Will the Trade Deadline Bring Big Changes to the NFL?
With the Dodgers’ World Series win for the ages in the rearview mirror, Fred, Art, and Laura Snoke ponder football possibilities as the NFL trade deadline grows ever near. Bryce Young, former No. 1 overall pick, is the subject of great speculation as to where his new home might be. Will he leave the Panthers and head West? Are the 2024 Oregon Ducks reminiscent of Chip Kelly’s 2012 undefeated team? Is Jared Goff the NFL’s Renaissance man? And would the Rams really have traded Cooper Kupp had they lost their last few games?
Sportsageddon Showdown in LA
Fred, Art, and Laura Snoke gear up for an action-packed night of sports in LA, with the confluence of the World Series at Dodger Stadium, USC at the Coliseum, the Lakers at Crypto.com Arena, and the East LA Classic high school football game at SoFi causing “Sportsageddon Carmageddon” woes for drivers. Can the Dodgers best their historic rivals? Which SoCal native will win the Game 1 pitching battle – Jack Flaherty or Gerrit Cole? Will Aaron Judge be the Pride of the Yankees? And is Russell Wilson the right choice for the Steelers in the clash with the Giants?
MLB Pennant Races Heat Up
Fred, Art, and Laura Snoke share their predictions for the MLB pennant winners, with some strong performances by the NL and AL teams. Whose postseason record did Max Muncy tie? Will Aaron Judge’s superstar performance guarantee the Yankees a World Series berth? Can Jhonkensy Noel keep up the home runs for the Guardians? Do the Dodgers have enough in reserve to keep Teoscar Hernandez next season? And with more big-draw sporting events moving to streaming, will network availability go the way of the dodo?
Welcome to the Big Ten, SoCal
Fred, Art, Laura Snoke, and Fred’s cousin Andy Baran question the networks’ decision-making process in the scheduling of UCLA and USC’s games against formidable foes on Saturday. Why the simultaneous kickoff times? Will Bruins’ coach DeShaun Foster be a match for veteran Brian Kelly? Which school has dropped six sports programs in the latest NIL development? Will Bryce Young be given the chance to reach his potential? And just how did Shohei Ohtani achieve those mind-boggling stats?
Will History Be Made in the MLB?
Fred, Art, and Mark marvel over the numbers being put up by Shohei Ohtani as he inches toward an unheard-of 50-50 season. Will he cap off 2024 with a return to the mound in October and an MVP award to boot, or is the Phillies’ Bryce Harper going to give him a run for his money? How was Aaron Rodgers’ first game of the season? Should Tua Tagovailoa consider retirement after suffering yet another concussion? And what is up with college coaches and their “We Pay Players” shirts?
It’s All About the Coaches
Fred, Art, and Mark compare the coaching styles of USC’s Lincoln Riley and LSU’s Brian Kelly after their big showdown, where the Trojan’s stunning victory did not sit well with Kelly, who wasn’t shy about laying blame for the loss. Is Riley bringing the glory back to USC? Retirees Bill Belichik and Nick Saban seem to be on everything and are everywhere all at once in their new careers as commentators. Have they found their true calling? And will Monday Night Football fans win or lose in the streaming standoff?
A Delight for Fans at Dodger Stadium
Fred, Art, and Laura Snoke are charmed by Shohei Ohtani and his dog, Decoy, who teamed up to throw out the first pitch at Dodger Stadium. Further cementing his superstar status, Ohtani hit a home run for his first at-bat. Is he a lock for MVP or does Aaron Judge have slightly better odds? Will the injury crisis in the MLB, affecting pitchers and other indispensable players like Freddie Freeman of the Dodgers, change the way the game is played in the leadup to October? And is the University of Michigan in danger of losing its National Championship title?
Turf Wars
Fred, Art, and Laura Snoke wonder if and when the NFL will take a page out of professional soccer’s playbook and mandate grass fields over artificial turf. Could the prestigious World Cup 2026 in North America be the agent of change to protect players? Where has Justin Herbert landed in the fantasy football ratings? Do the Braves have a chance without Spencer Strider? Is Chris Taylor the answer to help the Dodgers rally? And should athletes venture into political discourse like Steph Curry did at the DNC?
What’s New, Aaron Rodgers?
Fred, Art, and Mark are shaking their heads over Aaron Rodgers’ fluctuating position on the Covid vaccine. Will there ever be a straight answer from him and is this another factor preventing him from integrating with the team? Does Sean McVay have a career change in mind? Has Michael Harris II’s comeback given the Atlanta Braves the means to catch the Phillies? And with the Dodgers pitching staff being decimated by injuries and Walker Buehler struggling after his return, can the perennial powerhouse overcome its pitching woes?
Drama, Drama, Everywhere
Fred, Art, Mark, and sports historian Matthew DiBiase weigh in on their candidates for the Cy Young Award. After allowing just one run in 28 innings, is Dylan Cease the top pick? Which underdog MLB team claimed the number one spot in USA Today’s Sports Weekly power rankings? Will TNT’s new show featuring Bronson Balholm deflect some attention from the battle between TNT and Amazon for Thursday night NBA rights? And how will the NFL resolve their dilemmas with Justin Herbert and CeeDee Lamb