There's no one like you and there never will be. From the producer of Bohemian Rhapsody, there are many legends, but there is only one. Michael in IMAX and Cinema's Wednesday, April 22. Queue the music. It's the best. We always look forward to this fun and family-oriented tradition that started in 1960, the Masters Part 3 Contest from Augusta today at 2 a.m. Eastern, 11 a.m. Pacific. On ESPN and the app, coverage begins at noon Eastern on ESPN Plus, Disney Plus and the ESPN app. No winner of the Part 3 Contest has gone on to win the tournament the same year, though. Alright, to the NBA. Shay Gildes Alexander led the Thunder with 25 points in a 123-87 route of the injury-depleted Lakers. Tensions flared during the game when Coach JJ Redick and Jared Vanderbilt exchanged heated words after a timeout sub early in the second quarter. Here's JJ on The Exchange with Vanderbilt Post Game. Just a confluence of things. Again, it's not, again, nothing personal with him, normal stuff from my end. I think for all of us being under manned and we've got to scrap and claw. We've got to all be on the same page. We've got to be great teammates. We've got to all play hard. Call the timeout to get him out of the game and I, you know, I'd be reacting to it. But again, normal interaction for me. It's my job to make sure, and again, this is where this is the way things started tonight. And, you know, I called the early timeout because Rudy didn't do his job. And so took him out of the game. I'm not, we've got to get, we've got to find nine guys that are like all in on us fighting. You're going to ask DeAndre some things. How, what, what are those things and how do you think he's been able to do? Yeah, you know, he's had trouble catching the ball. So we've ran a bunch of plays for him. He's just had trouble catching the ball. And, you know, I don't know if that's the passing or if it's, you know, him trying to get position. He just, he hasn't been able to catch the ball. I love that JJ Reddick did this last night because some of the things the Lakers pulled off. So we're so inexcusable. How do you think the players are going to respond to JJ? Oh, they're not going to like it, but who cares? LeBron James didn't play last night. A few other players didn't play last night. You're working with virtually nothing. If you're JJ, if you're JJ Reddick, who I believe has proven to be an outstanding coach. If you give him the personnel, he knows what to do with it. He knows how to capitalize off of it. Let me put myself on front street and let me make sure that Wendy, I'm looking at Wendy when I say this as well and doggy. You know, JJ Reddick and I worked together, you know, a couple of years in my first take and all of this other stuff. You know, a lot of people looked at JJ Reddick and it felt like he was an asshole. Let me be very, very clear about that. Let me tell you something right now. That might be true. It's a compliment. The man doesn't suffer fools. He doesn't play. And the one thing that you're not going to call him is a liar. Now you might disagree with him. He might be wrong because nobody is perfect. And he is certainly in a quiet taste. No doubt. I know he made me better. I know he made us better as a show. I know he's made the Lakers better coaching them. I know he makes players better. I know that he develops them. And it's like, yo, he's not a guy that's going to sit idly by and smile in your face or try to soft soak you being inept or lacking energy when it comes to doing the job that you're assigned to do. And he's not going to apologize for it. And I love it. It doesn't. Again, he said, we were even more high school because he didn't do his job. Simple. There's no, there's nothing to guess. We haven't got on Yonis. What we get on Yonis about, say what you feel. Don't leave it to us to figure out. Tell us JJ Reddick doesn't do that. You know, you know, I didn't say he was always right, but he usually is. And I think that when you look at the Lakers and what he's had to work their 50 and 29, the main, when you give him something to work with and Nate McMillan and Scott Brooks, they know what they're doing. I got to give credit with credit is due. Then the bill forget his offense. He's not there for offense. He's there for defense, but it doesn't help when you're going to the game and you're missing three free throws and there's no LeBron James. There's no AR. There's no Austin Reeves. There's no Luca Donch. You need something. You really are tomorrow. Everybody got the step and you got to scrap. You got to claw. You got to do what you got to do. If JJ Reddick doesn't feel that you're doing it, he called the time out to take Jared Vanderbilt out the game. You know how bad you got to be with no LeBron, no Luca, no AR for the coach to call a time out specifically to remove you and then tells you doesn't apologize. And then goes back to the bitch and get on you again. What do we want? If he said nothing, we would question that. I root for Jared Vanderbilt. I like him and all of that stuff. This is not to throw any shade on him, but I'm going to back up JJ Reddick from a character standpoint to say that I appreciate the fact that he does not play. You got to, if you're around JJ Reddick as a player, if you're around him as a commentator and analyst, if