Dukes & Bell

Carl and Rusty share some more thoughts on the World Cup storylines as they agree, the stars are being stars. They then get into some college football talk as they share thoughts on the potential of college programs investing into area's that would emulate The Battery.

Carl and Rusty are joined by Mike Conti as they discuss the USMNT's loss to Belgium in the World Cup, which he believes confirmed their ceiling is being a top 16 team in the world, and the latest World Cup headlines including Argentina's come from behind win over Egypt.

Carl and Rusty are joined by Tony Gwynn Jr. as they discuss the latest MLB headlines including the Braves needing guys to step in to replace what they have been missing from star players.

Carl and Rusty open the show with World Cup talk as they share thoughts on the USMNT's loss to Belgium as they agreed "the moment was too big" for the team and the loss was disappointing due to the performance of the team. As they discuss, they agree the USMNT's run in the World Cup this time around helped push the growth of soccer here in the U.S.

The full 7-6-26 Dukes and Bell

In the first hour of today's show, Carl Dukes and Abe Gordon discuss the controversy surrounding Folarin Balogun’s eligibility for the USMNT’s high-stakes match against Belgium following rumors of presidential intervention with FIFA. They are joined by NBA writer Brad Botkin to analyze the Atlanta Hawks' strategic offseason moves and speculate on LeBron James’ next destination. They explore the shifting landscape of the Eastern Conference and the evolving archetype of the modern point guard.

01:50 - USMNT vs. Belgium Preview

05:02 - Presidential FIFA Intervention Debate

08:08 - US Soccer Villain Arc

12:05 - FIFA Messaging and Transparency

17:13 - FIFA Statement and Integrity

20:55 - European vs. American Competition

24:40 - Balogun Red Card Controversy

29:44 - Hawks Offseason Analysis

40:47 - LeBron James Future Legacy

45:47 - NBA Parity and Risk-Taking

In the 2nd hour of today's show, Carl and Abe discuss FIFA's decision to lift Folarin Balogun's red card suspension before the USMNT's World Cup match against Belgium. They explore the rumored political pressure behind the move and how it affects the team's chances. The discussion includes listener opinions on whether the decision represents justice or an unfair advantage.

01:01 - Balogun's Suspension Overturned

04:33 - Political Intervention Discussion

08:23 - Braves and Holiday Recap

13:55 - USMNT Fan Call-In Segment

31:15 - VAR and Replay Analysis

In the 3rd hour of today's show, Carl and Abe examine the Atlanta Braves' roster shuffles following Martin Pérez's injury and Carlos Carrasco's departure. They are joined by Joel Corry to break down the logic behind the Drake London and Kyle Pitts extensions and their impact on future deals for Bijan Robinson. The conversation also touches on Folarin Balogun's status for the USMNT and the evolution of NIL in college football.

02:04 - Braves Roster Moves Update

06:34 - Pitching Trade Deadline Strategy

16:15 - Joel Corry On Falcons Contracts

21:16 - Bijan Robinson Extension Outlook

27:50 - USMNT Match And Balogun

33:55 - Fireworks Cut-off Time Debate

39:40 - College Football NIL Anniversary

Dukes and Abe celebrate the news that Folarin Balogun is eligible for the crucial USMNT clash against Belgium after his red card suspension was lifted. They are joined by Jason Longshore to preview the match and reflect on Cristiano Ronaldo's international legacy. Later, Grant McAuley provides updates on the Atlanta Braves' rotation injuries and the team's multiple All-Star selections.

01:50 - Jason Longshore Joins

07:45 - Cristiano Ronaldo's Legacy

10:11 - USMNT vs Belgium Preview

14:30 - World Cup Quarterfinal Outlook

17:13 - Grant McAuley Braves Update

21:25 - Martin Perez Injury News

24:07 - Braves All-Star Selections

32:00 - Folarin Balogun Reinstatement Controversy

41:19 - Peachtree Road Race Recap

45:08 - Jaylen Brown Top Five

Grant McAuley joins in Around the Yard to discuss the roster moves the Braves made today - Owen Murphy and JR Ritchie called up after injury to Martin Perez, how this starting rotation continues to move forward, and the Braves all-stars being announced.