Are Game 7’s Looming In The NHL/NBA’s First Round? Clippers No Show! Will Giannis Return? Cup Champ Golden Knights On The Brink? Mike Trout Injury: Is It Time To Trade Him?* Kentucky Derby Preview

I’m honored to welcome in a new partnership to the podcast. Are you familiar with Olipop soda? If not, you’ll definitely want to acquaint yourself with this healthy, crisp and refreshing beverage that has no GMO’s, organic with natural ingredients that you can read. They have the classics (Vintage Cola, Root Beer, Ginger Ale, Lemon Lime) as well as new flavors that are irresistible (Banana Cream, Watermelon Lime and my favorite, Tropical Punch) Please go to www.drinkolipop.com, type in SODALOVE for 15% off of your purchase.

A new month is here and so is the latest podcast as I’ll take care of your sports fix with plenty to get into. On deck:

(4:05) As the calendar turns to May with a few sporting events on the horizon (PGA Championship, Indianapolis 500 & Kentucky Derby on Saturday) the first round of the NBA is nearing completion. What happened to the LA Clippers last night? They got waxed at home by 30 against the Dallas Mavericks. Will we see Kawhi Leonard attempt to play in a do-or-die Game 6? How about the Mavericks making a statement, not having to get back on a plane to play a Game 7 in LA? What a difference a week makes for the Boston Celtics? This time last week, I was highly irritated by the fact that the Miami Heat won a Game 2, literally dominated the final three games to move on to the second round? I’ll preview the remaining three series (Sixers-Knicks, Pacers-Bucks and Mavs-Clippers) Can we possibly get a Game 7? More than one? Perhaps all three?

(28:08) On the ice, the Dallas Stars have overtaken the series after going down 0-2 to the defending Stanley Cup Champion Vegas Golden Knights. Will Vegas push it to the limit with a win in Game 6? The only other series of note in this first round are the Toronto Maple Leafs looking to win at home, after two losses at home to the Boston Bruins, to get back to Beantown for a winner take all Game 7. There are parallels between the opening round last year and this year for the B’s. Any pressure on them to close out the Leafs pronto? Nashville is looking to get back the game they gave away in Game 4 as the scene for Game 6 is in their building. Will we see Game 7’s from any of these series?

(42:42) As for what’s happening on the diamond, Angels star Mike Trout will be on the shelf for 6-8 weeks after suffering a torn meniscus that needs surgery. IF he comes back, stays healthy and productive (all big if’s) is it time for the front office to consider trading the future Hall of Fame? I’ll review the Yankees-Orioles series to date as the O’s took the first two of three. Is it important for them to win 3 of 4 over their division rivals? Then you had a melee between Brewers pitcher Abner Uribe and Rays OF Jose Siri which led to suspensions for them, including Brewer manager Pat Murphy among others. The Twins are in the midst of a ten game winning streak, but that comes with a big caveat. I’ll explain why as baseball moves into the third month of their schedule and peek at what lies ahead over the next four days.

(55:51) The 150th Kentucky Derby will take place this Saturday. I’ll tell you who are the favorites to win. Who are the long shots? Could an underdog horse shock the world? We saw that a couple of years ago, so maybe we don’t want to see a horse who has no business winning. I’ll get into that as the first leg of Horse Racing’s Triple Crown is just about here.

(1:02:47) I spend a hot second discussing boxer Ryan Garcia being tested for a performance enhancing drug after his fight with Devin Haney not too long ago. And why is Oscar de la Hoya getting into it with Canelo Alvarez?

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

For daily shorts, weekly vlogs and then some, please subscribe to my YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMucZq-BQrUrpuQzQ-jYF7w

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.

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Scheffler Strolls To 2nd Masters Win, But Other Majors? Lakers, Warriors, Heat & 76ers Top NBA Play-In Headlines. Who’ll Win NHL East Wild Card Spot? UFC’s Holloway Dramatic KO! Oh, And O.J.!

Smack dab in the middle of April as it’s Tax Day, but you won’t have to worry about yours truly adding any of that, surcharges, etc. as I’ve got plenty of sports chatter to get into as the latest podcast is here. On deck:

(4:03) Another mea culpa from yours truly as I was unable to produce a podcast for you on Thursday due to unforeseen circumstances. I do sincerely apologize, and as of right now, all looks fine for a pod come this Thursday.

(5:13) There wasn’t a lot of drama over the latter part of the Masters in Augusta yesterday where Scottie Scheffler won his second green jacket in three years. The #1 player in the world has gotten off to a tremendous start this year, but can he carry this into the final three major tournaments over the next few months? I’ll get into the performances of other golfers at the top of the leaderboard (Collin Morikawa, Ludwig Aberg, Bryson Dechambeau, in particular) Also, what happened to Tiger Woods as he had one of the worst ever majors in his illustrious career. How about Rory McIlroy as he’s looking for his first major win in ten years?

