PMT DB
PMT DB
Christian Yelich, Kawhi to the Clippers, and the Mount Rushmore of Thrills
The guys are back after a week off, and in true PMT fashion, the sports world waited until they were gone to absolutely explode. Between the USWNT winning another World Cup and the NBA landscape shifting at 2:00 AM on a Friday night, there was plenty to catch up on. Big Cat and PFT hit the ground running with the Kawhi Leonard saga, which ended with a Woj bomb that shook the league almost as much as the actual earthquake that hit Vegas during Summer League.
This League Never Sleeps
Kawhi Leonard heading to the Clippers alongside Paul George was the ultimate "this league" moment. While the Lakers were busy being dysfuctional and leaking everything to the press, Kawhi was moving in total silence. Big Cat pointed out that the shift in power is palpable, especially considering the Lakers' perceived dominance in the sweepstakes.
Big CatLeBron James no longer controls the NBA like he used to
The immediate reaction that I had was LeBron James does not control this league like he used to.
Speaking of the Lakers, their fans had a rough go of it. Lakers Twitter spent two weeks acting like the Larry O'Brien trophy was already in the bag, only to watch their cross-hallway rivals snatch the best player in the world.
Big CatLakers Twitter had the worst two-week showing of any fan base in history
Lakers Twitter had the worst two-week showing of any fan base, basically attacking anyone who would say that Kawhi was going anywhere but the Lakers... It was a full-blown, why wouldn't he go to the Lakers? We're the greatest team of all time, even though we haven't made the playoffs in forever.
Despite the Clippers' massive haul, PFT isn't ready to crown them just yet. He thinks the Lakers might actually have the better roster when the dust settles. Regardless of who wins the hallway series, one thing is certain: the NBA offseason remains the undisputed king of content.
Big CatThe NBA has the best offseason in sports
The NBA by far and away has the best offseason in terms of the free agency period and players moving around and teams completely changing the course of their next four to five years in a matter of moments.
USWNT Dominance and Who's Back
While the NBA was busy with drama, the USWNT was busy being better than everyone else. Rose Lavelle emerged as a bona fide star, and PFT is ready to buy all the stock in her future.
PFT CommenterRose Lavelle will be the next USWNT superstar for the next eight years
Here's my hot take about Rose [Lavelle]. She's going to be the next superstar for the women's national team for the next, like, eight years... I'm saying that she's the next Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe.
In Who's Back, the guys touched on everything from Coco Gauff's Wimbledon run to Peter King's annual tradition of being a fun-sucker. Peter King decided to take a stand against the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, citing world hunger as the reason we shouldn't watch Joey Chestnut go to work. Big Cat wasn't having any of the hypocrisy from a guy who has covered the NFL for four decades.
Big CatPeter King is a hypocrite for criticizing the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest
It is unbelievable to watch where Peter King draws the line. Putting a serial rapist into the Hall of Fame. Okay. Darren Sharper. Eating too many hot dogs on 4th of July? Nuh-uh. Don't do it. Covering a sport for 30, 40 years... where guys are dying from brain injuries... Okay. Watching Joey Chestnut eat 71 hot dogs on July 4th? Uh-uh. That's Peter King's line.
Christian Yelich Joins the Show
Reigning NL MVP Christian Yelich hopped on to discuss the devastating news that he's pulling out of the Home Run Derby due to a back injury. It’s a massive blow for the fans and an even bigger blow for the PMT crew, who had a high-stakes "ass-eating" bet riding on his performance.
PFT CommenterChristian Yelich is making the smart decision by skipping the Home Run Derby to protect his swing and back
I think that you're making the smart call. First of all, if you compete in the home run derby, there's a chance you could ruin your swing... I'm really glad that it's not [happening].
While Yelich is out of the Derby, he’s still aiming to play in the All-Star game. To make it up to the guys, he agreed to a new stakes-raiser: if he hits two home runs in the All-Star game, Hank has to get a cat. Big Cat was quick to clarify that the original bet isn't dead, just postponed.
Big CatThe 'ass-eating' bet with Christian Yelich is a lifetime commitment
I think it only should count for the one time. Like, you can't do the home run derby every year. I think it should be a home run derby. The next one you do, when you have to enter it and play in it, and that will be the bet.
Mount Rushmore of Thrills
To wrap things up, the crew drafted the Mount Rushmore of easy thrills. These aren't your typical skydiving adrenaline rushes; these are the small, everyday moments that make you feel alive.
HankWaking up after a blackout and realizing you still have your phone and wallet is an all-time thrill
Drinking too much, like completely blacking out... And waking up and checking your pants to see if your wallet and phone isn't there... That, that wake up of like... Oh my God, do I have my shit? That is a thrill in itself.
From finding a prime parking spot to the specific joy of a flea flicker unfolding on your TV screen, the list covered the gamut of human emotion.
PFT CommenterRecognizing a flea flicker as it unfolds is one of the greatest thrills in sports
My last one is when you realize that it's not a handoff, but you recognize that it's a flea flicker. When the running back is going deep. When the running back tosses back, everybody who's watching the TV stands up. They're like, oh, shit.
Big Cat rounded out his list with a feeling every gambler knows too well—the thrill of a bet coming back from the dead when you've already torn up the ticket.
Big CatWinning a bet that was a sure loser is an all-time thrill
Winning a bet that was a sure, sure, sure loser. Like dead in the water. You have an over and it comes back out of nowhere. Where you just wrote it off. That is an all-time thrill.
If you see a 260-pound lefty quarterback in heaven this week, tell him the hefty lefty sent you.
