Islanders Strike Lightning With Finals In Sight! Crisis Time For Nash/Nets? MLB's Crackdown On Pitchers? Is Djokovic The GOAT? Mickelson's Elusive Chase For US Open Title: A Preview
With summer just days away, it’s synonymous with the sports world as it’s blazing a trail with lots to get into. You’ve come to the right place for in-depth analysis and opinions as Episode 198 is primed and ready for takeoff. On deck:
(5:39) The Stanley Cup Playoffs have moved onto the Final Four. The Islanders meet up with a familiar foe as the Tampa Bay Lightning are again, standing in their path to a Cup Final. What do they need to do in order to pull off the upset? I’ll also preview the Canadiens-Golden Knights series as it commences later this evening (Monday 6/14)
(26:15) Not a whole lot of drama in the NBA Playoffs (unless you’re the Brooklyn Nets), but first, the Suns punched their ticket to the Western Conference Finals as they sweep the MVP of the league (Nikola Jokic) and the disappointing Nuggets. I’ll discuss their meteoric rise, Chris Paul’s resurgence, as well as, Donovan Mitchell’s Jazz a couple of wins away from meeting CP3. Is Mitchell the greatest Jazz player ever? EVER?! Is it time to panic if you’re Steve Nash and the Nets? Will there be a James Harden sighting? Will Kyrie Irving return? Can Kevin Durant will his team to the next round? Also, the Sixers are in cruise control, a belated mention on the retirement of Duke’s Coach K and some rumors as to a candidate for the next coaching job of the Celtics.
(50:00) The MLB could be ready for some pitchers getting warned and ejected as the crackdown of pitchers using foreign substances may take place this week. I’ll get into Gerrit Cole’s admission (or lack thereof) on whether he uses something to doctor the ball. Pete Alonso’s factual theory of baseballs being juiced for players in their free agent walk year. Jacob deGrom’s brilliance on display, yet again! The Rays stay hot, the Angels in the AL West mix? The Brewers and Cubs trending north, while the Cards head south. The Giants standing pat in a crowded NL West bunch with the rival Padres and Dodgers.
(1:05:27) Some NFL news comes down the pike as to Deshaun Watson telling a former teammate where he wants to play, Jordan Love getting some major reps with Aaron Rodgers skipping mandatory OTA’s, former NY Giants coach, Jim Fassel passes away and the College Football Playoff devising a plan to extend the format to 12 teams? I have a different plan altogether.
(1:11:02) Novak Djokovic wins the French Open and is halfway to a calendar Grand Slam? Can he do it? Is he already the GOAT?
(1:19:42) On the heels of winning the PGA, Phil Mickelson will ride the momentum to the US Open to shoot for that elusive championship. I’ll preview who may be at the top of the leaderboard and the juicy storyline of the Bryson DeChambeau-Brooks Koepka rivalry.
(1:24:52) Some thoughts on the Denmark soccer player, Christian Eriksen, who collapsed during a Euro 2020 game this past week.
(1:26:02) Of course, my Hero and Zero of the Week.
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Intro/outro music by Cyklonus.