Morant/Grizzlies Season Defining Test, UNC Out Of Madness? Bruins Raising Cup Bar Daily. A's To Vegas? WBC: Anyone Care? Jon Jones: Legend, Not Immortal. Yet!
Riding high into this first full week of March, I kick off the week with a jam packed, fast paced sports podcast for you to digest. On deck:
(2:52) Grizzlies star guard Ja Morant will be away from the team due to brandishing a gun on his Instagram story early Saturday morning. How will this affect the team that's had success in the regular season the last two years, but certainly haven't arrived as a team that's mature or not being able to take their game to the next level come playoff time. What about the coach, Taylor Jenkins? How does he handle this mini-crisis as they navigate through this tough stretch? The Bucks had a 16 game winning streak snapped on Saturday vs. the Sixers, but it was Giannis Antetokounmpo who looked like a fool rebounding his own shot to secure a triple double at Washington last night. I'll throw my two cents on that. The Suns are 3-0 with Kevin Durant in the lineup as they defeated the Mavericks yesterday. It got testy at the end of the game between Luka Doncic and Devin Booker. Is it possible that they face off in the postseason? Steph Curry has returned from injury with the Warriors. Can he push them higher in the Western Conference? Break up the Knicks as they've won nine straight as they put themselves in good position to avoid the play-in tournament. The Association is in the final 18-20 game stretch with about a month away from the season concluding.
(20:50) Conference Championship Week has arrived. One team that needs an enormous few days to get to the Tournament is the North Carolina TarHeels. Will they do some damage in the ACC Tournament? Will the committee let them in? Also, the #1 team in the nation avoided a scare as Houston won on a last second buzzer beater at Memphis. As we're a little more than a week away from the Madness beginning, which teams will be #1's in each of their brackets? March Madness is here. So get ready as college basketball will begin their takeover in sports starting tomorrow.
(27:23) I'm at a loss for words, people. The Boston Bruins seem to be front and center whenever I discuss the NHL. They're in the middle of a 10 game winning streak. They've gotten reinforcements at the trade deadline. It is Stanley Cup victory or bust for this organization. I'll explain why it would be not minor or major, but COLOSSAL if they fall short of that. Speaking of the trade deadline, you had some good moves, minor acquisitions but nothing earth shattering or what we saw the past few weeks. I'll go through both conferences, the latest wild card scenarios as we approach the final quarter of the regular season.
(37:56) There's been some rumblings about the possibility of the Oakland A's moving to Las Vegas. It may not take place for some time, but does yours truly approve of this, if and when it does happen? Anyone interested in the World Baseball Classic? I'll give a psuedo preview, but if it comes down to two teams in particular for the title, I will definitely tune in. You'll have to listen in order to see which matchup I'd love to see. Plus, Bryce Harper is in camp and pitcher Mike Clevinger won't be disciplined for alleged domestic and verbal abuse towards his family.
(48:26) Derek Carr has found a new home, down by the Bayou in New Orleans. How much of an improvement will he be in an underwhelming NFC South? Former Panthers owner, Jerry Richardson passed away at the age of 86. There were a few player cuts recently as the NFL will open the new year in about nine days so the free agent frenzy will begin at that time.
(52:58) Jon Jones is back in the UFC once again, wreaking havoc as he win the heavyweight crown defeating Cyril Gane in submission just two minutes into the first round. We know how much of a legend he is in the sport. He's back (as we saw), but is he here to stay? Or will he continue to fall into the patterns and behaviors that has derailed him from immortal status as of today?
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Intro/outro music by Cyklonus.