Today’s word of the day is ‘disruption’ as in your summer plans are disrupted as in a change in course as in Justin Verlander was placed on the 15-day IL with a calf injury. The Cy Young leader is back after missing a season recovering from Tommy John surgery. How bad is this? The Astros cannot afford for Verlander to be hurt heading into October. What about Shane McClanahan? The Rays youngster was seen distraught warming up for his start and was scratched. It’s a shoulder injury for him. Not good! (13:45) French star Paul Pogba is being extorted by his older brother and childhood friends. They held him at gunpoint. They released videos on social media. They say Paul owes them for protecting him when he was young. They want 13 million from him and said he called a witch doctor to curse Kylian Mbappe. (22:55) Review: Untold: Operation Flagrant Foul. (28:55) It’s always a major thing for players to represent their countries in international sports. What happens when it goes wrong? Danilo Gallinari got hurt playing for Italy. Let’s talk about how this is the biggest nightmare for front offices. (36:35) NPPOD. (38:35) What is happening at Yeshiva University? It’s pretty important. 

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Today’s word of the day is ‘comfortable’ as in easy as in helpful as in life is good as in the Boston Red Sox have given up. That’s it. Put the 2022 season into the attic for next year. The Red Sox ownership came out and said Chaim Bloom and Alex Cora will be back next year. The team is last in the Al East. (11:55) The New York Knicks are always a mess. There’s never been a time since the 90s that this team can’t get out of its own way. RJ Barrett could become the first rookie since Charlie Ward to get an extension from the Knicks. What about the Donovan Mitchell trade? Will it happen? (20:55) Review: Me Time. (24:40) Jimmy Garoppolo is staying in San Francisco. Back up QB. Took a pay cut to do it. Might get traded. Not getting cut. (28:20) NPPOD. The Dodgers have a small problem. Forearm strain is the worst news you could hear. Tony Gonsolin is headed to the IL. (33:40) The Mets want to keep Jacob deGrom. He is the best pitcher in baseball when healthy. He has not been healthy. He can opt out of his deal. He could pick up his option. Steve Cohen wants to keep him. (38:15) Serena Williams is taking her last ride. The US Open is here. Serena won her first round match and the fan fare was insane. 

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Today’s word of the day is ‘scratch the surface’ as in looking for a diamond in the rough as in the early stages of talent as in the Seattle Mariners signed Julio Rodriguez to a massive contract. He’s played just 109 games in his career. A rookie. A $200M deal that could reach $470M. So many clauses. So many details. This new trend is going to hurt plenty teams. Fernando Tatis? Wander Franco? Michael Harris? Ronald Acuna? Luis Roberts? (17:25) Are minor league players joining the Major league union? Maybe! What happens if this happens? What would MLB do? Contraction! (30:55) Review: Top Gun: Maverick. (34:55) Josh Hader is broken. Hader was traded to the San Diego Padres and he stinks. He has a 25.71 ERA with the Padres. What the heck happened? Remember Tyler Glasnow? Well, the Rays just signed him to a short extension before he entered free agency. He is rehabbing from TJ surgery. Why would they do this?

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Today’s word of the day is ‘due diligence’ as in what you should be doing when you’re drafting a player as in the Buffalo Bills punter Matt Araiza was hit with a civil suit on Thursday for the alleged gang-rape of a 17-year old woman last year. Another terrible situation. Another crime. Another sexual assault against a woman by someone in the NFL. So now what happens? Why are the Bills not cutting him right now? Why did the Bills cut their other punter knowing this happened? (10:20) So You Wanna Talk To Samson!? Someone asked me about Bryce Harper’s return to the Phillies and if the timeline was moved because of how good his two rehab games were. Is it okay to move up a timeline? (17:15) Bryce Harper returns and now Zach Wheeler heads to the IL. Oh boy. Looks like it’s a forearm issue to and we know what that means. What about the Yankees? Stanton returns and Nestor Cortes heads to the IL. Timing. Timing. Timing. (30:00) Review: Man From Toronto. (33:30) NFLPA president JC Tretter announced his retirement from the NFL, but he’s not going down quietly. He said the NFL doesn’t want him to have a job because of who he was with the union. Hmm. (39:50) NPPOD. (43:25) Chet Holmgren will miss the entire season. Lisfranc. See ya. The Thunder are FURIOUS.

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Today’s word of the day is ‘dramatic’ as in drama as in MLB has changed its schedule for 2023 and it was referred to as dramatic! We’ve got less division games. We’ve got more interleague games. We’ve got rivalries back! Wow! How exciting! (13:40) Oklahoma City Thunder top pick Chet Holmgren got hurt playing in a Pro-Am. He’s got torn ligaments in his foot which is not good for a player of his size. It happened trying to stop LeBron James on a fast break. So You Wanna Talk To Samson!? Someone asked me if I were prez of OKC would I let Chet play? (21:10) Fernando Tatis Jr. apologized to his teammates and to the fans on Tuesday. He’s going to now get surgery that he’s needed on his shoulder for over a year. (29:55) Review: Fire of Love. (37:35) Vanessa Bryant was awarded $16M after suing the Los Angeles Fire Department and Sheriff’s office. It’s a horrible case to discuss. (45:40) NPPOD.

