the nail in the coffin | A Cleveland sports podcast

Stipe Miocic has waited over a year since losing the UFC heavyweight title to Daniel Cormier for his rematch. On Saturday night in Anaheim at UFC 241, he finally gets the fight he—and the MMA world—have been waiting for. News-Herald sports editor Mark Podolski, who covered Miocic’s loss to Cormier last July and has been in contact with the former champion this week, joins the show to discuss whether Miocic made the right decision to wait out Cormier instead of accepting another opponent, the injury that has kept Cormier out of the octagon since November, and the stakes for Saturday’s championship bout. Podolski also goes into Miocic’s refusal to engage in the antics that have made other UFC stars more marketable, as well as the former champ’s feelings on Brock Lesnar.

Plus: A quick primer on the upcoming high school football season, which will be the final campaign in the decorated career of longtime Mentor coach Steve Trivisonno.

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The Browns have launched into training camp. The Indians have launched themselves back squarely into contention in the AL Central days before the trade deadline. And on Sunday, an unhappy Trevor Bauer launched a ball over the center field wall. The guys discuss Bauer’s afternoon in Kansas City and the state of the Tribe heading into the deadline.

Plus: Browns training camp talk, how we lose context in video highlights on Twitter, and the countdown to the release of this year’s Madden game.

Support cancer research! Donate to Travis’ ride for Pelotonia today.

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Email us: thenailpodcast [at] gmail.com

Intro/outro music: "The 3rd" by Anitek

Photo from USA Today Sports, Associated Press | Photo illustration by The Nail in the Coffin

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In less than three weeks, the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton will welcome its Class of 2019 during its enshrinement weekend. Brock Richards, Pro Football Hall of Fame vice president of sales and marketing, joins the show to discuss the year-round work that goes into getting ready for the Hall’s big showcase, and he previews all of the events that will be happening around the main ceremonies.

Plus: A look at the ongoing construction and development in and around the HOF, the creation of new exhibits to keep fans coming back, and how technology brought John Madden’s theory of the Hall of Fame busts talking to each other to life.

For more information on the Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony and tickets, visit: ProFootballHOF.com/tickets

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Catch us on WaitingForNextYear.com

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Email us: thenailpodcast [at] gmail.com

Intro/outro music: "The 3rd" by Anitek

Photo from Pro Football Hall of Fame | Photo illustration by The Nail in the Coffin

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After a successful week of hosting All-Star festivities, it’s back to business for the Indians, who open up the second half of the season with a big series against AL Central-leading Minnesota. Jim Ingraham, a long-time Tribe beat writer and current sports columnist for the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram and Medina Gazette, joins the show to recap the Indians’ weird first half, discuss the emergence of All-Star Game MVP Shane Bieber and rookie outfielder Oscar Mercado, as well as the surprising year for Roberto Perez. Ingraham also weighs the pros and cons of dealing Trevor Bauer or Brad Hand for an impact bat and explains why the elimination of the Aug. 31 waiver trade deadline could make the end of July extra busy around MLB this year.

Plus: Monday marks the 25th anniversary of Albert Belle's corked bat being confiscated, leading to pitcher Jason Grimsley crawling through the air ducts of Comiskey Park and breaking into the umpires’ locker room to retrieve the bat, securing a place in baseball lore. Ingraham, who was in the press box that night, shares his recollections from a wild scene in the Windy City.

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Email us: thenailpodcast [at] gmail.com

Intro/outro music: "The 3rd" by Anitek

Photos from Getty Images and mlb.com | Photo illustration by The Nail in the Coffin

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Kevin Kleps of Crain’s Cleveland Business is back on the show to run through the sports biz items making news in Northeast Ohio. The guys discuss a pair of big events coming to town: the MLB All-Star Game (and all of its related activities) this weekend, followed by the NFL Draft in 2021 (actual stage location to be determined). Plus: The Browns scaling back their crowd sizes at training camp to create a better fan experience, the future of their local media deals, and the financial challenges along the Cavs’ long, slow road to rebuilding.

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Catch us on WaitingForNextYear.com

Like us on Facebook: Facebook.com/TheNailPodcast

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Email us: thenailpodcast [at] gmail.com

Intro/outro music: "The 3rd" by Anitek

Photos from clevelandbrowns.com and mlb.com | Photo illustration by The Nail in the Coffin

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