NFL Predictions + US Open Tennis

All right, welcome everyone. Another edition of MacDaddy Patrick McEnroe here. Rich Big Daddy Salgado there. Pat Leonard from the New York Daily News is there. We're going to talk a little NFL. It's week one. We appreciate him being here. And Joel Hoffman, who apparently has some stories about Big Bro, my big bro, Johnny Mack. He played tennis with him back in the day, runs a tennis academy facility down in Houston. We appreciate both of you being here. Of course, our producer, Mr. Lauren Emery, is here. He's feeling a little bit better. And remember, the MacDaddy show presented by our friends at Volition. We got Fire Department Coffee as well. We got Dos Ombres, but Lauren's feeling a little bit better because his Oregon Ducks escaped a little bit of a trap there against Boise State. They were like, what, a 24 and a half point dog there, Lauren? Tell me what happened to the Ducks, how they pulled it out late in that game to win by a touchdown.

They came out flat, very flat, as we as we're looking at Miami and they stomped your uh alma mater. We we won't get into that because we appreciate how hard you're working these days. And and again, kudos to P Mac. You guys, this guy is the hardest working man in show business, loves what he's doing, and I and I couldn't be happier to be working with you. So again, it's it's fitting that you're working on Labor Day. But as far as the ducks, and I'm not trying to dodge the question, but yeah, they came out flat and they they typically come out flat under Dan Lanning. And it's funny because Tim Brando was on our show and he said, Two new coordinators, they're gonna struggle, and they did. Maybe I'm hoping that Boise State is better than we thought, but I'll I'll just pass the mic back to you, my friend. We got lucky.

All right, well, I'm gonna well I'm gonna I'm gonna pass the mic over to Big Daddy because Big Daddy got the NFL season about to get started, get underway. That's why we got Mr. Pat Letter. Hopefully, we'll have you on quite a bit, Pat. We appreciate it. I know you're covering the Giants. Big Daddy, of course, knows the Jets, Giants inside out, not to mention the start of the season Wednesday night, Big Daddy. Set us up a little bit for what you expect to see. New England at Seattle. That's on NBC. That's the first game of the season. And then I'm very interested to see how both teams react to going down under where I go every year. They're gonna be playing right next door to Melbourne Park at the MCJ. That's called that's a Melbourne Cricket Grounds, Big Daddy, if you're not aware. And I saw our buddy, your buddy, Roger Goodell at the open at the Rolex suite, and we were uh they were honoring Roger Feder. Somehow I got the invite to just show up, do a little flyby. And of course, there's Mr. Goodell, who's making the trip down under to see that game. Rams apparently getting there like 24 hours before the game, and the jump, and I think it's the 49ers getting there a week before to deal with the jet lag. What's there?

The Niners.

Yeah, they're already there. Go ahead. Yeah. What do you got? What do you got for Pat and the rest of the start to the NFL season? Give me a couple things you're looking for in week one.

Wow, look, Wednesday night, that's a big game, obviously. The whole world's watching one-on-one, back to the Super Bowl. I mean, Seattle's a tough place to play. I mean, Pat will tell you this. I've been up there many a times. It's one of the loudest venues ever. And, you know, they're going to be going bonkers up there because obviously they are the champs and they're opening up the season. So again, I would not be surprised if Seattle walks out of there with the win because they're home. They're basically the same team, and all that hype is going to be a lot, a lot to deal with.

Uh, so uh let me let me bring you in, Pat, let me bring you in first because it's it seems to me, I'm no NFL expert like you guys are, right? But obviously I follow it. It doesn't seem like people are talking about Seattle as much as maybe they should. I mean, everybody's talking about the Rams. I get that with Stafford and company, they're loaded. But I mean, last time I checked, Seattle beat them a couple of months ago. So am I missing something about where Seattle looks to be right now as far as you know, favorites to repeat? I know it's hard to repeat, that's always the case.

No, I I think you I think you're on to something here, Patrick, and that's the fact that not enough people are discussing the fact that the Seahawks plan to repeat, that they have a good chance to repeat. Obviously, that is a very difficult thing to do in any sport, let alone in the NFL. But I was in that locker room after they won the Super Bowl last year against the Patriots. I've been in several over the last, what, five or six years now, seeing the Eagles, the Chiefs, these other teams bring the Lombardi trophy home. And the only team that has been talking in the locker room after winning about winning the next year is the Seahawks. You know, Julian Love, Leonard Williams, guys who played on the Giants, telling me about how different it is there, how the feel is just different. It's more of a team. There's a lot more we than I with that team. And guys, you remember, like, the Seahawks won that Super Bowl, and Darnold didn't even play well, right? Like the Patriots defense played pretty well against the Seahawks quarterback, and the Seahawks still dominated the game. So I think it's fascinating right off the bat, the season starting. Obviously, it's strange if it's on a Wednesday, but I think it's fascinating to watch Big Daddy hit it too. It's an impossible place to play, but this is not just, oh yeah, like let's run back the Super Bowl matchup and on we go. This is actually one of uh, let's say, five or six teams in the NFL who can win this year.

Like, give me a couple other teams that can win.

All right, we got the Denver Broncos. That's a team in the NFL right now, who a lot of people are looking at and saying flat out that they have, they think they have the best roster on paper. And remember, they went deep last year, Bo Nicks got hurt, but people think that they're gonna be back there in the mix. The Baltimore Ravens, even though John Harbaugh got fired and is now coaching the Giants in Hope Springs Eternal here in New York, people who have seen the Ravens practice this summer are telling me, and this is coming from all different ends, telling me that, oh my goodness, like Lamar Jackson and the Ravens look like they're on a mission under Jesse Minter. So I would keep an eye out for them. And then, you know, Philadelphia Eagles, usual suspect. I also think the Dallas Cowboys, even though they never actually get it done in the playoffs, I think if they're ever gonna do it, it's this year.

Those were all good defensive teams, but minus the Rams. What what are you what are your teams?

My teams? Well, minus the Rams, obviously, because uh you just said that, but I would say Seattle. You know, it's just like what Ted Brando said the other day on the show. Indiana, they won the national championship and and they're like ranked 10. Like Seattle won it. They have a very, very good chance of repeating, but as we all have been saying, it's not something that's easily done. Okay, you can't count the Chiefs out. I I really feel that obviously I'm a little biased because I have a lot of loyalty to them, and there's some people on that staff that uh are very close and dear to me. But, you know, the Chiefs you can't count on, and then you know, the long shot is is uh my big blue. You know, I really feel that they're gonna turn this thing around and they're gonna go somewhere and they're gonna surprise some people. I know all three of you, all the three of you that are in front of me are all like, Big Daddy, wake up, get coffee, get too far in the farm coffee. Uh what are you thinking? But hey, look, you know, when you bleed blue, you bleed blue. You know, loyalty goes far, and and that's how I feel when you're talking about the my picks.

All right, well, Pat, give me, give me a give, give us a reality because we know where Big Daddy's coming from, but he just admitted it. But then, you know, and I'm a Jet fan, okay? So I'm not even gonna go there about the Jets because that's just a like continues to be a disaster. I think there's a little more reason to be hopeful about the Giants, though. You'll be covering them day in, day out. What's your take on what you think we'll see as they take on the Cowboys in week one?

I think I gotta sit down after hearing Big Daddy predict them to be a Super Bowl contender, man. Wow, right off the bat. I love it, though. I love you sticking your neck out like that. And hey, look, listen, they are a team that has a brutal first two games coming up to start the season. Dallas Cowboys Sunday Night Football, LA Rams, as you guys noted, Super Bowl contender in LA in week two.

We're gonna be in LA for that game.

Are you? Okay, yeah. I'll look for you then. That'll be great at SoFi Stadium. Mac Daddy at SoFi. Let's go. Mac Daddy on the road, baby.

Taking Mac Daddy on the road. We just need a sponsor to sponsor us to go on the road now. That's all. No problem.

We got Warren and I are working on that right now. So we're uh there's gonna be a lot of a lot of surprises. And I'll tell you one thing. I'll I'll say a big secret. I'll give out a big uh little secret. We will have some of those homebrass at the tailgate party, and we'll leave it at that. Hey, all right.

Oh, so you'll have Pat Leonard at the tailgate then if you're gonna have to.

Yeah, what needs to go well, Pat Leonard? What need this it's in all seriousness? What needs to click for the Giants to actually be, you know, have a have a chance, let's say, to make the playoffs? Let's be realistic.

Well, health is number one, but run the ball and stop the run is number two. And that's boring football talk, but with the Giants, they had the worst run defense in the league last year. And the way they want to play, Patrick, they want to be a team that gets an early lead and then physically bullies you, eats the clock with the ball on offense, whether they're scoring touchdowns or kicking field goals, and then allows that pass rush to get after you when the other team is down and has to throw late in games. That what was happening last year is the Giants were in a position where they were falling behind and they couldn't stop the run. So the other team's offense always had the full playbook available to them. The full diner menu was always there, all full eight pages. And so the defense didn't know what to plan for, uh, was always playing pass and they're running, they're playing run, and it's a play action pass. So if they can control and dictate the tempo and the aggressive and physicality of the game, that is how Harbaugh can put that stamp on the team right away. And really, as much as Dallas is formidable coming in, week one is such an opportunity. And I think what's interesting is the Giants are talking just as big as Big Daddy is right now. Like you would think they'd be saying, hey, let's see, let's wait and see. We're confident, but like we got to put it on film. They're all talking a big game going into this game and into this season. So it's time to back it up.

Where do you where do you think we're gonna be putting at the end of season two for Jackson Dart? Okay, had some good moments in week in year one. Year two, though, where do you think he's gonna fall when we talk about, you know, we know who the elites are, you know, the top four QBs. Then you got the next level. Where do you think he's is he gonna be like a guy who's in the 10 to 15 range of rating QBs? Can he get that high?

I think if Jackson stays healthy, then it's possible for him to be, let's say, uh, you know, a 10 to 15 quarterback. But what's interesting about this season, Patrick, I'm glad you brought this up, there is a very wide range of outcomes that can happen for the Giants quarterback specifically this year. Like this could be him cementing himself as their franchise QB for years to come, or this could be them in the running to draft another one next spring. I mean, the Giants were one of a couple teams represented physically at Arch Manning's first game of the season for Texas this year. And they just signed Jameis Winston, the veteran backup quarterback, to a two-year extension for a lot of different reasons, but one of them is because they would like to have a veteran here to play games if Dart goes down, but also to possibly bridge the gap if they do have to move on. John Harbaugh's been preaching meritocracy. You can't do that and cut guys for not playing well, and then if the quarterback falls on his face, not do it with the most important position on the team. So I think that wide range is there for Dart. He could he could grab hold of this and be, you know, the biggest selling jersey in the country for the next 10 years as the Giants franchise QB, or they could be replacing him in a year.

Pat, you uh the way Dart plays. And Big Daddy, I know, you know, again, without name dropping, we got to watch, we watched a game with Dart's mom. So Big Daddy kind of explained with the way he plays through his mom's eyes what that's like, because you know every play is a threat.

