There may be this this postseason where we are not live immediately after the game. We could be later that night, or even the next morning. This was the only way we could guarantee that we’d have me and Mike on the pod for all of the postseason games (maybe it’s just two! Maybe it’s seven! Who knows!).

We love AU and Sixers Adam and are genuinely thankful for their ability to fill in over the last couple of months, but all things considered we think it’s important for these pods to be me and Mike.

Mike and my work schedule are occasionally at odds, and Mike’s often times (for the next couple of weeks) has him working late into the evening. In these cases, we’ll either do the pod much later that evening, or early the next morning. There is of course, the possibility that the timing works out and we’re live right after the game.

We’re just letting you know so you know that we’ll be there… eventually.

Go Sixers?

Spike

Jared McCain’s return to the form that we saw last year is going to take much longer than we hoped, and we’re all going to have to get used to it.

Admittedly, I was, am, and will be as high or higher on McCain than most people. I own everything I said, I believe it’s true, and I will be excited when it happens. And admittedly, the first 19 games of the season for McCain have not done much to make me look smart.

But that’s all it’s been, 19 games this season. He’s played 42 games in his career, and six of them have been fewer than 10 minutes on the court. And the 19 games this season have come after a surgery that we probably have not given proper context to.

There are really two kinds of surgeries you can have when you’ve got a meniscus tear. There is the meniscectomy, which is when there is a bit of the torn piece of meniscus that’s giving the person trouble and it’s just removed. This type of surgery typically has a player returning in about six weeks. The good thing about the surgery is players return sooner, the bad thing is that the meniscus never grows back and it can make it more likely that the player experiences chronic/arthritic conditions with the knee eventually. The second surgery, what McCain had, is the meniscus repair surgery, where instead of removing the damaged piece of cartilage, they repair it, preserving it for the future. This is the good news. The bad news is that rehab is longer, more difficult, and often times prevents the player from reaching their normal peak mobility and strength for sometimes up to a year after they’re recovered.

(As an aside, the surgeon is usually unaware of whether they can perform the repair surgery until they go in there to operate. Whether they can even perform that surgery, as well as the age, size, position of the person having the surgery are factors as well.)

The fact is that the second half of Jared McCain’s season in 24-25, and a large portion of the offseason, was just spent rehabbing the knee to even get on the court. Time he could have been spending getting better at basketball, he spent rehabbing his knee. The fact is, many players who return from meniscus repair surgery do not get back to “normal” until the season after the season they return. That’s if there are no extenuating circumstances. But there are a few with McCain.

The first circumstance that has not helped is that as training camp began, McCain tore the UCL in his thumb, sidelining him again and forcing him to miss all of camp. Additionally, the Sixers drafted VJ Edgecombe, who plays much differently than McCain, is another guard who the team wants to fit into its rotation (and rightly so, VJ is awesome). There is also Quentin Grimes, who probably has a lower ceiling than McCain, but at this point is far more developed and helpful, who was not on the team when McCain was excelling last season. There is also the fact that Maxey has gotten better, taking the leap to superstardom and demanding to be on the court basically as much as humanly possible.

There is also the fact that the Sixers are a good team, who need to win games, and are forced to balance the development of their young players with actually willing games. Finally, I do believe that Nick Nurse is sort of locked in on some priors on McCain that might make it less likely that he finds the same nuggets of optimism in little things than he might if he was always a believer. To be clear, I think Nurse has handled the situation well this year, but we’re all human.

I know this all sounds like a bunch of excuse-making for a guy who said McCain can be a top fifteen player. Maybe it is, but it’s also true. All of it is true. Which brings us to right now.

Jared McCain, right now, is nowhere near where he was physically last year. No, he wasn’t as fast as peak Lillard or as strong as peak Harden, but it doesn’t take much watching of this to see that the guy we’re seeing this year is not yet physically the guy we saw last year. Just watch the video of McCain highlights from last year (it’s a fun eight minutes). It’s staring you right in the face.

So, what does this mean? It truly depends how you look at it. There are a few ways to be pessimistic.

1. You could look at it and say, “he’s never going to get back to that place physically, he’s never going to be the same guy.” I don’t think the evidence supports this, but it’s certainly possible. Jeremy Lin was probably never the same guy after meniscus surgery ended his dream season with the Knicks (even though he ended up with a far more serious knee injury as well). I don’t think this is likely, but it’s a valid thought.

