The Best of the Sports Shop

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex speak with Marcus Manning and Steve Lovell.

Marcus Manning, Executive Director of the Durham Sports Commission, and Steve Lovell, Associate Director of Advertising and Sponsorship at Garmin International, joined the Sports Shop to announce and discuss an exciting new event. Durham, North Carolina has been selected as the newest host city for the Garmin Marathon Series. This marks only the third official location for the growing series, following Toledo, Ohio and Tucson, Arizona.

Marcus Manning spoke about the significance of this announcement for Durham, highlighting that this is more than just a race—it’s a first-of-its-kind collaboration between local powerhouses like the Durham Sports Commission, the Durham Bulls, and Duke University. Steve Lovell explained why Garmin selected Durham as the next stop in the series.

The event is scheduled for May 2, 2026, and will include a full marathon, half marathon, 10K, and 5K, making it accessible to runners of all levels. Registration opens October 2, 2025, at garmin.com/marathons. In addition to the races, the weekend will include a two-day expo, live music, food, and appearances by Garmin-sponsored athletes—cementing the experience as both a sporting and cultural celebration.

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex speak with CL Brown.

CL Brown discusses ACC football.

The upcoming matchup between the North Carolina Tar Heels (UNC) and Clemson Tigers is drawing attention as Clemson makes their first visit to Kenan Stadium since 2019. Historically, Clemson has dominated this series, leading 40-19-1 and winning the last six meetings. Dabo Swinney and Clemson have been struggling recently sporting a 1-3 record, a surprising and disappointing start after being ranked No. 4 in the preseason. Who will win?

How are the Louisville Cardinals doing? What team will win the ACC?

Reese, Pam and Alex discuss MLB Wild card matchup results, Shedeur Sanders and more.

Last night, the Los Angeles Dodgers advanced to the NL Division Series by defeating the Cincinnati Reds 8-4, completing a two-game sweep in the Wild Card round. The New York Yankees kept their postseason hopes alive with a tight 4-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox, forcing a decisive Game 3 in their Wild Card series. Meanwhile, in another Wild Card matchup, the San Diego Padres shut out the Chicago Cubs 3-0 behind strong pitching, leaving the Cubs’ offense stalled. The night’s results tightened the playoff picture as multiple teams now head into winner-take-all scenarios. Will the Dodgers win the World Series?

Shedeur Sanders has been making headlines recently following a string of controversial and highly discussed moments in the media. After the Cleveland Browns announced that rookie Dillon Gabriel would start at quarterback over veteran Joe Flacco, Sanders, who is currently third on the depth chart, drew attention by responding to post-practice media questions without speaking, he mimed his answers instead. This silent response stirred reactions across the sports world, with some interpreting it as a jab at media criticism and others seeing it as unprofessional. On Get Up, Rex Ryan was critical of Sanders. What did Rex Ryan say about Sanders? Is he right? Did Shedeur handle the interview correctly?

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex discuss the Cleveland Browns benching Joe Flacco for Dillon Gabriel.

For the second straight week, a team has benched a Super-Bowl winning QB for a rookie QB. Last week it was Russell Wilson for Jaxson Dart. Today, it’s Joe Flacco for Dillon Gabriel. The Cleveland Browns are benching veteran QB Joe Flacco in favor of rookie QB Dillon Gabriel. Joe Flacco will serve as Dillon Gabriel’s backup and Shedeur Sanders will remain Cleveland’s third-string QB. Gabriel’s first NFL start comes this Sunday in London vs. the Vikings. Is this the right move for Cleveland? Should Shedeur be starting instead? Will Sanders see the field this season?

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex discuss UNC's upcoming game against Clemson.

The upcoming matchup between the North Carolina Tar Heels (UNC) and Clemson Tigers is drawing attention as Clemson makes their first visit to Kenan Stadium since 2019. Historically, Clemson has dominated this series, leading 40-19-1 and winning the last six meetings. Both teams enter the game coming off a bye week, with UNC holding a 2-2 record and Clemson struggling at 1-3, a surprising start after being ranked No. 4 in the preseason.

Although Dabo Swinney's Clemson Tigers are favored by most sportsbooks, many predict a close game. However, Kmac predicts Cade Klubnik having one of the worst games of his career and a 17-point Tar Heel win. Is he right? Will Bill Belichick and the Heels shut down Klubnik? Who will win?

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex discuss the disappointing season the Carolina Panthers have had so far.

Over the weekend, the Carolina Panthers were dominated by the New England Patriots with a final score of 42-13. The Panthers' offense struggled, with Bryce Young managing only 150 passing yards and one touchdown, and backup Andy Dalton adding a late score. The loss drops the Panthers to 1-3 on the season. Will there be any changes for the Carolina Panthers coaching staff this season? What is wrong with the Panthers? How has Bryce Young been developing?

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex discuss Napheesa Collier's recent comments criticizing WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert.

WNBA star Napheesa Collier has recently made headlines for both her on-court performance and off-court activism. As a star forward for the Minnesota Lynx and vice president of the WNBA Players Association, Collier has been outspoken about what she views as poor leadership within the league. Following a controversial no-call that resulted in an ankle injury, she publicly criticized WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, calling the league’s leadership “tone-deaf” and accusing them of ignoring players' concerns. Her comments have drawn significant attention, especially as negotiations for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement continue. Collier has warned that players are preparing for a possible lockout if their demands are not taken seriously.

Reese, Pam and Alex discuss where AJ Brown stands with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown has been making headlines recently due to a mix of on-field struggles, social media activity and trade rumors. After a quiet performance with just two catches for seven yards, Brown posted a cryptic message online, which many interpreted as a sign of frustration with his role in the offense. Head coach Nick Sirianni addressed the situation, stating that Brown still wants to contribute and has no intention of leaving the team. Despite the drama, the Eagles are 1 of 2 teams (4-0) undefeated in the NFL, the other team being the Buffalo Bills. Is Brown’s apparent frustration fair?

Reese, Pam and Alex discuss this week’s edition of ‘5 Where The Talent Resides’.

The sixth week of ‘5 Where The Talent Resides’ is here! What 5 athletes are featured today?

Reese, Pam and Alex discuss the Aces win last night, MLB playoff baseball, Shohei Ohtani and more.  

The Los Angeles Dodgers opened their NL Wild Card Series with a dominant 10-5 win over the Cincinnati Reds last night. Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernández each hit two home runs, leading a powerful offensive display. With this win, the Dodgers take a 1-0 lead in the series and have the opporuniry to close out the best of three series tonight. Is Shohei Ohtani the best baseball player ever?

Last night in the WNBA, the Las Vegas Aces punched their ticket to the WNBA Finals with a 107-98 overtime win against the Indiana Fever. A’ja Wilson led the way with 35 points and 8 rebounds, while Jackie Young added 32 points and 10 assists in a dominant performance that sealed the series. The Phoenix Mercury had already secured their Finals berth on Sunday, completing a stunning fourth-quarter comeback to beat the Minnesota Lynx 86-81 and win their semifinal series 3-1. With both teams now locked in, the stage is set for a highly anticipated WNBA Finals between Las Vegas and Phoenix.