The Word Podcast: Sports, News, & Stuff

.1We dove into the current NBA playoff landscape, where Rich Abernethy pointed out that while the Western Conference Finals have been competitive, the overall quality has been subpar due to several early sweeps. The success of the New York Knicks led to a debate on fan frustration and the intense atmosphere at Madison Square Garden. Rich even expressed a preference for seeing the Knicks succeed over the Oklahoma City Thunder. James argued that the presence of celebrities like Timothy Chalamet, Ben Stiller, Adam Sandler, and Pete Davidson provides a necessary "cultural distraction" for the public. The conversation on public spectacle continued with news that Donald Trump plans to attend a Knicks finals game, prompting concern from both hosts about resulting security measures that will significantly delay fan entry.Shifting gears to the intersection of politics and sports, we analyzed the confusing spectacle of a UFC fight at the White House. Rich framed the event as a marketing ploy, drawing comparisons to basketball games hosted on battleships, which led to a broader discussion on political influence in sports and how critics often ignore it when they agree with the political stance (like NFL military tie-ins). We confirmed the podcast's editorial direction will continue to incorporate discussions on serious and political topics, but these will not be the primary focus of the broadcast.Finally, we addressed logistics both great and small, from World Cup hosting requirements in Atlanta (covering stadium logos for FIFA compliance) to personal updates. James provided updates on studio equipment upgrades, including cable management and a new soundboard, and vented about persistent spotty internet issues. We also looked at the feasibility of biking to the local golf course and traded stories about dangerous golf cart incidents and witnessing public altercations on the course, comparing confrontations to the Jerry Springer Show...

We're fresh off a phenomenal Masters that put our picks to the test! We checked in on our previous Masters predictions and found we were successful in predicting our "disappointments," which led to an "incredible reverse jinx". Rory McIlroy, Rich's disappointment pick, won back-to-back, and James Mundia's pick, Scottie Scheffler, also performed well. The guys are now demanding $25,000 each from McIlroy and Scheffler for motivating them.The main event was a deeper dive into the Masters' outcome, specifically Rory McIlroy's victory, which James observed was due to a change in his demeanor and mentality, making him seem more focused on "completing the job". This result suggests a more even playing field heading into the PGA tournament and the rest of the majors. We also covered headlines suggesting that LIV Golf may be closing shop, noting Brooks Koepka is currently the only player who has formally gone through the "paying your penance" process to return to the PGA. We also reminded Marcus, our intern of 20 years, to create a spec script for a sporting episode of the podcast.Shifting gears, we dove headlong into the unexpectedly dramatic NBA play-in games. Rich discussed the intensity of the Charlotte Hornets' game against the Miami Heat, referring to the Hornets as "America's team," a fan club James has now officially joined. Both of us stressed the critical importance of this playoff experience for the Hornets' growth, noting that unlike other sports, NBA success often requires this progressive exposure to the postseason environment. We also solidified the plan to complete the NBA playoff bracket tomorrow night before the first round starts on Saturday

We are live for "Christmas in April," checking in on the Masters, which is already testing our predictions. We fact-checked our draft picks. James is already committed to two trips to Fish Camp after losing the NFL pick 'em league and the March Madness bracket challenge to Rich Abernethy, and it could be quadruple or nothing with the Masters AND World Cup picks to come!Our main event was the surprising hire of Michael Malone as the new head coach at the University of North Carolina. We agreed the move offers a strong recruiting and branding edge, but Rich Abernethy emphasized that today's recruits are drawn more by "the commas and the zeros" than the "legends and heroes" of the "Carolina Way".Shifting gears, we dove into a heated debate on fast-casual burritos: Rich Abernethy is a "big Kdoba guy," asserting it's superior to Chipotle, while James declared Moe's Southwest Grill "the GOAT"—a claim Rich strongly refutes. We had to exclude Taco Bell from the discussion, classifying it as a "different weight class".Finally, we looked at "America's team," the Charlotte Hornets, currently sitting in the 9-seed for the NBA playoffs. Rich Abernethy is concerned the successful season could end as a "big tease" if they lose the play-in games. That’s a wrap! The Word Sports News and Stuff program is available on all major podcast platforms, and you can follow us on twitter.com/@thewordpodcast and Instagram/@thewordpodcast. We'll catch you next week with a full NBA playoff preview once the matchups are finalized!