(21:57) It was a wild final week in the Association as OKC got the #1 seed in the West after Denver lost a brutal penultimate game vs. San Antonio. The Knicks crept up to get the #2 seed in the East, where the Bucks fall to three. Will Milwaukee get their act together, with or without Giannis Antetokounmpo in the lineup? The Sixers have been red hot heading into the play-in tournament where they’ll host the Miami Heat on Wednesday night. I’ll detail the top headlines heading into the next few days (ex. West play-in better than East. Can Sixers go on a run? What bout Miami who did it last year in this spot?) Will the Lakers win to set up a rematch of last year’s Western Finals vs. Denver? Can Golden State make it in as an eighth seed?

(40:38) We’re just days away from the NHL season concluding. The only intrigue is who’ll end up with the most points in the NHL when it’s all said and done (Carolina or NY Rangers)? What about the bitter fight for the last wild card spot in the East? Four teams are separated by one point! Which of them will qualify? (Detroit, Philadelphia, Washington or Pittsburgh) Is it possible for the Arizona Coyotes to relocate to Salt Lake City starting next year? That’s been the hot topic as of late where the ‘Yotes could trek to Utah before the 2024-25 season.

(52:58) Today (April 15th) is Jackie Robinson Day, which was his first day in the Major Leagues 77 years ago today. I’ll chime in on that and bring you up to date on what’s happening as we’re two and a half weeks in the marathon of the MLB.

(59:02) The main bout in UFC 300 couldn’t have ended any more dramatic with Max Holloway knocking out Justin Gaethje with seconds left in the final round. Is it the best ending in the history of the sport?

(1:04:16) I’ll spend a few minutes on the death of O.J. Simpson. Do I even need to get into what he and his name means, not only in the sports world, but pop culture, news and controversy surrounding the former NFL great?

I’m honored to welcome in a new partnership to the podcast. Are you familiar with Olipop soda? If not, you’ll definitely want to acquaint yourself with this healthy, crisp and refreshing beverage that has no GMO’s, organic with natural ingredients that you can read. They have the classics (Vintage Cola, Root Beer, Ginger Ale, Lemon Lime) as well as new flavors that are irresistible (Banana Cream, Watermelon Lime and my favorite, Tropical Punch) Please go to www.drinkolipop.com, type in SODALOVE for 15% off of your purchase.

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

For daily shorts, weekly vlogs and then some, please subscribe to my YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMucZq-BQrUrpuQzQ-jYF7w

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.

Delicious soda that's actually good for you. Shop OLIPOP direct and Save 15%. Enter code SODALOVE.

Become a Patron!

Belichick/Pats Part Ways. Saban Says Sayonara. Pete Carroll Out. Where Do They Go Next? NFL Wild Card Preview. Michigan 'D' Secures National Title. Heat's Spoelstra Highest Paid Coach Ever!

It has been a whirlwind of sports news over the past 24 hours. Here to dissect it all with passion and vigor is yours truly as the latest episode is ready for consumption. On deck:

(3:13) It's been a wild couple of days in football as far as coaches getting fired AND retiring. I'll start off with Bill Belichick, as he and the Patriots have parted ways. Where does he end up? Washington? Los Angeles with the Chargers? What about Pete Carroll, formerly of the Seattle Seahawks? Then there was the shocking news of Alabama Crimson Tide head coach, Nick Saban retiring out of nowhere. What are the next steps for the aforementioned coaches?

(20:51) NFL Wild Card Weekend is on the horizon. I'll break down all six playoff games, the keys to each game, who has a good chance to pull off an upset and my thoughts on Dolphins-Chiefs being streamed exclusively on Peacock as the Road to the Super Bowl in Las Vegas commences on Saturday.

(41:49) The Michigan Wolverines finally got to the top of the college football mountain as they defeated the Washington Huskies, 34-13 to win the National Championship. Does this mean that Jim Harbaugh's job is done and that he's ready to go back to the NFL? Also, is this championship tainted in light of the sign stealing scandal a couple of months ago?

(47:44) A record setting contract was signed in the NBA (and North American sports. (and no, not by a player) Miami Heat head coach, Erik Spoelstra received an eight year, $120 million dollar extension to man the sidelines down in South Beach. Is this too exorbitant for a coach in any sport? Speaking of extensions, Kawhi Leonard will stay in LA with the Clippers on an $153 million dollar deal as they move into a new building (i.e. Intuit Dome) next year. There were two big injuries along the way. Grizzlies guard Ja Morant will have to be shut down for the remainder of the year due to shoulder surgery to fix a labrum. Pacers guard Tyrese Halliburton will be out for two weeks after suffering a hamstring injury vs. Boston. Speaking of the Celtics, they have a mano a mano matchup vs. West leading Minnesota last night as they won in overtime. I'll check on what else is happening in the Association and keep you abreast of what the latest is there.

(53:41) Here come the Edmonton Oilers as they're flying high. They've won eight straight (their second eight game winning streak this year) as they inch closer to the top of the Pacific Division where the Vancouver Canucks have been hot as of late. The Winnipeg Jets have shot up to the top of the Central Division and there's been no hangover in Florida as the Panthers have won eight straight themselves as they creep closer to the Boston Bruins at the top of the Atlantic Division.

