Jamal About Sports

By Jamal Hayden

Jamal About Sports is your front-row seat to the world of sports. Hosted by Jamal Hayden, the show breaks down the biggest headlines, game-changing moments, and stories shaping the

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· Sports

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FAQs about Jamal About Sports:

How many episodes does Jamal About Sports have?

The podcast currently has 48 episodes available.

Jamal About Sports episodes:

August 04, 2026 Jamal About Sports-Trade Deadline Edition
This week I look at the MLB trade deadline, how the Mets did, we look at MLB pennant and Wild Card races, and a brief Lions training camp preview.
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52min
July 22, 2026MLB’s Analytics Problem, Mets Rant, and Top 10 Favorite Mets Seasons
On the July 20, 2026 episode of Jamal About Sports, host Jamal Hayden argues MLB is in “very bad shape,” citing a boring All-Star Game with 32 combined strikeouts and blaming modern baseball’s loss of fundamentals and strategy on extreme analytics, pitcher usage, and rule changes meant to boost action. He says the Mets’ season is over, with only a few young players (Christian Scott, Nolan McLain, A.J. Ewing, Carson Benge) worth watching, criticizes the organization’s coaching, lineup decisions, and quick hooks for starters, and discusses roster pieces including Alvarez, Simeon, Soto, and Lindor. He then pivots to positivity by ranking his top 10 favorite Mets teams: 1984, 2001, 1988, 2000, 2006, 2024, 1999, 1985, 2015, and 1986 as his favorite.
00:00 Show Intro and Topics
00:37 MLB in Trouble
03:22 Analytics Killed Strategy
06:50 Mets Season Is Over
07:18 Alvarez and Trade Talk
09:52 Veterans and Lindor Drama
15:14 Mets Mismanagement Rant
19:33 Top 10 Mets Teams Setup
20:42 Number 10 1984 Mets
28:26 Number 9 2001 Mets
30:38 Number 8 1988 Mets
32:49 Core Falls Apart
33:28 2000 World Series Run
37:39 2006 Juggernaut Heartbreak
41:19 2024 Surprise NLCS
45:21 1999 Elite Infield
50:50 1985 No Wild Card
53:47 2015 Deadline Spark
58:30 1986 Season for Ages
01:02:17 Signing Off
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1h 3min
July 03, 2026Knicks Championship Glow, NBA Offseason Moves, and Frustrations With Modern Baseball
Host Jamal Hayden welcomes longtime friend Justin Rubin to Jamal About Sports, crediting him for encouraging Jamal to start podcasting in 2008. They reminisce about becoming Knicks fans, early memories (including a Butch Beard hospital visit and a signed team ball), and the pain of the 1994 Finals, the 1990 Celtics series, and the 1999 run.

They celebrate the Knicks’ recent championship, praising the team’s selfless style, Jalen Brunson’s leadership and pay cut, and Mike Brown’s adjustments after early playoff trouble, contrasting him with Tom Thibodeau. They react to NBA news and deals (LeBron leaving the Lakers, Durant’s comments, Giannis to Miami, Nets trading for Julius Randle, Portland acquiring Ja Morant, Charlotte moving LaMelo Ball and Bridges) and discuss Wembanyama’s physical play. They also criticize Yankees and Mets organizational decisions, analytics overreliance, Juan Soto’s fit, and broader changes in modern baseball.
00:00 Show Kickoff and Guest Intro
00:50 Podcast Origin Story
03:37 Knicks Fandom Beginnings
06:07 First Knicks Game Memories
08:13 Reliving 1994 Heartbreak
09:29 Knicks Nearly Ruin Graduation
14:55 1999 Run and Heat Rivalry
17:42 Why This Knicks Team Clicked
19:16 Coaching Change and Adjustments
24:15 Playoff Run and Finals Takes
25:53 Old School Toughness Draymond Story
31:38 LeBron Leaves Lakers KD Rant
34:16 Questionable NBA Trades
34:58 Ja Morant Gamble
36:07 Hornets Shakeup
36:57 LeBron AD Trae Rants
38:53 Brunson And College Hoops
41:52 One And Done Problems
44:06 Yankees Apathy Boils Over
47:12 Analytics Killing Baseball
55:13 Mets Soto Frustrations
58:11 Modern Baseball Antics
01:00:37 Pitching Strategy Gone Wrong
01:02:33 Rules Changes And Wrap Up
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1h 6min
June 15, 2026 Jamal About Sports
This week: The Knicks win it all! plus some MLB/Mets analysis.
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53min
June 09, 2026 Jamal About Sports 6-9-26
This week: Then Knicks lose game 3 at home, the Mets show some encouraging signs, and Nellie Korda continues to dominate.
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26min
June 03, 2026 Jamal About Sports 6-3-26
This week: Knicks/Spurs finals breakdown and predictions, The Mets's woes continue, and two big NFL trades.
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48min
May 26, 2026 Jamal About Sports--The Knicks Roll, The Mets are cratering, and the CFP gets the Knock it Off treatment
This Week: The Knicks Roll, The Mets are cratering, and the CFP gets the Knock it Off treatment
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37min
May 18, 2026 Jamal About Sports
This week on JAS: The Knicks get ready for the Cavs, OKC and San Antonio should be epic, The Mets youth movement shows signs of life, and the NFL's greed continues to show no signs of slowing down.
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45min
May 15, 2026 Knicks–Sixers Playoff Chaos, OG/Embiid Injuries, and MLB’s Strange Standings
On “Jamal About Sports,” Jamal and guest Chuck G discuss a mostly basketball-focused show centered on the Knicks–76ers series, including Joel Embiid being out, OG Anunoby’s injury status, the Sixers’ thin rotation and late-game fatigue, Tyrese Maxey’s missed looks and turnovers, Paul George’s strong start but questionable late shot, and adjustments like running the Knicks’ offense through Karl-Anthony Towns while avoiding Brunson hero ball. They criticize Tiki Barber’s comments about Embiid and complain about unruly scenes outside Madison Square Garden. They also touch on other NBA series (OKC dominating the Lakers, Spurs–Timberwolves, Detroit–Cleveland) and vent about players like James Harden. The show ends with MLB standings talk, Mets frustration, and criticism of analytics-driven batting order trends.

