The Pat McAfee Show Primetime State Of Sports

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>> Hello, beautiful people and welcome to a. beautiful Thunderdome in lovely. Indianapolis, Indiana for the. spectacular prime time showcase on the. state of sports as we know it today. You. know, sports are the greatest thing that. have ever been created. They provide. hope for people whenever they're going. through things. They inspire folks for. what life can be if you were to focus on. discipline and kick some ass in some.

sort of sport. And obviously, they unify. people in a way that nothing else on. planet Earth can. There's obviously a. lot of things happening in the real. world that should, you know, draw some. attention and make people focus. But. whenever sports happen, the entire world. stops. It's very evident all the time. You can look around. There's hundreds of. billions of dollars worth of streaming. platforms that entire growth initiatives. are to get with live sports. Right now. in the world that we live in, we are. very proud that sports are doing the job. that they are doing. All the ratings are. up and to the right. It feels like we're.

watching arenas and stadiums be filled. with people from all different. backgrounds enjoying the hell out of. life and hopefully beating the other. team. Tonight we will be speaking with. the people that are tasked with guiding. the biggest leagues on earth for these. sports as we kind of do a state of the. union state of sports. Why we are where. we are? I will be asking each. commissioner just basically three. questions. What's awesome for you right. now in your league? What's a trouble. point for you in your league? And what. does the future look like? And then. we'll have somebody on from that league. We got some special guests including a.

reigning MVP stopping by at the end of. this particular program. We got a guy. who's been battling shingles for 6. months, who's going to be bouncing back, who took his team to game seven of the. NBA finals a year ago, and this year. they were up for a lottery pick. One of. the most important people that we know. to the NBA and to a city. Tyrese. Hallebertton will join us. But it's also. all the commissioners from everywhere. We'll have some NFL insiders. We'll have. some casual convo. And hopefully we'll. be able to display and learn why sports.

are where they are right now. It's not. just me. That is incredibly honored to. be doing this. the toxic tables here at. Boston Connor and at Tai Schmidt. You. boys look fantastic. >> Thank you very much. >> Hey, no problem. I like what we're. doing, boys. Kind of looks similar to. what we wore last night in New York when. we were celebrating the Academy of the. industry of television. One half of the. hammer down Cowboys AP Tone is here. Obviously, sports are a fantastic thing. in the ever evolving world that we're. in. If we were to learn more about these. leagues, maybe we'd be better gamblers. as well as we try to chase the crown. turned. >> and that's the end goal. All of us.

getting the crown. >> Yeah, that is certainly okay. Nailed it. Absolutely. Okay, earlier today we had a. chance to catch up with the man guiding. the basketball league that is obviously. the largest on earth in the middle of an. electrifying playoff run. And the only. reason why this show is on is because. the Knicks swept the caps. So there's. some prime time opportunities open. So. when you see commercials tonight, know. that these companies were sold game five. of the Eastern Conference Finals. Instead, they have this. Hopefully we'll. do it some justice. Hopefully we'll. celebrate sport accurately. And earlier. today, we caught up with the. commissioner of the NBA, Adam Silver.

>> Mr. Commissioner, thank you so much for. joining us. You look spectacular. Really. good. >> Thank you. Great to be here. I, you. know, I wanted to stand for this. interview because you're standing. I, you know, I'm often sitting, but so I. wanted to be sort of on equal grounds. with you. >> Okay. I like So, we're eye right now. Even though you are, you're in New York. City. Where are you right now? >> Yeah, I'm in New York. You know, I'm in. I'm in New York City, Midtown. >> Okay. We were just there. We love your. city. Uh, we lost an Emmy. Thanks for. bringing it up. Okay, let's move. forward. This isn't about us. This is. about you and your league, Mr. Commissioner. Okay, first question here.

What is your league absolutely crushing. right now? What do you think is going. really good for you in this exact moment. as the NBA? >> I think what's going incredibly well is. the competition. I mean, that this San. Antonio OKC series out west has just. been off the charts. I've been in both. cities. I mean, the enthusiasm from both. those fan bases, the following actually, you know, people are always talking. about small markets, big markets. We. have the highest conference finals. ratings in our history between two what.

used to be called small markets in this. league. And as you and I have talked. about over time, we've always wanted to. be more NFLike. You know, as I say, like. Pittsburgh and Green Bay, nobody talks. about two small markets matching up. And. I think that's what we're seeing in the. NBA now that it's this equality of. opportunity around the league. You've. got great competition everywhere. And I. think you're seeing with um Shay Gildas. Alexander obviously with Wemi, you know, the the two leaders of those teams, deep. benches, great basketball, team first.

basketball. So I think what what I'm. loving is the competition. Obviously, if. you were here yesterday in New York, all. people seem to be talking about are the. Knicks here. The town has gone crazy for. them. So whoever they play, I think it's. going to be a fantastic matchup. I mean, the the the Knicks are coming off 11. wins in a row in the playoffs. I mean, Jaylen Brunson, you know, people are. comparing him. I think I grew up a. Yankees fan in New York. He's very Derek. Jeter-L like in terms of his leadership. I think that's a great comparison. between the two of them. So, I I like. the focus is on the basketball, which I.

love. >> Yeah. I love that you're chatting about. the basketball and the small markets. because that is always kind of the. conversation whenever they say, "Well, the league wants this or the networks. want this." Ratings up and to the right. Even last year whenever it was Indiana. and Oklahoma City, people just like. sports, which is kind of what the. celebration of this evening is, especially whenever you have greats. being great. Now, what are you working. on? What are you trying to figure out as. an association? What is some maybe a. trouble point or two that's keeping Adam. Silver up at night that he has to get. get better at?

>> You know, one thing just to hit it. directly that that has kept me up at. night is the sort of the the enormous. amount of rebuilding tanking that we saw. in the league this year. I mean just a. reminder of course it's a strategy to. win not to lose. It's just a longer term. strategy to win. But I think where. analytics have taken over all sports. where you see you set a system out of. balance where the incentives were cert. for certain teams were frankly to lose. to have better odds of getting top draft. picks. I understand why it's rational. for them. There's a perceived very deep.

draft classes here. So it was a. particularly problematic. It's not a new. issue this league. The 60s there used to. be a coin flip for the first pick. Then. we added lotteryies in the 80s. We. changed it multiple times. But I think. we we now we actually have a a board. meeting tomorrow uh to discuss a. proposal which will in essence flatten. the odds among the the non-playoff teams. in terms of getting top draft picks will. increase the penalties that the the.

league office has for those teams that. that may um participate in in that type. of behavior, you know. And I and I think. this and some people think it may even. be a bit of an overcorrection, but I. think it'll give us an opportunity. We're going to put in place this new. system for three seasons and then we can. do some longer term study about. ultimately what's the best system for. distributing players, but clearly where. we've ended up right now. I I think you. you obviously don't see it in the. playoffs and the competition's been. spectacular, but in the regular season, you saw some teams that frankly their.

incentive was not, you know, to put. their best foot forward. And I think to. the extent that a draft is intended and. ultimately to reward the worst. performing teams with the top picks, if. teams are manipulating rosters, playing. time, etc., it's not even clear who the. worst team is and who is so-called most. deserving. So, I think you just need to. add more a more random element to our. draft and that's what we're in the. process of doing. >> What if a team is super ass though, Mr. Commissioner? What what if they are. actually the assest of ass? like like we.

saw some teams that were like 25 point. uh underdogs in the regular season which. obviously can't be happening in a. professional sports level like that. But. what if a team is and I think that was. the big question with this new one. that's being voted on is like well if. the team is actually actual trash then. that what their chances getting better. are the lowest. I think you're always. going to find a counterpoint. What you. were trying to say it sounds like is we. need to figure out how to actually. incentivize not trying to lose because. nobody wants to see it. That's what. you're trying to figure out if this gets. >> you know I I I think the issue is you.

know in all business you you you need. incentives to perform. I mean we're. actually calling the system for the. three worst records are going to have. slightly worse odds than they would have. otherwise had. And we're we're stealing. a term from soccer which is relegation. >> And [clears throat] there is a notion. you know that possibly you know there. should be a penalty for performing. poorly. I mean, in in real relegation, you're actually out of the major league.

You know, here, if you're the worst. performing team in the NBA, you still. get your same economic share of national. and global television revenue. You still. get your same share of national and. global merchandising revenue. And I. think at the end of the day, you you. want the greatest incentive to be. successful. So, those teams still have. very good chances to get a top draft. pick. But, I'll just also add, that's. not the only way to build a team. like. it may put more of an emphasis on. scouting. I mean I think about from when. I got involved in the league in the.

early 90s till today just by way of. example when I got to the league in 1992. like roughly 5% of the players in this. league were from outside the United. States and few and very few of those. players were the best players in the. league. Look to where we are now. Two of. the players I just mentioned the leaders. on on you know both OKC OKC and San. Antonio were born outside the United. States. We're now at a point where 30%. of our players are from outside the. United States. So you have much larger. pool of players. Rosters are much deeper. than where they used to be. You know,

you have, you know, players coming from. the second round. Jaylen Brunson, our. leader here in New York, was a second. round pick and then he was picked up as. a free agent from the from the from. Dallas. So like talent is everywhere in. this league. So I think it requires. maybe a fresh mindset. Not to say that. top draft picks aren't important. I I I. know the analytics people are listening. to me right now and saying, "But of. course there's a strong correlation. between top draft picks." I'm not. denying that. I'm just saying we have to. fix incentives. So teams aren't out. there with an incentive to be bad. It's.

the number one issue for our fans right. now. It's nobody wants to see that. It. completely obviously goes away once we. get to the playoffs, but we just got to. fix that problem. >> I love that. This definitely is keeping. you up at night, too. You hear that. answer right there. Okay. Uh how about. the flopping? Flopping. Flopping. Flopping. big conversation. Uh, Mr. Commissioner. >> So, um, yeah, it's it and it's been a. conversation. I I would only say that. there's a difference between selling a. call, exaggeration, and a true flop, which is where you're actually fooling.

the referees. I think sometimes even as. I sit in the stands at games, players. may be falling down, players may be. reacting to a call, but then to me, if. they're not fooling the referees, it's. like, okay, that's like they're the. players are taught to sell calls these. days. I mean, can officiating get bad? Can Can officiating get better? Of. course. We're always working on that. Can officials get fooled occasionally? We're always looking that as well. But I. I the officiating is incredible. I I. will also add one other piece to it. because I know there's always. controversy out around certain calls. There's one you you were talking about.

on your show earlier today. And I think. in terms of replay, I think we're going. to get to the point fairly quickly. where, for example, out of bounds, the. very play that you were talking about, >> foot, it's big deal. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And and I think. where just like you know you're a tennis. fan and they have what they call Hawkeye. and it's like the animation D and you. quickly see you know where the line was. and the oo and a of the crowd had it. touched the line or it was out of. bounds. We're going to move to a system.

like that where that whole category of. calls will be automatic where you know. it's it's going to be you know um you. know Laker ball, Nick ball, whatever it. is you know you know Thunderball you. know those calls will be done by an AI. automated system with cameras lined. around the court and it'll take all. those so-called objective calls out of. the hands of the referees. It'll just be. it'll be instantaneous. will be. automatic. Just play on, you know, let. let's go, you know, Spurs inbound and. you and you'll move on. You won't have.

to deal with challenges on those calls. But it'll also allow the officials on. the more difficult subjective calls to. give their full attention to those. where, you know, because there's often. contact on every play. It doesn't mean. there's a foul. And they're trying to. measure sort of how whether that contact. is impeding the player, how hard that. contact is. It's something that can't. just be done on camera. are actually. feeling the contact because they're. there on the floor with the players. So. anyway, I think there is a a technology. will really be helpful here. >> Okay. So it sounds like what you're.

talking about, which is my final. question, the future of the NBA sounds. like technology is going to be a big. piece of that, especially because in. arenas certainly with you guys owning. the arenas should be able to get the. lines pretty clear. I think people will. be appreciative if that's very. efficient. It feels like technology is. going to get to a point where that will. be easy, especially with what we've seen. in baseball as well. You talk about. tennis, baseball initiated the ABS. system, which has actually become a part. entertainment as they're showcasing the. replay, which could happen with the NBA. What does the future look like for you. though with the association? H how kind.

of far along do you look into that? >> Well, so on the technology front, so we. talked about where it can improve the. pace of the game with the calls, you. know, the accuracy, but probably most. importantly, it can improve the fan. experience. And I think that's where, you know, we're call it, you know, the. the personalization, hyperpersonalization of games where now, you know, I think of sort of what ESPN, your network's doing with the Manning. cast, but you can do that times whatever. where people are going to have the. ability, all right, we're we're I kind.

of analogize it a little bit to, you. know, you go to a game, you're at a. Thunder game, there's 18,000 fans there, but in some ways there's 18,000. different experiences. you're talking to. the person next to you. You may be. texting at some point. You may be. looking at somebody who's sitting on the. bench or somebody in the stands or you. may be looking at a particular player on. the floor even when that player doesn't. have the ball. You know, all those. different opportunities. I think in the. world of hyperpersonalization through. streaming, you're watching that game, but there may be a particular aspect you. want to focus on. You may be a hardcore.

fan and you what you want to hear is. sort of expert ex's nos's like. explaining what defense offense are. being run. You may be a casual fan who. doesn't really watch the NBA all season. long. So I, you know, I want to. understand why that's a foul or I want. to understand what the rules are. Or, you know, I'm like, you know, I want I. want to understand more about the. background of these players. All right. Where is Victor Webbyama from? Like. where in France is he from like what's. his life about? Where did he come from. before he got drafted by the San Antonio. Spurs? I think there's going to be an.

opportunity to make the fan experience. much better through all these different. forms of streaming media where people. are going to, you know, they they want. to buy product during the game. All. kinds of other opportunities. You know, you've talked about all, you know, doing. some sort of alt telecast. Like, you. know, all right, I want to watch the. game, but I want to be entertained by. Pat and his crew during the game instead. of the, you know, I love Mike Breen, but. it's like that's like I don't want to. hear a standard X's and no broadcast. I. I want instead be entertained in a. different way. I want it to be like I'm. sitting at a game with Pat and watching.

it with him and just hearing his ongoing. commentary throughout it. So, I think. we're we're about to see a whole new. generation of technology that's going to. really enhance the fan experience and. and as great as all the different sports. you're talking to tonight, all all of us. all of us commissioners are striving to. do the same things, make it even that. much better of an experience for our. fans. We appreciate you doing that all. and you know as you know because you're. one of the most forwardthinking. commissioners I think that has ever. existed. It's very evident in the new.

deal that you negotiated with the rights. deal. You are very much a phone league. You are in people's hands a lot. Clips. everything streams through there. So. when you talk about those altcasts very. simple to do both nowadays and I think a. lot of people are doing that. So the. fact. >> who who when's the last time you watched. TV when you didn't have your phone in. your hand? You know it's a So. >> So I hung out with the Amish. What was. that three four weeks ago? Jer Jebadiah. told me to kind of put it away. All. right. We appreciate the hell out of. you, Adam. You're the man. >> Congrats on the birth of your son.

