Just Wondering... with Norm Hitzges

Norm Hitzges is just wondering if the Mavericks fan base can finally start to heal now that GM Nico Harrison is gone. From trading Luka Doncic to the Lakers to the injuries that derailed the dream, Norm dives into how one decision turned Dallas upside down. He revisits the highs of Nico’s tenure—the Finals run, savvy trades, and gutsy calls—and the crash that followed. Now, with Luka thriving in Los Angeles and Dallas reeling, Norm asks: was Nico truly the villain… or just the fall guy?

Chapters:

00:00:01 – The Nico Era Ends

00:01:21 – “Fire Nico” and the Fallout

00:02:10 – The Doncic Trade Backlash

00:03:49 – Injuries, Frustrations, and Fan Fury

00:05:15 – Remembering Nico’s Wins

00:07:30 – The Trade That Broke Dallas

00:08:24 – Where Do the Mavs Go From Here?

00:09:17 – Sponsors: Bob’s Steak & Chop House, Full Moon Healing Balm

00:11:49 – Closing Thoughts: Just Wondering

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Just Wondering is a long-form sports commentary podcast hosted by longtime broadcaster Norm Hitzges, offering thoughtful, numbers-driven analysis of the NFL, college sports, the NBA, and the business and culture surrounding them. Each episode blends experience, history, and curiosity to explore why things happen — not just what happened.

New episodes feature clear-eyed perspective, context you don’t hear elsewhere, and questions worth sitting with a little longer.

📍 Follow & Listen

Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube

Subscribe, rate, and review to help others find the show.

Sports podcast · NFL analysis · College football · Dallas sports · NBA commentary · Salary cap · NIL · Sports media · Long-form sports talk

On this episode of Just Wondering, Norm Hitzges sits down with longtime Texas Rangers beat reporter Evan Grant to examine one of the most pivotal offseasons the franchise has faced in years. With Bruce Bochy and Mike Maddox gone, Skip Schumacher stepping in, and payroll reductions looming, the Rangers must decide whether they are still building to contend—or preparing to reset. Evan offers candid insight into the front office’s thinking, the financial squeeze tied to TV revenue losses, and what roster changes may look like—from Adolis García and Jonah Heim, to a potential move involving Marcus Semien, Corey Seager, or even Jacob deGrom.

They also tackle whether the Rangers’ offensive philosophy has stalled, how Josh Jung and Jake Burger fit into the new approach, and whether the organization can finally develop its own pitching. Along the way: cat diplomacy, rescue dogs, and a little baseball soul-searching.

A thoughtful and revealing conversation for any Rangers fan wondering what comes next.

Chapters

00:00:00 – Norm Sets the Stage: GM Meetings, Offseason Uncertainty

00:00:33 – Title Sponsor: Fluent Financial

00:01:35 – Introducing Evan Grant: Perspective from Decades on the Rangers Beat

00:02:32 – Bruce Bochy’s Exit: Mutual Decision or Push Out the Door?

00:03:54 – The Loss of Mike Maddox and What “Respect” Means in Baseball

00:06:28 – Will Coaching Changes Actually Hurt the 2026 Team?

00:07:57 – The Real Issue: Payroll Cuts and Financial Restraints

00:09:49 – TV Revenue Decline and Attendance Drop: The Business Side

00:10:57 – Who Goes? The Cases of García, Heim, and Semien

00:12:53 – Could Seager or deGrom Be Moved? Trade Value vs. Reality

00:13:36 – Competing While Cutting Costs: Does the Plan Make Sense?

00:15:05 – Rebuilding the Offense: From Swinging Big to Contact & Situational Hitting

00:16:38 – The Josh Jung Question: Bounce Back or Plateau?

00:18:44 – Plate Discipline Problems: “If You Don’t Walk, You Better Rake”

00:20:14 – Skip Schumacher’s Offensive Philosophy: No More Lazy At-Bats

00:21:06 – Why the Rangers Have Struggled to Develop Pitching for 30 Years

00:22:38 – And Now… The Cats. Yes, the Cats.

00:24:14 – A Menagerie at Home: Rescues All Around

00:24:45 – A Final Exchange of Respect, Friendship, and Baseball Curiosity

00:25:05 – Bob’s Steak & Chop House Message

00:26:23 – Full Moon Healing Balm Message

00:27:04 – Thanks to Sponsors & Production Team

00:28:19 – Closing Notes: “This is a Stolen Water Media Production”

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Just Wondering is a long-form sports commentary podcast hosted by longtime broadcaster Norm Hitzges, offering thoughtful, numbers-driven analysis of the NFL, college sports, the NBA, and the business and culture surrounding them. Each episode blends experience, history, and curiosity to explore why things happen — not just what happened.