Well, think about it, you know, your your your motherly instincts, you're watching the game, and you're first just saying, Hey, throw some touchdowns, win the game. But don't get hurt. So, you know, you're you're sitting there and and he's been uh his sliding has to improve. He has to learn to go down. You know, he's trying to, I don't know, I think it's him and Scatterpool. They both think they can take on everybody, but you know, when you're 6'5, 6'6 and you're running four, five forties and you get hit, you know, that's not some pillow being thrown at you. That is a human body with equipment on. And I I, you know, what again, we did we did watch with her, and and again, you know, first she's a mother, and then two, she's a fan. So you're saying, hey, slide, please don't get hurt, no more concussions, because you, you know, if you end up getting four or five concussions, then you're just gonna be like a banana that you're gonna peel back and boom, that's it, it's over. And you know, being, and obviously, being in my business, the insurance business with athletes, you see this all the time, and there's so only so many things you can do to protect yourself, and he needs to go down so he does not get hit and take these violent these violent hits, especially to the head, because there's no helmet out there that protects against concussions or head injuries.

Well, luckily, Big Daddy, you're pretty you're protecting them off the field, but there's not a lot you can do about protecting them on the field, Pat. So uh you know, I've been hearing a lot of talk, Pat, about what's going on down in Jacksonville. A lot of people think they can make it, you know, they had a good good year last year. QB played well. He's he's kind of the guy who I think is ready maybe to take that next step, right? Trevor Lawrence. They, I mean, they a lot of people are kind of sneaky picking them to make a big run. What say you?

I think they're a playoff team. Liam Cohn has has shown himself, I think, to be a formidable NFL coach. Definitely somebody who took over a program that, even though it had some talent here and there, didn't know how to win. And pretty quickly, he seems like he taught them as a group how to believe, how to win and out, how to actually do it at the end of games. You're right. The quarterback kind of plateaued there, Trevor Lawrence, and Cohn so far has gotten more out of him. Now the next step is okay, in that division, you have a big opportunity still, right? You have the Tennessee Titans who are going to absolutely sink. And then you have the Indianapolis Colts who the Colts are kind of Jekyll and Hyde week to week. They could be a very good team that's hard to beat. They can they can provide opportunities for you. So you look at the Houston Texans there, and that's the best defense in football. But CJ Stroud is coming off his worst game as a pro and his biggest game as a pro in the playoffs against the Patriots there. And so for the Jaguars, I think what it's about is maintain what you did last year, which you think you can based on your offensive output and your head coaching improvement. But then it's gonna be about winning those big division games against the Texans because we see every year, like, do teams sometimes make runs as lower seeds? Yes. But if you're Jacksonville and you want to take the next step, you want to make sure that you're getting playoff home games and that and that you're uh headed in that direction.

What about? I mean, I gotta ask you about my Jets. I know they're pretty much irrelevant when it comes to the overall league, but since I'm a Jet fan, I'll ask you, but maybe you could tie it into the division because I haven't heard you mention Buffalo yet. And I love I'm a huge Josh Allen guy. I love him. I'd love to see him win one one day. He's been so close, he's been so good in so many big games, but always coming up short. I'm not buying Kansas City this year coming back. I think it's sort of a retooling year, just FYI. Not that I'm an expert, but give me your take on that division specifically and New England in there. Are they gonna be able to repeat? I don't think so. I don't think they will because they had an easy schedule last year and they sort of caught up. I mean, they they snuck up on everyone. How about that AFC East and my Jets? Can they win, I don't know, five games this year?

I think they can. I I don't have a ton of I I need Aaron Glenn to prove to me, whether it's the play calling on defense or just managing a game in general, that he can give his team a distinct advantage as a head coach. I think everybody's looking at him that way. What I like that they did is they went out and got a quarterback in Geno Smith, who is still undervalued on the market somehow. Obviously, he had a bad season last year, but the Raiders' offensive line last year is the worst line I've seen since I started covering the NFL in 2016. So I think that Gino has good ball left. I think the Jets have a good enough line that he'll be able to push the ball down the field and move it. And I love DiMario Davis, even though he's only got maybe a year or two left in his NFL career. I I thought the Giants should have gone and gotten him as a middle linebacker. So I think that the Jets can compete and win some games. Do I do I think they're going to challenge for anything more than that? No. I do think Aaron Glenn is on the hot seat despite having that long, expensive contract. So he's going to need to instill belief. And Davis was a player who jumped out to me also for the ability to maybe galvanize the locker room and keep it together when they do hit those skids. But in that division, Buffalo, it's not that I think Buffalo is not going to be good. They're good every year. And you're right, Josh Allen, he's absolutely amazing, right? He does so much on the field that nobody can do. But I'm still waiting for them to show me that when push comes to shove, they're the better team against the other best teams in the NFL. They just haven't shown it. Like I'm going to pick Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens if I'm going to pick a team with a great quarterback who hasn't won one yet out of the AFC. Joe Brady, he's really succeeded as a coordinator in some fashion, even if he wasn't on a winning team anywhere he's gone. But this is, there's a lot of pressure on them, Patrick, right? Because McDermott kept getting them close. And that coup that happens there with the GM still saying McDermott is out, Brady is in, is it exciting and potentially great for the offense, for the team, for the coach? Yes. But if Joe Brady doesn't get them at least to the AFC championship game, it's going to be a failure. So I think they're going into the season without a lot of wiggle room. You know, it's kind of like the Eagles every year. It's like the people in Philadelphia always expect them in the Super Bowl or else they think they sink. You know, I think that's where Baltimore, where Buffalo is right now. So it just makes it tough. But yeah, New England-wise, they're an interesting team. Their defense is good. They will be in comp in, they will be in the mix. But I agree with you. I think that them getting back to where they want to get to. Last year, kind of everything broke right for them. It's going to be tougher this year, even with AJ Brown.

