Blake Griffin and Michael Rapaport on NBA Cities and Sitcom Dads
We are officially in the teeth of the summer, which means it is Mount Rushmore season. To celebrate the peak of the sports calendar, Big Cat and PFT are joined by two absolute titans of the recurring guest rotation: Blake Griffin and Michael Rapaport. The energy was high as the guys navigated through a wild weekend that included the U.S. Open and some NBA draft drama that has Danny Ainge looking like a certified pick addict.
Erin Hills and the Beauty Tax
Brooks Koepka took home the trophy at Erin Hills, but Big Cat and PFT aren't exactly ready to buy a shirt. The main issue? Koepka is simply too good-looking and his life is too perfect for the common man to root for him. We need a winner with some visible struggle, like a bad hairline or some Phil Mickelson-level physique issues.
Brooks Koepka is too attractive to win a major tournament
[Brooks Koepka] is way too attractive to win any kind of major tournament. Usually you need a receding hairline, some Phil Mickelson man boobs, some Tiger Woods inner demons. Give me one flaw that I can make fun of you for on Twitter and make me feel better as a person.
Attractive people shouldn't be good at anything because it makes them impossible to make fun of
If you're an attractive person, you shouldn't be good at anything. Give me one flaw that I can make fun of you for on Twitter and make me feel better as a person. [Brooks Koepka] has an attractive girlfriend. He just won like $3 million. He's attractive. He's the U.S. Open winner. Fuck this guy.
Beyond the winner's aesthetics, the course itself was a massive letdown. For a U.S. Open, you want to see professional athletes questioning their life choices in the fescue. Instead, we got a target-practice session that looked more like a local muni on a Tuesday afternoon.
The U.S. Open course at Erin Hills was way too easy
The golf course lost. I expect more. I want to see the U.S. Open golf course. I want to see Jim Nance giving his tie to the course. Everyone was just hitting it right down the middle the whole time. Easiest golf course I've ever seen. So USGA, figure it out.
Ricky Fowler also took some heat for his Sunday performance. While the orange is his signature, it might be time to admit that bright, neon colors don't exactly scream "champion" when the pressure is on. PFT thinks it's time for a wardrobe change to fill a void left by a certain legend.
Ricky Fowler can't win a title wearing 'candy-ass' bright orange uniforms
We do have the theory that candy-ass uniforms can't win titles. So, are we a little nervous? He had that bright orange on Sunday. Maybe, like, I was just thinking, hey, is Ricky Fowler playing for the Dolphins? Because... This sucks.
Ricky Fowler should start wearing red on Sundays since Tiger Woods is no longer in contention
Tiger's not going to be in contention on Sundays anytime soon. Somebody needs to swoop in and grab the red over. Take those reds. I'm so dumb that I will root for any golfer that makes playing in red on Sundays his thing now. Because that's as close as we're going to get to cheering on Tiger again.
The NBA Trade Machine is Humming
The Celtics and Sixers pulled off a blockbuster trade for the number one pick, and while Sixers fans are screaming "Trust the Process," Danny Ainge is just doing what he does best: hoarding future assets like a doomsday prepper. PFT isn't sold on the hype surrounding incoming rookies anyway, mostly because he hasn't seen them play against actual NBA players yet.
NBA prospects suck until they actually prove it in the league
I'm of the mindset that the best players in the world are currently in the NBA, and if you're not in the NBA yet, then you suck. I don't see anybody competing against the superstars for the next five to ten years. I haven't seen [Markelle Fultz] play, so he must suck.
Big Cat, however, thinks the Celtics actually might have known what they were doing by passing on Markelle Fultz in favor of a guy who fits their defensive identity better.
Josh Jackson is a better fit for the Celtics than Markelle Fultz
Josh Jackson fits what the Celtics have more than Markelle Fultz. He's going to be able to defend a bunch of positions. He's going to be able to play a role that you guys need.
Mount Rushmore: NBA Cities and Sitcom Dads
Blake Griffin joined the show to tackle the Mount Rushmore of NBA Cities. While he was careful not to make it a free agency pitch, his list gave us a glimpse into the life of a traveling superstar. He started with the Mecca, despite a traumatic childhood incident with a freight elevator.
Madison Square Garden is the best place to play in the NBA
My number one pick, my favorite city always to visit is New York. The Garden is one of the most fun places to play. Just the energy, even when they're not as good or even if they have more hype. It's always a good crowd, great city.
Blake also went with some sleeper picks, showing love to the desert and our neighbors to the north for their diverse culture and, more importantly, the tax benefits.
Phoenix is a sleeper NBA city with huge potential
Number two, kind of a sleeper city for me, is Phoenix. Young. It's a good time. Great weather always. I like to get in there a little early. Just take my claim, put them on the Mount Rushmore, and then when they do blow up, it's like, hey, I was here from the beginning.
Toronto is a premier NBA city because it is culturally diverse and a great tax city to play in
Number three, I'm going Toronto. North of the border. Toronto's great, culturally diverse country. Solid fans, great tax city to play in. Also Drake, you could be friends with Drake.
Michael Rapaport hopped on next to draft the Mount Rushmore of Sitcom Dads. In true Rapaport fashion, he was highly judgmental of the other lists and brought his signature New York intensity to the debate. While PFT went with the animated GOAT, Rapaport stayed old school, even if it meant calling out some "beta" behavior from classic TV icons.
Homer Simpson is the greatest sitcom dad of all time because every man aspires to live like him
Number one, I have Homer Simpson. That's a no-brainer. We all grew up idolizing Homer. In fact, every man's life is spent getting to a place where he can just live his life like Homer Simpson. Every man's dream. How'd you know I wanted to always dress in a muumuu?
Mike Brady is a beta male for raising kids that aren't his
Mike Brady [is] raising somebody else's kids. He's got to pay for all their education and their trips to Disney World. Those weren't even his kids. He's not a real man. He's a beta male. He's stuck paying for an alpha male's problem.
Quick Hits and Higher Education
The show rounded out with a check-in from Chris Long, who called in to face the music after being snubbed from the recurring guest Mount Rushmore. He tried to win back favor by breaking the news of his new jersey number and his recent drug test results.
Number 56 makes a defensive end look the fastest on the field
I believe as a 32-year-old white defensive end, I would decide on picking the number that made me look the fastest. [Number 56].
We also got a bad visual for Kevin Durant, who is apparently spending his championship high arguing with people on Twitter about whether or not he enjoys being farted on. Big Cat thinks KD should just lean into the weirdness to finally become a relatable figure.
Kevin Durant should lean into the 'fart face' rumors to be relatable
The reason why people hate you [Kevin Durant] right now is that you joined a 73-win team to win a title. Give us something to make you relatable. Be the fart face guy. It actually humanizes him a little bit, doesn't it?
Finally, the debut of "Higher Education" saw the guys giving advice to intern Billy Football as he prepares for college. The first lesson was simple: do not be the weirdo who requests a single room.
Freshman should always get a roommate instead of a single
Got to get a roommate. The guy who gets the single, he's immediately judged like, oh, you're better than us. And it becomes a party room. You're a freak. The guy who has a single room, there's always questions. Freshman year, just get a roommate, deal with it.
If Tim Tebow can just find a way to relieve some tension, the Mets' minor league system might finally be safe from his flying bats.

