Takes

LeBron James is only the 10th best basketball player in the world right now

We're gonna start with number 10. The old man himself. The man who's done it before and he'll do it again. LeBron James.

Kyrie Irving is the best ball handler in the world

Number eight, a guy who arguably maybe shouldn't be on this list... but he's probably the best ball handler in the world. Magical. Some say Kyrie Irving.

I would not lose to Luke Fickell in a street fight

I do not believe if it was a street fight that I would lose to [Luke Fickell]. [Even though he's an elite wrestler], that is not a sanctioned wrestling event... I'm intimidating.

Victor Wembanyama will be the best player in the world by the time he is 25

By the time this man can rent a vehicle, he will be the best player in the world. [At age 25]. So we got like four years. I mean, to me the sky is nothing but a limit.

A'ja Wilson is as much better than the second best WNBA player as Patrick Mahomes is compared to other QBs in the playoffs

The gap [between A'ja Wilson and the second best woman] is as long as, as strong as, as big as Patrick Mahomes to the second best quarterback in football during the playoffs. Specifically the playoffs.

Bill Belichick's football knowledge is great for media and TV

I think there's just so much knowledge there and the way that he can articulate it and he explains it... that's kind of what we got in a team meeting was this overall history of football, understanding of who we're playing, how we have to win.

Mike Florio and Colin Cowherd look like morons because Caleb Williams officially signed with the Bears

All who said that there was 0% chance that Caleb Williams was going to sign with the Bears. That he was gonna force a trade. That he was gonna demand ownership. Florio said he was gonna play another season at USC. You all look like morons. Caleb Williams is officially signed as a Bear.

Jayden Daniels could be the next C.J. Stroud while Caleb Williams is the next Bryce Young

Booger McFarland... said today on Get Up, don't be surprised when Jayden Daniels is the guy that they're talking about next year as being like a C.J. Stroud. And Caleb Williams is the one being talked about like he's a Bryce Young. So I'm, I go with Booger.

Most people are full of shit and lie to make themselves seem more interesting

I think everybody's lying to you... just think that everybody's full of shit. And most people are. I mean, you a lot of times you go and you start talking to people. If they're at a party, people start bragging about they're already lying because you're trying to be entertaining.

Pineapple absolutely belongs on pizza

I fucking love pineapple on pizza. I love pineapple with, with barbecue chicken on a pizza... At what point did it become a thing where people are like, pineapple doesn't belong on pizza?

NFL touchbacks will increase as the season goes on under the new kickoff rule

I think you'll probably see, I think as the season goes on, probably more touchbacks. I think that we'll see, you know, what's the difference? I know that analytically somebody's gonna... tell me the difference between the 25 and the 30 [yard line].

The Home Run Derby is officially dead

The Home Run Derby is officially dead. And here's why... the Home Run Derby has lost its luster. The Juice Ball Home Run Derby. The way the format was set, the Home Run Derby is dead because all it took was one horrific national anthem to steal the night.

The MLB should allow players suspended for steroids back early if they win the Home Run Derby

Our idea that we had last year was one of the best, which is if you test positive for steroids, you can get out of your suspension by winning the Home Run Derby.

Tarik Skubal will win the AL Cy Young

Tarik Skubal is not starting [the All-Star Game]. And he is going to be the AL Cy Young as that guy sent me the envelope... per the guy who gave me the envelope that said bet him right now. He is the odds-on favorite right now.

Alex Ovechkin being ranked 54th on ESPN's Top 100 Athletes list is disrespectful to hockey

That Ovy [Alex Ovechkin] is so far down. Like Hank said, it's disrespectful to hockey, it's disrespectful to the entire country of Russia. The man is about to surpass Wayne Gretzky for the top goal scorer of all time in the NHL.

ESPN will rank Serena Williams as the #1 athlete of the 21st century

I have a prediction. I think ESPN is going to put Serena [Williams] number one. Just to make people mad.

