Damar Hamlin's Health, NFL Week 18 & Possible Playoff Schedule. NBA Career Highs/Zion Hurt Again! NHL Winter Classic Recap. Devers Big Payday! Rutgers Upset #1 Again. G'Town's Low Point

A somber, yet busy sports week leads into another entertaining and jam packed podcast. On deck:

(2:51) The NFL and sports world was shaken by the incident in Cincinnati on Monday night as Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed to the turf as he went into cardiac arrest. His recovery has shown improvement, but there's still a way to go as far as him being 100% healthy. Which leads to the intrigue of the upcoming schedule. When will they replay the Bills-Bengals game? How this affects the AFC playoff picture? Most of all, what does the upcoming postseason schedule look like? I'll look into my crystal ball to tell you what I think the NFL will do and what the NFL should do? It's an interesting debate as we find some closure on the regular season, while preparing for the road to the Super Bowl.

(28:02) The NBA had some big time scoring outputs this week with a couple of career highs for Giannis Antetekounmpo (55 points) and Donovan Mitchell (71 points. The most since the late, great Kobe Bryant's 81 back in 2006.) The Celtics gave up how many points to the Oklahoma City Thunder without their best player in the lineup? A player that'll be out of the lineup for a few weeks is Pelicans forward, Zion Williamson with a hamstring injury. Could he be out longer than that considering his history with health? I'll take a trip around the Association, including the Nets getting their 11 game winning streak snapped by the Bulls last night.

(35:21) The NHL had its Winter Classic on Monday in Boston as the Penguins faced off against the Bruins. I'll recap a wonderful setting on a balmy January day, the Bruins success at home, indoors or out and a peek to next year's Winter Classic in Seattle of all places.

(39:58) There was some activity in baseball as far as a major signing (no, not Carlos Correa) but Rafael Devers re-signs with the Red Sox for 11 years/$331 million dollars. Was this a case of too little, too late appeasing the fan base after losing out on former shortstop, Xander Bogaerts?

(45:00) For the second year in a row, Rutgers upsets Purdue, the #1 seed in the country in surprising fashion. Then there are the Georgetown Hoyas, as they did something unimaginable. They've lost 25 consecutive Big East conference games, which is a record. What does this mean for the future of legendary figure Patrick Ewing as coach of the team?

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TCU Toughness, Georgia Resiliency Prevails In College Football Playoff. 49ers: Possible #1 Seed? Steelers Alive As Week 17 Closes. LBJ's Productive Birthday! Pitchers & Catchers Already? RIP Pele

The holidays are behind us, but the New Year continues to deliver more action packed, fast paced sports talk like no other. On deck:

(4:12) College football hit a grand slam on Saturday (and is arguably the third most popular sport in the country). Even with the excitement and drama of the semifinal matchups, these games are WAY TOO LONG as I'll explain. TCU got the breaks they needed and their defense put up a big stop at the end as Michigan fails to get to the Championship Game for the second year in a row. Ohio State was valiant, but Georgia showed their resiliency and mettle as they rose to the occasion, coming from behind to beat the Buckeyes as their last second field goal attempt went wide left. I'll break it all down with a look ahead to some thoughts on next Monday's title game in Los Angeles.

(23:39) There were a couple of twists and turns in the NFL this week as seeding has changed in some spots. I'll discuss the winners (i.e. 49ers, Steelers) and losers (i.e. Panthers, Vikings), a huge Monday night game that could determine who could end up with the top seed in the conference. The possibilities of the Niners getting the #1 seed in the NFC. Also, what's happening at the bottom of the AFC/NFC playoff bracket as we're closing in on the final week of the season.

(50:23) LeBron James records 47 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists on his 38th birthday, no less! Why are some people still not putting respect on this man's name?

(52:18) Alexander Ovechkin continues to rack up goals (and hat tricks) as the Capitals...and Hurricanes stay hot in the NHL.

(54:04) Don't look now, but in six weeks, pitchers and catchers will report in Arizona and Florida for spring training in MLB.

