Posts tagged Duke Blue Devils
A Big Podcast Week Leans Into UNC Triumph, Coach K's Exit, Kansas Primed For Title. Lakers: Biggest Disappointment Ever? Mets Concern For Jake/Max. A COL-FLA Cup Final? Tiger To Play At The Masters?

The first full week of April ushers in a new era of the podcast as yours truly is primed and ready to deliver it all for YOU, the casual or diehard sports fan. On deck:

(4:35) I begin with a synopsis of the reasons why I've expanded the podcast to twice a week.

(8:40) I'll also discuss my sojourn to Northern California (San Francisco/Bay Area) as I detail my experience in celebrating another birthday. The beauty of being a sports fan living in the Pacific time zone. I shout out a couple of dear friends who were vital in making our stay pleasurable, but this theme does have a connection with sports. Including, my purpose and responsibility to you the listener, for navigating the podcast in a new direction moving forward.

(18:36) Which leads me to the Final Four this past weekend. Kansas continues to roll in this tournament, while the Mike Krzyzewski era ends against their arch rivals in North Carolina. I'll break down what I was able to see (hence the previous segment), the bitter end of Coach K's career and preview tonight's title game as the Tar Heels try to upend the top seeded Jayhawks. I'll throw some bouquets at the Women's NCAA Champion South Carolina Gamecocks, who ran right past UConn for their second title in five years.

(32:06) I'll stick with hoops as we can put an epitaph on the Lakers embarrassingly underachieving season. Is this the most disappointing season in sports history for a team that had championship aspirations? Does Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks have what it takes to make a deep playoff run? Why is Joel Embiid making it all about his MVP candidacy this late in the season? I'll dissect what the latest is happening throughout the Association and introduce who the 2022 Hall of Fame recipients are as we've entered the final week of this long regular season.

(49:45) Is the sky falling for the Met fan like myself? With Jacob deGrom on the shelf for a minimum of four weeks with shoulder tightness and prized free agent, Max Scherzer dealing with hamstring tightness, the Mets could get off to a slow start. Will deGrom's health ever improve? Will he be the pitcher that he once was? Plus, the signing of Albert Pujols comes full circle in St. Louis as he signs a one year deal with the Cardinals to close out his career.

(57:55) Could we have a potential 1996 Stanley Cup Final rematch between Colorado & Florida? They are the two best teams in each conference as of this moment. I'll go around the ice to bring you up to speed on the NHL landscape. (The Lightning's chances to three-peat. Are the Islanders still alive for a Wild Card spot? The Flyers handling of Keith Yandle's iron man streak. And the unfortunate passing of the Senators owner, Larry Melnyk)

(1:05:21) Will Tiger Woods make it all the way back from a near fatal car accident 14 months ago to participate in the first major golf tournament of 2022? That'll be the biggest question leading up to Thursday's tee time as the Masters will commence in Augusta.

(1:10:18) To conclude, I'll have my Hero and Zero of the Week. And a heads up on another social media platform that I'll jump into for the very first time come later this week.

Please subscribe, leave a rating and post a review on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spreaker, Stitcher, Spotify, Luminary, Amazon Music and iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.

If you'd like to contribute to the production of the podcast, please visit my Patreon page at: www.patreon.com/TheJAYREELZPodcast

Many thanks for all of your love and support.

Intro/outro music by Cyklonus.



The NFL's Disappointing First Half! Week 10 Winners & Losers! Bye-Bye Oklahoma. Michigan Survives. Golden State's Surprise Start. Coach K's Final Lap. Ovechkin's Quest

I'm in a shockingly cranky sports mood to start, but it makes for a compelling podcast as Episode #224 delivers top notch analysis and opinions on all that's happening in the sports landscape. On deck:

(5:27) The NFL is passed the halfway point of the season. To put it nicely, this hasn't been one to write home about. I get into why it's been a disappointing season to date. I'll get into my winners (Chiefs, Patriots) and losers (Ravens, Broncos) of the week, go through another less than exciting week of games, culminated by the dreadful performance of the 16-16 tie between the Lions vs. Steelers, which YOU KNOW, I'll have a thing or two to share about that!

