The NBA was having a nice little Rookie of the Year debate, and then Cooper Flagg up and decided to drop 96 points in two games. The only rookie to do that before him? Wilt Chamberlain. In so doing, Flagg also became the first teenager in history to have a 50-point game. Can we stop talking about Kon Knueppel now?The NHL regular season doesn’t end for a few more days, but we know the Stars’ first-round opponent. Get ready to learn Minnesota Wild, buddy! We’ll get one of our big hockey brains on the show sometime soon to dive into everything about this, but what are your first impressions of this matchup?The Rangers have cooled off a bit since we got hot and bothered about them last week. But that’s mostly fine because Jack Leiter hasn’t. Tell me why you’re so impressed by what you’re seeing so far. Only a couple of weeks left until the NFL Draft, which means only another couple of prospects left to spotlight. You called your shot last week – you want to talk about Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell. So, why him? Then we're joined by David Helman of the Athletic to talk about the big dumb football, the '26 draft prospects, and where the future of football is headed. —-------------------Like and subscribe to our channel if you enjoy StrongSide.If you'd like to read even more great journalism about Dallas sports then please consider subscribing to D Magazine at dmagazine.comSubscribe to the StrongSide newsletter for weekly updates on the sports happenings in Dallas https://www.dmagazine.com/site/newsletters/Studio: Haymaker Studio in FriscoProducer: Matt Czizek and Julian DeanHosts: Mike Piellucci and Mike Marshall

Machine was the optimistic one of the two of us about the 2026 Texas Rangers, and so far, so good. The Rangers are 4-1, but better still is how they’ve looked getting there. You have to encouraged right now, right?Mark Cuban, come do our podcast! Because it seems like every time the man does one, tea gets spilled. The latest and greatest happened this week on the Intersections podcast, which is hosted by former Dallas mayor Tom Leppert and Dallas businessman Kyle Waldrep. In there, Cuban said that he regrets selling the team to the Adelsons and that Jason Kidd helped order the Code Red to trade Luka Doncic. How many more bodies should we expect him to dig up?It’s Pie's turn to break down a Cowboys prospect. I got ambitious last week and threw out Rueben Bain’s name. This time, why don’t you have some fun of your own? Give us the name of a defensive guy higher up the board who would make a lot of sense for the Cowboys, even if they have to go up to get him. Last week, we did a mock draft. And one of the big lessons–aside from the fact that you can’t go with a non-Caleb Downs safety at 12 – is the Cowboys probably will need to trade up to get one of the elite defensive players. We’ve broken down two we really like–why don’t we run a scenario where the Cowboys trade up and see if they can land one of these dudes?Then we're joined by Bobby Karalla of DLLS Mavs/Head of Content for All-City. Bobby has been covering the Mavs for 13 years and is the best in the business at evaluating this franchise. Check out his work on the DLLS Mavs show. —-------------------Like and subscribe to our channel if you enjoy StrongSide.If you'd like to read even more great journalism about Dallas sports then please consider subscribing to D Magazine at dmagazine.comSubscribe to the StrongSide newsletter for weekly updates on the sports happenings in Dallas https://www.dmagazine.com/site/newsletters/Studio: Haymaker Studio in FriscoProducer: Matt Czizek and Julian DeanHosts: Mike Piellucci and Mike Marshall

At long last, after months of frustration and repudiation and very little spending, Opening Day is here! We’ll get into the nitty gritty with our guest Zach Wolchuk, but let’s do the top-down view now. Texas’ over-under for wins is 83.5 and more or less a coin flip with Houston for second place in the AL West. Will Texas exceed or fall short of those projections? Speaking of narrow margins, Cooper Flagg isn’t running away with Rookie of the Year anymore. It’s shaping up to be a race to the finish between two bad white boys: Flagg and his old Duke teammate, Kon Knueppel. Brian Dameris made the case on StrongSide this week for why Flagg should be the winner, but should has nothing to do with it. Will Flagg go home with the trophy, and does it really matter one way or the other?Last week, we got a little dark on the Cowboys prospect spotlight. We showed you how bad things really could break, and it wasn’t a great time. So let’s lighten the mood a little bit and be optimistic. Machine, give us a blue-chip defender who you think could slip more than people think and make it to 12, and why the Cowboys should be excited if this player does.Then we put our priors to the test and roll out an old fashioned mock draft. What will we end up with at 12 and 20 for the Dallas Cowboys?Zach Wolchuk of 105.3 The Fan joins us to get ready for Rangers opening day and the treacherous waters ahead for the Dallas Cowboys on draft night. —-------------------Like and subscribe to our channel if you enjoy StrongSide.If you'd like to read even more great journalism about Dallas sports then please consider subscribing to D Magazine at dmagazine.comSubscribe to the StrongSide newsletter for weekly updates on the sports happenings in Dallas https://www.dmagazine.com/site/newsletters/Studio: Haymaker Studio in FriscoProducer: Matt Czizek and Julian DeanHosts: Mike Piellucci and Mike Marshall

