Live from Lake Tahoe

different episode of Off the Beat. But as always, I'm your steadfast host Brian Baumgartner. Today is very exciting for me, everybody. I am here. I've always wanted to say this. I'm coming to you live from Lake Tahoe, Nevada slash California, right on the border there. I am here at Edgewood Country Club, home of the American Century Championship. That's right, thirty three years this event has been going on. This is my fifteen consecutive year participating in the American Century

Championship here in Lake Tahoe. And as I've told many people, this is my favorite week of the year. And it is also my most difficult week of the year. I'm going to talk to you a little bit about that later. The people out here, the celebrities we have, some of them have become great friends, my favorite people in the world really to play golf with and to hang out with.

As most of you know, I'm a big sports fan, and I would say of the guys are sports celebrities, legends, some might call them Hall of famers, all stars in their respective sports. We also have stars from music industry, music artists, and of course some actors as well. I thought it would be cool to talk to a few guys here. We are preparing for the pro am Day, which is always that phrase I have an issue with because I am not a pro Okay, I think celeb

am might be a little more accurate. But I we are here on on on pro am Day, so we're gonna play with some some great supporters of American Century in this tournament and the South Lake Tahoe area for charity. I'm so excited to be here. It's a beautiful day, seventy five degrees here on the lake in Lake Tahoe. This special episode I have partnered with Airbnb. Airbnb's air cover for hosts, gives you the confidence to host with top to bottom protection for free because guess what Airbnb

has my back? And on that note, I wanted to find out who had the backs of some of these actors and athletes as they rose to fame, what tour or who gave them the confidence to overcome difficult challenges that ultimately lead them to make it big. And also why they're here, why they come back to Lake Tahoe every year for this event. You know, as I said, it's my favorite week, but it's also the most difficult.

I've told this story many times, I've I've never told it on this podcast, And was asked about this the other day when I arrived, like why why do you do it? Why do you love golf? Why do you play in this tournament? And I be honest with you. I was a golfer, but not a passionate golfer, and I have moved to Los Angeles shortly before the office started. And you know, I've said many times I like charity,

Charity is important to me. I also like cocktails, but the like charity cocktail party thing this was not something that was for me right, and so I wanted to find a way an outlet really for charity, and so for me it became golf, and for me it was much more interesting and valuable to have a real connection with three four guys who I played golf with for four or five hours for a good cause outside as

opposed to you know, casual cocktail party type conversation. So that's really why I started to play golf and then became passionate about golf, as most of you know. And this event is so special because of the collection of people that they have here. The amount of money that American Century donates to cancer research is astounding. One of

my favorite events here happened last night. It is a mandatory players only meeting that takes place on the Wednesday night before the tournament, and they talk about rules and the CEO, Jonathan Thomas of American Century is there, and John Miller from NBC Sports is there and and talks to all of us. And in the middle of the meeting, Jonathan Thomas had already spoken introduced some special guests that

that they had. Jonathan Thomas came back up on stage and said to John Miller, I'm sorry I have to interrupt here for just a minute. And introduced a couple who were there as his special guests, who had during this meeting, donated one million dollars to cancer research through American Century Investments. It was such an amazingly powerful moment. I can't tell you. I'll tell you a couple of other stories that happened. That there are two people here

who have played in this event every single year. Jack Wagner, actor and Jim McMahon, quarterback of the Chicago Bears. They've played in every event. Jim McMahon has a broken foot and is on a wheel thing. He only can walk on one leg, yet he is here playing in this

event because of how much it means to him. Jack Wagner has had a very difficult year and it was an emotional moment last night when John Miller talked about the family that this has become, this event has become, and I feel it with the guys as I see them sometimes just once a year here, how special this place is and how special this event is. It means a lot to me. So I'm very happy that you have decided to join me here from the beach at Lake Tahoe for this very special episode of Off the Beat,

brought to you by Airbnb, Bubble and Squeak. I love Bubble and Squeak on Bubble and Squeaker cookie every month left over from the NAT before. All right, everybody, I am so happy to be joined by an amazing guy who I met for the first time last night his first year here. Adam Napier joins us. Adam, tell me a little bit about well, why why are you here? Why are you here? Playing in the American Century Championship. Right, So, I'm a part of Team forty three, which is President

Bush's group. He he does a bike ride and a golf tournament every year for wounded veterans post not eleven Wounded Veterans, And once you become a part of one of those events, you become of a part of a team Team forty three, and we go across the country and do different things. So how I ended up here though? Was I won his tournament? Uh this past Veterans Day it lost Cleanest Country Club in Dallas, and the winner of that gets once in a lifetime. My opportunity didn't

take part in this event. It's so incredible, you know, for the last I would say about ten years, there's always a veteran who is here and it means so much to all the guys. I was talking about the players only meeting that happened last night, And it's hard to explain as you you not being an athlete. You're in a room and you know, you would think about like when you're in school and you're like, you know, an assembly or something, except this assembly is some of

the greatest athletes that have ever played the game. As a sports fan myself, it's kind of an incredible thing to be just be in the room, right, It's incredible just to be in the room. And that doesn't even start into how the atmosphere in the room is. In being recognized in the room, I mean, it's just an incredible experience, Like it's now I'll remember till the day I die, and till lies about it until I die. Yeah, you know, it's uh, it really feels like a brotherhood.

You were immediately embraced and brought into that as all the veterans are who come in. And the moment Adam is talking about is that he was introduced by John Miller. All the first time players are always introduced by John Miller and they're recognized and when Adam was was introduced last night. Everyone in the room stood and and I find it a really emotional moment just being in the room with you, a person who has done so much for our country, and really what what this is about?