The Final Four is set! On this episode we take some time to go over the insane end of the Duke - UCONN Elite Eight game last weekend, which dovetails nicely into our talk on why we do this to ourselves as sports fans.With the hoops season over for the majority of the field, it's that time of year where athletes give their perfunctory answers as to whether they are coming back next season. We talk about why are we even asking these questions, much the same as how no one really takes anything a politician takes seriously, but we still ask them the same things over and over!Staying with our New Year's Resolution of keeping things positive, there are a lot of things coming down the pipe in the next few weeks in the sporting world, so we go over a few of them, including a "Tradition unlike any other..."We conclude with our Master's "draft", tune in to see how we tweak the format a little bit.

We are live for March Madness, and we’re legally viewing the Texas versus Purdue game—Purdue is up 72-70—but as Rich said, this score will be old news by the time you hear it, proving we are an ethical, if slightly delayed, broadcast!We dive headfirst into the “bombshell event” that rocked Tobacco Road: Hubert Davis is no longer the head coach at UNC. As alumni, we had a lot to say, especially James, who knew Davis's great family personally but still "never understood the hire". We agreed it was a necessary move due to a lack of consistent success and modernization, but Rich noted that Davis felt like a “fall guy” for deeper program issues. We question the program's direction, the baffling list of potential candidates (Brad Stevens?), and how UNC plans to find a new identity without losing the “family aspect” in the NIL-driven, transfer-portal era.Shifting gears, we celebrated the Charlotte Hornets for finally being “America’s team,” playing some great ball, and attributed their success to strong organizational alignment, smart moves, and investment in staff. This led us to a full-on old-man-yells-at-cloud session about the NFL, where we lamented the move to an 18-game season that’s “degrading the quality of the product”. We discussed the baffling logic of spending huge money on players only to risk them on injury-prone turf fields, like the one where RG3 got hurt. We also expressed disdain for billionaire owners holding cities "hostage" to demand taxpayer-funded stadiums.Before we wrapped up, James confessed to being 10 points behind Rich in the bracket challenge, we took a wild, nostalgic detour into 90s pop culture (shoutout Carson Daly and Fred Durst), and reminisced about the unbelievably helpful UNC associate AD for communications, Steve Kersner, hoping the next coach has a good relationship with him.That’s a wrap! Rich needs to watch the rest of the second half, and James is pulling an all-nighter to edit and render—we’ll catch you next time\!

We're back to cover the fallout from FBI Director Kash Patel partying with the USA Men's Hockey Team.It's playoff push time in the NBA and Rich's own Charlotte Hornets are making a statement!The recent benchside dustup between Luka and JJ gives us a chance to discuss Reddick as a coach and our unique connection to him via Tobacco road.With the transfer portal and NIL, we talk about how college sports fandom has evolved, given how nebulous rosters have become lately, which also led to us talking about the necessary guardrails in college sports.This year for March Madness, we're going double or nothing on the Skyline Chili / Fishcamp challenge! Bracket loser has to go to the opposing restaurant TWICE. Stay tuned for details on how to sign up for our March Madness Bracket Challenge.

Super Bowl Recap: We break down a Super Bowl that one of us called "boring and completely forgettable," discussing the Patriots' "hapless" offense and Sam Darnold's career arc that saw him win a Super Bowl after his infamous "seeing ghosts" moment. One of us even takes credit for calling the "first half under" bet."Empathy is Dead" Rant: A frustrating trip to Costco sparks a broader sociological analysis on public behavior. We lament the "death of empathy" and the general disregard for others, connecting it to experiences like speakerphone use in public and the "charged environment" at Costco, ultimately concluding, "We’re cooked" as a society.Pick'em League & More: We invite you to join the word podcast pick them league, which promises "only punishments" like eating Skyline Chili for the loser.

