EPISODE · May 18, 2026 · 52 MIN
Game 7 Fever, NBA Finals Collisions & The Coaching Arms Race
from SportsIQ with Larry Smith · host Rise Above Productions & Revision Sound
Larry Smith opens the week by diving into the escalating arms race in college basketball coaching, where blue blood programs are chasing elite coaches just as aggressively as elite recruits. From massive contract extensions for Brad Underwood, TJ Otzelberger, and Ben McCollum to speculation surrounding Bill Self’s future at Kansas, the landscape of college hoops is shifting rapidly as universities spend aggressively to secure long-term stability and championship expectations. The Stanley Cup Playoffs take center stage as Buffalo News Sabres beat writer Rachel Linzy joins the show ahead of a massive Game 7 between the Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens. Rachel breaks down the electric atmosphere in Buffalo, the Sabres’ playoff growth, lineup adjustments, and why this series has become a defining moment for both the franchise and the city. She also previews the looming challenge awaiting the winner: a rested Carolina Hurricanes team preparing for the Eastern Conference Finals. Larry also examines the booming — yet suddenly unstable — sports gambling industry, where major companies are reporting huge revenues while simultaneously implementing layoffs and leaning heavily into AI automation. From Penn Entertainment to FanDuel and Gambling.com, the conversation explores how rapid expansion may now be slowing across the betting landscape. The show then turns to the ever-growing stadium wars happening across American sports. Larry discusses the Tampa Bay Rays’ proposed $2.3 billion stadium project modeled after Atlanta’s Battery district, the ongoing chaos surrounding the Chicago Bears’ stadium plans, and Cleveland’s new domed Browns facility — including the legal complications already surfacing around its financing. Heavy Sports NBA writer Adel Ahmed joins the program to preview the highly anticipated Western Conference Finals showdown between the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs. The discussion focuses on OKC’s championship pedigree, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s dominance, San Antonio’s growing culture under Victor Wembanyama, and whether the Thunder are beginning to establish the NBA’s next dynasty after years of league-wide parity. Larry and Tony Cordaro close the show by revisiting Buffalo’s hockey resurgence, breaking down the Knicks-Cavaliers Eastern Conference Finals matchup, and discussing whether San Antonio has enough experience to truly challenge Oklahoma City. The episode wraps with a Moment of Awe celebrating the origins of Major League Baseball’s first All-Star Game in 1933, highlighted by Babe Ruth’s legendary home run at Chicago’s Comiskey Park.
What this episode covers
Larry Smith opens the week by diving into the escalating arms race in college basketball coaching, where blue blood programs are chasing elite coaches just as aggressively as elite recruits. From massive contract extensions for Brad Underwood, TJ Otzelberger, and Ben McCollum to speculation surrounding Bill Self’s future at Kansas, the landscape of college hoops is shifting rapidly as universities spend aggressively to secure long-term stability and championship expectations. The Stanley Cup Playoffs take center stage as Buffalo News Sabres beat writer Rachel Linzy joins the show ahead of a massive Game 7 between the Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens. Rachel breaks down the electric atmosphere in Buffalo, the Sabres’ playoff growth, lineup adjustments, and why this series has become a defining moment for both the franchise and the city. She also previews the looming challenge awaiting the winner: a rested Carolina Hurricanes team preparing for the Eastern Conference Finals. Larry also examines the booming — yet suddenly unstable — sports gambling industry, where major companies are reporting huge revenues while simultaneously implementing layoffs and leaning heavily into AI automation. From Penn Entertainment to FanDuel and Gambling.com, the conversation explores how rapid expansion may now be slowing across the betting landscape. The show then turns to the ever-growing stadium wars happening across American sports. Larry discusses the Tampa Bay Rays’ proposed $2.3 billion stadium project modeled after Atlanta’s Battery district, the ongoing chaos surrounding the Chicago Bears’ stadium plans, and Cleveland’s new domed Browns facility — including the legal complications already surfacing around its financing. Heavy Sports NBA writer Adel Ahmed joins the program to preview the highly anticipated Western Conference Finals showdown between the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs. The discussion focuses on OKC’s championship pedigree, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s dominance, San Antonio’s growing culture under Victor Wembanyama, and whether the Thunder are beginning to establish the NBA’s next dynasty after years of league-wide parity. Larry and Tony Cordaro close the show by revisiting Buffalo’s hockey resurgence, breaking down the Knicks-Cavaliers Eastern Conference Finals matchup, and discussing whether San Antonio has enough experience to truly challenge Oklahoma City. The episode wraps with a Moment of Awe celebrating the origins of Major League Baseball’s first All-Star Game in 1933, highlighted by Babe Ruth’s legendary home run at Chicago’s Comiskey Park.
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Game 7 Fever, NBA Finals Collisions & The Coaching Arms Race
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