The Yak
The Yak
June 15, 2026

Steven Cheah Takes The Victory Lap Of A Lifetime After Predicting Knicks In 5 | The Yak 6-15-26

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Quick Read

Steven Cheah celebrates a 'peak sports fandom moment' after correctly predicting 'Knicks in five' and enduring a chaotic, bottle-throwing post-game experience in San Antonio, while a Barstool colleague sparks controversy by flipping an AI delivery robot.
Steven Cheah's 'Knicks in five' prediction led to a 'peak sports fandom moment' at the game, despite bottles being thrown at him and his friends by Spurs fans.
Dante sparked controversy by flipping an AI delivery robot, defending his 'team human' stance against technology replacing human jobs.
An off-air argument between Dante and Nikki Smokes highlighted internal Barstool dynamics, stemming from a miscommunication over concert plans.

Summary

Steven Cheah relishes his 'Knicks in five' prediction coming true, detailing the exhilarating yet perilous experience of witnessing the victory and trophy ceremony in San Antonio, which included evading hostile Spurs fans. The episode also dives into a debate about Victor Wembanyama's public perception, contrasting views on a Rufus Du Sol concert, and a significant off-air conflict between Dante and Nikki Smokes over pre-concert plans. A notable moment includes the acquisition of a large 'crank' (tornado siren) for the PMT studio. Dante controversially defends his act of flipping an AI delivery robot, citing a 'team human' stance against job displacement by technology.
This episode offers a candid look into the personal and professional lives of Barstool Sports personalities, showcasing their unique brand of sports fandom, internal conflicts, and reactions to cultural shifts like AI. It provides specific examples of fan engagement, the challenges of public perception for athletes, and the casual, often humorous, dynamics within the Barstool ecosystem, making it highly relevant for followers of the brand and sports entertainment.

Takeaways

  • Steven Cheah's 'Knicks in five' prediction was accurate, leading to a memorable, albeit dangerous, victory celebration in San Antonio.
  • Steven, Memes, and Zach faced hostile Spurs fans, including bottles thrown and evading a group with bats, after the Knicks' win.
  • Public perception of Victor Wembanyama is currently more negative due to perceived cockiness and playoff performance, though some argue it's unfair given his youth and language barrier.
  • Kyle loved the Rufus Du Sol concert at Wrigley Field, while Dante, despite being a fan, called it 'the worst' due to low energy and poor audio.
  • Dante deleted his Twitter account due to mental fatigue and an ongoing legal trial, unrelated to his concert review.
  • Dante flipped an AI delivery robot, explaining his 'team human' philosophy against job displacement by technology.
  • An off-air argument erupted between Dante and Nikki Smokes over mismanaged pre-concert plans, revealing underlying tensions.
  • The PMT studio acquired a large, wheeled 'crank' (tornado siren) from the Philadelphia Union for pre-game energy.

Insights

1Steven Cheah's 'Knicks in Five' Victory Lap and Hostile Fan Experience

Steven Cheah successfully predicted the Knicks would win in five games, culminating in a 'peak sports fandom moment' at the game in San Antonio. However, the celebration quickly turned dangerous as he, Memes, and Zach encountered aggressive Spurs fans who threw bottles from rooftops (one hitting Memes) and had to tiptoe past a group with bats on a bridge to avoid confrontation.

Steven Cheah stated, 'You called your shot. You said Knicks in five. You then got to see the Knicks the Larry O'Brien trophy in San Antonio on Saturday night. Just and I have to imagine like peak peak sports fandom moment easily.' He later detailed, 'we had just gotten bottles thrown at us from like a rooftop and one of them shattered and hit memes in the leg... there were just Spurs fans lined up on it... we kind of were walking under them. We went under tiptoeing.'

2Dante's Anti-AI Stance and Robot Flipping Incident

Dante controversially flipped an AI delivery robot, explaining his actions as a 'team human' protest against technology displacing human jobs. He argued that big tech companies use these robots to cut out low-wage delivery drivers, and that society should resist this trend before it reaches a 'critical mass' where human jobs are irrevocably lost.