We're back after a medium hiatus for our first annual "Jones vs. Beans Intrasquad Scrimmage" to get ready for the season.With the NFL divisional round this weekend, we look back on the end of the regular season and give our picks for the weekend schedule.Speaking of NFL, you'll get the official results of our first ever Pigskin Pick'em Challenge, where the loser has to indulge the winner by dining at a restaurant with them that they othewise wouldn't ever go to. For Rich this is Skyline Chili and for James it's basically any "fish fry" based establishment.There's a deep dive into a few of the recent sports gambling scandals (just pick one!) and how this may have an effect on the NIL landscape going forward.And while we are still doing our "Old Men Yell at Cloud" segment, we're also trying to sprinkle in some more positivity to the show this year, so we wrap up with our "New Years Sports Resolutions".

We're back after a brief hiatus to tackle the madness that was the recent Ryder Cup, the early returns in the NFL season, and the improbable collapse of UNC football in the first season under Bill Belichick.With the NFL season underway, we have a chance to review our 3 bold statements from before the season began.Let's not forget that this is the first annual TWP Pick 'Em Fantasy League, where there is a lot on the line: If James wins Rich has to eat at Skyline Chili, where as a Rich victory means James has to go to a traditional southern fish fry. The stakes are high!

Week 1 for the NFL and NCAA are in the books - stay tuned to see who is on top for the official NFL Pick-em league!The week was marred by content creator Charlie Kirk being assasinated at an event in Utah. This spurred on a discussion about where we stand as content creators and what we think about prominent creators that we may not agree with, but still deserver the freedom to express their beliefs.Lastly, we're bringing a NEW game show to The Word! The "IMDB Known For" Quiz, in which each host names a celebrity and their opponent has to name the 4 IMDB titles they are known for. Harder than you think!

It's our first show back after the Cowboys blew up their defense and traded Micah Parsons to the Packers.The sports world was also taken aback this week as an alleged under the table scheme to pay Kawhi Leonard was exposed.The Eagles snuck past the Cowboys in the NFL opener, and we've already got our first gate: Spitgate!And we've got the early season returns from the show's NFL Pick'em League! You can still join by the links in our Instagram bio: @wordpodcastofficial

And we're back! In contrast to our 3 Bold Statements segment on the last episode, we're debuting our "Coldstone Lead Pick Locks" for the upcoming NFL season. If our takes were too hot last episode, these are more of your blue chip picks for this season.We're also officially announcing our official NFL Pick-em League for 2025-26 season! You can join by following this link: TWP 2025/26 Pick 'Em League SignupPrizes to be announced soon. There's already some side action going on between Rich and James over where the loser between them has to take the other out to a restaurant of my choice. At the moment, James is firm on Skyline Chili and Rich will opt for a Seafood spot serving fried catfish and hush pupples.Rich opened up a can of worms with Skyline Chili in his crosshairs all episode!Sticking with the football theme, we wrap things up with an in-depth discussion on what to expect out of Bellichick's first season as the head football coach in Chapel Hill for the Tarheels this season.Follow us on our socials for more details on the show and the Pick 'em League: Twitter: @thewordpodcastIG: @wordpodcastofficial

With NFL preseason games starting this week, it's only appropriate that we provide our way too early "hot" takes in a special edition of "3 Bold Statements"."Middle-aged Men Yell at Cloud" is back as well. This time, streaming services and ads are in the crosshairs. Remember the good 'ole days where you paid an exorbitant amount for cable and the add on services. Well...they're back, just spread out across 10 different platforms...And Rich has a new daily gripe to add to our growing list of things we can't believe people do in public. And listen carefully to this section, as there is a very important ask of all TWP listeners. Stay frosty.

