Overview of PMS 2.0 with Pat McAfee, ESPN
This episode is a fast-moving mix of sports celebration, live-event stories, and major offseason speculation. Pat and the crew open by reacting to a memorable night at the ESPYs before diving into golf with Mike Tirico from the Open Championship, World Cup talk with USMNT captain Tim Ream, and NBA chaos with Kendrick Perkins and Shams Charania. The show leans heavily on big personalities, emotional sports moments, and a lot of joking around the edges.
ESPYs Recap: Emotional, Funny, and Star-Studded
Pat spent the opening segment reflecting on the ESPYs and how much the night hit emotionally, especially now that he’s a parent.
Biggest takeaways
- The show repeatedly praised the event for mixing:
- inspiring stories
- comedy
- tears
- sports nostalgia
- Pat said he was emotionally affected by several speeches, especially:
- Jim Abbott’s story
- Pat Tillman Award moments
- Shaquem Griffin’s appearance
- stories from athletes overcoming adversity
- The crew highlighted how the event reminded them of the bigger good in sports and how it can inspire people beyond competition.
Notable people mentioned
- Jim Abbott
- Shaquem Griffin
- Pat Tillman
- Marcelo Hernandez
- Jeffrey Ross
- Fat Joe
- Will Ferrell
- Ghostface Killah
Mike Tirico Live From The Open Championship
Mike Tirico joined from the Open Championship to talk golf, the event atmosphere, and the skills that matter most in links golf.
Golf discussion highlights
- Tirico explained that ball striking is the most important skill at The Open.
- He broke down why:
- links golf rewards control and trajectory
- wind and firm conditions punish small mistakes
- the course setup emphasizes precision over power
- He also discussed:
- Scottie Scheffler’s consistency
- Bryson DeChambeau’s need for a big major finish
- how weather and course conditions change strategy
Fun side conversation
- The crew got into whether Lionel Messi could become a good football kicker, and Tirico agreed that elite ball strikers could probably adapt quickly.
- Pat used the discussion to compare kicking mechanics, golf swings, and soccer striking.
- Tirico also shared a breakfast story from England, where fans were loudly criticizing England manager Thomas Tuchel after a World Cup loss.
Tirico’s golf update
- He admitted his own golf game has been rough.
- Brad Faxon reportedly helped him work on his putting stroke.
- He was amused by Pat’s simulator setup and the crew’s over-the-top golf talk.
World Cup Talk With Tim Ream
USMNT captain Tim Ream joined for a thoughtful soccer segment that focused on the men’s national team, the World Cup, and growing the game in the U.S.
What Ream said about the U.S. team
- He said the team was disappointed by its World Cup exit.
- But he emphasized a larger goal:
- growing interest in soccer in America
- inspiring more fans
- creating a stronger identity for the national team
- He described the World Cup as both a setback and an opportunity.
On the team’s style and performance
- Ream explained that some games just go wrong for no clear reason.
- He said the team’s poor last performance felt completely opposite to the energy and aggression they showed earlier in the tournament, including the Paraguay match.
On Lionel Messi
- Ream gave a detailed breakdown of Messi’s greatness:
- his first touch
- positioning
- awareness
- ability to manipulate defenders mentally and physically
- He said playing against Messi is mentally exhausting because Messi reads the game so far ahead of everyone else.
On the future of U.S. soccer
- Ream said the sport in the U.S. needs:
- more elite development
- more top-level MLS talent
- continued investment in youth pathways
- The crew jokingly pushed the idea of future U.S. soccer stars being “baptized” into the game, riffing on a famous Messi baby photo ad that features Lionel Messi and a baby.
Kendrick Perkins on LeBron James’ Next Move
Perk joined to talk about the biggest basketball storyline of the summer: where LeBron James will play next.
Main points from Perk
- He said LeBron remains the most powerful figure in basketball.
- He believes the answer depends on:
- whether LeBron plans to play one more year or multiple years
- which team gives him the best shot at winning now
- Perk’s preferences:
- Cleveland if it’s a final farewell tour
- Minnesota as a dark-horse basketball fit
- he also liked the idea of LeBron with Golden State
Why Golden State came up
- The crew loved the idea of:
- LeBron + Steph Curry
- LeBron + Draymond Green
- a final “showtime” run
- They discussed how the Bay Area offers:
- basketball culture
- great weather
- elite golf
- big-business upside
Perk’s broader NBA view
- He framed LeBron’s choice as less about money and more about:
- fit
- legacy
- happiness
- chance to compete for a title
Shams Charania’s NBA Drive-By
Shams joined for a rapid-fire update on the NBA offseason and the latest on LeBron, Jalen Brown, and Kawhi Leonard.
LeBron update
- Shams said a decision is likely coming soon, but not necessarily immediately.
- He listed several teams in the mix:
- Cavaliers
- Heat
- Warriors
- Sixers
- Timberwolves
- He said the most serious contenders appear to be:
- Cleveland
- Miami
- Philadelphia
What’s driving the LeBron conversation
- LeBron has received pitches through Rich Paul.
- Some owners and executives have even sent voice memos through Rich Paul to make their case.
- Shams said the Warriors are attractive, but they may still need another star to really push LeBron toward that option.
Jalen Brown trade discussion
- Shams said Boston moved on Jalen Brown before an extension situation got messy.
- He explained the Celtics appeared unwilling to commit long-term money and chose to trade him preemptively.
- The crew reacted strongly to the idea of Jalen Brown ending up in Philadelphia and how that changes the East.
Kawhi Leonard investigation
- Shams also gave a detailed update on the ongoing NBA investigation into alleged salary-cap circumvention involving Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers.
- He said:
- the case has been open for many months
- no final resolution is near
- the league appears cautious because any move could affect the Raptors if the deal were completed
- The discussion framed it as a major unresolved league issue.
AJ Hawk and the Crew: Catches, Jokes, and Simulator Chaos
The back half of the show kept bouncing between sports talk and classic crew banter.
Notable bits
- The simulator setup in the office was a recurring joke:
- it reloads balls automatically
- Pat joked about making a putt to “make the cut”
- The crew spent a lot of time joking about:
- golf swings
- kicking mechanics
- bad posture
- being too old for the pace of all the events they’ve attended
- AJ, Pat, and the others riffed on:
- Marcelo’s ESPYs performance
- Jeff Ross’s roasting abilities
- how much the show respects good live comedy
Final Thoughts
This episode is basically a sports-and-entertainment marathon:
- emotional ESPYs recap
- golf from the Open Championship
- World Cup and Messi analysis
- USMNT growth conversation
- NBA offseason fireworks
- nonstop crew banter
It’s especially strong for listeners who want:
- a behind-the-scenes feel for major sports events
- sharp commentary from insiders like Tirico, Ream, Perk, and Shams
- the usual Pat McAfee mix of sincerity, chaos, and jokes