(54:53) Another sports legend has passed as world renowned soccer player, Pele, passed away last week at the age of 82.

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Wentz Starts, Hackett/Carr/JJ Watt Departs As NFL Week 17 Arrives. Can TCU Play Cinderella? Don't Look Now: NBA's Hottest Team. NHL's Caps/Canes Streaking. Latest On Carlos Correa In Final Pod Of 2022

Closing out the year in grand style as I deliver the final podcast of 2022. Make sure you get your sports fix right here as this is what's on deck:

(3:25) There were a lot of interesting developments over the past few days in the NFL leading up to the final Sunday of 2022. Carson Wentz has been inserted as the starter again in Washington with destiny in their hands for the postseason. Will he be able to push the Commanders into the NFC playoffs? Nathaniel Hackett was fired after the Christmas debacle in LA vs. the Rams. No surprise there as he was awful from day one. Derek Carr has been benched by Raiders coach, Josh McDaniels for the remainder of the season. Is this the end for the Vegas quarterback? JJ Watt will retire at season's end from the NFL. A future Hall of Famer? Yes. An automatic top defensive lineman of all time? Hmmm. I'll go through the intriguing matchup of the weekend (i.e. Miami-New England, Carolina-Tampa Bay, Minnesota-Green Bay, among a few others) and share some thoughts on what could take place as we're ten days away from the end of another NFL season. Dreadfully, I'll go through my over/under win totals for the year, which wasn't anything to write home about. In fact, one of my picks was an embarrassment!

(28:39) We finally get to the College Football Playoff, which will kick off on Saturday. Does TCU have a shot to upset Michigan? Is this Michigan's year, based on their semifinal loss last year? Can the Georgia machine be slowed down? What about Ohio State and their chances to dethrone the defending champions? I'll preview both games, what to possibly expect and predict who'll play for the National Championship Monday, January 9th?

(38:59) Don't look now, but the Brooklyn Nets are the hottest team in the NBA. Kevin Durant is playing at an MVP level. Kyrie Irving has been huge in some fourth quarters lately. They've been healthy recently. Is this the team that we've come to expect to being close to or at the top of the Association? There were a couple of big time blown leads over the past few nights. The Clippers came back and won, trailing by 14 with three minutes to go in Detroit. And the Mavericks had to overcome a nine point deficit with 33 seconds to go on the back of Luka Doncic's historic triple double (60 pts., 21 rebounds, 10 assists). Devin Booker is out of the lineup for at least four weeks with a groin strain as the Suns try to tread water without their All-Star guard.

(49:09) The Bruins continue their torrid play on the ice. They're on pace for 60 wins and 130 points as they disposed the Devils last night. But the Hurricanes are also hot, winners of nine straight. And the Capitals have also gotten in a little groove in the Metropolitan Division as they've been streaking on the road (six in a row) and have won 10 of 11 overall.

(52:16) What is the latest with Carlos Correa officially becoming a New York Met? I have some thoughts on when we can possibly get some closure on this. Plus a couple of signings (Nathan Eovaldi, Corey Kluber) and the Braves sign Sean Murphy which reinforces how Atlanta is building their team...the right way!

(56:34) I send a shout out to YOU! I thank you all for supporting and following me throughout the past year. It goes without saying, how important your participation is and will be moving forward. I greatly and sincerely appreciate it.

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Race to NFL Playoffs Builds With GB, JAX Looking Up. MIA, TEN Going South. A So-So NBA X-Mas Day. A Dark NHL Christmas. Mets/Correa: Just Walk Away. Trevor Bauer Returns. Sad Day For MMA

With the Christmas weekend behind us, I have one last gift for your stocking as I share all of my thoughts on the entire sports landscape. On deck:

(3:21) We're down to the final two weeks of the NFL regular season. Week 16 didn't disappoint as they were teams trending up (i.e. Panthers, Jaguars, Packers) and some heading south (i.e. Titans, Dolphins, Commanders) as the above, among others, are jockeying for position to get into the postseason. I'll break down all that took place over the weekend and where we're at to date as the AFC & NFC playoff picture becomes clearer.

