The Best of the Sports Shop

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex discuss if the Knicks are the best team in the east or if they just got lucky and if the Cavs should fire Kenny Atkinson. 

The New York Knicks dominated the Cleveland Cavaliers as the Knicks swept the Cavs 4-0 in the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals. The Knicks consistently outplayed Cleveland with efficient three-point shooting, aggressive defense and dominant play. The Cavs struggled to keep up despite efforts from Donovan Mitchell. In Game 4 last night, New York capped off the series with a 130-93 victory while setting an NBA playoff record by becoming the first team ever to win three series-clinching closeout games by 20+ points in a single playoff run, securing a trip to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999. How good are the Knicks? Can they win the NBA Finals? What happened to the Cavs? What do we think of James Harden? Will the Cavs fire Kenny Atkinson? Should they?

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex discuss an MMA event involving Ray J and Jaxson Dart introducing Donald Trump debating if Dart made the right decision.

Over the weekend, the rapper and TV personality, Ray J, faced off against YouTuber Supa Hot Fire in Las Vegas. Ray J was knocked out in the celebrity MMA match just months after claiming he didn't have long to live. What happened?

New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart introduced Donald Trump over the weekend at a rally. Dart's appearance raised eyebrows among some teammates and fans, sparking a larger discussion about Trump and politics in sports. What happened? Should Dart have introduced Trump? Can teammates with political differences get along?

Reese, Pam and Alex discuss the the Knicks sweeping the Cavs and what to think of the James Harden and the Cavaliers.

The New York Knicks dominated the Cleveland Cavaliers as the Knicks swept the Cavs 4-0 in the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals. The Knicks consistently outplayed Cleveland with efficient three-point shooting, aggressive defense and dominant play. The Cavs struggled to keep up despite efforts from Donovan Mitchell. In Game 4 last night, New York capped off the series with a 130-93 victory while setting an NBA playoff record by becoming the first team ever to win three series-clinching closeout games by 20+ points in a single playoff run, securing a trip to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999. How good are the Knicks? Can they win the NBA Finals? What happened to the Cavs? What do we think of James Harden?

Reese, Pam and Alex discuss the the Knicks sweeping the Cavs and advancing to the NBA Finals.

The New York Knicks dominated the Cleveland Cavaliers as the Knicks swept the Cavs 4-0 in the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals. The Knicks consistently outplayed Cleveland with efficient three-point shooting, aggressive defense and dominant play. The Cavs struggled to keep up despite efforts from Donovan Mitchell. In Game 4 last night, New York capped off the series with a 130-93 victory while setting an NBA playoff record by becoming the first team ever to win three series-clinching closeout games by 20+ points in a single playoff run, securing a trip to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999. How good are the Knicks? Can they win the NBA Finals? What happened to the Cavs? What do we think of James Harden?

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex speak with JB Smoove.

JB Smoove is a comedian performing at Goodnights Comedy Club in Raleigh, North Carolina, with shows Thursday, May 22, 2026, at 7:00 PM and 9:15 PM, and Friday, May 23, 2026, at 7:00 PM and 9:30 PM. Tickets and event details for this multi-day special engagement are available at Goodnights Comedy Club.

J.B. Smoove is an Emmy Award–winning actor, comedian, writer, producer, and stand-up performer best known for his breakout role as Leon Black on Curb Your Enthusiasm, as well as his work as a writer on Saturday Night Live, where he won a WGA Award. His career spans television, film, animation, and stand-up comedy, with credits including The Last O.G., Real Husbands of Hollywood, Date Night, Hall Pass, and voice roles in American Dad and Harley Quinn. Known for his storytelling, improvisation, and physical comedy, Smoove has been a touring stand-up for over 30 years.

The New York Knicks are up 2-0 in their Eastern Conference Finals series against the Cleveland Cavaliers after winning Game 2 by a score of 109-93 last night. The San Antonio Spurs are tied 1-1 in their Western Conference Finals series against the Oklahoma City Thunder after losing Game 2 Wednesday night. The San Antonio Spurs will host the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3 of their series tonight. Who will win this weekend?

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex speak with Ian Parks to discuss his NBA Playoff picks.

Ian Parks from Always Bet On Black w/ Ian Parks joins the Sports Shop to share his picks for this weekend in the NBA Playoffs. Who will win this weekend: San Antonio Spurs or Oklahoma City Thunder? New York Knicks or Cleveland Cavaliers?