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Today’s word of the day is ‘formal process’ as in you know exactly what you are doing as in not an informal process as in the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are about to sell. Arte Moreno came out yesterday and said it’s time. What does that mean for the future of the organization? What does it mean for the future of Shohei Ohtani? (16:55) Los Angeles Dodgers ace Walker Buehler will be getting Tommy John surgery for the 2nd time in his career. He will miss this season. He will mist next season. This is bad news for his career. Let’s also talk about Tommy John surgery and young players. Not professional players. We’re talking about high school aged. It’s becoming a serious problem. Why is that? (33:50) Review: Jane Goodall - The Hope. (35:35) Kevin Durant is back in Brooklyn. He demanded a trade. Asked for the GM and head coach to be fired. And it didn’t happen. The team released a statement saying they met with Durant and things are all good. Sure. (44:00) NPPOD. 

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Today’s word of the day is ‘700’ as in 700 career home runs as in Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, and Babe Ruth. That’s it. In the history of the game. Now Albert Pujols is knocking on the door. Last night he hit number 693. It didn’t look like he had a chance and in these past 10 games he’s been scorching it. What will 700 look like? How much could it sell for? What is security going to be like? Will Albert have a chance to be the final one in the club? (14:20) Yadier Molina is a hall of fame player. Yadier Molina is a Cardinals legend. Yadier Molina has been in the game too long for him to be doing what he’s done this season. Leaving his team in a pennant race to go celebrate a basketball team in Puerto Rico. (25:10) Review: The Summer I Turned Pretty. (29:35) So You Wanna Talk To Samson!? Someone asked me about the Glazer Family and Manchester United. The fans want the family out. The fans protested. The fans are furious. And the Glazers still want $235M to upgrade the stadium. The story is wild and we will help you understand it. Would Jerry Jones sell if someone offered him $8B? What about $6B? Would you do it? (42:55) NPPOD. Justin Verlander is going to win a Cy Young. Again. He’s 39 coming off a missed season! 

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Today’s word of the day is ‘boiling point’ as in the temperature in which water boils as in the steam is coming out of your ears as in an eruption of anger is right there as in the New York Yankees still have major issues. Yea, they finally got a win on Sunday, but the team is 10-20 in post-ASB. The pitching has stunk. The batting has stunk. Aaron Boone had a FIERY press conference. What happened? (13:40) Joe Maddon has had enough. He went off about what’s going on in baseball. He was fired by the Los Angeles Angels and the team is still a disaster. What did he have to say? (23:10) Review: Under the Banner of Heaven. (31:10) So You Wanna Talk To Samson!? Someone asked me about Dana White’s comments saying he had a deal in place to get Tom Brady and Gronk to Vegas and Jon Gruden shut it down. Hmm. (38:20) NPPOD. (40:20) Marcell Ozuna has found himself in more legal trouble. Ozuna was arrested for a DUI and the footage is not good. He was booed by fans. He has past problems with domestic violence. 

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Today’s word of the day is ‘triggered’ as in the new buzz word that people use to say that you’re made because of an event they don’t necessarily agree with your anger. We’re talking about Deshaun Watson, of course. Watson got an 11 game suspension and a $5M fine and now things are all good, right? Watson is so sorry. Sorry for everyone impacted. Sorry for the anger. Sorry to his victims. Sorry to women… just kidding. He said he’s sorry to all those who have been triggered! (21:10) Fernando Tatis Jr is set to meet with AJ Preller to talk about his recent and past actions… we’d assume. Then Tatis is supposed to meet with his teammates, whom are very angry with him. Apology tour is here. (34:00) Review: Jurassic World: Dominion. (37:30) Tom Brady is still away form the Buccaneers. We have no idea what’s happening right now. It doesn’t sound like Todd Bowles does either. What is the front office thinking with the season less than a month away? (43:45) NPPOD. 

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Today’s word of the day is ‘ayahuasca’ as in the plant as in the tea as in DMT as Aaron Rodgers recently opened up about his use of the psychoactive in helping him. Then what happened next? Aaron Rodgers goes on a public rant about his young receivers messing up. Then the QB had a meeting with the other QBs and offensive coaches and the young receivers. Why? He wants them all to be better. Why not do this from the start? Where’s the healing? (13:00) The Texas Rangers have fired its president of baseball operations just days after firing its manager. Interesting. The owner Ray Davis made Jon Daniels give comment about the firing of Chris Woodward and then fired Jon Daniels! What!? (19:35) The Atlanta Braves continue to lock up young players early on. It’s a strategy that has been around, but the Braves are taking it to a new level. (32:45) Review: Untold - The Girlfriend Who Didn’t Exist. (36:35) Ben Simmons and the Sixers had a settlement. A grievance was filed. Simmons won. (43:00) LeBron James signed his deal with the Lakers. It was always meant to happen. (45:35) NPPOD.

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