1. I’m not a big fan of dumping all over someone because they made a bad sports prediction. Predictions are a huge part of sports, whether you're a fan or an analyst, and you’re gonna hit some and miss others. It's just the nature of the beast.
So it’s not so much that ESPN’s Nick Friedell and Monica McNutt couldn’t fathom James Harden carrying the load for Philadelphia in Game 1 against the Celtics on Monday night with Joel Embiid sidelined because of an injury.
It’s the way they reacted to Max Kellerman’s hypothesis that Harden could have a big game that caused many on social media to share the clip after Harden lit up the Celtics for 45 points in leading Philly to a Game 1 upset win over Boston.
“Could you imagine if James Harden shocks everybody and becomes an offensive juggernaut here?” asked Kellerman.
Kellerman also brought up that a huge performance from Harden could help his legacy.
While McNutt wasn't completely closed to the idea of Harden going off, Friedell reacted as if he was at a Chris Rock show. Repeatedly. He just couldn't contain his hearty laugher.
Here's Max Kellerman's initial take on the case that "James Harden shocks everybody and becomes an offensive juggernaut" on ESPN Monday, and the laughter it provoked from Nick Friedell and Monica McNutt. pic.twitter.com/7oWM4OoXt0
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 2, 2023
And here's how "This Just In" wrapped up Monday, with Kellerman again making the case for Harden and Friedell and McNutt again laughing. pic.twitter.com/Z0FZf0eOaj
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 2, 2023
I despise the overused Twitter phrase "That didn't age well," so I don't want to use that here, but let's just say that wasn't a great look for Friedell.
After the game, with Friedell getting bludgeoned by Sixers fans on social media, he offered a very timid mea culpa.
Good call on the Max fact @maxkellerman. Ha. Let’s see if they can get three more now.
— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) May 2, 2023
2. Game 7 of Warriors-Kings on Sunday afternoon drew a monster rating for ABC. The 9.8 million viewers was the largest audience for a first-round playoff game since 1999. The game peaked at 6 p.m. ET, with nearly 12 million viewers.
3. Many of you probably saw the viral clip over the weekend of the Cowboys’ war room when they drafted Kansas State running back Deuce Vaughn, the son of Dallas scout Chris Vaughn.
This video of Chris calling Deuce right before he was selected is just as good.
Before Deuce Vaughn was officially drafted, his dad and Cowboys scout Chris gave him a beautiful call.
— NFL (@NFL) May 2, 2023
The moment Jerry Jones told Chris his son was going to be a Cowboy? Priceless. 🥲 @C_Vaughn22 (via @dallascowboys) pic.twitter.com/BBhZq9MXmg
4. The Nationals are a terrible baseball team, but they do have one of the best home run celebrations in the sport.
*Star-Spangled Banner intensifies* pic.twitter.com/BvDJGEcfbI
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) May 1, 2023
5. The changing of the guard is official. When Tom Brady was the best quarterback in football, he attended the Met Gala. Now Patrick Mahomes is the best quarterback in football, and he attends the Met Gala.
Met Gala ☑️ pic.twitter.com/uTqNIVCpig
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) May 2, 2023
6. The latest SI Media With Jimmy Traina features an interview with the NFL Network’s Rich Eisen.
Eisen talks about hosting the NFL draft for the 19th year in a row, what covering the draft is like, what his goal is when hosting the draft, whether the assignment is still a difficult one, whether he feels competitive going head to head with ESPN and whether he prefers covering Super Bowl Sunday or the draft.
Eisen also discusses his recent saga with losing his blue check mark on Twitter and then getting it back, how Elon Musk has affected his business and the most cringeworthy fallout from Musk’s Twitter Blue.
Other topics covered with Eisen include Aaron Rodgers’s getting traded to the Jets, the Yankees’ futility, his annual “Run Rich Run” 40-yard dash for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and more.
You can listen to the podcast below or download it on Apple, Spotify and Google.
You can also watch the SI Media With Jimmy Traina on YouTube.
