Hooked on Sports

In today's podcast:

John discusses several key developments in Major League Baseball this week, from the New York Mets earning a key series win on the road against the Atlanta Braves, to the Baltimore Orioles and Seattle Mariners each riding their pitching to 10-game winning streaks, and the Los Angeles Angels' sad state of affairs to Tony La Russa's mess with the Chicago White Sox andd the Toronto Blue Jays axing skipper Charlie Montoyo.

He also discusses Jalen Brunson's 4-year contract with the New York Knicks and Kevin Durant wanting to make another move around the NBA, ending three tumultuous years with the Brooklyn Nets.

In today's podcast:

John takes a break from the traditional topics in sports to make his season predictions for the new season of ABC's "The Bachelorette" which features Gabby Windey and Rachel Recchia as the co-leads. Fresh off a simultaneous dehumanizing breakup by Clayton Echard, the two friends now embark on a journey side by side alongside 32 of the most eligible bachelors in America. Who will get down on one knee and propose? Who will be factors this season? John makes his season predictions in this episode.

In today's podcast:

John starts to look ahead to the 2022 NFL season by ranking the eight divisions in the NFL based solely on the composite strength of the defenses in that division, then he reacts to the news that the Cleveland Browns traded quarterback and 2018 No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield to the Carolina Panthers.

In today's podcast:

John discusses topics around the NBA and the NFL, from the Golden State Warriors winning their fourth title in eight years, to the Houston Rockets moving Christian Wood to the Dallas Mavericks, and the Kyrie Irving saga with the Brooklyn Nets. Plus, he discusses the breaking news that Arch Manning has committed to play for the Texas Longhorns, the Steelers adding to their defense, Chase Claypool's comments about his rankings among NFL wide receivers, and Roger Goodell's commentary in his Congressional testimony, and more!

In today's podcast:

The Golden State Warriors are one win away from winning their fourth championship in eight years with Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Steve Kerr, and company. But is Steph Curry a lock to be the Finals MVP should Golden State win? Plus, the warning the Celtics should have received following the Eastern Conference Finals about turnovers and consistency.

The Stanley Cup Finals begin tonight between the Colorado Avalanche and the Tampa Bay Lightning, in what is the most anticipated championship series in hockey in ages. So who is John picking to hoist the Cup?

Then the podcast discusses how the PGA missed the looming exodus of players from the PGA to LIV Golf in anticipation of the U.S. Open, what the NFL should and will do about the DeShaun Watson saga, why Russell Wilson and the Denver Broncos not getting much attention is a good thing, why the Yankees are finally equipped to win a championship and what they must do to stay on track for championship #28, and why the Mets are currently the team to beat in the National League.

In today's podcast:

(01:17-14:24) John discusses how this year's NBA Finals are an opportunity for Stephen Curry to place himself among the all-time greats in NBA history, with his Golden State Warriors and opponent Boston Celtics each with one win so far in the NBA Finals.

(14:25-19:04) Then, he discusses the Colorado Avalanche sweep of the Edmonton Oilers en route to the Stanley Cup Finals, while the New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning are still at least two games away from determining a winner in the Eastern Conference Final.

(19:04-29:41) The Philadelphia Phillies have fired manager Joe Girardi, while the Los Angeles Angels did the same with skipper Joe Maddon, so John explains if those firings solve the problems in Philadelphia and Anaheim. Plus, the Mets are off to a tremendous start with the best record in the National League, so can they withstand even more injuries to the likes of Starling Marte and Pete Alonso, why its okay to say the Yankees are currently the best team in baseball.

(29:41-36:54) John explains why Aaron Donald returning to the Rams means for the team's chances of repeating as Super Bowl champions, and why Aaron Rodgers and Deebo Samuel showing up for Packers and 49ers minicamps are a big deal.

In today's episode:

(01:56-16:28) The NBA Finals are now set, as it will be the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics taking on the Western Conference champion Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals. In this exclusive preview, John says that the paths the two teams took to get to the Finals deserve respect, as they faced some of the very best players in the NBA to get to this point. The Celtics' first Finals in 12 years and the Warriors' sixth trip to the championship series in eight years (not done since the 1990's Chicago Bulls) will be a tremendous series with great matchups within this matchup, so who does John think will win and in how many games?