Join us in another free-ranging episode where we break down the current labor disputes in the NFLPA and the WNBA. NFL Pre-season is on the way, so it's imperative that we ask the perennial question: "Do we even need or want this?""Two Trumps & a Lie" returns with a special JUMBO size edition!And you won't wan't to miss our discussion of Scottie Schieffler's recent Open Championship win and surprising candor with the press core immediately following the victory.Along the way we also dive into year round schools, the capital class versus the labor class, mindfullness (seriously go buy "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle!), and parenting as a productivity boost.Lastly, James shows the Trump Administration how to shut a story down when we revisit the infamous "Not giving seats up on a plane so the family can sit together" incident.

While the NBA is in the off-season, the tea is still piping hot as "buyout season" has begun as teams evaluate their rosters and make moves.We also hold our first ever Summer Cookout Food Draft, putting together our preferred rosters for food, drinks, and desserts for the seasons poolside and backyard activities.We're skipping "Millenial Men Yell at Cloud" this week, but we'll be back with more things to complain about next episode. That being said, we get a little taste of MMYC at the start of the episode.We're now on instagram: @thewordpodcastofficial

(00:00:00) Show open (00:05:16) NBA Finals (00:10:19) The short window for NBA franchise success (00:12:16) The grueling NBA season, overuse injuries (00:21:12) NBA Draft 2025 (00:22:27) Is James the a-hole? Plane seat switch proposition (00:30:50) Joe Dumars got another job?!?!? How?! Why!?!? (00:33:45) Back to the airplane story (00:41:10) Barista life is not a game (00:44:00) Rich has some airport smoke too! Runway delays (00:47:01) RDU airport slaps! (Clinton thumb: engage) (00:50:01) Rich likes the Hornets draft picks! (00:52:53) NBA needs to fix how it does the draft (01:01:29) Oregon Trail, Carmen San Diego (01:07:43) Send us your topic requests! (01:08:28) Rigors of the youth hockey to NHL dream (01:11:27) James had to go to soccer court (01:13:07) Getting "bounced" by an animal (01:21:03) Trash may have been stolen? (01:23:46) Wrapping up We're back after a brief hiatus! On this episode we recap the outcome of the NBA Finals, cover the recent NBA draft and cover the coverage, Inception style. There's also a discussion of the grueling NBA schedule, what it does to players bodies, and how it starts early in their youth development being so competitive, across all sports"Millenial Men Yell At Cloud" is a jumbo edition this week, focused on airport and airplane snafus, including James sharing a sheisty seat-switch proposition he went through. And of course, "kids don't even know!" about The Oregon Trail and Where In The World Is Carmen San Diego.Stick around to hear about how James was booted from a recent social event by an animal, and Rich may have had his trash stolen. We're back baby!

On this episode, we dive headfirst into previewing Game 7 of the NBA Finals, celebrating the unexpected triumphs of some of the league's small-market teams and giving credit to the unsung heroes—the role players who've been making a huge impact.Then, things take a wild turn as our very own Rich Abernethy broke some major news: a blockbuster Kevin Durant trade to the Houston Rockets. We spent a good chunk of time breaking down what this means for both teams and the league as a whole.We also introduced a brand new game for all of you: "Two Dunks in a Lie," where we tested our knowledge of the upcoming NBA draft prospects. We have decided to suspend "2 Trumps & a Lie" due to the developing geopolitcal situation.To wrap things up, we get into the wild world of fantasy football last place finisher punishments (are ya'll really doing this?!?!)