>> You know, thank you. And Steph Curry, who's 63, >> people forget about that. He did open up. a potential avenue for Midas to. potentially just become a maybe he'll be. in the NBA someday. Adam, we appreciate. you for everything you're doing for. sport. Adam Silver. >> We obviously appreciate Adam for joining. us earlier today and chit cchatting. about the things that he's passionate. about. Now, to potentially counter all. of that or at least echo the sentiments. of a man who is either in his uh seventh. year or sixth year, depending on how you.

judge this past year, obviously he. missed this past year because he led the. Indiana Pacers to the NBA Finals game. seven in Oklahoma City before tearing. his Achilles. On the road to recovery, all NBA player, Indiana Pacers icon, Olympic gold medalist, ladies and. gentlemen, Tyrese Hallebert. [applause]. >> Tyrese, >> how you doing? Hie, >> what's up, man? How you doing? >> Okay, so you got to hear Adam Silver and. everything he had to say. What's your. big takeaway from the conversation? Do. you echo the most of his sentiments or h. how do you kind of feel about his state.

of the league in which you are a current. and future star of? >> Well, I agree. I feel like we're in a. great place. I liked what he said cuz. last year obviously there was a lot of. commentary about us versus OKC in the. finals, how two small markets couldn't. get the job done, yada yada yada. And I. think it was very interesting for. everybody who watched and now it's. different with a team like New York. who's quite literally the biggest market. in the NBA being in the finals. Uh I. still think people are excited about. that. I think the Knicks have a lot of. fans, but they have a lot of people who. don't like the Knicks, too. So people.

are going to tune in. People want to see. them win. People want to see them lose. I think that's all good for the NBA. So, uh, I definitely agree with Commissioner. Silver on that front. I think it was. interesting to hear him talk about the. lottery system as a whole. Uh, because. obviously that's something that's being. talked about a lot. Um, you know, I'm. curious cuz obviously right now there's. like a it's still a work in progress, but like right now, for example, I don't. know if you know this, but like um like. if a team has a top five pick, you can't. have it three years in a row. So, like.

the Spurs, who are obviously have. benefited from that, they got Webbby. with number one, Castle with number. four, Harper with number two, three. years in a row. That wouldn't even be a. thing uh moving forward, which I don't. know if that's good or bad. I just I'm. curious. Um. >> this this is what I should have You're. saying, "Hey, here's something you. should have followed up with now. What. about the uh what about what we're. seeing from San Antonio?" You wish I. would have followed up. That's not how. this is going to go. I would like to let. everybody know that I understand I was. in a theater field with a lot of. incredible journalists last night and. you might question by I am just here to.

allow the commissioners of the leagues. to let you know what they are thinking. about and how they're thinking about and. then we'll have people who are in the. league in the middle of it all you know. kind of respond and I think that's how. this show will probably end up going but. Tyrese there was no conversation about. the 65 game thing that was instituted. this past season do we like that do we. hate that like where do you think the. league is on trying [snorts] to figure. out how to kind of get it all right. because I think that's what trying to. do. >> Yeah, I think the conversation was. really loud at the end of the season. There was a lot of conversations about. the 65game rule in general. Should we.

keep it? Should we get rid of it? I. think that it's something that you. constantly have to kind of monitor. But. I think the two guys that it was the. most important for this year would be. Kade and Luca. And they were both. granted uh like an exception, like a. waiver to it because Luca dealt with the. stuff with his I think his daughter or. son being born, child being born. And. then Cade obviously had the blood clot. stuff and they were both granted waivers. there. Uh so I think the NBA does a good. job of when it is a problem for a star.

of having those conversations and. granting those waiverss cuz in that in. that 65 game stuff it only really. affects a couple guys a year. I am. definitely under uh the impression that. I hate the rule. I think it should be. changed. Uh but I understand from a. league's perspective their reasoning. So. I I get it. >> Okay. I like the collectively bargaining. agreement stuff actually coming to. fruition in front of us. And it does. feel like the players have a lot more. say in the NBA than any other league. because there's such a finite amount of. guys that can really carry the league, which I think you guys all do a.

phenomenal job with. Now, there's people. saying there's some unethical hoops. going on right now. Okay, we asked uh. Adam Silver about it. We said, "What. about the flopping, the flopping, and. the flopping?" And he said there's three. different things. There's embellishing a. call, there's uh selling a call, and. then there's flopping and fooling the. referees where it seems like his problem. is, and then he mentioned something that. I don't think we kind of uh expected to. hear from him. Go ahead, Tone. >> Yeah, Tyrese, a big thing on the. internet is or people are coming at Dags. now, the coach of OKC, and they're. saying that it's his fault he's teaching. it. Are coaches teaching the.

embellishment or the flopping or however. you want to talk about it based on what. Commissioner Silver said and trying to. fool the the refs? How do you feel about. it? And are coaches teaching it these. days? Yeah, for sure. It's being taught. I. don't think it's as much head coach. teaching as much as it is like player. development. Even before you get to the. NBA, it's just something that you like. kind of work on by nature. I think the. best scorers are the best. Usually the. guys who get to the free throw line the. most. So, it's definitely something they. work on. Even in pickup, they're working. on how they can draw fouls, things like. that. Like I think that's a part of the.

game. I think it's interesting here. >> Tyrese, [laughter]. >> this is the future of sport. >> Can I say something? Can I say. something, dude? >> Please. I think he made a great point. about embellishing calls versus you know. fooling a referee because I am under the. impression I mean obviously you guys are. NFL guys but I think we have the best. officials in sports like I believe that. especially when you go play like in the. Olympics or in FIA or something you're. like damn like I really every time I go. do that I get back I'm like I go to the.

rest like hey I missed you guys you guys. are awesome. So I think like they're. they're really good at what they do the. refs are. So, I think more times than. not, there's embellishing going on more. so than just like falling over out of. nowhere. But does it happen? Of course, it happens and it's talked about. No. question. >> Yeah. I don't I don't love to hear that. it's getting tough for the next. generation cuz we're seeing at the EYPO. We're following Chris Paul's teams and. then Big Perk's got teams at these. things, too. And I don't like the way. people are talking to Coach Perk. >> Okay. I don't like the things that are. being said. You know what I'm saying? I. don't like it one bit, but I do like.

that at the end they both say, "Hey, that's on me.". >> That's right. and then they go ahead and. kind of go their separate ways. Now, last year we got a chance to experience. an incredible playoff run with magical. environments. There's one being. showcased right now yet again. Go ahead, Con man. >> Yeah, Tyrese, the small market. conversations, it does feel as though. those small markets show up in a big way. whenever they're on, you know, the. biggest stage when it comes to OKC's. home environment. What is it like? Because we've seen San Antonio with. their shirts, incredible throwback logo. they do. What is OKC like?

Yeah, I mean last year I think that it. was the best road environment we played. in. It's unbelievably loud. Uh I would. almost argue it's like uh like I played. in Kansas in college. I was like there's. no way it's that loud in this building. They have to be pumping sound or. something. Uh I don't want to make that. accusation towards Oklahoma City, but it. is so loud in there you can't even hear. yourself think. Um, and it is pretty. unbelievable cuz you experience that. more in like college basketball, but I. think OKC does a great job of kind of. having that like college environment in.

there. It's pretty ridiculously loud. So, I would say it's the best. environment. Like a place like New York, like they have a lot of passionate fans, of course, and like people love the. Knicks, but like there's a lot of. celebrities in there and like there. sometimes they're like too cool to get. super loud. Whereas, OK. Stiller is not going crazy. >> Salame was losing his mind. >> You better watch your mouth. if you're. talking about Tracy Morgan like this. Okay. I I don't like what you're saying. Now, I will say I have loved the way you. have played. >> in Madison Square Garden. We I actually.

had what I had a a hoe out here. I had a. uh a weed whacker. We actually did some. gardening. We actually did some. gardening in Madison Square Garden. alongside of you. And obviously we got. caught up in some of that stuff with the. Knicks fans and we appreciate how. passionate they are. They certainly are. a passionate bunch. But you just saying. this Oklahoma City place definitely the. toughest place. They're not going to. like to hear that. >> No. And he knows that. and he knows they. hate his brother. >> That's why he's in there right now. That's why he's doing it right now cuz. right now, you know, the Knicks are. getting a lot of love. They're getting a. lot of I would like to have, you know,

earlier today because obviously we've. been putting the show together for. years, right? Tyrese has been years into. making this particular show. I facetimed. Tyrese earlier to potentially ask him to. do this particular thing right now that. we need him just about, you know, 30 45. minutes ago. Chirping from off camera. saying, "Oh, there he is. The New York. Knicks lover Pat McF they're they don't. like that we are covering the Knicks the. way they were covering." Does feel like. that, doesn't it? It does feel like that. a little bit. You guys don't love that. the Knicks are getting all the shine. They're smacking. Hey. >> Oh, yeah. >> They are just smacking, folks. Ty, this. is their year. It's It might be the next.

year. >> I'm happy for him. That's awesome. That's good for them. That's awesome. >> Unbelievable. This guy. >> All right. Good luck. >> What do you want me to say? What do you. want me to say? What do you want me now? Jaylen's unstoppable. >> Yeah, you're the one who's buddies with them. They're a good team. >> They're a good team. I look forward to. watching them in the finals. I like. basketball so I look forward to it. >> Okay. Yeah, we appreciate you doing. that. Yeah. Hey, good luck on your. recovery. They are calling you though. Tyrese Hall boo. [laughter] No, I'm not joking. They are.

not doing that. That is very rude. They. were the old Burger. Yeah, when they. were saying you you look good. The. training looks good. We appreciate what. you're doing to get back to uh represent. our city. You're the man, ladies and. gentlemen. It's Tyrese Halleber. [applause]. >> Okay, so the NBA currently has their. playoffs going on. The NHL has their. playoffs going on as well. We had to. catch up with the commissioner of the. NHL, the world's largest hockey league, Gary Bman. Mr. Commissioner, thank you. for joining us. You look fantastic, obviously over there in that beautiful. office that we've gotten a chance to see.

in New York a couple different times. Uh, okay, Mr. Commissioner, the NHL. obviously has been experiencing massive. ratings boost. So, my first question for. you is, what do you see going that is. absolutely great with the NHL right now? What are you guys walking around the. offices thinking, hey, we're kicking ass. in this particular thing right now at. the league? >> What takes place on the ice is simply. incredible. The skill of our players, the speed of our game, how competitive. our games are, how our playoffs are.

unfolding. Uh, everything you do as a. sport has to start with what your. product is. and you can market, you can. promote, you can do whatever you want, but if it doesn't start with a great. product, uh, you've got nothing. And by. the way, congratulations on your new. baby. >> Okay, thank you. Maybe baby Midas is a. member of the NHL someday. It's going to. take a lot of hard work on the ice, a. lot of early mornings, I've heard, especially with ice time and. conditioning. The the baddest ass.

athletes that we have obviously in the. world playing hockey. And you talk about. the talent level right now. Is there a. reason why the talent is seemingly. better than ever? Is it the kind of the. youth hockey? Is it because of the rules. that have changed? It just because of. the Oh, Marner nasty right there. Why. Why do you think the game is where it is. at this level? At this stage? >> It's it's all the above. The game's. never been played in more places at all. levels of the game. It's never been more. widely followed. Uh we've got great.

media partners starting with Disney, ESPN, and turning in the United States. Uh we are a worldwide sport with a. worldwide talent pool and the expansion. we've seen over the last couple of. decades has fostered a growth in. grassroots hockey both among boys and. girls. Uh and if you look at everything. that's going on around the game in. addition to the game itself, you've got. things like the Olympics and four. nations. You have heated rivalry. Uh.

more and more people are paying. attention to the game and what. [clears throat] they see they like. >> heater rivalry USA and Canada. Is that. what we're talking about? Heater. rivalry. >> I was talking about the uh the show. >> Yeah. Chicago. huge, right? >> Yeah. They they were the torch at the. Olympics. >> Been a factor too. >> Huge. I I believe that that show has. gone like gigantic. Obviously any. anything that's good for the sport is. exposure especially for the sport of. hockey. more people see it, the more. people love it obviously because how.

could you not? And you mentioned uh four. nations. Let's not talk about that right. now. Let's talk about the Olympics. Let's remember what happened in the. Olympics. Okay. Now, uh my next question. for you as we do this state of sports, state of the union, what is something. you guys are trying to figure out right. now at the NHL? What is something that. you guys are having meetings trying to. piece together to make the league better. at this exact moment? >> It it's a work in progress, but. embracing technology. not changing the. game for the technology, but using. technology to make the game even more.

compelling to our fans, to give them. more connection points. And we're doing. that on a worldwide basis. And you see. things like puck and player tracking NHL. edge, what we're doing with digitally. enhanced dashboards. Uh we think AI is. going to help us fine-tune some of the. issues such as, you know, where is. exactly is the puck. So, I think. embracing technology even more than we. have gives us an opportunity for us to. bring the game to our fans in an even. more compelling way.