You know, I'm a actor on a television show and Jerry Rice catches footballs for a living, and you know, the idiot pittures just throw a ball, which seems really easy, but you know, what you, what you have done and what you've endured is truly incredible and is worthy of being recognized in that way. And it's just a really powerful, powerful moment in that room, everybody acknowledging you and your service.

It absolutely gave me chills last night. I mean it, yeah, I was glad they didn't find a baby picture of me,

but but uh, just unbelievable. And you know, and I want to take a moment to to thank all of you guys, and you know, the football players and baseball players, because you can be in the the middle of nowhere Afghanistan and Iraq, you know, and you have an hour a couple hours where you get to watch football game, a baseball game, have a movie night, and it doesn't matter where you are when you get together with a group of guys in in gals and and and have

a minute, it's like being home for a little bit, you know, just little things like that. You know, there's no telling how many times that we would bene watch The Office when we when we would have time, you know, um, the super Bowl games and just you know, anything that's a little bit of a break and makes it seem like you're back home. I mean it it it helps you get through right. So well, that's that's very emotional

for me, I tell you. You You know, I've said many times the greatest gift that this show, really The Office gave me was knowing that the show brings comfort and a sense of normalcy to people in their most difficult times. To talk about the Office of being a show that brings comfort. And you know, when I talked to either active military or veterans, or or people going through a difficult medical situation or family issue, that that show, you know,

has brought them something is amazing. And to hear from you that in Afghanistan and and that's bringing you just a little bit closer to home is an awesome, awesomely powerful thing. So thank you. So this is no, lie, I'm not making this up for this, but we have watched episodes of the Office in Afghanistan on our projector that we'd use for for meetings up against a rock, you know, we had a clear flat rock, and you know we would get back in and you know we'd

see stuff that you needed to laugh. You know, laugh. It's true. Laughter is the best best medicine. And so you know we may not have time to watch movie, you know, like, hey, you know, let let's watch The Office US or you know, whatever, anything to make a laugh. You know. Stepbrothers was another one that we watched, no

telling how many times. Napghans, but uh, it just it helps your soul, you know, it lightens the move it helps you remember it's not all bad, and you know, gives you something to look forward to getting back to too. That's awesome. All right. Well, first off, are you gonna be nervous this week? You're obviously an excellent golfer. I'll be I'll be a little nervous. Since seventeen I don't want to hit anybody. I think I'll be okay with I'll give you one when one exception, if I if

I somehow I played with Anica's Hornstown. That's that's gonna that's gonna get to me a little bit because I followed her since I was a little kid, you know, and being a golf fan, you know that would be that would be nervous. Yea ten time major winner, Uh, that's different. But I think I would have been nervous. But you know, you guys have been so accepting to us.

And I was lucky to Caddy in two thousand nineteen for the Warrior and y'all have just opened y'all's arms to us and made it such a relaxing experience and and made it feel like, you know, this is a once in a lifetime chance that you know, I want to play good, but if I don't, it's not gonna matter, you know. And that mentality helps you play better too. But you know, I'm glad to be here, and you know I want to do my best. But I've already

won for the week. Well that's that's amazing. What what gives you the confidence to go out there and make a run at winning this thing? So I've put a lot of work in getting ready for it. Luckily, the Warrior Open moved a little bit this year, because because of COVID and stuff, so I've I've had more time. Normally it's in you know, the May time frame, so it's a pretty quick turnaround coming here. So we played it in November, so it gave me time to prepare

and that helps. I got out here early, a little bit before it started getting crowded, right, And then I was lucky the first day that I thought I was playing in a program and I show up and I'm playing with Justin Timberlake and Adam Feeling, and and I'm just like, well, you know, if if I can play with these guys and I get nerves and I can

handle this weekend, that's awesome. Thank you so much for being here, Thanks for coming and talking to me, but mostly thank you for your service and your dedication and and what you've given not just me but but all of us listening. So thank you so much. Glad to be here. Thanks all right, cheers, What is up, Jerome man?

How are you? I'm good? The bus where you're joined here by Jerome bettis thirteen years in the National Football League for the Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl champion played into right, which is where you're from. That was a special, uh special thing for you. Hall of Famer from No tra Dame. I think that's how we say it. Um, it's so good to see you. Always great to see you. We've known each other now, I think it's been a long time. Uh tell me, why do you come to this event?

You know what? It's great because as an as an amateur golfer, it gives us an opportunity to actually feel as though we're professionals. Right. We're all terrible golfers, by the way, I will say that, But but you have

one weekend in which your competitive juices come out. You say to yourself, this is my opportunity, right, And you go out and you have an opportunity to compete, and you compete with guys that you know, Guys that you were fans of, guys that you're friends of, and so it's just a great mix of people that you get an opportunity to play with and get a chance to know fellowship with them all. But at the end of the day, you're competing, you're looking at that score. You're like, man,

I gotta get that. I gotta make a ball no double ball games, right, and I just gotta get a point. I got you. So you're very competitive with Yeah, I think I think we all are. I don't. I don't. I don't think it's competitive in a sense where I'm coming here, man, I gotta win, right, it's competitive saying I want to beat my score from last year. I want to I want to go out and play a

stress free, mistake free round. Uh, you know, I want to be the best version of myself I can be, right, And so that's that's kind of the competitive nature that you that you put on yourself. And then when obviously you you get paired up with some guys, you're like, oh, crap, here we go. Here we go. All right, guys get to talk and crap, You're like, all right, let's go.

