Takes

Colorado is the best team in the West and will return to the Cup Finals

Colorado to me is, they're the best team in the West. And if they play Dallas, which I think they will in the first round, one of those kind of unfair, like either team could win the cup and somebody losing first round.

Houston was uncomfortable not playing from behind in the title game

I think that Houston was uncomfortable not playing from behind. I feel like Houston had had to lead the whole game and they were like, wait, we're, we're usually the ones that are, that are coming back at the last minute.

Ovechkin's record-breaking goal from his office was the perfect way to end the chase

It was awesome to see him score from his office against the Islanders... Ovie was like, fuck it, I know it's at home... he said, no, I don't wanna do it on empty netter. Instead he did it from his office. Perfectly. Perfect, perfect shot. That shot has been happening for 20 years.

Houston is a team of wolves led by a wolf

Houston is just a bunch of wolves, man led by a wolf... the way they get after it, you, you can't prepare for it. It's like a pass rush that just the quarterback is gonna be rattled and it kills, it kills your transition offensive game because it's hard for you to even run on them because getting a defensive rebound feels like survival.

Shohei Ohtani has reached maximum aura and is the definitive face of baseball

Does Shohei Ohtani have Aura? Because I think he has maximum Aura. First pitch home run. Just, he doesn't change anything about his expression, swing anything. It's just business as usual. I think Shohei Ohtani has reached the next level of Superstardom where he just has the most aura in the game. It's settled. Shohei is the face.

Duke is the only team in the country top-5 in both offensive and defensive efficiency

I have figured Duke to win it all. There's a reason I picked that. Number one, any time a team is top five in offensive and defensive efficiency, they got a great chance to win. Duke's the only team in the country that's top five by Ken Pomeroy in efficiency in both areas.

The WWE Championship is essentially a de-facto office position with leadership responsibilities

What I really quickly found out is that it is almost a de-facto position in the office. It's a bigger position than just man and tights wrestling. There's a layer of responsibility, like a team captain. And especially for being a good guy character, to have the title this long is rather unheard of because everyone just tries to murder you every week.

Big men everywhere start dreading April because they lose the ability to hide under sweatshirts

We're getting to t-shirt weather. Do we have a plan? The first nice day where it's 70 degrees and you hold onto the sweatshirt and you're like, 'this is uncomfortable.' And you realize I'm gonna have to start wearing a t-shirt. It's the worst feeling in the world. I forgot that I couldn't just wear a sweatshirt for the entire year.

Auburn felt like a special team early in the season after competing physically with Houston.

We had to play an an incredibly well coached, hard playing Houston team where we were gonna find out whether we were gonna be physical and tough enough... once we were able to beat Houston or at least be on compete with 'em, we felt like this team had a chance to be pretty special.

USC will win the right side of the bracket in 'The Crown'

I think Villanova, USC on the right side of the bracket would be fascinating. Must Bus has his team ready to go. I think. I think USC on the right side, they're gonna come out of this right side of the bracket. I just like the way that they're playing.

Teams are 1-7 in their next game after winning on a buzzer beater in the NCAA Tournament

Teams in the last 10 years are one in seven after a buzzer beater in the NCAA tournament in their next game. One in seven. Numbers never lie.

LeBron's swearing in the McAfee interview made him more relatable

The part that I liked the most was the swearing. It makes him relatable. It was the best swear.

I am fading the White Sox, Marlins, and Rockies for the entire 2025 season

I'm diversifying. I'm gonna be fading what I project to be the three worst teams in baseball, which would be the White Sox, the Marlins, and the Rockies.

The Wisconsin Badgers women's hockey team is a true dynasty

The Wisconsin Badgers women's hockey team won another national title. Four outta six years, eight total dominant. Dynasty for sure. That's the Dynasty.

LeBron James is one of the best and most gracious interview subjects

I'd say him [LeBron], I appreciate the times that we talk where I think he gives you more than just the, the garden variety. When they [LeBron, Tiger, Jeter] seem like they're invested and actually present in a way that they're—I don't wanna say into it, but that it isn't a chore. That's the best you can hope for.

Tom Izzo is the God of March

Tom Izzo now 16th Sweet 16... His expected wins are 27.6. He has 39 wins... that's an 11.4 difference. The next closest on this chart is Cal with six wins above expected. Tom Izzo very good tournament coach.

Duke will win the national championship

I think it's just gonna be Duke. Duke. I think Duke's gonna win it all.

