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Tiger’s Tarik Skubal, World Chess Number 1 Magnus Carlsen, Panthers Dominate Game 3, Plus Guys On Chicks

Wednesday, June 11, 202516 takes

Panthers dominate the Oilers in Game 3 and Edmonton is in must win territory (-). We get ready for NBA Finals Game 3 and talk other ball (-). Hot Seat/Cool Throne including the Wizards somehow being a part of the Finals and US Open course talk (-). Detroit Tigers Ace Tarik Skubal joins us in studio to talk about winning the Cy Young, how much money he’s going to make, being a Hoss and tons more (-). The Greatest Chess Player in the world Magnus Carlsen joins the show to talk chess, being the GOAT, his loss last week, competitive chess world and more (-). We finish with Guys on Chicks (-).

Tarik Skubal and Magnus Carlsen on Being the GOAT, Chess Meltdowns, and Baseball Hosses

The Florida Panthers are officially a problem. After a dominant Game 3 performance where they didn't just win on the scoreboard but seemingly won every individual fight on the ice, the Oilers are staring down a 3-0 hole. PFT thinks Edmonton missed a golden opportunity to shift the energy by not sending their goalie into the fray.

Loss
Jun 11, 2025
#19663
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Getting into a line brawl is the best way to shift momentum when you're losing a playoff series

As a hockey expert, my plan, whenever you're getting your ass kicked in a series and you wanna shift it around, just get into a massive line brawl at the end of that game and just try to change the energies up somehow.

The Oilers did enter a brawl at the end of Game 3 but went on to lose the series in 7 games after being down 3-0.

While the Oilers are in the ultimate must-win territory, Big Cat actually thinks the 3-0 deficit carries a weirdly better vibe than being down 3-1 because of how the pressure shifts if you can just scratch out a couple of wins.

Loss
Jun 11, 2025
#19664
Big CatBig Cat

I would rather be down 3-0 in a series than 3-1 because of the lack of pressure

It does sound stupid, but I just think vibes wise, 3-0, I know what you're saying. 3-0, you can kind of sneak up on 'em. 3-1, you can't... when you're down 3-0, if you can win game four and five, all the pressure flips back.

Statistically, teams down 3-1 have a much higher comeback rate than teams down 3-0, which has only happened 4 times in NHL history.

Tarik Skubal is a Certified Hoss

AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal joined the show in studio to talk about his dominant run with the Tigers and hitting 103 mph in the ninth inning of a complete game. He’s the ultimate teammate, even if his mom gets mad at him for swearing on the mound, and he firmly believes that winning is the only thing that matters when the clubhouse vibes get shaky.

Void
Jun 11, 2025
#19671
Tarik SkubalTarik Skubal

Winning is a band-aid that cures everything in sports, regardless of the problem

Winning cures everything. You know, winning is, it's a band-aid that, you know, it doesn't matter if it's a bullet hole, whatever, you know, it cures everything and you just kind of go play baseball.

This is a subjective athlete philosophy.

Skubal went deep on the strategy of pitching, his love for the city of Detroit, and his relationship with manager AJ Hinch. While everyone focuses on his fastball, Skubal wants the world to know he has a hidden talent that the analytics guys are probably overlooking.

Loss
Jun 11, 2025
#19672
Tarik SkubalTarik Skubal

I am officially the best bunter in Major League Baseball history because I am one-for-one

I do say this though. I do say I'm the best bunter in major league history... I had one bunt attempt got it down. So. Anytime big situations, I always say I'm the best bunter in major league history. You ready to, can't take that away from me. I'm one-for-one.

Literally incorrect, but a funny technicality.

We also attempted to negotiate his next contract in real-time, settling on a cool 10 years for $425 million, provided we get a small percentage for our propaganda services. Skubal also admitted to cheating on crosswords by calling up his catcher, Jake Rogers, whenever the clues get too difficult, which is the most pitcher move of all time.

The Chess GOAT Magnus Carlsen

We finally sat down with the greatest chess player to ever live, Magnus Carlsen. For a guy who has been number one for 15 years, he’s surprisingly candid about how much he hates losing. He recently had a meltdown after a loss where he felt "washed" because he let a winning position slip away due to low blood sugar and a bad pre-game meal of Chinese takeout.

Void
Jun 11, 2025
#25308
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Magnus Carlsen needs to hire a suitcase-carrying snack coach to prevent blood sugar meltdowns during tournaments

I've got it is, it sounds like you beat yourself and also, yeah, you gotta have a snack coach. Yeah. You gotta have a guy that's that's at your side with a suitcase filled to pretzels, ice cream that's we can learn, we can improve from this.

The concept of performance nutritionists exists, though the 'suitcase of pretzels' is specific comedic hyperbole.

Magnus discussed the state of the game and how computers have changed preparation, making it harder to set yourself apart from the field. Despite the influx of young prodigies, he still feels like he’s in a league of his own across every format.

Win
Jun 11, 2025
#19674
Magnus CarlsenMagnus Carlsen

I am currently the best at every single format of chess

At the moment I would say that I, I'm definitely the best at every, at every format that we we play. And honestly, my closest competitors are still the, the old guys, guys around my age. So yeah, the kids, they're good, but they're, they're not quite quite there yet.