2. You could look at it and say, “we’ve got VJ now, I want to keep Grimes too, we don’t really have time for the McCain thing, and even if we did he’s not really necessary.” I don’t agree with this necessarily, but it’s a valid way to think about it.

3. You could say “this year is proof he was not that good last year, and it was just good stats/bad team.” I don’t buy this one at all. I think it’s crazy. I know what I saw, we all know what we saw. That wasn’t a fluke, the guy was legitimately amazing in his first couple months of action at just age 20.

I think trading Jared McCain at this point would be an enormous mistake that the Sixers will regret. I think he’s going to be a star (health allowing), and we would want to stab our eyes out with forks every time we see him lighting someone up. Hell, we do that with Isaiah Joe who is a fine player but truly not that good when all is said and done. We’d also potentially be dealing him when his value is likely lower than it was when he was the favorite to win rookie of the year last season, and than it will be in the future.

I think McCain’s progression this year has been slow but it’s been there. He looks much better than he did six weeks ago, and seems to have the right attitude about fitting in. He never forces things when he’s in there, he’s concentrating on defense and rebounding (he sneakily gets into passing lanes at a noticeable rate). He played horribly as every Sixers player did against the Nets, but had nine rebounds (most of any starter), four assists (most of any starter) and two steals. If one of the early threes drops and a layup goes in we’re talking about the third straight impressive McCain game. The development is going to continue to be slower and more uneven than we’d like, and he might not really look like himself till next season.

But the reality of the Sixers situation may call for them to make a decision on his future with the team sooner than I’d like. Perhaps they’re given the opportunity to get off of Joel’s contract and the team they’re dealing with likes McCain. Perhaps (less likely but who knows), Embiid begins to play more frequently and reliably and they’re given a chance to upgrade the current roster by trading McCain and giving themselves a chance to get out of the East this year. Perhaps the team just simply doesn’t believe he can co-exist with Maxey and Edgecombe in a meaningful way. All of these results have a different level of bummer to them.

But I’m telling you, and I believe it wholeheartedly, Jared McCain is still going to be an outrageous player. I know what I saw last season and I know what’s in there. I just hope he has the chance to do it for the Sixers.

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The Joel Embiid era as we know it, is over. Whether you’re in a place emotionally where you can say it out loud (I am), or you’re not (I respect it), it doesn’t change the fact that the days of expecting the Sixers to be able to compete for an NBA title with Embiid as their centerpiece, is over.

Truthfully, it’s probably been over for some time – as many will probably say when they read this very piece of writing. I do however think that giving it one last try to see if it was really over was the prudent thing to do given how dominant he was when he was himself.

At the risk of comparing two things that should never be compared — the loss of a loved one and the decline of your favorite basketball player — let me tell you a bit about something called “anticipatory grief.”

I had never heard of this phrase until I read Rebecca DiTore’s book I’d Still Choose You, and had her on the podcast. The book focuses on her journey through her husband Mike’s battle with brain cancer, which he eventually succumbed to in 2022. If you’re unaware of why this was something we discussed on the podcast, Mike was a big Ricky guy, and I became aware of his situation when he was diagnosed, as a 30 year old father of two in May of 2021. I’m only putting this in here because I know if Mike is reading this in heaven, he’d be pretty stoked I’m evoking his name in this context.

In any case, anticipatory grief in that case was the process of Rebecca dealing with the fact that she was going to lose Mike while Mike was still around. It’s something you do mentally, which better prepares you for the end, emotionally. It puts you in a place where you can be more helpful to the person suffering during their final days, and to the people around you when the end finally comes.

I’m in the anticipatory grief phase with Embiid. I am aware that there is no chance he is returning to anything close to his pre-Kuminga-fall form for anything other than a game here or there. We see flashes of the old Joel occasionally, which almost makes it hurt more. He’ll have a five-minute stretch where he’s rocking his dribble back and forth into a 15-foot jumper that’s impossible to defend. He’ll be the centerpiece of a few dribble handoffs that are unguardable, or block a couple of shots. But all these moments really do is remind you that he’s not doing them most of the time. You could certainly talk yourself into the idea of him just needing time to be back on the court to find his rhythm again. Then you look at that sentence and realize that “time on the court” is just never going to exist in a consistent and meaningful way.

