The Untold History of Sports in America

On this week's Sports Slice, Timbo takes a look at some of the top games in college football this week and makes 3 picks! Does Timbo like North Dakota State or Jacksonville State? North Carolina or TCU? Then he discusses the QB situations with the Cleveland Browns and Las Vegas Raiders.

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On this week's Sports Slice, Timbo begins by talking about a huge UFC event and then he shares his early NFL preseason takeaways. Later, he's joined by Dazeran "Duke Skywalka" Jones and he talks about his experience in "White Men Can't Jump," his basketball career, and his relationship with NBA players.

Listen to Sports Slice wherever you get your podcasts.

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In this college football podcast episode, we take one final deep breath after our marathon run of 2026 conference previews and turn the show over to the Verballerhood for our August Q&A. With the season finally within reach, we dig into the teams we find most interesting, the best dark horse candidates around the country, and one of the questions that could define the expanded College Football Playoff era: What would a convincing 9-3 playoff resume actually look like?

We also zoom out on the changing power structure of college football. Was Lane Kiffin right to bet that a job like LSU still offers advantages that programs further down the traditional hierarchy simply cannot match? Has the transfer portal, money and increased player movement truly leveled the field, or have the old powers merely lost some of their margin for error? Plus, we compare a handful of the biggest coaching moves from the offseason, wonder what issue could become college football’s next great existential fight, and ask whether all that player movement could eventually take some heat out of the sport’s biggest rivalries.

And because it’s a Q&A, things inevitably get weird. We debate the ideal school for a punter, investigate sports conspiracies, build a college football soundtrack out of movie scores, evaluate SEC stadium bucket lists and learn that Dan has apparently developed a neighborhood reputation as an illicit dealer of highly coveted pizza cheese.

Listen to The Solid Verbal all season long wherever you get your podcasts.

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It’s fantasy football time! And here’s a little story…

I used to LOVE fantasy football. I ran the league, did the research, made the trades…the whole thing. But I didn't love the person I became every fall. At some point, I realized I couldn't be flipping a coffee table over a fumble.

What I do miss is the thrill of finding a diamond in the rough before everyone else. Is there any better feeling than calling a breakout before it happens and looking like a genius?

For me, no one embodied that feeling more than Peyton Hillis. His magical 2010 season won fantasy championships, earned him a fan-voted Madden cover, and turned an unlikely running back into a legend.

This week, Mike Wright of the Fantasy Footballers joins me to remember fantasy football's greatest surprise heroes, the players you swore lifelong allegiance to after one magical season, and preview the first round of the 2026 fantasy draft with a mock Round 1.

Welcome to Episode 005 of REAL DEAL. I'm Tony Reali, and I'm so happy you're here

For more from Mike Wright and the Fantasy Footballers:

• The Fantasy Footballers Podcast - TheFantasyFootballers.com
• 2026 Ultimate Draft Kit - UltimateDraftKit.com

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On this week's Sports Slice, Timbo reacts to the first preseason game between the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals and then speaks about how excited he is for this time of year. Then he's joined by New Mexico State QB James Laubstein and he talks about their expectations for the season, being recruited in high school during COVID, and being granted another season to play.

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On today's episode of Sports Slice, Tim is joined once again by Nate LaJoie to preview ALL THINGS college football as camp begins across the country. The guys begin talking about the new rule installed in college athletics, they go conference-by-conference discussing top teams, and then they share which team they expect to win the college football championship.

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On Sports Slice, Timbo is joined by former Duke basketball player Mikayla Boykin and she talks about her experiences playing for Duke, her journey through college basketball, dealing with injuries and identity crisis, and how NIL has transformed the college game.

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This past weekend, Argentina, led by Messi, in what could have been his final World Cup appearance, lost to Spain 1-0. It was a crushing loss, one that, understandably, left Messi looking more reflective and appreciative than full of joy.

Ok, now let’s rewind to 2022. Messi won the World Cup and, in the midst of his elation, the look on his face shifted from unbridled happiness to perplexed discomfort. The kind of face Curb Your Enthusiasm has made famous over the years. That’s because, in Messi’s biggest moment, surrounded by teammates and being watched by millions around the world, he had his moment stolen by an internet celebrity.

Salt Bae, the internet’s most infamous social media chef, grabbed the trophy and somehow made Argentina’s, and Messi’s, World Cup win about himself.

Welcome to REAL DEAL! I’m Tony Reali, and I’m so happy you’re here.

Today we’re diving into a moment that felt like a cross between a Mad Lib and a fever dream. Helping us make sense of it all is The Athletic’s Nick Miller, who has covered Messi and his dealings with Salt Bae extensively.

It all boils down to one question: Was Salt Bae inserting himself into Messi’s celebration the most hijacked moment in sports history?

Let me know what you think in the comments.

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On episode #14, Timbo is joined by Bryce Young, Keelon Russel and Kewan Lacy in Oregon at Nike "The Opening". 

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On this week's Sports Slice, Timbo is joined by NFL players Jamal Adams and Jerry Jeudy in Oregon. Jamal and Jerry discuss what its like to be back on campus, they give one tip they'd share with the next generation, and talk about the players they looked up to when they were in high school.

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