you're around him as a reporter, you better be on your game. Because if there is a flaw in something, he will notice it and he's going to come right at you with it. It is the JJ Reddick that I have always known. It is the JJ Reddick that I have always appreciated and it is the JJ Reddick that I still got love for. I got nothing to say negative about it. I really don't. So the only thing I just want to push back on a little bit here because I agree with you. I said I loved the JJ Reddick. He's not really working with nothing. What? Deandre Aiden was the number one overall pick in the draft. Oh, well, what's the matter with you? Who else, Timora, was what? Was he a lottery pick? You know what you're going to make me do? Well, Rabia was the 19th pick in the draft. You're going to make me ask you. These are con draft picks. Were you and the family and the Bahamas and you ran into Deandre Aiden and you're being nice? Did you just say Deandre Aiden? I mean, this is an A- Was he not the one number one overall pick? Yes. And there's also an APB out for him 50% of the damn time. You literally are calling airlines. Did he hop on a flight? Because sometimes he ain't showing up at the Lakers games. You just looking at it. You see somebody in the uniform with his jersey on standing seven feet tall. But when you looking for their game, it's an APB out for that bad boy. You don't know where to find it. Sometimes we know Deandre Aiden can't play, but this is a brother that literally shows up. Sometimes it goes like this. I really don't feel like playing. That's what his game emotes. We all know it. All of us. Well, that's why JJ Redick said he can't catch. That also is a problem. He has to be able to catch the ball. And that's why JJ Redick is fired up. Wendy, what do you think? Deandre Aiden has been able to catch the ball since he's been in the league. That's neither here nor there. I was at the game last night. I was at the game last night and the come down here in LA, I've been to about a dozen Laker games this year. The come down is just unbelievable from where they were a week ago. And that's the NBA and the nature of the fragility of basketball. JJ was seething from the start in this game. He was probably, you know, this is thinking about JJ. He's a tremendous, tremendous talent as a coach. I think he's going to have a long career. He's done a great job with this team. Sometimes guys, he seeds. He called time out less than three minutes into the game. There was no chance Lakers are going to have to win this game this year. The thunder were highly motivated to win. I won't go over the reasons why, but if they win tonight against the Clippers or pretty much can take the rest of the regular season off, they were highly motivated to win this game. JJ called time out two and a half minutes into the game to yank Hatchimura because Chet Holmgren got some easy baskets right out of the gate. Okay. He put in four players in the first quarter, I believe. I'd have to go double check this, but I'm fairly certain. I counted three. He used four players in the first quarter who have played with the South Bay Lakers this year. I'm fairly certain that they had, they were in just in the first quarter. Like he did not have a full hand. Okay. I think one of the things he was pissed off at Vanderbilt about was that Vanderbilt missed three free throws after he got fouled on a three pointer with a tenth of a second left in the first quarter. And then I, to be honest with you, Stephen A, I went to the bathroom. I didn't, I didn't see what happened on the first play of the second quarter. I just knew I came back and it was already a time out. So my guess is Vanderbilt did something in the first 15 seconds, but JJ was seething in this game and a game he had no chance to win. But let me just tell you something else. After he pulled Hatchimura and he didn't bring him back for the full first half, after he pulled Vanderbilt, they actually tied the game midway through the second quarter. It was 36-36 and I was actually kind of surprised. I was like, you know what? The Lakers are hanging in there. And then Shay came back in the game and it was a 20 point game like that because the thunder awesome. But like he was working last night. You know, I'm not sure that his propensity to see is always productive, but JJ was working last night. And the Lakers need to try to come up with smoke and mirrors to pull two wins out of their last three games. I don't know if they're going to be able to do it. They got to play the Warriors and they play the Suns and the Jazz. But if they can do that, they might hang on to the fourth seed and have home court. And, and, and, and there, and he's working hard. Just last night, it wasn't going to happen. He knew it going into it and he was just really, I think angry at the situation. Vanderbilt's not Michael Jordan. When a coach takes you out of the game, sit on the bench. Okay, he's the coach. I'm old school. He takes you out of the game. Larry Bird never did that. All right. And he ain't Larry Bird. I can promise you. Willis-Reed never did that. Clyde never did that. Ewing never did that. They take you out of the game, put your fanting on the bench. I don't want to hear a word out of you. And listen, you know, I had some JJ and I were very