McNeese State dominated Clemson despite the close final score

McNeese State I think leads the, leads the storyboard because what a day for Will Wade... and gives us a classic 12 5 upset where I know it looks like a two point game, but they were dominating Clemson for, for the majority of the game.

T. Higgins signed a fake one-year contract that is essentially a mega-franchise tag

This is a fake contract. Well he is getting a lot of money this year over what would've been the franchise tag... essentially he got mega tagged. Yeah, he got mega tagged.

TV networks must fix scoreboard spoilers that show scores ahead of the live broadcast

I don't understand how it's still an issue... if you're watching four games at once, half the time you see the scoreboard on one game and it will be ahead of the actual game you're watching... figure it out. Don't let it spoil us.

Take Colorado State to upset Memphis

I still think, you know, as a player, like I said, I, I have Maryland advancing anyway. I would just take the 12 here. So you have your 12 5.

Bill Chisholm is a smart business mind and will be a great owner for the Celtics

Clearly a very smart business mind. And I'm excited to, to see what he's got in store. Hopefully he likes the Celtics and isn't doing this as a business.

Aaron Rodgers is repeating the Brett Favre path exactly

Aaron Rodgers... it is Cats in the Cradle with Brett Favre. He's just learning everything from [him] and he hated Brett Favre for it too. It's perfect.

The 2025 National Champion will be a 1 or 2 seed

I think the national champion is in that group [of 11 teams meeting KenPom criteria]... I have a really good feeling that it was gonna be a one or a two. 'Cause if you watched all season, it just felt like these teams are just way better than everybody else. I feel that way this year for the first time since 2015. I have that same feeling again.

The NCAA Tournament bracket reveal is the best non-sporting sporting event of the year

I actually think that this is the best non-sporting, sporting event of the year. I think that bracket reveal is the best sporting event that does not actually contain sports of the year. Oh, it's, it's incredible.

Michigan has turned the corner and is a dangerous team after winning the Big 10 tournament

Michigan obviously beat Wisconsin Big 10 title today. Dusty May called it correctly. He was like, our team needs a reset. They got their reset and then they won the big 10 tournament and they looked really good doing it. So maybe they've turned the corner and gotten that reset they needed.

Don't get cute with brackets this year; the one seeds are historically dominant

This is the year that don't be afraid to just do chalk. Only four teams since 2000 have entered the tournament [with a] plus 35 net rating... this year, four teams have 35 net rating or higher. Wow. So that's insane. Yeah. Like that, that just shows you that the one seeds this year are playing at such a high level and are so dominant... don't be afraid to just go chalk.

Borgs (Blackout Rage Gallons) are ratchet

My other, who's back of the week is... Borg. Blackout rage gallon. Foul... I've seen... people name 'em and stuff... it's so ratchet.

The Bengals will be a championship threat for the next 3-4 years after signing Chase and Higgins

I am very happy for Bengals fans... Bengals fans, I think were very nervous about this entire off season. Will the Bengals be cheap? ... Those two guys are really fucking good at football and they're both still young... you have Joe Burrow and you basically are saying, you know yeah they gotta make some some right decisions on defense... But they're always gonna be in the mix with those three guys. You basically guaranteed the next three to four years are gonna be fun.

I will break 85 in golf by July

Break 85. That's my goal by... By July.

The ceiling for the Jets with Justin Fields as quarterback next year is nine wins

I checked in with memes yesterday after [the Justin Fields trade] happened... And I asked him, what's the, what's the ceiling of the Jets with Justin Fields next year? He said nine and eight.

Danny Wolf's basketball ceiling is just scratching the surface

[Danny Wolf] is just scratching the surface to be honest... For his long-term future, and for us, his ability to dribble the ball, make, make difficult passes. I mean, he's, he's got a special, special gift.

Whoever signs the largest contract in the NFL should get seven days to wear a crown

I think there should be a new rule that if you sign the biggest contract, whether it be a, the biggest quarterback contract, the biggest non quarterback contract, you should get seven days to wear the crown. Miles Garrett should have had to wait seven days [to take it from Max Crosby].

The NFL Combine workout is a small portion of player evaluation compared to game tape

The the workout part is a really small portion for me at least. I think it's led to some mis evaluations. The tape is the biggest guide. What I do think the combine's beneficial for is the medical checks... and then you spend those 15 minute increments where you're able to just get a feel for their football acumen.