>> I love that embracing the now and what's. possible. You remember was it who Fox. had the big tail on the. >> P they they were had you know what's. interesting about that and people don't. remember not only was the technology a. little too primitive but be and ahead of. it time that was the basis of the uh. 10yard line inserted in football games. that started with what Fox did with us. with the glowing puck or the first and. 10 line or whatever it's called now. >> Well the glowing puck obviously.

spectacular. I was a child when it was. happening, so I loved it. You know, it. might have been primitive at the time, but I thought I was watching a video. game. And obviously NHL uh 2K is. incredible game that everybody's been. playing for a long time. The first down. marker is a necessity. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, that is a necessity. And I'm. excited to see what AI does for you. Okay. In AI technology, last question. for you here as we rapid fire the state. of the union of the NHL with. Commissioner Gary Bman here. Future, what how much in the future are you guys. looking and what does the future look. like?

continued growth. Uh, our ratings have. been extraordinary in terms of their. growth. Our buildings are full, both for. the regular season and playoffs. As we. discussed at the beginning, the game's. never been better. So, it's bringing the. game to more people on a worldwide. basis. Uh, and I think we're on a great. trajectory for that growth. >> You're the man. We appreciate you, ladies and gentlemen. That's the. commissioner of the NHL, Gary Bman. [applause]. >> Okay, Gary, we appreciate him joining us. earlier. Obviously, the NHL is up and to.

the right in a massive way. Joining us. now, 13-year NHL veteran, a man who has. become friend of the program and one of. the faces of NHL's coverage as of late. on ESPN, ladies and gentlemen, PK Suban. >> Yeah, PK. [applause]. >> PK, you look sweet over there, obviously. about to enjoy the Montreal Canadians, hosting the Carolina Hurricanes in the. Eastern Conference Finals. What did you. hear there from the commission of the. NHL? Anything stick out as you listen to. him talk about the state of the current. hockey league? Well, just that the years to come are.

going to be extremely exciting. Um, everything that's gone on and he touched. on four nations in the Olympics, the. growth of women's hockey as well as. men's hockey. I think that's something. to be considered that the growth of. women's hockey, I don't think anybody. really, well, I know I certainly didn't. I mean, um, how quickly people have. latched around it and with everything. and the success at the Olympics, it's. just it's really boosted us. So I think. collectively the growth in international. play as well, the World Cup coming up,

uh there's a lot of things to be. exciting and the game's young, you know, I think our audience is continuing uh. while respecting the uh the old culture. and the culture of hockey. Uh bringing. in new fans is is happening every day. It's just an exciting thing to watch and. to be a part of definitely at ESPN. >> Yeah, you talk about women's hockey. Congrats to the Montreal Victtois who. won the PWHL uh Walter Cup just a couple. weeks back and they did so in. celebratory fashion. They were slamming. beers out of the top of the Walter Cup.

after winning the PWL. They took on the. team from Ottawa. It was an all Canadian. PWL team finals. Congrats to Montreal. getting the big time win. Let's stick. with Montreal. Obviously tonight they're. hosting the Carolina Hurricanes. This is. obviously a massive sea to find out. who's going to take on the Vegas Golden. Knights who took down Goliath in the. Colorado Avalanche tonight. What should. we be looking for as we watch this? And. what is the story of the Eastern. Conference final thus far in your eyes?

>> Well, that that Carolina can dictate the. play in this series. Uh I I think we all. believed at the beginning of the. playoffs that Montreal skill could be an. issue through the middle of the ice, but. you know, I think the rest has paid off. dividends. But more importantly, their. players have stepped up. Like when. they've had when they've been. challenged, they've answered the bell. And I think I I like the way that. Carolina responded after game one. Uh. you know, they were challenged with that. to bounce back. They didn't just bounce. back once. They came into Montreal and. showed their experience. So to me, this.

is what the playoffs is all about. It's. it's about slugging it out, going back. and forth. And for Montreal's players in. that young court group, it's about. answering the bell now, right? So where. are you in your development? Well, you. guys got to show us that now. And uh uh. it's knocking on the door. It's right. there for them. >> In the West, the Vegas Golden Knights. topple the Colorado Avalanche. Your. thoughts on Tors getting in there with. eight games left in the season to guide. these boys back to a final. How do you. feel about Vegas and why did this happen. out there other than Stoner and Mark.

Mitchner is outrageous? Uh coming from. Toronto, >> Chase. Yeah, I I I I I think Tors when. he first came over establishing right. away that this is the team that just. needs to get their swagger back. As a. player to hear your coach say that, a. guy who's won before, it's a lot of. confidence. It's got to be a confidence. boost. And for them to not look back. after that tells you that one thing that. the team realize the players that they. have in there, they believe in one. another.

And at the end of the day, you have to. look at your coach and and trust in your. coach that he's the guy to get it done. ports has gotten a lot out of these guys. and specifically Mitch Mner. A lot of. pressure on him coming to to Vegas this. year. How is he going to respond? People. tried to write him off halfway through. the season already and I'm like guys, he's just warming. He's just getting his. feet wet. So, obviously he's up he's. going to be up for the K Smite trophy. Um he's been Vegas's heartbeat. offensively and facilitator. So, uh hats.

off to John Tordella in Vegas for where. they put themselves right now. And hats. off to you getting choked up thinking. about it. Get up. Getting choked up as. well. We appreciate you. Have a good. have a great night tonight watching. >> I'm going to Vegas, boys. [laughter]. PK Super, we appreciate. [applause]. >> Okay, so we uh did basketball. We. obviously did hockey. On the other side, you know, America's pastime. We catch up. with the commissioner of MLB and Val uh. visit baseball, which is obviously. seeing ratings upping to the right. We. hope you'll be a friend and tell a.

friend that tonight we're celebrating. the current state of sports. We have an opportunity to give away. $75,000. to a giving named Daniel Vor. >> Absolutely. >> You're a sophomore, correct? [cheering]. >> Yeah. >> What is your major? >> Civil engineering. >> Okay. So, what's that mean? What is. civil engineering? >> Uh, I don't really know. >> Have you ever kicked a ball before? >> I have. I have. >> When were you a soccer player? >> Soccer player. Yeah.

>> Okay. How were you at kicking soccer. balls? Pretty good. >> I was okay. That was good. >> Have you ever said anything negative. about football kickers? >> Maybe once or twice. >> Daniel. Damn, Daniel. We don't need. that. You make a field goal here from 33. yards uphill. You're the civil engineer. You'd have to tell me. I think it's. about a 40 yard kick. If you're able to. do that, we will give you $75,000. >> All right. >> He's got no laces. >> Yeah. What do we got going here? Can we. get Can we get a shot of shoes? >> What time? >> Get a shot of the shoes. >> Daniel showed up in his vans with no.

laces. What time did you get here for. this? at 1140 last night. >> You need a lot of power. >> Good luck, Daniel. [cheering]. >> I'm not feeling it. Not feeling it. [screaming]. >> Wait a second. >> Just like everything this morning, that. was a surprise. >> We did not expect that.

>> We got to do one more. One more kick. for $100,000. >> You got [cheering] this, dude. >> Let's go. >> How about this, Daniel? How about this, Daniel? Not only is this one for. $100,000, if you make it, we'll add. another $100,000 to the $500,000. donation we're about to make from. College Game Day to the hurricane. relief. It could be 600,000 if you make. this with a h 100,000 going into your.

pocket. Daniel, this is bigger than you. Let's make a kick. >> Way to overcome the shoes here. That was. a heck of an effort. >> Come on. You got this. >> in Berkeley, California. >> You got it. Hell yeah. [cheering]. >> Daniel,

[cheering]. are you kidding me? [cheering]. 1140. He was there. >> I know. 600,000 to Hurricane,000. to Daniel. What a morning. [cheering].

>> Let it go, Daniel. Heat. Heat.

to me. I feel. happy. Number.

single n hey n hey n hey n hey n hey n. hey n hey n hey n hey n hey n. Hello, beautiful people and welcome back. to our prime time state of sports. special live here from the Thunderdome. in Indianapolis, Indiana. We talked.

about basketball, we talked about. hockey, now it's time to talk about. America's pastime, which is seemingly. having a surge in popularity unlike it. has maybe ever seen before. Now this. sport has created legendary names like O. >> Joe Deaggio. >> and. >> Mickey Manel. >> and. >> Teddy Ballgame Ted Williams. >> and. >> you know Yogi Barah. >> and. >> Hank Aaron. >> and. >> Willie Mays. >> and Roberto Clemente. >> and. >> Willie Starel. >> and. >> Barry Bonds. >> and. >> Mark Magcguire.

>> and. >> Brett Boone [laughter]. >> Jason Kendall. >> Jason Kendall well. >> so many names in the history of baseball. that have certainly paved the way to. this baseball that they have today. But. it's a special time for baseball, but. it's also a very important one as we eye. a future negotiation between the players. and the league that could potentially. change a trajectory of a sport that's. maybe more popular than it's ever been. We caught up with the commissioner of. MLB, Mr. Rob Manford, earlier today.

>> Mr. Commissioner, thank you so much for. joining us. You look fantastic. >> Thank you. Thank you. And before we get. started, congratulations on your new. son. What a great event for you. Oh, thank you. Might as he might be a. baseball player. You never know. >> He might be able to uh you know, see. ball, hit ball, good wood. Oh my. hopefully in the future. Maybe he's a. pitcher. Who knows? But I thank you for. that. Thank you for the acknowledgement. and thank you for the time here. All. right, let's dive in. Uh right now, you. would say MLB has what going that is. just remarkable at this exact state of.

time for MLB. What is going great for. you guys? You think? >> You know, I would say three things. Number one, I think the game on the. field is as good or better as than it's. been in decades. Um, I think the rule. changes have made it faster, more. athletic, uh, more action in the game. Um, secondly, we have been blessed. I. mean, the talent in our game um, just. absolutely unbelievable. I think most. baseball people think um, you know, just. generational talent and you know, it's.

great. Really leads to the third thing. It's not just domestic guys. Um. obviously we have some great. international talents which has really. helped us in our effort to. internationalize the game. Showed up in. our ratings huge worldwide audiences for. the World Series for the opening series. in Japan. And then my personal favorite. you know the ABS has been a big hit for. us. Um I think technology in the game. adding technology to the field really. really important for us. I think pitch. clock and ABS have been something that.

we have certainly chat about on our show. regular and I'm a noob to baseball. You. know, not really somebody that is 100%. baseball my entire life, but I've loved. what I've seen. Your stars have shown up. and perform. There's been big bombs in. these moments right here are. spectacular. somebody that obviously has. come from the football world and other. sports. We understand how you know. players specifically uh and refs have. not seen eye to eye on a lot of calls. since the beginning of time in sports. Now in your sport, you guys have. greenlighted.

>> these catchers. >> in prime time games in front of 40,000. people being able to say to the umpire, I don't think so, pal. And it's the. first time the players have ever been. empowered to be able to do that. And I. think it's been a smashing success. Yeah. Uh, we talked to Adam Silver and. he's talking about in their arenas doing. some Hawkeye technology on balls in and. balls out and we chatted briefly about. how that becomes a show in of itself. that replay on where the hell it is and. that's a nice added little spectacle.

that you guys have in your game. I. appreciate you uh putting it in there, testing it in the minor leagues and then. enacting it and executing it. I think. you're doing great evolving for a sport. that obviously has a lot of history. Now, speaking of history, there's always. been some uh stuff that has happened in. leagues for you. What do you guys over. there at those beautiful offices that we. got to see in New York the other day? Thank you for the hospitality. And the. baristas there make incredible. [laughter]. >> that replay system is remarkable. Shout. out to Keith and all the lads down there. who showcas to me how this is. What are.

some things right now that you're. currently trying to figure out? Obviously, there is a big negotiation. looming. Uh, so I know that's in there, but what what are kind of your guys'. trying trouble points, if you will, for. MLB? >> Yeah, I I point I point to two things, Pat. Um, I I I think the first is, you. know, everything we've done, the rule. changes, ABS. Um, we made those changes. based on fan input, fan polling. We pay. a lot of attention to what our fans are. saying. Um the one thing uh that they're.

the biggest on right now is the lack of. competitive balance in the game. And I. think that's going to be the cornerstone. issue of the negotiations with the. MLBPA. You know, from our perspective, we think um if we can improve our. competitive balance, we're going to grow. the game in a way that will be. beneficial to everybody, players, owners, the whole group. Um the second. thing is is you know the RSN's um you. know the RSNs were a huge boost um for.

us those local broadcasts from a revenue. perspective for years and years. Um, obviously with the cord cutting that's. gone on, um, that mo model has kind of. started to fray and fall apart around. the edges and, you know, we need to make. sure that we find a way to deliver our. local games to our fans in a way that's. easy for them to find, affordable, um, and discoverable. You know, discoverable. is a huge issue. >> Yeah. We don't want to talk uh, just. strictly about ESPN's properties, but.

