The Best of the Sports Shop

Reese, Pam and Alex speak with comedian Big Vino.

Reese, Pam and Alex discuss the two remaining NFL head coaching vacancies and who might be next to get hired, the effectiveness of the Rooney Rule amid the recent departures of Raheem Morris and Mike Tomlin, exploring why the number of Black head coaches has declined and whether more will be hired.

The Rooney Rule is an NFL hiring policy adopted in 2003 to increase diversity in coaching and front-office leadership. It requires teams with a head coaching vacancy to interview at least two external minority candidates, including racial minorities and women and similar requirements apply to other senior positions like coordinators and front-office roles. The goal is to ensure minority candidates are seriously considered for top jobs. At of the start of the 2026 season, there were five Black head coaches: Aaron Glenn (Jets), Todd Bowles (Buccaneers), DeMeco Ryans (Texans), Mike Tomlin (Steelers), and Raheem Morris (Falcons). And now with Morris being fired and Tomlin stepping down, there are only three. Why is that? Does the Rooney Rule work? Will more Black head coaches be hired?

Which Triangle Team is likely to lose on the road this weekend: Duke at Virginia Tech, UNC at Georgia Tech or NC State at Wake Forest? There are only two head coaching vacancies remaining: the Las Vegas Raiders and Arizona Cardinals. Who will be the next coaches hired?

Reese, Pam and Alex speak with Ian Parks to discuss his NBA and college basketball picks for this weekend.

Ian Parks from Always Bet On Black w/ Ian Parks joins the Sports Shop to share his picks in the NBA and college basketball. Who will win this weekend: Toronto Raptors or Orlando Magic? Harvard Crimson or Brown Bears? Detroit Pistons or Golden State Warriors? The Golden State Warriors will host the Detroit Pistons tonight at 10 PM. Will Steph Curry score more than 29.5 points tonight?

Recently, Bill Belichick did not get elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on his first ballot, which surprised many around the NFL given his résumé of six Super Bowl titles and decades of success. The controversy grew after Vahe Gregorian, a longtime Hall of Fame voter and columnist for the Kansas City Star, publicly explained why he did not vote for Belichick. Why didn't he vote for Belichick? Was he snubbed?

Sean Mannion is now the offensive coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football at Oregon State before being selected in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams. Over a nine-season NFL career from 2015 to 2023, Mannion was primarily a backup quarterback with the Rams, Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks, appearing in 14 games with three starts. After retiring following the 2023 season, he transitioned into coaching, joining the Green Bay Packers as an offensive assistant in 2024, being promoted to quarterbacks coach in 2025 and now moving to the Eagles as offensive coordinator. At 33 years old, Mannion is considered one of the NFL’s rising young coaches. Is this a good hire for the Eagles? What are they doing?

Reese, Pam and Alex discuss Cooper Flagg’s record-breaking rookie performance and other NBA milestones he’s setting, the controversy surrounding Bill Belichick missing first-ballot Hall of Fame induction and Vahe Gregorian’s reasoning and Sean Mannion’s hire as the Eagles’ offensive coordinator.

Cooper Flagg scored 49 points and 10 rebounds last night, setting the NBA record for most points ever scored by a teenager. Flagg has been on a tear during his rookie year. What other records has Flagg broken and now set?

Recently, Bill Belichick did not get elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on his first ballot, which surprised many around the NFL given his résumé of six Super Bowl titles and decades of success. The controversy grew after Vahe Gregorian, a longtime Hall of Fame voter and columnist for the Kansas City Star, publicly explained why he did not vote for Belichick. Why didn't he vote for Belichick?

Sean Mannion is an American football coach and former NFL quarterback who is now the offensive coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football at Oregon State before being selected in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams. Over a nine-season NFL career from 2015 to 2023, Mannion was primarily a backup quarterback with the Rams, Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks, appearing in 14 games with three starts. After retiring following the 2023 season, he transitioned into coaching, joining the Green Bay Packers as an offensive assistant in 2024, being promoted to quarterbacks coach in 2025 and now moving to the Eagles as offensive coordinator. At 33 years old, Mannion is considered one of the NFL’s rising young coaches. Is this a good hire for the Eagles? What are they doing?

