Takes

The 2004 Red Sox were so confident they would beat anyone after the Yankees series

This club got so confident out of beating the Yankees four straight. And at that time that American League East made you better than anybody else, because they were the best division in baseball by a decent step... Unless we were going to play the Yankees again in seven or another AL East team, that team was going to dominate whoever they played in. And it did.

If your BP arm is healthy, you'll always have a job in baseball

I think it's my arm. Because as long as you throw really good BP, you'll always have a job. I never say it's up here. Maybe it's my heart a little bit, but the arm, because I always say if that arm goes today... I'll either be the Mets bobblehead or Wally the Green Monster.

Base running is the hardest thing in baseball because it requires reacting to nine people at once

Third base coach is the closest to being a player as a coach. You are because you have to react as a base runner... base running is the hardest thing. And as hard as it is to hit, base running changes every pitch and you are involved every pitch and you have to react off of nine people, not just the pitch in one person.

Tortoises have no natural lifespan and biologically never die of old age

Tortoises have no natural lifetime. Only be killed by other things. They never die of old age. If you left a tortoise alone and kept it forever, right? I think tortoises do die, but they don't have any like, 'tortoise dies of natural causes.'

The Suns are still going to win the NBA Finals despite the Bucks' Game 3 win

I do think that the [Bucks]... they have enough guys to make this a series. I do still think the [Suns] are gonna win, but that was a great performance to come home.

The NBA rigs series to make them go longer and more exciting, and fans shouldn't complain about it

The NBA, when it needs a series to go a little bit longer, we'll send a guy [Scott Foster] and you'll make sure that it goes a little bit longer. I like that. People need to quit doing is complaining about [it] being rigged. They rig it to make it better. It's Buffalo Wild Wings. They rig it to get us as close as seven-game series as possible. I want more, right?

I'm officially over the 8K 'fan-cam' because it makes fans perform for the camera

I'm done with AKA [8K]—the fans and AK, I'm over it... the best fan moments that you have is when the fan doesn't know the camera's on them. With 8K, they have to get close enough so that you know that the camera's on you. So it's everyone going crazy for the fan for the camera. It's basically like watching a jumbotron.

Conor McGregor is finished as a legitimate top-tier fighter

So him, him as a legitimate fighter that is over... he hasn't won, he's won one fight since 2016. And the guy he beat had has lost or has not won a fight in his last six fights. So he, he's not, he's just not going to be able to fight at a high level.

Italy had the Euro 2020 final in hand by the 20th or 30th minute

After like the 20th, 30th minute, I felt like Italy had it in hand, even though they were losing at the time... this was a one-on-one Italy victory. I score too early and let's score to like, got the wiggle. Yeah. Which is why they want it then.

Shark Week is being used by the media to maintain a state of fear after COVID-19

I think that we're overdue for some of the shark. The media hasn't really like had anything to like keep us in fear about after COVID has kind of started to become an afterthought. The media day are overdue for another summer. You weren't scared about the story of the shooting that was planned in Denver.

Novak Djokovic is the undisputed GOAT and will win the US Open for the Calendar Grand Slam

Djokovic, it's over. He won his 20th grand slam title, Wimbledon. It's over, he's tied Federer and [Nadal]. He's slightly younger than those guys. He's going to win at the US Open. That's the calendar year grand slam.

Novak Djokovic will complete the 'Golden Slam' by winning the Olympics and the US Open

I'm not a huge Djokovic fan. However, if he pulls off the joke slam [Golden Slam] this year—by winning an Olympic gold medal and then the US Open—that's something that we'll never see accomplished again [in] our lifetime.

USA Basketball losing to Nigeria is actually good for the sport

This is good for basketball. I like, I love those people. I don't care. You know, it's, it's, it's shown the, all the good that the United States has done on an international level. The fact that these teams who used to just look up to us and get autographs from our players after the games are now able to compete, it really goes to show you what a great job United States basketball has done in spreading the game.

Gareth Southgate is to blame for England's Euro loss due to delayed substitutions

I think south gate [Southgate], I think you took too long to meet the changes because when you brought on stack off [Saka] is when they equalized... Sack [Saka] was 19. How'd you make it a 19 year old, 10 [take] the final penny [penalty]? How can you make a 19 year old?

England will go on to do big things at the 2022 World Cup despite the Euro final loss

Right now I'm even more confident that we could go on and do bits of the World Cup. They might not win it, but maybe we could get to a semifinal again. In previous years it was a bit different because when we lost, we were like, yo, this is the end... Right now we've built and we just need to continue.