Big Daddy, what do you say about my Jets number one? And am I missing anything? Am I missing anything for Pat? Because we got him for a couple more minutes, and he's got to roll because he's got to get ready for week one. But what am I what am I missing here? And do you think the Jets can actually win, as he said, you know, five, six games this year?

I actually do think they can win. I I was over at practice during camp, and you know, there's a different demeanor, there's a different attitude. And I guess that's where like uh DiMario Davis, he will probably keep that. He I I know he will keep everyone in line over there because that guy's a winner, man. That guy is uh he's a tackling machine and he's got the attitude. And I remember Rex Ryan saying how great he loved him. Like he is what a defensive player should be. Aaron Glenn, I am cheering for him. Very, very as hard as anyone could cheer for a head coach. Obviously, I'm a little biased, and we all know why, but I think they could win more than five, six games, and they'll take it to a different level. Yeah, I really feel that they can. And they can win at least two because they have the dolphins on their subject.

That's a good point. Yeah. Which before we let you go, Pat, we so appreciate you coming on, and we hope we hope we get you more often during the season. What team has the most pressure on them? You know, there's a lot of new coaches out there. You know, I might say Buffalo because of what you just said. I I agree with you there. But which franchise, just generally, would you say has the most pressure on them going into this season?

Ooh, that's a that's a really good question. I would I would say the Cowboys and Eagles and the NFC East are both teams with a ton of pressure on them because they have a lot of talent. In Philadelphia, despite Jalen Hurts winning a Super Bowl and being to two, there's still conversation about are they going to look to replace him if he doesn't get it done this year? Obviously, they fire their offensive coordinator. In Dallas, Jerry Jones and the Cowboys, right? They're always talking that big game. If really, if it's ever going to happen, it's going to be this year. I would put them in the mix. One team I would say that we haven't discussed yet that also is in this kind of like top five pressure or so, I think is the Chargers. The reason I say that is because they're the they're like the Starlings, they always kind of get a lot of good press and a lot of love, even in that division where the Chiefs have dominated. But it's time for Justin Herbert to put it together. There's no excuses now. You got Jim Harbaugh as head coach. You have Mike McDaniel coming from Miami, who is a better offensive coordinator than he is a head coach now calling the plays. And everyone talks about CJ Strapp falling on his face for the Texans, but no one talks about the fact that every time Herbert gets to the playoffs, he turns into a pumpkin. I'm looking at a guy who is literally a top five physical talent at the most important position in the sport, but can't get it done. And I think the bloom is going to be off the rows in LA if Herbert doesn't get it done. But you know, to bring it back full circle, Patrick, you were right early on when you said I didn't hear you mention the Rams. Let's face it, the Rams won the last time they had a home Super Bowl. I was there, and you know, the the Super Bowl back at SoFi Stadium with Miles Garrett and Aaron Donald now unretiring to join them, Matthew Stafford reigning MVP. I guess the answer has to be, or include at least, the LA Rams, right?

Well, uh Pat Pat Leonard. You just sealed your deal, uh, you'll never be on the show again because Lauren pleads uh Oregon and Justin Herbert's guy. But I'm kidding. But yeah, yeah, he grew up with his mom. Yeah, we got to meet, it was really cool. But uh, you know, you're you're right, because I mean it's the Rams are stacked, and then to have that, you know, in the mindset, the back of your mind, that hey, if we win these games, we win the playoffs, we're not going anywhere. We're gonna be in our same locker room, we're gonna be the same city, and it's and we're gonna do it in front of our people.

Right, you know, well, Pat uh Leonard, I don't know about just Justin Herbert not getting it done, but you're you got it done, okay? And you got it done for us, and we appreciate it, and we thank you for taking the time. We'll be back with you shortly. We hope we get you back on again. Enjoy week one, my friend. And uh, you know, there's a little tennis tournament going on now, Pat. Are you aware of that?

I am. I've been out there, I've gotten, I've had the chance to cover it as, you know, the fifth sidebar guy for the daily news before, and it's it's one of the best events every year. I mean, the U.S. Open is one of the best events every year. I don't have to tell you, right, Patrick.

Pretty much living there. Well, we thank you for coming on. Enjoying.

Yeah, last one thing. Uh tell everybody tell everybody where they can see you and find you and all that.

You know, it's important. Oh, thanks. Yeah. Yeah. So obviously the New York Daily News website, print newspaper, wherever you get it. But also I have the Talking Ball with Pat Leonard podcast. So we do live chats. I'll do live chat tonight. You know, it's twice a week, basically, 9 p.m. Eastern. We do post-game live chats after every Giants game from the press box. So I come out of the locker room and go live and tell everybody what I heard, saw, whether it's locker room interviews on the field, talking to sources right after the game and spinning it forward. And then we have guest interviews. You know, Big Daddy's been on. Hope to have both of you guys on this season. Uh, this week we have an interview with NFL defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, not with the team at the moment, but almost joined your Jets, Patrick, this offseason. So he's gonna help me weekly preview the games to come and break down some films. So that'll be fun.

Awesome, and we'll check you out. Sounds like you'll you'll be a busy man the next couple months. And we again we appreciate you coming on with us.

Thanks, Pat. Thank you so much for having me, guys. Take care.

