The Pat McAfee Show Live | Tuesday March 17th 2026

The World Baseball Classic (WBC) has achieved record-breaking ratings and engagement, with viewership up 183% compared to the previous tournament. This surge is attributed to the national pride showcased by participating countries, the high-quality play, and the dramatic endings, captivating even casual fans. The hosts suggest it's making baseball 'bigger than it's ever been' and has the potential to elevate the sport globally.

Ratings through the roof, 3.11 million average for USA pool play games, over 5 million for later stages, +183% vs. last WBC. Host states, 'baseball is maybe bigger than it's ever been right now.'

Under a new head coach (Jeff Hafley) and general manager (John Eric Sullivan), the Miami Dolphins are undergoing a complete organizational rebuild. This strategy involves trading key players like Jaylen Waddle for draft capital (a first and a third-round pick) and being open to dealing 'virtually any other player on their roster.' The move positions them with significant draft ammunition (four third-round picks, two first-round picks) to build for 2027 and beyond, especially given their competitive division.

Adam Schefter reports Waddle traded for a one and a three. Dolphins have four third-round picks, two first-round picks. Schefter notes, 'They're going to start to rebuild. They're going to do things over.'

Kyler Murray signed with the Minnesota Vikings on a league-minimum deal, a move seen as a perfect fit for both sides. Murray, a childhood Vikings fan, joins an offense led by 'quarterback whisperer' Kevin O'Connell, who has a track record of maximizing QB talent. The low-cost, high-upside acquisition allows Murray to revitalize his career in a supportive environment with talented playmakers, potentially securing a long-term role for the Vikings.

Kyler Murray grew up a massive Vikings fan, signed for league minimum at $1.3 million. Kevin O'Connell's pitch emphasized long-term potential and unlocking a new dimension of his offense. Darius Butler calls it a 'win-win for both sides.'

Players Championship winner Cam Young emphasizes the importance of mental work and positive self-belief in high-pressure golf. He describes a year and a half of effort to balance self-criticism with positive swing thoughts, focusing on the process rather than the outcome. This mental fortitude allowed him to execute critical shots on the 17th and 18th holes, even admitting to severe nervousness on an 8-inch winning putt.

Young states, 'A lot of work trying to unlock what the brain can do... been able to kind of balance them out with some positives, and with some self-belief.' He recounts hands shaking on the final putt, but focusing on 'game on' moments.

The hosts discuss the critical need for sports media to correctly pronounce athletes' names, citing examples like Travis Etienne Jr. and Brad Marchand. They acknowledge the challenges with diverse names and phonetic spellings but emphasize that mispronunciations can be disrespectful to players, their families, and cultures. They highlight efforts to learn correct pronunciations and the positive impact when athletes clarify their names.

Discussion around Travis Etienne Jr. correcting his name pronunciation, Kyle Brandt's promo on respecting names, and Brad Marchand being called 'Marchon' for years. Pat McAfee shares his own experience with name mispronunciation.