LeBron James only brought Bronny into the NBA to bolster his GOAT case against Michael Jordan

Some people could argue that LeBron, when he realized that he wasn't going to win six titles and match MJ, he's like, 'what else can I try to get that will, they'll say in my GOAT conversation' and having Bronny—playing with Bronny—will be there. MJ's son never played in the league.

Human beings just become worms after they die

I think what happens after you die is you get eaten by worms. We all just become worms.

Stephen A. Smith officially won the Skip Bayless divorce

Stephen A. Smith has won the Skip Bayless-Stephen A. Smith divorce. It took a few years to get there... Skip is out at Fox Sports I believe at the end of the summer... he goes off, does his own podcast, gets 5 trillion views on it. Works for ESPN, seems to be having a good time.

Taysom Hill is a Hall of Fame football player

Taysom Hill is the best football player I've ever played with... that man is a Hall of Fame football player. He does everything. Throws, runs, catches, fullback, quarterback, tight end, receiver, slots, punts, blocks, punts, personal protector.

I bet Derek Carr would be a psychopath who makes up fake stories like Michael Jordan to motivate himself

I'm my caddy who was my best friend. He is like, 'you're a psychopath.' Because like, I'll make stories up... I see Jordan do that. He's like, I make stories up. Like yeah, they thought I couldn't do this... but those are two, that's a game and that's a play... and the whistle thing. You're like, I gotta get back there.

The Open Championship is essentially a 'Snow Game' in football terms

The open is a snow game. There's just so much unpredictability involved in a snow game. Maybe you can throw the ball, maybe you gotta run it. You don't know if you can depend on your kicker at all. That's what I look at here.

Adam Scott will win the 2024 Open Championship

I'm going to Adam Scott. He played well last week... He's 44 years old finishing in the top 10. Hasn't finished in the top 10 in a major since 2019. But I feel like he's one of those guys... I feel like Adam is playing well.

Jalen Brunson taking a massive pay cut is the coolest move possible for a fan

Pretty much the coolest move you can do if you're a fan of the Knicks. I don't think players, I think players should get what they're worth, but I wouldn't complain if our were Knicks fan right now that he just left 113 million on the table to make his team better and hope and deliver a championship to the Knicks.

England soccer is never going to 'come home'

It's not coming home. Not coming home. It's never gonna come home. It left, it walked out the door. You got empty Nest syndrome. It's not coming back. England soccer is just, it's gotta be brutal to root for.

Tornadoes do not hit big cities

You gotta worry about the tornado—tornadoes don't hit cities though. That's good. Like big cities. I think it's something about like the wind or something in the big, in the buildings, buildings stopping it. I don't know... I think they—tornadoes do not hit big cities.

I will compete in a Home Run Derby at some point in the future

I can confirm I'm not competing in this year's Home Run Derby... [but] that's the plan. I think that'd be a good goal to have... not if we do it, but when we do it.

Team USA basketball winning gold isn't enough; they must dominate by 10+ points every game

I will not be celebrating a gold medal if we win the semi-finals—if the semi-finals or the finals games are within 10 points. Either of them. I will not be celebrating this gold medal. I want to see domination.

Offsides should be removed from soccer

Offsides should be taken out of soccer. There should be no offsides.

MVP Baseball 2005 is the greatest baseball game ever created

MVP Baseball 2005 was the greatest baseball player—was MVP Baseball? Yeah. The greatest baseball game. I think '04 as well was very good... those two versions were so, so elite.

Mike Evans is a top 5 receiver of all time if he plays a few more years

If he plays three, four more years the way he's been playing, he's a top five receiver of all time. No he is... he's had 10 seasons in a row of a thousand yards. And he's the consistent one. Right. And like he doesn't get that recognition.

I saw a bright circle UFO in Austin, Texas

Literally like, we got the, the screen on the car's real bright... Emily's in the passenger seat. She's looking at her phone, this like, like circle shape object. Like bright as hell. Literally just goes from right here and goes straight down. She was looking at her phone... it was so bright that she looked up and saw it too and it just like disappeared. Like completely disappeared.

