Tradition's Finest Episode 86 - "The Heinz Ward Episode"

Episode 86 - "The Heinz Ward Episode" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - Miscellaneous - Throughout our brief existence as a sports-affiliated podcast, we can almost assure you that we have never discussed Horse racing, NHL Hockey & the Announcement of a new Pope in a single sitting - - but leave it to us to group these three topics into one GIANT category, aka our "Miscellaneous" category this week So, let's go- After a full day of rain at Churchill Downs, all 19 horses were forced to run through very muddy conditions At the 151st Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs - located in Louisville, Kentucky (shocker, I know. . . ) - the Bill Mott-trained horse, Sovereignty, who prior to the race, closed at 7-1 odds, would go on to win the first leg of the Triple Crown, crossing the finish line at 2:02.31 - while the early-morning favorite, Journalism, who closed at 3-1 odds, would come in second place. . .Per ESPN on Wednesday evening, the "Utah Mammoth" has been revealed as the new name for the Utah Hockey Club, and permanent identity for the NHL franchise after a lengthy 13-month process that included over 800k ballots cast by fans in multiple rounds of voting - - "Tusk Up?". . .The Utah Hockey Club was the temporary name used by the club in its inaugural 2024-25 NHL season after the Smith Entertainment Group purchased the Arizona Coyotes franchise & made the decision to relocate the franchise to Salt Lake City. . .I think we can all agree that the one factor about the NHL that separates it from other professional sports leagues, are clearly their team logos (although, like most other sports leagues, the team name/mascot for a particular city generally seems inappropriately "out of place") - - for example, when is the last time you encountered a Grizzly Bear in Memphis? Or heard "Jazz" [music] playing in Utah?. . .On Thursday, just after 6 p.m. local time, white smoke began to rise from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City - - which symbolized that the papal conclave had reached the two-thirds majority vote necessary for a new Pope to be crowned. . .Hailing from the United States, the home of the Chicago Bulls & the Chicago White Sox, Robert Francis Prevost has been elected as the leader of the Roman Catholic Church - - The new pontiff, Prevost, has chosen to go by the name Leo XIV & will assume the role of the new Pope - just two weeks after the passing of Pope Francis at the age of 88. . .Of course, each story that we encounter, we attempt to view it from a different lens; Most of the time, I ask myself a very simple question when listening to the news: "Will it Sport?" - - This concept is very simple. . .No matter what you are reading, what you hear or see on television, your computer screen - - Ask yourself this very simple question. . .In other words, is there a way to integrate the topic of sports into the topic and/or news story? - - Instantly, when it was announced that there was a new Pope, and that he was from the United States, I KNEW IT WOULD SPORT! = Pope Leo XIV graduated from the University of Villanova in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Mathematics, and he was actually glued to the television screen a few years ago when Kris Jenkins hit the game-winning shot in the NCAA College Basketball National Championship Game to win Wildcats HC Jay Wright his first (of two) championships. . . - MLB - A Pittsburgh Pirates fan remains in critical condition after falling from the 21-foot high Clemente Wall in right field at PNC Park during last Wednesday night's game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs. . .The man was identified on Thursday as Kavan Markwood, who was a 2022 graduate & standout athlete from the Southern Allegheny School District, and was the MVP of the football team his Senior year. . .An update was provided on the following Wednesday that Markwood had suffered a broken neck, back & collarbone - - and despite his injuries, he is now awake, alert & able to speak - and he even stated in an interview that he remains in pain and self-described his injuries as the feeling that he "broke everything,". . .Markwood obviously still has a long road to recovery ahead of him, but we are all pulling for this guy. . .As of last Saturday evening, the GoFundMe page set up for Markwood had raised approximately $28,000 to contribute to his recovery. . . - NCAA: News & Storylines - For months, Clemson head football coach Dabo Swinney had joked with Ian Schieffelin that the 6-foot-8 PF for the Tigers' men's basketball team would make an excellent TE, but Schieffelin assumed it all was all in good fun - - Fast forward to two weeks ago, however, Schieffelin received a call from HC Dabo Swinney with a serious proposition: Swinney requested for Schieffelin to spend the next six months with the Tigers football team & see what happens. . .Schieffelin announced on his IG account on Friday that he is taking Swinney up on the offer, forgoing any Pro Basketball prospects for now in favor of one last season in a Clemson jersey - - this time on the gridiron rather than on the hardwood. . .Q: Will Ian Schieffelin advance past these next six months? Is it likely that he is the starting TE for a Clemson football team that is projected to be one of the top ten teams in the nation next season?. . .The University of Michigan has self-imposed a two-game ban for head football coach Sherrone