Le Batard & Friends Network

Did LeBron attend Kobe's memorial in 2020? Pablo reports on claims renewed by Stephen A. Smith. And should Stephen A. actually run in 2028? We commissioned Rasmussen Reports to conduct a legitimate political survey, then presented the results to Wyatt Cenac and Tim Miller.

• See the full results of the exclusive PTFO / Rasmussen poll 

https://www.rasmussenreports.com/

• Subscribe to Wyatt Cenac's newsletter

https://wyattcenac.substack.com/

• Subscribe to The Bulwark Podcast with Tim Miller

https://www.thebulwark.com/s/bulwarkpodcast

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Welcome back to Statline Shuffle, where Izzy and Amin try to guess players based on their box scores. Are the Luka Doncic, Lebron James, and the Lakers really better at defense? Is you Rookie of the Year pick Stephon Castle, Zaccarie Risacher, or someone else? And how have the Heat unlocked the best version of Bam Adebayo? Plus, who had this week's Iciest Play? Here's a hint: Izzy got to pick today. 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!

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Today’s word of the day is ‘certainty’ as in tariffs as in money as in salary as in players as in Jackson Merrill as in Kristian Campbell as in many others. (7:30) The Padres gave Jackson Merrill a massive deal. They didn’t need to! They’ve been trying to shed payroll and now they are adding and now they have a core locked through 2033! Can they sustain that payroll? (17:20) The Red Sox gave Kristian Campbell a longterm deal. 5 games into his big league career. They did the same thing last year! (24:00) The Arizona Diamondbacks did something that I’m not sure why they did it. Ketel Marte got another extension. He was under contract for 2 more years and the team extended him! (34:15) Review: The Princess Bride. (38:40) Shohei Ohtani bobblehead night ended with a bang! Walk off homer! Let’s talk bobbles! (43:15) Timberwolves sale is now complete. Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore are now the owners. Just waiting on a vote. $1.5 billion and lawyers later, we have a deal. (50:00) NPPOD.

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There’s not an underdog in sight this Final Four, but never fear! Jordan and Peter are joined by The Field of 68 founder Rob Dauster to diagnose the symptoms of “vulnerable giants.” Can Auburn take down Florida? Can Duke and Cooper Flagg get their chance at a title? Come for the Tournament analysis, stay for Peter’s epic NBA tanking rant!

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Franchise valuations are going up, up, up — and the first $10 billion team can't be far away. But inside the owners' meetings, though, generational warfare is underway: Can A-Rod snag the Timberwolves from the iron grip of an 83-year-old billionaire? Will the Celtics make private equity sexy? And how long until every NBA game is on national TV? Pablo Torre & The Expiring Assets (aka John Skipper and David Samson with a cold) are back to appraise Gollum's ring and stare into James Dolan's all-seeing Eye of Seventh Avenue.

• Previously: How the Billion-Dollar War to Own the Timberwolves Went Nuclear

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmOkcQwZ-s8

• Subscribe to Nothing Personal with David Samson

https://www.youtube.com/@NPDS

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Steph and Jokic gave us so much to talk about last night, Amin and Izzy don't even know where to start! Steph Curry is single-handedly carrying the Warriors to the five seed, where they're likely to face LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round. Can Jimmy Butler or Draymond Green or ANYBODY give Steph some help?!? Meanwhile up North, Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves survived a 61-point triple-double from the reigning MVP, Nikola Jokic-- but they had a little help from a double agent. Does Russell Westbrook's latest gaffe spell doom for Denver, or will Brodie have his redemption in the playoffs?

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Today’s word of the day is ‘diligently’ as in Rays as in St. Pete as in pursue as in the Trop as in relocation? What is happening with the Tampa Bay Rays? Right now the team is playing at the Yankees Spring Training facility. It’s a one year deal. And then what? Well a major deadline just passed and the Rays let it pass. (11:40) Randy Levine of the Yankees had a statement that is hard to believe. It wasn’t a normal statement. It was a Thank You letter to politicians. (18:08) Jerry Jones has found himself in another situation due to no one other than Jerry Jones. Micah Parsons wants a new deal. Jerry Jones went out of his way to disrespect Parsons agent. Fun! (32:24) Review: Adult Best Friends. (37:40) So You Wanna Talk to Samson!? Someone asked me about Roki Sasaki and his body language after struggling through 2 starts. Hmm. (46:00) NPPOD. (49:00) The St. Louis Cardinals continue to head in the wrong direction. The team underperformed, but the fans showed up. Now the team is just bad, and the fans aren’t showing up.

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In this episode, Amin and Izzy delve into the NBA’s Most Improved Player race, wondering if a former #1 pick like Cade Cunningham can ever win the award, even after an impressive season with the Detroit Pistons. Plus, we look at other contenders like Dyson Daniels, Tyler Herro, and Christian Braun, and the broader implications of the Most Improved Player award. We also talk about the NBA and FIBA exploring the creation of a new 16-team basketball league in Europe set to rival the Euroleague. Is an NBA expansion coming? Click play to find out!

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Today’s word of the day is ‘fool’ as in April Fool as in Jurickson Profar as in the Atlanta Braves as in disaster. That’s right we have our first PED suspension of the big league season and Profar is done for 80 games. Fool! Can the Braves rebound from this dreadful start? (13:00 ) Rafael Devers still can’t hit. Still can’t make contact. Historically bad start. But the team did sign Garrett Crochet for a record deal! Happy! (21:25) Athletics played in Sacramento. Minor league ballpark. And they got crushed. And a drone stopped the game. And the media center is a tent. (33:00) Review: The Room Next Door. (35:13) Browns owner Jimmy Haslam finally admitted what we all know… the Deshaun Watson trade as a disaster. (42:40) Woody Johnson met the media and said the Jets moved on from Aaron Rodgers but wasn’t his choice! Also talked about buyouts for employees. Also mentioned the NFLPA being a joke. What a guy! (50:08) NPPOD.

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Hank Azaria created more than 100 voices for The Simpsons, including Moe the Bartender, Chief Wiggum and (formerly) Apu. So why is the single most talented voice actor of his generation, at 60 years old, suddenly the lead singer of a Springsteen tribute band? Because — in recovery from the fear that helped originate his superpower, the failure that forced him to embrace "character acting," the cancellation that became a case study, and the threat of A.I. — he was overtaken by Bruce Juice. And today, inside PTFO's studio, he takes the stage.

• Catch Hank Azaria and the EZ Street Band on Tour

https://www.ezstreetnyc.com/

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