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Sports / General

471: NBA Finals, World Cup Picks, and Dad Shoes

Matt Crone June 12, 2026

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This week on The Underdog:

 

0:25 – Chris Horwedel and Matt Krohn open The Underdog with a packed mid-June sports slate, including the NBA Finals, Stanley Cup Final, World Cup, MLB, golf, and odds from oddsmakers.

1:09 – Matt talks about getting back into walking, buying Adidas Ultraboosts, and why the right shoe matters for longer dog walks, leading to a broader sneaker comfort debate about Pumas, Hokas, Nike Vomeros, dad shoes, and travel shoes.

8:37 – Knicks-Spurs NBA Finals talk begins with Matt disavowing his brief Knicks fandom after ugly fan behavior in New York, while Chris discusses having money on San Antonio and why the series has become frustrating to watch.

10:41 – Game 4 breakdown focuses on the Spurs blowing a huge lead, the Knicks comeback, San Antonio’s poor late-game decision-making, Mitch Johnson’s coaching issues, and why Charles Barkley’s criticism of the Spurs’ basketball IQ resonated.

12:25 – Victor Wembanyama discussion covers his incredible talent but also his frustrating flaws, including post positioning, boxing out, physicality, shot selection, pick-and-roll usage, and comparisons to the Ben Simmons development problem.

14:58 – De’Aaron Fox’s late-game mistake is broken down, with Chris and Matt explaining why he should have dribbled out the clock, forced a foul, and avoided giving the Knicks another chance.

17:25 – Knicks fan behavior and New York title pressure are discussed, including whether it would be worse for the city if the Knicks win or lose, and how toxic fan reactions can make even neutral fans root against a team.

20:01 – Chris and Matt debate the impact of a sitting president attending an NBA Finals game, including security restrictions, lost local business, past presidential appearances at major sporting events, and why championship games create unique logistical issues.

24:48 – World Cup betting segment begins with Matt making picks despite limited soccer knowledge, starting with Canada vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina, USA vs. Paraguay, Qatar vs. Switzerland, Brazil vs. Morocco, and Haiti vs. Scotland.

32:42 – Jersey and dog-walking side conversation covers Haiti’s Polish-inspired kit detail, Loch Ness FC shirts from a mystery kit box, sizing struggles, summer heat, walking dogs safely, and problems caused by off-leash dogs.

38:15 – World Cup picks continue with Australia vs. Türkiye, Germany vs. Curaçao, Netherlands vs. Japan, Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador, and Sweden vs. Tunisia, with Matt using everything from geography to old players to kit loyalty as his rationale.

41:46 – Las Vegas Sphere discussion covers Matt seeing Dead & Company, the venue’s massive visuals, the exterior LED display, and whether smaller Sphere-style venues should exist outside Vegas.

48:19 – Golf talk closes the episode with Matt’s RBC Canadian Open pick, Sahith Theegala, plus a quick look at Brooks Koepka, Sam Burns, Ryan Fox, Wyndham Clark, and the live tournament odds.

49:36 – Chris and Matt wrap the show after placing $50 worth of World Cup picks and promising to check back next week on whether Matt’s soccer logic turned a profit.

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Matt Crone

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