PMT DB
PMT DB
Randy Moss, Eddie Hearn & Chris Paul Might Be Good at Basketball
The vibes are high for a massive sports weekend, but Big Cat and PFT Commenter are dealing with a crisis of faith. After watching Chris Paul dismantle the Mavericks in the fourth quarter, the long-standing bit about CP3 being a playoff fraud is under siege. PFT is trying to pivot the branding before the take dies entirely.
PFT CommenterChris Paul is confirmed 'good' at basketball, but he's not 'great' yet
Chris Paul has always been good. In fact, the word good is the perfect word. That's a good word to describe Chris Paul. He's good... He's not great yet. But I mean, he looks unstoppable.
While the basketball world marvels at the precision, Big Cat is looking at the bigger picture of male friendship. Specifically, his friendship with Ryan Russillo. He isn't ready to live in a world where he can't hold a lack of rings over Russillo's head until they're both 95 years old.
Big CatI want Chris Paul to fail so I can keep making fun of Ryan Russillo
I really don't want to lose this take. I don't want him to win a championship. Then we can't have this take. That's very fun to throw around and just pretend that it's all about rings... Ryan Russillo has made it to a point where it's like, I want Chris Paul to fail because I know how much it matters to him. And that's really what male friendship is about.
This led to a broader discussion on why we actually watch sports with our friends. It’s not about watching them succeed; it’s about waiting for the exact moment their hearts break so you can send that one "You good?" text that actually means the opposite.
Big CatMale friendship is essentially about rooting for your friends' sports teams to fail so you can laugh at them.
If you break down like what male friendship is about, it's essentially like rooting for your other friends to fail. It's not like fail in a terrible, terrible way, like their life ruined, but the thing they love in sports, you want to see it fail so that you can laugh at them. There's no better gift you can give your friends than have that happen to one of your teams.
On the other side of that series, Luka Doncic looked like he was playing defense in quicksand. While the Mavs got hunted on every possession, Big Cat found the silver lining in Luka’s physique. He’s essentially playing the long game by staying just out of shape enough to have a "best shape of my life" narrative in the chamber for 2024.
Big CatLuka Doncic's lack of conditioning is actually a good sign for Mavericks fans
It's actually a great lesson in life of why you should always stay a little bit overweight because you can always say I haven't peaked. I can still reach my level of best shape of my life. And when I do, y'all better watch out. And that's what Luka can do.
The Derby, Japanese Horses, and The GOAT
Horse racing royalty Randy Moss joined the show to get everyone's betting cards ready for Churchill Downs. The big story this year is the international flair, specifically the Japanese contingent that has been dominant on the world stage recently. Randy is buying the hype on Crown Pride after some legendary morning workouts.
Randy MossThe Japanese horse Crown Pride is a legitimate threat in the Kentucky Derby
Every day in the last two weeks, big cat, it is looking more and more possible... He has been sensational here in Churchill Downs. And this morning he had a workout... everyone was like, holy crap, did you see that Japanese horse work this morning? I mean, the horse looks great.
Big Cat brought up the "Mickey Mouse" narrative surrounding Taiba, the Bob Baffert-trained (but not currently Baffert-led) horse with only two career starts. Randy thinks the experience factor is overblown by old-school pundits because the sport has shifted toward running horses less frequently.
Randy MossDon't worry about Taiba's lack of experience in the Kentucky Derby; horse racing has changed and horses run less often now.
No horse in more than a century has won the Kentucky Derby with only two previous lifetime starts. I don't care about that. Staff times have changed and thoroughbred racing horses are running less and less often than they used to. So if you like [Taiba] to win, the Kentucky Derby don't pay any attention to his inexperience.
When it comes to the actual winner on Saturday, Randy is looking at the horse with the tactical speed to handle the rail. He’s officially backing the favorite to get the job done for Steve Asmussen.
Randy MossEpicenter is my pick to win the Kentucky Derby
Epicenter is the perfect horse to take advantage of an inside post position because he has tactical speed... I think it's a great post position for Epicenter, probably why that's why I'm picking him.
Eddie Hearn and the Boxing Business
Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn stopped by the studio ahead of the Canelo vs. Bivol fight. Eddie is a breath of fresh air in the promoter world because he actually seems to like his fighters, especially Canelo. He broke down why Canelo is a different breed of athlete compared to guys who get a big paycheck and lose their edge.
Eddie HearnCanelo Alvarez is a pure winner because he stays hungry for belts despite already having all the money and success in the world.
When you have more money than you ever dreamed of, when you have more belts than you ever fantasized about as a kid, how do you want it more than ever, right? In a sport as brutal as boxing. And that is why Canelo Alvarez is a pure winner... he dreamed of having all the things that he's got now, but now he's got it, he wants it more than ever.
Eddie also got into the weeds of the YouTube boxing phenomenon. While he’s worked with the Paul brothers and respects their ability to build a platform and sell tickets, he still draws a hard line between being a great entertainer and a world-class fighter.
Eddie HearnJake Paul will never be a world champion
Jake's a little bit different because he's at least boxing now. Right. He thinks he can be a world champion never in a million years, but there are actually some boxers that are worse than Jake Paul.
We also got the legendary story of Eddie knocking out his own father in a sparring session and the absolute disaster of the Audley Harrison fight. The section ended with some speculation on Tyson Fury’s "retirement," which Eddie believes is about as real as a professional wrestler's retirement.
Eddie HearnTyson Fury is not actually retired
Tyson Fury beat Dillian Whyte the other day, he face timed me off a dozen times the next day asking for Anthony Joshua's number. So he ain't retiring for nothing. I mean, he just wants to make as much with Tyson Fury... I think he will always be there.
The show wrapped up with Billy Football getting canceled in real-time for tweeting a nature video of wild hogs that was a bit too graphic for the lunch hour. It’s a busy weekend with the Derby, the NHL playoffs, and Canelo, so make sure to use the Barstool link for the fight broadcast.
Good luck to everyone betting the ponies except for the people who take advice from Billy.