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

For daily shorts, weekly vlogs and then some, please subscribe to my YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMucZq-BQrUrpuQzQ-jYF7w

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.

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Nuggets/Golden Knights Hit Title Jackpot! What's Next For Heat/Panthers? A's Fans "Reverse Boycott"? Subway Series Recap. US Open Tees Off In LA. Trouble With Stefon Diggs In Buffalo?

There's a huge shift in the sports universe as we make our way into summer. You know I've got you covered on everything that's happening in the land of competition. On deck:

(2:41) We make the pivot in the sports world now that the fall & winter sports have crowned champions as we get to a bit of a lull with baseball being the predominant sport over the course of the next couple of months.

(4:22) The Denver Nuggets showed a lot of grit and gumption down the stretch of Game 5 and throughout the postseason as they captured their first ever NBA title. I'll go through the key points of their win on Monday night, the unassuming superstar Nikola Jokic, the comeback for Jamal Murray and the rest of their team. On the flip side, what will it take for the Miami Heat to get over the hump. Is it Damian Lillard? Or another top star that can lead them to the NBA mountaintop?

(19:00) Twenty four hours after Denver got the chance to celebrate, the Vegas strip I'm sure was on and poppin' as the Golden Knights thrashed the Panthers 9-3 in Game 5 as they clinch their first Stanley Cup. I'll get into the storylines for the coach (Bruce Cassidy) top scorer (Jack Eichel) and Conn Smythe MVP and former Panther (Jonathan Marchessault). It was a magic carpet ride for Florida, but were missing their top gun (Matthew Tkachuk) as he was out with a fractured sternum. What will this mean for the Panthers moving forward? Are they close to winning it next year? I'll also get into the Rangers new head coach that I'm not in favor of (Peter Laviolette) and a new owner in Ottawa (Michael Andlauer) as he purchases the Senators for a record $950 million dollars.

(29:49) What has gotten into the Oakland A's fans? Over 27,000 showed up at the Oakland Coliseum to support a 'reverse boycott' as they're asking owner John Fisher to sell the team. It's a little bit too late, if you ask me. I'll get into the myriad of reasons, including the team securing public money to build a ballpark in Las Vegas. The Subway Series Round 1 is over as the Mets and Yankees split two games. I'll share all of the ins and outs and is there a slight disconnect with manager Buck Showalter and the players? Plus, I'll take a trip around the major leagues to keep you abreast on all that's going on.

(44:04) The third Grand Slam of the golf season has arrived. The US Open out in the LA Country Club will host over the next four days. Will there be fallout from the LIV/PGA acquisition last week between players from those tours? Who'll come out on top after four rounds Sunday evening?

(47:37) There's been some late mini-camp drama up in Buffalo between Stefon Diggs and the Buffalo Bills. Coach Sean McDermott said that everything has been resolved with Diggs and the team. Is this something that could linger into training camp? The season?

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.

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Can The Heat/Panthers Delay Titles For Nuggets/Golden Knights? Mets Cohen Not Blowing Up Team. Rays: Built For Regular Season Only? Is Novak The GOAT? Belmont Blunder With Horses. UFC Nunes Retires

We're a week and change away from summer officially starting. If it's not warm in your neck of the woods, I'll ratchet up the intensity when it comes to heating up the airwaves as another fast paced podcast is forthcoming. On deck:

(2:53) With the fall & winter sports ready to crown a champion in the coming days, are we ready to enter the second phase of the Sports Dead Zone?

(4:10) The Nuggets are on the precipice of their first ever NBA championship as they won the two road games in Miami rather comfortably. Can the Heat thwart Denver's chance to clinch on their home court?

(14:20) Same could be said for the Vegas Golden Knights as they lost a tough Game 3 in the final minutes and overtime, but hung on for dear life at the end of Game 4 as they're on the brink of a Cup title. Will the Panthers rally the troops and take from their experience in the first round, where they were down 3-1 to the top seeded Bruins and pulled that series out in seven games? Or is it just Vegas's time to shine as they seek their first Cup win in franchise history?

(22:56) Sadly, the Mets are front and center when it comes to what's going on in baseball. They've lost eight of their last nine games, including a brutal third game in Atlanta. Owner Steve Cohen had a state of the union on his ballclub to say that he's not going to be reactionary and blow up the team. Is he right on this? I'll get into why this team has underachieved (i.e. Justin Verlander, anyone?) and are there any positive signs on the horizon? A team that's been on fire since the start of the season are the Tampa Bay Rays. Is it World Series or bust? Are they built more for the regular season than a short series? I'll discuss the red hot Oakland A's, winners of five in a row with a sweep over the Milwaukee Brewers. The Arizona Diamondbacks have thrived in the NL West. Break up the Miami Marlins as they share an identical record with the Los Angeles Dodgers?

