Final Four Frenzy: Is It Sports’ Best Weekend?

Final Four Frenzy: Is It Sports’ Best Weekend?

The roar of the crowd, the thrill of upsets, and the crowning of champions – college basketball’s Final Four is here, and the debate is on: Is this the greatest weekend in all of sports? Stephen A. Smith and Kendrick Perkins joined Shay Cornet on First Take to break it all down, and the consensus is clear for many, this weekend just hits different.

March Madness Magic

Kendrick Perkins didn’t hesitate, declaring the Final Four the ultimate sports spectacle. “It’s nothing like the Final Four. It’s nothing like March Madness,” Perkins stated emphatically. He even gave a nod to the Super Bowl, but insisted the college basketball finale holds a special place. With the men’s and women’s tournaments running through the weekend and into Monday, it’s an extended celebration of the game. This year, it even lands on Easter weekend, adding another layer to the excitement.

Perkins highlighted the continuous action. “You got the women’s on Friday, you got the men on Saturday, you got the women on Sunday, you got the men on Monday,” he explained. “I love it. And and it’s March Madness and anything could happen.” While most championships are decided by top seeds, Perkins pointed out that college basketball offers more unpredictability, mentioning strong contenders like Arizona, Michigan, and defending champion UConn led by Dan Hurley. Illinois, with an impressive 28-8 record and four overtime losses, also stands out as a team that came out of nowhere.

Shay’s Opening Weekend Argument

Shay Cornet, however, offered a different perspective, arguing that the *first* weekend of the NCAA Tournament might actually be the best. “I love Final Four weekend, but the first weekend of the tournament is the best when you got all these games you got to follow for basically four days in a row,” she countered. Shay believes other sports could learn from this model, suggesting it would be amazing if the NBA playoffs started with all games on the same day.

Stephen A. Smith playfully pushed back on Shay’s idea, calling her position “disappointing” and lacking consistency. He teased her about her initial focus on Indiana football, suggesting she wasn’t always talking about them until they reached the college football playoffs. “Even though we appreciate the beginning of March Madness and all the Cinderellas that still have a chance… at the end of the day, this is championship weekend in college sports and it’s nonstop,” Smith declared, firmly planting his flag with the Final Four weekend.

Championship Game Scheduling: Friday or Saturday?

The conversation then shifted to the timing of major championship games. Should games like the Super Bowl or the national championship be played on Saturdays instead of Sundays or Mondays, giving people a day off before returning to work? Perkins disagreed, arguing that current scheduling already capitalizes on viewership. He defended the Friday slot for the women’s Final Four, stating, “Why wouldn’t you capitalize off of that and have the women’s championship?” He believes prime time on a Friday is ideal, ensuring maximum attention.

Perkins also touched on the men’s championship. “I hate it when it was on Tuesday when you had it all right the men’s national championship because we know that’s the creme de la creme in college basketball.” He feels the most important game should lead into the following day, not be relegated to a Tuesday. The current Friday (women’s), Saturday (men’s semi-finals implied), and Monday (men’s championship) schedule, with Sunday for the women’s final, works perfectly in his eyes. Stephen A. agreed, noting that the NBA even adjusts its schedule for the Monday championship game, showing its importance.

Neutral Sites: Fair Play or Missed Opportunity?

The discussion turned to where these championship games should be played. Should the Final Four and college football playoff games be held at the higher seeds’ home courts, or do neutral sites offer a better experience? Perkins strongly advocated for neutral sites, like Phoenix for the women and Indianapolis for the men this year. “No, no, no. Because it’s a neutral sight. That’s a big deal because you don’t want anybody to proclaim they were at a disadvantage in a championship game,” he explained.

He emphasized the importance of an even playing field in college sports, especially since players are not professionals. “You want to make it as even kill as possible to minimize the amount of excuses that can be thrown out there in the event that a team loses,” Perkins stated. From an economic standpoint, he also pointed out the significant revenue these neutral-site events bring to host cities. “All of a sudden, just imagine how much money Phoenix is going to make this this weekend. Imagine how much money Indianapolis is going to make this weekend,” he added.

The Stephen A. vs. Perk Viewing Habits Debate

Finally, the hosts tackled a more personal question: how do they watch big games? Stephen A. playfully put Kendrick Perkins on the spot. “I’m not trying to get in your business, but big games. You watching alone? We watching with the crowd? Are we going out?” he asked.

Perkins admitted he prefers to watch alone. “I like to be locked in, Shay. I don’t I don’t need people talking to me about other things when it’s a big game. I need to be in the moment,” he confessed. He even finds going to games distracting because he can’t focus on the details that don’t show up on the stat sheet. “Damn it, I want to be by myself,” Perkins declared.

Stephen A., however, hinted that Perkins might enjoy watching with company more than he lets on. “Perk is not being entirely honest here. He does like to watch the games himself, but he enjoys it more watching it with me,” Smith quipped. He contrasted this with his sister Carmen, who he finds distracting because she tries to debate during the game. Smith believes the best viewing experience is with someone equally invested, like Michael Wilbon, whom he called the “best person in the world to watch the games with.”

Perkins then turned the tables, describing the unique experience of watching a Knicks game with Stephen A. “I will hear yelling. Yeah, I would literally hear yelling, which makes me go into the room because I need to sit down and be part of that atmosphere,” he said. Smith responded with his signature humor, “That’s the least surprising thing you’ve said all day.” Perkins vividly described the emotional rollercoaster of Knicks games: “The highs the lows the emotional like we will be next I’m telling you we will be next we will be next door right next door.” Smith agreed, calling the Knicks experience “worse than General Hospital” with its mix of euphoria and misery.

As the segment wrapped up, the crew reminded viewers to tune into ESPN at 10 a.m. Eastern for more First Take, and to catch the championship game on Monday night.

Source: Stephen A. reveals Perk watches big games by himself 👀 ‘I like to be locked in’ | FT YT Exclusive (YouTube)