Even if he were to consistently find that form, which he won’t, there is no chance we’ll luck out and he’ll just be healthy for a playoff run. A real playoff run is two and a half months or so, and if you’re being honest with yourself, the idea of Embiid staying on the court regularly and playing productively for almost a full trimester is insane.

Finally, the concept of “sixth man Joel” or “role player Joel” is just not realistic. Daryl Morey pretty much said so himself during his last appearance on the pod.

What’s truly forcing us to reckon with this of course is the rise of Tyrese Maxey, which Mike O’Connor so eloquently wrote about last week. He’s become a full-fledged star/superstar-level player, beyond a level I ever could have comprehended. I did not see this coming. I am not sure if this means you’re able to win a title with him as your best player, but you could certainly make that argument. I would have said that you couldn’t win one with Tyrese Haliburton as your best player, and that looks possible.

This ascension suddenly makes the idea of Joel and his max-contract just hanging around taking up cap and court space for the next five years unrealistic. You just can’t waste Maxey’s prime like that. And as Mike (Levin) said on last night’s podcast, it’s a good problem to have.

So for the next several weeks, I’m going to come to grips with my grief. That our guy, The Process, the best Sixers player I’ve ever watched (I will stand by this) is not going to give us a second Retweet Armageddon where he leads us to a championship. That the guy who was not only there at the same time as us, but many times just seemed to be right there in it with us, might be the same guy on the inside, but on the outside just is not that.

Some days I might lash out at him, at us, at Daryl Morey, at whoever. Some days I might be sad about it. Some days I might pretend it’s not happening at all, but it’s all me going through the process. It’s only taken 12+ years, but we’ve now seen “big man’s knee fails us and we start The Process” with Andrew Bynum to well, starting over again as The Process himself’s knee fails us. I feel dirty even comparing the two things.

They’re going to have to do the unthinkable, eventually. They’re going to do one of the things we swore you “just can’t do.” They’re going to have to attach picks with him to either salary-dump him or get a healthier player we know is far inferior, much to the chagrin of many of us. Maybe they’ll have to go through some uncomfortable medical retirement debate. Whatever it is, it’s going to be sort of ugly.

The point of going through this now is putting myself in a place when this finally happens that I can be reasonable and honest with you, and myself, about what is happening and why. I will give myself the grace to go through all of these emotions, so I can be proactive and helpful when it all really does come to a head. For me, for him, for us.

Spike note: Rebecca DiTore started a great foundation in Mike’s name and honor called The Small Moments Foundation. It brings some joy and relief to children and families who have lost a parent or a sibling to cancer. Please support them with a donation here.

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Chuck Klosterman is my favorite writer of all time. As I’ve said before, he often is able to write things I think but write them in a way that sounds a lot smarter and more thoughtful than I would be able to.

Chuck has a new book coming out called ‘Football’ and is doing a small book tour to promote it. One stop will be with our friends Midtown Scholar in Harrisburg PA on January 21st, and I’m lucky enough to host it. You can get tickets here, which are available with and without a book (get the book).

The event starts at 7pm, and will include an (at least) hour long talk with Chuck about the book, and plenty of other stuff.

I’m excited to read the book (I’ve got a copy already, humble brag), as Chuck never misses. I will note that I’m a hipster about his books, and always say my favorite of his collection is one of his few fiction offerings, The Visible Man, which is weird and sort of scary.

To wrap it up, Chuck Klosterman and me (Spike) at Midtown Scholar bookstore in Harrisburg on January 21st. Tickets are here.

We are also efforting an appearance from Chuck to be on the pod to discuss in the coming weeks, which to my count will be his 4th appearance.

Love,

Spike

Help Our Friend Helen - We’ve talked about Helen and her husband Steve on multiple pods. Helen, if you haven’t read before, suffered a stroke last summer at 32 years old, which left her having a tough time talking, walking, doing anything. She’s back home now after months in the hospital and rehab, but has a long road ahead. Home rehab is expensive, and on Giving Tuesday, Help Hope Live, the great site hosting the fundraising has no credit card fees.

Providence Animal Center and Brandywine Valley SPCA - As you know, animal rescue is very close to my heart, and these two organizations do an excellent job saving animals from dangerous situations, and finding them forever homes. On giving Tuesday, thanks to large pledges, donations are doubled (following the links to make sure of it). We have worked with PAC for years, and as I’ve mentioned, my wife puts in long hours and her heart into her work at BVSPCA. Both of my dogs, Rebel and Scotchie are rescues, as is Mike’s new dog Moose. Remember, this donation doesn’t just buy food for the animals, it supports all of the people whose job or volunteer work is this lifesaving mission.

