Tradition's Finest Podcast

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 146 - The "Here Lies the 46 Defense" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Football: Florida State football will retire Sebastian Janikowski's No.38 jersey on Aug. 29, as the ceremony will take place during the team's college football season opener at Doak Campbell Stadium: kickoff for New Mexico State vs. Florida State is set for 7 p.m. ET. -- **NOTE: Janikowski becomes just the 13th Seminole to have a jersey or number retired, along with some of college football's most legendary players: Deion Sanders, Jameis Winston, Peter Warrick, Derrick Brooks, Chris Weinke, Charlie Ward, Fred Biletnikoff, Terrell Buckley, Warrick Dunn, Ron Sellers, Ron Simmons and Marvin Jones - - College football programs rarely give this honor to a kicker, but Florida State will celebrate Janikowski for good reason - - The Poland native moved to Florida before his sophomore year in high school, and eventually went on to kick for the Seminoles from 1997 through 1999 -- As a freshman, he hit a 56-yard FG against Wake Forest, a school record at the time, whereas as a sophomore, he made 27 FGs and scored a total of 123 points - both of which broke Florida State and ACC single-season records - and he also led the country by making 84.4% of his attempts -- His senior season ended with a 12-0 record and the program's seconds national title: he went 47-for-47 on extra points and led the nation with 23 FGs -- **NOTE: He finished his collegiate career 66-of-83 on FGs with 324 points, and he is still the only two-time winner of the Lou Groza Award, given to college football's best kicker annually -- And because of him, Florida State established himself as "Kicker U," highlighted by the fact that a Seminole has won that award four (4) times, twice since Janikowski's wins, a record for any program - - The Oakland Raiders took the left-footed kicker No.17 overall in the 2000 NFL Draft, as team owner Al Davis made the call, and his own building pushed back, whereas then-HC Jon Gruden and the Raiders' organization were initially "disappointed and angry that Al used a [first-round] pick on a kicker." - - The 6-foot-1, 255-pound kicker spent 17 seasons in Oakland, where he made 414 FGs and scored 1,913 points, both NFL franchise records -- His 63-yarder in 2011 tied an NFL record, and to date, no other kicker has gone in the first round in the 26 drafts since 2000. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Florida State football retiring former kicker Sebastian Janikowski's No.38 jersey during their upcoming season opener versus New Mexico State on August 29th?. . ."A Cease-and-Desist:" An attorney representing Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels has informed LSU that it can no longer use his name, image and likeness, according to an August 5 letter sent to Tigers AD Verge Ausberry, a copy of which was obtained by ESPN on Wednesday -- At the center of the dispute, according to a statement from Daniels' spokesperson to ESPN, is that the Tigers are allowing sophomore CB DJ Pickett to wear the No.5 jersey that Daniels wore when he became LSU's third Heisman Trophy winner in 2023 -- While Daniels' jersey hasn't been retired by the Tigers, it's the first time a player has worn No.5 since he left the program for the NFL -- Pickett wore No.3 during his first season with the Tigers in 2025 when he was named a freshman All-American, as he led LSU with three (3) INTs to go with 37 tackles and one sack in 524 defensive snaps - Pickett was wearing No.5 when the Tigers opened preseason practice last week, leading to questions about why first-year LSU HC Lane Kiffin had allowed the jersey swap to happen -- The No.9 jersey that Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow wore at LSU hasn't been worn since 2019, when he won the Heisman Trophy and led the Tigers to a 15-0 record and College Football Playoff national championship - - Kiffin told reporters Aug. 5 that Pickett had been promised he could wear No.5 when he signed with the Tigers in December 2024: Pickett had worn that number as a high school star in Zephyrhills, Florida, where he was the No.2 CB in the Class of 2025 by ESPN Recruiting -- Former LSU HC Brian Kelly told ESPN on Wednesday that he believed that the No.5 jersey was promised to Pickett during his recruitment, but Kelly chose not to issue it to him because Daniels wasn't on board with Pickett wearing his number, but Kelly was fired on Oct. 26, 2025, after his teams compiled a 34-14 record in four (4) seasons -- DJ Pickett has indicated that he will continue to wear No.5 despite the letter issued to the University per Jayden Daniels' attorney. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Jayden Daniels' cease-and-desist letter indicating that LSU may no longer use his name, image and likeness, after allowing CB DJ Pickett to wear his No.5 jersey?. . . - NBA - - Don Nelson, aged 86, the second-winningest coach in NBA history, a five-time NBA champion as a player and member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, has died, it was announced Sunday -- **NOTE: In 31 seasons as an NBA HC with the Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors (twice), New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks, Nelson finished with a regular-season record of 1,335-1,063 -- He retired with the most coaching wins ever, a mark that was broken by the San Antonio Spurs' Gregg Popovich in March 2022 - - Nelson made 18 playoff appearances as a coach, finishing with a 75-91 postseason record - and was a three-time winner of the NBA Coach of the Year award (1983, '85, '92) but never won an NBA championship as a coach -- As a player, Nelson won five (5) NBA titles in 11 seasons with the Boston Celtics, who retired his No.19 jersey in 1978 - he played 14 seasons in the league -- Immediately following his playing career, Nelson joined the Milwaukee Bucks as an assistant coach for the 1976-77 season - and only 15 games into that season, he was promoted to HC after Larry Costello was fired -- While at Milwaukee, he used an unorthodox coaching style that became known as "Nellie Ball" to put together a Hall of Fame resume during his 31 seasons: Nellie Ball proved to be ahead of its time, utilizing smaller, more athletic players to fuel a fast-paced offense that prioritized creating mismatches through speed - as it was a philosophy that was adopted across the league long after he retired: Nelson's fast-paced offenses were probably best on display during his first stint in Golden State in the early 1990s - the "Run TMC" era featuring future Hall of Famers Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin - as Nelson said he wanted the trio of guards on the court at the same time, a daring idea at the time, that today, is commonplace across the NBA. . ."One-of-One:" Cooper Flagg's coveted one-of-one numbered rookie debut patch autograph card was found in Rhode Island on Monday night -- Members of RhodyBreakers, a division of the Baseball Cards of Rhode Island retail shop that opens boxes of trading cards on a live stream for clients, were on a stream when they pulled the much-sought-after card: The card, which Flagg signed during Fanatics Fest last month, has drawn significant attention - including from the Dallas Mavericks, who offered a "bounty" in exchange for it -- The jersey Flagg wore in the first half of his NBA debut - from which the card's patch is made - sold for $1 million in February -- A similar exclusive card featuring the MLB's Pittsburgh Pirates star pitcher Paul Skenes recently sold for $1.1 million, leading to much speculation that Flagg's card could fetch, at minimum, that much in an auction -- The owner of Flagg's card will be hard-pressed to part with it, but the Mavericks recently made their case with an offer that includes the following: (a) two Mavericks' premium season tickets for the next 32 years, (b) a signed, game-worn Flagg rookie jersey plus a postgame photo with the star, (c) a private photo shoot with the NBA ROTY trophy, (d) an all-expenses paid road trip with the team, and more -- **NOTE: The current highest paid for any Cooper Flagg trading card, to date, is $366,000 in a March 2026 auction. . .Q: Serious question: Are you taking the Dallas Mavericks' offer OR are you holding onto the one-of-one Cooper Flagg rookie debut patch autograph card, to ultimately, sell it to the highest bidder?. . .The Los Angeles Lakers are being sold to Josh Kushner and Bog Iger for $12.5 billion, a record-breaking price, as per multiple sources who informed ESPN of the deal -- The businessmen were involved in the expansion process in Las Vegas, but in a stunning turn, they pivoted to make an aggressive offer to purchase the Lakers from Mark Walter, who purchased a controlling interest in the team from the Buss family last year for a then-record franchise valuation of approximately $10 billion -- Walter, the CEO and chair of diversified holding company TWG Global, has been the Lakers' majority owner since last October when his bid was unanimously approved by the NBA - and similarly, the sale to Kushner & Iger will still need approval from the NBA's Board of Governors, and that process can take up to several weeks - with the next board meeting scheduled to take place next month in New York -- Walter, who built his financial empire in the insurance industry, is under federal investigation for alleged tax fraud by other companies tied to the billionaire, including the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) -- Kushner, 41, founded venture capital firm Thrive Capital and is the co-founder and vice chairman of Oscar Health - Kushner, who is the brother of U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, runs Thrive Eternal, the investment fund to which FIFA wanted to sell a minority stake to run its World Cup tournaments for $4.2 billion, however, primarily due to the controversy surrounding the news, FIFA president Giannis Infantino withdrew that proposal earlier this month -- Kushner holds a minority stake in the Miami Heat and previously was a minority owner of the Memphis Grizzlies - but he will now be forced to sell his stake in the Heat to clear the way for the Lakers purchase -- Iger, 75, was succeeded this year as Disney CEO by Josh D'Amaro, ending his second term in the role - and in 2024, he along with his wife Willow Bay, became the controlling owner of NWSL team Angel City FC. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Los Angeles Lakers NBA franchise being sold to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger for a record-breaking price of $12.5 billion? Did the franchise's decision to cut ties with star LeBron James, as well as its' acquisition of cornerstone Luka Doncic, increase the valuation of the franchise an estimated $2.5 billion?. . ."Why Not. . .Retire?:" Russell Westbrook, who played 18 seasons with seven (7) teams, announced his retirement on social media on Wednesday: "Sometimes you don't even know when you've already watched the end," the 37-year-old Westbrook wrote on his post, which contained a video of his career highlights narrated by actor Michael B. Jordan: "You had to be there. And now it's over." - - Westbrook had offers this offseason with the Sacramento Kings and Washington Wizards but chose to step away from the game on his own terms, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania, ending one of the most statistically robust careers in league history: After a two-year college career at UCLA, Westbrook was selected No.4 overall in the 2008 NBA Draft by the Seattle SuperSonics, but he never played a game in the city - as the franchise relocated to Oklahoma City that summer, and Westbrook quickly emerged into a pillar for what would soon become a perennial contender -- Westbrook spent the bulk of his career - 11 seasons - with the Thunder, teaming up with Kevin Durant and James Harden to lead the Thunder to a Western Conference title in 2012 before losing to the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals -- **NOTE: He remains the Thunder's career leader in scoring, assists, rebounds and steals - but due to ill-timed injuries and personnel changes, that famed Thunder team never made it back to the mountaintop, as Harden was traded before the 2012-13 NBA season, Westbrook had a meniscus tear in the first round of the 2013 playoffs, and Durant had a foot fracture that ended their 2015 run -- OKC lost in a dramatic seven-game series to the 73-win Golden State Warriors in the 2016 playoffs, and Durant departed for the Warriors that ensuing summer - but Westbrook remained loyal, signing an extension at a time the organization felt at is most vulnerable, keeping the Thunder relevant in his mid-prime seasons and helping lure Paul George and Carmelo Anthony to Oklahoma City -- **NOTE: During the 2016-17 season, he became the first player since Oscar Robertson in 1962 to average a triple-double for a full season, putting up 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists to capture the MVP award - as he posted an NBA-record 42 triple-doubles that season - - Westbrook, a nine-time NBA All-Star, has career averages of 20.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game and holds the NBA record for most career triple-doubles with 209, surpassing Oscar Robertson's long-standing mark of 181 in 2021, which was a record that had stood since 1974 -- The Thunder eventually traded George to the LA Clipper and Westbrook to the Houston Rockets before the 2019-20 season, replenishing their asset base and rebuilding the core of what would become the 2025 NBA champion Thunder team -- Westbrook played for the Rockets, Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers & Clippers, Denver Nuggets, and Kings over his final seven (7) seasons in the league, maintaining his durability and production deep into his 30s -- **NOTE: Westbrook retires fifth in NBA history in career assists, behind John Stockton, Chris Paul, Jason Kidd and LeBron James - and he will finish 14th on the NBA's career scoring list with 27,176 points - with the only three (3) active players ahead of him being James and his former teammates, Kevin Durant & James Harden. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Russell Westbrook announcing his retirement from the NBA after an 18-year career? What are your thoughts on the NBA's CBA and its' effect on whether or not older veteran players are signed to a minimum contract and/or presented with a chance to return to the league?. . . - NFL - - Tempers flared during the Las Vegas Raiders' eighth training camp practice last Friday, as star DE Maxx Crosby hit QB Kirk Cousins twice during the team period - and when Crosby hit Cousins' arm a second time, the 15-year veteran had had enough - as he got into Crosby's face, allegedly grabbing the All-Pro's jersey, while both exchanged words before it was broken up by their fellow teammates -- Cousins and Crosby had to be separated after the fight, at the 37-year-old QB appeared upset that Crosby tipped his pass, forcing an incompletion, and then charged the 6-foot-5, 256-pound DE, who is three (3) inches taller and 42 lbs heavier -- Ahead of training camp, Crosby said the coaching staff warned him about touching the QB - as they are fully aware of the passing and intensity that Crosby brings to practice and knows he can occasionally cross the line - as he has been that way since his collegiate days back at Eastern Michigan -- Raiders HC Klint Kubiak said it's a part of training camp, but he wants his players to be smart when those type of situations occur: Raiders QB Kirk Cousins and DE Maxx Crosby were ultimately suspended from participating in team drills at practice the following Saturday, giving rookie QB Fernando Mendoza his first opportunity in Raiders' training camp to run the starting offense -- The Raiders were then off the following Sunday before returning Monday morning, at which point, Crosby reportedly gave Kirk Cousins love at the Raiders' practice Monday following their on-field scuffle over the weekend. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Las Vegas Raiders veteran QB Kirk Cousins and star DE Maxx Crosby's training camp altercation? What type of impact does you think Cousins standing up to Crosby, despite the obvious size differences, does for the for the offense's cohesiveness going into the 2026-27 NFL regular season?. . .The Minnesota Vikings named Kyler Murray as their starting QB, HC Kevin O'Connell confirmed on Tuesday - as this was the expected conclusion to the team's QB competition despite a rocky series of practices leading up to the decision -- Murray has been the heavy favorite to win the starting job from the moment he signed a one-year, $1.3 million contract with the Vikings on March 12 following his release by the Arizona Cardinals, who still owe him $35.5 million -- The announcement pushes J.J. McCarthy, the No.10 overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, to the No.2 or backup role after 10 career starts, and raises questions about his future with the franchise -- The timing of the decision will give Murray a month of full-time practice with the Vikings' starting offense, after splitting reps with McCarthy during the spring and the first two weeks of training camp, before the regular season begins Sept. 13 against the Green Bay Packers -- Regardless of the announcement, both Murray and McCarthy are likely to play in Saturday's preseason game at the New York Giants - - When asked about McCarthy's future with the Vikings' franchise, HC Kevin O'Connell said that he "absolutely" believes that the QB still has a future with the team. . .Q: Are you the slightest bit shocked by the news that Kyler Murray has been named the Vikings' starting QB over J.J. McCarthy?. . . - Miscellaneous - Little League Baseball: A big shout out is in order for the Phenix City (AL) 12U All-Stars, who for the first time since 1999, are headed to the Little League World Series, after capping an unbeaten run through the Southeast Regional with a 4-0 win over Nolensville (TN) to earn a trip to Williamsport, Pennsylvania -- **NOTE: For the first time in more than two decades, a team from the state of Alabama - our home state - will participate in the Little League World Series . . . 2026 College Football Season Preview & Predictions: Week #4: The Big 12 Conference, Group of Five and CFB Independents: In this week's 'Tradition's Finest College Football Season Preview & Prediction Showcase,' JD & Spencer break down & analyze the Big 12 Conference, the Group of Five - which include the Sun Belt Conference, American Athletic Conference (AAC), Mid-American Conference (MAC), Conference USA, and Mountain West Conference - as well as the CFB Independents (i.e., Notre Dame & UConn) for the upcoming 2026-27 College Football season, as well as provide their independent/individual predictions regarding a potential "dark horse" contender for each Conference and which program(s) they predict to win each Conference, and finally, they present their individual predictions on whether or not the Fighting Irish will advance to this year's College Football Playoff. . .**NOTE: In next week's episode, JD & Spencer will preview the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in the final week of this year's 'Tradition's Finest College Football Season Preview & Prediction Showcase.' Be Sure to Tune In! Thanks for Listening!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 145.5 - The "Late-Life Jordan" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Football: "A Corporate Partnership:" The Ohio State University athletics department is entering a new corporate partnership with JPMorganChase that includes jersey patches for all 36 of the Buckeyes' teams and will yield nearly $17 million per year for the athletics program, sources told ESPN's Pete Thamel last week — It is believed to be one of the biggest non-apparel corporate deals in college sports - - **NOTE: The yearly income generated by the worn jersey patches is financially greater than many NBA [i.e., a professional sports entity] jersey patch deals - as OSU's deal also includes NIL opportunities for athletes - - Uniform patches were approved in January by Division I leaders as a means to generate additional income to fund athletic departments that are looking for new ways to pay their players - - In addition to the logos already allowed for the uniform manufacturers, teams can place up to two patches of no more than four (4) square inches on uniforms for regular-season games - - The College Football Playoff has also been looking into how to incorporate additional sponsors (i.e., patches, etc.) for that sports' postseason, and now it seems that the CFP will reap the rewards, much as programs such as Ohio State will, as well. . .Q: What are your thoughts on OSU's corporate partnership with JPMorganChase that will ultimately yield an additional $17 million for the University's athletic department?. . ."Offensive Coordinator of the Game:" The University of Akron Athletics announced a new fan promotion, "Offensive Coordinator of the Game," giving one football season ticketholder the first-ever opportunity to help script the opening drive of the Zips' 2026 season opener at home — The selected fan will work directly with Zips head football coach Joe Moorhead to help design the offensive plays that open the game - a first-of-its-kind experience for the Akron program - - The winner will be selected in a random drawing held on August 19 - as the winning fan will then meet with Moorhead ahead of the season opener to help script the plays for the Zips' opening drive - - Applicants will also receive an extra chance to win with every new season ticket holder they refer. . .Q: If you satisfied the requirements and could enter this contest at Akron, what are you drawing up for the Zips' opening drive: Four (4) Verts? A Hail Mary? A Tush-Push?. . . - NBA - - "LeBron's Final [Surely. . .Most Likely. . .Quite Possibly] Decision:" LeBron James, after saying he seriously considered retirement from the NBA, is signing with the Philadelphia 76ers for his final run at another NBA championship, he announced last Friday - - James, 41, is signing a two-year, $8 million contract with a player option, Klutch Sports Group CEO Rich Paul told ESPN's Shams Charania - - In a series of posts on social media, James addressed his decision-making, writing that he initially thought he was done playing after the 2025-26 NBA season before taking time to decide on his future: "I was honest at the last press conference when I said I needed to look at myself and decide if I still love this game," he wrote — After deciding "I still truly love this game, and I have more to give," James chose the 76ers, committing to a fourth NBA team as he searches for a fifth NBA championship before retirement - - James will hope to break a 43-year championship drought for the 76ers, much the same way he erased a 52-year streak without a title for the city of Cleveland when he led the Cavaliers to an NBA title in 2016 — And, according to James, this will be his final free agency choice as he enters a record-breaking 24th season in the league: "This is my last decision. I'm not going for money. I'm not going for family. What am I really playing for at this point?" James wrote on X. "I still want to sacrifice. I still want to work. I still want to grind. I still want to compete, to win and to have a chance at the feeling of winning another championship. I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team and I am so excited to energize a new fan base and start this incredible journey one last time." - - Per multiple reports, the Sixers came at James from all angles: President of basketball operations Mike Gansey, who was a Cavaliers' executive during James' second stint in Cleveland, and competed against him when they were high school players in northeastern Ohio, and they remained in constant communication - as well as with Bron's agent, Rich Paul - behind the scenes, sources told ESPN - - Meanwhile, a trio of players - Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and the newly acquired Jaylen Brown, another surprising addition for Philadelphia this offseason - worked on James directly, sources informed ESPN - as that effort was led by Maxey, a fellow Klutch Sports Group client, who has referred to James as a "big brother" in the past - - Shortly after James' announcement was public, Brown posted "#throwtheballup" on X - which is also what he wrote in his introductory note to Philadelphia, and it has already been branded on billboards throughout the city - - Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro even proclaimed Friday [7/24] as LeBron James Day in the state - - James returns to an emergent Eastern Conference that includes two of his former teams that also heavily pursued the four-time MVP this time around: Donovan Mitchell & the Cavaliers, and Giannis Antetokounmpo & the Heat - - As for the Sixers, they went 45-37 last season and lost to the eventual NBA champion New York Knicks 4-0 in the second round of the playoffs -- **NOTE: It has been more than four (4) decades since the Philadelphia 76ers last won an NBA title (1983), and as a franchise, they only have two other conference finals appearances and one other NBA Finals appearance in that particular span: The furthest they have advanced into the postseason with All-Star C Joel Embiid is Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Toronto Raptors in 2019, when Kawhi Leonard's fading-out-of-bounds, last-second shot bounced around the rim, prior to ending the Sixers' season in a devastating way - - Following James' announcement, the 76ers' odds moved from 20-1 to +900 to win the 2026 NBA Finals, and from +750 to +370 [essentially, that's an "even money" bet] to win the Eastern Conference at DraftKings Sportsbook - - James' decision puts an end to a free agency frenzy of speculation about his options over the past several weeks, one fueled in part by his agent, Rich Paul, going on a media tour to discuss James' prospects, notably drawing out a list of potential suitors on a whiteboard for an episode of his podcast - - All the hoopla muted the fallout of James' departure from the Los Angeles Lakers after an eight-year run with the NBA franchise - which included the 2020 championship in the bubble, and was his longest consecutive tenure with any team throughout his 23-year NBA career -- James' departure from the Lakers ended the historic pairing in which he got to play alongside his son, Bronny - as Paul, who represents both players - attempted to halt the speculation surrounding Bronny's next steps in the league, by telling ESPN's Ramona Shelburne that "[LeBron and Bronny] are not a package deal," and furthermore, there is no current plan in place and/or request for Bronny James to join his father in the "City of Brotherly Love." . . .Q: On a scale from 1 to 10, how shocked were you to learn that LeBron James had announced that he was joining the Philadelphia 76ers on a two-year, $8-million deal? Following an impressive NBA offseason that included the acquisition of former Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown, and now LeBron James from Los Angeles, where do the 76ers fall in next year's Eastern Conference race next season? The 2026 NBA Finals? Should Philly be considered "legitimate" NBA title contenders?. . . - NFL - - Zay Flowers has quickly established himself as the most decorated WR in Baltimore Ravens history, and now, he's the highest-paid WR in franchise history, too: Flowers agreed on a four-year extension with the Ravens on Tuesday, the team announced — The deal for the two-time Pro Bowler is for $140 million and includes $108 million fully guaranteed - both of which are records for a Ravens WR - per his agency, Win Sports Group, who informed ESPN's Adam Schefter - - **NOTE: The average of $35 million annually ties him with Minnesota Vikings' Justin Jefferson as the NFL's fourth-highest paid WR, meanwhile, he becomes the second-highest paid player on the Ravens roster behind QB Lamar Jackson - - The contract extension had been expected after GM Eric DeCosta expressed optimism this offseason that a deal would get done - as Flowers, who was not made available to the media on Tuesday, said in June that he would love to finish his career in Baltimore - - Flowers, who will turn 26 next month, solidified himself as Jackson's most trusted target last season: his 1,211 yards receiving accounted for 36.9% of the Ravens' total receiving yards on the season, which was the second highest share by any player in 2025 behind Seattle Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba (44.1%) - - **NOTE: In 2024, Flowers become the Ravens' first player to make the Pro Bowl as a WR in the franchise's 29-year history - - He again reached the Pro Bowl last season, when he set career highs with 86 catches for 1,211 yards - as no other Baltimore WR had more than 25 catches or 400 yards in 2025 - - Previously under contract through 2027, now with the contract extension, Flowers is under contract through 2031 - - The No.22 overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Boston College, Flowers overcame the knocks on his 5-foot-9, 183-pound frame by totaling 3,128 yards in his first three (3) seasons, which ranks third among WRs from the 2023 Draft, trailing the Rams' Puka Nacua (4,191) and Smith-Njigba (3,551). . .Q: The main question here is. . .Is Zay Flowers' value to the Baltimore Ravens necessarily worth $140 million w/ $108 million guaranteed?. . ."Diggs to WSH?:" Free agent WR Stefon Diggs is set to sign a one-year deal worth up to $12 million with the Washington Commanders, giving the team a proven WR opposite Terry McLaurin, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and ESPN's Adam Schefter - - Diggs strengthens a WR group whose depth had improved from 2025 but was still facing questions at the top, aside from McLaurin - - Diggs, 32, will be joining a new team for the third time in three (3) seasons - as he gives Washington a stronger second option alongside McLaurin, whose string of five (5) consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons was snapped last year due to injury - - Diggs has been voted to the Pro Bowl four (4) times - the last one occurring three (3) years ago, and was named a first-team All-Pro in 2020 when he led the NFL with 127 receptions. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the overall fit of Stefon Diggs in Washington?. . . - MLB: Trade Deadline - - The Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday added former All-Star left-hander Kris Bubic from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for minor league right-hander Carlos Duran — Bubic is on the 60-day injured list with shoulder and elbow issues, but the Royals had expected him to return in late August, which would put him in line to pitch out of the bullpen for Los Angeles during the start of the MLB playoffs - - He was an All-Star last season, when he went 8-7 with a 2.55 ERA in 20 starts - as he is 3-2 with a 4.11 ERA in nine (9) starts this season - - **NOTE: In seven (7) MLB seasons, all with the Royals, he is 22-38 with a 4.14 ERA and 495 strikeouts in 522 innings - as the 28-year-old lefty, who has been on the IL since May 18, will be a free agent after this season - - Duran, on the other hand, is 3-2 with a 3.38 ERA for the Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate in Oklahoma City - - Los Angeles also traded for a pair of catchers in Ben Rortvedt and Hunter Feduccia while placing regular starter Dalton Rushing on the injured list, as the Dodgers got Rortvedt for the second year in a row, this time from the New York Mets for right-hander Chayce McDermott — The Dodgers also acquired Feduccia and right-hander Jacob Kmatz from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for OF Jack Suwinski and international bonus pool money. . . .The Boston Red Sox acquired three-time All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman in a trade with the Baltimore Orioles, one of three (3) moves the MLB's hottest team made ahead of the MLB trade deadline on Monday — Rutschman, currently on the IL with left wrist inflammation, gives the Red Sox a big bat at a position in need at catcher - but it came at a cost: Top right-handed pitching prospect Anthony Eyanson was part of the return for the Orioles, along with OF prospect Enddy Azocar and another young right-hander in Kyson Witherspoon - - The Orioles will also receive catcher Carlos Narvaez and a player to be named later or cash considerations, while catcher Jake Rogers is also headed to the Red Sox - - Rutschman, who earned his third All-Star nod with the Orioles this season, provides elite defense and has regained his old form at the plate; however, he became expendable in Baltimore when the Orioles signed young slugger Samuel Basallo to a long-term deal prior to this season - - **NOTE: A former No.1 draft pick, Rutschman, 28, is under team control through the 2027 season - and given the rigors of the catching position - this switch-hitter is good at almost everything in the batter's box, with his expected on-base average at the All-Star break being the second-best rate of his career behind only his 5.5-WAR season in 2023 - - The con?: He has been on the injured list three (3) times this season: once with left ankle inflammation (April), after suffering a concussion (June), and with wrist inflammation (July) - - Nonetheless, Rutschman is hitting .251 with eight (8) HRs and 47 RBIs this season - and overall, in his five (5) season in the majors - all spent with Baltimore - he has a career .254 average with 69 HRs and 277 RBIs. . .The Philadelphia Phillies have acquired three-time batting champion Luis Arraez from the San Francisco Giants in a trade that has the second baseman joining his fifth team in five (5) years - - The Phillies also received right-handed reliever Caleb Kilian in the trade, while the Giants acquired two minor leaguers: top pitching prospect Ramon Marquez and reliever Marty Gair - - Arraez, who is slated to become a free agent following this season, returned to second base with the Giants - and his defense at the position is among the best in the league - but he also has experience at first base, having played there for the San Diego Padres in 2024 and 2025 - but he has made it very clear that he doesn't want to move from second base - - Multiple outlets reported Monday that the Phillies plan to use Arraez as their primary second baseman, meaning multiple other everyday players would potentially have to change positions - Bryston Stott, Philadelphia's current regular second baseman, could shift to third base in a move that could sent Alec Bohm to first base and Bryce Harper to the outfield - - **NOTE: Arraez is having his best offensive season since 2023, hitting .324, which places him at the top of the National League and in second place in the majors behind the Astros' Yordan Alvarez (.330) - with four (4) HRs and 43 RBIs - and though he doesn't bring much over-the-fence power or many walks, nobody is better at putting the ball in play than the four-time All-Star, who will likely lead the MLB with the lowest strikeout rate in the majors for a fifth consecutive season - - He was traded from the Miami Marlins to San Diego back in 2024 - as he won his third straight batting title, with three (3) different teams, by hitting .314 that season - as he left as a free agent after the 2025 season and signed with San Francisco on Feb. 10 of last year. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the MLB trade involving three-time batting champion Luis Arraez between the Philadelphia Phillies and the San Francisco Giants?. . .The New York Yankees acquired infielder Luis Garcia Jr. from the Washington Nationals in exchange for four (4) right-handed pitchers, the teams announced on Sunday — In return, the Nationals received Yovanny Cruz, Jake Bird, Ben Grable and Jack Cebert in the deal - - Garcia, who is under club control through next season, gives the Yankees' scuffling offense a much-needed jolt as it navigates August without Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger and Giancarlo Stanton — **NOTE: The 26-year-old from the Dominican Republic leads the National League (NL) in slugging percentage (.560) and is batting .283 with a career-high 23 HRs, an .873 OPS and 134 wRC+ in 104 games played this season - - Garcia, who also has a career-high 76 RBIs, is however, not a seamless fit on the Yankees' roster as it is currently constructed: While the Yankees have sought a right-handed hitter on the trade market, Garcia bats left-handed — Defensively, he primarily played second base over his first six (6) seasons before moving to first base this year, meanwhile, the Yankees have Ben Rice & Paul Goldschmidt - a potential Hall of Famer - splitting time between first base and designated hitter, whereas Jazz Chisholm Jr., a two-time MLB All-Star, is entrenched at second base — So, what should the Yankees do?: It's actually quite simple. . . . .The Yankees could have Garcia start against right-handed pitchers either at first base or DH, with Ben Rice occupying the other spot, until Stanton returns from the IL - - Garcia's breakout - as his 18 HRs since June 1 are second in the majors behind Hunter Goodman - helped a Washington offense that has scored the most runs in baseball, fueling a significant step forward in the standings after a 96-loss season in 2025 - but the Nationals, whose staff ERA is 27th in baseball, signaled a willingness to flip major league position players for pitching help last week when they traded third baseman Curtis Mead, whom they acquired from the Chicago White Sox in March after he was designated for assignment, to the Boston Red Sox for left-hander Connelly Early - - **NOTE: By acquiring Luis Garcia Jr. from the Nationals, the New York Yankees now have the second- and third-ranked players in slugging percentage in the MLB this season. . .Q: What overall grade would you give this particular MLB trade between the Washington Nationals and New York Yankees?. . ."A Sku[bal] to the MLB:" For as much as they might have downplayed the possibility behind closed doors, the Los Angeles Dodgers were long seen by rival executives as overwhelming favorites to land generational ace Tarik Skubal - as their farm system was too good, their goals were too lofty, their rotation had become too uncertain — On Saturday night, a day & a half before the MLB trade deadline, they pulled it off: The Dodgers acquired Skubal, the reigning back-to-back American League (AL) Cy Young Award winner, from the Detroit Tigers for a package of three (3) prospects: OF Zyhir Hope and right-handers River Ryan & Brady Smith - - Skubal, a 29-year-old pending free agent, will now headline what was arguably already the best pitching rotation in the sport; Alongside him will be the following pitchers: Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who is making a strong case for a Cy Young of his own, followed by Blake Snell, Shohei Ohtani and Tyler Glasnow - all of whom are in varying stages of returning to the mound from injury - - **UPDATE: Tarik Skubal didn't have his best stuff in his Los Angeles Dodgers debut on Tuesday evening, but he managed to keep his team in the game, but unfortunately, the Dodgers provided little run support as they dropped their fifth consecutive game and second straight to the Chicago Cubs, in a 5-1 loss. . . 2026 College Football Season Preview & Predictions: Week #3: The Big Ten Conference: In this week's 'Tradition's Finest College Football Season Preview & Prediction Showcase,' JD & Spencer break down & analyze the Big Ten Conference for the upcoming 2026-27 College Football season, as well as provide their independent/individual predictions regarding a potential "dark horse" contender in the Conference and which member they predict to win the 2026-27 Big Ten Conference title/championship, and ultimately receive an automatic berth to this year's College Football Playoff. . .             Thanks for Listening!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 144 - The "Run, Forrest, Run" Episode includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Football: Curt Cignetti has engineered the turnaround of the century - if not college football history - over the past two seasons at Indiana - but the lone "knock" on Cignetti thus far has been Indiana's lack of elite talent brought in from the recruiting classes — That all changed last Friday when the Hoosiers' HC secured the highest-rated commit in program history with a pledge from a top-rated 2027 WR, and five-star player, Monshun Sales, the No.18 player in the SC Next 300 — The 6-foot-5, 200-pound recruit from Indianapolis is ESPN's No.4 WR prospect in the 2027 cycle — He announced his commitment to the defending national champion Hoosiers over Texas, Alabama, Ohio State and LSU last Friday afternoon during an appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show." - - Sales, the state's No.1 overall high school recruit in 2027, is Indiana's highest-ranked player since eventual All-American Jaylon Smith signed with Notre Dame as ESPN's No.7 overall prospect in the 2013 class - as his commitment represents a seismic milestone in Cignetti's remarkable turnaround following Indiana's storybook run to the school's first football national title in January: Sales joins OLB Jalaythan Mayfield (No.235 overall prospect) and in-state OT, Mason McDermott (No.254) as the third SC Next 300 commit atop the Hoosiers' latest recruiting class — All told, Indiana currently holds pledges from 17 prospects in the cycle - and if Sales ultimately signs with the program later this year, he'll surpass Class of 2022 signee Dasan McCullough (No.43 in the 2022 SC Next 300) as the highest-ranked addition in school history, as Indiana's class now ranks as the No.47 bunch in the country - - Originally from the state of Alabama - where he adopted the nickname "Bama," - Sales is a two-way star at Indianapolis' Lawrence North High School, where he totaled 37 catches for 794 yards and nine (9) TDs as a junior last fall, adding 56 tackles on defense - - He also offers blazing track speed in at an astounding 10.81 in the 100 meters. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Curt Cignetti and Indiana securing its highest-rated recruit ever in five-star WR Monshun "Bama" Sales?. . .Missouri Tigers RB Ahmad Hardy has been medically cleared and is expected to make a full recovery from a gunshot wound to the leg, but his timetable for a return remains unclear, per Tigers' HC Eli Drinkwitz on Monday at the annual SEC Media Days event - - Hardy was shot in the upper leg back on May 10 while attending an outdoor concert at a biker club in his hometown of Laurel, Mississippi — Drinkwitz said Hardy is "on the road to recovery" and is fully healed from from the bullet that struck a bone in his leg - - Drinkwitz also indicated that the star RB's return-to-play protocol could take between five (5) to eight (8) weeks but that there are no guarantees about when Hardy will be able to return, and how he will play and/or his performance following the incident - - **NOTE: Hardy finished second among all FBS players in rushing last year with 1,649 rushing yards, and he scored 16 TDs while helping the Tigers finish the season with an 8-5 record. . .University of Michigan AD Warde Manuel will reportedly step down at the end of the 2026-27 calendar year, the University announced on Monday - - The school also released a summary of an independent investigation into the "culture" of the scandal-plagued AD, which concluded that issuers were not "widespread." - - Manuel, 58, has led the powerhouse program as AD for over a decade, a time for which the program saw numerous national champions [including in college football and men's college basketball] but also NCAA run-ins, legal issues involving assistant football coaches (i.e., Connor Stalions) and the 2025 firing of head football coach Sherrone Moore for having an inappropriate relationship with a staff member - - On Monday, it released an outline of the investigation that has already cost nearly $12 million - as it does not plan to release any additional documents, according to a board of regents spokesperson - - While the outline stated that the review identified "a series of structural, policy, and operational recommendations designed to strengthen accountability and organizational effectiveness," Michigan president Domenico Grasso responded by issuing a video statement, in which he was critical of the "culture, conduct, and procedures," of the AD, noting "significant challenges." - - Grasso said the school will empower both its compliance team and Human Resources department and also made mention of strengthening background checks after the review "also identified interference, poor oversight and failures of accountability of the highest levels of university leadership," and furthermore noted, that "this must change.". . . - MLB - - Nolan Arenado ripped a double down the left-field line for his 2,000th career hit Monday night, joining an elite club that includes some of the greatest players in baseball history - - **NOTE: The 35-year-old Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman became one of six (6) major leaguers with at least 2,000 hits, 350 homers and 10 Gold Glove awards — The others are Hall of Famers: Ken Griffey Jr., Willie Mayes, Mike Schmidt, Johnny Bench and Al Kaline - as Arenado said it was particularly gratifying to join a small fraternity that includes Schmidt, whom of which he personally considers to be the greatest third baseman to ever play in the league - - Arenado connected on a fastball from Oakland Athletics LHP Jeffrey Springs in the 5th inning of a 5-2 loss and received a lengthy standing ovation from the crowd at Chase Field - - **NOTE: He is one of sic (6) active MLB players who have recorded at least 2,000 hits, joining Freddie Freeman, Jose Altuve, Andrew McCutchen, Paul Goldschmidt and Manny Machado - - The 10-time Gold Glove winner is in his first year with the Diamondbacks after an injury-filled 2025 season with St. Louis - - He was batting .244 with 13 HRs and a .739 OPS leading into Monday's game - - Arenado played his first eight (8) seasons with the Colorado Rockies before spending the next five (5) with the Cardinals - - Considered by many to be one of the greatest third baseman of his generation, the eight-time MLB All-Star has a .280 career batting average with 366 homers and 1,228 RBIs. . .The Boston Red Sox won their 15th straight game to match a club record for the longest winning streak in team history from 80 years ago, beating the Baltimore Orioles 6-3 in the opener of a split doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon - - They equaled the 1946 American League champs, who were led by future Hall of Famer Ted Williams: Jarren Duran had a two-run triple and a sacrifice fly, and Calen Durbin - who hit a tiebreaking HR when they posted their 14th straight victory on Monday - chipped in with a two-run single - - Ceddanne Rafaela added a solo HR for Boston in a makeup from Tuesday' rainout - - Christian Encarnacion-Strand had a solo homer for Baltimore, his second in two games, meanwhile, Red Sox rookie left-hander Jake Bennett (6-3) worked 5 2/3 innings, giving up three (3) runs - but unfortunately, he took a 102.5 mph hit ball off the stomach from Taylor Ward in the 5th, but he did remain in the game after being checked by a trainer - - **NOTE: Aroldis Chapman got the final three (3) outs for his 23rd save and 390th of his career, tying Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley for nine (9) all time - - Baltimore then turned the tables on Boston: as the Orioles ended the Red Sox' franchise-record-tying 15-game winning streak behind Kyle Bradish's six (6) innings of one-run ball, defeating Boston 5-1 in the nightcap of a doubleheader on Wednesday - - It was Boston's first loss since a 10-2 game contest against the Washington Nationals at Fenway Park on July 1. . . - NBA - - "Curry's HOF Exhibit:" The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame will launch a new exhibit this weekend dedicated to Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry, representing the first time in the nearly 75-year history than an active player will be honored within the walls with a dedicated exhibit: The exhibit, titled "Stephen Curry: Beyond the Arc," will open to the public in Springfield, MA on Friday, as it will include Olympic and championship artifacts, game-worn gear and archival footage of Curry's journey from an unheralded prospect to a decorated four-time NBA champion - - Curry is about to enter his 18th professional season in the NBA and has stated that he intends to play at least two more - and he is expected to engage in extension talks with the Warriors once he becomes eligible in late August. . .Q: Are you surprised that Stephen Curry is the first player to receive such an honor, even prior to LeBron James?. . - Miscellaneous - - PGA: Ryan Fox, 39, of New Zealand survived a wild ride along the back nine (9) at Royal Birkdale and delivered the biggest putt of his life Sunday, making a 12-foot birdie on the 18th (and final) hole to win The Open Championship for his first major title, closing with a 2-under 68 (-2) - - Needing a birdie on the final hole to avoid a playoff with clubhouse leader Cameron Young, Fox hit his approach shot from 175 yards out - and as the ball flex in the blue English sky toward the green, Fox yelled "Be right!". . .It was: The ball stopped 11 ½ feet from the hole - - After his playing partner, Sam Burns, putted out for par, Fox drained the birdie putt to win the Claret Jug - - Four (4) players had a share of the lead at some point Sunday: Cameron Young was atop the leaderboard for two hours without hitting a single shot because he finished his astonishing 6-under 64 when the leaders were on the front nine (9) - - Fox never lost hope, even after a pair of bogeys on the back nine (9), and the 39-year-old son of an All Blacks rugby player delivered the goods when it counted, as he birdied the 16th to tie Young for the lead, and then made birdie on the toughest hole (72nd) to become just the third Kiwi to win a PGA major - - Fox's sterling moment brought more disappointment for Young, as the American also finished one shot behind in The Open at St. Andrews four (4) years ago, and he had a Sunday lead on the front nine (9) at the Masters until Rory Mcllroy overtook him - - Sam Burns, the 54-hole leader, who was never planning to be at The Open until his wife gave birth to their daughter earlier than expected, lost a two-shot lead and didn't make a birdie over the last 12 holes to finish two shots behind on the leaderboard - - Defending Open champion Scottie Scheffler somehow managed to stick around until the end, getting two bad bounces that cost him momentum, then getting one big break for a most improbable birdie but failing to birdie the 18th - as he closed with a 67 and tied for fourth place with hometown star, Tommy Fleetwood, who fell back early but thrilled the thousands packed along the dunes with a birdie-birdie finish for a final score of 68 - - Missing from the drama, remarkably, was Bryson DeChambeau: he lost a golf ball and made triple bogey on the 11th hole and didn't make a birdie until he was well out of contention - as the two-shot penalty he received earlier on Friday for improving the path of his swing wasn't an issue at the end - DeChambeau shot a 72 and tied for 14th - - Fox won for the 10th time worldwide, his biggest title before Sunday coming at the BMW PGA Championship in 2023 -- **NOTE: Fox is the oldest first-time major champion since Henrik Stenson was 40 at Royal Troon ten years ago. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Ryan Fox's performance to win The Open Championship for his first PGA major title?. . . 2026 FIFA World Cup Recap: Third-Place/Bronze Medal Match: England vs. France - - England beat France 6-4 in a chaotic third-place World Cup playoff match last Saturday in Miami - as the finish was England's best at a World Cup since 1966 - - The first half saw Declan Rice and Ezri Konsa score before Bukayo Saka added a rapid-fire brace, completing his hat-trick from the spot three (3) minutes from time - - After the restart, France got going as Kylian Mbappe's brace made him the all-time leading goalscorer at the tournament, as Bradley Barcola contributed another to make it 4-3 before conceding a penalty which Saka converted – **NOTE: Mbappe moved past Lionel Messi for the career World Cup scoring record, scoring twice for France in the third-place match against England to reach 22 goals - - Mbappe has 10 goals in this World Cup, two more than Messi in the race for the Golden Boot, which is awarded to the tournament's top scorer - - France trailed England 4-0 when Mbappe flicked a shot past goalkeeper Dean Henderson in the 48th minute – Then he beat Henderson again with a left-footed strike from about 14 yards in the 66th minute to pass Messi's career mark of 21 goals - as France pulled within 4-3 on Mbappe's second goal: **NOTE: The 6-4 result marked the most goals in a World Cup game since 1982 [Hungary 10-1 over El Salvador] and the most goals for a third-place game - - An occasion that started with boos for the heavily-criticized manager Thomas Tuchel ended in a breathless bronze medal, with the wounds from the prior Wednesday's semifinal collapse to Argentina still raw - - Substitute Bradley Barcola scored the other and Le Bleus continued to pepper England's goal as Tuchel stared down the barrel of even greater humiliation than three (3) days prior - - But this England just held out: Saka scored a late penalty to complete his treble and substitute Jude Bellingham kept his cool after Ousmane Dembele's earlier stoppage-time strike. . .2026 FIFA World Cup Final: Spain vs. Argentina - - Ferran Torres clinched Spain's second men's World Cup title with an extra-time winner against reigning world champions Argentina in a bad-tempered final marred by Enzo Fernández's red card for a reckless foul on Pau Cubarsí - - Barcelona forward Torres, a 62nd-minute substitute for Mikel Oyarzabal, sealed a 1-0 win Sunday for the European champions when he struck from close range in the 106th minute his first goal of this year's World Cup - - By that stage, Argentina had been reduced to 10 players at New York/New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium) following the dismissal of Chelsea midfielder Fernández after his foul on Cubarsí in the third minute of second-half stoppage time that left referee Slavko Vincic with no option but to issue a second yellow card and a red to the 2022 World Cup winner - - Spain had dominated the game and created numerous scoring opportunities without being able to convert - as Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez finished with 11 saves, the most in a World Cup final - - Spain's dominance was such that Argentina did not register their first shot until Lionel Messi had an attempt blocked in the 117th minute – **NOTE: The 39-year-old Messi, who became the first man to start three World Cup finals and the oldest outfield player to start a final, finished the tournament with eight (8) goals, two behind France's Kylian Mbappé in the battle for the Golden Boot – Though he has yet to confirm his future plans, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner probably has finished his World Cup career with 21 goals, one behind Mbappé - - **NOTE: Argentina, aiming to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back World Cups, were unable to match up to Spain, with even Inter Miami star Messi failing to trouble Luis de la Fuente's team - - Spain resisted late Argentina pressure to win the game and their first World Cup since defeating Netherlands in South Africa in 2010: "When you have Messi on the other side, well, you are nervous," Torres said. "At the end of the day, we always depended on us. We always come up with our football, and we showed it again." - - **NOTE: The Spanish finished the World Cup with only one goal allowed, the fewest for a World Cup winner despite playing more games (8) than any previous champion – The win made de la Fuente, at 65, the oldest coach to lead a team to the World Cup title: "We are world champions," de la Fuente said. "It was together we reached this stage. I feel pride, to be honest. Accompanying my players on this journey is an honor." **NOTE: As well as a second World Cup title, Spain's win extended their unbeaten streak to 38 games in all competitions (29-9-0 W-D-L), breaking a tie with Italy (2018-21) for the longest by a men's national team - - They are the third reigning European champions to win the World Cup title, matching the Spain team of 2008-10 and 1972-74 West Germany - - "Once we finished the game, I had a group of footballers who said, "Coach, what else is there to win, we have won everything, in every category?" De la Fuente added. "We came to the conclusion that what remains is the next match in September [against England at Wembley] because this team is relentless." - - **NOTE: It was the 104th and last match of the biggest World Cup, a 48-team event that played out in the U.S., Canada and Mexico – Because there were more matches than any previous World Cup, it was no surprise that there were more goals than all other editions -- 307 and counting entering Sunday - - The spectacle was not limited to simply soccer. . .Q: What were your thoughts on this year's and/or the 2026 World Cup?. . . - 2026 College Football Season Preview & Predictions PT. 2: ACC Conference: In Week Two of our 'Tradition's Finest College Football Season Preview & Prediction Showcase,' JD & Spencer discuss the history of the ACC Conference, provide a full breakdown & season outlook for the league, as well as to provide their individual predictions regarding a potential "dark horse" contender in the Conference and which member they predict to win the 2026-27 ACC Conference title/championship. . .             Thanks for Listening!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 143 - "The Pop'a Big Perk Episode" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Basketball: The National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame has announced its' Class of 2026, honoring three (3) legendary players and three (3) iconic coaches whose collegiate careers represent the highest levels of achievement in the history of the game: The class includes national championship coaches Jay Wright (led Villanova to two national titles in 2016 & 2018) and Tubby Smith (led Kentucky to a national title in 1998), longtime Kansas HC Ted Owens (1964-1983), BYU superstar Danny Ainge, Michigan scoring ace Glen Rice and the late UCLA legend Walt Hazzard - - Each induction class is selected by the Blue Ribbon Selection Committee, comprised of college basketball executives & respected leaders around the country, and administered by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Foundation - - The Class of 2026 will be formally enshrined during the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame Induction Celebration, presented by UMB Private Wealth Management on Oct. 22 at the College Basketball Experience in Kansas City, Missouri - - **NOTE: This year marks the 20th class to be inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame, as it started in 2006 with a historic group of honorees, featuring John Wooden, Dean Smith, Oscar Robertson and Bill Russell. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026?. . .NCAA College Football: Florida State is hiring former Texas, Houston & Florida Atlantic (FAU) HC Tom Herman to its coaching staff for the upcoming 2026 season, a source confirmed to ESPN on Monday, whereas a second source later informed the network, that Herman will serve as an assistant to Seminoles' HC Mike Norvell [and so, basically, it appears the "Gus Malzahn" experiment didn't work out, so they have selected Tom Herman to potentially become FSU's interim coach if the wheels fall off the Florida State football program this season under Norvell] - - Herman, 51, coached in 2024 with Florida Atlantic, when he was fired shortly before the end of his second season - - He went 54-20 with Houston and then Texas, recording top-10 finishes in 2015 (Houston) and 2017 (Texas), and went 6-16 at FAU - - Herman spent 2021 as an offensive analyst with the Chicago Bears in the NFL, but he hasn't served as a college assistant since a three-year run as Ohio State's OC from 2012 to 2014 under HC Urban Meyer: Herman built his profile as an offensive play-caller, holding coordinator roles with such programs as Texas State, Rice and Iowa State, prior to his arrival in Columbus, where he won the Broyles Award as the nation's top assistant in 2014, when the Buckeyes went on to win the national championship with a third-string QB (i.e., Cardale Jones) - - While Tim Harris Jr. was promoted to the OC role following Malzahn's departure; HC Mike Norvell is set to reclaim his offensive play-calling duties this season. . .Q: Could Tom Herman be FSU's "coach-in-waiting" (aka, an interim coach) in the event that Mike Norvell and the Seminoles do not have a successful 2026-27 College Football season?. . . - MLB - - Regardless of how his name is pronounced, Roch Cholowsky has a new title: No.1 pick — Cholowsky, the standout UCLA shortstop, was selected by the Chicago White Sox with the top overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, and was expected to sign a record-setting bonus - - While the White Sox debated between Cholowsky and Texas high school SS Grady Emerson - who was selected with the No.2 pick by the Tampa Bay Rays - they opted for a player who by next season could join their suddenly ascendant major league franchise - - Cholowsky has agreed to a contract with the Chicago White Sox that includes a record-breaking $10.35 million signing bonus after being selected with the No.1 overall pick in last weekend's amateur draft, sources confirmed to ESPN amid multiple reports, whereas the slot value for the top pick this year was $11.35 million — Cholowsky's record-setting signing bonus tops the previous mark of $9.25 million for the amateur draft that belonged to Cincinnati Reds pitcher Chase Burns and Colorado Rockies prospect Charlie Condon, two of the top three (3) selections in the 2024 MLB Draft - - Cholowsky, a 6-foot-2 SS, who turned 21 in April, hit .320 with 21 HRs, 60 RBIs, and a 1.088 OPS in 60 games this season for UCLA: **NOTE: Cholowsky played for the Bruins for three (3) seasons, batting .329 with 52 homers, 167 RBIs and a 1.072 OPS in 178 games played - as he ranks among the school's career leaders in homers, runs scored, on-base percentage and RBIs - - Meanwhile and despite losing a major-league record 121 games in 2024, the White Sox didn't pick until No.10 overall last year because of anti-tanking rules, however, they won the draft lottery in December, and the pick of Cholowsky was viewed as something of a foregone conclusion until he put up numbers below expectations in Big Ten play, with an OPS nearly 275 points lower than in non-conference games - - Regardless, Cholowsky's .320/.452/.636 line with 21 HRs and 60 RBIs followed a sophomore season in which he hit .353/.480/.710 with 23 HRs and 74 RBIs, which was plenty impressive enough for the White Sox to make him their first No.1 overall pick since Hall of Famer Harold Barnes in 1977. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Chicago White Sox selecting Roch Cholowsky with the No.1 overall pick in this year's MLB Draft?. . .2026 Home Run Derby: St. Louis Cardinals OF Jordan Walker staged a dramatic finish on Monday night, hitting six (6) consecutive HRs in the final round to stun the Phillies faithful, becoming the first player in Cardinals' franchise history to take the Derby crown: Walker hit 12 HRs in the final round to Kyle Schwarber's 11, and won it with a 407-foot blast to left field [where his parents were seated in the stands] - - The 2026 Home Run Derby made its Netflix debut on Monday night, and delivered in a big way thanks to St. Louis Cardinals slugger Jordan Walker, who completed an epic comeback on his final swing, blasting four (4) homers to spoil the hometown favorite, Schwarber, and Phillies' fans at Citizens Bank Park - - Not only did Walker become the first Cardinals player in MLB history to win the Derby, he is also the second-youngest player of all time to claim the crown (24) - - He also got to take home a cool $1 million for his efforts, while Schwarber earned $500,000 as the runner-up -- **NOTE: Interestingly, Walker's HR Derby prize of $1 million is more than his 2026 MLB salary of $799.4k - - Schwarber beat Willson Contreras in the semifinal round to advance, while Walker outlasted Junior Caminero - - Another Philadelphia hopeful, 1st baseman Bryce Harper, was eliminated in the first round when he hit only eight (8) HRs - and joined Jac Caglianone (8), Munetaka Murakami (9), and Ben Rice (7) on the sideline - - Players seemed to like the new format, however, which allowed for 20 untimed swings in the first round, 15 in the semifinals and 15 more in the final: Walker hit a total of 31 HRs, which was the same number than Kyle Schwarber, the runner-up, hit under this new Derby format. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Jordan Walker being crowned the 2026 Home Run Derby Champion, and the first St. Louis Cardinals' player ever to achieve this particular feat?. . .2026 MLB All-Star Game: In a year when MLB pitchers throwing unhittable 100 mph fastballs have generated many of baseball's headlines, the story of the 2026 MLB All-Star Game was that there are many ways to dominate the 60 feet, 6 inches between the pitcher's rubber & homeplate: Eleven (11) American League (AL) pitchers combined to allow three (3) hits and strike out 15 National League (NL) batters in a 4-0 victory Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park, the AL's fourth shutout in All-Star play - - This was arguably the most impressive team pitching performance in All-Star Game history, with the 15 K's being one short of the nine-inning record and the three (3) hits allowed tying for the second fewest - in fact, there was only one triple-digit pitch thrown the entire game for the American League - - New York Yankees teammates Cody Bellinger & Ben Rice, both left-handed batters, delivered RBIs to give the AL a quick 3-0 lead before Phillies fans could finish their Philly Cheesesteaks - which was a bit of a rarity for hometown/Philadelphia (or NL) pitcher Cristopher Sanchez, who allowed a .137 average to lefty's in the first half - - **NOTE: Bellinger earned MVP honors for his two-out, two-run single, whereas Rice followed with an RBI single, the first time since 1962 that two Yankees had an RBI in an MLB All-Star Game. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the AL's dominant pitching performance, and 4-0 shutout victory over the NL in Tuesday night's MLB All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia?. . - NFL - - RB Alvin Kamara will play for the New Orleans Saints in 2026 on a reworked contract, his agent confirmed to the NFL Network on Wednesday afternoon - - Kamara's restructured deal will pay him a base salary of $6 million this season with a chance to make up to $8.5 million with incentives, per Ian Rapoport - - Kamara had been set to make up to $11.5 million in base salary this season, although the Saints re-negotiated his contract for salary cap purposes in early March - in addition, $3 million of that salary became guaranteed last year - - Kamara's future was a point of speculation before the Saints signed former Jacksonville Jaguars RB, Travis Etienne Jr. to a four-year, $12 million per year contract, and questions began to circulate as to whether the Saints would be willing to retain both RBs - as Kamara addressed rumors of a potential trade last October by saying that he would not want to play anywhere but New Orleans - - Kamara's age [he turns 31 before the start of NFL training camp, which begins later this month] has been one reason for the speculation, but he also is coming off a season in which he had career lows in rushing yards (471), receiving yards (186) and total TDs (1) - and he has finished the past two seasons on the IR list. . .Q: What do you think about the New Orleans Saints' restructured deal with veteran RB Alvin Kamara? Was it a smart move for the franchise to was it time for the Saints to move on?. . . - NBA - - "Heat's Ablazing:" Former Miami Heat teammates Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro got into a physical altercation in Las Vegas last Friday morning, during which Adebayo struck Herro in the head area, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania - - The altercation occurred at a practice court in a Las Vegas hotel, according to sources - and it reportedly started when Adebayo approached Herro about comments the guard has previously made, critiquing the center on social media after their seven-year run as teammates in Miami ended when Herro was traded to Milwaukee - - Herro was seated courtside at the Thomas & Mack Center for last Friday's Summer League game between the Heat and Bucks - and he was interviewed during the game on the Prime broadcast prior to the news of the altercation with Adebayo broke - - After Herro was traded to Milwaukee, there were screenshots shared online of an Instagram direct message with a fan in which Herro appeared to question Adebayo's defensive prowess, with many speculating that this was in reaction to Adebayo signing a three-year, $166 million extension with Miami back in June 2024 - as the alleged comments by Herro in the DM questioned whether Adebayo's effort on defense on a nightly basis was worthy of someone who makes $60 million annually - - Bucks guard Tyler Herro said he wants to "move on" from his physical altercation with former teammate Bam Adebayo last week in Vegas and is "focused on the next chapter in Milwaukee.". . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Tyler Herro-Bam Adebayo physical altercation that occurred last week shortly after the Heat-Bucks trade that sent Giannis to Miami and Herro back to his hometown of Milwaukee? - - **UPDATE: The NBA will not punish the Miami Heat's Bam Adebayo for striking former teammate Tyler Herro at a Las Vegas gym last Friday, a league spokesperson told ESPN's Shams Charania on Thursday. . . - Miscellaneous - - 2026 FIFA World Cup Recap: In this particular segment, JD & Spencer review & analyze the semifinal round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in particular the outcome for the matches between France-Spain and Argentina-England, preview the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, discuss the viral photograph (2007) depicting the first time Lionel Messi & Lamine Yamal crossed paths, and finally, provide their individual prediction for the final match of this year's World Cup. . .UFC 329: The long-awaited return of Conor McGregor ended with a whimper as the UFC superstar injured his right leg in the opening seconds of his fight with Max Holloway and was forced to retire in the first round of their main event bout at UFC 329 at T-Mobile Arena - and after which point, Holloway was awarded an underwhelming TKO victory after the welterweight fight was waved off at 1 minute & 9 seconds - - It was a stunning development in the highly anticipated rematch nearly 13 years after their first meeting, which McGregor won despite tearing his ACL - but he wouldn't be so lucky this time around - as McGregor appeared to be injured when he charged toward Holloway and landed awkwardly on his right leg after attempting a jump kick right as the fight started - as McGregor fell to his back and absorbed some ground & pound from Holloway - - The Irish fighter would make it to his feet, but fell to the canvas again moments later, favoring his right leg - and he would get to his feet again but was clearly compromised, forcing the referee to call the fight off, as Holloway said he urged the referee to stop the fight - - A disheveled McGregor immediately exited the ring, skipping his post-fight Octagon interview to discuss the nature of his injury - as he took to social media later Saturday and denied speculation he was injured prior to the onset of the fight: It was an unfortunate conclusion to the return of UFC's biggest star, as McGregor, 37, had spent five (5) years away from the Octagon, as he was recovering from a broken leg and fighting off lawsuits. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the unfortunate ending of UFC 329? How pissed/upset would be if you had paid a significant amount of money to either attend or access this fight just for this outcome?. . . - Tradition's Finest Annual College Football Preview & Prediction Showcase: PAC-12 Conference: In this year's 'Tradition's Finest College Football Season Preview & Prediction Showcase,' JD & Spencer discuss the history of the PAC-12 Conference, analyze a full breakdown & season outlook for the league, discuss a few of the potential breakout players in the Conference - as well as to provide their individual predictions regarding a potential "dark horse" contender in the Conference and which member they predict to win the 2026-27 PAC-12 Conference title/championship. . . Thanks for Listening!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 142 - "The Breaking Barriers Episode" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - NFL - - "T.Swift & T. Kelce Get Hitched:" On a swelteringly hot summer day in New York City, an elated coupled tied the know — The glowing bride walked down the aisle to an instrumental version of Taylor Swift's iconic "Love Story" and read emotional vows paying tribute to her husband's kind spirit - - The groom, beloved for his charismatic and happy-go-lucky personality, wore a white tuxedo and asked a friend of his to officiate the wedding ceremony: It was, by all accounts, a "traditional" wedding, save for one rather un-traditional component: The bride was none other than the 14-time Grammy Award winner, Swift, herself: On July 3, she and Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce said "I do," at Madison Square Garden before an estimated 1,000 guests, which included hundreds of A-list celebrity friends and industry tastemakers — The wedding list, in particular, ran the gamut from actors, such as Brad Pitt, Emma Stone & Tom Hanks, to NFL stars like Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski & Chiefs' teammate Patrick Mahomes, to musicians, such as Sabrina Carpenter, Miranda Lambert and members of Swift's band & Eras' Tour dancers - - And though Swift has long been known for having a close group of friends within her inner circle, she and Kelce elected to skip a customary bridal party - instead, the singer's brother Austin, 34, served as her Man of Honor, while Kelce's brother Jason, 38, served as his best man - - Actor & renowned comedian Adam Sandler, a childhood hero and recent costar of Kelce's athlete cameo in the film Happy Gilmore 2, officiated the ceremony, and Kelce & Swift, both aged 36, exchanged vows they wrote themselves (Sandler's best advice to the newlyweds?: "Keep kissing," according to Chiefs HC Andy Reid) - - As the couple prepared for their big day, so did The Big Apple, a place that's long been special to Swift, who actually owns an apartment in the Tribeca neighborhood - - Dozens of vendors and staffers were seen heading in & out of MSG in the days leading up to the wedding as they worked around the clock to prep the venue, and revamping the Garden into. .well, "a garden" was likely no small feat, according to the celebrity event designer Edward Perotti: Calling the transformations a "Herculean effort," Perotti - who has created events for A-list stars like Ariana Grande and Nick Jonas among others - estimated that the cost of renting the venue at $1 million per day, and when totaled, this placed the wedding price tag somewhere in the vicinity of $35 million to $50 million - - Shortly after the wedding ceremony, Swift's mom, Andrea, invited everyone into a reception room, where a large stage was set up for musical performances - and what a FLEX it was to be able to say that Stevie Nicks [of Fleetwood Mac] and Paul McCartney - performed at your wedding reception - - Following their three-year relationship, Kelce has not only become the pop star's husband, but her muse, as well, as much of her most recent record-shattering album, The Life of a Showgirl, was inspired by their relationship. . .Q: What is your thought on the Travis Kelce-Taylor Swift wedding at Madison Square Garden? And, despite the significant disparity in total net worth (i.e., Kelce w/ an estimated net worth of $90 to $100 million, while Swift has an estimated net worth of $2 billion), do you think Travis Kelce ever allows Taylor Swift to pay for any of their meals at restaurants? If you were in his shoes, would you allow your billionaire wife "pick up the check?". . . - NBA - - The Sacramento Kings have waived DeMar DeRozan, the team announced on Monday, making the six-time NBA All-Star one of the top free agents on the NBA market - - DeRozan had a partial guarantee on his contract for next season, but he and Sacramento negotiated his release, allowing him to hit free agency and potentially sign with a new team - - Multiple contenders are expected to share mutual interest in the veteran guard, including the leftover suitors that eventually strike out on their current pursuit of LeBron James - - The Los Angeles Lakers, however, won't be one of them as they are not considered a potential landing spot for the Southern California native, according to multiple league sources - - DeRozan was a cap casualty for a rebuilding Kings franchise that desperately needed to trim money, as only $10 million of his $25.7 million contract for next season was fully guaranteed - - DeRozan, who will turn 37 in August, continued to prove his worth on the court this past season as one of the most reliable scorers in the league in his 17th NBA season, in which he averaged 18.4 points on nearly 50% shooting for the Kings - he also appeared in all but five (5) games, continuing a career-long trend of availability - as he appeared in at least 70 games in each of the past five (5) regular seasons. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Sacramento Kings waiving six-time NBA All-Star DeMar DeRozan on Monday? What are a few potential landing destinations for DeRozan to play in his upcoming 18th season in the league?. . .The New York Knicks have their Mitchell Robinson replacement: The reigning NBA champions have agreed to a one-year, $3.9 million contract with veteran big man Andre Drummond, according to ESPN's Shams Charania - as Drummond figures to work as the team's backup center behind starter Karl-Anthony Towns - - The deal is New York's answer to the only major departure from their championship squad, as Robinson's rebounding and interior defense were invaluable off the bench - and fortunately for Robinson, it was this package that earned him a three-year, $47.4 million payday with the Boston Celtics - - In Drummond, the Knicks get a player who is four (4) years older, but has a game fairly similar to Robinson's -- **NOTE: Drummond did make 35.6% of a career-high 90 3-point attempts last season, whereas Robinson has NEVER attempted a single 3-pointer in an NBA game - - Instead, both men make their money off crashing the boards, and Drummond - even at the age of 32 - still rebounds at an elite rate, however, he is a step behind on defense, but those are the sacrifices made when one player costs $15.8 million per year and the other costs $3.9 million - - The Knicks will be Drummond's seventh career franchise after two seasons in Philadelphia, where he backed up Joel Embiid. . ."The LeBron James Sweepstakes:" LeBron James is, by far, the biggest & most polarizing name on the free agent market, as he contemplates where he'll spend his 24th NBA season after announcing that he will not re-sign for the Los Angeles Lakers following eight (8) years in L.A. - - When James announced that he was hitting free agency, the quickly speculated short list of suitors included the Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Miami Heat - two teams he's starred for in the past and one that presents him with the chance to play alongside his good friend & longtime rival, Stephen Curry - - However, James and his agent, Rich Paul, have been abundantly clear that they're willing to hear pitches from everyone around the league and that, in the right situation, a veteran minimum deal is not out of the question - - On Friday [7/3], Paul put out a new episode of his Game Over podcast with Max Kellerman, for which he revealed a list of 10 teams on a whiteboard for James' next potential destination; this list included the following teams: the Philadelphia 76ers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks, Boston Celtics, and San Antonio Spurs - and he also outlined what he saw as the 'pros' and 'cons' of each potential destination - - All of James' free agencies have been different but carry some of the same fundamentals - as James routinely kept his circle tight and his choice private in 2010, 2014 and 2018, and successfully controlled the release of his decision — But historically, teammates, friends and business partners had a feel for what he might do based on vibes, not intel — The same seems to be taking place this offseason: Teams pitching James have reported mostly one-way communication, whereas James' recent walk down memory lane with his 2016 Cavs' teammates and spending extra time in Akron this summer have definitely contributed to the notion that he might be leaning toward a return home to Cleveland - - Naturally, teams hoping to secure James' services have noticed - - But while there is a "vibe" pointing toward the Cavs, coming off their best non-LeBron season in more than 30 years and signing Donovan Mitchell to a four-year maximum contract extension, other teams are not counting themselves out - - The Golden State Warriors, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves and Philadelphia 76ers each believe they have a compelling case, per sources, but per ESPN's Shams Charania on Wednesday, the Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat & Cleveland Cavaliers seem to be the frontrunners in the race to sign LeBron James during NBA free agency. . .Q: Which NBA franchise does LeBron James sign with in 2026 NBA free agency?. . ."Out Like I'm [mike] Lowry:" Kyle Lowry delivered on his final promise as a player: he long vowed to re-sign with the Toronto Raptors so he could retire as a member of that franchise — And on Tuesday [7/7], he made it happen: Lowry - one of 12 players in NBA history to play 20 seasons in the league - announced on social media that he is signing with the Raptors and will retire, ending his career with the team that he helped lead to the 2019 NBA championship and in the city he considers home - - It's a ceremonial one-day contract, and Lowry confirmed that plan before a scheduled news conference in Toronto later Tuesday: The date of the announcement - July 7, or 7/7 - is a clear nod to the No.7 jersey he wore with the Raptors - - Tributes immediately poured in after Lowry posted the video, many paying homage to the player whom Toronto fans call the GROAT: the greatest Raptor of all time — "This was home," Lowry said of Toronto. "Home is a feeling. It's a comfort. It's a place that you continue wanting to be there. Over and over again. It's a place where you feel like you just belong." - - The 40-year-old Lowry is a Philadelphia native who played in college for Villanova before entering the NBA in 2006 - For now, he's one of only two point guards (PG) to play 20 seasons - Chris Paul is the other, and Mike Conley Jr. will join that list this season - - Lowry ended his playing career in his actual hometown, spending this past season with the 76ers and appeared in 14 games - as he formally called it a career in the city that he considers home, Toronto, the place where he became both an All-Star and a champion - - Lowry is a six-time All-Star, with all of those appearances coming during his nine (9) years in Toronto - - He won an Olympic gold medal with the United States at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, was an All-NBA selection in 2015-16 and had a new job even before his playing days ended: he was announced last year as an analyst for Prime Video - - Lowry was the No.24 pick in the 2006 NBA Draft by the Memphis Grizzlies, and throughout his 20-year career, he also played for the Houston Rockets and Miami Heat, along with the 76ers and Raptors: he averaged 13.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 6.0 assists over 1,187 regular-season games, and his 2,209 made 3-pointers ranks 14th in NBA history - - **NOTE: Lowry reached the playoffs in 12 of those 20 seasons, averaging 13.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists in postseason play. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Kyle Lowry delivering on his final promise as a player, and retiring as a member of the Toronto Raptors? Where does Kyle Lowry stack up for you in terms of the all-time greatest point guards in NBA history?. . ."A Six-Team Trade:" The Washington Wizards are bringing back veteran Khris Middleton on a three-year, $17.6 million contract via a sign-and-trade deal, agent Mike Lindeman of Excel Sports Management told ESPN's Shams Charania - - The Dallas Mavericks are sending the 14-year veteran to the Wizards as part of a larger six-team deal that includes, in total, the Mavericks, Wizards, LA Clippers, Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks and Memphis Grizzlies: it encompasses previously agreed-upon deals involving John Collins, Gary Harris and Taurean Prince (Detroit), Isaiah Stewart (Memphis), Santi Aldama (Mavericks) and Caris LeVert (Bucks) - - As part of the elaborate six-team trade, the Wizards are sending D'Angelo Russell, a future second-round pick and a future second-round pick swap to the Memphis Grizzlies, sources told ESPN - - Middleton, 34, averaged 10.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 63 games last season - as he was traded from the Wizards to the Mavericks as part of the Anthony Davis deal before the February deadline — Middleton's 12-year tenure with the Bucks ended when he was traded to the Wizards at the 2025 deadline - he was a three-time All-Star in Milwaukee and co-starred alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo during the Bucks' run to the 2020-21 championship - - Middleton has 80 games of playoff experience and a history of increasing his production in the postseason: he has career averages of 20.6 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists in playoff games, all of which are higher than his regular-season numbers. . Q: Who are the clear winners and losers of this six-team NBA trade?. . ."Like Sr., Like Jr:" Tim Hardaway Jr. always would follow the same routine in his 15 visits to Miami as an opponent: Walk into the arena, take a look into the rafters, gaze at one specific banner – “Hardaway 10” sways, commemorating his father's time with the Heat and the jersey they retired in Tim Hardaway Sr.'s honor. . .It's his jersey now: The Heat formally introduced part of the family Wednesday, with the 34-year-old Hardaway getting his welcome-back-to-Miami news conference - and getting handed a No.10 Heat jersey, only this one with “Jr.” after the family surname on the back - - “This is really bizarre,” said Heat president Pat Riley, who coached the elder Hardaway in Miami - - Tim Hardaway Sr. previously said he wouldn't let his retired number come back into circulation for the Heat, noting to WQAM radio in Miami last week: “My legacy is my legacy, and [my son is] doing it his way.” - - But Hardaway Jr. told the media Wednesday that things changed after some family discussions: “I think the first go-round was a personal decision,” he said of his father's initial thoughts. “The second go-round was a family decision.” - - The younger Hardaway used to run around the Heat practice floor as a kid while his day played games or hang out in the family room partaking in video games - - As Hardaway Jr. got older, Riley would ask someone on the staff to put his through workouts on the practice court - and that staffer was Erik Spoelstra, now the Heat HC. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Tim Hardaway Sr. allowing Tim Hardaway Jr. to wear his No.10 jersey as a member of the Miami Heat?. . . - Miscellaneous - - "Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest:" Once again, Joey Chestnut reigns supreme in the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest -- Chestnut, 42, devoured 66 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes to take his 18th Mustard Belt title at the annual July 4 contest in Coney Island, Brooklyn - - He beat out the next closest competitor, Patrick Bertoletti, by 15 dogs - as Bertoletti finished with 51 eaten for second place, and James Webb ate 47.5 for third place - - Temperatures during the contest were 92 degrees with high humidity - but that didn't stop Chestnut from taking one hot dog and bun roughly every nine (9) seconds - - Those 66 dogs are 10 short of the record 76 Chestnut consumed in 2021 - but that was his second-highest total since then, and still plenty enough to win and take home the $10,000 first-place prize - as last year, Chestnut came close to his career high with 70.5 - - Chestnut won his second consecutive Hot Dog Eating Contest after missing the 2024 competition due to a sponsorship dispute with Major League Eating, the organization that oversees the Nathan's event and competitive eating contests around the world (Bertoletti won the 2024 contest in Chestnut's absence) - - Prior to 2024, Chestnut won eight (8) straight Nathan's Hot Dog Contests before losing to Matt Stonie in 2015 - as he proceeded to win the next eight (8) of the next nine (9) competitions - - Chestnut's run of success at Coney Island began in 2007 after defeating six-time champ Takeru Kobayashi - as Kobayashi's six (6) Mustard Belts are the next highest total after Chestnut's record, which appears unlikely to ever be beaten. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Joey Chestnut winning his 18th Mustard Belt after deleting 66 hot dogs & buns? - - In the women's competition, Miki Sudo won her 12th title and fifth consecutive pink belt - as she bested her total from last year, eating 38.5 hot dogs in 10 minutes - - Michelle Lesco, the 2021 champ, once again finished as the runner-up with 22 eaten, who barely beat out Domenica Dee, who was credited with 21.5 dogs - - **NOTE: Sudo has won the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest in 12 of the past 13 years - In 2021, she did not participate due to pregnancy, opening the path for Lesco. . .Q: As strange as it may sound, is it time for us to stop pretending that Joey Chestnut is not the most successful “athlete” in professional sporting event?. . .2026 FIFA World Cup Recap: In this particular segment, JD & Spencer discuss & analyze each of the following Knockout Stage matchup(s) from over the past week; a complete list of matches discussed within this segment are listed below: Round of 32: South Africa vs. Canada Brazil vs. Japan Germany vs. Paraguay Netherlands vs. Morocco Ivory Coast vs. Norway France vs. Sweden Mexico vs. Ecuador England vs. Congo DR Belgium vs. Senegal USA vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina Spain vs. Austria Portugal vs. Croatia Switzerland vs. Algeri Australia vs. Egypt Argentina vs. Cape Verde Colombia vs. Ghana Round of 16: Morocco vs. Canada France vs. Paraguay Norway vs. Brazil Mexico vs. England Portugal vs. Spain USA vs. Belgium Argentina vs. Egypt Switzerland vs. Colombia              Thanks for Listening!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 141.5 - "The un-seld, SOLD! Episode" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - NCAA: News & Storylines - - The NCAA Division I Cabinet unanimously approved a new five-year, age-based eligibility model on Tuesday -- Under the new rule, athletes in all sports will be given five (5) years of eligibility over five (5) seasons once their college eligibility clock begins -- The clock starts upon initial full-time enrollment in college or at the beginning of the academic year following their 19th birthday, whichever occurs first - - The move is meant to eliminate the need for redshirts and waivers, which have drawn scrunity in recent years as athletes have sued the NCAA challenging eligibility rules - - Athletes who just completed their fourth season of eligibility without a redshirt would not be granted an additional year, while schools will have the flexibility in determining whether to use previous eligibility rules of the new age-based model for athletes with eligibility remaining after the 2025-26 academic year. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the NCAA D-I Cabinet's unanimous approval of the new five-year age-based eligibility model on Tuesday?. . .NCAA College Football: The NCAA Division I Cabinet also voted to eliminate the bowl transition penalty, paving a pathway for North Dakota State and Sacramento State to be eligible to participate in a bowl game immediately in 2026, sources told On3 - - Previously, the NCAA had a two-year transition penalty prohibiting programs from playing in bowl games that moved and/or transitioned from the FCS to the FBS level: North Dakota State and Sacramento State will need to finish with a 6-6 record or better this upcoming season and can fulfill one of their conference's bowl commitments - - In March, the FBS Oversight Committee recommended the elimination of the two-year postseason probationary period - - Interestingly, according to preliminary reports, NDSU is projected to be favored in all 12 of its' games in 2026, which includes an eight-game Mountain West conference schedule: The Bison, who have won 10 of the last 15 FCS titles, could now realistically make a run at a College Football Playoff berth in their debut FBS season. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the NCAA D-I Cabinet voting to eliminate the bowl transition penalty?. . .NCAA College Baseball: Men's College World Series (MCWS) Review & Catch-Up: Game 1: No.5 North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Oklahoma Sooners - - Deiten Lachance hit a pair of HRs as Oklahoma continued it's offensive barrage with a 9-3 win over No.5 North Carolina in the opening game of the Men's College World Series championship best-of-three (3) series on Saturday [6/20] in Omaha, Nebraska. . .Game 2: No.5 North Carolina Tar Heels (0-1) vs. Oklahoma Sooners (1-0) - - The Tar Heels forced a winner-take-all Game 3 that would take place the following Monday after taking down the Sooners 6-2 in Game 2 of the MCWS on Sunday [6/21] afternoon - - It was a similar game to Saturday's Game 1, just with two different winners, as Oklahoma was held scoreless after the 1st inning. . .. . .Game 3: No.5 North Carolina Tar Heels (1-1) vs. Oklahoma Sooners (1-1) - - The Oklahoma Sooners, who finished the college baseball regular season in 11th place in the SEC Conference standings, captured its' third College World Series championship Monday [6/22] night, defeating the No.5-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels in a convincing 13-2 victory of the decisive Game 3 of the championship series. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Oklahoma Sooners capturing its' third national title after defeating UNC in Game 3 of the MCWS?. . . MLB - - "Happy Bobby Bonilla Day!:"It's July 1. . .and that means it's time for New York Mets fans everywhere to wish each other a "Happy Bobby Bonilla Day!". . .Why?. . because, on Wednesday [7/1], 63-year-old Bobby Bonilla received a check for approximately $1.2 million dollars from the New York Mets organization, as he has and will every July 1 from 2011 through the year 2035. . .Q: Do you consider yourself an avid celebrator of "Bobby Bonilla Day?". . .Because of baseball's unique salary structure, Bonilla's annual payday is often more than some of the game's current young stars will make in a given year - - The Mets are certainly not alone in handing out deferred payments to star players long after they last suited up for the team, with past MVPs and Cy Young winners among the notable names still collecting annual paychecks from their previous employers - - In recent MLB offseasons, deferred money became an even bigger talking point with the Los Angeles Dodgers frequently opting for this payment structure, highlighted by a deal with superstar Shohei Ohtani that will delay payments for $680 million of his $700 million mega-deal - as he'll start receiving $68 million per year in 2034. . .Q: Will this eventually lead to the formation of a "Happy Shohei Ohtani Day?". . .So, how did Bobby Bonilla's payday and/or deferred yearly payment(s) come about?. . .In 2000, the Mets agreed to buy out the remaining $5.9 million on Bonilla's contract, however, instead of paying Bonilla the $5.9 million at the time, the Mets agreed to make annual (or "deferred") payments of nearly $1.2 million for 25 years starting July 1, 2011, including a negotiated 8% interest - - Under Mets' new owner Steve Cohen, who mentioned the possibility of celebrating Bonilla at Citi Field annually soon after taking ownership of the team, as the MLB franchise have fully embraced Bonilla's annual payday - - Bobby Bonilla last played for the Mets in 1999 and last played in the MLB for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2001, but he will be paid through 2035 (when he'll be 72 years old) - - Oh, and that's not all, folks. . .believe it or not, but this is not Bobby Bonilla's only deferred-money MLB contract: a second deferred-contract plan with the Mets and Baltimore Orioles agreed to pay him $500,000 a year for 25 years, with those payments beginning back in the year 2004. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Bobby Bonilla's annual $1.2 million payday? If you received a payment every July 1 for the amount of $1.2 million - which is just a few days prior to the Fourth of July - would you invest a significant amount of fireworks like Spencer would if he was in that position? [**Let Us Know what you would do if you were in Bobby Bonilla's position financially: Share your answers with us via X - @TraditionFinest or Send Us an email at [email protected]!]. . . - NFL - - "No Supplemental Draft for Sorsby:" The NFL has informed teams that it will NOT be holding a Supplemental Draft this year, meaning Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby will not be eligible to enter the NFL in 2026 - - The NFL's decision came down to its' right to decide whether to hold a supplemental draft, per the collective bargaining agreement, as league officials said they believed it would ultimately become a distraction to teams as they begin training camps - - The NFL's Management Council issued a letter to Brendan Sorsby notifying him of the league's decision, and to summarize the letter: it indicated, that, based on timing - and the league's inability to investigate the gambling issues in time - and the hope to avoid a distraction for teams prior to the 2026-27 NFL season, there would be no Supplemental Draft, and in other words, there is no other avenue available at this time for Sorsby to enter the league and/or play in the NFL for the upcoming 2026-27 regular season - - - - Sorsby's attorney, Jeffrey Kessler's reaction/response to the NFL's decision to not hold a Supplemental Draft in 2026, was: "It is a violation of the CBA and the law. We will pursue this with the NFLPA immediately.". . .Q: What are your thoughts on the NFL's decision to not hold a Supplemental Draft this year, as well as their statement to QB Brendan Sorsby?. . ."The Terrion Arnold Story:" Per the Tampa Police Department, this all started after Lions CB Terrion Arnold and several others had property stolen from an AirBnB Arnold rented in Largo (FL) in early February - - Investigators say Arnold believed some of the eventual victims were responsible, even though police later determined they were not involved in that theft - - - - On February 3, police say Arnold and Boakai Hilton, who investigators say helped coordinate the alleged setup - directed Arianna Del Valle and Jasmine Randazzo to contact one of the victims and lure him to an apartment in Tampa - - Around midnight on February 4, investigators say the victims arrived at the apartment, and once they entered the bedroom, police say Christion Williams and Lyndell Hudson, two of Arnold's associates - who had been hiding in the closet - jumped out, grabbed the victims, held them at gunpoint, and attacked them - - Investigators say the incident was streamed to Arnold, Hilton and Freddie Hughes while they were traveling to the apartment - - Police also say there was a group chat involving the defendants, and that Arnold and Hilton gave directions through that chat while the attack was happening - - About an hour later, police say Arnold arrived at the apartment with Hilton, Hughes, and another person, and that he directed them to go inside while the robbery was still going on - - Investigators say property was stolen from the victims during attack - - At around 1:40 a.m, police say the victims were escorted out of the apartment by armed suspects and forced into their vehicle before leaving the scene - - The victims later reported the incident to Tampa Police and identified the suspects - - After search warrants were executed and the investigation continued, detectives arrested multiple people in the case over the next following weeks - - Police say Arnold was the primary conspirator in the alleged robbery/kidnapping plot, as he turned himself on Wednesday [6/24] night and is now facing 4 counts of kidnapping and 4 counts of armed robbery, and is potentially facing a life sentence if convicted of all charges - - **UPDATE: The Detroit Lions have released CB Terrion Arnold after he was arrested last week on felony charges of armed robbery and kidnapping, the team announced Monday - - Arnold had his bond set at $1 million Monday by Hillsborough County (Florida) Judge Christopher Sabella, who added the following conditions: (1) he is not allowed contact with the six (6) co-defendants or the witnesses in this case. . .(2) He must surrender his passport within 48 hours. . .(3) And he was ordered confined to his residence in Tallahassee, Florida, except when he would be playing, training and traveling with the Lions or making court-related appearances or legal appointments - - The state asked the Judge to require Arnold to wear a GPS-tracking device, but his attorneys argued that he would not be able to play football with such a device - - Sabella said that although the charges are serious - four (4) counts each of kidnapping and assault that could bring a life sentence if Arnold is convicted - prosecutors are "not there yet" in showing a strong case for Arnold's guilt - - Arnold, 23, has been in custody since Wednesday night, when he turned himself in - - Per a new local report, Arnold believes that he will "sign with a new team within the next 30 days,". . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Detroit Lions organizations' decision to release CB Terrion Arnold despite him being released on bail? Did they jump the gun on this one? If so, why?. . .Three-time Pro Bowl RB Chris Johnson (aka "CJ2K"), who formerly played for the Tennessee Titans and Arizona Cardinals, revealed that he has been diagnosed with ALS - also known as "Lou Gehrig's disease" - in an interview with ABC's "Good Morning America" that aired on Monday morning - - Johnson, 39, told GMA co-anchor Michael Strahan that he was diagnosed with the disease in 2025: "There's no history of ALS in my family," said Johson, who was using a speech-generating device based on recordings of his voice to speak - - Johnson played ten seasons in the NFL with the Titans (2008-13), New York Jets (2014) and Cardinals (2015-17), as he earned the nickname "CJ2K" after he rushed for 2,006 yards in 2009, which still ranks seventh in NFL history - - **NOTE: He broke the NFL's single-season record for yards from scrimmage that season (2,509) and was named The Associated Press NFL Offensive Players of the Year - - Titans owner and former & current players around the league reached out to Johnson via social media to express their support for the former star RB, as the Jets organization and NFL Players Association (NFLPA) also released messages of support for Johnson - - ALS is a progressive disease that attacks nerve cells that control muscles throughout the body - as it became known as Lou Gehrig's disease after the star baseball player was diagnosed in 1939, and unfortunately, there is currently no known cure for the disease - - Johnson, who is taking part in a clinical trial as part of his treatment, told Strahan that he first started noticing symptoms when he had a weaker grip - - Johnson said he was going public with his ALS diagnosis to raise awareness, but also to let people know that he is the same person from his NFL career. . .Q: What are your thoughts regarding former NFL RB Chris Johnson's diagnosis being revealed on "Good Morning America" on Monday morning?. . . - NBA - - The Portland Trail Blazers have hired Minnesota Timberwolves lead assistant Micah Nori as the franchise's new head coach, the team announced Tuesday - - Nori, who is widely regarded as one of the league's top assistants, has been in the NBA coaching ranks since 2009, as sources confirmed to ESPN that Nori's deal has just one guaranteed year, with options on the second and third year - which has drawn much speculation among other NBA coaches - - Additionally, sources told ESPN that Nori's contract features a sliding-scale salary based on incentives and team success - - Portland hired Nori after Trail Blazers GM Joe Cronin led a comprehensive search of over a dozen coaching interviews: The finalists for the job beyond Nori were Boston Celtics assistant Tyler Lashbrook and former interim coach Tiago Splitter, who was hired by the Chicago Bulls as their new HC last week - but Portland zeroed in on Mori due to his strong communication & relationship skills - - Nori has spent the past five (5) seasons in Minnesota under HC Chris Finch, a stretch that has seen the team post the fifth-best record in the NBA and included five (5) postseason appearances. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Portland Trail Blazers' hire of Minnesota Timberwolves' assistant Micah Nori as the franchise's new HC?. . .Dusty May's meteoric rise through the basketball ranks is continuing in a seismic way: Following a two-season stay at Michigan, during which May masterfully maximized the NCAA transfer portal to return the Wolverines' basketball program to prominence by winning a national title, agreed to become the new head coach of the Dallas Mavericks last Tuesday [6/23], in an axis-shifting move that significantly altered the college and NBA landscapes - - May, 49, led Michigan to a 64-13 record over two seasons in Ann Arbor, and led the Wolverines to a national title in 2026, whereas at his previous job as HC at FAU, he led them to back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances, including the 2023 Final Four - - In his last four (4) seasons as a head coach in college, May went 124-46 - - **NOTE: May becomes the first college HC to take an NBA job since former Michigan HC John Beilein took the Cleveland Cavaliers job in 2019, whereas the last to leave college immediately after winning a national title, was Kansas' Larry Brown in 1988, and Florida's Billy Donovan was the most recent NCAA title-winning coach to depart for the NBA in 2015 - - The move puts May in charge of the Mavericks' next generation, which is being crafted around Cooper Flagg, the NBA's reigning Rookie of the Year after leading Dallas by scoring 21.0 points per game last season, meanwhile, the move puts Michigan in a sudden state of flux after the Wolverines' dominant run to the NCAA title - after the Wolverines appeared well-positioned to repeat - - May's departure means that Michigan's players can explore their future options, as under NCAA rules a 15-day transfer window will open five (5) days after a new HC is hired or publicly announced: **UPDATE: Michigan named former assistant Mike Boynton Jr. as its' interim HC - as Boynton brings head coaching experience from Oklahoma State and will attempt to keep a talented roster in place - a roster that includes Final Four Most Outstanding Player Elliot Cadeau, talented rising sophomore Trey McKenney and a new crop of talented transfers, that includes J.P. Estrella, Moustapha Thiam and Jalen Reed - - In Dallas, May will replace former HC Jason Kidd, as the Mavs went 205-205 in five (5) seasons under Kidd, highlighted by Dallas' runs to the 2022 Western Conference finals and 2024 NBA Finals - - League sources told ESPN's Tim MacMahon that Dallas also gauged the interest of Duke's Jon Scheyer, who coached Cooper Flagg during his lone season in college at Duke, as they searched for Kidd's replacement. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Dallas Mavericks' hire of former Michigan Wolverines coach Dusty May to become the NBA franchise's next HC? Thoughts on ESPN's report that Dallas first gauged the interest of Duke's Jon Scheyer prior to inquiring with May about the open head coaching position?. . .2026 NBA Draft Review: The 2026 NBA Draft will be remembered for its' immense star power at the top and a relative lack of early trade activity or major boneheaded decisions: While the Washington Wizards, Utah Jazz, Memphis Grizzlies and Chicago Bulls believe they each landed potential franchise players at the top of the lottery, none of the top 12 picks changed hands, and the first round unfolded without any shocking revelations - - With that said, 29 of the NBA's 30 teams made at least one selection in the first round of this year's NBA Draft: In this particular segment, JD & Spencer evaluate a few of the most notable picks of this year's NBA Draft, as well as discuss a few of the clear "winners" and "losers" of the 2026 NBA Draft. . . .The NBA Trade Market & Free Agency: In this particular segment, JD & Spencer discuss NBA free agency, elaborate on a few of the NBA's most noteworthy trades from across the league, more specifically, those listed below, discuss each trade's impact on the NBA , as well as provide their individual insight and/or thoughts on each of the following trades: [**Be Sure to Tune in for This Discussion!] "An Awkward Saga:" The Milwaukee Giannis Antetokounmpo & Bobby Portis traded to the Miami Heat in exchange for Tyler Herro, Ke'lel Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kaspara Jakucionis, three (3) first-round picks, one pick swap and one second-round draft pick. . . "Melo to Minnesota:" The Charlotte Hornets traded star guard LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Naz Reis and a series of draft picks. . . "The Klaw is Back in Toronto:" The LA Clippers have agreed to trade All-NBA forward Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, unprotected first-round picks in 2031 & 2033, a 2027 first-round pick swap and two second-round pick swaps. . . "Ja, a Trail Blazer?:" The Memphis Grizzlies are trading two-time NBA All-Star Ja Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray. . . "A Blockbuster Trade:" The Boston Celtics agreed to send former NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers in blockbuster trade Wednesday in exchange for star forward Paul George in addition to two first-round picks as well as two second-round draft picks. . . - Miscellaneous - - 2026 FIFA World Cup Catch-Up & Knockout Round Review: In this particular segment, JD & Spencer discuss the following topics relative to the 2026 FIFA World Cup: (1) a couple of the "strange" storylines surrounding this year's World Cup; (2) the Results from the World Cup's Group Stage; and (3) a comprehensive review of Round of 32 matchups from the past week's Knockout Round (**the matchups discussed are included in the list included below): Canada vs. South Africa Brazil vs. Japan Paraguay vs. Germany Morocco vs. Netherlands Norway vs. Ivory Coast France vs. Sweden Mexico vs. Ecuador England vs. Congo DR Belgium vs. Senegal USA vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina Thanks for Listening!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 140 - The "Reign Man" Episode includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Football: "The Saga Continues:" The Big 12 on Monday morning made it clear it did not want to be pushed around in court in the case surrounding Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby. .and it seems to have worked: Hours before sources told ESPN Monday night that Sorsby plans to enter the NFL Supplemental Draft, a decision later confirmed by a university statement, the Red Raiders' conference filed a federal lawsuit in the Northern District of Texas seeking both a declaratory judgment and injunctive relief to allow the league the authority to use its bylaws to potentially punish Sorsby, who admitted to betting on college sports - - Sorsby's and TTU's decision to “mutually part ways” should quell the conference's concerns for the time being. . .Q: What are your thoughts on QB Brendan Sorsby & Texas Tech University mutually parting ways following this media spectacle? - - The Big 12, a league won by Texas Tech last season, was chief among those critics, as Monday's move by the conference was a legal counter to a letter from Texas attorney general last week, which warned that any sanctions imposed by the Big 12 would be “unlawful” and countered by legal action, with the Texas AG, Kenneth Paxton, listed as a defendant, along with the chancellor, president and AD of Texas Tech - - This all played out in the wake of a judge granting Sorsby a temporary injunction on June 8 that essentially cleared the way for him to play for Texas Tech in 2026 - that came after Sorsby admitted that he broke NCAA rules by betting thousands of times, including 40 times on Indiana football while he was on that team's roster - - Before Sorsby's decision to leave the Red Raiders, the Big 12's presidents met Monday to discuss potential punishments with no definitive outcome - - The Big 12's federal suit included a request for an injunction to allow the league to enforce its own rules - and at the heart of this was Big 12 Bylaw 3:6, which allows the league via a supermajority vote to decide whether Texas Tech's conduct warrants sanctions: The suit sought to bar Texas Tech from “seeking to deter, coerce, prevent, or punish the Big 12 for exercising its rights under its Bylaws to sanction TTU related to its handling of the sports betting activity discussed in this Complaint, including if TTU fields a student-athlete in Big 12 competitions who has engaged in collegiate sports betting activity.” - - The measures discussed by the Big 12 executive committee last week in a call included both financial penalties to the school and penalties related to eligibility, as the Big 12's filing alludes to barring the school from the conference championship game as a potential sanction – The suit also acknowledged the near unanimity in the college athletics industry that Sorsby should not be allowed to play and mentioned bans on playing Texas Tech by the athletic departments at Georgia and Nebraska - as the suit was a highly unusual action from a conference and it came amid a volatile situation: Big 12 ADs were outspoken, both publicly and in meetings, in saying they don't want to Sorsby to play - - For the first time since 2019, the NFL supplemental draft is interesting!. . .Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby has announced his intention to enter the supplemental draft, which will be held sometime in July once the league approves his application: The supplemental draft allows all 32 teams to bid blindly against one another for the rights to a player – Any team wishing to add Sorsby must submit a bid for the round in which it would be willing to draft him, as the team that submits the most valuable bid wins the rights to the player, but its pick in that specific round is forfeited in the upcoming 2027 NFL Draft - - As such, NFL teams are now doing all of their due diligence on Sorsby: A much-larger-than-normal piece of that diligence will consider his serious sports gambling transgressions, but it's still the job of scouts and coaches to watch the tape and grade his current play and NFL potential - as league evaluators were excited to see Sorsby play another season at Texas Tech; even if he had declared for the 2026 draft, before the sports gambling was exposed, he was considered a high-ceiling prospect worthy of a solid pick. . .Q: Do you think that an NFL franchise will use their draft pick to select QB Brendan Sorsby in this year's Supplemental Draft? If so, which NFL franchise or franchises might take the risk & draft Sorsby?. . .NCAA College Baseball: Bracket #1: Men's College World Series Game #11/Semifinals: No.5 North Carolina Tar Heels (2-0) vs. No.16 West Virginia Mountaineers (1-1) - - The Tar Heels exploded for 12 runs, jumping out to a 12-1 lead and holding off No.16 West Virginia, 12-7, to advance to the championship series of the College World Series on Wednesday afternoon at Charles Schwab Field - - **NOTE: With the victory, their fifth in a row, the Tar Heels advanced to the CWS championship series for the third time and the first time in 19 seasons, joining the 2006 and 2007 squads -- They improved to 3-0 in games to send themselves to the championship finals, as the final, best-of-three (3) series for the NCAA championship will begin in Omaha on Saturday on ESPN - - **NOTE: UNC has started 3-0 in the CWS for the first time since beginning 4-0 in 2006 and is a scorching 8-1 in the 2026 NCAA Tournament - - Carolina scored eight (8) runs in the first four (4) innings to take control early and allowed only run through 6.2 innings, whereas WVU scored five (5) in the bottom of the 7th and added another in the 8th, but Caden Glauber slammed the door by striking out three (3) and allowing just one run in 2.1 innings of relief to finish the game - - **NOTE: Carolina's 12 runs were its most since scoring 13 against Pitt on May 23 in the ACC Tournament - - as the Mountaineers had allowed only a combined 10 runs in their first three (3) games in Omaha prior to Wednesday - - UNC improved to 53-12-1 with the victory and has won 17 of its last 20 games, whereas the Mountaineers saw their season come to an abrupt end at 47-17 - - Owen Hull went 4-for-5 at the plate with two doubles and two RBIs to set the tone for the Tar Heels. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the No.5 North Carolina Tar Heels advancing to the Men's College World Series best-of-three championship series?. . .. . .Bracket #2: Men's College World Series #12/Semifinals: No.3 Georgia Bulldogs (1-1) vs. Oklahoma Sooners (2-0) - - Freshman pitcher shutting down maybe the nation's most potent lineup. . .Check!. . .HRs by the record-setting handful?. . .Check!. . .Otherworldly defensive genius with the leather?. . .Check! - - Oklahoma's unlikely run at the College World Series continued on Wednesday night at Charles Schwab Field as the Sooners emphatically eliminate No.3 national seed Georgia 11-4 - - OU (41-22) hit five (5) HRs, got another startingly precocious performance on the hill and layered in plenty of fabulous defense to shut down the Bulldogs (53-14) and advance to the CWS Championship Series for the second time in a five-year stretch - as Oklahoma will play No.5 North Carolina (53-12-1) in a best-of-three (3) series starting Saturday - - Oklahoma won its eighth game in a row - and barely gave the crowd of 24,446 time to catch their breath before another Sooner smacked a ball over the fence - - But it was fellow freshman pitcher Nick Wesloski, who was up to the challenge of taking down the Bulldogs despite the lack of starting experience this season - as his only other start on the college level was two weeks ago in the Atlanta regional against The Citadel, when he threw 105 pitches over seven (7) innings and gave up five (5) runs on six (6) hits and a pair of walks - and picked up his first collegiate win - - When the red-hot OU hitters staked him to a four-run lead early, Wesloski was able to relax, settle in and find the strike zone without much trouble - - Jason Walk enjoyed his first career two-HR game, Dasan Harris had his second, and Trey Gambill homered as well, his 11th - as Walk & Harris had hit just four (4) HRs all season, but they lived beyond the wall against Georgia's pitching. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the College World Series best-of-three (3) championship series between No.5 UNC and Oklahoma? Who do you predict to win this series?. . . - NFL - - Former NFL DL Aldon Smith has died in the Bay Area at the age of 36, the San Francisco 49ers announced and confirmed on Saturday afternoon, however, there was no cause of death given - - Smith played six (6) seasons in the NFL for the San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders and Dallas Cowboys, as the Niners selected him with the No.7 overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft: Once viewed as one of the NFL's top young players, Smith's star-crossed career ended in 2020 after one season with the Cowboys - - As a rookie, Smith burst on the scene with 14 sacks and 27 QB hits on his way to finishing second in Defensive Rookie of the Year balloting - - He followed with his best NFL season in 2012, posting 19.5 sacks and 29 QB hits as he earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors - as those 19.5 sacks still stand as a 49ers' franchise record for a single season - - Smith's rapid ascent to NFL stardom was slowed by a series of off-field issues that included 10 arrests in nine (9) years, as the NFL eventually suspended Smith for nine (9) games in 2014 for violation of the league's personal conduct and substance abuse policies - - Amid suspensions that kept him out of football from 2016 to 2019, Smith appeared in nine (9) games for the Oakland Raiders in 2015 and was conditionally reinstated by the NFL in May 2020: he appeared in 16 contests for the Dallas Cowboys in 2020, for which he had 3.5 sacks for the Raiders and five (5) for the Cowboys, with his last one coming against the Philadelphia Eagles on Nov. 1, 2020 - - Smith attempted one more comeback with the Seattle Seahawks in 2021 but was arrested on a second-degree battery charge in Louisiana soon after signing with Seattle, after which point, the Seahawks waived him on Aug. 11, 2021 - - On the "I Am Athlete" podcast in 2023, Smith announced he was retiring from the game, saying "I'm done with ball." - - Smith, who was born on Sept. 25, 1989, in Kansas City, Missouri, played collegiately at Missouri - - The family of Aldon Smith has decided to send his brain to medical experts at the Boston University CTE Center to see whether chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) played a role in the former NFL DL's death - - Smith passed away on Saturday at age 36, hours after he had delivered pizzas to a homeless charity in the San Francisco Bay area - and while no cause of death has been given, Smith's family has hired attorneys to help investigate his death - - CTE is a degenerative brain disease that has been found in athletes in contact sports, combat veterans and others exposed to repetitive head trauma - as it has been know to cause violent mood swings, impulsive behavior & depression - but it can only be diagnosed after death - - According to the family, Smith suffered numerous concussions during his NFL career. . .Q: What are your thoughts on former NFL DL Aldon Smith's untimely passing? What do you think the results of Boston University's assessment of Aldon Smith's brain is going to determine: he did or did not have CTE?. . . - MLB - - Chicago Cubs CF Pete Crow-Armstrong on Monday night became the first player in the MLB to hit for the cycle this season: Crow-Armstrong homered to lead off the game against the Colorado Rockies, then hit a triple in the 3rd inning, a double in the 5th and a single in the 7th inning - - Crow-Armstrong's first three (3) hits came off Rockies starter Michael Lorenzen, and the final one was off reliever Antonio Senzatela - - **NOTE: Crow-Armstrong is the first player to accomplish the feat since Twins CF Byron Buxton last July and the first Cubs player since teammate Carson Kelly last March - - **NOTE2: Crow-Armstrong is the 13th player in franchise history to hit for the cycle and the youngest since Randy Hundley in 1966 - - Crow-Armstrong has been hot lately, collecting 13 hits in his past six (6) games, including the four (4) Monday - - Of those 13, eight (8) have gone for extra bases - as his OPS rose to .845 after his cycle -- The Cubs erased a 4-3 deficit in the 9th inning as Matt Shaw scored the game-winning run on a bases-loaded walk, as it was Chicago's ninth walk-off win, the most in the majors - with no other team having more than six (6) walk-off victories - - However, the Cubs have been struggling to consistently win for well over a month, and lost a series to Colorado last week, as their last three (3) wins at Wrigley Field have all been walk-offs - - This was the second time in three (3) games that Crow-Armstrong had a chance at a cycle after singling, doubling and homering Saturday against the San Francisco Giants: **NOTE: He became the fourth player in the divisional era (since 1969) to complete the cycle in reverse order: HR, triple, double and single. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Chicago Cubs CF Pete Crow-Armstrong batting performance on Monday night against the Colorado Rockies, becoming the first player in the majors to hit for the cycle this season?. . . - NBA - - 2026 NBA Playoffs Review: NBA Finals: New York Knicks vs. San Antonio Spurs [NYK leads series 3-1] - Game 5: Jalen Brunson and the "Comeback Knicks" did it again. .And now, they're the "Champion Knicks." - - For the first time in 53 years, New York rules the NBA: Brunson scored 45 points, including 13 straight for New York in the 4th QTR, and the Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Saturday night - - The Knicks won the series 4-1, rallying from double-digit deficits in all four (4) of those victories, as the deficit was 16 on Saturday night, but Brunson and the Knicks were never fazed - - **NOTE: Brunson set a Knicks record for points in a finals game: it had been 38 by Willis Reed against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of the 1970 series - but now it belongs to the left-handed PG who changed the franchise's fortunes when he arrived four (4) years ago - - Knicks coach Mike Brown, who was hired a year ago - making him the franchise's 24th coach since the franchise's last championship in 1973, said of his team winning the championship "It's surreal." - - Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart - the other two parts of the "Nova Knicks" trip that also includes Brunson, three (3) players who were NCAA champions at Villanova and teamed up in New York to try to do the same - combined to score 27 points, as Bridges had 14, Hart 13 - - New York got to the brink of this title by rallying from 29 points down in Game 4 to win 107-106 on OG Anunoby's tip-in with 1.2 seconds left on Wednesday night, as it was the largest comeback in NBA Finals history and the biggest comeback in any game this season, regular season or playoffs - and by comparison, then, a 16-point raly in this one seemed relatively simple, whereas San Antonio had to shuffle off into the offseason following their Game 5 collapse - - Rookie Dylan Harper scored 25 for the Spurs, who got 19 points, 14 rebounds & five (5) blocked shots from Victor Wembanyama - as the Knicks improved to 4-0 in closeout opportunities this season, winning them all on the road, but it didn't feel like the road, though - not with thousands of New York faithful having made the trip to Texas to witness a moment 53 years in the making - - And back home, on the streets of the Big Apple, celebrations broke out everywhere: Jubilant Knicks fans flooded the streets of New York on Saturday night, crowding into intersections and climbing light poles and buses as they celebrated the team's first NBA championship in over 50 years - but the celebration turned chaotic as the night wore on, with five (5) school buses set ablaze in Times Square, five (5) police cars damaged on Sixth Avenue and a 17-year-old boy shot in the foot near the heart of the festivities - - A total of 63 people were arrested overnight in connection with the Knicks game, the NYPD said, as charges include assault on a police officer, criminal possession of a weapon, criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and obstruction of governmental administration, police said - - Police also reported four (4) stabbings overnight. . .Q: How many more championships do you think the NYPD are prepared for in New York City? What are your thoughts on the New York Knicks becoming the 2026 NBA Champions after a 53-year drought? - - "Bing Bong, No Respect:" It seems the oddsmakers didn't learn their lesson after underestimating the New York Knicks throughout their NBA championship run: **NOTE: The Knicks entered the NBA playoffs with the eighth-shortest offs (+2200) to win the title - and even after they steamrolled their way through the East, they were heavily doubted against the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals, with oddsmakers giving +180 odds to end their 53-year NBA championship drought. .The disrespect continues: Entering next season, the Knicks have the fourth-shortest odds to repeat as NBA champions, trailing the San Antonio Spurs (+250), Oklahoma City Thunder (+250) and Boston Celtics (+550) - as the odds are shocking since the Knicks handily beat the Celtics and Spurs in the last two playoffs and are expected to return with the same roster next year. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the 2026-27 NBA titles odds as the Knicks will enter the season with the fourth-highest chance to win next year's title?. . .Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden was arrested early Saturday morning in Houston and has been charged with a misdemeanor unlawful carrying of a weapon - - According to Harris County court records, Harden was taken into custody at 3:41 a.m. when a handgun was observed on the seat of a car he owns: The gun was not holstered and was in plain view, according to the records - Harden was booked at 4:57 a.m. and later released after paying a $100 bond, and his arraignment is scheduled for June 22 - - Harden is potentially going to be a free agent at the end of the month, as he had a $42 million player option decision he must make by June 29, but only $13.3 million is guaranteed - - It has been expected that Harden would opt out of the contract and sign a new multiyear deal to remain in Cleveland, where he was traded in February, as he helped lead the Cavaliers reach the Eastern Conference Finals. . .Q: What do you make of Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden's arrest in Houston early Saturday morning? Will his arrest have any type of negative effect on his upcoming contract negotiations with Cleveland?. . ."Master Splitter:" The Chicago Bulls are finalizing the hiring of Portland Trail Blazers interim coach Tiago Splitter as the franchise's new head coach, sources told ESPN on Monday - - Splitter succeeds Billy Donovan as the Bulls' HC after stepping into the head coach job in Portland last season and excelling: Splitter, 41, guided the Trail Blazers to a 42-40 record and a postseason berth as the No.7 seed in the Western Conference amid adversity stemming from Chauncey Billups' federal charges - - **NOTE: Splitter became the first Trail Blazers head coach to have a winning record in his first season with the team since Maurice Cheeks in 2001-02 and the first to win a playoff game in his debut season in Portland since Mike Dunleavy in 1997-98 - - Splitter led the Trail Blazers to a top-10 defense in their final 51 regular-season games, with a 30-21 record during that span, as Portland also led the NBA in second-chance points per game under Splitter last season - - The Bulls conducted a search that spanned a double-digit number of candidates before narrowing the process: they landed on Splitter due to his ability to lead the team's player development, organizational alignment on the franchise's direction & vision, and his leadership and knowledge base as a coach who has risen through the ranks since 2018 and played in the NBA for seven (7) years with one championship with the San Antonio Spurs - - Splitter played overseas before the Spurs choses him with the No.28 pick in the 2007 NBA Draft - - He played in San Antonio, Atlanta and Philadelphia across his NBA career - - After retiring, Splitter joined the Brooklyn Nets as a scout and player development staff member in 2018, whereas he spent the 2023-24 season as an assistant for the Houston Rockets under Ime Udoka, and then he took a job as HC of Paris Basketball for the 2024-25 EuroLeague campaign before returning of the NBA as Billups' lead assistant in Portland, as the Trail Blazers will now have to hire a new coach after Splitter, one of their finalists, has accepted the Chicago job: Nori and Boston Celtics assistant Tyler Lashbrook are the two candidates remaining to become the new Portland head coach. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Chicago Bulls' hire of Portland Trail Blazers' interim coach Tiago Splitter as the franchise's new HC?. . . - Miscellaneous - - 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Final [CAR leads series 3-2] - Game 6: Vegas Golden Knights vs. Carolina Hurricanes - - Carolina spent the first part of the Stanley Cup Final surviving, finding ways to overcome deficits and play a high-scoring game that didn't fit the Hurricanes' typical style - but when it came down to doing what it takes to win the Cup, the Hurricanes' defense put its stamp on this series, shutting down the Vegas Golden Knights and not letting up: The Hurricanes held Vegas to five (5) total goals in Games 4 and 5 and used a suffocating defense in a 3-0 shutout in Sunday night's clinching Game 6 to win their first NHL championship in 20 years - - Jordan Staal was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy for most valuable player in the Stanley Cup playoffs, becoming the oldest player to ever win the award at the ripe age of 37 - - Brandon Bussi, whose entrance late into Game 3 helped turn around the series for Carolina, recorded his first career playoff shutout in stopping 22 shots, while Jackson Blake had a goal & assist, Taylor Hall scored just 3:47 into the game to set the tone, and Nikolaj Ehlers added an empty-net goal - - The Golden Knights, who made an unlikely run just to reach the final, struggled badly to muster in any kind of offense in Game 6 and went 18:37 between shots on goal in the second and third periods - - **NOTE: This was the first time that the Golden Knights have been shut out, after playing in their third Cup final - - This clinching game was what many observers expected the series to be like between the defensive-minded teams, but each side watched leads of two-plus goals disappear in the first three (3) games - - Now, the Cup belongs to the Hurricanes, led by coach Rod Brind'Amour, who also captained Carolina to its 2006 title. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Carolina Hurricanes winning their first NHL championship in 20 years? - - **UPDATE: John Tortorella, who guided the Vegas Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup Final, will not return as head coach next season, the team announced Tuesday, less than 48 hours after losing the final series, 4-2, to the Carolina Hurricanes - - Tortorella, who was a surprise hire when he was brought in with eight (8) games remaining in the NHL regular season, after the Golden Knights had fired Bruce Cassidy, who had one year remaining on his contract, while the team was in playoff position - - Tortorella's deal with the Golden Knights was only through June 30, the end of the league calendar - - Tortorella, who went 21-8-1 with Vegas (including playoffs), indicated that he would like to coach next season, sources told ESPN. . .Q: What was your immediate response to the news that Vegas Golden Knights coach John Tortorella would not be returning for the NHL franchise following their Stanley Cup Final run this season?. . .2026 FIFA World Cup Recap: That's 24 games featuring 48 teams in the books - Or, as FIFA would put it: the biggest first matchday ever, at the biggest World Cup ever - - And despite FIFA's best efforts, the opening slate of matches was about as good as it gets, as we had hosts showing up, favorites falling off, players speaking out, stars stepping up, puppies pooping on platforms, and much, much more! - - Of course, soccer is more random than any of the major American sports: favorites win way less often, as there are barely any shots, let alone goals - but regardless, the World Cup occurs only once every four (4) years, so we decided to discuss a few of the most notable games of the Group stage from the first week of action; In this particular segment, JD & Spencer discuss the following World Cup matches from the opening week of the Group stage: Thursday, June 11th: Group A: Mexico vs. South Africa Friday, June 12th: Group D: United States vs. Paraguay Sunday, June 14th: Group E: Germany vs. Curacao Monday, June 15th: Group H: Spain vs. Cape Verde Tuesday, June 16th: Group I: France vs. Senegal Group J: Argentina vs. Algeria Thanks for Listening!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 139 - The "oster-Tag, you're it!" Episode includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - NCAA: News & Storylines - - Women's College World Series (WCWS) Finals: Game 2: No.2 Texas Longhorns vs. No.11 Texas Tech Red Raiders - - Teagan Kavan struck out five (5) in the final two innings to back a strong start from Citlaly Gutierrez, and Kayden Henry homered to lead Texas to a 4-1 victory over Texas Tech last Thursday night at the Women's College World Series (WCWS) for a second straight national championship - - Kavan earned the Most Outstanding Player award after becoming the first pitcher with two shutout & two saves in one WCWS - - Henry homered off Red Raiders ace NiJaree Canady - in what was her final game at the collegiate level - to begin the 7th inning and Leighann Goode singled to drive in the final run - - Meanwhile, Texas Tech did put up a fight, as the Red Raiders jumped in front in the 3rd inning on an RBI single by Lauren Allred, as Canady retired 11 in a row after Henry singled to begin the game before disaster struck in the 5th - - Kaiah Altmeyer and Ashton Maloney led off with singles before Logan Halleman made a leaping catch in left field with one out to save at least one run, and Canady walked slugger Katie Stewart to load the bases and appeared to escape the jam before Toney's error - - Halleman also robbed Altmeyer of an extra-base with a runner on 1st base in the 6th to keep the score at 2-1 - - Gutierrez (11-3) allowed one run on three (3) hits in 4 1/3 innings, while freshman Hannah Davis got two outs in the 5th inning prior to Gutierrez re-entering the game with the bases loaded to get the final out - - Kavan fanned Mihyi Davis to wrap up her fifth save of the season, whereas Canady (29-7) went the distance, allowing just four (4) runs - two earned - on eight (8) hits with three (3) walks - - **NOTE: Coach Mike White led Texas to the program's second title in his eighth season, meanwhile, second-year Texas Tech coach Gerry Glasco has led the Red Raiders to their only two, but consecutive nonetheless, WCWS appearances: Texas Tech fell 7-3 in this year's WCWS finals series opener the prior Wednesday. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Texas Longhorns earning back-to-back WCWS national championships under HC Mike White?. . .NCAA College Football: The West Virginia Mountaineers are set to honor a college football legend this upcoming fall: On Friday, the program announced plans to retire Pat White's No.5 jersey at a home game that will be determined later this summer - - White, who played at WVU from 2004-08, is widely considered to be the greatest football player in program history and one of the most electric players in college football's modern era - - White is also currently on the Mountaineers' coaching staff, serving as the assistant QBs coach and assistant to the head coach, Rich Rodriguez, whom he played for throughout his playing career in Morgantown - - White finished his West Virginia career with more than 6,000 passing yards and 4,480 rushing yards, and he recorded 103 total TDs in his three (3) seasons with the Mountaineers: A three-time First Team All-Big East selection & two-time Big East Offensive Player of the Year, White led WVU to its' best season in program history in 2007, as the Mountaineers were ranked as high as No.2 in the BCS rankings and were just one win away from a guaranteed spot in the BCS National Championship Game, and now, White - originally from Daphne, Alabama - is being immortalized in Morgantown for the legend that he is - - There is but one caveat, here. . .Q: Did West Virginia miss an ideal opportunity to retire White's running mate - and arguably the best RB in Mountaineers' program history - Steve Slaton's No.10 jersey? What are your thoughts on West Virginia's announcement that the program will retire former star QB Pat White's No.5 jersey this summer?. . ."A Disgusting Day for the NCAA:" A judge in district court in Lubbock County, Texas, has granted the temporary injunction requested by Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby, and in result, he is now eligible to play for the Red Raiders next season, according to the temporary injunction filed against the NCAA, granted Monday morning by visiting District Court Judge (*and Texas Tech alum) Ken Curry - - The NCAA had earlier ruled Sorsby ineligible, after he acknowledged that he gambled on sports, which included placing approximately 9,000+ bets estimated at a value of $90,000, some of which were placed on Indiana University, while Sorsby was on the program's football team as a redshirt (RS) freshman - - The request was approved after Sorsby completed a 35-day gambling rehabilitation program in late May - - Judge Curry ruled in Sorsby's favor, stating that the transfer QB "has demonstrated [that] he will suffer a probable, imminent, or irreparable injury," if the court did not grant and/or issue his request for a temporary injunction, primarily because he would not be eligible to play for the Red Raiders throughout the 2026 college football season - - The injunction is effective immediately and will remain in effect until a final judgment is signed or until there is another order on behalf of the court: The order states that the NCAA may not prevent Brendan Sorsby from practicing, playing or otherwise participating on the Texas Tech Red Raiders football team in 2026, however, Judge Curry couldn't allow Sorsby to obtain a "Get Out of Jail-" free card, so he decided to proverbially slap him on the wrist by granting his attorney's penalty that was suggested at the initial hearing: Sorsby is barred from playing and/or participating in game day activities for the program's first two games of the 2026-27 season, which includes a home game versus Abilene Christian on September 5th and a trip to Corvallis in Week 2 to face off against Oregon State on September 12th - - Background: According to court documents filed by the NCAA, Sorsby placed thousands of sports bets from 2022 to 2026 while at Indiana, Cincinnati & Texas Tech - as the NCAA's filing states that Sorsby placed bets on college sports, including on Indiana football, for which he attended, as well as bets on the performance of his teammates - - The NCAA says that Sorsby later moved to other people's accounts and apps to place bets, including after his transfer to Texas Tech, where online sports betting is illegal under Texas law — Defense attorney Jeffrey Kessler said at the June 1 hearing that the temporary injunction should be granted because the NCAA failed to uphold its' reinstatement process, as he cited the NCAA Constitution & bylaws, including Article 1 Section D, which states ' student-athlete well-being is designed to protect their physical and mental health,' while the NCAA's representative/attorney Taylor Askew rejected Kessler's claims that the NCAA does not care about the mental health of student-athletes, as their legal team described this as a "Hail Mary" attempt to be reinstated - - Askew said even if Sorsby would have placed just one singular bet on Indiana football back in 2022, he would still be in violation, and he also said that Sorsby should've never been allowed to transfer from Cincinnati to Texas Tech because he was already breaking the NCAA's "cardinal rule," - - A few days ago, prior to Judge Ken Curry's ruling, the NCAA rejected Texas Tech's appeal to reinstate Sorsby, however, this particular action was separate from Sorsby's lawsuit filed against the NCAA - - **UPDATE: A trial date has been set for Sorsby's injunction against the NCAA, and according to ESPN, the trial is set to take place on Feb. 8 in the 99th District Court in Lubbock County, Texas, the same court that granted Sorsby a temporary injunction on Monday - with the scheduled date being two weeks after the 2026-27 College Football Playoff National Championship Game - meaning Sorsby seems likely to play the entire season without at least intervention from the courts - - Reactions to the Ruling: The judge's decision to rule QB Brendan Sorsby eligible on Monday morning roiled college sports, with reactions ranging from doomsday predictions to informal chatter about Big 12 schools attempting to not play the Red Raiders this upcoming season: The reaction around college sports was nearly unanimous, with the idea of Sorsby playing in 2026 after admitting to placing thousands of bets on sports - including 40 of which were placed on his own team/program - representing the latest crossroads for an industry that has faced a dizzying number of them in recent years — Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormak released the following statement Monday afternoon following the ruling: "The ramifications of today's ruling are significant and could have broad impacts across college athletics, creating great concern amongst our membership. I've been consulting with our key stakeholders and have scheduled a meeting with our Conference ADs and our Executive Board this week. We are also in touch with [NCAA President] Charlie Baker and anticipate the NCAA to appeal the order in the next 24-48 hours. We will continue to monitor and evaluate the situation." - - ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips told ESPN the ruling represents a "horrendous pattern," that is "eroding the integrity of our process." - - A Big 12 AD told ESPN that they were "disgusted" by the ruling and added "We officially lost our soul." - - TCU HC Sonny Dykes inquired with ESPN as to "How is anyone ever going to trust the outcome of a game again?" - - Nebraska AD Troy Dannen told ESPN that his school's teams are, similar to what has been reported for Big Ten programs, not allowed to schedule the Red Raiders for any type of sports contest - - University of Florida AD Scott Stricklin told ESPN that he was "stunned," by the ruling, even comparing it to the MLB's 1919 'Black Sox scandal,' when eight (8) professional baseball players from the Chicago White Sox took bribes to lose the World Series to the Cincinnati Reds. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the district court judge out of Lubbock County (TX) granting Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby's request for a temporary injunction against the NCAA, allowing him to become eligible for the 2026-27 college football season? Thoughts on the two-game suspension penalty imposed? Is there a legitimate possibility that, because of this particular ruling, that the NCAA forbids its' collegiate programs and/or universities from playing or participating in games/contests against Texas Tech athletics (i.e, football, softball, baseball, etc.)?. . . - NFL - - Da "Indiana Bears:" The Chicago Bears announced last Friday that their board of directors has voted to advance their stadium development project in Hammond, Indiana, with a specific site to be determined, and thus, pushing the franchise closer to leaving the state it's called home for more than 100 years - - Hammond is roughly 25 miles from the Bears' current home, Soldier Field, and sits just next to the Indiana/Illinois border, as a departure from the state itself and a move to a state that already has an NFL team, the Indianapolis Colts, is a development that's somehow stunning yet surprising - - Friday's news dropped after the Illinois House adjourned on the last day of the state's spring legislative session last week without taking up a measure that would have cleared the way for Arlington Heights and Chicago to create local stadium authorities, creating a pathway for the Bears to avoid paying property taxes on a new stadium in the state of Illinois - - The Bears said at the time that they were finalizing their evaluation of possible stadium sites in Arlington Heights and Hammond, Indiana - - The twists & turns during the final days of Illinois' spring legislative session were consistent with what has been a laborious stadium process for the Bears, a charter NFL franchise - - Amid lingering efforts to secure tax incentives in Illinois, along with as much as $855 million in public money for infrastructure at the Arlington Heights site, in May 2025, the Bears began to take a closer look at possible options in Northwest Indiana - - More recently, the Bears said on May 21 that Hammond and Arlington Heights were the only sites under consideration, but some Illinois state lawmakers kept pushing for a plan that they hoped would make Chicago part of the conversation once again - - **NOTE: The Bears have played their home games in the state of Illinois since the team's founding in 1920 as the Decatur Staleys - - Since moving to Chicago in 1921, the Bears have never owned their stadium, whether playing at Wrigley Field from 1921 to 1970 or Soldier Field since. . .Q: What do you think about the possibility of the Chicago Bears, a historic NFL franchise, possibly relocating to Hammond, Indiana, thus becoming the "Indiana Bears?". . . - NBA - - 2025-26 NBA Playoffs Recap: In this particular segment, JD & Spencer discuss, review & provide a detailed analysis on each of the NBA Finals games from the previous week; this includes the following games as listed below: 2026 NBA Finals: Game 2: San Antonio Spurs vs. New York Knicks   [NYK leads series 1-0] Game 3: San Antonio Spurs vs. New York Knicks   [NYK leads series 2-0] Game 4: San Antonio Spurs vs. New York Knicks   [NYK leads series 2-1] - Miscellaneous - - 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Final: Vegas Golden Knights vs. Carolina Hurricanes [VGK leads series 1-0] – Game 2: The 2026 Stanley Cup Finals has been marked by wild swings, so it's probably appropriate that the two teams, the Vegas Golden Knights & Carolina Hurricanes, have split the first two games in Carolina, but if history is a guide, the winner of the following Saturday's Game 3 would have an enormous edge, but this series has been, if anything, unpredictable: **NOTE: NHL teams that took a 2-1 series lead in the Stanley Cup Final went on to win 46 of 57 times (or 80.7% of the time) - - Mini-Recap: The Hurricanes couldn't have gotten off to a better start in the series opener, as Nikolaj Ehlers scored just 25 seconds into the game and soon afterwards, he added a second goal to take a 2-0 lead early - but unfortunately for Carolina, the Golden Knights rallied with three (3) consecutive goals to begin a back-and-forth finish, as Vegas ultimately won Game 1, 5-4, as Tomas Hertl scored with 3:24 remaining off a sensational backhand pass from Colton Sissons - - Back in Game 2, the Golden Knights appeared to take full control of the series, taking a 2-0 lead deep into the third period - but Carolina scored three (3) goals beginning with 9:40 left before Mark Stone forced OT with a six-on-five goal with 1:21 remaining - but it was Seth Jarvis' power-play goal 3:56 into OT that gave the Hurricanes a 4-3 victory and evened the series at 1-1. . .2026 NHL Stanley Cup Final: Vegas Golden Knights vs. Carolina Hurricanes [Series tied 1-1] – Game 3: What was largely expected to be a high-checking, low-scoring championship round has been wide open at times, with each team capitalizing on the other's mistakes: **NOTE: The teams have combined to score 25 goals, the highest total through three (3) games in the Stanley Cup Final since the New York Islanders and the Minnesota North Stars had 30 in 1981- - There have been blown leads of at least two such goals in each game, as Vegas rallied from such a deficit in Game 1 and Carolina did it in Game 2 - - Then came the real doozy in Saturday night's Game 3 when the Golden Knights led 4-0 well into the third period before the Hurricanes scored three (3) goals in a record 39 seconds, as Carolina eventually forced OT, but the Golden Knights won it in double OT when Shea Theodore bounced a puck off the boards that caromed off goalie Brandon Bussi's skate - - Bussi, who hadn't played in two months, entered in the third period after coach Rod Brind'Amour had seen enough of Frederik Andersen - and the Golden Knights couldn't figure out Bussi until that final wacky shot - - After Vegas took a 2-1 series lead, there was plenty at stake for Game 4: Should the Golden Knights have won and took a 3-1 series lead, they would have been almost an unbeatable position: **NOTE: Teams with such an advantage (i.e., leading a series 3-1) in the Stanley Cup Final are 38-1, with the one defeat occurring 84 years ago when Detroit lost a 3-0 lead and fell to Toronto - - On the other hand, a Carolina victory would not only have evened the best-of-seven (7) series, but the Hurricanes would have regained home-ice advantage with potentially two of the three (3) remaining games scheduled to occur in Carolina. . .2026 NHL Stanley Cup Final: Vegas Golden Knights vs. Carolina Hurricanes [VGK leads series 2-1] – Game 4: Another two-goal lead went the way of the landline on Tuesday night, the go-ahead shot came from a 37-year-old player on his stomach on one of the great runs in Stanley Cup Finals history, and the winning goalie made his first start in two months and doesn't know if that will be his last one this postseason: None of it makes sense and yet it all somehow does in this series that is now even at 2-2 through four (4) games - probably aptly so - because of Jordan Staal's second goal at 6:32 of the third period that come while sprawled on the ice in what became a 5-3 Hurricanes victory over the Golden Knights - - Next, the series would head back to Carolina for Game 5 the following Thursday night, where the Hurricanes would have two games on home ice to win their first Cup in two decades, for which their coach, Rod Brind'Amour, captained that team - - The same applies at the other end, where the 9-year-old Golden Knights chase their second championship in four (4) years - - Whichever team loses the series can point to a number of costly mistakes and moments that could have drastically changed the outcome of the series, as each game - until Game 4 - was decided by just one goal — A two-goal lead has disappeared in all four (4) games in what has been a remarkable series in which momentum often changes at a moment's notice - as each team has led by at least that many twice - - **NOTE: Through the first four (4) games, the 33 combined goals are tied for the third highest in a Cup final with the Islanders-Flyers' series in 1980 - - **NOTE2: Jordan Staal became the first player in 44 years to score at least one goal in each of the first four (4) games of the Stanley Cup Final and the ninth overall, as Mike Bossy in 1982 with the New York Islanders against the Vancouver Canucks, was the last player to score in the first four (4) games of a final - - Brandon Bussi started in place of Frederick Andersen in goal for the Hurricanes and made 18 saves, and including his work in relief in Game 2, Bussi has 36 saves on 40 shots - - Mark Stone, William Karlsson, and Brett Howden scored goals for the Golden Knights, and Carter Hart made 23 saves, but the Hurricanes came out blazing in Game 4, taking a 3-1 lead in the first period, and while Vegas nearly cut it to one, but Brayden McNabb's goal came right after the period ended, and thus, didn't count. . .Q: While neither of us are "Hockey Bros," we are both fans, and have respect for anyone who will toss their gloves, mask & hockey stick, and throw a punch, we like that shit, but what are your thoughts on the 2026 Stanley Cup Finals through the first four games?. . .2026 FIFA World Cup/Soccer: The 2026 FIFA World Cup has finally arrived and the opening match of competition was set to get under way on Thursday (6/11), as Mexico hosted South Africa at the Estadio Azteca, in the first of a total of 104 matches at this expanded World Cup in what is also, a repeat of the 2018 curtain raiser - There was also the first of three opening ceremonies that took place in the Mexican capital on Thursday, and in the early hours of the morning UK time on Saturday, the United States will get their World Cup campaign up & running in Los Angeles, as Maurice Pochettino's team hosts Paraguay at the SoFi Stadium and in the third and final opening ceremony, where Katy Perry is the headline act - - Per major sportsbooks such as DraftKings and FanDuel, Spain (+450) and France (+475) enter the 2026 FIFA World Cup as the consensus tournament favorites, with the outright champion odds for the top contenders being highlighted by a tiered field (listed below). . .Q: Which nation(s) do you think have the best overall shot at winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup?. . . Top Tier Favorites: Spain (+450) France (+475) England (+650 to +700) Leading Contenders: Portugal (+800) Brazil (+800 to +950) Argentina (the reigning World Cup champions; +800 to +1000) Dark Horses & Co-Hosts: Germany (+1400) Netherlands (+2000) United States (+5000) Japan (+5000) Mexico (+6000 to +6600) Canada (+17500)                   Thanks for Listening!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 138 - "The Bust of All Time Episode" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Football: Posthumously, Mike Leach is on the College Football Hall of Fame ballot for the first time, following an adjustment to eligibility criteria for coaches - - Leach, whose use of the Air Raid offense, widespread coaching tree and distinct personality left a significant impression of the sport, had been kept off previous ballots because his career winning percentage at Texas Tech, Washington State and Mississippi State - 158-107 (.596) - fell just below the previous threshold of .600 - - In 2025, the National Football Foundation, which oversees the Hall of Fame, announced that the winning percentage required for coaching eligibility would be adjusted to .595, whereas the other requirements for coaches to become eligible for selection, including ten or more years as a HC and at least 100 games coached, have not changed and/or remain the same - - Leach died in December 2022 at the age of 61 from complications related to a heart condition, while still coaching at Mississippi State - - **NOTE: He won division titles at both Texas Tech and Washington State, where his 2018 team finished the season ranked No.10 nationally, and guided teams to bowl appearances in all but two seasons at his three (3) head coaching stops - - Leach's previous ineligibility for the Hall of Fame garnered extensive criticism of the process involved in selection, from many coaches, media members & fans - as Leach coached or hired many notable coaches throughout his pristine career, including USC's Lincoln Riley, TCU's Sonny Dykes, Oklahoma State's Eric Morris, Baylor's Dave Aranda & Tennessee's Josh Heupel, among others - - Similarly, Jackie Sherrill, who had a career winning percentage of .592 at Washington State, Pitt, Texas A&M and Mississippi State, also appeared on the ballot for the first time, as Sherrill had six (6) AP top-10 finishes, including a No.2 overall ranking while at Pitt in 1980 - - Other notable players on this year's ballot include Auburn QB Cam Newton and Baylor QB Robert Griffin III, who won the Heisman Trophy in 2010 and 2011, respectively, as well as Ohio State LB A.J. Hawk and Wisconsin RB Melvin Gordon, both national award winners - - **NOTE: The 2027 ballot includes 80 players and nine (9) coaches from the FBS level, and 99 players & 39 coaches from other NCAA or NAIA divisions, while the next Hall of Fame class will be announced in January 2027, during the College Football Playoff. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the late Mike Leach being included on the HOF ballot for the first time after the career winning percentage for eligibility was adjusted to .595?. . ."You Can't Make This Up:" Jordyn Adams spent the better part of eight (8) years pursuing one sports dream, but now he's returning to another: The former five-star football recruit & first-round MLB draft pick has enrolled at SMU and plans to join the Mustangs football program, a source confirmed to CBS Sports - - Adams was once considered one of the country's premier high school athletes - a standout WR at Green Hope High School in Cary, North Carolina - he finished his prep career ranked as the No.3 WR in the 2018 class and the No.14 overall prospect nationally - - **NOTE: The only WRs ranked ahead of Adams in the Class of 2018 were future NFL stars: Amon-Ra St. Brown & Ja'Marr Chase - - While in high school, Adams signed with North Carolina and intended to play both football & baseball, but those plans changed when the Los Angeles Angels selected him with the No.17 overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft and signed him away from college on a deal worth more than $3 million, which was a decision that launched a professional baseball career that stretched from 2018 up until just a couple weeks ago, when he last appeared in a Triple-A game on May 20 with the Nashville Sounds - - Adams made his major league debut in 2023, as he appeared in 17 games for the Angels that season and returned for 11 more games in 2024, after which point, he departed the Angels' organization, spending time with the Baltimore Orioles and Milwaukee Brewers' organizations - - In total, Adams played 38 MLB games, collecting 13 hits, six (6) runs scored, one HR and five (5) RBIs - as he spent the bulk of his career in the minor leagues, appearing in 678 games and accumulating more than 2,400 at-bats, while showcasing the athleticism that once made him one of the nation's top football recruits - - After his baseball career came to a close last month, rather than continuing to pursue another opportunity in the MLB, Adams has elected to revisit the sport many believed could have carried him to a professional career as well - - As for now, Adams remains eligible to play college football for SMU, but the NCAA continues to debate significant eligibility changes, for instance, last month Division I leaders discussed an age-based "five-for-five" model that would give athletes five (5) years to compete beginning immediately after high school graduation or their 19th birthday - whichever comes first, as this type of proposal could impact cases like Adams in the future - - Adams never enrolled, however, at UNC after signing with the Angels, and so, because he went directly into the MLB and never played college football, his eligibility situation differs from that of a traditional college athlete. . .Q: What is your most current take (or stance) on a situation such as that of Jordyn Adams? Should Jordyn Adams, a former eight-year MLB player, be considered eligible by the NCAA to play college football for the SMU Mustangs next season? If so, why?. . .NCAA College Basketball: Former Iowa State forward Milan Momcilovic, the No.1 player in the NCAA transfer portal this spring, has committed to Kentucky, he announced on Monday - - Momcilovic chose the Wildcats over Louisville and Arizona, meanwhile, St. John's was also among the schools in pursuit as recently as last week, but the Red Storm bowed out after landing Baylor transfer Tounde Yessoufou - - Momcilovic, a 6-foot-8 junior, was the best shooter in college basketball last season: he averaged 16.9 points and shot 48.7% from 3-point range, leading the nation in 3-point percentage and ranking fifth in 3-pointers made - - **NOTE: In his three (3) seasons in Ames, Iowa State won 83 games and made two Sweet 16 appearances, as Momcilovic earned second-team All-Big 12 honors last season - - It's impossible to overstate the significance of Momcilovic's addition for the outlook of the Kentucky Wildcats - as well as for head coach Mark Pope, who is entering a pivotal season, coming off a campaign in which the Wildcats struggled for long stretches and finished 22-14 with a second-round NCAA tournament exit despite having the nation's most expensive roster - as with Momcilovic in the fold, and after starting center Malachi Moreno withdrew his name from the NBA Draft last week, Pope now has a top-25 roster on his hands entering the 2026-27 college basketball season - - Kentucky has leaned heavily on the portal this offseason, as Momcilovic will likely join fellow transfers Alex Wilkins (Furman) and Zoom Diallo (Washington) in the Wildcats' starting lineup - - After announcing his intent in early April to enter the transfer portal and the NBA Draft, he went through the entire draft process, earning an invitation to the combine, as he cemented himself as one of the elite shooters in the pool of players, shooting nearly 69% across the four (4) shooting drills, but removed his name hours before the draft's early-entry withdrawal deadline. . .Q: What do you make of Milan Momcilovic's decision to remove his name from the NBA Draft and to transfer to the University of Kentucky?. . .NCAA College Softball: Women's College World Series (WCWS) Semifinals: No.2 Texas Longhorns vs. No.7 Tennessee Volunteers - - Teagan Kavan pitched her fifth career shutout in the Women's College World Series and Texas defeated No.7 seed Tennessee twice on Monday to advance to the championship series - - The No.2 seed Longhorns, who had to advance through the loser's bracket after falling to the Vols in the tournament opener, won Monday's first game 5-2, and then rolled again 4-0 behind Kavan's gem - - **NOTE: Texas joined Oklahoma as the only other NCAA program to reach three (3) consecutive WCWS championship finals - - Texas had the pitching, as Teagan Kavan, who surrendered three (3) runs before being pulled after three (3) innings in the WCWS opener, rebounded to cruise past the Vols, outdueling Tennessee ace Karlyn Pickens, as Kavan surrendered only two hits and struck out 10 batters in the deciding game - - The Longhorns also got a sterling performance on the circle from Citlaly Gutierrez in the first game, as the senior went 6 2/3 innings, allowing just one earned run, before handing the ball off to Kavan, who picked up the one-out save - - **NOTE: With her performance, Kavan passed Cat Osterman for the most WCWS shutouts in Texas history, and she has now allowed one or fewer earned runs in nine (9) of her 11 career WCWS starts - - Women's College World Series (WCWS) Semifinals 2: No.1 Alabama Crimson Tide vs. No.11 Texas Tech Red Raiders - - In just a matter of hours, Alabama went from the winners' bracket to ending its season in the WCWS semifinals: The No.1 seed Crimson Tide (56-9) fell 2-0 to the No.11 seed Red Raiders (60-8) to solidify its fate in a do-or-die game after suffering a first 5-4 loss to Texas Tech on Monday at Devon Park in Oklahoma City: In Game 1, Texas Tech forced the winner-take-all game with a walk-off win in Monday's opener, thanks to a 7th inning HR by Mia Williams - - In Game 2, the Red Raiders picked up right where they left off after the first game, as Texas Tech started the second game with a hit in its first at-bat, and by the end of the 3rd inning, the Red Raiders tallied four (4) hits, whereas Alabama, prevented Texas Tech from capitalizing on any of them while the Crimson Tide was trying to get its offense going - - Alabama finally got a hit in the bottom of the 3rd, but it couldn't turn that into a run - but then, to open the 4th, Texas Tech's Jasmyn Burns rocketed a pitch to center field, giving the Red Raiders a 1-0 lead, and while the lead did not seem like much, it almost felt insurmountable with the way NiJaree Canady was pitching: Alabama struggled to get into any type of groove offensively against her, and she pitched all seven (7) innings of the second game, allowing only two hits, no runs, one walk & striking out six (6) batters - - Meanwhile, by the 6th inning, Alabama ace Jocelyn Briski was running out of steam, and after she gave up an eighth hit for the game with two runners on and no outs, the Crimson Tide swapped Briski out for Vic Moten, as the freshman pitcher got Alabama out of the jam without allowing another run or hit, however, Texas Tech added to its lead in the top of the 7th when a single up the middle allowed Mihyia Davis to advance to 3rd base, after which a Crimson Tide throwing error opened the door for her to run home & increase the Red Raiders' lead to 2-0 - - Alabama got the tying run to the plate after Audrey Vandagriff doubled down the left-field line, but Ambrey Taylor popped up to left to end the game, and send the Crimson Tide home three (3) wins short of a national title - - Shockingly & overall, the Red Raiders out-hit the Crimson Tide, 10-2, but Alabama's inability to get much anything going at the plate in the second game ultimately ended the Crimson Tide's spectacular season. . .Q: What were your thoughts on a Texas-Texas Tech WCWS Finals rematch? - - Women's College World Series (WCWS) Finals: Game 1: No.2 Texas Longhorns vs. No.11 Texas Tech Red Raiders - - Teagan Kavan pitched a complete-game three-hitter, Katie Stewart hit her fourth HR in as many games, and Texas opened the WCWS championship round with a 7-3 victory over Texas Tech on Wednesday night - - The No.2 seed Longhorns (52-12) could potentially wrap up their second consecutive national championship with a victory in Game 2 on Thursday night - - **NOTE: Winners of Game 1 have gone on to win the title 80% of the time since the best-of-three (3) series format began in 2005 - - Tech took a 1-0 lead on a solo HR by Mihyia Davis with one out in the 1st inning, but that lead didn't last long as Texas scored five (5) runs in the bottom of the 1st, as Stewart's two-run homer that cleared the bleachers in center field gave Texas a 2-1 lead - it was her seventh career HR in WCWS, including one in each of the past four (4) games, which is the first time that's ever happened in WCWS history - - Teagan Kavan cruised into the 5th, not allowing another hit until Mia Williams went deep to straightaway center field for her 27th HR of the season, a two-run blast that made it 6-3 - as Kavan (29-6) , the WCWS most outstanding player in the Longhorns' run to the 2025 championship, finished with six (6) strikeouts, two walks & a hit batter, as it was her 10th career win in WCWS, tied for the most all time - - Meanwhile, Texas Tech coach Gerry Glasco took NiJaree Canady, the two-time national pitcher of the year, out of the game after she faced six (6) batters in relief in the 1st and 2nd innings, however, she was listed as the Red Raiders' presumptive starter in Game 2 of the series - - This was the first WCWS championship rematch since UCLA defeated Cal in 2003 and 2004, the last two title games before the championship was implemented. . .Q: Following the Longhorns' win in Game 1 of the WCWS Finals, did you think that No.2 seed Texas would close the series out in Game 2? Or would the series go three (3) games?. . - NFL - - "CBS Country, Let's Ride:" Ten-time Pro Bowl QB Russell Wilson confirmed Wednesday in a video posted to social media that he's retiring from the NFL to take a job with CBS Sports - - Wilson, who also had an offer on the table from the New York Jets to join the franchise as a backup to starting QB Geno Smith, decided to embark on a new career path as an NFL analyst - - Wilson, who won a Super Bowl and the prestigious Walter Payton Man of the Year award during his career, is now set to leave the NFL as a player to become an analyst on the network's pregame show that includes James Brown, Nate Burleson & Bill Cowher - - Wilson will replace Matt Ryan with CBS after the former QB left the network this offseason to return to the Atlanta Falcons as the organization's president of football operations - - Wilson, 37, has thrown for 46,966 yards, 353 TDs and 114 INTs during a career which includes 10 seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, two with the Denver Broncos, one with the Pittsburgh Steelers & last season with the New York Giants - - **NOTE: His passing yardage is the fifth most in the NFL since 2012, when he was selected by the Seahawks in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft, trailing only Matthew Stafford (56,676), Tom Brady (49,235), Aaron Rodgers (48,908) and Matty Ice (48,554). . .Q: What was your initial reaction to the news announcement Monday that QB Russell Wilson was leaving the NFL as a player to become a sports analyst on CBS?. . ."A Blockbuster Trade:" The Cleveland Browns have agreed to trade two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year & DE Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for two-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Jared Verse and multiple draft picks, the teams announced Monday - - The Browns receives a first-round draft pick in 2027, a second-round pick in 2028 and a third-rounder in 2029 in what is one of the biggest or most significant trades in NFL history involving a defensive player - - The shocking trade, however, is completely "on brand" for the L.A. Rams, who made a similarly seismic move in the 2021 offseason when they completed a trade with the Detroit Lions for QB Matthew Stafford - - The Rams' interest in Garrett sparked shortly after the Browns modified the contract of the seven-time Pro Bowl DE in March, pushing back the option bonuses from the 15th day of the league year in March to a week before the start of the NFL regular season, making it easier to trade him, while the Browns at the time, had zero interest in trading Garrett - but the Rams refused to give up what one source referred to as their "persistent pursuit" of Garrett, just kept calling & calling - as it was the sole franchise that tried to pry loose a player the Cleveland Browns' front office once deemed "untouchable." - - **NOTE: The trade not only lands Garrett in Los Angeles - and with a winning franchise - but also relocates the two-time DPOY to the city where his girlfriend resides - and it also marks a homecoming for Jared Verse, who was born in Dayton, Ohio - - Meanwhile, Sportsbooks reacted quickly to the reported trade, with DraftKings moving the Rams from 8-1 to 13-2 to win the Super Bowl. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the NFL's blockbuster trade that landed two-time DPOY Myles Garrett in Los Angeles and Jared Verse in Cleveland? Following the trade, are the Rams now the clear favorites for you to win Super Bowl LXI?. . "[Worst] Kept Secret:" The Philadelphia Eagles agreed Monday to trade star WR A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots for a first-round pick in 2028 and a 2027 fifth-round pick - - The fifth-round selection will be the better of New England's two picks in that round of next year's draft, sources told ESPN - - The trade, which has been discussed and anticipated across the NFL for months, reunites Brown and Patriots' head coach Mike Vrabel - - Brown, who turns 29 on June 30, gives Patriots QB Drake Maye a true No.1 target as part of a revamped top of the WR depth chart alongside free agent signing Romeo Doubs - - The Eagles, likewise, have planned for Brown's departure all offseason, trading up in this year's draft for USC WR Makai Lemon, while also trading for Green Bay Packers WR Dontayvion Wicks and signing Hollywood Brown & Elijah Brown as free agents - - Since entering the league as a second-round selection of the Vrabel-led Tennessee Titans in 2019, Brown is fourth in the league in both receiving yards (8,029) and TD catches (56) - - Although Brown left his mark in Philadelphia, where he recorded the highest single-season receiving yards totals in franchise history in 2022 and 2023, his frustration with the Eagles' offense continued to grow, especially over the previous two seasons - - The Patriots inherit Brown's contract, which runs through the 2029 season and averaged $32 million per season, which is the seventh highest in the NFL among WRs, as New England was one of Brown's preferred trade destinations, in part because of his on- and off-field relationship with Vrabel, whom of which he played for in Tennessee from 2019 to 2021. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Eagles-Patriots trade that landed WR A.J. Brown in New England?. . ."Madden NFL 27:" Caleb Williams had an unshakeable premonition that his time with the Chicago Bears would take the franchise to heights it had rarely seen, and he took a step toward that promise Wednesday when EA Sports announced he will be the cover athlete for “Madden NFL 27,” the first player in Bears history to earn that distinction: Williams enters the 2026 season with a 90 overall rating - - In his first season playing under Bears HC Ben Johnson, Williams threw for 3,942 yards and 27 TDs - setting a franchise single-season passing record - while leading Chicago to its first divisional title since 2018 and first playoff win in 15 years, and in doing so, he emerged as one of the NFL's most exciting QBs - - He and the aptly named “Cardiac Bears” made history with their seven (7) comeback wins, including playoffs, after trailing in the 4th QTR - - The Standard Edition cover features Williams' signature jump pass, remembered best by a 4th-and-8 throw to Rome Odunze as the Bears fought back from an 18-point deficit to beat the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs, with the Chicago skyline in the background - - The 2025 NFL Moment of the Year - Williams' 46-yard walk-off TD pass to DJ Moore to beat Green Bay in OT in Week 16 - will be represented on the Deluxe Edition in the form of Williams' “Iceman” celebration - - “Madden NFL 27” is set for a full release on all consoles on August 13. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams being the cover athlete for Madden NFL 27?. . . - NBA - - 2025-26 NBA Playoffs Recap: In this particular segment, JD & Spencer review Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals as well as Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals (list included below): Western Conference Finals: Game 7: No.1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No.2 San Antonio Spurs  [Series tied 3-3] 2026 NBA Finals: Game 1: No.2 San Antonio Spurs (Western Conf. champ) vs. No.3 New York Knicks (Eastern Conf. champ)    [Series 0-0] - NBA (cont'd) - - "Magic [in] Me:" The Orlando Magic have announced the hiring of San Antonio Spurs associate head coach Sean Sweeney as the franchise's new HC - - Sweeney, who has spent this season as San Antonio's lead assistant, will replace Jamahl Mosley, who was fired after the Magic lost 4-3 to Detroit in their first-round series and has since become the HC of the New Orleans Pelicans - - Sweeney will finish the remainder of the postseason on the Spurs' bench with San Antonio hosting the New York Knicks for Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday night - - Former Chicago Bulls HC Billy Donovan and LA Clippers assistant coach Jeff Van Gundy were also finalists for the Magic's coaching vacancy - - A decision was finally made to offer the job to Sweeney, who blew Orlando away during his interview process and meeting with ownership Wednesday in San Antonio, sources added - - Sweeney ran San Antonio's defense for Coach of the Year finalist Mitch Johnson this season, guiding an improvement from 25th to third in the NBA's defensive efficiency rankings and garnering praise from the team's young stars Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle - - **NOTE: The Spurs also ranked top-five in defending isolations, on-ball screens, drives and rim protection, according to ESPN Research - - Under Sweeney, the Spurs made a 28-win improvement to a 62-20 campaign - tied for the third-most wins in franchise history - and have advanced to the conference finals, as Sweeney has served as a lead assistant to a conference finalist in three (3) of the last five (5) seasons - - Sweeney's first head coaching job will be with a Magic team built to contend in the Eastern Conference with one-time NBA All-Star Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Desmond Bane and Jalen Suggs - - Orlando has failed to make it out of the first round for three (3) straight seasons - - The Magic led top-seeded Detroit 3-1 but didn't have enough offense to close out the Pistons, especially after Wagner suffered a series-ending right calf strain in Game 4 - - Sweeney broke into NBA coaching as a video coordinator in 2011 for the then-New Jersey Nets, before moving on to the bench in Brooklyn for the 2013-14 season, and he also had stints as an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Bucks (2014-18) and the Pistons (2018-21). . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Orlando Magic hiring Spurs' assistant coach Sean Sweeney as the franchise's new HC?. . .Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry has signed a 10-year, $400 million endorsement contract with Chinese company Li-Ning, ending a drawn-out recruitment process following Curry's departure from Under Armor in November - - Curry announced the end of his sneaker free agency Monday with a landmark deal at Li-Ning that expands his Curry Brand venture globally, as the agreement will include basketball products, athleisure lifestyle wear, the ability for Curry to sign male & female athletes under his brand, and a full golf line - - One factor in Curry's ultimate decision was his comfort while testing the shoes of two Li-Ning signature athletes - - Li-Ning plans to build Curry Brand stores in the United States and in China, as Curry's agent, Jeff Austin, finalized negotiations with in recent days, while the partnership was announced on social media Monday, but terms were not disclosed - - Curry split from Under Armor after a 13-year partnership, announcing a mutual divorce in November and expressing gratitude despite what industry sources said was growing frustration about the underinvestment from a brand decreasing in valuation. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Stephen Curry's decision to sign with Chinese sportswear company Li-Ning on a landmark 10-year deal?. . . - Miscellaneous - - NASCAR: A member of Michael Jordan's NASCAR race team was arrested after allegedly plowing over a 77-year-old man with a golf cart she was driving at a famed race track in North Carolina: 23XI Racing employee Evanna Howell got into big trouble on Saturday, according to The California Post - - Police reportedly say Howell was driving a golf cart in the wrong direction at Charlotte Motor Speedway when she swung around, hit a curb, pushed an elderly man into a fence, and ran him over - - The alleged victim was reportedly taken to a local hospital after suffering several serious injuries, meanwhile, Howell was booked in jail on one count of assault with a deadly weapon causing serious injury - - Michael and Denny Hamlin co-own 23XI Racing, where Howell works as a senior account manager - - NASCAR says Howell had been “indefinitely suspended,” and online records show she was released from custody Tuesday on a $125,000 bond and is due back in court June 16. . .Q: What are your thoughts regarding the 23XI Racing team member being arrested after allegedly plowing over an elderly man on a golf cart?. . .2026 NHL Stanley Cup Final: Vegas Golden Knights vs. Carolina Hurricanes – Game 1: It took just one shot and 25 seconds worth of game action for the Vegas Golden Knights to find themselves in a hole in the Stanley Cup Final, and midway through the opening period, they were down two goals against a fast-skating Carolina Hurricanes team riding the energy from a buzzing home crowd. . .No matter, and no panic. . .Not with these tested Golden Knights: Tomas Hertl took a backhand pass from Colton Sissons and beat Frederik Andersen from the slot with 3:24 left in the third period, lifting the Golden Knights past the Carolina Hurricanes 5-4 in Tuesday night's opener of the Stanley Cup Final - - Game 2 of the best-of-seven (7) series is Thursday in Raleigh, with Vegas already having taken home ice away from the Hurricanes as it chases a second Cup title in four (4) seasons - - Hertl's finish off Sissons' feed from the right faceoff circle broke a 4-4 tie and pushed the Golden Knights ahead in an entertaining, back-and-forth start on the sport's biggest stage, as it marked Vegas' seventh straight win of the playoffs, starting with the last two games of the six-game second-round series against Anaheim and then the shocking four-game sweep of the Presidents' Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche - - That series included Vegas erasing a 3-0 deficit to take Game 3, and now the Golden Knights have followed by rallying from another multi-goal deficit - this time 2-0 in the opening period - against a team that finished second only to the Avs in the regular season - - Things changed after Vegas coach John Tortorella gathered his team around the bench during a TV timeout after the Hurricanes had sprinted out to their lead, coming as Vegas had a slow start out of its six-day break while waiting for Carolina to close out Montreal in a five-game Eastern Conference Final - - Shea Theodore, Ivan Barbashev and Brett Howden also scored for Vegas, with Howden's postseason-leading 11th score giving the Golden Knights a 4-3 lead just 1:21 into the third period, while goalie Carter Hart finished with 23 saves - - Nikolaj Ehlers scored twice for the Hurricanes, the first coming 25 seconds into the game when he got loose on a rush and blasted one past Hart from the left side on the game's first shot - and he followed with a breakaway that gave Carolina a 2-0 lead and sent a charged home crowd into an eruption in the team's first Stanley Cup Final game in two decades - - Jordan Staal and Shayne Gostisbehere each scored tying goals after Vegas had pushed to a lead - - The Hurricanes went 12-1 through three (3) rounds to get back to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since now-coach Rod Brind'Amour captained them to the title in 2006, and it also comes amid an eight-year playoff streak that has included at least one series win every time as a regular postseason contender: Carolina swept through Ottawa and Philadelphia before taking the last four (4) games of a five-game win against Montreal to punch through an Eastern Conference Final roadblock – **NOTE: That made the Hurricanes the first team since 1983 to reach the Stanley Cup Final with one loss, and the first since the NHL went to best-of-seven (7) series in all four (4) rounds in 1987 - - Meanwhile, Vegas has been getting stronger with every playoff round, winning for 19 of 24 games going back to the unexpected late-season firing of Bruce Cassidy and replace him with Tortorella - that included the shocking result against the Avalanche, who managed just seven (7) goals in four (4) games - - Defense had been the standout feature for both teams, in fact, with Carolina having allowed two or fewer goals in 12 of 13 playoff games - but that wasn't the case in Tuesday's fast-paced series opener, with both teams capitalizing on their chances in an entertaining back-and-forth game before Hertl got Vegas the lead for good. . .Q: Although neither of us are major NHL fans, after we covered last year's Stanley Cup Final, it almost seems as though we are compelled to discuss this year's final as well, so let's do just that: What are your thoughts on Game 1 of this year's Stanley Cup Final?. . .                   Thanks for Listening!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 137 - "The House That Doak Built Episode" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Football: "No More Cupcakes:" SEC ADs on Tuesday voted to play conference games on the second-to-last week of the regular season, eliminating what has commonly been referred to as the "cupcake" games before rivalry weekend, commissioner Greg Sankey said, as the new schedule policy is scheduled to begin in 2027 - - Sankey said the SEC has been discussing the topic for months, and ultimately needed to make decision now in time to schedule for 2027 - - Sankey said the decision wasn't driven by a desire to silence the critics, but rather, it was a result of the league transitioning to nine (9) conference games this season and playing on more weekends. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the SEC Conference's ruling to eliminate the "cupcake" games that are generally scheduled the week prior to Rivalry Week?. . .The NCAA has denied Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby's request to be reinstated as eligible for the 2026 season, even as the school president publicly backed Sorsby's desire to play for the Red Raiders this season "amid a "complex situation," - - The NCAA decision, which is in line with precedent, will put Sorsby's lawsuit against the NCAA seeking an injunction for his eligibility for the 2026 season into further focus, as his court date looms Monday in Lubbock County - - Texas Tech AD Kirby Hocutt indicated that he fully expected the appeal to be submitted to the NCAA by the end of the week - - In the suit, Sorsby, who filed a lawsuit in local court in Lubbock County on May 18 seeking his eligibility, acknowledged betting on thousands of sporting events as part of his gambling addiction, which included betting on Indiana football games while on the roster (as a redshirt freshman), as he did make clear that he never bet on a game he played in nor did he bet against his team, as the suit also cites the NCAA's "deeply hypocritical" position on gambling - - The news Tuesday comes in the wake of Sorsby completing his 35-day in-patient rehab for his gambling addiction in Arizona, as he's set to return to campus in the upcoming days - - While the NCAA precedent has been clear in gambling cases, it is not surprising the Sorsby's attorneys will plan to appeal their decision to deny his request for reinstatement - - Sorsby has one year of eligibility remaining, and the lawsuit revealed his lawyers asked for a two-game suspension, which the NCAA also denied. . .Q: Are you surprised to learn that the NCAA denied Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby's request for reinstatement next season? What do you expect the result of his appeal to be: (1) he will play for the Red Raiders next season OR (2) he will be watching from the sidelines?. . .NCAA College Softball: "A Potential Softball Bench-Clearing/White Chocolate:" If Florida softball was targeting Mia Williams in Sunday's Game 3 of the NCAA softball Super Regional against Texas Tech, the Gators didn't waste any time: Williams, a transfer who helped the Gators reach the Women's College World Series (WCWS) last year, was plunked by UF ace Keagen Rothrock with the first pitch of the game, and this was the fifth time in the series that Williams had been hit by a pitch - - Whether any were intentional or not, this set the stage for a game that was, if anything, upstaged and will likely be remembered more for the off-field drama rather than Texas Tech's eventual 16-7 series-deciding victory to punch its' ticket back to the WCWS - - Williams' return to Gainesville was the top storyline of the weekend, as she is the daughter of former Florida basketball player, Jason Williams (aka "White Chocolate"), who after the game expressed his displeasure with UF softball coach Tim Walton to The Gainesville Sun, part of the USA Today Network - - Jason Willianms, who has attended UF basketball games this past season, was often demonstrative in the crowd and later celebrated with the Texas Tech squad on the field after the victory - - After Mia Williams was hit with Sunday's first pitch, the Texas Tech bench started chirping at the Gators, rising tensions in the winner-take-all Game 3 - - In Williams' next at-bat, she hit a two-run HR, one of Texas Tech's eventual five (5), which featured a celebration that prompted a warning to the Red Raiders dugout - - Florida coach Tim Walton was later ejected from the game before the run-rule was induced in the 5th inning for arguing balls & strikes - but Williams' father, Jason, felt that Walton's ejection may have been premeditated: "He got kicked out because he didn't want to shake her hand," Jason Williams told The Sun - but Walton wasn't alone in avoiding postgame pleasantries: The peak of the animosity between the teams was best illustrated after the refusal to shake hands - following that decision, Texas Tech players began exchanging with Florida players, as the atmostphere spilled into the stands as fans from each side joined in - - On Barstool Sports' "Wake Up Barstool" show on Tuesday, Jason Williams stated, in reaction to the events of the Gainesville Super Regional, "The only time I'll step on Gainesville's campus again if my daughter plays softball there again," Williams, who played for the Gators in 1997-98 under Billy Donovan - - It appears "White Chocolate" will not be visiting the University of Florida campus anytime soon - even to watch his alma mater play this upcoming men's college basketball season. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Texas Tech-Florida drama at the NCAA softball Super Regionals over the weekend? What do you think about Jason Williams' antics?. . . - NFL - - Green Bay Packers star RB Josh Jacobs was arrested Tuesday and booked on several domestic violence charges, according to the Hobart-Lawrence (WI) Police Department - - Jacobs, 28, was booked on charges of battery, domestic abuse, disorderly conduct and intimidation of a witness - - According to the Brown County jail record, the strangulation & suffocation charge is a felony, while the other four (4) charges are misdemeanors - - According to the records, at the time of his arrest, Jacobs was being held without bond - - Jacobs, a first-team All-Pro selection in 2022 while with the Las Vegas Raiders and a three-time Pro Bowl selection, is entering his third season with the Packers after signing with the team in free agency in 2024, as last season, he scored 14 totals TDs (13 rushing) and totaled 1,211 yards in 15 games played - - Jacobs, through his attorneys, denied the allegations. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the charges/arrest of Green Bay Packers & former Alabama RB Josh Jacobs?. . .