Takes

Doug Gottlieb was right to question Caitlin Clark's shooting mechanics

I actually thought Doug Gottlieb got unfair hate for that... Every single professional athlete works on their mechanics constantly... It's not saying she's bad, she's incredible... He should have phrased it better. That there could maybe be a way for her to become even better of a shooter.

James Harden will have a legacy bad game with under 10 points in the playoffs

This is gonna be a legacy game I'm calling it right now. This is a James Harden legacy game. And by that I mean I hope he scores less than 10 points.

The Bruins will win Game 7 against the Maple Leafs

And with Austin Matthews [injured], I think, I think the [Bruins] are gonna win this game. Me too. Because... I think they'll have the home ice.

Deion Sanders should stay off Twitter because he's losing in these exchanges with former players

Dion [Sanders] should probably stay off Twitter and maybe learn the lesson that it's not nothing. You don't win on this. You lose, he lost, he lost in that exchange.

Fierceness is the best horse in the Kentucky Derby by three or four lengths

If all the horses run their best races, Fierceness wins the race, hands down. Talent wise, Fierceness is probably three or four lengths better than any other horse in the field.

Forever Young has travel and track concerns heading into the Derby

Forever Young is the most accomplished Japanese horse that's ever come over here... but I've got two concerns... the travel bothered him... the other thing, the trainer seems to be borderline obsessive about keeping this horse out of this kickback spray in his face.

Coppi is my favorite bet of the weekend in the Distaff Turf Mile (Race 7) on Saturday

The horse I like the most in the two days for betting purposes is running on Saturday in the seventh race. It's a race called the Distaff Turf Mile and her name is Coppi... The reviews of this horse back at the barn in the mornings have been absolutely glowing.

Ovechkin's days of being a physical force are limited

I think the days of where he's running guys through the boards, you know, a force to be reckoned with out there, those might be limited. But, you know, I think when it comes to goal scoring, he's, I think he could do it till he is 45 years old.

The Oilers aren't good enough to win the West because they lack the depth and defense of other top contenders

I don't think it's [the Oilers'] year... I just think those other teams are a little bit more deep, better goal tending, better defensively... I think the west is too stacked and at the end of the day, I think the east is gonna win it this year.

The Florida Panthers will win the Stanley Cup

I got Florida and Colorado [in the finals]... I think it's the Panthers year. I just, they, they're a fun team to watch they, they play so hard. Their big guys are playing great.

I like getting a single bug bite

I like a good bug bite. Just a good, just a good old fashioned bug bite. Like maybe on the top of your shin. Nice little spot. You can scratch it a little... A single bug bite on the top of your shin. Just a little itch. Not so bad.

Tyrese Maxey saved his legacy and had a double legacy game in Game 5 against the Knicks.

Tyrese Maxey basically saved. Did Tyrese Maxey save his legacy while also a legacy game for [Embiid]? It was a double legacy game.

The Knicks/76ers Game 5 defense by Nicolas Batum on Jalen Brunson was game-defining.

Shout out to your guy [Batum] with incredible, incredible defense. Both at the end of regulation and the end of OT being able to stay with Jalen Brunson as he drive to the, to the hoop. And he had two huge, I think the first one was a block... those were, those were game defining plays.

The Bucks are alive in their series against the Pacers and could win if they force a Game 7.

The bucks are alive. For sure. And what happened in the last game was they just had everybody get hurt or ejected from the game... I don't think that they're like, they probably won't be favored to win this series, even with Giannis coming back. But if they can get it to a game seven, then yes [they can win].

I would play in an NBA playoff Game 5 unless I got less than six hours of sleep.

I tweaked my knee. I'd play no pro. I I would, I would play, I'm just gonna say it right now. I you can't keep me outta game five with the season on the line... Unless I got less than six, six hours of sleep. Then I would probably be like, you know what Gametime decision, I'm out.

The Boston Bruins will win their series against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Just gotta win in Toronto. Now it's a tough, it's tough to win in the playoffs. You know, the leaves are a good team. They, they battled through adversity tonight. And, and we gotta come back stronger. Put Swayman in the net and, and we're gonna win.

The Lakers were never winning a title because their roster was the problem, not coaching.

I still think that the roster is the problem that they just don't have enough guys. And the Nuggets were a better basketball team no matter how many minutes the Lakers led. Execution and being able to win games late is what makes the team better... They were a good team. They were never a great team.

Mike Tyson could be 90 years old and still knock someone out.

I'm pumped up. 'cause I think everybody that is, most people that are paying attention to this would just like to see another Mike Tyson knockout. Yes. Just bring us back to the glory days. Yes. And he could be 90 years old and I would still believe that he'd be able to knock somebody out.

Michael Penix Jr. probably had an AARP card in his backpack during his scouting meetings.