rough that first. You know that's better than anybody. You were sitting here. That's right. I have no problem with how JJ handled this. He's done a good job with the team. He's trying. He knows they're under man going into the game without three of his best players. He knows to be competitive. They're going to have to be scrappy. Play every possession like it's game seven, the NBA final. That's what he's trying to do. Vanderbilt doesn't like it. Sit on the bench, son. Sorry. You're not playing tonight. I'm going to do everything I can to be competitive in this game. Go sit down. So him to go ball to him during a time out. You got to be kidding me, really? Vanderbilt's going to do that? That's absurd. I mean, a good job by Brian there because I just looked. Okay, he needs one more win. They need game seven and home against the Spurs. Yes. They need that game in their building against the Spurs. One more win, conference final. They get that win in their building. And you and I both know that will be important for them in a conference final. Oklahoma City, San Antonio. JJ Redick getting back to him. Like I said, he's in a quiet taste. Shea, the same JJ Redick you saw in that sideline is the same JJ Redick we had to deal with. It was doggie one minute. It was big perk another. It was me all the time. You understand? It was me all the time. And I loved it. Okay. We live in a time and an age where we talk about player development. JJ Redick is big on that analytics. JJ Redick is big on that and his staff is big on that. He's got two head coaches on his staff and Nate McMillan and Scott Bricks with two pretty damn good coaches. They could be head coaches again in this league. Absolutely. Absolutely. Without question. And they shouldn't be strongly considered for jobs in this league. Let's be very, very clear about that. But there's a reason JJ Redick is there and Darwin Ham is no longer there. Darwin Ham is in the system with the Milwaukee Bugs. Let's be very, very clear about Darwin Ham. Darwin Ham can coach too. Darwin particularly on the defensive side of the ball. He's the one that took the Lakers to the Western Conference Finals before they lost to the Denver Nuggets and Yolkets and those boys. He's the one that did that. But what was the knock against Darwin Ham's relatively mild mannered dude? Okay. JJ Redick is not that kind of guy. And let me tell you something. You know it. Everybody knows it. I don't care it what, when he was doing color while bringing them was doing play by play, still same dude. There is nothing about JJ Redick that is a secret. You know who he is. He don't suffer fools. He don't suffer laziness. He don't suffer people that ain't going to do their jobs. He doesn't suffer lack of accountability. That's why LeBron wanted him. That's why LeBron wanted him. And that's why Genie Busse and Rob Palinka wanted him too. JJ is being JJ. And when you give him his lineup to work with, he shows you there's going to be far more good than bad. I don't know about anybody else. I don't care if somebody could call you an asshole. You think I said that he's viewed as an asshole. You think I'm not viewed as an asshole by some people? You damn right. Especially here. Because I'm trying to win. And damn it, if we ain't doing what I want us to do, Stephen A. Smith is going to be an asshole. Book it. Because I want results. Period. That's JJ. That's JJ. Even more so. I don't have a problem with it. It's what comes with it. Mad Dog Russo, Mad Dog Radio. You might be an asshole. I see you getting on your colleagues. They got to get over it. You want your job? You want your job? Remember what Michael Irvin said when they was doing the whole Doctor series on Jerry Jones and the Cowboys? And Troy Aitman got hurt and Steve Berlite came in and they went to Michael Irvin. What did you say to him? Michael Irvin said, want your job? Give me the ball. Give me the ball. Want your job, right? Want your job? Give me the ball. That's what you do. JJ Redick wants results and he gets them usually because he is the way that he is. He might be that kind of guy. So what? Get the hell over it. Because without him being that way, the Lakers might be worse. That's true. And so now maybe everyone's learning their lesson with them going to the bench and learning a few things. Coming up here is Kevin Durant. And Anna Edwards actually can meet in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Which star would we rather have if we were running a team? Also Mad Dog, of course he's mad. His name's Mad Dog. He's got a few things to get off his jacket. I'm that jacket. Where is that jacket? It's spring. You can bust it back out. We're here once every six months. That's nice. This might be a hit. You want the truth. They just want a conviction. In place and you're arrest. We had a killer amongst us. Murder at the U. Listen now. Welcome back to First Take. The Timber will secure a playoff berth with a 124-104 victory over the Pacers. Despite missing Anthony Edwards, Jada McDaniels, I.O. D'Soumu led all scores with 24 points and added 5 forwards himself. Meanwhile in the West, the Rockets storm back from a 21 point deficit to beat the Suns. 119-105, Kevin Durant led the way with 24 points. The wind marks Houston's largest comeback of the season and extends their