So so, you know, it's one of those opportunities that you get very very rare to come out compete with yourself and with that with guys that you you know, and like, yeah, it's it's a crazy you know, thinking about last night and that meaning that had, you know that we had, and just the collection of people that are in that room, and you know, you've got Adam Napier, who gets introduced, the wounded warrior who's playing in the thing is like a powerful, powerful moment and then you

hear the amount of money like that, It's yes, right, it made a difference, made a difference, made a significant difference in this community that we're playing in. And it's one of those that it's it's commendable is to be commended and to know that that you're part of that, right, that you're using your collective celebrity to benefit others, right,

So that makes it a win win. Obviously you come out here and get a chance to play golf in a beautiful setting, beautiful course, but also you're doing a lot of good and that that makes it even that much more special to get on the plane to come out here and then know it's benefiting a lot more than just you playing golf. Yeah, do you go into shame spirals of self hatred for sure? For sure, because

what happens, it always happens. You hit that bad shot, shank or something you like, you go right in the tank. You could been playing well, I mean soon did you You're like, oh man, here it comes and everybody's watching. Yeah, and then don't hit the second one because now you want to quit, You want to throw the clubs and just absolutely walk off the course if you could. The problem is you got the shame walk. You gotta walk over there, you gotta drop it from the water, you

gotta do all the stuff. And then you said yourself, I don't leave this. I do have to tell you though. I played in the event in Greenville, South Carolina BMW, and I'm playing with a professional on the corn Ferry Tour. These guys are really good, really good. And one of them on our second hole that my partner made a nine on a part five. Now, this is a professional, which, as you discussed, we are not. So when happens, it happens.

But he had a two fifty yard walk of shame back to his ball, which I was like, my heart was breaking for him, knowing how it feels. Who who's the guy that you're looking at? Because right it's online live streaming. Who's the guy when you're done with the round? Who who are you looking at? First guy? Who's the first guy beside yourself? First guy? I'm looking at Larry. He talked so much smack to me, and we're really

good friends. I've known him since he was back in college at Pitt because I was playing with the Steelers and you know we were right there. So if there's one guy who who you know, we always are looking at the scoring so so sweet as soon as we see each other, uh huh rough day to day, you know he's so He's the first guy I look at every single time. Who has helped you the most to give you the confidence to be able to do this? That's brought you out here? That's a good question. Mm hmm.

You know what it hasn't really been. Yeah, I tell you who's really helped me. I brought in a Caddy from Shadow Creek in Las Vegas. Course amazing course we played many times, many times, and and he was always the young caddy was always a sense of comfort for me.

Right when I was playing there. He could kind of talk me off the ledge, so to speak, right, And so I said to myself, you know what I need to see if I can get him here, because I can get that same calmness, that same conversation, that same attitude, I can get him on the bag and it will really and it and it has. He's come the last couple of years and I felt much better in terms of my game. How I'm going out there with a

strat g and idea. So he's been he's been very beneficial to my confidence because I know I've got a guy. He's a really good player in his own right. So I got a guy who understands and knows kind of what I'm capable of and what I'm not capable. And that's the one thing, because the majority of times we wanted to try to hit the hero shot, no is right, and you take up that five percent, you can take it in half because now your body is tense and

it's tight, and you've got these people looking. You're like man, and and now all of I said, you got no chance, absolutely no chance to hit it. I'm just gonna hit this cut three would over the crowd to come back and its water on the left, and all right, cut it and I'll get it in there and let it drop right in of course, not how how many points? What are you looking at? How many points this week?

What's your best? What's your best finish? Here? My best finish I think was TIF That was a couple of years ago, uh, the COVID year, because I was tuned up, you know, that was all I was doing, was I didn't do much else, so I was in great form. And so that was that was that was number one. That was That was pretty good. How how many points is that? That's probably was? Yeah, that's probably a day. Yeah, I was. That's very good. I played very well. Now,

I will say this, I regressed last year. I think I was. I only finished with about almost fifty or maybe twenty. I think I was right right in the fifteen twenties something Ryan, it wasn't not very good. All right, Well, listen, I hope that it goes great for you this week. But more than that, it's great to see you have fun. We always have fun. But let's let's have fun and score up there. Let's put a score up there and kick Larry's ass. I'm going for him, all right, let's

get it all right? Thanks, thanks, thank you. I am joined here on off the beat by my old friend, good friend like legendary. Is that the right phrase? Come on, legend legendary sportscaster Jimmy Roberts joins us here. How many years have you been coming here? This is twenty two for me. You know, I almost died here one year literally yes, wait tell me, yes, I remember this. So this is about ten years ago, ten twelve years ago just doing the tournament, and uh, I didn't feel well.

And you know, those of us who travel for a living, you're used to being on the road not feeling well. You' deal with it somehow. I just felt different. So I ended up taking myself to the hospital. My appendix that exploded, That's right, my appendix that exploded. And then um, they did the surgery, took it out, and I was recovering and there was a complication and had to do another surgery. I was in the hospital here for two weeks here. Yeah, And I was lucky because the surgeon. It's a small

regional hospital. The surgeon was a guy who had spent his entire professional career as a combat surgeon. He's from in the Air Force, so he'd seen everything. He'd seen every kind of trauma, and he took such good care of me. But I mean, it was in my family. When you say like Tahoe, it has the best of connotations and the worst. So wow, that's that is amazing? What what what it makes this event special? People like you?