The Pacers stormed back in Game 1 to score a last-second upset of OKC. Does this change our Stone-Cold-Lead-Pipe-Lock prediction from last week?Tibs is out in NYC and Rich's analysis might suprise you!Since it's a special weekend recording of the show, "2 Trumps & a Lie" is a jumbo edition with an extra headline to shake things up.Aaron Rodgers has signed a 1 year deal with the Steelers and we give our honest and optimistic take on what will undoubtedly be a very stable, manageable situation in Pittsburge next season...Lastly, ya'll still have to do PTO requests? We've got some horror stories of our experiences in that arena to close things out. Share yours if you got 'em!

We're back to cover the hottest topic in the sports world right now: the developing drama of NFL mini-camp Left Guard roster position battles.With that in mind, we try to squeeze in some talk about the NBA Conference Finals as the Thunder have secured their spot and the Knicks are battling to make a series of it with Indy."2 Trumps & a Lie" is back again this week with a particularly intense set of headlines that "a lot of people say are the most dramatic headlines we've ever seen, maybe ever."And for a pallette cleanser, we're flipping the "Old Men Yelling At Cloud" segment into an analysis of foul merchants and ethical hoopers, topped off with some of our favorite NBA player Archetypes (shoutout to Carl Jung).

We're back after a short hiatus, and we jump straight into a recap of the PGA Championship, which was another Stone Cold Lead Pipe Lock for TWP. Rich is vindicated (again) for his early take on the Mavs / Lakers trade not being the blunder that it was originally thought, especially after the Lakers performance in the first round and them now having the Golden Ticket to get Cooper Flagg. NBA Conference finals kick off this week and we've got our SCLPLs for you. And of course, we're back with a Party Size edition of "2 Trumps & a Lie".Stick around as we surprisingly announce our support for Trump's Golden Dome, as we strongly believe "America needs more dome"!

Join us as we catch up on the NBA Playoffs, with an in-depth look at how the Celtics can turn the ship around. You'll also hear our pitch to fix things with the Dallas Cowboys and subsequently why this will never happen. We were on point with our picks for the Masters, so we've got stone cold lead pipe locks for the PGA Championship as well. Stick around for a preview of an upcoming edition to TWP network "Why Didn't Anybody Tell Me About This!?"

And we're back! This week, we unpack the NFL draft, focusing on the "surprising" fall of Shador Sanders and the overblown media frenzy surrounding it. We also touch on NBA playoffs, sharing hot takes and predictions. Plus, get ready for a special edition of "Two Trumps and a Lie," testing James's knowledge of current events (despite his news diet). And of course, no episode would be complete without a good old-fashioned "Old Man (Men) Yells at Cloud" session. 

This episode kicks off with a recap of an unforgettable Masters tournament, including a deep dive into Rory McIlroy's victory and Bryson DeChambeau's (surprising?) maturity. Then, things take a turn with a discussion on some startling political headlines in "Two Trumps and a Lie," a game that proves truth can be stranger than fiction. Finally, we wrap up with a preview of the NBA playoffs, including an unexpected upset pick that might just surprise you! Plus, find out why voicemail etiquette is a lost art and reminisce about the good old days of listservs and payphones.

We're back with a review of the wild ending to the college basketball season and to commiserate with Rich's Blue Devils. Masters week is FINALLY here and we put down some friendly wagers on the tournament. Even our intern Marcus is in on the action!The second installment of "2 Trumps & a Lie" focuses on 2 real and 1 fake Trump tariff headlines from the past week that James has to guess correctly.And it wouldn't be an episode of the word without our patented "3 Bold Statements" that we'll inevitably forget about or completely change course on next week. Join us!

Join us as we preview the Final Four field for Saturday's slate of games, featuring all No. 1 seeds for the first time since 2008. Outgoing Maryland head men's basketball coach Kevin Willard gives us all a playbook for how not to leave a job. The accelerated basketball coaching carousels we are seeing may be a result of the proliferation of a mostly unregulated NIL landscape, and we take a look at the broader implications on collegate sports and how it parallels some current political developments.You don't want to miss our new segment, "2 Trumps & a Lie", where James has to pick the false headline from 3 recent developments out of the Trump Administration. As a bonus, we've got two rounds for you on this episode!

