The Pac-12 Shines in Final Season Together
Fred, Art, and Mark are surprised at the performance of the Pac-12 teams in their last year of remaining intact. Would this high level of play in earlier seasons have been able to keep the conference together? Is Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. looking like Heisman Trophy material? Will Deion Sanders be lauded for his coaching style in Colorado? Does Brandon Staley have a plan to boost the Chargers? And is Mike Trout saying goodbye to Anaheim?
Which Coast Will Claim Shohei Ohtani?
Fred, Art, and guest Laura Snoke have whittled down the possibilities of where Shohei Ohtani will land next season. Is there a chance he’ll stay in SoCal, or does Steve Cohen have a more appealing offer? Jonathan Smith’s OSU team is one of the last stalwarts in the ever-diminishing Pac-12. Will another conference swoop in and snap them up? And what are Sean McVay’s prospects in 2024, given the Rams’ recent not-quite-so-stellar record?
It’s Anybody’s Game in the NFL
Fred, Art, and Fred’s cousin Andy Baran compare predicting how the NFL season will pan out to playing Pin the Tail on the Donkey. Did Aaron Rodgers mentor Jordan Love enough to fill his cleats as Green Bay’s new QB? Was Josh Allen lulled into a false sense of security because Aaron wasn’t there when the Bills played the Packers? Will Joe Burrow’s new haircut bring him luck? And how will the breakup of the Pac-12 impact the players as student-athletes?
Football is Back, but Will Fans Get to Watch It?
Fred, Art, and Mark weigh in on the big football match-ups now that the season is underway. In the Buckeye State’s opener, will the Browns’ Deshaun Watson and the Bengals’ Joe Burrow show why they get paid some of the biggest paychecks in the NFL? Are Kirk Cousins and the Vikings favored against Baker Mayfield and the Bucs? Is the Pac-12 starting its final season on top? And will sports fans fight back against the big cable companies?
Down to the Pac-2?
Fred and Art shake their heads in disbelief as the once mighty Pac-12 has been whittled down to the Pac-2. Is Larry Scott returning as commissioner? Are the traditions that have been the hallmark of sports falling by the wayside? Will Trey Lance have a chance to show his QB potential as Dak Prescott’s backup on the Cowboys? And is Matt Stafford on the older side of a generational challenge with this year’s Rams?
The Ever-Shrinking Pac-12
Fred, Art, and guest Laura Snoke share their misgivings over the future of the Pac-12 now that it has been whittled down to the Pac-4. Could ex-commissioner Larry Scott have foreseen the difficulties the creation of the Pac-12 network would unleash? Where in the world is Mick Cronin heading with the Bruins? Jennifer Cohen just became the first female athletic director for which SoCal school? And a 1947 Jackie Robinson rookie card sold for HOW much?
Can a Simple Date Change Save Lives?
Fred, Art, and Mark wonder if pushing the Preakness date out an additional one to two weeks after the Kentucky Derby could make a difference in the alarming number of equine casualties during Triple Crown season. Would Belmont organizers agree to it? Is it the right time for Damar Hamlin to be back on the field? How is Dick Vitale? And will the Washington Commanders face yet another name change as the season begins under their new ownership?
Was He Just Doing His Job?
Fred, Art, and Fred’s cousin Andy Baran examine the possibility that Orioles announcer Kevin Brown was suspended for sharing an opinion on the team’s record that the organization did not want bandied about. Was he a scapegoat? Mike Lorenzen pitched an entire nine-inning no-hitter in his first home game with the Phillies. Would he be given the same chance by Dave Roberts if he played for the Dodgers? And does Rob Manfred have a lot to answer for in the new iteration of baseball?
Remembering a One-of-a-Kind Broadcaster and Gentleman
Fred, Art, Mark, and guest Matt Ward of Golf Today reflect upon the life of Vin Scully on the first anniversary of his passing, noting that even amid all of the curve balls thrown at him, he approached those hardships with grace and humility. With the golfing world awash in controversy, what lies ahead for Jay Monahan and Greg Norman and their respective leagues? And now that Tiger Woods is on the PGA policy board, does he have his eye on becoming commissioner?
New Leagues, New Owners, New Teammates
Fred, Art, and Mark are concerned that Saudi Arabia may be looking to expand its reach into other sports by creating a basketball league to compete with the NBA. Are additional rival leagues to follow, prompting the question of when money talks, do ethics walk? Will Josh Harris and Magic Johnson be the prime example of providing positive organizational cultures in their recent acquisition of the Washington Nationals, and can Joe Kelly and Lance Lynn give a boost to the Dodger’s pitching staff?
