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Spencer Hawes and Frank Kaminsky 04/20/2016

Wednesday, April 20, 201618 takes

The guys talk about JJ Watt finally reaching a tipping point, MMA news, Rob Ryan vs Dan Mullen in a football guy contest, and what NFL Coach would make the best Vice President Spencer Hawes and Frank Kaminsky from the Charlotte Hornets join the show for an interview. Segments include "PR 101" and "Sorry I'm not Sorry" from Curt Schilling.

Spencer Hawes and Frank Kaminsky on The Conglomerate and JJ Watt Hate

Big Cat and PFT are coming in hot for 4/20, though PFT seems more interested in celebrating Hitler's birthday for some reason. The main event is a showdown over the origin of the JJ Watt hate train. While ESPN’s Stugatz is out here crying about being the first to turn on JJ, the guys went back to the tape to prove they were disruptors in the field of hating long before it was cool.

Loss
Apr 20, 2016
#22538
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

JJ Watt will get a DUI within six months if he keeps up his current public persona

He either comes on Pardon My Take and doesn't interview anybody and is actually real for a little bit... or two, he keeps up the facade, and then six months later, he gets a DUI, and then it's all just completely busted. ... If you keep this up, and then you get a DUI, guess what? You're screwed.

JJ Watt did not get a DUI in the six months following this episode.

Big Cat isn't just worried about JJ’s public persona; he’s actually anticipating the next move in the JJ Watt PR playbook. If you see a news report about a heroic rescue involving puppies and kittens, just know the PMT crew was there first to call it out.

Void
Apr 20, 2016
#12288
Big CatBig Cat

Any future heroic act by JJ Watt will be a staged PR stunt

I wouldn't rule out J.J. Watt staging, saving some child from a burning building or something. If you hear a story in the next month that J.J. Watt ran into a burning warehouse and there were children and kittens and puppies and he saved them all, just be on the lookout for that. ... I want to be a pre-truther to anything heroic that J.J. Watt does in the next six months.

The take is a cynical interpretation of character; whether an act is 'staged' is subjective.

MMA Madness and Steroid Accusations

The world of MMA is in shambles with Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz both claiming retirement. While Nate probably just got too high and forgot he had a job, Big Cat is looking for a deeper conspiracy regarding Conor's sudden exit from the sport. He thinks we've gotten too soft on performance-enhancing drug accusations and it's time to bring them back to the forefront of the conversation.

Loss
Apr 20, 2016
#12290
Big CatBig Cat

Conor McGregor's retirement is likely a cover for a steroid issue

I don't think people assume steroids enough anymore. And now this is going to be a hot take, but just follow me for a minute. Conor McGregor, he retired because he did steroids, right? Why isn't anyone saying that?

There was never any evidence that McGregor's brief 2016 retirement was due to a failed steroid test; it was famously a dispute over media obligations.

PFT immediately jumped on board, reminding everyone that if we're going to throw stones, we might as well aim them at some of the most protected records in sports history.

Loss
Apr 20, 2016
#12291
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Cal Ripken Jr. used performance-enhancing drugs to maintain his consecutive games streak

I think that we need to bring back steroid accusations because you're absolutely right. So I'll get it started by reiterating my favorite steroid claim of all time, and that's that Cal Ripken Jr. used steroids or performance-enhancing drugs to break that streak.

There has never been any evidence produced to support this claim.

The Football Guy VP Stakes

With Rex Ryan introducing Donald Trump in Buffalo, Big Cat and PFT started looking at which NFL coaches would actually make the best running mates. Between the Ryan brothers sleeping at the Bills facility and Dan Mullen running the Boston Marathon with zero training, the Football Guy energy is at an all-time high this week.

Void
Apr 20, 2016
#12293
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Rob Ryan sleeping at the Bills facility is a bigger 'Football Guy' move than Dan Mullen's marathon

Without a doubt, Rob Ryan's sleeping at the facility. And here's why. Rex Ryan, now that he's got his brother in town, they're doing nothing but hanging out at the Bills facility, drinking Fireball and just like sleeping on cots. And to them, that's like summer camp. So that is a football guy move. Dan Mullen running a long distance and like showing off about it. That's more of a basketball lifer move.

This is a subjective judgment based on the show's internal 'Football Guy' logic.

When it comes to the actual ticket, Big Cat thinks Rex is a natural fit for the executive branch since his coaching clock is ticking anyway. PFT, on the other hand, is looking for someone who brings that specific 7-9 energy to the White House to ensure nothing ever actually changes.

Void
Apr 20, 2016
#12295
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Jeff Fisher is the perfect Vice Presidential candidate because he is consistently mediocre

I think I'm going to have to go with your boy, Jeff Fisher, just because, like, he proves that he is a guy that will stick around. In fact, at the very, very least, if you take Fisher, you're getting an average candidate, right? He's consistent. He's not going to commit any huge gaffes, but he's also not going to win over any votes. So he's basically going to keep your approval numbers exactly what they are. Jeff Fisher's only hole is the glaring hole that he's entirely mediocre.

This is a satirical take on Fisher's coaching record applied to politics.

Frank Kaminsky and Spencer Hawes Join the Show

The Charlotte Hornets are officially the NBA team of the program. Frank Kaminsky and Spencer Hawes joined the show to talk about the playoffs and their degenerate scratch-off syndicate known as "The Conglomerate." Apparently, Tyler Hansbrough (aka Psycho T) is a key member who refuses to stop buying tickets until he hits the $10 million jackpot.