I mean, listen, when would I, no, seriously, when would I get to meet and hang out and make friends with people like you? When would our paths cross they wouldn't, you know, I mean they might and and I'd be curious to know what you think about this. But the thing that I think makes this event so special is that you you guys, people who compete in it, get to cross paths with people that you would never cross paths with. And everybody lets their hair down. There's no pretense.

Everybody's just you know, not necessarily thinking that they have to worry about very much. Everybody just hangs out together. It's a very casual vibe. I mean, I've always felt that way. It's the most relaxed broadcasting experience I will do all year, and I get to just you know, a lot of it is for many many years, I was out on seventeen, you know, doing the interviews and that was fun. And now I'm gonna booth calling golf and it's a totally different narrative. I just get to

be up there and talk about golf, you know. And you know, like I found out yesterday, I was talking to Justin Timberlake. And when do I get to say that just yesterday I was talking to Justin Timberlake. Anyway, I was talking to I was talking to Justin and he was, there's a commonality about it, like for all of us, what do we talk about? What's the first thing I said to you? How's your golf? How's your golfka, right,

we're all golfers, you know, for better for worse. And so justin it launches into her in there having a sandwich and hey, hey, doing what's happening? What he've been up there? Has your family? This? That? And he said, and how's your golf? And he says, well, yeah, you know, and I got this thing going on with my with my left side. And he starts telling me about how he his shoulder. Guess it's his left shoulder. He's double jointed, so it kind of pops in and out. Oh jeez.

And he says, here, check this out. He puts my hand on his shoulder. It's clicking in and out. Yeah. But anyway, and it's like, so that's all I said. Okay, well that'll end up on the air this weekend. But it's just it's listen, this is it's just fun. You know. I enjoy coming here because I just get to talk. Can I curse? Yeah, of course I get to talk shit. Yeah, you know, you know, I listen, I think you've actually touched on something that I haven't thought about quite in

this way. I mean, I would like to think and I do think it is true that there's just an amazing collection of really good guys and gals we're together, but that commonality that you just talked about, like there's also we're all working on the same thing, and there's no pretense, there's no there's no I'm better than you. I'm gonna you know, because we all suck. We're all just doing the rest weekend outside of Mark Maulder and Marty Fish and that's you know, Jack Wagner, we all suck.

It's just a degree to which we suck, you know, and that you know, we're all equally as consumed by the game befuddled by it. But you know, I also think there's a it feels like a sense of community here, you know, like you come here and whether you're a broadcaster or a participant, or you're justin timber Lake or you're somebody that could walk through the crowd and nobody would know, it doesn't matter. We're all here just part of this community and it's fun and it's it just

it just feels so good. You know, it really feels good. I could not agree more. I have said already today it's my favorite week of the year. It's also the most difficult week. It's a most listfficult thing that I do every year. Dude, listen, I don't know how you guys do this. I I this morning I was doing I'm doing a story for the weekend on the seventh hole.

You know, the seventeenth gets all the attention, but the seventh hole is becoming a little bit of you know, a ship show out there, and so we're going to do a story about the seventh hole. And so I'm out there and I go out there with a camera coon and this is golf, you know, so these people know who I It's not like I'm a celebrity or anything, but these people know who I am as Jimmy. Jimmy, Jimmy. You gotta hit a shot now. It's eight already in

the morning. You know, I'm not ready. I haven't loosened up, I haven't done anything. They shamed me into hitting a shot. Fortunately it wasn't awful, But then they shamed me into I just like subject to such peer pressure. They shamed me into shotgunning a a corona worse a smear novice. You know. Yeah, they tossed me one yesterday. It hit the ground and they just immediately got sprayed by me. That's that's how I That's how I roll. Can I ask you a question? Sure? Let me turn this around

because I figured you would. Well, I'm you know, it's what I do for a living. My wife says, I don't have conversations with people. I interview with them. Do you ever get tired of talking about the office? You know? Because I could see how you could. I will answer the question this way. I am so fascinated. But and I know you are an author and and and life

fascinates you as well. I truly became fascinated with what happened to our show afterward, like that that it became more popular after five six years when we had not filmed anything, and that the show exploded. That is a truly fascinating question with me that I think. I think even smarter people than me should try to explore why that is. But the journey that I've been on and trying to answer that question of why has truly brought

me joy. I think I think it's I think it's fascinating and that and that young people a show that wasn't being made for young people, you know, not just survives, but thrives this year later. And you know, we were a big show. You know, we were on NBC. And but you know, for me and for all of us, we weren't friends at the time. We weren't Seinfeld even you know, we were we were we were the NBC's number one show, but we weren't that, and now became that.

Plus that's that's the crazy thing. Yeah, And I've told you this before, and you know, many many times. I mean, I have my youngest son is eighteen years old, and at one point he became this probably five years ago, became so fascinated with the show that every day he he binged the whole thing three, three times through. And when he found out that I knew you, you know, I know, listen, I've met Muhammad Ali Michael Jordan's I mean, I could not have been elevated to higher status in

his life. I've been to the White House for dinner and I listen, none of that matters. Okay, What matters is that I you know, Kevin, Okay, so wait, can I I'm sorry to turn this around on you. But I have always been fascinated with the acting that you were able to do. When I first met you, I could not get it out of my head that you weren't that character because that character probably was so challenging to become, and it's so different from who you are.