(33:46) The NBA had their annual Christmas Day slate of five games, which didn't live up to the hype. Sixers-Knicks was competitive until the fourth quarter, before Philly took over and won. And what's this about James Harden possibly making a return to Houston at the end of the season? (CORRECTION: I made a mention of Tyrese Maxey returning soon to the Sixers lineup. I accidentally called him Tyrone. My apologies for the faux pas.) The Mavericks put up 51 third quarter points on LeBron & company as they take care of the Lakers. The Celtics pull away with a big win vs. the Bucks. Memphis was no match for Golden State as they try to become rivals with some trash talk. And Nikola Jokic shows why he's a two time, back to back MVP as he records another triple double in a win vs. the Suns.

(41:50) On the ice, things have been super quiet. As in, no games have been played since late last week. I don't recall the NHL taking a few days off over the Christmas holiday in years past. Maybe the NBA & NFL had something to do with it. The two big recent developments have been Alexander Ovechkin surpassing Gordie Howe for number two all time on the career goal scoring list. And the Hurricanes have blown by the Devils in the Metropolitan Division as Carolina has won eight in a row, while New Jersey has dropped eight of their last 11. The Winter Classic is on deck next Monday as the Flyers visit Boston to play the Bruins in Fenway Park.

(45:44) This Mets/Carlos Correa soap opera is starting to irritate me. The two parties are "working through" the medical issues that hung up the original deal between Correa and the Giants. Well, I have an excellent idea to solve this once and for all. Then you have former Cy Young Award winner, Trevor Bauer (remember him?) reinstated back into the MLB. Will the Dodgers release him? Or bring him back for his final year of his contract? There were a couple of minor signings that transpired. Craig Kimbrel signs a one year deal with Philadelphia. Former Mets OF Michael Conforto inks a two year deal with San Francisco. Same for relief pitcher, Taylor Rogers as he joins his twin brother Tyler in the bullpen on the Giants as well.

(55:01) Stephan Bonnar, who was part of The Ultimate Fighter reality show which put the UFC on the map and grew the sport exponentially because of it, dies at the age of 45 a few days ago due to heart complications.

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Sports - ProfessionalJason NazarioDecember 26, 2022Sports, Sports Talk, Sports Podcast, Podcast, Podcasting, The JAYREELZ Podcast, NFL, Football, NBA, Basketball, NHL, Hockey, MLB, Baseball, New York Mets, Carlos Correa, MMA, UFCComment

Remembering Franco Harris, The Immaculate Reception, NFL Week 16 On Deck. Meet The Mets: The New Evil Empire. Sayonara Sarver As Suns Sell For $4B/Warriors Collapsing? Masters To LIV: Come On Down!

The weather outside is frightful, but the sports world is so delightful. I'll have some shiny gifts under the tree, but some coal in a stocking or two as I spread some cheers and jeers over the next hour. On deck:

(3:58) After a birthday shoutout and sending well wishes to those celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa during this holiday season, I begin the podcast with the shocking news of legendary Steelers RB, Franco Harris, passing away at the age of 72. He transitions just days before the 50th anniversary of the greatest play in NFL history (The Immaculate Reception), the docuseries 'A Football Life' that will air Friday night on the anniversary of the play, then have his number retired on Christmas Eve where the Raiders invade Pittsburgh, which are the two teams in the divisional playoff game 50 years prior that made this play famous. Week 16 has a few interesting matchups, including the Thursday night contest between the top two quarterbacks drafted in 2021 (Jaguars Trevor Lawrence and the Jets Zach Wilson) as both are fighting to position themselves in the AFC playoff hunt. I'll go through a laughable Christmas Day schedule, but highlight the key games that'll have postseason implications as we're down to the final couple of weeks of the year. I'll also get into where the NFL Sunday Ticket is moving to after almost three decades with DirecTV.