Pat Leonard, everyone on Mac Daddy. Remember, presented by our friends at Volition, sponsored by Dos Ombres. Big Daddy's got the hat on. We got the fire department coffee. I need to get another cup right now. I'm getting low over here. All right. Time to switch to a little tennis now. And let's welcome in our next guest from down there. And well, you're not in Houston at the moment. It's Joel Hoffman. He's got his own tennis academy. Apparently, played with my big brother back in the day. Got some stories he could tell about that, that he maybe thinks would be not appropriate. No, it actually would be appropriate, Joel, because this is what Mac Daddy is all about. We're about telling stuff that we would never tell anywhere else. Because, you know, that's what we do here. Joel, welcome to the program. Give us a little background for the fans out there about what you do in the world of tennis.

Well, I, you know, I appreciate it, Patrick. I uh, you know, I was a uh young kid growing up in Topeka, Kansas, and playing in the Missouri Valley. I got to play on the national level with John many times. I actually played your brother three different times, let him win each time because he complained so much. But uh he, you know, it was a great chance to play on the national scene with you know all the all the great players of that day. And uh Van Winitzki, Elliot Teltscher, your brother, Larry Gottfried. And, you know, interesting. I mean, I think about some of the stories that uh, you know, that I could tell, but probably one of them that is my favorite is and something you could certainly relate to. In 1977, I was invited to try out for what was at that time called the Junior Davis Cup uh tryouts. And I was fortunate enough as an 18-year-old, I was in the top 20 players in the country, and and they invited all the 16-year-olds and and all of the 18-year-olds. But at that time, you know, the only player that was in the top group that didn't show up was your brother, John. And uh he at that time, you know, we were sitting around, we were down in Texas at a club, and and we said, well, where's where's John? And it turns out, you know, he was now going to tour on in Europe. And so we thought, well, this is very interesting. We're following along. And uh, next thing you know, you know, John wins the uh the French show from Mixed Doubles with Mary Carrillo. And right, right. We're all like, well, that's that's pretty cool, you know. And then you know, a couple weeks later he shows up at Wimbledon and he actually set you know a uh a record for the most matches played at that time at Wimbledon. He he he qualified, won three matches, then made the semifinals, won the first set against Jimmy Connors, and he ultimately ended up losing to Connors. But you know, we looked at each other and said, you know what? Mackino just went to another level. He just made the quantum leap. And he was only 17 at the time, which means I think his record is is you know greater than some of those that have achieved it since then. But eight matches won is a 17-year-old at Wimbledon. Remarkable. But that was when, you know, the the the quantum leap is what I'm hoping some of our players today are are trying to make. I mean, learner TN, I I I keep watching him. I'm I'm I'm a big fan of of Taylor Fritz, been watching him and supporting him, Ben Shelton, you know, waiting for them to make that that that move. And you know, it's it's all about confidence. And, you know, you know, the difference between you know one tennis player and another is is is 90% of it is is mental and only 10% really physical at this level. Not to say that you can't yet you don't have to have a great all-around game, uh, which you do. And that holds some people back. But uh, in any case, I thought I'd share that story about John, because that that's what I'm hoping the players today can make, because we've got quite a group of guys that are still in the open. And unfortunately, Taylor Fritz went down, but you know, we've got you know, we've got a guaranteed slot in the semis between Tiafo and uh Mickelson.

Tiafo and Mickelson, yeah. No, you make it that's a first of all, love the story. And you know, I could go on, I could go on forever about that that that that run he had. And Mary Corilla just got inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame alongside Roger Fetter. So of course we grew up with her in in Queens, where we where we all live, would learn how to play tennis. So she told the story about uh the mixed doubles. But she I'll I'll tell you this when you know John went over there to play qualies of he was supposed to play all the junior tournaments, and he and he ended up playing the quallies of the French, just on kind of a lark, and he qualified at the French, actually won his first round and lost to Phil Dent, who was a very good player from Australia in five sets in the second round. And then because he would he had gotten into the main draw, he wasn't able to play the next junior tournament. So that's when Mary said to him, she said, Hey Junior, you know, because you everybody called him junior. Yeah, and she said, Uh, why don't we play the mixed doubles? So John looked at the the he says uh she showed him the entry list, and he looked at the entry list and he goes, Ah, we should win this. And that's exactly what they did. They they won it. Anyway, here's here's the I'll tell you what you you mentioned some players back in the day. And I'm gonna tie this into what I saw last night, okay. Ben Shelton absolutely destroyed Stefano Tsitzabass. So you know with that loss to Sitzzipass, what that means? What that what what streak has been snapped? Do you know what streak has been snapped, Joel? You should know this because you're a tennis guy, you're a tennis peak. Well were you listening to you watching the match last night?

I I last night I went I had to do what my wife wanted me to do, which is most important, but no, I didn't get a chance to watch it. But I I follow it on the app all day long. So help me out.

I'm gonna cut, I'm gonna cut to it because here's what happened. Stefano Sittipass was doing this all day, right? Trying to handle the heavy heat to the one-handed backhand. There's never been a year in the history of men's tennis, the history, not the open year, going back to the late 1800s, that a player with a one-handed backhand has not been in at least a semifinal of a major every single year that just came to an end last night.

Well, I'm a good one.