Magnus has held the triple crown (World Champion in Classical, Rapid, and Blitz) simultaneously multiple times.

He also touched on the infamous "bad boy" image, including his fine for wearing jeans to a tournament, and why he's pushing for more randomized starting positions in chess to eliminate the boredom of memorized openings. He’s not seeing anyone in the rearview mirror just yet.

Open
Jun 11, 2025
#25310
Magnus CarlsenMagnus Carlsen

There is currently no clear next dominant chess player among the younger generation

I wanna see somebody among the kids, like really stand out and be a serious threat to be that new number one guy who can actually dominate... with the kids right now, I don't, I don't see it like there are a lot of them are really talented, but it, it is not obvious that some one of them is gonna, is gonna dominate.

This will be proven over the next 5-10 years as the current crop of teenagers matures into the world championship cycle.

Hot Seat/Cool Throne

Hot Seat/Cool Throne featured a heavy dose of NFL contract drama and US Open course fear. PFT is already terrified of Pinehurst No. 2, predicting that the impossible conditions will lead to a very high winning score.

Loss
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The winning score at the US Open will be over par because the course is impossible

Can we bet on the winning golfer to have a, a score that's over par? Yes... I wanna bet on winning score over par. I think this US Open is going to the course. Officially I've seen enough of the content where now I fear this course.

The winning score at the 2025 US Open at Oakmont was 1-under par (279), not over par. J.J. Spaun was the only player to finish under par, so while the course was brutally difficult, the winner still finished under par.

Big Cat suggested a new rule for sports ownership that would actually hold billionaires accountable for putrid on-field products. If you can't make the playoffs once every five years, you lose the keys to the franchise.

Void
Big CatBig Cat

Sports owners should be forced to sell if their team doesn't make the playoffs for five consecutive years

I think they should have a new rule in own, in, in all sports that if, what call it five years, if you don't make the playoffs in five years, automatic sale. Like whatever the threshold is, that would be awesome. 'cause relegation is never gonna come to American sports. But if you could relegate owners that would be sick.

This is a subjective proposal for a rule change.

We wrapped up with Guys on Chicks, featuring a woman whose boyfriend became a golf addict overnight after she bought him clubs. Big Cat issued a stern warning to anyone entering a new relationship: you have to establish your level of degeneracy early.

Void
Big CatBig Cat

Relationship hobbies must be established from the start because you can't add an addiction later

Before you start dating, you have to have all your hobbies set because you can't just add golf. You can add golf, but you can't add golf addict. There's a difference. There's a, you could be a golfer, but if this guy's playing seven days a week and YouTube tutorials and practicing swinging the living room, that's going to, you're gonna need to ease into that one.

This is a subjective piece of relationship advice.

If you're going to be a golf addict, you have to be one from the jump so your partner knows exactly what they're signing up for.

mlbchessstanley-cupdetroit-tigersnba-finalspoker-and-chess

More Takes

Loss
Jun 11, 2025
#19665
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The Thunder will beat the Pacers 4-2 in the Finals

I think I'm gonna stay with four, two Thunder.

The Thunder beat the Pacers in 7 games (4-3), not 4-2 as predicted. The series went the full distance.
Win
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

I personally guarantee Terry McLaurin will be on the Commanders next season

I personally guarantee that they're gonna pay him more guaranteed money and he's gonna be a commander next year. And that's a guarantee.

Terry McLaurin did remain with Washington through his contract negotiations.
Loss
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

TJ Watt is unhappy in Pittsburgh and wants to leave

TJ Watt... he's gonna cost a lot of money. I think he's unhappy and I think he wants to go... I could imagine TJ Watt wearing a Green Bay Packers jersey.

TJ Watt remained with the Steelers and did not request a trade to Green Bay or Washington.
Open
ZacZac

Apple is going to force brain chips on everyone and we'll have no choice but to accept them

I don't want it, but it's coming. It's gonna happen and I'm gonna have to get it... So it's chip or be left behind. Correct. No choice. We just have to chip.

Neuralink and similar companies are developing this, but mass consumer adoption is still far in the future.
Void
Jun 11, 2025
#25309
Tarik SkubalTarik Skubal

AJ Hinch is the best manager in baseball and is always thinking multiple plays ahead

I probably won't. He's got, he's, he's so smart. AJ's, I mean, he's the best manager in the game. So wherever he wants to take the game or whatever he wants to do... it feels like every move that is made during the game... it feels like it's always in our advantage... he's really good at his job.

Whether Hinch is the 'best' is subjective, though his track record and peer reputation are very high.
Win
Jun 11, 2025
#19673
Magnus CarlsenMagnus Carlsen

I am the undisputed greatest chess player of all time

I'm not sure I'm the right person to, to ask really, but I don't mind. That's that's completely fine by me... I feel like I'm, I'm getting there. So, that's all I can ask for.

By Elo rating and duration as World No. 1, Carlsen is widely considered the GOAT by most modern metrics.

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