Le Batard & Friends Network

Today’s word of the day is ‘equity’ as in ESPN as in the NFL as in billions as in Red Zone as in Roger Goodell as in Bob Iger as in journalism! Let’s discuss what the NFL is doing, what ESPN is doing, and what the future holds for us all. ESPN is getting the NFL. ESPN is getting the WWE crown jewel events. Bob Iger says that journalism will live there… how? (26:30) The NFL has banned smelling salts. Huh? Ah, concussion cover ups! (32:30) Review: Captain America - Brave New World. (34:30) Will Kyle Schwarber get a career payday? He’s in the final year of his deal now with the Phillies and he is MASHING! (40:10) Devin Williams fell apart again yesterday. Devin Williams is bad. The Yankees are bad. Jake Bird, new acquired? Demoted! (45:00) NPPOD.

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Jonathan Zaslow joins us! It’s his debut! Let’s go! (29:30) Donald Trump came out and said that Saquon Barkley would be part of the council for fitness, or something. Well, it turns out that Barkley is not on that board. (35:30) Jobs report. (39:40) Giannis is on the Milwaukee Bucks. Why do we have to hear about this everyday? (47:00) The Cubs are going through it. Last week they acquired Mike Soroka, and in his first start he’s hurt. Straight to the IL. Horrible.

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Today’s word of the day is ‘crumble’ as in not the cookie as in the Yankees as in the Mets as in playoff races as in falling apart. Let’s start with the Yankees. Another blown save from Devin Williams. Another bullpen acquisition given up a walk off homer. What about the Mets? They’ve been bad since mid-June! Starting pitching stinks. (17:00) Let’s review our July predictions. And then discuss some August predictions. (22:30) Can you be a star in a small market in baseball? Can Elly De La Cruz be a star in Cincinnati? Let’s discuss because David Ortiz and Derek Jeter had some thoughts. (34:00) Review: The Life of Chuck. (38:30) What is the Browns plan at quarterback? Is it Flacco? Is it Pickett? Is it Gabriel? Is it Sanders? Is it Watson? Is it Huntley? (44:30) The Chargers/Lions preseason game was watched by 6.9 million people. Wow.

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Micah Parsons and the Dallas Cowboys are in a standoff. Jerry Jones looked at Parsons’ trade request and laughed. Jones looked at the fans and laughed. Jerry Jones will not change. Year in and year out, it’s all the same! Who is right and who is wrong here? (11:45) ESPN and the NFL have an agreement over media assets. It’s a monster deal. Billions of dollars. (22:30) NPPOD (25:30) What is going on with the Connecticut Sun? Are they moving to Boston? Are they being sold? (33:15) We got a Commanders vote. The first approval has been done by the D.C. City Council. But it’s still not done. More talking, more votes, more revisions. (39:00) Governor Mike DeWine of Ohio wants to do away with prop bets. Two Cleveland Guardian pitchers are out right now as an investigation is ongoing into betting on baseball. (46:00) Luka is back with the Lakers. He’s got a new deal. He’s setting himself up for an even greater deal.

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Today’s word of the day is ‘reunion’ as in back in Miami for the first time to see a Marlins game! What a strange feeling being back. What a great feeling to see the stadium rocking. The Marlins are HOT right now! (13:40) The Yankees are a mess right now. There is so much bad that this team does. The little mistakes add up and Aaron Boone is finding out the hard way that letting his players get away with those mistakes isn’t good! (27:00) The Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox got into this weekend… over sign-stealing! But it was the Astros mad at the Red Sox! (34:30) Review: Materialists. (38:00) MLB had its Bristol Speedway Classic on Saturday. Disaster. No food. Bad views. Bad weather. A suspended game in the first inning. Nightmare. (44:20) The NFLPA has its new interim boss. The same guy who was a finalist with Lloyd Howell. The same guy who had past problems. But the NFLPA doesn’t seem to care. Welcome David White to the party!

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And now it's time for Coca Friday! We chat about MLB Trade Deadline! ABS! Replay! A lot of baseball talk!

You can follow me on Twitter @matthewcoca !!!

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Today’s word of the day is ‘whirlwind’ as in so many trades as in deadline as in mayhem as in Padres as in Astros as in buyer as in sellers! What a day it was! Let’s kick things off with the San Diego Padres. AJ Preller has done it again. Trading away one of the top prospects in all of baseball for a reliever and a starting pitcher. Wow. (8:40) Carlos Correa is back with the Astros! And the Twins are paying big money in order to save money. The Astros are going for it again. (11:00) The Twins have traded everyone. 11 players traded away. 40% of the roster switched over. (20:00) It’s time for a Front Office Roundup. So many GMs and team presidents spoke yesterday. These were our favorites. (39:30) Review: On Swift Horses. (42:00) NPPOD. (47:00) Wait to see updates!

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Mike Fuentes recounts his days as a 19 year old movie theater manager drunk with power. Later, Izzy debuts a new game of "Are you ok?" with the group, Jessica brings attention to the flood of AI video content on the internet and Tony wants to know how Robert Downey Jr. is going to end up playing Dr. Doom in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

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Our semi-regular roundtable on sports business reconvenes for expertise from the boardroom: David Samson takes Pablo behind the scenes of Ichiro's viral joke about him at the Baseball Hall of Fame, then John Skipper translates the math from the ESPN negotiating table to the Unrivaled cap table the looming strike over WNBA salaries — and team valuations at large. Plus: foreskin, poppycock, psychedelic pastel paisley, pandering to the people, talking with your eyes... and a haberdashery version of pre-determinism.

• Subscribe to Nothing Personal with David Samson

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• From Pablo's Substack: We're One of the 100 Best Podcasts of All Time (Allegedly)

https://www.pablo.show/p/were-one-of-the-100-best-podcasts

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The great, the legendary, the broadcast God, Bob Costas joins us! We talk hall of fame, we talk Ryne Sandberg, we talk hall of fame voting, we talk the state of baseball! (30:30) Max Scherzer is a funny guy. He said he can’t wait to have a face-to-face with Rob Manfred. Why? You have his number! (37:00) Shannon Sharpe is out at ESPN. Done. Finished. Just weeks after his lawsuit was settled. (45:00) Gilbert Arenas was arrested for hosting poker games. Here’s why he can’t do that.

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