Tradition's Finest Podcast

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast!

Episode 132 - "The 1 + Magic Episode" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics:

In Recognition of This Year's NFL Draft, and Using the Current Draft Order, This Week's Episode Features JD & Spencer - Two Longtime Sports' Fans (but NOT longtime ESPN Draft Analysts) - Who Construct an NFL Mock Draft by Predicting the First-Round Selections for Each of the Initial Thirty-Two (32) Picks Based on Individual/Franchise Team Need(s), Overall Positional Value & ESPN Draft Analyst Mel Kiper Jr.'s Big Board Rankings. . .**Tune in to this Week's Episode to Hear Their Picks, and Be Sure to Share Your Draft Projections/Selections, and Thoughts of the Actual Picks from the First Round of the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday Evening, on X - @TraditionFinest or Send a Message to [email protected]. . .

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast!

Episode 131 - "The 'Hundred & 31 Episode" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics:

- NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Basketball: Longtime ESPN and HOF college basketball broadcaster, Dick Vitale (aka "Dickie V"), has been diagnosed with melanoma (cancer) in his lung & liver cavity, and will be starting immunotherapy soon, as this is the fifth time that he's had to deal with a cancer diagnosis - - Vitale, one of the preeminent faces of men's college basketball, has battled four (4) types of cancer over the past few years, and most recently underwent surgery in the summer of 2024 after a biopsy of a lymph node in his neck revealed cancer - - ESPN released a statement Monday on social media in which Vitale confirmed the diagnosis: "I've beaten melanoma. I've beaten lymphoma. I've beaten vocal cord cancer," Vitale, 86, said in a statement Monday. "I'm four-for-four and I'm fully confident I'm going to make it five-for-five." - - Following a nearly two-year break to deal with his health, Vitale returned to broadcasting in February of last year after he announced that he was cancer-free - and he just wrapped up his 46th year covering college basketball at ESPN - - Vitale joined ESPN during the 1979-80 season, shortly after ESPN's launch, and called the network's first major college basketball game on Dec. 5, 1979 - - He has gone on to call well over 1,000 games, and in September 2024, he was inducted into the Broadcasting + Cable Hall of Fame. . .Q: What are your thoughts on ESPN's announcement regarding Dick Vitale's fifth cancer diagnosis?. . ."Mass Exodus:" Despite being open for less than a week, literally thousands of players are looking for a new home in the NCAA transfer portal: While some will wait until the portal closes on April 21 to make a decision, others didn't require that much time to find the next stop of their college basketball journey - - In this particular segment, JD & Spencer discuss a few of the most notable player transfers that have occurred within opening week of the transfer portal, and we will also present our picks for the programs who may be categorized as one of the "biggest winners" and "biggest losers" of the NCAA transfer portal thus far:**Be Sure to Tune In for Each Player's Transfer Destination. . .

Kansas State transfer guard PJ Haggerty, one of the most prolific scorers in college basketball, has committed to __________________. . .This will be Haggerty's fifth college in five (5) seasons at the NCAA D-I level - - A 6'4'' guard, he has been a high-level scorer at across his time spent at Tulsa, Memphis & Kansas State after starting his career with six (6) games at TCU - - He averaged career highs in scoring (23.4) and assists (3.8) at Kansas State last season, when he was named an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection, whereas at Memphis in 2024-25, Haggerty posted 21.7 points, 5.8 rebounds & 3.7 assists per game, when he was also named the American Conference Player of the Year & earned second-team All-America honors - - For his career, Haggerty is averaging 21.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. . .Q: What are your thoughts on PJ Haggerty's fifth program in the past five (5) years? Is it a good fit for the 6-4 guard? . . .

Cal transfer guard Justin Pippen has committed to ___________________, per his agents at WME Basketball last Friday afternoon. . .Pippen, a sophomore who is coming off a breakout season at Berkeley, averaged 14.2 points, 4.6 assists & 3.9 rebounds per game last season while at Cal - - Pippen is the son of NBA Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen, his older brother is Memphis Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr., and he played his high school basketball at Sierra Canyon in Los Angeles (CA) - - He is expected to play a significant role at his new program, and as a combo guard, he will be expected to fill a role similar to the one Devin Royal played prior to his departure - - At Cal last season, Pippen led the team in assists and tied for second on the team in scoring average as the Bears reached the second round of the NIT Tournament. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Justin Pippen's new home? Is it a good fit for Pippen, the son of an NBA Hall of Famer? . . .

Kansas transfer center Flory Bidunga and Oregon transfer guard Jackson Shelstad have committed to ___________________, per multiple reports. . .Bidunga spent two seasons with the Jayhawks and averaged 13.3 points & 9.0 rebounds per game this season for Kansas - - According to 24/7Sports' portal rankings, Bidunga was the top player available in the NCAA transfer portal - - Shelstad, a 6'1'' guard & product of Oregon, spent three (3) seasons with Dana Altman & the Ducks, however, he saw limited time in just 12 games this season, due to a recurring injury - - In his final season in Eugene, Shelstad averaged 15.6 points and 4.9 rebounds per game - - The joint commitment of Bidunga & Shelstad put this particular program in an early position for the country's best portal haul this offseason, as they simultaneously snagged two of the portal's top targets off the board, in a move that sent ripples through the entire college basketball landscape. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Flory Bidunga & Jackson Shelstad's joint commitment to this particular program? Following this move, would you consider HC Pat Kelsey & this program as one of the "biggest winners" of the transfer portal so far? . . .

Georgia transfer center Somto Cyril has committed to _________________________, per 247Sports on Sunday afternoon. . .A 6'11'' center originally from Nigeria, Cyril averaged 9.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game in his second season at Georgia - - A tenacious defender & rim protector, Cyril was one of the top big man available in the transfer portal, and was ranked inside the top-20 in 247Sports' player transfer portal rankings. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Somto Cyril's new home? Is it a good fit for the 6'11'' Nigerian center?. . .

Georgia transfer guard Jeremiah Wilkinson, one of the best scorers in the NCAA transfer portal, committed to _______________________ on Tuesday evening, sources told ESPN. . .A 6'1'' guard, Wilkinson had a long list of suitors, including Kentucky, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State & LSU, and is a proven scorer at two power-conference programs - - He averaged 15.1 points at Cal his freshman season prior to transferring to the University of Georgia, where he elevated his play, and averaged 17.4 points last season as a sophomore - - He also improved his efficiency in Athens this past season, shooting 41% from the field and nearly 36% from beyond the arc, and most notably, he was capable of huge offensive performances, scoring at least 30 points on three (3) occasions. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Jeremiah Wilkinson's in-conference transfer? Is it necessarily a good fit for the 6'1'' guard? . . .

"The Biggest Winners:" Obviously, Louisville's pickup of Kansas transfer center Flory Bidunga & Oregon guard Jackson Shelstad, places them in the mix as one of the biggest winners of the NCAA transfer portal's opening week. . .in addition to Louisville, a couple of other winners from the portal are: ______________________ and __________________________. . ."The Biggest Losers" (NOT the game show): Clearly, there have been programs who have drastically improved their roster following the first week of the NCAA transfer portal being open, but other schools will look to retool their respective rosters after losing multiple players to the transfer portal - - and one such program is _________________________, as this particular program has lost four (4) players that were an integral part of their rotation last season - - Another such loser is ____________________________, as the program's HC is in "wait-and-see" mode because some of the program's biggest stay-or-go decisions from his team have not yet been made. . .Q: Which program(s) would you categorize as being the "biggest winners" and "biggest losers" of the NCAA transfer portal's opening week in college basketball?. . .

- NCAA College Football: Per an NCAA announcement on Tuesday, the University of Iowa's football program must vacate four (4) victories from the 2023 college football season for reportedly tampering with QB Cade McNamara before he entered the NCAA transfer portal - - The NCAA reported that Iowa HC Kirk Ferentz and assistant Jon Budmayr participated in 13 phone calls with McNamara, and sent two text messages prior to his entry into the portal in November 2022 - - McNamara left Michigan a few days later after his entry into the portal with a "do-not-contact" tag, and transferred to Iowa, after which point, both Ferentz and Budmayr were suspended for the 2024 season opener in a school-imposed penalty for the violations - - In his time with the Hawkeyes in 2023, McNamara went 4-1 as the starting QB before suffering a knee injury - - The NCAA ruled that McNamara was ineligible for those wins over Utah State, Iowa State, Western Michigan and Michigan State, which will now be vacated - - McNamara played for the Hawkeyes for one more year prior to transferring again to East Tennessee State (ETSU) for the 2025 college football season. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the NCAA Committee of Infractions' ruling that Iowa must vacate four (4) victories from the 2023 season due to tampering? . . .

- NFL - - "I-AutoBain:" Former Miami Hurricanes DE & 2026 NFL draft prospect, Rueben Bain Jr., was involved in an auto accident in 2024 in which a passenger later died because of the injuries sustained in the crash, according to a report published on Sunday - - Bain was entering his sophomore season at the University of Miami at the time of the accident - - Bain was cited for careless driving for the accident that occurred at about 4 a.m time in March 2024 on I-95 northbound in Miami - as the crash report alleges that Bain was driving a 2021 Land Rover SUV that had three (3) other passengers - fellow Hurricanes' football players Wesley Bissainthe & Nyjalik Kelly, along with a 22-year-old Georgia woman, Destiny Betts - - Per the report, Bain's vehicle rear-ended another car, veered into a concrete barrier, then ricocheted into another barrier before coming to rest on the shoulder of the highway, after which point, Betts, was rushed to Ryder Trauma Center in Miami, and according to the outlet, the 22-year old was in a coma for nearly three (3) months before she succumb to her injuries in June 2024 - - Bain was cited at the time of the incident, but charges were dropped prior to Betts' death, and interestingly, no field sobriety tests were given at the scene of the accident, per the crash report - - Rueben Bain Jr. is currently ranked No.15 on ESPN's NFL Draft expert/analyst Mel Kiper Jr.'s latest Big Board for this month's NFL Draft - - As a junior in 2025, Bain had a career season in helping push Miami to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, posting 9.5 sacks, 15.5 TFLs, and five (5) QB hurries and led the country in QB pressures - - Per the USA Today, at least some NFL franchises are aware of the auto accident involving the potential top-10 draft pick that led to a 22-year-old woman's coma and eventual death, and multiple league executives confirmed that they are aware of the crash report that indicated that the former Miami Hurricanes DE was behind the wheel of the fatal crash — One such executive, Detroit Lions GM Brad Holmes, told reporters Monday that the organization had known about the incident "for a while," and furthermore confirmed: "So that really doesn't change anything from our standpoint.". . .Q: What are your thoughts on the 2024 auto/car accident involving former Miami Hurricanes DE Rueben Bain Jr.? Thoughts on the timing for which this particular report has re-circulated? While Detroit Lions GM acknowledged that he was aware of the accident and its' details, and furthermore clarified that, from the NFL franchise's perspective, it does not change the way in which they will assess and/or evaluate Bain leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft, could this fatal crash negatively impact or influence his draft stock across the league?. . ."Russini's Resignation:" NFL sideline reporter Dianna Russini has officially resigned from The Athletic, less than a week after published photos of her & New England Patriots HC Mike Vrabel at an Arizona resort prompted an internal investigation, at The New York Times-owned sports outlet - - The New York Post published the photos last week that depicted Russini and Vrabel at the Sedona hotel/resort, and said that they were taken before the NFL league meeting that began in Phoenix on March 29 - - After publication of the photos, Vrabel & Russini, who are both married to other people, released statements to The Post downplaying what the photos depict: Russini stated that the photos "don't represent the group of six (6) people who were hanging out that day," and Vrabel told the newspaper: "Those photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable.". . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Dianna Russini-Mike Vrabel situation? What was your immediate reaction to her resignation statement? . . .

- WNBA & NBA - - WNBA: 2026 WNBA Draft: Azzi Fudd was selected by the Dallas Wings with the No.1 overall pick of the 2026 WNBA Draft on Monday night, capping off a year-long ascent as NCAA champion to the top overall choice, and setting up a reunion with former UConn teammate & current girlfriend, Paige Bueckers - - **NOTE: The 5-11 guard, who led UConn to last year's national title and was named the NCAAW Final Four's Most Outstanding Player, is the seventh player from the program to be selected No.1 overall in the draft. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Dallas Wings selecting former UConn guard Azzi Fudd with the No.1 pick in this year's draft, thus pairing her alongside Paige Bueckers? - - Fudd's selection comes at the onset of a reshaped draft landscape, with the WNBA's new collective bargaining agreement substantially escalating rookie salaries, as the top pick is set to earn about $500,000, which is a significant hike from previous seasons & more than six (6) times higher than what the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year, Bueckers, received as the No.1 pick last year - - Other notable picks from the 2026 WNBA Draft included the following: (1) The Minnesota Lynx selected TCU guard Olivia Miles with the No.2 pick, after she returned for an additional year of college, transferred from Notre Dame & led the Horned Frogs to a second consecutive Elite Eight appearance; (2) UCLA stars Lauren Betts & Gabriela Jaquez were selected in the top five (5), a little over a week after leading the Bruins to their first NCAAW championship - their teammate, Kiki Rice, was selected No.6 overall by Toronto, the first pick of the expansion franchise - - **NOTE: UCLA broke UConn's record of four (4) players drafted in the first round, a mark the Huskies set in 2002, when Angela Dugalic went No.9 to Washington - teaming her again alongside Betts - and Gianna Kneepkens was selected by the Connecticut Sun with the last pick of the first round - - **NOTE 2.0: With Charlisse Leger-Walker's selection in the second round at No.18 by the Sun, the Bruins also broke a record shared by Tennessee (1997, 2008), Notre Dame (2019) & South Carolina (2023), who all had five (5) players drafted in total; (3) Prior to being trade to the Seattle Storm, the Golden State Valkyries selected LSU guard Flau'jae Johnson with the No.8 pick, while the Indiana Fever took South Carolina guard Raven Johnson with the No.10 pick. . .Q: While we may not follow the WNBA closely, and therefore, do not dive into very many topics covering the league, it seemed that the WNBA Draft would be a notable topic for us to briefly discuss, but what are your thoughts on this year's WNBA Draft? Any additional players selected that you would have preferred that we highlight? Which WNBA franchise(s) do you think will benefit the most following their selections in this year's draft? . . .A'ja Wilson, the WNBA's first four-time MVP, has reportedly signed a three-year, $5 million supermax contract to remain with the Las Vegas Aces, sources informed ESPN on Wednesday afternoon - - The deal, which is the largest in WNBA history to date, is fully guaranteed to Wilson: she is set to earn $1.4 million for the upcoming 2026-27 season under the league's new collective bargaining agreement, and the salary will increase over the next two years based on her receiving 20% of the team's salary cap, which will be aided by the league's new revenue-share model - - To date, Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell is the only other WNBA player that has signed a supermax contract, although Mitchell's deal is only for one season. . .Q: What are your thoughts on A'ja Wilson's $5 million supermax contract?. . .NBA: "The Doc' Has Left the Building:" Doc Rivers is out as the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, the team announced on Monday afternoon - - The Bucks will pay Rivers his eight-figure salary for the 2026-27 season, sources reported to ESPN, and the franchise's front office & Rivers are discussing whether he will move to an advisory role in the organization - - Meanwhile, the Bucks will embark on their third coaching search in three (3) years - - This starts a summer of change for the Bucks after Rivers went 97-103 throughout his three (3) seasons in Milwaukee, with two first-round playoff exits, and missing the postseason and play-in tournament this season - - According to team sources, there was a season-long disconnect between Rivers and the players, including instances that reportedly annoyed the locker room - - Rivers took over as HC of the Bucks in late January 2024, replacing Adrian Griffin, who had gone 30-13 prior to being fired, after which point, Rivers guided the Bucks to a 17-19 mark to close out the 2023-24 regular season - - Rivers also dealt with multiple injuries to his top players in each of his three (3) seasons, as Damian Lillard & Giannis Antetokounmpo missed time in the 2024 and 2025 playoffs, and Antetokounmpo was healthy for just 36 games in 2025-26 - - Rivers was let go shortly after Milwaukee dropped to 32-50 with a loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday - - Rivers, who was named to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026 and led the 2007-08 Boston Celtics to an NBA championship, ranks sixth all time among NBA coaches in career victories, but unfortunately, the Bucks snapped a streak of nine (9) consecutive postseason appearances this season, and they have not won a playoff series since 2022. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the departure of Doc Rivers as the HC of the Milwaukee Bucks? Was this the right move by Milwaukee's front office? How will this move affect a potential return to Milwaukee for All-Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo? . . .2026 NBA Playoffs: The 2026 NBA postseason is officially here, as the final week of the regular season ended on Sunday as all 30 teams were in action to cap the 82-game campaign - - Some top seeds sweetened an already dominant run, whereas a few of the bottom-dwelling teams completed their last-ditch efforts to tank for the May 10 draft lottery - - Now, there are 20 teams, set & seeded, to compete for a chance to lift the Larry O'Brien Trophy in June, with the play-in tournament beginning on Tuesday, as four (4) teams from both Conference(s) would face off for the last two remaining spots in the NBA playoffs, versus the No.1 and No.2 seeds - - In this particular segment, JD & Spencer each provide their individual pick(s) & prediction(s) for the Eastern & Western Conference first-round matchups of the NBA postseason: **Be Sure to Tune In for Their Picks!. . .

No.1 Detroit Pistons vs. No.8 TBD

No.4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No.5 Toronto Raptors

No.3 New York Knicks vs. No.6 Atlanta Hawks

No.2 Boston Celtics vs. No.7 TBD

No.1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No.8 TBD

No.4 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No.5 Houston Rockets ('Bron vs. KD)

No.3 Denver Nuggets vs. No.6 Minnesota Timberwolves

No.2 San Antonio Spurs vs. No.7 Portland Trail Blazers

- 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament: Eastern Conference: No.9 Charlotte Hornets vs. No.10 Miami Heat - - LaMelo Ball made a layup with 4.7 seconds left in OT, Miles Bridges blocked Daivon Mitchell's attempt at a game-winning layup at the buzzer, and the Charlotte Hornets beat Miami 127-126 in a wild start to the NBA's play-in games, eliminating the Heat from the playoffs Tuesday night - - Ball finished with 30 points & 10 assists and Bridges recorded 28 points & 9 rebounds as the Hornets won their first postseason home game in a decade - - Guard Coby White had 19 points, including a turnaround 3 with 10.8 seconds left in regulation to send the game to OT - - **NOTE: Ball became the fourth player with at least 30 points & 10 assists in a play-in game, joining Josh Giddey (OKC, 2023), Kyrie Irving (BKN, 2022) & Damian Lillard (POR, 2020) - - Meanwhile, Mitchell finished with 28 points and Andrew Wiggins added 27 for the Heat, who lost Bam Adebayo to a lower back injury when he was tripped by LaMelo Ball in the 2nd QTR - - Following their win in the play-in tournament, the Hornets will travel to face the loser of Wednesday's matchup between the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic on Friday night for the 8th and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the red-hot Charlotte Hornets' impressive victory over the Miami Heat in Tuesday night's NBA Play-in Tournament game? . . .Western Conference: No.7 Phoenix Suns vs. No.8 Portland Trail Blazers - - Deni Avdija, a first-time NBA All-Star, followed a breakout regular-season with a fantastic all-around performance in Tuesday's NBA play-in tournament game, scoring 41 points to lead the Trail Blazers over the Phoenix Suns for a 114-110 win to clinch the No.7 seed in the Western Conference playoffs - - The Blazers are back in the NBA playoffs for the first time since 2021 after clawing back from an 11-point deficit in the 4th QTR - - Following Portland's victory, the Trail Blazers will now face the No.2 San Antonio Spurs in the first round, whereas the Phoenix Suns will host the winner of Wednesday's L.A. Clippers - Golden State Warriors game on Friday - - Avdija, 25, had never played in the NBA's postseason until Tuesday, toiling for more than five (5) years on mediocre teams in Washington & Portland, but he certainly looked comfortable on the biggest stage, as he had the winning three-point play with 16.1 seconds remaining, scoring on a physical take to the rim while being fouled and then converting a FT - - **NOTE: Avdija became the fifth NBA player to score 40 or more points in a play-in game, joining Jayson Tatum for the Boston Celtics in 2021 (50), Coby White for the Chicago Bulls in 2024 (42), Anthony Davis for the Dallas Mavericks in 2025 (40), and Zion Williamson for the New Orleans Pelicans in 2024 (40). . .Q: What are your thoughts on Deni Avdija's spectacular performance in the Trail Blazers' victory on Tuesday night in the NBA play-in tournament? . . .