Mama Tee’s Community Fridge - Food insecurity is a problem that if you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you do not have to worry about personally. But imagine the stress, the pain that it would cause. Mama Tee’s has helped over 180,000 families in the Philly area with this issue since their inception, and they are going strong.

Mike Ditore Small Moments Foundation - Mikey D, as his friends knew him, was a father, a dad, and a die-hard Ricky guy that was diagnosed with brain cancer in April of 2021. He was just 30 years old, and eventually lost that battle. His spirit, which everyone who he knew was touched by, lives on with the Small Moments Foundation, which was founded by his wife Rebecca to honor him. The foundation does what it says, it finds small moments of joy for families with children who have lost a parent or sibling to cancer. Whether it’s a day-long experience that’s tailored to the family it’s going to, or the relief of a grocery store gift card or meal, the foundation does great work that has grown leaps and bounds in its two years.

I am proud of our association with all of these organizations, and if you’ve got an extra $5 or $10 or more today, I’d be honored if you’d choose one of them.

Spike

They have an opening right now for someone in HR. It’s a senior level position, so you need to have some related experience to get the gig. You’ll also have to be in person at least a few days a week at their Vineland headquarters.

You’re getting this early, so there’s not even a listing yet. If you’re interested and think you have what it takes, send your stuff to careers@bodybio.com.

We love Body Bio. Mike and Jess as well as the rest of their team have been awesome to work with over the years, and they’re truly a trusted part of the Ricky family.

Good luck!

Spike

I’ve got to order the t-shirts for our Bark In The Park team, so if you were thinking of joining, please do it by Friday! Of course we’ll let you join afterward, but it’s easier for me if you do it sooner. Hit this link and when you register make sure you join the Ricky team.

If you join the team and raise at least $50, you get the sick shirt (design is above) designed by Olivia Smith, which once again features Rebel.

Also, thanks to Barker Dog Beds, the top fundraiser on our team will win a Barker bed of their own, plus some toys from Jolly Pet!

Bark In The Park is October 11th at Rose Tree Park in Media, and of course benefits the Providence Animal Center. There is a 5K run, a 1 mile walk, or honestly you can just show up and hang out with all the dogs. It’s a good time. I can’t tell you how much I and they appreciate your support. Our goal is $20,000 raised for our team, and I know we can get there again.

Thanks again, and join the team! If you don’t want to join the team, you can always donate at the same link.

Thank you so much to our team sponsors this year, Surfside Iced Tea & Vodka, MortgageCS, LL Pavorsky Jewelers, Shibe Vintage Sports, and Barker Dog Beds

Love,

Spike

Every year The Ricky has a team at Bark In The Park, the annual 5K run/walk for the Providence Animal Center. We are back.

The event us October 11th at Rose Tree Park in Media, PA. You don’t even have to run, there’s a walk too. Honestly, just join the team and show up if you’re against exercise. You can join the team here. Make sure you’re joining our team when you sign up.

We always raise the most money, and last year that total hit over $21,000. We have no choice but to break that record.

And every year, if you join the team and raise at least $50, you get the team shirt too. We are back there too. Rebel looks glorious in the new shirt designed by Philly’s own Olivia Smith (Olivia’s Twitter, Olivia’s IG, Olivia’s Etsy).

When you’re joining, make sure you’re joining the Rights To Ricky Sanchez team, which you find right here.

Looking forward to seeing everyone, and your dogs if you bring them.

Love,

Spike

Once again Daryl Morey is doing something to bide his time before the season starts, and this time it’s table tennis. Daryl LOVES ping pong. With our Lottery Party history, the jokes just write themselves.

On September 20th, the second annual Serving Up Empowerment to benefit the Battier Take Charge Foundation will happen at SPIN in Philadelphia, from 2pm until 5pm. There are ping pong tournaments (including Daryl playing), that you’ll play in, and you get to eat and drink as much as you want (be responsible). You can get tickets here.

Shane Battier’s foundation is a good one, helping kids in under-served communities get educational opportunities they might not otherwise get. Shane’s doing great work in Camden, and I was able to meet some of the kids who are taking advantage of the program at last year’s event. Daryl and his wife Ellen are big supporters of the Battier Take Charge Foundation.

