PMT DB
PMT DB
JJ Spaun on Winning the US Open, George Kittle, and the Panthers Repeat
The Florida Panthers are officially back-to-back Stanley Cup Champions after a clinical performance against the Oilers in Game 6. While Edmonton fans are mourning, Big Cat and PFT are focused on the bigger picture: the Toronto Maple Leafs are basically the second-best team in hockey because they were the only ones who actually gave Florida a scare.
PFT CommenterThe Toronto Maple Leafs were the second-best team in the NHL this year because they were the only ones to take the Panthers to seven games
I mean, if you had to pick a second best team, PFT, it's probably the Toronto Maple Leafs. 'cause they took 'em to seven. [PFT]: I was about to start the show by congratulating the Toronto Maple Leafs on being better than the Edmonton Oilers.
Naturally, the conversation turned to Connor McDavid. He's the best player in the world, but he's currently sitting in the "can't win the big one" category. Big Cat isn't pulling any punches on the lack of a ring for the Oilers' superstar.
Big CatConnor McDavid is currently incapable of winning the big one
I feel bad for [Connor McDavid]. He's an incredible player, but as of right now, I'm just going on the facts that I see — has not won the big one. And we're being a little tongue in cheek, but obviously this will be the, the, the prevailing story of can he win the big one.
Jalen Williams and the Thunder Wagon
Moving to the NBA, the Oklahoma City Thunder are just one win away from a title after a massive Jalen Williams performance. He went for 40 points, and the guys are starting to wonder if the hierarchy in OKC is shifting right before our eyes.
PFT CommenterJalen Williams is currently the 'Batman' of the Oklahoma City Thunder over Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
SGA was great, but it was, it was, it was the JW show. Should we, I think we, maybe we should think about having the conversation Batman robin. Last night [Jalen Williams] was Batman.
On the other side, the Pacers looked gassed. Rick Carlisle’s decision to bench TJ McConnell during the closing minutes of Game 5 left Big Cat and PFT baffled. McConnell was the only player the Thunder couldn't solve, yet he was watching from the sidelines when the season was on the line.
Big CatThe Pacers lost Game 5 because Rick Carlisle didn't play TJ McConnell enough down the stretch
I feel like that Rick Carlisle, I don't know, maybe this is just one of those situations where he obviously knows his players better than anyone else. But TJ McConnell was a problem. I think he could not, the thunder did not know what to do with him. And he should have kept with him... they took him out for the last, like six or whatever, the crucial six minutes when they lost the game.
Hot Seat/Cool Throne: The BBL Drama
The real highlight of the week wasn't professional sports; it was the Barstool Basketball League. Max finally got his revenge on Hank, hitting a game-winning three right in Hank's eye. Hank’s shooting performance was historic in all the wrong ways—going 0-for-8 from deep after training for a year is truly special. To help Hank recover from the emotional damage, Big Cat and PFT are sending him to Pebble Beach, mostly so he stops talking about his "nap" rules.
Beyond the office beef, PFT is keeping an eye on the future of the NFL and PGA merger. With Brian Rolapp moving to golf, the conspiracy theories are flying about how this eventually leads to Saudi money in football.
PFT CommenterBrian Rolapp is being sent to the PGA Tour to eventually facilitate Saudi investment in the NFL
What's the biggest challenge facing golf right now? Getting everyone to play in one league. He's being brought in I think in large part to figure out that framework, make a deal so that Liv and PGA get back together... and then he is gonna come back to the NFL in a few years and be like, okay, we're opening up the potential investors in NFL teams to foreign investment funds.
US Open Champ JJ Spaun
Fresh off his victory at Oakmont, JJ Spaun joined the show to talk about the grind of the US Open. He was incredibly candid about how a mid-round rain delay was the exact reset he needed to stop the bleeding and lock in for the win.
JJ SpaunThe rain delay at Oakmont was the only reason I was able to reset and win the US Open
When that horn blew my caddy and I looked at each other, we, we kind of just said, you know, this is exactly what we need. Kind of a little break to, to go back inside, you know, reset, collect our thoughts and, and kind of get a fresh start... I 100% [win the tournament because of it].
JJ also shared the wild story of his Type 1 diabetes diagnosis and how he used to go to local munis just to watch regular people suck at golf to boost his own confidence. He’s a man of the people who just happens to have one of the smoothest putters in the game.
George Kittle is Back
Our good friend George Kittle stopped by to talk about his new contract and the upcoming Tight End University. He’s looking to keep the momentum going for the position, and he already has his eyes on which young stars are going to reset the market next.
George KittleSam LaPorta or Brock Bowers will be the next tight ends to earn over $20 million per year
Hopefully it's something that Sam LaPorta will cross next year. Down LaPorta and then you got Brock [Bowers] in a couple years. Yeah, there's a, there's a lot of guys that need to get paid... hopefully the next guy's getting over 20 million.
Kittle also touched on the "season from hell" for the 49ers last year. Between injuries and the weird rumors about Christian McCaffrey retiring—which Kittle confirmed he used to tease CMC about daily—it was a year to forget. But with a full healthy offseason, he’s ready for the violence to return in 2025.
George KittleThe 49ers will bounce back and win some football games in 2025 after their 'season from hell'
I feel like we brought most of our offense back and we should be able to score points because we basically went entire season without Christian McCaffrey... now that he's back, pair him with myself, Kyle Juszczyk, Jauan Jennings, Brandon Aiyuk, Ricky Pearsall... Williams is still pretty good too. I think we're gonna win some football games and it's gonna be pretty fun.
We wrapped things up with some listener-submitted Pardon Your Takes, including a brilliant suggestion for the NBA to adopt baseball-style home-field advantages by letting teams move their own three-point lines.
Big CatNBA teams should be allowed to adjust the dimensions of their own three-point line to create a home-court advantage
Every game would be played differently based on where the three point line is would be exciting to watch. [Big Cat]: I think we said it with Kirk Goldsberry maybe, but yes. This would be awesome. Different dimensions like in baseball. Yeah. This would be so sick.
Hank is off to Pebble Beach to work on his 0-for-8 stroke, but at least he didn't have to carry the Stanley Cup while dealing with a torn abductor like Matthew Tkachuk.