- Miscellaneous - - The 2026 Masters Tournament: It wasn't always pretty, but Irishman Rory McIlroy ran it back at Augusta National: McIlroy carded a 2-under 70 to give him the win at 13-under as he won the tournament for a second consecutive year, one stroke ahead of runner-up Scottie Scheffler - - **NOTE: With his victory, Rory becomes only the fourth PGA player to win the Masters Tournament in back-to-back seasons (i.e, Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo & Tiger Woods), and the first to do so since Tiger Woods in 2002 - - McIlroy's victory is the sixth PGA major championship of his career, which ties him with Lee Trevino, Phil Mickelson, and Nick Faldo for the 12th-most all-time. . .but do not get it twisted, it was one hell of a week for the Masters defending champion: In the first two rounds, McIlroy seized the outright lead, carding a 67 and 65, respectively, to reach 132 (-12) for the tournament - - Beginning Friday tied for the lead, he recorded multiple birdies over his closing holes, including a chip-in on the 17th, and opened a six-stroke lead over the field, the largest 36-hole lead in Masters Tournament history - - The cut fell at 148 (+4) with 54 players advancing to the weekend, and among those who missed the cut, were Bryson DeChambeau, J.J. Spaun & Robert MacIntyre - - McIlroy began the third round with a six-shot advantage, but his lead subsequently vanished over Moving Day as he signed off for a 73 (+1), having played Amen Corner in 3-over par - - Entering the final round on Sunday, McIlroy immediately lost his share of the lead early in his round after a double bogey at the par-3 4th, where he pulled his tee shot and proceeded to 3-putt, falling behind the lead, however, he steadied himself & responded with consecutive birdies on 7 and 8 to move back within one shot of the lead heading into the turn - - On the 11th, Justin Rose bogeyed after missing the green with his approach, allowing McIlroy to draw level: McIlroy then regained the outright lead on the second nine (9), capitalizing on scoring opportunities and avoiding further mistakes - - McIlroy took a two-shot lead to the 18th tee over Scottie Scheffler, knowing a bogey would be enough, and while his drive found trouble in the right trees, he recovered into the greenside bunker to get up and down for a match-closing bogey to secure victory in regulation by a single stroke - - The 2026 Masters (it's 90th edition) began with 91 players vying for the coveted title of Masters champion and the green jacket that comes with it, and in the end, the man who entered Augusta National Golf Club as the reigning champion, left the course as the fourth back-to-back winner in tournament history - - McIlroy, 36, achieved what would have been impossible to believe just two years ago, winning his second straight Masters and the grand prizes that come along with it: most notably, of course, is the green jacket that will double up in his closet - - There is arguably no tournament where being a past champion carries so much weight, and while much of modern golf has become about escalating purses and the financial prize at the end, the Masters is one of the rare tournaments where that is truly a secondary motivation - - Although the green jacket is the ultimate prize, the 2026 Masters payout was pretty sweet, too, as the purse increased to $22.5 million with McIlroy taking home $4.5 million for his efforts, whereas each of the top four (4) on the final leaderboard earned over a million apiece - and perhaps most importantly, an invite back for the 2027 Masters Tournament. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the outcome of the 90th edition of the Masters Tournament? - - "An Irish Menu:" In keeping with tradition, defending champion Rory McIlroy chose the menu for the Masters Club Dinner, which took place on April 7th - - The dinner tradition, which began in 1952 when Ben Hogan invited past Masters champions to dine together, is attended by former champions as members of the Masters Club - - The appetizers included: bacon-wrapped dates with goat cheese; elk sliders with caramelized onion jam & garlic aioli; peach & ricotta flatbread; and rock shrimp tempura - - Yellowfin tuna carpaccio with foie gras, a toasted baguette, and chives were followed by a choice of either wagyu filet mignon or salmon, each served with champ, brussel sprouts, glazed carrots with brown butter, and Vidalia onion rings - - Dessert was sticky toffee pudding with sauce & ice cream - and finally, the wine selection included a 2015 Champagne Salon brut; a 2022 Domaine Leflaive Burgundy; a 1990 Chateau Lafit Rothschild Bordeaux; and a 1989 Chateau d'Yqueen Bordeaux. . .Q: If you were the returning defending champion of The Masters Tournament, what items would you choose for the menu?. . .

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast!

Episode 130 - The "no-pitch" Episode includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics:

- NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA Women's College Basketball Final Four & National Championship Review: In this particular segment, JD & Spencer review and recap the 2026 NCAAW College Basketball Tournament's Final Four as well as the National Championship game - - and discuss a few of the most noteworthy storylines across the sport - - The following NCAAW college basketball game(s) are discussed in greater detail in this segment: NCAA Women's Basketball Championship - Final Four: No.1 South Carolina Gamecocks vs. No.1 UConn Huskies - - Ta'Niya Latson scored 16 points and Agot Makeer added 14 points as South Carolina played stifling defense to stun UConn 62-48 last Friday night, ending the Huskies' 54-game winning streak, and advancing to the women's NCAA Tournament national championship game - - South Carolina (36-3) would be looking for its fourth national championship, as their other three (3) have come in the last decade under HC Dawn Staley, whereas UConn (38-1) entered the Women's Final Four undefeated for the ninth time in school history, and for the third straight time left without a national title - as the Huskies also lost in the 2017 and 2018 national semifinals - - **NOTE: The Huskies' 48 points were the fewest points UConn had scored since putting up 49 in a national championship game loss to Staley's Gamecocks in 2022 - - The Huskies and Gamecocks played last season (2025) for the national title and UConn came away with the 82-59 rout for the program's 12th national championship - and they also beat South Carolina handily during the 2024-25 regular season - - "Handshake Wars?:" In the final seconds of South Carolina's upset win over UConn, Huskies HC Geno Auriemma & Gamecocks HC Dawn Staley had a heated exchange, and traded words at midcourt and had to be separated, in what was not a very good look for Auriemma - - When asked by ESPN reporter Holly Rowe what instigated the exchange, Staley responded: "I have no idea. But I'll let you know this: I'm of integrity. I'm of integrity. So, if I did something wrong to Geno, I had no idea what I did. I guess he thought I didn't shake his hand at the beginning of the game." - - ESPN's broadcast actually showed footage of Staley appearing to shake Auriemma's hand prior to tipoff, albeit brief - - When asked about the exchange postgame, Auriemma said it was customary for coaches to meet at half court prior to the game - as a separate clip from earlier in the broadcast showed Auriemma waiting for Staley at a different point before the game: "The protocol is, before the game, you meet at half court," Auriemma said. "The two coaches meet at half court and they shake hands. They announce it on the loudspeaker. I waited there for like three (3) minutes. I said what I said, and obviously she didn't like it. I just told the truth." - - Auriemma was not only fired up after the game, as during an interview with Holly Rowe on the sideline prior to the start of the 4th QTR, he ripped the game's officiating, declaring the free-throw disparity between the two sides as "ridiculous," and openly criticized the play of the Gamecocks after a UConn player's jersey was ripped - he also implied that Staley had used inappropriate language that was aimed at the officials, but was not punished for it - - On the following Saturday, UConn HC Geno Auriemma released a brief statement apologizing for the heated exchange: "There's no excuse for how I handled the end of the game versus South Carolina. It's unlike what I do and what our standard is here in Connecticut. I want to apologize to the staff and the team at South Carolina. It was uncalled for in how I reacted. The story should be how well South Carolina played, and I don't want my actions to detract from that. I've had a great relationship with their staff, and I sincerely want to apologize to them." - - While his apology seemed sincere, you can't help but notice that there is one particular name that is missing from Auriemma's statement: Dawn Staley! - - South Carolina HC Dawn Staley said Tuesday that she had spoken to Auriemma and suggested that everyone "turn the page" after their midcourt argument at the Final Four fueled a firestorm of controversy and could've shed a negative light on Auriemma's legacy. . .Q: What are your thoughts on South Carolina's dominant victory over UConn in the NCAA Women's Final Four last Friday night to end the Huskies' 54-game winning streak dating back to last season? Following his explanation at the postgame conference, what were your thoughts on Geno Auriemma's actions/outburst at midcourt? How much of it do you think was really related to Staley not following what he referred to as 'the protocol?' . . .NCAA Women's Basketball Championship - Final Four: No.1 Texas Longhorns vs. No.1 UCLA Bruins - - Center Lauren Betts finished the game with 16 points and made a huge block late, as UCLA withstood a last-ditch effort by Texas on Friday night for a 51-44 win to reach the NCAA Women's College Basketball National Championship Game for the first time in program history - - Manhandled by the eventual national champion, UConn, in their first Final Four appearance a year ago, the Bruins (36-1) dominated their way to another national semifinal with the best season in school history - - A chance at a first national title game appearance had to go through the only team to apply a blemish to their imperfect record this season: Overpowered in their first meeting, the Bruins turned the tables on Texas (35-4) in the national semifinal, shutting down All-American guard Madison Booker while building a 13-point lead midway through the 4th QTR - - Meanwhile, the Longhorns, who are one of the nation's best defensive teams this season, flexed their defensive prowess during a 12-2 run that cut UCLA's lead to 47-44, but Lauren Betts came in clutch, swatting the Texas' run to halt, as she blocked Booker's shot with 20 seconds left, as well as Kiki Rice's two clutch FTs, which sent HC Cori Close's crew into the title game - - The grinding win earned the Bruins a spot in the following Sunday's national title game against fellow No.1 seed South Carolina, the three-time champs, who ended reigning champion UConn's undefeated season and left Huskies' coach Geno Auriemma fuming - as so was Texas guard Madison Booker after a brutal finish to what was otherwise a stellar season, as she hit her first shot of the game, but missed her next 17 & finished with six (6) points on 3-of-23 (13%) shooting. . .Q: What are your thoughts on UCLA's impressive win over the SEC Conference champions, Texas Longhorns, on Friday night to advance to the NCAA Women's national title game? Thoughts on guard Madison Booker's poor shooting performance?. . .NCAA Women's Basketball Championship - National Championship Game: No.1 South Carolina Gamecocks vs. No.1 UCLA Bruins - - This one was for Cori Close and Lauren Betts and all the current players wearing UCLA on their jerseys, but it was also for Ann Meyers Drysdale & Denise Curry and John Wooden, and every Bruin who poured effort into what would become the first NCAA championship in UCLA women's basketball history: The senior-laden Bruins beat South Carolina 79-51 on Sunday in the national title game, and they did it the same way they had won all season - with a dominating inside presence, an unselfish offensive approach & a suffocating defense - that handed Dawn Staley & the Gamecocks their second-worst loss in NCAA tournament history - - **NOTE: The 28-point margin of victory was the third largest in a Division I women's championship final game - - UCLA never trailed, opening a double-digit lead at the end of the 1st QTR en route to its 31st straight win to make program history, as star center Lauren Betts was named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player after the game - - In her 15th season at the helm, Bruins HC Cori Close pulled off what many didn't believe was possible at one of most storied basketball programs in the country, as UCLA last won a national title in women's college basketball in 1978 in the AIAW, when Meyers Drysdale & Denise Curry led the way - whereas John Wooden won 10 titles as the HC of the men's college basketball program, and set a standard that other coaches on the Los Angeles campus wanted to follow - - In this one-sided affair, five (5) UCLA players finished the game in double figures, as Betts finished with 14 points & 11 rebounds, but UCLA senior Gabriela Jaquez - the younger sister of former Bruin and now Miami Heat basketball player Jamie Jaquez - who was perhaps the most impactful player in this game, as she not only found open shots but also fed her teammates & got inside the paint to grab one rebound after another - finished with a fantastic stat line of 21 points, 10 rebounds and five (5) assists in a performance that will not soon be forgotten - - South Carolina, meanwhile in the first half, shot 9-of-35, as forward Joyce Edwards was 1-of-6 from the field with two points - as it was the Gamecocks' worst FG percentage in any half of any game since December 2022, when they shot 26% in the first half against South Dakota State - - The Gamecocks ended this game shooting 29% from the field, as their three (3) best players - Edwards, Ta'Niya Latson & Raven Johnson - finished the game with a combined 15 points on 5-of-22 shooting - - **NOTE: South Carolina became the first team to lose consecutive national championship game appearances by at least 15 points each. . .Q: What are your thoughts on UCLA's first women's basketball national championship in program history? Was this South Carolina group somewhat distracted by the noise/controversy surrounding the on-the-court drama between their HC Dawn Staley and UConn HC Geno Auriemma? Or was it just the Bruins' night?. . .NCAA Men's College Basketball: "[Note 2] SELF:" Kansas men's head basketball coach Bill Self is set to return to the sideline for the Jayhawks for the 2026-27 college basketball season, he announced last Wednesday - - Self released a statement indicating that he remains "focused and committed to Kansas," and "competing for a national championship." - - His announcement comes more than a week after Self indicated that he would discuss his coaching future with his immediate family after dealing with multiple health-related issues in recent years, as the decision came with "renewed clarity and the ongoing support from our administration," Self said in his statement - - Self's announcement certainly sent a collective exhale around Lawrence, where the Hall of Fame coach has won two national championships, and reached four (4) Final Fours since arriving in 2003 - - His return is significant for the sport, as he's one of the country's most noted coaches, as he is responsible for 855 wins across a 33-year coaching career spanning Oral Roberts, Tulsa, Illinois & Kansas - - Self, 63, spent significant time this week discussing his health & future with people close to him before arriving at the decision to return next season - - Self's decision to return comes just days before college basketball programs are getting ready to set their rosters for the 2026-27 season, as the NCAA transfer portal officially opened on Tuesday, the day after the men's national championship game. . Q: What are your thoughts on Bill Self's announcement and/or decision to return to Lawrence for the 2026-27 college basketball season?. . ."UNC Malone:" North Carolina's search for its' next head coach has landed in an unexpected place, as the Tar Heels hired longtime NBA HC Michael Malone as the school's next head basketball coach, sources informed ESPN - - Malone is an NBA champion from his time spent with the Denver Nuggets, and won 510 games in 12 seasons as a head coach, as he is one of the most respected tacticians in the NBA, and has spent the past 10+ months as an ESPN analyst - - Malone will inherit a Tar Heels team that has been seeking a head coaching replacement for nearly two weeks following the firing of Hubert Davis - - With college basketball becoming more like professional basketball every year, UNC gets a respected X's-and-O's coach who worked in the NBA for nearly a quarter century as a head coach and assistant, as he was at the helm for the Denver Nuggets for 10 years, going 471-327 in that span, as he has coached a total of 904 games as an NBA HC, including two seasons with the Sacramento Kings - - **UPDATE: Malone is set for a yearly average of more than $8.3 million across a six-year contract, sources confirmed to ESPN's Pete Thamel on Tuesday evening, which places him among the top five (5) highest-paid coaches in D-I college basketball - - UNC had previously been linked to multiple high-profile college coaches, including Michigan's Dusty May, Arizona's Tommy Lloyd, and Iowa State's T.J. Otzelberger, but after all three (3) publicly committed & signed contract extensions to remain at their current school, the Tar Heels turned to Malone, who led the Nuggets to their only NBA championship in 2023, prior to being fired in Denver last April, and after which point, he joined ESPN as an NBA analyst a month afterwards, whereas his predecessor, Hubert Davis, was fired by UNC on March 24, just five (5) days after the Tar Heels squandered a 19-point lead in their first-round NCAA tournament loss to No.11 seed VCU - as it marked the second consecutive season that UNC lost its NCAA Tournament opener under Davis, who went 125-54 in five (5) seasons coaching his alma mater. . .Q: What are your thoughts on North Carolina's hire of former and longtime NBA head coach Michael Malone as the Tar Heels' next head basketball coach?. . .2025-26 College Basketball Season Awards: The Atlanta Tipoff Club announced on Sunday that Duke's Cameron Boozer has won the 2026 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy, honoring the freshman as the most outstanding men's college basketball player, as Boozer won the award over finalists Darius Acuff Jr. (Arkansas), AJ Dybantsa (BYU), and Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan) - - Boozer led Duke in scoring, rebounding, and assists, while averaging 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game while shooting 55.6% from the field - - **NOTE: Cameron Boozer becomes the 10th Duke player to win a Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy, which is the most by any program since the award was first presented in 1969 - - Past Blue Devil winners include Cooper Flagg (2025), Zion Williamson (2019), JJ Redick (2006), Jason Williams (2002), Shane Battier (2001), Elton Brand (1999), Christian Laettner (1992), Danny Ferry (1989), and Johnny Dawkins (1986) - - It is also the 14th men's basketball award for Duke, as former head coach Mike Krzyzewski (aka "Coach K") was named Coach of the Year in 1989, 1992, and 1999, while being honored as the 2025 Naismith Outstanding Contributor to Men's Basketball Award winner - - Boozer becomes just the fifth freshman to win the award, and is the third Duke freshman to win, following Flagg & Williamson, with the other freshman that won the trophy being Anthony Davis (Kentucky, 2012) & Kevin Durant (Texas, 2007). . .Q: What are your thoughts on Duke's Cameron Boozer being awarded the 2026 AP Player of the Year?. . .Arizona HC Tommy Lloyd was named the 2026 Werner Ladder Naismith Men's Coach of the Year, while Florida's Rueben Chinyelu earned the 2026 Naismith Men's Defensive Player of the Year Award Presented by Molecule - - Lloyd becomes the first men's or women's coach or player from the University of Arizona to win a season-based Naismith Award - - **NOTE: This is the fifth time in the Award's 40-year history that the winner has come from the Big 12 Conference, but the first time that the coach has not been from the state of Kansas, as previous conference winners include Jerome Tang (Kansas State, 2023), while the other three (3) are from the University of Kansas: Bill Self (2012), Roy Williams (1997), and Larry Brown(1988) - - The remaining 2026 finalists for the award were Nebraska's Fred Hoiberg, Michigan's Dusty May, and Duke's Jon Scheyer. . Q: What are your thoughts on Arizona's Tommy Lloyd being awarded the 2026 Werner Ladder Naismith Men's Coach of the Year?. . .Center Rueben Chinyelu became the first player or coach from the University of Florida to win a Naismith Award, as the other finalists for the DPOY award included Flory Bidunga (Kansas), Zuby Ejiofor (St. John's), and Joseph Tugler (Houston), who was also a finalist in 2025 - - As one of the top rebounders & rim protectors in men's college basketball, Chinyelu helped the Gators become one of the top defensive teams in the nation - - **NOTE: He is the second player in the nine-year history of the award to win from an SEC school, following Auburn's Walker Kessler in 2022. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Florida's Rueben Chinyelu being awarded the 2026 Naismith Men's Defensive Player of the Year trophy?. . .NCAA Men's College Basketball Final Four & National Championship Review: In this particular segment, JD & Spencer review and recap the 2026 NCAAM College Basketball Tournament's Final Four as well as the National Championship game - - and discuss a few of the most noteworthy storylines across the sport - - The following NCAAM college basketball game(s) are discussed in greater detail in this segment: NCAA Men's Basketball Championship - Final Four: No.2 UConn Huskies vs. No.3 Illinois Fighting Illini - - Fabolous freshman Braylon Mullins made another last-minute 3-pointer - his only basket of the second half - and Dan Hurley's Huskies muscled their way past Illinois 71-62 on Saturday to reach their third national championship game in four (4) years - - Center Tarris Reed Jr. finished the game with 17 points & 11 rebounds while Mullins finished with 15 points for the Huskies (34-5) who rode their strong inside play and tough defense to their 19th straight victory in the Sweet Sixteen or later rounds of the NCAA Tournament - - Now, UConn would await the winner of the other Final Four matchup between No.1 Michigan and No.1 Arizona with a chance to win their seventh national title, all since 1999, as Hurley would attempt to become the only active HC with more than two championships - - After eliminating the NCAA Tournament's No.1 overall seed, Duke Blue Devils, with a 35-foot 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds remaining, Mullins was equally as effective in the Final Four matchup against Illinois, as after Silas Demary Jr. secured an offensive rebound, he hit a catch-and-shoot 3 with 52 seconds left that gave UConn a 66-59 lead, and thwarted Illinois' late push - - UConn needed the outstanding play of Mullins on a night in which star forward Alex Karaban struggled with this shot, as he finished the game with nine (9) points on 1-of-8 shooting, while adding four (4) rebounds & four (4) assists, as he tied Hurley's brother, Bobby, for No.2 in career March Madness victories by a player with 18 - - With one more victory, UConn would've broke a tie with North Carolina & move into third place alone in national titles, trailing only UCLA (11) & Kentucky (8) - - Meanwhile, freshman guard Keaton Wagler recorded 20 points & eight (8) rebounds to lead the Fighting Illini (28-9), who reached their first Final Four since losing in the championship game to UNC in 2005 - - **NOTE: Illinois' Wagler & UConn's Mullins became the first pair of freshmen to top 15 points in a Men's Final Four game since Michael Jordan (UNC) and Patrick Ewing (Georgetown) in 1982 - - Center Tomislav Ivisic finished with 16 points and seven (7) rebounds for the Illini, who couldn't replicate the blueprint that carried them to double-digit victories over Penn, VCU, Houston and Iowa - as Illinois made just 3 of 14 3-pointers in the first half & finished 6 of 26 from beyond the arc - - UConn took full advantage even though the Huskies struggled with their shot, as they had two long scoring droughts, that took up nearly six (6) minutes in the first half and more than six (6) minutes in the second - The latter of which allowed Illinois to charge back from its biggest deficit of the season, 57-43 with 9:43 left to play, to pull within 57-53 with 5:03 remaining - but the Huskies answered & closed it out at the free-throw line for their fifth straight win in the series, as UConn beat Illinois 74-61 on Nov. 28 in Madison Square Garden - and now the Huskies have held the Illini to their two lowest scoring totals & shooting percentages of the season. . .Q: What are your thoughts on UConn's performance & impressive win over Brad Underwood and the Fighting Illini?. . .NCAA Men's Basketball Championship - Final Four: No.1 Michigan Wolverines vs. No.1 Arizona Wildcats - - Game of the Year?. . .This wasn't even the game of the night! - - Michigan overpowered early & humbled the 'Cats for 40 long minutes Saturday, turning their highly anticipated Final Four matchup into a 91-73 Wolverines dunkfest-slash-highlight reel, as junior center Aday Mara scored a career-high 26 points and grabbed nine (9) rebounds - - About the only question in this one concerned the health of Wolverines forward Yaxel Lendeborg, a first-team All-American, who landed on an Arizona player's foot, rolled his ankle and sprained his knee, but still recorded 11 points over 14 minutes - - This one was over in about the first five (5) minutes: **NOTE: The Blue blew threw their fifth straight March Madness opponent by double digits while becoming the first team to break 90 points five (5) times in a single tournament - - It was all quite a shock, considering Michigan and Arizona came in with the nation's top two defenses, a pair of top-five offenses and somewhere between eight (8) & a dozen NBA stars between them. . .but it was the Wolverines (36-3) who looked like pros, running to a double-digit lead only 5:31 into the contest, then swatting & slamming Arizona into oblivion, as the game plan against the Big 12 champion Wildcats (36-3) couldn't have worked any better: Michigan packed the paint on defense, basically giving the team that averaged the fifth-fewest 3-point attempts in the country this year free rein from long distance, then daring Arizona to create inside. . .and the Wildcats failed at both! - - Forward Koa Peat was quiet, finishing the game with 16 points & 11 rebounds, for Arizona, which shot 6 for 17 from 3, 36% overall and had two assists & nine (9) turnovers over a first half that ended with them trailing 48-32 - - Sparkplug guard Jaden Bradley picked up his fourth foul 94 seconds into the second half & finished with 13 points, most of which came in extended garbage time - - Arizona's only two losses before this were by four (4) and three (3) points back in February, as the Wildcats trailed by nine (9) less than 2:30 into this one - - Making it all the more impressive for Michigan was that it started this runaway without Lendeborg, who committed two fouls within five (5) seconds of each other less than 90 seconds into the game, however, he did return in the second half and recorded two quick 3s, to push Michigan's lead past 20, but he returned to the bench - and stationary bike - for good with 5:19 left, enough time to rest to get ready for UConn, which was going for its third title in four (4) seasons, while Michigan was vying for only the program's second championship (1989) - - Freshman Trey McKenney made four (4) 3s and had 16 points for the Wolverines, whereas guard Elliot Cadeau overcame a bout with his nut allergy to compile a crazy stat line: 13 points, 10 assists, six (6) turnovers, five (5) rebounds & four (4) steals on 5-for-17 shooting - even with that, Michigan finished 47.8% from the floor and 12 for 27 from 3. . .Q: How shocked were you that Michigan was able to dominate the Arizona Wildcats in this highly anticipated matchup of No.1 seeds?. . .NCAA Men's Basketball Championship - National Championship Game: No.1 Michigan Wolverines vs. No.2 UConn Huskies - - From the point that Michigan defeated Gonzaga by 40 points in the title game of the Player's Era Championship back in November, they were the most dominant team in the country, and they ended Monday night the same way they looked on Thanksgiving Eve of last year: as the best team in college basketball: Michigan (37-3) put an exclamation point on a historic season in Monday's national championship game, defeating UConn 69-63, as guard Elliot Cadeau was named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player after finishing with 19 points - as Michigan pulled away on free throws, making 25 its 28 attempts at the line - - The opening half was a grind, as Michigan struggled to find its rhythm early, opening 0-for-8 from 3-point range, while UConn's interior defense controlled the paint - - Despite shooting 5-for-15 from deep, the Huskies made their presence felt at the rim, altering shots & limiting second-chance looks, however, injuries played a pivotal role throughout this game, and while PG Solo Ball was dealing with an ankle injury, he provided the Huskies a spark with three (3) 3-pointers and 11 points for the game - Meanwhile, forward Yaxel Lendeborg, who was dealing with an MCL and ankle injury, struggled to find the bottom of the net, finishing 4 of 13 from the field - - While Michigan wasn't as dominant as it had been early on in the NCAA Tournament, it's strength all season - size, length & more size - were the difference-makers again on Monday night, as the Wolverines finally broke through from deep in the second half, when Cadeau knocked down the team's first 3-pointer after an 0-for-11 start, the moment that helped fuel a surge, pushing the Wolverines to their largest lead of the game at 11 points. .but UConn refused to go away without a fight: The Huskies cut the deficit to four (4) with under eight (8) minutes to play, but it was quickly erased by a momentum-shifting dunk by C Aday Mara, that brought their bench to life and tightened the game down the stretch - - While Michigan went on a 6-0 run, UConn suffered a two-minute scoring drought with fewer than six (6) minutes to go - - The Huskies did, however, manage to get within four (4) with just 37 seconds remaining after Solo Ball hit a 3-pointer off the backboard, making it 67-63 - - Though Roddy Gayle Jr. then missed a pair of FTs, UConn forward Alex Karaban couldn't hit a 3-point shot to cut the deficit to one - as Karaban did lead the Huskies (34-6) with 17 points & was one of three (3) UConn players with three (3) 3-pointers - however, the teams combined to shoot just 11 of 48 from deep, including Michigan's 2 of 15 - - In the end, Michigan ended both its long wait for a national title - the program's first championship since 1989 - and also the Big Ten's, giving the conference it's first men's basketball title since its "little brother" Michigan State won it all in 2000. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Michigan's dominance throughout this year's NCAA Tournament? What are your biggest takeaways from the national title game? The 2025-26 regular season?. . .