(39:17) Novak Djokovic is now the all time winningest men's player when it comes to Grand Slams as he won the French Open over Casper Ruud. Is he officially the GOAT? Give it up to Iga Swiatek on the women's side as she gutted out a three set performance over upstart Karolina Muchova to win her third French and fourth Grand Slam overall.

(46:58) The NFL will stay relatively quiet until training camp next month. There was some player personnel moves the past week. Frank Clark goes from Kansas City to Denver. Dalvin Cook was cut from the Vikings. Are the Dolphins interested? De'Andre Hopkins is visiting with the Patriots. Is that a good fit?

(48:53) Arcangelo wins The Belmont Stakes, but a couple of horses had died after races over the weekend. What is going on with this sport? Is there going to be a crackdown on what's been taking place over the last few years?

(50:57) UFC's Amanda Nunes retain her title belts with a victory on Saturday night versus last minute replacement, Irene Aldana. She announced her retirement right after the bout as I throw bouquets to her on a great career.

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.

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PGA/LIV Elopement. What This Means For Golf? Jokic/Murray, Nuggets Put Heat On Griddle In GM 3. Can Panthers Recapture Playoff Magic? deGrom Done, A .400 Hitter In MLB? Messi's Impact On MLS?

There have been some interesting developments over the past few days in the sports universe and you've come to the right place to get your fix and then some as the latest podcast has arrived. On deck:

(2:53) I start off with the wildfires coming down from Canada over the past couple of days and how it's impacted where I live in New York City and what the experience was like.

(4:23) In a surprising revelation on Tuesday, the PGA Tour joined forces with the LIV Golf League to become one entity. Was this handled properly? How come the players on the Tour didn't have a say? What does this mean for golf moving forward? What about the players who stood pat and didn't take the money? There's a lot to unpack as I share my thoughts on how this blindsided yours truly and the rest of the golf world.

(18:35) Game 3 of the NBA Finals is in the books. If last night was any indication, the Denver Nuggets are on a quest to win their first NBA championship. The brilliance of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray as their record setting triple double performances have them up 2-1 in the series. Can the Miami Heat pull even after Friday night, in what will be a must game for them?

(25:59) Up the turnpike, the Florida Panthers need to get back in the Stanley Cup Finals as they're down 2-0 to the Vegas Golden Knights. After a Game 2 thrashing in Vegas, can they recapture some of their early playoff magic to win on home ice and even up the series? Will Panthers goalie, Sergei Bobrovsky rebound after getting pulled in Game 2?

(32:07) Quite a bit has happened in baseball since Monday's podcast. The wildfires have impacted a couple of games on yesterday schedule (White Sox-Yankees, Tigers-Phillies) but the big story is the injury to Rangers ace Jacob deGrom as he'll need to undergo Tommy John surgery and is done for 2023. As a Met fan, I can't say I told you so, but I knew it was best for the Mets not to re-sign him for this reason. Also, Aaron Judge and Nestor Cortes have landed on the IL. How long will they be out for a Yankee team that's played well of late? We have a hitter who's flirting with .400 as Marlins Luis Arraez is currently at .403. It's a nice story, but is it too early to discuss? And what about Reds top prospect, Elly De La Cruz? He's only played a couple of games, but has already shown why he was MLB's top prospect coming into this year.

(46:29) The French Open hasn't been compelling, riveting or provided a lot of drama, but the tennis world is waiting with bated breath for the titanic clash between Novak Djokovic vs. Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals on Friday afternoon.

(48:01) I spend literally twenty seconds on the final leg of Horse Racing's Triple Crown, The Belmont Stakes, which will take place early Saturday evening.

(48:23) Lionel Messi will make his way to the US as he announced he'll play for Inter Miami of the MLS. Will this have the same effect and impact when Pele played for the New York Cosmos back in the 1970's? Can his presence lift the sport of soccer in this country among the casual or average sports fan?

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.

Listen to "PGA/LIV Elopement. What This Means For Golf? Jokic/Murray, Nuggets Put Heat On Griddle In GM 3. Can Panthers Recapture Playoff Magic? deGrom" on Spreaker.

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Heat Grit, Guts Even Up NBA Final. Can They Pull Off An Upset? Concerns For Panthers In Vegas With Game 2 Looming? Yankees Show Up In LA. Mets Get Swept, Head To Atlanta. Novak-Alcaraz Clash On Deck?

Into the first week of June with plenty to divulge and dissect as yours truly is here to entertain and inform you all on what's taken place in sports over the past few days. On deck:

(2:38) I'd be remiss if I didn't wish a happy birthday in heaven to one of my favorite athletes of all time, one time Detroit Red Wing, later with the Chicago Blackhawks, Bob Probert, who would've been 58 today.

(3:17) We have some buzz in the NBA Finals as the Miami Heat were able to get this series even and back to South Beach with the homecourt over the next two games. They prevailed in what turned out to be a nail biter in Denver last night as the Heat once again showed their grit and gutted out another big victory on the road. How good are their chances to winning an NBA Final and pulling off the upset? I'll break it all down for you as the scene shifts to Miami. I'll also get into all of the coaching hires that have taken place over the past week, including Monty Williams's record breaking deal in Detroit.