Speaking of last year’s event, Andre Drummond was there, so was Ricky Council, and Shane Battier. But the real star was watching Daryl sweat his ass off playing ping pong. He’s pretty good at it, but you watch him playing and you think “to get this good you must be playing it a lot” and then that takes you down a whole other road. I played one round of ping pong, and I lost because I’m a normal person who is not that good at it.

BUT STILL… it’s a good cause. I’ll be there, and I hope to see you there too. Again, tickets here.

- Spike

On May 15th, PAC will hold their annual Gimme Shelter Gala at the Ballroom at Ellis Preserve in Newtown Square. They had the event there last year, and it’s a beautiful spot. A nice excuse to get dressed nice, have some drinks, and freak out when they bring in the puppies. You can buy tickets here. I will be there, and it will be your annual opportunity to see me in a suit (unless I have a wedding or something).

There’s an auction, an open bar, all of your fun standard gala stuff. I hope to see you there. Once again, tickets are available at this spot.

Love,

Spike

Years ago I was asked to participate in the Polar Plunge to benefit the Special Olympics. Seemed like a good enough cause (at the time it was in a pool on the roof of the Drexel Rec Center), so I did it.

There are a lot of great causes out there, so when I can say yes, I say yes. But being at the ceremony the day of the event let me know how important the Special Olympics are. Hearing the athletes speak, and then hearing the families speak about how valuable and meaningful an experience it was, how it changed their lives, really put it in a different place for me. Seeing fathers shed tears on stage talking about what it did for their children and families lets you know how great it is.

The Polar Plunge is back, and it’s next weekend, but this time at Citizen’s Bank Park. I have a team, and I’d love if you’d join me, jump, and raise some money. Or, if you don’t want to jump, your donation is also appreciated. We’re like 9th in team fundraising and that is not good enough for me.

JOIN THE TEAM OR DONATE HERE

I’ll be jumping at 10am on Friday January 31st (you’ll be able to do it at the same time if you’d like), or you can just jump on Saturday, February 1st with most of the people doing it. I’m not going to describe jumping in the water as FUN as much as I’ll describe it as an experience you will not forget. It’s not as bad as you’re thinking. Hopefully we’ll be able to talk about the Eagles in the Super Bowl in about a week when we’re there as we warm up and dry off.

If you can’t jump or can’t donate, sharing the info with someone who might is also very much appreciated.

Love Always,

Spike

Our fundraising team for Bark In The Park raised over $25,000 this year, a new record for us. I am so proud and thankful for this. Thankful to the great folks on the team who I got to say hello to on Saturday. Thankful to our sponsors who supported the team (MortgageCS, LL Pavorsky and Draft Kings). Thankful to everyone who donated and spread the word, and put up with me regularly begging about it.

I am also so proud that the second largest fundraising team for the event was Trust The Pawcess, a team put together in honor of 2019 Ricky team member Andrew Schock, who passed away due to liver cancer. They raised over $5,000 this year, which is amazing.

As I get older, these things become more important to me. From an animal perspective, my animal advocacy that has grown over the last 10 years or so has changed my life. It gives me purpose beyond myself. From a community perspective, I am so very thankful for the folks in the Ricky World who help out in the number of ways that they do.

I did not have any pets growing up. It wasn’t until I moved to Chicago when I was 29 years old, felt sort of lonely, that I went and adopted Alabama (my wonderful cat who crossed the rainbow bridge in 2021). And it wasn’t until I was pressured for years by my wife did I get a dog (Rebel), and then a second dog (Scotchie). I could not imagine who I would be without Alabama, Rebel and Scotchie. Their presence has made me a better person. And my wife’s animal adovacy has been something I’ve looked up to for years now.

If you’re reading this, thank you. In some way, you helped do a great thing. You helped saved animals and you helped support the wonderful people at Providence Animal Center who save them.

If we took a photo on Saturday, please send it along. See you next year!

Love,

Spike

** UPDATE **

Sorry for the double email here! We got an email from a very, very generous Ricky listener named Josh who has pledged to match the next $6500 in donations. What this means is that if we get to $13,500, he will push it to $20,000. Amazing! Let’s make him pay every cent. Thank you!

** UPDATE **

Here’s the thing with Bark In The Park, and fundraising in general, people don’t really act until there’s a deadline. Well, there’s a deadline!