- NBA - - "OKC x 3:" The Oklahoma City Thunder joined some exclusive company on Wednesday night by accomplishing one goal on their checklist while defending their championship: The Thunder clinched the NBA's best record and top seed with Wednesday night's 128-110 road win over the L.A. Clippers - - **NOTE: It's the third straight season Oklahoma City earned the Western Conference's No.1 seed, as the Thunder became only the sixth team with a three-season streak as a top playoff seed since the NBA went to a 16-team playoff format in 1983-84, according to ESPN Research - The other five (5) teams include the following: (1) the 1984-88 Boston Celtics, (2) the 1984-90 Los Angeles Lakers, (3) the 1996-98 Chicago Bulls, (4) the 2008-10 Lakers and the (5) 2015-17 Golden State Warriors - all of which won multiple NBA championships in that span - - The Thunder, who have combined for 132 regular-season wins in the past two seasons, are attempting to become only the fifth team in NBA history to have the league's best overall record and win the championship in back-to-back seasons, as the feat was last accomplished by the Michael Jordan-led Bulls in 1995-96 and 1996-97. . .Q: What are your thoughts on OKC's dominance in the NBA over the past three (3) seasons? Do you think that the Thunder will repeat at champions this year?. . .

- NFL - - The Las Vegas Raiders agreed to terms with Kirk Cousins last Thursday afternoon, just two days after new HC Klint Kubiak expressed that he wanted to add another veteran QB to the roster - - Thursday's deal comes less than a month after Cousins was released by the Atlanta Falcons, who parted ways with the QB two years after signing him to a four-year, $180 million contract - - The Falcons will reportedly pay Cousins $8.7 million in 2026 while the Raiders will pay another $1.3 million, per ESPN's Adam Schefter - Las Vegas has also agreed to pay Cousins a fully guaranteed $10 million roster bonus on the third day of the 2027 new league year - - Cousins' agent announced the deal, which will pay the four-time Pro Bowler $20 million in guaranteed money in 2026 - - **NOTE: It will mark the 11th consecutive season that Kirk Cousins' contract will be fully guaranteed - - The deal also includes a club option for two years at $80 million and could be worth up to $172 million over five (5) years, although only the $20 million this year is fully guaranteed - - Cousins, 37, will join a Raiders squad that is widely expected to select former Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza with the No.1 overall pick in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft later this month - - Kubiak and GM John Spytek, who were among those in attendance last Wednesday to scout Mendoza at Indiana's Pro Day, have said on multiple occasions that they would prefer to not start a young, inexperienced QB right away this season - - Prior to adding Cousins, Aidan O'Connell was the sole QB on Las Vegas' roster after the team traded Geno Smith to the New York Jets last month, as the move reunites Cousins with Kubiak, who was the QBs coach and OC for three (3) seasons for the Minnesota Vikings - - As fourth-round pick by Washington in the 2012 draft, Cousins has passed for over 44,000 yards with 298 TDs and 131 INTs in 14 seasons. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Las Vegas Raiders' acquisition of veteran QB Kirk Cousins? If they do, in fact, draft QB Fernando Mendoza with the No.1 overall pick, do you expect Kirk Cousins to be the Raiders QB for the season opener?. . .

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast!

Episode 129 - "The comeBACK Episode" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics:

- NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Football: "NCAA's Appeal Denied:" The Mississippi Supreme Court denied the NCAA's petition to overturn a judge's decision that would allow Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss to play next season - - Initially, the NCAA denied Chambliss' waiver request on Jan. 9, and after Chambliss appealed, the organization's Athletics Eligibility Subcommittee upheld the denial on Feb 4. - - On Feb. 12, Judge Robert Whitwell, the presiding judge, said that he agreed with Chambliss' argument that the player's medical history was not properly considered by the NCAA - - The 23-year-old Chambliss has been in college for five (5) years, but was healthy enough to play just three (3) of those years - - Afterwards, Judge Whitwell advocated for the Ole Miss QB, stating that Chambliss would have received "irreparable harm" had the NCAA's ruling been upheld, and he further elaborated that the organization would not be damaged by allowing to play - - Chambliss and Ole Miss Athletics Department submitted nearly 91 pages to the NCAA to document how medical issues prevented him from playing two years, the judge said - - The NCAA, according to the judge, did not properly take those [medical] records into consideration, and denied the waiver's request "on pure semantics," - - Prior to transferring to Ole Miss, Chambliss began his college football career at Ferris State University, a Division II program, where he would lead the Bulldogs to a NCAA D-II national championship - - Last season, in Oxford, Chambliss completed 294 of 445 passes (66.1%) for 3,937 yards with 22 TDs and three (3) INTs for the Rebels (13-2), which set a school record for wins, including two after making the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history, while also rushing for 527 yards and eight (8) TDs on the ground. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Mississippi Supreme Court's decision to deny the NCAA's appeal to overturn a judge's decision regarding Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss' eligibility in 2026-27?. . .Recently retired coach, Gus Malzahn, who won a national title in 2010 as Auburn's OC, will join former Cal coach Jeff Tedford on the College Football Playoff Selection Committee this spring, the CFP announced on Monday - - University of Arkansas AD Hunter Yurachek will return as the Committee chairman for a second consecutive season, and Louisiana AD Bryan Maggard will also join the group - - The three (3) new committee members will each serve three-year terms & replace outgoing members Chris Ault (a former HC), Jeff Long (a former longtime collegiate administrator), and Miami (Ohio) AD David Sayler, whose terms have expired - - Malzahn, who had a 35-year coaching career and developed a reputation for his up-tempo offensive philosophy, announced his retirement in February after serving as the OC under Mike Norvell at Florida State University - - He spent 13 years as head football coach at Arkansas State (2012), Auburn (2013-2020) and UCF (2021-2024), where he posted a career record of 105-62 - - As for Jeff Tedford, he served as the head football coach at Cal University (2002-2012) and Fresno State (2017-2019 and 2022-2023), compiling a career record of 127-79 - - At Cal, Tedford engineered one of the most remarkable turnarounds in college football history, leading a team that had won just one game to consistent bowl appearances, national rankings as well as a share of the 2006 PAC-12 Conference title - - He remains the Golden Bears' winningest coach with an 82-57 record, while guiding the team to eight (8) bowl games - - Malzahn & Tedford will join former coaches Mark Dantonio (Michigan State) and Mike Riley (Oregon State/Nebraska). . .Q: What are your thoughts on the news that former head football coaches Gus Malzahn & Jeff Tedford will be joining the CFP Selection Committee this spring? How does Gus Malzahn's addition impact Kalen DeBoer & the Alabama Crimson Tide come postseason/CFP time next spring? . . .NCAA College Basketball: "Wade Just One Damn Minute:" Just one year after signing a six-year deal to become the head basketball coach at NC State University, Will Wade made the decision on Thursday to make a jump back to LSU, where he previously coached from 2017 until 2022, while NC State was left to pick up the pieces, and like many Wolfpack fans, NC State AD Boo Corrigan was not pleased by the sudden move, stating "I'd commiserate with [fans], in terms of feeling lied to," - - After leading the Wolfpack to a 20-12 record this season, Wade has now inked a seven-year deal to become the head basketball coach at LSU - - Out of the ACC Conference, NC State got off to an 18-6 start (9-2 in conference play) prior to losing six (6) of its final seven (7) games to end the regular season, as the Wolfpack were ultimately placed in the First Four on Selection Sunday, and afterwards losing to the Texas Longhorns, finishing the season with a 20-14 mark - - In his introductory press conference on Monday, Wade indicated to the Tiger faithful that "We're coming back to try and hang a banner, win a national championship, or I'm going to be the first [head] coach fired from the same school twice," as Wade does become the first SEC men's basketball coach in conference history to be fired and re-hired by the same program "One way or another, we're going to make history!" - - In his first stint at LSU from 2017-22, Wade was 105-51 with an SEC regular-season championship and three (3) NCAA Tournament appearances, however, LSU would go on to fire him in March 2022 for his involvement in NCAA Level I and Level II recruiting violations - - Overall, Wade is 266-119 with eight (8) NCAA Tournament appearances in 12 seasons as a head coach at five (5) different NCAA D-I programs. . .Q: How do you expect for the Will Wade-LSU reunion to play out? - - **Update: It was announced that former player Justin Gainey, who has spent the past five (5) seasons as an assistant coach, will return to NC State as the Wolfpack's next head basketball coach and Wade's replacement, sources confirmed to ESPN on Monday amid multiple reports - - Gainey, 49, played for the Wolfpack from 1996 to 2000 and later began his foray into coaching as an administrative coordinator with the program from 2006 to 2008 - - Gainey has spent the past five (5) seasons on Rick Barnes' staff at Tennessee, including the last four (4) as an assistant coach - Gainey also has served as an assistant at Elon, Appalachian State, Santa Clara, Arizona & Marquette - - Gainey was on AD Boo Corrigan's short list of replacements, and was believed to be one of the final candidates last offseason prior to the hire of Will Wade. . .Q: What are your thoughts on NC State's hire of former Wolfpack player Justin Gainey as the program's next head basketball coach?. . .

- 2026 NCAA Tournament: Sweet 16 & Elite Eight Review & Recap: In this particular segment, JD & Spencer will review and recap the eight (8) games from the Sweet Sixteen as well as the four (4) games from the Elite Eight from this past weekend - as well as discuss a few of the major takeaways from the first weekend of March Madness; the following matchups from the third and fourth round(s) of the 2026 NCAA Tournament listed below are discussed within this episode:

West Region: No.1 Arizona Wildcats vs. No.4 Arkansas Razorbacks (ARK HC John Calipari suffered the single worst loss of his career in the NCAA Tournament) . . .

West Region: No.2 Purdue Boilermakers vs. No.11 Texas Longhorns (Despite their loss, TEX G Tramon Mark (29) sets record for the most points scored by a Texas player in the NCAA Tournament since Kevin Durant (30) in the second round of the 2007 tournament) . . .

South Region: No.2 Houston Cougars vs. No.3 Illinois Fighting Illini (The Cougars struggled offensively, as a team shooting 34% in its lowest-scoring game of the season) . . .

South Region: No.4 Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. No.9 Iowa Hawkeyes (IOWA first-year HC Ben McCollum, who won four (4) national titles at the D-II level, led the Hawkeyes to its fifth Elite Eight and first since 1987) . . .**NOTE: 38,369 NCAA Tournament brackets (0.144%) accurately predicted Iowa, Illinois, Arizona & Purdue advancing to the Elite Eight following the first four (4) games of the Sweet Sixteen . . .

East Region: No.1 Duke Blue Devils vs. No.5 St. John's Red Storm (Three (3) weeks post-surgery on his left foot, Duke's Caleb Foster helps the Blue Devils rally from a 10-point second-half deficit to stun St. John's and to advance to the Elite Eight) . . .**NOTE: It was just the second loss for St. John's head coach Rick Pitino in 14 visit(s) to the Sweet 16 - and just the second loss for this season's Red Storm in their final 23 games . . .

East Region: No.2 UConn Huskies vs No.3 Michigan State Spartans ( A true heavyweight clash between two of college basketball's traditional "blue bloods," as well as a battle between two of the sports' greatest coaches in Tom Izzo and Dan Hurley) . . .**NOTE: Following UConn's win over Tom Izzo and the Spartans, forward Alex Karaban won his 16th NCAA Tournament game as a starter . . .

Midwest Region: No.1 Michigan Wolverines vs. No.4 Alabama Crimson Tide (In an up-tempo matchup of two of the NCAA Tournament's highest-scoring teams, the Wolverines - led by the Big Ten player of the year Yaxel Lendeborg, guards Trey McKenney & Roddy Gayle Jr. - outlasted Labaron Philon Jr., who scored 35 points in what is most likely his final game under HC Nate Oats - and the Crimson Tide after a 33-6 advantage in bench points) . . .**NOTE: The Wolverines & Crimson Tide combined for a total of 74 shots in the first half alone, including 39 attempts from beyond the arc . . .

Midwest Region: No.2 Iowa State Cyclones vs. No.6 Tennessee Volunteers (Despite a strong effort from Iowa State guards Tamin Lipsey & Nate Heise, the Cyclones clearly struggled without star forward Joshua Jefferson - as star freshman Nate Ament & the Volunteers used a dominant effort on the glass and a strong second-half performance to advance to the NCAA Tournament Regional Finals for the third straight year) . . .

South Region: No.3 Illinois Fighting Illini vs. No.9 Iowa Hawkeyes (Under HC Brad Underwood, Andrej Stojakovic & the Fighting Illini are headed to their first Final Four in 21 years (2005) and their sixth trip overall, which has - believe it or not - never won a national title) . . .

West Region: No.1 Arizona Wildcats vs. No.2 Purdue Boilermakers (Now riding a 13-game winning streak, the Wildcats, which features a talented freshman class led by Koa Peat & Brayden Burries, frustrated the NCAA record-holder in assists, Purdue guard Braden Smith, and prevented his fellow four-year senior(s) in Trey Kaufman-Renn & Fletcher Loyer, from getting into a rhythm) . . .**NOTE: The trip to the Final Four is a long-awaited one for the Wildcats, who last made it to that stage in 2001 when they lost the title game under HC Lute Olson/Freshman Koa Peat, who was named the West Region's Most Outstanding Player, became just the sixth freshman to score at least 20 points to help his team win in both the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight . . .

Midwest Region: No.1 Michigan Wolverines vs. No.6 Tennessee Volunteers (Making the most out its' size advantage and athleticism on both sides of the court, Michigan advanced to its first Final Four since 2018 and ninth overall) . . .**NOTE: The unselfish Wolverines steamrolled the Volunteers to become the first program to win at least four (4) games in an NCAA Tournament by double digits while scoring a minimum of 90 points in each . . .

East Region: No.1 Duke Blue Devils vs. No.2 UConn Huskies (Two words: "Mullins MANIA!") . . .**NOTE: UConn head coach Dan Hurley is trying to coach the Huskies to a national title for the third time in four (4) seasons, a feat that hasn't been accomplished since John Wooden did so at UCLA in the 1970s . . .

- 2026 NCAA Tournament: Final Four Preview & Predictions: In this particular segment, JD & Spencer preview the two Final Four matchup(s) from this upcoming weekend, and provide their individually-selected, subjective predictions for both games, which are listed below: **Be Sure to Tune in for their picks/Share Your Final Four Picks with us via X - @TraditionFinest or Send Us a Message at [email protected]!

No.2 UConn Huskies vs. No.3 Illinois Fighting Illini (-2.5)            O/U139.5

No.1 Michigan Wolverines (-1.5) vs. No.1 Arizona Wildcats         O/U157.5

- NBA - - The Chicago Bulls waived guard Jaden Ivey for conduct detrimental to the team Monday, just hours after he posted a lengthy video rant on social media about religion and other topics that included anti-gay sentiments - - Ivey has gone live on his Instagram account more frequently in the past week, posting at least three (3) lengthy videos after he was shut down for the rest of the NBA season by the team because of injury last Thursday - - The Bulls acquired Ivey, 24, from the Detroit Pistons prior to the NBA trade deadline last month, after he was drafted with the No.5 pick by the Pistons in the 2022 NBA Draft, and featured early by a rebuilding Detroit franchise prior to knee issues limiting him to only 30 games in 2024-25 and kept him out for the first 15 games this season - - Ivey has appeared in only four (4) NBA regular-season games for the Bulls, and has not saw any action on the court since Feb. 11 prior to the All-Star Break. . Q: What are your thoughts on the Chicago Bulls' announcement that they have officially waived guard Jaden Ivey following his anti-gay remarks? . . .

- Miscellaneous - - "Tiga, Tiga Woods, Ya'll:" Tiger Woods was arrested and charged with driving under the influence following a rollover crash in Jupiter Island, Florida last Friday afternoon, according to the Martin County Sherriff's Office - - Woods' Range Rover SUV rolled over after it clipped a trailer being hauled by a truck, after the truck had reportedly slowed down to turn into the adjacent driveway - - Woods' SUV swerved and flipped on its' side and slid down the road, after which point he told authorities that he was looking down at his cell phone ("I was just talking to the President of the United States". . .no BIG deal!) and changing the radio station in his SUV, which caused him to not see the truck slowing down prior to the rollover crash - - Woods, 50, was arrested on the suspicion of a misdemeanor DUI with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test, and while Martin County Sherriff John Budensiek reported that Woods' breathalyzer test revealed no signs of alcohol, Woods refused to submit to a urinalysis test for other drugs, according to the sheriff - - Another Martin County Sherriff's deputy found two hydrocodone pills in Woods' left pants pocket, according to the arrest affidavit - - After Woods agreed to perform field sobriety exercises, the deputy observed him "limping and stumbling to the right," to which, Woods informed the deputy that he has underwent a total of seven (7) back surgeries & more than 20 operations on his right leg, which he severely injured in a car wreck outside of Los Angeles in 2021 - - After Woods was arrested, he was transported to the Cleveland Clinic ER South, but he ultimately refused all medical treatment - - The 15-time PGA major champion was then transported back to Martin County Jail, where he was held until his release on a $1,000 bond later Friday night - - Neither Woods nor the PGA Tour has publicly commented on his arrest, however, multiple recordings of Woods' arrest have now made their way onto the Internet - - **Update: Per his attorney on Tuesday evening, Tiger Woods has checked himself into a rehab facility and is stepping away from the PGA Tour/golf until further notice. . .Q: What is going on with Tiger Woods? . . .

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast!

Episode 128 - "The Naismith Episode" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics:

- NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Basketball: The College Coaching Carousel: Quite possibly, with the most buzzworthy news surrounding it, North Carolina men's basketball coach Hubert Davis was fired by the school, bringing a conclusion to a tumultuous week after the Tar Heels' stunning loss to VCU in the first round of this year's NCAA Tournament, exiting in the Round of 64 for the second consecutive year: The Tar Heels led the Rams by 19 in the second half but collapsed down the stretch in an 82-79 OT defeat, which was the largest comeback in the NCAA Tournament since 2018 - - North Carolina went 24-9 this season, despite projected top-five NBA draft pick Caleb Wilson sitting out the final nine (9) games because of hand & thumb injuries - - In five (5) seasons as coach, Davis was 125-54, finishing with a winning percentage of 69.8% - - The school did not specify the nature of Davis' departure in its statement Tuesday night, simply calling it a change in leadership, - but in a post on Instagram, Davis said he was "let go" by the university and that his desire was to continue to coach at Chapel Hill - - The decision to fire Davis came from a recommendation from current AD Bubba Cunningham and executive associate AD Steve Newmark, who will take over the AD role on July 1 - - That recommendation was accepted by chancellor Lee Roberts on Tuesday - - Davis' exit looms large over a historic or "blue blood" college basketball program that has long leaned into alumni and the so-called Carolina Way, and opens one of the most coveted positions in all of basketball - - His departure opens the possibility of the school seeking a coach outside the North Carolina family for the first time since Bill Guthridge's three-season stint ended in 1999-2000, as Matt Doherty, Roy Williams & Davis, who each followed Guthridge, are all UNC alumni. . .Q: Is it time for North Carolina to bring back the GOAT Michael "MJ" Jordan to Chapel Hill as the Tar Heels' next head basketball coach? If the school's leadership does, in fact, seek a coach outside of the North Carolina family, who are a couple of the most notable coaches the program should pursue (i.e., Alabama's Nate Oats, Florida's Todd Golden, etc.)? . . .Providence has hired South Florida's Bryan Hodgson as its next men's head basketball coach - - Hodgson is joining the Friars after leading the Bulls to a 25-9 record, the American Conference regular-season and postseason titles, and a bid to this year's NCAA Tournament as an No.11 seed in his lone season in Tampa - - The No.11 Bulls were eliminated from the 2026 NCAA Tournament after suffering a loss to No.6 Louisville last Thursday in the first round - - Hodgson is a former Nate Oats assistant coach at Buffalo and Alabama, who brings an up-tempo style of play predicated on high-efficiency shot selection - - Hodgson, 38, will replace Kim English, who went 48-52 in his three (3) years at Providence, which included back-to-back losing seasons in 2024-25 and 2025-26 - - Providence will be the third school in three (3) years for Hodgson, who spent two seasons at Arkansas State, where he led the program to a pair of 20-win seasons, including a 25-11 Sun Belt Conference regular-season title in 2024-25, which gave the Red Wolves their first NIT bid in more than three (3) decades, prior to accepting the head coaching position at South Florida - - Hodgson now inherits a program considered well-funded in the Big East Conference, and one that is looking to get back to winning consistently, a feat the program hasn't experienced since Ed Cooley left for Georgetown in 2023. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Providence's hire of USF's Bryan Hodgson as their new men's head basketball coach?. . .Syracuse has turned to its past by hiring former star guard, Gerry McNamara, in a bid to guide a fading men's college basketball program back to prominence, the school announced on Tuesday - - McNamara, 42, aptly nicknamed "G-Mac," is returning to where he & Carmelo Anthony led the Orange to a national championship in the 2003-04 college basketball season - - Following an outstanding playing career, McNamara then spent 14 years as an assistant coach at his alma mater under Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim, and an additional season under his successor, Adrian Autry - - Now, he replaces Autry at Syracuse, who was fired after three (3) largely disappointing seasons in which the Orange went a combined 49-48 and extended their NCAA Tournament drought to five (5) seasons, the program's longest since 1967-72 - - McNamara returns to central New York after spending the past two seasons at Siena, where he led the Saints to a combined 37-30 record, which included a 23-12 finish this year in which they won the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) tournament & clinched their first NCAA Tournament berth since the 2010-11 season. . .Q: What are your thoughts on former star point guard & Siena coach Gerry "G-Mac" McNamara being hired as the next head men's basketball coach at Syracuse?. . .Creighton coach Greg McDermott is retiring after the 2025-26 NCAA college basketball season, the school announced on Monday, as his retirement will end a gilded run at Creighton, as McDermott, 61, won 365 games in 16 years as the head coach of the Blue Jays - - McDermott has a career record of 514-319 over 25 D-I seasons, including the 2023 Elite Eight and bids into 13 NCAA Tournaments, while the head coach at Northern Iowa, Iowa State & Creighton - - McDermott will be passing the job to the coach-in-waiting, Alan Huss, who had returned to the Creighton staff and was formally positioned for a year to take over this role, as the transition to Huss was hatched in April 2025, as he stepped down as the head coach at High Point University after leading them to a bid in the NCAA Tournament - - At Creighton, McDermott memorably coached his son, Doug McDermott, from 2010-11 to 2013-14, a time for which he was integral in helping bridge Creighton from the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) to the Big East Conference: The seamless transition from the MVC to the Big East will continue to be a huge part of Greg McDermott's legacy, as Creighton won the Big East regular-season title in the 2019-20 season, and had records of .500 or above in Big East play in 11 of 13 seasons in the league - - However, Creighton struggled this year by the standard McDermott set, finishing the season with a 15-17 overall record, and ending a streak of 10 consecutive 20-win seasons. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Creighton's announcement that head men's basketball coach Greg McDermott will retire at the end of the 2025-26 college basketball season? Thoughts on his replacement, coach-in-waiting Alan Huss? . . .2026 March Madness: First and Second Round Review & Recap: The first weekend of the 2026 NCAA Tournament is officially in the books, and there are, of course, distinct winners & losers - - Among the big winners are the Big Ten Conference and John Calipari, who has guided the Arkansas Razorbacks to its second Sweet 16 appearance in his second season with the program, while his former team, the Kentucky Wildcats, are headed back home to Lexington: In this particular segment, JD & Spencer discuss & review the first and second-round games from this past weekend - as well as discuss a few of the major takeaways from the first weekend of March Madness: **Be Sure to Tune in to hear this week's "March Madness: First and Second Round Review" segment. . .

- 2026 NCAA Tournament: Sweet 16 & Elite Eight Preview & Predictions: The Sweet 16 is officially set after a wild first weekend of the 2026 NCAA Tournament: If you wanted Madness, you sure got your case full of it - - If you wanted a shocking upset, you got it, thanks to the No.9 seed Iowa Hawkeyes pulling off the stunning upset victory over the defending national champion Florida Gators - - If you wanted thrilling buzzer-beaters, you got multiple orders, thanks to St. John's guard Dylan Darling, who delivered the game-winner to stun No.4 seed Kansas on Sunday to send the fifth-seeded Red Storm to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999, and an all-time classic in the Nebraska-Vanderbilt matchup, punctuated by Tyler Tanner's potentially game-winning heave that was halfway down the basket until it wasn't - - If you crave high-quality basketball, last weekend certainly answered the call, with the exception of the first 30 minutes of the St. John's-Kansas second-round matchup, which could aptly be described as a football game that occurred on a hardwood floor inside of a gymnasium or arena - - Sweet 16 by Conference breakdown: Big Ten Conference (6), SEC Conference (4), Big 12 Conference (3), Big East Conference (2) and ACC Conference (1) - - The second weekend of March Madness has an extremely high bar to cross after fulfilling an epic, madness-inducing first weekend of the 2026 NCAA Tournament - - In this particular segment, JD & Spencer will preview each of the third round (i.e., Sweet 16) matchups from this weekend, as well as provide their individual predictions/game picks for both the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight, to present their Final Four picks for this year's tournament. . .**Be Sure to Tune in to hear this week's "Sweet 16 & Elite Eight Preview and Predictions" segment, and Share Your Game Picks with us via X/Twitter - @TraditionFinest or Send Us a Message at [email protected]!. . .

- NFL - - Debate/Discuss: Is Ty Simpson the best overall QB prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft? Why or why not? If not, which QB prospect would rate higher than the former Alabama Crimson Tide QB?. . .Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year, has reached an agreement with the Seattle Seahawks on a four-year, $168.8 million contract extension that makes him the highest-paid WR in NFL history, sources informed ESPN - - The deal averages $42.15 million per year and includes over $120 million guaranteed, both setting records for a WR - - With this new agreement, the two-time Pro Bowler is contractually tied to the Super Bowl reigning champion Seahawks through the 2031 NFL season - - Smith-Njigba's deal with the Seahawks is the latest jump in the ever-evolving WR market - one that will certainly impact the division rival, Los Angeles Rams, who could be working on a Puka Nacua extension/deal this offseason, as the star wideout is entering the final year of his rookie deal in 2026 - - **NOTE: Smith-Njigba's salary eclipses the previous high for a WR: Ja'Marr Chase's deal with the Cincinnati Bengals, which has an average annual value of $40.25 million, with the next highest average annual salary after Chase including Vikings WR Justin Jefferson ($35 million), Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb ($34 million), Steelers WR DK Metcalf ($33 million) and Jets WR Garrett Wilson ($32.5 million). . .Q: What are your thoughts on JSN's record-breaking contract extension with the Seattle Seahawks?. . .

- Miscellaneous - - "R.I.P. To a Legend:" According to a family statement posted on social media last Friday morning, on the island of Kaua'i (Hawai'i), Chuck Norris passed away at the age of 86 - - Norris was an American martial artist, actor, screenwriter, and author - - Throughout his life, Norris had earned and received several black belts: these include a 10th degree black belt in Chun Kuk Do (founded in 1990 by Chuck Norris himself, as it was based on his Tang Soo Do training in Korea while he was enlisted in the military), a 9th degree black belt in Tang Soo Do, an 8th degree black belt in Taekwondo, a 5th degree black belt in Karate, a 3rd degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu from the Machado family, and a black belt in Judo - - In 1968, he won the Professional Middleweight Karate champion title, for which he held for six (6) consecutive years - - In 1969, he won Karate's triple crown for the most tournament wins in a year, and he was also recognized as the "Fighter of the Year," by Black Belt Magazine - - In 1989, he received his Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and in 1999, he was inducted into the Martial Arts History Museum's Hall of Fame as one of its 10 inaugural members - - In 2010, he was nominated and won the Lifetime Achievement Award at ActionFest - - Norris began working in the American film industry as a martial arts instructor for celebrities prior to making his big screen debut with a minor role in The Wrecking Crew (1968) - - Friend & fellow martial artist, Bruce Lee, invited him to play as one of the main villains in The Way of the Dragon (1972) - - His numerous roles in projects like Walker, Texas Ranger, and others only heightened the iconic tough guy persona - - Away from his acting roles, "Chuck Norris Facts" went viral with crazy and fun statements and/or puns, such as: "Chuck Norris had a staring contest with the son - and won," and "They wanted to put Chuck Norris on Mt. Rushmore but the granite wasn't tough enough for his beard,". . .Q: Do you have any Chuck Norris memorable moments that you would like to share? . . ."What the F***?:" A Maryland man who made history as the first quadruple amputee to compete in the professional televised American Cornhole League (ACL) has been arrested and charged with murder after allegedly shooting & killing a passenger in his car during a heated argument - - Dayton Webber, 27, who became a champion cornhole player after losing his limbs and nearly dying from a bacterial infection in his infancy - faces murder charges in connection with the death of Bradrick Wells, authorities said on Monday - - According to a statement from investigators with the sheriff's office of Charles County in suburban Baltimore, Webber was driving his car with Wells as his front-seat passenger at about 10:25 p.m on Sunday when the pair began arguing in front of the others who were in the back seat of the vehicle - - Webber then allegedly shot Wells to death, pulled over in the community of La Plata, and asked the other passengers to assist in removing the body from the car - - The others refused, exited the car and fled the scene while Webber drove away with Wells' body in the front seat - - **NOTE: ESPN's SC Featured, known for telling inspiring sports stories, profiled Webber in 2023, and even ESPN SportsCenter gave Webber a spot on one of its top 10 play segments: the appearance showed Webber making four (4) consecutive cornhole shots into the hole, including by banking his bag off an opposing one on the final attempt, and the highlight ended with a SportsCenter anchor saying: "Dayton Webber - remember the name. . ." [**I honestly do not believe we will have that difficult of a time forgetting this guy. . .just sayin'] - - Authorities said they found Webber's car in Charlottesville, Virginia, about 150 miles from where Wells' body had been recovered - - They reportedly tracked Webber down to a nearby hospital, where he had allegedly sought treatment for an unspecified medical issue. . .Q: I have so many questions regarding this entire story, but what are your thoughts on the professional cornhole amputee player being charged with murder?. . .

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast!

Episode 127 - The "Cinderella Story" Episode includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics:

- NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Basketball: "Holloway's Not-So-Holiday:" Authorities reportedly found 2.1 pounds of marijuana in University of Alabama basketball star Aden Holloway's apartment when he was arrested on a felony drug possession charge Monday morning, according to the charging documents obtained by ESPN on Tuesday - - So why is the amount relevant?. . .**NOTE: The amount discovered in the arrest is significant because any amount of marijuana above 2.2 pounds - or a kilogram (kg) - in the state of Alabama can result in a drug trafficking charge, whether or not there are clear signs of an intent to distribute - - Holloway, who was "removed from campus," and is not with the team just days prior to the onset of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, informed police that he wanted to exercise his Miranda Rights (aka "plead the fifth") and/or remain silent during the search of his apartment, but then told police that he "only smokes [and does not sell or distribute]," - - Following his arrest, Crimson Tide HC Nate Oats stated at a press conference that the team was preparing to play without Holloway - who was the team's No.2 scorer, averaging 16.8 points per game, behind only star guard Labaron Philon - when it faces No.13 seed Hofstra on Friday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament - - Holloway posted $5,000 bail and was released from the Tuscaloosa County jail shortly after his initial arrest - - He has been charged with a class C felony drug possession charge, "not for personal use," and a failure to affix a tax stamp charge, both of which are felonies and carry a max sentence of 10 years in jail and a $15,000 fine - - While it's unclear what prompted the search warrant, as per the charging documents, the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force was executing a search warrant at Holloway's apartment when authorities located the marijuana in a backpack, a jacket pocket, a suitcase, in a TV entertainment stand and a vacuum-sealed bag, along with a significant amount of cash, the prescription sedative promethazine, as well as drug paraphernalia (i.e., a "rolling tray" & packaging materials) - all of which was discovered in just one room of Holloway's apartment - - Authorities also found marijuana in a box and a drawer in a spare bedroom. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Aden Holloway situation for the Alabama men's basketball program? How does this affect the Crimson Tide as they prepare for the 2026 NCAA Tournament?. . .First Four: In this particular segment, JD & Spencer discuss & provide a detailed analysis of the First Four games of the 2026 NCAA Tournament that occurred on Tuesday & Wednesday evening, which included the following four (4) matchups:

NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: Midwest Region: No.16 UMBC Retrievers vs. No.16 Howard Bison

NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: West Region: No.11 Texas Longhorns vs. No.11 NC State Wolfpack

NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: South Region: No.16 Prairie View A&M Panthers vs. Lehigh Mountain Hawks

NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: Midwest Region: No.11 Miami (Ohio) RedHawks vs. No.11 SMU Mustangs

- 2026 NCAA Tournament/March Madness Bracket Review & Prediction Showcase: In this particular segment, JD and Spencer review the NCAA Tournament first-round matchups that have already occurred - - as well as provide their individual projections/predictions for each of the remaining games in the first & second round (i.e., Round of 64/Round of 32). . .**Tune in as JD and Spencer will fill in their NCAA bracket throughout this particular segment - - Also, Be Sure to Share Your Picks for the 2026 NCAA Tournament with us via X/Twitter - @TraditionFinest - and/or by Send Us a Message at [email protected]. . .

