From the Desk of MutStack Owner Dave Portnoy
I had emergency dental surgery and was under anesthesia when I renewed Mut. Not sure the contract is binding
Mut - Holy shit. Feel better, Dave. Yikes. But also, still binding, I think.
So yeah. The text came from My Boss Dave a little bit before 10 AM on Thursday.
I had emailed him last week about my one-year contract expiring. In retrospect, it was pretty dumb to wait until a few days before to reach out. I talked about this on Kirk’s show Tuesday.
Honestly, writing this Thursday night, I couldn't have handled it worse. I knew Dave would be traveling. I had a month to email him and let him know that I love working for him and wanted to continue. I don’t know why I waited so long - more than any boss I ever had in almost 20 years of radio, he’s quick to respond to just about anything I’ve ever reached out about.
Before I had a chance to text him about it again, he reached out to me (under anesthesia, I guess) with a number and a renewal.
Done and done.
I love working for Dave and Barstool. And being a small part of KMS. And doing the Doubles Show with Elio and Turk. And blogging about the Red Sox and horse racing. And doing shows like Surviving. And trying to find the next great grey racehorse. And the big events.
A few years ago, I made a big mistake by staying loyal to Bomber Brad and Sportsbook Live. Kirk said I was dumb. Glenn Ordway (more on him below) said I was dumb. My brother said I was dumb. They were right. And I’m extremely lucky that Dave was open to some bullying from me, Kirk, and Whit last year on The Unnamed Show (RIP).
I thought it was a pretty good year. But I was watching Rone on his show this week, and he talked about doing some “vicious self-evaluation” of himself and his work at Barstool. I’m due for some of that too. That’s for a different day. Today is a day for MutStack - which will continue to grow and prosper in Year 2 of new ownership.
And a day for #thankyoudave. And #thankyoukirk. I’m aware of how lucky I am and the opportunity I have. And I’ll continue to try and not fuck it up.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox are annoying. The Big O is back. Week 2 NFL Picks. And very busy MutStack Notes, including an apology.
All ahead in Friday Four-Pack #189.
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Still free - like it has been since Day 1
On the Playoff-Bound Boston Red Sox…
For the last time, I promise. #healthmatters
On The Big O’s New Podcast…
I don’t know why Glenn is arguing with people online - this picture is clearly touched up. Either with AI, Canva, or something. Just admit it, Big O!
Yes, a year after coming on The MutStack Podcast and saying he was planning some sort of comeback. And years after saying that same thing on The Kirk Minihane Show, The Big O is back.
The first episode of his new podcast dropped Wednesday. Titled “Glenn and Pete,” it’s Glenn and his old flash guy, Pete Sheppard. I loved it.
We got a lot of old WEEI stories. Like this one.
When WEEI first fired Pete, Coach Bill Belichick was so mad he reached out to 98.5 The Sports Hub to get him on the Patriots’ pre- and postgame shows. Gary Tanguay hosted that show at the time and, as Pete tells it, Gary had a relative who was a sponsor, so the station balked. At one point, Pete said, “Go ask (former producer) Jimmy Stewart.”
Looks like Jimmy says it happened. Or at least the Belichick part.
Most of the first episode is Glenn and Pete talking about the old days, which was entertaining - and there is an audience for that. Is he planning on doing that five days a week? Because Big O mentions going 5x a week (he shouldn't feel like he has to do that) late in the episode. He also mentioned Pete as a weekly guest.
I talked to Glenn for a while on Thursday. He confirmed he is planning on building out to five days a week. He gave me some ideas of what it might look like, but he also asked me not to map out his whole plan for you, the MutStack reader. I’ve written this before and told him this, but no one was more supportive of my mid-day hiring at WEEI than Glenn, so I’ll let him map it out when he’s ready. He sounds great.
I think Pete will be heavily involved. Episode 2 features Lou Merloni and Christian Fauria (I have not listened yet), and I’m betting those two will be involved, too.
I should be viewing Glenn as real MutStack competition because he’s the only one who cares about Boston sports radio gossip MORE than I do!
He tweeted on Thursday night that Kirk has agreed to be a guest. Hopefully he tries to get Kirk and Gerry. And/or Dino and Gerry. He needs to have My Boss Dave on at some point. Hopefully he does not ask me to be a guest with Mike Adams b/c I would hate to say no to Big O.
There are a lot of Boston radio fans who read skim here every Friday looking for gossip. If you’re one of those people, you should be listening to The Big O’s new podcast.
On your Four-Pack of Week 2 NFL Picks…
Week 1 Results: 1-2
Season Results: 1-2
ATD Scorers: 0 for 1
Week 1 was shockingly high-scoring, right? Gambled on the Ravens new OC being bad (he’s not). And the defenses ruling the day in the NFC North (they didn’t). Prop was good, but Cade Otton could not find the box, but did get five targets.
We’re onto Week 2. Odds from DraftKings as of Friday morning - make sure you check for updated odds.