**UPDATE: Packers RB Josh Jacobs was released from jail on Wednesday following his arrest on several domestic abuse charges, pending further investigation, as the Brown County (WI) District Attorney's office announced that the investigation "remains open and ongoing,". . . - NBA - - 2025-26 NBA Playoffs Recap: In this particular segment, JD & Spencer provide a weekly recap for each of the following Conference final games from across the league, and also discuss a few of the major storylines from the 2025-26 NBA Playoffs: Eastern Conference Finals: Game 4: No.3 New York Knicks vs. No.4 Cleveland Cavaliers     [NYK leads series 3-0] **Kenny Atkinson will return next season as the Cleveland Cavaliers coach, sources confirmed to ESPN's Shams Charania on Tuesday — The Cavaliers advanced to their first conference finals this season for the first time since 2018, the furthest the team has advanced without LeBron James on their roster since 1992, although their season ended in a four-game sweep by the New York Knicks, where each game was decided by double digits. . . Western Conference Finals: Game 5: No.1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No.2 San Antonio Spurs   [Series tied 2-2] - NBA (cont'd) - - "A Four-Coach Clover:" Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla was named NBA Coach of the Year on Tuesday night, officially wrapping up the league's postseason awards schedule - - Mazzulla led the Celtics to 56 wins in 2025-26 and the No.2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs despite Jayson Tatum missing most of the regular season with a torn Achilles tendon - - **NOTE: Mazzulla, who turns 38 on June 30, is the youngest winner of the award since Phil Johnson in 1975, according to the NBA - - He is 238-90 in his four (4) seasons with Boston - the best record in the league over that span - and led the Celtics to an NBA championship in 2024 - - **NOTE2: Mazzulla is the fourth coach in the Celtics' franchise history to earn Coach of the Year honors, joining Bill Fitch (1979-80), Tommy Heinsohn (1972-73) and Red Auerbach (1964-65) - - Mazzulla finished with 62 of the 100 first-place votes and was on 96 of 100 ballots, both the most of any coach this year: Detroit's J.B. Bickerstaff finished second for a second straight year after leading the Pistons to the top spot in the Eastern Conference standings, while the San Antonio Spurs' Mitch Johnson finished third. . .What are your thoughts on Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla being awarded the 2025-26 NBA Coach of the Year?. . .Shai-Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder are just one win away from eliminating the Spurs and advancing to their second straight NBA Finals: If it finishes off San Antonio, Oklahoma City will face the New York Knicks while the two-time MVP's every move on the court will be evaluated under a microscope - - The narrative around SGA's ascension to superstardom in OKC has become increasingly focused on his ability to get to the free-throw line - Or, in more colloquial terms, his flopping, foul-baiting and "unethical basketball," - - With so much attention surrounding every game, not a day goes by where we don't get an absurd collection of SGA lowlights of him hitting the ground. .And he sure does hit the ground a LOT. .And while he doesn't hit the ground on every shot attempt, he does hit the ground much more often than other high-profile superstars - - With all that in mind, Underdog Sports, a fantasy sports & prediction market company, came up with a clever twist on a classic board game, and decided to put SGA on a new version of Operation: That game, titled "Unethical Hoops," was promoted by SGA's Olympic teammate, Dillon Brooks, last week - however, according to The Athletic, SGA's camp quickly responded by sending a cease-and-desist letter the very next day - - They have also asked that "all board games be destroyed," which makes you wonder how many Underdog has actually produced and/or manufactured at this point. . .Q: What are your thoughts on SGA's camp responding to Underdog Sports by issuing a cease-and-desist letter regarding their "Unethical Hoops" board game?. . . - Miscellaneous - - High School Football: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the "Teddy Bridgewater Act" into law Friday, meaning high school coaches in the state will now be allowed to use their own money to assist their players with such expenses as food, transportation, physical therapy & rehabilitation services - - The Bridgewater Act is named for the Florida native & longtime NFL QB who coached his alma mater, Miami Northwestern High School, to a state championship in 2024, but he was suspended for the 2025 season after revealing that he personally paid for meals, ride-share services and treatments for some players - - There will, however, be strict rules regarding how - and how much - coaches can spend: It would apply to a team's head coach only, cannot be used as a recruiting tactic, must be reported to a state agency and is capped at $15,000 per team per year - - Florida officials cited studies that show head football coaches in talent-rich Broward County received, on average, a stipend of $3,038, whereas in neighboring states, including Georgia, the studies showed coaches can earn more than $100,000 per year - but starting July 1, school boards can use "voluntary donations and revenues generated by authorized booster clubs or associations," to pay these coaches to a figure that "may not exceed the compensation of the highest paid administrator in the district.". . . Thanks for Listening!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 136 - "The Big Bus Bettis Episode" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Football: Heralded true freshman QB Jared Curtis, Vanderbilt's top recruit, will appear in comedian Nate Bargatze's movie "The Breadwinner" as part of his NIL deal, per Outkick's Clay Travis, although he has yet to take a singular snap at the collegiate level - - The former five-star recruit, competing with Blaze Berlowitz for the starting gig next season at Vanderbilt, will appear as a cameo in the film - - Bargatze, a Vanderbilt fan, is based in Nashville and appeared on ESPN's "College Gameday" in 2025 as a guest picker, for the Commodores' game against Missouri, as it was there that he called out Curtis and asked him to flip his recruitment from Georgia to Vanderbilt, and also threw out the idea of the QB being featured in one of his films - - Bargatze is holding up his end of the bargain, as now, Curtis will appear in the film wearing a Vanderbilt hat while shopping for a car, according to the report - - Curtis, the No.4 overall recruit and No.2-ranked QB nationally in the 2026 Class, chose Vanderbilt - his hometown school - two weeks later following Bargatze's offer - - **NOTE: Curtis is the highest-ranked recruit in program history, and represents a huge shift in the Commodores' status as a football program, especially after winning a program-best 10 games in 2025 with Heisman Trophy runner-up Diego Pavia behind center. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Vanderbilt true freshman QB Jared Curtis serving as a cameo in Nate Bargatze's film "The Breadwinner" as part of his NIL deal? Could this type of cameo feature become a regular occurrence that is potentially included as part of a recruit's NIL deal?. . ."The TIGAZZ Are Back in Town:" LSU has finalized a deal to add Ed Orgeron to its football coaching staff, the school announced Wednesday night - - Orgeron's role will officially be special assistant to recruiting and defense for the Tigers - - Orgeron is the former HC at LSU, to which he led to a national title in 2019 - - He reunites with LSU HC Lane Kiffin, Orgeron's longtime friend and colleague with whom he previously worked at USC and Tennessee - after last collaborating for a brief stint at USC in 2013 - as the relationship between Kiffin and Orgeron goes back a quarter century, as they first served on a staff together in 2001 under Pete Carroll at USC, as Orgeron is largely credited with being the recruiting engine during that gilded USC era - - Along with serving as the head coach at Ole Miss & LSU and as the interim coach at USC, Orgeron crafted a reputation as one of the country's top recruiters and defensive line coaches - - Fortunately, recent changes in NCAA recruiting rules will allow Orgeron to go out on the road to recruit for the Tigers, selling the two things he knows intimately well: LSU and Kiffin. . .Q: How do you feel about Ed Orgeron being hired at LSU to serve on Lane Kiffin's staff as the special assistant to recruiting and defense? Could Orgeron's hire potentially be related to a potential interim role in the event that the LSU gig does not go as planned?. . .⭐"A Special Discussion on the NIL Rule & NCAA Transfer Portal and How They Are Changing the Landscape of College Sports:⭐: In this week's "special discussion" segment, JD & Spencer discuss the NIL, the NCAA Transfer Portal, and Player Opt-Outs - as well as the way in which each of these factors have drastically changed the landscape of college sports, specifically college football - and finally, they discuss & provide their individual feedback of what the future of NIL is as it continues to evolve across the collegiate (or University) level. . .**Be Sure to Tune in for This Week's Special Discussion segment. . .NCAA College Basketball: Head basketball coach Will Wade has earned the "American Gangster" moniker, but LSU is taking an even more brazen affront to the NCAA's shaky eligibility rules and regulations: Former Boston Celtics guard RJ Luis Jr., who is looking to return to college, has signed with LSU, per multiple reports, in hopes to play one more season in the collegiate ranks - - The same RJ Luis Jr., who earned 2025 Big East Player of the Year honors under St. John's coach Rick Pitino two seasons ago - after averaging 18.2 points & 7.2 rebounds for the Red Storm - and who controversially chose to remain in the 2025 NBA Draft despite numerous seven-figure deals that were on the table in last spring's transfer portal market - - Luis, 23, didn't play this season due primarily to injury, but he did, however, suit up for three (3) preseason games for the Celtics back in October - - Luis went through the NBA draft process last summer, and while he wasn't drafted, he signed a two-way contract with the Utah Jazz, prior to being acquired by the Celtics in the Georges Niang trade - - However, Luis was waived by the C's ahead of the 2026 NBA season and didn't suit up for a regular-season game - - It remains to be seen what Luis' eligibility will be next season as he looks to return to the collegiate ranks, as the NCAA has set the precedent that any player that received compensation from an NBA franchise - for instance, signing a two-way contract - will be deemed ineligible, and so, Luis might not be able to return to the college ranks, despite signing with the Will Wade's Tigers. . .Q: Should RJ Luis Jr. be granted an additional year of college eligibility even after signing a two-way contract with the Utah Jazz and suiting up for three (3) preseason games for the NBA's Boston Celtics? Does this not feel like a very "Will Wade-esque" type of move, allowing RJ Luis Jr. to sign with LSU?. . . - NFL - - Aaron Rodgers isn't done just yet. .Following another prolonged decision-making process, four-time NFL MVP and QB Aaron Rodgers, has officially signed a one-year deal to return to the Pittsburgh Steelers for the 2026-27 season, with the deal reportedly being worth up to $25 million, per ESPN's Adam Schefter, and furthermore, it is expected to include a base salary between $22 and $23 million, with up to a few million more in incentives - - The signing comes just weeks after the Steelers placed a UFA tender on Rodgers, 42, in a procedural move that would either give them a compensatory draft pick if he signed elsewhere before training camp or restrict his ability to sign with another team once camp begins - - Though the Steelers remained confident & in communication with Rodgers throughout the process, the QB still made the decision on his own timeline, despite team owner and president Art Rooney II publicly saying that the organization expected a resolution by the start of April's NFL Draft - - Instead, Rodgers traveled to Pittsburgh the weekend of the team's minicamp and agreed to the deal before the team's first voluntary OTA session - - And Rodgers also acknowledged that his familiarity with a number of assistants brought to Pittsburgh by McCarthy added to his interest in returning to the Steelers - - The Steelers added to their QB room while they waited, and drafted Penn State star Drew Allar in the third round in a move new HC Mike McCarthy said was unrelated to Rodgers' impending decision - - McCarthy, hired to replace longtime HC Mike Tomlin in January, previously expressed his desire to reunite with Rodgers, for whom he coached for 13 seasons in Green Bay - as Rodgers called it a "full circle" moment to be able to play for McCarthy again - - Though Rodgers' first season in Pittsburgh was inconsistent & ended with the worst playoff performance of his career in a wild-card loss to the Houston Texans - which featured Rodgers being sacked four (4) times and him completing just 51.5% of his pass attempts as the Steelers struggled mightily against the Texans' stacked defense - but he also authored several remarkable wins, especially late in the season, including the Week 18 win against the Baltimore Ravens that clinched the AFC North title - as Rodgers completed 66% of his attempts & threw for a season-high 294 yards passing - - Rodgers finished the 2025 season completing 65.7% of his attempts - his best mark since 2021 - and threw for 3,322 yards with 24 TDs and seven (7) INTs. . .Q: What are your thoughts on 42-year-old QB Aaron Rodgers returning to the Pittsburgh Steelers on a one-year deal? - - **UPDATE: Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers said Wednesday that the 2026 NFL season will be the last of his Hall of Fame-worthy career. . .Q: How do you feel about the Aaron Rodgers-Mike McCarthy reunion in Pittsburgh? How do you anticipate that it will end?. . "Cooked Rice:" Kansas City Chiefs WR Rashee Rice has been sentenced to serve 30 days in jail after testing positive for marijuana in violation of the terms of his probation for his role in a crash that left multiple people injured on a Dallas highway two years ago - - The Texas State Attorney's Office said Tuesday that Rice was ordered to go to jail immediately as part of his original 30-day sentence for third-degree felony of racing & causing bodily injury - - Rice had received deferred adjudication after pleading guilty, and the case would have been dismissed if he had completed the probation: he was placed in custody and booked into the Dallas County jail at 1:25 a.m. ET, per jail records, and he is set to be released on June 16 - - Meanwhile, the Chiefs have voluntary practices that are scheduled to begin next week as well as a mandatory minicamp that is set to end June 11, however, it was reported shortly after Rice's arrest that, one week prior, he underwent a clean-up surgery on his right knee to remove loose debris that was causing inflammation, per sources to ESPN's Adam Schefter - - Rice is expected to be sidelined for two months but is expected to be ready for training camp later this summer, sources confirmed - - The Chiefs said they have been in touch with the NFL concerning the matter, yet the team nor the league representatives have publicly commented on Rice's arrest. . .Q: Should the Kansas City Chiefs - or most importantly the NFL - implement some type of disciplinary action for WR Rashee Rice following his most recent probation violation?. . . - NBA - - "A New Direction:" Jason Kidd is out as the head coach for the Dallas Mavericks after five (5) seasons in what the team described as a "mutual decision" Tuesday evening - - Kidd has four (4) years and more than $40 million remaining on his current contract, sources told ESPN, but Mavericks' team governor Patrick Dumont - who extended Kidd's contract during Dallas' NBA Finals run in 2024 and again before last season after they declined the New York Knicks' request to interview him for their vacant head coaching position, gave new team president Masai Ujiri full authorization to determine the coach's future with the franchise - - The Mavs also parted ways with several members of the basketball operations department on Tuesday, including assistant GM Matt Riccardi, who had served as the team's interim GM alongside Michael Finley following the dismissal of former GM Nico Harrison - - Finley's tenure with the franchise, however, has not yet been determined - - Kidd had a 205-205 overall record as the HC of the Mavericks, whereas Dallas went 22-18 in the playoffs under Kidd, advancing to the 2022 Western Conference finals and the 2024 NBA Finals - - Prior to the Luka Doncic trade to the Los Angeles Lakers, under Kidd, the Mavs had a 136-87 record with Doncic in the starting lineup and went 69-118 without him, which included a 26-56 record last season - - **NOTE: Kidd has a 388-395 record as a NBA head coach, having begun his coaching career with the Brooklyn Nets in 2013 immediately after his retirement as a player, and coaching the Milwaukee Bucks from 2014 to 2018. . .Q: Were you surprised by Dallas Mavericks' president Masai Ujiri's decision to dismiss HC Jason Kidd after five (5) seasons?. . .2025-26 NBA Playoffs Recap: In this particular segment, JD & Spencer provide a weekly recap for each of the following semifinal & conference final round games from across the league, and also discuss a few of the major storylines from the 2025-26 NBA Playoffs: Eastern Conference Semifinal Round: Game 7: No.1 Detroit Pistons vs. No.4 Cleveland Cavaliers      [Series tied 3-3] Eastern Conference Finals: Game 1: No.3 New York Knicks vs. No.4 Cleveland Cavaliers     [Series 0-0] Western Conference Finals: Game 1: No.1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No.2 San Antonio Spurs   [Series 0-0] Game 2: No.1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No.2 San Antonio Spurs  [SA leads series 1-0] - NBA (cont'd) - - "Trading Magic for Voodoo:" The New Orleans Pelicans have hired former Orlando Magic coach Jamahl Mosley as the franchise's new HC, per executive VP of basketball operations Joe Dumars, who made the announcement on Monday - - Mosley, who led the Magic to three (3) consecutive playoff berths over the past three (3) seasons despite multiple injury-plagued campaigns, was fired on May 4 - just a day after Orlando lost in Game 7 to the top-seeded Detroit Pistons in the first round of the playoffs following a 3-1 series lead - - That ultimately cleared the way for the Pelicans to fully focus on Mosley, who had a 189-221 record in his five (5) seasons in Orlando - - The 47-year-old Mosley, who finished second in the NBA Coach of the Year voting in 2023-24, had the third-most regular-season wins in Magic franchise history (189) - - Prior to the addition of Mosley, Orlando hadn't made the playoffs for three (3) straight seasons since the team did it six (6) years in a row from 2006-08 through 2011-12 - - Mosley built teams anchored by strong defenses, with the Magic ranked No.3 overall in 2023-24, No.2 in 2024-25 & No.11 this season - - In New Orleans, Mosley will take over a roster mixed with young talent such as Derik Queen, Jeremiah Fears & Yves Missi and veterans such as Trey Murphy III, Zion Williamson, Jordan Poole, Dejounte Murray & Herbert Jones, however, this is a team that finished the season with a 26-56 record, yet they own just one draft pick in the upcoming NBA Draft in June - No.58 - after trading away their first-rounder in a draft-day deal a year ago, which helped them move up to acquire Queen. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the New Orleans Pelicans hiring former Orlando Magic coach Jamahl Mosley as the franchise's new HC?. . ."Back 2 Back:" Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named the NBA MVP for a second consecutive season on Sunday, winning the award in a landslide after another stellar year for the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder - - SGA was flanked by his Thunder teammates during a news conference at the Thunder's practice facility, as they all wore Burberry trench coats that were given to them as part of a lavish gift basket by Gilgeous-Alexander - - **NOTE: Gilgeous-Alexander became just the 14th player ever to win back-to-back NBA MVP awards, which puts him in truly historic company - - Only some of the greatest names the league has ever seen has accomplished the feat, including Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Moses Malone, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash, LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Nikola Jokic & Giannis Antetokounmpo, as now SGA joins that legendary list - - Gilgeous-Alexander, 27, ranked second in the NBA in scoring with 31.1 points per game while shooting a career-best 55.3% from the field, as he also averaged a career-high 6.6 assists for the 64-18 Thunder, who had the NBA's best overall record for a second consecutive season - - The other MVP finalists this season were Jokic and Wembanyama, as SGA led the way with 83 of the total 100 first-place votes, while Jokic finished second and Wemby third - - Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers and Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons rounded out the top five (5), while both players just missed the NBA's cutoff for postseason award eligibility but were granted an exception upon appeal. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander being named NBA MVP for a second consecutive season?. . . - Miscellaneous - - UFC: Conor McGregor will return to competition for the first time in five (5) years this summer, UFC CEO Dana White announced Saturday: McGregor (22-6) will face Max Holloway (27-9) in a non-title welterweight bout at UFC 329 on July 11 in Las Vegas - - The former two-weight UFC champion's return will take place after a five-year layoff, as McGregor's last appearance was a TKO loss to Dustin Poirier on July 10, 2021, where he suffered a broken leg in the loss - - The pairing is a rematch of a featherweight matchup that took place in August 2013 and was McGregor's second fight in the UFC - - McGregor, 37, was supposed to face Michael Chandler in a comeback fight at UFC 303 in June 2024 but withdrew with a toe injury - - He has dealt with multiple legal issues outside of the Octagon during his absence, most notably, in November 2024 when an Irish jury found him liable in a civil sexual assault case stemming from an incident that occurred in 2018 - and he lost an appeal of that result in Ireland's High Court in July - - In the co-main event, Paddy Pimblett will face Benoit Saint Denis in a lightweight bout, as Pimblett returns to the Octagon for the first time since January when he suffered his first loss in the UFC to Justin Gaethje, while Saint Denis most recently defeated Dan Hooker in Australia in January and is riding a four-fight win streak. . .Q: Will you be tuning into UFC 329 for the McGregor-Holloway and Pimblett-Denis co-main event?. . .MMA: Ronda Rousey stopped Gina Carano with her signature armbar just 17 seconds into the iconic fighter's mixed martial arts comeback bout on Saturday night - - The 39-year-old Rousey ended a nine & a half-year absence from MMA when she took the cage with 44-year-old Carano, who hadn't fought in 17 years - - Rousey wasted no time when the door finally closed, charging & tackling Carano an instant after the opening bell rang - - **NOTE: Rousey famously won eight (8) fights in less than a minute during her meteoric rise through MMA in the 2010s - - Carano was all smiles even after the swift end to one of the longest layoffs in pro sports history, as this improbable double comeback bout united two of the most important fighters from MMA's past two decades - - Rousey has repeatedly said that this would be her final fight, whereas Carano has said that she doesn't know what the future holds. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Ronda Rousey's 17-second MMA victory over Gina Carano on Saturday night?. . .PGA: Until Sunday, Aaron Rai was best known for being the PGA Tour golfer who played with two gloves. . .Now, Rai will be remembered as the first English-born golfer to win the PGA Championship in more than a century after his stunning victory at Aronimink Golf Club - - In a final round in which none of the game's biggest stars seemed capable of taking control, Rai finally did and won the Wanamaker Trophy after a 5-under 65 - - His 72-hole total of 9-under 271 was three (3) strokes better than Jon Rahm & Alex Smalley - - Rai said he was not aware of England's 107-year drought without a PGA Championship until Saturday - - **NOTE: He became the first English-born golfer to win the PGA Championship since Jim Barnes captured the first two tournaments in 1916 and 1919, which were both match-play competitions - - Rai's victory ended a 10-year streak of American golfers winning the Wanamaker, as Australia's Jason Day had been the most recent non-American to win the PGA when he triumphed at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin in 2015 - - Rai's knockout blows came on back-to-back birdies on Nos. 16 and 17, as he sank a 68 1/2-foot putt on the par-3 17th - the second-longest putt made by any player in the field this week - - Now, he gets a five-year exemption on the PGA Tour and invitations to the Masters, U.S. Open and Open Championship for the next five (5) years - and as for the PGA Championship, he is welcome back for life and earned a $3.7 million payday. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Aaron Rai becoming the first English-born golfer to win the PGA Championship in the previous 107 years?. . . Thanks for Listening!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 135 - "The Big Hurt Episode" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Football: "Basket Weaving 101:" Some SEC football coaches aren't waiting for next season's kickoff to get after each other: One day after LSU HC Lane Kiffin's controversial comments concerning Ole Miss, Texas HC Steve Sarkisian made the following statement to USA Today: "At Texas, we will only take 50% of a player's academic credit hours. You may be a semester from graduating, but you're going all the way back to 50% if you play here and want a degree. But at Ole Miss, they can take you. All you have to do is take basket weaving, and you can get an Ole Miss degree." - - A University of Texas athletic department spokesperson told ESPN on Tuesday that Sarkisian's comments were part of a larger conversation about tampering and [that] he was stressing the importance of academics at the University - - Shortly afterwards, first-year Florida HC Jon Sumrall, a former assistant at Ole Miss, added to the fray later Tuesday afternoon with a jab at Sarkisian via social media: "Grateful to coach at a top 10 public university that also offers advanced basket weaving!". . .Q: What are your thoughts on Sarkisian's comments regarding Ole Miss academics for student-athletes? - - The flurry of jabs comes just weeks before the SEC's annual spring meetings, which is scheduled to occur May 26-28 at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa in Miramar Beach, Florida - - In a four-hour interview with Vanity Fair magazine that was published on Monday, Lane Kiffin - who was the head football coach at Ole Miss prior to accepting a similar role at LSU - said that some top [high school] recruits would tell him [that] they weren't interested in coming to Oxford, Mississippi: "[They would say], 'Hey Coach, we really like you, but my grandparents aren't letting me move to Oxford, Mississippi," Kiffin told the magazine. "That doesn't come up when you say Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Parents were sitting here this weekend saying the campus's diversity feels so great: 'It feels like there's no segregation. And we want that for our kid because that's the real world."' - - According to the article, Kiffin clarified his remarks one day later: "I just hope [my comment] comes across respectful to Ole Miss . . .There are some things that I'm saying that are factual; they're not shots." - - Let's analyze the overall demographics of the two college towns: The population of Baton Rouge (LA) - home to Louisiana State University - is 52% African-American (or Black) and 34% Caucasian (or White), according to 2024 census data, whereas Oxford - the home of Ole Miss University - is 66% Caucasian (or White) and 26% African-American (or Black) - - Kiffin led Ole Miss to a 50-19 overall record from 2020 to 2025 prior to leaving for LSU, whom of which offered him a seven-year contract worth about $13 million annually - - There is no doubt that Kiffin's remarks will serve as additional motivation for Pete Golding & the Ole Miss Rebels as they prepare for the upcoming 2026-27 college football season, especially for one particular date that we are sure they have circled on their calendar, September 19th, the date that Lane Kiffin & the LSU Tigers travel to Oxford to take on the Rebels. . .Q: What is your take on Lane Kiffin's comments to Vanity Fair magazine regarding the differences in overall campus diversity between that of Ole Miss & LSU? While he has since attempted to clarify his remarks, on a more personal level, do you believe that his comments were, in fact, "calculated?". . .Missouri RB Ahmad Hardy has been released from the hospital after being shot in the upper leg early Sunday morning, sources told ESPN's Pete Thamel, as he plans to head to Missouri's campus immediately to begin rehabbing with the goal of playing this year, sources said - - The 20-year-old Tigers' star RB was shot while attending a "rap concert," in his native Mississippi, and was rushed to Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg, where he immediately underwent surgery: The shooting incident reportedly occurred around 2 a.m. Sunday outside a concert at the Kamakazy Biker Club in Laurel, Mississippi, as the Laurel police department informed the local news affiliate on Monday that at least two people were injured and three (3) people of interest were in custody, as three (3) 19-year-old men, identified as Landice Magee, Jvon Sibley & Alvin Peyton, were arrested & booked into the Jones County (MS) jail on Sunday, in connection with the shooting of Missouri RB Ahmad Hardy - - According to numerous reports & posts on social media, the three (3) suspects were former high school teammates of Hardy's at Lawrence County High School in Mississippi - - A first-team All-SEC selection last season, Hardy was second among FBS players with 1,649 rushing yards last season - - **NOTE: The first-team Associated Press All-America selection and SEC Newcomer of the Year also scored 16 TDs and averaged 6.4 yards on his 256 rushing attempts en route to being a finalist for the Doak Walker Award - - Hardy transferred to Missouri from UL Monroe following the 2024 CFB season, when he rushed for 1,351 yards and 13 TDs on 237 rushing attempts. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Ahmad Hardy shooting?. . . "It Really Do Be Your Own Family:" Ohio State head football coach Ryan Day will have some very familiar competition in the Big Ten Conference very soon. .The son of the Ohio State football coach, R.J. Day, announced his commitment to Northwestern University for the Class of 2027 on Sunday - as the Wildcats play in the same conference as Ohio St., and the schools/programs will face off in a B1G Conference matchup during the regular season - - R.J. Day, a 6-foot-1, 205-lb QB prospect from - not surprisingly - Columbus, Ohio, who has started for three (3) years at St. Francis DeSales High School, will begin his senior season this fall - after which point, he plans to enroll at Northwestern under head football coach David Braun - - According to reports, the younger Day received other offers from Purdue, Syracuse, Cincinnati & South Florida, among others - - With his commitment, Northwestern will feature a total of eight (8) QBs on Braun's roster, but the most interesting aspect of R.J.'s commitment Northwestern involves the Wildcats' newly-hired OC: the OC for the Wildcats is Chip Kelly, who ironically served in the same role for Ryan Day at Ohio State when the Buckeyes won the national championship in 2024, and he was also the OC at New Hampshire when Ryan Day was the team captain from 1998-2001. . .Q: What does R.J. Day's commitment to Northwestern tell you about his capabilities as a QB prospect? Could you imagine a father vs. son scenario that becomes engrained into the Ohio St.-Northwestern regular-season matchup of the 2027-28 season?. . ."An Evaluation & Analysis of the Alabama Crimson Tide's 2025-26 College Football Season/2026-27 Season Outlook (aka, our "Alabama Postmortem" segment): In this particular segment, JD & Spencer conduct a post-analysis of the 2025-26 Alabama Crimson Tide college football season, a sort of postmortem if you will (i.e., A Season Overview). . .as well as evaluate/grade their offseason acquisitions (i.e., by way of recruiting as well as via the NCAA transfer portal) for this particular recruiting cycle. . .Finally, they each present their independent thoughts regarding the program & its' overall direction as we draw closer to the upcoming 2026-27 season (i.e., A Preseason Outlook). . .which also includes an overview & discussion of HC Kalen DeBoer's performance throughout his first two seasons in Tuscaloosa, and what pertinent factors might determine whether this coaching staff is or is not on the "hot seat.". . . - MLB - - Less than a week after the passing of former Atlanta Braves team owner, Ted Turner, former longtime manager & World Series champion Bobby Cox, 84, who won more than 2,500 games in his career and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014, has passed away, the team announced Saturday - - Cox lasted just two seasons as a player in the majors, with the New York Yankees in 1968-69, and finished with a modest .225 career batting average. .but it was as a manager that Cox would make his mark/embolden his legacy: **NOTE: Cox ranks fourth all time with 2,504 wins in 29 years as a manager, including 25 years in two stints with the Atlanta Braves and four (4) years with the Toronto Blue Jays, as he was named Manager of the Year four (4) times - and only Connie Mack, John McGraw & Tony La Russa had more regular-season wins than Cox - - The often-tempestuous skipper - he was ejected more times than any other manager in MLB history (158 times during the regular season; to put this in context, the MLB regular season is 162 games) - and he led the Braves to 14 straight division titles from 1991 to 2005 and the 1995 World Series title, their first since the franchise's relocation in 1966 - - As a GM, Cox helped build the team that enjoyed its long run of division titles, as Cox returned to the dugout as manager in 1990, and John Schuerholz moved to Atlanta as GM, forming a successful partnership with Cox - - Cox's most celebrated draft pick as GM was Chipper Jones, the No.1 selection in 1990, as Jones would go on to spend his entire career with the Braves, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2018, joining Cox & former teammates Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine & John Smoltz - - The Braves retired Cox's No.6 following his final season in 2011, and he entered the HOF in 2014 alongside Maddux & Glavine - - Cox suffered a stroke in April 2019, but he eventually regained feeling on his right side following a short bout of paralysis, as well as his speech, and was able to return to the Braves' home park about five (5) months later. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the untimely passing of former Braves manager (& GM) and World Series champ Bobby Cox? Do you have any special memories of Bobby Cox as the manager of the Atlanta Braves?. . - NBA - - Memphis Grizzlies forward and seven-year veteran, Brandon Clarke, 29, was found dead at a home in Los Angeles on Monday - - LAPD sources confirmed to ABC News that Clarke was found dead from a possible drug overdose Monday in a home located in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley, as narcotics were found at the scene, and there was no evidence of foul play, sources reported to ABC News - - Clarke was drafted in the first round by the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2019 and was traded two weeks later to the Memphis Grizzlies, where he played his entire seven-year career - - Clarke was the No.21 overall pick out of Gonzaga, which dealt his rights to the Grizzlies, who already had drafted guard Ja Morant with the No.2 overall pick - as Clarke joined Morant on the NBA's All-Rookie team during the pandemic-shortened 2019-20 season, averaging 12.1 points & 5.9 rebounds in 58 games while finishing fourth in Rookie of the Year voting - - Clarke served primarily as a valuable bench player early in his career and signed a four-year, $52 million extension with the Grizzlies in October 2022 - - He suffered a season-ending torn Achilles in March 2023 and appeared in only six (6) games the following season - - Injuries limited Clarke to 72 of a possible 246 games over the past three (3) seasons, including only two this season, as he averaged 10.2 points and 5.5 rebounds over his seven (7) seasons in Memphis - - Prior to this tragedy, Clarke was arrested April 1 in Arkansas for speeding and possession of a controlled substance that was reportedly kratom, an herbal supplement, promoted as an alternative pain remedy, that is set to become illegal in the state of Tennessee as of July 1 - he was released on bond a day later. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the untimely passing of Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke?. . .Jason Collins, 47, the NBA's first openly gay player who served as a global ambassador for the sport the past decade, has died of brain cancer, his family reported on Tuesday - - Collins revealed to ESPN in November 2025 that he had been diagnosed with glioblastoma, one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer - - Collins traveled to Singapore this past winter to receive experimental treatments that, to date, have not been authorized for use in the United States - - Those treatments were reportedly effective, allowing him to return home, attend NBA All-Star Weekend in LA, and even attend a game at his alma mater, Stanford - but unfortunately, the cancer recently returned, and Collins died peacefully at his Los Angeles home, surrounded by his family - - As for his career, Collins retired from the NBA in 2014 after 13 years in the league that included stops with the New Jersey Nets, Memphis, Minnesota, Atlanta, Boston, Washington and a return to the Nets after they moved to Brooklyn - - **NOTE: Collins first announced that he was gay in a 2013 Sports Illustrated cover story, becoming the first publicly gay athlete to play in any of the four (4) main North American sports leagues. . .Q: What are your thoughts of the passing of former NBA player Jason Collins? What contributions do you attribute to Collins throughout his 13-year NBA career? . . .2025-26 NBA Playoffs Recap: In this particular segment, JD & Spencer review & recap each of the following semifinal round games from across the NBA over the previous week, and also discuss a few of the major storylines from the 2025-26 NBA Playoffs: Eastern Conference: Game 4: No.3 New York Knicks vs. No.7 Philadelphia 76ers    [NY leads series 3-0] Game 4: No.1 Detroit Pistons vs. No.4 Cleveland Cavalier     [DET leads series 2-1] Western Conference: Game 4: No.2 San Antonio Spurs vs No.6 Minnesota T-Wolves [SA leads series 2-1] Game 4: No.1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No.4 LA Lakers  [OKC leads series 3-0] Game 5: No.2 San Antonio Spurs vs. No.6 Minnesota T-Wolves  [Series tied 2-2] - NBA (cont'd) - - Daryl Morey is out at president of basketball operations with the Philadelphia 76ers, who are opting to retain Nick Nurse as their head coach - - Bob Myers, the president of sports for Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, will reportedly lead the search for the new head executive for the 76ers and will oversee the franchise's basketball department in the interim - as Myers is the four-time NBA championship architect of the Golden State Warriors - and the incumbent staff will be evaluated by Myers and then the incoming top basketball official - - Morey had led the 76ers basketball operations for the past six (6) seasons, that included five (5) playoff berths and a 270-212 record throughout that span, however, the 76ers have not advanced beyond the second (or semifinal) round of the playoffs under Morey, and have not been to the conference finals since 2001 - - Morey's legacy in Philadelphia will be determined primarily by which moves you take into consideration, while analyzing the high highs and low lows of his tenure in the 'City of Brotherly Love; just to name a few: (a) Morey traded for James Harden - with whom he'd previously had success in Houston - ahead of the 2022 trade deadline - however, the reunion was short-lived as the 76ers declined to offer 'The Beard' a long-term maximum contract the following season, as Philadelphia agreed to search for a viable trade partner upon Harden's request after he agreed to pick up his $35.6 million player option that June - but unfortunately, the Sixers' asking price was too steep - and no teams were willing or able to meet it at first - - After Harden openly blasted Morey during a promotional tour in China, he was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers on Halloween 2023, with Philadelphia landing LA's unprotected first-round pick in 2028 & swap rights in 2029 - as Philadelphia still owes Brooklyn a top-eight (8) "protected"" first-round pick in the 2027 NBA Draft from its original acquisition of Harden; (b) Morey also signed All-Stars Paul George & Joel Embiid to massive contracts, with George agreeing to a four-year, $212 million maximum deal in 2024, whereas Embiid agreed to a three-year, $192.9 million contract later that year - - Unfortunately for Morey, Philly's "big three" - George, Tyrese Maxey & Embiid have only played in a total of 43 games together over the past two seasons, including the playoffs, owning a 22-21 record; (c) Morey also dealt Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder at the trade deadline this season, and the third-year guard is now an integral part of their rotation; (d) Morey selected guard VJ Edgecombe with the No.3 overall pick in this year's NBA Draft, as he finished third in Rookie of the Year voting this season behind Cooper Flagg & Kon Knueppel - - Nurse, meanwhile, is 116-130 in three (3) seasons, a record largely impacted by last year's 24-58 mark, however, Nurse has twice led the Sixers to the playoffs, including this season when Philadelphia overcame a 3-1 series deficit for the first time to defeat the Boston Celtics in the opening round prior to being swept by the New York Knicks in the semifinal round. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Philadelphia 76ers' decision to dismiss president of basketball operations Daryl Morey? Decision to retain HC Nick Nurse?. . .2026 NBA Draft Lottery: The Washington Wizards, who entered with a 14% chance at the No.1 selection, won the NBA draft lottery Sunday, earning them the first overall pick in June's NBA Draft - - **NOTE: The Wizards became the first team to win the lottery after finishing with the league's worst record (17-65) since the NBA revamped the lottery format in 2019 - - This represents the next step in a franchise transformation that saw the Wizards trade for All-Stars Trae Young & Anthony Davis earlier this year - - The Wizards previously won the lottery in 2001, when they selected big man Kwame Brown out of high school, and most recently in 2011, when they drafted PG John Wall from Kentucky, but now, 15 years later, Wizards' officials are hoping that the player the organization drafts first this year - whether it's A.J. Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer or Caleb Wilson - will be even more impactful to D.C than Wall was - - The Utah Jazz, Memphis Grizzlies & Chicago Bulls filled out the top four (4) picks, in that order - - "The Biggest Losers:" Based on the 2026 NBA Draft lottery, the Indiana Pacers entered Sunday with second-best odds to win the lottery (14%) and/or a 52.1% chance of landing a top four (4) selection, according to ESPN and IndyStar, however, the Pacers - who ended the NBA regular season with the league's second-worst record at 19-63 - fell in the lottery to fifth, but as a result of their trade deadline deal with the LA Clippers to acquire center Ivica Zubac - a deal that stipulated the Pacers would retain their pick only if it landed in the top four (4) - but what can only be summarized as "horrible luck," the Pacers must now convey the No.5 pick to the Clippers - - The 2026 draft class is considered by most analysts to be one of the deepest at the top in recent memory, as the Class' big four (4) are BYU wing AJ Dybantsa, Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, Duke big man Cameron Boozer & North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson - - Lists of the next best prospects typically include a sleuth of talented guards, such as Darius Acuff Jr. (Arkansas), Mikel Brown Jr. (Louisville), Brayden Burries (Arizona), Kingston Flemings (Houston) & Keaton Wagler (Illinois), as well as big man Aday Mara, who helped lead the Michigan Wolverines to a D-I national championship this season - - The final results of the 2026 NBA Draft lottery along with each team's lottery odds are included below: 1. Washington Wizards - 14% (winner) 2. Utah Jazz - 11.5% 3. Memphis Grizzlies - 9% 4. Chicago Bulls - 4.5% 5.Indiana --> LA Clippers - 14% 6. Brooklyn Nets - 14% 7. Sacramento Kings - 11.5% 8. New Orleans Pelicans --> Atlanta Hawks - 6.8% 9. Dallas Mavericks - 6.7% 10. Milwaukee Bucks - 3% 11. Golden State Warriors - 2% 12. LAC--> Oklahoma City Thunder - 1.5% 13. Miami Heat - 1% 14. Charlotte Hornets - 0.5%                       Thanks for Listening!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 134 - "The Quadruple-Double/Dream Episode" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Basketball: "6-7, 6-7, 7-6?:" The men's and women's NCAA basketball tournaments are expanding to 76 teams, the NCAA announced Thursday - - **NOTE: It is the first time the men's tournament has expanded since 2011, and the first time the women's tpurnament has expanded since 2022 (15 years and 4 years for men's & women's tournaments, respectively) - - The expansion from 68 teams to 76 teams marks the men's largest increase since it moved to 64 teams in 1985 - - It went from 64 to 65 in 2001 and then added three (3) more teams in 2011 to form the "First Four" - - With the increase to 76, the First Four (4) - doubleheaders on back-to-back days in Dayton (OH) - will be replaced by a 12-game Opening Round: The Tuesday and Wednesday of the men's tournament will feature 12 games played by 24 teams in two different cities, as there will now be three (3) games each day in Dayton and three (3) games each day in a second city to be determined, with sources telling ESPN's Pete Thamel that the second site is expected to be west of the Eastern time zone to help with logistics - - On the women's side, the 12 Opening Round games will be played on the Wednesday & Thursday between Selection Sunday and the beginning of the Round of 64 on Friday - and across 12 of the campus site designated as first- and second-round hosts - - Half of the 24 Opening Round teams will be the lowest-seeded automatic qualifiers, as the others will be the lowest-seeded "at-large" teams, while the traditional 64-team first round and ensuing rounds rounds will remain the same in both the men's and women's tournament. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the NCAA's announcement that both the men's & women's NCAA basketball tournaments will expand to 76 teams beginning next season?. . .NCAA College Football: "Never Too Late:" A retired businessman enrolled in college for the first time - and joined the NCAA D-III football team as a freshman walk-on - after a dire cancer diagnosis reinvigorated his zeal for life: Tom Green, a 60-year-old Maryland native, stunned officials when he tried out for the football program during his freshman year at McDaniel College, located in Westminster, Maryland - - Now, he's slated to become one of the oldest college athletes in United States history, about a decade after beating cancer, as he is set to make his debut on the defensive line in the fall season: Green turns 61 years old in June, and if he plays through his 62nd birthday, he will, in fact, become the oldest person to ever play college football - - When he was first diagnosed with stage four (4) kidney cancer in 2015, Green said he was certifiably "dying," as his doctors informed him that he had eight (8) tumors festered in his body, stretching from one in his skull to another in the tail of his pancreas - and then, in what Green chalked up to divine intervention, he was declared cancer-free in 2018 - - While reapplying to college after being cleared of cancer, he decided to take his shot at joining the team - - Some players on the team, according to Green, thought his recruitment was a joke, but they eventually began to accept his presence as an inspiration: "I had to get used to it. At first, it was kind of weird, but I got used to it because he teaches us lifelong lessons that we can use off the field," teammate Jordan Weeden said - - Green was also blown away by the team's warm reception, though he admitted it only came about after they each tested him with rough blows during practice - - The sexagenarian knows his time on the turf is finite, but he hopes to leave his newfound brothers with memories that will carry them through the rest of their lives: "[Football] never leaves you. And the one thing that I always tell everybody is, the camaraderie of it all, you miss it. I've had employees, and I've had people work for me, and so on and so forth, but when you're playing ball, it's a lot different atmosphere. It's one of those things that I think the Lord has led me to and God's blessed me to do it," he added. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the resiliency of Mr. Tom Green? Thoughts on him becoming the oldest person to ever play the sport of college football?. . . - NBA - - 2025-26 NBA Playoffs Recap: In this particular segment, JD & Spencer review & recap the following first-round & semifinal playoff games: **Be Sure to Tune in for a full recap of the first & second round playoff series listed below. . . Western Conference Playoffs: First Round Game 6: No.4 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No.5 Houston Rockets LAL leads series 3-2 Eastern Conference Playoffs: First Round Game 7: No.2 Boston Celtics vs. No.7 Philadelphia 76ers Series tied 3-3 (includes a discussion of "Embiid's Plea" & "Jaylen Brown's Twitch Rant". . .) Game 7: No.1 Detroit Pistons vs. No.8 Orlando Magic Series tied 3-3 Game 7: No.4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No.5 Toronto Raptors Series tied 3-3 Western Conference Playoffs: Semifinal Round Game 1: No.2 San Antonio Spurs vs. No.6 Minnesota Timberwolves Series 0-0 Game 1: No.1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No.4 Los Angeles Lakers Series 0-0 Game 2: No.2 San Antonio Spurs vs. No.6 Minnesota Timberwolves MIN led series 1-0 Game 2: No.1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No.4 Los Angeles Lakers OKC led series 1-0 Eastern Conference Playoffs: Semifinal Round Game 1: No.3 New York Knicks vs. No.7 Philadelphia 76ers Series 0-0 Game 1: No.1 Detroit Pistons vs. No.4 Cleveland Cavaliers Series 0-0 Game 2: No.3 New York Knicks vs. No.7 Philadelphia 76ers NYK led series 1-0 Game 2: No.1 Detroit Pistons vs. No.4 Cleveland Cavaliers DET led series 1-0 - NBA - - "Magic [All Gone]:" Following their collapse & loss in Game 7 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs series against the Detroit Pistons, the Orlando Magic have dismissed HC Jamahl Mosley, per ESPN's Shams Charania on Monday morning - - Mosley, 47, spent the past five (5) seasons with Orlando, leading the team out of a rebuild and into the playoffs each of the past three (3) seasons - - They failed to advance past the first round in any of them after they lost in seven (7) games to the top-seeded Detroit Pistons this season, blowing a 3-1 series lead - - Mosley led the Magic to two division titles and three (3) consecutive winning seasons while dealing with a litany of injuries to key starters, particularly over the previous two years, as he finished his Orlando tenure with a 189-221 overall record. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Orlando Magic dismissing HC Jamahl Mosley following their epic collapse in the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series?. . . - MLB - - Ted Turner, the former owner of the Atlanta Braves and the NBA's Atlanta Hawks who made his mark as a media mogul & philanthropist, has died at the age of 87 - he passed away Wednesday at his home near Tallahassee, Florida, according to a family spokesman - - In September 2018, Turner revealed that he was battling Lewy body dementia, an ailment that causes a progressive decline in mental abilities with physical signs & symptoms similar to Parkinson's Disease - - Turner purchased the Braves in January 1976 following a 67-94 season by the club - - He helped open baseball's free agent price wars by signing pitcher Andy Messersmith shortly after buying the team and once managed the club for a day on May 11, 1977 - and he also led the team to a World Series victory in 1995 - - In addition to owning the Braves, Turner bought a majority stake in the Hawks in 1977, as he said at the time that he purchased the team to keep it from moving out of the Atlanta area: The Hawks made the playoffs 15 times during Turner's ownership, and the club retired a jersey in honor of him in 2004 - - Turner made his fortune in media, taking over the family business and renaming it Turner Communications Group in 1970, and he began his empire by purchasing two stations in Atlanta & Charlotte, North Carolina - - In 1976, he launched TBS to millions across America, as the station's signal was carried via satellite, and four (4) years later, he furthered his reach by creating the 24-hour cable news network, CNN, a move that transformed the news business - - TNT, created in 1988, increased Turner's footprint in the media landscape - - Time Warner assumed ownership of the Braves & Hawks in 1996 when Turner sold his business to the company for $7.3 billion in stock - - A year later, TBS became the owner of the NHL expansion Thrashers, who relocated & became the Winnipeg Jets in 2011, and in 1986, he created the Goodwill Games - - Later in life, Turner focused on philanthropy, pledging $1 billion to benefit the United Nations, and he was also committed to The Giving Pledge - - Turner married three (3) times, most famously to Jane Fonda from 1991 to 2001, and he is currently survived by five (5) children, 14 grandchildren & two great-grandchildren. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the untimely passing of former Atlanta Braves owner, Ted Turner, at the age of 87?. . . - Miscellaneous - - 152nd Kentucky Derby: Golden Tempo charged from the back of the pack Saturday to make history for her - - Ridden by Jose Ortiz, Golden Tempo navigated past 17 horses around the final turn and made a hard charge down the stretch - - With a crowd of more than 100,000 watching & roaring at Churchill Downs, Golden Tempo passed morning-line favorite Renegade - ridden by Jose's brother Irad - just before the wire to win by a neck, as the winning time for the 1 1/4-mile race was 2:02:27 - - **NOTE: Trainer Cherie DeVaux made history, becoming the first woman to ever prep the winner of America's most famous horse race, and she joined Jena Antonucci, who trained Arcangelo in the 2023 Belmont, as the only women to train the winner of a Triple Crown race - - Golden Tempo entered with 23-1 odds, whereas the betting favorite, Renegade (5-1) and Ocelli (70-1) took second & third, respectively - - Golden Tempo, the son of two-time Horse of the Year, Curlin, had run well during show efforts in the Lousiana Derby and Risen Star Stakes but wasn't considered a serious contender in the Run of the Roses - - While she has the Kentucky Derby in her pocket, Cherie DeVaux would not commit to running Golden Tempo in the Preakness on May 16 in Baltimore, saying she would see how the horse responded before making a decision - - Prior to DeVaux's big win, the closest a female trainer had come to the winner's circle came in 1992 with the place showing of Casual Lies, prepped by Shelley Riley. . .Golf: If LIV Golf can't survive beyond this season without Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund's purse strings, two-time major champion Bryson DeChambeau said Tuesday that he's prepared to grow his YouTube channel and play in tournaments that want him - - DeChambeau, 31, said he had some conversations with the PGA, and while he didn't get into specifics, he suggested that the PGA Tour is prepared to hit him with severe penalties if he wants to come back - - DeChambeau was one of this biggest stars to join the breakaway circuit in June 2022, and he was among 11 golfers who sued the PGA Tour later that year, alleging it used its monopoly power to unfairly suspend players who joined LIV Golf - - However, he withdrew from the federal lawsuit in May 2023 - - DeChambeau suggested that LIV Golf and the PGA Tour need to work together to reunify men's professional golf - as the PGA Tour seems to have the most leverage now, after the PIF announced last week that it will no longer fund the circuit with $30 million purses. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the possibility of Bryson DeChambeau's potential return to the PGA Tour if LIV Golf disbands?. . . Thanks for Listening!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 133 - "The Hick from French Lick Episode" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Basketball: The NCAA has initiated the final steps to expand the men's & women's college basketball tournaments to 76 teams, sources told ESPN Tuesday evening - - The expansion, which has been discussed for well over a year, is on track to be formalized in the upcoming weeks and would begin this coming season - - Sources indicated mid-May as a potential timeframe for an announcement, although there are still steps to take in terms of approvals via various NCAA committees - - Once the contracts are completed, the NCAA also would need approval from various committees, including the men's & women's basketball committees, the men's & women's basketball oversight committees, the Division I cabinet and the Division I board of governors - - The added finances would cover the additional logistics cost for both the men's & women's tournaments - - The primary driver of this expansion hasn't been money, but rather access for at-large bids for power conferences - the expansion has been pushed primarily by power conferences, which have grown throughout the course of the current deal - - The mechnics of the expansion in the men's tournament would include eight (8) additional at-large bids, and what's known now as the First Four, would include eight (8) teams playing four (4) games in Dayton, Ohio, would expand to 12 games played by 24 teams at two sites, one of which was expected to remain in Dayton, and the location of the new site has yet to be determined - - The expansion would lead to an additional eight (8) men's games, meaning the Tuesday & Wednesday of the NCAA Tournament would features 24 of the 76 men's teams, that number now includes eight (8) teams who would have qualified for the traditional bracket that would sqaure off against the eight (8) at-large additions - - The traditional 64-team men's bracket would still begin on Thursday and look much of the same, with the major difference being that more teams would qualify as traditional "at-large" bids, that would have to play earlier than the 64-team bracket. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the NCAA initiating the final steps to expand the men's and women's basketball tournaments to 76 teams?. . .NCAA College Football: "A Sorsby Dilemma:"Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby will take an "immediate indefinite leave of absence" from the football program as he enters a residential treatment program for a gambling addiction, the school announced Monday, as the NCAA is investigating Sorsby's gambling, industry sources told The Athletic - - Sorsby, a fifth-year senior, transferred to Texas Tech in January as one of the most coveted players in the transfer portal after two seasons at Cincinnati - - Following the news, Texas Tech has said that it is committed to supporting Sorsby through his recovery process, but there is no announced timetable for Sorsby's treatment or his return to the Red Raiders - - Industry sources confirmed an ESPN report that Sorsby bet on Indiana football in 2022 while he was a redshirt freshman for the Hoosiers, as his gambling continued since then, according to sources, but the full extent is not yet clear - - Industry sources also informed The Athletic that Sorsby attended Cincinnati Reds' games on repeated occasions and placed live wagers on balls & strikes, with bets ranging anywhere from $2.50 to less than a $1 per pitch - and he placed a significant number of wagers in recent years - as the overwhelming majority were for smaller dollar amounts on various sports, including live bets on UFC matches, which is allowable under NCAA rules as long as the athlete is of legal betting age, primarily because the UFC is not a sport in which the NCAA hosts a sanctioned championship - - Sources who have reviewed the betting data told On3, dating back to 2022, he placed more than $20k wagers and at one point averaged 20 bets per day - - The NCAA is likely to permanently ban Sorsby, or for the QB to be deemed ineligible, pending their investigation - - According to updated NCAA sports betting guidelines passed in 2023, players who bet on games involving their own school face potential permanent loss of eligibility, which also applies if they engaged in activities to influence the outcome or knowingly provide insider information to people involved in sports betting, and also, last October, all three (3) NCAA divisions passed a rule change allowing players and staff to bet on pro sports, but the rule was rescinded a month later when more than two-thirds of Division I schools voted to rescind the change - - Sorsby only has one year of eligibility remaining, and so, if he returns to football but is ruled ineligible by the NCAA, he could choose to enter the NFL Supplemental Draft, which typically takes place in July or August - as former Ohio State QB Terrelle Pryor was selected in the 2011 Supplemental Draft after facing suspension by the NCAA over the Ohio State tattoo/memorabilia scandal. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the news/story surrounding Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby? How do you anticipate this story playing out: will the NCAA allow him to return to Texas Tech for his final year of remaining eligibility? Or will he be deemed ineligible?. . . - NFL - - New England Patriots HC Mike Vrabel and former sideline reporter Dianna Russini were "all over each other," at a secluded bar in New York City six (6) years ago before they were caught holding hands & hugging at an Arizona resort - as depicted in the exclusive new pics obtained by Page Six, the Patriots' coach and NFL reporter were spotted together inside the dimly lit Tribeca Tavern in the early hours of May 2020 - - They sat close to one another while conversing at the bar, and at one point, they appeared to share a kiss - - At the time the pictures were captured, Vrabel was working as the HC of the Tennessee Titans, while Russini was an NFL reporter at ESPN - - And just when you think this story couldn't get any stranger, some new information has come to light: Apparently, following a four-game skid back in 2022, when Vrabel was still the HC of the Titans, Russini made him a Spotify playlist titled "Turnin The Page," as the playlist was an attempt from Russini to help cheer up Vrabel in the midst of a tough stretch of football. . .Let's break it down, shall we?: We have Latto's "Big Energy" sandwiched between two Beyonce tracks, followed by the awful, bro-country anthem "House Party" by Sam Hunt, and a bunch of pop & electronic slip. . .Q: What are your thoughts surrounding the ongoing Mike Vrabel-Dianna Russini scandal?. . .The Minnesota Vikings traded Pro Bowl edge rusher Jonathan Greenard to the Philadelphia Eagles, the teams announced last Friday night - - In return, the Vikings received a third-round pick in 2026 (No.98 overall pick) and another third-rounder in 2027, as the Vikings also sent the No.244 pick in this year's draft to the Eagles - - Greenard, who turns 29 in May, had been seeking a new contract along with a pay raise, and he landed such a deal with the Eagles, signing a four-year, $100 million deal, according to a league source, with $50 million guaranteed - - While the Vikings didn't necessarily want to move Greenard, this outcome provided the team with extra draft capital and more financial flexibility, as well as a runaway for third-year edge rusher Dallas Turner to continue to develop & ascend in the league - - In the aftermath of this move, the Vikings are likely to use at least one of their remaining premium draft picks on the defensive line or the edge rusher position. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Philadelphia Eagles acquiring edge rusher Jonathan Greenard from the Vikings?. . .2026 NFL Draft Recap & Analysis: The 2026 NFL Draft wasn't short on excitement: QB Ty Simpson to the Rams midway through the first round? Big defensive additions for the Cowboys? A dynamic RB to the Cardinals? Two brothers going to the same secondary? Eight (8) trades on Day 1 and 41 across all three (3) days? - - That was fun!. .Now we take it all in and try to make sense of the picks: Which teams nailed their selections from start to finish, tackling needs, sticking to the board & actively getting better? Which teams found steals in some places but reached in others? And which teams made real head-scratching moves, missing big opportunities to get value or fill a hole on the roster? In this particular segment, JD & Spencer review and analyze some of the most notable picks of the 2026 NFL Draft, provide their individual input regarding some of the most buzzworthy picks across the league: The 2026 NFL Draft began last Thursday in Pittsburgh with the Las Vegas Raiders making former Indiana QB ___________________ the No.1 overall pick - - The New York Jets selected former Texas Tech EDGE ___________________ with the No.2 overall pick - - The Arizona Cardinals selected former Notre Dame RB _____________________ with the No.3 overall pick, while the Tennessee Titans selected former Ohio State WR __________________ with the No.4 pick - - The New York Giants selected former Ohio State LB __________________, while the Kansas City Chiefs completed the trade to move up for the No.6 overall pick, for which they used on former LSU CB _______________________ - - The Washington Commanders selected former Ohio State LB _________________, while the New Orleans Saints selected former Arizona State WR _________________ with the No.8 pick - - The Cleveland Browns completed a trade to move up in the draft, selecting former Utah OT ___________________ with the No.9 overall pick, while the New York Giants via a trade with Cincinnati, selected former Miami OT _____________________**Be Sure to Tune in for The T.F. Podcast: 2026 NFL Draft Review. . . .At No.13, the Los Angeleds Rams shocked analysts and social media alike, by selecting former Alabama WR _________________, whose accuracy, poise & ability to move outside of the pocket will fit perfectly in HC Sean McVay's offense - - **NOTE: Following the Rams' pick at No.13, the University of Alabama has 51 first-round draft picks since 2009, meanwhile, the Rams became the first team to have a QB win MVP then select a QB in the first round of the subsequent NFL Draft since the Packers in 1967 (i.e., Bart Storr won MVP in 1966, and Green Bay drafted Don Horn No.25 overall the following year). . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Los Angeles Rams drafting QB Ty Simposon with the No.13 overall pick?. . .Quite possibly the most intriguing pick of this year's draft was the Atlanta Falcons with the No.48 overall pick: The Falcons selected former Clemson CB Avieon Terrell, the brother of star CB A.J. Terrell, a former first-round pick for Atlanta - - Saturday's four (4) rounds of draft concluded with the Denver Broncos making Red Murdock with No.257 pick, aka Mr. Irrelevant. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Ram's Ty Simpson the No.13 overall pick in this year's draft? What are your thoughts on the Atlanta Falcons pairing CB Avieon Terrell alongside his brother & Falcons' CB1 A.J. Terrell? Which teams would you categorized as "winners" and/or "losers" of the 2026 NFL Draft?. . . - NBA - - "Kia Most Improved Player:"Nickeil Alexander-Walker was named this season's Most Improved Player last Friday, marking the second straight Atlanta Hawks' player to win the award - - Alexander-Walker, the cousin of reigninig NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, averaged a career-high 20.8 points, 3.7 assists & 3.4 rebounds to go along with 1.3 steals per game - - He also averaged career highs in blocks, FG% and 3-point FG% - - The 6-foot-5 guard increased his scoring by 11.4 points and averaging 9.4 points coming off the bench for the Minnesota Timberwolves during the 2024-25 season, which is the third-highest increase from one season to the next over the past 25 years - - Alexander-Walker follows teammate Dyson Daniels, who won the award last season - - **NOTE: This is the first time in the award's history that two straight winners have come from the same team - - In his seventh season, Alexander-Walker thrived with the Hawks: he helped Atlanta remain a playoff team, and he scored in double figures in 76 games and made 251 3-pointers in 2025-26, a single-season franchise record and fourth most in the league this season. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker being named the 2025-26 Kia's Most Improved Player?. . ."NBA ROY:" Teenage sensation Cooper Flagg was named NBA Rookie of the Year on Monday, narrowly defeating his former Duke roommate, Kon Knueppel for the honor - - Flagg edged Knueppel by 26 points in the voting by a panel of 100 media members: Flagg received 56 first-place votes, while Knueppel received 55 second-place votes & one third place - - **NOTE: The 19-year-old Flagg became the second-youngest player to win the way, behind only LeBron James, as the 26-point voting gap between Flagg & Knueppel, 20, is the second smallest between the top finishers in a rookie of the year race since the current voting format began in the 2002-03 campaign, according to the NBA: Only the race between Scottie Barnes (378 points) and Evan Mobley (363) in the 2021-22 season had a smaller gap - - Flagg, the No.1 pick in last year's draft, averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds & 4.5 assists per game for the Dallas Mavericks, joining Larry Bird, Michael Jordan & Luke Doncic as the only rookies to average at least 20 points, six (6) rebounds & four (4) assists in the 50 seasons since the NBA-ABA merger, and he led all rookies in scoring, ranked second among qualifiers in assists and third in rebounds - - Knueppel, the No.4 pick, averaged 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds & 3.5 assists while shattering the rookie record for 3-pointers made with a league-leading 272, as he played a major role in a midseason turnaround for the Charlotte Hornets, who made a 25-win improvement from last season to finish 44-38 before being eliminated in the Eastern Conference play-in round, whereas Flagg's Mavericks finished 26-56 overall, and he joined Jordan as the only rookies in NBA history to lead their teams in scoring, rebounding, assists & steals - - Flagg was the only player in the NBA this season to lead his team in each of those categories - - Flagg, who turned 19 on Dec.21, had a historic season for a teenager: **NOTE: He became the youngest player in NBA history to have games of 35, 40, 45, and 50 points, as well as the youngest to have at least 10 assists. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Cooper Flagg edging out Kon Knueppel for the 2025-26 NBA ROY Award?. . .A "Guilty" Plea: Former NBA player & assistant coach Damon Jones became the first person to plead guilty Tuesday in a gambling sweep that led to the arrests of more than 30 people, including reputed mobster & other basketball figures, including former Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups - - During back-to-back hearings in Brooklyn federal court, Jones entered guilty pleas to two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his role in what prosecutors say were sports betting & rigged poker game schemes - - He acknowledged that he conspired with others to defraud sports betting companies by using "insider information that I obtained as a result of my relationships as a former player" - - He said the goal of the sports betting conspiracy, which ran from December 2022 to March 2024 was to use his insider knowledge - which prosecutors say involved non-public information about injuries to NBA star - to make money from sportsbooks - - He also acknowledged that his actions violated the NBA's code of conduct and also the terms of service on sports betting websites - - During his second hearing, Jones admitted that he was paid to act as a "face card" at poker games in Miami and the Hamptons by using his NBA celebrity to "lure high-end bettors" to the table - - In the sports betting case, the sentencing guidelines call for a punishment of 21-27 months in prison, whereas in the poker games case, Jones would face 63-78 months in prison, but prosecutors agreed to subtract 15 months from the sentence in exchange for Jones pleading guilty, which would put his potential sentence at 48-63 months in prison if the judge follows the guidelines - - In additon to facing prison time, Jones also agreed to forfeit a totla of $73,000 in the two cases. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Damon Jones being the first defendant in the sports betting & rigged poker games cases plead guilty?. . .2025-26 NBA Playoffs Recap: In this particular segment, JD & Spencer review & recap the following first-round playoff series: **Be Sure to Tune in for a Full Recap of the first round playoff series. . . Eastern Conference Playoffs: No.1 Detroit Pistons vs. No.8 Orlando Magic No.2 Boston Celtics vs. No.7 Philadelphia 76ers No.3 New York Knicks vs. No.6 Atlanta Hawks No.4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No.5 Toronto Raptors Western Conference Playoffs: No.1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No.8 Phoneix Suns No.2 San Antonio Spurs vs. No.7 Portland Trail Blazers No.3 Denver Nuggets vs. No.6 Minnesota Timberwolves No.4 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No.5 Houston Rockets Thanks for Listening!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 132 - "The 1 + Magic Episode" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: ⭐[First-Ever] 2026 Tradition's Finest NFL Mock Draft ⭐ NOTE/DISCLAIMER: **Projected Picks Were Selected PRIOR to Actual Draft. . . In Recognition of This Year's NFL Draft, and Using the Current Draft Order, This Week's Episode Features JD & Spencer - Two Longtime Sports' Fans (but NOT longtime ESPN Draft Analysts) - Who Construct an NFL Mock Draft by Predicting the First-Round Selections for Each of the Initial Thirty-Two (32) Picks Based on Individual/Franchise Team Need(s), Overall Positional Value & ESPN Draft Analyst Mel Kiper Jr.'s Big Board Rankings. . .**Tune in to this Week's Episode to Hear Their Picks, and Be Sure to Share Your Draft Projections/Selections, and Thoughts of the Actual Picks from the First Round of the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday Evening, on X - @TraditionFinest or Send a Message to [email protected]. . . Thanks for Listening!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 131 - "The 'Hundred & 31 Episode" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Basketball: Longtime ESPN and HOF college basketball broadcaster, Dick Vitale (aka "Dickie V"), has been diagnosed with melanoma (cancer) in his lung & liver cavity, and will be starting immunotherapy soon, as this is the fifth time that he's had to deal with a cancer diagnosis - - Vitale, one of the preeminent faces of men's college basketball, has battled four (4) types of cancer over the past few years, and most recently underwent surgery in the summer of 2024 after a biopsy of a lymph node in his neck revealed cancer - - ESPN released a statement Monday on social media in which Vitale confirmed the diagnosis: "I've beaten melanoma. I've beaten lymphoma. I've beaten vocal cord cancer," Vitale, 86, said in a statement Monday. "I'm four-for-four and I'm fully confident I'm going to make it five-for-five." - - Following a nearly two-year break to deal with his health, Vitale returned to broadcasting in February of last year after he announced that he was cancer-free - and he just wrapped up his 46th year covering college basketball at ESPN - - Vitale joined ESPN during the 1979-80 season, shortly after ESPN's launch, and called the network's first major college basketball game on Dec. 5, 1979 - - He has gone on to call well over 1,000 games, and in September 2024, he was inducted into the Broadcasting + Cable Hall of Fame. . .Q: What are your thoughts on ESPN's announcement regarding Dick Vitale's fifth cancer diagnosis?. . ."Mass Exodus:" Despite being open for less than a week, literally thousands of players are looking for a new home in the NCAA transfer portal: While some will wait until the portal closes on April 21 to make a decision, others didn't require that much time to find the next stop of their college basketball journey - - In this particular segment, JD & Spencer discuss a few of the most notable player transfers that have occurred within opening week of the transfer portal, and we will also present our picks for the programs who may be categorized as one of the "biggest winners" and "biggest losers" of the NCAA transfer portal thus far:**Be Sure to Tune In for Each Player's Transfer Destination. . . Kansas State transfer guard PJ Haggerty, one of the most prolific scorers in college basketball, has committed to __________________. . .This will be Haggerty's fifth college in five (5) seasons at the NCAA D-I level - - A 6'4'' guard, he has been a high-level scorer at across his time spent at Tulsa, Memphis & Kansas State after starting his career with six (6) games at TCU - - He averaged career highs in scoring (23.4) and assists (3.8) at Kansas State last season, when he was named an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection, whereas at Memphis in 2024-25, Haggerty posted 21.7 points, 5.8 rebounds & 3.7 assists per game, when he was also named the American Conference Player of the Year & earned second-team All-America honors - - For his career, Haggerty is averaging 21.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. . .Q: What are your thoughts on PJ Haggerty's fifth program in the past five (5) years? Is it a good fit for the 6-4 guard? . . . Cal transfer guard Justin Pippen has committed to ___________________, per his agents at WME Basketball last Friday afternoon. . .Pippen, a sophomore who is coming off a breakout season at Berkeley, averaged 14.2 points, 4.6 assists & 3.9 rebounds per game last season while at Cal - - Pippen is the son of NBA Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen, his older brother is Memphis Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr., and he played his high school basketball at Sierra Canyon in Los Angeles (CA) - - He is expected to play a significant role at his new program, and as a combo guard, he will be expected to fill a role similar to the one Devin Royal played prior to his departure - - At Cal last season, Pippen led the team in assists and tied for second on the team in scoring average as the Bears reached the second round of the NIT Tournament. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Justin Pippen's new home? Is it a good fit for Pippen, the son of an NBA Hall of Famer? . . . Kansas transfer center Flory Bidunga and Oregon transfer guard Jackson Shelstad have committed to ___________________, per multiple reports. . .Bidunga spent two seasons with the Jayhawks and averaged 13.3 points & 9.0 rebounds per game this season for Kansas - - According to 24/7Sports' portal rankings, Bidunga was the top player available in the NCAA transfer portal - - Shelstad, a 6'1'' guard & product of Oregon, spent three (3) seasons with Dana Altman & the Ducks, however, he saw limited time in just 12 games this season, due to a recurring injury - - In his final season in Eugene, Shelstad averaged 15.6 points and 4.9 rebounds per game - - The joint commitment of Bidunga & Shelstad put this particular program in an early position for the country's best portal haul this offseason, as they simultaneously snagged two of the portal's top targets off the board, in a move that sent ripples through the entire college basketball landscape. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Flory Bidunga & Jackson Shelstad's joint commitment to this particular program? Following this move, would you consider HC Pat Kelsey & this program as one of the "biggest winners" of the transfer portal so far? . . . Georgia transfer center Somto Cyril has committed to _________________________, per 247Sports on Sunday afternoon. . .A 6'11'' center originally from Nigeria, Cyril averaged 9.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game in his second season at Georgia - - A tenacious defender & rim protector, Cyril was one of the top big man available in the transfer portal, and was ranked inside the top-20 in 247Sports' player transfer portal rankings. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Somto Cyril's new home? Is it a good fit for the 6'11'' Nigerian center?. . . Georgia transfer guard Jeremiah Wilkinson, one of the best scorers in the NCAA transfer portal, committed to _______________________ on Tuesday evening, sources told ESPN. . .A 6'1'' guard, Wilkinson had a long list of suitors, including Kentucky, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State & LSU, and is a proven scorer at two power-conference programs - - He averaged 15.1 points at Cal his freshman season prior to transferring to the University of Georgia, where he elevated his play, and averaged 17.4 points last season as a sophomore - - He also improved his efficiency in Athens this past season, shooting 41% from the field and nearly 36% from beyond the arc, and most notably, he was capable of huge offensive performances, scoring at least 30 points on three (3) occasions. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Jeremiah Wilkinson's in-conference transfer? Is it necessarily a good fit for the 6'1'' guard? . . . "The Biggest Winners:" Obviously, Louisville's pickup of Kansas transfer center Flory Bidunga & Oregon guard Jackson Shelstad, places them in the mix as one of the biggest winners of the NCAA transfer portal's opening week. . .in addition to Louisville, a couple of other winners from the portal are: ______________________ and __________________________. . ."The Biggest Losers" (NOT the game show): Clearly, there have been programs who have drastically improved their roster following the first week of the NCAA transfer portal being open, but other schools will look to retool their respective rosters after losing multiple players to the transfer portal - - and one such program is _________________________, as this particular program has lost four (4) players that were an integral part of their rotation last season - - Another such loser is ____________________________, as the program's HC is in "wait-and-see" mode because some of the program's biggest stay-or-go decisions from his team have not yet been made. . .Q: Which program(s) would you categorize as being the "biggest winners" and "biggest losers" of the NCAA transfer portal's opening week in college basketball?. . . - NCAA College Football: Per an NCAA announcement on Tuesday, the University of Iowa's football program must vacate four (4) victories from the 2023 college football season for reportedly tampering with QB Cade McNamara before he entered the NCAA transfer portal - - The NCAA reported that Iowa HC Kirk Ferentz and assistant Jon Budmayr participated in 13 phone calls with McNamara, and sent two text messages prior to his entry into the portal in November 2022 - - McNamara left Michigan a few days later after his entry into the portal with a "do-not-contact" tag, and transferred to Iowa, after which point, both Ferentz and Budmayr were suspended for the 2024 season opener in a school-imposed penalty for the violations - - In his time with the Hawkeyes in 2023, McNamara went 4-1 as the starting QB before suffering a knee injury - - The NCAA ruled that McNamara was ineligible for those wins over Utah State, Iowa State, Western Michigan and Michigan State, which will now be vacated - - McNamara played for the Hawkeyes for one more year prior to transferring again to East Tennessee State (ETSU) for the 2025 college football season. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the NCAA Committee of Infractions' ruling that Iowa must vacate four (4) victories from the 2023 season due to tampering? . . . - NFL - - "I-AutoBain:" Former Miami Hurricanes DE & 2026 NFL draft prospect, Rueben Bain Jr., was involved in an auto accident in 2024 in which a passenger later died because of the injuries sustained in the crash, according to a report published on Sunday - - Bain was entering his sophomore season at the University of Miami at the time of the accident - - Bain was cited for careless driving for the accident that occurred at about 4 a.m time in March 2024 on I-95 northbound in Miami - as the crash report alleges that Bain was driving a 2021 Land Rover SUV that had three (3) other passengers - fellow Hurricanes' football players Wesley Bissainthe & Nyjalik Kelly, along with a 22-year-old Georgia woman, Destiny Betts - - Per the report, Bain's vehicle rear-ended another car, veered into a concrete barrier, then ricocheted into another barrier before coming to rest on the shoulder of the highway, after which point, Betts, was rushed to Ryder Trauma Center in Miami, and according to the outlet, the 22-year old was in a coma for nearly three (3) months before she succumb to her injuries in June 2024 - - Bain was cited at the time of the incident, but charges were dropped prior to Betts' death, and interestingly, no field sobriety tests were given at the scene of the accident, per the crash report - - Rueben Bain Jr. is currently ranked No.15 on ESPN's NFL Draft expert/analyst Mel Kiper Jr.'s latest Big Board for this month's NFL Draft - - As a junior in 2025, Bain had a career season in helping push Miami to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, posting 9.5 sacks, 15.5 TFLs, and five (5) QB hurries and led the country in QB pressures - - Per the USA Today, at least some NFL franchises are aware of the auto accident involving the potential top-10 draft pick that led to a 22-year-old woman's coma and eventual death, and multiple league executives confirmed that they are aware of the crash report that indicated that the former Miami Hurricanes DE was behind the wheel of the fatal crash — One such executive, Detroit Lions GM Brad Holmes, told reporters Monday that the organization had known about the incident "for a while," and furthermore confirmed: "So that really doesn't change anything from our standpoint.". . .Q: What are your thoughts on the 2024 auto/car accident involving former Miami Hurricanes DE Rueben Bain Jr.? Thoughts on the timing for which this particular report has re-circulated? While Detroit Lions GM acknowledged that he was aware of the accident and its' details, and furthermore clarified that, from the NFL franchise's perspective, it does not change the way in which they will assess and/or evaluate Bain leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft, could this fatal crash negatively impact or influence his draft stock across the league?. . ."Russini's Resignation:" NFL sideline reporter Dianna Russini has officially resigned from The Athletic, less than a week after published photos of her & New England Patriots HC Mike Vrabel at an Arizona resort prompted an internal investigation, at The New York Times-owned sports outlet - - The New York Post published the photos last week that depicted Russini and Vrabel at the Sedona hotel/resort, and said that they were taken before the NFL league meeting that began in Phoenix on March 29 - - After publication of the photos, Vrabel & Russini, who are both married to other people, released statements to The Post downplaying what the photos depict: Russini stated that the photos "don't represent the group of six (6) people who were hanging out that day," and Vrabel told the newspaper: "Those photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable.". . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Dianna Russini-Mike Vrabel situation? What was your immediate reaction to her resignation statement? . . . - WNBA & NBA - - WNBA: 2026 WNBA Draft: Azzi Fudd was selected by the Dallas Wings with the No.1 overall pick of the 2026 WNBA Draft on Monday night, capping off a year-long ascent as NCAA champion to the top overall choice, and setting up a reunion with former UConn teammate & current girlfriend, Paige Bueckers - - **NOTE: The 5-11 guard, who led UConn to last year's national title and was named the NCAAW Final Four's Most Outstanding Player, is the seventh player from the program to be selected No.1 overall in the draft. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Dallas Wings selecting former UConn guard Azzi Fudd with the No.1 pick in this year's draft, thus pairing her alongside Paige Bueckers? - - Fudd's selection comes at the onset of a reshaped draft landscape, with the WNBA's new collective bargaining agreement substantially escalating rookie salaries, as the top pick is set to earn about $500,000, which is a significant hike from previous seasons & more than six (6) times higher than what the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year, Bueckers, received as the No.1 pick last year - - Other notable picks from the 2026 WNBA Draft included the following: (1) The Minnesota Lynx selected TCU guard Olivia Miles with the No.2 pick, after she returned for an additional year of college, transferred from Notre Dame & led the Horned Frogs to a second consecutive Elite Eight appearance; (2) UCLA stars Lauren Betts & Gabriela Jaquez were selected in the top five (5), a little over a week after leading the Bruins to their first NCAAW championship - their teammate, Kiki Rice, was selected No.6 overall by Toronto, the first pick of the expansion franchise - - **NOTE: UCLA broke UConn's record of four (4) players drafted in the first round, a mark the Huskies set in 2002, when Angela Dugalic went No.9 to Washington - teaming her again alongside Betts - and Gianna Kneepkens was selected by the Connecticut Sun with the last pick of the first round - - **NOTE 2.0: With Charlisse Leger-Walker's selection in the second round at No.18 by the Sun, the Bruins also broke a record shared by Tennessee (1997, 2008), Notre Dame (2019) & South Carolina (2023), who all had five (5) players drafted in total; (3) Prior to being trade to the Seattle Storm, the Golden State Valkyries selected LSU guard Flau'jae Johnson with the No.8 pick, while the Indiana Fever took South Carolina guard Raven Johnson with the No.10 pick. . .Q: While we may not follow the WNBA closely, and therefore, do not dive into very many topics covering the league, it seemed that the WNBA Draft would be a notable topic for us to briefly discuss, but what are your thoughts on this year's WNBA Draft? Any additional players selected that you would have preferred that we highlight? Which WNBA franchise(s) do you think will benefit the most following their selections in this year's draft? . . .A'ja Wilson, the WNBA's first four-time MVP, has reportedly signed a three-year, $5 million supermax contract to remain with the Las Vegas Aces, sources informed ESPN on Wednesday afternoon - - The deal, which is the largest in WNBA history to date, is fully guaranteed to Wilson: she is set to earn $1.4 million for the upcoming 2026-27 season under the league's new collective bargaining agreement, and the salary will increase over the next two years based on her receiving 20% of the team's salary cap, which will be aided by the league's new revenue-share model - - To date, Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell is the only other WNBA player that has signed a supermax contract, although Mitchell's deal is only for one season. . .Q: What are your thoughts on A'ja Wilson's $5 million supermax contract?. . .NBA: "The Doc' Has Left the Building:" Doc Rivers is out as the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, the team announced on Monday afternoon - - The Bucks will pay Rivers his eight-figure salary for the 2026-27 season, sources reported to ESPN, and the franchise's front office & Rivers are discussing whether he will move to an advisory role in the organization - - Meanwhile, the Bucks will embark on their third coaching search in three (3) years - - This starts a summer of change for the Bucks after Rivers went 97-103 throughout his three (3) seasons in Milwaukee, with two first-round playoff exits, and missing the postseason and play-in tournament this season - - According to team sources, there was a season-long disconnect between Rivers and the players, including instances that reportedly annoyed the locker room - - Rivers took over as HC of the Bucks in late January 2024, replacing Adrian Griffin, who had gone 30-13 prior to being fired, after which point, Rivers guided the Bucks to a 17-19 mark to close out the 2023-24 regular season - - Rivers also dealt with multiple injuries to his top players in each of his three (3) seasons, as Damian Lillard & Giannis Antetokounmpo missed time in the 2024 and 2025 playoffs, and Antetokounmpo was healthy for just 36 games in 2025-26 - - Rivers was let go shortly after Milwaukee dropped to 32-50 with a loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday - - Rivers, who was named to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026 and led the 2007-08 Boston Celtics to an NBA championship, ranks sixth all time among NBA coaches in career victories, but unfortunately, the Bucks snapped a streak of nine (9) consecutive postseason appearances this season, and they have not won a playoff series since 2022. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the departure of Doc Rivers as the HC of the Milwaukee Bucks? Was this the right move by Milwaukee's front office? How will this move affect a potential return to Milwaukee for All-Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo? . . .2026 NBA Playoffs: The 2026 NBA postseason is officially here, as the final week of the regular season ended on Sunday as all 30 teams were in action to cap the 82-game campaign - - Some top seeds sweetened an already dominant run, whereas a few of the bottom-dwelling teams completed their last-ditch efforts to tank for the May 10 draft lottery - - Now, there are 20 teams, set & seeded, to compete for a chance to lift the Larry O'Brien Trophy in June, with the play-in tournament beginning on Tuesday, as four (4) teams from both Conference(s) would face off for the last two remaining spots in the NBA playoffs, versus the No.1 and No.2 seeds - - In this particular segment, JD & Spencer each provide their individual pick(s) & prediction(s) for the Eastern & Western Conference first-round matchups of the NBA postseason: **Be Sure to Tune In for Their Picks!. . . Eastern Conference: No.1 Detroit Pistons vs. No.8 TBD No.4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No.5 Toronto Raptors No.3 New York Knicks vs. No.6 Atlanta Hawks No.2 Boston Celtics vs. No.7 TBD Western Conference: No.1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No.8 TBD No.4 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No.5 Houston Rockets ('Bron vs. KD) No.3 Denver Nuggets vs. No.6 Minnesota Timberwolves No.2 San Antonio Spurs vs. No.7 Portland Trail Blazers - 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament: Eastern Conference: No.9 Charlotte Hornets vs. No.10 Miami Heat - - LaMelo Ball made a layup with 4.7 seconds left in OT, Miles Bridges blocked Daivon Mitchell's attempt at a game-winning layup at the buzzer, and the Charlotte Hornets beat Miami 127-126 in a wild start to the NBA's play-in games, eliminating the Heat from the playoffs Tuesday night - - Ball finished with 30 points & 10 assists and Bridges recorded 28 points & 9 rebounds as the Hornets won their first postseason home game in a decade - - Guard Coby White had 19 points, including a turnaround 3 with 10.8 seconds left in regulation to send the game to OT - - **NOTE: Ball became the fourth player with at least 30 points & 10 assists in a play-in game, joining Josh Giddey (OKC, 2023), Kyrie Irving (BKN, 2022) & Damian Lillard (POR, 2020) - - Meanwhile, Mitchell finished with 28 points and Andrew Wiggins added 27 for the Heat, who lost Bam Adebayo to a lower back injury when he was tripped by LaMelo Ball in the 2nd QTR - - Following their win in the play-in tournament, the Hornets will travel to face the loser of Wednesday's matchup between the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic on Friday night for the 8th and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the red-hot Charlotte Hornets' impressive victory over the Miami Heat in Tuesday night's NBA Play-in Tournament game? . . .Western Conference: No.7 Phoenix Suns vs. No.8 Portland Trail Blazers - - Deni Avdija, a first-time NBA All-Star, followed a breakout regular-season with a fantastic all-around performance in Tuesday's NBA play-in tournament game, scoring 41 points to lead the Trail Blazers over the Phoenix Suns for a 114-110 win to clinch the No.7 seed in the Western Conference playoffs - - The Blazers are back in the NBA playoffs for the first time since 2021 after clawing back from an 11-point deficit in the 4th QTR - - Following Portland's victory, the Trail Blazers will now face the No.2 San Antonio Spurs in the first round, whereas the Phoenix Suns will host the winner of Wednesday's L.A. Clippers - Golden State Warriors game on Friday - - Avdija, 25, had never played in the NBA's postseason until Tuesday, toiling for more than five (5) years on mediocre teams in Washington & Portland, but he certainly looked comfortable on the biggest stage, as he had the winning three-point play with 16.1 seconds remaining, scoring on a physical take to the rim while being fouled and then converting a FT - - **NOTE: Avdija became the fifth NBA player to score 40 or more points in a play-in game, joining Jayson Tatum for the Boston Celtics in 2021 (50), Coby White for the Chicago Bulls in 2024 (42), Anthony Davis for the Dallas Mavericks in 2025 (40), and Zion Williamson for the New Orleans Pelicans in 2024 (40). . .Q: What are your thoughts on Deni Avdija's spectacular performance in the Trail Blazers' victory on Tuesday night in the NBA play-in tournament? . . . - Miscellaneous - - The 2026 Masters Tournament: It wasn't always pretty, but Irishman Rory McIlroy ran it back at Augusta National: McIlroy carded a 2-under 70 to give him the win at 13-under as he won the tournament for a second consecutive year, one stroke ahead of runner-up Scottie Scheffler - - **NOTE: With his victory, Rory becomes only the fourth PGA player to win the Masters Tournament in back-to-back seasons (i.e, Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo & Tiger Woods), and the first to do so since Tiger Woods in 2002 - - McIlroy's victory is the sixth PGA major championship of his career, which ties him with Lee Trevino, Phil Mickelson, and Nick Faldo for the 12th-most all-time. . .but do not get it twisted, it was one hell of a week for the Masters defending champion: In the first two rounds, McIlroy seized the outright lead, carding a 67 and 65, respectively, to reach 132 (-12) for the tournament - - Beginning Friday tied for the lead, he recorded multiple birdies over his closing holes, including a chip-in on the 17th, and opened a six-stroke lead over the field, the largest 36-hole lead in Masters Tournament history - - The cut fell at 148 (+4) with 54 players advancing to the weekend, and among those who missed the cut, were Bryson DeChambeau, J.J. Spaun & Robert MacIntyre - - McIlroy began the third round with a six-shot advantage, but his lead subsequently vanished over Moving Day as he signed off for a 73 (+1), having played Amen Corner in 3-over par - - Entering the final round on Sunday, McIlroy immediately lost his share of the lead early in his round after a double bogey at the par-3 4th, where he pulled his tee shot and proceeded to 3-putt, falling behind the lead, however, he steadied himself & responded with consecutive birdies on 7 and 8 to move back within one shot of the lead heading into the turn - - On the 11th, Justin Rose bogeyed after missing the green with his approach, allowing McIlroy to draw level: McIlroy then regained the outright lead on the second nine (9), capitalizing on scoring opportunities and avoiding further mistakes - - McIlroy took a two-shot lead to the 18th tee over Scottie Scheffler, knowing a bogey would be enough, and while his drive found trouble in the right trees, he recovered into the greenside bunker to get up and down for a match-closing bogey to secure victory in regulation by a single stroke - - The 2026 Masters (it's 90th edition) began with 91 players vying for the coveted title of Masters champion and the green jacket that comes with it, and in the end, the man who entered Augusta National Golf Club as the reigning champion, left the course as the fourth back-to-back winner in tournament history - - McIlroy, 36, achieved what would have been impossible to believe just two years ago, winning his second straight Masters and the grand prizes that come along with it: most notably, of course, is the green jacket that will double up in his closet - - There is arguably no tournament where being a past champion carries so much weight, and while much of modern golf has become about escalating purses and the financial prize at the end, the Masters is one of the rare tournaments where that is truly a secondary motivation - - Although the green jacket is the ultimate prize, the 2026 Masters payout was pretty sweet, too, as the purse increased to $22.5 million with McIlroy taking home $4.5 million for his efforts, whereas each of the top four (4) on the final leaderboard earned over a million apiece - and perhaps most importantly, an invite back for the 2027 Masters Tournament. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the outcome of the 90th edition of the Masters Tournament? - - "An Irish Menu:" In keeping with tradition, defending champion Rory McIlroy chose the menu for the Masters Club Dinner, which took place on April 7th - - The dinner tradition, which began in 1952 when Ben Hogan invited past Masters champions to dine together, is attended by former champions as members of the Masters Club - - The appetizers included: bacon-wrapped dates with goat cheese; elk sliders with caramelized onion jam & garlic aioli; peach & ricotta flatbread; and rock shrimp tempura - - Yellowfin tuna carpaccio with foie gras, a toasted baguette, and chives were followed by a choice of either wagyu filet mignon or salmon, each served with champ, brussel sprouts, glazed carrots with brown butter, and Vidalia onion rings - - Dessert was sticky toffee pudding with sauce & ice cream - and finally, the wine selection included a 2015 Champagne Salon brut; a 2022 Domaine Leflaive Burgundy; a 1990 Chateau Lafit Rothschild Bordeaux; and a 1989 Chateau d'Yqueen Bordeaux. . .Q: If you were the returning defending champion of The Masters Tournament, what items would you choose for the menu?. . .                       Thanks for Listening!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 130 - The "no-pitch" Episode includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA Women's College Basketball Final Four & National Championship Review: In this particular segment, JD & Spencer review and recap the 2026 NCAAW College Basketball Tournament's Final Four as well as the National Championship game - - and discuss a few of the most noteworthy storylines across the sport - - The following NCAAW college basketball game(s) are discussed in greater detail in this segment: NCAA Women's Basketball Championship - Final Four: No.1 South Carolina Gamecocks vs. No.1 UConn Huskies - - Ta'Niya Latson scored 16 points and Agot Makeer added 14 points as South Carolina played stifling defense to stun UConn 62-48 last Friday night, ending the Huskies' 54-game winning streak, and advancing to the women's NCAA Tournament national championship game - - South Carolina (36-3) would be looking for its fourth national championship, as their other three (3) have come in the last decade under HC Dawn Staley, whereas UConn (38-1) entered the Women's Final Four undefeated for the ninth time in school history, and for the third straight time left without a national title - as the Huskies also lost in the 2017 and 2018 national semifinals - - **NOTE: The Huskies' 48 points were the fewest points UConn had scored since putting up 49 in a national championship game loss to Staley's Gamecocks in 2022 - - The Huskies and Gamecocks played last season (2025) for the national title and UConn came away with the 82-59 rout for the program's 12th national championship - and they also beat South Carolina handily during the 2024-25 regular season - - "Handshake Wars?:" In the final seconds of South Carolina's upset win over UConn, Huskies HC Geno Auriemma & Gamecocks HC Dawn Staley had a heated exchange, and traded words at midcourt and had to be separated, in what was not a very good look for Auriemma - - When asked by ESPN reporter Holly Rowe what instigated the exchange, Staley responded: "I have no idea. But I'll let you know this: I'm of integrity. I'm of integrity. So, if I did something wrong to Geno, I had no idea what I did. I guess he thought I didn't shake his hand at the beginning of the game." - - ESPN's broadcast actually showed footage of Staley appearing to shake Auriemma's hand prior to tipoff, albeit brief - - When asked about the exchange postgame, Auriemma said it was customary for coaches to meet at half court prior to the game - as a separate clip from earlier in the broadcast showed Auriemma waiting for Staley at a different point before the game: "The protocol is, before the game, you meet at half court," Auriemma said. "The two coaches meet at half court and they shake hands. They announce it on the loudspeaker. I waited there for like three (3) minutes. I said what I said, and obviously she didn't like it. I just told the truth." - - Auriemma was not only fired up after the game, as during an interview with Holly Rowe on the sideline prior to the start of the 4th QTR, he ripped the game's officiating, declaring the free-throw disparity between the two sides as "ridiculous," and openly criticized the play of the Gamecocks after a UConn player's jersey was ripped - he also implied that Staley had used inappropriate language that was aimed at the officials, but was not punished for it - - On the following Saturday, UConn HC Geno Auriemma released a brief statement apologizing for the heated exchange: "There's no excuse for how I handled the end of the game versus South Carolina. It's unlike what I do and what our standard is here in Connecticut. I want to apologize to the staff and the team at South Carolina. It was uncalled for in how I reacted. The story should be how well South Carolina played, and I don't want my actions to detract from that. I've had a great relationship with their staff, and I sincerely want to apologize to them." - - While his apology seemed sincere, you can't help but notice that there is one particular name that is missing from Auriemma's statement: Dawn Staley! - - South Carolina HC Dawn Staley said Tuesday that she had spoken to Auriemma and suggested that everyone "turn the page" after their midcourt argument at the Final Four fueled a firestorm of controversy and could've shed a negative light on Auriemma's legacy. . .Q: What are your thoughts on South Carolina's dominant victory over UConn in the NCAA Women's Final Four last Friday night to end the Huskies' 54-game winning streak dating back to last season? Following his explanation at the postgame conference, what were your thoughts on Geno Auriemma's actions/outburst at midcourt? How much of it do you think was really related to Staley not following what he referred to as 'the protocol?' . . .NCAA Women's Basketball Championship - Final Four: No.1 Texas Longhorns vs. No.1 UCLA Bruins - - Center Lauren Betts finished the game with 16 points and made a huge block late, as UCLA withstood a last-ditch effort by Texas on Friday night for a 51-44 win to reach the NCAA Women's College Basketball National Championship Game for the first time in program history - - Manhandled by the eventual national champion, UConn, in their first Final Four appearance a year ago, the Bruins (36-1) dominated their way to another national semifinal with the best season in school history - - A chance at a first national title game appearance had to go through the only team to apply a blemish to their imperfect record this season: Overpowered in their first meeting, the Bruins turned the tables on Texas (35-4) in the national semifinal, shutting down All-American guard Madison Booker while building a 13-point lead midway through the 4th QTR - - Meanwhile, the Longhorns, who are one of the nation's best defensive teams this season, flexed their defensive prowess during a 12-2 run that cut UCLA's lead to 47-44, but Lauren Betts came in clutch, swatting the Texas' run to halt, as she blocked Booker's shot with 20 seconds left, as well as Kiki Rice's two clutch FTs, which sent HC Cori Close's crew into the title game - - The grinding win earned the Bruins a spot in the following Sunday's national title game against fellow No.1 seed South Carolina, the three-time champs, who ended reigning champion UConn's undefeated season and left Huskies' coach Geno Auriemma fuming - as so was Texas guard Madison Booker after a brutal finish to what was otherwise a stellar season, as she hit her first shot of the game, but missed her next 17 & finished with six (6) points on 3-of-23 (13%) shooting. . .Q: What are your thoughts on UCLA's impressive win over the SEC Conference champions, Texas Longhorns, on Friday night to advance to the NCAA Women's national title game? Thoughts on guard Madison Booker's poor shooting performance?. . .NCAA Women's Basketball Championship - National Championship Game: No.1 South Carolina Gamecocks vs. No.1 UCLA Bruins - - This one was for Cori Close and Lauren Betts and all the current players wearing UCLA on their jerseys, but it was also for Ann Meyers Drysdale & Denise Curry and John Wooden, and every Bruin who poured effort into what would become the first NCAA championship in UCLA women's basketball history: The senior-laden Bruins beat South Carolina 79-51 on Sunday in the national title game, and they did it the same way they had won all season - with a dominating inside presence, an unselfish offensive approach & a suffocating defense - that handed Dawn Staley & the Gamecocks their second-worst loss in NCAA tournament history - - **NOTE: The 28-point margin of victory was the third largest in a Division I women's championship final game - - UCLA never trailed, opening a double-digit lead at the end of the 1st QTR en route to its 31st straight win to make program history, as star center Lauren Betts was named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player after the game - - In her 15th season at the helm, Bruins HC Cori Close pulled off what many didn't believe was possible at one of most storied basketball programs in the country, as UCLA last won a national title in women's college basketball in 1978 in the AIAW, when Meyers Drysdale & Denise Curry led the way - whereas John Wooden won 10 titles as the HC of the men's college basketball program, and set a standard that other coaches on the Los Angeles campus wanted to follow - - In this one-sided affair, five (5) UCLA players finished the game in double figures, as Betts finished with 14 points & 11 rebounds, but UCLA senior Gabriela Jaquez - the younger sister of former Bruin and now Miami Heat basketball player Jamie Jaquez - who was perhaps the most impactful player in this game, as she not only found open shots but also fed her teammates & got inside the paint to grab one rebound after another - finished with a fantastic stat line of 21 points, 10 rebounds and five (5) assists in a performance that will not soon be forgotten - - South Carolina, meanwhile in the first half, shot 9-of-35, as forward Joyce Edwards was 1-of-6 from the field with two points - as it was the Gamecocks' worst FG percentage in any half of any game since December 2022, when they shot 26% in the first half against South Dakota State - - The Gamecocks ended this game shooting 29% from the field, as their three (3) best players - Edwards, Ta'Niya Latson & Raven Johnson - finished the game with a combined 15 points on 5-of-22 shooting - - **NOTE: South Carolina became the first team to lose consecutive national championship game appearances by at least 15 points each. . .Q: What are your thoughts on UCLA's first women's basketball national championship in program history? Was this South Carolina group somewhat distracted by the noise/controversy surrounding the on-the-court drama between their HC Dawn Staley and UConn HC Geno Auriemma? Or was it just the Bruins' night?. . .NCAA Men's College Basketball: "[Note 2] SELF:" Kansas men's head basketball coach Bill Self is set to return to the sideline for the Jayhawks for the 2026-27 college basketball season, he announced last Wednesday - - Self released a statement indicating that he remains "focused and committed to Kansas," and "competing for a national championship." - - His announcement comes more than a week after Self indicated that he would discuss his coaching future with his immediate family after dealing with multiple health-related issues in recent years, as the decision came with "renewed clarity and the ongoing support from our administration," Self said in his statement - - Self's announcement certainly sent a collective exhale around Lawrence, where the Hall of Fame coach has won two national championships, and reached four (4) Final Fours since arriving in 2003 - - His return is significant for the sport, as he's one of the country's most noted coaches, as he is responsible for 855 wins across a 33-year coaching career spanning Oral Roberts, Tulsa, Illinois & Kansas - - Self, 63, spent significant time this week discussing his health & future with people close to him before arriving at the decision to return next season - - Self's decision to return comes just days before college basketball programs are getting ready to set their rosters for the 2026-27 season, as the NCAA transfer portal officially opened on Tuesday, the day after the men's national championship game. . Q: What are your thoughts on Bill Self's announcement and/or decision to return to Lawrence for the 2026-27 college basketball season?. . ."UNC Malone:" North Carolina's search for its' next head coach has landed in an unexpected place, as the Tar Heels hired longtime NBA HC Michael Malone as the school's next head basketball coach, sources informed ESPN - - Malone is an NBA champion from his time spent with the Denver Nuggets, and won 510 games in 12 seasons as a head coach, as he is one of the most respected tacticians in the NBA, and has spent the past 10+ months as an ESPN analyst - - Malone will inherit a Tar Heels team that has been seeking a head coaching replacement for nearly two weeks following the firing of Hubert Davis - - With college basketball becoming more like professional basketball every year, UNC gets a respected X's-and-O's coach who worked in the NBA for nearly a quarter century as a head coach and assistant, as he was at the helm for the Denver Nuggets for 10 years, going 471-327 in that span, as he has coached a total of 904 games as an NBA HC, including two seasons with the Sacramento Kings - - **UPDATE: Malone is set for a yearly average of more than $8.3 million across a six-year contract, sources confirmed to ESPN's Pete Thamel on Tuesday evening, which places him among the top five (5) highest-paid coaches in D-I college basketball - - UNC had previously been linked to multiple high-profile college coaches, including Michigan's Dusty May, Arizona's Tommy Lloyd, and Iowa State's T.J. Otzelberger, but after all three (3) publicly committed & signed contract extensions to remain at their current school, the Tar Heels turned to Malone, who led the Nuggets to their only NBA championship in 2023, prior to being fired in Denver last April, and after which point, he joined ESPN as an NBA analyst a month afterwards, whereas his predecessor, Hubert Davis, was fired by UNC on March 24, just five (5) days after the Tar Heels squandered a 19-point lead in their first-round NCAA tournament loss to No.11 seed VCU - as it marked the second consecutive season that UNC lost its NCAA Tournament opener under Davis, who went 125-54 in five (5) seasons coaching his alma mater. . .Q: What are your thoughts on North Carolina's hire of former and longtime NBA head coach Michael Malone as the Tar Heels' next head basketball coach?. . .2025-26 College Basketball Season Awards: The Atlanta Tipoff Club announced on Sunday that Duke's Cameron Boozer has won the 2026 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy, honoring the freshman as the most outstanding men's college basketball player, as Boozer won the award over finalists Darius Acuff Jr. (Arkansas), AJ Dybantsa (BYU), and Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan) - - Boozer led Duke in scoring, rebounding, and assists, while averaging 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game while shooting 55.6% from the field - - **NOTE: Cameron Boozer becomes the 10th Duke player to win a Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy, which is the most by any program since the award was first presented in 1969 - - Past Blue Devil winners include Cooper Flagg (2025), Zion Williamson (2019), JJ Redick (2006), Jason Williams (2002), Shane Battier (2001), Elton Brand (1999), Christian Laettner (1992), Danny Ferry (1989), and Johnny Dawkins (1986) - - It is also the 14th men's basketball award for Duke, as former head coach Mike Krzyzewski (aka "Coach K") was named Coach of the Year in 1989, 1992, and 1999, while being honored as the 2025 Naismith Outstanding Contributor to Men's Basketball Award winner - - Boozer becomes just the fifth freshman to win the award, and is the third Duke freshman to win, following Flagg & Williamson, with the other freshman that won the trophy being Anthony Davis (Kentucky, 2012) & Kevin Durant (Texas, 2007). . .Q: What are your thoughts on Duke's Cameron Boozer being awarded the 2026 AP Player of the Year?. . .Arizona HC Tommy Lloyd was named the 2026 Werner Ladder Naismith Men's Coach of the Year, while Florida's Rueben Chinyelu earned the 2026 Naismith Men's Defensive Player of the Year Award Presented by Molecule - - Lloyd becomes the first men's or women's coach or player from the University of Arizona to win a season-based Naismith Award - - **NOTE: This is the fifth time in the Award's 40-year history that the winner has come from the Big 12 Conference, but the first time that the coach has not been from the state of Kansas, as previous conference winners include Jerome Tang (Kansas State, 2023), while the other three (3) are from the University of Kansas: Bill Self (2012), Roy Williams (1997), and Larry Brown(1988) - - The remaining 2026 finalists for the award were Nebraska's Fred Hoiberg, Michigan's Dusty May, and Duke's Jon Scheyer. . Q: What are your thoughts on Arizona's Tommy Lloyd being awarded the 2026 Werner Ladder Naismith Men's Coach of the Year?. . .Center Rueben Chinyelu became the first player or coach from the University of Florida to win a Naismith Award, as the other finalists for the DPOY award included Flory Bidunga (Kansas), Zuby Ejiofor (St. John's), and Joseph Tugler (Houston), who was also a finalist in 2025 - - As one of the top rebounders & rim protectors in men's college basketball, Chinyelu helped the Gators become one of the top defensive teams in the nation - - **NOTE: He is the second player in the nine-year history of the award to win from an SEC school, following Auburn's Walker Kessler in 2022. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Florida's Rueben Chinyelu being awarded the 2026 Naismith Men's Defensive Player of the Year trophy?. . .NCAA Men's College Basketball Final Four & National Championship Review: In this particular segment, JD & Spencer review and recap the 2026 NCAAM College Basketball Tournament's Final Four as well as the National Championship game - - and discuss a few of the most noteworthy storylines across the sport - - The following NCAAM college basketball game(s) are discussed in greater detail in this segment: NCAA Men's Basketball Championship - Final Four: No.2 UConn Huskies vs. No.3 Illinois Fighting Illini - - Fabolous freshman Braylon Mullins made another last-minute 3-pointer - his only basket of the second half - and Dan Hurley's Huskies muscled their way past Illinois 71-62 on Saturday to reach their third national championship game in four (4) years - - Center Tarris Reed Jr. finished the game with 17 points & 11 rebounds while Mullins finished with 15 points for the Huskies (34-5) who rode their strong inside play and tough defense to their 19th straight victory in the Sweet Sixteen or later rounds of the NCAA Tournament - - Now, UConn would await the winner of the other Final Four matchup between No.1 Michigan and No.1 Arizona with a chance to win their seventh national title, all since 1999, as Hurley would attempt to become the only active HC with more than two championships - - After eliminating the NCAA Tournament's No.1 overall seed, Duke Blue Devils, with a 35-foot 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds remaining, Mullins was equally as effective in the Final Four matchup against Illinois, as after Silas Demary Jr. secured an offensive rebound, he hit a catch-and-shoot 3 with 52 seconds left that gave UConn a 66-59 lead, and thwarted Illinois' late push - - UConn needed the outstanding play of Mullins on a night in which star forward Alex Karaban struggled with this shot, as he finished the game with nine (9) points on 1-of-8 shooting, while adding four (4) rebounds & four (4) assists, as he tied Hurley's brother, Bobby, for No.2 in career March Madness victories by a player with 18 - - With one more victory, UConn would've broke a tie with North Carolina & move into third place alone in national titles, trailing only UCLA (11) & Kentucky (8) - - Meanwhile, freshman guard Keaton Wagler recorded 20 points & eight (8) rebounds to lead the Fighting Illini (28-9), who reached their first Final Four since losing in the championship game to UNC in 2005 - - **NOTE: Illinois' Wagler & UConn's Mullins became the first pair of freshmen to top 15 points in a Men's Final Four game since Michael Jordan (UNC) and Patrick Ewing (Georgetown) in 1982 - - Center Tomislav Ivisic finished with 16 points and seven (7) rebounds for the Illini, who couldn't replicate the blueprint that carried them to double-digit victories over Penn, VCU, Houston and Iowa - as Illinois made just 3 of 14 3-pointers in the first half & finished 6 of 26 from beyond the arc - - UConn took full advantage even though the Huskies struggled with their shot, as they had two long scoring droughts, that took up nearly six (6) minutes in the first half and more than six (6) minutes in the second - The latter of which allowed Illinois to charge back from its biggest deficit of the season, 57-43 with 9:43 left to play, to pull within 57-53 with 5:03 remaining - but the Huskies answered & closed it out at the free-throw line for their fifth straight win in the series, as UConn beat Illinois 74-61 on Nov. 28 in Madison Square Garden - and now the Huskies have held the Illini to their two lowest scoring totals & shooting percentages of the season. . .Q: What are your thoughts on UConn's performance & impressive win over Brad Underwood and the Fighting Illini?. . .NCAA Men's Basketball Championship - Final Four: No.1 Michigan Wolverines vs. No.1 Arizona Wildcats - - Game of the Year?. . .This wasn't even the game of the night! - - Michigan overpowered early & humbled the 'Cats for 40 long minutes Saturday, turning their highly anticipated Final Four matchup into a 91-73 Wolverines dunkfest-slash-highlight reel, as junior center Aday Mara scored a career-high 26 points and grabbed nine (9) rebounds - - About the only question in this one concerned the health of Wolverines forward Yaxel Lendeborg, a first-team All-American, who landed on an Arizona player's foot, rolled his ankle and sprained his knee, but still recorded 11 points over 14 minutes - - This one was over in about the first five (5) minutes: **NOTE: The Blue blew threw their fifth straight March Madness opponent by double digits while becoming the first team to break 90 points five (5) times in a single tournament - - It was all quite a shock, considering Michigan and Arizona came in with the nation's top two defenses, a pair of top-five offenses and somewhere between eight (8) & a dozen NBA stars between them. . .but it was the Wolverines (36-3) who looked like pros, running to a double-digit lead only 5:31 into the contest, then swatting & slamming Arizona into oblivion, as the game plan against the Big 12 champion Wildcats (36-3) couldn't have worked any better: Michigan packed the paint on defense, basically giving the team that averaged the fifth-fewest 3-point attempts in the country this year free rein from long distance, then daring Arizona to create inside. . .and the Wildcats failed at both! - - Forward Koa Peat was quiet, finishing the game with 16 points & 11 rebounds, for Arizona, which shot 6 for 17 from 3, 36% overall and had two assists & nine (9) turnovers over a first half that ended with them trailing 48-32 - - Sparkplug guard Jaden Bradley picked up his fourth foul 94 seconds into the second half & finished with 13 points, most of which came in extended garbage time - - Arizona's only two losses before this were by four (4) and three (3) points back in February, as the Wildcats trailed by nine (9) less than 2:30 into this one - - Making it all the more impressive for Michigan was that it started this runaway without Lendeborg, who committed two fouls within five (5) seconds of each other less than 90 seconds into the game, however, he did return in the second half and recorded two quick 3s, to push Michigan's lead past 20, but he returned to the bench - and stationary bike - for good with 5:19 left, enough time to rest to get ready for UConn, which was going for its third title in four (4) seasons, while Michigan was vying for only the program's second championship (1989) - - Freshman Trey McKenney made four (4) 3s and had 16 points for the Wolverines, whereas guard Elliot Cadeau overcame a bout with his nut allergy to compile a crazy stat line: 13 points, 10 assists, six (6) turnovers, five (5) rebounds & four (4) steals on 5-for-17 shooting - even with that, Michigan finished 47.8% from the floor and 12 for 27 from 3. . .Q: How shocked were you that Michigan was able to dominate the Arizona Wildcats in this highly anticipated matchup of No.1 seeds?. . .NCAA Men's Basketball Championship - National Championship Game: No.1 Michigan Wolverines vs. No.2 UConn Huskies - - From the point that Michigan defeated Gonzaga by 40 points in the title game of the Player's Era Championship back in November, they were the most dominant team in the country, and they ended Monday night the same way they looked on Thanksgiving Eve of last year: as the best team in college basketball: Michigan (37-3) put an exclamation point on a historic season in Monday's national championship game, defeating UConn 69-63, as guard Elliot Cadeau was named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player after finishing with 19 points - as Michigan pulled away on free throws, making 25 its 28 attempts at the line - - The opening half was a grind, as Michigan struggled to find its rhythm early, opening 0-for-8 from 3-point range, while UConn's interior defense controlled the paint - - Despite shooting 5-for-15 from deep, the Huskies made their presence felt at the rim, altering shots & limiting second-chance looks, however, injuries played a pivotal role throughout this game, and while PG Solo Ball was dealing with an ankle injury, he provided the Huskies a spark with three (3) 3-pointers and 11 points for the game - Meanwhile, forward Yaxel Lendeborg, who was dealing with an MCL and ankle injury, struggled to find the bottom of the net, finishing 4 of 13 from the field - - While Michigan wasn't as dominant as it had been early on in the NCAA Tournament, it's strength all season - size, length & more size - were the difference-makers again on Monday night, as the Wolverines finally broke through from deep in the second half, when Cadeau knocked down the team's first 3-pointer after an 0-for-11 start, the moment that helped fuel a surge, pushing the Wolverines to their largest lead of the game at 11 points. .but UConn refused to go away without a fight: The Huskies cut the deficit to four (4) with under eight (8) minutes to play, but it was quickly erased by a momentum-shifting dunk by C Aday Mara, that brought their bench to life and tightened the game down the stretch - - While Michigan went on a 6-0 run, UConn suffered a two-minute scoring drought with fewer than six (6) minutes to go - - The Huskies did, however, manage to get within four (4) with just 37 seconds remaining after Solo Ball hit a 3-pointer off the backboard, making it 67-63 - - Though Roddy Gayle Jr. then missed a pair of FTs, UConn forward Alex Karaban couldn't hit a 3-point shot to cut the deficit to one - as Karaban did lead the Huskies (34-6) with 17 points & was one of three (3) UConn players with three (3) 3-pointers - however, the teams combined to shoot just 11 of 48 from deep, including Michigan's 2 of 15 - - In the end, Michigan ended both its long wait for a national title - the program's first championship since 1989 - and also the Big Ten's, giving the conference it's first men's basketball title since its "little brother" Michigan State won it all in 2000. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Michigan's dominance throughout this year's NCAA Tournament? What are your biggest takeaways from the national title game? The 2025-26 regular season?. . . - NBA - - "OKC x 3:" The Oklahoma City Thunder joined some exclusive company on Wednesday night by accomplishing one goal on their checklist while defending their championship: The Thunder clinched the NBA's best record and top seed with Wednesday night's 128-110 road win over the L.A. Clippers - - **NOTE: It's the third straight season Oklahoma City earned the Western Conference's No.1 seed, as the Thunder became only the sixth team with a three-season streak as a top playoff seed since the NBA went to a 16-team playoff format in 1983-84, according to ESPN Research - The other five (5) teams include the following: (1) the 1984-88 Boston Celtics, (2) the 1984-90 Los Angeles Lakers, (3) the 1996-98 Chicago Bulls, (4) the 2008-10 Lakers and the (5) 2015-17 Golden State Warriors - all of which won multiple NBA championships in that span - - The Thunder, who have combined for 132 regular-season wins in the past two seasons, are attempting to become only the fifth team in NBA history to have the league's best overall record and win the championship in back-to-back seasons, as the feat was last accomplished by the Michael Jordan-led Bulls in 1995-96 and 1996-97. . .Q: What are your thoughts on OKC's dominance in the NBA over the past three (3) seasons? Do you think that the Thunder will repeat at champions this year?. . . - NFL - - The Las Vegas Raiders agreed to terms with Kirk Cousins last Thursday afternoon, just two days after new HC Klint Kubiak expressed that he wanted to add another veteran QB to the roster - - Thursday's deal comes less than a month after Cousins was released by the Atlanta Falcons, who parted ways with the QB two years after signing him to a four-year, $180 million contract - - The Falcons will reportedly pay Cousins $8.7 million in 2026 while the Raiders will pay another $1.3 million, per ESPN's Adam Schefter - Las Vegas has also agreed to pay Cousins a fully guaranteed $10 million roster bonus on the third day of the 2027 new league year - - Cousins' agent announced the deal, which will pay the four-time Pro Bowler $20 million in guaranteed money in 2026 - - **NOTE: It will mark the 11th consecutive season that Kirk Cousins' contract will be fully guaranteed - - The deal also includes a club option for two years at $80 million and could be worth up to $172 million over five (5) years, although only the $20 million this year is fully guaranteed - - Cousins, 37, will join a Raiders squad that is widely expected to select former Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza with the No.1 overall pick in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft later this month - - Kubiak and GM John Spytek, who were among those in attendance last Wednesday to scout Mendoza at Indiana's Pro Day, have said on multiple occasions that they would prefer to not start a young, inexperienced QB right away this season - - Prior to adding Cousins, Aidan O'Connell was the sole QB on Las Vegas' roster after the team traded Geno Smith to the New York Jets last month, as the move reunites Cousins with Kubiak, who was the QBs coach and OC for three (3) seasons for the Minnesota Vikings - - As fourth-round pick by Washington in the 2012 draft, Cousins has passed for over 44,000 yards with 298 TDs and 131 INTs in 14 seasons. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Las Vegas Raiders' acquisition of veteran QB Kirk Cousins? If they do, in fact, draft QB Fernando Mendoza with the No.1 overall pick, do you expect Kirk Cousins to be the Raiders QB for the season opener?. . . Thanks for Listening!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 129 - "The comeBACK Episode" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Football: "NCAA's Appeal Denied:" The Mississippi Supreme Court denied the NCAA's petition to overturn a judge's decision that would allow Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss to play next season - - Initially, the NCAA denied Chambliss' waiver request on Jan. 9, and after Chambliss appealed, the organization's Athletics Eligibility Subcommittee upheld the denial on Feb 4. - - On Feb. 12, Judge Robert Whitwell, the presiding judge, said that he agreed with Chambliss' argument that the player's medical history was not properly considered by the NCAA - - The 23-year-old Chambliss has been in college for five (5) years, but was healthy enough to play just three (3) of those years - - Afterwards, Judge Whitwell advocated for the Ole Miss QB, stating that Chambliss would have received "irreparable harm" had the NCAA's ruling been upheld, and he further elaborated that the organization would not be damaged by allowing to play - - Chambliss and Ole Miss Athletics Department submitted nearly 91 pages to the NCAA to document how medical issues prevented him from playing two years, the judge said - - The NCAA, according to the judge, did not properly take those [medical] records into consideration, and denied the waiver's request "on pure semantics," - - Prior to transferring to Ole Miss, Chambliss began his college football career at Ferris State University, a Division II program, where he would lead the Bulldogs to a NCAA D-II national championship - - Last season, in Oxford, Chambliss completed 294 of 445 passes (66.1%) for 3,937 yards with 22 TDs and three (3) INTs for the Rebels (13-2), which set a school record for wins, including two after making the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history, while also rushing for 527 yards and eight (8) TDs on the ground. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Mississippi Supreme Court's decision to deny the NCAA's appeal to overturn a judge's decision regarding Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss' eligibility in 2026-27?. . .Recently retired coach, Gus Malzahn, who won a national title in 2010 as Auburn's OC, will join former Cal coach Jeff Tedford on the College Football Playoff Selection Committee this spring, the CFP announced on Monday - - University of Arkansas AD Hunter Yurachek will return as the Committee chairman for a second consecutive season, and Louisiana AD Bryan Maggard will also join the group - - The three (3) new committee members will each serve three-year terms & replace outgoing members Chris Ault (a former HC), Jeff Long (a former longtime collegiate administrator), and Miami (Ohio) AD David Sayler, whose terms have expired - - Malzahn, who had a 35-year coaching career and developed a reputation for his up-tempo offensive philosophy, announced his retirement in February after serving as the OC under Mike Norvell at Florida State University - - He spent 13 years as head football coach at Arkansas State (2012), Auburn (2013-2020) and UCF (2021-2024), where he posted a career record of 105-62 - - As for Jeff Tedford, he served as the head football coach at Cal University (2002-2012) and Fresno State (2017-2019 and 2022-2023), compiling a career record of 127-79 - - At Cal, Tedford engineered one of the most remarkable turnarounds in college football history, leading a team that had won just one game to consistent bowl appearances, national rankings as well as a share of the 2006 PAC-12 Conference title - - He remains the Golden Bears' winningest coach with an 82-57 record, while guiding the team to eight (8) bowl games - - Malzahn & Tedford will join former coaches Mark Dantonio (Michigan State) and Mike Riley (Oregon State/Nebraska). . .Q: What are your thoughts on the news that former head football coaches Gus Malzahn & Jeff Tedford will be joining the CFP Selection Committee this spring? How does Gus Malzahn's addition impact Kalen DeBoer & the Alabama Crimson Tide come postseason/CFP time next spring? . . .NCAA College Basketball: "Wade Just One Damn Minute:" Just one year after signing a six-year deal to become the head basketball coach at NC State University, Will Wade made the decision on Thursday to make a jump back to LSU, where he previously coached from 2017 until 2022, while NC State was left to pick up the pieces, and like many Wolfpack fans, NC State AD Boo Corrigan was not pleased by the sudden move, stating "I'd commiserate with [fans], in terms of feeling lied to," - - After leading the Wolfpack to a 20-12 record this season, Wade has now inked a seven-year deal to become the head basketball coach at LSU - - Out of the ACC Conference, NC State got off to an 18-6 start (9-2 in conference play) prior to losing six (6) of its final seven (7) games to end the regular season, as the Wolfpack were ultimately placed in the First Four on Selection Sunday, and afterwards losing to the Texas Longhorns, finishing the season with a 20-14 mark - - In his introductory press conference on Monday, Wade indicated to the Tiger faithful that "We're coming back to try and hang a banner, win a national championship, or I'm going to be the first [head] coach fired from the same school twice," as Wade does become the first SEC men's basketball coach in conference history to be fired and re-hired by the same program "One way or another, we're going to make history!" - - In his first stint at LSU from 2017-22, Wade was 105-51 with an SEC regular-season championship and three (3) NCAA Tournament appearances, however, LSU would go on to fire him in March 2022 for his involvement in NCAA Level I and Level II recruiting violations - - Overall, Wade is 266-119 with eight (8) NCAA Tournament appearances in 12 seasons as a head coach at five (5) different NCAA D-I programs. . .Q: How do you expect for the Will Wade-LSU reunion to play out? - - **Update: It was announced that former player Justin Gainey, who has spent the past five (5) seasons as an assistant coach, will return to NC State as the Wolfpack's next head basketball coach and Wade's replacement, sources confirmed to ESPN on Monday amid multiple reports - - Gainey, 49, played for the Wolfpack from 1996 to 2000 and later began his foray into coaching as an administrative coordinator with the program from 2006 to 2008 - - Gainey has spent the past five (5) seasons on Rick Barnes' staff at Tennessee, including the last four (4) as an assistant coach - Gainey also has served as an assistant at Elon, Appalachian State, Santa Clara, Arizona & Marquette - - Gainey was on AD Boo Corrigan's short list of replacements, and was believed to be one of the final candidates last offseason prior to the hire of Will Wade. . .Q: What are your thoughts on NC State's hire of former Wolfpack player Justin Gainey as the program's next head basketball coach?. . . - 2026 NCAA Tournament: Sweet 16 & Elite Eight Review & Recap: In this particular segment, JD & Spencer will review and recap the eight (8) games from the Sweet Sixteen as well as the four (4) games from the Elite Eight from this past weekend - as well as discuss a few of the major takeaways from the first weekend of March Madness; the following matchups from the third and fourth round(s) of the 2026 NCAA Tournament listed below are discussed within this episode: Sweet Sixteen: West Region: No.1 Arizona Wildcats vs. No.4 Arkansas Razorbacks (ARK HC John Calipari suffered the single worst loss of his career in the NCAA Tournament) . . . West Region: No.2 Purdue Boilermakers vs. No.11 Texas Longhorns (Despite their loss, TEX G Tramon Mark (29) sets record for the most points scored by a Texas player in the NCAA Tournament since Kevin Durant (30) in the second round of the 2007 tournament) . . . South Region: No.2 Houston Cougars vs. No.3 Illinois Fighting Illini (The Cougars struggled offensively, as a team shooting 34% in its lowest-scoring game of the season) . . . South Region: No.4 Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. No.9 Iowa Hawkeyes (IOWA first-year HC Ben McCollum, who won four (4) national titles at the D-II level, led the Hawkeyes to its fifth Elite Eight and first since 1987) . . .**NOTE: 38,369 NCAA Tournament brackets (0.144%) accurately predicted Iowa, Illinois, Arizona & Purdue advancing to the Elite Eight following the first four (4) games of the Sweet Sixteen . . . East Region: No.1 Duke Blue Devils vs. No.5 St. John's Red Storm (Three (3) weeks post-surgery on his left foot, Duke's Caleb Foster helps the Blue Devils rally from a 10-point second-half deficit to stun St. John's and to advance to the Elite Eight) . . .**NOTE: It was just the second loss for St. John's head coach Rick Pitino in 14 visit(s) to the Sweet 16 - and just the second loss for this season's Red Storm in their final 23 games . . . East Region: No.2 UConn Huskies vs No.3 Michigan State Spartans ( A true heavyweight clash between two of college basketball's traditional "blue bloods," as well as a battle between two of the sports' greatest coaches in Tom Izzo and Dan Hurley) . . .**NOTE: Following UConn's win over Tom Izzo and the Spartans, forward Alex Karaban won his 16th NCAA Tournament game as a starter . . . Midwest Region: No.1 Michigan Wolverines vs. No.4 Alabama Crimson Tide (In an up-tempo matchup of two of the NCAA Tournament's highest-scoring teams, the Wolverines - led by the Big Ten player of the year Yaxel Lendeborg, guards Trey McKenney & Roddy Gayle Jr. - outlasted Labaron Philon Jr., who scored 35 points in what is most likely his final game under HC Nate Oats - and the Crimson Tide after a 33-6 advantage in bench points) . . .**NOTE: The Wolverines & Crimson Tide combined for a total of 74 shots in the first half alone, including 39 attempts from beyond the arc . . . Midwest Region: No.2 Iowa State Cyclones vs. No.6 Tennessee Volunteers (Despite a strong effort from Iowa State guards Tamin Lipsey & Nate Heise, the Cyclones clearly struggled without star forward Joshua Jefferson - as star freshman Nate Ament & the Volunteers used a dominant effort on the glass and a strong second-half performance to advance to the NCAA Tournament Regional Finals for the third straight year) . . . Elite Eight: South Region: No.3 Illinois Fighting Illini vs. No.9 Iowa Hawkeyes (Under HC Brad Underwood, Andrej Stojakovic & the Fighting Illini are headed to their first Final Four in 21 years (2005) and their sixth trip overall, which has - believe it or not - never won a national title) . . . West Region: No.1 Arizona Wildcats vs. No.2 Purdue Boilermakers (Now riding a 13-game winning streak, the Wildcats, which features a talented freshman class led by Koa Peat & Brayden Burries, frustrated the NCAA record-holder in assists, Purdue guard Braden Smith, and prevented his fellow four-year senior(s) in Trey Kaufman-Renn & Fletcher Loyer, from getting into a rhythm) . . .**NOTE: The trip to the Final Four is a long-awaited one for the Wildcats, who last made it to that stage in 2001 when they lost the title game under HC Lute Olson/Freshman Koa Peat, who was named the West Region's Most Outstanding Player, became just the sixth freshman to score at least 20 points to help his team win in both the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight . . . Midwest Region: No.1 Michigan Wolverines vs. No.6 Tennessee Volunteers (Making the most out its' size advantage and athleticism on both sides of the court, Michigan advanced to its first Final Four since 2018 and ninth overall) . . .**NOTE: The unselfish Wolverines steamrolled the Volunteers to become the first program to win at least four (4) games in an NCAA Tournament by double digits while scoring a minimum of 90 points in each . . . East Region: No.1 Duke Blue Devils vs. No.2 UConn Huskies (Two words: "Mullins MANIA!") . . .**NOTE: UConn head coach Dan Hurley is trying to coach the Huskies to a national title for the third time in four (4) seasons, a feat that hasn't been accomplished since John Wooden did so at UCLA in the 1970s . . . - 2026 NCAA Tournament: Final Four Preview & Predictions: In this particular segment, JD & Spencer preview the two Final Four matchup(s) from this upcoming weekend, and provide their individually-selected, subjective predictions for both games, which are listed below: **Be Sure to Tune in for their picks/Share Your Final Four Picks with us via X - @TraditionFinest or Send Us a Message at [email protected]! No.2 UConn Huskies vs. No.3 Illinois Fighting Illini (-2.5)            O/U139.5 No.1 Michigan Wolverines (-1.5) vs. No.1 Arizona Wildcats         O/U157.5 - NBA - - The Chicago Bulls waived guard Jaden Ivey for conduct detrimental to the team Monday, just hours after he posted a lengthy video rant on social media about religion and other topics that included anti-gay sentiments - - Ivey has gone live on his Instagram account more frequently in the past week, posting at least three (3) lengthy videos after he was shut down for the rest of the NBA season by the team because of injury last Thursday - - The Bulls acquired Ivey, 24, from the Detroit Pistons prior to the NBA trade deadline last month, after he was drafted with the No.5 pick by the Pistons in the 2022 NBA Draft, and featured early by a rebuilding Detroit franchise prior to knee issues limiting him to only 30 games in 2024-25 and kept him out for the first 15 games this season - - Ivey has appeared in only four (4) NBA regular-season games for the Bulls, and has not saw any action on the court since Feb. 11 prior to the All-Star Break. . Q: What are your thoughts on the Chicago Bulls' announcement that they have officially waived guard Jaden Ivey following his anti-gay remarks? . . . - Miscellaneous - - "Tiga, Tiga Woods, Ya'll:" Tiger Woods was arrested and charged with driving under the influence following a rollover crash in Jupiter Island, Florida last Friday afternoon, according to the Martin County Sherriff's Office - - Woods' Range Rover SUV rolled over after it clipped a trailer being hauled by a truck, after the truck had reportedly slowed down to turn into the adjacent driveway - - Woods' SUV swerved and flipped on its' side and slid down the road, after which point he told authorities that he was looking down at his cell phone ("I was just talking to the President of the United States". . .no BIG deal!) and changing the radio station in his SUV, which caused him to not see the truck slowing down prior to the rollover crash - - Woods, 50, was arrested on the suspicion of a misdemeanor DUI with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test, and while Martin County Sherriff John Budensiek reported that Woods' breathalyzer test revealed no signs of alcohol, Woods refused to submit to a urinalysis test for other drugs, according to the sheriff - - Another Martin County Sherriff's deputy found two hydrocodone pills in Woods' left pants pocket, according to the arrest affidavit - - After Woods agreed to perform field sobriety exercises, the deputy observed him "limping and stumbling to the right," to which, Woods informed the deputy that he has underwent a total of seven (7) back surgeries & more than 20 operations on his right leg, which he severely injured in a car wreck outside of Los Angeles in 2021 - - After Woods was arrested, he was transported to the Cleveland Clinic ER South, but he ultimately refused all medical treatment - - The 15-time PGA major champion was then transported back to Martin County Jail, where he was held until his release on a $1,000 bond later Friday night - - Neither Woods nor the PGA Tour has publicly commented on his arrest, however, multiple recordings of Woods' arrest have now made their way onto the Internet - - **Update: Per his attorney on Tuesday evening, Tiger Woods has checked himself into a rehab facility and is stepping away from the PGA Tour/golf until further notice. . .Q: What is going on with Tiger Woods? . . . Thanks for Listening!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 128 - "The Naismith Episode" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Basketball: The College Coaching Carousel: Quite possibly, with the most buzzworthy news surrounding it, North Carolina men's basketball coach Hubert Davis was fired by the school, bringing a conclusion to a tumultuous week after the Tar Heels' stunning loss to VCU in the first round of this year's NCAA Tournament, exiting in the Round of 64 for the second consecutive year: The Tar Heels led the Rams by 19 in the second half but collapsed down the stretch in an 82-79 OT defeat, which was the largest comeback in the NCAA Tournament since 2018 - - North Carolina went 24-9 this season, despite projected top-five NBA draft pick Caleb Wilson sitting out the final nine (9) games because of hand & thumb injuries - - In five (5) seasons as coach, Davis was 125-54, finishing with a winning percentage of 69.8% - - The school did not specify the nature of Davis' departure in its statement Tuesday night, simply calling it a change in leadership, - but in a post on Instagram, Davis said he was "let go" by the university and that his desire was to continue to coach at Chapel Hill - - The decision to fire Davis came from a recommendation from current AD Bubba Cunningham and executive associate AD Steve Newmark, who will take over the AD role on July 1 - - That recommendation was accepted by chancellor Lee Roberts on Tuesday - - Davis' exit looms large over a historic or "blue blood" college basketball program that has long leaned into alumni and the so-called Carolina Way, and opens one of the most coveted positions in all of basketball - - His departure opens the possibility of the school seeking a coach outside the North Carolina family for the first time since Bill Guthridge's three-season stint ended in 1999-2000, as Matt Doherty, Roy Williams & Davis, who each followed Guthridge, are all UNC alumni. . .Q: Is it time for North Carolina to bring back the GOAT Michael "MJ" Jordan to Chapel Hill as the Tar Heels' next head basketball coach? If the school's leadership does, in fact, seek a coach outside of the North Carolina family, who are a couple of the most notable coaches the program should pursue (i.e., Alabama's Nate Oats, Florida's Todd Golden, etc.)? . . .Providence has hired South Florida's Bryan Hodgson as its next men's head basketball coach - - Hodgson is joining the Friars after leading the Bulls to a 25-9 record, the American Conference regular-season and postseason titles, and a bid to this year's NCAA Tournament as an No.11 seed in his lone season in Tampa - - The No.11 Bulls were eliminated from the 2026 NCAA Tournament after suffering a loss to No.6 Louisville last Thursday in the first round - - Hodgson is a former Nate Oats assistant coach at Buffalo and Alabama, who brings an up-tempo style of play predicated on high-efficiency shot selection - - Hodgson, 38, will replace Kim English, who went 48-52 in his three (3) years at Providence, which included back-to-back losing seasons in 2024-25 and 2025-26 - - Providence will be the third school in three (3) years for Hodgson, who spent two seasons at Arkansas State, where he led the program to a pair of 20-win seasons, including a 25-11 Sun Belt Conference regular-season title in 2024-25, which gave the Red Wolves their first NIT bid in more than three (3) decades, prior to accepting the head coaching position at South Florida - - Hodgson now inherits a program considered well-funded in the Big East Conference, and one that is looking to get back to winning consistently, a feat the program hasn't experienced since Ed Cooley left for Georgetown in 2023. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Providence's hire of USF's Bryan Hodgson as their new men's head basketball coach?. . .Syracuse has turned to its past by hiring former star guard, Gerry McNamara, in a bid to guide a fading men's college basketball program back to prominence, the school announced on Tuesday - - McNamara, 42, aptly nicknamed "G-Mac," is returning to where he & Carmelo Anthony led the Orange to a national championship in the 2003-04 college basketball season - - Following an outstanding playing career, McNamara then spent 14 years as an assistant coach at his alma mater under Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim, and an additional season under his successor, Adrian Autry - - Now, he replaces Autry at Syracuse, who was fired after three (3) largely disappointing seasons in which the Orange went a combined 49-48 and extended their NCAA Tournament drought to five (5) seasons, the program's longest since 1967-72 - - McNamara returns to central New York after spending the past two seasons at Siena, where he led the Saints to a combined 37-30 record, which included a 23-12 finish this year in which they won the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) tournament & clinched their first NCAA Tournament berth since the 2010-11 season. . .Q: What are your thoughts on former star point guard & Siena coach Gerry "G-Mac" McNamara being hired as the next head men's basketball coach at Syracuse?. . .Creighton coach Greg McDermott is retiring after the 2025-26 NCAA college basketball season, the school announced on Monday, as his retirement will end a gilded run at Creighton, as McDermott, 61, won 365 games in 16 years as the head coach of the Blue Jays - - McDermott has a career record of 514-319 over 25 D-I seasons, including the 2023 Elite Eight and bids into 13 NCAA Tournaments, while the head coach at Northern Iowa, Iowa State & Creighton - - McDermott will be passing the job to the coach-in-waiting, Alan Huss, who had returned to the Creighton staff and was formally positioned for a year to take over this role, as the transition to Huss was hatched in April 2025, as he stepped down as the head coach at High Point University after leading them to a bid in the NCAA Tournament - - At Creighton, McDermott memorably coached his son, Doug McDermott, from 2010-11 to 2013-14, a time for which he was integral in helping bridge Creighton from the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) to the Big East Conference: The seamless transition from the MVC to the Big East will continue to be a huge part of Greg McDermott's legacy, as Creighton won the Big East regular-season title in the 2019-20 season, and had records of .500 or above in Big East play in 11 of 13 seasons in the league - - However, Creighton struggled this year by the standard McDermott set, finishing the season with a 15-17 overall record, and ending a streak of 10 consecutive 20-win seasons. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Creighton's announcement that head men's basketball coach Greg McDermott will retire at the end of the 2025-26 college basketball season? Thoughts on his replacement, coach-in-waiting Alan Huss? . . .2026 March Madness: First and Second Round Review & Recap: The first weekend of the 2026 NCAA Tournament is officially in the books, and there are, of course, distinct winners & losers - - Among the big winners are the Big Ten Conference and John Calipari, who has guided the Arkansas Razorbacks to its second Sweet 16 appearance in his second season with the program, while his former team, the Kentucky Wildcats, are headed back home to Lexington: In this particular segment, JD & Spencer discuss & review the first and second-round games from this past weekend - as well as discuss a few of the major takeaways from the first weekend of March Madness: **Be Sure to Tune in to hear this week's "March Madness: First and Second Round Review" segment. . . - 2026 NCAA Tournament: Sweet 16 & Elite Eight Preview & Predictions: The Sweet 16 is officially set after a wild first weekend of the 2026 NCAA Tournament: If you wanted Madness, you sure got your case full of it - - If you wanted a shocking upset, you got it, thanks to the No.9 seed Iowa Hawkeyes pulling off the stunning upset victory over the defending national champion Florida Gators - - If you wanted thrilling buzzer-beaters, you got multiple orders, thanks to St. John's guard Dylan Darling, who delivered the game-winner to stun No.4 seed Kansas on Sunday to send the fifth-seeded Red Storm to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999, and an all-time classic in the Nebraska-Vanderbilt matchup, punctuated by Tyler Tanner's potentially game-winning heave that was halfway down the basket until it wasn't - - If you crave high-quality basketball, last weekend certainly answered the call, with the exception of the first 30 minutes of the St. John's-Kansas second-round matchup, which could aptly be described as a football game that occurred on a hardwood floor inside of a gymnasium or arena - - Sweet 16 by Conference breakdown: Big Ten Conference (6), SEC Conference (4), Big 12 Conference (3), Big East Conference (2) and ACC Conference (1) - - The second weekend of March Madness has an extremely high bar to cross after fulfilling an epic, madness-inducing first weekend of the 2026 NCAA Tournament - - In this particular segment, JD & Spencer will preview each of the third round (i.e., Sweet 16) matchups from this weekend, as well as provide their individual predictions/game picks for both the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight, to present their Final Four picks for this year's tournament. . .**Be Sure to Tune in to hear this week's "Sweet 16 & Elite Eight Preview and Predictions" segment, and Share Your Game Picks with us via X/Twitter - @TraditionFinest or Send Us a Message at [email protected]!. . . - NFL - - Debate/Discuss: Is Ty Simpson the best overall QB prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft? Why or why not? If not, which QB prospect would rate higher than the former Alabama Crimson Tide QB?. . .Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year, has reached an agreement with the Seattle Seahawks on a four-year, $168.8 million contract extension that makes him the highest-paid WR in NFL history, sources informed ESPN - - The deal averages $42.15 million per year and includes over $120 million guaranteed, both setting records for a WR - - With this new agreement, the two-time Pro Bowler is contractually tied to the Super Bowl reigning champion Seahawks through the 2031 NFL season - - Smith-Njigba's deal with the Seahawks is the latest jump in the ever-evolving WR market - one that will certainly impact the division rival, Los Angeles Rams, who could be working on a Puka Nacua extension/deal this offseason, as the star wideout is entering the final year of his rookie deal in 2026 - - **NOTE: Smith-Njigba's salary eclipses the previous high for a WR: Ja'Marr Chase's deal with the Cincinnati Bengals, which has an average annual value of $40.25 million, with the next highest average annual salary after Chase including Vikings WR Justin Jefferson ($35 million), Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb ($34 million), Steelers WR DK Metcalf ($33 million) and Jets WR Garrett Wilson ($32.5 million). . .Q: What are your thoughts on JSN's record-breaking contract extension with the Seattle Seahawks?. . . - Miscellaneous - - "R.I.P. To a Legend:" According to a family statement posted on social media last Friday morning, on the island of Kaua'i (Hawai'i), Chuck Norris passed away at the age of 86 - - Norris was an American martial artist, actor, screenwriter, and author - - Throughout his life, Norris had earned and received several black belts: these include a 10th degree black belt in Chun Kuk Do (founded in 1990 by Chuck Norris himself, as it was based on his Tang Soo Do training in Korea while he was enlisted in the military), a 9th degree black belt in Tang Soo Do, an 8th degree black belt in Taekwondo, a 5th degree black belt in Karate, a 3rd degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu from the Machado family, and a black belt in Judo - - In 1968, he won the Professional Middleweight Karate champion title, for which he held for six (6) consecutive years - - In 1969, he won Karate's triple crown for the most tournament wins in a year, and he was also recognized as the "Fighter of the Year," by Black Belt Magazine - - In 1989, he received his Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and in 1999, he was inducted into the Martial Arts History Museum's Hall of Fame as one of its 10 inaugural members - - In 2010, he was nominated and won the Lifetime Achievement Award at ActionFest - - Norris began working in the American film industry as a martial arts instructor for celebrities prior to making his big screen debut with a minor role in The Wrecking Crew (1968) - - Friend & fellow martial artist, Bruce Lee, invited him to play as one of the main villains in The Way of the Dragon (1972) - - His numerous roles in projects like Walker, Texas Ranger, and others only heightened the iconic tough guy persona - - Away from his acting roles, "Chuck Norris Facts" went viral with crazy and fun statements and/or puns, such as: "Chuck Norris had a staring contest with the son - and won," and "They wanted to put Chuck Norris on Mt. Rushmore but the granite wasn't tough enough for his beard,". . .Q: Do you have any Chuck Norris memorable moments that you would like to share? . . ."What the F***?:" A Maryland man who made history as the first quadruple amputee to compete in the professional televised American Cornhole League (ACL) has been arrested and charged with murder after allegedly shooting & killing a passenger in his car during a heated argument - - Dayton Webber, 27, who became a champion cornhole player after losing his limbs and nearly dying from a bacterial infection in his infancy - faces murder charges in connection with the death of Bradrick Wells, authorities said on Monday - - According to a statement from investigators with the sheriff's office of Charles County in suburban Baltimore, Webber was driving his car with Wells as his front-seat passenger at about 10:25 p.m on Sunday when the pair began arguing in front of the others who were in the back seat of the vehicle - - Webber then allegedly shot Wells to death, pulled over in the community of La Plata, and asked the other passengers to assist in removing the body from the car - - The others refused, exited the car and fled the scene while Webber drove away with Wells' body in the front seat - - **NOTE: ESPN's SC Featured, known for telling inspiring sports stories, profiled Webber in 2023, and even ESPN SportsCenter gave Webber a spot on one of its top 10 play segments: the appearance showed Webber making four (4) consecutive cornhole shots into the hole, including by banking his bag off an opposing one on the final attempt, and the highlight ended with a SportsCenter anchor saying: "Dayton Webber - remember the name. . ." [**I honestly do not believe we will have that difficult of a time forgetting this guy. . .just sayin'] - - Authorities said they found Webber's car in Charlottesville, Virginia, about 150 miles from where Wells' body had been recovered - - They reportedly tracked Webber down to a nearby hospital, where he had allegedly sought treatment for an unspecified medical issue. . .Q: I have so many questions regarding this entire story, but what are your thoughts on the professional cornhole amputee player being charged with murder?. . . Thanks for Listening!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 127 - The "Cinderella Story" Episode includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Basketball: "Holloway's Not-So-Holiday:" Authorities reportedly found 2.1 pounds of marijuana in University of Alabama basketball star Aden Holloway's apartment when he was arrested on a felony drug possession charge Monday morning, according to the charging documents obtained by ESPN on Tuesday - - So why is the amount relevant?. . .**NOTE: The amount discovered in the arrest is significant because any amount of marijuana above 2.2 pounds - or a kilogram (kg) - in the state of Alabama can result in a drug trafficking charge, whether or not there are clear signs of an intent to distribute - - Holloway, who was "removed from campus," and is not with the team just days prior to the onset of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, informed police that he wanted to exercise his Miranda Rights (aka "plead the fifth") and/or remain silent during the search of his apartment, but then told police that he "only smokes [and does not sell or distribute]," - - Following his arrest, Crimson Tide HC Nate Oats stated at a press conference that the team was preparing to play without Holloway - who was the team's No.2 scorer, averaging 16.8 points per game, behind only star guard Labaron Philon - when it faces No.13 seed Hofstra on Friday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament - - Holloway posted $5,000 bail and was released from the Tuscaloosa County jail shortly after his initial arrest - - He has been charged with a class C felony drug possession charge, "not for personal use," and a failure to affix a tax stamp charge, both of which are felonies and carry a max sentence of 10 years in jail and a $15,000 fine - - While it's unclear what prompted the search warrant, as per the charging documents, the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force was executing a search warrant at Holloway's apartment when authorities located the marijuana in a backpack, a jacket pocket, a suitcase, in a TV entertainment stand and a vacuum-sealed bag, along with a significant amount of cash, the prescription sedative promethazine, as well as drug paraphernalia (i.e., a "rolling tray" & packaging materials) - all of which was discovered in just one room of Holloway's apartment - - Authorities also found marijuana in a box and a drawer in a spare bedroom. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Aden Holloway situation for the Alabama men's basketball program? How does this affect the Crimson Tide as they prepare for the 2026 NCAA Tournament?. . .First Four: In this particular segment, JD & Spencer discuss & provide a detailed analysis of the First Four games of the 2026 NCAA Tournament that occurred on Tuesday & Wednesday evening, which included the following four (4) matchups: NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: Midwest Region: No.16 UMBC Retrievers vs. No.16 Howard Bison NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: West Region: No.11 Texas Longhorns vs. No.11 NC State Wolfpack NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: South Region: No.16 Prairie View A&M Panthers vs. Lehigh Mountain Hawks NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: Midwest Region: No.11 Miami (Ohio) RedHawks vs. No.11 SMU Mustangs - 2026 NCAA Tournament/March Madness Bracket Review & Prediction Showcase: In this particular segment, JD and Spencer review the NCAA Tournament first-round matchups that have already occurred - - as well as provide their individual projections/predictions for each of the remaining games in the first & second round (i.e., Round of 64/Round of 32). . .**Tune in as JD and Spencer will fill in their NCAA bracket throughout this particular segment - - Also, Be Sure to Share Your Picks for the 2026 NCAA Tournament with us via X/Twitter - @TraditionFinest - and/or by Send Us a Message at [email protected]. . . - NBA - - "Records are Wilt[ing] Down:" The legendary Wilt Chamberlain owns one less NBA record thanks to Oklahoma City Thunder superstar guard, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - - Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning NBA MVP, broke a record held Chamberlain for more than six (6) decades by scoring at least 20 points in 127 consecutive regular-season games - - His streak started on Nov.1, 2024, as he averaged 32.5 points in the 127 games - - Gilgeous-Alexander, or SGA, reached the NBA milestone in last Thursday's home game against the Boston Celtics, surpassing 20 points with a 20-foot jumper with 7:04 remaining in the 3rd QTR, eliciting a roar from the Paycom Center crowd - - He received a standing ovation and MVP chants during the next time out when the historic moment was recognized on Arena's videoboard - - SGA finished the game with 35 points & nine (9) assists in the Thunder's 104-102 win over the Celtics - - **NOTE: Gilgeous-Alexander, who won last season's scoring title and ranks second in the league, averaging 31.8 points per game this season, is on the verge of becoming the first player since Michael Jordan to score at least 30 points per game in four (4) consecutive NBA seasons - - His true shooting percentage of .669 would tie the highest in league history for a 30-point per-game scorer, matching Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry from his unanimous MVP season in 2015-16. . . - NFL - - The Minnesota Vikings agreed to a one-year contract with former Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray, the team confirmed last Thursday afternoon (3/12) - - For Murray, the deal provides an opportunity to revitalize his career, and for the Vikings, it allows them to potentially elevate the QB play that largely doomed their 2025 season - - Minnesota will reportedly pay $1.3 million of Murray's $36.8 million salary for 2026, whereas the Arizona Cardinals will pay the remainder as part of their decision to release him last Wednesday: his new deal prohibits the Vikings from using a franchise or transition tag on him next offseason, sources told ESPN, which gives him a guaranteed path to NFL free agency next offseason if he elects to pursue it - - In Minnesota, Murray will have arguably the best supporting cast of his NFL career, which started in 2019 when the Cardinals selected him with the No.1 overall draft pick: he'll work with HC and play caller Kevin O'Connell, TE T.J. Hockenson and WRs Justin Jefferson & Jordan Addison, to improve the Vikings' offense next season - - Following the 2025 NFL regular season, O'Connell said that he wanted to find competition for starting QB J.J. McCarthy, who was the No.10 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and finished last season with a 35.6 QBR in 10 starts - - Murray has been selected to two Pro Bowls and has accounted for 153 TDs in his career, but HC Kevin O'Connell was not willing to name him as the Vikings' starter in 2026. . .Q: What do you think of the move by the Minnesota Vikings to bring in QB Kyler Murray? Who will be the Minnesota Vikings starter next season: J.J. McCarthy or Kyler Murray?. . ."Fields, Great:" The Kansas City Chiefs found their newest backup QB for Patrick Mahomes on Monday, agreeing to send a 2027 sixth-round pick to the New York Jets to acquire Justin Fields, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter - - Without an experienced veteran after last year's backup Gardner Minshew signed with the Arizona Cardinals last week, the other QBs on the Chiefs' QB depth chart, Chris Oladokun & Jake Haener, have combined to start in just three (3) games at the professional level - - Fields, 27, wanted to continue his career in Kansas City, although other teams were interested in acquiring him, the sources reported to Schefter, after the Jets last week acquired QB Geno Smith in a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders, to become their new starter in 2026 - - To facilitate the trade, the Jets are paying $7 million of Fields' $10 million 2026 guaranteed salary, whereas Kansas City will pay the remaining $3 million, much like the Jets did when they traded for Smith last week - - Mahomes, a nine-year NFL veteran, is rehabbing after he underwent surgery in December to repair the torn ACL and LCL in his left knee - and while Mahomes is hoping to be available for the Chiefs' season opener, Fields is a mobile QB who will take on the responsibility of operating the offense under HC Andy Reid and OC Eric Bieniemy during the offseason and most likely much of NFL training camp - - Deemed expendable after the addition of Geno Smith, Fields' departure from the Jets franchise was long anticipated, as he struggled in his lone season with the franchise, which led to his benching on Nov. 17, after which, he never saw the field again, finishing the 2025 season on IR with a knee ailment that flared up after his demotion, ending another disastrous chapter in the Jets' long, winding search for a franchise-winning QB: Fields went 2-7 as a starter with the Jets, ranking 31st out of 36 passers in Total QBR (37.3), based on a minimum of 200 attempts - - He finished with seven (7) TD passes, one INT and 1,259 passing yards, including only 505 yards in his last five (5) starts - - A 2021 first-round draft pick by the Chicago Bears, Fields is 16-37 as an NFL starting QB, as the Chiefs will become Fields' fourth team in four (4) NFL seasons. . .Q: What are your thoughts regarding the Kansas City Chiefs' acquisition of QB Justin Fields? Could this potentially lead to a resurgence and/or an overall shift in trajectory of Justin Fields' NFL career?. . ."A Penguin Sighting in Denver:" The Denver Broncos are trading for Miami Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle in exchange for first-, third- and fourth-round picks in this year's NFL Draft, a source reported to ESPN's Adam Schefter on Tuesday - - The Broncos will also receive a fourth-round pick in return from the Dolphins, while the picks heading to Miami include No.30 overall as well as the 30th selection in each of the third and fourth rounds - - Waddle will join a Broncos WR corps that includes Courtland Sutton, Pat Bryant, Troy Franklin, Marvin Mims Jr., Lil'Jordan Humphrey & Michael Bandy - - **NOTE: The Dolphins, at Nos. 11 and 30, are now one of five (5) teams that have two picks in the first round of this year's NFL Draft, joining the New York Jets (Nos. 2 and 16), Cleveland Browns (Nos.6 and 24), Kansas City Chiefs (Nos. 9 and 29) & Dallas Cowboys (Nos.12 and 20) - - Overall, Miami currently has 11 selections in next month's draft - - Following the trade that landed Waddle out of Miami, Tutu Atwell is atop the Dolphins' depth chart at WR, and is joined in the WR room by Jalen Tolbert, Terrace Marshall Jr., Malik Washington, Tahj Washington, Theo Wease Jr., and AJ Henning. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the NFL trade on Tuesday that sent wideout Jaylen Waddle from the Miami Dolphins to the Denver Broncos? What does this trade tell you about the Denver Broncos' prospects for the upcoming 2026 season?. . . - Miscellaneous - - World Baseball Classic Final: Team USA vs. Venezuela - - Venezuela won the World Baseball Classic for the first time Tuesday night, beating the favored United States team 3-2 in the championship game on DH Eugenio Suarez's tiebreaking double in the top of the 9th inning - - **NOTE: Venezuela became the second Latin American nation to win the WBC, after the Dominican Republic in 2013, whereas the U.S., meanwhile, has just one title, won in 2017 - - Once again, the U.S. struggled offensively, as the starting lineup was dormant for a significant portion of the game. . .until the 8th inning - - In front of what was largely a pro-Venezuelan crowd in the Miami metropolitan area, Bryce Harper's two-run homer with two outs in the 8th inning tied the score for the U.S., 2-2. . .but Suarez hit a go-ahead double in the 9th inning off Team USA pitcher Garrett Whitlock, and Daniel Palencia pitched a perfect bottom half of the inning, to secure the victory for Venezuela - - Maikel Garcia was selected the tournament MVP after hitting .385 with a WBC-high 10 hits and seven (7) RBIs - - Team USA's lineup, which was billed as quite possibly the greatest ever, in any setting, when the WBC tournament began, a thought validated by two exhibition contests that saw it amass 29 runs on 33 hits, never seemed to hit full throttle when the games began to matter: It dropped its fourth pool-play game, getting shut down by Italian American Michael Lorenzen, then snuck past Canada in the quarterfinals and edged out a star-studded Dominican Republic team in the semifinals on the strength of two solo HRs - - **NOTE: Despite a heralded roster of stars led by USA team captain, Aaron Judge, Bryce Harper & Paul Skenes, the U.S. remained without a title since 2017, as manager Mark DeRosa also led the 2023 American team that lost the WBC final 3-2 to Japan, and would come back for 2029 if offered another chance - - Notable Stats: Team USA captain Aaron Judge was 0 for 4 with three (3) strikeouts and hit .222 with five (5) RBIs in the tournament, while Bryce Harper improved to .214 with three (3) RBIs with two hits against Venezuela - - Alex Bregman batted .143 with four (4) RBIs, as the U.S. scored nine (9) runs in the three (3) knockout-round games while batting .188. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the way in which Team USA struggled with the bat for most of the WBC tournament, but especially so, in the Final versus Venezuela on Tuesday night? Should Mark DeRosa be retained as the United States' team manager for the 2029 World Baseball Classic?. . . Thanks for Listening!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 126 - The "One Shining Moment" Episode includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Basketball: Financial penalties will be imposed on schools that do not follow the new player availability reporting process in the upcoming NCAA men's and women's basketball tournaments, according to the NCAA, who released a statement regarding the update last Wednesday - - **NOTE: For the first time ever, teams will be required to submit player availability information for NCAA tournament games- - If a school does not abide by this process, it will reportedly face potential fines: A first offense will result in a penalty of up to $10,000. . .the second offense is a fine up to $25,000. . .and the third offense includes a fine of up to $30,000 for the school and $10,000 for the program's head coach - as all penalties will be assessed after the tournament - - For this year's NCAA Tournament, teams must submit an initial report to the NCAA by 9 p.m. local time the night before a game is scheduled to occur, as well as provide an update two hours prior to the scheduled tip time on game day - Both reports must list players as one of three designations: (1) available, (2) questionable or (3) out. . .Players not listed as questionable (i.e., up to a 75% chance of playing) or out are assumed to be available to play - - **NOTE: Player availability reports have become required in the five (5) major conferences over the past couple of seasons, with the ACC, Big 12 and SEC posting their initial reports the night before a game, and the Big East & Big Ten conference(s) publishing their reports the morning of games - - This will be the first time player availability reports will be used for NCAA championships, with the men's and women's basketball tournaments serving as a pilot program for potential use in other sporting events - - The reports are "intended in part to reduce betting-related pressure, solicitations and harassment student-athletes and other team personnel receive from bettors connected to playing status," per the NCAA's statement - - HD Intelligence, a service for which several of the aforementioned conferences already use, will serve as the primary provider for player availability reporting services. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the NCAA's announcement regarding the mandated player availability reports, and their use throughout the men's and women's 2026 NCAA Tournament?. . ."31 & OH:" No.19 Miami (Ohio) RedHawks at Ohio Bobcats - - Miami (OH) closed out the regular season as the only unbeaten team in Division I men's college basketball, with guard Eian Elmer scoring a career-high 32 points & grabbing 12 rebounds in a gritty 110-108 road victory over in-state, MAC conference rival, Ohio, on Friday (3/6) night - - Peter Suder scored five (5) of his total 13 points in OT for the RedHawks (31-0, 18-0 MAC), which became the first program to complete an unblemished regular season since Gonzaga in 2021 - - Guard Trey Perry added 21 points and forward Brent Byers scored 15 for the RedHawks, who topped Akron (17-1 MAC) for the regular-season league title - - **NOTE: Despite its' magical season, Miami (OH) might need to win the MAC Conference tournament this week to guarantee themselves a spot and/or to become an automatic qualifier in this year's NCAA Tournament. . .Q: How do you feel about this particular subject: should the Miami (OH) RedHawks receive an "automatic bid" to the 2026 NCAA Tournament regardless of whether they or not they win the MAC Conference championship? - - Guard Jackson Paveletzke led Ohio (15-16, 9-9 MAC) with a career-high 37 points, while forwards Javan Simmons scored 30 and Aidan Holloway added 20 points as well, as the Bobcats closed out the regular season after losing three (3) consecutive games - - HC Travis Steele's squad had a bumpy stretch over its previous dozen games, with four (4) one-possession wins & two others that they won in OT - - This time, the story wasn't much different, as the RedHawks needed some late game heroics again to win in Athens for the first time in 15 years: Ohio forward Javan Simmons' basket off a missed shot by teammate Kirr Kuany gave the Bobcats a 108-107 lead with 26 seconds remaining in OT - - Miami guard Peter Suder then sank two FTs to put the RedHawks ahead, and guard Justin Kirby made another for the final margin - - The Bobcats had an opportunity to steal the game, but guard Jackson Paveletzke missed two shots in the final five (5) seconds that could have given Ohio the lead (and win), including a 3-pointer at the buzzer - - While the RedHawks capped off an impressive and historic 31-0 regular season and an insane 110-108 victory over in-state rival, Ohio, it was what occurred after the final buzzer that was even more enthralling: Chaos erupted in the Athens arena from both sides, with frustrated Ohio fans throwing trash onto the court and in the direction of the elated RedHawks, who returned the favor by giving them a "California hello," (aka, the bird/middle finger). . .Things only escalated as taunts were thrown back & forth between the two teams, as Ohio forward Aidan Hadaway was sent back to the locker room amid the chaos and was forced to skip the postgame handshake line. . .Miami guard Peter Suder, most notably, kept waving goodbye to the Ohio fans as he backed away from the crowd, while seemingly mouthing "F*** you, b—hes,". . .Q: What's your take on the chaos that erupted at the Ohio University arena following the Miami (OH) RedHawks' gritty OT victory? What are your thoughts on the on-court behavior/demonstrations of the RedHawks players, for instance, that of guard Peter Suder?. . .No.8 Michigan State Spartans at No.3 Michigan Wolverines - - Forward Yaxel Lendeborg scored 19 of his 27 points in the first half, and Morez Johnson Jr. finished with 18 points, leading No.3 Michigan in a 90-80 win and season sweep over "little brother" No.8 Michigan State on Sunday (3/8) to give the Big Ten regular-season champions a 15th straight conference victory - - The Wolverines (29-2, 19-1 Big Ten) are headed to the Conference tournament, hoping to earn a No.1 seed in March Madness, prior to shooting for the program's second national championship (and first since 1989) - - The Spartans (25-6, 15-5 Big Ten) were swept by their in-state rivals in the regular season, but might get another shot at the Wolverines this week in the Big Ten Conference tournament - - Lendeborg, a preseason All-America selection, was once again the best player on the court, on Sunday, as the UAB transfer shot 8-for-12 from the field, matched a career high with five (5) three-pointers, recorded three (3) assists & also made winning plays at the other end of the court defensively - - "A Dirty Play/Villain:" After Spartans guard Jeremy Fears Jr. made a jumper to pull Michigan State within three (3) points with 3:47 remaining, Lendeborg made a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession to start a 10-2 run that ultimately sealed the victory for the Wolverines - - Fears finished with 22 points & nine (9) assists, forward Jaxon Kohley matched a career high with 23 points as big man Carson Cooper added 19 points for the Spartans - - However, it was Fears, who once again drew unwanted attention for another kick toward an opponent's groin, as he was called for a technical foul after a video review clearly showed that he swung his right leg backward and into Wolverines' guard Elliot Cadeau. . .but this wasn't his first rodeo: when the Wolverines won the first matchup earlier this season, Fears appeared to intentionally trip Yaxel Lendeborg, and in the postgame press conference, Michigan HC Dusty May made mention of the "several dangerous," plays in the game, in reference to Fears' on-court antics. . .Q: Is Michigan State's Jeremy Fears Jr. the modern version of former Duke Blue Devils' Grayson Allen (or former Michigan State forward Draymond Green)?. . ."NCAA College Basketball Championship Week:" The 2025-26 men's college basketball regular season is officially over, and Championship Week is in full swing: Conference tournaments are pitting member schools against one another for the right to represent their league as one of the 31 automatic qualifiers in this year's NCAA Tournament - - It all ends with the Big Ten Conference Tournament on Sunday, just before the full 68-team field for March Madness is revealed - - In this week's "Champ Week" segment, JD & Spencer introduce & discuss each of the men's basketball conference champions, to date, that have already punched their ticket this year's Big Dance: Ohio Valley Conference (OVC): Tennessee State Tigers (23-9) - - Third overall appearance (first since 1994) Northeast Conference (NEC): Long Island University (LIU) Sharks (23-10) - - Eighth overall appearance (first since 2018) Missouri Valley Conference (MVC): Northern Iowa Panthers (20-14) - - Ninth overall appearance (first since 2016) Big South Conference: High Point Panthers (30-4) - - Second straight appearance Atlantic Sun (ASUN) Conference: Queens University Royals (21-13) - - First overall appearance Summit League: North Dakota State Bison (21-13) - - Fifth overall appearance (first since 2019) Sun Belt Conference: Troy Trojans (22-11) - - Fourth overall appearance (second consecutive) Southern Conference (SoCon): Furman Paladins (22-12) - - Eighth overall appearance (first since 2023) Horizon League: Wright State Raiders (23-11) - - Fifth overall appearance (first since 2022) Coastal Athletic Association (CAA): Hofstra Pride (24-10) - - Fifth overall appearance (first since 2001) West Coast Conference (WCC): Gonzaga Bulldogs (30-3) - - 28th overall appearance (27th straight) Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC): Siena Saints (24-11) - - 11th overall appearance (first since 2010) - NCAA Football: R.I.P Lou Holtz, the quick-witted former D1 college football coach, who led the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to a national championship in 1988, and burnished his reputation as a master at rebuilding programs, has sadly passed away at the age of 89, per a statement released on social media by his family - - Per the statement, Holtz passed away in Orlando, FL, where he was surrounded by family, however, the cause of death was not listed - - **NOTE: Holtz finished with a 249-132-7 overall record throughout his coaching career, which included stints with six (6) programs: William & Mary, NC State, Arkansas, Minnesota, Notre Dame & South Carolina - - He also coached the NFL's New York Jets for the 1976 season, finishing with a 3-10 record - - After retiring from coaching, Holtz worked in television, including more than a decade with ESPN, but what he did with the Fighting Irish stands as his greatest accomplishment - - "A Legendary Life in Football:" Holtz was born Jan.6, 1937, in West Virginia, the son of a Navy veteran who served during World War II - - He played college football at Kent State University as a LB, prior to going into coaching & worked under Woody Hayes at Ohio State in 1968 - - He went on to have a 33-year coaching career, for which he remains 12th on the FBS all-time wins list (minimum of 10 seasons), finished with a 100-30-2 record while at the helm in South Bend (3rd winningest HC in Notre Dame history), led the Irish to a national championship in 1988, was named the 1977 (Arkansas) & 1988 (Notre Dame) FWAA Coach of the Year, is the 3rd winningest coach in Arkansas' program history, was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008, was an ESPN college football analyst from 2005 to 2015 - picking up the moniker "Dr. Lou" - and finally, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2020. . .Q: What are a couple of the most memorable moments of Lou Holtz throughout the years?. . . - NFL - - The Los Angeles Rams and star CB Trent McDuffie reached an agreement Sunday on a record four-year, $124 million extension that includes $100 million guaranteed, sources reported to ESPN's Adam Schefter - - **NOTE: The new contract makes McDuffie, 25, the highest-paid CB in NFL history - - Last Wednesday (3/4), the Rams acquired McDuffie from the Kansas City Chiefs for a package of four (4) draft picks, that included the No.29 selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, however, the deal could not become official until the following Wednesday (3/11) this week, which is the start of a new league year - - McDuffie was entering the final season of his rookie deal, as last April, the Chiefs exercised his fifth-year option, making his 2026 salary of $13.6 fully guaranteed - - He will now make much more than that thanks to a deal that averages $31 million annually, which surpasses the Colts' Sauce Gardner ($30.1 million) and the Texans' Derek Stingley Jr. ($30 million) for the highest among NFL CBs - - Cornerback was a top need for the Los Angeles Rams entering NFL free agency and this year's draft, as they had four (4) pending free agents at the position - - Along with pick No.29, the Chiefs will receive 2026 fifth- & sixth-round selections and a 2027 third-rounder as part of the trade, sources previously reported to Schefter - - The Rams still have one first-round draft pick (No.13) after trading back with the Falcons during the 2025 NFL Draft - - **NOTE: The Rams have made just one first-round selection since 2017, when they selected LB Jared Verse No.19 overall in 2024, which is five (5) fewer first-round picks than any other NFL franchise from 2017 to '25, according to ESPN Research - - According to NFL Next Gen Stats, McDuffie has allowed 6.0 yards per target in coverage in the past two seasons, which is the third best among DBs who have been targeted a minimum of 150 times - - In 56 career games, McDuffie has recorded three (3) INTs, 34 pass breakups, 5.5 sacks & 246 total tackles, and was named first-team All-Pro in 2023. . .Q: Who won the NFL trade that landed former All-Pro CB Trent McDuffie in Los Angeles: the Chiefs or the Rams?. . .The Buffalo Bills landed a new top target for franchise QB Josh Allen, agreeing to a trade with the Chicago Bears to acquire WR DJ Moore, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Thursday - - Buffalo is sending a 2026 second-round draft pick to Chicago in exchange for Moore and a 2026 fifth-round selection - - Moore's $23.5 million base salary in 2026 is fully guaranteed, and his 2027 base salary - which is also $23.5 million - becomes fully guaranteed next week, while the Bills will be guaranteeing $15.5 million of Moore's $23.5 base salary in 2028 - - Moore, who will turn 29 in April, will be reunited with new Bills HC Joe Brady, whom of which he played under with the Carolina Panthers, when Brady was the team's OC in 2020 and for most of the 2021 season - - The WR position was a significant need for the Buffalo Bills this offseason given a lack of consistency at wideout throughout the 2025 season: Moore will join a WR room for the upcoming 2026 NFL season that has some question marks regarding their status outside of Khalil Shakir, including Keon Coleman, Joshua Palmer & Curtis Samuel, Moore's former Panthers teammate - - In Chicago last season, Moore's strongest (or best) assets were his durability, as Moore played in all 17 games and was on the receiving end of some of the greatest catches of the season, including a 46-yard walk-off TD in OT to defeat the Green Bay Packers on Dec. 20. . .but unfortunately, Chicago's season finished with Moore running an imperfect or wrong route on a Caleb Williams' INT in OT against the Rams in the playoffs - - What's most important for the Bears, though, is the cash: By trading Moore to the Bills, Chicago is freeing up $49 million to spend over the next two years, which is critical for a franchise with major needs - especially after center Drew Dalman, 27, unexpectedly retired this week, and LT Ozzy Trapilo, who tore his patellar tendon, will not be ready to start in 2026 - - In other words, the Bears could pour much of that money into their offensive line and spend a more reasonable amount on a Moore replacement as their WR3, either by signing a veteran on a low-cost contract or adding another WR in this year's NFL draft. . .Q: Who won the NFL trade that landed WR DJ Moore in Buffalo: the Bears or the Bills?. . ."Maxx Return:" In the biggest trade in franchise history, the Baltimore Ravens are acquiring five-time Pro Bowl DE Maxx Crosby from the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for two first-round picks (2026 & 2027), sources first reported to ESPN's Adam Schefter on Friday night - - Crosby, 28, is a five-time Pro Bowler and would be a game-changer for the Ravens, as his 69.5 sacks since 2019 is more than double what anyone has produced in Baltimore over that span - - **NOTE: This actually marked the first time in the Ravens' 31-year existence that they had used a first-round pick to trade for a veteran player - - Crosby was set to significantly upgrade a struggling Ravens pass rush that in 2025 totaled 30 sacks, Baltimore's fewest in 15 years - - **NOTE: In fact, Crosby has produced four (4) double-digit sack seasons in his seven-year career, whereas over that span, the Ravens have had two edge rushers with 10 or more sacks in a single season: Kyle Van Noy (12.5 in 2024) and Odafe Oweh (10 in 2024). . .