I need a count on Team Ricky shirts for Bark In The Park, as I have to order them this week. So if you’re going to join the team, it would be great if you do it this week.

Our goal is 100 team members, and $20,000 raised. We’ve raised $7,100 so far, and have 30 team members. We can get there, but we have a ways to go. There are thousands of people who get this email, so we can do it.

JOIN THE TEAM HERE. If you can’t join, donations are great (but no shirt sorry). The shirt (seen above) this year is designed by the incredibly talented Aliana Thompson.

I know things are tough from a money perspective, all over, even for you. This issue has reached shelters, as well. In addition to the difficulties fundraising (which not only saves the animals, but helps give jobs to the people who work there), the huge boom in adoptions during Covid has led to much fewer adoptions now, and full shelters that have a hard time taking on new animals. Even worse, many of the people who adopted during Covid did not ever plan on going back to work, so strays and surrenders are at a very high level.

Again, JOIN THE TEAM HERE, or donate at the same place.

Again, please join the team. Please raise lots of money. And give your pets a hug for me.

- Spike

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Here’s the thing with Bark In The Park, and fundraising in general, people don’t really act until there’s a deadline. Well, there’s a deadline!

I need a count on Team Ricky shirts for Bark In The Park, as I have to order them this week. So if you’re going to join the team, it would be great if you do it this week.

Our goal is 100 team members, and $20,000 raised. We’ve raised $7,100 so far, and have 30 team members. We can get there, but we have a ways to go. There are thousands of people who get this email, so we can do it.

JOIN THE TEAM HERE. If you can’t join, donations are great (but no shirt sorry). The shirt (seen above) this year is designed by the incredibly talented Aliana Thompson.

I know things are tough from a money perspective, all over, even for you. This issue has reached shelters, as well. In addition to the difficulties fundraising (which not only saves the animals, but helps give jobs to the people who work there), the huge boom in adoptions during Covid has led to much fewer adoptions now, and full shelters that have a hard time taking on new animals. Even worse, many of the people who adopted during Covid did not ever plan on going back to work, so strays and surrenders are at a very high level.

Again, JOIN THE TEAM HERE, or donate at the same place.

Again, please join the team. Please raise lots of money. And give your pets a hug for me.

- Spike

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Good Morning! Wow! The offseason is still going huh? Some changes for the July schedule and the first look at the August schedule is below. All times are EST.

Also, if we haven’t done it officially in the newsletter yet, welcome to Andrew Caplan! Andrew will be doing some work on our YouTube page and some Photoshop stuff (like the image on this post from one of our videos). Don’t worry about what basketball time he likes. It’s not relevant to the conversation!

July 27th (today): We are recording with a special guest today at 11am and will release this afternoon. Maybe 2pm? We’ll see how saucy CJ is feeling.

July 30th - 8:30pm: We also have a VERY VERY special announcement on this pod. Very special!

August 3rd - 11:00am

August 8th - 8:15pm

August 10th - 11:00am

August 14th - 8:15pm

August 17th - 11:00am

August 21st - 8:15pm

August 25th - 10:00am

August 28th - 8:15pm

August 31st - 11:00am

It’s been a little while since there was a normal, Spike and Mike pod. Mike got sick, had to miss a couple of pods. Then I went on vacation. But we’re back. Tonight around 8:30pm.

Then we’ll be back on Saturday. We’re recording the pod (not doing it live) around 11am, so it’ll be in your feed by early afternoon.

Then a big announcement on the pod next week. It was going to be 7/31, but now it looks like it’s going to be 7/30.

It seems seems unlikely that the Process era of Sixers basketball will be defined by a bunch of banners hanging from the rafters of the Wells Fargo Center (or 76 Place, or wherever they are playing in ten years after all the rich people are done bickering about who is going to get more rich).

It is however, my favorite era of Philadelphia sports. Because of what we have with you, and with us.

Today is the 11th Anniversary of the very first Rights To Ricky Sanchez podcast. Eleven years is truly psychotic to think about.

Putting all that we’ve been through from a basketball perspective to the side for a moment, it’s insane to think about the non-basketball things we’ve been through. Ricky people have graduated high school and then college and then gotten engaged all in the time we’ve been doing podcasts. And we’ve actually been far more involved in the marriage and engagement part of that than I’d have ever guessed. We’ve had Ricky people born and pass away. Thousands of debates about bathroom behavior in friend groups start on the Ricky. We’ve had Process Pups join the ranks and cross the rainbow bridge. We never quite solved the Tanks Vs. Babies thing though.

