Evan & Tiki

Did he NBA strike gold? Plus Steve Cohen addresses Mets fans and much more

Evan admits he watched more of the NBA All-Star Game than he has in two decades and, shockingly, he kind of loved it. The early start time actually made sense, the 12-minute “all crunch-time” games kept everyone locked in, and the effort level (hello, Wemby) was way higher than expected.

But the format still had flaws, especially the tired “old heads” in the final, and LeBron’s comments about USA vs. the World had the guys scratching their heads.

Then the conversation turns to the real post-All-Star headline: Adam Silver’s growing frustration with tanking. Evan and Tiki run through some of the most creative proposals being floated, including a tournament for the No. 1 pick, playoff incentives to make players care, and even the nuclear option, abolishing the draft entirely.

And on Presidents Day, the Mets take center stage too: Steve Cohen meets the media, talks expectations, admits his frustration with how long it’s been since 1986, and makes one thing crystal clear, as long as he owns the team, there will be no Mets captain. Plus, the guys react to Cohen’s “I feel what the fans feel” line and what it means for the current state of the franchise heading into spring training.

Conversation with Gemini

You said

podcast title and description for this segment: 00;00;00;00 - 00;00;07;02

Unknown

Steve Cohen made it very clear there will never be a captain of the New York Mets as long as he owns the team.

00;00;07;05 - 00;00;32;13

Unknown

And I said, hold that thought, because at 11:00, I want you to hear from both Lindor and Soto and maybe, maybe, maybe not. That comment from Cohen will make more sense, right? Because I listen to everything Lindor and Soto said over the weekend. And they sound very different. They are painting very, very different pictures right. So before I provide any more comment, let's hear from these guys.

00;00;32;19 - 00;00;56;08

Unknown

Let's start with Francisco Lindor, who was asked a very simple question. Hey, what's up with the locker room? Francisco? There's been questions this offseason about chemistry on the on the team and in the clubhouse. Can you address that as far as guys getting along and and pulling for each other? Yeah I mean we've always proved for each other, we always wanted what's best for each other.

00;00;56;10 - 00;01;15;23

Unknown

We all best friends that that's not how it works in the clubhouse. But we are friends. We're good teammates. We, care for each other. We love for each other. We love each other. And we want the best for each other, you know? And we have a lot of new faces here that, guys seemed like they're going to work hard and they're going to do whatever it takes to win.

00;01;15;24 - 00;01;33;18

Unknown

You know, to me, that's what it comes down to is all about winning. And everybody pulling in the same direction. So he gives us the typical not all best friends, but we're friends. Yeah. Oh good. What's his by the way any clubhouse or locker room. Yeah. You don't have to be best friends with everybody. But just you have to be able to get along and work together.

00;01;33;18 - 00;01;53;08

Unknown

And he makes clear that they did. Right. And so that there really doesn't appear to be any issues, according to Lindor about last year's locker room. Now, let's hear from one Soto first. Hey, one, what's your relationship like with Francisco Lindor? Because we heard so much about, hey, maybe those two don't get along. One how would you describe your relationship with Francisco Lindor?

00;01;53;10 - 00;02;16;06

Unknown

I think it's a great relationship. We talk all the time in the game and everything. We help each other very quick answer, but to the point and like, yeah, it's all great. So so far everything is good, right? This is where things get a little murky. Soto is now asked about the locker room. Carlos, when those ads describe the clubhouse last year is maybe getting a little bit too corporate at times.

00;02;16;08 - 00;02;39;24

Unknown

What was your perception of it? As in the past, we forget about it. We focus in 2026, focusing on 2026. How could you maybe prevent that from happening this time around? Have fun. Forget about all the drama and everything. Focus on the game and wins on ball games. Whoa. I mean, when you said forget about all the drama, right?

00;02;39;26 - 00;02;59;23

Unknown

Isn't he confirming talking about. He's confirming that was drama. Well, he's but not necessarily will endure. No, I think I agree with you. I think that's what people wanted and immediately think about. But I think it was other drama, in fact, not even drama with him. I think it was drama that he was witnessing. Yeah, I think it has nothing to do with Lindor, honestly, because think about this.

00;02;59;23 - 00;03;17;03

Unknown

Juan Soto gave you in those three answers, like pretty straightforwardness. There he is, though. Yeah, he's no beat around the bush. He's not going to fluff it up. He's going to tell you exactly what he thinks. So there were issues. I'm not going to talk about the drama that's in the past and let's just win games. Yet. When asked about Lindor, oh, it's all good.

00;03;17;05 - 00;0 ...