- NBA - - "Records are Wilt[ing] Down:" The legendary Wilt Chamberlain owns one less NBA record thanks to Oklahoma City Thunder superstar guard, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - - Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning NBA MVP, broke a record held Chamberlain for more than six (6) decades by scoring at least 20 points in 127 consecutive regular-season games - - His streak started on Nov.1, 2024, as he averaged 32.5 points in the 127 games - - Gilgeous-Alexander, or SGA, reached the NBA milestone in last Thursday's home game against the Boston Celtics, surpassing 20 points with a 20-foot jumper with 7:04 remaining in the 3rd QTR, eliciting a roar from the Paycom Center crowd - - He received a standing ovation and MVP chants during the next time out when the historic moment was recognized on Arena's videoboard - - SGA finished the game with 35 points & nine (9) assists in the Thunder's 104-102 win over the Celtics - - **NOTE: Gilgeous-Alexander, who won last season's scoring title and ranks second in the league, averaging 31.8 points per game this season, is on the verge of becoming the first player since Michael Jordan to score at least 30 points per game in four (4) consecutive NBA seasons - - His true shooting percentage of .669 would tie the highest in league history for a 30-point per-game scorer, matching Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry from his unanimous MVP season in 2015-16. . .

- NFL - - The Minnesota Vikings agreed to a one-year contract with former Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray, the team confirmed last Thursday afternoon (3/12) - - For Murray, the deal provides an opportunity to revitalize his career, and for the Vikings, it allows them to potentially elevate the QB play that largely doomed their 2025 season - - Minnesota will reportedly pay $1.3 million of Murray's $36.8 million salary for 2026, whereas the Arizona Cardinals will pay the remainder as part of their decision to release him last Wednesday: his new deal prohibits the Vikings from using a franchise or transition tag on him next offseason, sources told ESPN, which gives him a guaranteed path to NFL free agency next offseason if he elects to pursue it - - In Minnesota, Murray will have arguably the best supporting cast of his NFL career, which started in 2019 when the Cardinals selected him with the No.1 overall draft pick: he'll work with HC and play caller Kevin O'Connell, TE T.J. Hockenson and WRs Justin Jefferson & Jordan Addison, to improve the Vikings' offense next season - - Following the 2025 NFL regular season, O'Connell said that he wanted to find competition for starting QB J.J. McCarthy, who was the No.10 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and finished last season with a 35.6 QBR in 10 starts - - Murray has been selected to two Pro Bowls and has accounted for 153 TDs in his career, but HC Kevin O'Connell was not willing to name him as the Vikings' starter in 2026. . .Q: What do you think of the move by the Minnesota Vikings to bring in QB Kyler Murray? Who will be the Minnesota Vikings starter next season: J.J. McCarthy or Kyler Murray?. . ."Fields, Great:" The Kansas City Chiefs found their newest backup QB for Patrick Mahomes on Monday, agreeing to send a 2027 sixth-round pick to the New York Jets to acquire Justin Fields, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter - - Without an experienced veteran after last year's backup Gardner Minshew signed with the Arizona Cardinals last week, the other QBs on the Chiefs' QB depth chart, Chris Oladokun & Jake Haener, have combined to start in just three (3) games at the professional level - - Fields, 27, wanted to continue his career in Kansas City, although other teams were interested in acquiring him, the sources reported to Schefter, after the Jets last week acquired QB Geno Smith in a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders, to become their new starter in 2026 - - To facilitate the trade, the Jets are paying $7 million of Fields' $10 million 2026 guaranteed salary, whereas Kansas City will pay the remaining $3 million, much like the Jets did when they traded for Smith last week - - Mahomes, a nine-year NFL veteran, is rehabbing after he underwent surgery in December to repair the torn ACL and LCL in his left knee - and while Mahomes is hoping to be available for the Chiefs' season opener, Fields is a mobile QB who will take on the responsibility of operating the offense under HC Andy Reid and OC Eric Bieniemy during the offseason and most likely much of NFL training camp - - Deemed expendable after the addition of Geno Smith, Fields' departure from the Jets franchise was long anticipated, as he struggled in his lone season with the franchise, which led to his benching on Nov. 17, after which, he never saw the field again, finishing the 2025 season on IR with a knee ailment that flared up after his demotion, ending another disastrous chapter in the Jets' long, winding search for a franchise-winning QB: Fields went 2-7 as a starter with the Jets, ranking 31st out of 36 passers in Total QBR (37.3), based on a minimum of 200 attempts - - He finished with seven (7) TD passes, one INT and 1,259 passing yards, including only 505 yards in his last five (5) starts - - A 2021 first-round draft pick by the Chicago Bears, Fields is 16-37 as an NFL starting QB, as the Chiefs will become Fields' fourth team in four (4) NFL seasons. . .Q: What are your thoughts regarding the Kansas City Chiefs' acquisition of QB Justin Fields? Could this potentially lead to a resurgence and/or an overall shift in trajectory of Justin Fields' NFL career?. . ."A Penguin Sighting in Denver:" The Denver Broncos are trading for Miami Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle in exchange for first-, third- and fourth-round picks in this year's NFL Draft, a source reported to ESPN's Adam Schefter on Tuesday - - The Broncos will also receive a fourth-round pick in return from the Dolphins, while the picks heading to Miami include No.30 overall as well as the 30th selection in each of the third and fourth rounds - - Waddle will join a Broncos WR corps that includes Courtland Sutton, Pat Bryant, Troy Franklin, Marvin Mims Jr., Lil'Jordan Humphrey & Michael Bandy - - **NOTE: The Dolphins, at Nos. 11 and 30, are now one of five (5) teams that have two picks in the first round of this year's NFL Draft, joining the New York Jets (Nos. 2 and 16), Cleveland Browns (Nos.6 and 24), Kansas City Chiefs (Nos. 9 and 29) & Dallas Cowboys (Nos.12 and 20) - - Overall, Miami currently has 11 selections in next month's draft - - Following the trade that landed Waddle out of Miami, Tutu Atwell is atop the Dolphins' depth chart at WR, and is joined in the WR room by Jalen Tolbert, Terrace Marshall Jr., Malik Washington, Tahj Washington, Theo Wease Jr., and AJ Henning. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the NFL trade on Tuesday that sent wideout Jaylen Waddle from the Miami Dolphins to the Denver Broncos? What does this trade tell you about the Denver Broncos' prospects for the upcoming 2026 season?. . .

- Miscellaneous - - World Baseball Classic Final: Team USA vs. Venezuela - - Venezuela won the World Baseball Classic for the first time Tuesday night, beating the favored United States team 3-2 in the championship game on DH Eugenio Suarez's tiebreaking double in the top of the 9th inning - - **NOTE: Venezuela became the second Latin American nation to win the WBC, after the Dominican Republic in 2013, whereas the U.S., meanwhile, has just one title, won in 2017 - - Once again, the U.S. struggled offensively, as the starting lineup was dormant for a significant portion of the game. . .until the 8th inning - - In front of what was largely a pro-Venezuelan crowd in the Miami metropolitan area, Bryce Harper's two-run homer with two outs in the 8th inning tied the score for the U.S., 2-2. . .but Suarez hit a go-ahead double in the 9th inning off Team USA pitcher Garrett Whitlock, and Daniel Palencia pitched a perfect bottom half of the inning, to secure the victory for Venezuela - - Maikel Garcia was selected the tournament MVP after hitting .385 with a WBC-high 10 hits and seven (7) RBIs - - Team USA's lineup, which was billed as quite possibly the greatest ever, in any setting, when the WBC tournament began, a thought validated by two exhibition contests that saw it amass 29 runs on 33 hits, never seemed to hit full throttle when the games began to matter: It dropped its fourth pool-play game, getting shut down by Italian American Michael Lorenzen, then snuck past Canada in the quarterfinals and edged out a star-studded Dominican Republic team in the semifinals on the strength of two solo HRs - - **NOTE: Despite a heralded roster of stars led by USA team captain, Aaron Judge, Bryce Harper & Paul Skenes, the U.S. remained without a title since 2017, as manager Mark DeRosa also led the 2023 American team that lost the WBC final 3-2 to Japan, and would come back for 2029 if offered another chance - - Notable Stats: Team USA captain Aaron Judge was 0 for 4 with three (3) strikeouts and hit .222 with five (5) RBIs in the tournament, while Bryce Harper improved to .214 with three (3) RBIs with two hits against Venezuela - - Alex Bregman batted .143 with four (4) RBIs, as the U.S. scored nine (9) runs in the three (3) knockout-round games while batting .188. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the way in which Team USA struggled with the bat for most of the WBC tournament, but especially so, in the Final versus Venezuela on Tuesday night? Should Mark DeRosa be retained as the United States' team manager for the 2029 World Baseball Classic?. . .

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast!

Episode 126 - The "One Shining Moment" Episode includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics:

- NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Basketball: Financial penalties will be imposed on schools that do not follow the new player availability reporting process in the upcoming NCAA men's and women's basketball tournaments, according to the NCAA, who released a statement regarding the update last Wednesday - - **NOTE: For the first time ever, teams will be required to submit player availability information for NCAA tournament games- - If a school does not abide by this process, it will reportedly face potential fines: A first offense will result in a penalty of up to $10,000. . .the second offense is a fine up to $25,000. . .and the third offense includes a fine of up to $30,000 for the school and $10,000 for the program's head coach - as all penalties will be assessed after the tournament - - For this year's NCAA Tournament, teams must submit an initial report to the NCAA by 9 p.m. local time the night before a game is scheduled to occur, as well as provide an update two hours prior to the scheduled tip time on game day - Both reports must list players as one of three designations: (1) available, (2) questionable or (3) out. . .Players not listed as questionable (i.e., up to a 75% chance of playing) or out are assumed to be available to play - - **NOTE: Player availability reports have become required in the five (5) major conferences over the past couple of seasons, with the ACC, Big 12 and SEC posting their initial reports the night before a game, and the Big East & Big Ten conference(s) publishing their reports the morning of games - - This will be the first time player availability reports will be used for NCAA championships, with the men's and women's basketball tournaments serving as a pilot program for potential use in other sporting events - - The reports are "intended in part to reduce betting-related pressure, solicitations and harassment student-athletes and other team personnel receive from bettors connected to playing status," per the NCAA's statement - - HD Intelligence, a service for which several of the aforementioned conferences already use, will serve as the primary provider for player availability reporting services. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the NCAA's announcement regarding the mandated player availability reports, and their use throughout the men's and women's 2026 NCAA Tournament?. . ."31 & OH:" No.19 Miami (Ohio) RedHawks at Ohio Bobcats - - Miami (OH) closed out the regular season as the only unbeaten team in Division I men's college basketball, with guard Eian Elmer scoring a career-high 32 points & grabbing 12 rebounds in a gritty 110-108 road victory over in-state, MAC conference rival, Ohio, on Friday (3/6) night - - Peter Suder scored five (5) of his total 13 points in OT for the RedHawks (31-0, 18-0 MAC), which became the first program to complete an unblemished regular season since Gonzaga in 2021 - - Guard Trey Perry added 21 points and forward Brent Byers scored 15 for the RedHawks, who topped Akron (17-1 MAC) for the regular-season league title - - **NOTE: Despite its' magical season, Miami (OH) might need to win the MAC Conference tournament this week to guarantee themselves a spot and/or to become an automatic qualifier in this year's NCAA Tournament. . .Q: How do you feel about this particular subject: should the Miami (OH) RedHawks receive an "automatic bid" to the 2026 NCAA Tournament regardless of whether they or not they win the MAC Conference championship? - - Guard Jackson Paveletzke led Ohio (15-16, 9-9 MAC) with a career-high 37 points, while forwards Javan Simmons scored 30 and Aidan Holloway added 20 points as well, as the Bobcats closed out the regular season after losing three (3) consecutive games - - HC Travis Steele's squad had a bumpy stretch over its previous dozen games, with four (4) one-possession wins & two others that they won in OT - - This time, the story wasn't much different, as the RedHawks needed some late game heroics again to win in Athens for the first time in 15 years: Ohio forward Javan Simmons' basket off a missed shot by teammate Kirr Kuany gave the Bobcats a 108-107 lead with 26 seconds remaining in OT - - Miami guard Peter Suder then sank two FTs to put the RedHawks ahead, and guard Justin Kirby made another for the final margin - - The Bobcats had an opportunity to steal the game, but guard Jackson Paveletzke missed two shots in the final five (5) seconds that could have given Ohio the lead (and win), including a 3-pointer at the buzzer - - While the RedHawks capped off an impressive and historic 31-0 regular season and an insane 110-108 victory over in-state rival, Ohio, it was what occurred after the final buzzer that was even more enthralling: Chaos erupted in the Athens arena from both sides, with frustrated Ohio fans throwing trash onto the court and in the direction of the elated RedHawks, who returned the favor by giving them a "California hello," (aka, the bird/middle finger). . .Things only escalated as taunts were thrown back & forth between the two teams, as Ohio forward Aidan Hadaway was sent back to the locker room amid the chaos and was forced to skip the postgame handshake line. . .Miami guard Peter Suder, most notably, kept waving goodbye to the Ohio fans as he backed away from the crowd, while seemingly mouthing "F*** you, b—hes,". . .Q: What's your take on the chaos that erupted at the Ohio University arena following the Miami (OH) RedHawks' gritty OT victory? What are your thoughts on the on-court behavior/demonstrations of the RedHawks players, for instance, that of guard Peter Suder?. . .No.8 Michigan State Spartans at No.3 Michigan Wolverines - - Forward Yaxel Lendeborg scored 19 of his 27 points in the first half, and Morez Johnson Jr. finished with 18 points, leading No.3 Michigan in a 90-80 win and season sweep over "little brother" No.8 Michigan State on Sunday (3/8) to give the Big Ten regular-season champions a 15th straight conference victory - - The Wolverines (29-2, 19-1 Big Ten) are headed to the Conference tournament, hoping to earn a No.1 seed in March Madness, prior to shooting for the program's second national championship (and first since 1989) - - The Spartans (25-6, 15-5 Big Ten) were swept by their in-state rivals in the regular season, but might get another shot at the Wolverines this week in the Big Ten Conference tournament - - Lendeborg, a preseason All-America selection, was once again the best player on the court, on Sunday, as the UAB transfer shot 8-for-12 from the field, matched a career high with five (5) three-pointers, recorded three (3) assists & also made winning plays at the other end of the court defensively - - "A Dirty Play/Villain:" After Spartans guard Jeremy Fears Jr. made a jumper to pull Michigan State within three (3) points with 3:47 remaining, Lendeborg made a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession to start a 10-2 run that ultimately sealed the victory for the Wolverines - - Fears finished with 22 points & nine (9) assists, forward Jaxon Kohley matched a career high with 23 points as big man Carson Cooper added 19 points for the Spartans - - However, it was Fears, who once again drew unwanted attention for another kick toward an opponent's groin, as he was called for a technical foul after a video review clearly showed that he swung his right leg backward and into Wolverines' guard Elliot Cadeau. . .but this wasn't his first rodeo: when the Wolverines won the first matchup earlier this season, Fears appeared to intentionally trip Yaxel Lendeborg, and in the postgame press conference, Michigan HC Dusty May made mention of the "several dangerous," plays in the game, in reference to Fears' on-court antics. . .Q: Is Michigan State's Jeremy Fears Jr. the modern version of former Duke Blue Devils' Grayson Allen (or former Michigan State forward Draymond Green)?. . ."NCAA College Basketball Championship Week:" The 2025-26 men's college basketball regular season is officially over, and Championship Week is in full swing: Conference tournaments are pitting member schools against one another for the right to represent their league as one of the 31 automatic qualifiers in this year's NCAA Tournament - - It all ends with the Big Ten Conference Tournament on Sunday, just before the full 68-team field for March Madness is revealed - - In this week's "Champ Week" segment, JD & Spencer introduce & discuss each of the men's basketball conference champions, to date, that have already punched their ticket this year's Big Dance:

Ohio Valley Conference (OVC): Tennessee State Tigers (23-9) - - Third overall appearance (first since 1994)

Northeast Conference (NEC): Long Island University (LIU) Sharks (23-10) - - Eighth overall appearance (first since 2018)

Missouri Valley Conference (MVC): Northern Iowa Panthers (20-14) - - Ninth overall appearance (first since 2016)

Big South Conference: High Point Panthers (30-4) - - Second straight appearance

Atlantic Sun (ASUN) Conference: Queens University Royals (21-13) - - First overall appearance

Summit League: North Dakota State Bison (21-13) - - Fifth overall appearance (first since 2019)

Sun Belt Conference: Troy Trojans (22-11) - - Fourth overall appearance (second consecutive)

Southern Conference (SoCon): Furman Paladins (22-12) - - Eighth overall appearance (first since 2023)

Horizon League: Wright State Raiders (23-11) - - Fifth overall appearance (first since 2022)

Coastal Athletic Association (CAA): Hofstra Pride (24-10) - - Fifth overall appearance (first since 2001)

West Coast Conference (WCC): Gonzaga Bulldogs (30-3) - - 28th overall appearance (27th straight)

Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC): Siena Saints (24-11) - - 11th overall appearance (first since 2010)

- NCAA Football: R.I.P Lou Holtz, the quick-witted former D1 college football coach, who led the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to a national championship in 1988, and burnished his reputation as a master at rebuilding programs, has sadly passed away at the age of 89, per a statement released on social media by his family - - Per the statement, Holtz passed away in Orlando, FL, where he was surrounded by family, however, the cause of death was not listed - - **NOTE: Holtz finished with a 249-132-7 overall record throughout his coaching career, which included stints with six (6) programs: William & Mary, NC State, Arkansas, Minnesota, Notre Dame & South Carolina - - He also coached the NFL's New York Jets for the 1976 season, finishing with a 3-10 record - - After retiring from coaching, Holtz worked in television, including more than a decade with ESPN, but what he did with the Fighting Irish stands as his greatest accomplishment - - "A Legendary Life in Football:" Holtz was born Jan.6, 1937, in West Virginia, the son of a Navy veteran who served during World War II - - He played college football at Kent State University as a LB, prior to going into coaching & worked under Woody Hayes at Ohio State in 1968 - - He went on to have a 33-year coaching career, for which he remains 12th on the FBS all-time wins list (minimum of 10 seasons), finished with a 100-30-2 record while at the helm in South Bend (3rd winningest HC in Notre Dame history), led the Irish to a national championship in 1988, was named the 1977 (Arkansas) & 1988 (Notre Dame) FWAA Coach of the Year, is the 3rd winningest coach in Arkansas' program history, was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008, was an ESPN college football analyst from 2005 to 2015 - picking up the moniker "Dr. Lou" - and finally, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2020. . .Q: What are a couple of the most memorable moments of Lou Holtz throughout the years?. . .