ESPN Plus having like every game was a. beautiful thing. And it it has been an. evolution because the local markets were. also a large piece of the income I. believe for a lot of the teams. And then. you you talk about right now about. competitive balance. >> It sounds like what you guys are in the. middle of trying to figure out is we. need more teams to spend money and the. teams that are spending a lot of the. money. Okay. We're going to have to. figure out who's allowed to spend what. Sounds like is it your guys' angle? I. know the players are going to have their.

own angle, but we absolutely that's kind. of the basis of what we got going on. basically going into this negotiation. Right. >> Right. We got it. Look, our payroll gap. from top to bottom is $446 million. Um, you know, that's not a fair fight. You. know, and and the numbers really bear. out that it's not a fair fight. If you. have a high payroll, you're much more. likely to make the playoffs. And if you. have a high payroll, your chances of. going to each of the successive rounds. are massively higher than a low payroll.

club. And you know, look, fans want. competition. That's what it's about at. the end of the day. And we need to get. that one fixed. >> That's crazy to think though, uh, just. because everything that is kind of. stated that the league's commissioner, you know, because the the teams that are. spending all the money are the big city. teams. >> and the league's commissioner going, "Hey, this is not fair what these big. city teams are doing." I'll be. fascinated to hear uh the counter. reasoning from the players and what we. would all like to say when you guys come. to that is ball is baseball is having a. great run right now. Ball as a whole is.

having a great run right now. We cannot. have a work stoppage. Okay, you guys. need to figure that out. I speak for. everybody. Now, let's say there is not a. work stoppage though and everything goes. uh in a harmonizing fashion. Future of. MLB, how often do you think about it? How far uh down the timeline are you. thinking and what does that look like. for you guys? you know, we try to think. in 10-year segments, you know, what. should it look like? How can we make it. better? Um, I I think that one of the. things that we've begun to think about.

is expansion. Um, there's a lot of. markets in the United States, and North. America, quite frankly, Canada and. Mexico, that would like to have Major. League Baseball. uh when people want. your product, I think it's kind of. incumbent on you to try to figure out a. way that if you can deliver that product. to them. Um and the advantage of. expansion is it opens up a whole lot of. opportunities in terms of things like. geographic realignment which promotes. rivalries, reduces travel in what's a.

you know we have a tough season, 162. games in 186 days. That's uh you know. tough and if you can cut that travel. down it's great for the players. So, um, you know, expansion is one thing that. that's out there. The second thing that. we're really, really focused on is the. reach of our broadcasts. Um, you know, I. think the two touch words I said one. before is reach and discoverability. That is, we have to get to the biggest. possible audience we can get to and fans. need to know how they can find our.

games. That's why I like the ESPN Plus. platform for for our local broadcast. you know, it is kind of a hub where. people can go and figure out how they. get their games. >> Yeah. So, we appreciate what you're. doing for the league. We appreciate what. you're doing for sports. And uh good. luck. No work stoppage. Hey, [laughter]. >> listen. You know what? There's no one. who wants to avoid a work stoppage more. than I do. Believe me, your ass. >> Hey, they put that on your ass. They. were saying, "Yeah." Now granted uh we.

all know that you all know that the game. right now is doing something special for. our society. So we appreciate the hell. out of you Mr. Commission. Ladies and. gentlemen, one man for you. >> Thank you Rob [applause] Manford for his. time. That's very real though. Like the. work stoppage thing would be devastating. especially with the momentum that the. sport has. Joining us now to either have. a takeaway, a counter or maybe a amplify. of what he just heard from the. commissioner of MLB. Ladies and. gentlemen, a man who is certainly worthy. of awardwinning things in the. journalism. >> Oh yeah.

>> The face of a generation for a sport. that is on a massive climb to maybe the. top to are they the fourth largest, third largest, ladies and gentlemen. It'll be on this guy's back. Ladies and. gentlemen, Jet Pass. >> Hi, baby. Jet, how you doing, pal? >> I'm great, gentlemen. How are you? >> Oh, well, we are fantastic. You sound. spectacular. I love the backdrop. I love. the suit. I love the tie. Uh, thank you. for joining us. Okay, so you just heard. the commissioner there. And today, since.

our recording with the commission, a lot. of information has come out about a. proposal that has been placed on the. table by MLBPA in their first basic. proposal for the negotiation for the. CBA. Since we talked to Manford, has. anything changed? And what's your kind. of takeaway of everything you just heard. there, Jet? This is a really important time for. baseball because we're finally going to. get a sense of what the state of play. with labor negotiations is. And this is. something we've been waiting for for a.

long time. The MLBPA came today with uh. its proposal and a lot of the things in. there were not surprising. They want. players to get paid more money. That's. obviously a starting point for every. negotiation when it comes to a union. But there were a few interesting. elements in there. the competitive. integrity tax, which essentially would. be a floor for teams to spend above. And. if they don't, they get penalized in the. same way that if you spend above the.

competitive balance tax, you get. penalized for that. You see the. increased minimums there, almost. doubling the minimum salary and. increasing the competitive balance tax. from $244 million base threshold to $300. million. The big one though and I think. where if the MLBPA wants to avoid a. salary cap, the way to do it is through. revenue sharing. And in the MLBPA's. proposal today, it essentially takes. local television money, which is not.

shared very much right now, and shares. about 2/3 of it on top of a base of $50. million equal distribution from all. teams. And the idea behind that and not. sharing other local revenue is so that. if teams are winning, people are going. to go to their ballparks and the players. association wants those teams to be. rewarded for going out there for. spending money for putting competitive. teams on the field. So there was a whole. suite of things that they came with. But.

at the end of the day, the really. interesting part is going to come. tomorrow when for the first time in 30. years, Major League Baseball is going to. propose a salary cap. And the details of. that are going to be the interesting. part. What's the revenue split going to. be? Would it be 50/50? What's the top. end going to be? What's the floor going. to be? And more than that, what are they. going to offer major league players in. exchange for this thing that they have. vehemently opposed the entirety of the. existence of the union?

>> Could be a gigantic pivotal change in a. sport that has had something that no. other league has been able to maintain. Every players association outside of the. baseball players association thinks to. themselves, "How the hell were they able. to negotiate this guy to be able to paid. $750 million fully guaranteed over the. next 10 years?" That's unbelievable. We. in the NFL got Deshawn Watson's contract. which was $230 million fully guaranteed. and there was a full celebration that. maybe that would become the new norm. It.

was not because the league was no never. going to let that happen. I assume the. players are not going to give that up. easily. Th this has been something that. their players association has probably. celebrated for a long time. We assume. that that is going to be something that. is probably going to be the most. difficult to kind of make happen. Is. that going to be what holds up the. entire negotiation from your front or. what are your thoughts on what would. potentially be the um kind of the the. stopper of why this doesn't get done? >> Pat, when you join the Major League.

Baseball Players Association, there are. a few things that you are told and the. chief among them is we do not have a. salary cap and we are never going to. have a salary cap. That's something that. they take pride in. That's something. that is fundamental to their being. And. so when Major League Baseball comes to. them and says, "We want a salary cap. system," immediately you're going to see. players tomorrow crying no. And they are. going to continue on that. Which is why. all of those other details that are. involved in the proposal from Major.

League Baseball, it's going to be. interesting to see how players respond. to that because what MLB is hoping, what. MLB is banking on is that they're going. to be able to give the players something. that gets them off of that position. But. you talk with player leaders, whether. it's those on the executive. subcommittee, you talk with veterans who. have been in the game for a long time, even the guys who are making a lot of. money, and they're saying, "No, we like. this system as is right now, and. baseball has flourished, has gotten to.

the point where it is under this system. Why would we go and change things?" You. know, the way they look at it, Pat, is. that they feel like the owners want a. salary cap right now, not just for the. competitive balance issues. And what Rob. Manford said about the ceiling where the. Dodgers are at and the floor where the. Miami Marlins are at and where the. Cleveland Guardians are at and where the. lower spending teams are at, like that's. true and fans are agrieved by that in. those small and mid markets where they. feel like it's not fair, it's not.

competitive. But what the players. believe is that there is a system. There. is an in between that doesn't involve. blowing up this structure of the sport. that's existed for the entirety of the. history of the MLBPA. >> Travis Kelce's Guardians are in first. place currently, but we do understand. what you're saying over the long haul, and we appreciate you coming in here and. clarifying everything that's taking. place. The MLB players had their. proposal today. The MLB will have their. proposal tomorrow. salary cap. potentially enforced, but if not, hopefully a deal will get done before.

there has to be a work stoppage because. that is terrible and detrimental. You. know what isn't terrible and. detrimental? This man, Jet Pass, we. appreciate Ty Schmidt. The Stars are. playing great baseball right now. If. there was to be a work stoppage, that. would be them just blowing up something. that has taken a long time to get to. this point, I believe. Ty. >> Yeah, I mean, it would effectively kill. everything they've done over like the. last five years to kind of try to bring. new fans in, changing the rules and. stuff like that. But the salary cap. thing, I just don't know how you get. around that. They just saw a guy sign a. a deal for $765 million guaranteed. I.

think you'd want to hold on to that as. long as you can. >> Yeah. And there's a chance that they do, but also there's a chance that maybe MLB. presents something that is like, hey, we. can be a real business together and we. can all grow. There'll be more money. hopefully. I don't know how they're. going to negotiate it through, but we. know less sports is bad sports. So, we. need more sports. So, they need to. continue to go and go shake their hands. Oh, yeah. >> Okay. Because we don't need this right. now. What we need to do is to continue. to celebrate sport all around the. country. Ladies and gentlemen, we'll. talk WNBA, we'll talk UFC,

>> we'll talk football, >> we'll talk MLS. See you on the other. side. >> You know what? I think there's only one. thing left to do here. I've experienced. cafesito time. I've experienced the. wonderful culture. I've experienced the. beautiful people and I think we got some. canes over here. We got some canes over here.

We got some canes over here. This day in Coral Gables is going to be. one that I will remember for the rest of. my life. Ray Lewis started his dance. right here at Miami. Ed Reed started his. legendary run here at Miami. The legends of football run deep. The. moments are special. The national.

championships are in abundance. Just. last year, a lovely University of Miami, woman diver from Italy, won a national. championship. This thing's been staring. at me all damn day. [laughter]. You're out of your mind, brother. You've. been crazy. >> Kirk, I'm a little winded. >> That's what I was going to say. >> The whole time you're running. I'll give. you a chance to catch your breath, man. You're crazy.

>> I hope somebody got a lifesaver over. there. >> My man's out of breath. >> It [laughter] is a long way. >> To the top. Jump in. Somebody. >> Are you going to jump in there? >> Oh my god. >> Yeah. So, >> I'm tired for you. Oh my god. >> Oh, he's going to take the jacket off. Okay. Oh. Oh, he's taking the shirt off. now. All right. All right. All right. >> Looking ripped. >> Looking. He's taking the drawers off. >> Ladies and gentlemen,

>> the drawers. [laughter]. >> Ladies and gentlemen, if you come to. this beautiful campus, you will notice. quickly that the students here love this. university. They love this atmosphere. and I'm with everybody. I think the you. is back. Give me [cheering].

the speedo. Oh my. >> Give me the. [cheering]. [laughter]. The canes, baby. [cheering]. >> Here he goes. >> Oh god. [laughter]. >> Here he goes. Feet together. Feet. together. >> I think that was the pencil for the. pencil. >> There he's got the.

crashing it out. That could be with the refreshing punch. Miami and Florida tonight. Let's have a. look at that again. Check out the form, Herby. Oh man. [music]. >> Let's see the tone. We need just pretty. good together. Perfect. >> Perfection. and all.

Heat. Heat. N.

Hello, beautiful people and welcome back. to beautiful Indianapolis, Indiana on. this prime time celebration of the. current state of sports. My name is Pat. McAfee. I am a uh human that gets a. chance to speak into microphones every. single day on ESPN from noon to 2. And. when this prime time spot opened up. whenever the Knicks just absolutely. dogwalked Cavaliers in a sweep 40. So. there was prime time spots that were. open for game five, game six, and game.

seven of the Eastern Conference Finals. Obviously those have to be filled in a. pretty quick way. We were asked if we. would like to do something. We said why. not celebrate a little bit about what's. going on around the sports world. We are. obviously incredibly lucky to be a small. part of the sports universe and. obviously love everything about it. And. tonight we've been getting a chance to. chitchat with commissioners from the. leagues that are kind of guiding all. these sports that we love and learn. about what they're thinking about. positively, negatively, and about the. future. We hope you're enjoying the hell. out of it. It's not just me. Obviously, the toxic table is here as well at.

Boston Connor and at Tai Schmidt. Ty, great shirt. >> Hey, thank you very much. You know, you. go to prime time, you got to you got to. break out something nice. >> Yeah. And on that note, com man, I love. what you're doing over there, pal. You. look uh sharp, I believe, is what they. would say. >> Thank you very much. It is prime time. I. actually learned yesterday when we were. getting ready for the Emmys that I don't. actually own a Blazer. So, this is Nikki. Skateses. Thank you very much, Nikki. >> Oh, yeah. Frank Moro in the back. dressing up con man. We appreciate it. Let's go to one half of the hammer. Cowboys AP Town. What do you think the.

odds would be on us being able to pull. off this particular program in about the. last 24 hours of trying to book. everybody on here while also giving a. message of positivity about what is. possible around the world of sport? >> A lot of people on the outside would. would uh put those odds uh at pretty. long, but we were born in the dark. We. were raised in the dark. We we were. raised on doing things in 24 hours or. less. Uh so pretty good for us actually. >> Yeah, I I appreciate that. We are very. thankful for the opportunity. But sports. are something that can inspire, that can. motivate, that can build, that can grow, that can also change the entire world.

