The Open Man takes reader and listener questions! Topics include a promotion/relegation system for college football, how COVID-19 will impact scheduling, and rebuilding programs to their glory years.

The Open Man Podcast talks with four college football media members to learn what it is about this sport we love so much. Guests are Michael Felder of Stadium, Emily Van Buskirk of the Sideline Sass Podcast, Ben Kercheval of CBS Sports and Kevin McGuire...

Kota Ibushi wins G1 Climax 29, but the shocking return of Katsuyori Shibata stole the show at Nippon Budokan. Ozz and Kyle discuss “The Wrestler” throwing down with KENTA, as well as the new look of Bullet Club heading into autumn.

Also on the docket: Naito’s road forward, Taichi’s emergence and the guys ask an important question: Is Minoru Suzuki King of the Undead?

LINKS: 

– Kyle’s full G1 match rankings: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kEHqYnemg2yOF3jfu-v6eAYb05vQDzoy7e3Mgu3Usfo/edit#gid=0

– Every Tanahashi Wrestle Kingdom match from worst-to-best: https://theopenman.com/2019/02/20/wrestle-review-wednesday-ranking-hiroshi-tanahashis-wrestle-kingdom-matches/

– Switchblade and the New Era of Villainy: https://theopenman.com/2018/10/03/wrestle-review-wednesday-switchblade-jay-white-and-the-new-era-of-villainy/

 

The 2019 college football season fast approaches, and The Open Man Podcast prepares with a visit from Kevin McGuire of NBC Sports and AthlonSports.com. Kevin and Kyle discuss the best of the non-conference slate, why too much Playoff stock is placed on early-season games, and memories of playing college football video games.

For more college football video game memories, read https://theopenman.com/2018/08/09/throwback-thursday-college-football-video-games/. Follow Kevin on Twitter, @KevinOnCFB, for insights all season (and offseason).

Ahead of the block finals, The Open Man Podcast breaks down the G1 Climax making main-event stars not only of Tetsuya Naito, but Los Ingobernables de Japon stablemates EVIL and SANADA, as well.

The guys also discuss the block scenario, Ozz draws the parallel between Naito and Eddie Guerrero, and Kyle has a hot take on Kenny Omega.

Follow along with The Open Man’s match ratings here.

The G1 Climax nears its midway point, and Ozz rejoined The Open Man Podcast to discuss the goings-on. We hit on Tomohiro Ishii’s late-career peak, Grant Hill comes up twice, Jon Moxley flourishes in a new environment, and we give our predictions for the second half of G1 Climax 29.

For my complete G1 Climax ratings, check out the Google Doc here. And as an added bonus, below is the music video featuring “The Stone Pitbull” Tomohiro Ishii mentioned in the podcast.

G1 Climax 29 action is heating up, and through five nights, a surprise star is emerging. The second episode of The Open Man Podcast’s series on the G1 focuses on this unexpected standout, and why his rise exemplifies that tournament’s importance.

For The Open Man’s match ratings, check out the Google Doc.

College basketball is in a tumultuous time, with ongoing debate over the payment of players amid an increasingly corporatized atmosphere. The FBI’s investigation into allegations of fraud tied to recruiting do nothing to help the image of the sport. And yet, every March, the game captivates millions.

Through the stories and emotions of the players involved, the soul of the NCAA Tournament endures. The sounds of the Elite 8 help set the scene.

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Host Josh Webb Explores the Recruiting process in the Us and Across the Pond. He's joined by special guests Ben Warner a Manchester Sports Writer and Jerry Hinnen formerly of CBS.

Host Josh Webb catches up with WR Brice Butler on his move from Oakland to Dallas.