(30:39) The Oklahoma Sooners are the next team that have kissed their playoff chances goodbye, but the talk was about what Baylor did at the end of the game. Was it right for Baylor coach, Dave Aranda to kick a meaningless field goal as time expired? Plus, Michigan pulled out a huge victory at Penn State to keep their playoff hopes alive. I'll have an up to the minute look at the college football playoff landscape.

Please subscribe, leave a rating and post a review on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spreaker, Stitcher, Spotify, Luminary, Amazon Music and iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.

If you'd like to contribute to the production of the podcast, please visit my Patreon page at: www.patreon.com/TheJAYREELZPodcast

Many thanks for all of your love and support.

Intro/outro music by Cyklonus.



NCAA's Final Four, Duke's Luck Runs Out, Mets/Yanks/Bryce, MLB Opening Weekend, Nets & Isles Playoff Push, Kristaps Assault, NFL Pass Interference Rule

The BEST sports month of the year has begun. And that’s NO April Fool, on the latest edition of The JAYREELZ Podcast. The Final Four of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament is set. I’ll recap the teams who’ve made it to Minneapolis that have set themselves up to make it to the title game. Plus, I’ll review Duke’s lucky run to the Regional Final that ended in being upset AND with the prospects of Zion Williamson expected to declare himself for the NBA Draft. Or not? The MLB season is underway as I discuss the opening weekend for the Mets, Yankees and Bryce Harper, whose contract is already paying dividends to the Philly faithful. I’ll also check in on the Nets and Islanders as they’re in hot pursuit of the playoffs. The Isles are in. The Nets control their own destiny, but there are teams waiting to leapfrog them as we’re into the final ten days of the NBA season. You’ll hear my thoughts on if the Nets will make it and why it’s important for them to qualify for the postseason this year! I'll also get into the allegations of former NY Knicks forward, Kristaps Porzingis of sexual assault. I’ll get into the pass interference rule that’s been implemented for the NFL this year. Will it be successful? Can it be successful? We’ll have to wait and find out, but I have an opinion on this that you won’t want to miss. Get your sports fix right here, from the one who brings the entire sports world to you all by himself on this weeks episode of The JAYREELZ Podcast. (Episode 62)

Music by Bensound.

March Madness Begins, NFL Free Agency Fallout, MLB Rule Changes, Clyde Frazier's Comments About LeBron

CORRECTION: During the March Madness segment of the podcast, I mentioned that Tennessee won the SEC Championship. It was Auburn. My apologies for the erroneous information.

Let the Madness begin as March starts to scorch the sports universe on this weeks edition of The JAYREELZ Podcast. Get your brackets ready because we’re going full throttle on the NCAA Tournament as I dissect the regions, who’ll be this years Cinderella and which four teams will represent in Minneapolis to play for the National Championship. The NFL offseason did not disappoint (unless you’re a fan of the football Giants). So much to dive into whether it’s the fallout of the Odell Beckham Jr. trade, the Browns already punching their ticket to the Super Bowl, Le’Veon Bell to the Jets and all of the craziness that ensued during this free agency period. Plus, what players are left standing as teams will now gear up for the NFL Draft. There are some rule changes coming to MLB, two of them happening in this coming year. I’ll deliver what they are and share my thoughts on whether or not it’s good for baseball. Also, will the Yankees not having P Luis Severino in their starting rotation be a major, minor or no problem at all? I’ll have all of that, including the latest in the NBA (Clyde Frazier’s comments about LeBron, playoff seeds in East & West), NHL (Islanders hanging on to first place) and much more on this weeks episode of The JAYREELZ Podcast. (Episode 59)

Music by Bensound.