He's different from who I am. But that's what I say. That's the thing that's crazy is that you know, it's like me trying to be a golfer, Like I mean, I did go to school for it, you know, I was, you know, but yes, thank you, thank you for what I will consider to be a compliment. It is all right, dude, I've hijacked your podcast. No, please, Jimmy, thank you so much. I'm yeah, I'm excited to spend some time and just

do me a favor. Just don't Dan Hicks be one, be kind to obviously give me some screen time, Dan Hicks, There a lot of people don't know this. The most famous wrestler in the history of the US. Actually I believe his name is Bruce bamb Gartner and everyone he calls me Bruce. Let's go to Bruce bamb Gartner five or whatever. Yes, he did and I've given him hell about that before. So just just just remember my name. Just remember my name, remember my name, number, my name.

Thanks Jimmy, always great to see you, all right, Cher Steve, Brian, thank you, Thanks Bud. Sure do I can with cream fucking made that song. It's incredible. All right, ladies and gentlemen, A very very special guest. He's promised me to come back for another episode and and really talk about his life and his career. But I am joined here by Well, you're like Beyonce, right, it's just one word. I guess it's to the miss. That's right, professional wrestler with the

w W E and and personality. I guess is that superstar superstar specifically superstar. I remember the first time I met you, which was a long time. I was wondering. So yesterday for those that were there was like a players meeting at the a C SEE and I saw Brian. I wasn't sure if you remembered me. I wanted you to know how much I love your podcast, how much I love Off the Beat. I loved all the office stuff. I think you're tremendous interviewer. Your voice and your transitions

are absolutely incredible. The dialogue. I love hearing acting and how people do their process. I just didn't really enjoy that. And so what you do and what you dissect you do such a phenomenal job, but I didn't. I didn't know. If you know where where do you? Where? Is your first recollection of where we met? My recollection, which I think I was accurate, is we were playing in a celebrity poker event and you had the wrestling belt over your shoulder and you really made me laugh and we

hung out there. I think it was a couple of days, or it was at least a really long day. It was a long day. That was it right now. I don't know if you'll remember this. Okay, lay do do you remember a club named lay Do? If I do remember we met there, I don't remember. It's okay, you don't. Because there were so many people and I was a huge office fan, and I was like, oh my god, Brian's here. So I came up, introduced myself. It was

very quick, and so you wouldn't. It's not something memorable, and I wasn't really I was off the real world. Maybe it challenges and I think I was just starting in w w A and so that's probably why. Well let me tell let me tell you something that this should make you feel better. I was, I was at I think it was a reconstructing it. I was at a bar in Los Angeles to watch Sunday football and

occasionally people come up and I take pictures. So years later, there's a photo that surfaces of of myself Brian bam Gardner, but Kevin Malone with me and post malone, and this this, this, this picture starts surfacing round and I see it if you're trying out pay any mine. And then my my niece sends it to me and says, oh my god, is this real? And I had on a black shirt

and I think he had on a white shirt. As my recollection, I'll post the picture again, but there's kind of a line it looks photoshopped, right, so it's like your post Malone Kevin post malone thing. I thought it was photoshopped. And then this it just keeps coming up. And it had been like a long time before, you know, since this picture it allegedly happened. So I finally do the easiest thing in the world and google Kevin Malone post Malone. The first thing that pops up his post

Malone's Twitter page. Now, I've not ever met him or talked to him, and he posted the photo, so it clearly was him and I at this place in Los Angeles that took a photo and I didn't remember that, and his name is post Malon. Well it's also, by the way, like before, iPhones were really popular and camophones are really popular. So we didn't We never got the picture. We didn't have a picture that picture to remember it by that. But yes we did do uh, we did gamble.

I'm not I think you beat me by the way I did because you were you were really good one at that. I want to see that the World Series of Poker. You did that. Have you played this week at all poker? Yeah? Maybe a little black jack, a little black jack, maybe a little all right, okay, okay, maybe it's legal here. Do you know what happened to me yesterday? So I was walking out of my elevator and you saw me. I looked, no, no difference, that

did happen. That happened. But I walked out of my larry because I was really tired after yesterday, I mean, eighteen holes doing all the media that is here at a c c and then I get out of the elevator and there's a chip. What do you how much you think that chip was worth five thousand dollars? I said five thousand dollars it was, and I thought it was a joke. I looked down and I looked around and I was like, oh my god, there's a five thousand dollar chip here. And I was like, hello, Hello,

is anyone here? I thought this someone was like pranking me. So I pick it up and it's a real five thousand There's no one in the hall. What do you do? So I'm I'm trying to think what do you do? Like, so if I would call down to the lobby and say, hey, I found a five thousand dollar chip, so it's gonna someone's gonna be like, yeah, that's me. But I was also thinking, man, if I lost five thousand dollars, I

would be so upset. But also I feel like, if you have a five thousand allar chip, there's probably a bunch of other chips to it, and you don't even know how much you really have. So it's one or two ways. But I feel so bad and I don't know what to do with it. And today someone was messing with me. I told one of my buddies and then he told someone. I was telling the person the story. He goes, yeah, I lost five thousand chip. I was like, I felt a sense of relief. I was like, oh,

I have it. I haven't. And he's like, I'm joking. I knew that you found one. And I was like, what do you do with that? Here's what I think you should do. I think you should give me the chip. And I'm gonna I'm gonna go, no, seriously, and I'll go I'll take care of it for you, one way or the other. I'll take care You're the guy. I'm the guy. I'm the guy. I all I do is fixed problems for people. That's all I do. Here at the American Century Championship. We're here. This is your first year.