Last week on this program, I got real mad about the Cowboys doing next to nothing in free agency. Since then, they’ve done less than nothing, because somehow, the talent got worse on defense. Cobie Durant is coming in on a one-year deal from the L.A. Rams, but out went Osa Odighizuwa, who was traded to the 49ers for a third-round draft pick. I give up, man.Last week, we had a bit of a revelation during our Cowboys draft spotlight: there is a world in which Dallas gets on the clock at No. 12, stares at the available options, and gets real, real sad. No Ohio State defenders. No premium edge guys. No Mansoor Delane. So, uh, what do they do? And we each have a name that we’ve decided they should pivot to in a “break glass in case of emergency” scenario. You’re up first–who are you looking at? The NCAA Tournament is upon us and SMU is in it… barely. The Mustangs are in the First Four against undefeated Miami of Ohio. By the time you watch this show, you’ll know whether or not they made the field of 64. When was the last time we were this interested in a First Four game?I know you’ve been frustrated by the Rangers’ lineup, and boy do I have good news for you. What if I told you that the Rangers now have a guy in camp who is a five-time All-Star, and has an MVP award and a Gold Glove on the mantle? You hyped? Because, buddy, Andrew McCutchen is in the building! Also, he’s 39. But he has been on a tear since arriving in camp and diminished as he is, he’s still better than Joc Pederson was a year ago. Is your interest anything higher than “nonexistent”?Then we're joined by the incredibly talented and plugged-in Sean Shapiro as we attempt to breakdown an unpredictable Dallas Stars season and forecast what's ahead. —-------------------Like and subscribe to our channel if you enjoy StrongSide.If you'd like to read even more great journalism about Dallas sports then please consider subscribing to D Magazine at dmagazine.comSubscribe to the StrongSide newsletter for weekly updates on the sports happenings in Dallas https://www.dmagazine.com/site/newsletters/Studio: Haymaker Studio in FriscoProducer: Matt Czizek and Julian DeanHosts: Mike Piellucci and Mike Marshall

The Cowboys: they’re doing things! The highlights were Monday, when Dallas traded a 2027 fourth-round pick to Green Bay for defensive lineman Rashan Gary and signed safety Jalen Thompson from Arizona on a three-year deal worth up to $36 million. We’re going to talk more about both guys with Bob Sturm, but why has the Cowboys free agency approach failed?Last week, we started our draft spotlight series. I kicked it off with Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman. Now it’s your turn – let's meet LSU DB Mansoor DelaneThe Cowboys weren’t the only team making moves – the Stars did two of their own last week. The Tyler Myers news broke while we were recording last week’s show, and the following day, Dallas brought in winger Michael Bunting from Nashville. Did this team do enough at the deadline?The most exciting baseball stuff is happening at the World Baseball Classic – Bobby Witt: really good at baseball. Back in Rangers camp, the most interesting news concerns Josh Smith and Evan Carter. According to Skip Schumaker, both will be given the opportunity to hit against lefties early in the season and prove they aren’t platoon players. How badly do the Rangers need this? Then we're joined by sports radio icon Bob Sturm of the 1310 The Ticket. He's got the goods on Rashan Gary and Jalen Thompson. Bob explains why the Cowboys free agency approach isn't working and why they always get into pickles when negotiating contracts. —-------------------Like and subscribe to our channel if you enjoy StrongSide.If you'd like to read even more great journalism about Dallas sports then please consider subscribing to D Magazine at dmagazine.comSubscribe to the StrongSide newsletter for weekly updates on the sports happenings in Dallas https://www.dmagazine.com/site/newsletters/Studio: Haymaker Studio in FriscoProducer: Matt Czizek and Julian DeanHosts: Mike Piellucci and Mike Marshall