The New York Knicks are up 2-0 in their Eastern Conference Finals series against the Cleveland Cavaliers after winning Game 2 by a score of 109-93 last night. The San Antonio Spurs are tied 1-1 in their Western Conference Finals series against the Oklahoma City Thunder after losing Game 2 Wednesday night. The San Antonio Spurs will host the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3 of their series tonight. Who will win? Will Devin Vassell record more than 14.5 points tonight? Will Alex Caruso record more than 10.5 points tonight?

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex discuss the Knicks taking a commanding 2-0 series lead over the Cavaliers, whether Cleveland can respond at home, the Spurs and Thunder tied 1-1 heading into a pivotal Game 3 in San Antonio tonight and if the Knicks can win the NBA Championship.

The New York Knicks currently lead the Cleveland Cavaliers 2-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals after winning both games at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks took Game 1, 115-104, then followed it with a more dominant 109-93 win in Game 2 last night, raising expectations that this could become the franchise’s most significant postseason run in decades. As the series shifts to Cleveland, the pressure is now squarely on the Cavaliers to respond at home, while the Knicks suddenly look like legitimate contenders to reach the NBA Finals. What happened last night? Do the Cavs have a chance? Will the Knicks sweep the Cavs? Can the Knicks win the NBA Championship?

The San Antonio Spurs are tied 1-1 in their Western Conference Finals series against the Oklahoma City Thunder after losing Game 2 Wednesday night. Game 3 shifts to San Antonio tonight. Who will win?

Reese, Kmac, Pam, Alex and our summer intern, Houston Hooker discuss the Carolina Hurricanes Game 1 loss last night.

The Carolina Hurricanes are trailing the Montreal Canadiens 1-0 in the Eastern Conference Final after a shocking 6-2 loss in Game 1 last night. Carolina entered the series as a Stanley Cup favorite after sweeping both of its first two playoff rounds, but the long layoff between series quickly became a major storyline. The Hurricanes had 11 full days off, nearly 12 days between games, after finishing their second-round sweep on May 9, the longest conference-final layoff in modern NHL playoff history. That rust showed early. The Canadiens overwhelmed Carolina with speed and transition offense, while Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen allowed more goals than he had in any playoff game this postseason. Another loss at home would put the Hurricanes in a dangerous 0-2 hole before the series shifts to Montreal.

Kyle Busch, the two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, died at age 41 following a recent hospitalization for a severe illness, according to multiple reports. Busch, one of the most successful drivers in NASCAR history with 63 Cup Series wins and championships in 2015 and 2019, had recently been dealing with health issues before his death was announced. What happened?

Reese, Pam and Alex discuss the Knicks Game 2 win over the Cavs last night.

The New York Knicks currently lead the Cleveland Cavaliers 2-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals after winning both games at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks took Game 1, 115-104, then followed it with a more dominant 109-93 win in Game 2 last night, raising expectations that this could become the franchise’s most significant postseason run in decades. As the series shifts to Cleveland, the pressure is now squarely on the Cavaliers to respond at home, while the Knicks suddenly look like legitimate contenders to reach the NBA Finals. What happened last night? Do the Cavs have a chance? Will the Knicks sweep the Cavs?

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex discuss the NAACP and members of the Congressional Black Caucus urging Black athletes, fans and recruits to boycott major Southern college athletic programs and the debate over whether it is fair for parents to encourage their children to boycott SEC schools due to political concerns.

The NAACP and members of the Congressional Black Caucus are urging Black athletes, fans, and recruits to boycott major Southern college athletic programs over concerns about Black voting rights and congressional redistricting. The campaign, called “Out of Bounds,” argues that new district maps in several Southern states weaken Black political representation.

Because many of these universities rely heavily on Black athletes in football and basketball, civil rights leaders argue that athletes should not help generate revenue and prestige for institutions in states they believe are undermining Black voting power. The movement encourages recruits to reconsider attending these schools, asks current athletes to speak out on voting rights issues, and urges supporters to redirect attention toward historically Black colleges and universities. Supporters view the boycott as part of a long tradition of athlete activism, while critics argue it could unintentionally harm student-athletes by limiting scholarship opportunities. What does the Sports Shop crew think? What do you think?