New episodes feature clear-eyed perspective, context you don’t hear elsewhere, and questions worth sitting with a little longer.

📍 Follow & Listen

Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube

Subscribe, rate, and review to help others find the show.

Sports podcast · NFL analysis · College football · Dallas sports · NBA commentary · Salary cap · NIL · Sports media · Long-form sports talk

Today, Norm takes a deep breath, stares directly into the abyss, and asks the question Cowboys fans probably should be asking: how exactly is Dallas going to pay for anyone next season? With the salary cap projected at $307 million and the Cowboys already basically using that to cover nine players and a pile of dead money, things are… well… tight.

Norm breaks down the massive cap hits coming for Dak, CeeDee, Diggs, Quinn Williams, and more, while explaining why the Cowboys’ options range from “painful” to “oh no.” He also reflects on the tragic death of Marshawn Nealon — a moment that reminds us the sport we obsess over is still played by human beings with struggles bigger than the scoreboard.

It’s a sobering episode, a little biting, a little grim, and very Norm.

Chapters

00:00 – Today’s Question: How Do the Cowboys Pay Anyone Next Year?

01:21 – The Tragic Story of Marshawn Nealon

02:55 – The Salary Cap Is a Monster and It Is Hungry

04:27 – The Contracts That Ate the Payroll

05:05 – $307 Million Cap vs. $273 Million Already Spoken For

06:58 – So… Who Gets Cut? (Spoiler: There Are No Good Answers)

07:15 – Restructuring = The Credit Card Bill Comes Later

08:12 – And Oh Yes — Key Free Agents Still Need Paying

08:58 – The Cowboys’ Plan: Pretend It’s a Problem for Future Cowboys

09:38 – Closing Thoughts: Tomorrow Always Comes, Eventually

Just Wondering is a long-form sports commentary podcast hosted by longtime broadcaster Norm Hitzges, offering thoughtful, numbers-driven analysis of the NFL, college sports, the NBA, and the business and culture surrounding them. Each episode blends experience, history, and curiosity to explore why things happen — not just what happened.

New episodes feature clear-eyed perspective, context you don’t hear elsewhere, and questions worth sitting with a little longer.

📍 Follow & Listen

Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube

Subscribe, rate, and review to help others find the show.

Sports podcast · NFL analysis · College football · Dallas sports · NBA commentary · Salary cap · NIL · Sports media · Long-form sports talk

Norm is back and just thrilled to talk about the Rangers losing yet another franchise brain and the Cowboys turning Monday Night Football into a group exercise in “How Not to Football.” We break down Mike Maddox walking out the same door Bochy did, the Cowboys somehow forgetting that tackling is part of the sport, and Dallas making trade deadline moves like they just discovered Monopoly money.

Pull up a chair. Grab a coffee. Maybe something stronger. Let’s wonder together.

Chapters

00:00:00 – The Rangers’ Great Exit Interview Season

00:01:29 – Maddox Leaves, Angels Laugh, Rangers Cry

00:02:59 – Reminder: This Man Fixed the Entire Pitching Culture

00:04:26 – Bullpen Held Together With Duct Tape and Hope

00:06:46 – Maddox to a Division Rival, Because That’s Fun

00:08:48 – Cowboys Grade the Cardinals Game: F as in… Yeah. That.

00:10:23 – Marvin Harrison Jr. vs. Bland: The Crime Scene Tape Game

00:11:20 – “We Don’t Sack, We Get Sacked” — Cowboys OL Edition

00:12:00 – Cowboys Trade for Quinn & the Salary Cap Panic Button

00:13:33 – So Was DT the Problem? (Spoiler: No.)

00:14:22 – Another Trade, Another Shrug, Another Why?

00:15:55 – We’ve Seen This Movie Before and It Was Straight to DVD

00:16:49 – The Cowboys Remaining Schedule: Pray. Hard.

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Just Wondering is a long-form sports commentary podcast hosted by longtime broadcaster Norm Hitzges, offering thoughtful, numbers-driven analysis of the NFL, college sports, the NBA, and the business and culture surrounding them. Each episode blends experience, history, and curiosity to explore why things happen — not just what happened.

New episodes feature clear-eyed perspective, context you don’t hear elsewhere, and questions worth sitting with a little longer.

📍 Follow & Listen

Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube

Subscribe, rate, and review to help others find the show.