Attractive influencers like Addison Rae can actually get better interview answers from athletes than professional journalists

I would actually argue that she [Addison Rae] probably can get more out of some of these guys than if you have like a guy standing in the suit, a frumpy guy standing in a suit who went to Medill... She's not going to be getting into the ins and outs of performance enhancing drugs... [but] you could probably get actually better answers when you have an attractive celebrity TikToker.

Squirrels can survive falls at terminal velocity

Squirrels can survive terminal velocity. Oh my God. What is that? Oh, fuck. Yeah. Are you kidding me? 69 faxing back 60 nines.

Suns fans in 8K hit differently and make the viewing experience much better

But they're here for the Suns, and when they're in 8K, it hits different. It hits a little bit different in 8K. It's way different than when they're showing like the British fans in 8K... the Suns fans in 8K, it made the viewing experience that much better.

Giannis Antetokounmpo's Game 2 performance was exceptional, but he cannot win without his max-contract teammates showing up

Giannis was like, exceptional. It was reminiscent of... that finals game, the classic J.R. Smith game when LeBron had like 50... This was a Giannis display. He was the best player on the court, and he had no help because Chris Middleton and Drew Holiday were a combined 12 for 37... You cannot win with that when that's your second best guy and a max guy.

Jay Crowder shooting over 50% from three is the tipping point for the Suns' offense

I would like to see the statistical breakdown of Jay Crowder's performance as it relates to how likely the Suns are to win. Like, if he shoots over 50% from three... That's the tipping point for the Suns' offense because you have a chance of beating them if the role players don't contribute like that. But if they do, you have no chance.

'Suns in 4' is a mentality that remains valid even if the series goes five games

The Suns could win this series in a gentleman's sweep, and that's still Suns and four. They still won four games. It's just all about sometimes it's about the journey, not the destination, man.

The Suns will win the NBA Finals in a five-game 'gentleman's sweep'

I'm actually going to revise. I think it's going to be a gentleman's sweep. I'm rooting for Suns in actual four, but I think it's going to be four to one.

Giannis Antetokounmpo will experience a legacy resurgence during these NBA Finals, even if the Bucks lose

I do think, though, that Giannis is going to have a legacy resurgence in a loss in this series... he still is really, really fucking good and a superstar in every facet of the game.

The Tampa Bay Lightning's back-to-back Cup wins is the second-best redemption arc in sports history behind UVA

The one thing that's nuts to think about, obviously everyone goes to the UVA, losing to UMBC, coming back and winning it all the next year... I think the Tampa Bay Lightnings might be right behind that because... [after being swept] they went and won back-to-back Stanley Cups.

I am rooting for an England loss at Wembley because the resulting crowd shots would be the ultimate sports tragedy

When you're watching sports that you don't really have a true rooting interest... I'm rooting then for ultimate tragedy in the most epic way. And there's nothing more tragic than Wembley and the crowd shots that will occur if England finds a way to lose.

Soccer should change the rules to prohibit scoring on a penalty kick rebound

I don't think you should be able to rebound a penalty in soccer... I just feel like you should get it if you miss it you miss it... If you miss it, you miss it. It's a fucking free throw.

There is no conclusive evidence that the shortened NBA turnaround caused the recent surge in injuries

I'm just not sure based on everything I've read that we have some conclusive evidence that these injuries have happened just because of what we had in the past year... Silver definitely pushed back on it, which I was just at least I guess I was even surprised because he's been so pro player as a commissioner.

Adam Silver is a puppet for LeBron James, ESPN, and the NBA Reddit community

He's just a puppet. I think everybody knows that [Silver], he's a puppet of either LeBron, ESPN, or like the NBA Reddit.

I have a strong resume for giving life advice because I have been a 'guy' for a long time and have made many mistakes

I've been a guy for a really long time now... those experiences of just being an idiot and getting stuff wrong allows me to be in a better position to give people advice.

The Suns will win the NBA Finals in six games

No, Suns in six.

I have conquered my free throw shooting struggles and am currently a 70% shooter

Well, if you have noticed, I'm shooting at least 70 right now. So I think that's something I've conquered already... I found a routine and shot it the same way for the entire summer.

There is nothing wrong with a coach hitting a player to wake them up if they have a strong relationship

I think for me it's just the relationship you have with that coach... if you have that type of relationship with your coach where he knows how to get the best out of you and what to do to wake you up, I don't think there's anything wrong with that.