streak to seven consecutive victories. Every team in the West, top six at least, have clinched a spot in the playoffs. The Lakers hold the tiebreaker over the Rockets and they are currently fourth in the West. On DraftKings, the Rockets have better odds of winning the finals over the Wolves. Obviously we have to wait and see how and when Ant returns. But assuming both he and Kevin Durant are fully healthy, that is what we will go off here. So, Wendy, who would you rather have right now in the playoffs? Would it be Anthony Edwards or Kevin Durant? The key word there is right now, right? Because Kevin Durant's a two-time finals MVP. So we're not talking about legacy historically, right? As in 2026 playoffs, I mean, I think it's in Edwards. I don't even really think it's a debate. He doesn't always play Elite Defense, but he can be an Elite Defensive player. He has proven that he can be an absolute difference maker in a playoffs series. In fact, Durant played against Ant two years ago in his playoffs when he was in Phoenix. I don't think Durant played poorly in that series, Steve and A, but Ant played awesome. I know he went 36 and 40 the last two games of that series, where he pretty much took out the entire Suns. They haven't been back to playoffs since. Durant wasn't in the playoffs last year. The sad fact is, and I almost hesitate to bring this up because you know I'm a big believer in Durant, and I will defend his importance to those championships in the Warriors until my turn blue in the face. This is an asterisk-filled statement. Durant has won one playoffs series since he left Golden State. Brooklyn. I'll go to St. I'm sorry. He won one in Brooklyn. There's injuries and all kinds of things happen, but Ant's won four playoffs series last two years. So honestly, I think it's got to be Ant. Yeah, I want to disagree with you on that. First off, he would have won more than one playoffs series if his foot wasn't too big because he hit the line on that three-pointer. That would have beaten a Bucks to one year that they didn't have Harden or Kyrie, and he had to carry the team by himself. Ant's two and eight in conference finals. He was completely outplayed. He was not the star. You're asking me to make a case. May I make a case? Go ahead. We've heard plenty from you today. I mean, I almost want to say what I'm mad about. Go ahead. Go ahead. Go ahead. Thank you. Two and eight outplayed by Donkic when the Mavericks took care of them. Outplayed by Shea when they took care of them. Not a factor in really either of those series. They were down 3-0 to the Mavericks before they won a game, and they were down two-other. They won an easy game between them. They got blown out in games four and five. Now, listen, I get the age, and I get that, and Durant's been a long time. We'll find out now about Durant because he's going to have to make all these pressure shots because they don't have any offense because they need him to score, Houston. They showed it last year. They don't have a closer. Durant's going to be their closer. So I think this year we're going to find out out if Durant at, was he 36 by? 36? So he is? Durant? 37. 37. If he still has it, but if you're asking me right now, if I had to take one guy and they're both in similar spots, I'm going to take Durant at 37. Being the historian that you are, I want you to sit back and take notes. Listen and learn. I'm ready to get my pen out. Listen and learn. Actually, these are not things you can write down. Oh, I can't write. Okay, but I want you to listen and learn. First things first. Number one, I do a maddo on my show, a maddo sports radio every week there for one or three PM East and standard time. I have a couple of callers that I banned from my show because they call up to try to imitate him and they try to bring up everybody from George Mike and the Wilt Chamberlain and everybody else and Bob Cousy and Havillet check and all. I'm like, excuse me, 50 years ago. I mean, could you come to the modern times? Okay. When we look at Ant-Man, I got two favorite players in the league is Steph Curry and this is Ant-Man Anthony Edwards. Love them. Just love them. I give anything to see him in the NBA finals on a big stage because the brother is all world. Okay. Back to back Westin Conference finals. Doggy, the man has been in six playoff series his last six playoff series. He's taken on Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Kola Yolkic, Kyrie Irvin, LeBron James, Luca Donchich twice, Steph Curry and SGA. He's won four of those six series for and has been a back to back Westin Conference finals this year. He's averaging a career high 28.9 points third in the NBA 49% shooting from the field 56% in clutch time career high 40% from three point range. The brother is box office. Pay attention. My God. He is box office. Now we look at Kevin Durant and this is where I'm with Wendy because it gets very sensitive. I'll give a damn about the, you know, me and Kevin Durant clapping back and forth from time to I love Kevin Durant. Kevin Durant is one of the top 10 players all the time when the elite players that has ever played this game, seven feet tall, seven, six, wingspan mid range, long range handle. It's just a walking bucket. We know what he could bring. But here's where I'm looking