The Best of the Sports Shop

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex discuss Cherie DeVaux’s historic Kentucky Derby breakthrough with Golden Tempo and some NBA Playoff action tonight.

Cherie DeVaux had a historic weekend at the Kentucky Derby, training Golden Tempo to a stunning victory in the 2026 running of the race. In doing so, she became the first woman in history to train a Kentucky Derby winner. Golden Tempo pulled off the win in dramatic fashion, rallying from off the pace in the final stretch under jockey José Ortiz to secure a memorable upset at long odds. The performance capped one of the most significant milestones in modern horse racing, breaking a long-standing barrier in the sport and cementing DeVaux’s place in Derby history.

The NBA playoff weekend delivered three Game 7s, all in the East, and this time it was the underdogs and comeback stories that defined it. The Philadelphia 76ers stunned the Boston Celtics on the road, completing a comeback from down 3-1 in the series and pulling off a historic win behind huge performances from Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, who dominated late and flipped both teams’ Game 7 narratives. That victory gives the Sixers major momentum heading into their next challenge, as they now face the New York Knicks. Who will win the series? Is Philadelphia overrated? Are the Knicks?

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex discuss if the Philadelphia 76ers will beat the Knicks.

The NBA playoff weekend delivered three Game 7s, all in the East, and this time it was the underdogs and comeback stories that defined it. The Philadelphia 76ers stunned the Boston Celtics on the road, completing a comeback from down 3-1 in the series and pulling off a historic win behind huge performances from Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, who dominated late and flipped both teams’ Game 7 narratives. That victory gives the Sixers major momentum heading into their next challenge, as they now face the New York Knicks in a series shaping up to be one of the most physical and storyline-heavy matchups in the Eastern Conference. Who will win the series? Is Philadelphia overrated? Are the Knicks?

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex discuss the NBA Playoffs.

The Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs are meeting in the Western Conference Semifinals after both teams advanced through the first round in different ways. The Spurs enter the series healthy, rested, and confident after a quick series win over Portland, giving them extra time to prepare and game-plan for Minnesota. In contrast, the Timberwolves are dealing with key injuries, most notably Anthony Edwards, who is questionable or potentially limited with a knee issue, along with other depth concerns that could impact their rotation. Does Minnesota stand a chance?

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex discuss whether Boston’s Game 7 loss is on Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla, break down how Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey powered the Philadelphia 76ers to a stunning 3-1 comeback and more.

The NBA playoff weekend delivered three Game 7s, all in the East, and this time it was the underdogs and comeback stories that defined it. The Philadelphia 76ers stunned the Boston Celtics on the road, completing a comeback from down 3-1 in the series and pulling off a historic win behind huge performances from Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, who dominated late and flipped both teams’ Game 7 narratives. Boston was also without Jayson Tatum in Game 7. Was this a disappointing end to the season for Boston? Did Joe Mazzulla mess up the gameplan?

Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers handled the Toronto Raptors by taking control in the second half, using a massive third-quarter run to pull away. Finally, the Detroit Pistons completed one of the best stories of the first round, blowing out the Orlando Magic in Game 7 to cap a comeback from down 3-1 in the series. Cade Cunningham led the way with a dominant all-around performance, supported by strong scoring from Tobias Harris.

Reese, Pam and Alex discuss their Good Looks and Bad Looks on this Good Look Bad Look Monday and the Celtics Game 7 loss to the 76ers.

The NBA playoff weekend delivered three Game 7s, all in the East, and this time it was the underdogs and comeback stories that defined it. The Philadelphia 76ers stunned the Boston Celtics on the road, completing a comeback from down 3-1 in the series and pulling off a historic win behind huge performances from Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, who dominated late and flipped both teams’ Game 7 narratives. Boston was also without Jayson Tatum in Game 7. Was this a disappointing end to the season for Boston?

Reese, Pam and Alex discuss NBA Game 7s over the weekend.