- NFL - - The Los Angeles Rams and star CB Trent McDuffie reached an agreement Sunday on a record four-year, $124 million extension that includes $100 million guaranteed, sources reported to ESPN's Adam Schefter - - **NOTE: The new contract makes McDuffie, 25, the highest-paid CB in NFL history - - Last Wednesday (3/4), the Rams acquired McDuffie from the Kansas City Chiefs for a package of four (4) draft picks, that included the No.29 selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, however, the deal could not become official until the following Wednesday (3/11) this week, which is the start of a new league year - - McDuffie was entering the final season of his rookie deal, as last April, the Chiefs exercised his fifth-year option, making his 2026 salary of $13.6 fully guaranteed - - He will now make much more than that thanks to a deal that averages $31 million annually, which surpasses the Colts' Sauce Gardner ($30.1 million) and the Texans' Derek Stingley Jr. ($30 million) for the highest among NFL CBs - - Cornerback was a top need for the Los Angeles Rams entering NFL free agency and this year's draft, as they had four (4) pending free agents at the position - - Along with pick No.29, the Chiefs will receive 2026 fifth- & sixth-round selections and a 2027 third-rounder as part of the trade, sources previously reported to Schefter - - The Rams still have one first-round draft pick (No.13) after trading back with the Falcons during the 2025 NFL Draft - - **NOTE: The Rams have made just one first-round selection since 2017, when they selected LB Jared Verse No.19 overall in 2024, which is five (5) fewer first-round picks than any other NFL franchise from 2017 to '25, according to ESPN Research - - According to NFL Next Gen Stats, McDuffie has allowed 6.0 yards per target in coverage in the past two seasons, which is the third best among DBs who have been targeted a minimum of 150 times - - In 56 career games, McDuffie has recorded three (3) INTs, 34 pass breakups, 5.5 sacks & 246 total tackles, and was named first-team All-Pro in 2023. . .Q: Who won the NFL trade that landed former All-Pro CB Trent McDuffie in Los Angeles: the Chiefs or the Rams?. . .The Buffalo Bills landed a new top target for franchise QB Josh Allen, agreeing to a trade with the Chicago Bears to acquire WR DJ Moore, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Thursday - - Buffalo is sending a 2026 second-round draft pick to Chicago in exchange for Moore and a 2026 fifth-round selection - - Moore's $23.5 million base salary in 2026 is fully guaranteed, and his 2027 base salary - which is also $23.5 million - becomes fully guaranteed next week, while the Bills will be guaranteeing $15.5 million of Moore's $23.5 base salary in 2028 - - Moore, who will turn 29 in April, will be reunited with new Bills HC Joe Brady, whom of which he played under with the Carolina Panthers, when Brady was the team's OC in 2020 and for most of the 2021 season - - The WR position was a significant need for the Buffalo Bills this offseason given a lack of consistency at wideout throughout the 2025 season: Moore will join a WR room for the upcoming 2026 NFL season that has some question marks regarding their status outside of Khalil Shakir, including Keon Coleman, Joshua Palmer & Curtis Samuel, Moore's former Panthers teammate - - In Chicago last season, Moore's strongest (or best) assets were his durability, as Moore played in all 17 games and was on the receiving end of some of the greatest catches of the season, including a 46-yard walk-off TD in OT to defeat the Green Bay Packers on Dec. 20. . .but unfortunately, Chicago's season finished with Moore running an imperfect or wrong route on a Caleb Williams' INT in OT against the Rams in the playoffs - - What's most important for the Bears, though, is the cash: By trading Moore to the Bills, Chicago is freeing up $49 million to spend over the next two years, which is critical for a franchise with major needs - especially after center Drew Dalman, 27, unexpectedly retired this week, and LT Ozzy Trapilo, who tore his patellar tendon, will not be ready to start in 2026 - - In other words, the Bears could pour much of that money into their offensive line and spend a more reasonable amount on a Moore replacement as their WR3, either by signing a veteran on a low-cost contract or adding another WR in this year's NFL draft. . .Q: Who won the NFL trade that landed WR DJ Moore in Buffalo: the Bears or the Bills?. . ."Maxx Return:" In the biggest trade in franchise history, the Baltimore Ravens are acquiring five-time Pro Bowl DE Maxx Crosby from the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for two first-round picks (2026 & 2027), sources first reported to ESPN's Adam Schefter on Friday night - - Crosby, 28, is a five-time Pro Bowler and would be a game-changer for the Ravens, as his 69.5 sacks since 2019 is more than double what anyone has produced in Baltimore over that span - - **NOTE: This actually marked the first time in the Ravens' 31-year existence that they had used a first-round pick to trade for a veteran player - - Crosby was set to significantly upgrade a struggling Ravens pass rush that in 2025 totaled 30 sacks, Baltimore's fewest in 15 years - - **NOTE: In fact, Crosby has produced four (4) double-digit sack seasons in his seven-year career, whereas over that span, the Ravens have had two edge rushers with 10 or more sacks in a single season: Kyle Van Noy (12.5 in 2024) and Odafe Oweh (10 in 2024). . .**UPDATE: Shortly afterwards and in what is a strange sequence of events, the Baltimore Ravens have "backed out" of their trade agreement with the Las Vegas Raiders for five-time Pro Bowl DE Maxx Crosby, with sources telling ESPN that the decision was due to medical concerns that arose during a physical. . .Q: What are your thoughts regarding the Baltimore Ravens' announcement that they have rescinded their trade agreement for DE Maxx Crosby? What is your take on the report that they backed out due to "medical concerns?" - - Immediately after the Ravens pivoted away from a failed trade for Raiders' EDGE/pass rusher Maxx Crosby, it was announced per ESPN's Ian Rapoport that Baltimore and former Cincinnati Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson had agreed on a four-year, $112 million contract early Wednesday morning - - Hendrickson will, therefore, remain in the AFC North division, where he will have an opportunity to face off against Joe Burrow and his former team twice a year. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Ravens' acquisition of DE Trey Hendrickson after losing out on Maxx Crosby? Does this entire situation smell a bit "fishy" to you?. . .2026 NFL Free Agency: NFL free agency officially began at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, with the start of a new league year - but as of Monday at noon ET - when the legal tampering/negotiation window opened, NFL franchises could begin agreeing to terms with players - - In this particular segment, JD & Spencer discuss a few of the most notable free agent acquisitions and/or trades that have occurred across the legal tampering two-day window, as well as provide their thoughts concerning each signing and whether it is beneficial or detrimental to that NFL franchise; the following player(s) are discussed within this segment:

QB Tua Tagovailoa ➡️ ???

Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick ➡️ ???

WR Alec Pierce ➡️ ???

WR Michael Pittman Jr. ➡️ ???

RB Kenneth Walker III ➡️ ???

QB Malik Willis ➡️ ???

WR Mike Evans ➡️ ???

Safety Reed Blankenship ➡️ ???

- NBA - - Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum's belated birthday present to himself was a return to the game that was abruptly taken away from him last season: Tatum started the Celtics' 120-100 home win over the Dallas Mavericks last Friday, marking his NBA season debut after he underwent surgery to repair a ruptured right Achilles tendon, as he played for a total of 27 minutes, finishing the game with 15 points, 12 rebounds & 7 assists - - **NOTE: The typical rehabilitation window to return to basketball action following a surgical procedure to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon is typically between nine (9) and 12 months. . .Tatum, who underwent surgery on May 13 of last year, was able to return to the court after just 298 days. . .Q: Is Jayson Tatum an absolute freak of nature or nah?. . ."BAM BAM, BAM BAM!:" Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo had a night for all time on Tuesday, with a point total second only to Wilt Chamberlain in the NBA record books: Adebayo scored 83 points, setting league marks for free throws made & attempted in a game where the Miami Heat defeated the Washington Wizards with a final score of 150-129 - - Adebayo started with a 31-point 1st QTR and never stopped rolling, and he was up to 43 points at the halftime break, 62 by the end of the 3rd QTR. . .and then came the 4th, when the milestones kept falling despite facing double-, triple- and what once appeared to be a quadruple-team from the Wizards defense that kept sending him to the foul line - - Adebayo's final numbers: 20-for-43 from the field (46.5%), 36-of-43 from the FT line (app. 84%), and 7-for-22 (32%) from 3-point range. . .it was a stat line unlike any other in NBA history, and a night like none other for Adebayo - - Adebayo wound up passing former Los Angeles Lakers great, Kobe Bryant, for single-game scoring as well, as Bryant's career best was 81 points - a game against the Toronto Raptors that was second-best on the NBA scoring list for two decades. . .Until Now!. . .Q: In 10 years from now, is this going to be one of those 'Where Were You' type moments? What are your thoughts on the way in which Bam Adebayo broke Kobe Bryant's record for the second-highest point total in NBA history on Tuesday night?. . .

- Miscellaneous - - Baseball/WBC: The 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics featured plenty of upsets and surprises, but Tuesday night's World Baseball Classic action might have produced the most shocking international result of 2026. . .and this time, Team USA was on the wrong side of it. . .The Americans were stunned by Team Italy, 8-6, in a game in which they never led, played sloppily & failed to find the big hit - - Now, their hopes to reach the WBC quarterfinal round and/or the "tournament knockout" stage are in doubt and could come down to a tiebreak: Following the loss, the U.S. then needed Italy to defeat Mexico the following Wednesday, to avoid a complicated tie-break scenario that would likely see the Americans suffer a shocking elimination before the 2026 WBC knockout rounds even began - - The bottom of Italy's lineup struck first in the top of the 2nd inning with HRs from Kyle Teel & Sam Antonacci to take a 3-0 lead - - Jac Caglianone added a two-run HR in the 4th inning and Italy tacked on three (3) more in the 6th inning thanks to shoddy USA defense - - Italy starting pitcher, Michael Lorenzen, of the MLB's Colorado Rockies mowed down the loaded USA lineup, tossing 4.2 shutout innings in a superb start - - The Americans' bats finally woke up in the 7th inning at Pete Crow-Armstrong clubbed a grand slam - and he added another run in the 9th inning to cut Italy's lead to two - but USA captain Aaron Judge struck out as the tying run. . .Q: What are your thoughts of Team USA's "embarrassing" loss to Italy in the WBC on Tuesday night?. . .

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast!

Episode 125 - The "Dickie V" Episode includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics:

- NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Basketball: "It's March, baby, with a Capital "M!" In this initial segment, JD & Spencer will discuss and provide a detailed analysis of a few of the most notable NCAA college basketball games from across the country from the previous week, and they will also acknowledge and/or mention the most buzzworthy storylines across Division I hoops. few of the more notable College Basketball games from across the country over the previous week, as well as to dive into any of the buzzworthy storylines surrounding the league. The following games are discussed in further detail in this week's episode:

No.21 Miami (OH) RedHawks at Western Michigan (WMU) Broncos. . .

"The Race to 31-OH:" The RedHawks are chasing history with just two game(s) remaining as it attempts to finish the NCAA College Basketball regular season with an unblemished record of 31-0 - - Miami (OH) entered the week with an overall NET ranking in the 50s, while its' other metrics are not as favorable at the same juncture. . .Unfortunately for HC Travis Steele's squad, the ugly truth is this: If the RedHawks were to slip up and drop one of their remaining games during the regular season or lose in the MAC Conference Tournament next week, it could potentially be a "back-breaker" for the program - or, in other words, a loss could ruin the RedHawks' shot to secure it's first "at-large" berth into the NCAA College Basketball Tournament since 2007. . .Remaining Schedule:

Miami (OH) vs. Toledo (H)    3/3

Miami (OH) at Ohio (A)      3/7

Q: Following the gutsy performance that led to a last-second win over WMU last Friday evening, do you feel even more confident in this team's ability to pull off a "perfect" 31-0 regular season?. . .

No.3 Michigan Wolverines at No.10 Illinois Fighting Illini - - **NOTE: The Wolverines won their first outright Big Ten Conference regular-season title since 2014, and ironically, when they also clinched with a road victory over the Fighting Illini. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Dusty May's Michigan squad right now? Do the Wolverines possess the necessary type of roster capable of winning a national championship this season?. . .

No.20 Arkansas Razorbacks at No.7 Florida Gators - - The Gators took down the Razorbacks in a 34-point romp, which tied for the worst loss of Arkansas HC John Calipari's career, a 34-point loss against the Duke Blue Devils in 2018 while he was the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats - - **NOTE: Florida has won six (6) in a row against ranked opponents, and on average, scored at least 90 points in each of those ranked-on-ranked matchups, which is the second-longest streak in college basketball history (i.e., streak is shared with the 1989-90 UNLV Runnin' Rebels and Loyola-Marymount (LMU) Lions). . .Q: Do the Florida Gators have what it takes to repeat as back-to-back national champions this year?. . .

No.17 Alabama Crimson Tide at No.22 Tennessee Volunteers - - Alabama accomplished a feat on Saturday that they haven't experienced since 2021: pulling off an epic comeback win in Knoxville, as the Crimson Tide won its eighth consecutive game of the regular season. . .Q: Where do you stand on this Alabama Crimson Tide basketball team as it enters the month of March? What are a few NCAA Tournament pro's & con's of HC Nate Oats' squad?. . .

No.6 Iowa State Cyclones at No.2 Arizona Wildcats - - The Wildcats secured at least a share of the Big Ten Conference crown with the victory over the Cyclones, as Arizona earned it outright by smothering Iowa State defensively to give HC Tommy Lloyd his 140th victory, the most in NCAA history in a coach's first five (5) seasons. . .Q: What makes this Arizona squad so dangerous as we draw closer to the 2026 NCAA Tournament?. . .

-"An Abrupt Exit:" Nearly a year after helping the Auburn Tigers reach the Final Four, forward Chad Baker-Mazara is no longer a member of the USC men's basketball program, the team announced on Sunday - - Baker-Mazara, 26, was the team's second-leading scorer, and started in 22 of their 26 games played, for the struggling Trojans this season, including a 14-point effort in an 82-67 loss to No.12 Nebraska on Saturday, as USC has now lost five (5) games in a row, and is playing its way out of NCAA Tournament contention - - Baker-Mazara left Saturday's home loss to the Cornhuskers early in the second half following a hard fall after he blocked a shot from Pryce Sandfort - - Baker-Mazara told Trojans HC Eric Musselman that he couldn't go back (or re-enter) the game, then sat near injured USC star Rodney Rice in an area with fans in the stands, rather than on the bench with the rest of the team - - Following Saturday's loss, the second-year HC, Musselman was asked about Baker-Mazara's potential injury and his future status at the post-game press conference: "He said he couldn't go," Musselman said, adding that he had not spoken to a trainer about the player's health - - No reasons and/or additional details for Baker-Mazara's departure from the USC program were provided in the brief statement released, as issued per team spokesperson Kristin Keller, who told the Associated Press in a text message: "We have nothing additional to add at this time," - - Of course, the program's decision to be "hush-hush" about Baker-Mazara's departure does anything put this story to rest, instead, it adds to further speculation - as well as to the trolls on the World Wide Web, who have provided a sleuth of reasons for why he is no longer with the team. . Q: What do you make of Chad Baker-Mazara's abrupt exit from the USC men's basketball program after playing in 22 of the team's 26 games to date this season?. .

- NFL - - "[Slim] Pickens:" The Dallas Cowboys did what they were long expected to do on Friday, placing the franchise tag on WR George Pickens to secure his rights at least through the 2026 season - - The Cowboys used the nonexclusive tag designation on Pickens, sources reported to ESPN, which allows him to speak with other teams when NFL free agency begins next Wednesday (i.e., March 11th) - - Should Pickens sign an offer sheet with another team, the Cowboys will have the right to match the offer or decline to do so and receive two first-round draft picks as compensation - - The NFL set the 2026 salary cap at $301.2 million earlier last Friday, making Pickens' guaranteed salary $27.298 million for next season if he chooses to play on it - - While working out a long-term deal remains a possibility, the two sides have until July 15 to get a new contract finalized or, by NFL rule, the player must play on the one-year deal or choose to hold out - - **NOTE: This is the 11th time the Cowboys have used the franchise tag, and WR George Pickens is the eighth different player - - Pickens' first season with the Cowboys could not have gone much better after he was acquired along with a 2027 sixth-round pick from the Pittsburgh Steelers for a 2026 third-round pick & a 2027 fifth-round draft selection - - Pickens put up career highs in catches (93), yards (1,429) and TDs (9) while playing in every game, being named to the Pro Bowl for the first time and earning second-team All-Pro honors - - Pickens, 24, had five (5) games with more than 100 yards receiving, including two that came when WR CeeDee Lamb was out of the lineup due to a high ankle sprain - - **NOTE: Pickens set a franchise record with five (5) games where he accounted for at least 130 yards receiving & a TD reception. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Dallas Cowboys using their franchise tag on WR George Pickens? Was it a smart move by team owner Jerry Jones?. . .2026 NFL Scouting Combine: It was an eventful week, with more than 300 prospects in the 2026 NFL draft class heading to Indianapolis for on-field drills, 40-yard dashes, medical testing and/or interviews with team personnel - - Not everyone participated in workouts, and some were selective in what drills they participated in, but several players improved their draft stock by putting up solid performances & exceeding expectations. . .So, which prospects did the most for their NFL draft stock at this year's NFL Scouting Combine? Who is suddenly getting buzz ahead of where they were slotted prior to the NFL Combine?. . .That's exactly what JD and Spencer discuss within this particular segment, starting with the first night of workouts, which included the defensive linemen and LBs taking center stage on Thursday: One such player that drastically improved his draft stock on Day One of the combine, was Ohio State LB Sonny Styles, the son of former NFL LB Lorenzo Styles Sr., who came into the combine as a probable top-12 pick: His on-field workout might have solidified his spot in the top 10 - and maybe even in the top five (5) - as the 6-foot-5, 244-pound LB, had a historic performance, becoming the first player to run a sub-4.5-second 40-yard dash with a vertical leap of 40+ inches and a broad jump of 11+ feet at 230+ pounds since 2003, according to NFL Research - - The former safety demonstrated nice ball skills and looked fluid for his size in skills, too, which means he did everything he could possibly do to elevate his already-substantially high draft stock. . .As for the second night of workouts at the 2026 NFL Combine, the DBs and TEs took center stage on Friday, with one such player undoubtedly impressing the league's personnel with their on-field performance; this player was Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq, who measured 6-3 1/8, which put to rest any concerns that he would not reach the 6'3" mark - - His 43 1/2-inch vertical jump and 11-1 broad jump showed his elite athleticism, then he posted a 4.39-second 40 at 241 pounds, which was the fastest time for a combine TE since at least 2003 - - Unfortunately, Sadiq & fellow workout warrior (and fellow TE) Eli Stowers passed on the opportunity to display their on-ball skills. . .As for the third day of workouts at the 2026 NFL Combine, the RBs, QBs and WRs took center stage on Saturday, with a few players in particular making a lasting impression on the NFL scouts: (1) One of the most physically-gifted QBs in this year's draft is Arkansas QB Taylen Green, as it's no surprise that his athleticism was used to befuddle defenses throughout his college career, as he enjoyed a combine for the ages: The 6-foot-5 7/8, 227-pounder made history with a 43 1/2-inch vertical jump and a 11-2 broad jump, both of which were the best marks by a combine QB since at least 2003 - - Then he used his long strides to run a 4.36-second 40, the second-fastest time by a combine QB since at least 2003 - - However, his throwing session reminded us all why he's widely considered to be a Day 3 prospect, as he looked fine when he ample time to throw the ball, but when his process was sped up, his arm & feet did not work in sync with one another, so throws came out later than anticipated - - Still, he possesses the tools with which an NFL QB coach can work and develop. . .(2) The second player from day three of the NFL Combine that showed out was Mississippi State WR Brenen Thompson, who measured in at 5-foot-9 and 164 pounds: In a year where players put down blistering 40 times one after another, Thompson topped them all, running an official 4.26 seconds Saturday, that very likely would end up being the fastest time at this year's Combine - - **NOTE: Although he didn't break Kansas City Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy's record of 4.21 seconds, Thompson posted the third-fastest time by a WR since 2003, according to ESPN Research, matching Jerome Mathis' 4.26-run in 2005. . .and finally (3) it was easy to see why Arkansas RB Mike Washington Jr. was able to rank in the top 10 nationally with 6.4 yards per carry when he recorded a stunning 4.33-second 40-yard dash at 6-1, 233 pounds, the fastest time for any RB at this year's NFL Combine - - His 39-inch vertical & 10-8 broad jump were exceptional for his body type and were second at the position this year, behind only Kentucky's Seth McGowan - - Washington did, however, did not participate in the on-field drills, but we think proving his long speed was potentially enough to land him a draft slot late into Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft. . ."You Be Knuckles, I'll Be Sonic:" The Detroit Lions traded veteran RB David Montgomery (aka "Knuckles") to the Houston Texans in exchange for a 2026 fourth-round draft pick, a 2027 seventh-round draft pick, and center Juice Scruggs, as announced per ESPN's Adam Schefter early Monday morning - - Montgomery, who had 2,506 rushing yards and 33 TDs in his three (3) seasons with the Lions after being drafted & spending four (4) seasons with the Chicago Bears, was clearly unhappy with his reduced role in Detroit last season while playing alongside three-time Pro Bowler Jahmyr Gibbs (aka "Sonic"), as Montgomery had his fewest rushes (158) and touches (182) in his five-year career, despite playing all 17 games last season - - Montgomery, who will turn 29 in June and is set to make $5.49 million this season, will enter the 2026 NFL season as the No.1 RB for Houston, while also splitting time with fourth-round rookie Woody Marks, and a Texans offense that ranked 22nd in rushing yards per game (108) last season - - This trade certainly sheds light and/or gives more clarity on how the Texans plan to approach RB Joe Mixon's situation: Mixon, who the Texans acquired via trade two years ago, missed the 2025 NFL season because of a foot injury, as league sources expect for Houston to most likely release Mixon - - Following the news of the trade, and in a post to Lions' fans on Instagram, Montgomery wrote Monday that "everything I do next carries a piece of Detroit with it. The work ethic. The edge. The heart," - - Fellow RB, Jahmyr Gibbs, meanwhile, posted a broken heart emoji overlayed on an image of Sonic & Knuckles from the Sega video game on his IG story: The monikers, which were given to each RB based on their strongest attributes (i.e., Gibbs' speed - "Sonic"/Montgomery's strength - "Knuckles") and was presented to them for their successful pairing in Detroit. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the trade that sent RB David Montgomery from Detroit to Houston? What type of impact will this have on Texans QB C.J. Stroud's longevity/career?. . .The New York Jets dusted off their franchise tag, placing it on RB Breece Hall ahead of Tuesday's 4 p.m. ET deadline, sources confirmed to ESPN's Adam Schefter on Tuesday: Hall's tag is the nonexclusive version ($14.293 million fully guaranteed), meaning he can negotiate with other teams and sign an offer sheet, and the Jets will have the right of first refusal and would receive two first-round draft picks as compensation if they decline to match - a prohibitive price for a RB - - In short, this means that Hall isn't going anywhere unless he's traded by the Jets or the tag is rescinded, which is especially rare: **NOTE: This is the first time that the New York Jets have exercised the franchise tag since 2021, when it was applied to safety Marcus Maye, who never signed a long-time contract, and wound up leaving as a free agent in 2022 - - Hall, who turns 25 later this year, rushed for a career-high 1,065 yards in 2025, which is certainly no easy task on a 3-14 team - - The coaches hyped him up as a dual threat weapon who could be utilized, and would have a major impact in the passing game, but unfortunately, that never materialized, as he finished the 2025 NFL season with a total of 36 receptions, his second-lowest total in four (4) seasons spent in the league, but things could be different under Jets new OC Frank Reich - - In four (4) seasons, Hall has compiled 5,040 scrimmage yards, which ranks 14th in the NFL - - Hall, a 2022 second-round pick, has expressed frustration about the Jets' losing ways: The Jets' overall record with Hall is 22-46, under three (3) different head coaches, as he & WR Garrett Wilson are the team's only proven playmakers. . .Q: What are your thoughts about the New York Jets placing the franchise tag on RB Breece Hall, who has been relatively open about his preference to play elsewhere?. . ."This Isn't A Game, Boy:" The Arizona Cardinals have informed QB Kyler Murray that they intend to release/cut him on the first day of the new league year, which begins next Wednesday (3/11), barring a trade between now & then, sources reported to ESPN's Adam Schefter on Monday - - Arizona already owes Murray $36.8 million guaranteed in 2026, and another $19.5 million would have triggered if he was/is still on the Cardinals' roster as of March 15 for 2027 - - A former Heisman Trophy winner, Kyler Murray's time spent in Arizona has included the following feats: 2018 No.1 overall draft pick, NFL Rookie of the Year (2019), a two-time Pro Bowler, started in 87 games, accounted for 20,460 passing yards & 3,193 rushing yards, and 121 passing TDs along with 32 rushing TDs (as well as 60 INTs) - - Arizona has a new HC in Mike LaFleur and GM in Monti Ossenfort, who did not draft Kyler Murray, as they will now look to find the next franchise QB for the Cardinals, as Murray's seven-year run comes to an end. . .Q: Did you expect the Arizona Cardinals to cut tied with QB Kyler Murray prior to the onset of a new league year?. . .Veteran Pro Bowl center Drew Dalman has informed the Chicago Bears that he is retiring from the NFL at the ripe age of 27, sources confirmed to ESPN's Adam Schefter on Thursday afternoon - - Dalman, 27, is ending his professional career after just five (5) seasons, as the former fourth-round draft pick spent his first four (4) seasons with the Atlanta Falcons (2021-24) where he started 40 games - - Dalman was Chicago's marquee free agent signing during the 2025 NFL offseason when he inked a three-year, $42-million contract with the Bears - - The surprising news comes less than three (3) months removed from the Bears winning the NFC North division title and their first playoff game in 15 seasons, as Dalman was a key piece along an offensive line that ranked No.1 in pass block win-rate (74%) and fifth in run block win-rate (74%) - - **NOTE: The center had the eighth-highest pass block win-rate among all interior offensive linemen with 406 wins in 423 passing plays, after he started all 17 games for the Bears last season - - Carmen Vitali, a host on Fox Sports Radio, made a very interesting & compelling point, in a post on X: "Drew [Dalman's] dad was a player and a coach. He's seen first-hand life after football and the effects the game can have. If anyone is going to make an informed decision on when it's time to hang 'em up, it's Drew." . .Q: First off, how lucky is this guy?!? Capable of retiring at the age of 27! What do you make of Drew Dalman's surprising and sudden announcement to retire from the NFL after just four (4) seasons?