I will not play for the Portland Trail Blazers if Damian Lillard is traded

[Big Cat]: Name five of your favorite cities... Portland. [Drummond]: Dame's not there, though. No. [Big Cat]: Andre Drummond says he will not be going to Portland if Damien Lillard gets traded.

My favorite animal is a penguin

I guess people found out my favorite animal is a penguin and put [Big] in front of it. [PFT]: Your favorite animal is a penguin? [Drummond]: It is.

Perfectly packing a car with vacation gear and kids is the official mark of a dad

Packing a car with two little kids and like doing the Tetris move to get the whole car full. I've never felt I earned my dad pinstripes like that was the official moment. I was like, yeah, I'm a dad because it was the hardest thing I've ever done. And it was like I wasted not a single inch.

Giannis Antetokounmpo was not as injured as the public was told

Giannis was not as injured as we were told that he was because just from the start, he went out there and he was the most athletic player on the court.

Giannis Antetokounmpo belongs in the Adrian Peterson club of non-human physical recovery

I actually am totally fine with Giannis [Antetokounmpo] being put into the Adrian Peterson club of the people that just don't have knee ligaments or regular bodies that are anything like the human body because he was so injured and then he wasn't. And I don't know what happened in between, but it's just Giannis because he's a freak.

The Suns will sweep the Bucks in the NBA Finals

I'll say [Suns] and four, [Suns] and three from right now. It was if Chris Paul plays like that, there's nothing you can do.

Chris Paul's elite dribbling and crossovers are literally witchcraft

[Chris Paul] went between both legs behind the back, I think, with both hands, threw in a couple crossovers. It is absolutely roasted. At that point, like, he's a witch. This guy is doing witchcraft right now. I can't be expected to defend against that.

LeBron James should receive a championship ring if the Suns win the NBA Finals

If the Suns win, LeBron [James] should get a ring. Absolutely should get a ring. Absolutely, CP3's best friend. Listen, LeBron is putting this team on his back. He is willing the Suns to an NBA championship. I wouldn't be shocked if LeBron gets on one of the floats.

Phil Mickelson is the only reason The Match is successful

Phil Mickelson, he's the guy. He's the guy who makes [The Match] go, and he gets all the credit in my mind for being just fun to be around.

Aaron Rodgers should retire from football right now following his win in The Match

I think speaking as a football fan, if Aaron Rodgers decided that was his last competitive event in the history of his life, I think us as fans would applaud him, and he doesn't owe us anything more, and next stop Canton.

Federico Chiesa is the next GOAT of soccer

That dude Chiesa, my guy Chiesa, he's the next GOAT. Like, we might be seeing a torch event happen in the next year, two years, where Messi passes that torch.

England will dominate Denmark and win Euro 2020

I think England's going to win. I think they're going to dominate Denmark. And I think that Italy versus England on [Sunday]... that's up in the air.

English soccer fans have become the 'Bills Mafia' of international soccer

English soccer fans became Bills Mafia just by being so polite over the course of the years where they had these heartbreaking defeats that now you want to see them redeem themselves. They hit almost a fast-forward button on becoming lovable losers.

The Browns will win exactly 11 games in the 2021 season

I'm thinking 11 wins, regular season, nothing crazy.

Joey Chestnut is pound-for-pound the greatest athlete of all time

I really do think pound for pound [Joey Chestnut] is the greatest athlete of all time. Maybe you could say Secretariat, but I don't. No, I think... Joey Chestnut has won 14 titles now. 14. No one has ever won that many titles at anything.

I do not listen to analytics or efficiency numbers at all when playing basketball

I actually don't listen to [analytics] at all. Really just going out there and playing my game. Analytics and numbers say [floaters] aren't efficient, but as you can see, it's a lot of people in this league who use floaters or pull up tools and make them at a hot level. [A good shot] is the only thing that matters.

My Murray State team would have beaten the college teams of my current NBA teammates

We all know Murray State would have beat all of them. [referring to Gonzaga, Duke, Michigan State teammates]

I am a diabetic, but I refuse to acknowledge it or listen to my doctors

I'm not a diabetic, even though I am a diabetic, and I take medicine like I'm a diabetic, and I know I'm a diabetic, but I don't acknowledge it. I'm going to die, and I want to be dieting what I want. Fuck the world, fuck the doctors, and fuck my medicine.