No one handed it back because don't be embarrassed, but I mean it, you know, I said I said yeah, I said to Andy Roddick, who I called the match with, who, by the way, I think is doing a fantastic job for us at ESPN. Uh, we called the match, and of course, he's got the experience of being out there on that stage of having the monster serve like Ben Shelton has, and the last American man to win a major title. It was the only one he won. It was at the U.S. Open 2003. So all of us tennis fans are hoping that what happened, what you just talked about, happens to whether it's Francis Tiafa, I'd love to see him win one, whether it's Ben Shelton. I predicted, Big Daddy, you know this because I did it last week on the show, that Ben Shelton's gonna win the tournament. Now, I'm looking like a freaking genius after the way he played last night. But guess who's up next for Mr. Ben Shelton? And this is when, yeah, this is when you find out, Joel. You find out if you're going from being a dangerous contender to being elite because King Carlos is back, Big Dad. Can you imagine, Big Dad? You know this from imagine not playing any football at all, no games, and it's like coming in to the playoffs in the NFL of let's say that you're the quarterback and throwing for 450 yards, four TDs, no interceptions, you know, 22 for 25. Like, could that happen in football? That just that's what's happened at the U.S. Open with Alcaraz. He hasn't missed a beat. Looks unbelievable. Do you think Shelton, Big Daddy, with your tennis knowledge, has any chance to beat Alcaraz and then get to the semifinals and maybe take another step or two?

I do think he can win. I'm obviously writing your I'm writing your coattails on, you know, you're you're my tennis. You and Lauren are both my tennis tutors and teachers, but I'm finding myself watching it more and more now on TV. So yes, I do think he can win.

All right. What about you, Joel? Give it to me. Break this one down for me.

I again, I think it comes down to you know that just that level of confidence. And, you know, going against Alcaraz, he's gonna have to have it. He certainly has all the all the tools. He gets better every single month that he plays. So, you know, I think if he can take out Alcaraz, I think that, you know, I agree with the guys, he's got a really, really good shot at it.

I'm glad you mentioned Lerner Tien. Okay, not a lot of people outside us in the tennis world know about him. He is fantastic to watch, left-hander, a little bit of old school. He's got great timing, takes the ball early, uh, doesn't have a massive serve. It was a huge win for him in the last round against Jakob Menchik, who does have a huge serve and is a big time, you know, one of the big time up-and-coming players. He's playing Karen Hatchinoff today, who's underrated. I mean, this guy hits the ball big off both wings. Great competitor. I'm a little concerned just physically for TN because he had such a tough match in the last round. It went into late, so he didn't get to bed until early morning hours, I'm sure. Now he's back on. It's a late afternoon match today against Hachinoff, but he's a guy, Joel, that I think can get to the top. If he gets a little bit more firepower on the serve, you know, physically, I think he can even get a little bit stronger. Michael Chang, who also won a major, right? Remember, he won the French Open. He's been working with Lerner for the last year or so. And he's taken his physicality and his professionalism, I think, to another level. But what do you love? You you mentioned him in your first comment. What do you love about watching Learner Tian play tennis?

Well, you know, it's it's just, I love to see the the youth. It's so exciting to see, you know, these young legs uh be able to do what they're able to do and his just his style of play. I, you know, you took the words out of my mouth, uh, Michael Chang, who who broke a little bit of a drought with uh majors back in his day. Hopefully he can instill uh that that confidence that's needed for Lerner to uh to move on. And and I think he can get to the next round. Let's see, yeah, I'd love to see him play uh uh Sverv, you know, in the semis at some point.

Yeah, Zvera Zvera playing again in the late match tonight under the light. So he's taking on Dardare, the Italian. I think he'll get through that pretty comfortably. You're there, you you're you know, you're out there in the trenches, Joel, you know, with kids and with uh you know, teaching tennis. What what you know I get I get asked this question all the time. So I have my own opinions on it about how come no American male has won a major, you know, that kind of thing. I mean, I know we've had the era of the big three, and now you've got Alcaraz Sinner, who's been amazing. But do you what have you seen over your years? And what would you if I if I was still running player development like I did for many years at the USGA, what would you say to me if I was still in that position that you're not getting done?

Well, you know, that's a that's a loaded question because, you know, coming through you know the 80s, you know, I had a chance to get into coaching some really, really good tennis players. You might remember John Boyden was one of them. Sure. You know, the the over time, you know, what I recognized was the need to get more more kids involved. And we we started a program years ago called Houston Tennis Buddies, and it was originally uh tennis buddies was started out of California by a guy named Jim Brown, and a fantastic program of getting kids introduced to the game uh in an affordable way because tennis, even today, is still, you know, there are restrictions, I think, financially for people to get involved. And so, you know, in the US, that that's still, you know, you're really footing the bill. It can be very expensive to get around to, you know, all the tournaments, especially if you start playing at the national level. You know, so I think, you know, that what I've always found interesting in the United States is is we are really basically self-funded. I know you've been very involved in the USTA and and taking on those really talented players and moving them along. But, you know, I think that part of that is the challenge. I think there's also a lot of other sports that that attract kids. Right. You know, and and I'm not saying that the players they're playing aren't great athletes, but the I I do think it gets diluted. I think there's opportunities now, you know, tennis has obviously expanded globally beyond, you know, back in the 70s and 80s, you know, where it was dominated by Australia, the United States, or the UK. You know, now it's it's much more a global sport with great athletes getting involved and great programs internationally that are that are promoted. So, you know, I I do think that you know there's there's lots of opportunities still for American players. You know, I know I I think I know your position on on college tennis. Um college tennis could be good. I think a lot of our players, I think it's diluted also. International players get to play a lot in the collegiate arena in the men's sport. And I don't know whether or not we're missing some players that we that we normally would see. But, you know, I I just think that that the whole world view of tennis has changed. And I think there's a lot of competition out there for all of our.

