Overview of PMS 2.0 1521 — Pat McAfee Show (March 25, 2026)
Pat McAfee’s “PMS 2.0” (Hello Baseball Wednesday — March 25, 2026) opens MLB season night and covers a wide sports slate: MLB Opening Night (Yankees at Giants), betting angles, NFL rule/officials discussion, Lavonte David’s retirement, UConn coach Dan Hurley on March Madness, David Ross on the World Baseball Classic and his new Cubs podcast, NASCAR star Tyler Reddick, plus regular personalities (Darius Butler, AJ Hawk, Ty Schmidt, Conman). The show mixes deep interviews, betting tips, hot takes on officiating and league policy, and the usual Pat McAfee banter.
Key segments (in this episode)
- MLB opening-night preview: Yankees vs Giants; Netflix presentation of the game and broadcast notes
- Betting primer and game-micro props (Darius Butler)
- NFL: upcoming league meeting proposals, referee/union/replacement refs discussion
- Interview: Lavonte David — retirement, career, future plans
- Interview: Dan Hurley — UConn, March Madness outlook, team culture, NIL/portal impact
- Interview: David Ross — World Baseball Classic reflections, new “Lovable Reunion” Cubs podcast
- Interview: Tyler Reddick — NASCAR hot streak, Michael Jordan ownership, victory-lane moments
- Studio banter: theme songs, Thunderdome construction/roundabout, show bits and listener-facing promotions
MLB Opening Night — what they covered
- Game: New York Yankees @ San Francisco Giants — Aaron Judge vs. Logan Webb (March 25, 2026).
- Production: Netflix plus NBC/ESPN streaming coverage noted; discussion about how Netflix will handle in-game content/production and how that might change the presentation of sports.
- Betting advice (Darius Butler):
- MLB run line is typically ±1.5 (so moneyline betting and player props are popular).
- Tonight’s game: pitchers both high-quality — consider K (strikeout) props and starter-focused bets (first-five innings).
- DraftKings had a 50% profit boost on this game (max $20), useful for small, targeted wagers.
- Aaron Judge insights: coming off World Baseball Classic; generally expected to remain a strong offensive player (props for home run/double discussed).
- WBC carryover: conversation about which players might be ahead of normal spring timing (some will be more ready; others will still need reps).
- Pat teased follow-up MLB chat with David Ross in Hour 2 (Ross is doing ESPN analysis and launching “Lovable Reunion” podcast).
NFL — Rule proposals, refs, and officiating pipeline
- League proposals previewed for upcoming NFL meeting:
- Allow kicking team to declare an onside kick at any time (removes element of surprise but adds strategic clarity).
- Change to eliminate intentional kick out-of-bounds incentive (addresses prior perverse incentives).
- Allow league personnel to consult on-field officials on disqualifications without being called onto the field.
- One-year allowance for the officiating department to correct clear, obvious misses when replacement refs are used (work-stoppage contingency).
- Pat’s perspective:
- Strong criticism of the replacement-ref era; calls for a formal officiating pipeline (training & recruiting refs, possibly using ex-players) to avoid embarrassment and game-defining failures.
- Refs should be full-time, better compensated, and better trained given sports-betting stakes and game impact.
Lavonte David — retirement interview (highlights & takeaways)
- Announcement: Lavonte David retired after a 14-season NFL career (durability emphasized — played at least 12 games each season).
- Why he retired: personal reflection — wanted to prioritize what would make him happy; felt he had “done enough” and wanted time to enjoy life outside football.
- Career pride: durability, leadership, Super Bowl champion, respect league-wide.
- Future plans: rest, golf (taking lessons), travel/restaurant tour, stay fit but not the same grind; possible scouting/front-office or advisory roles down the line—coaching is not ruled out but not immediate.
- Legacy: widely respected linebacker, compared favorably to hall-of-fame names in impact and consistency.
Notable quote:
- “I’ve done enough for the game. I pleased myself with what I did while I played.” — Lavonte David
Dan Hurley / UConn — March Madness and roster dynamics
- Hurley on his team:
- Confident about UConn’s ceiling; believes his team gets better as the tournament progresses.
- Praised senior leader (referred to on the show as a coach-on-the-floor) for his program-changing habits and NBA-ready mentality.
- Reflected on losing the Big East championship as potentially useful motivation.
- On college hoops landscape:
- Hurley: East Region feels like a Final Four in terms of marquee matchups; NIL and the transfer portal make this era different (instant roster flips, “mercenary” veterans).
- Coaches matter: Hurley described veteran coaches as the stars of the sport — values, accountability, and player development are still central.
- Personal routines and culture:
- Hurley shared his sauna/cold-plunge recovery routine and emphasized coach-player relationships and old-school standards for developing young men.
- Betting / scheduling side note: He said his team is acclimated to late starts (e.g., 9:45/10:15 PM tipoffs), so no excuses for late-game timing.
Notable quote:
- “Coaches are the stars of college hoops.” — Dan Hurley
David Ross (Grandpa Rossi) — WBC, ESPN role and Lovable Reunion
- Ross’s new content:
- Joined ESPN as MLB analyst and is launching a Cubs-focused podcast “Lovable Reunion” (reuniting players from the 2016 Cubs’ World Series team).
- World Baseball Classic (WBC) reflections:
- Emotionally invested in Team USA; bus anecdote recruiting Logan Webb; praised the WBC atmosphere (Venezuela game noted as the loudest Ross had experienced).
- Called the Bryce Harper WBC homer an overwhelming moment that made him “fall in love with baseball” as a fan.
- Managerial perspective:
- On managing: emphasized tough, honest conversations and being straightforward with players—he doesn’t sugarcoat.
- Trivia/entertainment: Ross discussed his Dancing with the Stars run (runner-up), and how that and the Cubs keep him recognized in public.
Notable quote:
- “When Bryce hit that two‑run homer… I had never felt that way at a sporting event… I fell in love with baseball.” — David Ross
Action items:
- Look for the “Lovable Reunion” podcast (Cubs reunion content) and Ross’s ESPN MLB appearances.
Tyler Reddick — NASCAR hot streak & partnership with Michael Jordan
- On-track résumé: Reddick won 4 of the first 6 NASCAR Cup races that season (hot start).
- How he’s winning: emphasized resilience — surviving wrecks, mechanical issues (loose wheel/alternator), and still fighting back to victory lane.
- Ownership & culture:
- Praised Michael Jordan (and co-owners Denny Hamlin, etc.) for being deeply invested, present, and competitive — Jordan’s passion is evident in victory-lane celebrations.
- Personal / human-interest:
- Stories about doing and celebrating the shoey (drinking a beer from a shoe) in victory lane.
- Talked about being busy with racing, limited time for golf or other sports, and how the Jordan partnership has been inspirational.
- Upcoming: Martinsville (Sunday) mentioned as next race; invited to the Indianapolis Brickyard event (July 26) — Reddick has history at Indy road course and has kissed the bricks.
Notable quote:
- “Being able to have these moments with [Michael Jordan] is truly incredible.” — Tyler Reddick
Other notable bits, studio banter & production notes
- Theme / crowd bits: recurring “Let’s play ball — it’s game day” song chatter (Scott Stapp reference) and the show’s baseball mania.
- Betting talk extended to MLB props, player-based lines, and how to use season-opening promos (e.g., profit boosts).
- Pat’s recurring beef with refs, replacement refs history, and officiating integrity for bet-driven sports.
- Local Thunderdome notes: on‑air jokes about construction/roundabout at their studio compound and workplace logistics.
- Pop culture: Netflix’s mixed reception for streaming sports — debate about how streaming services should build linear-like functionality (alternate live tabs or content during commercials).
Notable quotes and soundbites
- Pat McAfee: “Sports are the greatest.” (opening)
- Lavonte David: “I’ve done enough for the game.” (retirement decision)
- Dan Hurley: “Coaches are the stars of college hoops.”
- David Ross: “I fell in love with baseball.” (on the WBC Bryce Harper moment)
- Darius Butler (betting): first-five/start-focused props are a good way to bet on pitcher matchups early in the season.
Quick watch/listen checklist (what Pat & guests recommended)
- Tonight: MLB Opening Night — Yankees vs Giants on Netflix (Aaron Judge vs Logan Webb).
- Follow David Ross on ESPN and subscribe to his podcast “Lovable Reunion” (Cubs reunion content).
- Watch UConn in the NCAA Tournament (Hurley sees them peaking into the later rounds).
- Keep an eye on Tyler Reddick’s NASCAR run (next race: Martinsville; Indy road course dates mentioned).
- If betting MLB: consider first-five props, K totals, and small promo plays (DraftKings 50% profit boost noted the day of the show).
Bottom line / Final takeaways
- MLB Opening Night is the high-energy sports pivot for the day — plenty of betting angles, star matchups, and new streaming presentation to watch.
- The NFL officiating conversation is heating up: rule tweaks and contingency plans for replacement refs are being discussed, and Pat urged a formal officiating pipeline to prevent future crises.
- Lavonte David’s retirement is framed as thoughtful and earned — he leaves with high respect and multiple future possibilities.
- Dan Hurley sees UConn positioned to be dangerous in March; the modern college hoops landscape is heavily affected by NIL and the portal but coaching and culture still matter.
- David Ross (Grandpa Rossi) brings WBC passion, renewed baseball storytelling, and the Cubs reunion podcast.
- NASCAR’s Tyler Reddick is red-hot, overcoming adversity, and thriving under an ownership group that includes Michael Jordan.
If you want the highlights without listening to the full episode: watch MLB Opening Night (Judge vs Webb), listen to the Lavonte David retirement segment and Dan Hurley interview for March Madness insights, and check out David Ross’s “Lovable Reunion” and Tyler Reddick’s race coverage for the week.