That's why I really wanted to talk to you today about this. This is your first year. Talk to me about the experience thus far. We haven't even teed off on Friday yet, But tell me, tell me about your experience. It's incredible so far. I mean, everyone has been above

and beyond nice. And usually when you have and this is not saying anything, but when you have a group of celebrities, there's usually one that's kind of like, hey, how you doing it, and they look at you and roll their eyes and walk away or try to find someone that's more important than you to talk to. I have not had that at all, And if if anything,

more people are like, hey, Hi, nice to meet you. Hey, let me introduce you to this person and this person this, And I'm like, wow, this is unlike any other celebrity event I've ever been to. And not only that, I get to golf. The weather is beautiful here I've been.

I'm begetting lessons from like just some of the top people at Golf Channel and NBC Sports, and it's really, honestly, it's made my game horrible because whenever you could take a lesson before takes I don't know, I don't have an opportunity to get these type of these teachers, these legendary teachers to come and say hey, you know so I'm like, yeah, I'll do a lesson. And I'm like, oh my god, my swing is going bad right now. I heard someone tell you yesterday. It's like, we're gonna

take your game to the next level. What is the next level for you? I think I think the next level for me is is would be to be a four. That would be the that would be then your handicaps of four. No, that would be it. That would be it. No, I'm like a seven, eight, seven or an eight, depending on how I'm playing, and you know, whatever I enter my score, that's pretty good it is. It turns into a Tahoe twelve. Very part of these greens Man very difficult.

It's gonna get more difficult, That's all I can say. It's gonna get faster. Yeah. I was talking to Charles, and Charles like, I was like, I think I'm gonna be pretty good here, and he's like, yeah, I wait till you hit your first patron. And I go wait what He goes, Yeah, when you hit your first person, it will ruin your entire game and you'll you'll have no idea. And I go, wait, you think I can actually hit someone? He goes, do you hit the ball straight?

I go not all the time. He goes, hey, exactly, and I go, oh my gosh. And so that's when I first realized how Charles got that swing that is so legendary. To look at where he stops and because you get in your head and I found myself getting in my head yesterday. And the only time I wasn't in my head was when I got the audience to actually cheer for me. You know, I want people chanting ba ba booie, you know behind my swing? You know what what what? What gives you the confidence this week

to play honestly, you know, just having fun. I am

here to compete. I have competitive juices, but in all honesty, it's it's here to just enjoy myself, enjoy the fresh cut grass, the beautiful setting, the audience giving them a show, entertaining and just having fun and just meeting a ton of cool people who I've watched, you know, I've I've watched The Office, and I listened to every one of your podcasts, listen to the deep dives and just hearing the stories behind the stories, like I love the insights

of different shows and how they started, how they got their process. Like you know, sometimes with my show Miss and Misses, you know, I feel like every season we're like, man, are we gonna get re uped? Are we gonna re up? Even though the ratings are great, but you never know. And to hear a legendary show like the Office one of the biggest shows now that you look at and you go, how can this show even be like looked at as not brought up again and again and again

for new seasons. It's crazy. I well, I'm so happy you're here. It's great to see you again. If you need help dealing without five thousand dollar chip, let me know. And I might see you in the high rollers and be like, hey, hey, you're better than me at this. Let's let this happen happen, you know, let's see where we go with it. Uh. Miss the miss is here just a such an amazingly gentle kind, positive spirit. Well, thanks,

congratulations on your success and good luck this weekend. If there's one guy, last question, one guy or gal that you want to beat Pat McAfee, The dude came here in sleeveless shirt on a golf course, like with no muscles, you know. So, I mean, honestly, me and me and him been talking a lot of smack because he's a SmackDown commentator for w w A and he's just a really good, positive, fun guy to be around. Like, honestly, if you want to have a good time, hang around

Pat McAfee. But but you want to. I want to beat him so badly because we have a bet that we we rip each other a lot. The one person has to say three days of just compliments NonStop, on like social on like his radio show, like in w w A, whatever it is. You just have to compliment that person for three straight. And that's the hardest thing for either of us to do. So good what what uh? What's your what's your handicap? Again? Because I lose so

many balls and now moms all in my head. The guy has the ugly He's a cross between Charles Barkley and John rom I say this because he has an ugly swing. This swing looks terrible, but he hits and straight. I'm nervous because my game. I thought I was coming in here. I felt pretty competent, and then I started getting in my head and now I'm just I don't know what's gonna happen on Friday. Wow, are you lefty? Yeah? Okay? Because I say he has on a right glove, a

glove on his right hand. That was how I That was my investigative journalism right there. That's how I knew good luck. And yes, I'm wearing a golf club while doing a podcast. Yes, that's from the race. We're about to tee off. Thanks so much for being here. We're gonna have you back on the show. We're gonna talk about about your your your life and career. All right,

thanks so much, dude, Thank you guys. I'm so happy to be joined here by the legendary running back from the National Football League, the l A Raiders, etcetera, etcetera, Marcus Allen, Hall of Famer, My good friend, Marcus. Thank you so much for joining me. Briefly, we're here on the lakes. About time you ask me? Yeah, and listen, I'm gonna I've been waiting. Actually, I'm I'm gonna. I'm gonna call you and we're gonna sit down and we're gonna really talk about your career. But I wanted to

take a couple of minutes today. I know this event means so much to you as it does to me. You and I have known each other now, which is a crazy thing. Such a huge fan of yours, and for me to be able to play and get to know guys like you, this is what brings me the greatest jo And I'm a big of my review as well. And you as a person as well. Why do you keep coming back here every year? It's the best, man,

this is the best. I mean you talk about the golf, of course, yes, we can begin there, and then we can talk about the scenery, and then we can talk about the actual you know, the event, the sponsors, American Century and what they've done. It's just and then the guys that are here, I mean, we've all become a blank family, you know. I mean we see each other every year, we're looking forward to seeing any each other and stuff. And then the competition, I mean, and the fans.