- MLB - - Atlanta Braves DH Jurickson Profar is facing a 162-game suspension after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug (PED) for the second time in the last year, sources informed ESPN on Tuesday - - **NOTE: Profar, 33, is the sixth player to receive a 162-game ban for PED use since Major League Baseball increased the penalty for second-time offenders to a full season in 2014 - - Profar will forfeit the entirety of his $15 million salary, and will be ineligible for the MLB postseason, as well as for the upcoming World Baseball Classic, where he was set to represent the Netherlands, whose team includes players from his native country of Curacao - - The loss of Profar is a significant blow for the Braves, who have already lost starting pitchers, Spencer Schwellenback & Hurston Waldrep to elbow injuries, as Atlanta attempts to rebound from a 76-86 season - - The 2025 MLB season started inauspiciously as well with Profar's 80-game suspension on March 31 for Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG), a hormone typically made during pregnancy that can encourage and/or increase testosterone production - - Atlanta previously signed Profar to a three-year, $42 million contract last January after he had a career year with the San Diego Padres in 2024, as his most recent suspension came following the fourth game of the season and, after returning in early July, he went on to hit .245/.353/.434 with 14 HRs and 43 RBIs while playing left field. . .Q: Obviously, I don't want to "bad mouth" the guy, but how much of a moron can you be to follow up an 80-game suspension (attributed to a failed test for PEDs) by failing a second consecutive drug test (yes, for PEDs)?. . .

- Miscellaneous - - NASCAR: Tyler Reddick's latest win drove him straight into the NASCAR record books: Reddick held off hard-charging Shane van Gisbergen over the final 20 laps at the Circuit of the Americas on Sunday to become the first Cup Series driver to win the first three (3) races of the season - - Driving a Toyota car, co-owned by Michael Jordan, Reddick won the season-opening Daytona 500, and was victorious a week later at EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta, then won from the pole position in the first road course race of the year - - Jordan, the basketball Hall of Famer & six-time NBA champion, was with Reddick's 23XI Racing pit crew, exchanging high-fives as he cross the finish line - - History was made for a team and ownership group that has been making a lot of it: The team took on NASCAR with a federal antitrust lawsuit - as the settlement in December was considered a major legal victory that secured a permanent franchise-style model & ensured the team would remain in business for the long term - and that particular "team" has been unbeatable on the racetrack ever since: "I'm proud of the team we put together," Jordan said, as he credited co-owner Denny Hamlin, who is also a driver for Joe Gibbs Racing, with being the "mastermind" behind its' racing success - - Jordan also indicated that he will be in attendance at the next race in Phoenix to see if Tyler Reddick can do the unthinkable & extend the winning streak that has built a commanding 70-point lead in the NASCAR driver's championship. . .Q: What percentage probability do you give Tyler Reddick & the 23XI Racing crew to pull off the "four-peat," thus, winning at Phoenix Raceway next weekend?. . .

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast!

Episode 124 - The "Miracle on Ice" Episode includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics:

- NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Football: "Like Father, Like Son:" Four-star QB Gunner Rivers, the son of NC State University football legend & eight-time NFL Pro-Bowler (and the most recent 40-year-old QB that "Almost-led-the-Colts-to-a-victory-over-the-Super-Bowl-60-Champions" & Almost-Head Coach of the Buffalo Bills) Philip Rivers, has committed to play for the Wolfpack, he announced Monday via social media - - Rivers is ESPN's No.11-ranked pocket passer and No.142 overall prospect in the 2027 cycle - - The younger, less accomplished Rivers, is now set to follow in his father's footsteps after throwing for 2,813 yards and 44 TDs to five (5) INTs in his junior season - - A 6-foot-3, 200-pound junior at Alabama's St. Michael Catholic High School, he elected to commit to his father's alma mater over reported offers from Auburn, Boston College, Miami & South Carolina, and will have some massive shoes to fill when he arrives on campus in Raliegh, NC - - Prior to playing for 17 seasons in the NFL, Philip Rivers was a four-year starter at NC State from 2000 to 2003, emerging as one of the most prolific QBs in program and ACC Conference history - as he led all FBS passers in completion percentage (72%) and was named Offensive Player of the Year during his senior season in 2003 - and Rivers' 13,848 career passing yards remain first among both NC State and ACC QBs, and ranks 13th on the NCAA's all-time passing list. . .Q: What are your thoughts on 2027 QB Gunner River's verbal commitment to play at his father and former NFL QB, Philip Rivers, alma mater?. . .NCAA College Basketball: In this particular segment, JD & Spencer will discuss a few of the more notable College Basketball games from across the country over the previous week, as well as to dive into any of the buzzworthy storylines surrounding the league. The following game(s) are discussed within this episode:

Friday, Feb. 20th:     No.23 Miami (OH) RedHawks vs. Bowling Green Falcons

Tuesday, Feb.24th:    No.22 Miami (OH) RedHawks at Eastern Michigan Eagles

Remaining Schedule/Next Up:

Friday, Feb. 27th  No.22 Miami (OH) RedHawks at Western Michigan Broncos

Tuesday, Mar. 3rd:       No.22 Miami (OH) RedHawks vs. Toledo Rockets

Friday, Mar. 6th:         No.22 Miami (OH) RedHawks at Ohio Bobcats    

Q: Based on the RedHawks' remaining schedule, do you think that No.21 Miami (OH) will finish off a perfect 31-0 season? Or will they drop one (or more) of their three remaining games this season?. . .

Saturday, February 21st: Potential "Final Four Preview?"  

No.4 Arizona Wildcats at No.2 Houston Cougars/Edward Jones Capital Showcase: No.1 Michigan Wolverines vs. No.3 Duke Blue Devils - - Duke's win over Michigan has propelled the Blue Devils to a familiar perch: No.1 in the AP Men's Top 25 poll after claiming 56 of the total 61 first-place votes to supplant the Wolverines, who's stay atop the standings only lasted a week. . .                               

- NCAA College Baseball: While the NCAA College Baseball season remains relatively young, what occurred on Tuesday could only be referred to as "Mid-Week Madness," after four (4) of the top six (6) ranked teams in Division I College Baseball suffered losses to unranked, in-state opponents, causing significant early-season chaos in the rankings - - This mid-week upset trend highlights the high volatility and competitiveness that is present in early-season NCAA college baseball. . .In this segment, JD & Spencer discuss the following four upset(s) that occurred on Tuesday that sent a shockwave through the sport:        

(1) Arkansas State - 12

No.6 Arkansas - 4

(2) Georgia State - 9

No.5 Georgia Tech - 4

(3) McNeese - 7

No.2 LSU - 6

(4) San Diego State - 4

No.1 UCLA - 3

- NFL - - Former Purdue & NFL star WR Rondale Moore passed away on Saturday at the age of 25, as police in his hometown of New Albany, Indiana, informed the Associated Press that Moore was found in the garage of his house with a suspected self-inflicted gunshot wound, while his death remains under investigation - - Moore grew up in New Albany - just across the Indiana border from Louisville, Kentucky, and after committing to play college football at the University of Purdue, he was named a first-team All-American as a freshman in 2018 - - As an all-purpose player that season, Moore also won the Paul Hornung Award as the most versatile player in college football - - In his three (3) seasons spent with the Boilermakers, prior to turning pro, Moore racked up 1,915 receiving yards and 14 TDs while also rushing for 248 yards & three (3) rushing TDs - - In what will forever be a "Where Were You?" type moment, we can remember witnessing Rondale Moore lead the Boilermakers to what would become a legendary upset over the Ohio State Buckeyes - - A second-round draft pick of the Arizona Cardinals in 2021, Moore had been sidelined for the past two seasons (2024, 2025) after sustaining injuries: he missed the 2024 NFL season after suffering a dislocated right knee while he was signed with the Atlanta Falcons, and he most recently spent time with the Minnesota Vikings, participating in their 2025 offseason & training camp, prior to suffering a season-ending left knee injury while returning a punt on August 9th in the team's preseason opener - - In three (3) seasons spent with the Cardinals, Moore started a total of 23 games, caught 135 receptions for 1,201 receiving yards — R.I.P. To a legend. . .The Atlanta Falcons plan to place their franchise tag on TE Kyle Pitts Sr., likely keeping one of the NFL's top TEs under contract for at least one more season, a source reported to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler on Monday - - Franchise tag contract numbers are based on the top five (5) annual salaries at each position, and due primarily to this, Pitts stands to make about $16.32 million next season (2026), the franchise tag salary this year for TEs, according to OverTheCap.com - - Despite a record-breaking rookie season in 2021, Pitts struggled with injuries and inconsistency from 2022 to 2024, as he had 1,026 yards on 68 catches in his first season in the league - - Pitts, 25, experienced a major rebound year last season, finishing second among TEs in total receptions (88) and receiving yards (928) last season, trailing only behind Trey McBride of the Arizona Cardinals - - Pitts and the Falcons will have until July 15th to agree to a long-term contract or else he will have to play the 2026 season under the franchise tender, as the deadline for NFL teams to apply the franchise or transition tag is set for next Tuesday, with free agency beginning the week after. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Atlanta Falcons' decision to place the franchise tag on TE Kyle Pitts Sr.?. . .

- NBA - - The Los Angeles Lakers unveiled a statue of legendary coach Pat Riley outside Crypto.com Arena on Sunday, and the nearly 8-foot-tall, 510-pound bronze rendering features the famously stylish Riley in his preferred attire: a Giorgio Armani suit & a crocodile leather belt - - A Hall of Famer, Riley coached the "Showtime" era Lakers throughout the 1980s, who is currently the Miami Heat team president, last roamed the sidelines in 2008 after 24 seasons spent coaching in L.A., New York & Miami - - Most importantly, Riley coached the Lakers from 1981 to 1990 and won four (4) NBA championships (i.e., 1982, 1985, 1987 & 1988) - - **NOTE: Riley becomes the eighth former Laker with a statue on Star Plaza, joining Elgin Baylor, Kobe Bryant, Chick Hearn, Shaquille O'Neal, Jerry West, Magic Johnson & Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. . .

- MLB - - "The legaCCy Continues:" CC Sabathia's No.52 will be retired on Sept. 26th by the New York Yankees, who will dedicate a plaque in honor of the Hall of Fame pitcher at Monument Park - joining his fellow teammates Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte - before that day's game scheduled against the Baltimore Orioles - - **NOTE: CC Sabathia will become the 24th player to have his number retired by the New York Yankees franchise, the first since Paul O'Neill was honored with the retirement of jersey No.21 in 2022 - - Other jersey numbers that are retired by the Yankees franchise include the following list (yes! The Yankees are gonna be donning triple digit jerseys VERY soon!): No.1 (Billy Martin, 1986), No.2 (Derek Jeter, 2017), No.3 (Babe Ruth, 1948), No.4 (Lou Gehrig, 1939), No.5 (Joe DiMaggio, 1952), No.6 (Joe Torre, 2014), No.7 (Mickey Mantle, 1969), No.8 (not retired - but the # jersey is set aside for Yogi Berra & Bill Dickey), No.9 (Roger Maris, 1984), No.10 (Phil Rizzuto, 1985), No.15 (Thurman Munson, 1979), No.16 (Whitey Ford, 1974), No.20 (Jorge Posada, 2015), No.21 (Paul O'Neill, 2022), No.23 (Don Mattingly, 1997), No.32 (Elston Howard, 1984), No.37 (Casey Stengel, 1970), No.42 (Mariano Rivera, 2013), No.42** (Jackie Robinson, 1997), No.44 (Reggie Jackson, 1993), No.46 (Andy Pettitte, 2015), No.49 (Ron Guidry, 2003), No.51 (Bernie Williams, 2015) and No.52 (CC Sabathia, 2026) - - Sabathia was a six-time MLB All-Star who won the 2007 AL Cy Young Award with Cleveland and a World Series title in 2009, his first season with the Yankees after signing as a free agent - - He went 251-161 with a 3.74 ERA and 3,093 strikeouts, which was third among LHPs behind Randy Johnson & Steve Carlton, throughout his 19-year MLB career, including a 134-88 record with a 3.81 ERA and 1,700 strikeouts for the Yankees - - He was also elected to baseball's Hall of Fame on the first ballot in 2025. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the New York Yankees' announcement that they will retire CC Sabathia's No.52 jersey later this year?. . .

- Miscellaneous - - "Play Free Bird:" For almost 58 minutes, the U.S. Women's Hockey Team looked to be on the verge of an epic collapse on the grandest stage: heading into Thursday's Olympic gold-medal game, the Americans had gone undefeated, scoring at least five (5) goals against every opponent, including a 5-0 rout of the Canadian Team in the preliminary round - - Yep, Team USA trailed Canada for most of the gold-medal game, down by a score of 1-0, to a team that had fully embraced the "underdog" mentality. . .but then, Lyndrd Skynyrd's original lineup showed up on the ice, and played the most impactful rendition of their eight-minute ballad, Free Bird, and then, in the blades of glory, it was Team USA captain Hilary Knight, who made U.S. national team history, by scoring her 15th career goal in the Winter Olympics, and the dominant American team that we'd seen for the previous two weeks in Milan, had finally showed up. . .**PSA: No! Lyndrd Skynyrd's original lineup - or any lineup for that matter - did not show up, and the song, Free Bird, was not played (although it should have been!) - - In the end, Team USA overpowered Canada 2-1 in OT to regain the Olympic title, completing a 7-0 perfect run through the tournament - - To their credit, Team Canada came out playing the best hockey of the entire tournament, outshooting the Americans 8-6 in the first period, as they executed their game plan - to take away time and space & make life difficult for Team USA's skilled roster - nearly to perfection: Just 54 seconds into the second period, and while being short-handed, Canada's fourth-line center Kristin O'Neill opened the scoring, ending the Americans' long shutout streak at 352 minutes & 17 seconds - as this was the first bit of adversity the Americans had faced all tournament, as well as the first time they had trailed - - The Americans did a much better job of spacing the floor in the second period, as they put up 14 shots on Canadian goalkeeper, Ann-Renee Desbiens, whereas the third & final period was incredibly tense - as we have come to expect for it to be when it is between Team USA & Team Canada: After Erin Ambrose was boarded by Britta Curl-Salemme, Canada received a power-play opportunity, but failed to score on a U.S penalty kill that remained perfect throughout the tournament, and it was this, that set up Hilary Knight's final (and quite possibly the greatest) moment, a deflection on Edwards' point shot to tie the game with 2:04 minutes remaining - - **NOTE: The U.S. Olympic Women's Hockey Team hasn't lost a game in a major international competition since the 2024 Women's World Championship gold medal match, in which Canada defeated the Americans 6-5 in OT - - To put it into perspective just how dominant this U.S. Women's Hockey Team has been, just take a look at their overall record over the past year: Team USA has dismantled opponents 84-15, including 33-2 at the Winter Olympics. . .Q: What were your thoughts on the U.S Olympic Women's Hockey Team capturing gold and defeating Canada as well as completing a perfect 7-0 run through the tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics?. . ."This One's for Johnny:" The Winter Olympics Men's Hockey gold-medal game promised to be an epic showdown between the U.S and Canada. .And it Delivered: Following goals by Team USA's Matt Boldy and Canada's Cale Makar in regulation - as well as a slew of incredible saves by Team USA goaltender Connor Hellebuyck & Canada's Jordan Binnington - the gold-medal match went into OT Sunday - - In that extra session, which features a 3-on-3 format, Jack Hughes took a pass from Zach Werenski & buried it past Binnington, giving the U.S. a 2-1 victory and its' first gold medal in Men's Ice Hockey since 1980 (it's a full-circle moment! - the same year that the "Miracle on Ice" occurred!) - - Shortly after winning gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics, the American players brought out the late Johnny Gaudreau's Team USA jersey on the ice during their celebration - as well as his children. . . - - Remember the Name: Connor H-E-L-L-E-B-U-Y-C-K! (it's alot easier if you're an NHL fan!) - The Winnipeg Jets star, who is the reigning NHL MVP & the winner of the Vezina Trophy as the league's best goaltender - - and there's no doubt that this guy cemented himself as the best netminder in the world with a gold-medal game performance for the ages: **NOTE: Hellebuyck stopped 41 of 42 shots against Canada, 27 of which came from the slot & 17 of them coming from the inner slot, according to Hockey Stats- - At the end of the day, Hellebuyck was the story of the gold-medal game for Team USA, whereas Jack Hughes was the story of the tournament for the Americans, and after some pretty harsh criticism, it was only appropriate for Hughes to be the "savior" that came up clutch to deliver the gold for the Americans. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Team USA men's hockey team coming away with the gold medal after defeating Canada 2-1 on Saturday?. . ."A Golden Games:" The 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan came to a close on Sunday after 19 days of world-class competition across northern Italy, featuring more than 3,000 athletes from over 93 National Olympic Committees - - In an Winter Games defined by breakthrough performances & displays of resilience, the 232 members of Team USA made history, surpassing the nation's all-time Olympic Winter Games gold-medal record (12), besting the previous record of 10 set in Salt Lake City in 2002 - - **NOTE: The U.S. earned a total of 33 medals (12G, 12S, 9B), surpassing its previous record of 28 (Sochi 2014) for an Olympic Winter Games held outside of North America - - Team USA's 33-medal haul placed them second in the standings in both total & gold medals, with a total of 85 U.S. athletes contributing to the overall medal count, and with 58 stepping onto the Olympic podium for the very first time - - Total Medal Count: As for the overall or total medal count following the closure of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Norway dominated, finishing in first place with a record 41 total medals (18G, 12S, 11B), with the United States finishing second, followed by host nation Italy with 30 medals (10G, 6S, 14B) - - In fourth place was Germany with 26 total medals (8G, 10S, 8B), and in fifth place was Japan with 24 medals (5G, 7S, 12B) - - and rounding out the top ten, it's France at No.6 (23 medals), Switzerland at No.7 (23 medals), Canada at No.8 (21 medals), the Netherlands at No.9 (20 medals), and finally, Sweden at No.10 with 18 total medals. . .