Moore for the upcoming 2025 season - - According to ESPN's Dan Wetzel & Pete Thamel, the suspension stems from the Conor Stalions advanced scouting and sign-stealing scandal. . .Moore is set to miss the Wolverines' Week 3 & 4 matchups against Central Michigan & Nebraska - Q: Is it fair for the University and/or coaching staff to select which week(s) that the HC is barred from participating in team activities?. . .However, the NCAA can still punish Moore in addition to the self-impose school penalties, but it remains to be seen in Moore will miss more than just two games this season. . .Q: What are your thoughts regarding Michigan's decision to self-impose a two-game ban for Wolverines' HC Sherrone Moore? Should the NCAA punish Moore in addition the school's self-imposed ban?. . .It was announced on Wednesday evening that former Utah Utes QB Cam Rising is set to become the offensive coordinator at his Alma Mater, Newbury Park High School, per On3 Sports - - This news was released shortly after Rising had announced earlier that afternoon that he was "medically retiring" from the sport of football - - For the most part, Rising has almost been a thorn in the side of the Utes football program the past few seasons - - but will now venture off into his first coaching venture - - and will do so at Newbury Park, which is the home to 2026 Michigan Wolverines QB commit Brady Smigiel. . .Former University of Alabama HC Nick Saban is expected to co-chair President Donald Trump's commission into college athletics, a source confirmed to CBS Sports on Wednesday evening - - The news comes after Trump met with Saban to discuss NIL reform - - Additionally, Texas businessman Cody Campbell, founder of Texas Tech's Matador Club NIL collective & chairman of the Texas Tech board of regents, will serve as co-chair alongside Saban. . .The commission would examine prominent issues facing college sports like the transfer portal, unregulated booster compensation that goes directly to athlets, the employment of college athletes & Title IX, among other hot-button topics - - Q: How likely is it that "NIL reform" will occur when you have one co-chair (Campbell) who is a clear advocate for NIL & the transfer portal, while the other co-chair (Saban) has spoke out numerous times regarding his disdain for modern day college athletics?. . .The NCAA has taken disciplinary action against five current or former Iowa State football support staff members for combining to make more than 6,200 online bets totaling more than $100,00 on professional & college games, including men's & women's basketball games involving the Iowa State Cyclones - - In a negotiated resolution finalized last week, the five former staff members, acknowledged that they knowingly violated NCAA sports wagering bylaws, and are all subject to a one-year show-cause order through April of 2026. . .The NCAA classified the violations as Level II for the individuals involved, meaning the breaches could compromise the integrity of the NCAA collegiate model. . . - NFL - The infamous Draft Day prank phone call made to Shedeur Sanders will cost the Atlanta Falcons franchise more than just mere embarrassment - - The NFL announced last Wednesday that the league has fined Atlanta $250k and Falcons DC Jeff Ulbrich $100k - - for failing to prevent the disclosure of player confidential information distributed to the club in advance of the 2025 NFL Draft - - But, Guess What?. . .The NFL announced that they are still investigating other prank calls that were made to players during the 2025 NFL Draft, but just to clarify, these prank calls are "unrelated" according to the league, to the call made to Sanders by Jax Ulbrich - - Other players who received prank calls during the NFL Draft include No.3 overall pick Abdul Carter, No.5 overall pick Mason Graham, the Indianapolis Colts' Tyler Warren, Philadelphia Eagles' Kyle McCord & Buffalo Bills' Chase Lundt. . .Q: Is it likely that there will be additional fines imposed by the NFL for these prank calls during the NFL Draft? What safeguards should the league implement to prevent player (or prospect) confidentiality from being breached? Should NFL coaches or assistant coaches be allowed to access such pertient information - even from a league-issued device - from the confines of their home?. . . In an unceremonious end to one of the greatest Ravens careers, Baltimore released kicker Justin Tucker on Monday, parting ways with the NFL's most accurate kicker amid an investigation by the league for sexual misconduct - - The move comes less than two months after team President Sashi Brown said the Ravens would wait on making a decision on Tucker until the NFL finished its investigation - - but the uncertainty about Tucker's future ramped up April 26th when Baltimore made the historic move of selecting kicker Tyler Loop in the sixth round of the NFL Draft - - That marked the first time in the franchise's 30 years that it drafted a kicker - - Tucker, 35, has been accused of misconduct by 16 massage therapists from eight high-end spas & wellness center in the Baltimore area - - Tucker was cut with three years left on a four-year, $22 million contract extension that made him the league's highest-paid kicker at the time. . .Q: What's next for the former Ravens' kicker Justin Tucker?. . .Discuss & Debate: Do you have an issue with NFL rookies, such as high draft picks, requesting or asking a franchise's legendary player(s) to wear/use their jersey number for the upcoming