You you can't. He has all the elements, and this is why it's the best celebrity event around. It is you talk about the camaraderie. The event last night exemplified that all of these Hall of Famers and idiots like me in a room together, the brotherhood that's there and the support that we have for each other. It truly, it's it. It touches me and it makes me sort of emotional to even talk about the Wounded Warrior and

Jack and Jim McMahon and it was just awesome. Well, yeah, we've listen here, guys are great and we've had some guys that have gone through some challenges and I'm really thankful that they're here so we can support them, right, And that's one of the big things. Jack obviously, and what he's going through. I mean, I'm knowing Jack forever man,

and he's been a big support of mine. And he's just been a solid individual, right, and um, you know Jim obviously, those are two guys that have you know, thirty three years playing in the h this event, right, thirty three years and and and Jim has been sort of you know obviously, um, not able to walk, but he's going to. Yeah, you know what he told me. He told me, he said, I wasn't gonna let Jack be the last one. That's why he's one of a kind man and we're all pulling for him and hopefully

he'll get through with flying colors. Yeah what what what? What do you what's gonna give you confidence this week to play? Well, I'm just letting it go. You're just gonna let it, just gonna let it go. Yeah, and don't don't worry about anything, just playing all right, And and that's it, I mean, just get out of your head. You have supported each other along and thing. Yeah, and most of us you know, we get we hit one bat shot in the sticks with us, spiral through four

holes and stuff, and then we go out here. We practiced for an hour and a half afterwards, and then we're worn down, right, We have no more energy for the next day. So I practiced thirty minutes yesterday did it was short game and that was it, and I didn't do anything else. And I'm taking my time. I'm going to go out here and just let it go and have some fun. Yeah, thank you so much for coming by, Thank you for being here, and uh yeah, we'll see. Oh who's the guy that you look at

when you finish? Who's the guy that you look at besides yourself? The score of who? Who you want to beat the most? Who? What is there a score that you look at on the little computer for? Yeah, well I can't. I can't mention my name. There's always a couple of running banks here that you know, I can never let beat me. So you know, you know, you know who I'm coming for this year. You. Oh you, hey, be careful what you ask for you, I'm coming for you.

Thanks Mark, you Here we go. I could not be happier than to be joined briefly here at the American Century Championship by Vince Carter. Now I have to start by saying, you know, like a lot of the guys, you and I have gotten to know each other over the years. I don't know if we've ever had this conversation. You know, my dad went to Duke. No, my dad went to do So let's just say there were there were years that I did not root for you. Of course,

specifically specifically did not root for you. Those are good years to my my college years we were one and two. Always go away, back and forth. I know, no, I remember, why why do you keep coming here every year? I mean, it's just so now that I've retired, golf is my competition and like all of us here, we want to be good at it, and golf gets the best of us. But it's like coming here and making new friends. But the celebrity types to athletes, that people coming from whatever

their profession, here for friendly competition. But yet you know it's real competition. There's always somebody here you want to beat or you want to play well in front of her. So so so the first year was, like probably everyone else, was a little nerve wracking, and by the second by the end of the second day. With the third day, I felt good. I'm like, man, I hope they bring me back. And now you know you get that email. Hey, we're we would like to invite you. I'm like, yes,

every year, every year I planned everything around here. Now that's right, this this week. What's who's the guy or gal that you look at when you're done to see where they are. Who's the guy you most want to beat and you've got in your sights. Everyone gets a similar smile on their face when I asked this question. There's there's a few. I mean obviously the basketball guys. Uh, you know, Giggy's here. Kyle and I we played golf a lot, so it's like we root for each other,

but we want to do better than each other. You know how I leave Vinningdale Niggro alone. You know he wanted last year. So that's that's as you need that guy alone. Marcus, I know who's on here, and Jerome Bettis are here. We all come out of the same golf club, Golf Club of Georgia in Atlanta. Okay, I'll play, so of course I'll be watching those guys and like there again, we root for each other, but we want to do a little better than what what what brings you?

Let me say this everybody, I'm sure we will say just lungs. You do better than Berkeley as well. And I had to play with in the group last year. I was like, what does that say about my game? Right? But yeah, but trust me, I have played a number of years in his group. Yes, and it's but I tell you what he taught me something honest, honest to god. When I started coming here, I think I was paired

with him. The first year was fifteen years ago now, and he and I were playing together, and you know, his swing at that point, I hope it's a little better. Last year it was, it was, it was it was starting to look look good. Yeah, you know he can't hit the ball. He's Hank Haney is walking with us. At one point puts on sunglasses and I'm like, like, right before he swam, I'm like, what is he doing? Why? Why does he keep putting this on? Right before and