We're back and recapping the latest with March Madness, recapping our recent travel adventures (including our first in-person show since 2017). We've got a deeper look at the perception of Duke as they continue to impress, particularly Cooper Flagg. We also touch on the ACC's tournament showing, the evolving landscape of college basketball with NIL deals, and the power of sports as an escape from current events. Longtime listeners of the show will also appreciate the return of our classic segment: "3 Bold Statements"!

With college basketball in full swing and a fresh take on the world of sports betting, this episode of "The Word" is one for the books. We break down the latest on NCAA drama and NIL challenges while reflecting on the wild evolution of sports media—from YouTube unboxing trends to nostalgic work gigs that left a mark. And, as always, the show wraps up with our beloved "Old (Middle-aged) Man Yells at X" segment, this time taking aim at the baffling art of grocery cart parking. Tune in for a hearty mix of sports analysis, tech talk, and those offbeat rants you won’t hear anywhere else!  

Now that brackets are out, we do a quick dive into what to expect from this year's tourney. Carolina got into the first four, and we're not so sure that's a good thing for the program in the long run. After taking last week off there is some NFL free agency to cover, as well as beginning the official countdown to The Masters next month. James is still on a news blackout since the new administration has been sworn in, and tries to recruit Rich to come to the dark side. We also take a look at how the media is potentially dropping the ball in their reporting of disappointed Trump voters about two months into the term. Since it wouldn't be an episode of "The Word" without some wild technical hiccup, stick around to find out why Trump decided to kick down our door and stop the recording, mid show!

With it being sort of an "in-between" season for major sports leagues, we take the chance to talk about something that has been teased in the last few weeks on the show: The proliferation of online sports gambling in the US and it's potential downstream effects on the betting population, the fan experience, and the administration of the leagues themselves.And it wouldn't be a current episode of the "The Word" without an "Old (Middle-aged) Man Yells at X" segment to close out the show! This week Rich fills us in on the goings-on with egregious grocery store parking habits he has been witnessing recently.

We're back to talk about the much anticipated 2025 NBA All-Star Weekend, where Rich drops a BOMB for longtime fans of the show.We also reflect on our favorite SNL memories following the airing of the 50th Anniversary Special the preceeding weekend, and talk a quick (long) tangent to cover how the LIV golf saga has impacted some of the more notable names in the game, and the fan experience.Stay tuned till the end for the fireworks / technical difficulties!

We're back to recap the Kendrick Lamar Bowl, and apparently there was a football game happening as well. The early returns for the Luka / AD trade are not looking great, will Rich eat crow from his previous week analysis? We hold our first ever Streamy Awards, highlighting the best streaming content we've seen recently, as well as some that we say we're eventually going to get to...but know we never will. Finally, we stand on business and hold a Gas Station Road Trip draft, picking our personal essentials for provisions during a long drive.

We're back after a long hiatus! The good thing is there aren't too many other podcasts around to compete with...This week we talk about the upcoming Superbowl between the Chiefs and Eagles, whether or not the Duke / Carolina rivalry is still relevant, review some of the most "unserious" sports cities currently, and finish off with some well-deserved grips now that we are in our middle-age era.

We're baaaack! After an extended summer break, Rich and James return to discuss the start of the NFL season and the conclusion of an exciting NBA Playoffs, including how we take Lebron's greatness for granted. Plus James has a "Covid Confession", Trump confesses to having Covid, for some reason there's a Travis Scott burger and Rich has a new favorite pizza topping.

With the NBA back in all its glory, Rich and James take a few minutes to reflect on some of the highlights from the bubble. (21:17) They are soon joined by Professor Kris Jordan from UNC-Chapel Hill to discuss some of the challenges facing college students and educators amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, how they are changing their procedures to help keep students safe, the pros and cons of distance learning and the impact on higher education in the years ahead.