Bryce's DestinationGate, Zion's SneakerGate, Robert Kraft's SexGate. Plus, NHL Trade Deadline & NBA Roundup

I’m closing out the month of February in strong fashion as I deliver all that’s happening in the world of sports on this edition of The JAYREELZ Podcast. Manny Machado has finally found a home in San Diego. With all players reporting for spring training, there is still one big fish out there not signed to a major league contract. Will Bryce Harper come to agreement with the Phillies who are hot on his trail? Or possibly the Dodgers, as they’ve stepped into the mix to procure the former MVP? You’ll get my up to the minute analysis on where this road may lead to and why I believe Philadelphia shouldn’t be a destination for the former National. All of the talk last week in college basketball was the injury to Duke’s ballyhooed freshman, Zion Williamson. It sparked a national debate on whether he should sit out for the rest of the season and enter the NBA Draft, how college players should be paid, etc. But I’ll give you the real reason why this is a story at all and I’ll point the finger as to who is the culprit in all of this mess. Then you have the developments of Friday’s charge to New England Patriots owner, Robert Kraft of soliciting a prostitute in a massage parlor in Florida. There’s still more to come with this story, but I’ll share firsthand why we shouldn’t jump the gun on prosecuting Mr. Kraft, but also should’ve known that this firestorm was going to come whether or not he’s guilty. Plus, the latest on the NHL trade deadline, a trip around the NBA and much more on this weeks episode of The JAYREELZ Podcast. (Episode 56)

Music by Bensound.

Sports 'Dead Zone', NBA Approaches The 'Break', Is Duke Saving College BBall?, Harper/Machado Saga Continues

We have reached the first sports ‘Dead Zone’ of the year and I’ll be here to get you through these dog days on the latest installment of The JAYREELZ Podcast. The NBA All-Star Break is upon us. I’ll recap the latest in the Association with last weeks trade deadline, what that means for the teams going forward, the all-star draft and the weekend itself as the league will descend to Charlotte come Friday. The Duke Blue Devils have been the star attraction of the NCAA. Are they saving college basketball, at least for this year? I’ll get into their prospects of a national title more than a month before the Tournament and who could be their roadblock come March. Pitchers and catchers have reported throughout the MLB, but where are its’ two biggest stars? We’re still waiting on Bryce Harper and Manny Machado to sign a long term deal with some club. Which teams are pursuing these generational talents? Will it be sooner? Later? I’ll share my thoughts on this and are the Yankees, and dare I say., Mets in play for one or the other? I’ll have that, plus the latest in the NHL as I get you through this ‘lean’ time in the world of sports on this weeks edition of The JAYREELZ Podcast. (Episode 54)

Music by Bensound.

NFL Roundup! Giants Fizzle in Philly! College FB Review. Machado in Pinstripes?

Are you ready for a post-Thanksgiving helping of what’s going on in the world of sports? You’ve come to the right place as The JAYREELZ Podcast will fix a plate of all kinds of sports goodness to whet your appetite. The NFL season is about to head into the homestretch. Teams are jockeying for early playoff positioning in both the AFC & NFC. I’ll recap the week that was in the league, including the Steelers dud in Denver, Seattle guts one out in Carolina and what that loss means for the Panthers with two matchups vs. the Saints in the weeks to come. Plus, Pat Shurmer’s ineptitude in the Giants loss at Philadelphia which officially ends their season and the Jets hanging tough, but it’s not enough as their losing streak reaches five games with a loss to the Patriots. It was a wild weekend in college football with Michigan being embarrassed by Ohio St., Notre Dame hangs on vs. USC and Texas A&M wins one for the ages in a seven OT shootout with LSU. But all eyes are looking ahead to Conference Championship weekend as to who’ll be the last four teams standing for the right to play in the FBS playoff come December 29th. You’ll hear my take on all of the scenarios of who’ll make it and who won’t to decide this college football season. I’ll also chime in on the Manny Machado to the Yankees rumor, the Knicks recent success, other NBA news, some NHL talk, including a GM fired down in Philadelphia and much more on Episode #40 of The JAYREELZ Podcast. (Episode 41)

Music by Bensound.