(29:21) I make a brief mention of the NHL as it's relatively quiet. The Hurricanes have stormed to the top of the Metropolitan Division, tied with the Devils. Besides that, all is pretty mellow.

(29:53) What's not mellow is the activity of the New York Mets this offseason. They shockingly sign Carlos Correa as his deal with the Giants bottomed out due to red flags regarding his medical past. There is SO much to unpack here. The amount owner Steve Cohen has spent this offseason, the payroll ballooning to over $380 million dollars, the pressure and expectation of this team, the bullseye on their back, which all culminates to one thing. They are the new Evil Empire. I'll touch on a few signings over the past few days (i.e. Seth Lugo, Noah Syndergaard, etc.) as I believe the free agent period will start to quiet down after an active past couple of weeks.

(47:03) There's a new owner in the NBA circles as Mat Ishbia, a CEO of a mortgage lending company has purchased the Suns and Mercury for a record $4 billion dollars. We can say good riddance to erstwhile owner Robert Sarver and all of his baggage and filth over the past several years. What's going on with the Warriors? They'll limp home after a 1-5 road trip, where on the back end lost to the Knicks and Nets by 38 and 30, respectively. Is there something going on behind the scenes as they try to get their season on track? I'll debate the 2023 nominees for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. We know Gregg Popovich, Dwyane Wade and Dirk Nowitzki are no-brainers. What about Tony Parker? Or Pau Gasol?

(56:20) The Masters are telling the LIV golfers to come on down to Augusta in April. There's no surprise that they've elected for them to participate. What about the PGA Championship, the US Open and Open Championship? Will they follow suit?

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Sports - ProfessionalJason NazarioDecember 22, 2022Sports, Sports Talk, Sports Podcast, Podcast, Podcasting, The JAYREELZ Podcast, NFL, Football, NHL, Hockey, MLB, Baseball, NBA, BasketballComment

Argentina Rules Soccer In Epic World Cup Win/Messi's Immortality Sealed! Wild Comebacks/Tough Defeats Lead NFL's Week 15. Lakers AD Injured AGAIN! NHL Expands Schedule. Rodon/Swanson Find New Homes

Getting ready for a double dose of Christmas podcasts to put under your tree this week as I'm primed to entertain and inform you all as the latest podcast is here. On deck:

(3:21) A very good World Cup Final with a classic 45 minutes to conclude an epic match between Argentina vs. France. After two furious comebacks by France, Argentina prevails in penalty kicks to win the 2022 World Cup. I'll dive into all that took place, from arguing why not sudden death in a championship match? The legend and Immortality of Lionel Messi, the enormous save in the extra time by Emiliano Martinez, Kylian Mbappe and France's performance as we'll wait another four years to when the tournament returns to North America in 2026.

(21:44) The NFL had one of its better weekends of the year as I share my winners (i.e. Vikings improbable comeback & Giants) and losers (i.e. Patriots. Did you witness the final play of the game? UGH! And Titans.) of Week 15. There were plenty of last minute heroics (Jaguars vs. Cowboys, Chargers vs. Titans, Lions vs. Jets) I'll take a look at who's in good shape to make the playoffs and who may be on the outside looking in as we're down to the final three weeks of the regular season.

(44:16) Once again, Lakers big man Anthony Davis is out multiple weeks with a foot injury. How his absence is more critical than anyone else (yes, including LeBron James) on the team? Nikola Jokic's dominant statistical performance (40 pts, 27 rebs, 10 asts) vs. Charlotte. Both the Knicks and Nets are riding long winning streaks and the Celtics hit a bit of a skid losing four out of five, with back to back losses to Orlando AT HOME!

(50:30) The NHL is looking to expand the schedule to 84 games to have more of a competitive balance in the division. I'll break that down, as well as, the Devils have finally hit a rough stretch as the Hurricanes and Rangers are moving up in the Metropolitan. Same for the Penguins and Kris Letang scoring a goal in his third game back from suffering a stroke. Leafs winger, Mitch Marner had his franchise leading point scoring streak snapped at 23 Thursday night at MSG, as I look throughout the league on the latest of what's going on.

