PMT DB
PMT DB
Ryen Russillo on ESPN, Gym Etiquette, and the Clutch Gene
Football is back, and Big Cat and PFT are reaching levels of hype that shouldn't be possible during the preseason. While most people are complaining about starters sitting, the guys are locked into every snap, treating a 65-yard Josh Allen incomplete pass like a Super Bowl-winning touchdown.
PFT CommenterNFL preseason doesn't suck; it's genuine, enjoyable football
It's such a treat every August because everyone's like, oh, the NFL preseason sucks. Guess what? It doesn't suck. No. It's football.
Between overreacting to Saquon Barkley's massive quads in pads and analyzing the pure grit of Andy Dalton throwing a pick-six, it's clear the spirit of the game has returned. PFT is even convinced that we need a whole new way to film the Buffalo Bills this season.
PFT CommenterJosh Allen's passes are so powerful they will require drone cameras to track
They're going to need to devise new cameras. All-22 isn't going to be able to cover Josh Allen's passes. No. They're going to have to have a drone. They're going to get... Obama to fly a drone above the stadium... taking photos.
Ryen Russillo in Studio
Ryen Russillo joined the show for an hour-long session that felt less like an interview and more like a therapy session for sports media veterans. They touched on everything from the legendary chemistry of the Van Pelt and Russillo show to the mystery surrounding SVP's actual birthday. Russillo got surprisingly candid about the work-life balance (or lack thereof) required to reach the top of the industry, noting that he spent his entire 30s essentially living in a basement watching basketball.
When the conversation shifted to the modern NBA, Russillo provided a dose of reality regarding LeBron James in Los Angeles. While Lakers fans are dreaming of a new dynasty, Ryen thinks the window is tighter than people realize.
Ryen RussilloLeBron James will win exactly one more NBA championship in his career
I'll go under [1.5]. I think he has one more. But usually these guys, this means they're done. Remember the Kobe stuff? We're like, oh, nobody wants him more than Kobe. You want it all you want. This is over.
The guys also pressed Ryen on one of the most debated topics in sports: the clutch gene. While the analytics crowd tends to scoff at the idea, Russillo defended the concept of players who thrive when the pressure makes everyone else tighten up.
Ryen RussilloThe 'clutch gene' is a real phenomenon because athletes can 'tighten up' under pressure
Why is it that we all accept that a certain golfer standing over a major putt four feet out to win the Masters... Everyone would agree that you're tightening up there a little bit, right? ... So if we all accept that that exists, why couldn't there be players that are more comfortable, therefore clutch, in those moments?
Mount Rushmore of Guys at the Gym
Since Russillo is a noted gym guy, it was only right to do the Mount Rushmore of people you see at the gym. This was the draft Ryen was born for. PFT led the way with the classic "blow dryer balls guy" in the locker room, while Big Cat targeted the out-of-shape guy being dragged around by a personal trainer.
Russillo went deep on the "deadlift guy" who takes ten minutes between every single rep just to add two and a half pounds to the bar. He had some very strong thoughts on that specific plate size.
Ryen RussilloMen should never use 2.5-pound plates at the gym
Men shouldn't use the two and a half plates ever. Ever. ... You went up two and a half pounds today. Like, men shouldn't use the two and a half plates ever.
Other notable entries included the guy who spends more time talking to the front desk staff than lifting, and the "Gym Perv" who gathers the regulars to point out girls on the treadmill. Russillo also revealed his "Help Guy" persona, admitting he’s beelined across the gym to offer unsolicited squat advice to strangers just because he couldn't help himself.
Tiger, Nerds, and King Snyder
The show wrapped up with a check-in on whether Tiger Woods is officially back. After a grinding performance in St. Louis, PFT found a way to spin a par into a monumental achievement of grit.
PFT CommenterGrinding out a par in golf is more impressive than shooting a low score with no effort
See, Big Cat, here's where you and I kind of differ because you don't know as much about golf as I do. He [Tiger Woods] grinded this one out. ... if you grind out a bad score, it's actually better than shooting a good score with no effort. It shows more grit, more determination. It's like an ugly win. Better than a beautiful loss.
They also checked in on Jayson Werth, who is currently at war with the "super nerds" of baseball analytics. PFT used the opportunity to predict the future of robotics in sports, though he thinks the technology will be diverted to other industries first.
PFT CommenterSex bots will be perfected before robot umpires or doctors
I think we're going – if history has taught us anything, it's that sex is always on the bleeding edge of technology. So after we perfect sex bots – Then we'll get around to making things like doctors, surgeons. Robot umps and robot baseball players.
Finally, the guys paid tribute to Bill Snyder, who signed a five-year extension at Kansas State at age 78. Big Cat knows exactly how this contract will play out in Manhattan, Kansas.
Big CatBill Snyder will retire and then un-retire during his five-year contract extension
The best part about that extension is he's going to retire and come back within those five years. Oh, absolutely. Yeah.
Just remember: if you're sending a dick pic, just don't.