And what we've seen from women's sports. over the last handful of years, 10. years, has been special. And obviously, women's basketball has done things that. I don't think anybody could have. fathomemed so damn quickly. Caitlyn. Clark has come here to Indianapolis, Indiana, and changed an entire economy. People show up and park outside the. arena to watch games as she's playing. inside the arena for a WNBA game. She's. not the only one. Asia Wilson out in Las. Vegas is in the middle of a dynastic run. and she might be the best player of all. time. And know she's with Bam Adabay who. scored 83 points in a game this season.

I have a daughter who's three years old. that I will certainly be forcing into. sports but potentially become a. professional athlete if she works her. ass off. And what's happening in these. leagues we find nothing short of. spectacular. Earlier today we got a. chance to catch up with the WNBA. commissioner, Miss Kathy Angelberg. Miss Commissioner, thank you so much for. joining us. Thanks so much. >> Great to be back, Pat. >> Well, we're honored to have you. Thank. you. Obviously, in the middle of the. season, so you are very busy. I've been.

asking three questions. Let's get to the. first one here. What is amazing right. now with the WNBA? What are you guys. walking around the offices saying, "Hey, we're kicking ass with this right now.". And uh like kind of what is the. celebration point, you think, for your. league right now? Well, we've been in a. sprint when to get to the tip of our. season just a few weeks ago, but the. start of the season has been incredible. Um, historic performances already. Exciting group of rookies and um so many. games being decided by three points or. fewer. Uh that would be the highest all.

time. We're already at 20% of those. games, three points or fewer. It feels. like every game there's a ton of parody. in the league. The rookies are killing. it. Olivia Miles is already a pro for. Minnesota. Ay Fud had six three-pointers. the other night for Dallas as a rookie. Um so yeah, really really excited about. the parody in the league and then the. expansion teams. We have two new teams. this year, Pat, both in Portland and in. Toronto and they both have a bunch of. wins already and they're really. competitive and again every game they're.

playing has been decided by single. digits. So really good uh you know to. see those inaugural seasons uh tip off. quickly. Yeah, the Portland Fire had two. of the best environments we'd seen. coming out of like sports, not just the. WNBA. The first couple weekends there. was a gamewinner, I think. Three-point. uh pass from the back and then a a. layup. Yeah, I think this was where the. place went absolutely crazy. Go ahead. and pass off the backboard, rebound, make place goes crazy. Portland, welcome to the WNBA fan. experience. We chitchated with you about. the expansion. You do try to find cities.

that you think would become great WNBA. fans. It feels like a smart decision. You've made a lot of smart business. decisions with the WNBA. Portland feels. like a natural fit. Are you guys still. thinking about new cities? Is that. something that is happening or are we. done with expansion for a bit and we're. happy where we're at? >> Yeah, we've announced uh in 28. Cleveland, 29 Detroit, and 30 Philly. Um. so we're kind of done through the end of. the decade now. Bringing in all those. roster spots, more opportunities. We're. getting more and more international. players coming into the league as a.

result of increased salaries through our. CBA that you and I have talked about. But yeah, so uh for now we're good. through 2030, but we're bringing in. three new teams. So we'll be at 18. because scale is important and. especially in women's sports. >> Congrats on all of that. Okay, now let's. talk about, you know, why people have. jobs trying to figure things out. What. is something that uh maybe keeps you up? What is a trouble point right now for. the WNBA? What do you guys have in. meetings about trying to make right for. the fans? Yeah, we have obviously. continuing to cultivate the fan base,

making them feel part of the WNBA. community. Uh we would love to be more. global. Um so Nike took Asia Wilson to. Europe in a a great tour this off season. and took Sabrina Yanescu to Asia. Um so. Asia to Europe and Sabrina to Asia. Um. and so we know there's so much. lowhanging fruit for us and remarkable. demand for our game globally, but we. just haven't been very global. admired. what the NBA has done with their global. game strategy. So, you'll see us do. something like that over the next few.

years and invest in kind of globalizing. our game as well. >> It feels like there is a natural layup, if you will, with what the uh dream team. kind of started, I believe, internationally in Europe and then now. what the NBA has seen. So, it feels like. there's an infrastructure. Feels like. there is a community that knows the. sport. Would you think about taking. games over there? Have you thought about. traveling international with your games. in actual regular season games like what. do you see with the NFL and I believe uh. baseball does it as well? >> Yeah, NBA just did it this past year. >> in Paris. How often are you doing those.

in your expansion internationally and. what are the conversations about it? >> Yeah, that's exactly the data we're. looking at our fan bases in whether it's. Australia or Asia or Europe. Even in the. UK we have a lot of WNBA fans in the UK. So obviously in France and Belgium and. and over I think about 30% of our. players now are born outside the United. States and they're coming from these. countries that crave basketball crave. now women's basketball. So we're going. to bring the we're definitely going to. be bringing the WNBA uh globally for.

whether it's uh preseason games or. regular season games longer term. >> Well congratulations on being the first. women's league that has revenue sharing. with its athletes. I uh obviously as a. father of a three-year-old daughter uh. she's going to be putting up some shots. I think you know there's a chance that. she gets in there and follows Caitlyn. Clark here in Indianapolis, Indiana is. certainly going to be somebody that she. is going to witness throughout her. childhood. So hopefully that'll be. something she learns and can get into. Speaking of what is the future of the. WNBA? Obviously you have expansion.

through 2030. Is there any other things. that you try to look at? international. obviously you mentioned is the game the. rules the changes anything else that you. have to kind of think about as you. project the future. >> yeah I'd say how we can use technology. better in the fan experience and. ultimately the in arena experience. everybody's investing in AI you can't go. to a meeting without someone talking. about how that's being employed or. deployed at our corporate partners. certainly at the league as well so that. would be something too you're you know. looking at technology around replay.

capabilities looking at automated. officiating All the things that I know. our big brother Adam Silver and the NBA. is looking at, we're looking at as well. So, um, that's kind of next after. global, uh, is is really to see how we. use technology in in the both the. business side and the basketball side. >> We appreciate you so much. That's WNBA. commissioner Kathy Engelberg. Thank you. >> Thank you, Kathy. Thank you, Kathy. [applause] We appreciate the hell out of. her. She's been very transparent with us. every time we've got a chance to chat. with her. Speaking of chatting with. somebody, this is the first time we've. ever got a chance to do this. Ladies and.

gentlemen, former Georgetown Hoya Guard. Also, one of the voices of the New York. Knicks from ESPN and MSG networks. Ladies and gentlemen, Monica McNut. >> Hey, [applause] Monica. >> Yeah. Yeah, we're going McNuts over. here. Yeah, we are excited. How are you? >> I'm good. What's up, Magipi? How are. you? >> Oh, what's up, McNut? How are you doing? I'm great. Okay, we're celebrating the. state of sport and I'll tell you uh. women's professional leagues and sports. have been doing spectacular things and. obviously everything looks up and to the. right for the future. After listening to.

what uh Commissioner Kathy Angleberg. just said, what was your big takeaway. and what are your thoughts on what the. WNBA is currently doing and maybe can. get better for the future? >> Well, I love that she gave a nod to how. strong this rookie class has started. this season. Olivia Miles has been. fantastic and I watched those six. three-pointers that Ay Fud put down. right here at Barkley Center. Then I. love what she said about uh. international opportunities and how we. incorporate AI into our game. For a long. time, Pat, one of the gripes around.

women's sports was that you couldn't get. the data the way that you could get into. the weeds when it comes to men's sports. but using AI involving our fans, giving. them more avenues to explore and love. the game and to even argue about the. game if they so desire. I'm super. excited about that. And of course, so. many leagues are going international in. terms of having events that garner. global interest. I would love to see a. WNBA international game. >> Okay, so McNut, let's talk about the. Indiana Fever winning the title. Is that. happening? What was so obviously we're. in the Aces world, okay, but the Liberty.

have obviously done their thing. I saw. Sabrina's back which is obviously good. for the WNBA as a whole but also you. know for the Liberty who are what they. were champ two years ago and then the. Aces have won three out of the last four. obviously that's out there in Las Vegas. with Asia they could potentially be one. of the most dynamic uh dynastic teams in. history who do we need to watch this. season and the Fever winning that's. incredible good for us. >> listen and not just because you are a. Fever guy the Fever are absolutely a. team that you have to watch out for and.

yes it partly has to do with Caitlyn. Clark and what she's able to do in terms. of shooting and distributing the rock. I. really want to see how she holds up over. the course of this season. But Pat, alongside of her, you got Kelsey. Mitchell who is still a bust. You got. Mon'nique Billings who came in over the. offseason and plays really well. alongside Caitlin. And that was. discovered in particular during their. time with USA basketball. I mean, this. is a team that has everything you want. when you're trying to contend for a. championship. They've got scoring, they've got rim protection when you talk. about Aaliyah Boston being one of the. more efficient bigs in our league. And.

they want to play fast. So, they're. putting teams on their heels. So, they. are real contenders in my mind. Now, we. were there for the season opener pack. The Dallas Wings got the better of them, but it is a long season, so we'll see. how things play out. But, you mentioned. the others. The Aces are right there in. terms of being able to retain their core. despite the offseason being highlighted. by so-called free agency, although that. team looks the same. Um, and right now. here in New York, the Liberty got some. things to figure out, but I think when. it's all said and done, the Liberty will. be there, as will the Atlanta Dream.

>> All right. Well, we appreciate you. stopping by to chitchat about the WNBA, a voice of the New York Knicks as well. The only reason why this show is. happening is because the Knicks swept. the Cavs. So, is this just going to keep. happening? Because everybody talks about. big market, little market. What they. can't have is just. >> swe. Now, thank God you've come on obviously. and it's only going to get better with. you. You know, thank God you've helped, but like the advertisers expected game. five of the Eastern Conference Final.

Okay, that's New York market. Okay, that. that is Jaylen Brunson. That's Spa. Obviously, that is Timothy Shaly. It is. >> that that is that entire that is what. they were expecting. Instead, it was. just a sweep and they just continue to. beat everybody's ass. Your thoughts on. this New York Knicks team that you've. obviously followed all season very. closely. >> Listen, Pat, I know people are. scrutinizing who they swept and I. understand, but Greeny this morning on. Get Up, you know, I've been on TV all. day. Greedy did a great essay about what.

previous champions, who they've beaten, how the seating, how they've knocked off. lower teams, how some of the most. efficient teams we've seen have also. involved sweeps. When you think back to. those 2017 Warriors, this team is. playing at its highest level on both. sides of the basketball. The offensive. stats are gay. They're holding teams. under 100, under 110 like it's light. work, and they are clicking at the right. time. whoever comes out of the Western. Conference. Now, I will say this. I do. not expect the finals to be a sweep or. that will truly be something that blows. my mind, but the Knicks could absolutely.

be the last team standing. >> Okay, if the Knicks get a sweep in the. finals, we might be asking you to come. back and do something like this. Hey, is. the WNBA? >> Luckily, we've got you back. >> Hey, you're the best. Thank you for. doing TV literally all day. You're the. best, ladies and gentlemen. Monica McN. >> Hey, Monica. >> Okay, so the WNBA seems to be in a very. strong position. Kathy Engleberg came in. there out of the uh suit world. Okay, she's a business person. Comes in there, turns the WNBA into a business, starts. getting partnerships with companies and. sponsorships, presenting them to TV. markets, and basically paving out a road.

to success for all parties. She's able. to secure one of the biggest deals in. the history of licensing, especially. with where the league is now with where. they're hoping it would be projected. And now she's kind of cutting through it. all. The new CBA that they were able to. negotiate early gets everybody seemingly. on the same page whenever there was. maybe some outside distractions about. other leagues or maybe guaranteed more. money. that threeon-ree things kind of. coming in there. Feels like the WNBA is. in a good spot. And we would like to say. as we get an opportunity here, the Fever. are a real draw here in Indianapolis. Like a real real draw. And if you don't. have a WNBA team in your city and if.

they're not, you know, doing well, I. would assume you probably can't really. feel it, but here in Indiana, the fever. are real deal. And you bring up Kelsey. Mitchell, actual bucket, huge fan. Jersey selling all over the place. She's. a walking bucket. Lexi and Sophie are. these tag teams of girls who are tough. out there. Play great hoops. And then. obviously Aaliyah Boston's been around a. long time. Stephanie White, the coach, is beloved around here. So, we. appreciate the hell out of what the WNBA. is doing. And uh we think Caitlyn here. is certainly a big we've watched the.

drive that she has done to this sport. So, we hope and uh we appreciate the. fact that Kathy's trying to drive it to. new places. Con man, >> I mean, they are literally changing the. fabric of the city as we are here. Not. not of course as you mentioned with more. fans, but they're actually knocking down. buildings to build a fever practice. facility which has made the which will. make I guess the city even better just. because of how much it'll be better. around there. I believe they're putting. a [ __ ] in half of the facility as well. It's like stuff like that also that you. don't think about right now in the.

moment, but two years from now is going. to be literally part of the skyline of. the entire. >> Yeah, we're watching that in real time. We're living it. So, I think whenever we. talk about it, it's coming from a. different perspective than maybe. everybody else because we are watching. it with our city happen and the Simon. family that owns both the Pacers and the. Fever. They're fully invested as well. So, shout out to the WNBA. Thank you to. Kathy and Monica McNut for stopping by. Let's pivot from women's basketball to a. sport that's going to captivate. everybody's attention for a little bit. this summer. Ladies and gentlemen, there's about to be an international. affair. There's about to be a World Cup.