**UPDATE: Shortly afterwards and in what is a strange sequence of events, the Baltimore Ravens have "backed out" of their trade agreement with the Las Vegas Raiders for five-time Pro Bowl DE Maxx Crosby, with sources telling ESPN that the decision was due to medical concerns that arose during a physical. . .Q: What are your thoughts regarding the Baltimore Ravens' announcement that they have rescinded their trade agreement for DE Maxx Crosby? What is your take on the report that they backed out due to "medical concerns?" - - Immediately after the Ravens pivoted away from a failed trade for Raiders' EDGE/pass rusher Maxx Crosby, it was announced per ESPN's Ian Rapoport that Baltimore and former Cincinnati Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson had agreed on a four-year, $112 million contract early Wednesday morning - - Hendrickson will, therefore, remain in the AFC North division, where he will have an opportunity to face off against Joe Burrow and his former team twice a year. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Ravens' acquisition of DE Trey Hendrickson after losing out on Maxx Crosby? Does this entire situation smell a bit "fishy" to you?. . .2026 NFL Free Agency: NFL free agency officially began at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, with the start of a new league year - but as of Monday at noon ET - when the legal tampering/negotiation window opened, NFL franchises could begin agreeing to terms with players - - In this particular segment, JD & Spencer discuss a few of the most notable free agent acquisitions and/or trades that have occurred across the legal tampering two-day window, as well as provide their thoughts concerning each signing and whether it is beneficial or detrimental to that NFL franchise; the following player(s) are discussed within this segment: QB Tua Tagovailoa ➡️ ??? Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick ➡️ ??? WR Alec Pierce ➡️ ??? WR Michael Pittman Jr. ➡️ ??? RB Kenneth Walker III ➡️ ??? QB Malik Willis ➡️ ??? WR Mike Evans ➡️ ??? Safety Reed Blankenship ➡️ ??? - NBA - - Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum's belated birthday present to himself was a return to the game that was abruptly taken away from him last season: Tatum started the Celtics' 120-100 home win over the Dallas Mavericks last Friday, marking his NBA season debut after he underwent surgery to repair a ruptured right Achilles tendon, as he played for a total of 27 minutes, finishing the game with 15 points, 12 rebounds & 7 assists - - **NOTE: The typical rehabilitation window to return to basketball action following a surgical procedure to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon is typically between nine (9) and 12 months. . .Tatum, who underwent surgery on May 13 of last year, was able to return to the court after just 298 days. . .Q: Is Jayson Tatum an absolute freak of nature or nah?. . ."BAM BAM, BAM BAM!:" Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo had a night for all time on Tuesday, with a point total second only to Wilt Chamberlain in the NBA record books: Adebayo scored 83 points, setting league marks for free throws made & attempted in a game where the Miami Heat defeated the Washington Wizards with a final score of 150-129 - - Adebayo started with a 31-point 1st QTR and never stopped rolling, and he was up to 43 points at the halftime break, 62 by the end of the 3rd QTR. . .and then came the 4th, when the milestones kept falling despite facing double-, triple- and what once appeared to be a quadruple-team from the Wizards defense that kept sending him to the foul line - - Adebayo's final numbers: 20-for-43 from the field (46.5%), 36-of-43 from the FT line (app. 84%), and 7-for-22 (32%) from 3-point range. . .it was a stat line unlike any other in NBA history, and a night like none other for Adebayo - - Adebayo wound up passing former Los Angeles Lakers great, Kobe Bryant, for single-game scoring as well, as Bryant's career best was 81 points - a game against the Toronto Raptors that was second-best on the NBA scoring list for two decades. . .Until Now!. . .Q: In 10 years from now, is this going to be one of those 'Where Were You' type moments? What are your thoughts on the way in which Bam Adebayo broke Kobe Bryant's record for the second-highest point total in NBA history on Tuesday night?. . . - Miscellaneous - - Baseball/WBC: The 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics featured plenty of upsets and surprises, but Tuesday night's World Baseball Classic action might have produced the most shocking international result of 2026. . .and this time, Team USA was on the wrong side of it. . .The Americans were stunned by Team Italy, 8-6, in a game in which they never led, played sloppily & failed to find the big hit - - Now, their hopes to reach the WBC quarterfinal round and/or the "tournament knockout" stage are in doubt and could come down to a tiebreak: Following the loss, the U.S. then needed Italy to defeat Mexico the following Wednesday, to avoid a complicated tie-break scenario that would likely see the Americans suffer a shocking elimination before the 2026 WBC knockout rounds even began - - The bottom of Italy's lineup struck first in the top of the 2nd inning with HRs from Kyle Teel & Sam Antonacci to take a 3-0 lead - - Jac Caglianone added a two-run HR in the 4th inning and Italy tacked on three (3) more in the 6th inning thanks to shoddy USA defense - - Italy starting pitcher, Michael Lorenzen, of the MLB's Colorado Rockies mowed down the loaded USA lineup, tossing 4.2 shutout innings in a superb start - - The Americans' bats finally woke up in the 7th inning at Pete Crow-Armstrong clubbed a grand slam - and he added another run in the 9th inning to cut Italy's lead to two - but USA captain Aaron Judge struck out as the tying run. . .Q: What are your thoughts of Team USA's "embarrassing" loss to Italy in the WBC on Tuesday night?. . . Thanks for Listening!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 125 - The "Dickie V" Episode includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Basketball: "It's March, baby, with a Capital "M!" In this initial segment, JD & Spencer will discuss and provide a detailed analysis of a few of the most notable NCAA college basketball games from across the country from the previous week, and they will also acknowledge and/or mention the most buzzworthy storylines across Division I hoops. few of the more notable College Basketball games from across the country over the previous week, as well as to dive into any of the buzzworthy storylines surrounding the league. The following games are discussed in further detail in this week's episode: Friday, Feb. 27: No.21 Miami (OH) RedHawks at Western Michigan (WMU) Broncos. . . "The Race to 31-OH:" The RedHawks are chasing history with just two game(s) remaining as it attempts to finish the NCAA College Basketball regular season with an unblemished record of 31-0 - - Miami (OH) entered the week with an overall NET ranking in the 50s, while its' other metrics are not as favorable at the same juncture. . .Unfortunately for HC Travis Steele's squad, the ugly truth is this: If the RedHawks were to slip up and drop one of their remaining games during the regular season or lose in the MAC Conference Tournament next week, it could potentially be a "back-breaker" for the program - or, in other words, a loss could ruin the RedHawks' shot to secure it's first "at-large" berth into the NCAA College Basketball Tournament since 2007. . .Remaining Schedule: Miami (OH) vs. Toledo (H)    3/3 Miami (OH) at Ohio (A)      3/7 Q: Following the gutsy performance that led to a last-second win over WMU last Friday evening, do you feel even more confident in this team's ability to pull off a "perfect" 31-0 regular season?. . . No.3 Michigan Wolverines at No.10 Illinois Fighting Illini - - **NOTE: The Wolverines won their first outright Big Ten Conference regular-season title since 2014, and ironically, when they also clinched with a road victory over the Fighting Illini. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Dusty May's Michigan squad right now? Do the Wolverines possess the necessary type of roster capable of winning a national championship this season?. . . Saturday, Feb. 28: No.20 Arkansas Razorbacks at No.7 Florida Gators - - The Gators took down the Razorbacks in a 34-point romp, which tied for the worst loss of Arkansas HC John Calipari's career, a 34-point loss against the Duke Blue Devils in 2018 while he was the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats - - **NOTE: Florida has won six (6) in a row against ranked opponents, and on average, scored at least 90 points in each of those ranked-on-ranked matchups, which is the second-longest streak in college basketball history (i.e., streak is shared with the 1989-90 UNLV Runnin' Rebels and Loyola-Marymount (LMU) Lions). . .Q: Do the Florida Gators have what it takes to repeat as back-to-back national champions this year?. . . No.17 Alabama Crimson Tide at No.22 Tennessee Volunteers - - Alabama accomplished a feat on Saturday that they haven't experienced since 2021: pulling off an epic comeback win in Knoxville, as the Crimson Tide won its eighth consecutive game of the regular season. . .Q: Where do you stand on this Alabama Crimson Tide basketball team as it enters the month of March? What are a few NCAA Tournament pro's & con's of HC Nate Oats' squad?. . . Monday, Mar. 2: No.6 Iowa State Cyclones at No.2 Arizona Wildcats - - The Wildcats secured at least a share of the Big Ten Conference crown with the victory over the Cyclones, as Arizona earned it outright by smothering Iowa State defensively to give HC Tommy Lloyd his 140th victory, the most in NCAA history in a coach's first five (5) seasons. . .Q: What makes this Arizona squad so dangerous as we draw closer to the 2026 NCAA Tournament?. . . -"An Abrupt Exit:" Nearly a year after helping the Auburn Tigers reach the Final Four, forward Chad Baker-Mazara is no longer a member of the USC men's basketball program, the team announced on Sunday - - Baker-Mazara, 26, was the team's second-leading scorer, and started in 22 of their 26 games played, for the struggling Trojans this season, including a 14-point effort in an 82-67 loss to No.12 Nebraska on Saturday, as USC has now lost five (5) games in a row, and is playing its way out of NCAA Tournament contention - - Baker-Mazara left Saturday's home loss to the Cornhuskers early in the second half following a hard fall after he blocked a shot from Pryce Sandfort - - Baker-Mazara told Trojans HC Eric Musselman that he couldn't go back (or re-enter) the game, then sat near injured USC star Rodney Rice in an area with fans in the stands, rather than on the bench with the rest of the team - - Following Saturday's loss, the second-year HC, Musselman was asked about Baker-Mazara's potential injury and his future status at the post-game press conference: "He said he couldn't go," Musselman said, adding that he had not spoken to a trainer about the player's health - - No reasons and/or additional details for Baker-Mazara's departure from the USC program were provided in the brief statement released, as issued per team spokesperson Kristin Keller, who told the Associated Press in a text message: "We have nothing additional to add at this time," - - Of course, the program's decision to be "hush-hush" about Baker-Mazara's departure does anything put this story to rest, instead, it adds to further speculation - as well as to the trolls on the World Wide Web, who have provided a sleuth of reasons for why he is no longer with the team. . Q: What do you make of Chad Baker-Mazara's abrupt exit from the USC men's basketball program after playing in 22 of the team's 26 games to date this season?. .                         - NFL - - "[Slim] Pickens:" The Dallas Cowboys did what they were long expected to do on Friday, placing the franchise tag on WR George Pickens to secure his rights at least through the 2026 season - - The Cowboys used the nonexclusive tag designation on Pickens, sources reported to ESPN, which allows him to speak with other teams when NFL free agency begins next Wednesday (i.e., March 11th) - - Should Pickens sign an offer sheet with another team, the Cowboys will have the right to match the offer or decline to do so and receive two first-round draft picks as compensation - - The NFL set the 2026 salary cap at $301.2 million earlier last Friday, making Pickens' guaranteed salary $27.298 million for next season if he chooses to play on it - - While working out a long-term deal remains a possibility, the two sides have until July 15 to get a new contract finalized or, by NFL rule, the player must play on the one-year deal or choose to hold out - - **NOTE: This is the 11th time the Cowboys have used the franchise tag, and WR George Pickens is the eighth different player - - Pickens' first season with the Cowboys could not have gone much better after he was acquired along with a 2027 sixth-round pick from the Pittsburgh Steelers for a 2026 third-round pick & a 2027 fifth-round draft selection - - Pickens put up career highs in catches (93), yards (1,429) and TDs (9) while playing in every game, being named to the Pro Bowl for the first time and earning second-team All-Pro honors - - Pickens, 24, had five (5) games with more than 100 yards receiving, including two that came when WR CeeDee Lamb was out of the lineup due to a high ankle sprain - - **NOTE: Pickens set a franchise record with five (5) games where he accounted for at least 130 yards receiving & a TD reception. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Dallas Cowboys using their franchise tag on WR George Pickens? Was it a smart move by team owner Jerry Jones?. . .2026 NFL Scouting Combine: It was an eventful week, with more than 300 prospects in the 2026 NFL draft class heading to Indianapolis for on-field drills, 40-yard dashes, medical testing and/or interviews with team personnel - - Not everyone participated in workouts, and some were selective in what drills they participated in, but several players improved their draft stock by putting up solid performances & exceeding expectations. . .So, which prospects did the most for their NFL draft stock at this year's NFL Scouting Combine? Who is suddenly getting buzz ahead of where they were slotted prior to the NFL Combine?. . .That's exactly what JD and Spencer discuss within this particular segment, starting with the first night of workouts, which included the defensive linemen and LBs taking center stage on Thursday: One such player that drastically improved his draft stock on Day One of the combine, was Ohio State LB Sonny Styles, the son of former NFL LB Lorenzo Styles Sr., who came into the combine as a probable top-12 pick: His on-field workout might have solidified his spot in the top 10 - and maybe even in the top five (5) - as the 6-foot-5, 244-pound LB, had a historic performance, becoming the first player to run a sub-4.5-second 40-yard dash with a vertical leap of 40+ inches and a broad jump of 11+ feet at 230+ pounds since 2003, according to NFL Research - - The former safety demonstrated nice ball skills and looked fluid for his size in skills, too, which means he did everything he could possibly do to elevate his already-substantially high draft stock. . .As for the second night of workouts at the 2026 NFL Combine, the DBs and TEs took center stage on Friday, with one such player undoubtedly impressing the league's personnel with their on-field performance; this player was Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq, who measured 6-3 1/8, which put to rest any concerns that he would not reach the 6'3" mark - - His 43 1/2-inch vertical jump and 11-1 broad jump showed his elite athleticism, then he posted a 4.39-second 40 at 241 pounds, which was the fastest time for a combine TE since at least 2003 - - Unfortunately, Sadiq & fellow workout warrior (and fellow TE) Eli Stowers passed on the opportunity to display their on-ball skills. . .As for the third day of workouts at the 2026 NFL Combine, the RBs, QBs and WRs took center stage on Saturday, with a few players in particular making a lasting impression on the NFL scouts: (1) One of the most physically-gifted QBs in this year's draft is Arkansas QB Taylen Green, as it's no surprise that his athleticism was used to befuddle defenses throughout his college career, as he enjoyed a combine for the ages: The 6-foot-5 7/8, 227-pounder made history with a 43 1/2-inch vertical jump and a 11-2 broad jump, both of which were the best marks by a combine QB since at least 2003 - - Then he used his long strides to run a 4.36-second 40, the second-fastest time by a combine QB since at least 2003 - - However, his throwing session reminded us all why he's widely considered to be a Day 3 prospect, as he looked fine when he ample time to throw the ball, but when his process was sped up, his arm & feet did not work in sync with one another, so throws came out later than anticipated - - Still, he possesses the tools with which an NFL QB coach can work and develop. . .(2) The second player from day three of the NFL Combine that showed out was Mississippi State WR Brenen Thompson, who measured in at 5-foot-9 and 164 pounds: In a year where players put down blistering 40 times one after another, Thompson topped them all, running an official 4.26 seconds Saturday, that very likely would end up being the fastest time at this year's Combine - - **NOTE: Although he didn't break Kansas City Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy's record of 4.21 seconds, Thompson posted the third-fastest time by a WR since 2003, according to ESPN Research, matching Jerome Mathis' 4.26-run in 2005. . .and finally (3) it was easy to see why Arkansas RB Mike Washington Jr. was able to rank in the top 10 nationally with 6.4 yards per carry when he recorded a stunning 4.33-second 40-yard dash at 6-1, 233 pounds, the fastest time for any RB at this year's NFL Combine - - His 39-inch vertical & 10-8 broad jump were exceptional for his body type and were second at the position this year, behind only Kentucky's Seth McGowan - - Washington did, however, did not participate in the on-field drills, but we think proving his long speed was potentially enough to land him a draft slot late into Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft. . ."You Be Knuckles, I'll Be Sonic:" The Detroit Lions traded veteran RB David Montgomery (aka "Knuckles") to the Houston Texans in exchange for a 2026 fourth-round draft pick, a 2027 seventh-round draft pick, and center Juice Scruggs, as announced per ESPN's Adam Schefter early Monday morning - - Montgomery, who had 2,506 rushing yards and 33 TDs in his three (3) seasons with the Lions after being drafted & spending four (4) seasons with the Chicago Bears, was clearly unhappy with his reduced role in Detroit last season while playing alongside three-time Pro Bowler Jahmyr Gibbs (aka "Sonic"), as Montgomery had his fewest rushes (158) and touches (182) in his five-year career, despite playing all 17 games last season - - Montgomery, who will turn 29 in June and is set to make $5.49 million this season, will enter the 2026 NFL season as the No.1 RB for Houston, while also splitting time with fourth-round rookie Woody Marks, and a Texans offense that ranked 22nd in rushing yards per game (108) last season - - This trade certainly sheds light and/or gives more clarity on how the Texans plan to approach RB Joe Mixon's situation: Mixon, who the Texans acquired via trade two years ago, missed the 2025 NFL season because of a foot injury, as league sources expect for Houston to most likely release Mixon - - Following the news of the trade, and in a post to Lions' fans on Instagram, Montgomery wrote Monday that "everything I do next carries a piece of Detroit with it. The work ethic. The edge. The heart," - - Fellow RB, Jahmyr Gibbs, meanwhile, posted a broken heart emoji overlayed on an image of Sonic & Knuckles from the Sega video game on his IG story: The monikers, which were given to each RB based on their strongest attributes (i.e., Gibbs' speed - "Sonic"/Montgomery's strength - "Knuckles") and was presented to them for their successful pairing in Detroit. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the trade that sent RB David Montgomery from Detroit to Houston? What type of impact will this have on Texans QB C.J. Stroud's longevity/career?. . .The New York Jets dusted off their franchise tag, placing it on RB Breece Hall ahead of Tuesday's 4 p.m. ET deadline, sources confirmed to ESPN's Adam Schefter on Tuesday: Hall's tag is the nonexclusive version ($14.293 million fully guaranteed), meaning he can negotiate with other teams and sign an offer sheet, and the Jets will have the right of first refusal and would receive two first-round draft picks as compensation if they decline to match - a prohibitive price for a RB - - In short, this means that Hall isn't going anywhere unless he's traded by the Jets or the tag is rescinded, which is especially rare: **NOTE: This is the first time that the New York Jets have exercised the franchise tag since 2021, when it was applied to safety Marcus Maye, who never signed a long-time contract, and wound up leaving as a free agent in 2022 - - Hall, who turns 25 later this year, rushed for a career-high 1,065 yards in 2025, which is certainly no easy task on a 3-14 team - - The coaches hyped him up as a dual threat weapon who could be utilized, and would have a major impact in the passing game, but unfortunately, that never materialized, as he finished the 2025 NFL season with a total of 36 receptions, his second-lowest total in four (4) seasons spent in the league, but things could be different under Jets new OC Frank Reich - - In four (4) seasons, Hall has compiled 5,040 scrimmage yards, which ranks 14th in the NFL - - Hall, a 2022 second-round pick, has expressed frustration about the Jets' losing ways: The Jets' overall record with Hall is 22-46, under three (3) different head coaches, as he & WR Garrett Wilson are the team's only proven playmakers. . .Q: What are your thoughts about the New York Jets placing the franchise tag on RB Breece Hall, who has been relatively open about his preference to play elsewhere?. . ."This Isn't A Game, Boy:" The Arizona Cardinals have informed QB Kyler Murray that they intend to release/cut him on the first day of the new league year, which begins next Wednesday (3/11), barring a trade between now & then, sources reported to ESPN's Adam Schefter on Monday - - Arizona already owes Murray $36.8 million guaranteed in 2026, and another $19.5 million would have triggered if he was/is still on the Cardinals' roster as of March 15 for 2027 - - A former Heisman Trophy winner, Kyler Murray's time spent in Arizona has included the following feats: 2018 No.1 overall draft pick, NFL Rookie of the Year (2019), a two-time Pro Bowler, started in 87 games, accounted for 20,460 passing yards & 3,193 rushing yards, and 121 passing TDs along with 32 rushing TDs (as well as 60 INTs) - - Arizona has a new HC in Mike LaFleur and GM in Monti Ossenfort, who did not draft Kyler Murray, as they will now look to find the next franchise QB for the Cardinals, as Murray's seven-year run comes to an end. . .Q: Did you expect the Arizona Cardinals to cut tied with QB Kyler Murray prior to the onset of a new league year?. . .Veteran Pro Bowl center Drew Dalman has informed the Chicago Bears that he is retiring from the NFL at the ripe age of 27, sources confirmed to ESPN's Adam Schefter on Thursday afternoon - - Dalman, 27, is ending his professional career after just five (5) seasons, as the former fourth-round draft pick spent his first four (4) seasons with the Atlanta Falcons (2021-24) where he started 40 games - - Dalman was Chicago's marquee free agent signing during the 2025 NFL offseason when he inked a three-year, $42-million contract with the Bears - - The surprising news comes less than three (3) months removed from the Bears winning the NFC North division title and their first playoff game in 15 seasons, as Dalman was a key piece along an offensive line that ranked No.1 in pass block win-rate (74%) and fifth in run block win-rate (74%) - - **NOTE: The center had the eighth-highest pass block win-rate among all interior offensive linemen with 406 wins in 423 passing plays, after he started all 17 games for the Bears last season - - Carmen Vitali, a host on Fox Sports Radio, made a very interesting & compelling point, in a post on X: "Drew [Dalman's] dad was a player and a coach. He's seen first-hand life after football and the effects the game can have. If anyone is going to make an informed decision on when it's time to hang 'em up, it's Drew." . .Q: First off, how lucky is this guy?!? Capable of retiring at the age of 27! What do you make of Drew Dalman's surprising and sudden announcement to retire from the NFL after just four (4) seasons? - MLB - - Atlanta Braves DH Jurickson Profar is facing a 162-game suspension after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug (PED) for the second time in the last year, sources informed ESPN on Tuesday - - **NOTE: Profar, 33, is the sixth player to receive a 162-game ban for PED use since Major League Baseball increased the penalty for second-time offenders to a full season in 2014 - - Profar will forfeit the entirety of his $15 million salary, and will be ineligible for the MLB postseason, as well as for the upcoming World Baseball Classic, where he was set to represent the Netherlands, whose team includes players from his native country of Curacao - - The loss of Profar is a significant blow for the Braves, who have already lost starting pitchers, Spencer Schwellenback & Hurston Waldrep to elbow injuries, as Atlanta attempts to rebound from a 76-86 season - - The 2025 MLB season started inauspiciously as well with Profar's 80-game suspension on March 31 for Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG), a hormone typically made during pregnancy that can encourage and/or increase testosterone production - - Atlanta previously signed Profar to a three-year, $42 million contract last January after he had a career year with the San Diego Padres in 2024, as his most recent suspension came following the fourth game of the season and, after returning in early July, he went on to hit .245/.353/.434 with 14 HRs and 43 RBIs while playing left field. . .Q: Obviously, I don't want to "bad mouth" the guy, but how much of a moron can you be to follow up an 80-game suspension (attributed to a failed test for PEDs) by failing a second consecutive drug test (yes, for PEDs)?. . . - Miscellaneous - - NASCAR: Tyler Reddick's latest win drove him straight into the NASCAR record books: Reddick held off hard-charging Shane van Gisbergen over the final 20 laps at the Circuit of the Americas on Sunday to become the first Cup Series driver to win the first three (3) races of the season - - Driving a Toyota car, co-owned by Michael Jordan, Reddick won the season-opening Daytona 500, and was victorious a week later at EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta, then won from the pole position in the first road course race of the year - - Jordan, the basketball Hall of Famer & six-time NBA champion, was with Reddick's 23XI Racing pit crew, exchanging high-fives as he cross the finish line - - History was made for a team and ownership group that has been making a lot of it: The team took on NASCAR with a federal antitrust lawsuit - as the settlement in December was considered a major legal victory that secured a permanent franchise-style model & ensured the team would remain in business for the long term - and that particular "team" has been unbeatable on the racetrack ever since: "I'm proud of the team we put together," Jordan said, as he credited co-owner Denny Hamlin, who is also a driver for Joe Gibbs Racing, with being the "mastermind" behind its' racing success - - Jordan also indicated that he will be in attendance at the next race in Phoenix to see if Tyler Reddick can do the unthinkable & extend the winning streak that has built a commanding 70-point lead in the NASCAR driver's championship. . .Q: What percentage probability do you give Tyler Reddick & the 23XI Racing crew to pull off the "four-peat," thus, winning at Phoenix Raceway next weekend?. . . Thanks for Listening!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 124 - The "Miracle on Ice" Episode includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Football: "Like Father, Like Son:" Four-star QB Gunner Rivers, the son of NC State University football legend & eight-time NFL Pro-Bowler (and the most recent 40-year-old QB that "Almost-led-the-Colts-to-a-victory-over-the-Super-Bowl-60-Champions" & Almost-Head Coach of the Buffalo Bills) Philip Rivers, has committed to play for the Wolfpack, he announced Monday via social media - - Rivers is ESPN's No.11-ranked pocket passer and No.142 overall prospect in the 2027 cycle - - The younger, less accomplished Rivers, is now set to follow in his father's footsteps after throwing for 2,813 yards and 44 TDs to five (5) INTs in his junior season - - A 6-foot-3, 200-pound junior at Alabama's St. Michael Catholic High School, he elected to commit to his father's alma mater over reported offers from Auburn, Boston College, Miami & South Carolina, and will have some massive shoes to fill when he arrives on campus in Raliegh, NC - - Prior to playing for 17 seasons in the NFL, Philip Rivers was a four-year starter at NC State from 2000 to 2003, emerging as one of the most prolific QBs in program and ACC Conference history - as he led all FBS passers in completion percentage (72%) and was named Offensive Player of the Year during his senior season in 2003 - and Rivers' 13,848 career passing yards remain first among both NC State and ACC QBs, and ranks 13th on the NCAA's all-time passing list. . .Q: What are your thoughts on 2027 QB Gunner River's verbal commitment to play at his father and former NFL QB, Philip Rivers, alma mater?. . .NCAA College Basketball: In this particular segment, JD & Spencer will discuss a few of the more notable College Basketball games from across the country over the previous week, as well as to dive into any of the buzzworthy storylines surrounding the league. The following game(s) are discussed within this episode: Race to 31 & OH: Friday, Feb. 20th:     No.23 Miami (OH) RedHawks vs. Bowling Green Falcons Tuesday, Feb.24th:    No.22 Miami (OH) RedHawks at Eastern Michigan Eagles Remaining Schedule/Next Up: Friday, Feb. 27th  No.22 Miami (OH) RedHawks at Western Michigan Broncos Tuesday, Mar. 3rd:       No.22 Miami (OH) RedHawks vs. Toledo Rockets Friday, Mar. 6th:         No.22 Miami (OH) RedHawks at Ohio Bobcats     Q: Based on the RedHawks' remaining schedule, do you think that No.21 Miami (OH) will finish off a perfect 31-0 season? Or will they drop one (or more) of their three remaining games this season?. . . Saturday, February 21st: Potential "Final Four Preview?"   No.4 Arizona Wildcats at No.2 Houston Cougars/Edward Jones Capital Showcase: No.1 Michigan Wolverines vs. No.3 Duke Blue Devils - - Duke's win over Michigan has propelled the Blue Devils to a familiar perch: No.1 in the AP Men's Top 25 poll after claiming 56 of the total 61 first-place votes to supplant the Wolverines, who's stay atop the standings only lasted a week. . .                                - NCAA College Baseball: While the NCAA College Baseball season remains relatively young, what occurred on Tuesday could only be referred to as "Mid-Week Madness," after four (4) of the top six (6) ranked teams in Division I College Baseball suffered losses to unranked, in-state opponents, causing significant early-season chaos in the rankings - - This mid-week upset trend highlights the high volatility and competitiveness that is present in early-season NCAA college baseball. . .In this segment, JD & Spencer discuss the following four upset(s) that occurred on Tuesday that sent a shockwave through the sport:         (1) Arkansas State - 12 No.6 Arkansas - 4 (2) Georgia State - 9 No.5 Georgia Tech - 4 (3) McNeese - 7 No.2 LSU - 6 (4) San Diego State - 4 No.1 UCLA - 3 - NFL - - Former Purdue & NFL star WR Rondale Moore passed away on Saturday at the age of 25, as police in his hometown of New Albany, Indiana, informed the Associated Press that Moore was found in the garage of his house with a suspected self-inflicted gunshot wound, while his death remains under investigation - - Moore grew up in New Albany - just across the Indiana border from Louisville, Kentucky, and after committing to play college football at the University of Purdue, he was named a first-team All-American as a freshman in 2018 - - As an all-purpose player that season, Moore also won the Paul Hornung Award as the most versatile player in college football - - In his three (3) seasons spent with the Boilermakers, prior to turning pro, Moore racked up 1,915 receiving yards and 14 TDs while also rushing for 248 yards & three (3) rushing TDs - - In what will forever be a "Where Were You?" type moment, we can remember witnessing Rondale Moore lead the Boilermakers to what would become a legendary upset over the Ohio State Buckeyes - - A second-round draft pick of the Arizona Cardinals in 2021, Moore had been sidelined for the past two seasons (2024, 2025) after sustaining injuries: he missed the 2024 NFL season after suffering a dislocated right knee while he was signed with the Atlanta Falcons, and he most recently spent time with the Minnesota Vikings, participating in their 2025 offseason & training camp, prior to suffering a season-ending left knee injury while returning a punt on August 9th in the team's preseason opener - - In three (3) seasons spent with the Cardinals, Moore started a total of 23 games, caught 135 receptions for 1,201 receiving yards — R.I.P. To a legend. . .The Atlanta Falcons plan to place their franchise tag on TE Kyle Pitts Sr., likely keeping one of the NFL's top TEs under contract for at least one more season, a source reported to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler on Monday - - Franchise tag contract numbers are based on the top five (5) annual salaries at each position, and due primarily to this, Pitts stands to make about $16.32 million next season (2026), the franchise tag salary this year for TEs, according to OverTheCap.com - - Despite a record-breaking rookie season in 2021, Pitts struggled with injuries and inconsistency from 2022 to 2024, as he had 1,026 yards on 68 catches in his first season in the league - - Pitts, 25, experienced a major rebound year last season, finishing second among TEs in total receptions (88) and receiving yards (928) last season, trailing only behind Trey McBride of the Arizona Cardinals - - Pitts and the Falcons will have until July 15th to agree to a long-term contract or else he will have to play the 2026 season under the franchise tender, as the deadline for NFL teams to apply the franchise or transition tag is set for next Tuesday, with free agency beginning the week after. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Atlanta Falcons' decision to place the franchise tag on TE Kyle Pitts Sr.?. . . - NBA - - The Los Angeles Lakers unveiled a statue of legendary coach Pat Riley outside Crypto.com Arena on Sunday, and the nearly 8-foot-tall, 510-pound bronze rendering features the famously stylish Riley in his preferred attire: a Giorgio Armani suit & a crocodile leather belt - - A Hall of Famer, Riley coached the "Showtime" era Lakers throughout the 1980s, who is currently the Miami Heat team president, last roamed the sidelines in 2008 after 24 seasons spent coaching in L.A., New York & Miami - - Most importantly, Riley coached the Lakers from 1981 to 1990 and won four (4) NBA championships (i.e., 1982, 1985, 1987 & 1988) - - **NOTE: Riley becomes the eighth former Laker with a statue on Star Plaza, joining Elgin Baylor, Kobe Bryant, Chick Hearn, Shaquille O'Neal, Jerry West, Magic Johnson & Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. . . - MLB - - "The legaCCy Continues:" CC Sabathia's No.52 will be retired on Sept. 26th by the New York Yankees, who will dedicate a plaque in honor of the Hall of Fame pitcher at Monument Park - joining his fellow teammates Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte - before that day's game scheduled against the Baltimore Orioles - - **NOTE: CC Sabathia will become the 24th player to have his number retired by the New York Yankees franchise, the first since Paul O'Neill was honored with the retirement of jersey No.21 in 2022 - - Other jersey numbers that are retired by the Yankees franchise include the following list (yes! The Yankees are gonna be donning triple digit jerseys VERY soon!): No.1 (Billy Martin, 1986), No.2 (Derek Jeter, 2017), No.3 (Babe Ruth, 1948), No.4 (Lou Gehrig, 1939), No.5 (Joe DiMaggio, 1952), No.6 (Joe Torre, 2014), No.7 (Mickey Mantle, 1969), No.8 (not retired - but the # jersey is set aside for Yogi Berra & Bill Dickey), No.9 (Roger Maris, 1984), No.10 (Phil Rizzuto, 1985), No.15 (Thurman Munson, 1979), No.16 (Whitey Ford, 1974), No.20 (Jorge Posada, 2015), No.21 (Paul O'Neill, 2022), No.23 (Don Mattingly, 1997), No.32 (Elston Howard, 1984), No.37 (Casey Stengel, 1970), No.42 (Mariano Rivera, 2013), No.42** (Jackie Robinson, 1997), No.44 (Reggie Jackson, 1993), No.46 (Andy Pettitte, 2015), No.49 (Ron Guidry, 2003), No.51 (Bernie Williams, 2015) and No.52 (CC Sabathia, 2026) - - Sabathia was a six-time MLB All-Star who won the 2007 AL Cy Young Award with Cleveland and a World Series title in 2009, his first season with the Yankees after signing as a free agent - - He went 251-161 with a 3.74 ERA and 3,093 strikeouts, which was third among LHPs behind Randy Johnson & Steve Carlton, throughout his 19-year MLB career, including a 134-88 record with a 3.81 ERA and 1,700 strikeouts for the Yankees - - He was also elected to baseball's Hall of Fame on the first ballot in 2025. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the New York Yankees' announcement that they will retire CC Sabathia's No.52 jersey later this year?. . . - Miscellaneous - - "Play Free Bird:" For almost 58 minutes, the U.S. Women's Hockey Team looked to be on the verge of an epic collapse on the grandest stage: heading into Thursday's Olympic gold-medal game, the Americans had gone undefeated, scoring at least five (5) goals against every opponent, including a 5-0 rout of the Canadian Team in the preliminary round - - Yep, Team USA trailed Canada for most of the gold-medal game, down by a score of 1-0, to a team that had fully embraced the "underdog" mentality. . .but then, Lyndrd Skynyrd's original lineup showed up on the ice, and played the most impactful rendition of their eight-minute ballad, Free Bird, and then, in the blades of glory, it was Team USA captain Hilary Knight, who made U.S. national team history, by scoring her 15th career goal in the Winter Olympics, and the dominant American team that we'd seen for the previous two weeks in Milan, had finally showed up. . .**PSA: No! Lyndrd Skynyrd's original lineup - or any lineup for that matter - did not show up, and the song, Free Bird, was not played (although it should have been!) - - In the end, Team USA overpowered Canada 2-1 in OT to regain the Olympic title, completing a 7-0 perfect run through the tournament - - To their credit, Team Canada came out playing the best hockey of the entire tournament, outshooting the Americans 8-6 in the first period, as they executed their game plan - to take away time and space & make life difficult for Team USA's skilled roster - nearly to perfection: Just 54 seconds into the second period, and while being short-handed, Canada's fourth-line center Kristin O'Neill opened the scoring, ending the Americans' long shutout streak at 352 minutes & 17 seconds - as this was the first bit of adversity the Americans had faced all tournament, as well as the first time they had trailed - - The Americans did a much better job of spacing the floor in the second period, as they put up 14 shots on Canadian goalkeeper, Ann-Renee Desbiens, whereas the third & final period was incredibly tense - as we have come to expect for it to be when it is between Team USA & Team Canada: After Erin Ambrose was boarded by Britta Curl-Salemme, Canada received a power-play opportunity, but failed to score on a U.S penalty kill that remained perfect throughout the tournament, and it was this, that set up Hilary Knight's final (and quite possibly the greatest) moment, a deflection on Edwards' point shot to tie the game with 2:04 minutes remaining - - **NOTE: The U.S. Olympic Women's Hockey Team hasn't lost a game in a major international competition since the 2024 Women's World Championship gold medal match, in which Canada defeated the Americans 6-5 in OT - - To put it into perspective just how dominant this U.S. Women's Hockey Team has been, just take a look at their overall record over the past year: Team USA has dismantled opponents 84-15, including 33-2 at the Winter Olympics. . .Q: What were your thoughts on the U.S Olympic Women's Hockey Team capturing gold and defeating Canada as well as completing a perfect 7-0 run through the tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics?. . ."This One's for Johnny:" The Winter Olympics Men's Hockey gold-medal game promised to be an epic showdown between the U.S and Canada. .And it Delivered: Following goals by Team USA's Matt Boldy and Canada's Cale Makar in regulation - as well as a slew of incredible saves by Team USA goaltender Connor Hellebuyck & Canada's Jordan Binnington - the gold-medal match went into OT Sunday - - In that extra session, which features a 3-on-3 format, Jack Hughes took a pass from Zach Werenski & buried it past Binnington, giving the U.S. a 2-1 victory and its' first gold medal in Men's Ice Hockey since 1980 (it's a full-circle moment! - the same year that the "Miracle on Ice" occurred!) - - Shortly after winning gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics, the American players brought out the late Johnny Gaudreau's Team USA jersey on the ice during their celebration - as well as his children. . . - - Remember the Name: Connor H-E-L-L-E-B-U-Y-C-K! (it's alot easier if you're an NHL fan!) - The Winnipeg Jets star, who is the reigning NHL MVP & the winner of the Vezina Trophy as the league's best goaltender - - and there's no doubt that this guy cemented himself as the best netminder in the world with a gold-medal game performance for the ages: **NOTE: Hellebuyck stopped 41 of 42 shots against Canada, 27 of which came from the slot & 17 of them coming from the inner slot, according to Hockey Stats- - At the end of the day, Hellebuyck was the story of the gold-medal game for Team USA, whereas Jack Hughes was the story of the tournament for the Americans, and after some pretty harsh criticism, it was only appropriate for Hughes to be the "savior" that came up clutch to deliver the gold for the Americans. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Team USA men's hockey team coming away with the gold medal after defeating Canada 2-1 on Saturday?. . ."A Golden Games:" The 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan came to a close on Sunday after 19 days of world-class competition across northern Italy, featuring more than 3,000 athletes from over 93 National Olympic Committees - - In an Winter Games defined by breakthrough performances & displays of resilience, the 232 members of Team USA made history, surpassing the nation's all-time Olympic Winter Games gold-medal record (12), besting the previous record of 10 set in Salt Lake City in 2002 - - **NOTE: The U.S. earned a total of 33 medals (12G, 12S, 9B), surpassing its previous record of 28 (Sochi 2014) for an Olympic Winter Games held outside of North America - - Team USA's 33-medal haul placed them second in the standings in both total & gold medals, with a total of 85 U.S. athletes contributing to the overall medal count, and with 58 stepping onto the Olympic podium for the very first time - - Total Medal Count: As for the overall or total medal count following the closure of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Norway dominated, finishing in first place with a record 41 total medals (18G, 12S, 11B), with the United States finishing second, followed by host nation Italy with 30 medals (10G, 6S, 14B) - - In fourth place was Germany with 26 total medals (8G, 10S, 8B), and in fifth place was Japan with 24 medals (5G, 7S, 12B) - - and rounding out the top ten, it's France at No.6 (23 medals), Switzerland at No.7 (23 medals), Canada at No.8 (21 medals), the Netherlands at No.9 (20 medals), and finally, Sweden at No.10 with 18 total medals. . . Thanks for Listening!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 123 - "The 3ARNHARDT Episode" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAAM College Basketball Week in Review: Week 15: In this first segment, JD & Spencer discuss & review a few of the most notable NCAAM college basketball games from across the league, as well as evaluate some of the most buzzworthy storylines of Week 15 of the NCAA D-I Men's College Basketball season; in particular, the following NCAAM college basketball games are discussed in greater detail: Friday, February 13th:                No.23 Miami (OH) RedHawks vs. Ohio Bobcats Tuesday, February 17th:            No.22 Miami (OH) RedHawks vs. UMass "The Race to a Perfect Season:" Miami (Ohio) remains the lone unbeaten team in NCAA D-I Men's College Basketball after winning their 26th straight game over UMass on Tuesday night, 86-77. . .On the docket, the RedHawks' remaining schedule includes the following matchups: Miami (OH) vs. Bowling Green (H) Miami (OH) at EMU (A) Miami (OH) at WMU (A) Miami (OH) vs. Toledo (H) Miami (OH) at Ohio (A) Q: Based on the RedHawks' remaining schedule, do you think that No.22 Miami (Ohio) will pull off what many will consider to be an "improbably perfect" 31-0 season? Or will the RedHawks drop at least one of their final five games to close out the 2025/2026 college basketball season?. . . Saturday, February 14th:              No.17 St. John's Red Storm at Providence Friars: Guard Dylan Darling recorded 23 points & eight (8) rebounds as No.17 St. John's scored eight (8) straight points following a massive brawl that resulted in six (6) player ejections to take the lead and earn its' 11th straight victory, a 79-69 victory over Big East foe, Providence, on Saturday - - Forward Bryce Hopkins had nine (9) points & nine (9) rebounds for the Red Storm (20-5, 13-1 Big East), and the ex-Friars star was in the middle of it all when he was taken down by a hard foul with 14:25 left and Providence (11-15, 4-11 Big East) up 40-39 - - Hopkins, who spent two seasons as one of Providence's top players before tearing his ACL in 2023-24 and transferring to St. John's, was excessively booed during warmups & the Providence student section cheered after each unsuccessful shot attempt - - The Friars were up by one point prior to the bedlam eruption in Amica Mutual Pavilion less than six (6) minutes into the second half of the game - as Friars' graduate forward Duncan Powell committed a Flagrant 2 foul on a driving Hopkins, which led to the fight that resulted in six (6) of the game's seven (7) ejections, that included four (4) St. John's players & two Providence players - - Following a stoppage in play that lasted close to 20 minutes while the officials sifted through the punishments, Rick Pitino's squad took control of the game & took down Providence 79-69 in a testy, Big East contest - - The seventh player ejection came later in the second half when Providence's Jamier Jones was booted from the game after being called for a Flagrant-2 foul committed on St. John's star forward, Zuby Ejiofor. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the six-player scuffle/brawl that took place on Saturday in the St. John's-Providence matchup?. . . Monday, February 16th:             No.2 Houston Cougars at No.6 Iowa State Cyclones: Guard Nate Heise hit a go-ahead 3-pointer and Tamin Lipsey came up with a huge offensive rebound in the final seconds to cap No.6 Iowa State's rally in a 70-67 victory over Big 12 Conference leader, No.2 Houston, on Monday night - - Heise was 3-for-3 from three-point range, just hours after his sister, Taylor Heise, scored a goal to help the U.S. Women's Olympic Hockey team defeat the Swedish national team, 5-0, to reach the gold-medal game in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan - - The Cougars had two chances to tie the game or possibly take the lead, but was called for a shot-clock violation with 43 seconds to play, then Houston forward Chris Cenac Jr. missed a shot with four (4) seconds remaining on the clock - - The Cyclones (23-3, 10-3 Big 12) closed the game on a 17-4 run to take down a second top-10 team in three (3) days, after Iowa State defeated the No.8 Kansas Jayhawks 74-56 on the Saturday - - Meanwhile, the Cougars (23-3, 11-2 Big 12) had their six-game winning streak snapped, and their stronghold over the Big 12 Conference lead, was cut to just a half-game over No.4 Arizona for the top spot, as they head into a pivotal matchup versus the Wildcats at home this upcoming weekend - whereas with the win, Iowa State is now third in the Big 12 Conference standings, one game behind Houston. . . Tuesday, February 17th:                 No.1 Michigan Wolverines at No.7 Purdue Boilermakers: Elliot Cadeau scored 14 of his 17 total points in the second half Tuesday night, and Aday Mara added 10 points & 11 boards to send the No.1 Wolverines past the Boilermakers, 91-80 - - Trey McKinney, Yaxel Lendeborg, and L.J. Cason each had 13 points for the Wolverines, who won their 11th straight game and took a big step towards capturing their first outright Big Ten regular-season title in five (5) years - - The win came less than 24 hours after Michigan (25-1,15-1 Big Ten) moved into the nation's top spot or No.1 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, for the first time since January 2013 - - While the support system was effective, it was time for the 'big man' to shine - all 7-foot-3 of him, as it was Aday Mara's early tone-setting presence that helped the Wolverines turn the tables on Purdue's usually dominant front line - as Mara made each of his first four (4) shots on the way to a 10-point, 8-rebound first half, yet he spent a majority of the second half in foul trouble, finishing 4 of 6 from the field as Michigan finished with a 39-31 rebounding advantage - - Purdue forward Trey Kaufman-Renn scored a season-high 27 points to lead the Boilermakers on a night in which most of his teammates struggled from the field - - All-America guard Braden Smith added 20 points as the Boilermakers (21-5, 11-4 Big Ten) had their four-game winning streak snapped, and they now trail Michigan by 3 ½ games in the Big Ten Conference title race. . . Wednesday, February 18th:              No.20 Arkansas Razorbacks at No.25 Alabama Crimson Tide: In what is being referred to as the College Basketball 'Game of the Year,' Houston Mallette hit a 3-pointer with 51 seconds remaining in the second OT period, and No.25 Alabama survived one of the most dominant single-game performances of the season, to edge the visiting Razorbacks 117-115 on Wednesday night in Coleman Coliseum - - **NOTE: Arkansas freshman Darius Acuff Jr. scored 49 points - the second most points recorded by a college basketball player this season - while playing all 50 minutes, however, Acuff did miss pivotal jumpers at the end of both extra frames that would have given the Razorbacks (19-7, 9-4 SEC) a short-handed victory on the road- - Arkansas used a seven-man rotation throughout regulation, but had four (4) players foul out in OT, including Acuff Jr., which forced HC John Calipari to turn to two players who had played a combined 35 minutes all season - - It was just the opening to the extra period that Alabama (19-7, 9-4 SEC) needed to pull out a game that will go down as an instant classic - - Star guard Labaron Philon scored 35 points, while big man Aiden Sherrell added 26 - both career highs - to help the Crimson Tide win its' fifth consecutive victory - - Arkansas, meanwhile, lost for the first time in its' last four (4) games played, and Acuff's 49 points are the second most by an Arkansas player, and the most points scored by an Arkansas player ever in SEC Conference play - - Alabama trailed by 14 points in the second half, but an 18-4 run by the Crimson Tide, tied the game, yet they moved in front in the waning seconds of regulation, until Darius Acuff Jr.'s clutch 3-pointer tied the game, 95-95, to send the game into OT - - Meleek Thomas (24) and Billy Richmond III (20) also scored in double figures for the Razorbacks prior to fouling out in the extra period(s), whereas Alabama's Aiden Sherrell & Amari Allen came up big on the boards, recording 13 and 11 boards, respectively - and guard Aden Holloway also finished with 15 points for Nate Oats' squad. . .Q: What are your thoughts on what was, to date, the college basketball "Game of the Year?". . . - "[No More Pooty] Tang:" Kansas State fired men's basketball coach Jerome Tang for cause, the school announced on Sunday night - - The last-place Wildcats, at the time of Tang's firing, had recorded only one win in Big 12 Conference play this season, and Tang, in his fourth year with the program, lashed out at his players following a blowout loss at home to Cincinnati on Wednesday evening - - The basis for the 'for-cause' firing, per ESPN, is the language that was included in Tang's contract, which specifically references any activity that brings "public disrepute, embarrassment, ridicule" to Kansas State - - This is in reference to Tang's postgame comments following the Wildcats' loss to Cincinnati: "These dudes do not deserve to wear this uniform. There will be very few of them in it next year. I'm embarrassed for the University, I'm embarrassed for our fans, our student section. It is ridiculous. . .I have no answer. No words." - - Tang, however, took offense to the University's decision to fire him, responding with "I am deeply disappointed with the University's decision and strongly disagree with the characterization of my termination," he told ESPN in a statement. "I have always acted with integrity and faithfully fulfilled my responsibilities as a head coach." - - In 2023, Jerome Tang signed a contract extension with Kansas State to remain with the program through the 2029-30 season, and there is still $18.67 million remaining on that deal, as he plans to fight the for-cause firing, and has since hired attorneys, Tom Mars & Bennett Speyer, to represent him against the University - - The Wildcats dropped to 1-11 in Big 12 Conference play with a 78-64 loss at No.3 Houston on Saturday, as they played the game without player names on the back of their jerseys, just three (3) days after that rant by Jerome Tang following the Cincinnati loss went viral - - Prior to this season, Tang had been relatively successful in his tenure with the program, as he led the Wildcats to the Elite Eight in his first season, recording 26 wins, which was the program's most since Bruce Weber's first season in 2013 - - In his second season with the program, Kansas State struggled in conference play, as the Wildcats missed out on a berth to the NCAA Tournament, and then last season, they finished with a 16-17 overall record, but Kansas State definitely bottomed out this season, sitting at 10-15 overall & tied for last place in the Big 12 Conference. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Kansas State's "for-cause" firing of Jerome Tang? How do you anticipate this story playing out: do you expect that Kansas State will be forced to honor Tang's $18 million contract or is this particular case most likely to be settled outside of the courtroom?. . .**UPDATE: Following the for-cause dismissal of coach Jerome Tang, and in their first game under interim HC Matthew Driscoll, the Kansas State Wildcats snapped a six-game losing streak by knocking off the visiting Baylor Bears 90-74, improving to 11-15 (2-11) in Big 12 Conference play - - G/F PJ Haggerty led the Wildcats with 34 points, yet the focal player of the night was Nate Johnson - who had a masterful performance - by finishing the game with 33 points, 9 assists & 6 steals - - The Wildcats also shot the ball well, finishing the game making 56% of their shots, and locking down the Bears defensively, by holding Baylor to just 40% shooting from the field and 12% from beyond the arc - - In all, Kansas State played a complete, all-around game, in one of its' top performances of the season as a unit. . ."An Odd Exchange:" UCLA suffered its second-straight 20+ point defeat on Tuesday night at No.15 Michigan State, a game that saw Bruins HC Mick Cronin seemingly ejected one of his own players: With the Bruins trailing 77-50 and with 4:26 left to play, UCLA center Steven Jamerson II, a former Michigan State student (and walk-on to the Spartans' basketball team), was called for a flagrant after fouling Carson Cooper from behind on a dunk attempt - - Cronin then sent Jamerson to the locker room - - Jamerson's hard foul wasn't the only development that had Cronin riled up Tuesday night: During the game, Michigan State's student section chanted the name of Bruins center, Xavier Booker, a former five-star recruit who signed with Michigan State prior to transferring to UCLA in April after two underwhelming seasons spent in East Lansing - Booker finished the game with two points & two rebounds in 25 minutes played - - Cronin had a fiery postgame exchange with a reporter who asked him about the Booker chants, saying: "I could give a rat's ass about the other team's student section. I would like to give you a kudos for the worst question I've ever been asked," Cronin said. "You really think I care about the other team's student section?" - - Cronin would then go on to accuse the reporter of "raising your voice at me. Yeah, you are. Everybody is standing here listening to you. Everybody. This is on camera. They can hear you. I answered the question.". . .Q: What are your thoughts on the odd exchange that occurred between UCLA HC Mick Cronin and center Steven Jamerson II? Cronin & the reporter at the postgame press conference? - NCAA: News & Storylines (cont'd) - - NCAA College Football: The Mid-American (MAC) Conference has elected to add FCS program Sacramento State into the league as a football-only member beginning next season - - Sacramento State will join the conference starting July 1st, the school announced on Saturday, and they will not be eligible for the postseason for two years as it transitions from the FCS to the FBS level - - The cost of entrance is expected to be around $18 million, sources said, with a total cost of entry being around $23 million, as they are required to pay an additional $5 million to the NCAA to move up to the FBS level - - The move will keep the MAC Conference at 13 schools, as Sacramento State will replace Northern Illinois, which is leaving for the Mountain West Conference in football next year - - According to a Twitter/X post, the annual MACtion tilt between Ball State and Sacramento State will now be known as "The Ball-Sac Classic," as presented by Dick's - - **NOTE: This marks a significant move for Sacramento State, as it will be the first West Coast program to make the jump to the highest level of football in well over a generation. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the MAC Conference's addition of Sacramento State as a football-only member, beginning next season? Would you advocate for the annual "Ball-Sac Classic?". . ."Purple Reign:" NCAA Division-III program, Curry College, and their athletics department announced on Wednesday that their Walter M. Katz Field will be re-turfed entirely in Curry Purple in the summer of 2026 - - As the home site of the Colonels' football program, men's & women's soccer and lacrosse teams, this will certainly turn a few heads - - **NOTE: It was Boise State University that first installed the blue turf field in 1986, as they own the trademark for not only a blue field, but any non-green field - - The other six college teams with colored fields actually pay a yearly fee to Boise State (i.e., Red at EWU, Teal at Coastal Carolina, etc.) but we've never encountered a purple field. .until now! - - Now, Curry College will also be held responsible for providing a yearly fee to Boise State Athletics Department for their non-green field trademark. . .Q: What are your thoughts on NCAA D-III program, Curry College, and their plan to re-turf their field the color purple?. . . - NFL - - The Miami Dolphins are releasing two-time Pro Bowl veteran edge rusher Bradley Chubb, a source confirmed to ESPN, signifying a major step toward a franchise rebuild - - Chubb missed the entire 2024 NFL season but returned with a team-high 8.5 sacks in 2025, playing all 17 games - - and as a team captain, he won the local media's "Good Guy" award for his consistent availability and professionalism with the press - - **NOTE: He also represented a $31 million cap hit in 2026, he turns 30 years old in June and has torn his ACL in both knees during his eight-year NFL career - - The move represents the first major roster decision under new GM Jon-Eric Sullivan, and believe us when we say, it was just the first of many. . .In addition to the release of OLB Bradley Chubb, the Miami Dolphins also released WR Tyreek "Cheetah" Hill in a flurry of roster moves Monday that will clear significant salary cap space, and officially make Hill a free agent for the first time in his career - - The eight-time Pro Bowler is currently recovering from a dislocated knee and torn ACL injury suffered in Week 4 last season, so it is unclear when or if Hill will play next season - - Hill would have had $11 million become fully guaranteed this month and his release will reportedly save the Dolphins approximately $22.8 million - - In 54 games played for the franchise, Hill had 340 receptions, 4,733 receiving yards, 28 TDs and was first-team All-Pro in two seasons (2022 and 2023) - - Should Hill choose to return for season No.11 in the NFL next season, he's be 32 years old by the time the 2026 campaign begins - but as he posted on social media "The Cheetah don't slow down. Ever. So to everyone wondering what's next. . .just wait on it. The Cheetah will be back. Born Again,". . .The Dolphins also released WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and guard James Daniels. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Dolphins' decision to release WR Tyreek Hill among other roster moves completed on Monday? Will Tyreek Hill play in the NFL next season?. . .The "Indiana Bears?:" The Chicago Bears' endeavor for a new stadium took a "meaningful step" foward on Thursday, opening the door for a storied franchise to leave Illinois to potentially build a new, domed stadium in Northwest Indiana - - Indiana lawmakers in the state House Ways and Means Committee unanimously approved an amendment to Indiana State Bill 27 by a vote of 24-0 on Thursday that would clear a path for the Bears to build a stadium in Hammond, Indiana - - The Bears' current lease at Soldier Field - the stadium where they currently play their home games, which is owned by the city of Chicago (IL) - runs through 2033. . .Q: What would a move from Illinois to Indiana do to the Chicago Bears' legacy? Thoughts on the possibility that this actually happens?. . - NBA - - The "Point God" Chris Paul announced his retirement from the NBA via a social media post on Friday - the announcement comes after Paul previously said he would retire at the end of this season, his 21st NBA season - - Throughout his career, Paul played for New Orleans, Houston, OKC, Phoenix, Golden State, San Antonio, and the Los Angeles Clippers - - Paul, 40, is a 12-time NBA All-Star, an 11-time member of All-NBA teams, a nine-time All-Defensive teams member, the 2006 Rookie of the Year, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and a member of the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team - - **NOTE: He was also a four-time All-NBA first-team selection, and he ranks second in NBA history with 12,552 assists and 2,728 steals - and he was also the first player to score at least 20,000 points while recording at least 10,000 assists - - Paul is one of seven (7) players to have an NBA career span of at least 21 seasons - - Although Paul never obtained an NBA title, he is just fine, as he is one of six (6) players in NBA history to have reached $400 million in career earnings - - CP3 made the announcement after being waived by the Toronto Raptors on Friday after being traded from the Los Angeles Clippers, following a fallout with HC Tyronn Lue, as the Raptors knew Paul would never play in Toronto. . .Q: Are you surprised that CP3 did not sign with a different NBA franchise to finish out his 21st career season?. . ."The 2026 NBA All-Star Game:" In this section, JD & Spencer discuss the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, its' new round-robin format, its' ratings - - as well as the outcome for both the 2026 State Farm 3-Point Contest & the 2026 NBA Slam Dunk Contest - - **Be Sure to Tune in!!. . . Thanks for Listening!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 122 - The "Whack Heard 'Round The World" Episode includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Basketball: Charles Bediako's college basketball career is officially over, Again. .after an Alabama circuit judge denied his motion appeal for a preliminary injunction on Monday, ending the 7-foot center's season with Nate Oats & the Alabama Crimson Tide - - Tuscaloosa County Circuit Judge Daniel F. Pruet halted Bediako's bid to regain eligibility after he left Alabama early to enter the 2023 NBA Draft, and although he went undrafted, he did sign a two-way NBA contract with the San Antonio Spurs & played the past three (3) seasons in the NBA's developmental league (i.e., G-League) - moves that ultimately disqualified him from collegiate competition, according to the NCAA - - Judge Pruet ruled that Bediako did not have a "reasonable expectation," that he would be allowed to return to college basketball when no other player has been granted such eligibility under similar circumstances, although Amari Bailey, the former UCLA standout guard, who was drafted in the second round of the NBA Draft & physically competed in 10 NBA games throughout his two-year career, and is now attempting to regain eligibility to play at the collegiate level - - The Bediako ruling, whether you agree or disagree with the result, should serve as a precedent for the NCAA and college sports universally: in other words, if you give up eligibility and decide to turn pro, and are willingly drafted, you are not entitled to return to college sports just because you aren't the 'star player,' or if you spend more time on the bench than you do on the court (or field, etc.) - - Shortly after the ruling on Monday, NCAA President Charlie Baker released a statement, stating that he was glad that the court "upheld the rules of our members,". . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Tuscaloosa County (AL) Circuit Judge's ruling to deny Charles Bediako's appeal for NCAA eligibility? Should this particular ruling serve as a precedent for other prospects that are attempting to regain eligibility at the NCAA (or college) level?. . .In this next section, JD & Spencer discuss a few of the more impactful and/or notable NCAA men's college basketball games from across the country that occurred this past weekend, including, but not limited to the following matchups: the Seth Trimble "buzzer beater" in the heated rivalry between No.4 Duke Blue Devils and No.14 North Carolina Tar Heels (Saturday 2/7); the Darryn Peterson-less & No.9 Kansas Jayhawks pull off the upset over No.1 and previously unbeaten Arizona Wildcats (Monday 2/9). . . - NFL - - "The 15th Annual NFL Honors:" On Thursday, and three (3) days prior to Super Bowl 60, the NFL wrapped up the 2025 season by recognizing its' top individual performers, at the 15th Annual NFL Honors Ceremony, which were hosted by actor Jon Hamm, at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, where it once again served as the forum for the league to reveal the winners of its' most prestigious awards: this included such awards as the Offensive & Defensive Player of the Year as well as the AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year, and finally, the Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award, which were presented by a variety of celebrities (i.e., Druski) and NFL Hall of Fame legends (i.e., Jerry Rice) - - The Pro Football Hall of Fame also unveiled its five-person class, which had already been a topic of speculation & controversy after it was revealed last week that Bill Belichick, Patriots owner Robert Kraft & former New York Giants & Super-Bowl winning QB Eli Manning, had been omitted as first-ballot Hall of Famers - - Let's examine the outcome & discuss our thoughts regarding each individual award that was presented at this year's Honors' ceremony: AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award: The 2025 AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award was presented to Cleveland Browns DE Myles Garrett - - Garrett, the preeminent EDGE/pass rusher of his generation, he took advantage of the 2025 league year, turning it into a record-breaking season, which subsequently led to him winning his second DPOY award - - Garrett's 23 sacks broke the single-season record that was previously shared by Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan & Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt - - **NOTE: Garrett achieved this feat despite being double-teamed or chipped on 39.5% of his pass rushes this season, per NFL Next Gen Stats, more than any other pass rusher in the NFL - - Also, his 33 TFL were the second-most by a player since the year 2000, trailing only J.J. Watt's 39 in 2012. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Browns DE Myles Garrett being awarded the 2025 AP NFL DPOY award? Do you think Myles Garrett will go down in NFL history as the most proficient/explosive EDGE to ever play in the league?. . . AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award: The 2025 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award was presented to Carolina Panthers WR Tetairoa McMillan - - McMillan referred to his rookie season in the NFL as "average," but the Panthers wideout was anything but that - - **NOTE: The No.8 pick of the 2025 NFL Draft finished the regular season with 70 catches on 122 targets for 1,014 yards and seven (7) TDs to lead all rookies in receiving yards, and to set a Carolina Panthers franchise record in that category - - Twenty-seven (27) of his receptions were considered explosive (16+ yards), more than any other rookie in the league - - and quite possibly, the most important aspect of McMillan's presence in Carolina, is that QB Bryce Young, for the first time in his three (3) seasons spent in the league, had a true WR1, which allowed him to flourish statistically - as well as to assist the Panthers in advancing to the NFL postseason. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Panthers WR Tetairoa McMillan being awarded the 2025 AP NFL OROY Award? Do you expect that he will continue to be a major threat through the air for the Carolina Panthers for the near foreseeable future?. . . 2025 AP NFL Protector of the Year Award: The 2025 and inaugural AP NFL Protector of the Year Award was presented to Chicago Bears Guard Joe Thuney - - Thuney earned first-team All-Pro honors for a fourth straight season, and paid immediate dividends for the Bears' revamped offensive line after being traded from Kansas City to Chicago in March of this year - - The 33-year-old LG did not allow a single sack & logged the second-most snaps of any of the other players on the Bears' offense (99.57%), as QB Caleb Williams took 44 fewer sacks in 2025 than in his rookie season, in large part due to the notable improvements Chicago made along the interior of the offensive line - - **NOTE: Thuney was tied for the lead among all interior offensive linemen in pass block win rate this season by sustaining his blocks for 2.5 seconds 98% of the time - - Shortly after LT Ozzy Trapilo (rookie) went down after sustaining a season-ending knee injury in the playoffs, Thuney moved to LT for Chicago's divisional round matchup against the Rams, which marked the second consecutive postseason in which Thuney was moved to play at the tackle position. . . 2025 NFL AP Comeback Player of the Year Award: The 2025 NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award was presented to San Francisco 49ers do-it-all RB Christian McCaffrey - - After bilateral Achilles tendinitis and a right knee injury limited him to just four (4) games in the 2024 NFL season, Niners RB Christian McCaffrey returned to his usual, versatile self in 2025 - - **NOTE: This is McCaffrey's first Comeback Player of the Year award after he finished second in 2022 - - He earned it by virtue of his 2,126 scrimmage yards (second in the NFL) and 17 total TDs (3rd) - and perhaps, more important, he started all 19 games for San Francisco (including the playoffs) - - In the 2025 regular season, McCaffrey had a league-high 413 touches, which is 44 more than the next closest player, and the highest total of his nine (9) seasons in the league - - In the offseason, McCaffrey spent much of his time rehabbing from his knee injury and strengthening his Achilles to take on the rigors of another season - - and in 2025, as injuries mounted around him, he was the one constant in San Francisco's offense, playing a pivotal role in helping the Niners finish the regular season with a 12-5 record, and reach the NFC Divisional Round of the playoffs. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Niners' RB Christian McCaffrey being awarded the 2025 AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award?. . . 2025 AP NFL Head Coach of the Year Award: The 2025 AP NFL Head Coach of the Year Award was presented to New England Patriots HC Mike Vrabel, who in his first season with the franchise, led the Patriots to its' 12th Super Bowl appearance - - Taking over a team that won just four (4) games in each of the past two seasons, Vrabel directed the Patriots to a 14-3 record at the conclusion of the regular season - - **NOTE: The 10-game improvement tied the 1999 Colts and 2008 Dolphins for the best turnaround in NFL history, as he joins George Seifert (1989, Niners) & Jim Caldwell (2009, Colts) as the only coaches to win 14 games in their first year with an NFL franchise - - Players credited Vrabel, 50, with instilling a culture that placed a heavy emphasis on connectivity, and one such way that he did that, was by introducing his "4 H's" in the spring, where each coach & player shared their history, hero, heartbreak and hope in front of the entire team. . .Q: What are your thoughts on New England Patriots HC Mike Vrabel being awarded the 2025 AP NFL Head Coach of the Year Award?. . . 2025 AP NFL Assistant Coach of the Year: The 2025 AP NFL Assistant Coach of the Year Award was presented to New England Patriots OC Josh McDaniels, as he was recognized for transforming the Patriots' offense into a top six unit in the league in total, passing, and rushing yards, while also helping to develop second-year QB Drake Maye - - In returning to New England for his third separate stint as the OC, the 49-year-old McDaniels had spent 2024 out of the NFL after being fired as the Raiders HC in October 2023 - - His work with Maye this season has been exemplary, helping the second-year QB develop into a bonafide MVP candidate, as the two spent the spring getting to know each other, which ultimately led to the QB finishing the 2025 season ranked first in completion percentage (72%), QBR (77.1) and yards per attempt (8.93) - - **NOTE: The Patriots' offense under McDaniels, which was just the second team in the league since 2000 to open a season with rookies starting at LT (Will Campbell) and LG (Jared Wilson), and finished the regular season ranked third in total yards per game (379.4). . . 2025 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award:The 2025 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award was presented to Cleveland Browns LB Carson Schwesinger - - On a defense that saw DE Myles Garrett break the single-season sack record, it was difficult to ignore Schwesinger - - **NOTE: The No.33 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Schwesinger led all rookies in tackles (146) and TFLs (11), and he tied for third in INTs (2) - - A former walk-on at UCLA, Schwesinger wore a helmet with the easily identifiable green dot, serving as the signal-caller for the league's fourth-best team in total defense. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Browns LB Carson Schwesinger being awarded the 2025 AP DROY?. . . 2025 AP Offensive Player of the Year Award: The 2025 AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award was presented to Seattle Seahawks' Jaxon Smith-Njigba, as the former Ohio St. wideout played his way into the conversation of the NFL's best WRs with the most prolific season a Seahawks pass catcher has ever had: **NOTE: Smith-Njigba's 1,793 receiving yards led the NFL & set a franchise record, and he scored 10 TDs & finished second among all players in yards per target at 10.9 on his way to making the Pro Bowl & being named a first-team All-Pro- - and, he recorded these stats, meanwhile, the Seattle Seahawks, according to NFL Next Gen Stats, were the NFL's most run-heavy offense in the league, with a designed rush rate of 47.6%. . .Q: What are your thoughts on JSN being awarded the 2025 AP NFL OPOY Award? Were you surprised in the slightest bit that JSN won the Award?. . . 2025 AP NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award: The 2025 AP NFL Most Valuable Player Award was presented to Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford - - At the ripe age of 37, and in his 17th NFL season, Stafford led the NFL in passing yards (4,707), TDs (46) and TDs-to-INTs ratio (5.8) - - He threw for 313 more passing yards & 15 more TDs than MVP runner-up, and New England Patriots QB Drake Maye - - **NOTE: Stafford's 2025 season was the eighth time in NFL history that a QB threw for at least 4,500 yards and 45 TDs in a single season, according to ESPN Research - where six (6) of the previous seven (7) QBs to do so were awarded the NFL MVP Award, with the only exception being Drew Brees in 2011, as QB Aaron Rodgers also reached those thresholds that season - - Stafford went eight (8) consecutive games without throwing an INT in the middle of the 2025 season, which is incredibly difficult to do - - and during that particular stretch, Stafford threw 28 straight TDs, and according to Elias, that was the longest streak of passing TDs without an INT by any player since play-by-play was first tracked in 1978 - - Prior to stepping down from the stage, and after Stafford was presented with the 2025 MVP Award, Stafford took the time to make a major announcement: he will be returning for the 2026 NFL season as he embarks on his 18th season in the league. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Rams QB Matthew Stafford being awarded the 2025 NFL MVP Award? Thoughts or input on Stafford's announcement that he will return for the Rams next season?. . . The Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2026, which was announced on Thursday night as part of the NFL Honors ceremony, included the following former NFL players: (1) QB Drew Brees, who is one (of two) NFL QBs to throw for more than 80,000 career yards. . .(2) WR Larry Fitzgerald, who finished his career second only to Hall of Famer Jerry Rice in career receptions and receiving yards; and joining them will be. . .(3) LB Luke Kuechly and (4) Kicker Adam Vinatieri, and finally (5) RB Roger Craig, one of three (3) Senior finalists, will also be in the 2026 Hall of Fame class. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2026? Do you question as to why these particular five players are eligible for HOF enshrinement, and Bill Belichick is not?. . . - Atlanta Falcons rookie LB James Pearce Jr. allegedly crashed his vehicle into another that was being driven by WNBA player Rickea Jackson multiple times & struck a police officer with the vehicle while evading arrest, according to a criminal complaint obtained by ESPN from the Miami-Dade County (FL) state attorney's office - - Pearce was arrested Saturday in Florida on five (5) felony charges, including aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated stalking & aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer - - Pearce was released from the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on Sunday night after posting a $20,500 bond - - Jackson informed police that she and Pearce had previously dated for approximately three (3) years, but recently ended their relationship - - Jackson, who plays for the Los Angeles Sparks, told police that she saw Pearce following her car in a white Lamborghini SUV on Saturday morning - - When Jackson's car stopped at a red light, Pearce got out of his vehicle and attempted to open her car door on the driver's side – Jackson accelerated away & started driving toward the Doral (Florida) Police Department – Pearce reentered his vehicle and continued following her, and during the drive to the police station, Jackson said Pearce “intentionally collided into the rear of her vehicle,” with his SUV – As she got to the intersection near the police station, Jackson said Pearce cut her off with his car and when she attempted to back out and get away, he used his car to collide with hers head-on - - Doral PD responded to the scene after Jackson called - - and according to the affidavit, they saw Pearce standing on the outside of his SUV on the driver's side with the door open – An officer pulled a gun on Pearce and ordered him to get on the ground, yet Pearce got back in his car & closed the door - - The officer opened the door, but Pearce shut it again, locked it & drove away - - While Pearce was driving away, the SUV struck an officer in his left knee, as the affidavit describes it as “intentionally in an attempt to evade arrest.” - - Police followed Pearce's vehicle in cars until Pearce crashed at an intersection, at which point, Pearce then got out of his car & fled on foot - - Officers were able to catch up with him, though Pearce “began to resist arrest by tensing his arms and not allowing officers to apprehend him.” - - The affidavit says Pearce was “triaged on scene” and later taken to Jackson West Medical Center for further assessment, and after which, he spent Saturday night and most of the day Sunday in custody at Turner Guilford Knight Corrections Center - - Pearce is facing two felony counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and a felony count of aggravated stalking – Other charges include fleeing and eluding police officers and aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer - - also felonies - - and a misdemeanor count of resisting an officer without violence to his person - - In response to the incident, the Atlanta Falcons issued a statement Saturday night saying they were “gathering more information.” - - **NOTE: Pearce, who finished third in AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year voting at NFL Honors on Thursday, set a Falcons rookie record with a team-leading 10.5 sacks in 2025. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Atlanta Falcons' James Pearce Jr. situation? Should the NFL franchise consider releasing the rookie LB?. . ."Super Bowl LX Review & Recap:" In this particular discussion segment, JD & Spencer provide a detailed review of Super Bowl 60 as well as a recap of the halftime show. . .**Be Sure to Tune in for the Tradition's Finest Super Bowl LX Review. . . - NFL (cont'd) - - Klint Kubiak just won the Super Bowl, but unlike his fellow Seahawks, he is not headed to Disney World. . .Nah, Kubiak is going to Las Vegas, Sin City, baby!. . The NFL Network interviewed the Seahawks OC in the aftermath of Seattle's dominant 29-13 win over the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl on Sunday night, and in the post-game interview, he confirmed what might've been the worst kept secret in football. . . .that he's leaving Seattle to take over as the next HC of the Las Vegas Raiders after signing a five-year deal with the franchise, and he is "very excited to get to work!" - - Kubiak didn't volunteer the information when asked an open-ended question, but when pressed, he spilled the beans: "You guys know I'm going to Las Vegas, I'm fired up about it," Kubiak said. "Hell yeah, I'm going! Of course I'm going!" - - however, the news has essentially been known for a week now, as Kubiak and the Raiders reportedly reached an agreement on a deal on Feb.1, but since Kubiak was the OC of an NFL franchise that was preparing to play in the Super Bowl, neither he nor the Raiders could confirm their partnership - - And while Kubiak is highly unlikely to return to the Super Bowl next season, there's a reason for excitement for the Raiders franchise, who are coming off a 3-14 campaign in 2025 - as there's a decent chance that Heisman Trophy winner & national champion-winning QB Fernando Mendoza will play for the "Black & Grey" next season. . .Q: What overall grade would you assess the Las Vegas Raiders' hire of Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak as their next HC?. . . - NBA - - Prior to the Detroit Pistons' 110-104 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Monday night, a fight between both sides in the 3rd QTR, resulted in four (4) player ejections: Charlotte's Moussa Diabate and Miles Bridges were tossed along with Detroit's Jalen Duren & Isaiah Stewart (who would have guessed it?!?), while Hornets coach Charles Lee was ejected in the 4th QTR after he had to be restrained from going after an official while arguing a call - - The brawl was initiated by the following event(s): Pistons' Jalen Duren had the ball and was driving toward the basket with just over seven (7) minutes left in the 3rd QTR when he was fouled by Hornets' Moussa Diabate - - Duren turned around to get face-to-face with Diabate, and the two appeared to butt heads - Duren then pushed Diabate in the face with his open right hand, starting a confrontation that lasted more than 30 seconds, and ultimately ended with a brief police presence on the court - - While Pistons forward Tobias Harris was holding Diabate back, Diabate threw a punch at Duren, who turned & walked away - - but then Hornets' Miles Bridges began to charge at Diabate, throwing a left-handed punch - - Duren then retaliated with a punch, and Diabate attempted to charge at Duren again & had to be restrained - - Meanwhile, Detroit Pistons' Isaiah Stewart (aka "The Ultimate Fighter") left the bench to confront Bridges, who responded immediately with a punch, and the players tussled - - and at one point, Stewart got Bridges in a headlock and delivered multiple left-handed blows to his head. . .**UPDATE: The NBA announced that Detroit Pistons F/C Isaiah Stewart has been suspended for seven (7) games for leaving the Pistons' bench and for participating in the brawl on Monday night - - The league also suspended Hornets forwards Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate four (4) games each for fighting and escalating the altercation, which occurred midway through the 3rd QTR - - Pistons center Jalen Duren was also suspended two games for initiating the altercation & fighting, the league released in a statement on Tuesday. . .LeBron James' All-NBA streak is officially coming to an end, and the Lakers were majorly undermanned Tuesday night when they hosted the San Antonio Spurs - - James was ruled out of the game with left foot arthritis, the Lakers announced, along with announcing the absences of Luka Doncic (hamstring strain), Austin Reaves (left calf injury management) and Marcus Smart (right ankle soreness) - - It was James' 18th missed games of the season, making it impossible for him to reach the 65-game minimum threshold that's required to be eligible for the NBA's annual awards, whereas James has been named to an All-NBA team for a record-setting 21 straight seasons. . .Q: Should the NBA, at minumum, name LeBron James as a member of this year's Third-Team All-NBA, just to prolong his historic run? Or not a chance in hell?. . . Thanks for Listening!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 121 - "The Super Bowl Episode" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Basketball: In this particular segment, JD & Spencer introduce and have a brief discussion on the most recent and/or updated Week 13 release of the AP Men's College Basketball Top 25 Poll - - as well as to dive into a few of the most notable NCAAM basketball games from across the country this past week, including but not limited to: (1) last Friday's Top-25 matchup between the Michigan Wolverines & Michigan State Spartans, (2) the Top-10 battle between Big Ten Conference foes, Illinois & Nebraska, and finally, (3) Sunday's SEC Conference showdown between the Crimson Tide & the reigning national champion Florida Gators. . .As we entered into this week, or the first week of February - and with "March Madness" just around the corner - the Arizona Wildcats & the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks are the last two unbeaten teams standing, and with the release of the Week 13 AP Top 25 poll, only four (4) teams' rankings remain unchanged from the previous week - - The Wildcats held on to the unanimous No.1 ranking for a third consecutive week, as Arizona has its best start in program history, and it's 22-0 record is also tied for the longest winning streak in school history (i.e., The Wildcats won 22 straight games in 1914-17) - - Saturday, Jan. 31st: No.1 Arizona Wildcats at Arizona State Sun Devils - - Koa Peat scored 21 points, fellow freshman Brayden Burries came off the bench to add 17, and No.1 Arizona defeated in-state rival Arizona State 87-74 on Saturday, setting a school record with their 22nd straight win to start the season - - Arizona (22-0, 9-0 Big 12) is one of just two undefeated teams in the nation, along with No.23 Miami (Ohio) - - **NOTE: The Wildcats' winning streak also tied the Big 12 record to start a season, which was originally set by the Kansas Jayhawks in 1996-97- - Arizona State led for much of the first few minutes of the game, but the Wildcats used a 13-2 scoring run to take a 25-18 lead with 7:00 left in the first half, as Koa Peat made a layup to cap the run, finishing through contact that left him bloodied around his left eye - - The Sun Devils recovered, tying the game at 38-all just before the halftime break when Sun Devils G Noah Meeusen made a 3-pointer with two seconds remaining - - The Wildcats, who shot 60% from the field in the second half, scored the first six (6) points to begin the second half, to take a 44-38 lead & never trailed again - - While the gritty Sun Devils cut into the deficit several times, they never could generate enough offense to keep pace with the Wildcats - - Stat Leaders: Noah Meeusen scored 16 points, while guard Maurice Odom added 15 for the Sun Devils, and Arizona State (11-11, 2-7 Big 12) has dropped nine (9) of its last 11 games, whereas C Motiejus Krivas fought through foul trouble to finish with 15 points, and forward Tobe Awaka had a career-high 13 rebounds - - **NOTE: The Sun Devils fell to 2-10 all-time against the nation's No.1 team, as their last win over a top-ranked program came when Arizona State knocked off Kansas in Dec. 2018. . .In the Week 13 AP Poll, the Wildcats are followed by the Michigan Wolverines, which flipped spots with the UConn Huskies (No.3) to move up to the No.2 spot, following their conference wins over previously-unbeaten No.5 Nebraska, as well as their in-state rival in Tom Izzo's Spartans, as the Wolverines are 5-0 against ranked teams this season - with four (4) of those wins coming by double-digits - - As for the No.3 Huskies, they improved to 11-0 in Big East Conference play for the first time since its' 1998-99 NCAA title run - - **NOTE: UConn is on a 17-game winning streak, its longest single-season win streak since winning 19 in a row in the 1998-99 season - - Friday, Jan. 30th: No.3 Michigan Wolverines at No.17 Michigan State Spartans - - Prior to tipoff, Michigan State fans serenaded Michigan HC Dusty May with expletive-filled chants, but it was the Wolverines' HC that would ultimately have the last laugh in this one: Forward Yaxel Lendeborg had 26 points & 12 rebounds, guards Elliot Cadeau scored 17 and Morez Johnson added 12 points to lead No.3 Michigan to an 83-71 victory over the 17th-ranked Spartans in East Lansing on Friday night - - With the win, the Wolverines (20-1, 10-1 Big Ten) moved into sole possession of first place in the Big Ten Conference, whereas the Spartans (19-3, 9-2 Big Ten) missed 14 of their 18 shots (22%), and they finished the first half with more turnovers (11) than FGM (7) and trailed the Wolverines by 16 points at the halftime break - - Michigan State went on a 13-2 run early in the second half to pull within three (3) points and F Jaxon Kohler, who finished the game with 12 points, made a game-tying 3-pointer with 7:57 left in regulation - - G Jeremy Fears, who scored a career-high 31 points, had a steal and a layup that put the Spartans ahead 57-55 with 7:27 to go for their first lead of the game. . .but that didn't last too long. . .as Michigan responded with clutch shooting, making 5 of 6 shots, while holding Michigan State scoreless for more than three (3) minutes to seal its sixth straight victory, and as Michigan finished the game on a 19-8 run in the final four (4) minutes of regulation - - Stat Leaders: Forwards Coen Carr & Jordan Scott each scored 10 points for the Spartans, whose seven-game winning streak was snapped by the Wolverines - - Michigan had a big advantage in outside shooting, making 8 of 21 (38%) of their three-point shots, while Michigan State missed 19 of 23 (17%) shots from beyond the arc - - "No Love Lost:" Michigan HC Dusty May & Michigan State HC Tom Izzo accused each other's team of "dirty play" after the Wolverines' 83-71 victory on Friday, as during one particular sequence in the game, Michigan State star guard Jeremy Fears made contact with Yaxel Lendeborg, appearing to trip the Michigan star forward, and with May claiming that the act was "intentional," whereas Izzo responded that it was "the result of heated competition," but this back & forth between the two coaches will most certainly stir the pot and/or add fuel to the fire of this in-state rivalry between the Wolverines and Spartans. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the accusatory comments made at the press conference on Monday by Michigan HC Dusty May and Michigan State HC Tom Izzo? - - At No.4 in this week's AP Top 25 poll is Duke, as the Blue Devils are 20-1, its fewest games required to reach 20 wins since the 2007-08 season, and at No.5 is the Illinois Fighting Illini - - **NOTE: The Big Ten Conference continues to have two teams the top five, with Illinois replacing Nebraska as the final team, after the Cornhuskers dropped two straight games this past week (i.e., at Michigan, vs. Illinois): Illini freshman guard Keaton Wagler is the first player in AP poll history to score 25 or more points in multiple road wins against top five opponents this season (i.e., 46 in road win over Purdue & 28 points this weekend over Nebraska) - as the Cornhuskers remain in the top 10, however, they did slide down four (4) spots to No.9 this week - - Sunday, Feb. 1st: No.9 Illinois Fighting Illini at No.5 Nebraska Cornhuskers - - Freshman guard Keaton Wagler scored 28 points as No.9 Illinois won its 11th straight game, defeating No.5 Nebraska 78-69 on Sunday in the first top-10 matchup the Cornhuskers have hosted - - The Fighting Illini (19-3, 10-1 Big Ten), who haven't lost a game since an 83-80 loss at home to Nebraska back on Dec.13, held the Huskers to four (4) FGs in the first 13 minutes of the second half - - The Cornhuskers (20-2, 9-2 Big Ten) lost its second consecutive game, after they lost to No.3 Michigan on the road last Tuesday, which ended their 24-game win streak dating back to last season - - Stat Leaders: F Jake Davis finished with 13 points for Illinois, C Tomislav Ivisic scored 12 and F David Mirkovic had 10, whereas F Braden Frager - who returned for the Cornhuskers after missing the previous two games with an ankle injury - scored 20 points, F Pryce Sandfort added 14 points, guards Sam Hoiberg & Jamarques Lawrence scored 13 and 10 points, respectively - - Nebraska hit 11 of 20 (55%) of its 3-point attempts before halftime to take a 39-33 lead into the halftime break, however, the 'Huskers came out flat, only making four (4) 3-pointers in the second half against a tightened Illinois defense - - The Illini outscored Nebraska 18-8 to open the second half, as Keaton Wagler nailed a 3-pointer with 13:05 remaining to put Illinois ahead 49-47, a lead it did not relinquish - as the Huskers trailed by at least seven (7) points the rest of the way - - While Illinois made nine (9) 3-pointers to 15 for Nebraska, the Illini dominated the free-throw line, outscoring the Huskers 21-4, and they also had a 10-point edge in the paint & 40-27 advantage in rebounds - - Gonzaga remained at No.6, while Iowa State & Houston climbed one spot apiece (No.7 and No.8, respectively) - - Following their loss to in-state rival Michigan, the Michigan State Spartans fell three (3) spots to No.10 - - Tuesday, Feb. 3rd: No.23 Miami (Ohio) RedHawks at Buffalo Bulls - - Guard Luke Skaljac scored a career-high 19 points as No.23 Miami (Ohio) once again avoided the upset, held on for the 73-71 victory over Buffalo on Tuesday night, extending the longest winning streak in MAC Conference history to 23 games - - Stat Leaders: G Brant Byers added 11 points for the RedHawks (23-0, 11-0 MAC), and Peter Suder finished with 10 points, 8 assists & 5 boards, whereas guards Angelo Brizzi scored 22 points & Daniel Freitag had 18 to lead Buffalo (14-9, 4-7 MAC) - - The Bulls have now lost seven (7) their last eight (8) games following a 13-2 start to the regular season, which was the second-best in the program's history at the D-1 level - - **NOTE: Miami's 73 points were a season low, as the RedHawks entered the game leading the country in averaging 93.7 points per game - - The Bulls tied the score three (3) times with less than seven (7) minutes remaining before Miami took command with a 6-0 run, and by holding Buffalo scoreless over a 3:49 span - - This was the second consecutive close game between these two MAC teams this season, as previously, the RedHawks defeated the Bulls 105-102 in OT on Jan. 17 - - **NOTE: Miami's ranking is its highest since being ranked No.22 in November 1998, and they are the first MAC program ranked since Buffalo finished the 2018-19 season at No.15. . .Q: Are the No. 23 Miami (Ohio) RedHawks a legit contender in this year's NCAA Tournament, or more likely a pretender? (i.e., do you expect them to advance beyond the Round of 64? 32?) - - The Kansas Jayhawks climbed three (3) spots to No.11 following its 90-82 win over BYU on Saturday, while the Purdue Boilermakers remained at the No.12 spot, and Texas Tech closed out the week at No.13 - - North Carolina & Vanderbilt rounded out the top 15, and BYU, Florida, Virginia, Saint Louis & Clemson finished out the top 20 - - **NOTE: The Saint Louis Billikens (21-1), who had won 15 consecutive games, have reached their highest ranking since March 2024, when they were ranked 18th, and went on to win the Atlantic 10 Conference Championship - and to date, they have seven (7) 100-point games this season, tied with Georgia, Miami (OH) & Michigan for the most in Division I, as well as the most such games in a single season in A-10 history - The Billikens are led by guard Robbie Avila aka "Cream Abdul-Jabbar," who on the season is averaging 12.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 4.0 apg, and is shooting 53.3% from the field - - Arkansas, St. John's, Miami (Ohio), Louisville & Tennessee held down the final five spots (i.e., No.21 - 25) in this week's Top 25 Poll - - Sunday, Feb. 1st: No.23 Alabama Crimson Tide at No.19 Florida Gators - - Forward Alex Condon scored 25 points, Thomas Haugh added 22 and No.19 Florida dominated the No.23 Crimson Tide & Charles Bediako 100-77 on Sunday afternoon, which was Florida's fifth consecutive victory in the series, and occurred a little more than a week after Gators HC Todd Golden made the following statement: "We're gonna beat 'em anyways," in reference to a Tuscaloosa County judge's decision to allow Bediako to return to college - - This game was so one-sided that 7-foot-9 Olivier Rioux, the world's tallest teenager, checked into the game for the final minute & scored the Gators' last basket - - Prior to that, Florida used a 13-2 scoring run late in the first half to help build a 10-point lead at the halftime break, and ultimately turned the Top-25 matchup into a lopsided affair by scoring the first 12 points coming out of the locker room - - Guard Boogie Fland chipped in 15 points, 8 assists as well as one of the wildest stats observed in a D-I college basketball game: he finished with eight (8) steals for the defending national champion Gators (16-6, 7-2 SEC), as Fland dominated his matchup against the SEC's leading scorer, Labaron Philon - - **NOTE: Fland's eight (8) steals matched the program record, which was set by Clifford Lett in 1989 - - Philon, who entered into this game, averaging 22 points, finished with 14, while fellow guard Aden Holloway led the Crimson Tide (14-7, 4-4 SEC), with 19 points - - It was Florida's frontcourt that was the difference in this game: Condon, Haugh & Rueben Chinyelu combined for 61 points, 29 rebounds & five (5) blocks, and the Gators outscored Alabama 72-26 in the paint - - **NOTE: The stat of the game: Alabama finished the game with 18 turnovers, while Florida had just two - - As for Bediako, the 7-foot center who is suing the NCAA in an attempt to regain college eligibility, played in his third game with the Crimson Tide and first on the road, while Florida's student section taunted him with chants of "G League dropout," when he entered the game and each time he touched the ball: Bediako finished the game with six (6) points and seven (7) rebounds prior to fouling out with a little over two minutes to play - - "Rising and Falling:" Kansas, Vandy & St. John's made up the most ground this week, climbing three (3) spots apiece, while Tennessee, who were previously ranked as high as No.13 earlier in the season, climbed back into the poll at No.25 after falling out of the rankings for two weeks: The Volunteers returned to the AP Poll at the expense of Alabama, as Nate Oats' squad had the fifth-longest active poll streak in the country, snapped at 42 consecutive weeks - - "Conference Watch:" The Big 12 Conference led the Week 13 AP Poll with six (6) teams, while the Big Ten and ACC both had five (5) apiece - - The SEC had four (4) ranked teams, the Big East had two (2) and the West Coast (WCC), Atlantic-10 (A10) and MAC each had one apiece. . .Former UCLA standout Amari Bailey said he is attempting to become the first basketball player to return to college after playing in NBA games - - The 6-foot-3 guard played one season at UCLA in 2022-23 before entering the 2023 NBA Draft, where he was selected by the Charlotte Hornets in the second round: Bailey would go on to play in 10 games for the Hornets throughout his rookie season on a two-way contract, and spent two years in the G League prior to being cut over the summer - - Bailey, 21, has hired an agent and a lawyer to prepare for a fight with the NCAA over his eligibility in hopes that he may join a college team and play one more season - as his effort will be another substantial legal test for the NCAA's ability to enforce rules that decide who can participate college sports, especially during an era where waivers and lawsuits are tools that may be used as a viable way to obtain entry into the sport . . .Q: Should Amari Bailey be permitted to return to playing college basketball after participating in 10 games for the NBA's Charlotte Hornets after being drafted in 2023?. . . - NCAA: News & Storylines (cont'd) - - NCAA College Football: Florida State OC Gus Malzahn announced his retirement on Monday after 35 years spent in coaching, which included stints as the HC at Arkansas State, Auburn & UCF - - Malzahn, 60, spent this past season with the Seminoles to be closer to family after stepping down at UCF, where he spent the previous four (4) seasons - - **NOTE: In 13 years as a HC at the collegiate level, Malzahn went 105-62, with only two losing seasons - - In eight (8) years spent at Auburn from 2013 to 2020, Malzahn went 63-35, including a national championship game appearance in 2013 against Florida State & two SEC West division titles - - In his one year at Florida State, the Seminoles' offense improved dramatically, as FSU led the ACC Conference in total offense (472.1 ypg) and rushing (218.7 ypg) - - After beginning his career as a high school coach in Arkansas, Malzahn's high-tempo spread offense got him into the college game, first as an OC at Arkansas in 2006 and eventually as the OC at Auburn from 2009 to 2011, where his offense helped QB Cam Newton win the Heisman Trophy, and the Tigers to achieve a 14-0 perfect season as well as win the 2010 national title - - Sources indicated that family considerations led Malzahn to step down, and shortly afterward, Florida State HC Mike Norvell announced that co-OC and WRs coach Tim Harris, had been promoted to fulfill the vacant OC position. . .Q: As Alabama fans, we certainly have witnessed & endured our fair share of battles with Gus Malzahn while he was the OC (and HC) at Auburn, but it would be almost impossible for us to not acknowledge the legacy of the "Gus-train," and how impressive of an offensive-minded coach he is: What are your thoughts on Gus Malzahn's retirement announcement?. . . - NFL - - The Arizona Cardinals have hired Mike LaFleur as their new HC, with the Los Angeles Rams OC agreeing to a five-year contract, the team announced on Sunday afternoon - - **NOTE: LaFleur is now the fourth Rams OC under Sean McVay to be hired as an NFL head coach, and with all four (4) of those former OCs currently serving as NFL HCs (i.e., 2023-25: Mike LaFleur --> Cardinals; 2022: Liam Coen --> Jaguars; 2020-21: Kevin O'Connell --> Vikings; *2018-19: No OC; and 2017: Matt LaFleur --> Packers) - - LaFleur, 38, replaces Jonathan Gannon, who was fired as Arizona's HC on Jan.5, kicking off a search for Gannon's replacement that lasted nearly a month - - **NOTE: LaFleur is the sixth straight HC hired by the Cardinals who does not have permanent NFL head coaching experience (and it shows!), however, he does come to Arizona with a coaching pedigree and experience as an offensive playcaller: he spent the past three (3) seasons as the Rams OC and was the New York Jets OC from 2021-2022, however, LaFleur did not call the plays for the Rams, as it was under the guidance of HC Sean McVay - - **NOTE: Oh, and in terms of that coaching pedigree, LaFleur's older brother is Matt, the HC for the Green Bay Packers - - He has a deep familiarity with the NFC West division, after having spent three (3) seasons in Los Angeles and four (4) seasons - 2017 to 2020 - with the San Francisco 49ers - - LaFleur inherits a Cardinals' team that finished 3-14 last season, owns the third (3rd) pick in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft, and has a question mark at the QB position - as it is unknown whether Kyler Murray, Arizona's incumbent starter, will remain on the team for the 2026 season despite having $39.8 million already guaranteed - - He will be leading a team whose offense dropped off significantly in 2025 to become the 19th-ranked unit in the league, a year after being ranked 11th, whereas the Cardinals' defense ranked 27th (out of 32) last year after being 21st in 2024. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Arizona Cardinals hiring of Rams OC Mike LaFleur as their new HC and Jonathan Gannon's replacement? Does the Arizona Cardinals franchise put forth much faith in their coaching staff to succeed? - - "Super Bowl LX Preview Special:" In this particular discussion segment, JD & Spencer will preview, analyze, breakdown, provide their individual (and independent) predictions for the upcoming Super Bowl that is scheduled to occur in Santa Clara (CA) on Sunday, Feb. 8. . . Super Bowl LX: Seattle Seahawks (-4.5) vs. New England Patriots        O/U46.5 (I) Introduction: The New England Patriots (17-3) and the Seattle Seahawks (16-3) will meet in Super Bowl LX on Sunday at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara - - **NOTE: It will mark the first Super Bowl since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger between two teams that each ranked in the top four (4) in scoring offense and scoring defense during the NFL regular season. . . (II) Historical Context: The Patriots will make their 12th Super Bowl appearance, the most of any NFL franchise - - On Sunday, New England can become the first team to win seven (7) Super Bowls and surpass the San Francisco 49ers (40 postseason wins) for the most wins by a franchise in NFL history. . .Meanwhile, the Seahawks, who will appear in the Super Bowl for the fourth time, can secure their second Super Bowl victory in franchise history, having won Super Bowl XLVIII following the 2013 season (Seattle 43, Denver 8) - - **NOTE: New England and Seattle are the 10th pair of teams to meet in multiple Super Bowls, previously facing off in Super Bowl XLIX in Arizona following the 2014 season (Patriots 28, Seahawks 24) - - Super Bowl LX marks the 32nd consecutive season to feature a different Super Bowl matchup than the prior season - - New England can become the third team since the 2002 realignment to win the Super Bowl the season after finishing last in their division, joining the 2017 Philadelphia Eagles and the 2009 New Orleans Saints: After finishing with a 4-13 record in 2024, the Patriots are the fifth team to appear in the Super Bowl the season after winning fewer than five (5) games - - With New England and Seattle both advancing to Super Bowl LX, at least one team has advanced to the Super Bowl the season after missing the playoffs in six (6) of the past 10 seasons (2016-25). . . (III) Coaching Staff: With Mike Vrabel in his first season as the Patriots HC, and Mike Macdonald, hired by the Seahawks in 2024, Super Bowl LX will mark the fourth Super Bowl ever between HCs, each within their first two seasons with a team - - **NOTE: Macdonald, who will be 38 years and 227 days old on Super Bowl Sunday, can become the third-youngest HC to win the Super Bowl, trailing only Sean McVay (36 years, 20 days in Super Bowl LVI) & Mike Tomlin (36 year, 323 days in Super Bowl XLIII) - and he can also become the first HC under the age of 40 to win 17 games in a season, including the playoffs, in NFL history - - Mike Vrabel, on the other hand, can become the first HC in NFL history to win a Super Bowl both as a player and as a coach with the same NFL franchise. . . (IV) "The QBs:" New England QB Drake Maye, at 23 years and 162 days old, can become the youngest starting QB ever to win a Super Bowl, surpassing Ben Roethlisberger (23 years and 340 days old in Super Bowl XL) - - **NOTE: Maye can become the fifth QB ever to win a Super Bowl in his first or second season, joining Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, Pro Football Hall of Famer Kurt Warner, and Russell Wilson - - Seattle QB Sam Darnold can become the fourth QB ever to win a Super Bowl in his first season with a team, joining Tom Brady (Super Bowl LV with Tampa Bay), Trent Dilfer (Super Bowl XXXV with Baltimore), and Matthew Stafford (Super Bowl LVI with Los Angeles). . . (V) "The X-Factor?" Seattle WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba can become the fourth player to lead the NFL in receiving yards during the regular season & win the Super Bowl in the same year, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Drew Pearson (1977) and Jerry Rice (1989 & 1994) as well as Cooper Kupp (2021). . . (VI) Predictions: **Be Sure to Tune in for JD & Spencer's predictions for Super Bowl LX/Share Your Super Bowl LX Picks & Predictions with us via Twitter/X - @TraditionFinest or Send Us a Message to [email protected]!!. . . Q1: Which team will win the Coin Toss?. . . Q2: Who will win Super Bowl LX: the New England Patriots or the Seattle Seahawks?. . . Q3: What is your prediction for the halftime score of Super Bowl LX?. . . Q4: What is your prediction for the final score of Super Bowl LX?. . . Q5: Which player will be named Super Bowl MVP?. . . Q6: What color Gatorade will be dumped on the winning team's HC?. - NBA - - "Reservations for the King:" For a 22nd straight year, LeBron James is an All-Star. . .The NBA announced its reserves for the Feb.15 All-Star Game Sunday night on NBC prior to James & the Los Angeles Lakers faced off against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden - - Voting was conducted by the league's coaches over the past week - - **NOTE: James, 41, was the last player announced, as the league's oldest player extended his record for both overall and consecutive selections by another season. . .Q: What are your thoughts on LeBron James being named a reserve for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game?. . .Countdown to the NBA Trade Deadline: The Cleveland Cavaliers traded De'Andre Hunter to the Sacramento Kings for Dennis Schroder & Keon Ellis, the team announced on Sunday - - The three-team deal included the Chicago Bulls acquiring Kings forward Dario Saric and two future second-round picks - - The Memphis Grizzlies are trading for star forward Jaren Jackson Jr., John Konchar, Jock Landale, and Vince Williams Jr. to the Utah Jazz for Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks, Georges Niang & three future first-round draft picks, sources reported to ESPN on Tuesday afternoon - - The Boston Celtics have acquired center Nikola Vucevic in a trade with the Chicago Bulls, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania, adding some much-needed help to their frontcourt, and Boston will trade guard Anfernee Simons and a second-round draft pick to Chicago, sources told Charania. . ."The 'Land of Beard:" The Los Angeles Clippers are trading James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Darius Garland and a second-round pick, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania on Tuesday evening - - In an eight-team NBA trade, the Dallas Mavericks are trading 10-time NBA All-Star center Anthony Davis, Jaden Hardy, D'Angelo Russell and Dante Exum to the Washington Wizards for Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III, 2 first-round picks and 3 second-rounders, sources tell ESPN's Shams Charania on Wednesday – Washington is the fourth NBA franchise for Davis throughout his NBA career: Dallas is receiving a 2026 Thunder first-round pick and a 2030 protected Warriors first-round pick in this deal from the Wizards along with second rounders in 2026 (Phoenix), 2027 (Chicago) and 2029 (Houston), sources tell ESPN. . .The Philadelphia 76ers are trading guard Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder for a 2026 Rockets first-round pick and three second-round picks, sources informed ESPN on Wednesday afternoon. . . Thanks for Listening!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 120 - "The Immaculate Reception Episode" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Basketball: In the first part of this particular segment, JD & Spencer discuss & analyze a few of the most notable games from Week 13 of the NCAA College Basketball season, that has occurred within the past week, beginning with a Big 12 Conference matchup between the unanimous No.1 team in this week's AP Top 25 Poll for a fifth straight week, the Arizona Wildcats, and the No.13 BYU Cougars: Guard Brayden Burries scored 29 points and made a game-saving block in the final seconds as top-ranked Arizona remained undefeated by holding off a furious rally from No.13 BYU for an 86-83 victory on Monday night - - PG Jaden Bradley added 26 points for the Wildcats (21-0, 8-0 Big 12), who has now matched the best start in program history - - Fellow freshman AJ Dybantsa led the Cougars (17-3, 5-2 Big 12) with 24 points but struggled, shooting 25% from the field and 1-of-8 from the 3-point line, while guards Richie Saunders & Kennard Davis Jr., contributed 18 and 17 points, respectively - - After trailing by 19 points midway through the second half, the Cougars were able to trim the deficit to one with a 12-2 run that began with just more than a minute left - as forward Keba Keita's putback dunk pulled the Cougars to within 84-83 with just 16 seconds remaining in regulation - and after which, the Cougars would force a turnover on the ensuing inbounds play: On the next play, BYU guard Robert Wright III drove toward the rim and wriggled free for what appeared to be a good look at the basket, but Wildcats guard Brayden Burries said "Nah!" - - Burries came flying over from the weak side to block Wright's shot from behind, and the freshman guard was able to grab the loose ball & converted two free throws prior to BYU missing on a long heave at the buzzer - - Burries finished the game 13-of-15 at the foul line, and added five rebounds, four assists & three steals for the Wildcats, who handed BYU its first home loss despite the Cougars finishing the game shooting 50% from long distance after the halftime break. . .Q: What are your thoughts on this Arizona Wildcat basketball team? What's it going to take for a team to pull off the upset over Tommy Lloyd's squad?. . ."Purdue University is Really Going Through it:"No.12 Purdue Boilermakers at Indiana Hoosiers - - Guard(s) Lamar Wilkerson had 19 points, Nick Dorn had 18, and Conor Enright scored five of his eight points in the final 1:11 to help Indiana complete the upset over No.12 Purdue 72-67 on Tuesday night - - The Hoosiers (14-7, 5-5 Big Ten) have now won two consecutive games, and this is, to date, the most impressive win under HC Darian DeVries - and it came in his first matchup against Indiana's bitter in-state rival - and on the same night that college football's new national champions, were honored during a pre-game ceremony, on the same court where Hoosiers football coach Curt Cignetti once proclaimed "Purdue sucks," - - **NOTE: Following their win on Tuesday night, the Hoosiers have defeated ranked Boilermakers teams in four of their last five matchups at home - - F/C Trey Kaufman-Renn led the Boilermakers (17-4, 7-3 Big Ten) with 23 points and senior guard Braden Smith added 14 points, five rebounds & five assists, but it just wasn't enough for Purdue to avoid extending their losing streak to a season-worst three games - - Purdue did not look like itself: Indiana negated the Boilermakers' perceived advantage in the post, outrebounding them 33-28 while only being outscored 24-18 in the paint, in a game that had all the elements of a rivalry. . .No.5 Nebraska Cornhuskers at No.3 Michigan Wolverines - - Guard Trey McKenney made a tiebreaking layup with 1:07 remaining as No.3 Michigan rallied past No.5 Nebraska 75-72 on Tuesday night to hand the Cornhuskers their first loss of the season (20-1, 9-1 Big Ten): Forward Morez Johnson Jr. had 17 points & 12 rebounds for the Wolverines (19-1, 9-1 Big Ten), who trailed for more than 36 minutes prior to holding Nebraska scoreless over the final 3:20 in regulation: Guard Jamarques Lawrence missed a 3-pointer with 4 seconds remaining for the short-handed Cornhuskers, and guard Sam Hoiberg missed on a jumper just before the buzzer, as Nebraska played this game without F Rienk Mast (illness) and F Braden Frager (sprained ankle), who missed his second consecutive game - - **NOTE: Nebraska had won 24 straight games dating back to last season, including four victories in the inaugural College Basketball Crown Tournament in Las Vegas last April - - McKenney had 11 points off the bench for the Wolverines, while forwards Yaxel Lendeborg & Aday Mara both scored 10 points apiece, whereas the Huskers' Lawrence scored 16 of his 20 points in the opening 10 minutes of the game, and Pryce Sandfort also finished with 20 points for Nebraska, while Sam Hoiberg finished with 13 points, seven rebounds, five assists & four steals - - Following the Cornhuskers' loss to Michigan on Tuesday night, there are only two unbeaten teams remaining in D-1 College Basketball: No.1 Arizona & No.24 Miami (Ohio) RedHawks. . .Q: At the halfway point of the NCAA College Basketball season, what team do you expect to win what is currently a "wide-open" Big Ten Conference title race?. . . - NCAA College Football: In this week's "Tradition's Finest Top College Football Games of 2025," (aka Season Close-Out) segment, JD & Spencer discuss the current state of college football - both on & off the field - as well as the ramifications if some type of regulation is not introduced to the sport rather sooner than later - - The 2025 College Football season offered us: epic upsets, dynamite playoff games, iconic plays (i.e., you probably know exactly what we're referring to if we mention "Cooper's Catch," or the "Chambliss' Scramble," or "Mendoza's Leap,"), and our first incredible national title game in eight years. .and for that, we are forever grateful! - - In this particular segment, JD & Spencer provide detailed analysis for a few of the most memorable and/or our favorite CFB games from the 2025 college football season (**Let us know your thoughts on the game(s) discussed within this episode, as well as 'honorable mentions,' that were not discussed - feel free to reach out to us via X/Twitter - @TraditionsFinest and/or send us a message to [email protected]!!). . .The College Football Playoff will remain a 12-team field next season (2026), the CFP's management committee announced last Friday afternoon - - The decision gives the CFP and Conference commissioners additional time to consider the playoff's expansion to possibly a 16- or 24-team format in the future, a move all sides of the discussion could not agree on at this time, with the biggest contention existing between the Big Ten and SEC Conference(s) on the immediate direction of the playoff: SEC commissioner Greg Sankey has publicly supported a 16-team model, but Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti would agree to this particular model only if Sankey committed to a 24-team field after three years, sources told ESPN, however, multiple sources have stated that this is not something that Sankey was necessarily ready to commit too at this time - - This stalemate between the Big Ten and SEC Conferences, which has existed for months, will continue to be a topic of interest as it is believed by many, that, if Petitti can convince Sankey to agree to a 16-team model (and a 24-team model three years later), it's likely that Conference Championship games are out the window. . .Q: What are your thoughts on next year's College Football Playoff retaining the 12-team (or most current) format? Do you expect the SEC and Big Ten Conferences to end this stalemate regarding the structure of the playoff field?. . ."Do Not Tamper with Tigers:" Clemson head football coach Dabo Swinney lambasted Ole Miss HC Pete Golding for allegedly making direct, repeated overtures to lure LB Luke Ferrelli into the NCAA transfer portal after he had already signed a contract & enrolled in classes at Clemson University, calling it a "straightforward case of tampering," and imploring his coaching colleagues to "be an example to young coaches in this profession and be people of integrity or shut your mouth and don't complain," - - Ferrelli, one of the country's top freshman defenders in 2025 at Cal, entered the portal in January, and Swinney detailed a two-week process that followed in which Ferrelli visited Ole Miss and Clemson, agreed to a revenue-sharing contract with the Tigers, rented an apartment, purchased a car, enrolled in & attended classes at the University, and begun offseason workouts there - - Poor Dabo, it seems as though, he did not receive the memo that explained that the NCAA does not penalize programs for "tampering," with athletes, who have already committed & signed with another program: this modern version of college sports is set up much like an Auction, with the player being purchased by the highest bidder. . .Q: What specific guardrails should the NCAA implement to prevent this type of blatant tampering from occurring throughout college sports, most notably college football?. . .Ohio State is finalizing a deal to make former Pittsburgh Steelers playcaller Arthur Smith it's OC, a source informed ESPN's Adam Schefter on Saturday - - Smith will replace Brian Hartline, who was recently named the HC at the University of South Florida (USF) - - Smith spent the past two seasons with the Steelers under HC Mike Tomlin, and prior to that, he was the HC for the Atlanta Falcons, compiling a record of 21-30 over three seasons, and he also held stints at the University of Georgia as well as Southern Miss - - This past season, under Smith, the Steelers ranked 15th in the NFL averaging 23.4 points per game, and while he will transition back to the college ranks, in Columbus, he will have one of the top returning offensive trios in the country at his disposal: QB Julian Sayin (a 2025 Heisman Trophy finalist), RB Bo Jackson (1,090 rushing yards in 2025 as a freshman), and WR Jeremiah Smith, who is a two-time All-American heading into his junior season. . .Q: What overall grade would you give to Ohio State's hire of former Steelers OC Arthur Smith to serve in the same role?. . ."A Settlement with the Devil[s]:" Darian Mensah and Duke University recently agreed to a settlement of their dispute that would clear the way for the QB to transfer to another program, his agency announced on Tuesday - - While playing for Duke, Mensah, who will have two more years of eligibility remaining, led the ACC Conference last season with 3,973 passing yards & 34 passing TDs, while also leading the Blue Devils to their first outright ACC title since 1962 - - Duke's leading WR, Cooper Barkate, also opted to enter the NCAA transfer portal at the Jan. 16 transfer portal window deadline: Barkate, who ranked second in the ACC Conference with 1,106 receiving yards & seven TDs in 2025, appeared to follow in Mensah's footsteps - - **UPDATE: Duke transfer QB Darian Mensah & WR Cooper Barkate have both committed to Miami, per On3's Pete Nakos on Tuesday evening - - as Mensah becomes the 3rd consecutive QB Mario Cristobal & the Hurricanes have signed in the previous three transfer portal cycles, as the program has landed arguably the top QB available in the transfer portal. . .Q: On a scale of 1 to 10, how shocked are you by the most recent development that QB Darian Mensah has committed to the University of Miami?. . . - NFL - - AFC & NFC Conference Championship Review & Analysis + 2026 NFL Honors The NFL Coaching Carousel Continues to Spin. . . **Be Sure to Tune In for This Week's NFL discussion. . . - NBA - - "Chicago's Rose" & "Bucks No More" subject topics. . .**Tune in!! - Miscellaneous - - A former Canadians Olympic snowboarder, Ryan Wedding, pled not guilty to running a billion-dollar drug trafficking ring, orchestrating multiple killings (retaliation & a witness), and conspiring to distribute cocaine and other crimes in a U.S. federal court on Monday after being extradited to the U.S. from Mexico - - Authorities say Wedding moved as much as 60 tons of coacine between Colombia, Mexico, Canada & Southern California (U.S.) & believe he was working under the protection of the Sinaloa Cartel, one of Mexico's most powerful drug rings - - His drug trafficking group was the largest supplier of cocaine to Canada, according to a 2024 indictment in his home country, where he faces separate drug charges dating back to 2015. . . Thanks for Listening!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 119 - The inVINCEible Bowl Episode includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Basketball: It has been our intention to discuss and/or cover NCAA Men's College Basketball in some capacity since the beginning of the 2025-26 College Basketball season, however, and due to multiple factors, we have not dove into the sport near as much as we preferred. . .But, do we have some fantastic news for you Round-ball fans, this week's episode features a discussion and/or Week 11 update; such topics as the following are discussed in this particular segment: (I) the dominance of the Arizona Wildcats (18-0) & being ranked the unanimous No.1 team in Monday's AP Top 25 poll for the first time in program history, receiving all 61 votes, just a week after picking up all but one first-place votes (60); (II) the rise & fall of the Iowa State Cyclones; (III) a few other notable programs that are making waves thru Week 11 of the regular season (i.e., No.7 Nebraska (18-0), No.24 Saint Louis (17-1) & No.25 Miami (Ohio)); (IV) the "Rising/Falling" programs of the AP Top 25 (i.e., No.18 Clemson - ⬆️ four spots; No.12 Texas Tech - ⬆️ three spots; No.22 North Carolina - ⬇️ eight spots after losses last week to Stanford & Cal; No.9 Iowa State ⬇️ seven spots after losses to unranked Kansas & Cincinnati; No.15 Vanderbilt - ⬇️ five spots after losses to Texas & No.16 Florida); and (V) those programs that are "In & Out" of this week's updated poll rankings - A "Welcome Back" to No.19 Kansas, First Timers Saint Louis & Miami (Ohio) & So Long Goodbye to Tennessee (⬇️ from No.24 after blowing a 17-point lead versus Kentucky last week; Utah State (⬇️ from No.23 after suffering loss on the road to Grand Canyon); and Seton Hall (⬇️ from No.25 after suffering back-to-back losses to UConn and Butler). . .In a case that could potentially reshape college basketball & college sports in general, former Alabama standout/center Charles Bediako - who entered the 2023 NBA Draft and he went on to sign a two-way NBA contract with the San Antonio Spurs later that same year - has been granted a temporary restraining order (or a TRO) to return to the team and college basketball immediately, a Tuscaloosa County (AL) judge ruled early Wednesday morning — Bediako, who has played in the G-League for the previous two seasons, went undrafted & never appeared in an NBA game after he played on two NCAA Tournament teams while enrolled at the University of Alabama (i.e., 2020-21 & 2022-23), filed a lawsuit to sue the NCAA a day prior after it denied the school's appeal to allow him to return to the sport, citing the similar situation with James Nnaji & Baylor University — **NOTE: This is the first time a player who entered an NBA draft and signed a contract after playing college basketball has been given the chance to return to Division I college basketball. . .and it's reception has been met with much controversy and speculation — The Tuscaloosa Co. (AL) judge's monumental ruling was made just hours after NCAA President Charlie Baker reiterated that Bediako and other players who have signed NBA contracts would not be granted eligibility to play college basketball — Based on the NCAA's five-year window, Bediako can join the Nate Oats & the Crimson Tide for the rest of the regular season - depending on what happens at his next hearing - before his eligibility is exhausted — Bediako will join a Crimson Tide basketball team as it wades through its' defensive struggles (i.e., currently ranks 67th in adjusted defensive efficiency) as Alabama is scheduled to face off against the Tennessee Volunteers in Tuscaloosa on Saturday - and the question on everyone's mind: Will Charles Bediako suit up for the Crimson Tide on Saturday at Coleman Coliseum. . .Q: What do you think: Is there a chance that Charles Bediako will actually see the court against Tennessee on Saturday? Or at any point throughout the remainder of the 2025-26 NCAA college basketball regular season?. . . - NCAA College Football: It should come as little surprise that DI college football is experiencing similar issues as that of college basketball. . .Let's discuss the situation and controversy surrounding Duke QB Darian Mensah: While approximately 4,500 college football players were just waiting around for the NCAA transfer portal to open where they could make their entry & state their claim at a new program the following season, QB Darian Mensah, who led the ACC Conference in passing yards (3,973) this season as well as led the Duke Blue Devils to play the role of CFP spoiler after defeating the Virginia Cavaliers in the ACC Conference Championship Game, had made the decision on Dec. 19th to return for the Blue Devils as a redshirt junior next season after exploring the possibility of entering the 2026 NFL Draft (he was rated as the No.5 QB on Mel Kiper Jr.'s QB ranking board for the 2026 NFL Draft prior to his decision) — Fast forward to Friday, Jan.16th (2026), Duke QB Darian Mensah, who has two years of eligibility remaining after playing for Tulane prior to his one season at Duke, had changed his mind, and decided to submit his request for transfer paperwork, ahead of the 12:00 p.m. ET deadline for FBS and FCS players to enter the NCAA transfer portal. . .Tampering, much?. . .Miami looms as the expected favorite to land Mensah when he officially becomes available - as the Hurricanes have signed transfer QBs in consecutive seasons (i.e., Cam Ward & Carson Beck) - and did not land a QB out of the two-week transfer portal window that opened on Jan. 2nd -- Per On3, Duke has filed a lawsuit, thus suing Darian Mensah, claiming that he breached a multiyear NIL contract that was scheduled to end on Dec. 31st, 2026, and furthermore, Mensah is permitted to enter the transfer portal, but he can't enroll or play college football for another program prior to the Durham (N.C.) County judge rules on Duke's request for an injunction that would prevent him from leaving. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the multiple reports that Darian Mensah "changed his mind," thus making the decision to enter the NCAA transfer portal after committing to return to Duke next season? Do you suspect that there are any programs out there tampering with the Duke QB? Is there a legit possibility that QB Darian Mensah is forced to sit out the entire 2026-27 NCAA college football season after attempting to breach his contract with Duke University? . .2026 NCAA College Football Playoff National Championship Game Review: To understand just how improbable the Indiana Hoosiers' 16-0 "perfect" season was punctuated by its' gritty 27-21 win against the Miami Hurricanes on Monday night in front of a crowd of 67,000-plus fans, with the majority clad in cream & crimson, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, a somewhat brief history lesson is required: **NOTE: The University of Indiana college football program had lost 715 games, now the second-most in FBS history, just one behind Northwestern - - but with one thrilling victory in Monday night's College Football Playoff National Championship - a seesaw game that went down to the wire, with the Hoosiers ultimately leaving Miami with no doubt: they are the 'top dogs' of college football, and they accomplished that feat by completing one of the most remarkable two-year turnarounds in the history of the sport — Though there is sure to be much debate as to where this 2026 Indiana Hoosiers team stacks up against the sport's elite, including the 2021 Miami Hurricanes, 2019 LSU Tigers & 2020 Alabama Crimson Tide, the simple fact is this: Nothing like this has ever been done before. . .and by "this," we mean a HC lead a program once considered the "armpit of college football," to the promise land with unheralded recruits, many of which transferred to Indiana along with their head coach, Curt Cignetti. . .Q: Where does this 2026 Indiana Hoosiers team stack up against the rest of the pack for the 'GOAT' of D-I college football? — The Hoosiers' Heisman Trophy-winning QB, Fernando Mendoza - who will most likely and is projected to become the No.1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft - led Indiana to a national championship. . .and he did so by willing himself 12 yards into the end zone on a pivotal 4th-and-4 play with 9:18 remaining to give the Hoosiers a 24-14 lead over the Hurricanes — Mendoza, who completed 16 of 27 passing for 186 yards with no passing TDs or INTs, lowered his pads into a defender, spun in a full circle, used his hand to maintain his balance, then launched himself horizontally and reached the ball over the goal line - an Indiana TD and a ready-made poster for a CFP national title run straight from a major motion picture. . .**NOTE: Prior to Mendoza, the last college football player to win the Heisman Trophy and a national championship in the same season was Alabama WR DeVonta Smith in 2020 — and yet Indiana's 12-play, 75-yard drive ended with a jaw-dropping fourth-down rushing TD by a Hoosier, who grew up in Miami, that was never recruited by the 'Canes. . ."A Legend in the Making:" Indiana HC Curt Cignetti now has an FBS-best 27-2 overall record over the past two seasons after the Hoosiers went 9-27 in its final three seasons prior to Cignetti being hired — He has led the Hoosiers to their first two 10-win seasons in program history - as Indiana joined the 1984 Yale University football team as the only two programs in major college football history to finish a season with a 16-0 record — In such a tight game, Cignetti & the Hoosiers needed more than another Omar Cooper last-second TD or Heisman moment from Mendoza to pull off this gritty win: With 44 seconds left in regulation, and on the last play of Miami QB Carson Beck's collegiate career, he threw a deep ball down the left sideline & into double coverage, and it was intercepted by Indiana's Jamari Sharpe, stifling the 'Canes final attempt at a comeback & sealing Indiana's 27-21 win in the National Championship Game on Monday night - Beck finished the game with 232 yards passing & one TD in his final college game — With 5:04 left in the 3rd QTR, Indiana DL Mikail Kamara made a massive play on special teams: he blocked a Miami punt with his left hand and LB Isiah Jones recovered the ball in the end zone for a TD, giving the Hoosiers a 17-7 lead at the time — The Hoosiers entered Monday night's game having outscored opponents by 473 points this season, but the Miami Hurricanes proved that "The U" is back: With 6:37 left, the Hurricanes closed the gap to 24-21 with an eight-play, 91-yard drive that ended with a 22-yard TD pass from Beck to star WR Malachi Toney - - Miami RB Mark Fletcher Jr. also played a great game, as he scored on a 57-yard rushing TD with 11:06 left in the 3rd QTR, which at the moment closed the gap to 10-7 — Miami's defense, led by DE Rueben Bain Jr., was aggressive early, applying much pressure on QB Fernando Mendoza, and forcing him to escape the pocket, and even laying a hit on him that led to a bloody lip - - There was one call that changed this game early as Bain made one critical mistake when he jumped offside on a critical 3rd-and-13 situation at midfield in the 2nd QTR - and on the following play, Indiana RB Kaelon Black rushed up the middle for a 20-yard gain & a first down at the Miami 23-yard line -- **NOTE: The 'Canes entered Monday night averaging seven (7) penalties accepted against them per game, which ranked 104th in the FBS - - For all of the attention surrounding Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza, the Hoosiers defense was equally as impressive in the first half, holding Miami to a total of 69 yards, the fewest by a team in the first half of a CFP championship game - and meanwhile, Miami's offense at times struggled to move the ball a yard, as the 'Canes offensive line, which had a size advantage of 53 lbs per player, was being outplayed, and QB Carson Beck became visibly frustrated by the harassing Indiana defense, until they converted on a 4th-and-1 play - - **NOTE: Indiana's win was also a major victory for the Big Ten Conference, as it was the first time since 1940-42, that teams from the conference won three straight national titles. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Indiana Hoosiers finishing the 2025-26 season with a perfect 16-0 record, and winning a national championship? Despite the tough loss, is it safe to say that "The U" is officially back?. . . - 2026 College Football Transfer Portal Tracker: In this particular segment, JD and Spencer discuss many of the notable transfer(s) that occurred throughout two-week portal window; the following players are mentioned in this episode (**Tune in for more details!) Oklahoma/NC State RB Hollywood Smothers --> Alabama --> _________________ Auburn WR Cam Coleman --> __________________ Auburn QB Deuce Knight --> __________________ Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola --> __________________ Miami/Alabama WR Isaiah "Zay" Horton --> _________________ Texas RB Cedric Baxter Jr. --> _______________________ Alabama/Tulane WR Shazz Preston --> _____________________ Alabama EDGE Keon Keeley --> _______________________ NC State WR Noah Rogers --> ________________________ Alabama DL James Smith + EDGE Qua Russaw --> _______________________ Auburn WR Malcolm Simmons --> __________________________ Alabama/Michigan RB Justice Haynes --> _______________________ Arizona State QB Sam Leavitt --> __________________________ LSU/Auburn/Texas State/Tulane/Western Kentucky/Georgia State QB TJ Finley --> _________________ (**NOTE: No, this not a joke, Finley is transferring to his seventh program of his collegiate career). . .Q: What are your thoughts on TJ Finley transferring to a record seventh program?. . . Penn State/Missouri QB Beau Pribula --> ______________________ USC QB Husan Longstreet --> _______________________ Ole Miss EDGE Princewill Umanmielen --> _____________________ - NFL - - 2026 NFL Divisional Playoffs Round Review/Breakdown: In this week's NFL Playoffs Round Review, JD and Spencer will analyze, review & breakdown each of the following divisional round games below - as well as discuss the major storylines surrounding each game: AFC Divisional Playoff Game #1: No.6 Buffalo Bills at No.1 Denver Broncos (**Controversial officiating?/Broncos suffer enormous loss). . . NFC Divisional Playoff Game #1: No.6 San Francisco 49ers at No.1 Seattle Seahawks (**Seahawks lose their leading TD scorer). . . AFC Divisional Playoff Game #2: No.5 Houston Texans at No.2 New England Patriots (**Eight (8) combined turnovers - the most in a playoff game since 2015). . . NFC Divisional Playoff Game #2: No.5 Los Angeles Rams at No.2 Chicago Bears (**QB Caleb Williams' unbelievable TD pass at the end of regulation/QB Matthew Stafford, the NFL MVP?). . . - 2026 NFL Playoffs Conference Championship Round Preview & Predictions: In this segment, JD and Spencer preview both the AFC & NFC Conference Championship game(s) from this upcoming weekend; they also provide their individual, independent predictions for each of the following games: **Be Sure to Share Your Picks with Us via Twitter/X - - @TraditionFinest OR Send Us an Email at [email protected]!! AFC Championship Game: No.2 New England Patriots (14-3) at No.1 Denver Broncos (14-3) O/U41.5 NFC Championship Game: No.5 Los Angeles Rams (12-5) at No.1 Seattle Seahawks (14-3) O/U47.5 - NFL (cont'd) - - Following the New York Giants' grab of former Baltimore Ravens HC John Harbaugh, the second hire of the current NFL coaching cycle is official: The Atlanta Falcons hired former Cleveland Browns HC Kevin Stefanski as their next HC in Matt Ryan's first move as the team's President, the team announced Saturday night -- The Browns fired Stefanski after six seasons with the team, finishing with an overall record of 46-58, and he also led the Browns to two playoff appearances & earned two NFL Coach of the Year Awards -- **NOTE: Atlanta has not had a winning season since 2017, finishing 10-6 that year and being eliminated in the divisional round of the playoffs -- Falcons HC Kevin Stefanski will keep incumbent DC Jeff Ulbrich in his role, the team announced Monday. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Falcons' hire of former Browns HC Kevin Stefanski as well as his decision to retain DC Jeff Ulbrich?. . .The Miami Dolphins have hired Green Bay Packers DC Jeff Hafley as their next HC, it was announced on Monday night -- Hafley was signed to a five-year contract with the Dolphins after spending the previous two seasons as the Packers' DC, during which Green Bay ranked 9th in yards allowed per game, 6th in yards per play and 8th in points allowed per game -- Hafley was also the head coach at Boston College, where he went 22-26 in four seasons -- **NOTE: The Dolphins have not won a playoff game in 25 seasons, the longest such drought in the NFL, and Jeff Hafley, 46, is the 8th straight HC hired by Miami who had no previous NFL head coaching experience, according to ESPN Research. . .The Tennessee Titans are hiring San Francisco 49ers DC Robert Saleh as their next HC, sources confirmed to ESPN's Adam Schefter on Monday night -- In his second stint as a head coach after serving as the New York Jets HC from 2021 to 2024, Saleh is set to become the 20th HC in Oilers/Titans history and the seventh since the team moved/relocated to Nashville in 1997 -- **NOTE: The Titans have not made the playoffs since 2021 when they were the AFC's top seed and lost to the Cincinnati Bengals in the divisional round under former HC Mike Vrabel. . . - NBA - - "King James Aversion:"The NBA announced its starters for next month's All-Star Game on Monday - and, for the first time in a generation, Los Angeles Lakers star F LeBron James was not listed among them -- Per The Bleacher Report, for the first time in 21 years, James was NOT voted as an All-Star Game starter -- **Tune in for more details regarding the starters. . .Golden State Warriors G/F Jimmy Butler suffered a season-ending torn right ACL in Monday night's 135-112 win over the Miami Heat, his agent told ESPN, effectively throwing the future direction of the franchise into question -- The injury comes as the surging Warriors (25-19) have won 12 of their past 16 games, beginning a climb back up the standings due in part to Butler's performance this season. . .Q: Will Jimmy Butler return to the Golden State Warriors next season or play elsewhere?. . . - MLB - - The CF roster of the Baseball Hall of Fame grew deeper Tuesday with the announcement that Carlos Beltran & Andruw Jones were selected for induction -- Beltran was elected in his fourth year of eligibility after being named on 84.2% of the BBWAA ballots, easily clearing the 75% threshold for enshrinement, while Jones was named on 78.4% of the ballots, just clearing the bar to earn election in his ninth and second-to-last year of eligibility -- Beltran & Jones join Jeff Kent, who was elected back in December 2025 in the contemporary era committee voting, in the HOF Class of 2026 -- **NOTE: Beltran, a nine-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner, is one of four MLB players to reach 2,700 hits, 400 homers, 1,500 runs and 300 steals, joining Barry Bonds, Willie Mays, and Alex Rodriguez -- Jones, who finished his MLB career as a 10-time Gold Glove winner with 434 HRs, burst onto the scene in 2006, when at age 19 he homered in Game 1 of the 1996 World Series for the Atlanta Braves against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Carlos Beltran and Andruw Jones being elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Tuesday?. . . Thanks for Listening!!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 118.5 - "The Heidi Game Episode" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - NCAA: News & Storylines - - 2025-26 NCAA College Football Playoff Quarterfinal/Semifinal Round Catchup & National Championship Game Preview & Predictions Segment: No.10 Miami Hurricanes vs. No.1 Indiana Hoosiers (-8.5) O/U47.5 - "NFL > NIL:" Massive NIL offers from others schools couldn't delay QB Ty Simpson's NFL dreams, he told ON3 on Tuesday evening - Per multiple reports, Simpson rejected millions in NIL deals from programs, such as Tennessee & Ole Miss - who were offering an NIL deal worth $4M - as well as Miami, who upped the NIL offer to approximately $6.5M. . ."Everybody would just remember me as the guy who took all this money and went to Miami or Tennessee for his last year. But I was a captain [at Alabama]. I put my hand and footprints in the cement at Denny Chimes. I would have lost everything that I built at Alabama," per Ty Simpson on his decision to reject the NIL deals to remain the 2026 NFL Draft. . .Q: Where are other "Ty Simpson's" of college football with this level of loyalty? What are your thoughts on Ty Simpson rejecting millions of dollars in NIL deals for the 2026 NFL Draft?. . .As Wednesday was the official deadline for underclassmen not playing in the College Football Playoff championship game to declare for the NFL Draft, a decision loomed over Oregon Ducks QB Dante Moore -- On Wednesday per ESPN's "SportsCenter," Moore announced his decision: he has decided to return to school for the 2026 season -- By going back to Oregon, Moore gave up a chance to make nearly $50 million in guaranteed money (i.e., 2025 No.2 pick Travis Hunter made $46.65 million fully guaranteed and that number projects to go up this year) -- By returning to Oregon, Moore gave up a chance to be one of the top overall picks in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft, however, it's presumed that he will project near the top of a loaded QB class for 2027. . .Moore's return makes Oregon one of the favorites for the College Football national title in 2026-27 - - as the Ducks also retained multiple key pieces on the defensive line and a strong nucleus of young WRs & tailbacks -- In his first season as the Ducks' starter, Moore threw for 3,656 yards passing and 30 TDs for the Ducks, and he also completed 71.8% of his passes and threw just 10 INTs -- Moore's decision also comes after former Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola announced that he would be transferring to Oregon, and TE Kenyon Sadiq & safety Dillon Thieneman are a few Oregon players to have declared for the NFL Draft -- Raiold is expected to serve as Moore's backup QB for the 2026 season, after which point, he potentially could be named the Ducks' starter. . .QB: Do you believe that Dante Moore, 20, made the right decision to forgo the 2026 NFL Draft and return to the University of Oregon next season?. . . - NFL - - 2026 NFL Playoff Wild-Card Round Review: In the following segment, JD & Spencer provide in-depth analysis & breakdown each of the NFL Playoffs Wild-Card Round games from the past weekend as well as discuss many of the notable storylines surrounding each of the games; the following NFL games from the NFC and AFC are discussed within this segment: NFC Wild-Card Playoffs: No.5 Los Angeles Rams at No.4 Carolina Panthers No.7 Green Bay Packers at No.2 Chicago Bears No.6 San Francisco 49ers at No.3 Philadelphia Eagles AFC Wild-Card Playoffs: No.6 Buffalo Bills at No.3 Jacksonville Jaguars No.7 Los Angeles Chargers at No.2 New England Patriots No.5 Houston Texans at No.4 Pittsburgh Steelers - NFL (cont'd) - - "Mike T. Out, Mic Drop:" Mike Tomlin has stepped down as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, ending a 19-year run with the franchise -- Tomlin, who had two years remaining on his contract, informed Steelers' players of his decision to walk away at their 2 p.m. ET meeting Tuesday, one day after Pittsburgh was eliminated from the playoffs with a 30-6 loss to the Houston Texans in the AFC wild-card round -- Tomlin, 53, is not expected to coach elsewhere in 2026, sources informed ESPN's Adam Schefter -- Tomlin leaves Pittsburgh with the unprecedented accomplishment of never having a losing season in nearly two decades at the helm of the franchise -- he clinched his 200th career NFL victory in Week 16 against the Lions and tied Chuck Noll for ninth with 193 regular-season wins in a Week 18 victory against the Ravens that clinched the AFC North title -- At age 36, he led the Steelers to a victory in Super Bowl XLIII in his second season and, at the time, was the youngest HC to raise the Lombardi Trophy, and he returned to the Super Bowl a year later but fell to QB Aaron Rodgers' Green Bay Packers - and Tomlin never made it back in his final 15 seasons as HC. . .For all his accomplishments, Tomlin ended his historic tenure in Pittsburgh with an frustrating nine-year postseason victory drought -- Marked by improbable wins and hard-to-fathom losses, Tomlin's final season was a microcosm of his nearly two-decade tenure in Pittsburgh -- With Tomlin's departure, the Steelers will begin the search for just their fourth HC since 1969. . .**NOTE: Prior to his resignation, Tomlin was the longest-tenured HC of a single North American professional sports franchise -- Tomlin's record over 19 seasons with the Steelers: 193-114-2. . .Q: What are a few potential candidates that Art Rooney & the Pittsburgh Steelers franchise should consider to interview as Mike Tomlin's replacement?. . .John Harbaugh and the New York Giants have finalized an agreement to make him their next HC, reportedly signing a five-year deal worth approximately $100 million -- Harbaugh, 63, spent the past 18 seasons as HC of the Baltimore Ravens, going 180-113 and winning the Super Bowl before he was firest last week after missing out on the 2025 NFL Playoffs. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Giants' hire of John Harbaugh as their new HC?. . .2026 NFL Playoff Divisional Round Predictions: In this segment, JD & Spencer each give their indiviual & independent predictions for each of the following NFL Playoff Divisional Round games scheduled to occur this upcoming weekend: NFC Divisional Playoffs: No.6 San Francisco 49ers at No.1 Seattle Seahawks (-7) O/U44.5 No.5 Los Angeles Rams (-3.5) at No.2 Chicago Bears O/U48.5 AFC Divisional Playoffs: No.6 Buffalo Bills at No.1 Denver Broncos (-1.5) O/U45.5 No.5 Houston Texans at No.2 New England Patriots (-3) O/U40.5 - NBA - - "The Beard Riseth:" In his 17th season, James Harden passed Shaquille O'Neal for ninth place on the NBA's all-time scoring list - - as the LA Clippers guard made a three-pointer early in the 3rd QTR Monday night against the Charlotte Hornets at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, CA, pushing his career total to 28,598 points in his 1,187th regular-season game -- Shaq finished his NBA career with 28,596 points in 1,207 games played over 19 seasons - as Harden called it a "true honor," and a "testament to the work that I put in,"-- Harden faces a steep climb to the next spot: Wilt Chamberlain is eighth with 31,419 points, in just 1,045 games over a 14-year career, while LeBron James is the all-time leader with 42,601 points entering his game with the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday. . .Q: How many more seasons do you anticipate James "The Beard" Harden playing in the league beyond the 2025-26 NBA season? If he elected to play two to three seasons, do you think "The Beard" passes "Mr. 100" for 8th on the NBA's all-time scoring list?. . . Thanks for Listening!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 117 - "The A-Gap Episode" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - NCAA: News & Storylines - - "A Final Challenge:" Following the previous two scandals in Ann Arbor, most recently, a scandal that would embroil the Wolverines athletic department, and eventually lead to Sherrone Moore being fired after just two seasons with the program, the University of Michigan needed a stabilizing force to help bring both its embattled football program & the athletic department back to a level of respectability among its peers - - And when looking around the market, there were very few obvious prospects available: Alabama's Kalen DeBoer & Arizona State's Kenny Dillingham both publicly announced they were returning, while Louisville's Jeff Brohm was not seriously involved in the process, according to multiple sources - and several others, such as Vanderbilt's Clark Lea & BYU's Kalani Sitake, signed long-term extensions prior to Michigan's head coaching vacancy - - On Friday, Michigan took the first step in doing so: By hiring future Hall of Famer Kyle Whittingham as the program's 22nd head football coach - - Whittingham, 66, is one of the most successful coaches of this era: Whittingham has a 177-88 career record, two Pac-12 Conference titles & a Mountain West crown as the HC at the University of Utah, where he had spent the last 21 seasons - - Per ESPN's Pete Thamel & Dan Wetzel, Whittingham's deal, which is reportedly 75% guaranteed, is comprised of a five-year deal with an average salary of $8.2 million per year - - Beyond his accomplishments, and perhaps most important, Whittingham has maintained a spotless reputation throughout his standout career, with his teams featuring very few (if any) scandals, and a strong team culture - - Now, at Michigan, Whittingham will have more resources to win than in any other moment in his legendary career - - Granted, Whittingham's age is a considerable topic of conversation as it should be, but there is very little debate that this hire was a short-term decision - - Whittingham informed his Utah team on Friday that he will not coach the team in their upcoming SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl against Nebraska on New Year's Eve, and Utah AD Mark Harlan relieved Whittingham of his duties, to allow him to travel to Orlando, FL, to get to work as the HC for the Michigan Wolverines. . .**NOTE: The No.18 Michigan Wolverines are scheduled to face off against the No.13 Texas Longhorns in Orlando on New Year's Eve in the 2026 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl - - However, three of the last four HCs at Michigan failed to make it through four full seasons - - Q: What are your thoughts on Michigan's hiring of former Utah HC Kyle Whittingham as the Wolverines' 22nd head football coach? Do you believe that Kyle Whittingham can lead Michigan to another national title?. . . NCAA College Football Playoff Quarterfinal Round Preview & Analysis: In this week's episode, JD & Spencer will discuss, review & provide a thorough breakdown/analysis from the four matchups from the Quarterfinal Round of the 2025 College Football Playoff - - Be sure to tune in for an brief discussion of the following CFP second round game(s): Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic: No.10 Miami Hurricanes vs. No.2 Ohio State Buckeyes (-9.5)         O/U42.5 Capital One Orange Bowl: No.5 Oregon Ducks (-2.5) vs. No.4 Texas Tech Red Raiders          O/U52.5 Rose Bowl Presented by Prudential: No.9 Alabama Crimson Tide vs. No.1 Indiana Hoosiers (-7)      O/U47.5 Allstate Sugar Bowl: No.6 Ole Miss Rebels vs. No.3 Georgia Bulldogs (-6.5)                 O/U55.5 - NCAA College Football Bowl Week #4 Preview & Predictions: In this episode's Bowl Week #4 preview, JD & Spencer provide their individual & independently-selected pick(s) and/or predictions for each of the following matchups from the fourth week of the college football bowl season - as well as providing in-depth analysis & reasoning to explain the justification for their selection: **Be Sure to Share Your Picks with Us via Twitter/X - - @TraditionFinest OR Send Us an Email at [email protected]! ReliaQuest Bowl: No.23 Iowa vs. No.14 Vanderbilt(-4)              O/U46.5 Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl: Arizona State vs. Duke (-3)                O/U49.5 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl: No.18 Michigan vs. No.13 Texas (-7.5)          O/U47.5 SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl: No.14 Utah (-14) vs. Nebraska       O/U50.5 Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl: Rice vs. Texas State (-13.5)     O/U58.5 AutoZone Liberty Bowl: Navy (-7) vs. Cincinnati                O/U54.5 Duke's Mayo Bowl: Wake Forest vs. Mississippi State (-3)            O/U53.5 Trust & Will Holiday Bowl: No.17 Arizona (-3) vs. SMU          O/U51.5 Thanks for Listening!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 116 - The One-Hundred Six-teenth Episode includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Football Playoff First Round Review & Analysis: In this week's episode, JD & Spencer will discuss, review & provide a thorough breakdown/analysis from the four first-round matchups of the 2025 College Football Playoff - - Be sure to tune in for an brief recap & discussion of the following CFP first-round game(s): No.9 Alabama Crimson Tide at No.8 Oklahoma Sooners No.10 Miami Hurricanes at No.7 Texas A&M Aggies No.11 Tulane Green Wave at No.6 Ole Miss Rebels No.12 James Madison Dukes at No.5 Oregon Ducks - NCAA College Football Bowl Week #3 Preview & Predictions: In this episode's Bowl Week #3 preview, JD & Spencer provide their individual & independently-selected pick(s) and/or predictions for each of the following matchups from the third week of the college football bowl season - as well as providing in-depth analysis & reasoning to explain the justification for their selection: **Be Sure to Share Your Picks with Us via Twitter/X - - @TraditionFinest OR Send Us an Email at [email protected]! GameAbove Sports Bowl: Central Michigan vs. Northwestern (-10.5)      O/U43.5 Rate Bowl: New Mexico vs. Minnesota (-2.5)                         O/U44.5 SERVPRO First Responder Bowl: FIU vs. UTSA (-6)                    O/U59.5 Go Bowling Military Bowl: Pittsburgh (-10) vs. East Carolina            O/U56.5 Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl: Penn State vs. Clemson (-3)           O/U48.5 Wasabi Fenway Bowl: UConn vs. Army (-8.5)                      O/U43.5 Pop-Tarts Bowl: No.22 Georgia Tech vs. No.12 BYU (-4.5)                O/U56.5 Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl: Miami (OH) vs. Fresno State (-6)           O/U41.5 Isleta New Mexico Bowl: No.25 North Texas (-3) vs. San Diego State      O/U53.5 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl: No.19 Virginia vs. Missouri (-4)               O/U44.5 Kinder's Texas Bowl: No.21 Houston (-3) vs. LSU                   O/U41.5 JLab Birmingham Bowl: Georgia Southern (-7) vs. Appalachian State      O/U59.5 Radiance Tech. Independence Bowl: Coastal Carolina vs. Louisiana Tech (-9.5) O/U51.5 Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl: Tennessee (-2.5) vs. Illinois         O/U61.5 Valero Alamo Bowl: No.16 USC (-6.5) vs. TCU                   O/U55.5 Thanks for Listening!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 115 - The "Music City Miracle" Episode includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - NCAA: News & Storylines - - 2025 NCAA College Basketball [Better Late Than Never] Season Preview: In this opening segment, JD & Spencer preview & analyze the 2025-26 NCAA Division I College Basketball Season, in particular focusing on the Power 5 Conferences (i.e., Big Ten, Big East, Big 12, ACC & SEC) and providing a thorough breakdown of each individual conference as well as projecting which program(s) will go on to be crowned conference champions & how many teams per conference they expect to advance to the 64-team field of this year's NCAA Tournament. . .NCAA College Football: "Ridin' Into the Sunset on His Harley:" Kyle Whittingham,66, the all-time winningest HC in the history of the University of Utah's football program, will step down from leading the Utes and will conclude his highly successful tenure in the Las Vegas Bowl against the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Dec. 31st - - Whittingham, the head football coach at the University of Utah since 2004, has been the true embodiment of the culture & identity of Utah Football for the past three decades, led Utah to two Rose Bowl appearances, three conference championships, an undefeated season capped by a Sugar Bowl win over Alabama in 2008 - - In his 32 seasons in Salt Lake City, Whittingham has coached in 391 games and contributed to a program-record 262 wins, with a head coaching record of 177-88 (.668) - - Whittingham, the second-longest tenured HC in FBS college football, he has earned three National Coach of the Year awards, including the AFCA and Bear Bryant Awards in 2008, and the Dodd Trophy in 2019 - - Following the Utes' appearance in the 2025 Las Vegas Bowl, Whittingham will be formally replaced by Utes DC Morgan Scalley, who has finalized a deal to become the program's next head coach, sources told ESPN - - Q: What are your thoughts on Kyle Whittingham stepping down as the HC at the University of Utah following a 21-year run? Do you expect Kyle Whittingham to coach elsewhere or to 'ride off into the sunset' on his Harley-Davidson motorcycle? What are your thoughts on Utah DC Morgan Scalley being promoted as Whittingham's successor?. . .Washington State & Missouri OC Kirby Moore have finalized a deal to make him the Cougars' next HC - - Moore, aged 35, a native of Prosser, WA, and the younger brother of New Orleans Saints HC Kellen Moore, he spent the past three seasons at the University of Missouri on Eliah Drinkwitz's staff - - Replacing Jimmy Rogers, who left to become the head football coach for the Iowa State Cyclones, the Cougars are 6-6 this year with one-score losses to Ole Miss (No.6 in the CFP bracket), Virginia (ACC runner-up) & James Madison (No.12 in the CFP bracket) - - Q: What are your thoughts on Washington State's hiring of Missouri OC Kirby Moore as the program's next HC?. . .2025 College Football Awards: Numerous college football players & coaches received individual accolades on Friday night at an Awards Ceremony in New York City for their efforts throughout the 2025-26 college football season, and JD & Spencer discuss the winners of a select few of the following collegiate awards presented on Friday night: John Mackey Award (best TE): Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt Doak Walker Award (best RB): Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame Davey O'Brien National QB Award (best signal-caller): Fernando Mendoza, Indiana Maxwell Award (player of the year): Fernando Mendoza, Indiana Biletnikoff Award (best WR): Makai Lemon, USC Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award: Curt Cignetti, Indiana (**first repeat winner in 59 years) Heisman Trophy (most prestigious award/the sport's highest individual honor): Fernando Mendoza, Indiana (**first Indiana player in program history to win the Heisman Trophy) - NCAA College Football Week Sixteen Analysis & Review: In this week's episode, JD & Spencer will discuss, review & each provide their individual takeaway from the single game that Week Sixteen had to offer - - Be sure to tune in for an in-depth recap & discussion of the following Week Sixteen matchup: "Battle for the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy:" Army Black Knights vs. Navy Midshipmen - NCAA College Football Bowl Week #2 Preview & Predictions: In this episode's Bowl Week #2 preview, JD & Spencer provide their individual & independently-selected pick(s) and/or predictions for each of the following matchups from the second week of the college football bowl season - as well as providing in-depth analysis & reasoning to explain the justification for their selection: **Be Sure to Share Your Picks with Us via Twitter/X - - @TraditionFinest OR Send Us an Email at [email protected]!! Myrtle Beach Bowl: Kennesaw State vs. Western Michigan (-4)   O/U49.5 Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl: Memphis vs. NC State (-5.5)   O/U57.5 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Washington State vs. Utah State (-3)     O/U52.5 Bush's Boca Raton Bowl: Toledo vs. Louisville (-8.5)           O/U44.5 **NOTE: Since this particular bowl game is played in South Florida (i.e., Tampa) in a 30,000-seat Stadium, and features two programs from the Midwest, you can obtain "free" entry into the game by bringing a can of Bush's Baked Beans. New Orleans Bowl: Western Kentucky (-9.5) vs. Southern Miss       O/U55.5 Scooter's Coffee Frisco Bowl: UNLV (-4) vs. Ohio                    O/U62.5 Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl: Cal (-1.5) vs. Hawai'i                 O/U54.5 - NCAA: News & Storylines (cont'd) - - 2025 College Football Playoff First Round Preview: In this segment, JD & Spencer will preview each of the four upcoming CFP game(s) & will provide their individual/independent predictions for each outcome; the following CFP first-round matchup(s) are previewed in this particular segment: Friday, Dec. 19th at 7:00PM CST/8:00PM EST: No.9 Alabama Crimson Tide (-1.5) at No.8 Oklahoma           O/U40.5 **The winner will advance to face No.1 Indiana in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1st. Saturday, Dec. 20th at 7:00PM CST/8:00PM EST: No.10 Miami Hurricanes at No.7 Texas A&M Aggies (-3)         O/U51.5 **The winner will advance to face No.2 Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl on Dec. 31st. No.11 Tulane Green Wave at No.6 Ole Miss Rebels (-17.5)        O/U56.5 **The winner will advance to face No.3 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1st. No.12 James Madison Dukes at No.5 Oregon Ducks (-21)        O/U48.5 **The winner will advance to face No.4 Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 1st. - NFL - - NFL Week 15 Review & Recap: In this week's episode, JD & Spencer will discuss, review & recap each of the following NFL games & major storylines from Week 15 of the regular season: Thursday Night Football: Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (**Falcons overcame 19 penalties & a 28-14 4th-QTR deficit to damage Tampa Bay's postseason hopes) Detroit Lions at Los Angeles Rams (**Rams clinch playoff berth for the third straight season after rallying in the second half) Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots (**Bills rally from a 21-0 deficit to prevent the Patriots from clinching the AFC East division title) Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs (**Chiefs' two-time MVP QB Patrick Mahomes sustains torn ACL in left knee (out for the remainder of the season) & Kansas City were eliminated from playoff contention for the first time since 2014) Green Bay Packers at Denver Broncos (**Packers star edge rusher Micah Parsons suffers a non-contact injury/torn ACL (out for season)/Broncos extend winning streak to 11 games & clinch playoff berth) "A Jaguar on the Prowl:" Jacksonville Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence accounted for six TDs, including a career-high five passing, becoming just the fifth player in the Super Bowl era (since 1966) to record five passing TDs and one rushing TD in a single game - as Jacksonville overwhelmed the New York Jets from start to finish in a 48-20 drubbing on Sunday to extend their winning streak to five games. . . . . .And This Week's Tradition's Finest "Most Badass Celly of the Week" Award goes to. . .Minnesota Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy, who broke free on a goal-line bootleg run in the 2nd QTR with nothing but the end zone in front of him, he slowed down. . .Holding the ball low as he crossed the goal line, McCarthy appeared to be performing a modified "Griddy" dance, which was made popular by Vikings teammate/star WR Justin Jefferson - - While praising McCarthy's performance after he threw for a career-high 250 passing yards, Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell made it very clear at the postgame press conference that he did not approve of the celebration - - And McCarthy, who has endured heavy criticism throughout his first season as a starter, said that he had been warned prior to the game to "avoid" the celebration. . .Q: Do you think there is some friction brewing in Minnesota between HC Kevin O'Connell & [rookie] QB J.J. McCarthy, or is this just a "minor bump" in the road for a young QB still adjusting to playing in the NFL?. . . - NFL (cont'd) - - After Miami Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel said on Tuesday that he was contemplating making a change at the QB position, he finally made a move: The Miami Dolphins announced on Wednesday that it is benching QB Tua Tagovailoa and turning to rookie QB Quinn Ewers, per sources to ESPN's Adam Schefter - - Tagovailoa threw his NFL-worst 15th INT in the Dolphins' 28-15 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, which eliminated Miami (6-8) from playoff contention - - Ewers' first start will come on Sunday against Joe Burrow & the Cincinnati Bengals. . .Q: Do you expect for Miami to cut/release QB Tua Tagovailoa at the end of the NFL regular season after signing him to a four-year, $212.1 million extension in 2024? What about HC Mike McDaniel - is he more likely to be the Dolphins' HC next season or to coach elsewhere?. . - Miscellaneous - - WWE: Pro wrestling superstar, John Cena, ended his 24-year WWE tenure at Capitol One Arena in Washington D.C last Saturday night - by doing what he hadn't done in more than twenty years: he tapped out. . .as Cena submitted to former two-time WWE heavyweight champion Gunther at "Saturday Night's Main Event" in a stellar final match that had the crowd hanging on to every moment, hoping that Cena would go out/retire with a win - - Instead, Cena's tap-out signaled to fans that his time is finally over, and that he is going out on his own terms - - Cena, who became one of the most beloved wrestlers on the WWE roster & a 17-time World Champion, holds the record for the most title reigns recognized by the sport - - Rather than give a speech, Cena left his wristbands & shoes in the ring, walked up the entrance ramp, turned & gave one last salute to the camera & his fans. . Q: What were your thoughts on John Cena's final WWE match & the way in which his pro wrestling career ended?. . . Thanks for Listening!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 114 - The "Woody Bowl Episode" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Football Week Fifteen aka "Championship Week" Analysis & Review: In this week's episode, JD & Spencer will discuss the major topics/storylines, analyze & review the in-game stats & each provide their individual takeaway's for the Week 15 or "Championship Week" slate of College Football games from across the country - - Be sure to tune in for an in-depth recap, and discussion of the following games & topics which are included in this week's College Football Analysis & Review segment: Sun Belt Conference Championship: No.25 James Madison Dukes vs. Troy Trojans American Athletic Conference Championship: Tulane Green Wave vs. North Texas Mean Green Big 12 Conference Championship: No.11 BYU Cougars vs. No.4 Texas Tech Red Raiders SEC Conference Championship: No.3 Georgia Bulldogs vs. No.9 Alabama Crimson Tide Big Ten Conference Championship: No.2 Indiana Hoosiers vs. No.1 Ohio State Buckeyes ACC Conference Championship: No.17 Virginia Cavaliers vs. Duke Blue Devils - NCAA College Football Week Sixteen + Bowl Week #1 Preview & Predictions: In this episode's 'preview and predictions' segment, JD & Spencer (a) preview the weekly matchup between Army-Navy as well as the slate of games from the first week of Bowl season; and, (b) provide their individual predictions for each of these matchups - as well as an in-depth evaluation of this year's bowl schedule: **Be Sure to Share Your Picks with Us via Twitter/X - - @TraditionFinest OR Send Us an Email at [email protected]!! Week Sixteen: Army Black Knights vs. Navy Midshipmen(-6)                    O/U38.5 **NOTE: Navy leads the all-time series with a record of 63-55-7/ Game played in Baltimore Heights, MD Bowl Week #1: "Cricket Celebration Bowl:" South Carolina State (9-3) vs. Prairie View A&M (10-3) **NOTE: Game played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA "Bucked Up LA Bowl:" Boise State vs. Washington(-8.5)               O/U51.5 **NOTE: Game played at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA "IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl:" Troy (-4) vs. Jacksonville State        O/U46.5 **NOTE: Game played at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, AL "StaffDNA Cure Bowl:" Old Dominion vs. USF (-6.5)   O/U57.5 **NOTE: Game played at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, FL '68 Ventures Bowl:" Louisiana (-3) vs. Delaware               O/U58.5 **NOTE: Game played at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, AL - NCAA: News & Storylines (cont'd) - - 2025 College Football Playoff Bracket Reveal: The full 12-team College Football Playoff was revealed by ESPN on Sunday, with the top four seeds earning first-round byes, and eight "at-large" teams scheduled to play in first-round matchups at campus sites across the country - - The twelve (12) teams, in their exact order of their CFP seeding are: (1) Indiana, (2) Ohio State, (3) Georgia, (4) Texas Tech, (5) Oregon, (6) Ole Miss, (7) Texas A&M, (8) Oklahoma, (9) Alabama, (10) Miami, (11) Tulane, and (12) James Madison (JMU) - - **In next week's episode, we will preview, breakdown & present our independent predictions for each of the first-round matchups of this year's College Football Playoff. . .The College Football Postseason is here, and what's the best side dish to serve alongside the main 'entree that we refer to as the College Football Playoff/Bowl season: A nice slice of Drama: Despite finishing off the college football regular season with eight consecutive victories, and compiling a 10-2 record, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, a postseason mainstay, will be notably absent this bowl season: The Notre Dame Fighting Irish announced in a statement posted to social media on Dec. 7 that they have decided as a team to withdraw their name from bowl consideration following the 2025 college football regular season. . .but Why? The decision came after Notre Dame was left out of the 12-team College Football Playoff field, despite closing out the season with a 10-2 record - - Prior to their withdrawal from bowl consideration, Notre Dame was projected to play in this year's Pop-Tart Bowl, which is scheduled to occur on Dec. 27th at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, FL - - Notre Dame AD Pete Bevacqua told ESPN that the program was in utter disbelief and shock after being left out of the 12-team College Football Playoff bracket/field, and he also expressed frustration with the process, stating that any rankings ahead of the final ones are a "farce and total waste of time," - - While HC Marcus Freeman & the Fighting Irish were clearly shocked, and therefore reacted unfavorably to the College Football Playoff committee's decision regarding the playoff field, it's not that difficult to understand or sympathize with the program for the following reason: Prior to the CFP bracket reveal, Notre Dame was ranked No.10 - after dropping one spot in the CFP rankings last week, behind Alabama (No.9) - but they ultimately they fell to No.11 in the final CFP rankings in favor of the ACC's Miami Hurricanes, for which CFP Playoff committee chairman Hunter Yurachek, provided an explanation as to why Miami received the playoff nod, and Notre Dame did not, and surprisingly, it's not all that complicated: The CFP playoff committee's decision for including Miami in the field over Notre Dame came down to the "head-to-head" game between the two programs - as HC Mario Cristobal & the Miami Hurricanes opened the 2025-26 college football regular season in August with a resume-building 27-24 win over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish - - Notre Dame needed to finish in the top 10 of final CFP rankings to earn a spot in this year's playoff field because two of the five conference champions, who are guaranteed spots, were ranked outside of the top 12. . .and once again, Notre Dame does not belong to a Power Five Conference, which in this particular scenario, came back to haunt them in terms of the final CFP rankings. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Notre Dame's decision to decline a bowl game invitation this postseason after being excluded from the 2025 College Football Playoff bracket/rankings? What does this type of decision teach and/or reinforce to the Fighting Irish players, especially those seniors who will not return next season?. . ."The Penn State Effect:" Penn State's prolonged coaching search following James Franklin's departure on October 12th created a market ripple, which essentially triggered massive contract negotiations and raises for other established coaches, such as Curt Cignetti (Indiana) & Kalani Sitake (BYU), as their current programs locked them into a deal for the foreseeable future, thus preventing them from becoming the next head football coach at Penn State University, making several HCs very wealthy in the process while Penn State initially struggled to find a new leader - - **NOTE: Per Thomas Carr of On3 Sports, the Nittany Lions' coaching search has allowed for seven other FBS coaches to earn a combined $370.8 million in contract extensions (aka "The Penn State Effect"). . .but then, it finally happened: Penn State football named & officially introduced Matt Campbell as it's next HC, becoming the 17th in program history, the school announced last Friday - - With Penn State's Board of Trustees' approval, Matt Campbell's contract is reported to be an eight-year deal running through 2033 with $70.5 million in guaranteed salary - - Campbell, the winningest HC in Iowa State program history, is a three-time Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year, and he led the Cyclones for ten seasons (8 winning seasons) & two Big 12 Conference Championship game appearances - - Campbell, 46, went 72-55 throughout the decade he spent with the program, becoming its winningest HC last season - and he also went 35-15 as the HC at University of Toledo from 2011 to 2015 - - **NOTE: Campbell & his coaching staff have developed 15 NFL draft picks over the past seven years, including NFL stars Brock Purdy (QB/49ers), Breece Hall (RB/NYJ) & David Montgomery (RB/Lions). . .Q: What are your thoughts on Penn State AD Patrick Kraft's decision to hire Iowa State's Matt Campbell as the Nittany Lions' next head football coach?. . .Iowa State certainly did not wait around to find Matt Campbell's replacement: Just minutes after multiple sources reported that Campbell was finalizing a deal to become the Nittany Lions' next HC, the Cyclones made their move, announcing that the program was hiring Washington State's Jimmy Rogers - - Ironically, Rogers' hire was officially announced by the school prior to Penn State's official announcement regarding Campbell's hire - - Rogers, 38, signed a six-year contract that initially will pay him approximately $3 million per year, which is roughly double his salary in his one season at Washington State - - Rogers indicated that several members of his Washington State staff will be joining him as ISU - and as a defensive specialist, he indicated that he plans to install a four-man front, which will be a departure from the 3-3-5 alignment for which the Iowa State program has ran for the past decade. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Iowa State AD Jamie Pollard's decision to hire Washington State's Jimmy Rogers as the Cyclones' next HC?. . .After nearly two months of searching for its next head football coach, UAB (i.e., JD's alma mater) is turning to the option it had all along: The Blazers promoted interim coach Alex Mortensen to a full-time role. . .Mortensen, 40, spent the past three seasons as the Blazers' OC, and following Trent Dilfer's firing on October 12th, he led the Blazers to a 2-4 record, which included a win over then-No.22 Memphis as well as a shorthanded victory at Tulsa this past weekend that snapped the team's 17-game road losing streak. . .Q: What are your thoughts on UAB's promotion of interim coach Alex Mortensen to the permanent HC?. . .The UConn Huskies have announced their successor for Jim Mora: Jason Candle, the HC at Toledo since 2016, has been named the 33rd Husky head football coach after finalizing a six-year deal through the 2031 season - Candle was officially introduced as UConn's next HC at a press conference on Monday - - At Toledo, Candle had compiled an 81-44 record as the Rockets HC, winning the MAC Conference title twice in his ten years with the program. . .Q: What are your thoughts on UConn's hiring of Toledo's Jason Candle as Jim Mora's successor?. . .Memphis has hired Charles Huff as its next head football coach after his one season at Southern Miss - - Memphis AD Ed Scott announced the hire on Monday with Huff replacing Ryan Silverfield, who accepted the head coach position at the University of Arkansas on Nov. 30th - - In his one season at the helm for Southern Miss, Huff went 7-5 after taking over a program that went 1-11 in 2024, which was the program's best overall record since 2019 - - **NOTE: The six-win turnaround was actually one of the most profound improvements at the FBS level this season. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Memphis' hiring of Charles Huff as their next HC and as Ryan Silverfield's succesor?. . .LSU DC Blake Baker is remaining with the program, according to a social media post by Tigers HC Lane Kiffin on Friday afternoon - - Baker, who led the Tigers' defense the past two seasons, interviewed - and was thought to be a "strong candidate" - for the head coaching vacancies at Tulane and Memphis, however, Baker ultimately making the decision to remain in Baton Rouge with Kiffin, who prioritized retaining Baker, who is one of the nation's highest-paid assistants at an average annual salary of $2.5 million per year - - Under Baker, the Tigers ranked 15th in scoring defense & 25th nationally in total defense this fall. . .Q: In pursuit of achieving success at LSU, how important was it for Lane Kiffin to retain DC Blake Baker as a part of his staff?. . .Former Virgina Tech HC Brent Pry - who was fired from the program back in September, is set to return as the Hokies' DC under new HC James Franklin, sources confirmed to ESPN on Sunday - - In a highly unusual move, Pry will re-join the team he led from 2022 up until Sept. 14th of this year, when he was fired after an 0-3 start - - Under Pry, Virginia Tech went 16-24 with bowl appearances the past two seasons. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the highly unusual hire of Brent Pry as the Hokies' DC and/or as a part of HC James Franklin's staff?. . ."A [Really, Really, Really] Day:" Throughout the 2025 college football season, rumors circulated that Michigan Wolverines HC Sherrone Moore was in danger of losing his job - - No credible details surfaced, and Moore continued his duties, completing the regular season with a 9-3 record & participating in a news conference Monday to discuss the Wolverines' upcoming bowl game against Texas in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl - - Two days later, the news came down: Michigan fired the 39-year-old head football coach for cause, following an investigation that found "credible evidence" that he "engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member," which is a violation of U-M's work policy - - This dismissal marked a troubling end to Moore's tenure at Michigan, which began in 2018 when he joined HC Jim Harbaugh's staff as the TEs coach, later becoming the OL coach & leading a group that won the Joe Moore Award (best offensive line) - - Moore's ascent continued as OC, and he stepped in for Harbaugh as acting HC during Harbaugh's Big-Ten imposed suspension late in the 2023 season - as the Wolverines went on to claim their third straight Big Ten title, and their first national title in the CFP era - - Then, Harbaugh returned to the NFL to become the head coach for the Los Angeles Chargers, and Moore was subsequently promoted to HC: His Wolverines stunned rival Ohio State in his first full season as HC, and went 17-8 over two seasons at the helm, but now, he's out - - "Alleged Assault" Probe: Per ESPN's Dan Wetzel, Moore was detained by the City of Saline Police Department and turned over to the Pittsfield Township Police Department - - Later Wednesday night, Wetzel further reported that, just hours after being fired as the head football coach at Michigan, Sherrone Moore was in custody in the Washtenaw (Michigan) County Jail as a suspect in an "alleged assault," yet details remained limited during the ongoing inquiry. . .Q: On a level from "A little" to a "SHIT TON," how shocked were you to hear about the news that Michigan had fired its HC Sherrone Moore? - - "A Michigan Man:" Unfortunately, Michigan is entering the coaching market at a precarious time, as all major openings have been filled and, perhaps more importantly, a number of potential candidates have re-signed lucrative contracts to remain with their existing programs - - Still, Michigan as a program can offer a lot: an iconic American sports brand with deep pockets & a recent run at both regional & national success, and should garner reasonably solid interest for the open head coaching position - - The school clearly needs a replacement with ZERO character concerns - - Beyond the coaching search, though, Moore's firing undoubtedly rocks this Michigan program just weeks prior to the NCAA transfer portal set to open - - JD & Spencer discuss & assess a few of the potential coaching candidates that Michigan AD Warde Manuel could possibly target to replace Moore, and they both provide their prediction as to which of the following candidates would be the "best hire" for the Michigan Wolverines football program moving forward (Alabama HC Kalen DeBoer, Washington HC Jedd Fisch & Los Angeles Chargers DC Jesse Minter). . . - NFL - - NFL Week 14 Review & Recap: In this week's episode, JD & Spencer will discuss, review & recap each of the following NFL games from Week 14 of the regular season - - **Be sure to tune in for an in-depth review, a highlight and discussion of the following game(s) from this past weekend's slate of games: Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers (**Packers move into first place in the NFC North division) Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens (**Two Replay Review prove to be costly for the Ravens) . . .And This Week's Tradition's Finest "Most Badass Celly of the Week" Award goes to. . . .the Tennessee Titans' Defense: After recovering a fumble against the Cleveland Browns, the Titans' defense collectively performed the "Shedeur Celly" (which involves a player holding up their wrist up to their ear like a phone) - - This celebration, popularized in college by then-Colorado & current Browns QB Shedeur Sanders, has become a trend in the NFL, often used by players to "call out" the opposition - - The Titans picked up their second win of the season in a 31-29 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. . . Cincinnati Bengals at Buffalo Bills (**QBs combine for a total of 500+ passing yards & 8 TDs) Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs (**Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes finished game with 3 INTs/2025-26 NFL playoffs without Kansas City?!) - NFL (cont'd) - - "River Running Dry:"QB Philip Rivers, 44, who has not played in the NFL since 2020, is signing to the Indianapolis Colts practice squad, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Tuesday - - With Colts' starter Daniel Jones out for the season after sustaining a torn right Achilles injury in Week 14, and backup QB Riley Leonard (rookie) dealing with a knee injury, the Colts turned to Rivers as an emergency solution - - Rivers is currently a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2026, and his signing to the Colts' practice squad had no effect on his eligibility, however, if he signs with the Colts' active roster, his eligibility would reset - whether or not he takes a single snap in a game - and in this case, he would not be eligible again until 2031 - - The veteran QB has intimate knowledge of the Colts' offensive scheme and his working relationship with HC Shane Steichen will be seamless - as they worked closely during Steichen's days as the Los Angeles Chargers OC - prior to Rivers' one (and final) season with the Colts. . .Q: What are your thoughts on veteran QB Philip Rivers "unretiring" and signing with the Indianapolis Colts practice squad? Based on Indy's current QB situation and lack of depth at the position, does the 44-year-old Rivers actually line up under center for the Indianapolis Colts with just four weeks remaining in the 2025-26 NFL regular season?. . . - MLB - - First baseman Pete Alonso & the Baltimore Orioles are finalizing a five-year, $155 million contract, sources informed ESPN's Jeff Passan on Wednesday evening - - After failing to acquire the long-term deal that he coveted, Alonso made $30 million with the New York Mets in 2025 and was certainly worth every penny as he rebounded to slash .272/.347/.524 with 38 HRs and 126 RBIs, batting behind Juan Soto for the first time. . .but surprisingly, the Mets did not make the first baseman an offer, sources confirmed to ESPN - - In August, the five-time MLB All-Star became the Mets' all-time leader in HRs, surpassing Darryl Strawberry's previous record of 252 to solidify his place as one of the franchise's top players (Alonso now has a 264 HRs in his career). . .Q: What do you think was the deterring factor for the New York Mets as to why they did not make 1B Pete Alonso an offer, essentially allowing him to walk/sign with the Baltimore Orioles?. . . Thanks for Listening!