Rich and James dive into the latest sports news as the NBA season resumes, the MLB season threatens to fall apart and football seems inevitable despite the warning signs. Plus the guys get cathartic by bringing back "15 Minutes of Shame."

James and Rich are back after a bye week to break down the latest sports news, as the MLB season is now underway and the return of the NBA is only a few days away. They also debate whether "John Wick" and "Taken" are the same movie and Rich offers a few streaming recommendations.

On this week's episode, Rich and James break down the latest sports news, including the changing landscape of college football for the 2020 season and Pat Mahomes' new contract. Then they draft movie heroes and villains to form the cast for the ultimate blockbuster.

As NBA teams begin reporting to Orlando, Rich and James break down a few players and teams to watch when the season restarts, including a look ahead to some potential playoff matchups. Plus a quick Covid-19 update as part of our new recurring segment "15 Minutes of Shame."

Rich's loss is James' gain as his beloved Cam Newton signs with the Patriots. They break down the move, what it means for Cam and how Bill Belichick might utilize him. And an in-depth breakdown of concerns with the NCAA's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic thus far and what to expect for fall sports in the months ahead.

With the 2020 MLB season set to begin in a few weeks, James and Rich break down the 60-game plan and paint the corners on how we got here and what to expect in the coming months. Plus a major campaign announcement and the importance of staying focused on larger world issues as several major sports near a return.

Rich and James react to the latest news surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic as well as the importance of mental health during a challenging time as part of a new segment. And with the NBA's scheduled return only a month away, they examine the logistics and challenges looming in Orlando.

James is back, so he and Rich discuss the ongoing protests for racial equality and the rising Covid-19 numbers across the country. They also break down people refusing to wear masks, the looming return of the NBA and James has a special message for Roger Goodell.

In this week's episode, Rich goes 1-on-1 with PGA TOUR Live's John Swantek to discuss the return of professional golf, the challenges of producing a television broadcast amidst a pandemic and what to expect this weekend at the Charles Schwab Challenge.

In a special episode, The Word crew discusses the current racial situation in the US following George Floyd's death and the protests that have followed.

The crew discuss the outrage around George Floyd's recent death. Donald Trump goes after all social media platforms. Top-flight soccer is returning in Europe shortly, and the NBA looks to follow suit. Financial talks between MLB players and ownership are slowly breaking down. We also continue our discussion on the dynamic of what players may be sacrificing in terms of health and safety if their respective leagues decide to resume playing. And finally, to lighten the mood, we bring back the "Fast Food Draft"!

The crew reviews the final two episodes of "The Last Dance" - does it stand up to all the hype? Rich and James go back and forth on what they're streaming on a new "Stream Team" segment. James also reveals the show that he is slowly losing faith in. Finally, an extended discussion on the logistics and ethics of bringing back American pro sports, now that the country is re-opening.

The Word crew discusses the potential return of sports during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also go into a deep dive on "The Last Dance", which has taken over the streaming tv and meme world during the sports-less pandemic.

With COVID-19 still happening around the globe, the Word Crew switched it up this week to a (mostly) "Stream Team" episode, discussing what is happening in the world of entertainment. Namely: Is "Westworld" trying too hard? Why is Jerry Seinfeld giving Phil Jackson basketball advice on "The Last Dance". And what is James supposed to watch now that "Homeland" is over? Also, we reveal our first sponsor!

The squad discusses the continuing COVID situation and how it affects the sports world. Meanhwile, the NFL draft is still happening?!?! "The Last Dance" premieres tonight on ESPN, what will we find out about MJ and the '98 Bulls? On "Stream Team", we find out that Rich has been secretly flipping houses.

The lads cover the plethora of closures and cancellations around the sports world, and the economic impact. We discuss if there is an "adult in the room" regarding the US response. Rich posits that all public health issues are political, and thus that cannot be used to defer conversation. Lastly, we go over some ways you can help in your community, if able.