WWE announcer Michael Cole makes good on Pat McAfee Pacers bet in raucous scene
WWE announcer Michael Cole made good on his bet with Pat McAfee and donned a Pacers jersey during 'Monday Night Raw' that was broadcasting live from Tulsa, Okla.
The pair made a bet two weeks earlier that Cole would wear a Pacers jersey during a broadcast if Indiana defeated the Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals.
The Pacers did indeed knock out the Knicks from the postseason in six games, completing the series over the weekend in a 125-108 win to advance to the NBA Finals to face the Oklahoma City Thunder.
3 Michael Cole flexes in a Pacers jersey.
@WWE/X
Cole was forced to reveal the jersey underneath his dress shirt near the start of Monday's broadcast, which did not sit well with the Oklahoma crowd and delighted McAfee, who then began taunting the fans.
'The Pacers are actually going to be taking on the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals,' McAfee said. 'And these people would like to see you pay your debt, sir. He's been working out. He's been running miles and miles and miles. Michael Cole, yeah buddy!'
McAfee then started to point out the buff arms of the longtime WWE broadcaster before noting that Cole was sporting a jersey of 'Pacers legend' T.J. McConnell.
'Who's going to come into Oklahoma and do what he did to the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals,' McAfee exclaimed to the crowd, who quickly stared booing.
3 Michael Cole made good on his bet.
@WWE/X
McAfee is an unabashed Pacers fan and has been a fixture at games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse to support Indiana.
He made waves when he called out the 'bigwigs from the big city' during an in-game stoppage in reference to the celebrity contingent of Timothée Chalamet, Ben Stiller and Spike Lee who made the trip to Indiana for the Pacers' Game 4 win over the Knicks.
3 Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers knocked out the Knicks.
AP
The NBA Finals begin Thursday in Oklahoma City.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
37 minutes ago
- USA Today
WWE Night of Champions 2025 live results: Start time, match card, what to know for PPV
Championships, opportunities and major stars all await at Night of Champions. WWE returns to Saudi Arabia for Night of Champions, where six matches at Kingdom Arena will set the stage for a fiery summer of wrestling. Six bouts are scheduled but only two titles will be on the line. However, one of those will reignite one of the best feuds in the past 20 years with John Cena defending the Undisputed WWE Championship against CM Punk in the potential final meeting between two icons of the sport. Though not necessarily titles, royalty will be crowned in the King and Queen of the Ring tournament finals. Not only will the winners get the prestigious title, but a championship match awaits them in just more than a month. Follow USA TODAY Sports for all the results, highlights and analysis from Night of Champions 2025: When is Night of Champions 2025? Night of Champions takes place Saturday, June 28. Night of Champions 2025 start time WWE Night of Champions starts at 1 p.m. ET. The preshow begins at 11 a.m. ET. Where is Night of Champions 2025? It takes place at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. How to watch Night of Champions 2025 Night of Champions will be streamed on Peacock, but you must have their premium or premium-plus subscription to watch. Internationally, it will be available on Netflix in most markets. Stream WWE Night of Champions on Peacock How to watch Night of Champions 2025 preshow The Night of Champions preshow will be available to watch on Peacock, and on WWE's social channels, including YouTube. Night of Champions 2025 match card Matches not in order
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
How to Watch Countdown to Night of Champions: Live Stream WWE, TV Channel
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. WWE Night of Champions is coming in hot this Saturday, and it's shaping up to be one of the most stacked cards of the year, streaming LIVE at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT on Peacock in the U.S. and Netflix everywhere else. John Cena (L) sits on the top rope during his Undisputed WWE Championship match against Cody Rhodes during WrestleMania 41 at Allegiant Stadium on April 20, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. John Cena (L) sits on the top rope during his Undisputed WWE Championship match against Cody Rhodes during WrestleMania 41 at Allegiant Stadium on April 20, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo byThe action will get an early start on Saturday before the bell even rings. Tune in for the WWE Night of Champions Countdown at 11 a.m. ET / 8 a.m. PT on Peacock, and across WWE's social platforms. Expect expert analysis, bold predictions, and a hype train getting you ready for the main event. How to Watch WWE Countdown to Night of Champions Date: Saturday, June 28, 2025 Time: 11:00 p.m. ET Channel: Peacock Stream: Peacock (TRY NOW) Main Event Match Card (Previews) Undisputed WWE Championship John Cena vs. CM Punk Two icons. One title. Expect fireworks. King of the Ring Final Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton Former allies turned rivals in a battle for the crown. Queen of the Ring Final Jade Cargill vs. Asuka Power meets precision. A can't-miss clash. United States Championship Match Jacob Fatu vs. Solo Sikoa Bloodline business gets personal. Street Fight Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Rodriguez No rules. No mercy. Just mayhem Grudge Match Sami Zayn vs. Karrion Kross Redemption vs. destruction. Who walks out? Live stream WWE Night of Champions with Peacock: Start your subscription now! Regional restrictions may apply. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Knicks' NBA Free Agency Plans Receive Major Update
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The New York Knicks are fresh off of their Eastern Conference Finals loss to the Indiana Pacers. Some time may have passed, but the sting of coming up short of the NBA Finals is still very much alive. Following the loss to the Pacers in six games, the Knicks made the move to fire head coach Tom Thibodeau. They still have yet to replace him, but the 2025 NBA Draft has come and gone, which means that free agency is about to open. With free agency opening on Monday, New York's plans have received a major update. Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks huddles with his team during the fourth quarter against the Indiana Pacers in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge... Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks huddles with his team during the fourth quarter against the Indiana Pacers in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 27, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. More Photo byThere are plenty of ways the Knicks could look to improve their roster. Could one of them come by signing a key piece of the Boston Celtics? Read more: Report: Rockets Could Make Second Trade After Kevin Durant Deal That is exactly what one insider has suggested could be of interest to New York. According to a report from Ian Begley of SNY, the Knicks are expected to "at least check in" on free agent center Al Horford. He has been a valuable member of the Celtics for the last four years. "I think the Knicks will take a look at the guard market for a bench player," Begley said. "Also, ESPN reports that Celtics veteran Al Horford will have a robust market this offseason. I think the Knicks will also at least check in on Horford's situation in Boston. The Celtics shed salary by trading Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis and they certainly want Horford back, but are limited in what they can offer the veteran big man." During the 2024-25 NBA season with Boston, Horford played in 60 games and made 42 starts. He averaged nine points per game to go along with 6.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 0.9 blocks, while shooting 42.3 percent from the floor and 36.3 percent from three-point distance. Read more: Mark Cuban Sends Surprising Message About Mavericks' Cooper Flagg Even at 39 years old, Horford continues to find ways to remain productive. Adding Horford would give New York a valuable bench center. He can still score when called upon and is more than capable of playing high-level defense and rebounding. It will be interesting to see what the Knicks choose to do this offseason. They aren't far away from winning a championship. With the right moves this offseason, which could include signing Horford, New York should be right back in the thick of the championship chase during the 2025-26 season. For more on the New York Knicks and general NBA news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