(55:47) The MLB offseason may start to cool off as a few more big players are off the market. I'll discuss where SS Dansby Swanson and SP Carlos Rodon are going, as well as, Andrew Benintendi, JD Martinez, Justin Turner and Michael Brantley as the Hot Stove may go into hibernation before the Christmas holiday arrives.

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Sports - ProfessionalJason NazarioDecember 19, 2022Sports, Sports Talk, Sports Podcast, Podcast, Podcasting, The JAYREELZ Podcast, Soccer, World Cup, World Cup Final, Argentina, France, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, NFL, Football, NBA, Basketball, NHL, Hockey, MLB, BaseballComment

NFL Week 15 Kicks Off Homestretch. Celtics-Lakers Renew Rivalry! Appreciating Ovechkin's 800th Goal Milestone. Giants Bank On Correa Being 'The Man'. Messi's Shot At Immortality In World Cup Final

I'll be making my sports list, checking it twice and try to find out who's naughty or nice as the latest podcast has plenty of early Christmas cheer and jeer. On deck:

(3:27) We're down to the final four weeks of the NFL season. I'll go in on the schedule for Week 15, starting off with Seattle hosting San Francisco in a big game for the Seahawks. Three games on Saturday, highlighted by Miami in Buffalo. Sunday's slate is ok, not spectacular as Dallas is in Jacksonville, Tennessee visits the Chargers and what's left of Tampa Bay hosts Cincinnati. There were a couple of transactions with teams on the verge of making deep playoff runs as I'll break down Cole Beasley back in Buffalo and T.Y. Hilton signing with Dallas.

(21:25) I'll spend a minute remembering Mississippi St. coach, Mike Leach as he passed away due to heart failure at the age of 61.

(22:49) The Celtics and Lakers renewed their rivalry for the first time this year, with a thrilling win in OT for the C's as I take a little trip down memory lane to a couple of other regular season classic games between the two teams. I'll get into what's happening throughout the Association, including Steph Curry's shoulder injury. And a possible changing of the guard at the top of the Western Conference?

(32:14) Capitals winger, Alexander Ovechkin reached a milestone only two other players have ever accomplished in the 100 plus year history of the NHL, as he had a hat trick to score 800 goals in his illustious career. Why he should be appreciated and celebrated for this achievement? Plus, all that's happening on the ice over the past few days.

(39:43) Carlos Correa signs the fourth largest contract in MLB history as he becomes a member of the San Francisco Giants. I'll tell you why he's not worth it? There was a shrewd trade made by the Braves bringing in Sean Murphy from Oakland. Why that could turn out to be another great move by a well run organization in Atlanta. Former Mets Chris Bassitt (inks a three year deal with Toronto) and Adam Ottavino (still a free agent) as we get deeper into the offseason.

(50:35) And then there are two. Argentina will play defending World Cup champion France for the 2022 World Cup Title. I'll recap the semifinal round, leading up to the finale come Sunday. What this match means for Argentina's Lionel Messi? I'll share who I'm rooting for and have my fingers crossed that the game DOES NOT come down to penalty kicks!

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Many thanks for all of your love and support.

Intro/outro music by Cyklonus.

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Separating Pretenders & Contenders In NFL Homestretch. Mets Expensive Payroll: Good Or Bad? Suns-Pelicans Rivalry Worthy? Letang Back As Penguins Roll. Griner Comes Home! World Cup Semis Preview

With winter officially eight days away, the sports world perpetually keeps us warm and toasty as another podcast kicks off your week with plenty to delve into. On deck:

(2:57) NFL Week 14 didn't pack a lot of intrigue or suspense, but there has been some movement as teams try to make a run to the postseason, where others are flailing as they try to hang on for their dear lives. I'll go through my winners (i.e. Lions & Chargers) and losers (i.e. Raiders & Seahawks) I'll recap where we're at as we're approaching the final quarter of the season as certain teams in the AFC (Dolphins, Chargers, Jets, Patriots) and NFC (Giants, Commanders, Seahawks, even Lions) do their best to make a push to get to January playing in meaningful games.