directly at you, Mad Dog Russo. The ability to galvanize folks is something that we can't minimize, particularly in this day and age come playoff time. Ant-Man is a gravitational force. You just flow towards him and you feed off of this energy. And yes, he's lost. It took an epic performance from Luca Doncic, which to me was not Ant-Man's shining moment that series against Dallas and Luca Doncic put on a show at his expense. That's true. But losing to a Yolkich. There's no shame in that. Yolkich, I'm saying to you, when you look at him, or look at losing to Shay Gilgios Alexander, I'm sorry. It's not Shay. Just Shay. It was that defense of Oklahoma City was which otherworldly last year. You look at Ant-Man and what he brings to the table and how he rises to the occasion in postseason time when he's going up against some of these guys. Like, yeah, let's go. It's me and you. They got to get help to help them against him. And unfortunately, he hasn't been able to rely on the likes of Rudy Gobert or, you know, or, or Jane and Daniels or, you know, Nods, Rita, stuff like that, even though those are really good players. My point to you is that when I look at him and his youth and his youthful exuberance along with his otherworldly skills, because they are otherworldly and has improved his three point shot to be a 40% three point shooter. And the way he goes at it in the postseason and the way he galvanizes troops around him and being the gravitational force that he is, that's what Kevin Durant's lacking. See, Kevin Durant's going to give you your numbers. He going to give you 25 to 30 a night. He can explode for 40 anytime he wants to. Kevin Durant is going to do his job. Kevin Durant is going to show you why there are levels to start him. And he's the Krem-Della Krem when it comes to stuff like that. But Ant-Man is that force that galvanizes. Kevin Durant is the kind of force that those stand around and spectate and watch. There's a difference. That's why I would want Ant-Man over Kevin. I know Kevin's going to do what he's going to do. I think Ant-Man is inspirational to get the cats around him to do a little bit more. And that is the difference in this day and age, in my opinion. So hopefully Anthony and we're just going to be fully healthy for the playoffs. He missed his 19th game. The Timberwolves did clinch a playoff spot with their win and then the Phoenix loss. So we'll see how this all plays out down the stretch. This is our final ESPN Wednesday doubleheader of the regular season. Jalen Johnson the Hawks will play the first game of a home and home against Donovan Mitchell and the Cavs at 7 Eastern. Then Stephon Castle and the Red Hot Spurs host the Trailblazers. The NBA countdown crew will tip off our coverage at 6.30 Eastern. Alright, don't miss what dog thinks is at stake for Roy McElroy as he defends his master's title. Also, we will tell you what is on the menu. Our master's menu will be next. Doggy, let's go. Yes, sir. You have a video intro. It's not the poem. I've been fed a day to clock. I've worked all week and I've worked on this stupid show with him. 9-1-1, where is the emergency? It's the middle of the night in a small town on the Jersey Shore. Someone reports an abandoned car on a bridge. A search gets underway for the missing driver, 19-year-old Sarah Stern. Is it a missing person? Is it a suicide? At this point, nobody knows. Old friendships, buried cash, and a sinister plot that was once pitched as a movie plays out in real life. I'm Juju Chang from 2020 and ABC Audio. Listen now to Bridge of Lies, wherever you get your podcasts. Oh, my God. Where is that stupid thing? What's the matter with that dad? You're nuts. You're nuts. I love you. Strike me down. Yes, sir. That's a great circle. Now, when I ask for it. I am strong and powerful. Here we go. The great Shays in the house today. I'm going to be a little bit more serious. I'm going to be a little bit more serious. I'm going to be a little bit more serious. I'm going to be a little bit more serious. I'm going to be a little bit more serious. I'm going to be a little bit more serious. I'm going to be a little bit more serious. I'm going to be a little bit more serious. I'm going to be a little bit more serious. I'm going to be a little bit more serious. I'm going to be a little bit more serious. I'm going to be a little bit more serious. I'm going to be a little bit more serious. I'm going to be a little bit more serious. I'm going to be a little bit more serious. I'm going to be a little bit more serious. I'm going to be a little bit more serious. I'm going to be a little bit more serious. I'm going to be a little bit more serious. I'm going to be a little bit more serious. I'm going to be a little bit more serious. I'm going to be a little bit more serious. I'm going to be a little bit more serious. I'm going to be a little bit more serious. I'm going to be a little bit more serious. I'm going to be a little bit more serious. I'm going to be a little bit more serious. I'm going to be a little bit more serious. Let the catcher learn how to know how to frame and figure out a ball game every pitch. And now look at that. The Yankees walked 30 times. They had 30 base on balls. You know that's the most in the history of the Yankees. In 1934, Garrick, his Yankee team against the White Sox in May had 28 walks. This weekend the Marlon Pitching staff thanks to the manager McCullough and his Pitching coach who doesn't let the catcher go the game. 30 walks! 