00:00 Show kickoff and guest
01:15 Sixers frustration and Embiid news
02:56 Gassed stars and thin bench
03:35 Expectations after Celtics upset
05:30 Game two collapse and must win
06:18 Tiki Barber rant and Embiid debate
10:38 Knicks offense KAT vs Brunson
11:57 OG injury and rotation fixes
15:32 Maxey scrutiny and playoff adjustments
16:31 NBA season length and coaching tweaks
25:03 Off court chaos and fan behavior
27:57 Knicks history and villain talk
31:02 Blazers Roadside Bust
32:20 Portland Roster Flashback
34:11 Playoff Takes Lakers OKC
36:07 Spurs Hype Wemby Debate
39:20 Iverson Practice Anniversary
42:55 East Playoffs and Player Drama
49:40 MLB Standings Check In
54:40 Mets Meltdown Rockies Series
56:12 Analytics Ruining Lineups
01:00:11 Steak Bet and Sign Off
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1h 4min
May 01, 2026 Knicks Even Series, NBA Playoff Rundown, NFL Draft Winners, and Red Sox Shock: Mets in Crisis
On April 27, 2026, Jamal Hayden recaps a Knicks’ must-win Game 4 that tied their series with the Hawks 2–2, praising Karl-Anthony Towns’ 20-point triple-double, OG Anunoby’s finishing and shooting, Josh Hart’s defense, and key bench minutes while criticizing Jalen Brunson’s turnovers/hero ball and Mikal Bridges’ struggles and late-game benching; he notes Atlanta’s pressure, coaching adjustments by Mike Brown, and the series shifting back to MSG.

Around the NBA, he highlights Magic leading Pistons 2–1, Spurs–Portland competitiveness with Wembanyama’s dominant stat line and OKC/San Antonio as West favorites, Celtics’ inconsistency yet blowout of the Sixers, Rockets extending a strange series vs. a vulnerable Lakers roster, and Toronto tying Cleveland 2–2, calling the playoffs competitive and the play-in “wonky” but effective. He then grades the NFL draft, praising Cowboys, Eagles, and Ravens, approving Giants’ picks (including pass-rush and OL focus), critiquing the Jets’ trade-up for Cade Klubnik while liking their early selections, and detailing the Lions’ additions (Blake Miller, Derrick Moore, Jimmy Rolder, a small ASU CB, and a Kentucky WR trade-up).

He closes with MLB turmoil: the Red Sox firing Alex Cora despite his track record, criticizing GM Craig Breslow and roster decisions, then blasting the Mets after a Rockies sweep and prolonged losing trend, questioning analytics-driven lineup choices and roster construction under Steve Cohen/David Stearns, and arguing Mendoza should be fired so the Mets can hire Cora.

00:00 Show Open and Rundown
01:07 Knicks Collapse in Game 3
02:54 Game 4 Blueprint
04:08 Brunson and Bridges Under Fire
08:41 Knicks Adjustments and Defense
09:32 Home Court and Game 5 Outlook
15:29 Around the NBA Playoffs
17:03 Spurs Surge and West Picture
21:37 Celtics Sixers and Rockets Lakers
27:20 Draft Recap Begins
27:42 Cowboys Eagles Ravens Winners
29:46 Eagles Draft Praise
30:33 Ravens Hit Needs
30:50 Giants Edge Debate
32:18 Giants O Line Fix
34:07 Jets Draft Philosophy
37:03 Jets Late Trade Critique
37:50 Lions Tackle Plan
38:26 Lions Trade Up Logic
41:26 Lions Secondary Depth
44:21 Red Sox Fire Cora
47:32 Mets Swept By Rockies
51:16 Mets Roster Mismanagement
01:00:19 Fire Mendoza Hire Cora
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1h 2min

FAQs about Jamal About Sports:

How many episodes does Jamal About Sports have?

The podcast currently has 48 episodes available.