Hour 3 is all over the map in the best way.

First, the crew reacts to Brian Cashman making a brutal mistake while recapping last season, calling it the “ALCS” and setting off an argument about whether it is a harmless slip or proof the Yankees operate with zero urgency. Big Mac steps in with the defense, Evan and Sean push back, and the phones weigh in.

Then it turns to Barack Obama’s viral alien comments from a lightning round, why the follow-up never happened in the moment, and the clarification that came after.

And of course, Sean Morash brings Cinco de Luncho, drafting the Top 5 Non Big Four Sporting Events he would want to attend, including Daytona, the Kentucky Derby, the Waste Management Open, Japanese baseball, and an SEC rivalry game at No. 1.

The 4th and final hour of Evan & Tiki delivers pure sports talk chaos from major league rule debates to wild hypothetical arguments you won’t hear anywhere else. The guys discuss whether the MLB should experiment with neutral-site championship games like the World Series, and whether tanking has completely broken the NBA.

Would you give up an entire season of sports if it guaranteed your team a championship? Evan and Tiki dive into one of the ultimate fan hypotheticals, sparked by a debate on Carton & Roberts. From a Mets World Series to a Jets Super Bowl, the guys weigh the emotional payoff versus the pain of losing a full season, especially with a potential MLB lockout looming.

The conversation expands across New York sports loyalty, personal experience with championships, and just how far fans would go to taste that “sweet nectar” of victory. Would Yankees fans trade a season? Would Giants fans sacrifice football Sundays? And is a Brooklyn Nets title worth the NBA disappearing entirely?

Plus, callers weigh in on neutral-site World Series ideas, NBA tanking solutions, GOAT debates, aliens, movie snacks, and everything in between in a classic wide-ranging sports talk hour.

Did a former president just confirm aliens exist… or shut the door on the entire idea? A viral moment from Barack Obama’s appearance on the Brian Tyler Cohen podcast sparks a hilarious, heated, and surprisingly deep debate about extraterrestrial life, government secrets, and whether humanity is alone in the universe.

The guys break down Obama’s lightning-round comments, his follow-up clarification, and why the lack of a hard follow-up question drove them crazy. From physics and light-years to conspiracy theories, whistleblowers, and wormholes, the argument quickly spirals into one of the wildest non-sports discussions you’ll hear.

Plus, the conversation detours into presidential interviews, sports fandom connections, and a bizarre quest to book a former president on the show. Along the way, Nets fandom mysteries, Chicago sports ties, and listener calls only add more chaos.

If you enjoy off-the-rails debates, big “what if” questions, and classic sports-talk radio tangents, this segment delivers.v

It’s Cinco de Luncho time, and this week’s countdown is all about the biggest, wildest sporting events outside the traditional Big Four leagues. From global spectacles to rowdy American traditions, the guys draft their ultimate bucket list of must-attend events where the party can be just as legendary as the competition.

Would you travel across the world for Japanese baseball’s electric atmosphere? Brave the chaos of the Waste Management Open? Experience the speed and spectacle of the Daytona 500? Dress to the nines for the Kentucky Derby? Or is nothing topping the pure insanity of an SEC football rivalry on campus?

Along the way, the conversation veers into what really makes these events special, cultural immersion vs pure party energy, and which experiences are actually worth the trip.

Brian Cashman set off a firestorm after a stunning press conference blunder, appearing to misremember how the Yankees’ season actually ended. Did the GM really think they reached the ALCS, or was it just a harmless slip of the tongue? Evan and Tiki debate whether this mistake exposes a deeper problem inside the organization: complacency, revisionist history, and a lack of urgency despite falling short of championship expectations.

Plus, the guys loop in Chris “Big Mac” McMonagle for a rapid-fire verdict, compare the controversy to similar front-office comments across sports, and open the phones to frustrated fans weighing in on accountability, leadership, and what this says about the Yankees’ direction heading into the new season.

Is this outrage justified or classic overreaction in the Bronx?

Evan and Tiki kick off the segment discussing the rules of "wearing the L" when a host or listener gets something wrong, and the confusion caused by the rewind feature on the Audacy app. Then, the guys debate a caller’s theory that Juan Soto chose the Mets because the clubhouse looked "fun," with Evan arguing that money and the farm system were the only real factors. Later, the conversation shifts to fixing tanking in pro sports. Evan proposes a unique "Frozen Lottery" solution: giving all non-playoff teams equal odds for the top pick, with the catch that the pick and the player selected cannot be traded for a full year. Callers weigh in with their own ideas, including "Internal Affairs" investigations and overtime rule changes.