Sports podcast · NFL analysis · College football · Dallas sports · NBA commentary · Salary cap · NIL · Sports media · Long-form sports talk

Norm’s got a Monday doubleheader: first, a public-service announcement that the “2–5” Arizona Cardinals are the most annoying good bad team you’ll see all year; second, a therapy session about the Rangers’ brain drain—Bruce Bochy already gone, and now pitching whisperer Mike Maddux exits stage left to Anaheim. We break down why Jacoby “No Picks” Brissett is the exact backup QB you don’t want to face, why this is a must-win that won’t feel like one, and how Maddux turned duct tape and journeymen into league-best ERA magic…which Texas now has to replace. Bring antacids.

Chapters

00:00:01 Trap Game Monday: “Underestimate Arizona at Your Peril”

00:00:27 Ad Break: Turn Your Nest Egg into a Stress Check

00:01:27 Best 2–5 Team Alive: One-Point Differential, Real Problems

00:02:56 The Nerd Stuff: +3:00 TOP, Run Game, and a Secondary on Clearance

00:03:35 Kyler Mystery Theater → Trade Deadline Smoke

00:04:26 Meet the Villain: Jacoby “Low-Pick” Brissett

00:05:08 1.4% INT Rate vs. Dak Reality Check

00:06:15 Must-Win Math: Playoff Hopes Need This One

00:06:55 Ad Break: Bob’s—Because Anxiety Pairs Well with Wagyu

00:07:40 Full Moon PSA: Blotch Today, Gone Tomorrow

00:08:55 Rangers Exit Wounds: Bochy’s Door, Maddux Follows

00:09:39 Why the Angels Just Got Smarter (And That Stings)

00:10:29 Receipts: ERA Freefall to World Series in Two Years

00:11:51 Round Two Magic: Title in ’23, Triaging ’25

00:12:53 Nine Closers, 26 Arms, League-Best ERA—Somehow

00:13:47 So…Why Did He Leave? And Why It Hurts Right Now

00:14:40 How to Keep Norm in Your Feed (Do the Follow Thing)

00:15:35 SWM Stamp: Credits & Exit Music

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Just Wondering is a long-form sports commentary podcast hosted by longtime broadcaster Norm Hitzges, offering thoughtful, numbers-driven analysis of the NFL, college sports, the NBA, and the business and culture surrounding them. Each episode blends experience, history, and curiosity to explore why things happen — not just what happened.

New episodes feature clear-eyed perspective, context you don’t hear elsewhere, and questions worth sitting with a little longer.

📍 Follow & Listen

Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube

Subscribe, rate, and review to help others find the show.

Sports podcast · NFL analysis · College football · Dallas sports · NBA commentary · Salary cap · NIL · Sports media · Long-form sports talk

Norm rolls into Halloween wondering what the Cowboys should really do at the trade deadline: buy band-aids for a busted defense or stockpile draft picks and live to fight another day. Along the way, he side-eyes Jerry Jones’ “hundred-billion-dollar” gas talk, floats some pragmatic (and spicy) trade chips, and delivers the line of the day on Mozzie Smith and a steak dinner. Then it’s off to college football, where buyouts balloon, coaches vanish by mid-October, and LSU’s governor casually workshops a hiring process that sounds more like a rally than a search committee. Norm wraps with a Texas-sized hypothetical that would set Austin—and the internet—on fire.

Smart, punchy, and just the right amount of “you can’t make this up.”

Chapters

00:00 — Trick or Trade?

01:23 — Jerry’s Gas & the Distraction Index

02:54 — Offense Elite, Defense… Not So Much

04:45 — Sell Mode SZN

06:16 — The Mozzie & Bob’s Special

08:02 — Sponsor Break: Bob’s Steak & Chop House

08:39 — Sponsor Break: Full Moon Healing Balm

09:24 — Coaching Carousel Goes Brrr

11:17 — LSU: Governance, But Make It Wild

12:52 — Imagine This in Texas

13:55 — Sponsor Tag

14:16 — Credits & Follow Reminders

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Just Wondering is a long-form sports commentary podcast hosted by longtime broadcaster Norm Hitzges, offering thoughtful, numbers-driven analysis of the NFL, college sports, the NBA, and the business and culture surrounding them. Each episode blends experience, history, and curiosity to explore why things happen — not just what happened.

New episodes feature clear-eyed perspective, context you don’t hear elsewhere, and questions worth sitting with a little longer.

📍 Follow & Listen

Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube

Subscribe, rate, and review to help others find the show.