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 113 - The "Across Enemy Lines Episode" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Football Week Fourteen aka "Rivalry Week" Analysis & Review: In this week's episode, JD & Spencer will discuss the major topics/storylines, analyze & review the in-game stats & each provide their individual takeaway's for the Week 14 or "Rivalry Week" slate of College Football games from across the country - - Be sure to tune in for an in-depth recap, and discussion of the following games & topics which are included in this week's College Football Analysis & Review segment: "Egg Bowl:" No.7 Ole Miss Rebels at Mississippi State Bulldogs "Lone Star Showdown:" No.3 Texas A&M Aggies at No.16 Texas Longhorns "Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate:" No.4 Georgia Bulldogs vs. No.23 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets "The Game:" No.1 Ohio State Buckeyes at No.15 Michigan Wolverines No.14 Vanderbilt Commodores at No.19 Tennessee Volunteers "The Iron Bowl:" No.10 Alabama Crimson Tide at Auburn Tigers - NCAA College Football Week Fifteen aka "Championship Week" Preview & Predictions: In this episode's Week Fifteen preview, JD & Spencer provide their individual & independently-selected pick(s) and/or predictions for each of the "Championship Week" matchups from the Power Four to the Group of 5 Conferences - as well as providing in-depth analysis & reasoning to explain the justification for their selection: **Be Sure to Share Your Picks with Us via Twitter/X - - @TraditionFinest OR Send Us an Email at [email protected]!!                       C-USA Championship: Jacksonville State at Kennesaw State (-1.5) O/U59.5 MAC Championship: Miami (OH) vs. Western Michigan (-2.5)  O/U43.5 Mountain West Championship: UNLV vs. Boise State (-3.5)  O/U58.5 Sun Belt Championship: Troy vs. No.25 James Madison (-23.5)       O/U47.5 American Athletic Championship: No.20 Tulane vs. No.24 North Texas (-2.5) O/U66.5 Big 12 Championship: No.11 BYU vs. No.4 Texas Tech (-12.5)         O/U49.5 ACC Championship: No.17 Virginia (-3.5) vs. Duke                 O/U57.5 Big Ten Championship: No.1 Ohio State (-4.5) vs. No.2 Indiana       O/U47.5 SEC Championship: No.3 Georgia (-2.5) vs. No.9 Alabama           O/U47.5 - NCAA: News & Storylines (cont'd) - - In this segment, JD & Spencer discuss the domino-like effect of coaching hires across the NCAA Division I College Football landscape, and provide a detailed analysis regarding many of the most notable update(s) concerning the "Coaching Carousel" that has seemed to be a central theme of the sport over the past week; this discussion includes the following fifteen to sixteen FBS programs/hires: **Let Us Know Your Thoughts on a few of the major coaching changes across College Football from the previous week - - Share Your Thoughts with Us via Twitter/X - - @TraditionFinest OR Send Us an Email at [email protected]! Oregon State - - JaMarcus Shephard (former Alabama co-OC/Assistant HC & WRs coach) Colorado State - - Jim Mora (former UConn HC) Auburn - - Alex Golesh (former USF HC) Arkansas - - Ryan Silverfield (former Memphis HC) Florida - - Jon Sumrall as HC (former Tulane HC)/David Caldwell as GM (former Philadelphia Eagles Executive) Michigan State - - Pat Fitzgerald (formerly of Northwestern) Kentucky - - Mark Stoops (out)/ Will Stein (hired as HC/former Oregon OC) UCLA - - Bob Chesney (former James Madison HC) "Can't Turn a Heaux into a Housewife:" LSU - - Lane Kiffin (former Ole Miss HC) + Charlie Weis, Jr. (hired as OC/former Ole Miss OC) Ole Miss - - Pete Golding (promoted to HC/former Ole Miss DC) Penn State/BYU - - Shortly after a report was made public that BYU HC Kalani Sitake had emerged as Penn State's top target to become the Nittany Lion's next HC, BYU got to work, and per On3 Sports reporter Pete Nakos on Wednesday afternoon, Sitake is staying in Provo - as he expected to sign a new deal with the program with an approximate average annual salary of $9M to $9.5 per year. . . Cal - - Tosh Lupoi (former Oregon DC) North Texas - - Neal Brown (formerly had stints at Troy & West Virginia) Kansas State - - Chris Klieman (retired)/Collin Klein (former Texas A&M OC & Wildcats QB) USF - - Brian Hartline (former Ohio State OC) - NFL - - NFL Week 13 Review & Recap: In this week's episode, JD & Spencer will discuss, review & recap each of the following NFL games from Week 13 of the regular season - - **Be sure to tune in for an in-depth review, a highlight and discussion of the following game(s) from this past weekend's slate of games: "NFL on Thanksgiving Day:" Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions "NFL on Thanksgiving Day, Game 2:" Kansas City Chiefs at Dallas Cowboys Chicago Bears at Philadelphia Eagles (**Bears win their fifth straight game/Eagles OC Kevin Patullo's New Jersey home vandalized by Philly fans) Los Angeles Rams at Carolina Panthers (**Panthers defense force three Stafford turnovers/Rams' six-game winning streak snapped) . . .And This Week's Tradition's Finest "Most Badass Celly of the Week" Award goes to. . .a Big Man! - - Tampa Bay Buccaneers OT Tristan Wirfs, who caught a pass from QB Baker Mayfield in the closing minutes of the first half to give the Bucs a 10-0 lead in their matchup on Sunday versus the Arizona Cardinals. . .Not only was it his first career catch, it was also the first TD he's ever scored in his professional career. . .Everything about the moment was awesome, including the way that he and teammate, Ben Bredesen, decided to celebrate afterwards. . .Queue up the "Dirty Dancing" celly. . . - - The Buccaneers would go on to defeat the Cardinals by a final score of 20-17. . . Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen set the NFL record for rushing TDs by a QB on Sunday in the Bills-Steelers matchup in Pittsburgh: Allen bulldozed into the end zone for an 8-yard rushing score in the 4th QTR that ultimately put the game out of reach for the Steelers, which was the 76th rushing score of his eight-year career, breaking the record previously held by former NFL (and Carolina) QB Cam Newton (75) - - as the Bills gashed the Steelers with a ruthless rushing attack in a 26-7 victory. . . - NBA - - Twenty-one games into his 21st NBA season, and what has been confirmed to be his final season in the league, Chris Paul will no longer be playing for the Los Angeles Clippers after being released by the NBA franchise. . .Paul announced on social media that the Clippers were sending him home as the team traveled to Atlanta for a game on Wednesday against the Hawks. . .The Clippers confirmed Paul will no longer be on the team in a statement to NBA insider Chris Haynes, after which an interesting report was released per ESPN's Shams Charania that, prior to his release, CP3 and Clippers HC Tyrone Lue had not been on "speaking terms" for several weeks. . .Clippers President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank released a statement on Wednesday detailing that the organization's decision to part ways with Paul did not come from just one isolated incident, and furthermore, that both sides had engaged in multiple conversations prior to Paul being informed that he would no longer be a part of the team in a stunning overnight move on Wednesday. . .While there are no obvious landing spots given Paul's age (40) & overall decline in his performance this season, there are teams around the NBA that are certainly in need of a PG, and that could possibly be willing to sign him - - the one team that is desperately seeking help at the PG position right now is the Minnesota Timberwolves - as All-Star SF Anthony Edwards has assumed that role as of late. . .Q: Do you think that the Minnesota Timberwolves would be a favorable fit for Chris Paul?. . . Thanks for Listening!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 112 - The "Rivalrous Episode" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Football Week Thirteen Analysis & Review: In this week's episode, JD & Spencer will discuss the major topics/storylines, analyze & review the in-game stats & each provide their individual takeaway's for the Week 13 slate of College Football games from across the country - - Be sure to tune in for an in-depth recap, and discussion of the following games & topics which are included in this week's College Football Analysis & Review segment: No.22 Missouri Tigers at No.8 Oklahoma Sooners Arkansas Razorbacks at No.17 Texas Longhorns No.15 USC Trojans at No.7 Oregon Ducks Pittsburgh Panthers at No.16 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Kansas State Wildcats at No.12 Utah Utes NCAA College Football Week Fourteen or "Rivalry Week" Preview & Predictions: In this episode's Week Fourteen preview, JD & Spencer provide their individual & independently-selected pick(s) and/or predictions for a few of the most notable Rivalry Week matchups - as well as providing in-depth analysis & reasoning to explain the justification for their selection, and also discuss the historical significance of each matchup: **Be Sure to Share Your Picks with Us via Twitter/X - - @TraditionFinest OR Send Us an Email at [email protected]!!                    "Egg Bowl:"No.6 Ole Miss (-7.5) at Mississippi State   O/U62.5      "Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate:" No.4 Georgia (-12.5) vs. No.16 Georgia Tech O/U59.5 Cotton Holdings "Lone Star Showdown:"No.3 Texas A&M (-2.5) at No.17 Texas O/U51.5 "The Game:" No.1 Ohio State (-9.5) at No.18 Michigan O/U45.5 No.14 Vanderbilt at No.20 Tennessee (-2.5) O/U64.5 "The Iron Bowl:" No.10 Alabama (-5.5) at Auburn O/U48.5     NCAA: News & Storylines (cont'd) - - "Kiffin Drama:" Lane Kiffin's decision on his coaching future feels like it's holding the sport of college football hostage, however, Ole Miss confirmed on Friday that Kiffin will announce the "final verdict" regarding his future on November 29th - just one day after the Rebels meet the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the 2025 edition of the "Egg Bowl," - leaving Florida, LSU & even his own program, Ole Miss, stuck in an uncomfortable position - - The uncertainty intensified late Friday night, when reports surfaced that LSU officials were preparing to make an aggressive push to pry Kiffin from Oxford - - According to multiple reports, key decision-makers are preparing a formal offer that could reach seven years and upwards of $90M, which would place Kiffin among the highest-paid coaches in college football - - While Florida is reportedly still in the mix for Kiffin's services, LSU's surge has instantly reshaped the financial landscape, while Ole Miss is stuck navigating the fallout - - The Rebels currently sit at No.6 in the most current CFP rankings, and are tracking toward the program's first-ever College Football Playoff appearance, yet Kiffin's indecisiveness looms over an otherwise historic season - - Q: Solely based on your gut, where do you think Lane Kiffin lands: does he remain at Ole Miss and continue building upon the success that he has already established in Oxford? Although he has indicated that it's "not about the money," does he chase the paper trail to Baton Rouge? Or, does he follow the palm tree pathway to the Gainesville to lead the Florida Gators?. . .Florida State HC Mike Norvell will return for a seventh season with the Seminoles, pledging to make the much-needed structural changes within the program to enhance performance, the school announced Sunday - - Questions that had been mounting about Norvell's job security reached a boiling point after a 21-11 loss to NC State on Friday night that dropped the Seminoles to 5-6 overall - - Florida State must win on the road at Florida on Saturday just to reach bowl eligibility - - Over the past two years, Florida State is 7-16 (3-13 in ACC Conference play) & winless on the road - - Norvell, however, did win an ACC title in 2023 and has maintained his optimism to reinvigorate the program towards a successful future - - Q: What are your thoughts on Florida State's announcement on Sunday that head football coach Mike Norvell will return next season?. . .Per On3 Sports' Pete Thamel, North Texas HC Eric Morris has been hired to become the next HC at Oklahoma State - - Morris will reportedly coach out UNT's remaining games, including both a potential American Conference title game appearance and CFP bid, announced on Tuesday - - Statistically, Morris' Mean Green have the No.1 offense in the country, averaging 503.3 total yards of offense per game - The Mean Green are also the only D-I team in the country to score at least 50 points in six games this season, and they are the only team to score at least 30 points in every game throughout the regular season - - Morris is 21-15 in three years at UNT, and went 24-18 at Incarnate Word with two FCS playoff appearances - - Q: What are your thoughts on the hire by Oklahoma State? Do you expect UNT Mean Green redshirt freshman QB Drew Mestemaker to follow HC Eric Morris to Oklahoma State?. . . NFL - - NFL Week 12 Review & Recap: In this week's episode, JD & Spencer will discuss, review & recap each of the following NFL games from Week 12 of the regular season - - **Be sure to tune in for an in-depth review, a highlight and discussion of the following game(s) from this past weekend's slate of games: Thursday Night Football: Buffalo Bills at Houston Texans Pittsburgh Steelers at Chicago Bears (**Steelers' T.J. Watt surpasses older brother J.J. Watt in career sacks) . . .And This Week's Tradition's Finest "Most Badass Celly of the Week" Award goes to. . the Green Bay Packers' Evan Williams with the "SKOL celly," a TD celebration where he & his teammates performed the Minnesota Vikings' "SKOL" chant after picking off QB J.J. McCarthy, who now has nine INTs in six games played - as the Packers went on to defeat the Vikings 23-6. . . New York Giants at Detroit Lions (**Lions' RB Jahmyr Gibbs has a career day) Indianapolis Colts at Kansas City Chiefs Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys (**The Cowboys score 24 unanswered points to defeat the Eagles/QB Dak Prescott tops Tony Romo for the career franchise record for yards passing) Cleveland Browns at Las Vegas Raiders (**Rookie QB Shedeur Sanders' NFL starting debut/Raiders fire OC Chip Kelly just 11 games into his first season with the franchise) NBA - - Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul is retiring after this season, his 21st NBA campaign, sources told ESPN on Saturday - - Paul, 40, is a 12-time All-Star, an 11-time member of All-NBA teams, a nine-time All-Defensive teams member, the 2006 Rookie of the Year, and a member of the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team - - It was believed that this was likely Paul's final season in the league, and on Saturday morning, he posted on social media: "What a ride. . .Still so much left. . .GRATEFUL for this last one," - - Nicknamed "The Point God," Paul is the NBA's active leader in assists & steals, and is second all-time in both behind John Stockton - - He has led the league in assists per game five times and in steals per game in six seasons - and he has averaged double-digit assists in seven seasons - - Paul & LeBron James are the only two players in NBA history to reach both 30,000 career points and 10,000 career assists milestones - - Paul spent six years with the New Orleans Hornets after being drafted with the No.4 overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, prior to the famously voided trade to the Los Angeles Lakers, which ultimately landed him with the Clippers, where he teamed up with Blake Griffin & DeAndre Jordan - which birthed the "Lob City" era of the franchise - leading to its' longest sustained run of success - - After six years with the Clippers, Paul was traded to the Houston Rockets & paired with superstar James Harden, but they failed to have a postseason breakthrough - - Paul would go on to play for the OKC Thunder as well as a short stint for the Golden State Warriors prior to reuniting with the Clippers in the offseason, and to date, Paul - who will turn 41 in May - has appeared in eleven games this season with Los Angeles - - Q: Would you consider Chris Paul to be the second-best assist facilitator in the history of the NBA? Without an NBA championship, does it somewhat tarnish Paul's career & overall accomplishments?. . . Thanks for Listening & Happy Thanksgiving!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 111 - The "Walk-On" Episode includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Football Week Twelve Analysis & Review: In this week's episode, JD & Spencer will discuss the major topics/storylines, analyze & review the in-game stats & each provide their individual takeaway's for the Week 12 slate of College Football games from across the country - - Be sure to tune in for an in-depth recap, and discussion of the following games & topics which are included in this week's College Football Analysis & Review segment: Clemson Tigers at No.19 Louisville Cardinals South Carolina Gamecocks at No.3 Texas A&M Aggies (**largest comeback in program history - - a 1-286 record in SEC play since 2004 when trailing by 27 or more points) No.24 South Florida Bulls at Navy Midshipmen (**for a second consecutive week, the highest-ranked G5 program in the CFP rankings lost) No.21 Iowa Hawkeyes at No.17 USC Trojans (**The Hawkeyes have now lost to four ranked teams this season by a combined 15 points) No.11 Oklahoma Sooners at No.4 Alabama Crimson Tide (**Theme for the Crimson Tide: "Missed Opportunities & Turnovers") No.10 Texas Longhorns at No.5 Georgia Bulldogs (**Does Texas have a "Georgia" problem that is very similar to Georgia's "Alabama" problem?) - NCAA College Football Week Thirteen Preview & Predictions: In this episode's Week Thirteen preview, JD & Spencer provide their individual & independently-selected pick(s) and/or predictions for each of the following Week 13 matchups - as well as providing in-depth analysis & reasoning to explain the justification for their selection: **Be Sure to Share Your Picks with Us via Twitter/X - - @TraditionFinest OR Send Us an Email at [email protected]!!               No.22 Missouri at No.8 Oklahoma (-7.5)      O/U41.5          Arkansas at No.17 Texas (-8.5) O/U57.5 "College Gameday:" No.15 USC at No.7 Oregon (-9 O/U59.5 No.20 Tennessee (-4.5) at Florida      O/U57.5 No.11 BYU (-2.5) at No.25 Cincinnati         O/U54.5 - NCAA: News & Storylines (cont'd) - - Virginia Tech has finalized a deal to make James Franklin the school's next head football coach, per the sources who informed ESPN of the hire on Monday - - Franklin is the former HC at both Penn State and Vanderbilt University, where he went an impressive & combined record of 128-60 over 15 seasons at the helm - - Franklin brings a resume that includes winning more than 68% of his games, an appearance in the semi-finals of the 2024 College Football Playoff, and a Big Ten Conference championship in 2016 - - Franklin's arrival in Blacksburg will give the Hokies their most accomplished HC since Hall of Famer Frank Beamer, who retired in 2015 after 29 seasons with the program - - Since that time, Virginia Tech has endured the underwhelming tenures of Justin Fuente, and most recently - Brent Pry - as the program struggled to assimilate to modern college football. . .Q: What are your thoughts regarding James Franklin being hired as the as the next head football coach for the Virginia Tech Hokies? Is it necessarily the best overall fit for the program? If you're James Franklin, do you at the very least reach out to Hokies' legendary QB, Michael Vick, about the possibility of him joining your staff at his alma mater? . . .The third edition of the College Football Playoff rankings were released on Tuesday night, with undefeated Ohio State remaining No.1 ahead of Big Ten foe Indiana, and the top 10 experiencing some key alterations - - A pair of top-tier SEC matchups & a massive upset led to a new No.4 team in the rankings. . Alabama vacated that particular ranking/spot after suffering a 23-21 loss at home to Oklahoma, with Georgia sliding into the "first-round bye" position after the Bulldogs dominated the Texas Longhorns 35-10 this weekend in Athens. . .In the recently released CFP rankings, the Sooners now sit at No.8, one spot ahead of Notre Dame & two spots ahead of the Crimson Tide (i.e., No.10) - - University of Arkansas Athletic Director Hunter Yurachek, who earlier in the week had assumed the role as the College Football Playoff selection committee chairman, had some pretty interesting, but mostly asinine comments when it came to elaborating as to the "why" Alabama came in at No.10 in this week's CFP rankings: (1) Rushing offense struggles: Yurachek pointed to Alabama's inconsistent rushing performance as a major issue, noting that the Crimson Tide's season-opening loss to the Florida State Seminoles, was a "sign of some of the struggles Alabama was going to have rushing the ball," - He also referenced the games against South Carolina and LSU, where they ultimately won the game, but failed to rush for at least 100 yards rushing, and their inability to move the ball on the ground against Oklahoma; (2) Comparison to Notre Dame (CFP No.9): Yurachek explained that the CFP selection committee used metrics like the quality of losses when comparing Notre Dame & Alabama, further highlighting that Alabama's loss to FSU, who is currently 5-5 overall this season, was a 'difference-maker' in their decision-making process; and (3) Inconsistent performance: Yurachek also mentioned that the CFP selection committee also evaluated Alabama's need to score two late TDs to avoid the upset on the road versus South Carolina - as an example of a team struggling on the road & not running the ball very well, which factored into their decision to rank the Crimson Tide at No.10. . .Q: Is it not abundantly clear that the University of Alabama is evaluated under a different microscope lens than that of other D-1 programs? What about the evaluation of "quality of wins," or "number of wins over ranked opponents?" Do you agree with CFP committee chair Hunter Yurachek that the Notre Dame Fighting Irish should be ranked higher than the Alabama Crimson Tide in the College Football Playoff rankings? - - Even though Alabama dropped from the No.4 spot to No.10, the Crimson Tide still has favorable odds to advance to the SEC Conference Championship game, which would all but guarantee a spot in this year's CFP. . .According to ESPN Research, Alabama has a 71% chance to make it to Atlanta - with only one SEC game remaining - against archrival Auburn on the Plains - - No.3 Texas A&M and No.5 Texas Tech round out the top five, and possibly the most surprising alteration to the third edition of the CFP rankings: the Miami (FL) Hurricanes being announced as the 11th projected bid, despite being ranked No.13, yet they are four spots behind Notre Dame, a team that the Hurricanes defeated 27-24 in the season opener (so much for the No.1 criteria being evaluated or viewed by the CFP selection committee being "head-to-head" matchups) - - Finally, the Tulane Green Wave claimed the last of the 12 playoff spots as the highest-ranked Group of Five team in Tuesday's release at No.24 - but after consecutive weeks of the highest-ranked G5 program losing, could this potentially be "a hex" for Jon Sumrall & the Green Wave?. . .According to CFP chair Hunter Yurachek, should a Group of Five team not make the final CFP rankings, the CFP selection committee would then choose which conference champion is most deserving of the last (or final) bid - - The SEC Conference led the way again Tuesday with nine ranked teams, while the Big Ten had six, the Big 12 had five, and the ACC has three after Pitt dropped out of the rankings following their 37-15 loss to Notre Dame this weekend. . .Q: What are your overall thoughts on this week's updated CFP rankings? Which of the ranking(s) are you most surprised and/or intrigued about? . . - NFL - - NFL Week 11 Review & Recap: In this week's episode, JD & Spencer will discuss, review & recap each of the following NFL games from Week 11 of the regular season - - **Be sure to tune in for an in-depth review, a highlight and discussion of the following game(s) from this past weekend's slate of games: Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings . . .And This Week's Tradition's Finest "Most Badass Celly of the Week" Award goes to. . .New York Giants QB Jameis Winston, who started on Sunday versus the Green Bay Packers in place of Giants starter, Jaxson Dart after suffering a concussion in last week's game - - Winston gave an electric pregame speech & kept the Giants (2-8) in the game against the Packers, but ultimately came up just short in a 27-20 loss on Sunday afternoon. . .On Sunday, Winston scored a go-ahead rushing TD from the 1-yard line midway through the 4th QTR, and he blessed us all with a TD celebration that is sure to become an instant meme: Winston busted out the Harlem Shake in the end zone . . . Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons (**Carolina QB Bryce Young breaks franchise record for most passing yards in a single game/Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. out for the season after he underwent surgery to repair a partially torn left ACL suffered in Atlanta's loss in OT). . . Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos (**a new King of the AFC West emerging for the first time since 2016?). . . Baltimore Ravens at "We're the Cleveland Browns" (**the Ravens defense spoiled QB Shedeur Sanders NFL regular season debut?). . . - NFL (cont'd) - - Cincinnati Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase has been suspended one game without pay for spitting on Pittsburgh Steelers DB Jalen Ramsey, the league announced Monday - - The incident occurred in Cincinnati's 34-12 loss to the Steelers on Sunday - - After Chase initially denied his role in the altercation with Ramsey, video from Cincinnati's WXIX-TV revealed Chase clearly spitting in Ramsey's direction, which prompted Ramsey to throw a punch at Chase - - While Chase did appeal his suspension, it was upheld, and he will therefore miss his team's upcoming game against the New England Patriots in the Week 12 matchup. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Ja'Marr Chase-Jalen Ramsey altercation that occurred in the Bengals-Steelers' Week 11 matchup?. . . - MLB - - For months, debate has swirled about which MLB player would go on to win this year's American League (AL) MVP Award: would the honor go to New York Yankees RF Aaron Judge for the third time in four years after another extraordinary offensive season. . .OR. . .would it be awarded to Seattle Mariners' catcher Cal Raleigh, who smashed his way into the history books with 60 HRs in the 2025 season? - - Last Thursday, once all of the votes were counted, Aaron Judge just narrowly won the AL MVP Award, cementing his place among baseball's all-time greats by becoming the 13th player to win three or more MVPs, joining Yogi Berra, Joe DiMaggio & Mickey Mantle as the only Yankees' players to have accomplished this feat - - Statistically, the 2025 MLB season was the best of Aaron Judge's career in terms of overall offensive production - - According to ESPN, the vote from the Baseball Writers' Association of America was one of the closest in years, with Judge receiving 17 of the 30 first-place votes & 13 second-place votes, while Raleigh received the remaining 13 first-place votes, while finishing second on the other 17 ballots - - In other words, if just two writers would have switched their votes, the race for the AL MVP Award between Judge & Raleigh would concluded with a tie. . .Q: What are your thoughts on New York Yankees RF Aaron Judge being voted the AL MVP for the third time in four years? Should Cal Raleigh have been voted as the 2025 AL MVP? . . .Shohei Ohtani was named the National League (NL) MVP last Thursday, capturing all 30 first-place votes from the Baseball Writers' Association of America in the wake of another dynamic offensive season that included a successful return to pitching, and was once again capped by a championship - Ohtani came back from a second surgical repair of his ulnar collateral ligament to make 14 regular-season starts for the Los Angeles Dodgers, posting a 2.87 ERA with 62 strikeouts in 47 innings, including 16 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings to end the regular season - - Ohtani has won four MVP Awards over the past five years - all of them in unanimous fashion, and only Barry Bonds, has been presented with more (i.e., seven) - - Ohtani is now the first player in MLB, NBA, NHL and NFL history to win both an MVP and a championship in each of his first two seasons with a team, according to ESPN Research. . .Q: Legit question: Is Shohei Ohtani the greatest MLB player of all time?. . . - Miscellaneous - - Boxing: YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul will face former two-time unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in a professional heavyweight boxing match on December 18th at Kaseya Center in Miami, according to Paul's brand Most Valuable Promotions, who informed ESPN on Monday - - The fight, which will be streamed live on Netflix, is scheduled for eight 3-minute rounds, and the fighters will wear 10-ounce gloves, which is the standard for heavyweight fights - - Instead of an exhibition match against a hard-hitting professional boxer in Gervonta "Tank" Davis, who campaigned at 130 pounds, Paul will now face off against a two-time heavyweight champion & Olympic gold medalist in a sanctioned professional boxing match, who has fought as high as 256 pounds, over 100 pounds heavier than Davis. . .Q: Do you think that this boxing match will be "rigged?" If the boxing match is NOT rigged, how much of a chance do you give Jake Paul to actually win this fight & defeat Anthony Joshua? Thanks for Listening!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 110 - The One-Hundred & Tenth Episode includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Football Week Eleven Analysis & Review: In this week's episode, JD & Spencer will discuss the major topics/storylines, analyze & review the in-game stats & each provide their individual takeaway's for the Week 11 slate of College Football games from across the country - - Be sure to tune in for an in-depth recap, and discussion of the following games & topics which are included in this week's College Football Analysis & Review segment: Tulane Green Wave at No.23 Memphis Tigers No.2 Indiana Hoosiers at Penn State Nittany Lions (**Josh Dasher, Official of the Year?) No.7 BYU Cougars at No.8 Texas Tech Red Raiders No.9 Oregon Ducks at No.20 Iowa Hawkeyes Auburn Tigers at No.16 Vanderbilt Commodores No.3 Texas A&M Aggies at No.22 Missouri Tigers LSU Tigers at No.4 Alabama Crimson Tide - NCAA: News & Storylines (cont'd) - - Two weeks after firing Brian Kelly, LSU remains in a standoff with its former football coach over the terms of his buyout. . .Kelly's contract - a 10-year, $95-million deal - calls for him to be paid 90% of his remaining salary for the life of his contract, which would put LSU on the hook for close to $54 million in the form of monthly payments to Kelly through 2031 - - Reportedly, LSU wanted to negotiate a smaller payment to Kelly that would give the coach a significant payout up front, but save the program money in the long run - - Per reporter Dan Wetzel, in a legal filing obtained by ESPN, Brian Kelly's lawyers state that LSU is saying that it never "formally terminated" Kelly and are now seeking to fire him "for cause" which could impact his near $54 million buyout agreement - - Kelly is seeking a declaratory judgement that LSU did fire him and that he is entitled to "full liquidated damages" - - Q: Do you expect the LSU-Brian Kelly to get pretty messy?. . . NCAA College Football Week Twelve Preview & Predictions: In this episode's Week Eleven preview, JD & Spencer provide their individual & independently-selected pick(s) and/or predictions for each of the following Week 12 matchups - as well as providing in-depth analysis & reasoning to explain the justification for their selection: **Be Sure to Share Your Picks with Us via Twitter/X - - @TraditionFinest OR Send Us an Email at [email protected]!!                       Clemson at No.20 Louisville (-3.5)         O/U51.5            "College Gameday:" No.9 Notre Dame (-12.5) at No.22 Pittsburgh O/U55.5 No.11 Oklahoma at No.4 Alabama (-5.5)     O/U45.5 No.21 Iowa at No.17 USC (-6.5)                          O/U49.5 No.10 Texas at No.5 Georgia (-5.5)      O/U48.5 - NFL - - NFL Week 10 Review & Recap: In this week's episode, JD & Spencer will discuss, review & recap each of the following NFL games from Week 10 of the regular season - - **Be sure to tune in for an in-depth review, a highlight and discussion of the following game(s) from this past weekend's slate of games: NFL Berlin: Indianapolis Colts vs. Atlanta Falcons (**Colts RB Jonathan Taylor breaks franchise record) New York Giants at Chicago Bears (**& the firing of Giants' HC Brian Daboll) Cleveland Browns at New York Jets (**Jets break franchise history in the span of 36 seconds) New England Patriots at Tampa Bay Buccaneers Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Texans (** Backup QB Davis Mills & Texans overcame 19-point, 4th-QTR deficit to stun the Jags) And This Week's Tradition's Finest "Most Badass Celly of the Week" Award goes to. . .Jacksonville Jaguars WR Parker Washington - - Washington had a punt return TD of 72 yards where he ran down the sideline untouched that put the Jags up 17-0. . .Washington stopped just shy of the goal line, turned around & fell backwards into the end zone & his teammates began to imitate that they were performing CPR on him, for a very creative and unique TD celebration. . . - MLB - - Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz appeared in federal court Monday on charges accusing him and teammate Emmanuel Clase of accepting bribes to help associates in their native Dominican Republic win prop bets placed on pitches they threw - - The U.S. Magistrate Judge in Boston granted Ortiz his release but with several conditions, including that he surrender his passport, restrict his travel to the Northeast and post a $500,000 bail, with $50,000 of it secured - - He also was ordered to avoid contact with anyone who could be viewed as a victim, a witness or a co-defendant in the case - - According to the indictment against the two unsealed on Sunday, Ortiz & Clase took several thousand dollars in payoffs to help two unnamed gamblers in their home country win at least $460,000 on bets placed on the speed and outcome of certain pitches, including some that landed in the dirt - - Clase, who was the Guardians' closer, and Ortiz, a starter, have been on non-disciplinary paid leave since July, when the MLB started investigating what it said was unusually high in-game betting activity when the two pitched, with some of the games in question occurring in April, May & June of this year. . .Q: Considering the alleged betting scheme that has been uncovered in the NBA, should we be surprised to learn that there is an illegal paper trail of betting in the MLB? Do you truly believe that Luis Ortiz & Emmanuel Clase are the only two MLB pitchers out there that are involved in some type of pitch-rigging betting scheme?. . . - NBA - - Dallas Mavericks GM Nico Harrison has been fired, it was announced on Tuesday morning - - The decision was made after a Tuesday morning meeting between Harrison and team governor Patrick Dumont, sources told ESPN - - Harrison has been under fire from Mavericks fans since he stunningly traded superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 2nd, months removed from the then-25-year-old five-time first-team All-NBA selection leading the franchise to an NBA Finals appearance - - That trade, in which Dallas received veteran Anthony Davis, Max Christie & a 2029 first-round pick in return, prompted fan protests outside the American Airlines Center on the night of the deal and before the team's next home game. . .That angst never dissipated, as "Fire Nico!" chants have frequently been heard ever since at the team's home games, including Monday night's loss to the Milwaukee Bucks - - Assistant GM Michael Finley & Matt Riccardi have been promoted to lead the Mavs' basketball operations department on an interim basis - - Dallas' poor start to the 2025 NBA regular season combined with the fans' relentless angst ultimately sealed Harrison's fate. . .Q: Were you in the slightest bit surprised by the firing of GM Nico Harrison by the Mavericks organization? Do you think the Mavericks should have made this decision months ago?. . . Thanks for Listening!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 109 - The "Call of A Lifetime" Episode includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - NCAA: News & Storylines - - "Welcome Back, College Basketball:" Due primarily to an excessive material load, we have decided to postpone on our NCAA College Basketball 'Season Preview' segment, however, JD & Spencer elected to provide their individual Final Four predictions for the 2026 NCAA Tournament. . .There is one storyline from the Opening Night of the College Basketball season that is just too great & uplifting to not mention in this week's episode: During the postgame interview following their first game of the season, Loyola (Chicago) Ramblers head basketball coach Drew Valentine indicated that he could 'sense' Sister Jean's presence in his team's thrilling win over Cleveland State on Monday night - - Loyola Chicago guard Deywilk Tavarez hit a go-ahead three-pointer with 0.5 seconds to play, to secure the 91-88 victory in the program's first official game since the death of Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, the longtime chaplain of the program and its' globally-recognized supporter, at the age of 106 last month - - In memory of Sister Jean, who had been associated with the program since 1994, the Ramblers' uniforms will include a patch that includes a picture depicting Sister Jean in all her glory - - Q: What are your thoughts on Loyola Chicago's buzzer-beating victory in their first game following Sister Jean's passing?. . .NCAA College Football Week Ten Analysis & Review: In this week's episode, JD & Spencer will discuss the major topics/storylines, analyze & review the in-game stats & each provide their individual takeaway's for the Week 10 slate of College Football games from across the country - - Be sure to tune in for an in-depth recap, and discussion of the following games & topics which are included in this week's College Football Analysis & Review segment: No.9 Vanderbilt Commodores at No.20 Texas Longhorns West Virginia Mountaineers at No.22 Houston Cougars No.10 Miami Hurricanes at SMU Mustangs No.5 Georgia Bulldogs vs. Florida Gators (*Neutral site/game played in Jacksonville, FL) No.8 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at NC State Wolfpack No.23 USC Trojans at Nebraska Cornhuskers South Carolina Gamecocks at No.7 Ole Miss Rebels (& the firing of Gamecocks OC Mike Shula) No.18 Oklahoma Sooners at No.14 Tennessee Volunteers Kentucky Wildcats at Auburn Tigers (**& the firing of Tigers HC Hugh Freeze & potential replacements) - NCAA: News & Storylines (cont'd) - - NCAA D-I College Football Coaching Carousel: This could be the most active coaching carousel the sport of College Football has encountered in many years - - In particular, prior to the end of the month of September, five Power 4 programs were searching for new HC's for the 2026 season, and that number has since skyrocketed to twelve (counting some late-offseason dismissals) after Kent State University removed the interim tag from Mark Carney - - The 2024-25 hiring cycle was historically slow at the Power 4 level, as most programs waited to see the impact of budgeting more than $20 million for athletes in the House v. NCAA settlement, but with that revenue sharing system now firmly in place, the focus has significantly shifted back to coaching changes across the college football landscape - - In this particular segment, JD & Spencer present their individual ranking of NCAA Division I College Football's open head coaching jobs, with the ranking being primarily based on factors such as the chances for a head coach to succeed there - - Coaches want to take jobs where they believe they can be successful, and based on our independent rankings, this is how most HCs would view & prioritize the particular programs - - The 12 Power 4 open heading jobs that are ranked in this segment include the following programs: LSU, Penn State, Florida, Auburn, Arkansas, UCLA, Oklahoma State, Virginia Tech, Stanford, Oregon State, Colorado State & UAB. . .NCAA College Football Week Eleven Preview & Predictions: In this episode's Week Eleven preview, JD & Spencer provide their individual & independently-selected pick(s) and/or predictions for each of the following Week 11 matchups - as well as providing in-depth analysis & reasoning to explain the justification for their selection: **Be Sure to Share Your Picks with Us via Twitter/X - - @TraditionFinest OR Send Us an Email at [email protected]!! Tulane at No.22 Memphis (-5.5)                       O/U55.5 No.5 Georgia (-8.5) at Mississippi State                    O/U57.5 "College Gameday:" No.8 BYU at No.9 Texas Tech (-10)           O/U52.5 No.3 Texas A&M (-7) at No.19 Missouri  O/U47.5 No.6 Oregon (-6) at Iowa      O/U40.5 LSU at No.4 Alabama (-10.5)                    O/U49.5 Auburn at No.15 Vanderbilt (-6.5)             O/U45.5 - NFL - - NFL Week 9 Review & Recap: In this week's episode, JD & Spencer will discuss, review & recap each of the following NFL games from Week 9 of the regular season - - **Be sure to tune in for an in-depth review, a highlight and discussion of the following game(s) from this past weekend's slate of games: Atlanta Falcons at New England Patriots Carolina Panthers at Green Bay Packers And This Week's Tradition's Finest "Most Badass Celly of the Week" Award goes to. . .Carolina Panthers RB Rico Dowdle - - Dowdle's celebration of a 3rd-QTR TD on Sunday included only two "pelvic pumps" in his rendition, referencing the character, Hingle McCringleberry, from a sketch of the Comedy Central show "Key & Peele," - - In contrast to McCringleberry's "three-pump" TD celebration, which gets flagged for excessive celebration in the original skit, it was Dowdle's understanding that he was allowed two pumps - - While the language in the league's rulebook is vague, the game official flagged Dowdle on Sunday for unsportsmanlike conduct - and unfortunately, the 15-yard penalty was forced on the extra-point attempt, for which Carolina PK Ryan Fitzgerald missed - - but perhaps it was "excessive" because six of Dowdle's teammates participated in the celebration, which means, technically, there might have been 12 pelvic pumps. . . Indianapolis Colts at Pittsburgh Steelers Chicago Bears at Cincinnati Bengals "Cam Little, BIG Kick:" Jacksonville Jaguars second-year kicker Cam Little is now officially in the NFL record book after drilling the longest FG in league history on Sunday - - The Jaguars' PK booted a 68-yard FG shortly before the halftime break - in the Jaguars' eventual 30-29 OT win over the Las Vegas Raiders - - Little, who connected on a 70-yard FG during the NFL preseason, was mobbed by his teammates after breaking the record that was previously held by former Ravens kicker, Justin Tucker, who's 66-yarder held on to the record since 2021 - - **NOTE: Little is now just one of three kickers in NFL history to make a FG of at least 65 yards - not bad for a 22-year-old, sixth-round pick - who had made 71.4% of his FG attempts during the first seven games of the 2025 NFL season. . . Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills - NFL (cont'd) - - 2025 NFL Trade Deadline: The 2025 NFL trade deadline, which was on Tuesday, November 4th, presented teams with one last window to transform their roster prior to the stretch run of the NFL regular season - - JD & Spencer discuss & provide an 'overall grade' for a few of the more notable and/or most impactful trades that did occur around the league prior to the 4:00 p.m. ET cutoff; the following trade(s) are discussed within this episode: Philadelphia acquired OLB Jaelan Phillips via Miami in exchange for a 2026 third-round draft pick Seattle acquired WR Rashid Shaheed via New Orleans in exchange for 2026 fourth- & fifth-round pick(s) Jacksonville acquired WR Jakobi Meyers via Las Vegas in exchange for 2026 fourth & sixth-round pick(s) Indianapolis acquired CB Sauce Gardner via NYJ in exchange for 2026 & '27 first-round picks & WR Adonai Mitchell Dallas acquired three-time Pro Bowl DT Quinnen Williams via NYJ in exchange for 2026 second-round pick, a 2027 first-round pick & DT Mazi Smith - MLB - - 2025 World Series Game 5: Toronto Blue Jays (2-2) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (2-2): A record-setting performance from 22-year-old rookie pitcher Trey Yesavage in Game 5 of the 2025 World Series last Wednesday night had the Toronto Blue Jays on the cusp of their first MLB championship since 1993 - - Yesavage, in his first career postseason start on the road, struck out 12 batters over seven innings while giving up only three hits without issuing a single walk, helping lead the Blue Jays to a 6-1 win, and 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series - - **NOTE: Yesavage set the rookie mark for most strikeouts in a World Series game, surpassing Don Newcombe's 11, which was set in 1949. . .2025 World Series Game 6: Toronto Blue Jays (3-2) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (2-3): After another hitless performance in Wednesday's Game 5 loss made Dodgers star Mookie Betts 3-for-23 in this year's World Series, he wasted no time as his only solution for when slumps emerge, is to attempt to swing his way out of them: In the early part of Game 6 last Friday evening, Betts hit a two-run single that made the difference in a season-saving 3-1 victory against the Toronto Blue Jays - - Yoshinobu Yamamoto beat Toronto for the second time in a week by allowing one run in six innings, and slumping Mookie Betts hit a two-run single in a three-run 3rd inning against Kevin Gausman that included Will Smith's go-ahead double - - A two-run lead was starting to slip away from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 9th inning - along with their chance to force this year's World Series to a Game 7 - And then Kike Hernandez turned what might have been a tying, two-run single by Andres Gimenez into the first game-ending left field-to-second base double play in postseason history - - The Blue Jays were pushed to a Game 76 while the Dodgers kept alive their chance to become the first repeat champion since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees. . .2025 World Series Game 7: Toronto Blue Jays (3-3) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (3-3): When the final out of Game 7 of the 2025 World Series was recorded late Saturday night, and the Los Angeles Dodgers cemented themselves as champions for a second straight year - - As for Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, he turned to watch Alejandro Kirk hit a broken-bat grounder that started a double play, Kershaw was certain there were two outs and the score was suddenly tied, not that his Dodgers had just pulled off an improbable, championship-clinching 5-4 victory over the Blue Jays - - Down a run with two outs remaining in their quest to become the first MLB team in a quarter century to repeat, the Dodgers got a game-tying HR from Miguel Rojas in the 9th inning, then a game-winning HR from Will Smith in the 11th inning - - Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who recorded the last two outs in the 9th inning, mowed through the Blue Jays lineup in the 10th and staved off another furious rally in the 11th - - In the end, he became an easy choice for World Series MVP. . . Thanks for Listening!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! & Happy Halloween to all you Cool Cats & Kittens! Episode 108 - "The CVIII Episode" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Football Week Nine Analysis & Review: In this week's episode, JD & Spencer will discuss the major topics/storylines, analyze & review the in-game stats & each provide their individual takeaway's for the Week 9 slate of College Football games from across the country - - Be sure to tune in for an in-depth recap, and discussion of the following games & topics which are included in this week's College Football Analysis & Review segment: **"Feel Good, Inc:" UNT Redshirt freshman QB Drew Mestemaker "Mustve'Mader" major impact in the Mean Green's impressive comeback victory over Charlotte No.8 Ole Miss Rebels at No.13 Oklahoma Sooners No.16 Virginia Cavaliers at North Carolina Tar Heels No.18 South Florida Bulls at Memphis Tigers "College Gameday:" No.15 Missouri Tigers at No.10 Vanderbilt Commodores No.4 Alabama Crimson Tide at South Carolina Gamecocks No.22 Texas Longhorns at Mississippi State Bulldogs And This Week's "Most Badass Celly of the Week" Award goes to. . .Redshirt freshman Nickelback/Safety RahShawn Clark of the Washington Huskies: In the best game of his collegiate career, Clark snagged his first career INT off Illinois QB Luke Altmyer, which led to Clark leading a stadium-wide "6,7" celebration at Husky Stadium on Saturday (**a reference to the viral song/clip from TikTok). . . No.3 Texas A&M Aggies at No.20 LSU Tigers (**& the firing of Tigers HC Brian Kelly & potential replacements) - NCAA: News & Storylines (cont'd) - - "The Axe Cometh:" LSU OC and QBs coach Joe Sloan has been fired effective immediately, the school announced on Monday, less than 24 hours after HC Brian Kelly was relieved of his duties - - LSU's offense has struggled this season, ranking No.124 in the country in rushing yards per game (106.3), No.91 in red zone efficiency (58.6%), and No.83 in points per game (25.5) - - TEs coach & Run Game Coordinator Alex Atkins, who formerly made stops as the OC at Florida State & Charlotte, will reportedly take over as LSU's offensive play-caller, per an announcement of the program. . .NCAA College Football Week Ten Preview & Predictions: In this episode's Week Ten preview, JD & Spencer provide their individual & independently-selected pick(s) and/or predictions for each of the following Week 10 matchups - as well as providing in-depth analysis & reasoning to explain the justification for their selection: **Be Sure to Share Your Picks with Us via Twitter/X - - @TraditionFinest OR Send Us an Email at [email protected]!! No.9 Vanderbilt at No.20 Texas (-2.5)                       O/U45.5 Penn State at No.1 Ohio State (-20.5)                    O/U43.5 No.4 Alabama (-13.5) at South Carolina                O/U47.5 "War for the Okefenokee Oar:" No.5 Georgia (-7.5) vs. Florida  O/U50.5 South Carolina at No.7 Ole Miss (-12.5)      O/U54.5 No.18 Oklahoma at No.14 Tennessee (-3)                   O/U56.5 No.23 USC (-6.5) at Nebraska                           O/U59.5 No.17 Cincinnati at No.24 Utah (-10)                   O/U55.5 - NFL - - "An Episode Favorite, No.74:" Former New York Jets center Nick Mangold, aged 41, a franchise legend who endeared himself to fans and teammates with his blue-collar, every-man demeanor, has passed away due to complications from kidney disease, the Jets franchise announced on Sunday - - Mangold's passing came twelve days after he made a public appeal for a kidney transplant via social media, primarily because none of his family members shared his extremely rare blood type (i.e., Type O) - - Known for his toughness & cerebral approach, Mangold became one of the most decorated centers in the NFL: he made seven Pro Bowls, was twice named a first-team All-Pro, and most impressively, he played in the league for five straight years before he missed his first game (e.g., he wound up missing only four games in his first ten NFL seasons) - - In 2009, Mangold, a veteran in the league, was a bit of a calming influence to Jets new & turnover-prone QB, Mark Sanchez, that would ultimately help the Jets reach the AFC Championship Game in back-to-back consecutive seasons - - While he did draw interest from other NFL teams following his release by the New York Jets, Mangold elected to retire after playing for the same franchise for eleven (11) seasons, where he started 164 of 176 games - - At his induction into the Jets' Ring of Honor in 2022, the bearded Mangold, with his signature backward baseball cap, would go on to punctuate his acceptance speech to the fans in the stadium, by cracking open a beer - - What a legend, R.I.P. Nick Mangold, you will be missed, brother!. . . After being released by the Jets NFL Week 8 Review & Recap: In this week's episode, JD & Spencer will discuss, review & recap each of the following NFL games from Week 8 of the regular season - - **Be sure to tune in for an in-depth review, a highlight and discussion of the following topics from this past weekend's slate of games: New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles (**& the loss of Rookie RB Cam Skattebo) "Another Milestone:" Baltimore Ravens RB Derrick Henry passed one of the biggest names in NFL history on Sunday: His two rushing TDs against the Chicago Bears brought his career total to 112, breaking a tie with the late great Walter Payton (110) for fifth on the career rushing list - - Henry is also closing in on becoming the 17th player in NFL history to rush for 12,000 yards. . . New York Jets at Cincinnati Bengals (**QB Justin Fields leads Jets' rally to overcome a 15-point, 4th-QTR deficit to win 1st game of the season). . . "Sack Man:" On Saturday, Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett, became the third player in NFL history to have 10 or more sacks in eight consecutive seasons, joining Hall of Famers Reggie White & John Randle - - **NOTE: It is the third four-sack game in the history of the Browns franchise. . .Q: Are you, by any measure, surprised that Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett became the 3rd player in NFL history to have 10 or more sacks in eight consecutive seasons?. . . "Another Vintage Performance:" In the Monday Night Football matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs & the Washington Commanders, the Chiefs picked up their fifth win in the past six games, by comfortably defeating the Commanders 28-7 at Arrowhead Stadium. . .but the Chiefs' victory is not nearly as significant as a particular stat that was recorded in this game by a team veteran - - TE Travis Kelce's 10-yard TD late in the 3rd QTR was historic: It was Kelce's 83rd career score, which tied him with former RB Priest Holmes for the most total TDs in Chiefs' franchise history - - To date, Kelce also had the best game of the 2025 NFL regular season - as he led the Chiefs with six receptions on eight targets for 99 yards receiving - - Kelce put together another vintage performance by doing exactly what he had done throughout his entire career: devour zone coverage - - **NOTE: Together, QB Patrick Mahomes & TE Travis Kelce are just the third QB-TE duo in NFL history to connect for 75 TDs, including the playoffs - joining the likes of Tom Brady & Rob Gronkowski (105) and Philip Rivers & Antonio Gates (90). . . - MLB - - 2025 World Series Game 1: Toronto Blue Jays vs. Los Angeles Dodgers: Addison Barger launched the first-ever pinch-hit grand slam in World Series history, and Alejandro Kirk added a two-run homer as the Blue Jays stormed back to crush the defending champion Dodgers 11-4 in last Friday night's series opener at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada - - Playing in their first "Fall Classic" in 32 years, the Blue Jays erupted for nine runs in the 6th inning, turning a 2-0 deficit into a blowout that electrified a sold-out home crowd & gave Toronto a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series - - Los Angeles, who is seeking to become the first team in a quarter century to win back-to-back titles, stranded three with the bases loaded in the 2nd inning - and stranded another in the 3rd as well - - The 22-year-old RHP, Trey YeSavage, making just his fourth postseason start, became the second-youngest pitcher to ever star in a World Series opener - - Despite their early jitters, Toronto began their comeback in the 4th inning when Kirk singled off the right-field wall, and Daulton Varsho followed with a 423-foot HR to center off Dodgers' Blake Snell, who had not allowed a homer to a left-handed hitter in approximately five months - - Snell unraveled in the 6th inning, giving up a walk to Bo Bichette - who was playing in his first game in seven weeks after sustaining a knee injury - followed by a Kirk single and a Varsho hit-by-pitch to load the bases for the Blue Jays - - The Dodgers, the team with the highest payroll in baseball, looked very rusty after a weeklong layoff following their NLCS sweep of the Detroit Tigers. . .2025 World Series Game 2: Toronto Blue Jays (1-0) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (0-1): The Los Angeles Dodgers bounced back from the crushing loss in Game 1 of the 2025 World Series with a 5-1 victory over the Blue Jays on Saturday evening in their second consecutive game at the Rogers Centre in Toronto - - Yoshinobu Yamamoto had a great outing for the Dodgers, throwing his second straight complete game while only allowing one run - - **NOTE: Throughout the 2025 MLB postseason, Yamamoto has posted a 1.59 ERA through his four starts in October - - **NOTE: The last player to throw consecutive complete games in the postseason was Curt Schilling in 2001 with the Arizona Diamondbacks, when he threw all nine innings in three consecutive games against the St. Louis Cardinals & Atlanta Braves - - The Dodgers took an early lead against former division rival, Kevin Gausman - with Will Smith scoring Freddie Freeman in the top of the 1st inning after Freeman hit a double to right field - - The Dodgers did not record another hit until the top of the 7th inning, when Will Smith gave the Dodgers a 2-1 lead with a solo HR - his first this postseason - & Max Muncy tacked on another solo shot two batters later - forcing Gausman out of the game - - This was a massive win for the Dodgers, tying the series at 1-1, and they would head back to Dodger Stadium, where the next three games of the series, will be held. . .2025 World Series Game 3: Toronto Blue Jays (1-1) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (1-1): It took six hours and thirty-nine minutes - as well as 609 pitches - to finally crown a winner in Game 3 of the 2025 World Series: Against the 19th pitcher deployed, Freddie Freeman saw a full-count sinker that sailed toward the middle of the strike zone and lifted it to straightaway center field for another game-ending HR, sending the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 6-5 victory over the Blue Jays in 18 innings on Monday night, which tied for the longest game in World Series history - - Game 3 saw the Blue Jays & Dodgers combine for 10 runs in the first seven innings and zero for the next ten innings - - It saw Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani collect an extra-base hit in each of his first four plate appearances, including the game-tying homer in the 7th inning, and walk in each of his next five, four of which were intentional - - It saw Clayton Kershaw strand the bases loaded in an emotional 12th inning - and it saw an array of impressive throws, including those by Blue Jays' Addison Barger & Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and by Dodgers' Teoscar Hernandez - - And Game 3 also saw Will Klein, a minor midseason pickup & surprising addition to the Dodgers' World Series roster, save L.A.'s season - - Prior to Ohtani in Game 3, no MLB player had ever reached base nine times in a postseason game. . .2025 World Series Game 4: Toronto Blue Jays (1-2) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (2-1): The Toronto Blue Jays became the second team in baseball history to face the task of coming off an 18-inning loss in the World Series on Tuesday night - and much like the 2018 Boston Red Sox - they responded with a resounding win: Behind a 3rd-inning Vladimir Guerrero Jr. blast off Shohei Ohtani & a much-needed quality outing from starting pitcher Shane Bieber, the Blue Jays cruised to a mostly drama-free 6-2 win over the Dodgers, evening the Fall Classic series at 2-2. . .Q: After the Blue Jays successfully tied up the series at 2-2, which team do you think has the "competitive edge" going into Game 5?. . . - NBA - - Hall of Famer & current Portland Trail Blazers HC Chauncey Billups, former Cleveland Cavaliers player & assistant coach Damon Jones, and current Miami Heat player Terry Rozier, were all arrested and indicted for their alleged involvement in illegal sports gambling and rigged poker games, reportedly backed by the Italian Mafia, the authorities announced last Thursday - - Both Billups & Rozier, who has been indicted on charges of wire fraud conspiracy & money laundering conspiracy, have been placed on administrative (or immediate) leave from their respective teams (each of these counts carries a term of no more than 20 years in prison) - - A total of 34 people were arrested as a result of a yearslong investigation covering 11 states and involving tens of millions of dollars, per the Director of the FBI, Kash Patel - - Law enforcement officials have also reported that the multiple charges involve four Mafia families & organized crime networks - - According to the indictment for former NBA player, Damon Jones, it is alleged that he sold inside information to bettors - and that Jones had a close relationship with "a prominent NBA player," during his time with the Cleveland Cavaliers & the Los Angeles Lakers - and that he allegedly had access to insider information through that relationship - - While Jones' indictment does not specifically name the player, a source has informed ESPN reporter Dave McMenamin that it was former Cavaliers/Lakers superstar, LeBron James. . .Q: What are your thoughts regarding the NBA's alleged illegal gambling scandal and its' ties to the Mafia?. . . Thanks for Listening!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 107 - "The Pine Tar Incident Episode" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Football Week Eight Analysis & Review: In this week's episode, JD & Spencer will discuss the major topics/storylines, analyze & review the in-game stats & each provide their individual takeaway's for the Week 8 slate of College Football games from across the country - - Be sure to tune in for an in-depth recap, and discussion of the following game(s), which are included in this week's College Football Analysis & Review segment: No.10 LSU Tigers at No.17 Vanderbilt Commodores No.5 Ole Miss Rebels at No.9 Georgia Bulldogs "Battle for the Bones:" No.22 Memphis Tigers at UAB Blazers No.7 Texas Tech Red Raiders at Arizona State Sun Devils Mississippi State Bulldogs at Florida Gators (**& the firing of Gators HC Billy Napier) No.4 Texas A&M Aggies at Arkansas Razorbacks No.21 Texas Longhorns at Kentucky Wildcats "Battle for the Jeweled Shillelagh:" No.20 USC Trojans at No.12 Notre Dame Fighting Irish "Third Saturday in October:" No.11 Tennessee Volunteers at No.6 Alabama Crimson Tide No.16 Missouri Tigers at Auburn Tigers "Holy War:" No.23 Utah Utes at No.15 BYU Cougars - NCAA: News & Storylines (cont'd) - - NCAA Division III: Approximately 10 miles south of Boston, Mass., in the small suburban area of Milton, lies Curry College - - Curry College, a Division-III private school with roughly 2,000 undergraduate students at a campus that sits on 131 acres, is surrounded by a picture-perfect tree setting - - The term "picture-perfect" is not only a valid description of the scenery that surrounds this small, private institution - but may also be used to describe the performance that was witnessed last Saturday evening: In their homecoming game, the Curry College Colonels laid the "smack down" on Nichols College in a resounding 71-27 victory - and Nope! It's NOT the score that is relevant here. . .when the dust was settled, Curry College RB Montie Quinn had taken down the NCAA record across all three divisions, by rushing for 522 yards on 20 carries (26.1 yards average/per carry) while tacking on seven TDs - - Quinn broke the standing NCAA and Division III record of 465 rushing yards set by Heidelberg's Cartel Brooks in 2013 - - **NOTE: The FBS record for the most rushing yards recorded in a single game is 427, set by former Oklahoma Sooners RB Samaje Perine in 2014 - - And the wildest part of this record-breaking story: Quinn could have finished with more rushing yards, however, he would sit out for the Colonels' final two offensive drives of the game - - To date, including his out-of-this-world performance on Saturday, Quinn has accumulated 1,450 rushing yards and 17 TDs this season for the Curry College Colonels. . .Colorado State has fired its' head football coach Jay Norvell midway through his 4th season with the program, the school announced Sunday afternoon - - The decision was made to dismiss Norvell after the Rams fell to 2-5 this season following Saturday's loss to the Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors - - Following the loss on Saturday, Norvell finished his tenure with CSU with an overall record of 18-26, and he is reportedly owed approximately $1.5M in the buyout of his remaining contract, in which he signed a five-year deal, in 2021 - - Tyson Summers, who is in his second stint as the DC for the Rams, has been named the interim coach following Norvell's firing - and CSU further announced that it would immediately begin its search for a new HC NCAA College Football Week Nine Preview & Predictions: In this episode's Week Nine preview, JD & Spencer provide their individual & independently-selected pick(s) and/or predictions for each of the following Week 9 matchups - as well as providing in-depth analysis & reasoning to explain the justification for their selection: **Be Sure to Share Your Picks with Us via Twitter/X - - @TraditionFinest OR Send Us an Email at [email protected]!! No.8 Ole Miss at No.13 Oklahoma (-3.5)                      O/U54.5 No.18 USF (-5.5) at Memphis                         O/U62.5 No.4 Alabama (-13.5) at South Carolina                O/U47.5 College Gameday: No.15 Missouri at No.10 Vanderbilt (-2.5)  O/U52.5 No.11 BYU at Iowa State (-2.5)         O/U49.5 No.3 Texas A&M (-2.5) at No.20 LSU                      O/U48.5 - NFL - - NFL Week 7 Review: In this week's episode, JD & Spencer will discuss, review & recap each of the following NFL games from Week 7 of the regular season - - **Be sure to tune in for an in-depth review, a highlight and discussion of the following game(s) from this past weekend's slate of games: "The Unc Bowl: Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals Philadelphia Eagles at Minnesota Vikings New York Giants at Denver Broncos And This Week's "Most Badass Celly of the Week" Award goes to. . .Detroit Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown and RB Jahmyr Gibbs, who teamed up & nailed the dual 'Superman + Spiderman' pose celebration in the endzone - as they would "save the day" for Detroit in their 24-9 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday Night Football. . . - NFL (cont'd) - - Defensive end Brandon Graham has decided to come out of retirement to rejoin the Philadelphia Eagles - - The Eagles announced Tuesday morning that Graham, who was the longest-tenured player in Eagles' franchise history, had agreed to a one-year deal to suit up for his 16th season with the team - - Graham's return to the Eagles certainly could not have happened at a much better time for a franchise that is struggling at the edge rusher position, as well as following DE Za'Darius Smith's sudden retirement last week & after Nolan Smith Jr. was placed on IR last month because of a triceps injury - - Graham, 37, hold the Eagles' record for most regular season games played (206) and is 3rd in franchise history with 76.5 sacks - - He made his lone Pro Bowl in 2020 and recorded his first double-digit sack season in 2022 with 11. . .Q: Are you surprised to learn that DE Brandon Graham is returning to the Philadelphia Eagles less than a year out of retirement?. . . - MLB - - It was announced on Wednesday afternoon that University of Tennessee head baseball coach Tony Vitello had been hired to become the next manager of the San Francisco Giants, per ESPN reporter Pete Thamel - - Vitello helped lead the Volunteers to a national championship in the 2024 College World Series & transformed the program into a national powerhouse - - Interestingly, he is the first manager in MLB history to jump directly from the collegiate level to the majors without any pro baseball experience - - At the University of Tennessee, Vitello was the highest-paid coach in college baseball - with a salary upwards of $3M per season - and it is believed that he may have taken somewhat of a pay cut to manage at the professional (or MLB) level - - Since taking on his first head coaching gig in 2017, he has guided the Volunteers to two SEC Conference regular-season titles and two SEC Conference Tournament titles. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the San Francisco Giants hiring Tennessee head baseball coach Tony Vitello as its next manager? Why do you think Vitello is the first MLB manager to be hired directly from the collegiate level?. . .2025 World Series Predictions: Who is your prediction to win the 2025 World Series: the Toronto Blue Jays or the Los Angeles Dodgers? (Tune in to this week's episode for JD & Spencer's picks - - **Be sure to share your picks with us on Twitter/X - @TraditionFinest OR send us a message at [email protected]!!) - - The 2025 World Series is set to begin with Game 1 between the Dodgers and Blue Jays tonight - - The Los Angeles Dodgers entered the 2025 MLB regular season as the largest title favorites in over two decades, and they are heading into the 2025 World Series as the overwhelming favorites to win their second straight championship: The reigning champion Dodgers opened as the -210 favorite to win the World Series over the Blue Jays, who opened at +175 odds, according to ESPN BET odds - - **NOTE: If the Dodgers were to capture another MLB Commissioner's Trophy this season, they will do so as wire-to-wire favorites for the second consecutive season, becoming the first franchise to accomplish that feat since the New York Yankees in 1999 and 2000, according to data from SportsOddsHistory.com. . . Thanks for Listening!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 106.5 - "The P.U.I [Pitching Under the Influence] Episode" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Football Week Seven Review & Recap: In this week's episode, JD & Spencer will discuss the major storylines, review, & each provide their individual takeaway's for the Week 7 slate of College Football games from across the country - - Be sure to tune in for an in-depth recap, and discussion of the following game(s), which are included in this week's College Football Review & Recap segment: No.8 Alabama Crimson Tide at No.14 Missouri Tigers No.1 Ohio State Buckeyes at No.17 Illinois Fighting Illini Washington State Cougars at No.4 Ole Miss Rebels Allstate Red River Rivalry: No.6 Oklahoma Sooners vs. Texas Longhorns No.7 Indiana Hoosiers at No.3 Oregon Ducks No.15 Michigan Wolverines at USC Trojans "Deep South's Oldest Rivalry:" No.10 Georgia Bulldogs at Auburn Tigers - NCAA: News & Storylines (cont'd) - - Following the results of the Week Seven slate of College Football games on Saturday, Sunday would become somewhat of a “doomsday," as three major CFB head coaches would be fired and/or relieved from their positions. . .(1) Most notably, Penn State fired HC James Franklin after 12 seasons with the program, the school announced early Sunday morning - - Franklin is owed more than $49 million, according to his contract, which is the second-largest buyout in college football history behind only Jimbo Fisher's $76 million buyout from Texas A&M - - Associate HC Terry Smith will serve as the Nittany Lions' interim head coach for the remainder of the season, and reportedly, no additional changes to the staff are expected at this time - - Penn State, ranked in the preseason as the No.2 team in the country, entered the 2025-26 season with a championship-or-bust mission, and oh boy, did things go bust! - - Franklin's program appeared to hit a new low when the Nittany Lions traveled out to Los Angeles two weeks ago only to lose to the winless UCLA Bruins, a team who hadn't previously held a lead in a game this season - - The woes traveled back with the team to Happy Valley, and with them came "Fire Franklin!" chants at Beaver Stadium on Saturday - - The Nittany Lions dropped their second straight home game this past weekend - and third overall - when they fell to Northwestern 22-21 in front of a stunned crowd at Happy Valley - - **NOTE: With the two losses, Penn State became the first team since the FBS and FCS split in 1978, to lose consecutive games while favored by 20 or more points in each game, according to ESPN Research - - In Saturday's loss to the Wildcats, the Nittany Lions struggled on both sides of the ball, committing six penalties for 71 yards in the first half alone - as they simply could never get out of their own way - and this was preceded the tragedy that would occur late in the 4th QTR: QB Drew Allar would go down, and according to Nittany Lions HC James Franklin in the post-game press conference, suffered a season-ending ankle injury - - Earlier in the season, when the losing streak began against Oregon at Happy Valley, Franklin fell to 4-21 at Penn State against AP Top-10 opponents, including a 1-18 record against AP Top-10 teams in the Big Ten Conference - - **NOTE: Franklin's .160 winning percentage against AP Top-10 teams is tied for the 3rd-worst record by a coach (with a minimum of 25 games) at a single school since the poll era began in 1936 - - The main question has to be: Where does Penn State go from here?: The school has made significant investments in facilities, NIL & other areas, and school AD Patrick Kraft is a "football guy," who wants to win at the highest level - - In regards to the recruiting trail, Penn State has access to talent in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic & Midwest, and certainly can compete for major goals on a regular basis - - In their pursuit of a new coach, the program can aim high with candidates and potential replacements, including from within the Big Ten Conference, and certainly target those with a track record of winning in the biggest moments - - After discussing a few of the most notable head coaching candidates to replace James Franklin at Penn State, both JD & Spencer each provide their pick as to who the Nittany Lions should pursue, and why (**Tune in to hear their picks!). . .(2) Next in line: Oregon State fired HC Trent Bray in the wake of an 0-7 start, the school announced Sunday afternoon - - It is the worst start the Beavers program since 1991, when they started the season 0-10 - - Bray, an Oregon State alum, who got promoted to the head coaching job after Jonathan Smith left for Michigan State following the 2023 season, finishes with a 5-14 record after taking over the program in 2024 - - Robb Akey, who was in his first year as Special Assistant to the head coach, has been named the Beavers' interim coach for the remainder of the regular season - - Bray is expected to owed upwards of $4 million in his buyout settlement, as he was in the second year of a five-year contract. . .(3) Finally, the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB), fired its' head coach & former Super Bowl-winning QB, Trent Dilfer, on Sunday, after the Blazers dropped their third straight game, 53-33, at Florida Atlantic, to fall to 2-4 this season - - Dilfer, 53, had a 9-21 overall record in his two-plus seasons at UAB - - A 14-year NFL veteran, Dilfer was a surprising hire to take over the UAB program after Bill Clark announced his retirement for health reasons - prior to the 2022 season - - Alex Mortensen, the son of late award-winning ESPN NFL insider, Chris Mortensen, will serve as the Blazers' interim coach for the remainder of the regular season. . .Q: Which of the three FBS head coaches fired over the weekend was the most surprising in terms of its' face value? Which FBS program is most likely to "pull the plug" and/or fire their head coach next?. . .NCAA College Football Week Eight Preview & Predictions: In this episode's Week Eight preview, JD & Spencer provide their individual & independently-selected pick(s) and/or predictions for each of the following Week 8 matchups - as well as providing in-depth analysis & reasoning to explain the justification for their selection: **Be Sure to Share Your Picks with Us via Twitter/X - - @TraditionFinest OR Send Us an Email at [email protected]!! No.14 Oklahoma (-4.5) at South Carolina                     O/U43.5 No.10 LSU at No.17 Vanderbilt (-2.5)                         O/U48.5 No.16 Missouri (-1.5) at Auburn                     O/U44.5 No.12 Georgia Tech at Duke (-2.5)  O/U60.5 College Gameday: No.5 Ole Miss at No.9 Georgia (-6.5)         O/U43.5 No.11 Tennessee at No.6 Alabama (-8.5)                       O/U60.5 No.20 USC at No.13 Notre Dame (-7.5)                      O/U62.5 "Holy War:" No.23 Utah (-3.5) at No.15 BYU              O/U48.5 - NFL - - Former NFL QB Mark Sanchez was booked & released at the Marion County Jail in Indiana on Sunday evening - - While leaving, Sanchez spoke to the press for the first time since the altercation/incident occurred, giving praise specifically to the first responders that "saved his life," - - Sanchez is facing a felony charge for his role in an altercation that led to the former New York Jet being stabbed last week - - Initially, Sanchez had been charged with three misdemeanors for his role in the incident, but is now facing the felony battery charge involving serious bodily injury, which carries a maximum sentence of between one and six years in prison - - According to Marion County prosecutor Ryan Mears, the dispute between Sanchez & the truck driver - who was initially referred to as P.T. & later determined to be 69-year-old Perry Tole - began over a parking space - - On Monday, Tole has also filed a civil lawsuit against Sanchez & the Fox network, alleging assault/battery & negligent hiring, retention and supervision, however, Tole's civil lawsuit does not specify a specific amount for damages that he is seeking in return, but instead, has requested for the amount awarded to be determined at trial - - Sanchez played QB for the USC Trojans, prior to being drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft by the New York Jets - - Sanchez played in the NFL for ten seasons with the Jets & several other teams, where he would cement a legacy as the QB responsible for the infamous "butt fumble," prior to announcing his retirement from the league after the 2018 season - - After which point, Sanchez joined Fox Sports in 2021 as an analyst - - According to multiple reports, Sanchez was actually in Indianapolis at the time of the altercation because he was scheduled to call the Colts-Dolphins game the following day at Lucas Oil Stadium - - Q: What are your thoughts on the Mark Sanchez situation? Do you think he is likely to be found "guilty" on the count of the felony battery charge?. . .NFL Week 6 Review: In this week's episode, JD & Spencer will discuss, review & recap each of the following NFL games from Week 6 of the regular season - - Be sure to tune in for an in-depth review, and discussion of the following game(s) from this past weekend's slate of games: NFL London Games: Denver Broncos vs. New York Jets Dallas Cowboys at Carolina Panthers San Francisco 49ers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers And This Week's "Most Badass Celly of the Week" Award goes to. . .Four-time Pro-Bowler/Las Vegas Raiders LB Maxx Crosby, who went viral during Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans for his savage troll job on Titans rookie QB Cam Ward - - During the 4th QTR at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Crosby broke free off the edge & got to Ward for a huge sack - - After bringing Ward down, Crosby proceeded to clown on him: he quickly turned toward the crowd and began doing Ward's signature celebration - a celebration that Ward has been doing - which has been dubbed "Zombieland," & features him covering his mouth with one hand and gesturing downwards with his other hand - ever since college - - Crosby decided to break it out on Sunday as part of his "Welcome to the NFL," moment for the rookie QB. . . Detroit Lions at Kansas City Chiefs & the one-game suspension of Lions' safety Brian Branch - MLB - - It is mid-October, and the 2025 Major League Baseball Playoffs are in full swing. we have reached the Championship Series for both the American League & National League - - the ALCS and NLCS, respectively - - In the ALCS, we have the Seattle Mariners & the Toronto Blue Jays, while in the NLCS, it's the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers versus the Milwaukee Brewers. . .In this episode, JD & Spencer discuss which of the four remaining MLB teams that they would prefer to advance to, and subsequently win this year's World Series - and they both present their independent, individual predictions as to which of the four remaining MLB franchises they think will win this year's World Series. . .Q: Which MLB franchise do you think will win this year's World Series: the Mariners, Blue Jays, Dodgers or Brewers?. . . - WNBA - - The Las Vegas Aces cemented their place among the sport's greatest dynasties last Friday night, defeating the Phoenix Mercury 97-86 to complete a four-game sweep, and claim their third WNBA Championship in four seasons - - **NOTE: Las Vegas became the first team since the Houston Comets' four straight WNBA titles from 1997 to 2000 to win three championships in a four-year span - - League MVP A'ja Wilson led the way once again, scoring 31 points and grabbing nine rebounds in a performance emblematic of her reign atop the sport - - Though she shot just 7 of 21 from the field, Wilson made 17 of 19 FTs & controlled the game at both ends of the court, earning her second Finals MVP award in three years - - The Mercury's injury-depleted roster were without their leading postseason scorer, Satou Sabally, and star guard Alyssa Thomas - who notched another triple-double in Game 4 - had nine turnovers and was visibly labored after she injured her right shoulder late in the first half - - Despite the team being swept in the Finals, the Mercury's effort & resilience reflected a strong playoff run that included upsets of the defending champion New York Liberty & top-seeded Minnesota Lynx - - Q: Does A'ja Wilson's dominance in the WNBA elevate the University of South Carolina Women's Basketball Program to an "elite" status with the likes of the University of Tennessee & UCONN?. . . Thanks for Listening!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 105 - "The Black Sox Scandal Episode" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Football Week Five Review & Recap: In this week's episode, JD & Spencer will discuss the major storylines, review, & each provide their individual takeaway's for the Week 5 slate of College Football games from across the country - - Be sure to tune in for an in-depth recap, and discussion of the following game(s), which are included in this week's College Football Review & Recap segment: No.8 Florida State Seminoles at Virginia Cavaliers & the "One-Finger Salute" No.22 Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Arkansas Razorbacks & the firing of HC Sam Pittman No.21 USC Trojans at No.23 Illinois Fighting Illini No.16 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Wake Forest Demon Deacons & the Impact of a Missed "Offsides" Call Auburn Tigers at No.9 Texas A&M Aggies "The Battle for the Magnolia Trophy:" No. 4 LSU Tigers at No.13 Ole Miss Rebels - - Are Trinidad Chambliss & the Ole Miss Rebels legit? Or can we expect the stereotypical "Lane Kiffin-style" collapse at some point this season? No.15 Tennessee Volunteers at Mississippi State Bulldogs No.17 Alabama Crimson Tide at No.5 Georgia Bulldogs No.6 Oregon Ducks at No.3 Penn State Nittany Lions & HC James Franklin is now 4-21 against AP Top 10 ranked opponents - - Will James Franklin & the Nittany Lions ever get over "the hump?" - NCAA College Football Week Six Preview & Predictions: In this episode's Week Six preview, JD & Spencer provide their individual & independently-selected pick(s) and/or predictions for each of the following Week 6 matchups - as well as providing in-depth analysis & reasoning to explain the justification for their selection: **Be Sure to Share Your Picks with Us via Twitter/X - - @TraditionFinest OR Send Us an Email at [email protected]!! Kentucky at No.12 Georgia (-20.5)                          O/U48.5 Wisconsin at No.20 Michigan (-16.5)                         O/U42.5 No.14 Iowa State at Cincinnati (-2.5)                    O/U52.5 "College Gameday:" No.16 Vanderbilt at No.10 Alabama (-10.5)  O/U56.5 No.9 Texas (-6.5) at Florida                                 O/U43.5 No.24 Virginia at Louisville (-7.5)                             O/U62.5 No.11 Texas Tech (-10.5) at Houston                         O/U50.5 Mississippi State at No.6 Texas A&M (-14.5)               O/U57.5 No.3 Miami (-4.5) at No.18 Florida State               O/U54.5 - NFL - NFL Regular Season Week 4 Review: In this week's episode, JD & Spencer will discuss, review & recap each of the following NFL games from Week 4 of the regular season - - Be sure to tune in for a discussion of the major storylines from across the league - as well as an in-depth review & analysis of a few of the most notable games from this past weekend; the following topics & slate of games are discussed in this episode: Los Angeles Chargers at New York Giants & Rookie QB Jaxson Dart's impressive debut as a starter & the Giants' costly win. . . **We reveal our fourth "Tradition's Finest Most Badass Celly of Week Two" Award winner. . . Philadelphia Eagles at Tampa Bay Buccaneers & the Eagles' 20th victory in 21 games. . . **Tennessee Titans rookie QB Cam Ward & his statement regarding the team's winless (0-4) start. . . Indianapolis Colts at Los Angeles Rams & WR Adonai Mitchell's costly TD "celebration?". . . **49ers DC Robert Saleh & Jaguars HC Liam Coen's heated postgame exchange at midfield after Jacksonville's 26-21 win. . . Baltimore Ravens at Kansas City Chiefs & the number of injured starters for the Ravens continues to rise. . . Green Bay Packers at Dallas Cowboys & the "abomination" of a tie as a potential outcome for a professional sporting event. . . - NFL (cont'd) - Per ESPN on Monday, Bad Bunny will bring his Latin trap and reggaeton swagger to the NFL's biggest stage next year - - as the Grammy-winning artist will headline the Apple Music Super Bowl LX halftime show at Levi's Stadium on February 8th in Santa Clara, California - - Bad Bunny has become one of world's most streamed artists as he recently released an all-Spanish-language EP titled "Un Verano Sin Ti,". . .Q: What are your thoughts about the announcement that Bad Bunny will be the halftime performer at next year's Super Bowl LX?. . .Per ESPN's NFL Insider Adam Schefter on Wednesday morning, the Cleveland Browns have decided to bench veteran QB Joe Flacco and will turn to rookie Dillon Gabriel as the team's starter for Sunday's international game (i.e., London) against the Minnesota Vikings - - Flacco started Cleveland's first four games but has thrown six INTs this season, and has committed an NFL-high eight turnovers - and his 27.0 Total QBR ranks above only Titans rookie QB Cam Ward among qualifying passers - - Through the first four weeks of the NFL regular season, the Browns have the NFL's second-lowest scoring offense, averaging just 14 points per game - - Q: Were you surprised that Cleveland Browns HC Kevin Stefanski elected to make the switch at QB from a veteran to a rookie just four weeks into the regular season?. . . - Miscellaneous - PGA/Golf: The U.S. Team fell just short of a historic comeback, tying for the best Singles performance in Ryder Cup history - - Europe went on to defeat the U.S 15-13 in this year's Ryder Cup - - The U.S. became the first home team to lose the event since their collapse at Medinah 13 years ago - - They very nearly completed a comeback that would have blown the miracle out of the water: Trailing 11.5-4.5 to begin the day, the U.S. Team tied the best Singles performance in Ryder Cup history, earning 8.5 of the 12 available points to charge back in contention - - No team had ever come back to win from a deficit greater than four points, yet the U.S. made up five points on the final day - - It was a performance that saved the embarrassment that appeared to be coming, in which the U.S. Team not only lost on home soil, but got their doors blown off by a European team that was better in every facet: on the course & in the captain's room - - U.S. Team captain Keegan Bradley was forced to be an on-looker as Europe's Sam Burns & Robert MacIntyre both putt for birdie on the 17th green, in what remained a tied match, however, it was at this particular moment that European fans broke into song around him - finally letting their voices dominate the atmosphere that had drowned them out after a raucous three days at Bethpage Black - - While Sunday was a day in which the improbable almost happened - after facing a record seven-point deficit after a historically poor first two days at the Ryder Cup - the comeback by the U.S. Team will ultimately get lost in history, primarily, because they fell just short of achieving the success they desired. . .Q: What are your thoughts of the U.S. Team losing to Europe at this year's Ryder Cup, which was played on our own turf?. . . Thanks for Listening!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 104 - The 'On the Origin of Mascots Episode includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - NCAA: News & Storylines - NCAA College Basketball: Per ESPN's Pete Thamel & Jeff Borzello, Bruce Pearl has stepped down as the Men's Basketball Coach at Auburn and will move into an ambassador's role in the Athletic Department - as a special assistant to the Athletics Director, the school announced on Monday - - Steven Pearl, Pearl's son who has been with program as an Associate Head Coach since 2017, has received a five-year contract to become the program's new HC - - Bruce Pearl, 65, is coming off a season in which he guided the Tigers to its second-ever Final Four appearance - - Pearl, who had been the head coach at Auburn for 11 seasons, led the Tigers to six NCAA Tournament appearances and both of the program's Final Four runs, helped the Tigers earn at least a share of three SEC regular-season titles & won two SEC Conference Tournament championships - - Pearl retires with a record of 246-125 at Auburn throughout his tenure with the program - - The timeline of Pearl's announcement has come under a little scrunity, as per the NCAA, the players with the program will now have a 30-day window to enter the transfer portal - but since the announcement was made so late into the offseason, the expectations are that, there will be very few transfers away from the program. . .Pearl has long been linked to a post-coaching career in politics, something he addressed in early September following monthslong rumors regarding him as a potential candidate for Tommy Tuberville's open U.S. Senate seat, but per his statement on Monday, he is not planning to run for Senate. . .Q: Do you lean more towards the direction of believing Bruce Pearl when he clarified on Monday that he will not run for U.S. Senate? While there are clearly similarities & differences between the two, is the pain Auburn fans are currently experiencing over the loss of Bruce Pearl as the Tigers' head basketball coach somewhat equivalent to how Alabama fans felt the day Nick Saban announced his retirement as the Crimson Tide's head football coach?. . .Jean Dolores Schmidt, popularly known as "Sister Jean" is retiring, as well - - The 106-year-old Cathlolic nun, a campus minister and the official chaplain of the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers men's basketball team, is stepping away from her duties due to health concerns - - Sister Jean became a viral sensation overnight by cheering on Loyola during their epic Final Four run as an 11-seed in 2018 - - Sister Jean had served in her roles at Loyola since 1991, and while she is stepping away, the Tradition's Finest crew would like to grant our "best wishes" and sincerely hope she makes it to 107. . .NCAA Division III College Football: There is a very common phrase/saying that "you learn something new every day," which basically reinforces the idea that knowledge is on a continuum - - and this is, in fact, accurate because neither of us were aware that the U.S. Coast Guard - a military branch that operates under the Department of Homeland Security, focused on maritime law enforcement, border control, port security, and search & rescue missions, using cutters, aircraft and boats to save lives & interdict illegal activities at sea - has a D-III college football program/team - - For all of you that had no clue of this either - Welcome! Allow us to introduce you to the "Coast Guard Academy Bears," who recorded one for the history books this weekend: Nichols Bison at Coast Guard Bears - - On homecoming weekend at the Coast Guard Academy, the Bears gave their proud alumni fireworks and much to cheer for with a 92-60 victory over Nichols College - - This was NOT a basketball game, this was a football game, ladies & gentlemen - - With 1:36 remaining in the game, Coast Guard and Nichols had tied for Division III history with 138 combined points - - The 92-60 final score etches this game into another niche history book as well - In the 157 years of college football across three divisions, this is the first time in NCAA history that a college football game has ended by a final score of 92-60 - - Q: Be honest, did you know that the Coast Guard Academy had a D-III college football team?. . .