You know, and and in most in most European countries, tennis is sort of a, you know, it's obviously more popular, number one, but it's just it's a little more part of like the social fabric, like the club system in France and in Spain. And so to your point, you could, you know, you you see a lot more kids that enter the game at an early age, and it's just sort of it's not as expensive, right? It's you know, you just you're a local club, you either play soccer or you play tennis. I mean, nobody, you know, I mean, Big Daddy you know knows this about football, right? Everybody gets you gets a chance to play football, American football, but the real football, football, is played everywhere. And and tennis in some respects also, when you go to those countries, it's like, you know, you don't have to, and and you can also get around Europe a lot easier. You can take a train, you can get more tournaments. And you mentioned even playing national tournaments now. Most of our kids at our tennis academy, the John Macron Tennis Academy, which I oversee, right? But we have a scholarship program specifically for what you're talking about, Joel, so that we can fund kids to play, you know, first of all, just to come to our academy, because it's expensive just to come if you're if you're paying full price. So we raise money just to help those kids. And then when they start traveling, they start traveling like international tournaments, this whole ITF circuit. So it's it's it's very complicated, it's very difficult. But I think, you know, the bottom line is we still have the most players of any country in the top hundred, male and female. It's just trying to get that one over the line to win a major. And I think, I think it could happen here. I gotta admit, the way Alcaraz looked at yesterday over Tommy Paul, you know, he looked like he was back at his highest level. But I still think that he's gonna have one match, Joel, one match where he's not at quite at his best because he hasn't played. He gets into a tight match, and I think this could be the one with Ben Shelton, who said in his on court interview last night, it was great with the crowd. Crowd was loving him. He thinks 150 may be coming because he had a serve last night at 147. Even Andy Roddick had to get up and pay attention to that. So I think he's got a chance, Big Ben. I love his attitude. I love his dad, who I played junior tennis with, his dad, Brian Shelton and I. Um he's a great guy, level-headed. You know, a lot of times a parent player relationship gets you know complicated, as we saw with Sitsipass, and we've seen with a lot of the female players, but they've got a great relationship where Ben's kind of doing his own thing. His dad's there as his coach, and his but and also as his dad, and I think that's working very well for them. Give me the percentage chance you give big Ben Shelton to upset Carlos Alcarez, and what does he have to do well, other than serve bombs?

Well, I can, you know, I look I looked up the odds on on American winning the the US Open, and I think that uh the odds came in for Ben between 10 and 15 percent. So I would say this if he can beat Alcaraz, you know, I'll I'll up that to at least 50 to 60 percent because I think he's got the tools to do it.

Well, you know?

Yeah, Zwerov, yeah. Zwerov? Kerov after Alcarov, right? Or is that 50-50.

Uh it's okay. I I I I gotta support the American here. I you know you gotta give him, you gotta send uh good vibrations there to help him get through this because uh we want to see an American be able to do it. You know, Patrick, you know, what's interesting too, part I think that you were very involved in was the development of the uh the red and the green and the yellow balls, the soft, you know, and how that because in America, you know, we you know we uh grew up on these hardcords, and so it can be a it can take years for a good groundstroker at 12 or 14 years old to really develop.

Yeah, I I thought that was genius, you know, to be able to I'm I'm I'm glad you said that because I I I took a lot of heat, you know, when that happened. I remember going around to different sections in Southern California, and people were just just berating me and the USA in general for doing this. Don't tell us how to do this. We know what Pete Sampras never played with a red ball or an orange ball, and now you can't go to a tennis facility in the country and not see the you know, we call this short court tennis, the balls, the rackets, and and they've been doing that in Europe forever. So I'm glad that you know I I took some bullets for that to happen, but I gladly took them, and uh, and I'm glad to see it's it's it's helping with a lot of tennis programs around the country.

For old people like me, they they call it pickleball now.

Yeah, they call it pickleball, exactly.

That was on honestly, you did take a lot of shit for that, and it was unfair. And you look at the French. No, I'm seriously though. I mean, you you're you will you travel the world, you saw what they were doing in France and Spain. That was the the methodology, and look at how much more success that. It's France and Spain that have. So again, it the proof is in the pudding, right?

You got that right, my friend. Joel, we appreciate you having you on, man. Great to see you. Keep doing what you're doing. And we'll get you back on here after we get an American to win a major. So it could be later this week. You never know.

Well, yeah, I'd also like to get a shout out to my son Christopher. He's actually taken over the Tennis Academy now. Oh, nice. Yeah. He and his wife, he and his wife, you know, do a fabulous job. I mean, it's it's carried on all the way from the 80s. So hopefully, uh we'll produce somebody that will help you out.

