooting for Love to miss time? I think you are... because he's such a bad fit for this series and playing anyone on defense that I might want Kevin Love not around.
Blake Griffin in the House
NBA All-Star Blake Griffin joined the program for an all-timer of an interview. He didn't hold back on the state of the Finals, admitting that while the Cavs aren't quite done yet, they are definitely finished.
Blake GriffinThe Cavaliers are finished in the 2016 NBA Finals
Cavs, done or finished. It's looking pretty bad, man. I actually thought they were going to win tonight. It's looking pretty bad. I'm going to say they're finished.
Blake gave us the inside scoop on the infamous DeAndre Jordan "kidnapping" in Dallas. It turns out it wasn't so much a hostage situation as it was a long day of playing cards, ordering food, and Blake taking a nap in DeAndre's movie room while Doc Rivers and Steve Ballmer refused to leave the house until the clock struck midnight. He also touched on the surreal experience of playing for Donald Sterling, including the infamous "white parties" in Malibu where Sterling would ironically show up wearing all black while leading Blake around by the hand to introduce him to guests.
He also cleared the air on his legendary 2011 Dunk Contest performance. It turns out the Kia Optima wasn't his first choice; he wanted to jump over a convertible with Baron Davis tossing the rock from the driver's seat, but the logistics of the sponsorship forced him into the hood-jump that everyone now complains was too easy.
Blake GriffinI wanted to jump over a convertible for the Dunk Contest but Kia made me use an Optima hood
I wanted to jump over a convertible... But I wasn't allowed to. It had to be a Kia Optima... there's no way I was going to make it over the entire thing, over Baron Davis in the sunroof, so I opted for the hood, and then everyone was pissed that I jumped over the hood.
Thoughts, Prayers, and PR 101
The show took a more somber turn to reflect on the passing of Muhammad Ali. Big Cat and PFT broke down the inevitable cycle of internet grief, from the "Google Image search and retweet" phase to the inevitable "well, actually" takes that surface after any major celebrity death.
Big CatMuhammad Ali and Michael Jordan are the two most popular athletes of all time
I would say Muhammad Ali, most popular athlete of all time. It's probably Muhammad Ali one, Michael Jordan two, and there's not really a third.
In a more immediate crisis, Aqib Talib found himself in the crosshairs after being shot at a Dallas strip club at 4:30 in the morning. PFT offered some veteran PR advice, suggesting Talib lean into the "sovereign citizen" angle to avoid visiting the White House or, better yet, showing up on crutches to look like a true American hero who refuses to let a bullet stand between him and the President.
PFT CommenterAqib Talib can extend his career by seven years by capitalizing on his shooting incident
Tlaib may have just extended his career by like seven years. Because now he can get that really sappy E30 with Jeremy Schaap... A second chance is worth like two more contracts. So smart move on Tlaib's part, getting shot, because now he gets like an opportunity to prove himself again.
The Summer of Soccer and Problematic Memes
Talking Soccer returned as the USMNT prepares for a huge summer. Despite a 2-0 loss to Colombia, the optimism is high. Big Cat is convinced that a "big tie" against a powerhouse like Brazil is all it takes for soccer to finally, officially, for real this time, become the biggest sport in America.
Big CatThe summer of 2016 is when soccer officially catches on in the US, especially if they can get a 'big tie' against Brazil
This is the summer it catches on. You watch. Some people have called it the summer of soccer. I think so. If they could get a big tie against like a Brazil or something, that's the launching point for soccer being the biggest sport in America.
To wrap things up, the guys looked at the New York Times' attempt to kill the Crying Jordan meme. Apparently, laughing at the GOAT's tears is now an expression of "flawed masculinity" and sexism. It was a good run for the meme, but once the style section gets involved and starts analyzing the sociological impact of a Photoshop job, you know the end is near.
Big CatThe Crying Jordan meme has become 'problematic' because it mocks masculine vulnerability
Turns out there's an element of flawed masculinity at play. You have a masculine star who expresses vulnerability, and people simultaneously mock and celebrate that. So you think you're having some harmless fun on the Internet? Turns out you're a sexist, and you're basically saying guys can't cry.
If you see a woman with 100 cats in her Twitter header, just know your Crying Jordan takes are officially under review.