Prospects are defined by how they handle the biggest adversity they've faced

The best thing... is, hey, what's the biggest adversity you faced and how did you bounce back from it? I'm such a big believer just based on the course of things that have occurred... that even though the most challenging moments, they felt like the worst thing when you're in 'em, you look back on 'em and you're saying, I don't know where I would be without what those lessons and those tough times taught me.

Binging a TV show is much better than watching it week-by-week

This is my big, i I like binging shows. I like just diving right into 'em. I don't know how people can watch a show like I gave up on House of Dragon. Yeah. Because I watched the first season and then it was four years and I was like, I don't remember fucking shit. I'm out.

Winning a Stanley Cup in Canada would make me 'Captain Canada'

I think about it all the time... [PFT: It'd be Captain Canada at that point.] Yeah. It's made me think about it too much. But I feel like I have my whole day planned when we win.

Matthew Stafford staying with the Rams makes the most sense because they still have a Super Bowl window

Matthew Stafford staying in Los Angeles with the Rams... I always, always thought made the most sense because the Rams were, you could make the argument like they, they played the Eagles the toughest in, in the playoffs. It feels like they still have a window with Matthew Stafford. I think it's a two-year deal.

The Celtics' loss to the Cavaliers was a 'statement loss' that will motivate them for the playoffs

A fully healthy Celtics team is not loose to the Cavs. It was an absolute ref show, but it was, it was. I mean it's good. It's, it's a, Mazzulla loves those games. He loves having things that he can use to motivate the team and and losing to a team that's gonna have a better record than them going into the playoffs like that. That's good. That was a good statement loss.

Bill Belichick's Hard Knocks at UNC will be a massive recruiting commercial for the Tar Heels

I'm actually excited to watch this. Yeah. I wanna see it is gonna be a giant commercial for UNC. That's the reason why he's doing it. Obviously. Smart. It's smart. It's very smart. You get a lot of publicity. Guys wanna come play for you.

Saquon Barkley is a better football player than he is a human being, despite being a top-tier person

What an unbelievable person. Like if you, if we just, if you said Saquon Barkley, go, the first thing that would come outta my mouth is, this guy's an unbelievable person. This guy's an unbelievable teammate. This guy's an unbelievable leader. [But] There's no chance [he's a better human than football player]. He's he's better at football than he's human.

If Tom Brady explicitly invited Matthew Stafford to his vacation, it is tampering

I think if you can prove that Tom Brady was like, 'Hey, I'm gonna be at Yellowstone Club, come out for the weekend,' then that's tampering. Otherwise, it's gonna be hard to prove.

I will be the governing owner of Jerry O'Connell's fantasy football team in name only

Governing owner in name only? That sounds fair to me... Blame me [if he is fired]. Everybody else does.

Jaden Daniels is a special player who will cover up the Commanders' organizational flaws

Jaden Daniels... gets it big time. He gets it. Like that guy is on it... This quarterback covers up a lot of the sins of the organization. Not everybody's at his level... the quarterback is exceptional.

Caleb Williams' best NFL trait is his ability to improvise when plays break down

I would say what stands out, which is different than where I came from, would be the ability to improvise the, the creation when things break down, extend plays, throw out, throw on the move outside of the pocket. He's a dynamic athlete. He's got, he's got all the intangibles.

My Instagram algorithm is 80% golf and 20% tits

It's like 80% golf. No, there's some, there's some, there's some tits mixed in, but mostly golf.

The Celtics are officially 'all the way back' as title favorites

The Celtics waxed [the Knicks]... it's back on. All, all the way back on. The last five, they've won each by minimum 13.

Duke is a defensive wagon and a national title favorite

Duke is damn good. They are, they are a spectacular team. They're a wagon defensively... If you force me to take Duke/Auburn or the field today, I would take Duke/Auburn.

Baseball is the worst of the four major North American sports

I'm not a ball guy. Slow game. Bottom, bottom of the four major sports for sure. Hockey, football, then to throw the NBA. And then we gotta drop to MLB.

Going for it on 4th down with the Eagles was a major culture shock compared to Iowa

Being being used to just playing field position and, and you know, having our, having our defense, you know, just keep, keep their offense pinned back. It was, it was a little different for me. Especially those first few weeks when we're, we're around our own 50 yard line and we're just going for it on, on fourth and three. At Iowa, like, that'd be, that'd be a no brainer. Like, like punt.