Special Guest: Jefim Piekarz

Special Guest: Matt Angier

Special Guest: Lillian Rice

Please join Mark. John and producer Pete for our next episode as we discuss the the week in Sports, Tech and Pop Culture. Our guest this week is our friend from the great white north, Amy Hotaling. Amy, who now lives in Alaska, is a first time guest so we're excited to have her on the show to talk about her life in Alaska, sport shooting, bears and biking to Canada. Hope everyone enjoys, see you in the stream!

#podcast #friends #sports #pop #culture #iftheseballscouldtalk #alaska #bears #thecombine #calebwilliams #caitlynclark #barbenheimer #russia #ozempicweightloss #snoreboating

Special Guest: James William Smart

Special Guest: Brad Hartwell

Topics Discussed:

1. Are we underestimating the 49ers in the Super Bowl?
2. Will the removal of the toxicity of Wink Martindale help the team and are we concerned that a new scheme would harm 2-time pro bowler Dexter Lawrence’s efficiency?
3. Which team is in better condition to rebound: the Red Sox or Patriots?
4. Can the Knicks keep up their winning ways and do they have a shot in a strong eastern conference that contains the Celtics, Cavs and Bucks?
5. What do we think of the concept of the Enhanced Games?
6. What would a massive all in one Sports streaming platform due to the state of sports viewership right now?
7. Quick Shots to Your Balls
8. What are our thoughts on the new Apple Vision Pro?

Special Guest: Jeff Stoltzfus

Topics Discussed:

1. What are our thoughts about the conspiracy theories that the Chiefs won the AFC Championship game so that Taylor Swift could attend the Super Bowl?
2. After Kristin Juszczyk landed a licensing deal with the NFL this week, do we think there is a limit to what trends A list celebrities can bless and is this a sign of the future of sports and fashion in general?
3. Is it fair to start comparing Patrick Mahomes to Tom Brady at this point regardless if he wins this next Super Bowl?
4. Do we appreciate the attempt at gamesmanship by Justin Tucker and do we think it contributed to the drive/focus that led Kelce to 11 catches for 116 yards and a touchdown?
5. Are the Eagles on the right path to reach the Super Bowl again with the new staff and the current roster?
6. With the Jets bound to lose more players after an abysmal 2023 campaign. Is there a limit to the things that Aaron Rodgers can ruin? What do the Jets need to do to recover?
7. Why do we feel the change in some of the advertisers during the Super Bowl over the years and what have been our favorite ads?
8. In the age of online sportsbooks, and as more and more athletes are caught gambling, how widespread do we think sports gambling amongst professional athletes is?

Special Guest: Erik Guhl

Topics Discussed:

1. Do we feel like the Ravens and 49ers are destined for the Super Bowl after the NFL Divisional Round?
2. What needs to change for the Buffalo Bills in order for them to have playoff success?
3. How should organizations proceed after an iconic figurehead leaves like in New England and Alabama?
4. What are our thoughts about Joel Embiid’s performance against Victor Wembanyama and is this the year for the 76ers to finally beat the red hot Celtics?
5. What sorts of consequences should there be for the robocalls in NH with AI Joe Biden telling people not to vote and do the many attempts at deep fakes prove there needs to be some sort of regulation?
6. Do we think that it's a common practice from most if not all colleges about giving financial aid to the wealthier families and can we control schools financial aid responsibilities to its students?
7. Could these NIL deals for female athletes ultimately help increase their salaries for the sports leagues that they play in?
8. Is the possibility of the end of Sports Illustrated a precursor for the death of print media and journalism?

Special Guest: Colin Beech

Topics Discussed:

1. What did we learn from the NFL Super Wild Card weekend?
2. What do you think about the Bills chances this year? And did we even know that Josh Allen was dating a multi-threat talent in Hailee Steinfeld?
3. What are our thoughts on the courtside bar at the Australian Open?
4. What are our thoughts about continued, strengthened state involvement in the development of AI?
5. Why do you think athletes keep getting caught for gambling, how prevalent do we think it is in today’s society, and is the overwhelming majority just not getting caught?
6. What do we think about this attempt to legislate youth football, the involvement of government in more and more everyday life and the impact of big government on athletics overall?
7. Does it make sense that Tiger Woods and Nike are severing ties after 27 years?
8. What do we think about Marvel Spotlight, its latest series Echo and an attempt by Marvel to stop telling the same old story? How important is representation and diversity in fiction?

Special Guest: Katie Fawkes

Topics Discussed:

1. What are our thoughts on all of the recent and impending coaching changes in the NFL and college football?
2. Are we needlessly excited for the Mean Girls reboot? Why do we think Tina Fey who is normally very choosy about her project rebooting it? Are the lessons from 20 years ago still relevant?
3. Do we feel the super team that is the Los Angeles Dodgers is good for baseball?
4. In a world of AI image generation, as major figures like Mickey Mouse start to become public domain, what is the future of Art and for that matter creativity?
5. Whose side are we on…Jimmy Kimmel or Aaron Rodgers?
6. What are our thoughts about streaming bundles? And where are we headed to consume our media in the future?
7. Should the FAA allow for Boeing 737 MAX planes to fly after getting pulled again?
8. What do we think about Jameis Winston’s decision to call a play against the coach's decision so that a teammate gets a bonus? And do we think they’ll be any repercussions?