I realized they were blacked out. He was black down. So it wasn't just close your eyes, it was like black out this and just swing to try to get over this mental this mental thing. I mean, it's crazy and not very successful, but I will tell you walking around here with him, I've said this many times. He knows everybody's name, He asks about their family. The volunteers that are here have been here in some cases for many, many,

many years, and he cares about everybody. He looks everybody in the eye, he says hello and asks about them. It truly, and I, honest to god, I tried to model that behavior now because you know what, it takes just as much energy to be nice as it does to be an asshole. And and I promise you that came from from this event. Me getting to know him

and his generosity of spirit. It's so incredible, and it's just it's amazing to see because you know, like you said, the everybody he just is this second nature to him. And to see how people respond to it's like it's a great feeling. You sit back and smile. It's not even you, you know, and it's just amazing. And like he said, he's just he's he's just a great person. I mean, you can say what you say about him,

and he says he speaks his mind. You appreciate that, but but when you're around him, you're like, man, he's like I tell people all the time, what you see on TV is that, but when you're around him, he's like the life of the party and one of the friendliest, nicest people. He really is. It's you know, and I get asked about him, you know, and making fun of

his swing or whatever. But like I just I always want to say, you just need to get to know him because this is like you would be rooting so hard for him, and I'm rooting so hard for him to play better. Um, what what gives the confidence for you? Like? What what gives you confidence out here when in the face of all the fans and once you get past the first hole, you know, that first shot southern. I mean,

like I don't care how many years. Uh, my first year was like it's a few times that I can recall being terrified, and I was pretty close that first shot. The second day was better, got better. But the next year and year after that, you still have the nerves, but over the balls is a lot different than that first year. So I'm better and like I said, I feel good now, but you know it's still gonna be something, going to be some nerves. I just like to see the ball go forward and we can figure it out.

We can figure it out from there. Events. Thank you so much, Thanks for for for coming by, Thank you for being here and being so great. And you know it it We've talked about it a lot with a lot of the guys. This it really has become like a brotherhood, this this event and the people here, and it is it is so truly my pleasure and my privilege to to have gotten to know you and and other guys. Yea, and I will say this and like

you say, this your brotherhood. And you know, seeing you guys playing other events and catch it on TV and you root for It's like, hey, man, I hope you're playing well, you know, because because of this. And it's funny. It's just it's golf. It's a it's a it's a common denominator, which is golf that brings everybody here. And you have appreciated you get to meet somebody that you see admired but never really get a stance to sit face to face over the game of golf. Just golf

has been great to a lot of people. Sure has vents. Thank you so much, dude, Thank you so much. Man, appreciate appreciate the time, good luck today. There is so much that I could say about this event. I'm sure after listening to this you you feel and know how much I love it. All of the guys, so so many relationships that I have made here that that me in the world to me, and I feel so lucky to call them now friends. Thank you so much for listening.

I have so many more stories that I could tell talking about seventeen and my experience there, talking about playing with Charles and Aaron Rodgers, and you know, I'm gonna I'm gonna close with this story because someone I was playing with yesterday in one of the pro ams asked me this question, like why you're from Atlanta? And I had a Georgia Bulldogs sweater on yesterday and they were like,

you're from Atlanta, Why are you a Packers fan? I don't think you've ever talked about it on the podcast. This guy had had listened to all of the episodes that we've done, so I'm gonna tell this story. I was here my first year was two thousand and eight, and I sit down at a blackjack table and there's a guy sitting next to me. I had no clue who he was, and we start talking and he's a big fan of the office, and I say thank you, and we're chit chatting. We're having a good time, and

and he introduces himself as as Aaron Rodgers. Now as soon as he said, oh, I'm Aaron Rodgers, I was like, oh, yeah, you're the guy from cal and you know you're backing up Brett Farve. Now you've been named the starter. Congrats. Well, this day, Brett Farve had had decided he was retiring and and Aaron had been named the starter moving forward and he's playing in this event. And that day, the first day we meet, Brett Farve decides he's not going

to retire. And this is their TV screens all throughout the hotel everywhere blasting sports of course because of this event, and he no at that moment whether Green Bay was going to bring that back bread, if he was going to go back to the bench, like what was going to happen with him, And it's just kind of an crazy, weird day for him and then me meeting him and we ended up hanging out and he and I from that day became friends. And I know he's been on the podcast before, but you know. I he was at

the birth of my first child. His relationship means a lot to me, and that's why I'm a fan of the Green Bay Packers. It's really because of him and and my relationship with him, and then visiting Green Bay and getting to know other players like A. J. Hawk who plays here and has become a very good friend of mine as well, and Randall Cobb who we've had on the podcast, and obviously Charles Woodson, Jordy Nelson, so many of the Packers players that I've had a relationship

here now. But it really was this event and and that interaction that we had because I was playing in the event and he was playing in the event, and that's all that mattered. So I wanted to close with that story because I was asked about it yesterday and didn't realize that I've never told that story. I love this event. This is my fifteenth year, and this year I'm going to do better than I ever have before. By the time you're listening, it'll be over, so you'll

know whether or not I I came through. But I want to thank again Airbnb for their partnership on this episode. The air cover for hosts that gives you the confidence like we're all looking for out here to host with Airbnb top to bottom protection for free. I hope you enjoyed the episode. We'll be back next week with a with a more standard episode. But this has been so much fun for me to catch up with so many of of the athletes and celebrities that are here are

wounded Warrior veteran who is here and Jimmy Roberts. Thanks to all of my guests, and thank you for listening and will root for me. And if you didn't watch, go check out the score and let's let's find out if I beat Marcus Allen. Until next time, Thanks everybody. Off the Beat is hosted an executive produced by me Brian Baumgartner, alongside our executive producer Langley. Our producers are

Diego Tapia, Liz Hayes, Hannah Harris, and Emily Carr. Our talent producer is Ryan Papa Zachary, and our intern is Sammy Katz. Our theme song Bubble and Squeak performed by my great friend Greed Bratton, and the episode was mixed by Seth o'landski