ARE UMPIRES FINISHED?! ABS DEBATE + NBA EXPANSION & MARCH MADNESS

WE’RE BACK AFTER A TWO-WEEK HIATUS! BETWEEN MOVING AND LIFE THROWING A FEW CURVEBALLS, WE HAD TO STEP AWAY—BUT NOW WE’RE RECHARGED AND READY TO BRING YOU THE BEST BANTER ON THE INTERNET. IN THIS EPISODE, WE KICK THINGS OFF WITH OUR WOLFPACK CHECK-IN, DIVING INTO WORLD CUP PLAYOFF IMPLICATIONS, INTERNATIONAL BREAK DRAMA, AND WHAT IT ALL MEANS MOVING FORWARD. THEN WE JUMP INTO OUR BANTER TAKES, STARTING WITH THE RISE OF ABS (AUTOMATED BALL-STRIKE SYSTEM) IN BASEBALL—HAS IT ALREADY PROVEN THAT TRADITIONAL UMPIRES COULD BE ON THE WAY OUT? WE BREAK IT ALL DOWN AND KEEP THE BASEBALL CONVO ROLLING. FROM THERE, WE SHIFT INTO ENTERTAINMENT AND GAMING, REACTING TO BRIE LARSON’S VIRAL TAKE ON HOW HOLLYWOOD NEEDS TO START LEARNING FROM VIDEO GAMES WHEN IT COMES TO STORYTELLING, IMMERSION, AND AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT. NEXT UP, WE HIT MARCH MADNESS—TWO WEEKS AWAY MEANS A LOT TO CATCH UP ON, BIGGEST MOMENTS, SURPRISES, AND WHAT’S SHAPING THE TOURNAMENT. WE THEN SLIDE OVER TO THE NBA, TALKING CURRENT STORYLINES, LEAGUE ENERGY, AND THE GROWING BUZZ AROUND EXPANSION TEAMS—INCLUDING A POTENTIAL OWNERSHIP SITUATION YOU DEFINITELY DON’T WANT TO MISS. WE WRAP THINGS UP WITH MORE BASEBALL TALK AND OVERALL SPORTS VIBES. THANK YOU FOR STICKING WITH US DURING THE BREAK—WE’RE BACK, BETTER THAN EVER, AND JUST GETTING STARTED. DON’T FORGET TO LIKE, COMMENT, AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE UNFILTERED SPORTS, ENTERTAINMENT, AND CULTURE TAKES EVERY WEEK! TIMELINE: 00:00 – INTRO & EPISODE KICKOFF | BANTER ON THE ROCKS RETURNS + WHAT’S AHEAD 03:33 – WOLFPACK CHECK-IN | WORLD CUP PLAYOFFS, INTERNATIONAL BREAK & JERSEY TALK 21:29 – ABS TAKING OVER BASEBALL? | ARE UMPIRES BECOMING OBSOLETE? 38:45 – VIDEO GAMES VS HOLLYWOOD | WHY GAMING IS DOMINATING STORYTELLING 59:19 – MARCH MADNESS RECAP | BIGGEST MOMENTS, UPSETS & WHAT WE MISSED 01:21:00 – NBA TALK & EXPANSION BUZZ | FUTURE TEAMS, OWNERS & LEAGUE IMPACT 01:47:56 – MLB TALK | LATEST BASEBALL NEWS, TRENDS & FINAL TAKES NEW EPISODES DROP EVERY WEEK! YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/@BanterOntheRocksAPPLE PODCAST: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/banter-on-the-rocks/id1775365645Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4VhbRXPwuJ1OgTKUhRqeA6?si=Hnvd9GtgRsu4Jad1h2WIIw SHOW SOCIAL MEDIA PAGESINSTAGRAM: banter_on_the_rocks PINA:INSTAGRAM: @john_pina_pinedaTIKTOK: @john_pina_pinedaTWITCH: botr_pina TIM:INSTAGRAM: banterontherocks_timTIKTOK: tim_wolfy_wolfgramTWITCH: Tim_banterontherocks Song: HappinessArtist: Owl NestMusic by: CreatorMix.com