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast!

Episode 123 - "The 3ARNHARDT Episode" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics:

- NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAAM College Basketball Week in Review: Week 15: In this first segment, JD & Spencer discuss & review a few of the most notable NCAAM college basketball games from across the league, as well as evaluate some of the most buzzworthy storylines of Week 15 of the NCAA D-I Men's College Basketball season; in particular, the following NCAAM college basketball games are discussed in greater detail:

Friday, February 13th:                No.23 Miami (OH) RedHawks vs. Ohio Bobcats

Tuesday, February 17th:            No.22 Miami (OH) RedHawks vs. UMass "The Race to a Perfect Season:" Miami (Ohio) remains the lone unbeaten team in NCAA D-I Men's College Basketball after winning their 26th straight game over UMass on Tuesday night, 86-77. . .On the docket, the RedHawks' remaining schedule includes the following matchups:

Miami (OH) vs. Bowling Green (H)

Miami (OH) at EMU (A)

Miami (OH) at WMU (A)

Miami (OH) vs. Toledo (H)

Miami (OH) at Ohio (A)

Q: Based on the RedHawks' remaining schedule, do you think that No.22 Miami (Ohio) will pull off what many will consider to be an "improbably perfect" 31-0 season? Or will the RedHawks drop at least one of their final five games to close out the 2025/2026 college basketball season?. . .

Saturday, February 14th:              No.17 St. John's Red Storm at Providence Friars: Guard Dylan Darling recorded 23 points & eight (8) rebounds as No.17 St. John's scored eight (8) straight points following a massive brawl that resulted in six (6) player ejections to take the lead and earn its' 11th straight victory, a 79-69 victory over Big East foe, Providence, on Saturday - - Forward Bryce Hopkins had nine (9) points & nine (9) rebounds for the Red Storm (20-5, 13-1 Big East), and the ex-Friars star was in the middle of it all when he was taken down by a hard foul with 14:25 left and Providence (11-15, 4-11 Big East) up 40-39 - - Hopkins, who spent two seasons as one of Providence's top players before tearing his ACL in 2023-24 and transferring to St. John's, was excessively booed during warmups & the Providence student section cheered after each unsuccessful shot attempt - - The Friars were up by one point prior to the bedlam eruption in Amica Mutual Pavilion less than six (6) minutes into the second half of the game - as Friars' graduate forward Duncan Powell committed a Flagrant 2 foul on a driving Hopkins, which led to the fight that resulted in six (6) of the game's seven (7) ejections, that included four (4) St. John's players & two Providence players - - Following a stoppage in play that lasted close to 20 minutes while the officials sifted through the punishments, Rick Pitino's squad took control of the game & took down Providence 79-69 in a testy, Big East contest - - The seventh player ejection came later in the second half when Providence's Jamier Jones was booted from the game after being called for a Flagrant-2 foul committed on St. John's star forward, Zuby Ejiofor. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the six-player scuffle/brawl that took place on Saturday in the St. John's-Providence matchup?. . .

Monday, February 16th:             No.2 Houston Cougars at No.6 Iowa State Cyclones: Guard Nate Heise hit a go-ahead 3-pointer and Tamin Lipsey came up with a huge offensive rebound in the final seconds to cap No.6 Iowa State's rally in a 70-67 victory over Big 12 Conference leader, No.2 Houston, on Monday night - - Heise was 3-for-3 from three-point range, just hours after his sister, Taylor Heise, scored a goal to help the U.S. Women's Olympic Hockey team defeat the Swedish national team, 5-0, to reach the gold-medal game in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan - - The Cougars had two chances to tie the game or possibly take the lead, but was called for a shot-clock violation with 43 seconds to play, then Houston forward Chris Cenac Jr. missed a shot with four (4) seconds remaining on the clock - - The Cyclones (23-3, 10-3 Big 12) closed the game on a 17-4 run to take down a second top-10 team in three (3) days, after Iowa State defeated the No.8 Kansas Jayhawks 74-56 on the Saturday - - Meanwhile, the Cougars (23-3, 11-2 Big 12) had their six-game winning streak snapped, and their stronghold over the Big 12 Conference lead, was cut to just a half-game over No.4 Arizona for the top spot, as they head into a pivotal matchup versus the Wildcats at home this upcoming weekend - whereas with the win, Iowa State is now third in the Big 12 Conference standings, one game behind Houston. . .

Tuesday, February 17th:                 No.1 Michigan Wolverines at No.7 Purdue Boilermakers: Elliot Cadeau scored 14 of his 17 total points in the second half Tuesday night, and Aday Mara added 10 points & 11 boards to send the No.1 Wolverines past the Boilermakers, 91-80 - - Trey McKinney, Yaxel Lendeborg, and L.J. Cason each had 13 points for the Wolverines, who won their 11th straight game and took a big step towards capturing their first outright Big Ten regular-season title in five (5) years - - The win came less than 24 hours after Michigan (25-1,15-1 Big Ten) moved into the nation's top spot or No.1 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, for the first time since January 2013 - - While the support system was effective, it was time for the 'big man' to shine - all 7-foot-3 of him, as it was Aday Mara's early tone-setting presence that helped the Wolverines turn the tables on Purdue's usually dominant front line - as Mara made each of his first four (4) shots on the way to a 10-point, 8-rebound first half, yet he spent a majority of the second half in foul trouble, finishing 4 of 6 from the field as Michigan finished with a 39-31 rebounding advantage - - Purdue forward Trey Kaufman-Renn scored a season-high 27 points to lead the Boilermakers on a night in which most of his teammates struggled from the field - - All-America guard Braden Smith added 20 points as the Boilermakers (21-5, 11-4 Big Ten) had their four-game winning streak snapped, and they now trail Michigan by 3 ½ games in the Big Ten Conference title race. . .

Wednesday, February 18th:              No.20 Arkansas Razorbacks at No.25 Alabama Crimson Tide: In what is being referred to as the College Basketball 'Game of the Year,' Houston Mallette hit a 3-pointer with 51 seconds remaining in the second OT period, and No.25 Alabama survived one of the most dominant single-game performances of the season, to edge the visiting Razorbacks 117-115 on Wednesday night in Coleman Coliseum - - **NOTE: Arkansas freshman Darius Acuff Jr. scored 49 points - the second most points recorded by a college basketball player this season - while playing all 50 minutes, however, Acuff did miss pivotal jumpers at the end of both extra frames that would have given the Razorbacks (19-7, 9-4 SEC) a short-handed victory on the road- - Arkansas used a seven-man rotation throughout regulation, but had four (4) players foul out in OT, including Acuff Jr., which forced HC John Calipari to turn to two players who had played a combined 35 minutes all season - - It was just the opening to the extra period that Alabama (19-7, 9-4 SEC) needed to pull out a game that will go down as an instant classic - - Star guard Labaron Philon scored 35 points, while big man Aiden Sherrell added 26 - both career highs - to help the Crimson Tide win its' fifth consecutive victory - - Arkansas, meanwhile, lost for the first time in its' last four (4) games played, and Acuff's 49 points are the second most by an Arkansas player, and the most points scored by an Arkansas player ever in SEC Conference play - - Alabama trailed by 14 points in the second half, but an 18-4 run by the Crimson Tide, tied the game, yet they moved in front in the waning seconds of regulation, until Darius Acuff Jr.'s clutch 3-pointer tied the game, 95-95, to send the game into OT - - Meleek Thomas (24) and Billy Richmond III (20) also scored in double figures for the Razorbacks prior to fouling out in the extra period(s), whereas Alabama's Aiden Sherrell & Amari Allen came up big on the boards, recording 13 and 11 boards, respectively - and guard Aden Holloway also finished with 15 points for Nate Oats' squad. . .Q: What are your thoughts on what was, to date, the college basketball "Game of the Year?". . .

- "[No More Pooty] Tang:" Kansas State fired men's basketball coach Jerome Tang for cause, the school announced on Sunday night - - The last-place Wildcats, at the time of Tang's firing, had recorded only one win in Big 12 Conference play this season, and Tang, in his fourth year with the program, lashed out at his players following a blowout loss at home to Cincinnati on Wednesday evening - - The basis for the 'for-cause' firing, per ESPN, is the language that was included in Tang's contract, which specifically references any activity that brings "public disrepute, embarrassment, ridicule" to Kansas State - - This is in reference to Tang's postgame comments following the Wildcats' loss to Cincinnati: "These dudes do not deserve to wear this uniform. There will be very few of them in it next year. I'm embarrassed for the University, I'm embarrassed for our fans, our student section. It is ridiculous. . .I have no answer. No words." - - Tang, however, took offense to the University's decision to fire him, responding with "I am deeply disappointed with the University's decision and strongly disagree with the characterization of my termination," he told ESPN in a statement. "I have always acted with integrity and faithfully fulfilled my responsibilities as a head coach." - - In 2023, Jerome Tang signed a contract extension with Kansas State to remain with the program through the 2029-30 season, and there is still $18.67 million remaining on that deal, as he plans to fight the for-cause firing, and has since hired attorneys, Tom Mars & Bennett Speyer, to represent him against the University - - The Wildcats dropped to 1-11 in Big 12 Conference play with a 78-64 loss at No.3 Houston on Saturday, as they played the game without player names on the back of their jerseys, just three (3) days after that rant by Jerome Tang following the Cincinnati loss went viral - - Prior to this season, Tang had been relatively successful in his tenure with the program, as he led the Wildcats to the Elite Eight in his first season, recording 26 wins, which was the program's most since Bruce Weber's first season in 2013 - - In his second season with the program, Kansas State struggled in conference play, as the Wildcats missed out on a berth to the NCAA Tournament, and then last season, they finished with a 16-17 overall record, but Kansas State definitely bottomed out this season, sitting at 10-15 overall & tied for last place in the Big 12 Conference. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Kansas State's "for-cause" firing of Jerome Tang? How do you anticipate this story playing out: do you expect that Kansas State will be forced to honor Tang's $18 million contract or is this particular case most likely to be settled outside of the courtroom?. . .**UPDATE: Following the for-cause dismissal of coach Jerome Tang, and in their first game under interim HC Matthew Driscoll, the Kansas State Wildcats snapped a six-game losing streak by knocking off the visiting Baylor Bears 90-74, improving to 11-15 (2-11) in Big 12 Conference play - - G/F PJ Haggerty led the Wildcats with 34 points, yet the focal player of the night was Nate Johnson - who had a masterful performance - by finishing the game with 33 points, 9 assists & 6 steals - - The Wildcats also shot the ball well, finishing the game making 56% of their shots, and locking down the Bears defensively, by holding Baylor to just 40% shooting from the field and 12% from beyond the arc - - In all, Kansas State played a complete, all-around game, in one of its' top performances of the season as a unit. . ."An Odd Exchange:" UCLA suffered its second-straight 20+ point defeat on Tuesday night at No.15 Michigan State, a game that saw Bruins HC Mick Cronin seemingly ejected one of his own players: With the Bruins trailing 77-50 and with 4:26 left to play, UCLA center Steven Jamerson II, a former Michigan State student (and walk-on to the Spartans' basketball team), was called for a flagrant after fouling Carson Cooper from behind on a dunk attempt - - Cronin then sent Jamerson to the locker room - - Jamerson's hard foul wasn't the only development that had Cronin riled up Tuesday night: During the game, Michigan State's student section chanted the name of Bruins center, Xavier Booker, a former five-star recruit who signed with Michigan State prior to transferring to UCLA in April after two underwhelming seasons spent in East Lansing - Booker finished the game with two points & two rebounds in 25 minutes played - - Cronin had a fiery postgame exchange with a reporter who asked him about the Booker chants, saying: "I could give a rat's ass about the other team's student section. I would like to give you a kudos for the worst question I've ever been asked," Cronin said. "You really think I care about the other team's student section?" - - Cronin would then go on to accuse the reporter of "raising your voice at me. Yeah, you are. Everybody is standing here listening to you. Everybody. This is on camera. They can hear you. I answered the question.". . .Q: What are your thoughts on the odd exchange that occurred between UCLA HC Mick Cronin and center Steven Jamerson II? Cronin & the reporter at the postgame press conference?

- NCAA: News & Storylines (cont'd) - - NCAA College Football: The Mid-American (MAC) Conference has elected to add FCS program Sacramento State into the league as a football-only member beginning next season - - Sacramento State will join the conference starting July 1st, the school announced on Saturday, and they will not be eligible for the postseason for two years as it transitions from the FCS to the FBS level - - The cost of entrance is expected to be around $18 million, sources said, with a total cost of entry being around $23 million, as they are required to pay an additional $5 million to the NCAA to move up to the FBS level - - The move will keep the MAC Conference at 13 schools, as Sacramento State will replace Northern Illinois, which is leaving for the Mountain West Conference in football next year - - According to a Twitter/X post, the annual MACtion tilt between Ball State and Sacramento State will now be known as "The Ball-Sac Classic," as presented by Dick's - - **NOTE: This marks a significant move for Sacramento State, as it will be the first West Coast program to make the jump to the highest level of football in well over a generation. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the MAC Conference's addition of Sacramento State as a football-only member, beginning next season? Would you advocate for the annual "Ball-Sac Classic?". . ."Purple Reign:" NCAA Division-III program, Curry College, and their athletics department announced on Wednesday that their Walter M. Katz Field will be re-turfed entirely in Curry Purple in the summer of 2026 - - As the home site of the Colonels' football program, men's & women's soccer and lacrosse teams, this will certainly turn a few heads - - **NOTE: It was Boise State University that first installed the blue turf field in 1986, as they own the trademark for not only a blue field, but any non-green field - - The other six college teams with colored fields actually pay a yearly fee to Boise State (i.e., Red at EWU, Teal at Coastal Carolina, etc.) but we've never encountered a purple field. .until now! - - Now, Curry College will also be held responsible for providing a yearly fee to Boise State Athletics Department for their non-green field trademark. . .Q: What are your thoughts on NCAA D-III program, Curry College, and their plan to re-turf their field the color purple?. . .

- NFL - - The Miami Dolphins are releasing two-time Pro Bowl veteran edge rusher Bradley Chubb, a source confirmed to ESPN, signifying a major step toward a franchise rebuild - - Chubb missed the entire 2024 NFL season but returned with a team-high 8.5 sacks in 2025, playing all 17 games - - and as a team captain, he won the local media's "Good Guy" award for his consistent availability and professionalism with the press - - **NOTE: He also represented a $31 million cap hit in 2026, he turns 30 years old in June and has torn his ACL in both knees during his eight-year NFL career - - The move represents the first major roster decision under new GM Jon-Eric Sullivan, and believe us when we say, it was just the first of many. . .In addition to the release of OLB Bradley Chubb, the Miami Dolphins also released WR Tyreek "Cheetah" Hill in a flurry of roster moves Monday that will clear significant salary cap space, and officially make Hill a free agent for the first time in his career - - The eight-time Pro Bowler is currently recovering from a dislocated knee and torn ACL injury suffered in Week 4 last season, so it is unclear when or if Hill will play next season - - Hill would have had $11 million become fully guaranteed this month and his release will reportedly save the Dolphins approximately $22.8 million - - In 54 games played for the franchise, Hill had 340 receptions, 4,733 receiving yards, 28 TDs and was first-team All-Pro in two seasons (2022 and 2023) - - Should Hill choose to return for season No.11 in the NFL next season, he's be 32 years old by the time the 2026 campaign begins - but as he posted on social media "The Cheetah don't slow down. Ever. So to everyone wondering what's next. . .just wait on it. The Cheetah will be back. Born Again,". . .The Dolphins also released WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and guard James Daniels. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Dolphins' decision to release WR Tyreek Hill among other roster moves completed on Monday? Will Tyreek Hill play in the NFL next season?. . .The "Indiana Bears?:" The Chicago Bears' endeavor for a new stadium took a "meaningful step" foward on Thursday, opening the door for a storied franchise to leave Illinois to potentially build a new, domed stadium in Northwest Indiana - - Indiana lawmakers in the state House Ways and Means Committee unanimously approved an amendment to Indiana State Bill 27 by a vote of 24-0 on Thursday that would clear a path for the Bears to build a stadium in Hammond, Indiana - - The Bears' current lease at Soldier Field - the stadium where they currently play their home games, which is owned by the city of Chicago (IL) - runs through 2033. . .Q: What would a move from Illinois to Indiana do to the Chicago Bears' legacy? Thoughts on the possibility that this actually happens?. .

- NBA - - The "Point God" Chris Paul announced his retirement from the NBA via a social media post on Friday - the announcement comes after Paul previously said he would retire at the end of this season, his 21st NBA season - - Throughout his career, Paul played for New Orleans, Houston, OKC, Phoenix, Golden State, San Antonio, and the Los Angeles Clippers - - Paul, 40, is a 12-time NBA All-Star, an 11-time member of All-NBA teams, a nine-time All-Defensive teams member, the 2006 Rookie of the Year, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and a member of the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team - - **NOTE: He was also a four-time All-NBA first-team selection, and he ranks second in NBA history with 12,552 assists and 2,728 steals - and he was also the first player to score at least 20,000 points while recording at least 10,000 assists - - Paul is one of seven (7) players to have an NBA career span of at least 21 seasons - - Although Paul never obtained an NBA title, he is just fine, as he is one of six (6) players in NBA history to have reached $400 million in career earnings - - CP3 made the announcement after being waived by the Toronto Raptors on Friday after being traded from the Los Angeles Clippers, following a fallout with HC Tyronn Lue, as the Raptors knew Paul would never play in Toronto. . .Q: Are you surprised that CP3 did not sign with a different NBA franchise to finish out his 21st career season?. . ."The 2026 NBA All-Star Game:" In this section, JD & Spencer discuss the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, its' new round-robin format, its' ratings - - as well as the outcome for both the 2026 State Farm 3-Point Contest & the 2026 NBA Slam Dunk Contest - - **Be Sure to Tune in!!. . .