30 freaking walks! What a joke! I don't want to see...let the young kid learn how to catch! Let him learn how to fake and screw up a bit about his timing. Framing it back! No way to throw a 3-1 curveball! I mean I couldn't believe...could you imagine Gary Carter, Yogi Berra, some of the great Bench! Johnny Bench! Can you imagine this? What a disgrace! The Miami organization why do you want to win 75 games? This is the idea! That is number one. Me? I agree. I mean that is the most micromanaging I have ever seen in my life. That doesn't even make any sense. Like send him down a AAA if you don't trust him. I totally agree with you but I don't blame the manager of the Marlins more than I blame Major League Baseball. You've implemented enough rule changes because you want to make the game more fan friendly. Okay? Well guess what? We want to see the actual players competing. We don't want to see such micromanaging and such invasiveness that we're pointing to the manager about every little thing. Every pitch. You know what? Part of the game is seeing a catcher call a game for the pitcher between him and a pitcher. A pitcher shouldn't be thrown. You can huddle with them before the game but you should not be allowed to be doing that. You want to outlaw it. All together. All together. You shouldn't be doing that. Good job Steve. What a ruling. Did they have any meetings at the mound? I hope not. They were communicating the whole way in the prize. You guys could come out and communicate but you don't have to micromanage like that. That's taking the game away from the players and we didn't come to see the manager. We came to see the players. You will get it to me. Let's get it on. I couldn't believe it. They did it last year too. It drives me crazy. Item number two in the old days the NBA took Monday of the championship game off. They let the NCAA game stand by itself. 9-12. They moved the tip up to 8-50 last couple years. But they let the college game have its, you know, knife per se. Now I don't know I know they're trying to squeeze more games in because there's more days off with the All-Star break and they had to play in so they don't start their post season to a week later. Maybe that's it. But what is the NBA doing scheduling a full slate of games this past Monday night? I mean, look at this. We got it. We got MIX. We got HABS. We got the 76ers. There's the two big markets. We got West Coast stuff. I mean, can't you give the freaking end of the college a knife? I mean, at 8-50 at night, TBS, can we allow Michigan play Connecticut? Every basketball fan who loves basketball can sit there and say, I'm not going to worry about the NBA tonight. I can concentrate on my college game. The title, it never used to be like this. The NBA never, ever, they understood. You know, Monday night these guys are going to be in our league next year, some of them. This is sort of promoting the sport. Let's leave that alone. You want to do Final Four on Liberty. It's a weekend. Not on Monday night. I was stunned. I don't know what they did last year. I didn't do this last year. Just mad about it. But I saw it the other night. It really bothered me. That is item number two. Not to mention that Nixon Hawks game came down to the very last second. So they were good games that people want to pay attention to with playoff implications. I hated this and I also hated, I can't believe you didn't complain, a 9 p.m. tip for the net. Oh, that's a joke. One shining moment came out at like midnight. That's a joke. That'll work. They should have started the game at 8-20. That's number one. Number two, I will say this. I agree with you. If the first one is the first one is the first one is the first one is the first one is the first one is the first one is the first one is the first one is the first one is the first one is the first one is the first one is the first one is the first one is the first one is the first one is the first one is the first one is the first one is the first one is the first one is the first one is the first one is the first one is the first one is the first one is the first one is the first one is the first one is the first one is the first one is the first one is the first one is the first one is the first one is the first one is the first one is the first one is the first one is the first one is the first one is right here. It's football. We talk about that. I'd say that the NFL doesn't do that with college football from here. That's why they got some complaints. But the fact that the NBA would do that, you're absolutely right because let college basketball have its own night for the national championship game. You don't need to give them professional basketball on a Monday night of a national championship game. Stupid. You could have done a better job than they'll tell you scheduling. They're talking about arena availability and all of this other stuff. That's what they'll point to. But in the end, you got to work around that. There's no reason for pro basketball to have a slew of NBA games the night of the national championship. One day. At 8.50 is one thing. They