NBA's Kings For Real? Mavs Meltdown, Dame's 71, A Packed West! Bruins Trade For Cup Run. Umps Enforcing MLB Rules/Padres: Big Boys In Small Market. Rodgers Out Of Dark. Wilson: Coach/GM Killer?
Another huge milestone is on the horizon for the podcast as I deliver the first of two this week to share my thoughts on the sports landscape as we close out February and introduce a new month just a few days away. On deck:
(3:07) Anniversary week has arrived! I'll briefly share a tidbit or two about another platform that will be critical to growth of the podcast.
(4:05) The NBA has come out of the All-Star Break firing as we had the second highest scoring game in league history (Kings 176-175 over the Clippers), the biggest comeback by a team this season (Lakers overcome a 27 point deficit to win in Dallas) and the oldest player to score 70 points (Damian Lillard scored 71) as I take a trip around the Association to discuss the log jam from seeds 4-13 in the West. The Beasts (Boston, Milwaukee & Philadelphia) at the top of the East! Atlanta has found their head coach after they let Nate McMillian go last week as former Jazz coach, Quin Snyder signs a five year deal.
(20:03) March Madness and Conference Championship Week is coming! Although it's been a little quiet over the past few days, you did have #7 Arizona lose a heartbreaker to their in-state rivals Arizona State on a 60 foot buzzer beater, as the only loser from the Top 10 this past week.
(22:17) The NHL Trade Deadline is on Friday. As special of a season that the Boston Bruins are having to date, they've acquired two reinforcements from Washington (Garnet Hathaway & Dmitry Orlov) to make this already epic regular season to be one of the all time great. The Devils have brought in goal scorer Timo Maier from San Jose as they continue to put pressure on the division leading Carolina Hurricanes. What about Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane? Will he make his way to Broadway with the Rangers? And former Islanders coach Barry Trotz goes back home to be a part of the front office for the Nashville Predators.
(34:07) It's taken just a couple of games for the umpires to enforce the new rules that MLB has implemented this past offseason. Manny Machado was the first player to get docked a strike as he took longer than eight seconds to settle in the batters box. Then there was a scenario where the same thing happened in a game between the Red Sox and Braves. What looked like a walk off bases loaded walk was turned into a strikeout leading to a tie as this took place in the bottom of the 9th. The big question is, will the umpires be strict in cracking down on this once the regular season begins? Speaking of Machado, he didn't even make it to the offseason where he stated he would opt-out of his current contract and signed an 11 year, $350 million dollar deal. How have the Padres, known for being a small market team, become one of the big boys on the block? Why the other owners are seething at what they're doing?
(47:16) Aaron Rodgers has officially left the darkness retreat out in Oregon. Why should we care about this bit of news? Same for Russell Wilson allegedly wanting his former coach and GM (Pete Carroll & John Schneider) in Seattle fired. Seriously? A year later we should get wrapped up in this?
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Intro/outro music by Cyklonus.