Sports podcast · NFL analysis · College football · Dallas sports · NBA commentary · Salary cap · NIL · Sports media · Long-form sports talk

Norm Hitzges sits down with billionaire entrepreneur and former Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban for an unfiltered conversation about life after selling the team, walking away from Shark Tank, and why business still feels like the ultimate sport. Cuban opens up about family life, his growing company Cost Plus Drugs, and his view of American politics—spoiler: he’s not a fan of either party.

In classic Norm fashion, the chat flows from heartfelt reflections to sharp insight, with plenty of humor along the way. From fake pharmaceutical studies to pitch emails gone wrong, this is Mark Cuban at his candid best — confident, self-aware, and always one step ahead.

🕒 Chapters

00:00:00 – Norm Wonders What’s on Mark Cuban’s Mind

00:01:23 – From Broadcast.com to the Mavericks: The Billionaire’s Origin Story

00:02:55 – Life After Selling the Mavs: Freedom, Family, and Sleep

00:04:22 – No Regrets, Just Road Trips and Parenting Wins

00:05:14 – The Next Mavs Arena: Keeping It in Dallas

00:06:19 – Could Mark Buy Another Team? Maybe in Pittsburgh?

00:08:09 – Cuban on Business Addiction and the Thrill of the Game

00:09:20 – The Funniest Pitch He Ever Got: Afro Basketball Helmets

00:13:13 – Cost Plus Drugs: Taking on the Pharmaceutical Middlemen

00:15:36 – When Big Pharma Fights Back (and Fakes Studies)

00:16:39 – On TrumpRx and Working with Anyone Who Helps Patients

00:16:57 – Would Mark Cuban Ever Run for President?

00:17:27 – Politics Today: “Both Parties Are a Mess”

00:18:55 – Why Government Shutdowns Are a Symptom, Not a Solution

00:19:58 – Cuban on Trump, Taxes, and Tough Talk at the Border

00:22:34 – Will He Sell the Rest of the Mavericks?

00:23:27 – What Still Bothers Him About Leaving Basketball Operations

00:24:04 – Why He’ll Never Retire: “Business Is the Ultimate Sport”

00:26:53 – Just Wondering Goes to TV: Thursdays at 7:30 on Channel 27

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Just Wondering is a long-form sports commentary podcast hosted by longtime broadcaster Norm Hitzges, offering thoughtful, numbers-driven analysis of the NFL, college sports, the NBA, and the business and culture surrounding them. Each episode blends experience, history, and curiosity to explore why things happen — not just what happened.

New episodes feature clear-eyed perspective, context you don’t hear elsewhere, and questions worth sitting with a little longer.

📍 Follow & Listen

Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube

Subscribe, rate, and review to help others find the show.

Sports podcast · NFL analysis · College football · Dallas sports · NBA commentary · Salary cap · NIL · Sports media · Long-form sports talk

Norm Hitzges breaks down the Cowboys’ embarrassing loss to the Denver Broncos — a game so one-sided it has him wondering if Dallas will ever beat Denver again. With sharp insight and signature wit, Norm dissects how the Cowboys collapsed on both sides of the ball, from a defense that forgot how to tackle to a rookie corner who got picked apart all afternoon.

He dives into Dak Prescott’s rough outing, the defense’s seven explosive plays allowed, and a mysterious injury story surrounding Trayvon Diggs that just doesn’t add up. It’s classic Norm — honest, funny, and brutally insightful about the state of America’s Team.

🕒 Chapters

00:00:01 – Will the Cowboys Ever Beat Denver Again?

00:01:25 – A Mile-High Meltdown: Total Team Collapse

00:02:09 – Broncos Game Plan: Run Fast, Pick on the Rookie

00:03:38 – Bo Nix Looks Like a Pro, Dak Looks Like a Target

00:04:25 – Seven Big Plays, Zero Answers from the Defense

00:05:24 – The 30-Year Curse Continues

00:06:52 – What’s Really Going On with Trayvon Diggs?

00:08:15 – Jerry, Stephen, and the Mystery of the Missing Transparency

00:10:14 – The $97 Million Question: What Do You Do with Diggs?

00:11:55 – Norm’s Final Word: Something Smells Fishy in Dallas

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Just Wondering is a long-form sports commentary podcast hosted by longtime broadcaster Norm Hitzges, offering thoughtful, numbers-driven analysis of the NFL, college sports, the NBA, and the business and culture surrounding them. Each episode blends experience, history, and curiosity to explore why things happen — not just what happened.

New episodes feature clear-eyed perspective, context you don’t hear elsewhere, and questions worth sitting with a little longer.

📍 Follow & Listen

Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube

Subscribe, rate, and review to help others find the show.