(23:57) As for the Stanley Cup Finals, the Florida Panthers find themselves in a situation that they haven't been in about six weeks. Trailing in a series. They lose Game 1 in Vegas Saturday night, 5-2 as they pick up the pieces for a huge Game 2 tonight, as they try to get back to South Florida, similar to their basketball counterparts, tied at 1-1. Are there concerns? Can they recapture the magic that has led them to the Finals? In coaching news, the Washington Capitals hired Spencer Carbury who at 41, is the youngest coach in the league.

(31:13) The big showdown in LA over the weekend had the Yankees taking the back two games of their series against the Dodgers. After Luis Severino's uninspiring performance (and spotty future) on Friday night in an 8-4 loss, they bounced back behind Aaron Judge, Jake Bauers, Domingo German and Anthony Volpe in 6-3 and 4-1 wins on Saturday & Sunday. Then there are the Mets. They swept the Phillies during the middle part of last week, but then get swept over the weekend against the Blue Jays at home, which leaves their record at 30-30. Up next? Three games in Atlanta versus the first place Braves as they continue their inconsistent play this year. You know I'll have a few things to say about this, including an underachieving Justin Verlander in his first month as a Met. I'll go through the rest of the baseball landscape as the Rangers stay hot, the Mariners can't find their way (same for the Padres) and the Pirates have played better as they keep pace in the NL Central. And is this the end for Nationals P Stephen Strasburg as he has nerve damage in his right arm and his career is in jeopardy?

(45:49) The French Open has had zero drama after the first week at Roland Garros, but there's a potential storm brewing. The stars are aligning to have the heavyweight match between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinal come Friday. What this could mean for a tournament that needs all the attention that it can get?

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.

Listen to "Heat Grit, Guts Even Up NBA Final. Can They Pull Off An Upset? Concerns For Panthers In Vegas With Game 2 Looming? Yankees Show Up In LA. Me" on Spreaker.

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South Florida vs. The World? MIA-DEN. FLA-Vegas Finals Preview. Liam Hendriks's Return From Cancer. Yankees-Dodgers On Deck. Major Upset & Controversy At The French Open!

June is here and so is the latest podcast as I share all that's happening in sports. On deck:

(2:40) The sports landscape gets into the homestretch. Despite two championship rounds in the NBA & NHL are upon us, there isn't much else that's percolating (other than baseball) as far as what I love to talk about. I'll get us rolling on the NBA Finals which begins tonight. A few big storylines heading in, keys to both teams winning a title and who'll come out on top as I prepare you for what's to come between the Miami Heat vs. Denver Nuggets. Of course, I'll spend a few minutes on the postmortem of the Boston Celtics as they flopped in making history at home on Monday night. What lies ahead for a team that has a big decision regarding Jaylen Brown, coming close to another Finals appearance, but has lots to prove as far as being a team that's capable of winning it all.

(24:42) As for the Stanley Cup Finals, can the Florida Panthers continue their torrid pace after more than a week off? Or is Vegas that much better and primed to win their first Cup? What about Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky? Can he deliver one more time and pull off a big upset? I'll answer all of those questions and predict who'll raise Lord's Stanley Cup when it's all said and done.

(31:40) All is quiet on the MLB front as we're at the 1/3 point of the season. The big story (and most inspiring one) of the past few days was the return of White Sox reliever Liam Hendriks who has recovered from cancer, stepping on a mound for the first time this season vs. the Angels. I'll check the schedule to see what series to take a peek at over the weekend, highlighted by the titanic matchup between the Yankees vs. Dodgers in LA.

(36:24) The French Open hasn't generated a lot of news on the court, except for one big upset. #2 men's player in the world, Daniil Medvedev was bounced in the first round. You've had some startling comments from Novak Djokovic in regards to what's going on in Kosovo. Will that be a distraction as he continues to march on in this tournament? And Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus was snubbed from a postgame handshake by Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk. Was that warranted by Kostyuk? Should she have handled that differently?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.

Listen to "South Florida vs. The World? MIA-DEN. FLA-Vegas Finals Preview. Liam Hendriks's Return From Cancer. Yankees-Dodgers On Deck. Major Upset & C" on Spreaker.

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The Biggest Game In NBA History? Heat-Celtics: GM 7. NHL's Stars Aligned For 0-3 Comeback? Padres A Pretender As MLB Is One-Third Into Season. Novak A Shoo-In For French? D-Hop To Baltimore?