Ty, I know you're juiced up. >> I mean, how can't you be juiced up? You. know, even if you're not a soccer fan, we we got one opportunity every four. years to act like we are the greatest. soccer nation in the world. And I I plan. on doing that until, you know, I just. hope we don't lose in pool play. >> Okay. No reason to even put that in. [laughter]. >> We already had our starting line. Our. roster is already we like the last. >> Where's Luna? >> Where is Luna? Luna was the only one. scoring on Poncho's team. He does not. make the roster, so we assume that Ponch. has picked a bunch of other dogs, but. we're going to be talking about soccer. as if we are experts. Now, I did play.

growing up. I do appreciate the. beautiful game, the World's game, but it. would be much better if the United. States of America would perform halfway. decent at this World Cup. We think the. boys will, but we also know that the. league that calls this place home is. also much better than it used to be. But. I think it still has a lot to grow. We. caught up with the commissioner of MLS. earlier today, a man who's been a part. of the MLS for damn near 30 years, stepping away rather soon. Ladies and. gentlemen, Don Garber. >> Mr. Commissioner, thank you so much for. joining us. You look fantastic. >> Thanks, man. Great to be here. Really.

great bet. I appreciate the opportunity. to chat with you. >> Hey, we appreciate the opportunity to uh. chitchat with you. Okay, so we've been. asking every commissioner right now uh. three questions. Let's start with the. first one. What is awesome right now. about the MLS? What do you think you. guys uh are kind of walking around the. office telling each other? We're kicking. ass at this particular thing, at this. exact moment, Mr. Kamish, >> you know, there's more excitement, momentum, and and just buzz around the. league, Pat, than ever before. open up.

the season with, you know, crowds of. over 75,000 for our Messi games. So, you. know, leagues measure attendance, they. measure ratings and social media, but. really what's important that there's. just more buzz. There's more interest. You know, Messi is lighting up the. league like never before. There's all. sorts of great young players that are. coming up from themies. We had this. young kid for Philadelphia was 16 years. old and scored a goal for the. Philadelphia Union. So you're seeing the. young kids growing up in themies coming.

up and playing for the first team. That's a really important part of what's. been driving momentum in MLS because. we've been waiting for that for a long. time. We've always had the Beckhams. We. now have the best best player ever. But. when you start seeing guys that are. coming up through youth clubs play for. an academy and like Alex Freeman, the. son of the great NFL player playing for. our national team. That's got everybody. feeling great, Pat. Really, really good. >> Yeah, we followed Cavin's story since I.

think he was 14 years old. Uh Sullivan, I was his name over there in. Philadelphia. He's he's a stud obviously. and we're thankful that we are. developing a future GOAT. And obviously. you talked about the MLS and you brought. up David Beckham and now the goat of all. time. I think the David Beckham. experiment that you guys did way back in. the day with Los Angeles the Galaxy has. now obviously paid off in big ways with. him being one of the greatest owners in. all of sport while Inter Miami goes. crazy not only with Messi but with. legends from around the world. I think. the MLS has done a good job of getting.

name brands into the league while trying. to build the league from a uh inside out. perspective. I mean, I'm 39 and I don't. think the academy conversation growing. up was as big or anywhere near what it. is right now in America. So, congratulations on being a big driver in. all of that. And we can't wait to win. the World Cup. That's right. >> We can't wait to win the World Cup. And. uh obviously a lot. >> you and me both, brother. You and me. both. Well, waited with baited breath. >> A lot of juice going into the World Cup. Obviously, soccer's going to be. spotlighted. So, that means the MLS is.

going to be spotlighted as well. What. are some things though on the opposite. side of the coin there that maybe you. guys are having meetings about trying to. figure out? What keeps you up at night? What is the MLS kind of uh dealing with. at the moment in your eyes? >> You know, Patty, every time you have any. leader of any business, particularly. sports league, you know, it it's easy to. think about the good things, but you got. to be spending time thinking about. what's happening going forward. That's. been the MLS story for 30 plus years. We. want to be part of the global soccer. conversation. when they say the global. football conversation, lots of people.

love international soccer. They love. teams from Europe. We want them to be. engaged and love their local MLS team. And obviously with the World Cup here, you know, we want that not to be a. Taylor Swift concert. You know, we want. don't want it to be a flash in the pan. We wanted to actually create long-term. legacy value where people will remember. something special, biggest sporting. event in the world. And now we're going. to say to them, hey, we're right here, you know, we'll take it world from here.

And so we have to think about how to. achieve that. How do you achieve it on. the field? How do you have a great fan. experience? How do you ensure that we're. doing the right marketing and the light. social media so that there is a cultural. connection to hourly with this growing. movement of people that love the game. and and you know it's a great question. we spent a lot of time thinking about. that what's the right marketing approach. what do you do with your great young. players versus what do you do with the. Leo Messis of the world how do we have. owners like David to your point or Will.

Farrell or Matthew McConna who can bring. us off the field and into the. conversation. We have to get more close. to the international standards. You. know, we're changing our calendar. Pat, imagine that. Going into a room with. your owners in Minnesota and Chicago and. Toronto and say to them, guess what? We're now not going to play in the. summer. We're going to play in the. winter. But that's the way the rest of. the world plays. So, those are the. things we got to think about. It's a. beautiful game for a reason. Don't.

Americanize it. Do it the way the rest. of the world does it. and try to be part. of what is great about the beautiful. game. >> Yeah. And I love it whenever you match. up the calendars, which is what you're. going to do to link up with the rest of. the world. Whenever international uh. games are taking place with. international schedule overseas, so will. MLS in the future. I believe that is. starting next season and it's all I. think that'll also help us maybe, you. know, get in a Champions League. Yeah. >> You know, let's go ahead and get a. Champions League. You know, tell them. put pink slips up. We we want to take. the concafa title over there too and.

take it all on. But I think do the. global recognition of the US game I. think is a uh is a beautiful thing. It. all happens. >> around the national team though. I think. I I think that is how you kind of get. the global conversation. But I do. appreciate the fact that our league is. getting a lot more respect especially. with how everything is working. So. becoming a global factor in footy is. seemingly one of the future goals. What. are some other What does the future look. like for the MLS? I know you're Hey, incredible run by the way. Long ass.

[applause]. >> Thanks man. I know you're stepping down. soon. I know you're stepping down soon, but I assume there's been a lot of. conversations about what the future of. MLS looks like. What does that look like. in your eyes from a 30,000 foot view and. thank you for your service to sport. >> Uh I appreciate that and I ain't going. yet, but pretty soon. >> Okay. Okay, [laughter] got that. >> It's been a good run. You know, you. know, Pat, I we got to be one of the top. leagues in the world. I mean, what. American business doesn't want to lead? And global football has been around way. longer than us, but you're you guys. said, "Let's get a team in the European. Champions League. Let's create a global.

tournament where our top clubs, we're. already playing against the top Mexican. clubs and we're beating them a good. amount of the time, but I want to see. how our teams do against Chelsea and how. they do against Bokeh Juniors from, you. know, Argentina. So, it is to be one of. the top leagues in the world. You know, we have this expression, we call it a. league of choice. So, we beat out the. Saudis for Leo Messi. He decided to come. to to us. But I want to see 50 players. like Leo. How do we get the best players. in the world at the perfect time in.

their career to want to put on an MLS. jersey, play in our country, three teams. in Canada, and be the best? I mean, that. we can't shoot for anything less than. that. So, when you ask where do we want. to be? We got to be one of the top. leagues in the world for sure. >> I love everything you're saying. We. appreciate the hell out of your. contribution for over three decades or. damn near three decades to uh the MLS, to sports as a whole. And uh job well. done, sir. >> Thank you, man. I really appreciate it. I truly do, Pat. >> Ladies and gentlemen, that's Don Garber.

>> Don a little bit of a dog there. It. seemed like obviously been around a long. time. He uh I think his contribution to. sport will be celebrated whenever he. leaves, which will be happening, I. believe, in a matter of moments. Him. talking about or shortly here. Not a. matter of moment. Gez, [laughter]. no. In the near future, you know, there. will be a secession plan in there. We. have uh maybe the greatest footy. handicapper on earth here. one half of. the hammer. Don Cowboys Bubba Gumpino. Gumpy, what's the big takeaway going to. be from what Don said in that state of.

MLS conversation. >> The uh schedule change is actually a. massive massive deal. Um the winter. games are going to be absolutely. freezing. I know in Europe and stuff. like that, it's not. And also MLS. thrives a lot in the summer because. there isn't those other leagues. But. like you said, if you want to get those. best players and play the best teams, you have to be on the same schedule as. the biggest leagues. Okay, so we want. Chelsea is basically what I'm saying. We. want to see how they do. Are we getting. in the Champions League? Are we getting.

in the Europa League? >> Better. >> How about they drop a team in the. Premier League? They got 10 teams in. London, right? Can't Can't we just say. like, "Hey, you adopted one of our. teams, too, and get them in there as. well." I I uh we want pink slips, too. When we win the Conca, we want to we. want this super duper league over there. We want to play for all the all the. trophies. Exactly. It's crazy that what. we've been saying kind of in a way of. like uh you know super Americanrained is. how we kind of describe this entire. thing. He's kind of thinking the same. thing. He's like no yeah we would like. to play against them in the Champions. League. We would like to become kind of.

one with the rest of the world and how. we're viewing our professional soccer. We have the best player on earth playing. and he has been playing here for some. time in his actual prime while he's. still breaking records. Why would we not. be incredibly proud of what we have. cooking here? And if the USA team does. well in the World Cup, look out. They. say lacrosse is a sport of the future, which it certainly is. And. congratulations to the Princeton men and. the Northwestern women for winning the. national championship uh this past. weekend. But soccer could see a massive. growth every World Cup in which the team.

USA has success. Youth soccer has a. boost because it's affordable. It's. normally everywhere and uh that's kind. of the big driver. So Messi's in town. They sell out the stadium. And that's. what he meant when he said flash in the. pan with Taylor Swift. Like Taylor comes. to town, sell out the stadium and then. they don't sell out the stadium for the. rest of time. He wasn't calling Taylor. Swift flash in the pan. >> Well, yeah. >> No, he was talking about stadium sellout. cuz she's in town and then no stadium. sellout like kind of how when Messi. travels around, they're wondering about. sustained sellouts like Taylor's able to.

do in every single city. He's saying in. their cities. Hopefully they're able to. accomplish it. I think they have gotten. great buzz. I think they've gotten great. energy and watching Messi do his thing. has been spectacular. The all pink unis. were aggressive. I think they pull it. off. Me too. >> I think they pull it off. Yeah, it is. very Miami. Congrats to soccer. >> Yeah, great color scheme there with the. black and the pink. A good way they. could do it is just giving some of the. top players the equity in the teams. Like that is the one thing they can't. offer. They can't offer the $675 million. a year, but they can like when they're.

doing the expansion, give Ronaldo, hey, 10% of this team. >> Yeah. Allegedly Messi was given uh. subscription stuff for Apple whenever. they made that big deal. They went from. a MLS package basically on Apple to all. of Apple's platform now. And they said. the ratings increase went from I think. it was documented like 120,000 per game. during the MLS package of Apple. They. said it's gone up immensely. They're not. releasing the numbers yet, but they said. now that it's on the all of the Apple. platforms, the MLS numbers are through. the roof, just like everybody wants more. sports. Speaking of sports, there's.

combat sports. They've been happening. for a long, long time. And there's one. man's name who is synonymous with. basically all of it. How could you get. through a conversation with the guiders. of sports without chitchatting with UFC. president Zufa. and president. >> and power slap investor founder runner. >> That's right. >> Ladies and gentlemen, the one the. incomparable Dana White stopped by. earlier. >> Ladies and gentlemen, Dana White. Thank. you, Dana. [applause and cheering]. >> Dana. >> Okay, Dana. I've been asking everybody.

basically three questions about their. league. Uh for you, you obviously have. two, so you can kind of hammer both if. you'd like at the same time or we can do. one at a time. But for you right now, what is going incredible with the. business? What is something that you're. uh very excited about and what you. thought was going to go well has gone. very well? >> Well, there's three actually. I got. power slap, too. So, I got I got three. that I'm juggling right now and and. everything is good. I I mean, uh, obviously we're we're heading into this. White House fight. Um, you know, the.

Freedom 250, uh, we're doing the South. Lawn of the White House and we're going. to have 75,000 fans each day at the. Ellipse, uh, the press conference from. the Lincoln Memorial, the the the. weigh-ins, fanfest, everything that's. going on. And on the Zufa boxer side, I. I'm heading into uh my first fight um. with Sky Sports in England. We're going. to Bournemouth with a great fight, Chris. Bum Smith uh versus Ryan Rziki. Um just.

had a power slap event that was. incredible. Um I I mean things could not. be better. I mean, we're looking down. the barrel of an amazing summer, too. Uh. Conor McGregor's coming back and. fighting uh Holloway during. International Fight Week. On that card, we also have Benois Saint versus Patty. Pimpblelet. And uh yeah, everything's. good, man. I I don't have any complaints. other than uh I'm just crazy busy. I'm. I'm actually in Paulo Alto right now at.

my Meta board meeting, which [laughter]. which uh dropped this on my head, too. It's just been it's been a crazy year so. far. >> Hey, well, congratulations, man. from. becoming fight promoter, boxing promoter. into this mogul that you are now. Doing. a fight on the White House is obviously. a uh on White House grounds is an insane. thing, a historic thing celebrating 250. years of the United States of America. and obviously oldest sport in the book. Combat sport as a whole. Congrats to. you. Okay, so that leads to I guess some.

questions here about the the potential. negative. Is there any any what are you. thinking of or what is worrying you. about any of your businesses right now? This is kind of the next question that. we've been asking everybody. >> Oh god. I mean, nothing is worrying me. Nothing is uh I. I don't worry about a lot. We we we're. good at what we do. Um we've built this. unbelievable machine. Craig Borsari, my. OCD head of production, is uh is is in.

uh DC now till the 15th. He's living. there until this project's done. And. obviously we've run we're building the. claw right now, which is what you just. showed the picture of. That's the. lighting grid that I wanted so that when. we're filming this fight, you won't see. a light, a microphone, uh any any. lighting grid with all you will see is. the full White House in the back while. you're watching the fight. And if it. goes the other way, you'll see the. Washington Monument. And obviously, we've run into the problems there. You.

know, it rained like eight days straight. in in DC since my team's been out there. building that thing. Uh some guy shows. up and starts shooting. Uh they lock my. team down for like 3 hours. Uh when that. happened, it's just about getting the. work done. Now we got two weeks to to to. do all the bells and whistles and and. and get this event done. >> All right. Well, congratulations on, you. know, seemingly working through all the. adversity, including a shooting. situation. So, shout out to your people.

that are working their asses off over. there. We can't wait to see the event. And I appreciate your mindset of we're. not worried. Okay, we got things we got. to deal with. We got good people. We'll. definitely do that. Okay, that leads to. this future for you. You got uh uh Power. Slap, you got Zufa, you got UFC, obviously TKO uh ownership of I don't. know if they're a part of Power Slap, but I do know they are part of Zufa and. obviously the UFC at this moment. So, what is future for you? What are you. just going to continue to develop. different ways for people to hit people. or like what do you think future is for.