Sports podcast · NFL analysis · College football · Dallas sports · NBA commentary · Salary cap · NIL · Sports media · Long-form sports talk

Norm laces up his hiking boots for one of the Cowboys’ toughest climbs yet — a trip to Denver, where the air is thin and the pass rush is thick. In this episode of Just Wondering, Norm breaks down the brutal matchup between Dallas and the Broncos, spotlighting a defense that leads the league in sacks and a young quarterback, Bo Nix, who’s learning how to win ugly. With stats, storytelling, and a dash of nostalgia, Norm revisits the Cowboys’ last win in Denver — thirty-three years ago — complete with Jimmy Johnson’s halftime rage and a Charles Haley scolding for the ages. This one’s a mix of history, humor, and a hard look at what it’ll take for Dallas to exorcise three decades of Mile High misery.

Chapters

00:00:00 - Can the Cowboys Finally Beat Denver?

00:01:23 - Why the Broncos Might Be the NFL’s Scariest Defense

00:03:08 - Bo Nix: The Rookie Who Won’t Blink

00:04:41 - Close Calls and Narrow Escapes: How Denver Stays Dangerous

00:05:36 - The Formula: Sacks, Ground Game, and Grit

00:06:25 - Dallas’ Path to Victory: Keep Dak Upright and Hope

00:09:25 - Flashback to 1992: The Last Time Dallas Won in Denver

00:11:56 - Jimmy Johnson’s Bathroom Breakdown (and Why It Worked)

00:13:34 - Emmitt, Aikman, and a One-Point Escape in the Mountains

00:14:21 - Thirty Years of Mile High Heartache

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Just Wondering is a long-form sports commentary podcast hosted by longtime broadcaster Norm Hitzges, offering thoughtful, numbers-driven analysis of the NFL, college sports, the NBA, and the business and culture surrounding them. Each episode blends experience, history, and curiosity to explore why things happen — not just what happened.

New episodes feature clear-eyed perspective, context you don’t hear elsewhere, and questions worth sitting with a little longer.

📍 Follow & Listen

Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube

Subscribe, rate, and review to help others find the show.

Sports podcast · NFL analysis · College football · Dallas sports · NBA commentary · Salary cap · NIL · Sports media · Long-form sports talk

Norm Hitzges grabs a bat, a calculator, and a fainting couch to process Shohei Ohtani’s “are-you-kidding-me” clincher: six scoreless with 10 punchouts and three moonshots to broom Milwaukee and send the Dodgers to the Fall Classic. Greatest single game by any pro ballplayer… ever? Norm makes the case—with tape-measure receipts, history comps, and a reminder why the Dodgers cut a $700M check without blinking. Then it’s why L.A.’s rotation is a cheat code (Snell? Glasnow? Yamamoto? …Ohtani?), how they steamrolled the league’s big winners, and why Toronto should keep the champagne on ice. Come for the stats; stay for the gentle sarcasm and the sound of baseball writers rewriting their “best ever” lists in real time.

Chapters

00:00 - “Today I’m Just Wondering: Can One Game Break Baseball?”

00:22 - Sponsor Pit Stop: Fluent Financial keeps the lights on

01:27 - The Case Opens: Was this the greatest game by a single player?

02:11 - Shohei the Pitcher: 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 10 K—no notes

03:01 - Shohei the Destroyer: Homer… homer… homer

03:59 - Tape-Measure Theater: 446', 469', 427'—ballistics report

04:54 - The Résumé Flex: Back-to-back MVP, league leads, and laughter at “overpaid”

06:10 - Why L.A.’s Terrifying: Name an ace—any ace

06:57 - Bracket Body Count: Brewers, Phils, Yankees—good night and good luck

07:42 - Why the Dodgers Are Heavy Favorites (and why Vegas isn’t nuts)

08:24 - Bob’s Steak & Chop House Intermission (because ribeyes beat analytics)

09:38 - Balm Break & Closing Credits: Norm signs off, Ohtani still ridiculous

Just Wondering is a long-form sports commentary podcast hosted by longtime broadcaster Norm Hitzges, offering thoughtful, numbers-driven analysis of the NFL, college sports, the NBA, and the business and culture surrounding them. Each episode blends experience, history, and curiosity to explore why things happen — not just what happened.

New episodes feature clear-eyed perspective, context you don’t hear elsewhere, and questions worth sitting with a little longer.

📍 Follow & Listen

Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube

Subscribe, rate, and review to help others find the show.

Sports podcast · NFL analysis · College football · Dallas sports · NBA commentary · Salary cap · NIL · Sports media · Long-form sports talk