PMT DB
PMT DB
Bobby Valentine on Inventing the Wrap, the Mustache Game, and NASA’s Role in Stealing Signs
The Phoenix Suns have officially become the team of destiny after sweeping the Nuggets, but the real story remains the legendary "Suns in 4" fan. Big Cat is already preparing the championship ring for the man who defended the low ground in a Steve Nash jersey while delivering some of the cleanest uppercuts the internet has ever seen.
Big CatThe Suns fan from the 'Suns in 4' fight needs a championship ring
The bottom line is if they [the Suns] win, if they win the NBA finals this year, that guy needs a ring. He needs a ring for sure. And he needs to do the pregame ceremony.
While the Suns are soaring, the Nuggets are heading home after a series that ended on a sour note. Big Cat was not a fan of the officiating in the final game, specifically the decision to toss the Joker for a play that looked more like a typical playoff foul than a malicious act.
Big CatNikola Jokic's ejection in Game 4 was total bullshit
The Jokic ejection was bullshit. It was bullshit. Having that be an ejection was so, so stupid. I don't know if that changes the game... but yes, ejecting the reigning MVP, that's going to have an effect on it.
The Nets, The Sixers, and the Rato Curse
With Kyrie Irving going down and James Harden still hampered, the invincible Nets are starting to look human. Big Cat still maintains that when they are actually on the court, they are the class of the league, but the mounting injuries are making the path to a title significantly steeper.
Big CatThe Brooklyn Nets are still the best team in the NBA when at full strength
Obviously the Nets at full strength are probably the best team in the NBA and better than the Bucks. But at some point you do have to admit that Kyrie Irving, James Harden, those guys do get injured.
Everything hinges on Kevin Durant now. With the series shifting back to Brooklyn, the guys are looking at Game 5 as the moment that defines KD’s legacy. If he can’t carry this shorthanded squad, the torch might be passing to a new superstar in the East.
Big CatGame 5 against the Bucks is a legacy game for Kevin Durant
Is this a legacy game for Kevin Durant on Tuesday night? It's a must-win. If you want to jump to legacy... if he doesn't win this legacy game, there needs to be a new torch.
While everyone is focused on the Nets' health, PFT is looking at the Philadelphia 76ers as the real powerhouse. They’ve been quietly dismantling the Hawks and look like a team that is peak-prepared for whoever survives the Milwaukee-Brooklyn slugfest.
PFT CommenterThe Philadelphia 76ers are the best team in the NBA right now
The Sixers might just be the best team of these who are just kind of waiting or the best team in the NBA who were just waiting because they have sort of destroyed the Hawks the last two games.
In the NHL, the Colorado Avalanche suffered a collapse that defied logic. After being billed as an unstoppable wagon, they completely lamed out. Big Cat has officially diagnosed the city of Denver with the "Rato Curse," a string of eight straight playoff losses across two sports that serves as the ultimate sacrifice to the football gods.
Big CatThe Colorado 'Rato Curse' is the price the city must pay to trade for Aaron Rodgers.
The Rato Curse... to not have a win, have two teams deep in the playoffs and not have a fucking win in the two weeks... It's the bargain with the devil that you have to make in order to get Aaron Rodgers traded to your city.
Bobby Valentine: The Inventor of the Wrap
Former MLB manager Bobby Valentine joined the show for a truly electric interview that covered everything from his managerial career to his current run for mayor of Stamford, Connecticut. The biggest takeaway? Bobby isn't just a baseball guy; he’s an innovator who revolutionized the lunch game.
Bobby ValentineI invented the wrap sandwich in 1981
A couple of the really school reporters up there decided that they'd get their friends at the Wall Street Journal to do a national search to find out who had a wrap sandwich on the menu before 1981. And guess what? They couldn't find anyone. And they said I invented the wrap.
Bobby also cleared the air on some of his career decisions, admitting that his stint with the Red Sox was a mistake from the jump. He noted that if he could go back to 2012, he would have stayed at the ESPN desk rather than trying to police a clubhouse that was already deep into the chicken-and-beer era.
Bobby ValentineI should have stayed at ESPN instead of taking the Red Sox manager job in 2012.
I would've stayed at ESPN. They were ready to give me a multi-year contract and I was loving the job.
He also gave us his theory on the Houston Astros' sign-stealing scandal, suggesting that garbage cans were just the tip of the iceberg and that NASA-level technology was likely involved in the relay process.
Bobby ValentineThe Houston Astros weren't just banging on garbage cans—they were using NASA technology
If the Astros got this technology from NASA that was going to steal these signs and relay them to the dugout on internet wifi... believe me guys, they wouldn't be banging on a garbage drum and give the hitter signal. It had to be very high-tech guys.
Beyond baseball and politics, Bobby shared some truly out-of-this-world experiences. He is a firm believer in life beyond Earth, having spotted UFOs at Shea Stadium and during a camping trip in the Grand Canyon.
Bobby ValentineI saw a UFO above Shea Stadium and another over the Colorado River
I saw a UFO once... I believe you. I saw one during a press conference. Yeah, and we stopped at Chase [Shea] Stadium. Everyone looked, everyone pointed. I said to the press, 'Did you see that?'... I think there's stuff up there.
Who's Back and Talking Soccer
Who’s Back featured a return to form for Jeffrey Toobin, who made a comeback on CNN after his infamous Zoom incident. Big Cat thinks Toobin needs to stop apologizing and simply lean into his new identity as the guy who loves his own company a little too much.
Big CatJeffrey Toobin should own his scandal and become 'the jack off guy'
He should have been like, 'Hey guys, listen, I'm a guy. I jerk off.' You know what? You should trust me more because I'm just a regular guy who jerks off and guess what? This is my pledge to you. I will not do it in front of any more cameras. Lean into it. You have to own it at this point. Just become the jack off guy.
Over in the world of soccer, the Euros got off to a terrifying start with Christian Eriksen’s collapse on the pitch. While the scene was harrowing, Big Cat praised the decision to eventually resume the game once it was clear Eriksen was awake and stable. He also took a swing at the professional "Read the Room" posters on Twitter who spend their time policing everyone else’s reactions during a crisis.
Big Cat'Read the room' people on Twitter are the worst.
The 'read the room' people are the worst people in the world because I still can't for the life of me understand how being affected by something and then spending that time immediately after replying to other people to 'read the room' is you showing your lack of room-reading abilities.
Finally, the guys tackled the new NFL jersey rule as Julio Jones debuted his No. 2 jersey in Tennessee. PFT is strictly against wide receivers wearing single digits, arguing it destroys the visual hierarchy of the sport.
PFT CommenterWide receivers wearing single-digit jersey numbers is wrong
Julio Jones, he's wearing number two in Tennessee. I'm still not comfortable on a personal level with wide receivers wearing single digits. It's going to fuck my brain up... Number two is a bad kicker or a slow quarterback.
Maybe the No. 2 will help Julio look a little faster, but it's going to take a long time to get used to seeing a Hall of Fame wideout dressed like a punter.
