The Open Run With Will Strickland

Episode 235 – Critiques x Credibility

Who would hire a cab driver to build a new home for them?
Oft times, in today’s sports media landscape, the rough equivalent of that same cab driver is given the keys to the reporting car, spouting baseless drivel about a gamethey’ve never played.
On many an occasion, it's reared its ugly heads in the most beautiful game of basketball.

Here to fight the tomfoolery, Wall $t., along with former Sporting News digital content producer and Wake Forest hoops alum Gilbert McGregor!
Amazing college action in the early season, hoops octogenarians dropping milestones, and your favorite Player Who Shan’t Be Named Is Back!
We separate the Fact from the Lie…
Let us learn you!

News.Views.Truths.

References Made:
Serge Ibaka, League Pass, Mouse McFadden, kerfuffle, AJ Dybantsa, Ft. Worth, Syla Swords, confections, “Real SC”, MiamiHeat, Nikola Vucevic, Taco Tuesday, YouTube, Dolemite, Actual Fact Syndrome, Luke Walton, NBA DEI Player Hire, Jusef Nurkic shade, Tulsa King, Grand Theft Hildalgo, and more, all on thepodcast where Basketball and Life are One: The Open Run With Will Strickland!

Don’t Get Beat Off The Dribble!

 
Find Will On These Rough Interweb Streets:
Twitter: @W_Strickland1 IG: @WillStrickland1

The Open Run With Will Strickland

Episode 234 – Interruptin’ My Kung Fu

“If You’re Going Nowhere In Life, Any Road Will Take You There…”

This bar from Wall $t’s Dear Ol’ Grams (Bless The Dead), uttered to him when he was but a wee lad, set the groundwork for his decision to trail blaze and never path find.

The wise woman’s words came with an additional caveat: don’t allow distraction to derail your destination.

Our special guest this week rides a similar wave as we call on Canadian professional hooper, broadcaster, auteur and podcaster Duane Notice to put his lens on the goingson in The Association’s third week, including watching fellow University of South Carolina Gamecock alum Collin Murray-Boyles on his hometown Raptors, and why the game is in good hands as we check some super freshmen hooping in the NCAA.

We also welcome a Hall of Fame coach to Toronto and send rest in power shouts to a legend of the game.

The younglings it’s gon’ be a movie. If you miss this one, it won’t be cinematic.

News.

Views.

Truths.

References Made:
Kon Kneuppel, “Auntie”, NBA2K, The Big O, lemon pepper wangs, Tiago Splitter, The Source Awards, DEEEEEEEE-TROITBAS-KET-BALLLL, cricket-y, Super Nature, What Da Duck?, Shanti Das, Black Dynamite, Diane Keaton, aughts, Dan Shulman, “American accent”, The RZA, Project B, RIP Lenny Wilkins, imposer syndrome, Jerry Rice, FAFO, “gaming”, andmore, all on the podcast where Basketball and Life are One:The Open Run With Will Strickland!

Do What’s Popular With The Population!

 
Find Will On These Rough Interweb Streets:
Twitter: @W_Strickland1

IG: @WillStrickland1 

The Open Run With Will Strickland

Episode 233 – Strategic Amnesia

Misremembering… Learning how to forget…

Convenient tools on occasion.
In the ongoing battle of era toughness and credibility, the past and those who hold it dear, some to the point of grossly misrepresenting the goings on of the time.
This week’s guest, Senior Advisor – Basketball, for Capelli Sport, Mike Parker, taps his thinktank for his belief in yesterday, as well as today and tomorrow on the new preps-to-college landscape, legendary kick game
Mike also chats with Wall $t. about his career, adapting to change in the game and industry, the start of the college basketball season, developments in WNBA collectivebargaining talks, and the first fortnight of the NBA’s 80th season.

We’ll remember the time and embrace the moment.
You should, too!

News.Views.Truths.

References Made:
Supreme Mathematics, fit>pick, G-Unit, DePaul Blue Demons, white-on-white crime, Cedric Coward, quintuple single, MaryTisdale, per 36, “VJMaxx”, Mt. Mutumbo, Washington Capitols, Mario Elie, The Louvre, #RIPJMJ, Houston Comets, Toby Forniere, Puerto Rico AF1s, William Maxwell Dixon, Degeneration X, Nike Battlegrounds, Alcatraz, Nate Ament, Mebounds, Cornell University, DJ Clark Kent, And1, and more, all on the podcast where Basketball and Life are One: The OpenRun With Will Strickland!

Don’t Get Beat Off The Dribble!

 
Find Will On These Rough Interweb Streets:
Twitter: @W_Strickland1 IG: @WillStrickland1 

The Open Run With Will Strickland

Episode 232 – Wanna Bet?

Appealing to someone’s competitive nature is one thing; crafting an environment where greed and excess are normalized to the degree that people see it as aspirational is another.
Gambl—ahem… pardon us… “gaming”, legal or otherwise, in sports has, is and will always be a divisive topic for many.
When the integrity of a league, organization or person comes into question as it pertains to gambling’s more pernicious elements, well… prepare for scandal, exposure and a whole lot of dry beggin’ / snitchin’ to occur.
Most of that telling will be on ourselves.
We’ve had a helluva opening week to the 80th campaign of the National Basketball Association!
Feds, arrests, anticipated debuts, amazing returns, supersized scoring output and perhaps more questions than answers at this point!
Hop on for the ride…
It’s a good train!

News.Views.Truths.

References Made:
Gil’s Arena, John Tesh, The Maine Event, contractual obligation, The Unction, Tiago Splitter, Reebok, Lob City East, Timberlands, financial wellness, “This Thing Of Ours”, Marshall Walter “Major”Taylor, Portland Fire, Olivia Miles, B.R.I., American Exceptionalism, Springfield YMCA, Sandy Brondello, aristocrat, Werner Ladders, N.I.L. money, Iowa Wolves, Chauncey Ray Billups, double entendre, Disney Sports, and more, all on the podcast where Basketball and Life are One: The Open Run With Will Strickland!

Do What’s Popular With The Population!

 
Find Will On These Rough Interweb Streets: Twitter: @W_Strickland1 IG: @WillStrickland1  

The Open Run With Will Strickland
Episode 231 - Untitled
Ever been on the outside of an inside joke?
Make sure you are not as Wall $t. might crack a smile, but ain’t a damn thing funny about mixing it up with Austin, Texas’ AM 1300 The Zone’s The Morning Kickoff’s duo!
Former Major League baseball player, Friend of the Program and high school hoops teammate of your host, Mike “Hardball” Hardge, and The World’s Strongest Man (or second-strongest, depending upon who you ask), WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henrybreak down their careers, how they teamed up for their radio show, who’d be better in the other’s sport, Rice University vs The University of Texas, the NBA’s Texas Triangle of teams and more!
Does a special guest referee or tag team partner show to even out the odds in this handicapable match to give a proper salute to the WNBA season that was and The Commish who soon won’t, as well as preview the 80th campaign of the National Basketball Association?
The answer’s in the question.
Confirm by tuning in to get the goods!

News.Views.Truths.

References Made:
Bufftitude, The Ultimate Scoring Machine, Killeen, Montreal Expos, Ludacris, Midnight Madness, Yokozuna, versatility,Quinn Ewers, Little Dribblers, Rori Harmon, #DAAAAAJankiLoos, Jackie Young, “spinal”, The Undertaker, The Lyin-Ass Jacket, Bill Buckner, Hero Theme Music, niacin, NoLimit soldiers, Reebok, lower podcast injury, Ja Wick, and more, all on the podcast where Basketball and Life are One: The Open Run With Will Strickland!

Do What’s Popular With The Population!
Find Will On These Rough Interweb Streets: Twitter: @W_Strickland1 IG: @WillStrickland1  

The Open Run With Will Strickland

Episode 230 – Screams Beneath The Soil

What you focus upon will grow.

Be it is negativity or positivity in your crosshairs, your energy will reveal and yield.

On the show this week to help our hoops goodness bloom and blossom is Friend of the Program and co-host of CBC Gem’s The Great Canadian Baking Show, Alan Shane Lewis.

Though we should have hailed the 2025 WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces in the face of a potential momentum-stunting work stoppage and reviewed the NBA’s yearly General Manager’s survey, we gave up the goods during the most important gifting of accolades show in podcasting, the 5th Annual #DoWork Awards – Preseason Edition instead!

Violations after The W Finals sweep and a week before the 80th campaign for The Association?

Listen first.

Tell us later.

News.

Views.

Truths.

References Made:
Cooper Dy’Shawn Flagg, The Black Falcon, Attention Economist, #SuckaSauce, Megan Pete, dinosaurs, Yaasin Bey, BARbarian, John Andrew Vernon Ruskin, “Dice Trae”, vegemite, Slim Jesus, fanalytics, Django Unchained, Airious, midrange assassin, The Notorious B.I.3., “gaming”, SGA, Uber, Jontay Porter, Toronto Maple Leafs, Pablo Torre, WWE Superstars, Jalen Suggs, and more, all on the podcast where Basketball and Life are One: The Open Run With Will Strickland!

Don’t Get Beat Off The Dribble!

 
Find Will On These Rough Interweb Streets:

Twitter: @W_Strickland1

IG: @WillStrickland1  

The Open Run With Will Strickland

Episode 229 – The Violence Of Truth

My Dear Ol’ Dad (Bless The Dead) used to say that there are two sides to every story… three when you include…

Well…

Friend of the Program and all-everything Canadian sports broadcaster Savanna Hamilton will help me to get to that.

Whether we’re discussing Kawhi and the Clippers using the NBA like it’s the Fifth Amendment in the face of a league investigation into potential cap circumvention, the conflict between Napheesa Collier and the commissioner of the WNBA, or several record setting performances during the games of the first-ever best-of-seven series of the W’s Finals in history, if you can identify the prevarication in our analysis, let us know!

News.

Views.

Truths.

References Made:
Cinderella Stories, Bad Bunny, Call Her Daddy, equity, Cheryl Miller, The Bubble, Unrivalled, Dearica Hamby, FAFO, Russia, The Handmaid’s Tale, Toronto Mans, full gub’ment, Masai Ujiri, air quotes, Collin Murray-Boyles, artificial intelligence, RIPoetry In Moten, The Baddies, wrasslin’, Satou Sabally, The Decision 2, Podcast P, Copperas Cove High School, Stephanie White, Love x Basketball, nepo babies, Detroit Shock, “yappa”, and more, all on the podcast where Basketball and Life are One: The Open Run With Will Strickland!

Do What’s Popular With The Population!

 
Find Will On These Rough Interweb Streets:

Twitter: @W_Strickland1

IG: @WillStrickland1  

The Open Run With Will Strickland

Episode 228 – Anti-Social Media
I’ve always had a Love | Hate relationship with these rough interweb streets.
Working in sports media in Canada didn’t change it; only amplified it.
Circumstances changed.  We’re here wow, but I’m revisiting its relevance in Life.
The Internet is Forever… and so is one of the hotly contested WNBA semifinals ever, including an all-time coaching crash out that would lead to something even greater.
The first week of Fall brings us closer to NBA media day for its 80th campaign and 23d for arguably sports first social media superstar.
Absurd, but true.
Don’t let envy and shame keep you from embracing the moments.
Let the quality hoops talk hook you!

News.Views.Truths.

References Made:
VJ Edgecombe, 3-6 Latvia, DJ Cucumber Slice, PortlandFire, Sloot, crash out, Gamecock Fight, TikTok, TSN, LinkedIn, The Artist Formerly Known As Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor, Jr., algorithm, Trill Burgers, DeWanna Bonner, litigiousness, The Big O, Disney Sports, Raise The Flagg, Montana, Aspiration, Rick Brunson, Seattle Supersonics, Aaliyah Boston, and more, all on the podcast where Basketball and Life are One: The OpenRun With Will Strickland!
Don’t Get Beat Off The Dribble!

 
Find Will On These Rough Interweb Streets: Twitter: @W_Strickland1 IG: @WillStrickland1  

The Open Run With Will Strickland

Episode 227 – Outta Town Shooters

Despite the adage that in order to get a job done right, you gotta do it yourself, sometimes in Life, you may be required to count on outsourcing talent to complete a mission.

With the NBA’s first wave of training camps and media days upon us, outside of lingering questions about the future of the hashtag #HeWhoShantBeNamed, random “expert lists” judging the best players in The Association and the new All-Star Game format, the query at the forefront of inquisition will be The Kawhi Protocols in Clipperland.

Someone contracted an outside squad to do an inside gig.

It looks like it’s about to be messy for several parties involved…

We’re on it.

The women of the WNBA are in awards season and in the midst of their final four, with semifinals matchups that could upset the apple cart even further, as the 2024 champs have been sent packing for #tackleBoxSZN.

What team opening on the road has the best chance to flip the script and control their own narrative in these playoffs?

We got that, too.

You know the drill.

Move Accordingly.

Do So With Minimal Caution.

News.

Views.

Truths.

References Made:
StudBudz, Mad Max (No Thunderdome), Athletes Unlimited, Pistol Pete, War Eagle, Manitoba, Tulane University, Jack Molinas, BNA Airport, Miika Muurinen, Sheryl Swoopes, Nashville Summit, Timothy Elpadaro Thedford, “Knoxvul”, Touring The AFC South, Kelsey Mitchell, ClarksVegas, Buc-ees,Victor Sweet, Toronto Maple Leafs, Ballhalla, loud packs, Moolah Kicks, breakfast cereal mascots, Rocky Top, Calgary Stampeders, Uncle Dennis, and more, all on the podcast where Basketball and Life are One: The Open Run With Will Strickland!

Do What’s Popular With The Population!

Find Will On These Rough Interweb Streets:

Twitter: @W_Strickland1

IG: @WillStrickland1  

⁠The Open Run With Will Strickland⁠

Episode 226 – Ordered Steps

“It Was Written”… or so it says.

What is the difference between Fate and Destiny?

Is there any?

As the 80th campaign of the National Basketball Association is a scant few days away, we explore the stumbling blocks and stepping stones lain before us as a team in the Pacific Northwest changes ownerships and fans are nervous about their tomorrows, unique storylines abound with the start of the WNBA’s “Second Season”, a EuroBasket win for a country led by a player who may have just cemented his Hall of Fame credentials and Pablo Torre’s investigative rock turning on the Clippers.

Walk with us.

News.Views.Truths.

References Made:

Dirk Werner Nowitzki, Abu Dhabi, The Finnisher, the varying weight of bronze medals, 76er summer hoops mixtapes, gangsta mimes, Carne Contaminado, Back To The Future, Clay Bennett, empathy, Terence “Bud” Crawford, thoughts and prayers, Public Enemy, YouTubers, Spida shade, Panda Express, and more, all on the podcast where Basketball and Life are One: The Open Run With Will Strickland!

Don’t Get Beat Off The Dribble!

Find Will On These Rough Interweb Streets: Twitter: @W_Strickland1 IG: @WillStrickland1