Dana White? >> They're like the mafia. They got a cut. of everything. [laughter]. >> Yeah, no doubt. No doubt, dude. >> Uh you know what what I have to do? Uh I. have seven years to deliver for. Paramount. I'm I'm really excited about. this relationship. They have already. been incredible partners to us. They're. so fired up about being in business with. us. So, we need to deliver for them. I. want to take uh, you know, boxing slap.

and UFC to places that we've never been. before. Um, and just continue to to to. to build and grow the business. That's. what I love to do and that's what we're. going to do over the next uh, 10 years. >> Well, we appreciate the uh, opportunities you give to athletes to. make a living and to give us all a show. and uh, good luck with everything that's. on the plate and I assume you'll handle. it all perfectly. You're the man, Dana. Take care, brother. Thanks for having me. Have a great day. >> Hey, and tell the meta people we need. some uh I Weren't we supposed to do.

Weren't we supposed to go live in a. world? We're supposed to go live in a. world at some point. Tell them to figure. that out. >> What do you want? What do you need? What. are you asking for? What do you need? >> I don't know. I I was kind of excited. I. was playing this Oculus boxing game in. there. Okay, there was an Oculus boxing. game. >> Incredible. >> Throw to Throw the Fight, I believe. >> Throw the Fight. I love it. And it's not. only a game, it it'll kick your ass. physically. It's an exercise in great. shape. >> It's an exercise for sure. There's. pingpong in there as well, but it feels. like you got So, you guys didn't quit on. >> text me. Text me when you're done uh you.

know, running your empire over there. today. And text me what you and your. team need over there and we'll send send. you a whole box of stuff from Meta. >> Okay. We need the little running thing. that they have in Ready Player One, you. know, so [laughter] we can do the Okay. We appreciate you. You're the man, ladies and gentlemen. Dana White. Thank. you. >> Is he coding Meta? >> Yeah. >> Is he the one coding it? And are we. getting the ready player one thing? I do. wonder. You know, I do appreciate the. fact that we asked him like, "Hey, what. is something that keeps you worried or. whatever?" I'm not What?

>> Excuse me. [snorts]. >> I sleep soundly, bro. Okay, we got good. people. We're going to do that. I. couldn't fathom doing a fight on the. White House grounds in the middle of the. world that we're in right now. That has. to be so ridiculously loud. But. obviously, it's a once in a what. lifetime opportunity to potentially have. this opportunity, try to celebrate sport. while celebrating the United States of. America. understanding though that. politics are certainly going to get. involved in this because it is happening. at the White House. So hopefully this is. something that can bring people together. as opposed to potentially bring people. apart. But we are excited for the amount.

of due diligence he's putting into it. for the visuals. He said he'll be able. to see the White House one side and then. you'll be able to see uh Lincoln. Memorial the other way. It's going to be. an event, a spectacle. And uh Dana is a. wild man, but he's got his hands in a. lot of things and uh seems like he. always has success. He loves that. slapfest. >> He loves it. I have you ever heard him. sit down and not, you know, kind of uh. talk about Super Slapfest? >> No. Because it I mean it Hey, say what. you want about it. It delivers what it.

sets out to deliver every single time. >> These two are walking up to each other. and they're smacking each other right in. the mouth. You know exactly what you're. getting. The people that are like, you. know, I like to see like the knockouts. are good news. They're And then there's. another one. And then there's another. one. And they're like, well, should we. be allowing people to do this? Hey, that. is a conversation for you guys to have. We will not have that. We obviously. understand that Dana loves combat. sports. I think he's trying to do it. The salaries is going to be an. interesting conversation as it continues. to go forward. Always has been in the. fight game. Okay, let's take a break. On.

the other side, we're going to wrap this. beautiful prime time state of sports. with the sport that is in its prime here. in prime time. Now, Commissioner. Goodell, we have been told, is. potentially out of pocket. Okay. There's. a lot going on. Got business to handle, but we think we found a great NFL. representative to kind of wrap us up. Ladies and gentlemen, senior and junior. NFL insider for ESPN will be joining us. at the same damn time. >> Chefty and rap sheet will be joining us. to break down, you know, the top five, six headlines that are currently driving. the current NFL conversation. And then.

MVP of the NFL, Matthew Stafford will. take us home on the other side to. discuss the state of the NFL as we talk. international games, which is his first. game of the season in Australia. >> That one's really far out there. >> How's he feeling? We shall see. And how. does he feel about the state of ball? I'm assuming it's great. We can't thank. you enough for allowing us to do this. We'll see you on the other side.

It's electrifying here in Happy Valley. We're lucky to be here. And uh you know. the way you win this is you have uh be. the first 300 people here and you get a. ticket and then we randomly select a. ticket and that person gets an. opportunity to kick a 33 yard field goal. for an undetermined amount of money. This week we had our man William, right? What's your name? >> William. Yes, sir. >> You won the raffle and you said, "I. don't want to kick because I suck at. kicking." Is that accurate? >> More or less. >> What is your uh major here?

>> I'm a finance major. >> Okay. So, money decision-wise, I suck at. this. Let me try to find somebody who's. good at this. How did you land on my man. here? And uh what are your hopes in him? >> Well, I was looking around. I saw my. man. He said he plays soccer. And I was. like, this is my guy right here, my guy. Carson. I have faith in him, so I know. he's going to get it done. >> All right. You're Carson, right? You. played high school soccer. Is that. accurate? >> I did play high school soccer. >> Where are you from? I'm from Hannover, Pennsylvania. >> Okay. You're a Pennsylvania guy. Have. you ever kicked a ball before?

>> Other than not football, soccer. >> Okay. Well, hopefully you're terrible at. this. It's $100,000. Uh are you guys. splitting that 50/50? >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. Uh so we'll make it uh $300,000. $150,000 for both of you. >> Okay. You only get one kick, though. You've gained the ticket game, which I. appreciate and respect. It's up to. $300,000. 150 for both of you. Only one kick. though, Herby. We're not doing anything. I don't care how many standers chant for. another kick.

Only one. Herby played high school. soccer. He's a good player. >> We got a problem here. >> That's right. It's a white out. It could. be a special day. You could help out. your guy William in winning $150,000. >> One kick 300,000. two. >> [cheering]. [cheering].

[cheering]. >> You're good though. >> You're a good man. >> Carson, congratulations. >> You pushed that, William. Way to go. It. has been an expensive year out here at. the field goal kick. Carson, I'm proud. of you, buddy. 300, 150 to you. 150 to. you. Good finance decisions were made in.

the first top six white out has a. magical vibe and an expensive one. We. are. >> We are. We are. >> Thank you. [laughter]. >> Goodbye. I hate that bike. Maybe they should have. turned that around and said thank you to. Pat.

Heat. Heat.

Hello beautiful people and welcome back. to our prime time special to celebrate. the current state of sports which is.

obviously on top of the globe right now. We've had a chance to catch up with so. many leaders and folks that are guiding. the future of not only the leagues but. the sports in which the leagues call. home. We are so incredibly lucky that. these people take time out of their. lives to chitchat with us about the. future of the sports that we all love. And I think what we've learned thus far. this evening that the state of sport all. around the globe is very very good and. that the foreseeable future is going to. be one that is going to be very fruitful. in the athlete and coach world. Now. there is one sport that is the economy.

of sport. There is one sport that has. like 94 of the top 100 rated television. shows every single year. There is one. sport in one league that has been able. to do everything that every other league. has dreamed of. They have a salary cap, so parody should be something that. continues. There is a massive popularity. of the sport at the youth level. There. is different varieties of the sport that. are now able to go into the Olympics. It. seems like football, which is already. our top dog of sports, the NFL more.

specifically, only has the globe to grow. whenever they're already at the top of a. mountain. How much is too much? >> When is a Wednesday football game not. needed? M hm. >> when is a Friday morning in Australia. really the right thing for ball? Well, those questions can certainly be asked. I as ball lover who grew up in NFL. family in Pittsburgh and had a chance to. do all of this because of kicking a. football where I was grossly overpaid. will say more ball is good ball. But.

there's certainly an argument about what. is the limit. Joining us now ladies and. gentlemen, for the first time ever, this. is a monumental moment in the history of. sports journalism. We have senior and. junior NFL insider from ESPN, Adam. Shfter and Ian Rapaort. >> Junior, Chefy, how you guys doing? Good. to see you, boys. Chefy, Chefy, good to. see you, pal. How uh how's life over. there? You guys look spectacular this.

evening. Thank you for joining us in. prime time, Chefty. Yeah, not often that. we wear ties here in late May, Pat, but. on behalf of the state of sports and. this appearance, we're going to wear. ties tonight and make it a good one. >> Okay, I appreciate that rap sheet. It is. you two that is replacing Commissioner. Goodell because obviously all the other. commissioners have come on. You two will. now be doing the job of uh Mr. Goodell, who is out of pocket, we've been told. Obviously, we're bummed out about that. But even better, Rap Sheet Sheffy side.

by side top headlines. What a time in. prime time. Oh my. Are you living a. dream right now, Rabshi? Right next to. senior here as we kind of blast this in. to the moon for your ESPN relationship. >> I would say uh the last month or so has. been pretty surreal and this is at the. absolute top of the list. I'm very glad. you had me. >> Okay. We're thankful you're here. This. is like the insiders days, you know, here at Prime Time. All right, boys. Can. you guys rattle through right now why. the NFL is currently carrying the.

conversation of sport, why it always. will, and what are the big topics? Shifty, we'll start with you. Seems like. a GOAT is potentially back ahead of. time. Chef, >> well Pat, you're talking about the. highest rated shows all across the globe. always being football and the two. highest rated stars maybe in the sport. themselves are Patrick Mahomes and. Travis Kelce. And of course, there's. headlines with both. Patrick Mahomes. back on the practice field this week for. the first time since tearing his ACL, his LCL. A little over five months ago.

There's now under four months until the. Chiefs open their season on Monday Night. Football against the Denver Broncos. And. by the looks of that, it's certainly. hard to imagine that Mahomes wouldn't be. out there. Although, you have to wonder. how effective he will be when he is out. there. As for Travis Kelce announced. today that he has become a minority. investor in the Cleveland Guardians. ownership group. So at a time in his. life when he's very busy, he's got a. wedding to plan. He's got all sorts of.

things to take care of this summer. Not. too busy to become a part of a baseball. ownership group, a team he grew up. rooting for. It would be like it would. be like Ian taking over and getting a. minority investment in the New York. Mets. >> Okay. Well, Ian would certainly love. that. Congrats to Travis Kelce from. Cleveland Height. I certainly would. Yeah, if they're going to give that to. me for free, I would certainly love. everything about [laughter] that. Travis grew up in Cleveland Heights. Obviously, New Heights now. Him becoming. an owner in hometown team. We're incred. uh incredibly proud of him. I don't.

think he's doing much of the planning of. that wedding. But hey, if he is, guy's. talented. You have no idea. It's no. conversation. Okay, so we go from. Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, office of. Kansas City Chiefs making moves. If. Patrick was able to come back, that'd be. crazy. Just seeing him out there is. wild. him golfing last week at the. Mahomes Foundation Classic in Vegas was. crazy to think about as well, but he's. super human. How about some super deals. that have taken place, Rap Sheet, we. still got teams spending money right. now? >> Yeah, we certainly do. One big one. yesterday for the Los Angeles Chargers. Derwin James, the star of their defense,

got locked into a massive deal once. again, becoming the highest paid safety. in the NFL. Three years, $75.6 million, almost $60 million guaranteed. Jim. Harbaugh saying this warms the cockals. of his heart, which is a real thing that. he said. Huge payday for Derwin James. Not the only player who's been paid over. the last couple days. Nico Collins, the. star receiver for the Houston Texans, got a raise over the next two years. $9. million in cash next year as Sher told.

you yesterday. That brings him to almost. $30 million next year. Gets an $8. million cash increase next year. Now the. fifth highest paid receiver. richly. deserved. And then Matthew Stafford, we've known that he was going to come. back from the Rams ever since he said it. on the stage right before the Super. Bowl. He agreed to terms on his contract. extension, one-year, $55 million. That. is the deal on the extension. It's. actually set up kind of crazy. Really, what it is is a multi-year deal with a.