An a a RP card. That's what Michael Penix had without a [doubt].

Taylor Swift hates the Chiefs because she won't give Travis Kelce money to take a league-minimum contract.

If Taylor Swift was a real fan of the, the Chiefs... She would realize for the good of the franchise that she should not do a prenup with Travis Kelce, therefore letting Travis Kelce sign value contracts with the Chiefs and extending their championship window. She she would give... Money's no problem for us. Sounds like she hates the Chiefs. Yeah.

Taylor Swift should give up half her money to men to prove she believes in equality.

Basically what we're saying is that Taylor Swift should give up half of her money to men. Is that too much to ask? No, I thought we were about equality. Equality matters 50%.

The Minnesota Timberwolves match up better against the Denver Nuggets than anyone else in the NBA.

I think this Minnesota team probably matches up as well as anyone in the NBA versus the Denver Nuggets. I'm really fascinated by this series.

The overall talent depth in the NBA is as high as it's ever been and is spread out across more teams.

I think the overall talent depth, meaning the amount of really good players in the NBA is as high as it's ever been. And that depth of talent is spread out more than it's ever been. There's not the concentration of three really good players on one team... There's the concentration of two or three really good players on a bunch of teams.

The current NBA landscape marks the beginning of the death of the 'Super Team'.

I said at the beginning of the year... this year could be the beginning of the death of the super team. Part of that is the new second apron in the CBA... you have to build through the draft. And then be positioned... to then make an impactful trade.

Nikola Jokic is already a top 15 player of all time.

Nikola Jokic to me is already a top 15 player of all time. And I know that that's maybe a hot take. I don't really care.

The Phoenix Suns' issues are about team building and personalities meshing, not just one specific player or coach.

I would look at sort of team building in a very holistic way beyond just, oh, we gotta trade this guy... You have to look at any roster, any team, and look at how personalities mesh together and how skill sets mesh together... and you have to be willing, I think to, as an owner, you have to be willing to be patient with that.

The New York Knicks are going to win their series against the Philadelphia 76ers.

I think the Knicks are gonna win the series.

Jalen Brunson is a 'true 1A' superstar.

They've got a true leader. And I'll say it a true one A. I agree. Jalen Brunson a true one A.

The Falcons drafted Michael Penix Jr. to ensure they never enter 'quarterback purgatory' again

This move to them ensures that no matter what happens in the next two to three years... they will not be in quarterback purgatory. They viewed Michael Penix as a top 10 prospect in this draft. They themselves do not see them being in the top 10 again now that they have Kirk Cousins. So the argument is best player on the board.

Joel Embiid is having a better series than Jalen Brunson

Joel Embiid is scoring 35 points a game. 45% from the field and a plus 34 when he's on the court... Jalen Brunson is scoring 33 points a game 40% from the field and is a minus three when he's on the court. And the difference that people are talking about Jalen Brunson and Joel Embiid is absolutely insane.

The Sixers are a better basketball team than the Knicks, the Knicks just want it more

The Sixers are a better basketball team. It's just that [the Knicks] want it more. They are just dogs. They want, it's just that they want it more.

The Rangers' status as a juggernaut is a direct result of Tom Wilson's hit on Artemi Panarin

The Rangers turned around their entire franchise a couple years ago when Tom Wilson in a horrifying act of violence threw Panarin into the ground... They fired their entire front office after that because they realized that they were a soft hockey team. Since that moment, the Rangers have turned it around.

If a team gets eliminated within one week of the playoffs starting, the playoff appearance never really happened

I have a hard and fast rule when it comes to the playoffs. If you get eliminated within a single week, it never really happened... No one's gonna remember you're in the playoffs, which is probably for the better.

The Timberwolves are the young team with the best chance to reach the NBA Finals

Based on how Minnesota's playing, I'd say the Wolves. Ant [Anthony Edwards] feels ready for the moment. Like he doesn't feel like he shies away, you know, make or miss and he's indifferent... I like how their team fits for the postseason.

The Phoenix Suns' primary problem is the lack of a lead point guard

I think they're missing a point guard. Like a lead guard. Like somebody to organize everything to take some of the pressure off these other guys... they don't have a stable force.

Caleb Williams' eccentric personality won't matter as long as he plays well

If he's good, none of it will matter... If he's not good, people will blame the nails. They'll say that like, oh, he's too crazy. He's too unique. And if he's good, no one will give a fuck because no one in that locker room will care.

Jaylen Wright will be the 'diamond in the rough' and have huge 80-yard plays in Mike McDaniel's offense

The running back on the Dolphins who they traded up to get in the fourth round, Jaylen Wright out of Tennessee... This Jalen Wright averaged eight yards a carry at Tennessee is as fast as they come... There will be plays where Jaylen Wright... has an 80 yard scamper does something crazy.

