Nothing Personal with David Samson

Today’s word of the day is ‘twilight’ as in we are now entering the Twilight Zone as in vaccines came up at NBA Media Days and here we go again. Bradley Beal and Andrew Wiggins have some things to say, but not a lot to say. Damian Lillard spoke up about getting the vaccine. Steph Curry had to answer for Wiggins. The NBA has an issue and it’s one they created. (20:25) Giannis spoke about wanting more titles. Repeating is hard to do. Harder than you think. The team, the health, the edge, the controversies, everything. (24:00) Look at Kawhi Leonard. Left the Raptors and goes to the Clippers and can’t get back to the Finals. He tore his ACL and he chose a long-term deal to return. (30:00) Review: The Starling. (33:20) Are robot umps and refs coming to professional sports? What about just better technology to make the calls correct and fast? This was my experience in meetings with MLB about this. (39:20) Brandon Belt broke his hand after getting hit by a pitch. The San Francisco Giants have to be frustrated big time. Postseason races are in the final week and this is the LAST thing a team wants. (45:55) NPPOD

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Today’s word of the day is ‘next level’ as in next-level trolling as in the Tampa Bay Rays are trolling its fans by using signs to further their two city solution. What does that mean? The Rays are saying Tampa and Montreal are going to be the future for the team. Ha! (11:30) People ask me all the time if I want to get back into baseball — this is a case for the reason why I don’t — a 40-year old woman and her 2-year old child fell from the third floor and died. The police have not released much details, but to some it appears to be suspicious. (20:10) La’el Collins tried to bribe a urine collector trying to avoid taking a drug test. He was suspended 5 games, it was talked down to 2 games, but Collins wanted to take this to arbitration and it was found out about the bribery. (28:15) Review: Nine Perfect Strangers. (31:50) The Chicago Cubs are ready to spend money. What? After trading their whole team away. After breaking the hearts of Cubs fans everywhere. After breaking the trust with Bryant and Rizzo. But Jed Hoyer says they are ready to spend. (38:58) NPPOD.

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Today’s word of the day is ‘Jose’ as in it’ll be five years since the tragic death of Jose Fernandez. I want to talk about this; about that day. (5:55) MLB will be experimenting with a new sticky ball in MiLB. How does this work? Why are they doing this in the minors? (16:55) Adam Schefter is investing in a gambling company and has partnered with Robert Kraft. This seems like a very real issue. Is it though? (26:45) Review: Prisoners of the Ghostland. (29:45) NPPOD. (33:35) Joe Maddon is not happy with the Los Angeles Angels. Another season of no Mike Trout in the postseason. Another season of no Shohei Ohtani in the postseason. (41:10) The Baltimore Orioles and Arizona Diamondbacks are bad. Very bad. Very, very, very bad. Both teams will bring back its manager. Why aren’t changes being made?

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Today’s word of the day is ‘chaos’ as in out of control as in the Minnesota Timberwolves are in a bad place and only Alex Rodriguez can save them. Team president Gersson Rosas was fired 4 days before media day. Less than a month before the season starts. Why now? Work culture, ineptitude, office scandals… oh boy. (13:40) MLB and MLBPA are going to fight again. A lot sooner than everyone thought they would, especially me. How are grievances filed and why is this one a big one? (18:30) Minor League players for the Phillies and Mets wore wrist bands. Each wrist band had “fair ball” on them — what was this about? What did Dave Dombrowski have to say? (28:45) Review: Pig. (33:50) Golden State Warriors issues are mounting as the season approaches. Andrew Wiggins doesn’t want to get vaccinate. Cool, his problem. Wait! Wiggins can’t play if he’s not vaccinated per San Francisco mandates. Uh oh. Owner Joe Jacob was fined $50K for his comments on Ben Simmons for tampering. Big money… not. (39:40) Kevin Kiermaier was plunked in the numbers after Card-Gate against the Blue Jays. (43:55) NPPOD: Texans/Panthers and Reds/Nationals. 

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Today’s word of the day is ‘nanananana’ as in whining as in singing as in hey, hey goodbye as in Ben Simmons says he is DONE with Sixers and will not show up anymore. Ben Simmons who is owed around $140M over the next four years by Philadelphia. Ben Simmons hasn’t one anything for or with the Sixers. What the heck in going on there? Just another day in the NBA. (16:30) NPPOD: The Rays and Blue Jays are not happy with each other. Postseason races are on. The AL East is a battle. Rays’ Kevin Kiermaier grabbed Blue Jays’ Alejandro Kirk’s cheat sheet after a play at the plate. The Blue Jays were furious. The Rays wouldn’t give it back. What happened here? (32:10) Review: Trauma. (38:30) The San Diego Padres have done it. AJ Preller has done it. Another firing, another scapegoat. This time its the Farm Director who gets canned. The Padres fell apart. The Padres were never the Los Angeles Dodgers. Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis said sorry. But the season is over. 