On this Memorial Day Monday, we pay tribute to those who served, fought and sacrificed their lives for our freedom in this country, as well as, those who participate in the sports universe as there's a lot to dissect as the latest podcast has arrived. On deck:

(3:15) Is tonight's Game 7 between the Heat and Celtics the biggest in NBA history? You can argue that being the case, but this is something that in the 76 year history of the league that no one has witnessed. A team winning a series after being down 0-3. I'll get into this matchup, the psyche of the Heat, as well as, the epic ending of Game 6 as Derrick White's put back with 0.2 seconds to go pushed this series to the brink and on the precipice of making history. I'll also get into the Nuggets having to wait patiently for who their opponent will be and how not playing has thrown off their rhythm? There's also a new coach in Milwaukee as they hire Adrian Griffin to succeed Mike Budenholzer. And Phoenix has narrowed it down as to who'll patrol the sidelines next year. Will it be Doc Rivers? Nick Nurse?

(25:20) The Dallas Stars are trying to take a page out of the Celtics textbook this postseason as they've cut their 0-3 deficit to 3-2 as they'll host Vegas in a Game 6. Do they have what it takes to get this to a winner take all Game 7? How big of a game is this for the Golden Knights, even with a potential final game looming on their home ice?

(30:42) As baseball hits the 1/3 point of their season, I'll go through the big series over the weekend (Dodgers-Rays, Phillies-Braves, Padres-Yankees) and which teams are in the mix to make it to October. You'll be surprised how many teams I have in contention at this point in both the AL & NL. And why is there NOT a full slate of games on this Memorial Day Monday is beyond me!

(46:29) The French Open has begun, as the second Grand Slam of the tennis year is here. I'll preview what may be an easy road for Novak Djokovic and a toss up on the women's side as to who'll come out of top as champions at Roland Garros.

(52:35) Former Cardinals wideout, De'Andre Hopkins has been released and is now a free agent. Does he sign with Lamar Jackson, Odell Beckham Jr. and the Ravens. What would that mean for a team that's looking to pass more and run less? One time Steeler running back, Le'Veon Bell had a few things to say about him being high on marijuana before games and some not so flattering words toward former Jets coach, Adam Gase. Is this alarming news?

(57:24) The Indianapolis 500 has come and gone. Your winner? Josef Newgarden wins his first ever Indy 500 in his twelfth attempt.

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Panthers Unexpected, Magical Run To Cup Final. Nuggets On A Mission To NBA Title? Will Celtics Win Game 5? MLB Memorial Day Weekend. NFL 'Flexing' Their TV Muscles. Indy 500 Thoughts

Entering into the holiday weekend, firing on all cylinders as yours truly is prepped, primed and ready to go as I deliver the latest and greatest in what's going on in sports. On deck:

(2:57) What can we say about the ride that the Florida Panthers are on? They have been on Cloud 9 ever since the monumental comeback and upset of the record setting, regular season champion Boston Bruins in the first round of these Stanley Cup Playoffs. As of this moment, they have punched their ticket to their first Cup Final since 1996 as they swept the Carolina Hurricanes and did it in dramatic fashion with a game winning, series clinching goal by conquering hero, Matthew Tkachuk. Is this team destined to win it all? We'll have to see who they'll play, which in all likelihood, will be the Vegas Golden Knights who can send the Dallas Stars packing tonight with a sweep and a trip to meet the Panthers for Lord's Stanley Cup. The sad part in all of this? The start of the Cup Final, which'll commence TWO WEEKS from today. You know I'll have something to say about that.

(20:01) Don't look now, but the Denver Nuggets are on a mission to win an NBA championship as they took care of business against the LA Lakers. I'll even make a prediction as to how many games they'll WIN in the Finals, which begins a week from today. The Celtics are still alive as they saved face and won Game 4 to bring the series back to Boston for Game 5. Will they extend this conference final to a sixth game? You'll be very surprised as to what my take is and how confident I am when it comes to tonight and possibly a Game 6 on Saturday night?

(32:52) To think, baseball is just about two months into their season. They'll reach the one-third juncture of 2023 by early next week for most teams. I'll take a look at some of the series that have taken place over the past few days (Orioles-Yankees, Dodgers-Braves, Blue Jays-Rays) and what to look forward to this weekend (Dodgers-Rays, Padres-Yankees, Phillies-Braves) on the schedule.

(39:55) The NFL made some news this week regarding Thursday night 'flex' games during Weeks 13-17, a rule being instituted this year which will allow fair catches on kickoffs and a Wild Card playoff game to be streamed on Peacock?

(44:39) After a brief mention about the French Open starting on Monday, the auto racing fan can look forward to Sunday's Indianapolis 500. Sadly, it flies under the radar and consciousness of the sports fan, but brings back memories of how this event was very popular and one we paid attention to dating back to the 1970's.

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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.

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The NBA's Disastrous Last 11 Days, Topped By An Epic Celtic Meltdown. NHL's Panthers: Hockey's Miami Heat? MLB Under The Radar? Jim Brown Tribute. Koepka's 3rd PGA Win. Nadal Out For '23

(3:04) The NBA will never admit it, but I will. The last eleven days have been an out and out disaster evidenced by how these Conference Finals have unfolded. Denver looks like a team on a mission to where the Lakers have fallen short. Whereas Miami has undressed and embarrassed the Celtics making them look small. I'll have a complete breakdown as to why the Association has been deplorable over the last week and a half and share my utter disdain for how this Celtic team has shown up in this series.

(28:15) There are similar parallels between the NBA & Stanley Cup Playoff Conference Finals. In the East, you have an upstart #8 seed in Florida (Sounds familiar) take a 2-0 series lead over the Carolina Hurricanes. Out West, you have the #1 seeded Vegas Golden Knights up 2-0 vs. the Dallas Stars who are kicking themselves as they've had opportunities to tie or even have a 2-0 lead as well.

(38:18) Is it me or has the baseball season been below or under the radar as we're almost two months in? I'll bring you up to date on the MLB, whether it's the Orioles sweeping the Blue Jays in Toronto, with the Yankees up next. Same for the Astros now that they have Jose Altuve back. The Padres have hit on hard times early on, but the Arizona Diamondbacks have overachieved. Can they make a push in the NL West as the Dodgers starting pitching staff has fallen on hard times? Will the Oakland A's threaten the 1962 Mets for the worst record ever in a regular season?

(47:21) An NFL legend and sports icon has passed away. I'll pay tribute to the late, great Jim Brown who died at the age of 87 on Thursday. I'll get into the impact he made both on and off the field as the greatest football player in the history of the sport transitions.

(51:28) Brooks Koepka won his third PGA Championship over the weekend as he hung on to beat both Viktor Hovland and Scottie Scheffler in the final round as the second leg of golf's Grand Slam is in the books.

(55:18) Rafael Nadal, the king of the clay court with the French Open kicking off next Monday, will not play for the rest of 2023 due to a hip ailment. In fact, he stated that 2024 will be his last year on the tour. What does this mean for the sport with three more Grand Slam tournaments on the docket over the next four months?

(58:06) The Belmont Stakes are an afterthought as Kentucky Derby winner Mage came in third at the Preakness on Saturday (National Treasure was victorious) so the horse racing season will come to a quiet close.

(58:37) Controversy over a decision in the sport of boxing? We saw one Saturday night as Devin Haney retains his lightweight title unanimously to the chagrin of the corner and management of Vasiliy Lomachenko. Is a rematch a foregone conclusion? What about a bout between Haney and Gervonta Davis?

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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.

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NBA Conference Finals: Sloppy Celtics, Heat Attitude, Nuggets Time? Laker Adjustments. Unglamorous NHL Semifinal Matchups. Yankee 'Chirpgate'/NY Walk-Offs. PGA Championship Preview

Another week concludes with a fiery podcast as I deliver all the heat that the sports world has to offer. On deck:

(2:35) The Celtics sloppy play rears its ugly head in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals last night. They lose Game 1 at home to the Miami Heat as turnovers and missed shots doom them and lose home court advantage in the process. Will they be able to get the series even at 1-1? Denver's Nikola Jokic had a monster Game 1 as they hung on to beat the Lakers. Have the Lakers figured out a few things in preparation for a possible Game 2 upset? I'll also discuss the firing of Sixers coach Doc Rivers and how I'm still fuming over the Spurs winning the Draft Lottery and the probability of securing the next generational prospect, Victor Wembanyama.

(26:07) The Conference Finals in the NHL commence tonight. By any means, both of these matchup will likely not draw eyeballs to the sets, but I'll preview Florida-Carolina and Dallas-Vegas as to who'll make that next step to get to a Stanley Cup Final. In fact, which is the best draw that the NHL would want for a championship?

(34:43) As the MLB is more than a quarter into the season. The Dodgers are holding their collective breaths at the right arm of starting pitcher, Dustin May, who had to leave a game earlier this week with a right forearm strain. The Yankees have had an interesting week as you had 'Chirpgate', Aaron Boone's inexplicable ejection, the suspension of Domingo German and getting walked off in extra innings up in Toronto. Where the Mets had their own walk-off in their biggest win of the season vs. Tampa Bay. Will that be what the doctor ordered for a team that's severely underachieved this year at 21-23? How about the Padres, who have been just as bad as the Mets. And the Oakland A's light at the end of the tunnel will be in Las Vegas as they've purchased land to build a new stadium, set for 2027.

(43:20) Kentucky Derby winner Mage will race in The Preakness on Saturday. Is it possible that another victory is on the horizon, so there could be some Triple Crown buzz heading into The Belmont Stakes?

(44:42) I'll preview and discuss a couple of storylines (i.e. Rory McIlroy) the second Grand Slam golf major this year as the PGA Championship takes place up in Rochester, NY over the upcoming weekend.

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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.

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Steve Kerr's State Of The Union. Celtics On Verge Of Finals? Lightning Half Way To 3-Peat. TB Rays Identity As They Host Yanks. French Open Update. Indy 500 Memories. A Colin Kaepernick Sighting?