had basically a blue spring steam concert in between the first and second game on Saturday night. Took an hour to get to the Arizona, Michigan. I love that. Oh, it's so big crazy. All right. Item number three. Now, this is a little personal story. So give me a couple of minutes. Uh-oh. It's Easter. I love Easter. Oh. Who doesn't love Easter? Oh, no. I went to church Thursday. I went Good Friday. You're throwing right. Good Friday. I went to church, but I had a rough weekend. First off, Mrs. Pamazhan, the real Pamazhan, Molly Russo. She didn't want to go to church the earlier service on Sunday. I had a brunch at 11.30, so I had to go to the nine o'clock service and Mrs. Russo. Rightfully so, I can't get up that early to get nine o'clock. So she wants to go to Saturday night Easter to get to the Easter division. Well, who's going to take it to Easter division? I get it fooled around. It's like two games. I got two games. I got to fool around. I got to get Molly to church. I got to make sure she's organized. Back to her home. Pick her up. Back to her house. That's number one. Number two, I have to go to church by myself. My wife goes to a different church. I have to go to church by myself on Sunday at nine o'clock. That disturbs me. That's item number two. And then item number three, we went to brunch at Shore Heaven. So I take Mrs. Russo to brunch, the family there. Following brunch, 11.30, get the car, the valet. He brings the car up, keeps it running. I have to get Mrs. Russo into the car and I drive Mrs. Russo home. I turn the car off. I get Mrs. Russo situated in her beautiful condo that I have paid for. Follow your mom. I shut the car off. I walk back in the car. It won't start. What do you mean won't start? I don't have the keys. I look all around the car. It's got no keys. I go into the house. I didn't leave the keys in the house. So I got to get obviously somebody to bring me another set of keys to my house to get the car started. And then I said, hold on now. I must have left the keys at Shore Heaven. I get the car started. I drive back to Shore Heaven. The valet kept the keys. So I get out of the car in a riff. This is my nap on Sunday afternoon. It was raining. I go crazy. I say, what are you doing to me here? Don't you know that I'm Chris Russo? And I'm almost Stephen A. Smith. They never heard a hand. They heard a shade. Never heard of Stephen A. So I'm Mr. Russo. And I'm screaming at top of my lungs. And I got my buddy Craig Melvin sitting there and I'm embarrassing myself against him because they left the keys. They took the keys out of the car. Of course, no runs if the car starts and the keys get out. And I'm just sitting there in Connecticut with a stock vehicle. I had to drive 40 miles back to the club to figure out if I got my breakfast set of keys because they took the keys out. And I'm Chris Russo. Don't the dudes out of that club? It ruined my Easter. And the good thing was I didn't have to eat Molly's veal parmesan because we ate at Shore Heaven. I got a big break. The food was decent. But goodness gracious. I don't remember the story. I am stuck. What I can't get past is you said on national television, you and your wife go to different churches. The separate churches. Yes. What's that? He looked right happy. Like, is he kidding? You know I love you. You're talking about your country club, your car with the keyless option. Come on. This is first world problems. You're Chris Russo. Nobody cares, as you would say. Nobody cares. So you missed a nap. Get over it. Coming up on first take, could Rory McElroy join a short list of back to back masters winners? Don't miss our picks after the break. Oh no. Indeed presents. Hires you can't afford to get wrong. Like a warehouse operations manager. Where are the fort lifts? I sold them. They were too expensive. I got a great deal on these scooters though. You expect us to move a two tonne pallet on a scooter? It'll be fun. Just think of the core strength you'll build. This is a job for sponsored jobs. This is what happens when you don't sponsor your job on Indeed. So the next time you need someone to get the job done right, get matched with quality candidates with an Indeed sponsored job. Visit Indeed.com slash Next hire and sponsor your job today. It's a tradition unlike any other. We'll have first and second round coverage of the 90th Masters Tournament from Augusta tomorrow and Friday, 8.45 a.m. Eastern. That's 5.45 a.m. Pacific on ESPN plus and then three Eastern on ESPN and the ESPN app. Once again, ESPN plus will have featured whole and featured group coverage of all four rounds. Sports center will also have dedicated coverage the entire week. The 19th straight year of ESPN's master coverage. Speaking of, here's last year's winner Roy McElroy on the pressure of winning again in a stacked field. I feel so much more relaxed. I know that I'm going to be coming back here for a lot of years. Going to enjoy the perks that the champions get here and doesn't make me any less motivated to go out there and play well and try to win the tournament. But yeah, just more relaxed about it all. I know that I can do it now so that should make it a little easier for me to go out and play the golf that I want to play. What are your expectations for Roy this weekend? You know, at