Win
Apr 20, 2016
#12296
Frank KaminskyFrank Kaminsky

The Warriors' 73-win record means nothing if they don't win the championship

My thing is, the record, in my opinion, doesn't mean much if they don't win the championship. I think it's one of those things where they have to do both to be recognized as one of the best teams ever because they're both 72 and 10 team won the championship. And if they don't, then I just don't think they're on the same level.

The Warriors lost in the 2016 Finals, leading many to adopt this exact viewpoint regarding their legacy.

Frank and Spencer were surprisingly open about the locker room dynamics, including the fact that they are both terrified of Michael Jordan. They’ve seen the Crying MJ memes, but they know exactly who signs their checks, so don't expect a retweet from either of them anytime soon. Spencer also got real about the changing landscape of the league and why the traditional "process" might be getting harder to pull off with the new cap spikes.

Void
Apr 20, 2016
#22542
Spencer HawesSpencer Hawes

NBA first-round draft picks are losing their value because of the rising salary cap

Cap space isn't near as valuable as it was, first round picks aren't nearly as valuable as maybe they used to be and I think there's definitely a lot of good things within [the process] but it's kind of sad to see the state that franchise has found itself in.

The value of draft picks remains a subjective debate in NBA management, though the 2016 cap spike did briefly alter market dynamics.

PR 101 and Sorry I’m Not Sorry

The show wrapped up with some advice for Johnny Manziel, who just lost his agent and is currently wandering around Coachella with a cracked iPhone. Big Cat thinks a law degree is the only thing that can save Johnny Football's reputation at this point.

Loss
Apr 20, 2016
#12297
Big CatBig Cat

Johnny Manziel should go to law school and become his own agent

Johnny Manziel is agentless. He should start going to law school, become his own agent, show that he can be a responsible adult. If Johnny Manziel was like yeah I'm starting night school classes law school night school classes tell me people aren't like wow Johnny really got his act together.

Manziel did not go to law school or represent himself; his professional football career effectively ended shortly after.

Meanwhile, Curt Schilling is back in the news for being Curt Schilling. While the rest of the world is arguing about his Facebook memes, Big Cat thinks we should be focusing on the real Schilling: the man who single-handedly bankrupted the state of Rhode Island with a video game company.

Void
Apr 20, 2016
#12298
Big CatBig Cat

Curt Schilling should be known for his failed business ventures rather than his social media posts

Curt Schilling needs to start bringing up that he bankrupted a video game thing and bankrupted the whole entire state of Rhode Island. I feel like people forget that, and he should be saying that more often. It's like, don't know me as Curt Schilling the racist. Know me as Curt Schilling the really bad businessman.

This is a subjective opinion on how Schilling should manage his reputation.

If you see a meme tomorrow featuring Hitler, a troop, and a bathroom stall, just know PFT probably sent it to Curt's DMs.

nflnbajj-wattmmacharlotte-hornetsdonald-trump

More Takes

Void
Apr 20, 2016
#12289
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Jon Jones' claim of marijuana addiction is a PR move because it's not a real addiction

Jon Bones Jones today came out and said like, yeah, I used to smoke a lot of weed and now I don't anymore. And so now I'm back on the straight and narrow. ... That's just not really an addiction. They're not going to be mad at you. Like that's just... just not really an addiction.

The medical and societal definition of addiction is subjective and variable.
Loss
Apr 20, 2016
#12292
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Conor McGregor will transition to the WWE

You saw that the last, what, six people that McGregor has followed on Twitter have all been WWE guys. So is Conor McGregor going to be a wrestler?

As of 2024, McGregor has never actually competed in the WWE, though rumors persist.
Push
Apr 20, 2016
#22539
Big CatBig Cat

Rex Ryan should consider being Donald Trump's Vice President because he won't be coaching the Bills in four years

Rex Ryan might want to consider being Donald Trump's vice president because that's a four year job and there's no way he's going to be coach of the bills in four years.

While Rex Ryan didn't become VP, he was fired by the Bills in 2016, validating the cynical premise of the take.
Loss
Apr 20, 2016
#22540
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Donald Trump will choose Carly Fiorina as his running mate to counter Hillary Clinton

My guess would be he goes [Carly] Fiorina if he runs against Hillary Clinton just so he can be like, I'm not sexist. Some of my best running mates are women. He should.

Trump chose Mike Pence as his running mate.
Loss
Apr 20, 2016
#22541
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Mike Zimmer would be an ideal Vice President for Donald Trump due to their similar tans and attitudes

My number one will be Mike Zimmer. They've got the same tan. Mike Zimmer's got a no-nonsense type attitude going on. ... He communicates the same way that Donald Trump does, just direct, straightforward.

Mike Zimmer was never a VP candidate.
Void
Apr 20, 2016
#12294
Big CatBig Cat

Bill Belichick would be the best NFL coach to serve as a Vice President

Bill Belichick would be a damn good one, too. Because he actually – Bill Belichick would actually instill confidence in a candidate like Donald Trump, right? You'd be like, well, Donald Trump doesn't know what he's doing, but Bill Belichick does. I mean he knows what he's doing basically anything.

This is a hypothetical political scenario.
Loss
Apr 20, 2016
#22543
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Wearing a headband increases an athlete's vertical jump by four inches

I've always had a theory about headbands too, that headbands increase your vertical jump at least temporarily by about four inches.

There is no scientific basis for this claim.
Win
Apr 20, 2016
#22544
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Curt Schilling is deliberately trying to get fired by ESPN

I think Kurt's trying to get himself fired at this point. ... He's pulling, didn't George Costanza do that at one point? I think that's what Schilling's doing. ... He's going to continue down this road if ESPN doesn't fire him.

ESPN fired Schilling the same day this episode aired (or immediately after).

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