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Today’s word of the day is ‘Supreme Court’ as in 6-3 conservative majority is dealing with overturning Roe v Wade. 500 athletes have gotten involved to fight against this. So what is happening here? What is happening in Mississippi? First Texas and its laws against abortion, and now Mississippi is coming after abortion. Let’s present the facts here. (15:20) What happens when a company says they want out of its sponsorship deal with your team or school or athletes? Someone asked me about Under Armour and UCLA, and how this is handled. (28:10) Review: Kate. (31:40) Aaron Rodgers said it’s time for the trolls to eat his shorts. The Packers bounced back with a big win over the Detroit Lions. Dan Campbell has had to settle for knee cap eating, but no wins so far. (36:10) NPPOD. (37:20) Salvador Perez is now the new HR king of catchers. 46 home runs. (41:20) Houston Texans head coach David Culley is in an awkward spot. Star QB is out facing allegations of sexual assault, back up is now out with a hamstring injury, what is the team going to do? Let’s talk about the inexperience of answering questions.

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Today’s word of the day is ‘boiling point’ as in when it’s almost time to make the pasta as in the point when s*** is about to hit the fan as in the San Diego Padres have crumbled. Fernando Tatis and Manny Machado got into a verbal altercation in the dugout that was caught on camera. Jayce Tingler was thrown out for arguing calls. The Padres are 3.5 game back in the Wild Card race. What happened to this team? We told you. (11:20) NFL taunting penalties have been the talk of the town. You get 15 yards for yelling! You get 15 yards for dancing! You get 15 yards for spinning the ball! Why did NFL owners okay this? Let me explain. (20:55) Review: Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. (25:30) So You Wanna Talk To Samson!? Someone asked me what is going on with Cody Bellinger. 2 years ago Bellinger won the MVP, this season he’s batting .159. Woof. (32:30) The New York Mets have a Noah Syndergaard issue going on. Thor has been out a long time now after getting TJ. He hasn’t pitched this year. He’s a free agent after this season. Uh oh. (39:00) Wait to see update: Syndergaard, Ohtani, MLB Managers. (45:00) NPPOD.

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Today’s word of the day is ‘deep throat’ as in Watergate as in sources source sources as in on Thursday morning was a funny day. Mets owner Steve Cohen accused us of being a source in a story in the New York Post. LOL. We don’t do sources. If we say it, we put our name on it. (7:20) So You Wanna Talk To Samson!? Someone asked me about the lawsuit agains the NFL and Stan Kroenke a big deal. Could Roger Goodell be grilled by questions in open court? Let me explain. (17:15) Shohei Ohtani has arm soreness. Shohei Ohtani needs to stop pitching. Shohei Ohtani is an electric player, but he needs to be protected. (24:00) Review: The Voyeurs. (28:25) Aly Raisman, Simone Biles, McKayla Maroney, Maggie Nichols all spoke on Capitol Hill about how disturbing the treatment was from the FBI. The FBI let these women down. The US Olympic Committee let these women down. These people should be in jail for how much they let these women down. (33:35) NPPOD (37:30) John Wall is still owed $91M over the next two seasons. The Houston Rockets are going to trade him. They said it, not me. Why do front offices always spin it like they’re helping the player? (44:20) Feel good story time: Christian Yelich bought 10,000 tickets for fans to attend a Milwaukee Brewers game. There still are good people in sports and Yelich is one of them.

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Today’s word of the day is ‘technicality’ as Ryan Braun and Manny Ramirez careers are up for debate. Braun announced his retirement from baseball. Steroid user. (14:20) Manny Ramirez is back in the news talking about the Hall of Fame. Steroid user. What is their legacy? What should the legacy be for people who cheated the game? (24:05) Review: No Man of God. (27:00) The New Orleans Saints have a slight outbreak. The coaches are positive, a player, but they made it known everyone was vaccinated. The Buffalo Bills are making fans prove vaccination. The NBA is making things very strict for non-vaccinated players. Testing regularly; negative on practice days; negative on travel days; two negative tests on Game Day. Woof. (30:40) Gavin Newsom recall vote in California. (33:10) NPPOD. (38:50) So You Wanna Talk To Samson!? Someone asked me why the New York Yankees would move Gleyber Torres to 2nd base this late in the season. Torres committed 18 errors at shortstop. How many times does this work?

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Today’s word of the day is ‘violation’ as in athletes should not be representing themselves — if you’re ever in trouble, call a lawyer — if you’re buying a house, call a lawyer — if you’re getting married, call a lawyer. Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson does not have an agent. Lamar Jackson does not have a new contract. (10:55) The Denver Broncos are the ugliest ownership drama in sports. Jeff Bezos and Jay-Z might be bidding against one another for the team. Bezos is going into football. If he wants an NFL team — he will get an NFL team. (23:10) Review: Cinderella. (28:35) Shohei Ohtani or Vlad Guerrero Jr: who win AL MVP? (34:45) NPPOD. (37:30) The NBA is doing everything that they can to get more money, get more views, get more everything. An in-season tournament and shortened season are on the docket. Is this the right move? 

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