Well, well, hopefully, hopefully I get to come down there to A Town and visit sometime. So, Joel Hoffman, we appreciate you joining us. Thank you guys on Mac Daddy. All right, Lauren. Um I got an interesting match today, actually, coming up. I'm doing, and my brother was funny when he's we got the ESPN schedule. You know, they email it to us. He goes, I he goes, Pat, you see, we got the the the big one. He he rolled his eyes. Surundalo against Blocks. Mac and Row brothers will be calling that. I mean, I'm pumped up because you know me. I love I love covering any match, and I love this guy, Blocks, big guy from Belgium who beat Kaboli in the last round. But it's not exactly like the big name match, you know what I'm saying? And that they put it on Arthur Ash Stadium today. It's on the big house. And I was surprised because I thought, well, Lerner Tien, you know, the American upcoming taking on Hatchinoff, who's a more familiar name. I thought maybe that one would be. They put that on Armstrong. Maybe that was a request from Lerner Tien and Michael Chang because, you know, those Americans like Francis Tiafo loves playing on Armstrong because you get the vibe of the crowd. He he had a great line yesterday. He called it the People's Court. He goes, because there's no sweets, you know, people are focused or concentrating on the match. And he just lit it up yesterday in his straight set win over Medvedev. Huge win for Tiafo. So Tien will be out there on Armstrong playing Hatchinoff. You've got Osaka against Robakino. That's a hell of a match on the women's side. Talk about two big hitters. And then, you know, maybe Lauren, I know you were, I was texting you during the match. Maybe the most fun I've had thus far at the open calling a match was Eva Jovich against Alexandra Iala the other night under the lights. Unbelievable the way these two went at it. Slate of bill, both of them, but both going after their shots. And you know what I loved about it, Lauren, more than anything? You know, because you know me so well. You know what I loved about it? No bitching, no moaning, no complaining, no yelling at their box. You know, why didn't you tell me this? Just two young women utterly focused on hitting the going for broke consistently. Of course, there were tons of double faults, both of their second serves were getting eaten up, but they never ever showed any negativity. And I was like, what a breath of fresh air to watch these two young women go at it and play that type of match. And now Jovic gets to take on Coco Golf. That's the big match uh tonight, the first match on Arthur S Stadium. What do you think about that?

Well, I I'm glad you brought that up because I was very impressed with Jovich. And and I because I kind of can't came into that match thinking I was half Filipino. I was so excited, I was so caught up on the hype. The match was fabulous. They took everything out on the ball. You guys were great. You and Mary Joe had a blast. And in terms of Coco, I think she might be in trouble. I think Jovic, I think Jovic could take Coco, actually.

What say you? You know, yeah, I'm leaning towards Coco in this one because I I love the way she's been playing. Her serve has looked much more solid. She's got incredible speed. You know, that uh Jovich is quick too. But I think where Coco has the edge in this one, and she's she defends a little bit better. Jovic, you know, she likes to play offense as often as she can. Coco can not only play offense with her big game, best, probably the best backhand in women's tennis, but she can also defend the court. You know, Iala was not able to defend as well, and and Coco is so good with in the movement department. I and I think that that's gonna be the difference. Uh, I also think Jovic probably I would expect to be a little bit tired because I mean she's young and she's fit. It was a three-hour plus match the other night. But so I'm I'm leaning Coco. I'm still sticking with my pick of Iga Sviantek, who I pick I picked to win it. I'm not gonna say I'm back. Yeah, yeah, she played Shang first up. That's her first match on Arthur Ash, 11:30 a.m. start on ESPN. So I'll be heading out there shortly because I always get nervous, you know, Lauren, if I don't show up, like when the match before me is is is starting. You know, so I always get the text. Hey, P Mac, you know, you close? I'm like, don't worry, you know, I've been doing this for 30 years. I know what time to get there. I'll be fine, I'll be ready, I'll be pumped. I gotta do my Mac Daddy show. I gotta get this in. We got a huge week coming up here, Lauren. We've got Brian Cranston episode dropping Wednesday. One of the most fun interviews that we did was talking to him at the Hunt and Fish Club, the restaurant there in Midtown. Our buddy set us up there, big time Nelson, love him, and Brian Cranston. I mean, that talk about an easy interview. Like, you know, it was just like, here's the mic, Brian, go. Right? And the and the guy just tells these stories. I mean, what do you what did you most like about the interview? Because we did it uh recently, and it's gonna drop on Wednesday on all of our MacDaddy platforms.

Outside of the tequila, which he was very generous with. I know you enjoyed. Yes. I I like the story of how he came up with Moonshot Productions. I think he were with his people, and they themselves were kind of they didn't never heard the story before. So they they were actually interested in what you were able to get out of him. You you did several things that were unique in interviews that you kind of can't Google about the guy. You asked him what, and my favorite part probably was when you asked what sports fans or what sports his famous characters would be. Yeah, that was great. And that was just great TV. So I again, you're the best in the business at getting this stuff out of people, and he was a very, to your point, a very easy subject.

Well, you're the best in the business about making all this happen. You just, you know, spearheading us here. I'm assuming big daddy. It's actually Andy who Andy's making, yeah, our our our technical producer making shit happen. He's got to go to his real job. I get to go to my other job, you got to go to your job. Big Daddy, where'd he go?

I guess I guess he went to he's hanging out with your buddy Chris Cuomo. He's on his way to the Hamptons to hang out with Chris Cuomo. Excusez-moi. I didn't want to, I didn't want to say it, but I had to because he disappeared. He's a busy man.

Well, maybe we'll get maybe we'll get Chris on. He's a he's a friend of mine. His wife, actually, very good friends with my wife. So that's how I met him. Oh, he's amazing anyway what he does on his show. Maybe we'll maybe he'll maybe he'll you know come on the Mac Daddy show at some point. Who knows? Because we got pretty much I by the way, I'm telling you this seriously, Lauren. I got so many people coming up to me around in the grounds of the open, saying, Hey, this new show you got looks unbelievable. Oh man, I'm seeing it on social media. Man, uh it's amazing. So, what you're doing, what we're doing, and what Andy's doing, our whole team is freaking working, okay? And I am so fired up. We're gonna take this to another level. This is Mac Daddy. We thank again volition, our presenting sponsor. We thank Dos Ombres, we thank Fire Department Coffee for believing in us when we were just an idea. Okay, we were just an idea. We hadn't done Jack, and now we're much more than an idea. We're Mac Daddy, and we'll be back with you Wednesday, Brian Cranston, right here. Check it out.

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