Let’s begin with some news we saw coming: George Pickens got franchise-tagged. We’re seeing all the right things out there about how both sides want to continue together long-term, and I’d guess that ends up happening. But the type of franchise tag they gave him tells us this may not be quite as cut-and-dried as people want it to be, right?Good news, Mavs fans: the team is not raising ticket prices next year. According to team president Rick Welts, there’s a whole story about it and everything. Less good news: the stuff our pal Jake Kemp learned about possible plans for the team’s new arena by way of a Mavs fan who was invited to a focus group put on by the organization. You can read more about that on the site today, and I’m going to guess that you, by way of personal experience, are a wee bit skeptical that the team has turned the corner with how it treats its fans.Here’s an actual cool thing: the Stars are on a franchise-record 10-game winning streak, which broke the old record of eight. Has this changed the way you look at this team?We had a great time with Cowboys Contract Corner, but getting to the other side of the combine means it’s time to zero in on the draft. So what we’re going to do is every week until the draft rolls around, we’re going to spotlight one prospect who could be – or at least should be – in play for the Cowboys in the first round. Some of them are better fits at 12, others at 20. And maybe we’ll sneak in a guy or two who we think doesn’t slip but you should know about anyway. I asked you who you wanted to start with this week and your response – and I quote – was “THIENENEIENINENNENMENENMAN” So tell the good people why Dillon Thieneman is the apple of your eye. Then we're joined by the legend himself, Dale Hansen. We get deep in the weeds about the Dallas sports media, his history, the Cowboys and about 500 other things. —-------------------Like and subscribe to our channel if you enjoy StrongSide.If you'd like to read even more great journalism about Dallas sports then please consider subscribing to D Magazine at dmagazine.comSubscribe to the StrongSide newsletter for weekly updates on the sports happenings in Dallas https://www.dmagazine.com/site/newsletters/Studio: Haymaker Studio in FriscoProducer: Matt Czizek and Julian DeanHosts: Mike Piellucci and Mike Marshall

avonte Williams is back with the Dallas Cowboys on a three-year deal. The total outlay: $24 million, $16 million of which is guaranteed. It's far less money than Pie was planning on paying him and kind of proves Machine right that his market was nowhere close to the 10M a year range. I think the NBA heard us on tanking. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the league will put anti-tanking measures into place next season, and there is a wide range of ideas being thrown about to make it happen, from flattening lottery odds to using two-year records to determine the odds to changing pick protections. You know who isn’t in favor of this? Our guy Mark Cuban, who did a “why the NBA should embrace tanking” manifesto on Twitter next week. How much are you buying what he’s selling?The Olympics are over, Stars hockey is back, and Dallas even has a new gold medalist in Jake Oettinger. Now things get really interesting: the NHL trade deadline is in one week. The whole team didn't come back healthy though. What’s on your wishlist?Per Marc Stein, the Mavericks have given the newly acquired Khris Middleton the right to decide if he wants to finish the season in Dallas or get bought out. I think the Mavs will be just fine tanking without him. But what’s the best buyout acquisition in recent NBA history? Then we're joined by an absolute beast in the NFL scouting world, Voch Lombardi. We had an electric conversation about this draft class, how the Cowboys should be building, and the future of football. I think you'll really enjoy it. -------------------Like and subscribe to our channel if you enjoy StrongSide.If you'd like to read even more great journalism about Dallas sports then please consider subscribing to D Magazine at dmagazine.comSubscribe to the StrongSide newsletter for weekly updates on the sports happenings in Dallas https://www.dmagazine.com/site/newsletters/Studio: Haymaker Studio in FriscoProducer: Matt Czizek and Julian DeanHosts: Mike Piellucci and Mike Marshall