All that is to say thank you. This podcast and community has been one of the crowning achievements of my life for a number of reasons, and I’m so thankful to everyone involved. Thankful to Mike for not quitting the pod one of the 13 times he swore he couldn’t do it anymore. Thankful to the rest of team Ricky, CJ, AU, Alonzo, Abbie, MOC, The Danny, Tanner, Phans of Philly (RIP Sixers Adam), and everyone else who has helped us along the way. Thankful to our amazing partners who put their faith and money in us, which allows us to do all of the cool things we do and to actually have a staff. Those amazing partners are Draft Kings Sportsbook, LL Pavorsky Jewelers, Kornblau & Kornblau, Big Barker, Kinetic Skateboarding, MortgageCS, Briggs Auction, Body Bio, Adam Ksebe, and Surfside/Stateside (thanks also to the partners of the past, except maybe for one of them). Also to Rich Stouffer and Bryan Dilworth (may he rest in peace), who always believed in the Live Ricky.

We’ve also been able to be associated with so many amazing charitable causes. We thank you for all you do. Particularly right now the Providence Animal Center, Mama Tee’s Community Fridge and the Mikey D Small Moments Foundation.

We’re in. We’re out. We’re in again. No matter where we are, we’ve all got each other. Thank you. Also maybe this is The Year (probably not).

Spike & Mike & Team Ricky

If you’ve caught up on all of the content from AU, MOC, The Danny and the pod, let’s create some more.

Ask us anything in the comments, and somebody from Team Ricky will answer. Preferably about the offseason but you can go way off topic if you want.

I know what you’re feeling. The Sixers made a big move that you want to be excited for, but there are too many things telling you that you should reserve judgment. I get it, I’ve been there. 

Let them go. Take the victory lap. Who knows how many more chances we have?

We’ve taken so many victory laps for shit other than winning a significant playoff series over the last decade-plus that it’s hard to remember all of them. Just about every single one of those things ended up being the proverbial step-on-a-rake, Lucy-moves-the-football situation. So many of them have happened that I get the sense that people will soon replace the rake and Lucy with 'Sixers Fans Anticipate Something Good" as their go-to reference for inevitable disappointment.

But that said, I encourage you to feel good about this. Beat your chest a little. Daryl did it, the star chose Philly (even if it wasn’t actually his first or second choice). We got the guy. This is the way we always wanted to feel in the offseason. 

I will not bore you with all of the examples, but let’s just say the entire experience has been more Retweet Armageddon than Championship Parade. Let’s just say I had a cringey “WEEE DID ITTTTTTT” moment long before Jayson Tatum (I screamed this into a microphone at the 2016 Lottery Party when we got the #1 pick, which would become Ben Simmons, which would become, well, you know…)

We are all older and wiser and more damaged now, and it’s incredibly easy to think of all of the ways this might not work. [Jason Kelce Voice] He’s too old! He gets injured too much! He’ll be making $60 million at 38 years old! 

None of these things matter right now. They will likely matter at some point, but they do not matter right now.

I have sensed this feeling throughout this entire offseason process. People were so intent on stopping themselves from being hurt that things like “I’d rather have role players” and “trade for Ingram, he’s younger” became popular sentiments. I understand why you said them. You didn’t want your heart broken. I will say that “give me a collection of worse players rather than the better player” was an interesting way to go. But it was all just the damage talking. 

It’s incredibly nerdy and very Process to say that signing a 34-year-old to a $200 million contract feels like winning. It must be because we don’t know what winning feels like. But it still feels good, and as we’ve found out in the past, this feeling doesn’t last all that long.

Everyone who told you Daryl was a fraud. Everyone who told you that the cap space plan was a bad one. Everyone who told you nobody wants to play with Embiid. Well, fuck them. I mean yes, they were probably right before, and may still be right in the future. But not today. Today, fuck them. 

We did it? We did itttttttttt!

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It’s free agency day! The Ricky will be live at whenever something happens or doesn’t happen tonight. Until then…

If you’ve got questions for us? Post them in the comments.

If you’ve got predictions for us? Post them in the comments.

Want to argue about whether you should want to give a guy who is 34 years old a full max deal? Post them (respectfully) in the comments.

We’ll see you tonight.