$100 million that's real $100 million. base in 2028. He's never going to make. that. just sets up a decision if he. continues to play at this level. By the. way, Pat, I know you're a curious guy. $4.8 billion is how much teams have. spent this off season. >> Holy hell, that's good league. That's a. state of a league. Healthy $4.8 billion. going out the door to athletes. We're. obviously appreciative of that. We'll. talk to staff uh here in a few moments, obviously with the deal he was able to. just sign, fresh off an MVP season. Congrats to him. Chef Dy, how about some.

injury updates that we have around the. NFL that are certainly notable? Who. should we be looking at? thinking about. returning maybe sooner than we thought. or later than we thought. >> Oh no. >> Oh no. >> Well, Pat, we mentioned Patrick Mahomes. being back on the field this week. Guess. who else was back on the field this. week? Your quarterback, the quarterback. of the Indianapolis Colts, Daniel Jones, coming off the torn Achilles back on the. field today on track to be ready for. week one in the Indianapolis Colts. So. he looked good out there and that's an. encouraging sign for that team because.

when he was out there they were. functioning at a high level and without. him it was not the same and things fell. apart. Your Super Bowl dreams became. dashed very quickly but he was back out. there this week. That's encouraging. Not. as encouraging I think right now when it. comes to the Giants wide receiver and. Malik Neighbors still coming off that. second knee surgery. Bit problematic. You got to be careful with somebody that. good, that talented not rush him back. The team is hopeful. Hopeful is the word. that he'll be back that Sunday night.

opener against the Dallas Cowboys. But. right now, that sounds almost like it. might be a little ambitious. And we'll. see how much progress he makes over the. summer and whether he'll be back for the. start of the season. One player who's. not expected back for the start of the. season, the Packers standout pass. rusher, Micah Parsons. Looks like they. are expecting him to miss the first few. games, maybe potentially be a puck. candidate. We'll see how that works out. But when they open the season, doesn't. look like Parsons will be ready coming. off that torn ACL he suffered late last.

season against the Denver Broncos. Also. just over five months ago and under four. months to the start of the Packers. season. >> Micah obviously traded from the Dallas. Cowboys to the Green Bay Packers. Became. an immediate impact for the Packers and. then whenever he got hurt, the Packers. defense went to absolute sh. All right, boys. We appreciate the hell. out of you. we have a chance to speak to. the MVP. So, we're going to do that. Do. you have uh any uh further news? Maybe. uh uh like a Seattle update maybe. Rashid, is that going to happen?

>> Yeah, let let me give you that real. quick. Here's my understanding of the. potential sale of the Seahawks. The. market, I'm told, has been robust and. the way it is trending would not be. surprised at all. There's a special. meeting among NFL owners this coming. August. Could have a new Seahawks owner. before the season. If all goes perfectly. well, could could eclipse $10 billion. Ever since Seth Wickerssham reported the. market was softer than they thought, things have really picked up steam. New.

owner potentially coming soon for. Seattle. >> Well, congratulations to the Seattle. Seahawks. Obviously, that $10 billion. valuation is uh they got a Super Bowl. team. They got a lot of contracts over. there locked in. I mean, >> coach uh Mcdonald. is going to be there for a hundred. years. Okay. He's he's seemingly very. young. Good for them. Whoever gets in. there, the NFL team has become like the. billionaire's thing. Let's do that. And. Sheffy, any international news that the. world should know about here in prime.

time as we talk about the NFL's growth. into all aspects of the globe. >> Well, Pat, you could ask Matthew. Stafford how he feels about opening the. season in Melbourne, Australia. But nine. international games this year, 10 next. year. They've already talked about going. up to 16 in future years. You can see. where all this is going. if and when. they can get to 18 games. Eventually, we. could see where every team's playing one. international game. I've heard people. mention way down the line an. international division. We'll see how. this all shakes out. Maybe an.

international Super Bowl one day. It's. an international world and the NFL is. going to be taking a big bite of it. >> Good for ball. Can't forget that. You. know what else is good for ball? You. two. We appreciate you coming together, not only for us, but for ball this. upcoming season. Rapaort Junior, proud. of you, Chefy. Hell yeah, dude. Congratulations to both of you. We. appreciate you. Ladies and gentlemen, Rap Shoot and Chefy Jay. >> Joining us now, the man who is the. reigning MVP and also starting the. season in Australia down under. They're. getting their first game in the NFL said.

they need to watch this guy play. football. He's been doing it forever. He's done it with a broken shoulder, broken neck, broken back, broken wrist, and all he does is have uh. record-breaking seasons with whatever. wide receiver he has out there. Oh yeah. Now he has a bunch of them. Ladies and. gentlemen, Matthew Stafford. >> [applause]. >> Cory, man. >> How you doing, boys? >> Hey, you're glowing over there. I don't. know if you know that. You're really. glowing. You look young after maybe the. New Deal has uh sprung some youth. And. you How's life? How are you? And. congratulations on the New Deal,

brother. >> I'm doing great, man. I appreciate it. Thank you guys for having me on. Um. yeah, life is good. I'm happy to be uh. you know, in Los Angeles right now with. the sun beating on my face and and. another uh another year under my belt um. coming up and then hopefully you know, some more football after that. I love. playing this game and uh you know the. Rams are happy uh you know nice enough. to to keep me and shoot it's been fun. >> You got drafted 221 picks before me in. the same draft. Okay. A little bit. different signing bonuses in that. I'm. doing this for a long time now. I I've.

been doing uh my post career for a long. time. Obviously you're still doing it at. an MVP level. How's the body feel? And. uh at what point are you having the. conversations about the end of the game? because you coming out and saying you. definitely want to play immediately. afterwards, that's a decision that's. being made all season. Is that something. you're thinking of in a moment? How do. you kind of handle the end of the. journey while also enjoying what you. have right now at this high level still? >> Yeah, I mean, my body feels pretty good. luckily, which is great. Obviously. battled the back stuff before the. season, but was able to make it through.

the season really healthy. And then, you. know, those conversations are family. things. I talk about those with my with. my wife, with my kids. Um, you know, they love watching me play. They want me. to keep doing it as long as I feel good. and I'm excited about it, which I am. So, we've got a really good team in LA, have for the last couple of years, and. it's something that I don't take for. granted. Um, I spent 12 years in Detroit. and never got to some of the, you know, some playing some of the games that. we're playing in year in and year out. now. And it's a whole bunch of fun. So, uh, it is something delicate. I got to, you know, navigate the end of it and and.

I'm not sure when that is. Uh, I want to. be fair to our team, but I also want to. be fair to myself and and take this. thing year to year. But at the same. time, I love playing and and uh you. know, excited about this season for. sure. >> You talked about being in Detroit for 12. years. Obviously, the city is. appreciative of everything that you've. done for them. Foxy back there obviously. sings your praises still to this day. Fox, >> absolutely. Thank you for everything, Matthew. Classack the whole time. Thank. you, brother. >> But on that note, you played on. Thanksgiving every single year. We were. forced to watch you guys play on. Thanksgiving. That was really the only. time we saw Detroit Lion football. So,

you're no stranger to uh broadcasting. what our league is, what our sport is. Being selected to go to Australia, obviously coming back is going to suck. You know, as somebody that's been down. there to Brisbane, Australia, and I love. the country. I enjoyed the hell out of. it. You go up into a time capsule and. you're flying. They'll show you what. you're flying over. It's all blue, brother. Okay. You can start getting. into your own thoughts. It's all blue. there. And then there'll be little, but. it's a long way, but when you get there, it's awesome. When you come back, it's. going to be a little thing, but I think. it's a huge deal to represent our sport. down there for the first time. What is.

your mindset about it? And uh how do you. think you guys will be approaching it as. the season comes up? >> Yeah, I'm excited about it. Is it. difficult, you know, logistically to. figure that out, especially at my age, to try to figure out the flight and and. feel good and play good when we get. there? Yes. But at the same time, like. you said, it is cool to be able to. spread this game across the world. When. I first came in the league, when we. first came in league in 2009, they just. kind of started playing the games in. London and to see what it is now and how. it's developed and how the game has. spread around the world. It's an amazing. thing and it's really cool to have lived. kind of the old life of that and and.

watching it go uh you know as it is now. um you know playing all over the world. in different continents and different. countries and and spreading the game. So. I'm excited about it. I know the guys on. our team are excited about it. A couple. guys have gone down um in the offseason. and came back and they they spoke the. same about the flight back and and some. of the difficulties we might have. But. shoot, it's an NFL season. There's uh. we're playing on every day of the week. it seems like this year. So let's go. just put the ball down. Let's go play. We appreciate you representing the. sport. You're going to do a fantastic. job. Last question here from Tai.

Schmidt. >> Yeah, Matthew, leading up uh to the. draft. You know, the Tai Simpson. situation was kind of what everyone was. talking about. And then a lot of people. were shocked on draft night when the. Rams did select and we talked to Lesne. not too long after and he kind of said, "Hey, that whole thing got overblown a. little bit by the media." But, uh, what. has the communication between you and. Tai been? And, uh, have you talked to. him much since he got drafted? >> Yeah, absolutely. I mean, I'm in there. with in with him uh you know, in the. meeting room on the practice field. trying to share as much knowledge as I. can. Listen, I was a big fan of Tai when. he was playing at Alabama. I sent him a.

text after uh you know, he got drafted. and said, "Really enjoyed watching you. play. Just you were in the wrong jersey. You wearing a dog." So, um but no, I I I. did enjoy watching him play. He's a. talented kid. I'm going to do everything. I can to get this team ready to play to. win. Um, but at the same time share some. of the knowledge that I've gained. throughout my career because I wouldn't. be in the seat that I am right now. talking to you guys after a really good. football season. And if I didn't have. people that were helping me out along. the way, too. So, I'm happy to do that. Um, but he has been he's been a sponge, man. He's looking to to get better and. and really that's everybody on our team,

all the young guys that we picked. >> You're the best, ladies and gentlemen. That's the MVP for a reason. We. appreciate the hell out of you, man. Good luck along the way. That's Matthew. Stafford. [applause]. >> Matty, I mean, perfect answers. >> Yep. >> Mhm. And that's why he's the MVP. And. I'll tell you what, you know who the MVP. is actually of tonight? I would say it. is uh you. Thank you for allowing us to do this. Thank you to ESPN for providing this. opportunity. Shout out to the Knicks for. sweeping the Cavs. Any advertisers. certainly having to have this instead of. a game five of the Eastern Conference.

We're back tomorrow live at noon. Be a. friend. Tell a friend something nice. might change your life. We're going to. sing together. Goodbye. Two. One. Goodbye. That clock's off. If that clock was. right, I don't know which one was right, but nonetheless, boys, I think we pulled. it off. >> Yeah, dude. >> I think we had I think we had all the. all the combos that we recorded. went out. >> Mhm. >> No flubs from any of them. >> Yeah, no flips. Send it. >> Got some news. >> Got some news. >> Uhhuh. Good audio.

>> Had good audio except for, you know, jet. passing had to fade in. These are on the. AirPods. We've we've kind of tried to. figure this out because everybody thinks. the headphones are the right answer. because the headphones have such good. speaker for when you're on the phone and. like yes respond text message here and. it like listens to you perfectly. But I. think sometimes broadcast it's not the. best. I I think because it's trying to. filter you a little bit. It's not as. good. Jet passing had great words. It. just we had to build into the track a. little bit. We got in there was good. Then we're fade out at the very end. Very thankful for everybody that stopped. by from my understanding. YouTube chat.

did appreciate going mcnuts out there. Okay. Sure. >> From my understanding. Shout out to. Kathy Angelberg stopping by. Obviously, Dawn the dog from the MLS. Thank you to. him. I can't believe Gary Bman, Rob. Manfred, Adam Silver made time for us so. damn quickly. Dana White fresh out of a. Meta board meeting doing that call. I. assume Zach was potentially in the area. We should have said he was on Hey, but. once again, he had the AirPods on, so if. Zuck would have came over, we wouldn't. be able to hear him. >> True. >> But Zuck might be one of the people who. could tell a. >> Yeah. Tele.

Shout out to them for certainly joining. us and uh shout out to all of you for. letting us do this for a living. >> Rap sheet and chef on the same time. That felt big. >> Oh yeah, definitely. >> How about Junior? Did you see you said. Asher told you yesterday on the show. >> beaming with pride. >> Yeah, >> it was great respect. And then Matthew. Stafford taking time out of his life to. join us. >> PK Sububan crushed it, >> man. >> Let's go watch that game. >> Yeah, >> we're back tomorrow at noon. >> That was a crazy thing to pull off in. the time that we pulled off. >> Well done.

>> Yeah, >> you too, boys. Mhm. >> Great work. I feel like we did kind of. pull it off. >> Yeah, that was cool. >> I don't know how. I mean, we should have. told people it was happening though, but. people all right. Well, hopefully we. learn things from that. Uh hopefully we. get a chance to maybe Yeah. Who knows? Who knows what the future holds? >> Hell yeah. >> Be a friend someday. You know what? I. think it does hold a lot of AI. They're. talking a lot of a lot of technology. talk. [laughter]. >> A lot of technology talk. I like the. officiating. Going to the bat for the. officiating. Tyresese Hallebertton.

Thank you to him for coming by. We. appreciate him saying, you know, I. respect these refs. I like these. Every. time we go to international games, I get. my ass kicked. I'm like, Mr. Brothers, thank you so much for refing this entire. thing. Fun night. We appreciate you all. for allowing us to do this for a living. You're the best. Be a friend. Tell a. friend something nice. My change your. life we're sending together. Team on me. Team on three. Great work in the back, boys. >> Graphic design, boys. Great work out. there. >> Great work, boys. >> Good work. >> Good work. >> Good work out there, boys. >> Thanks, Cubs. >> A little soccer combo. They did.

>> Hell yeah. >> We knew we were going to do that. Years. in the making. >> That's right. >> Tomorrow we do it again. >> Hell yeah. >> Team on me. Team on three. We're so. lucky to be doing this. 1 2 3. Goodbye.