Le Batard & Friends Network

We start today with the sudden death of Pope Francis at the age of 88. Just yesterday he sat down with Vice President J.D. Vance, made appearances on Easter Sunday.

Today’s word of the day is ‘drubbing’ as in blowout as in huge win as in NBA Playoffs. The Thunder won by 51. The Nuggets won by 2. 7 of the 8 Game 1s were double-digits. Woof! (19:45) Jazz Chisholm found himself in some trouble for tweeting from the clubhouse after an ejection. He was suspended a game and is now appealing. (24:25) Ronald Acuna is hurt. Ronald Acuna took to social media and called out the Braves for not disciplining Jared Kelenic for something he did 6 years earlier. (35:15) Review: Eephus. (37:20) The Commanders return to DC could be coming soon. But, there is a catch. (43:45) Portland wants a Major League Baseball team. The state of Oregon just voted on a “jock tax” that would increase amount of possible income tax state would receive from MLB players. (50:00) NPPOD.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Stugotz is back. Stu, Mikey A, and Fuentes are joined by Golic who gives his thoughts on Aaron Rodgers’ comments about the Jets. Plus, how many quarterbacks will go in the first round of the draft? Stu and Mikey A blindly rank QB’s and it doesn’t go well for one of them. More Mikely asks the question if it is better to not play, or to play and be terrible.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The boys of Mystery Crate are relegated to Studio B to discuss their feelings about their children growing up before their eyes. Later, Mike Fuentes educates the guys on some of Sabrina Carpenter's risque music, Amin shares his thoughts on LeBron James starring in a mobile gaming ad and Chris Cote tries to convince the room that talking to animals is better than being able to speak every language on planet Earth.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mina Kimes’s Celebrity Jeopardy! semi-final featured a Guardian of the Galaxy from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and a tech millionaire podcaster. How did Mina do? The answer: NOT a Daily Double.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tyler Herro's 38-point night lifted Miami past the Bulls and into a win-or-go-home matchup with Atlanta on Friday. Who has more to lose in that matchup, Herro or Trae Young? Should the Heat even want to be in the playoffs? And where do the Bulls and Kings go from here after losing their play-in games? Plus, Dame is back, Zion might be gone, and Kevin Durant is looking for his forever home.

Try Huel with 15% OFF + Free Gift for New Customers today using my code ODDBALL at https://huel.com/ODDBALL. Fuel your best performance with Huel today!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As history was made this month, The Great One sat in a luxury box with the NHL commissioner and... the conspiracy-theorist director of the FBI. Has Wayne Gretzky become a political Mr. Magoo? Or legitimate friends with an American president who's trying to make the GOAT’s homeland his 51st state? Bruce Arthur, the Toronto Star columnist and conscience of Canada, says our neighbors are "incandescently angry.” And we investigate the world of Kash Patel and the Congressional Hockey Caucus.

Further reading:

Alex Ovechkin breaks Wayne Gretzky's unbreakable record, but his greatness is only part of the story 

https://www.thestar.com/sports/nhl/alex-ovechkin-breaks-wayne-gretzkys-unbreakable-record-but-his-greatness-is-only-part-of-the/article_aadfb162-f387-4289-b144-ebe18e4c3002.html

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Play-in is underway! Amin returns from San Francisco after watching the Warriors take down the Grizzlies. He and Izzy break down the ingredients to Chef Curry and Jimmy Buckets’ success. Kuminga got benched-- Why now, and what does that mean for the Warriors' rotations? Amin reviews Zach Edey's playoff debut, and Izzy questions whether the Magic can pose a real challenge to the Celtics in the first round. Also, this week’s top Headlines and another edition of Prop-a-Slot!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today’s word of the day is ‘42’ as in Jackie Robinson Day as in MLB as in honor. Let’s talk about what MLB does for Jackie Robinson Day. Let’s talk about what the White House has been trying to do. (5:03) Nico Harrison defended his trade of Luka Doncic yesterday. He also said Sorry, Dirk, I’ll do what I want. The fans are furious. The team doesn’t care. And there’s still a game left to play! (24:10) Does MLB have attendance problem right now? Numbers are down across the board. Rob Manfred thought it’d be up. (37:25) Review: The Last Five Years. (41:00) NPPOD. (46:00) The Baltimore Orioles do not look good. The pitching is bad. There was no replacement for Corbin Burnes. The young players haven’t been given extensions. They’re in last place. Panic?

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In today's episode of Oddball, Amin and Izzy turn to the pressure grid to build you an NBA Playoffs Cheat Sheet. We've got teams with the best shot at a title, like the Thunder, Celtics, and Cavs, on the right, with the pretenders on the left. Teams under the most pressure to win go at the top, and teams with lower stakes-- looking at you, Rockets!-- sink down to the bottom. Tune in to find out where the top nine teams in the playoffs end up! Then, we preview tonight's play-in games with another edition of Hot Streak!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today’s word of the day is ‘fourth’ as in the fourth month as in the fourth coach as in the Suns as in Mat Ishbia as in Mike Budenholzer. One season and he’s gone. Just like Frank Vogel. Most expensive team in the NBA and Durant, Booker, and Beal couldn’t make the play-in. Ishbia can’t help himself! (14:50) The Pelicans have fired David Griffin. He put all his eggs in the Zion Williamson basket and it failed. (23:15) World Baseball Classic time is here. Well, it’s next year, but Aaron Judge was just announced as captain of Team USA. This will be his debut! (35:00) Review: Princess Cyd. (38:00) NPPOD. (45:20) Messi is MLS. MLS needs Messi. US Soccer needs Messi. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices