For the record, I’m a sucker for All Star Weekend, so my objectivity is questionable when it comes to critiquing the Association’s annual celebration of everything NBA. It is, for the most part, fairly predictable; you skim through All Star Saturday Night on the DVR, culling through the commercials and filler to get to the events. This year, we got a particularly memorable win by Buddy Hield in the 3-Point Contest, but the Dunk Contest was marred by controversy, as flaws in the archaic scoring system eliminated any chance of getting a clear winner. As for the game itself, anytime you put the best payers in the world on the court at the same time, I’m watching, even if what I’m seeing bears only a passing resemblance to the game we love. But this year, thanks to the Elam Ending, that now-famous game deciding math equation, we got a competitive game played at an intensity normally reserved for the Playoffs. Guys played defense down the stretch, players argued calls like the season was on the line, and in the end, Team LeBron, loaded with at least three of the best five players in the game, emerged as the victors. But if you watched the game, you don’t need me to tell you that the real winners were the fans. All Star Weekend was already fine, definitely worth my time but not necessarily appointment viewing, but if this is what we have to look forward to next year, I’m already counting down the days til next year’s event. The NBA, it’s fantastic! So sit back, it’s the NBA, all NBA and nothing but the NBA and we’re breaking down how it’s all unfolding, next on the Roundup Podcast, so let’s get rolling . . .

Talk about perfect timing. It’s been a long, wonderful winter spent following another great NFL season, and while I wouldn’t trade lazy football Sundays for anything, I’m about ready to focus my attention on the Association. We got an exciting Super Bowl comeback win for the Chiefs, followed by a bye week for sports fans, and now, we get the NBA All Star break to kick off the exciting stretch drive of the season, taking us right into the Playoffs. The first 55 games or so of the season were instructive, both for teams learning to come together and for the fans who follow the Association, but they were for the most part, low stakes affairs set in the periphery of football. But as LeBron and Giannis lead their All Star teams into Chicago this weekend, the NBA takes over center stage. The games start to mean a bit more, the contenders and the pretenders start to show their true colors, and we can finally trade in our speculation for cold, hard facts. Everything up to now has been a prelude for the real season, so buckle up hoops-heads, it’s that special time of year again for all of the hard-core basketball fans out there, when the NBA stands alone in the spotlight. So sit back, it’s the NBA, all NBA and nothing but the NBA and we’re breaking down how it’s all unfolding, next on the Roundup Podcast, so let’s get rolling . . .

Patrick Mahomes was having the worst game of his career. Through three quarters of Super Bowl 54, he was easily being outperformed by Jimmy Garoppolo, and I’m pretty sure the 49ers thought they had him beat. But there’s something special about this kid that on this particular Sunday evoked memories of the recently departed Kobe Bryant, specifically a story about how Kobe used to rig games in high school so his team was down and he could bring them back. As Mahomes carved up SF late in the game, he seemed to be channeling the Mamba. In true Kobe fashion, Mahomes is single minded in his pursuit of victory. Every game this postseason has seen Mahomes in a double digit deficit, and very game has ended with him emerging victorious. Now he stands alone, as the youngest QB ever to win an MVP, a Super Bowl, and to cap it off with a Super Bowl MVP. But what about the team on the other side of a comeback? Though they’d never say so, the 49ers had to be starting their celebration as the 4th quarter began, up 10 points and thoroughly dominating the contest. You could see it in their eyes, victory was so close they could almost touch it. Almost. Some will criticize Jimmy G for not making the plays, some will put the loss on Shanahan for his play calling and clock management, and some will point at the D for allowing Mahomes to make plays, but parsing the blame only deflects from the fact that the 49ers collapse was as a team. Mahomes and the Chiefs rose to the moment and not a single Niner was able to do anything about it. In the end, what we got was the NFL’s version of a referendum; the Chiefs were just the better team this year. So sit back, the NFL season is over and the Chiefs are the champs as the NBA All Star break approaches and we’re breaking down how it’s all unfolding, next on the Roundup Podcast, so let’s get rolling . . .

As the NFL’s biggest celebration approached in the week leading up to the Super Bowl, it was sadness that gripped the sports world. The outpouring of grief for Kobe Bean Bryant & the 8 passengers who lost their lives was bigger, more significant than any story in sports could possibly be. Yes, Kobe was a star, and his high public profile made this story headline news, but it was his humanity that really struck a chord in our collective consciousness. It was the randomness of Sunday’s tragedy that reminded us of our mortality, and seeing the news that a family had lost a father and daughter really hit us where it hurts. We grieved for Kobe, for the devastated families who lost loved ones, but we also grieved for how tragedy can hit anytime, anywhere, anyone, no matter who you are. It didn’t matter if you were a fan or not, whether Kobe was the “beloved” superstar didn’t matter like it used to in the NBA arguments we all had over the years, if you felt human emotions, Kobe’s way-too-young death hit home. For once, credit the media for collectively handling a delicate situation with sensitivity and class, in particular Scott Van Pelt, who hosted one of the most memorable and real SportsCenters of my life Sunday night, & the emotional tribute from the guys on Inside the NBA on Tuesday, as the sports world came together to remember the Mamba and try to work through the grief. In the NBA, the games went on, with heartfelt tributes to Kobe from all around the Association, and on Sunday, the Super Bowl will still be played. The game was life to Kobe, and to Gigi too, and in many ways, the games are life to us, as we take our kids to practice, watch games with friends and family, or podcast about them with a buddy, and when you’re doing what you love, that’s when you’re truly alive. So rest in peace Mamba, you’ll be honored at the Super Bowl, the NBA season will play out as a tribute to your legacy and we’ll keep breaking down how it’s all unfolding, here on the Roundup Podcast, so after a moment of silence, let’s keep on rolling . . .

When the NFL regular season ended, it was time to say goodbye to RedZone, to 17 weeks of multi screen NFL viewing, to lazy Sundays on the couch with nothing to do but revel in the glory of watching football. But we still had the Playoffs, three more weeks of exciting games that were almost enough to make us forget, football season is almost over. It’s that time of year again, that moment of existential crisis football fans collectively feel as we face the end of another season. It takes a few weeks to get used to the change, but after a while, as the actual seasons turn and spring approaches, you learn to venture outside again and life moves on. I know it’s hard sports fans, I’ve been there, but I’m telling you as someone who knows things about sports, the NFL will be back. But in the meantime, we still have one more glorious football Sunday to enjoy, the high holiday of the NFL and the matchup couldn’t be better. The Chiefs endured an up and down season, with injuries to Patrick Mahomes and unsteady defensive play counterbalancing an exciting and explosive offense. Meanwhile, the 49ers were the model of consistency, pretty much staking their claim to the NFC in September and never looking back. Their defense is at times unblockable, impenetrable, unmovable and inextricable, and the running game, unstoppable, but their QB? In a word, unpredictable, just like this NFL season was, and today, we’re looking back at a campaign that was all over the map, with erratic betting patterns, trojan horse Playoff teams, sudden ascensions and a fallen dynasty. The big game is still a ways away, so no previews just yet; today it’s all about celebrating another great year and how we got here, to Chiefs/Niners in Super Bowl 54! So sit back, the Super Bowl matchup is decided, the NBA season is just getting going and we’re breaking down how it’s all unfolding, next on the Roundup Podcast, so let’s get rolling . . .

Title aspirations can end quickly in the NFL Playoffs; its one and done, and as the Ravens learned Saturday, even a 14-2 record earns you nothing more than the opportunity to advance. And the road to the Super Bowl is anything but easy to navigate, with potential hazards at every turn. The Ravens had home field advantage against the Titans, everything seemed aligned for them to advance, but the Tennessee defenders were as slick and stealthy as black ice on a winter’s road, and Lamar Jackson and the Ravens got caught slipping, just like the Patriots had done the week before. It’s by no means the end of the road for Lamar, he’ll be back in the driver’s seat before we know it, and next time, he might be better prepared for the hazardous conditions. Meanwhile, Derrick Henry was carrying his Titans like a human snowplow, unimpeded by any obstacles in his path to the Super Bowl and it doesn’t look like anything can stop him. So now we’re left with four teams, and the road to Miami goes through San Francisco and Kansas City, as the Niners host the Packers and the Chiefs host the Titans. SF and KC are prohibitive favorites, but TEN and GB offer some intriguing matchups. The Titans have defied all odds just getting to this point, and their run-first and defensive-oriented approach is diametrically opposed to the Chiefs aerial attack. And for the Packers, all hopes hinge on the performance of Aaron Rodgers, as the future Hall of Fame QB looks to silence his critics by getting that all-important second ring. And if we’ve learned anything this NFL season, it’s that you should expect the unexpected, and you can’t write off GB and TEN just yet. So sit back, the NFL Playoffs are unpredictable, the NBA season is just getting going and we’re breaking down how it’s all unfolding, next on the Roundup Podcast, so let’s get rolling . . .

Coming off maybe the most entertaining Wild Card Weekend ever, you have to be excited for the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs. With the fall of the Patriots, we’re guaranteed a new champ, and the field seems fairly open for a handful of contenders. But all of the winners from Wild Card Weekend will advance as road dogs, and in order to survive another weekend, they’ll need to move past last week’s wins and keep their eyes on the prize, cuz the matchups are tough. The Titans rode Derrick Henry to victory over the Pats, but face long odds and a far less favorable matchup vs the Ravens and Lamar Jackson. The Vikings are coming off a huge upset win in New Orleans, only to travel to SF to face the mighty Niners. Houston will need more magic from Deshaun if they’re gonna get by Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. And in what should be the Game of the Week, Danger Russ will go head to head with Aaron Rodgers at Lambeau. Look at the matchups; the top 5 QBs in the game are all still playing this week and we’re almost certain to see something special. And in the NBA, the news of the day is injuries; there’s a whole All Star roster of players inactive at the moment, and title hopes could likely be determined by who wins the war of injury attrition. So sit back, the NFL Playoffs are already just magnificent viewing, the NBA season is just getting going and we’re breaking down how it’s all unfolding, next on the Roundup Podcast, so let’s get rolling . . .

Happy New Year’s to everyone out there, may your 2020 be filed with joy and prosperity. And with the New Year, it’s out with the old, in this case, the NFL’s regular season, and in with the new, and that could only mean it’s Playoff time. Wild Card weekend starts off as it always does, with the AFC South champ in the early game. It’s the Texans hosting the wild card Bills, and from this angle, it looks like the Bills just might be the better team, so upset potential is definitely there. Speaking of upsets, the one all the pundits are predicting involves the defending champion Patriots, hosting the red-hot Titans. The Pats are in a rare WC weekend game, and have been known to struggle against defense-oriented, run-first teams. And that’s just the beginning. Sunday’s action kicks off with Vikings/Saints, with two legit NFC powerhouses facing off early. Both teams are supremely talented, and with the recent history between them, we might get some fireworks. And to close it all out, Russell Wilson will lead his overachieving Seahawks into Philly to take on the injury riddled Eagles. And if that wasn’t enough to sate even the most avid sports fan’s appetite, there’s an amazing NBA season going on as well! So sit back, the NFL Playoffs are here while the NBA season is just getting going and we’re breaking down how it’s all unfolding, next on the Roundup Podcast, so let’s get rolling . . .

I just couldn’t stay away. Even with the holidays, traveling to see the family, we had to find a way to keep up with the NFL as the season winds down. With the Playoffs looming, there’s just too much going on, and there was no way we were gonna pass up the opportunity to break it all down; the schedules have been flexed, the seeding scenarios have become clear, and we have 10 games with possible Playoff ramifications this week. While the Ravens rest in the 1 seed, the Pats and Chiefs are both gunning for the 2 seed and home field advantage, while the Steelers, Titans and Raiders just want to get into the postseason. In the NFC, the 1 seed is up for grabs between the Niners, Packers, Saints and Seahawks, while the Cowboys and Eagles are playing to keep their seasons alive. It’s Week 17 in the NFL, we have games that matter and we’re just happy to be here talking football with you! And as if that wasn’t reason enough to get on the mic today, there’s a really intriguing NBA season going on as well. So sit back, it’s the Roundup New Year’s Special; the NFL season is wrapping up while the NBA season is just getting going and we’re breaking down how it’s all unfolding, next on the Roundup Podcast, so let’s get rolling . . .

As we bring you our last episode of the year and close out 2019, we want to wish everyone out there a safe and happy holidays. We’re taking next week off to celebrate with our families, but as always, stay tuned, cuz no matter what the season, when we return in the new year, we’ll keep bringing you the best in sportstalk each and every week. But for today, it’s time for a little reflection, a look back at all the players, all the hustlers from all the leagues, that made 2019 special. The year started with Tom Brady and the Pats winning their 6th Super Bowl of the century, then we saw Kawhi and his Raptors, upsetting our Warriors in the NBA Finals, and of course, gotta credit the Nationals for the way they upset everyone on their way to their first World Series title. But what I’ll remember 2019 for most is how it transitions us into the 2020’s. The NBA, NFL and MLB all saw a huge influx in talent this year, as all the players came from far and wide to test their skills on the biggest stages. 2019 was the year that Giannis became an MVP, that Luka Doncic became a star and that Zion joined the Association. It was the year that Patrick Mahomes became the best QB in the league and then promptly lost the title to Lamar Jackson, but either way, both made the leap to the elite level. And in MLB, we watched as 20 year old Juan Soto led his Nats to the Series. Even as we close out the decade, with all of the emerging talent in all three leagues, I’m here to tell you there’s even better days ahead, and as these young players take over the sports world, chances are we’ll look back at 2019 as a sort of beginning of a new era of superstars. So sit back, it’s the Roundup Christmas Sports Extravaganza, the NFL Playoff race is underway, this NBA season is out of control entertaining, and we’re breaking down how it’s all unfolding, next on the Roundup Podcast, so let’s get rolling . . .