season? Why or why not?. . .Former Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders, who was viewed as one of the top QB prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft, surprised NFL experts, especially Mel Kiper Jr., and most fans when he slid to the fifth round, and was selected with the No.144th pick by the Cleveland Browns - - but it surprised one Colorado fan a little more than the rest - - so much so that he is suing the NFL for $100 million in punitive damages "for the harm caused to the Plaintiff and the impact of the NFL's actions on his emotional wellbeing," according to court documents - - In the lawsuit, "John Doe" says that he is a dedicated fan of the Colorado Buffaloes, and claimed that the reports and "leaked statements" suggesting that Sanders "tanked interviews," "wasn't prepared" and "was too cocky" in the pre-draft process helped create a narrative that "unjustly harmed' his reputation - - Furthermore, that "slanderous statements" caused "emotional distress and trauma to the Plaintiff as a fan and consumer". . .In addition to $100 million, the Plaintiff has requested for a formal acknowledgment from the NFL regarding the emotional distress caused by their actions, a retraction of the slanderous statements made about Sanders and an apology, and implementation of fairer practices in the drafting process to ensure that talented players are recognized & given opportunities based on merit, and finally, that any additional remedies the Court deems appropriate, including compensatory damages. . The Dallas Cowboys made a big splash on Wednesday morning, finalizing a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers, to acquire WR George Pickens. . .In exchange, the Cowboys will send a 2026 third-round pick & a 2027 fifth-round pick to the Steelers for Pickens & a 2027 sixth-round pick - - The Cowboys officially have their WR2. . .but. . .Q: Was acquiring George Pickens the answer for Dallas? Did Pittsburgh get enough in return?. - NBA - Atlanta Hawks SG Dyson "The Great Barrier Thief" Daniels has been named the 2024-25 NBA's "Most Improved Player" - - Daniels' emphasis on defense earned him a starting job in his first year in Atlanta & respect from around the league - - Daniels led the NBA with 229 steals, the most since Seattle's Gary Payton, who had 231 in the 1995-96 season. . .Daniels also finished as the runner-up to Cleveland's Evan Mobley in the voting for the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award. . .Daniels also improved his scoring from 5.8 PPG with New Orleans in 2023-24 to 14.1 with Atlanta, his rebounds from 3.9 to 5.9, and his steals from 1.4 to 3.0 per game. .Basketball Hall of Famer Greg Popovich, 76, will no longer coach the San Antonio Spurs, and is transitioning to a full-time role as the team's President of Basketball Operations - - Mitch Johnson, who was named acting head coach after Popovich suffered a mild stroke back in November, will take over head coaching duties permanently. . .At the press conference on Monday, Popovich made the announcement official while wearing a shirt that read "El Jefe," and made sure that reporters & members of the media knew that they could now refer to him as such - - Popovich is a legend to the league - as he has been an NBA HC for the past 29 seasons, is a 5-time NBA Champion, a 3-time NBA Coach of the Year award winner, led the Spurs to 26 playoff appearances, including 22 straight, and is the winningest coach in NBA history with a recorded 1,422 wins - - but JD would like to say, on behalf of Heat Nation - - "Good Riddance, Sir! It has been an honor, but I will not miss our battles in the NBA Finals!". . .The Indiana Pacers made a big announcement on Friday following last Tuesday's on-court confrontation between Milwaukee Bucks' star Giannis Antetokounmpo & John Haliburtion, the father of Indiana star PG Tyrese Haliburton - - both of which were involved in a heated argument on the court following the Pacers' elimination of the Bucks in Game 5. . .Per ESPN, John Haliburton has been banned from attending Pacers games "for the foreseeable future,". . .Q: What are your thoughts regarding the Pacers' franchise decision to ban John Haliburton from attending games?. . .JD & Spencer provide a detailed analysis & breakdown of the following NBA Playoffs games - some of which from the first round of the Eastern & Western Conference playoffs - and others from the more recent second-round Semifinal round(s) - - the following games are discussed in this Episode: First Round: Game 5: No.3 seed Los Angeles Lakers vs. No.6 seed Minnesota Timberwolves Game 6: No.2 seed Houston Rockets vs. No.7 seed Golden State Warriors Game 7: No.2 seed Houston Rockets vs. No.7 seed Golden State Warriors Game 7: No.4 seed Denver Nuggets vs. No.5 seed Los Angeles Clippers Game 6: No.3 seed New York Knicks vs. No.6 seed Detroit Pistons Second Round: Game 1: No.1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No.4 seed Denver Nuggets Game 2: No.1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No.4 seed Denver Nuggets Game 1: No.6 seed Minnesota Timberwolves vs. No.7 seed Golden State Warriors Game 1: No.1 seed Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No.4 seed Indiana Pacers Game 2: No.1 seed Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No.4 seed Indiana Pacers Game 1: No.2 seed Boston Celtics vs. No.3 seed New York Knicks Game 2: No.2 seed Boston Celtics vs. No.3 seed New York Knicks Thanks for Listening!