On the eve of the Memorial Day Weekend, my mid-week pod will bring you up to speed on all that's going on in the sports world. On deck:

(4:24) I usually have my Hero & Zero of the Week segment on Monday, but today, I give a hero shout out to Warriors coach, Steve Kerr. For voicing his thoughts on the senseless and tragic shooting outside of San Antonio on Tuesday that left 19 children and four adults dead at an elementary school. I'll spend a couple of minutes sharing my thoughts on whether or not this could be a turning point for our country when it comes to gun control.

(11:42) The Warriors weren't able to complete the sweep over the Mavericks on Tuesday night. They have a chance to punch their ticket to the NBA Finals with a win tonight. Will Dallas extend the series? Does Golden State wrap it up? Meanwhile, the Celtics have put themselves in position to seal the deal at home and participate in their first NBA Final since 2010. They climbed out of a 2-1 hole to win the last two games with suffocating defense and big production from their two stars (Jayson Tatum & Jaylen Brown). Can the Heat stave off elimination and bring the series back to South Beach for a Game 7? Will the Celtics put the finishing touch on Miami as they limp into Boston for Game 6?

(24:01) How about the Tampa Bay Lightning? They're looking like the team to beat, not just in the East, but the entire league. Can they and will they three-peat? The Rangers & Hurricanes are deadlocked at 2-2. Can the Rangers breakthrough and win on the road? Will Carolina continue its home dominance? St. Louis comes from behind in Game 5 to win in OT vs. Colorado. Can they push the Avalanche to a seventh game? And the Oilers are one win away from beating the hated Flames. Is Edmonton about ready to move on to the Conference Finals? Or does Calgary have what it takes to extend this series another game or two?

(36:33) As baseball heads into the holiday weekend, the Yankees and Rays will meet for the first time this season with four games down in Tampa. Do we really know the identity of this Rays team? Is this a litmus test for a team that's played very well against the Yanks over the past few years? As for the Mets, they suffered a brutal loss after another tremendous comeback in losing their first series on the road in San Francisco.

(44:25) I'll update the latest from the French Open as two top seeded women (Naomi Osaka & Barbora Krecjikova) have been ousted from the tournament.

(46:04) The Indianapolis 500 is set to take place on Sunday. I'll take a trip down memory lane to discuss that dating back to my childhood.

(47:06) A workout is scheduled for former Niners QB, Colin Kaepernick as the Las Vegas Raiders will give him a look. Does he have an actual shot to make a roster in the months to come?

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.

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Celtics/Mavs Look To Even Up Series. NHL's 2nd Round: Battle Of Alberta/Florida, Rangers Psyche? Judge/Yankees Torrid Stretch, Scherzer On Shelf? Tiger/Scheffler: A PGA Preview

Back on the scene for a mid week pod to bring you up to speed on all that's going on in the sports world. On deck:

(4:16) The Conference Finals have begun in the NBA as the Warriors and Heat jump out to 1-0 series leads. Will the Mavericks and Celtics get the equalizer? Can they come back and even each series down 0-2? The evolution of the Heat's Jimmy Butler as a top player in the league. I'll have answers to the questions above and lots more as we get a bit closer to an NBA Final.

(17:28) The second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs commenced on Tuesday night as we've already had a couple of thrilling overtime games as the Hurricanes come back late in the third period and win in the extra frame vs. the Rangers. What will that do to the psyche of a team with a young goaltender in Igor Shesterkin? The Blues couldn't upset the Avalanche as they lose in OT. The Battle of Alberta should be a barnburner, as evidenced by a 9-6 shootout win for the Flames. And The Battle of the Sunshine State goes to Tampa Bay as they win Game 1 as they look to go on a deep run and defend their two time Cup winning status. Can the Panthers win this series if they were to go down 0-2? Plus, my thoughts on the new Islanders coach, Lane Lambert. I'll share what they really need as they go into the offseason looking for reinforcements to get back to the postseason next year.

(32:45) I've been singing the same tune when it comes to baseball over the last few podcasts, but the Yankees continue to mash and run roughshod over the American League as they could potentially be 20 games over .500 before they've played their 40th game of the year. Aaron Judge has been the story as he has his sights set on a monster season and a monster payday when it's all said and done. So far, that's coming up roses on his part. What does this mean for the Yankee front office when the time comes to pony up? On the other side of town, the Mets are dealing with some health issues regarding their pitching staff. In particular, free agent prize Max Scherzer, as he had to remove himself from the game last night. Should the Met fan start to worry? I'll also check the landscape of the sport and deliver the latest of what's going on as we're eight days away from Memorial Day weekend.

(42:11) The PGA Championship begins today at Southern Hills in Tulsa, OK. How will the weather and golf course play out over the next four days? Does Tiger Woods have a shot to win or stay close to the top of the leaderboard? What about #1 player in the world, Scottie Scheffler? Can he win back to back major tournaments? I'll predict who'll raise the trophy come Sunday evening and also get into the recent demise of defending champion, Phil Mickelson, who is not participating due to some personal issues swirling around him.

(50:33) Unfortunately the Preakness will have no buzz on Saturday as Derby winner, Rich Strike has withdrawn from the race. I have a theory as to why they're holding back this horse from attempting to chase history.

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.

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