(31:12) Army wins in the first ever OT game vs. rival Navy to where the Midshipmen fired their head coach. USC QB, Caleb Williams is your Heisman Trophy Winner. Now it's onto the Bowls, but I'll explain why I won't go full bore on the entire schedule and just focus on the College Football Playoff?

(33:22) The MLB Hot Stove has cooled off a little bit since the craziness at the Winter Meetings last week. But don't say that to Mets owner, Steve Cohen. He's continued to add to his already exorbitant payroll, re-signing OF Brandon Nimmo to an eight year, $162 million dollar contract. They've also agreed to sign the best Japanese pitcher out there in Kodai Senga to a five year, $75 million dollar deal. Is this what the Met fan (like myself) has been waiting for? Spending in free agency for a better shot at winning that elusive World Series? Or have they sold their souls to the devil that could end up a lot worse than the fan could ever expect?

(43:21) Is there a budding rivalry taking place in the NBA? The Suns and Pelicans played two back to back, hard fought competitive games that the Pels won. In the first game, it led to a fracas as Zion Williamson added a thunderous 360 slam dunk before the buzzer when the game was already over. There is one more matchup this season later in the month, so we shall see. The Warriors had their most complete game in an NBA Finals rematch against the Celtics. And sad news as longtime NBA player and coach, Paul Silas, passed away at the age of 73.

(47:45) As for what's happening on the ice, Kris Letang returns to the Penguins lineup, just twelve days after suffering his second stroke. The Pens are on a hot streak going 13-2-2 over the past 17 games. Alexander Ovechkin is now up to 797 goals, but the last four of them, have been empty netters. They do count, but some people feels they're cheapies. Are they right?

(50:22) Brittney Griner has finally made it to US soil late last week. It's been polarizing for a lot of citizens in this country regarding her exchange with the Merchant of Death, Viktor Bout and not have US Marine, Paul Whelan tag along with her. Will Griner be a catalyst, as she has stated, in doing her best to bring Whelan back home?

(54:31) We're now down to the Final Four in the World Cup as it's Morocco-France & Argentina-Croatia. Will the Cinderella Morocco team be able to get to a Final? Can France make it two in a row? And have a rematch against Croatia in the Final?

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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MLB Free Agent Frenzy: Judge/Yanks Remarry, Bogaerts Bolts To SD & More. Von Miller's Loss In Buffalo, OBJ: A Healthy Fit Where? Pelicans #1 In West? World Cup Final Four To Die For!

A wild and busy few days in the sports world culminates in a fast and furious podcast that’ll get the attention of the casual and diehard fans alike. On deck:

(3:30) MLB had a week to remember as plenty of teams were wheeling and dealing as the Winter Meetings conclude today in San Diego. Of course, the big story was Aaron Judge re-signing with the Yankees on a nine year/$360 million dollar deal. Did the Bronx Bombers overpay to keep their MVP in pinstripes? Not only that, how does the rest of the roster shape up as they try to get back to a World Series for the first time since 2009? The Padres made another splash acquisition signing former Red Sox SS Xander Bogaerts to an eleven year/$280 million dollar contract. Are the Padres out of control? What about the Red Sox? What do they do to pick up the pieces losing another core homegrown member of their team? I'll also discuss Justin Verlander, Trea Turner among many others that were signed this week throughout the sport.