Reese, Pam and Alex discuss

UNC is not moving the Dean E. Smith Center just yet, but it is actively studying its long-term future. The discussion has picked up because the arena, which opened in 1986, is aging and needs major upgrades to remain viable. University leaders are considering several options, including renovating the Smith Center, building a new arena on campus, or potentially constructing a new facility off campus, with Carolina North emerging as one possible site. Reese and Pam believe the arena will move, but how does that make them feel? Are they in favor of the potential move of the Dean Dome?

Recently, NC State head coach Will Wade became involved in a controversy surrounding the use of a retro NC State logo on the team’s uniforms. After an 88-68 win over Syracuse alst night in which the Wolfpack wore throwback “STATE” jerseys, Wade mentioned publicly that the university’s branding office had sent a strongly worded email saying the logo did not comply with current brand guidelines. What is going on?

Reese, Pam and Alex discuss Cooper Flagg’s historic performance last night, the impact former Duke players are already making across the NBA and whether Duke’s talent-loaded starting five underachieved by failing to win a national championship last season.

The Charlotte Hornets beat the Dallas Mavericks 123-121 last night in a tight game that came down to the final seconds. The night was highlighted by a huge Duke rookie duel: Cooper Flagg exploded for 49 points and 10 rebounds, setting the NBA record for most points ever scored by a teenager, but it wasn’t enough to secure the win. On the Hornets’ side, Kon Knueppel led the way with a career-high 34 points, drilling eight three-pointers and making key plays down the stretch. The win extended Charlotte’s streak to five games, while Dallas was left with a tough loss despite Flagg’s historic performance. Should the Sports Shop crew take a road trip to Charlotte to watch the Hornets?

Many players in Duke's starting five from last year is making a mark on the NBA. Flagg starts for the Mavericks, Knueppel and Sion James play for the Hornets, Khaman Maluach plays for the Phoenix Suns and Tyrese Proctor plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers. How did Duke not win the National Championship last year?

Reese, Pam and Alex speak with Cocoa Brown.

Cocoa Brown is an American actress, writer, and stand-up comedian known for her bold, relatable humor and a wide range of television and film roles. She has appeared in projects such as For Better or Worse, The Single Moms Club, Breaking Bad, 9-1-1, American Crime Story and Marlon, among others, while also maintaining a strong presence in stand-up comedy through national tours and club performances. Brown is scheduled to perform at Goodnights Comedy Club in Raleigh over the weekend of January 30 through February 1, 2026. On Friday, January 30, she will have shows at 7:30 PM and 9:45 PM. On Saturday, January 31, performances are set for 6:30 PM and 9:00 PM and on Sunday, February 1, she will take the stage for a 7:30 PM show.

Reese, Pam and Alex speak with Dr. Deborah Stroman and Dr. Robert Turner about the brain health of black men and her annual Black Men's Health Brain Conference.

Dr. Stroman and Dr. Turner discuss the brain health and a conference titled, Black Men’s Brain Health (BMBH) Conference.

The conference hosted by mensbrainhealth.org is the Black Men’s Brain Health (BMBH) Conference, an annual event focused on addressing brain health issues that disproportionately affect Black men. The conference centers on topics such as cognitive aging, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and other neurological conditions, with an emphasis on health disparities, prevention and access to care. It brings together researchers, clinicians, community leaders, advocates and members of the public to share research findings, culturally responsive strategies and community-based solutions. The goal is to raise awareness, improve education around brain health, increase Black men’s participation in clinical research, and support the next generation of scholars and professionals working in this space.

For more information visit: https://www.mensbrainhealth.org/ and racerealities.com

Reese, Pam and Alex speak with CL Brown and GameDay Charlie and discuss UNC Basketball, NC State Basketball, Duke Basketball and more.

Is UNC's back on track? Is the Pack back?

Reese, Pam and Alex discuss speak with Gary Jackson.

Gary Jackson is Reese's fraternity brother. What does he do?