PMT DB
PMT DB
The vibes are immaculate at the Barstool Chicago HQ because the New York Knicks are officially headed to the NBA Finals. Memes is on cloud nine after the Knicks dismantled the Cavs in game four, and Big Cat couldn't help but marvel at the absolute perfection this team is playing with right now.
MemesThe New York Knicks are currently the best team in the NBA
I don't think I've ever been able to say this. Knicks are the best team in the NBA.
While the Knicks are buzzing, the Cavs are going out in the most pathetic way possible. Big Cat absolutely unloaded on Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson for his post-game comments about "expected wins," calling it the most embarrassing thing he's ever heard from a professional coach.
Big CatKenny Atkinson's 'expected wins' quote is the biggest loser quote in professional sports history.
Kenny Atkinson, the coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers said after they were down 3-0 in the series that analytically they've won two of the games. If you look at the shot quality, if you look at the expected wins, they've won two of the games. Now, I don't want to be hyperbolic here, but I think that is the biggest loser quote that has ever been uttered in professional sports. I do not understand, find me a bigger loser quote than that.
The Wemby Problem and Thunder Hate
Out West, Victor Wembanyama is proving that he might just be a higher power of basketball. PFT is already getting concerned that the Wemby era is arriving much faster than anyone anticipated, leading him to root for the Thunder just to delay the inevitable.
PFT CommenterI want the Thunder to win the Western Conference Finals so I don't have to start hating Victor Wembanyama yet
I kind of want the thunder to win because I'm not ready to start the clock on when I have to start hating the Spurs again.
Big Cat, however, is leaning into the chaos. He loves the fact that everyone seems to have a visceral reaction to the Thunder's style of play and SGA's frequent visits to the hardwood.
Big CatThe Oklahoma City Thunder are great for the NBA because they generate 'white-hot' hate from fans
I think though the white hot hate for the thunder, I think the thunder are awesome for the NBA. Because people hate 'em. I think they're great for the NBA. You want a team that everyone can galvanize behind and be like, we hate them.
Summer of Burgers and Who's Back
Who's Back of the Week took a turn for the culinary when Big Cat announced his official mission for the next few months. He’s not just eating a few patties at a tailgate; he’s looking to put up Wilt Chamberlain numbers on the grill.
Big CatI am going to eat 200 burgers this summer
I'm declared it's the summer of burgers. I'm gonna eat a hundred burgers. Probably more. I actually want to eat 200... 200 is the real number. I just want that on the record. 200 is the real number.
This led to a heated debate about burger purity. Big Cat is drawing a line in the sand against the trendy smash burger movement, while PFT is busy taking stands against breakfast items ruining good sandwiches.
Big CatSmash burgers are fake and are not considered 'real' burgers for true burger guys
I think smash burgers are, I think they're fake. I don't think you can, I don't think those are real burgers. People are like, oh, you gotta do smash burgers... What happened to just a good old fashioned American hamburger? Right. Nice juicy one. I just think they're, I think they're, I think they're not real burgers for burger guys.
PFT CommenterPutting an egg on a burger makes the burger worse
One guy was really hung over. He is like, oh, it's so good on the burger. Egg makes the burger worse. I'm not afraid to say it. I like eggs. Eggs on the side. I like it. If you're gonna get an egg, don't put it on the burger.
For PFT, the weekend was also about revolutionizing personal hygiene. After seeing a video of Bryce Harper's pre-game routine, PFT is convinced we've all been doing the most basic daily task wrong for decades.
PFT CommenterSqueezing toothpaste directly into your mouth before brushing, like Bryce Harper does, is the superior way to brush your teeth.
I've been brushing my teeth wrong my entire life. And I just found out about it today. Bryce Harper put out a video... and he squeezes the toothpaste directly into his mouth... honestly, it makes a lot of sense. I thought it was weird when I first saw it, but the more I think about it, like, you're not wasting any toothpaste... I think I've been brushing my teeth wrong my entire life.
Grit Week: Travis Etienne and Justin Reid
Two more incredible Grit Week interviews as the guys caught up with the newest stars of the New Orleans Saints. Travis Etienne talked about the homecoming of playing in Louisiana and the reality of being an elite back in today's NFL landscape.
I would have played defensive back in college if I had understood the career longevity and financial rewards of the position compared to running back
If I knew what I knew now, I probably would've played a little defense. I know I could have been a great DB if I worked at it tirelessly... from a career aspect, a longevity standpoint, just the way they treat defenders the way they treat running backs... You could put all your life in, worked into a running back, and we really just starting to transition the position back to where it was.
Then, Justin Reid stopped by to discuss his engineering background from Stanford, his chess mastery, and what it was like playing in a Steve Spagnuolo defense that knew exactly when to strike.
Patrick Mahomes 'humbled himself' in 2023 by playing more conservatively and leaning on the Chiefs' defense
In that second year, Patrick [Mahomes] actually humbled himself and instead of trying to be Superman, they leaned on us, on the defensive side of the ball and punted a little bit more, you know? And it was like, Hey, we'll let our defense, you know, come back, put us in good position and we'll just go finish the game there.
Reid also gave some insight into the physics of tackling, specifically why some backs are just built differently when it comes to breaking contact.
Running backs with 'thick waists' and wide hips, like Nick Chubb, are the hardest players in the NFL to tackle
Nick Chubb when he was with Cleveland... really the running backs that have really wide hips are all extremely hard to tackle. You just can't get your arms around 'em. Kareem Hunt was on my team when I played for Kansas City, but I just saw guys slipping off of him left and right. All the running backs with thick waist. Always the hardest guys to tackle.
Between the burger talk and the deep dive into defensive schemes, it's clear that the summer of grit is just getting started.
If you see Big Cat at a grill this weekend, just know he's likely already four burgers deep into his quest for 200.