The NBA playoff weekend delivered three Game 7s, all in the East and this time it was the underdogs and comeback stories that defined it. The Philadelphia 76ers stunned the Boston Celtics on the road, pulling off a historic win behind huge performances from Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, who dominated late and flipped both teams’ Game 7 narratives. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers handled the Toronto Raptors by taking control in the second half, using a massive third-quarter run to pull away. Finally, the Detroit Pistons completed one of the best stories of the first round, blowing out the Orlando Magic in Game 7 to cap a comeback from down 3-1 in the series. Cade Cunningham led the way with a dominant all-around performance, supported by strong scoring from Tobias Harris.

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex discuss the Boston Celtics’ Game 6 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, what it means heading into a decisive Game 7 on Sunday and this NBA Playoff weekend.

In last night’s NBA playoff action, the Philadelphia 76ers held off the Boston Celtics 106-93 in Game 6 to even the series and force a winner-take-all Game 7. Boston’s struggles came at the worst possible time in Game 6.  Now, with everything on the line, questions turn to adjustments, execution and which team can handle the pressure of a Game 7 showdown. With the series tied, what does Game 6 reveal about both teams heading into Sunday? Who has the momentum and who can rise to the moment when it matters most? Is Jayson Tatum healthy?

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: Detroit Pistons or Orlando Magic? Toronto Raptors or Cleveland Cavaliers? Los Angeles Lakers or Houston Rockets? The Orlando Magic will host the Detroit Pistons tonight in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference First Round playoff series. Detroit is facing elmination as Orlando is up 3-2 in the series. Will Desmond Bane record more than 19.5 points tonight?

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex discuss John Wall’s new front-office role at Howard, what his influence could mean for HBCU basketball and recruiting, the Duke-Amazon streaming deal and its impact on college basketball media and what all of it signals about the shifting landscape of the sport, including where UNC Basketball fits into that evolving picture.

John Wall recently stepped into a front-office leadership role as President of Basketball Operations for the Howard men’s basketball program. In this position, Wall is not coaching on the court but is involved in shaping the overall direction of the program, including recruiting strategy, transfer portal evaluation, NIL and revenue-sharing discussions, player development planning and working closely with the coaching staff on roster construction. The move reportedly grew out of Wall’s earlier involvement with Howard, including appearances around the program that led to conversations about a larger role in helping elevate the team. His hiring reflects a broader trend in college athletics where former NBA players take on executive-style positions to bring experience, credibility and national attention to programs, particularly at HBCUs. At Howard, his presence is expected to boost recruiting, strengthen ties to elite talent pipelines and increase the program’s national visibility. Will this work? Will this become the standard?

The Duke Blue Devils and Amazon recently agreed to a multi-year media partnership that will bring select Duke men’s basketball games to Amazon Prime Video starting in the 2026-27 season. Under the deal, Amazon will stream three non-conference Duke games per year, featuring high-profile opponents such as UConn Huskies, Michigan Wolverines and Gonzaga Bulldogs. The agreement marks Amazon’s first major entry into college basketball broadcasting and reflects the growing shift toward streaming platforms playing a larger role in live sports coverage. Beyond just game broadcasts, the partnership is also expected to enhance Duke’s national and global exposure while potentially creating additional NIL and marketing opportunities for its athletes. Is Duke the standard? What does this deal say about the state of UNC Basketball?

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex discuss the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2026, the energy from Media Day in Greensboro yesterday and Reese’s takeaways from  Media Day ahead of induction night.

Several members of the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame's 2026 induction class will have appeared on The Sports Shop. The new members, listed alphabetically, are Chip Beck, Heather Bergsma, Louis Breeden, Leonard Hamilton, Tyler Hansbrough, Richard Huntley, John Isner, Norvell Lee, Eddie Pope, Kelvin Sampson and Jerry Winterton. Yesterday, Thursday, April 30, 2026, the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame hosted its official Media Day and press conference at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro. This event served as the formal kickoff for the 62nd annual induction weekend, allowing the Class of 2026 to engage with the media and reflect on their careers before the main gala. The momentum from yesterday’s press conference leads directly into the Induction Celebration taking place tonight Friday, May 1, at the Sheraton at Four Seasons Convention Center in Greensboro, starting at 5 p.m. This evening's banquet will officially enshrine the 11-member class, celebrating a diverse group ranging from basketball icons to championship-winning coaches. What did Reese think of the press conference yesterday?