The NFL combine is underway. I know the NFL wants us to care about this a whole lot–it’s now a full week. And there will undoubtedly be useful information to come out of this. But how much substance is there relative to the sizzle? How much should we really care?Sebastian Walcott, the Rangers top prospect, needs elbow surgery. The good news is he’s not a pitcher–this should all be fine in a year. But the only really exciting player in the Rangers’ not-so-good farm system probably isn’t playing baseball this year. Damn it. Did you know that Donovan Wilson has been in the NFL for seven years? And that he’s the longest-tenured player on the Cowboys defense? One of those things that snuck up on me, but it’s true. Now he’s a free agent, and it’s his turn to get talked about on Cowboys Contract Corner. He’s got some holes in his game, so I ask: do you want him back, and if so, on what number? Then we're joined by the Wichita Falls Wild Man "KT" Kevin Turner of the One Star Cowboys Podcast and The Ben and Skin Show. We get into the weeds on the Cowboys off-season decisions and how this is going to shake out. —-------------------Like and subscribe to our channel if you enjoy StrongSide.If you'd like to read even more great journalism about Dallas sports then please consider subscribing to D Magazine at dmagazine.comSubscribe to the StrongSide newsletter for weekly updates on the sports happenings in Dallas https://www.dmagazine.com/site/newsletters/Studio: Haymaker Studio in FriscoProducer: Matt Czizek and Julian DeanHosts: Mike Piellucci and Mike Marshall

File “Mark Cuban may or may not want to re-purchase the Mavericks” under things I did not expect to read this week. But according to Marc Stein, “an unidentified Dallas investor group is interested in partnering with Mark Cuban to buy the Mavericks back from Patrick Dumont.” Is this a real possibility and is it a good idea?Hey, did you know the Super Bowl was Sunday? Real thing that happened. Super boring game, too. But these teams did a thing the Cowboys haven’t in 30 years, so there are some teachable moments here. What lessons should the Cowboys take from the Seahawks and Patriots?We’ve addressed the big priorities in Cowboys Contract Corner. You know who was sneaky good last year, though? Jadeveon Clowney. Dude came in after the season began on $3.45 million and wound up with 8.5 sacks. Now that he’s a free agent again, do you bring him back, and for what number?We are a bunch of sickos but even we are usually not in the business of caring about who minor league soccer teams hire. But you are interested in Atletico Dallas hiring former FC Dallas coach Peter Lucchin as their first head coach, for reasons I figure are bigger than wins and losses. Then we're joined by Nation Tim (Tim Cato) to talk about the Anthony Davis trade, the Mavs future, who's going to be owning the team and so much more. --------------------------------------Like and subscribe to our channel if you enjoy StrongSide.If you'd like to read even more great journalism about Dallas sports then please consider subscribing to D Magazine at dmagazine.comSubscribe to the StrongSide newsletter for weekly updates on the sports happenings in Dallas https://www.dmagazine.com/site/newsletters/Studio: Haymaker Studio in FriscoProducer: Matt Czizek and Julian DeanHosts: Mike Piellucci and Mike Marshall

Well it finally happened, the Mavericks have closed the circle on the Luka Doncic trade by trading Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards. What we assumed to be a pure salary dump a few weeks ago actually turns out to be rather profitable. We give the Mavs front office their flowers and take a deep breath as we exit the most tumultuous year in the history of Dallas sports. We also take time to reflect on what an insane past 12 months it has been since the Luka trade. The Dallas Open is starting this weekend up in Frisco with the best field it has ever had. The biggest names in American mens tennis are all set to battle it out for what is now an ATP 500 event. John Isner is the most prolific server in the history of the ATP and just so happens to be the key ambassador for the Dallas Open so he's the perfect person to talk with. Check out his show "Nothing Major" wherever you get your podcasts and go get tickets to the Dallas Open today at dallasopen.com. We get to all kinds of hot topics with John including; why Alcaraz and Sinner are so dominant, the psychology if longevity on the tour, and why Novak Djokovic is one of the greatest athletes ever. ---------------------------------------Like and subscribe to our channel if you enjoy StrongSide.If you'd like to read even more great journalism about Dallas sports then please consider subscribing to D Magazine at dmagazine.comSubscribe to the StrongSide newsletter for weekly updates on the sports happenings in Dallas https://www.dmagazine.com/site/newsletters/Studio: Haymaker Studio in FriscoProducer: Matt Czizek and Julian DeanHosts: Mike Piellucci and Mike Marshall