The Phoenix Suns' 'all-in' move is an all-time disaster

This has maybe been one of the greatest, like rich guy buys a team who thinks he's the smartest guy in the world... does a bunch of all-in moves and it blows up in record time. They have zero first round picks from 2025 to 2030. They have zero second round picks... They have one pick in the NBA draft between now and 2031. That's insane.

The Falcons took Michael Penix Jr. to avoid the 'Desmond Ridder' cycle, even after signing Kirk Cousins

They I think they were really scarred by the Desmond Ridder, Taylor Heinicke, you name, whoever else has started from Mariota, that they don't want to be in that place again... in this case, they don't think it's crazy that they took Michael Penix. If anything, they think more teams should, because quarterback is the most valuable position in this league times 10.

The Arizona Cardinals had a home run draft and filled multiple roster needs with immediate contributors

Arizona Cardinals who had so many picks, they they hit a home run. Now they're not a sexy team. I couldn't tell you, you know, five guys that contributed on their roster last year. But like you talk around the league, everyone's like, you know, Arizona compiled a bunch of picks and they got a bunch of guys who are gonna play right away.

The Washington Commanders fleeced the Eagles by trading the pick that became Cooper DeJean

I thought the commander's trade with the Eagles in the second round was genius. We fleeced the Eagles, they gave up so much to take Cooper DeJean when Kool-Aid McKinstry was still on the board. I love that pick, I love to see that happen in the division.

Caleb Williams is the first true 'Gen Z' quarterback and his eccentricities will become more common in the NFL

I also think he, he is, he is truly just the first like true Gen Z quarterback that we have. Like I think there'll be more Caleb Williams coming up where it's like kids that are of this age that were born on the internet that are like unique personalities. I just think it will happen more.

Victor Wembanyama is already a mental hurdle for offensive players and will eventually break the league

I saw the clips this year, like they were guys that were on fast breaks and like he's a step behind him and they just dribbled out... once he figures out like people's games and like how the flow of the game works, he's, he's gonna set some records. It is gonna be like how teams had to match up with LeBron for like a stretch of like a decade.

The Timberwolves will give the Nuggets a real series and have a chance to win the Western Conference

I do think they, they can give the Nuggets a series. Like I think they can win that series... and I think we'll have like what? We're gonna have both, we're gonna have one game where Anthony Edwards probably shoots like two for 18. But then we're also gonna have a game where Anthony Edwards is the best player on the court. Yeah. And he's, he just dominates. 'cause he is that guy.

Ryan Poles' trade with the Panthers is one of the greatest fleeces in NFL history

Ryan Poles, what he did to the Panthers... I actually feel bad for the Panthers. Like it's, it's, it's gross... DJ Moore, Darnell Wright, Tyrique Stevenson, Caleb Williams and a 2025 second rounder. And they got Bryce Young. Ryan Poles. And now Rome Odunze. David Tepper... Basically every quarterback that's ever put on a Bear's uniform has been not put in the a good situation to succeed. He's doing everything to make sure that Caleb Williams succeeds.

The 2024 NFL Draft set a record with the first 14 picks being offensive players

The first 14 picks were offense. So you didn't get a defensive player until number 15. ... which has never been done. It was insane.

Michael Penix Jr. to the Falcons is a baffling move that makes zero sense

The Atlanta Falcons who, if you remember, signed Kirk Cousins to $180 million deal what like a month and a half ago, selected Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth pick... It makes zero sense to do it. Now if he's a great quarterback, cool. I hope it pans out. But like when he, is he gonna start? Is he gonna sit for two years? Why you such a high pick for this? It, it just, you could've probably gotten him in the second round.

Bo Nicks at 12 overall is a significant reach by the Broncos

Bo Nicks, which I think Bo Nicks is also one where I'm scratching my head being like, why, why would the Broncos take him at 12? ... If you need that many tweets and that many words to say, we took a quarterback at 12, that seems like a big reach. Bo Nicks' over under was 32 and a half to be drafted. Like it was a, it was a real conversation when he dip into the second round, they took him 12.

The Chiefs essentially won another Super Bowl by trading for Xavier Worthy

The bills traded their pick to the chiefs who moved up and everyone knew what was gonna happen. ... The chiefs move up. In my opinion that's worse than trading inside the division is the bills trading with the Chiefs. ... Xavier Worthy is, I mean, with him, him with Mahomes. Why'd you let them do that? Congratulations to the Chiefs on winning the Super Bowl next year.

The Bears are going to make the playoffs this year

The Bears are gonna make the playoffs this year. I don't know why [Hank is] so down on [Drake May]. ... I'm like counting Super Bowls. ... I'm hoping this is a 15, 20 year marriage that I just entered into [with Caleb Williams].