first I thought he was so wrapped up in the celebrity aspect of winning it that maybe he wouldn't be as focused. Now a lot of people think he'd be lice, loosey, goosey. He's got nothing to, you know, he has a big thing off his back and watch him play great. He'd be fun to watch. I'm going to take Jacob Bridgeman. He's the kid at Clemson who won at the LA Open. He's a great putter. And remember, no rain. Greens are going to be firm. You got to make putts. And you miss a putter. It's going to go seven feet past. So the putting will be very, very significant and Bridgeman can really putt. So odd ten. He's won already this year. I'll take a run at him. Our route for Rory, who doesn't? He's our route for him. I know too bad, you know, no tiger, chef would just have a child. So you'll wonder where he'll be in that situation. You mentioned Jacob Bridgeman. What about Chris Gunnarov? He's another one from Jersey. He's won a couple of times. He won this year. Good job, Steve. Yeah, a lot of people think he has a chance. Listen, it'll be a fun tournament. Back nine Sunday should be a stock leaderboard. So where we go? Fuzzy's out of 1979. Last got to win his master's debut. That's the last time we're doing it. 1979. I got that part. Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods not going to be in the tournament. I mean, you got 18, eight green jackets between the two. That's unfortunate that they're not going to be a part of it. We'll miss them. But I'm looking at gutter up. That's a good one, Stephen. I could definitely see it. He's good. He's won one a couple of times. He's very dangerous. That's a very good pick. Excellent. I phoned a friend, Brooks Kepka, my hubby says is a good one to take. So I'll roll with Brooks Kepka on this one. He's due to win one there. He's due to win one. Master's weekend, always the best. Just such good golf. The music alone just relaxes you. It's absolutely the best time of year. Oh commercials. You like that. TV watch. Who's that? Oh my god. That is Stephen A. Smith. Stephen A. Smith had quite the night last night and we will tell you why after the break. If the I believe the BWM E draft almost here it's time for some big news though here the broadcasting and cable Hall of fame will induct 14 honorees at its 34th annual gala including. One and only Stephen a Smith congratulations. Thank you thank you thank you what does this honor mean to you go ahead. It's always it's always great to be recognized. The hard work I know one thing I work hard I know that and I know that I've been blessed and fortunate to work for this network and to work with the people that I've worked with first take this month it's marked the 14th consecutive year that we've been number one in the morning's can have done it without you can have done it without you can have done it now listen I got to debate somebody you got to have somebody to run the show you know saying Molly before you obviously you have a whole bunch of people that contribute to the shows the RC's the dental auspices just Saturday's the Chris can't ease the Dominique Fox was Damian would ease Ryan clocks Kendrick Perkins Brian went to us let's go all the ladies Kimberly and mean a Kimberly Kim Lee Martin mean of times everybody you know I just I just you know Monica McNutt Chanel go make a Andrea Carter everybody. Great bosses great colleagues I love all of y'all appreciate everything I don't consider this an award for me I consider this a little word for us because if it wasn't for y'all I wouldn't be in this position so I'm incredibly honored and humbled by the award but in the same breath I'm thankful for the people that I work with every single day and the people that I work for and the job never stopped so even though I'm honored and I'm happy about it in the same breath I know that it just reminds me that I have to continue to live up to it and try to do exceptional work every day that's what I strive to do so thank you. Well congratulations are very happy for you September 29th right. Yeah, very good. Yes, all right, let's have a little fun here before we go to Jay's manager John Schneider was ejected in the 5th inning of last night's 4-1 loss against the Dodgers after a fiery face-to-face argument over a bulk call starter Kevin Gauzman so watching the video there of Schneider ripping into the um got us thinking which sport would you least want to be an official in. What did you at least want to be in a show in. Honestly speaking I'd say football because you can get run over. Yes, players can run around run over you and claim it was by accident you know they could get you they could get you me personally watching that I missed the days of Lou Penella. Billy Maher and Earl weaver people like that you know kicking dirt on the on by getting the bases throwing it at you I love all of that stuff love it. So I like seeing them getting at the on pause like that but as long as you hit them you don't touch Schneider is a great guy the blue J. Skipper a very good guy I'm a Steve football big field to cover you get run over and that they got also got 22 players the other sports have less players you got to keep an eye on us and a fellow official. Thanks all for hanging out with us this week. We appreciate it. Yeah, we'll see you tomorrow same time different place.