(16:29-27:16) We now know the identities of the NHL's conference finalists. First, the Western Conference Final begins tonight between the Edmonton Oilers and Colorado Avalanche, and the highly anticipated first postseason meeting between superstars Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid, and it is with a Stanley Cup Final berth on the line. Can McDavid and wingman Leon Draisaitl carry the Oilers like they did in the series against the Calgary Flames? Or will the Avalanche's depth and physicality reign supreme? Then the East finals are now set between the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning and the upstart New York Rangers, who just took down the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 7 on Monday night. John reveals an inconvinent truth about New York hockey as it relates to this series.

(27:17-51:07) This is John's first time reacting to the 2022 NFL Schedule since it came out on May 12 and he's got a lot of takes, and he even broke down the 272-game slate and revealed the results of him picking every game as the regular season begins exactly 100 days from today. What is the balance of power in the AFC West like? Can the Cowboys win the NFC East for the 2nd straight season against a much improved Eagles team? What will the Rams' title defense look like in the win-loss column?

In today's podcast

(02:30) - The NBA Conference Finals this season have featured numerous blowout games, and John says why he feels good about the Boston Celtics' chances of going to the NBA Finals over the Miami Heat, and how the legacy of Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors keeps growing. Plus, how should the Dallas Mavericks approach their offseason with a top-4 player in the NBA on their roster in Luka Doncic?

(20:29) - The second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs are winding down, so John breaks down the genius of the Tampa Bay Lightning, who stunningly swept the President's Trophy winner Florida Panthers, and what player is most indispensable to the Lightning dynasty. Also, which team should be trusted more in the Carolina Hurricanes-New York Rangers series currently tied at two games a piece? And the geniuses of Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon finally clash in the Western Conference Finals? Surely appears headed that way.

(34:37) - The Mets and Yankees continue to take New York and MLB by storm, so how do their teams handle a recent barrage of injuries, and how evident they were in the crazy games each team played in last night? John takes a drive around the majors.

(44:14) - The Los Angeles Lakers and Charlotte Hornets are both closing in on new head coaching hires. The Lakers are down to Kenny Atkinson, Darvin Ham, and Terry Stotts, while the Hornets will pick between Atkinson and Mike D'Antoni. Who should the Lakers hire? Who should the Hornets tab to coach?

(46:17) - The Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to promote vice president of football & business administration Omar Khan to be their next general manager. John explains why this was the smart and obvious hire for the Steelers as they replace two-time Super Bowl winning GM Kevin Colbert.

In today’s podcast:

John goes over some of the biggest winners and losers from the NFL Draft. Did the Jets and Giants actually do good things in the draft for once? How did the Lions get better? And the New England Patriots worse? And why will some of the quarterbacks taken be steals at the end?

Then, he analyzes the Game 1’s of every NBA second round series, and did Luka Doncic’s performance last night solidify him as one of the elite players in today’s NBA? And what about Giannis’ triple-double vs. the Celtics in Game 1?

John then gives his Stanley Cup Playoff Round 1 predictions, and which of the top teams in the league will face token opposition in their first round series?

Then, he goes over the Yankees’ 10-game winning streak, the Reds losing 18 of their last 19 games, the Angels’ path to first place in the American League West, and then gives four horses to watch for in the Kentucky Derby this coming Saturday.

In today's podcast:

With the NFL Draft 24 hours away, join John today as he picks all 32 first round picks in the 2022 NFL Draft with mock trades. Who will the Jacksonville Jaguars select with the first overall pick? Will the Green Bay Packers draft a wide receiver in the first round, and will they trade up to get their target? Where will the top three tackles in Evan Neal, Ikem Ekwonu, and Charles Cross land? Will a New York team land prized cornerback prospect from Cincinnati in Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner? Will the New Orleans Saints trade up and draft a quarterback? Find out on the third annual Hooked on Sports Mock Draft special!