Adam Schefter is one of the few media members you can actually trust with off-the-record information

Adam and I actually are close... he's one of the media members you can actually trust that if it's off the record, it's not going anywhere. Like he actually will keep it close to the vest.

USA soccer is back and will win the World Cup now that Gregg Berhalter is fired

Greg Berhalter has been fired yet again. We did it guys. Congratulations. USA soccer is back on the map. We're so back now. We're gonna win a World Cup.

The USMNT will never be great until the players care enough to fight fans in the stands

The United States will never be great at soccer until our players care enough to go into the stands and fight people from other countries. It just means more. That somehow a Malice at the Palace situation... these guys just fucking care about soccer.

Nike is likely behind Jalen Brown and Kyrie Irving being left off Team USA

And I do think there is probably some truth to the Nike thing where Kyrie is also, you know, if Jalen Brown's a snub, Kyrie's a snub... They're both very outspoken against Nike. Coincidence? Probably not. I think not.

Kyrie Irving and Jalen Brown are clearly better basketball players than Derrick White

If we're talking on pure talent, Kyrie and Jalen Brown are better than Derrick White.

Taking $30,000 is better than playing one week in the MLB

Would you rather get handed 30 K right now or play a week in the big leagues? 30 k all day... If you put me on an MLB team for a week, I think it'd be the most miserable week of your life. Every single play just being a disaster for you.

A Chicken Club sandwich is much better than a Turkey Club

I'm gonna go with chicken club. Much better than a Turkey club. Oh, much better.

Pimento cheese is an overrated sandwich filling

I think pimento cheese is overrated... The problem with pimento cheese is there's absolutely no crunch or hard factor in there. It's just soft. Just soft.

I would retire from football if it guaranteed the Bills a Super Bowl win

If that's what it took, I would do it. [Big Cat: You guarantee it?] I would do it. I feel like I would have a part whether I played or not.

I do not want a championship ring from the 2024 Boston Celtics

I greatly appreciate that sentiment, but I am truly so happy for those guys and you know, they deserved it. And again, did your part though... but I don't want the ring. I think that that equals no ring.

Arizona and Kansas playing Big 12 basketball is going to be amazing

Arizona and Kansas playing Big 12 basketball is gonna rule. You know, it's two of things that you think about and like the, like BYU and and UCF getting a nice rivalry going.

Kevin Durant is unhappy and wants to be traded

Kevin Durant is unhappy and request a trade... I think he will. Oh, he will. I think Kevin Durant is unhappy. We, we've been talking to some league sources.

Cooper Flagg is going to be a massive problem in the NBA

Cooper Flagg is he might be a problem... the tanking this year is gonna be off the charts. Off the charts. Yeah. As it should be. Yeah. It's gonna rule. I'm gonna say it right now. He's good.

Donald Trump would beat Joe Biden in a golf match even while giving him 20 strokes

Trump made a million dollar wager in a 18 hole golf match and he's gonna give him 20 strokes... like if Joe Biden doesn't accept Hot Seat. No, but like if he does accept, he's gonna get smoked.

The Marshawn Lynch and Gavin Newsom podcast marks the top of the podcast bubble

Marshawn Lynch, Gavin Newsom and Doug whatever, Doug... Having a podcast together is the very sign that the podcast bubble is about to burst.

One bagel is never satisfying; a backup bagel is essential for breakfast

One and a half bagels is usually the perfect amount... One bagel is never fully satisfying. A backup bagel is the most important. What about bacon, egg and cheese. Great. You need to finish it off with something. Keep it off with a bagel.

I have zero chance of winning the American Century Championship this year

I have zero chance of winning. Okay. In this... I've come this year with zero expectations. You know, I had a shoulder replacement in December, so I'm just getting that back... it's not pretty.

Andy Pettitte is the best big-game pitcher I have ever seen

Andy Pettitte's probably the best big game pitcher I've ever seen, you know, in my career. He just, that guy just, he knew how to win.