The Side
BRONCOS (-2.5) VS. JAGUARS (-118)
I don’t like either team. In fact, I actively dislike both teams. But while the Broncos were playing a good Chiefs team in Kansas City, the Jags beat up on the Browns. Shit, Cleveland is actively trying to tank. I’m not putting much stock in that win. The Broncos defense missed 28 (!!!) tackles against the Chiefs, allowing 247 yards after missed tackles, the most yards allowed by any defense in a game since at least 2018. Now they’re back home, and Sean Payton is probably going to call more plays. That’s a good thing. And I thought Denver was better before the season. Laying less than an FG? Yep.
The Total
COLTS AT CHIEFS UNDER 46.5 (-110)
How about that! Andy Reid just POUNDING the rock. The Chiefs had a 45% neutral pass rate in Week 1 - that would have been the lowest in all the NFL last season. Runnin’ Reid wants to chew clock and take the air out of the ball. On the other side, this Colts team has played slow under this coaching staff and lacks offensive playmakers to break a game open.
And then there’s this - per Action Network, the under is now 30-10 (75%) in Patrick Mahomes' last 40 home starts, best mark of any QB in the NFL since 2022. UNDER for me Sunday Night.
The Prop
Drake Maye Rushing Yards 30+ (+121)
I think Drake is going to be under pressure much of the game Sunday. The Steelers have a very good front and registered four sacks in week one. Shit, they had two strip sacks waived off thanks to penalties. He ran for 45 yards on just 7 carries last year against Pittsburgh. Might be a little wet but that’s okay.
The ATD
DEEBO SAMUEL +230
Seven targets, three in the Red Zone. Still a weapon back in San Fran.
On your weekly MutStack Notes…
⚾ Late Night Baseball Talk with Ed Hand, Hodgale, and me on Dirty Water - A Boston Sports Podcast. The Red Sox won, but does it really matter if Wilson Contreras and Aroldis Chapman are hurt? Playoff rotation, Jarren Duran, and a lot more. Watch and subscribe on YouTube - then go listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
🎙️ I thought a new football season might mean WEEI’s Ted Johnson would work Mondays and join the station's very important Patriots Monday programming, including an interview with Drake Maye. He has not done so since he started at the station - even though he’s labeled as the star of the show.
Well, Monday came, and no Ted. Sad.
BUT…he actually called into the show to explain that he has a TV show to tape on Mondays, and that’s why hes not in. Points for honesty, but it’s a wild move to call in and tell your radio audience that TV is more important than they are.
🏈 Credit to Gronk for taking the high road, but what a miss from the Patriots not to consult him at all before giving his #87 to Romeo Doubs. "I am not the one who makes the decisions," Gronkowski said with Kay Adams this week, before confirming, "I wasn't consulted at all, but I mean, I'm cool with it."
You can argue the team should retire his number altogether, but it’s tough to argue they should have given him a heads-up.
That looks ridiculous, right?
🎙️My friend Kirk will hate this, but his new Deep Dive series is very good. It’s just him in his studio, monologuing about stuff he cares about. Like Rocky. Or Michael J. Fox. Most impressive is that this guy hates new technology, but is apparently recording all of this by himself on Sundays. Minor miracle. He keeps asking people to subscribe, so I did, and you should, too.
🎙️ Since we’re here, as I said this morning on KMS, I messed up. I believe in the chain of command. I didn't follow it correctly re: the video edit. I apologized to Kirk on the show and off the air. And I’ll talk to Justin later. I feel like an asshole, and hopefully we can move past my mistake at some point.
🏇🏻 PA DERBY DAY! Back here in beautiful Bensalem, PA for Saturday’s Cotillion and PA Derby. This year we’re actually hosting a full simulcast show - you’ll be able to watch on the Parx Feed on DraftKings Racing and/or DK Horse. We start in Race 5 and go through the end of the 15-race (!!!) card. If you’re on track, come say hello. Full handicap of the big races tomorrow on the weekly Barstool Horse Racing Blog. Thanks to Dave for letting me make the trip and be a part of it.
🏈 Patriots Pick: I respect the Pittsburgh defense, but Mike McCarthy is still a moron. And the Pats should be able to make some plays downfield. Big bounce-back spot for Drake Maye here. Getting TreVeyon Henderson back will help. 24-13 Pats win.
🎙️Nantz and JJ Watt on the call for Pats/Steelers. Thought Watt was good last week.
🔒 So, yeah. I mentioned this on KMS, and people think I’m lying. When I stay at a hotel by myself, I put something in front of the door. Usually the ironing board. I know it doesn’t lock the door any more than it already is, but in my mind the loud sound of the board hitting the floor will wake me up and get me alert to fight off my intruder. Sometimes I’ll move a chair over there, too. I have done this for years, in hotels good and bad.
I’m a psycho; I’m aware. But I’m not a liar.
Yep. That feels like enough Stack for this week. Back tomorrow on the Barstool Blog to handicap the PA Derby card from Parx.
Thanks for reading. And watching.
Congrats Mut! As the one guy that listened to every episode of Mut & Merloni I'm happy for your success. Here's to the next extension!
Your commitment to safety is awesome and unique but if it's stupid and it works, it's not stupid, kind of hilarious. Cannot believe the Red Sox are in the post-season, I do however, kind of expect the to get bounced in the first round, unless people get healthy. Late on this mutstack, can't wait to read another one today. lol