**Let us know via Twitter/X - - @TraditionFinest OR Send Us an Email at [email protected]!!. . .NCAA College Football Week Four Review & Recap: In this episode's CFB Week Four review & recap segment, JD & Spencer will discuss, provide a detailed analysis, and present their individual takeaways for a few of the most intriguing college football games from this past weekend's slate of games; the following games are discussed within this episode: "Stillwater Showdown:" Tulsa Golden Hurricanes at Oklahoma State Cowboys (**and the firing of the Cowboys - and second-longest-tenured HC in college football - Mike Gundy) - And this week's "Tradition's Finest Most Badass Celly of the Week" Award goes to. .University of North Texas Mean Green DL Keviyan Huddleston - - Huddleston pulled off an epic celebration after a fumble recovery on Saturday as the Mean Green took on the Army Black Knights at West Point - - As Army was driving, Noah Short lost a fumble that was recovered by Huddleston, and when he got to the sideline, he was then given a Mean Green-decorated WWE-style belt & took two beer can replicas, to pull off the epic "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, an alumni of North Texas, beer celebration - - and North Texas would go on to defeat Army 45-38 in OT on Saturday to improve to a record of 4-0 on the season. . . No.17 Texas Tech Red Raiders at No.16 Utah Utes Arkansas Razorbacks at Memphis Tigers Syracuse Orange at Clemson Tigers "Bussin Bowl:" No.21 Michigan Wolverines at Nebraska Cornhuskers (**and the "Bussin' bet) No.22 Auburn Tigers at No.11 Oklahoma Sooners (**and the use of "Hideout Tactics") No.9 Illinois Fighting Illini at No.19 Indiana Hoosiers "Battle for the Florida Cup:" Florida Gators at No.4 Miami Hurricanes - College Football Week Five Preview & Predictions: In this episode's CFB Week Five preview, JD & Spencer provide their individual & independently selected pick(s) for each of the following Week 5 matchups - as well as providing in-depth analysis & reasoning to explain the justification for their selection: **Be Sure to Share Your Picks with Us via Twitter/X - - @TraditionFinest OR Send Us an Email at [email protected]!! No.24 TCU at Arizona State (-2.5)         O/U54.5 No.22 Notre Dame (-4.5) at Arkansas     O/U64.5 No.21 USC (-6.5) at No.23 Illinois         O/U59.5 No.1 Ohio State (-9.5) at Washington     O/U52.5 No.4 LSU at No.13 Ole Miss (-1.5)     O/U54.5 Auburn at No.9 Texas A&M (-6.5)     O/U52.5 No.11 Indiana (-7.5) at Iowa          O/U48.5 No.15 Tennessee (-7.5) at Mississippi State O/U61.5 College GameDay: No.6 Oregon at No.3 Penn State (-3.5) O/U52.5 No.17 Alabama at No.5 Georgia (-2.5)      O/U52.5 - NCAA: News & Storylines (cont'd) - On3 Sports reporter Chris Low revealed each SEC Conference team's three annual opponents on Monday for the new SEC scheduling format that will begin in 2026 - - and as expected, there have been "mixed reviews" with some fans criticizing the "loss of [a few] traditional rivalries" in the process. . .Q: What was your initial reaction to the three annual opponents that were announced for each SEC program? As unbiased as possible, do you think that they got it right?. .Ole Miss HC Lane Kiffin's daughter, Landry Kiffin, revealed her romance with LSU LB Whit Weeks, by posting a photo of herself sitting on Weeks' lap in an Instagram post captioned "Happy :)" - - The irony of the post is obviously in the "timing:" the photo was posted on Monday - just days before the two SEC rivals - the Rebels & Tigers - are set to face off on the field in the Week Five matchup on Saturday - - Lane Kiffin, 50, jokingly addressed his daughter's romance on social media later that day, replying to a post on X about the relationship being "peak mind games" for Lane & his Rebels - - He confidently responded "Take the over," seemingly to suggest that football fans are in for a high-scoring affair between the two SEC rivals - - Q: Did you, in fact, "take the over" for the upcoming LSU-Ole Miss game?. . . - NFL - Week 3 Review, Recap & Major Storylines: Week 3 of the 2025 NFL season kicked off Thursday night with the Bills fending off the Dolphins 31-21 to remain undefeated - and the early window Sunday was filled with multiple, shocking finishes & featured many ridiculous storylines such as those including: the Panthers blowing out the Falcons at gome for their first win of the season, a Vikings CB has the most impressive first half in the history of the sport, both the Rams-Eagles & Buccaneers-Jets games featured blocked FGs returned for TDs late, the Browns' stunning 4th-QTR comeback over the Packers, and an intense Monday night matchup between two Super Bowl contenders - - Pittsburgh Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers has moved ahead of the man he took over for in Green Bay & into fourth place on the NFL's all-time passing TD list - - Rodgers threw a TD pass to Steelers WR DK Metcalf in the 2nd QTR Sunday in New England, the 509th TD pass of his career - - That TD moved him one ahead of Brett Favre, Rodgers' predecessor as the Packers' starting QB, as the No.4 all-time TD passer in NFL history - - Rodgers has a chance to pass Peyton Manning for third this year (539), and if he returns for next season, he has a chance to pass Drew Brees (571) for 2nd all-time - - Q: You just know that Brett Favre is sitting in his mansion - somewhere in Southern Mississippi - just fuming at the thought of Rodgers taking his job in Green Bay, and now, passing him on the NFL's all-time passing TDs list - what do you think?. . .In our NFL Week 3 Review segment, JD & Spencer discuss the following football games from this past weekend & many of the wild storylines surrounding the league - as those listed below: Los Angeles Rams at Philadelphia Eagles Green Bay Packers at Cleveland Browns Minnesota Vikings' Isaiah Rodgers & his record performance versus the Cincinnati Bengals Monday Night Football: Detroit Lions at Baltimore Ravens - NFL (cont'd) - The New York Giants are planning to bench QB Russell Wilson in favor of first-round rookie Jaxson Dart after three games, sources informed ESPN's Adam Schefter on Tuesday afternoon - - Dart's first start will come at home on Sunday against the undefeated Los Angeles Chargers at MetLife Stadium - - Dart will give the Giants' offense a different look and more options - his ability to run the ball and the zone-read had his version of the offense looking vastly different from the first team unit with Wilson throughout the summer - - Q: What are your thoughts on HC Brian Daboll's decision to make the switch at QB from Wilson to Dart after just three games into the NFL regular season?. . . - WNBA - A'ja Wilson has become the WNBA's first four-time MVP after earning the top individual honor for the second straight year, the league announced on Sunday - - The Las Vegas Aces star was named MVP in what had been considered a tight battle with Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier - - Wilson ultimately received 51 first-place votes and 657 points to finish ahead of Collier in second, who received 18 first-place votes & 534 points - - The league surprised Wilson last Friday, with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert & Wilson's boyfriend - Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo - presenting the trophy to her at the end of practice. . . - MLB - The Los Angeles Dodgers announced last Thursday that Clayton Kershaw will retire at the end of the 2025 MLB season - - The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner, 2014 NL MVP, and 11-time All-Star pitcher made his final Dodger regular-season start last Friday against the San Francisco Giants, where he received a standing ovation from teammates and fans in a 6-3 Dodgers victory as they clinched a playoff spot - - Kershaw spent his entire 18-season MLB career with the "Boys in Blue," winning a World Series championship in 2020 and in 2024, and his winning percentage tops all pitchers with at least 200 victories since the year 1900 - - Earlier this year, the 37-year-old LHP became the 20th pitcher ever to record 3,000 or more career strikeouts - and he ranks 4th all-time among LHPs in that category, trailing only Randy Johnson, Steve Carlton & CC Sabathia, according to CBS Sports - - Q: Is Clayton Kershaw the "greatest' Dodger to ever play the game?. . . Thanks for Listening!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 103 - "The Before He Cleats Episode" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Football Week Three Review & Recap: In this week's episode, JD & Spencer will discuss, review & each provide their individual takeaway's for the Week 3 slate of College Football games from across the country - - Be sure to tune in for an in-depth recap, and discussion of the following game(s), which are included in this week's College Football Review & Recap segment: New Mexico Lobos at UCLA Bruins & the termination of second-year HC DeShaun Foster No.12 Clemson Tigers at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Wisconsin Badgers at No.19 Alabama Crimson Tide No.6 Georgia Bulldogs at No.14 Tennessee Volunteers No.18 South Florida Bulls at No.5 Miami Hurricanes Vanderbilt Commodores at No.11 South Carolina Gamecocks/"Win A Date with My Mom" Florida Gators at No.3 LSU Tigers No.16 Texas A&M Aggies at No.8 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Alcorn State Braves at Mississippi State Bulldogs & the Application of the "Mercy Rule" - NCAA: News & Storylines (cont'd) - - Less than 24 hours after a 45-26 loss at home at the hands of Old Dominion, Virginia Tech University announced on Sunday that it had fired head football coach Brent Pry after the Hokies fell to an 0-3 start on the season - - The Hokies trailed the Monarchs at the halftime break 31-0, and as the team headed for the locker room, the crowd did not refrain from letting the team know exactly how they felt about their performance in the first half - as the sound of excessive booing packed Lane Stadium - - Throughout his tenure with the program, the Hokies were a combined 16-24 through four seasons under Pry - - Following his termination, Pry is set to be owed approximately $6 million in his contract buyout - - Hokies OC Philip Montgomery has been named & will serve as the team's interim head coach throughout the rest of the 2025-26 college football season, while Virginia Tech will begin the search for a new HC, presumably one with previous head-coaching experience after going with a first-timer like they did with hiring of Pry - - Potential candidates to fill the Virginia Tech head coaching vacancy include: Shane Beamer (current South Carolina HC & the son of Hokies' legendary coach Frank Beamer), Alex Golesh (USF), Ryan Silverfield (Memphis), Bob Chesney (JMU) & Charles Huff (Marshall/Southern Miss) - - Interestingly, a name that has not been thrown around much in conversations as a potential replacement, and one that Spencer mentioned in this episode, that if considered, could shift the momentum & renew the spark that has been missing from this historic program - he is the greatest player to ever don a Virginia Tech jersey, finished his NFL career as the all-time leader in QB rushing yards & is the current head coach of the Norfolk State Spartans football team - you get the hint: No.7 himself, MR. Michael Vick! - - Q: Which of the aforementioned HC's do you think would be the best overall hire for the Virginia Tech program? Are there any former HC's currently without a job that would potentially be a "good fit" to replace Brent Pry in Blacksburg?. . . NCAA College Football Week Four Preview & Predictions: In this episode's Week Four preview, JD & Spencer provide their individual & independently-selected pick(s) and/or predictions for each of the following Week 4 matchups - as well as providing in-depth analysis & reasoning to explain the justification for their selection: **Be Sure to Share Your Picks with Us via Twitter/X - - @TraditionFinest OR Send Us an Email at [email protected]!! No.17 Texas Tech at No.16 Utah (-3.5)                       O/U56.5 Tulane at No.13 Ole Miss (-11.5)                            O/U61.5 No.22 Auburn at No.11 Oklahoma (-6.5)                    O/U48.5 No.21 Michigan (-2.5) at Nebraska                          O/U44.5 South Carolina at No.23 Missouri (-13.5)                    O/U46.5 Florida at No.4 Miami (-3)                                 O/U52.5 No.9 Illinois at No.19 Indiana (-3.5)                       O/U52.5 - NFL - NFL Regular Season Week 2 Review: In this week's episode, JD & Spencer will discuss, review & recap each of the following NFL games from Week 2 of the regular season - - Be sure to tune in for an in-depth review, and discussion of the following game(s) from this past weekend's slate of games: Jacksonville Jaguars at Cincinnati Bengals & the injury update for "Joey Ice" New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys in a "QB duel for the Ages" "Super Bowl LIX Rematch:" Philadelphia Eagles at Kansas City Chiefs, and finally. . . **We reveal our second-ever "Tradition's Finest Most Badass Celly of Week Two" Award winner. . . - MLB - New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge wasted no time moving past another all-time great on the franchise's career HR list last Thursday night - - Just two days after passing Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra for 5th place on the franchise list, Judge hit two HRs in his first two at-bats in a 9-3 victory against the Detroit Tigers to tie another Hall of Famer, Joe DiMaggio, for 4th all-time with 361 career home runs - - Hall of Famers Babe Ruth (659 HRs), Mickey Mantle (536 HRs) & Lou Gehrig (493 HRs) currently sit ahead of Judge on the Yankees' career homers list - - On the very next evening, and against the Boston Red Sox, Judge went 3-for-4 with a pair of solo HRs, which leaped him into 4th place on the Yankees' all-time HR leaderboard on Friday night, reaching 362 homers in his 1,130th career MLB game - - Q: Now that Aaron Judge has officially surpassed franchise icon Joe DiMaggio for 4th place all-time on the Yankees' career HR list, how likely do you think it is that he will reach & pass Lou Gehrig for 3rd place? Or Mickey Mantle for 2nd place? Or even Babe Ruth for the top spot?. . . Cal Raleigh tied Mickey Mantle's season record for most HRs by a switch hitter with his 54th, and the Seattle Mariners extended their winning streak to nine games by routing the Los Angeles Angels 11-2 on Sunday to take sole possession of the AL West division lead - - Then, on the following Tuesday, Raleigh broke the record set & held by Mickey Mantle while matching another held by Ken Griffey Jr. - - The Seattle Mariners catcher hit his 55th HR of the season in the 2nd inning against the Kansas City Royals, sending him past Mantle's mark for a switch-hitter that had stood since 1961 - - Raleigh then hit his 56th HR in the next inning, matching the club record that Griffey first established in 1997 - as the Mariners won their 10th straight game after defeating the Royals 12-5. . . Thanks for Listening!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 102 - The "Taming the Bull" Episode includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - NCAA: News & Storylines - - The NCAA Oversight Committee voted last Thursday in favor of a single transfer portal window in the month of January - - This new model, if approved by the administrative committee and who must deliver their final ruling no later than October 1st, would replace the previous (and most current) system, which features two separate transfer portal windows - one that occurs in the winter and one in the spring - - If approved, the single transfer portal window would open on January 2nd, and would remain open for 10 days, however, there is much debate over the timing and significance of this new window, as it conflicts with the ongoing 12-team College Football Playoff schedule - - Essentially, this would make it possible for a college football player to participate in the first or quarterfinal round of next year's College Football Playoff, and less than 24 hours later, enter the transfer portal - - Q: What are your thoughts regarding the NCAA Oversight Committee's approved proposal for a single transfer portal window that would begin in early January of each year?. . NCAA College Football Week Two Review & Recap: In this week's episode, JD & Spencer will discuss, review & each provide their individual takeaway's for the Week 2 slate of College Football games from across the country - - Be sure to tune in for an in-depth recap, and discussion of the following game(s), which are included in this week's College Football Review & Recap segment: "Battle for the Cy-Hawk Trophy:" Iowa at No.16 Iowa State No.11 Illinois at Duke Baylor at No.17 SMU USF at No.13 Florida Army at Kansas State Mississippi State vs. No.12 Arizona State No.15 Michigan at No.18 Oklahoma "Border War Rivalry:" Kansas at Missouri - NCAA: News & Storylines (cont'd) - - NCAA College Football Week Three Preview & Predictions: In this episode's Week 3 preview, JD & Spencer provide their individual & independently-selected pick(s) and/or predictions for each of the following Week 3 matchups - as well as providing in-depth analysis & reasoning to explain the justification for their selection: **Be Sure to Share Your Picks with Us via Twitter/X - - @TraditionFinest OR Send Us an Email at [email protected]!! Wisconsin at No.19 Alabama (-20.5)                        O/U47.5 No.12 Clemson (-9.5) at Georgia Tech                      O/U58.5 No.6 Georgia (-3.5) at No.15 Tennessee                     O/U50.5 No.18 USF at No.5 Miami (-16.5)                           O/U55.5 Arkansas at No.17 Ole Miss (-9.5)                          O/U63.5 Florida at No.3 LSU (-9.5)                                 O/U50.5 No.16 Texas A&M at No.8 Notre Dame (-6.5)                O/U49.5 Vanderbilt at No.11 South Carolina (-5.5)                 O/U47.5 - NFL - Five-time Pro Bowl WR Amari Cooper informed the Las Vegas Raiders last Thursday of his intent to retire from the league - just days before the team would open the 2025 NFL regular season with their Week 1 matchup at New England - - After being drafted No.4 overall by the Oakland Raiders in 2015 - prior to relocating the franchise to Las Vegas - Cooper would go on to surpass 1,000 receiving yards in his first two seasons out of Alabama - - In 2018, the Raiders traded Cooper to the Dallas Cowboys, who then traded him to the Cleveland Browns in the 2022 offseason, and was next acquired by the Buffalo Bills last October from the Browns - - Cooper's decision comes just a week after he signed a one-year deal with the organization in late August, mentioning that it was a "full circle moment," and that he still had "some juice left," - - It will continue to be a topic of speculation, but Cooper finishes his professional or NFL career with 711 receptions, 10,000-plus receiving yards & 64 TDs, and had seven seasons where he finished with at least 1,000 receiving yards, including his career-high season with 1,250 receiving yards in 2023 - - Q: Where does Amari Cooper stack up and/or rank on your personal list of the NFL's All-Time Greatest WRs?. . .NFL Regular Season Week 1 Review: The NFL regular season is officially upon us - - Like analyst & color commentator Chris Collingsworth always says, "there's just no doubt about it:" being able to watch football all day on both Saturday & Sunday each weekend, is God's way of letting the male population know "I'm still thinking of you/I see you," and for that, we are eternally grateful. The following NFL Week 1 game(s) are discussed & reviewed in this episode: Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles NFL Sao Paulo Game: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Chargers **The presentation of the Tradition's Finest first-ever "Most Badass Celly of Week 1 Award" Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills - NFL (cont'd) - Philadelphia Eagles star DT Jalen Carter will not miss any future games after spitting on Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott in the NFL season opener on Thursday night - - The NFL announced Tuesday that, since Carter was ejected from last week's season opener without participating in a single play, the league will consider the second-year DT to have already served a one-game suspension - - Also, Carter will forfeit his Week 1 game check worth approximately $57,000 - but he will be available to play in the Eagles' Week 2 Super Bowl rematch against the Kansas City Chiefs - - Q: What are your thoughts on the league's punishment as handed down to Jalen Carter? Does the punishment fit the "crime?" Too excessive or not?. . . - MLB - "Tony 2 Chainz:" Former Chicago Cubs All-Star player, Anthony Rizzo, is returning to the organization as an ambassador for the club & will officially retire as a Cub during an on-field ceremony at Wrigley Field before Saturday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays - - Rizzo, 36, played for 14 years in the MLB, including a decade spent with the Cubs, where he made three All-Star teams and won four Gold Gloves - - These individual accomplishments, however, are not nearly as significant as the role he played in helping to lead Chicago to a World Series title in 2016, the first for the organization in 108 years - - Rizzo played his final 3 ½ seasons for the New York Yankees after he was traded there in the summer of 2021 - - Rizzo finishes his MLB career with a .828 OPS, including 303 HRs - - Rizzo, a cancer survivor himself, created The Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation with its sole purpose to service kids with cancer, and in 2017, he was honored as the recipient of the Roberto Clemente Award, the highest community service honor awarded by the MLB - - What an absolute legend, this guy!. . . Thanks for Listening!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 101 - "That One Time Episode" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Football Week One Review & Recap: In this week's episode, JD & Spencer will discuss, review & each provide their individual takeaway's for the Week 1 slate of College Football games from across the country - - Be sure to tune in for an in-depth recap of the games that began last Thursday & ended with the final game on Monday - - A discussion of the following game(s) are included in this week's College Football Review & Recap segment: No.25 Boise State at South Florida (FCS) Tarleton State at Army Auburn at Baylor - NCAA: News & Storylines (cont'd) - - "Give me my first love:" Following the college football games on Thursday & Friday night(s), a record 3.5-million viewers tuned in to ESPN's "College Gameday" show on Saturday morning, which took place before the huge matchup between No.3 Ohio State & No.1 Texas at the "Horseshoe," and approximately five-million viewers watched the final 15 minutes of the show, just to witness longtime college football analyst Lee Corso, a fixture of the "College Gameday" panel/crew, make his final headgear selection/pick, which took place at midfield & drew a massive ovation from the fans at Ohio Stadium - - and of course, he went out on top: Corso signed off from ESPN's "College Gameday" in his final show on Saturday, and near the end with the contemplation of his final pick, he muttered the words "Give me my first love," which led to him throwing on the "Brutus the Buckeye" mascot head gear, much in the same manner as he did thirty years ago when he made his first official mascot head gear selection - - Interestingly, as the slate of Week 1 games played out, Corso's sendoff only became more impressive - all six teams that he picked to win this past weekend came out on top, which included a "stunning" upset (**No spoilers ) - - Corso was the only member of the "College Gameday" panel to accurately predict all six games - - To take Corso's perfect weekend even a step further, every team that he has been associated with throughout his career - both as a player and as a coach - also won (i.e., Indiana, Louisville & Northern Illinois) - - Corso, 90, had announced earlier this year that he was going to soon retire from ESPN - after being a part of the Gameday crew since it became a traveling show in 1993, and has worked alongside analyst Kirk Herbstreit for more than a decade - - While "College Gameday" won't ever be the same without Lee Corso, the Tradition's Finest crew was beyond elated to witness the perfect sendoff. . . No.1 Texas at No.3 Ohio State "Aflac Kickoff:" Syracuse vs. No.24 Tennessee No.8 Alabama at Florida State "Battle for Death Valley:" No.9 LSU at No.4 Clemson No.13 South Carolina vs. Virginia Tech "Convicts vs. Catholics, Rivalry Revisited:" No.6 Notre Dame at No.10 Miami TCU at North Carolina - NCAA: News & Storylines (cont'd) - - NCAA College Football Week Two Preview & Predictions: In this episode's Week 2 preview, JD & Spencer provide their individual & independently selected pick(s) and/or predictions for each of the following Week 2 matchups - as well as providing in-depth analysis & reasoning to explain the justification for their selection: **Be Sure to Share Your Picks with Us via Twitter/X - - @TraditionFinest OR Send Us an Email at [email protected]!! "Battle for the Cy-Hawk Trophy:" Iowa at No.16 Iowa State (-3.5)    O/U41.5 No.11 Illinois (-2.5) at Duke                                   O/U50.5 Oklahoma State at No.6 Oregon (-28.5)                        O/U58. South Florida at No.13 Florida (-17.5)                          O/U54.5 No.12 Arizona State (-6.5) at Mississippi State                   O/U59.5 "College Gameday:" No.15 Michigan at No.18 Oklahoma (-5.5)     O/U45.5 Kansas at Missouri (-6.5)                                    O/U51.5 - NFL - While the "Great Depression" occurred in the late 1930's/early 1940's, and affected a significant portion of the middle- to lower socioeconomic status households across the United States, the year of 2025 could certainly be classified as a much more trying time - that is, if you are a citizen of Dallas, Texas - - This year, alone, the citizens (and possibly "fans") of the Dallas metropolitan area now has lost two of its' most influential sports figures, to date - starting with the "most shocking" trade in NBA history, that shipped Mavericks' superstar guard Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for an injury-plagued veteran (i.e., Anthony Davis) - - Then, on Thursday, multiple sources began to discuss the latest "breaking news:" a trade had been completed that sent Dallas Cowboys All-Pro LB Micah Parsons to none other than a divisional rival, Green Bay Packers - - The bitter contract dispute between Cowboys owner & GM Jerry Jones & Micah Parsons had finally came to a screeching halt - and once again, a Dallas-based sports franchise, did the unthinkable, and traded away their most dominant edge rusher in his "prime," (age 26) in exchange for two first-round picks & DT Kenny Clark - - Shortly after the trade was completed, the Packers franchise accomplished what the Cowboys' Jerry Jones could not in a matter of minutes: The Packers signed him to a four-year, $188 million contract, which included $120 million fully guaranteed at signing - - In each of Parsons' first four seasons in the league, he has averaged somewhere between 12 and 14.5 sacks - and since 2021, he has had a 30% pass rush win rate - which blows every other player out of the water, including Browns' Myles Garrett. . .Q: Can you make sense of Cowboys' team owner & GM Jerry Jones' decision to trade Micah Parsons to the Packers rather than to just pay the man what he deserves?. . . - NBA - Jeremy Lin, who took the NBA by storm in 2012 during a stretch of games for the New York Knicks that was infamously dubbed "Linsanity," has announced his retirement from the sport of professional basketball - - Prior to playing in China & Taiwan, Lin spent nine seasons in the NBA with eight different franchises, after going undrafted out of Harvard - - Lin made his mark in 2012 after then-HC Mike D'Antoni inserted into the Knicks' starting lineup that February when star forward Carmelo Anthony was sidelined - - Lin would go on to lead the Knicks to a seven-game winning streak, with one of the most notable highlights of "Linsanity," during which he scored at least 20 points in nine of 10 games, was a 38-point, 7-assist effort in a win over the Los Angeles Lakers as he outscored the late Kobe Bryant - - Lin finished his NBA career with a total of 480 games played - and even won an NBA championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019, his last season in the league. . .Q: What is your most memorable memory and/or moment of Jeremy Lin and/or from his ridiculous 35-game run with the Knicks referred to as "Linsanity?". . .The Los Angeles Clippers reportedly have been accused of "circumventing the NBA's salary cap," by paying $28 million to Kawhi Leonard for a "no-show job" - - As first reported by Pablo Torre, a sports podcaster & former ESPN contributor, on Wednesday, the Clippers have reportedly paid Leonard through a now-bankrupt company owned by team owner Steve Ballmer - - Citing legal documents purportedly involving the tree-planting service, Aspiration, Torre reported that Ballmer paid Leonard without requiring the Clippers star to do any legitimate marketing and/or paid advertisements for the company - - Shortly after Torres' initial report, the Clippers organization responded to, and directly denied these allegations - - Q: Would you necessarily be shocked to learn that this is more fact than fiction?. . . - MLB - Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber hit four HRs on Thursday night against the Atlanta Braves to become the 21st MLB player - and 4th Phillies player - to accomplish this particular feat - - In 2025 & this season alone, this is the third four-HR game of the MLB regular season, following Eugenio Suarez & Nick Kurtz - - Schwarber finished the game with a Phillies-record nine RBI in the team's 19-4 victory over the struggling Braves - - Schwarber, who currently leads the majors with a career-high 119 RBIs, took the outright NL homer lead with a career-high 49 HRs, moving within one of Seattle's Cal Raleigh (50) for the major league lead - - Schwarber, 32, continues to scale many of these major milestones late into his career, including winning the World Series with the Phillies in 2024 & being crowned the 2025 MLB Home Run Derby champion after surviving the first-ever "swing-off." Thanks for Listening!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 100 - "The Wilt Conspiracy Episode" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - Miscellaneous - PGA: Everybody loves a first-time winner, especially one who had been hit across the head by a two-by-four in so many near misses - - prior to Sunday, English golfer Tommy Fleetwood has been a runner-up on the PGA Tour six times, finished in the top three in a dozen tournaments, has 30 top-five finishes, and finally, has 44 top ten finishes, which according to ESPN, were the second most by a golfer without a victory on the PGA Tour this past century - - In his 164th career start at East Lake Golf Club on Sunday, while holding a 0-163 PGA Tour record, Fleetwood captured his first PGA Tour victory in the Tour Championship to capture the FedEx Cup and its $10 million reward - - Fleetwood posted a 2-under 68 in the final round and finished at 18-under, a combined three strokes better than Russell Henley (69) & Patrick Cantlay (71), who finished the tournament in second and third place, respectively - - After covering the PGA's No.1 golfer in the world the past few weeks, we felt somewhat compelled to mention Scottie Scheffler and his performance in this week's Tour Championship - Following his impressive victory at last year's PGA Tour Championship, Scheffler was attempting to become the first golfer to win the FedEx Cup in back-to-back seasons, but unfortunately, he faced significant adversity from the start of the event on Sunday - - On the opening hole, Scheffler badly pulled his tee shot down the left side of the fairway, and his ball bounced once and shot under a fence, landing out of bounds - however, Scheffler would remain a serious threat to Fleetwood's potential first career victory through the 15th hole, when he sank a tee shot into the water, ending his hopes for a victory on Sunday as well as for a sixth victory this season of the PGA Tour - despite the rough day, Scheffler would finish with a score of 2-under 68, tied for fourth place at 14-under - - As for Fleetwood, it has been a long and exhaustive journey, but it seemed to be well worth the wait - and as a professional athlete, you have achieved some level of greatness when your long-awaited victory garners support & congratulatory posts via social media from a few of sports' biggest stars, such as fifteen-time major champion & 82-time winner Tiger Woods, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James & WNBA star Caitlin Clark - - Q: Could you imagine going 0-163 in any sport & still maintaining that resiliency necessary to pull out the victory in your 164th event, thus winning a $10M reward? What are your thoughts on English golfer Tommy Fleetwood picking up his first career PGA Tour victory in none other than the Tour Championship? Thoughts on Scottie Scheffler's ability to struggle on the course & still finish within the top five?. . .PGA golfer Keegan Bradley, who is the eighth-best American golfer in the most current world rankings, did not call his own name Wednesday while announcing the captains for the United States Ryder Cup team, as he ultimately made the decision to not become the event's first playing captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963 - - Bradley named Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Ben Griffin, Cameron Young, Patrick Cantlay & Sam Burns as his six Captain picks for next month's Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black on New York's Long Island - - Q: Were you surprised to hear the Keegan Bradley did not call his own name to serve as one of the Captains for the 2025 U.S. Ryder Cup team? - MLB - Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh aka "The Big Dumper," was already in the midst of a transcendent season, but now it's historic - - With a pair of early HRs in Sunday's 11-4 win over the Athletics, Raleigh tied, and then broke the major-league record for most HRs hit in a single season by a catcher - - In the first inning, Raleigh clubbed his 48th HR of the season with a two-run blast - and then, one inning later, he hit No.49 on the season - thus pushing him ahead of a record set by Kansas City Royals star Salvador Perez in 2021 - - On Monday, Raleigh added yet another milestone to his already impressive list of accomplishments this year: With a first-inning shot against the San Diego Padres, Raleigh extended his major-league record for HRs by a catcher, and entered some elite company - - Raleigh joined Yankees legend Mickey Mantle as the only switch-hitters with 50 homers in an MLB season - and became the 8th player in MLB history to reach the half-century mark in the month of August. . . - NCAA: News & Storylines - The SEC Conference announced last Thursday that it will play a nine-game conference schedule starting in 2026, which is a historic move that the Conference has been considering for years - and was a decision that was approved by the SEC's presidents and chancellors after a recommendation by the Athletic Directors in the conference - - Under this new format, the SEC will continue to play without divisions - - Each school will play three annual opponents focused on maintaining traditional rivalries, and the six remaining games will rotate among the rest of the league opponents - - Each team will face every other SEC program at least once every two years & every opponent in an home-and-away series over a four-year span - - Furthermore, SEC teams are still required to schedule at least one additional high-quality nonconference opponent from the ACC, Big Ten or Big 12 Conference(s) or Notre Dame (Independent) each season - - SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey recently indicated on The Paul Finebaum Show that the 2026 schedule will be released later this fall - and further elaborated that the College Football Playoff's decision to use enhanced strength-of-schedule (SOS) metrics - played into their decision to expand the conference schedule - - Q: What are your thoughts on the SEC Conference's decision to implement a nine-game conference schedule starting next season? - - Shortly after this announcement was made, multiple outlets begin to speculate as to whether this would negatively affect the home-and-home series that has been scheduled between SEC programs & nonconference opponents beginning in 2026 and beyond - - The short & sweet answer to this question is. . .Yes, it will! - - And So It Begins. . .Following this announcement, the University of Alabama has already began making adjustments to its pre-existing nonconference matchups - - For instance, on Tuesday, it was announced that Alabama & West Virginia have mutually agreed to cancel their home-and-home series, which was set to begin in Morgantown, WV next season, with the Mountaineers set for a trip to Tuscaloosa in 2027 - - Q: Will the mutual agreement to cancel the Alabama-West Virginia home-and-home series have some type of "domino effect" on the current matchups between SEC programs & Power Four opponents scheduled beyond the 2025-26 season?. . ."College Football Week Zero Recap:" The 2025 college football season officially kicked off last weekend with a total of five FBS vs. FBS matchups in Week 0 - - In this week's "Week Zero Recap," JD & Spencer provide one takeaway from a few of the most notable matchups, and discuss a few of the most impactful moments from the first official weekend of the 2025-26 college football regular season - - The following Week 0 games were discussed in this episode: "Irish Farmageddon/Aer Lingus College Football Classic:" No.22 Iowa State vs. No.17 Kansas State, Fresno State at Kansas, UNLV vs. Idaho State, and Stanford at Hawaii - - "College Football Week 1 Preview:" In this episode's CFB Week 1 preview, JD & Spencer provide their individual & independently selected pick(s) for each of the following Week 1 matchups - as well as providing in-depth analysis & reasoning to explain the justification for their selection: **Be Sure to Share Your Picks with Us via Twitter/X - - @TraditionFinest OR Send Us an Email at [email protected]!! Thursday, August 28th, 2025 No.25 Boise State (-6.5) at USF        O/U63.5 Friday, August 29th, 2025 Auburn (-1.5) at Baylor                O/U57.5 Colorado vs. Georgia Tech (-5)         O/U53.5 Saturday, August 30th, 2025 No.8 Alabama (-13.5) at Florida State   O/U50.5 No.1 Texas at No.3 Ohio State (-1.5)    O/U47.5 Aflac Kickoff: Syracuse at No.24 Tennessee (-13.5)   O/U50.5 No.9 LSU at No.4 Clemson (-4)         O/U57.5 Sunday, August 31st, 2025 Virginia Tech vs. No.13 South Carolina (-8)   O/U52.5 "Catholics vs. Convicts, Revisited:" No.6 Notre Dame (-2.5) at No.10 Miami    O/U50.5 Monday, September 1st, 2025 TCU (-3) at North Carolina                O/U56.5 - NCAA: News & Storylines (cont'd) - In what could possibly be the most incredible statement made by a college football player to describe the "hype" surrounding a program in preparation for their team's season opener, Nebraska DB DeShon Singleton - who HC Matt Rhule refers to as the Cornhuskers' "Swiss Army Knife" on defense - made the following statement on Wednesday aboard a flight alongside QB Dylan Raiola: "We Finna Make People in Wheelchairs Stand Up." . . . - NFL - After much trade speculation, the Washington Commanders have traded RB Brian Robinson Jr. to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick, the two teams confirmed on Sunday afternoon - - According to multiple sources, the Commanders had been seeking to trade Robinson since early August, and had planned to release him if they could not find a suitable trade partner - - This move will now save Washington approximately $3.3 million in salary cap space - - On the other hand, and unlike the Commanders, the Niners are certainly not as secure with the overall depth at the RB position - San Francisco has dealt with a slew of injuries out of their tailbacks, especially with starter Christian McCaffery - and they have also been without rookie Jordan James for most of training camp, recently placed Patrick Taylor Jr. on IR with a shoulder injury & just got backup, Isaac Guerendo, back from a lingering shoulder injury - - Q: What trade grade would you give the Niners in their acquisition of RB Brian Robinson Jr.?. . .The two most notable players that were remaining as "hold-in(s)" for their respective franchise due to contract disputes - WR Terry McLaurin (Commanders) & Trey Hendrickson (Bengals) - have officially reached agreement(s) to remain with their teams - - Commanders WR Terry McLaurin, for instance, reached an agreement with Washington Monday on a three-year contract extension worth up to $96 million that will get him back in uniform in time for the Commanders' regular season opener against the New York Giants next week - - Q: Was this the right call by the Washington Commanders? Do you think there were any legitimate trade discussions by the Commanders' front office to evaluate McLaurin's value? - - As for Trey Hendrickson & the Bengals, the star pass rusher has received a $14 million raise for this upcoming season, which boosts his 2025 salary to $30 million, sources confirmed to ESPN's Adam Schefter on Monday - - While Bengals fans can now exhale, the bad news is: Hendrickson is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after this season, and would certainly be a valuable asset for multiple NFL franchises if he does prefer a change in scenery - - "Your English Teacher and Your Gym Teacher are getting Married:" Pop superstar Taylor Swift & three-time Super Bowl champion Travis Kelce took to social media on Tuesday afternoon to reveal that they are officially engaged to be married - and did so by using the aforementioned caption - - Q: On a scale from 1-10, how excited was your wife? How excited were you?. . .Per reporter Tom Pelissero on Wednesday, while the NFL initially proposed a suspension of 10-12 games for Kansas City Chiefs WR Rashee Rice, his legal team fought for a much shorter ban - which ultimately delayed the overall process - - On Wednesday, it was announced that Rice has accepted and will serve a six-game suspension to start the 2025 NFL regular season - - Q: Does a six-game suspension seem a bit short, lengthy or "just right" in light of the situation?. . . - 2025-26 NFL Preseason Prediction Showcase: AFC Conference - 1. AFC Divisional Winners (i.e., AFC East, AFC South, AFC West & AFC North)? 2. Which AFC team(s) do you predict to be "Super Bowl Pretenders" this NFL season? 3. Which AFC team(s) do you predict to be "Super Bowl Contenders" this NFL season? 4. Which team do you predict to represent the AFC Conference in this year's Super Bowl (i.e., Super Bowl LX)? Thanks for Listening!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 99 - "The Who's Who Episode" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - Miscellaneous - PGA: The No.1-rated PGA Player of the World, Scottie Scheffler, had a Tiger Woods-like moment with a trophy on the line & a club in his hand on Sunday at the PGA's BMW Championship at Caves Valley Golf Club located in Owing Mills, Maryland: On the hardest hole in the final round at Caves Valley, Scheffler hit an 82-foot chip shot on the 17th hole, that landed about 60 feet short and rolled the rest of the way - picking up speed, losing speed & dropping on the final turn - - The birdie on the 17th hole all but ensured another victory, giving Scheffler his fifth PGA Tour title this year - - Scheffler, who had to erase a four-shot deficit against Robert MacIntyre in five holes, closed with a 3-under 67 for a two-shot victory & became the first PGA golfer since Tiger Woods in 2006 & 2007, to win at least five times on the PGA Tour in consecutive years - - Scheffler, who finished at 15-under 265, now has 18 career titles in the past 3 ½ years since his first PGA Tour title in Phoenix, Arizona. . .Scottie Scheffler wasn't the only golfer at this weekend's BMW Championship that was a major contributor to the news & storylines surrounding the PGA event; however, fellow PGA Tour golfer Ben Griffin did not, on the other hand, fare so well in terms of his rollercoaster performance in the opening day of the event - Griffin started his final round at Caves Valley Golf Club with a four-putt from 4-feet out for a triple bogey, a drive out-of-bounds that resulted in a double bogey, and a bogey at the third - Griffin was (+6) for the day, but he would battle back to shoot 1-under 69 - - So what happened?. . .Did he not get enough sleep the night before? No, that's not it!. . .Was he a little hungover from hitting the bar with the boys? Nope, not that, either!. . . Fortunately, we do not have to provide an educated guess as to why Griffin's play was far below average in the opening round because he gave us a viable explanation: He overdosed after ingesting too big a dose of the supplement Creatine - "I basically just inhaled a snowball," Griffin stated at a press conference following the PGA event, further explaining that he was shaking uncontrollably, and had actually considered withdrawing from the tournament - - but nobody likes a quitter! (and neither does his caddie), who stepped in & forced him to chug an entire bottle of water to reset - - By the time Griffin reached the fifth tee, he was on the mend - and he would go on to reel off three straight birdies starting at No.7 & four more on the back nine, including a 55-footer at No.17, and he would finish the BMW Championship tied for 12th place at (-3) - - Moral of the story is. . Do Not Overdose on Creatine!. . .Boxing: A former NBA player, a few 'washed' former UFC fighters & the 59-year-old version of boxing legend Mike Tyson later, Jake Paul, by some measures, is set to test himself in an exhibition boxing match against WBA lightweight champion, Gervonta "Tank" Davis, as first reported by Mike Coppinger of Ring Magazine - - Coppinger reported that the exhibition bout has been tentatively scheduled for the date of November 15th, and will take place at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta - - In contrast to Davis who is 5-foot-5 inches tall, Paul is much larger in body physique & overall stature - standing at 6-foot-1, weighing roughly 65-lbs heavier, and possessing a much wider wing span than that of Davis - however, the specific details regarding the match's weight limit have yet to be finalized - - Despite the obvious differences in overall stature & size, to date, this will undoubtedly be the biggest test of Jake Paul's boxing career, as Davis currently holds a record of 30-0-1 as a professional boxer with 28 knockouts - - While the outcome of the fight will be a topic of debate as the date for the match draws closer, one thing is for certain: both Paul & Davis will likely secure a massive payday from a boxing event that will most likely be promoted & accessible via streaming service provider Netflix - - Q: Who do you got winning the fight between Jake Paul & "Tank" Davis? Will the obvious size differences skew the overall outcome or results for the match's winning boxer?. . . - NBA - Five-time NBA All-Star & former No.1 overall draft pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, John Wall, announced via his social media account on Tuesday that he is retiring from basketball after playing for 11 seasons in the league - - Wall, 34, played most of his NBA career alongside Bradley Beal with the Washington Wizards after he was selected with the first overall pick in the 2010 draft following his impressive freshman season at the University of Kentucky under head basketball coach John Calipari - - The five-time All-Star PG finishes his NBA career with averages of 18.7 points and 8.9 assists per game - - Statistically, in his best season, he averaged 23.1 points and 10.7 assists for the 2016-17 regular season with the Washington Wizards, where he was named All-NBA Third Team - - In his prime, Wall was one of the fastest, most athletic guards set to enter the NBA, and it did not take him very long to adjust to playing among the NBA's elite, as he was crowned the Slam Dunk Champion in 2014 - and as an elite defender - he made the NBA's All-Defensive Second Team in 2015 - - However, injuries plagued the second half of Wall's career as he never played more than half the games in any of the past six seasons, and he did not play in the league over the last two years - - Shortly after announcing his retirement from the NBA, Wall shared a post via social media, indicating that he will join Amazon Prime Video as an NBA analyst - - Q: Do you recall that moment when you first heard the song "Do the John Wall?". . . - NCAA: News & Storylines - The University of Michigan has received a series of fines that could eclipse $30 million, but avoided punitive penalties, such as a postseason ban and/or the vacating of victories - including those that occurred the Wolverines' national championship season in 2023 - as the NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions ruled on the program's advance-scouting case last Friday - - In addition to Moore's two-game suspension that is expected to be served this upcoming season, the NCAA has also imposed an additional game suspension for Wolverines HC Sherrone Moore, which will be served for the first game of the 2026 season - and he also received a two-year show-cause penalty - - The NCAA Committee also levied an eight-year show-cause penalty for former Michigan staffer Connor Stalions, as well as a ten-year show-cause penalty for former Wolverines HC Jim Harbaugh, who is now is the head coach for the NFL's Los Angeles Chargers - The show-cause penalties imposed on Stalions & Harbaugh are intended to act as potential barriers for any collegiate programs that might have interest in hiring them in the future - - Separately, former Wolverines' assistant coach Denard Robinson was hit with a three-year show-cause penalty for a combined role in the team's recruiting violations - - In the sign-stealing case, the University of Michigan, it's coaches & staffers were charged with six Level 1 violations, which constitute as the most serious violations handed down by the NCAA - - The NCAA Committee provided further clarification as well as their rationale for the decision to fine the Michigan program heavily, rather than to issue a penalty such as a postseason ban - and this further indicates an overall shift in NCAA enforcement rulings away from postseason prohibitions - - After the NCAA's ruling was handed down to the school last Friday evening, the University later released a statement that, in short, acknowledged the Committee's ruling, but further questioned their interpretation of NCAA bylaws & stated that they "will appeal this decision to ensure a fair result." - - Q: What are your thoughts regarding the NCAA Committee of Infractions' ruling to slap Michigan with what ESPN reporter Pete Thamel referred to as "unprecedented" fines (totaling approximately $30 million)? Do you believe that the Committee should have vacated the program's victories that were associated with the Wolverines' 2023 national championship run?. . .University of Alabama Crimson Tide RB Jam Miller, the program's top returning rusher who is entering his fourth season with the team, suffered an upper-body injury in a preseason camp scrimmage on Saturday, per HC Kalen DeBoer - and according to initial reports, he is expected to miss the August 30th season opener at Florida State - - Following the initial injury report, On3 Sports reported on Sunday that Miller had sustained a collarbone injury, and while he is expected to make a full recovery, the Crimson Tide are hopeful that Miller will be able to return for the Crimson Tide when they face off against the Georgia Bulldogs on September 27th - - Without Miller, and following the transfer of 2024 starter Justice Haynes to Michigan - sophomore RBs Richard Young (146 rushing yards & 2 TDs in 2024) & Daniel Hill (61 rushing yards & 1 TD in 2024) are expected to retain a bulk of the carries against the Seminoles in the team's season opener, along with Louisiana transfer RB Dre Washington - - Q: What are your thoughts on the Crimson Tide's depth (and lack of experience) at the RB position, and does Jam Miller's injury change the team's offensive gameplan as they prepare for their road trip to Tallahassee?. . . The University of Tennessee named senior Joey Aguilar its starting QB on Sunday - - Aguilar transferred from UCLA to Tennessee in April, one day after former Volunteers QB Nico lamaleava joined the Bruins, in what would essentially become the first-ever college football QB trade - - Aguilar, who threw for over 3,000 yards and 23 TDs with 14 INTs last season at Appalachian State, beat out redshirt freshman QB Jake Merklinger for the starting job - and is expected to make his first official start for the Volunteers on August 30th when they face off against Syracuse - - Q: Were you surprised by the news that Joey Aguilar had been named the starting QB for the Tennessee Volunteers? If he can remain healthy, do you expect him to remain the Volunteers' starter?. . ."Auburn in the News:" Auburn University announced on Monday that it will retire the No.2 jersey of Cam Newton, the former Tigers QB who won the Heisman Trophy in 2010 prior to leading the team to a BCS national title later that season - - The retirement ceremony will take place on October 11th during the Tigers' rivalry game versus Georgia at Jordan-Hare Stadium - - Newton will join fellow Heisman winners Pat Sullivan (No.7) & Bo Jackson (No.34) as well as record-setting WR Terry Beasley (No.88) as the only Auburn players to have their jersey numbers retired - - In his single season with the Tigers, Newton became the first SEC player to record 2,000 passing yards & 1,000 rushing yards in a single season - and he went on to account for 51 of the team's TDs (30 passing, 20 rushing, 1 receiving) while leading Auburn to a 14-0 perfect record, and a BCS national championship victory over the Oregon Ducks - - Newton swept the major college football awards in 2010, winning the Maxwell, Walter Camp, Manning & Davey O'Brien Awards - as well as being named the AP Player of the Year, prior to being drafted by the Carolina Panthers with the No.1 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft - - The No.2 jersey has not been worn at Auburn since Cam Newton, and while the news of his jersey being retired was widely celebrated across the sport of college football, it does bring a bit of bad news for five-star freshman QB Deuce Knight, who for obvious reasons, wore No.2 in high school - and was even photographed wearing the No.2 jersey during his official visit(s) to the University, but following the program's announcement on Monday, it appears that Knight's chances of donning the No.2 jersey at Auburn have gone from slim to "not a chance!" - - Last week, Auburn Tigers HC Hugh Freeze revealed one of the craziest approaches to play-calling, which sparked just how insane his approach will be: This season, on first downs, OC Derrick Nix will call the plays, on second downs, it'll be Hugh Freeze, and finally, on third downs, it'll be QB coach Kent Austin, however, Mr. Freeze may overrule the play-calling duties at any point, but it will be a collaborative effort - - While Freeze plans to have three different play-callers - he also announced that the Tigers could use as many as three different QBs in the team's season opener versus Baylor - if you're not a math whiz, that's a potential 9 play-caller-QB combinations, which is absolute madness & chaos - - Q: What are your thoughts on Auburn Tigers HC Hugh Freeze's decision for the program to "go nuclear" offensively in their season opener versus Baylor? - - In other news, Auburn is trying to catch up to their biggest rival Alabama in the race for the number of national championships claimed, as the Tigers announced on Tuesday that it will now recognize themselves as nine-time college football champions - - With titles originally claimed for 1913, 1957, 1983, 1993 & 2010, now Auburn is claiming national titles in 1910, 1914, 1958 & 2004 - - Unfortunately for the Tigers, the Crimson Tide has 18 national championships that weren't "claimed," but were actually won - - Q: Should Auburn University be allowed to claim these additional college football national titles? Why or why not?. . .Ohio State has named sophomore Julian Sayin as its starting QB ahead of the Buckeyes' season opener against the Texas Longhorns on August 30th, per Buckeyes' HC Ryan Day on Monday afternoon - - Sayin, a former five-star prospect & No.3 QB in the 2024 recruiting class, beat out redshirt sophomore Lincoln Kienholz & true freshman Tavien St. Clair for the starting job - - While all three QBs were blue-chip recruits, it was reportedly Sayin's consistency, command of the offense & overall strong performance in the fall that helped him emerge from arguably one of the most competitive QB battles in the country this offseason - - Q: Were you surprised by HC Ryan Day's announcement on Monday that Julian Sayin had been named the Buckeyes' starting QB this season?. . . The Big Ten Conference is reportedly proposing a significant expansion of the College Football Playoff, suggesting a jump from the current 12-team model to include 24 to 28 teams, according to ESPN - - This proposal includes a large number of automatic bids for the four major conferences (i.e., Big Ten, SEC, ACC, and Big 12) - - The proposal is still in its early stages of discussion, with other conferences weighing in, and a final decision is needed by the first of December - - A key aspect of this proposal is the potential elimination of Conference Championship games, and in such a 28-team model, the Big Ten & SEC Conference(s) would each receive seven automatic bids, while the ACC & Big 12 Conference(s) would each receive five - The remaining spots would be filled by two automatic bids for non-Power 4 Conferences and two "at-large" teams - - Q: We have discussed the possibility of an expansion within the CFP, and we both agree that 24 or 28 teams is way too damn many, do you agree? If not, why would you prefer this particular model?. . .Notre Dame named redshirt freshman CJ Carr its starting QB on Tuesday - - Carr beat out sophomore QB Kenny Minchey after what was reportedly a "fairly even" competition for the starting role - - Carr, whose grandfather is former Michigan HC Lloyd Carr, will make his first career start for the Fighting Irish at Miami (FL) on August 31st. . .BYU is naming Bear Bachmeier as its starting QB, as first reported per ESPN, which will make him the first true freshman QB in program history to start a season opener for BYU - - Bachmeier, who will wear No.47, will debut against Portland State on August 30th - after beating out redshirt sophomore transfer QB McCae Hillstead (via Utah State) & redshirt junior transfer QB Treyson Bourguet (via Western Michigan). . .It's official, party people! - The 2025-26 College Football Season is officially underway as the Week 0 schedule is set, and will kick off this Saturday, August 23rd with four FBS vs. FBS matchups - and yes! we are here to give you our Week 0 predictions: (1) "Irish Farmageddon:" In the first time slot of the season, as part of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic & the 109th meeting of the "Farmageddon" rivalry - as well as the first-ever Big 12 Conference matchup played on Irish soil - the No.17-ranked Kansas State Wildcats will face off against the No.22-ranked Iowa State Cyclones in a clash of Big 12 title contenders at Noon ET - - *Note: Kansas State (+550) are the preseason favorites to win the Big 12, while Iowa State is listed at (+1200) - - Kansas State (-3) vs. Iowa State O/U 49.5 - - Q: Who do you like to come out on top in this Big 12 Conference clash in Ireland?. . . (2) While not as an impactful of a game as the one before, in the first game of the Dan Mullen era at UNLV, he will try to keep the success of the Barry Odom era rolling - but unfortunately for Mullen, there are plenty of lost parts, lots of rebuilding to do, and now there are actual expectations after UNLV fans finally got to taste the sweet nectar of a winning program - On the other hand, Idaho State isn't a total pushover - after a 5-7 season in 2024, the Bengals are returning a decent group of offensive talent, and enough of a ground game to be more than just a "paycheck game" for the new-look Rebels at 4:00 PM ET on Saturday - In addition, Rebels HC Dan Mullen announced on Wednesday morning that Michigan transfer QB Alex Orji & Virginia transfer QB Anthony Colandrea will both play in the season opener versus the Bengals - - Idaho State at UNLV (-25.5) O/U 63.5 - - Q: Does the Idaho State Bengals spoil Dan Mullen's coaching debut in Vegas?. . .The third time slot at 6:00 PM ET features a strong Conference USA opener for two teams with plenty to work on, but enough talent returning & an upside to push for a spot in the C-USA Championship game - In this matchup, the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers will face off against the Sam Houston Bearkats, who is coming off a ten-win season, but is starting over under new HC Phil Longo after KC Keeler bolted to Temple - - Western Kentucky (-10) vs. Sam Houston O/U 61.5 - - Q: Which team do you like to pull out this C-USA season opener?. . .In the fourth & final time slot at 6:30 PM ET, in what is expected to be a entertaining game with plenty of mood swings, the Stanford Cardinals will travel to Honolulu to take on the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors in what could be a potentially physical matchup - - Hawaii (-2.5) vs. Stanford O/U 51.5 - - Q: Who do you like to come out with a victory in the Week 0 finale?. . .If you have been tuned in for the past few weeks, you are very familiar with our "2025-26 College Football Preseason Prediction Showcase" segment(s) where JD & Spencer have discussed & presented their individual predictions/projections for the upcoming season, starting with the Group of Five Conference(s) and making their way up to the Power Five Conferences, which included the Big XII, Big Ten, ACC & SEC Conferences - This week, Spencer & JD will present their final predictions for the 2025 College Football season: Our National Championship Picks!! - - According to multiple sources, the favorites to win the national championship next season are Texas (+450) and Ohio State (+525) - and beyond that, the current national title odds are as follows: Georgia & Penn State (tied for 3rd at +700); Oregon & Clemson (tied for 5th at +900); Alabama (+1000); Notre Dame (+1200); LSU (+1400); Ole Miss, Florida & Michigan (tied for 10th highest odds at +2500) - - Q: Which college football program do you predict to win the 2025-26 national championship? (**Be sure to Tune in to hear Spencer & JD's picks - - and Share your picks with us via X - @TraditionFinest or by Email to [email protected]!!) - NFL - Joe Flacco will open the NFL regular season as the Cleveland Browns' starting QB, the team announced on Monday - - Flacco, who is entering his 18th NFL season, will also start the team's preseason finale against the Los Angeles Rams at home on Saturday after Flacco did not play in the team's first two preseason games (i.e., Shedeur Sanders & Dillion Gabriel) - - The Browns will host the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1 of the NFL regular season - - Q: Were you the least bit surprised by the announcement that Joe Flacco would be Browns' starting QB this upcoming season?. . .The Houston Texans traded WR John Metchie III and a sixth-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for TE Harrison Bryant & a fifth-round draft pick, as first reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter on Sunday afternoon - - The Philadelphia Eagles have made their second trade in the past 12 days, continuing a busy summer for GM Howie Roseman & the defending Super Bowl champions - - This time, Philadelphia added depth at the WR position, whereas the Texans' trade for Bryant came after the team lost TE Brevin Jordan to a season-ending knee injury last week - - Metchie, entering his fourth NFL season, has 40 receptions for 412 yards & a TD in 29 games, but he missed his entire rookie season while getting treatment for leukemia, after he was selected by the Texans in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft - - Metchie will certainly fill that "WR3" role for the Eagles, playing alongside WRs A.J. Brown & DeVonta Smith - - This trade reunites Smith & Metchie who were teammates at the University of Alabama, and were members of the Crimson Tide's 2020 national title team - - Q: Who won this trade: the Texans or Eagles? What trade grade would you give to both teams?. . ."Indiana Jones:" The Indianapolis Colts' months-long QB battle is over - - Colts HC Shane Steichen has selected Daniel Jones to be the Colts starting QB, opting for the vetern free agent acquisition over the club's 2023 first-round draft pick, Anthony Richardson Sr. - - Asked if this decision was intended to be a permanent move, Steichen stated that Jones is "our starting QB for the season. I don't want to have a quick leash on that. I feel confident in his abilities." - - While the Colts signed Jones in the offseason (i.e., March) to a one-year, $14 million contract, the expectation among the Colts fanbase as well as across the league, was that Richardson would ultimately be named the starting QB or would be given an opportunity to contribute to the franchise this season, but instead, he is now left with an uncertain future in Indianapolis - and the rumor mill has already begun to circulate that a few teams might be interested in his services - - Q: Former NFL QB RGIII brought up a pretty interesting (and extremely bold) point via social media on Tuesday afternoon regarding the QB situation in Indianapolis - According to RGIII, the Colts have made the decision to start Jones at QB because they are "tanking this season to draft [QB] Arch Manning in next year's NFL Draft," but of course, this statement is baseless if Arch Manning decides to return to Texas for his senior season - What are your thoughts on RGIII's statement?. . . - 2025-26 NFL Preseason Prediction Showcase: NFC Conference - The NFC, which is one of the two conferences in the National Football League (NFL), comprises 16 professional American football teams, divided into four divisions: NFC East, NFC North, NFC South & NFC West - - Each division contains four teams - - The NFC Champion competes against the AFC Conference Champion (**will cover in next week's episode!) in the "granddaddy of them all," or the Super Bowl - - In this week's episode finale, JD & Spencer will each provide their individual & independent/unique predictions for the NFC Conference in 2025-26 - Such predictions will include the selection of winners for each of the four divisions; the NFC's Super Bowl "Pretenders" & "Contenders" - and finally, they will each predict which NFC team they believe will represent the Conference in this year's Super Bowl (i.e., Super Bowl LX): 1. NFC Divisional Winners (i.e., NFC East, NFC South, NFC West & NFC North)? 2. Which NFC team(s) do you predict to be "Super Bowl Pretenders" this NFL season 3. Which NFC team(s) do you predict to be "Super Bowl Contenders" this NFL season 4. Which team do you predict to represent the NFC Conference in this year's Super Bowl (i.e., Super Bowl LX)? Thanks for Listening & for your Support!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 98 - "The QB Assassin Episode" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - Miscellaneous - UFC: Days after completing its merger with Skydance, the entertainment company, Paramount, has acquired the U.S. media rights to TKO Group's UFC with a 7-year, $7.7 billion dollar deal, which is scheduled to begin next year (2026) - - Paramount is reportedly paying an average of $1.1 billion per year, totaling $7.7 billion, for UFC's full slate of 13 marquee events & 30 "Fight Nights," per the companies' joint statement which were released earlier in the week - - All UFC matches and events will be available via the streaming application, Paramount+, and select events will be simulcast on CBS - - Paramount will not charge users any additional fees for access to these UFC events, which, in turn, eliminates the pay-per-view (PPP) model that ESPN+ has used for a majority of its' premium UFC events - - Q: Will Paramount's acquisition of the media rights to UFC - as well as the elimination the pay-per-view model - be mutually beneficial for both the sport as well as the streaming industry?. . .Per the announcement of UFC President Dana White, the UFC is set to host an event on the Fourth of July next year on the White House lawn in celebration of the United States 250th birthday/independence - - White, who remains close friends with U.S. President Donald Trump, have had thorough discussions in the past regarding the possibility of the White House hosting such an event - as Trump hosted a few of the first-ever events in the sport at few of his business properties back in the early 2000's - - Q: How "America" is that - - a UFC event on the main lawn of the White House? - - What could go wrong?!. . . - MLB - "A Historical Moment:" Smashing the MLB's gender barrier, Jen Pawol, 48, made history as the first female umpire in league history to officiate a regular-season game in the majors - - Considering Pawol became the first female umpire to work behind the plate in the majors, making unprecedented history appear to be relatively routine, was especially impressive - - In Pawol's highly anticipated, and smooth-sailing, debut, which came as the first-base umpire for Saturday's first game of a split doubleheader between the Atlanta Braves & Miami Marlins - - To follow up her impressive performance at first base, Pawol moved behind home plate, placing her in the brightest spotlight for an umpire, where she breezed through Sunday's Marlins-Braves game, calling a "strike" on her first official call as a plate umpire - sadly, Braves LHP Joey Wentz & Marlins starting pitcher Cal Quantrill combined for a total of three strikeouts in Sunday's matchup - - Following Atlanta's 7-1 victory over the Marlins on Sunday evening, both team managers spoke positively of Pawol as well as to mention her professionalism on the baseball field - - Pawol was called up from the minor leagues as a rover umpire, and so, her next assignment in the majors has not yet been announced, but after her debut performance, you can expect for it to be right around the corner - - Q: What were your thoughts on Jen Pawol's 'umpiring skills' this weekend? While there were very few opportunities for disputes on the field, could you imagine a scenario (and the potential suspension that would follow) where an MLB manager ultimately 'lost his cool,' and went after a female umpire?. . .A Hawaiian real estate investor & broker are reportedly suing the MLB's Shohei Ohtani, claiming that the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar - and his agent - got them fired from a $240 million luxury housing development on the Big Island's coveted Hapuna Coast that they had brought him in to endorse - - According to the lawsuit filed in Hawaii Circuit Court last Friday, Ohtani's agent, Nez Balelo, increasingly demanded concessions from the both the developer & broker prior to demanding that their business partner, Kingsbarn Realty Capital, drop them from the deal - - Per the Plaintiffs' lawsuit, Ohtani & Balelo "exploited their celebrity leverage to destabilize and ultimately dismantle [their] role in the project - - [and] for no reason other than their own financial self-interest," - - The individual properties that were to be developed, and eventually listed by Matsumoto - the deal's broker - who was to become the listing agent for the houses, which were estimated to average $17.3 million each - - Q: What were your initial thoughts of the lawsuit filed against Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani & his agent on behalf the housing development developer & broker - was their primary motivation not an endorsement deal with one of the most high-profile athletes in the world, which would be used as a bold marketing strategy to, in turn, sell each of the properties above their respective value?. . .MLB Hall of Famer and 13-time All-Star Mariano Rivera tore his Achilles tendon while attempting to track a fly ball at the Yankees' annual Old-Timers' Day game on Saturday, and per multiple sources, will now require surgery to repair the torn tendon - - The event, which commemorated the 25th Anniversary of the 2000 Yankees championship team, or the last MLB franchise to win three-straight World Series titles - - In his lone at-bat, Rivera singled off former teammate Andy Pettitte and easily ran to first base, however, during Willie Randolph's at-bat, Rivera took a step and fell to the ground in shallow center field behind second base, becoming the second player to sustain an injury at the event since 2017. . . - NCAA: News & Storylines - Jimbo Fisher, who received a record $76 million buyout after he was fired as Texas A&M head football coach in 2023 after going 45-25, says he wants to return to the sideline - - Fisher, who recently joined the ACC Network as an analyst, told the "Trials to Triumph" podcast earlier this week that he is looking for "the right situation," to return to coaching at the NCAA or collegiate level - - Fisher stated on the podcast the he misses "the relationship with players. I would be very interested in still doing it. I still think I've got a lot to give. I'd like to get back out there." - - Q: What are your thoughts about the possibility of a return to coaching for Jimbo Fisher?. . .Ty Simpson will open the 2025 college football season as the QB for the University of Alabama, per Crimson Tide HC Kalen DeBoer on Monday afternoon - - Simpson, who has served as Alabama's backup QB each of the past two seasons, and is in his 4th year on campus, beat out redshirt sophomore Austin Mack & true freshman Keelon Russell for the job - - Q: What was your initial reaction to the news that Ty Simpson had been announced as the Crimson Tide's starting QB?. . .Due to Conference Realignment, the Washington State Cougars & the Oregon State Beavers, the only two teams remaining in the Pac-12 Conference, will split a rare regular season home-and-home series - and will be facing each other twice this season in regular-season play - - Q: Will you be tuning into "Pac-12 After Dark" to catch both of the WSU-OSU matchups this season?. . .The new University of Oklahoma QB, John Mateer, has found himself embroiled in the midst of controversy - as screenshots of a few questionable Venmo transactions have surfaced earlier this week on social media - - The screenshots illustrate that Mateer paid someone in 2022, with the description of the transaction being "sports gambling," and "sports gambling (UCLA vs. USC)" - - The 2022 season marked Mateer's first year with Washington State, meaning he was not allowed, per the NCAA by-laws, to gamble on college football - - Mateer's Venmo activity has since been removed or made private - - Oklahoma officials have acknowledged Mateer's alleged Venmo transactions, but the Sooners QB has "consistently denied" being involved with [sports] gambling - - On Tuesday, Mateer posted a statement on social media, claiming that the Venmo descriptions were just "inside jokes between [him and his] friends." - - Q: What are your thoughts regarding the John Mateer screenshots from Venmo? Do you believe him that the descriptions were simply "inside jokes?" Do you expect John Mateer to be suspended by the University of Oklahoma?. . . - NFL - The Los Angeles Chargers offensive line has been dealty a significant blow: Just weeks after signing a 4-year, $114M extension to become the highest-paid OL in NFL history in terms of annual average salary, Rashawn Slater - the blind-side protector of QB Justin Herbert - has suffered a potentially major setback - - An All-pro LT, Slater, will be sidelined for the entire 2025 NFL season with a ruptured patellar tendon, the team confirmed last Friday evening - - The Chargers star LT went down during team drills at last Thursday's practice and was unable to put any weight on his left leg - - The 315-lb Slater was eventually carted off the field, visibly frustrated, slamming his helmet & pounding the cart in anger before trainers draped a towel over his head - - The 26-year-old is expected to undergo surgery to repair the torn tendon, and the Chargers have officially moved Slater to the "injured reserve" or IR list. . .Q: Obviously, you feel awful for the guy, but a solid argument could be made that Chargers QB Justin Herbert could "feel" even worse this upcoming season after losing his blind-side protection to a season-ending injury - How much of an impact does the loss of Slater have on the Chargers' OL and it's ability to block for QB Justin Herbert?. . . The New England Patriots unveiled a 12-foot bronze statue of Tom Brady outside Gillette Stadium on Friday, the culmination of a promise team owner Robert Kraft made last year when the former QB was inducted into the team's Hall of Fame - - The statue was created by a local sculptor, who is a longtime Patriots fan, and the granite base was quarried in Vermont, one of the six New England state - - In addition, the shape represents the six Super Bowl championships, and with the base, it is 17-feet tall, which symbolizes the number of AFC East titles won during Brady's tenure - - Near the end of his speech/remarks, Brady delivered another joke, saying "The statue isn't just for Pats fans. It will also give all the Jets fans something to throw their beers at as they leave the stadium every year. Probably in the second QTR. Maybe the third." - - All the while, at the onset of the Patriots' preseason opener versus the Washington Commanders, TreVeyon Henderson took a 100-yard opening kickoff return TD to the house to open the game - - Cleveland Browns QB Shedeur Sanders did not disappoint in his highly anticipated NFL preseason debut - - Sanders threw a pair of first half TD passes in the Browns' 30-10 preseason-opening victory over the Carolina Panthers on Friday night - - In a little less than three QTRs, Sanders completed 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards & 2 TDs, and he added 19 rushing yards, prior to being pulled from the game for the Browns most recent QB signing, Tyler Huntley - - Q: What were your thoughts on QB Shedeur Sanders' performance in the Browns' preseason opener? What overall grade would you give him?. . .Jaguars K Cam Little made a 70-yard FG as the first half expired in Jacksonville's preseason-opending loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers at EverBank Stadium on Saturday night, a kick that would have broken Justin Tucker's NFL record of 66 yards, had it been made in a regular-season game - - Q: Should Cam Little's 70-yard FG in the Jaguars' preseason opener have counted, and therefore breaking the NFL record of 66 yards?. . .Former NFL HC Jon Gruden came up with a big win in his ongoing legal battle with the NFL on Monday - - The Nevada Supreme Court ruled in Gruden's favor - a 5-3 decision - that his lawsuit against the league cannot be sent into arbitration, allowing the case to proceed in public - - Most recently, Gruden has been in the news for a different reason: he has expressed interest in a return to coaching, indicating that he would "really like to coach in the SEC Conference," - - Q: Which SEC Conference program could you envision Jon Gruden coaching?. . . - 2025-26 College Football Preseason Prediction Showcase PT. V: SEC Conference - - In their quest to preview & provide their individual predictions for the upcoming 2025-26 college football season, JD & Spencer complete the saga in this episode's final segment - - In the final "Preseason Prediction Showcase," JD & Spencer preview what they consider to be the 'cream of the crop' of college football, aka The SEC Conference - - Their predictions are independent/unique, and were not discussed prior to the onset of this episode - and their overall predictions are introduced by way of their responses to the following six agreed-upon questions: 1. Which teams of the SEC Conference would you predict to be "Championship Contenders" next season? 2. Which teams of the SEC Conference would you predict to be "Championship Pretenders" next season? 3. Which programs would you consider to function as "sleeper team(s)" of the SEC Conference next season? 4. Who are a few "players to watch" out of the SEC Conference next season? 5. Which SEC Conference teams do you predict to play for the 2025-26 Conference Championship? Which team do you predict to win the SEC Conference Championship? 6. How many SEC Conference teams do you predict to receive a bid into the 2025-26 College Football Playoff? Which teams? Thanks for Listening!

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 97 - "The BigBear/SmallerBear Episode" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - Miscellaneous - On this week's introductory or our 'Penalty Box' segment, JD & Spencer discuss & share their thoughts on "Happy Gilmore 2," which is the sequel to the original hit film, that was released in 1996. The film, which was recently released on the streaming service, Netflix, was thirty years in the making, yet it has been met with overwhelmingly negative reviews, with critics and fans calling it "lazy," "not funny," & a "depressing mess" that disrespects the original film by undoing its accomplishments. The common complaints from our fellow "keyboard warriors" include a lack of original humor, a narrative that negates the first film's happy ending, an overreliance on nostalgia & cameos, and finally, a tone that doesn't align with the original film's appeal. Allow us to be the first to say: Ignore the noise and Watch the Movie! - - and if you have a sense of humor, prepare to laugh your ass off! Yes! - the Adam Sandler film did feature a whopping total of 48 cameos, and granted, this is a bit too many - - but you cannot ignore the fact that many of the sequel's cameos, which included a slew of actors/celebrities, musicians & comedians, and notable athletes & sports figures from a wide array of professional sports - for example, the film featured a total of 19 professional golfers, including but not limited to the following: Scottie Scheffler, Rory Mcllroy, John Daly, Bubba Watson, Gilmore's former caddy from the original film - Will Zalatoris, Justin Thomas & Brooks Koepka; current & former NFL players, such as Travis Kelce & Reggie Bush, respectively; as well as Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum (WNBA). Both JD & Spencer address their individual take of the overall plot, as well as multiple aspects of the film "Happy Gilmore 2," and subsequently, they each present it with an overall rating out of 10. . .Q: What were your thoughts of the film "Happy Gilmore 2?" What rating, from 1 (horrible/waste of time) to 10 (the best movie of all time!), would you give the Adam Sandler sequel?. . . - MLB - In a blockbuster deal that was completed last Thursday, the day of the MLB Trade Deadline, that had the baseball world buzzing, the Houston Astros re-acquired shortstop Carlos Correa from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for minor league LHP Matt Mikulski & cash, after Correa agreed to "waive" the no-trade clause included in his contract - - Per USA Today reporter Boby Nightengale, Minnesota will send roughly $33 million to help cover the remaining cost associated with Correa's contract - - Correa is owed approximately $96 million through the 2028 MLB season, with club options from 2029-2032 - - Correa, who was drafted as a shortstop by the Astros with the No.1 overall pick in the 2012 MLB Draft, he would go on to become one of the most popular players & franchise icons in club history - - One aspect of the trade involved Correa's move to playing third base for Houston, after All-Star third baseman Isaac Paredes sustained a hamstring injury, and could possibly miss the rest of this MLB season. . .Q: What are your thoughts about the Astros-Carlos Correa reunion?. .In an odd occurrence, MLB in-fielder Jose Caballero was faced with a literal no-lose situation last Thursday as his Tampa Bay Rays were in the middle of playing in the final game of a three-game series versus the New York Yankees - - And then, the news broke. . .Caballero had been traded from the Tampa Bay Rays to their current opponent, the New York Yankees - - The two AL East teams were in the middle of their game at Yankee Stadium when the news broke that the 28-year-old in-fielder, who was playing second base for the Rays at the time, had been traded to the Yankees - - The deal came together partly thanks to a nearly three-hour rain delay that occurred early on in the game - - When the news broke, as is typical procedure when a player is traded during a game, the Rays removed him from their lineup, yet it was evident that this was somewhat unexpected - as the TV broadcast caught Caballero embracing his Tampa teammates in the visitors' dugout at Yankee Stadium, while no such scene occurred in the Yankees' dugout (emotion-less pricks!) - - Following the Yankees 7-5 victory at home, Caballero joked "We won the game, I guess," after playing most of the game in a Rays jersey - - Caballero has now joined a Yankees team that is looking to return to the World Series for the second consecutive season - after losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games last season. . . - WNBA & NBA - WNBA: At a press conference last Saturday evening, the WNBA informed the media that the individual who threw a "sex toy" onto the court at an Atlanta Dream game earlier in the week, had been arrested - - and went on to provide a stern warning, that, any person who throws objects onto the court will be ejected from the arena immediately, and will face a minimum one-year ban from attendance to WNBA games - - The incident that occurred in Atlanta took place late in the 4th QTR of the Dream's game versus the Golden State Valkyries last Tuesday in College Park, Georgia - - While it seemed that the act might be an isolated incident, on the following Friday evening, another "sex toy" (i.e., a lime green dildo) was thrown onto the court after a whistle was blown to stop play in the 3rd QTR - with it landing under the basket - of the Chicago Sky & Golden State Valkyries matchup, after which point, it was kicked aside by an official before it was picked up and removed - - Interestingly, yet not suprisingly, bookies & online betting sites have determined a way to profit off of this apparent new trend of fans throwing dildos onto the court during WNBA games - - Yes, a quirky new bet emerged, titled "Color of Third WNBA Dildo If Not Green," with the bet officially ending on August 3rd - the options included Black/Brown & Rainbow (+200), White/Caucasian (+250), Pink (+300), Purple (+325), and Blue (+1400), plus a wager on how the situation is handled - - Well, it didn't last very long! - Another "sex toy" was thrown onto the court during an WNBA game between the Los Angeles Sparks & the Indiana Fever on Tuesday - - the third such incident occurred in the 2nd QTR at Crypto.com Arena in L.A., and it was once again a green "toy" that was thrown, and it seemed as if Fever guard Sophie Cunningham was the target, after she previously asked people to stop throwing such objects on social media - but apparently, people do not care about the requests of WNBA players. . .NBA: Damian Lillard is returning to college, this time as the General Manager of his Alma Mater, Weber State University, where he once starred for the college basketball team - - The GM role has risen in popularity across college basketball & college football in recent years, and these GM's are tasked with overseeing programs in the wake of the transfer portal, NIL & the other changing dynamics involved in college athletics - - Lillard becomes the latest big name or high-profile NBA player to be hired for this type of role, including that of Stephen Curry (Davidson) - - The choice was simple: Lillard is the program's only All-American in school history, and so, Lillard will work closely with the coaching staff and athletic department leadership to provide insight, mentorship, and professional levels to elevate the program. . . - NCAA: News & Storylines - NCAA College Basketball: The NCAA Tournament will be sticking with 68 teams - for now - - The NCAA voted not to expand March Madness for the upcoming 2025-26 CBB season on Monday - - However, per NCAA Senior VP of Basketball Dan Gavitt, various NCAA committees will continue to discuss the topic of expansion of the college basketball tournament to including between 72 to 76 teams for future tournaments beyond next season. . .Q: What are your thoughts about the possibility of the expansion of the NCAA College Basketball Tournament field beyond 68 teams?. . .NCAA College Football: The University of Alabama seemed destined to land Mobile (Ala.) St. Paul's Episcopal five-star EDGE Anthony "Tank" Jones, but last Thursday on "The Pat McAfee Show" on ESPN, Jones would commit to the University of Oregon, donning the green & yellow upon the announcement of his committment - - Jones is now set to make the cross-country trek to Eugene at the next (or collegiate) level, and his committment gives Oregon its' 4th five-star pledge in the 2026 Class - - While Jones is rated as the No.18 player in the ESPN 2026 Class, he is also rated as the No.1 overall prospect in the state of Alabama - - Prior to his committment, Jones, on multiple occasions, had stated that he had always "dreamed" of playing for the Crimson Tide since he was a kid, and that Alabama "was always his dream school growing up," - - It's no surprise that based on this information, people were somewhat shocked to witness Jones commit to Oregon rather than his "dream school," but let's be honest: "You win some and you lose some!" - - but according to multiple reporters on social media, this loss of Jones to Oregon is being categorized as the "Biggest Whiff" in Crimson Tide recruiting history - - Money likely has a massive part to play in Jones' decision, but it certainly isn't the sole reason that he committed to Oregon - - Unfortunately for HC Dan Lanning & the Ducks, it's not over until National Signing Day in December, so tread carefully. . .Q: Do you agree or disagree with the 'haters" who referred to the loss of Jones to Oregon as the "biggest whiff" in Crimson Tide recruiting history?. . .Former University of Tennessee head football coach Derek Dooley announced on 2026 Republican bid on Monday for the U.S. Senate in the state of Georgia against Democratic incumbent Jon Ossoff - - The 57-year-old Dooley is backed by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and has been teasing a bid since early June - - Dooley has never held an elective office position before, yet he has said that he'll run as a political outsider, pledging to bring "good, old fashioned Georgia common sense," and "work with President Trump, fight for you and alway put Georgia first," - - Dooley, the son of legendary Georgia Bulldogs coach Vince Dooley, was a lawyer prior to his stint in coaching - - Dooley might be most remebered for his time at the University of Tennessee, compiling a 15-21 record with the Volunteers before he was fired in 2012 - - Since then, Dooley has been an assistant coach, with stints at the collegiate & professional level - - Dooley becomes one of the multiple former football coaches to run for office, including former Auburn HC Tommy Tuberville, who was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2020 for the state of Alabama, and is now running for state Governor - and University of Nebraska coaching legend Tom Osborne, who served three terms in the U.S. House - - Q: What are your thoughts on former Volunteers HC Derek Dooley's bid to run for U.S. Senate in the state of Georgia?. . . - NFL - 2025 NFL Preseason Hall of Fame Game: The Los Angeles Chargers defeated the Detroit Lions 34-7 that kicked off the NFL's preseason last Thursday night in Canton, Ohio - - A few takeaways from the game: (A) Chargers QB Trey Lance was outstanding - - While Lance's NFL journey has been anything but memorable to this point - 3rd time in five seasons - Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh gave him three QTRs to prove he's worth a roster spot - and he did his thing & balled out, playing like a No.3 overall draft pick - Lance unquestionably delivered, completing 13-of-20 passes for 120 yards & 2 TDs, including a beautiful rollout toss to TE Will Dissly on 4th-and-goal, and a 15-yard pass on a difficult slant route to WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith - he was rarely fazed by the Lions' blitz, and remained efficient in the pocket while adjusting to the defensive coverage - Lance exceeded all expectations in total, earning respect while also producing evidence for his case to be selected over veteran QB Taylor Heincke as Justin Herbert's backup QB - - (B) The Lions' backup QB situation isn't as clear-cut: Obviously, Lions HC Dan Campbell did not allow QB Jared Goff, WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, RBs Jahmyr Gibbs & David Montgomery, OT Penei Sewell or the rest of Detroit's star-studded offense to see any action in the first preseason game - - The name of the game is "backups" - - QB Kyle Allen was first up in the order & delivered a very up-and-down performance, completing 9-of-14 passes for 91 yards, but would go on to throw two horrendous INTs that tanked any positive momentum he had up until that point - Making matters worse, QB Hendon Hooker didn't fare any better, struggling with his accuracy, throwing a pick near the middle of the field on a pass that sailed - In other words, the Lions failed to find a rhythm with either of the backup QB's in the first game of the preseason - We will see if HC Dan Campbell possibly reverses the rotation next week, and if it helps Hooker because he could certainly use it. . .Washington Commanders WR Terry McLaurin, frustrated with negotiations on a contract extension, has requested a trade from the franchise, per ESPN's Adam Schefter on Thursday afternoon - - A sticking point seems to be McLaurin's age - as he would be age 31 when an extension would begin, an age that teams are stereotypically reluctant to pay big money for WRs - - Per Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox "the Commanders should consider acquiring [49ers] WR Jauan Jennings as a replacement," who is also looking for a new contract deal - as well as a trade out of San Francisco - - Q: What are your thoughts on the Commanders-Terry McLaurin situation? In your opinion, should the Commanders consider trading him OR should they take the risk by offering him an extension that would certainly set the precedent among 30-year-old WRs in the league?. . .Dallas Cowboys training camp began last week with Pro Bowl pass rusher Micah Parsons reporting but not participating as he awaited a contract extension - - However, on the following Friday, Parsons posted on social media that he is requesting a trade from the NFL franchise - - Parsons said "repeated shots" led to his decision to request a trade - - At the opening news conference of training camp, team owner Jerry Jones made a flippant remark when questioned about Parsons' availability during training camp - - Multiple sources have stated that they cannot recall a time when a Cowboys player has requested a trade - - Historically, the Cowboys have paid their stars, but it has taken time to get deals done, including with QB Dak Prescott (twice), RB Ezekiel Elliot, guard Zack Martin & WR Ceedee Lamb in recent years - - Ultimately, Jerry Jones has reportedly never lost a star player that he wanted to keep - - Q: Multiple NFC executives from across the NFL have stated that they do not believe that the Cowboys will trade Parsons - - Is it possible that both sides can repair the relationship back to when Parsons indicated that he "would never leave Dallas," & saying to ESPN in December that he didn't need to be the highest-paid defensive player in the game?. . .In a long-overdue moment of recognition, former Green Bay Packers WR Sterling Sharpe was officially enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday during a ceremony in Canton, Ohio - - The honor makes Sharpe, 60, the 382nd member of the Hall of Fame - and most notably, part of history - Alongside his younger brother, Shannon Sharpe, the Sharpes are now the only pair of siblings to ever be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame - - Sharper was a dominant force in the NFL from 1988 to 1994, earning three first-team All-Pro selections & leading the league in multiple receiving categories - - His 1992 season remains legendary, as he captured the receiving "Triple Crown," in which he led the NFL in receptions, yard, and TDs - - Last week, his brother Shannon, expressed his remorse for the news of his official departure from ESPN after he has faced multiple controversies & pending lawsuits - - Minnesota Vikings WR Jordan Addison has been suspended for the first three games of the upcoming NFL season for violating the league's "substances of abuse" policy - - Addision pleaded no contest on July 17th to a lesser charge to resolve a 2024 DUI citation - it was the plea agreement that made Addison subject to NFL discipline, as it acknowledges the use and/or consumption of alcohol in a driving incident - - He agreed to pay $390 fine and received a year of probation - - Addison will be eligible to return for the Vikings' Week 4 game versus the Pittsburgh Steelers in an international game that will be played in Dublin, Ireland. . .Following his one season with the Chicago Bears, veteran WR Keenan Allen is returning to the Los Angeles Chargers on a one-year, $8.52 million contract - - In a fascinating move, the Chargers used the pick they acquired from the Chicago Bears in the Keenan Allen trade from last season to move up & draft WR Ladd McConkey - - Now, Allen & McConkey are Chargers' teammates - - Q: What are your thoughts regarding the reunion of the Los Angeles Chargers & WR Keenan Allen? Do you think he has anymore miles left in the tank?. . .San Francisco 49ers TE George Kittle interrupted teammate Fred Warner's interview on the NFL Network Tuesday afternoon to "air a grievance" that the league had issued a memo to all players earlier that morning, stating that it has prohibited the use of ammonia and smelling salts before & during all NFL games - - According to the memo, beginning this upcoming season, teams are prohibited from "providing or supplying ammonia in any form," which includes ammonia capsules, inhalers, ammonia in a cup, and any form of "smelling salts." - - The memo further stated that the ban comes as a result of FDA warnings that were issued in 2024 - - In the interrupted interview, Kittle went on to say that he is a regular user of smelling salts, taking them for a "boost of energy," before every offensive drive, noting "I miss them already." - - The nine-year TE even joked that, initially, after reading the memo, he was so upset that he contemplated retirement - - Q: What are your thoughts on the NFL's decision to ban players from using ammonia & smelling salts?. . . - 2025-26 College Football Preseason Prediction Showcase PT. IV: Big Ten Conference - - In the episode finale this week, JD & Spencer each provide their individual (and independent) projections/predictions for the Big Ten Conference - as well as our predictions for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Independent) - for the upcoming 2025-26 college football season - - They provided their overall predictions by presenting their responses to the following set of agreed-upon questions: 1. Which teams of the Big Ten Conference would you consider to be "Championship Contenders" next season? 2. Which teams of the Big Ten Conference would you consider to be "Championship Pretenders" next season? 3. Which programs would you consider to function as "sleeper team(s)" of the Big Ten Conference next season? 4. Who are a few "players to watch" out of the Big Ten Conference next season 5. Which Big Ten Conference program do you predict to win the 2025-26 Conference Championship? 6. How many Big Ten Conference programs do you believe will receive a bid into the 2025-26 College Football Playoff? Which team(s)? 7. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish's win total is currently set to 10.5 wins - - Based on their strength of schedule next season as well as their overall talent, do you expect HC Marcus Freeman's team to exceed 10.5 wins or just fall short? Why? Thanks for Listening!