Dante stated, 'I'm team human, man... They're stealing jobs from people... these food service delivery drivers are like barely making a living... And these big tech companies are trying to like like cut them out of the equation so they can make even more money by having these robots do this.' He added, 'This is one of those things that is going to continue upward and then it's going to reach critical mass and there's going to be no turning back and everybody's going to be like, 'Man, we should have did something.''

3Divergent Concert Experiences and Underlying Tensions

Kyle had an 'incredible' experience at a Rufus Du Sol concert at Wrigley Field, praising the perfect atmosphere. In stark contrast, Dante, a long-time fan who had seen them multiple times, declared it 'the worst concert I've ever been to,' citing low energy, poor audio, and a 'rock concert' setup that he felt didn't suit the electronic group. This disagreement was compounded by an off-air argument between Dante and Nikki Smokes regarding mismanaged pre-concert plans, where Nikki initially declined Dante's country-themed meetup spot only to later attend it with other friends.

Kyle described the concert as 'the best night of my life... Like a orientation for heaven.' Dante, however, called it 'the worst concert I've ever been to' due to 'very low energy? The audio was not great.' Later, the conflict with Nikki Smokes was explained: 'Dante had booked a spot for them that I guess had a country name in it. And they were like, uh, I don't know. So, I guess maybe they went somewhere else. And then he was like, whoa, I went through all these hoops. You guys went somewhere else. So, he was like, I'll go get my boys and bring them here. And so then they did, but it took a while.'

Bottom Line

The 'team human' stance against AI automation, exemplified by physically disrupting delivery robots, highlights a growing, albeit controversial, resistance to technological job displacement among certain segments of the population.

So What?

This sentiment suggests potential future social unrest or consumer backlash against highly automated services, particularly in low-skill labor sectors. Companies deploying such technologies may face public relations challenges or even direct interference.

Impact

Entrepreneurs could explore 'human-first' service models that emphasize human interaction and labor, positioning themselves as an ethical alternative to AI-driven services, or develop technologies that augment human workers rather than replace them entirely.

Lessons

  • When organizing group events, especially involving multiple preferences, confirm attendance and preferences clearly to avoid misunderstandings and perceived disloyalty.
  • For public figures, be mindful of actions in public spaces, as they reflect not only on individuals but also on the organizations they represent.
  • If experiencing mental fatigue or personal stress, consider taking a break from social media, as demonstrated by Dante, to improve mental well-being.

Notable Moments

Steven Cheah, Memes, and Zach tiptoeing past hostile Spurs fans with bats on a bridge after the Knicks' victory in San Antonio.

This vividly illustrates the intense, sometimes dangerous, passion of sports fandom and the personal risks involved in celebrating a rival team's victory in an opposing city.

Dante flipping an AI delivery robot in protest against job displacement.

This act highlights a growing 'team human' sentiment against automation, showcasing a tangible, albeit controversial, form of resistance to AI's impact on labor and society.

The PMT studio acquiring a large, wheeled 'crank' (tornado siren) from the Philadelphia Union.

This quirky acquisition reflects the unique, often absurd, culture of Barstool Sports, where unusual props become integral to their content and on-air antics.

Kate's 'baby moon' vacation to the Finger Lakes in February while eight months pregnant, resulting in a 'terrible' experience with loud college parties and no hot water.

This serves as a humorous cautionary tale about poorly planned 'baby moons' and the importance of considering comfort and environment, especially during late-stage pregnancy.

Quotes

"

"You called your shot. You said Knicks in five. You then got to see the Knicks the Larry O'Brien trophy in San Antonio on Saturday night. Just and I have to imagine like peak peak sports fandom moment."

Host
"

"If I was a foreign athlete and I saw the way people react to everything Victor Wimyama says. I would just never speak to the United States media."

Steven Cheah
"

"It's such good freedom like not having to look on social media 10 times an hour."

Dante

Q&A

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