NBA Scandal Fallout & Our NFL Week 1 Picks

On September 7, 2026, hosts Will Alimonos and Zach Bishop break down a week of wild sports news on A Little Column A, A Little Column B. The episode opens with an in-depth discussion of the NBA investigation into the Clippers, the punishments handed down, and whether the penalties — fines, draft pick losses and bans — fit the scale of the alleged offenses. Will and Zach debate Kawhi Leonard’s light financial penalty and lack of suspension, the role of Uncle Dennis, Steve Ballmer’s reputation damage, and the long road of the league’s inquiry, with references to Pablo Torre’s reporting and comparisons to other high-profile league probes. The hosts explore the broader implications for the NBA: who really bears responsibility inside organizations, how the players’ union constrains discipline, and whether the Clippers — stripped of picks and forced to rebuild — can recover. They unpack the idea of vacated wins or stripped banners, the limits of commissioner authority, and why Willie suspects there’s more to come in this saga. Switching gears to the NFL, Willie and Zach preview Week 1 with game-by-game takes and a few bold bets. Highlights include Patriots at Seahawks (Willie’s under/defense angle), the international 49ers–Rams matchup in Australia and each team’s travel strategy, Bengals–Buccaneers, Broncos–Chiefs on Monday Night, and a number of other picks across the slate. They explain their reasoning on key matchups, discuss pick’em and betting parlays, and outline the stakes for teams and quarterbacks in Week 1. The conversation then covers college football drama: the controversial game-clock discrepancy that cost Michigan and sparked storming-the-field debate, UMass’s upset over Rutgers, the SEC’s perfect opening weekend, and how early-season anomalies set the tone for fall Saturdays. Willie and Zach argue about whether storming the field is ever justified and preview marquee upcoming matchups like Oklahoma at Michigan and Ohio State at Texas. Rounding out the show, the hosts touch on side stories that kept the headlines buzzing — most notably Ben Simmons signing with the Sacramento Kings — and muse about the entertainment value of offseason comebacks, NIL-style deals, and the personalities who drive sports coverage. They close with reminders about their weekly pick’em league, how listeners can follow along, and a tease that more developments in the Clippers investigation may still surface. Chapters (00:00:38) Clippers Punishment Fallout (00:05:26) Can Kawhi Escape Scandal? (00:07:21) Clippers Future in Ruins (00:10:33) Ballmer’s Stain Remains (00:16:04) Vacated Wins and Titles (00:23:11) Week One Picks Begin (00:30:05) Australia Travel Strategy (00:37:14) Early Season Matchups (00:41:16) Tua Debut, Bears Buzz (00:45:08) Trap Games and Upsets (00:48:14) Eagles Lock of the Week (00:50:15) Cardinals, Cowboys, Chiefs (00:53:22) Week One Bets (00:55:25) College Chaos Continues (00:59:31) UMass Shock and Bad Beats (01:03:20) College Football Weekend Ahead (01:04:15) Ben Simmons Returns