(26:59) As NFL Week 14 is on the horizon, two intriguing storylines surfaced throughout the league. One, Bills LB Von Miller has been diagnosed with a torn ACL injury as he'll be out for the remainder of the season. How will this impact Buffalo's chances to get to a Super Bowl? Free agent WR Odell Beckham Jr, who has been in the news as he's made visits to New York (Giants), Dallas and Buffalo. But Cowboys owner Jerry Jones stressed that OBJ won't help in the short term because he doesn't look to be 100% healthy. What does this mean for Beckham as he tries to latch onto a team before the season is over? Also, would he have been a good fit in Dallas? Buffalo? Or back in NY? I'll look at the schedule this Sunday as we inch closer to the conclusion of the regular season.

(40:37) As the NBA passes the quarter mark of the year, a surprise is at the top of the Western Conference. No. It’s not the Lakers, the Warriors, the Suns or the Clippers as the current #1 seed. It’s the New Orleans Pelicans! Is it too early to think that they’ve arrived? The Celtics continue to roll throughout the Association as they have a Finals rematch awaiting vs. Golden State on Saturday. I’ll deliver all of the latest with what’s happening in the league.

(47:41) The NHL skates on into December as Alexander Ovechkin is five goals away from 800. Sabres forward, Tage Thompson scores five goals in a win last night vs. Columbus. Is Rangers coach, Gerard Gallant on the hot seat as the Blueshirts have underachieved to this point? The Penguins have played a lot better in the Metropolitan Division as they moved up considerably in the standings. And Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon will be out of the lineup for four weeks as the defending champs will not have their franchise player for some time.

(51:54) The World Cup will have its quarterfinals tomorrow and Saturday as we’re ten days away from the championship match. What will be the most fascinating semifinal/Final Four matchup?

(55:50) I have to pay respects to a legendary boxing referee as Mills Lane passed away at the age of 85.

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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Ravens/Niners Suffer QB Injuries Critical To Playoff Race, TCU Belongs In The CFP. PrimeTime Moves To Colorado! deGrom Signs With Texas. Mets: Your Move! USA Bows Out Of World Cup

As winter approaches, the sports scene always stays hot as I bring to you the latest episode with all that's going on in the sports universe. On deck:

(3:25) After briefly discussing Anthony Davis's 55 point barrage as the Lakers try to get back to .500, I kick off the podcast with an NFL Week 13 that had some intriguing matchups, but for the most part, left us wanting more. I'll get into my winners (i.e. Baltimore & San Francisco) and losers (i.e. Patriots, Commanders & Giants) of the week as the playoff picture starts to get a little clearer as we're into the month of December.

(26:07) Just when we thought that USC & TCU would win their conference championship games and solidify their spot in the college football playoff, they both lose (USC badly and inexcusably, after being up 17-3 then outscored 44-3. And TCU fought valiantly but lost in OT) So Ohio State takes over USC's #4 spot in the country, while TCU stays at #3. Did they deserve to stay at #3? I'll dissect all that happened over the weekend as I set the stage for the Final Four on New Year's Eve. I'll also get into the hire of Deion Sanders by the University of Colorado, what does this mean for him? The school? The PAC-12? And what he'll need to do there to be successful?

(42:12) Jacob deGrom is one of the first major free agents off the market as he signs with the Texas Rangers on a five year/185.5 million dollar contract. Is yours truly upset or hurt by his defection? More importantly, what are the Mets going to do to replace the two time Cy Young award winner? With the baseball winter meetings beginning today, what could be percolating as far as rumors are concerned over the next few days? (Hello, Aaron Judge!) Cooperstown will have a new member in the Hall of Fame as Fred McGriff was nominated by the contemporary baseball committee yesterday. Is he deserving of this honor? What about some of the other nominees on the list? (i.e. Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Curt Schilling, Rafael Palmeiro, Albert Belle, etc.)

(53:13) The USA soccer team weren't able to upend Netherlands to move on in the World Cup. I'll recap their final game of the tournament, look at what's taken place (Germany and Belgium done, Lionel Messi's achievements, Brazil's key injuries, etc.) and look ahead to what we can possibly expect as we're less than two weeks from the championship match.

(1:00:09) Tyson Fury's comeback led him to a 10th round TKO over Derek Chisora. Now, he's calling out other fighters in his class as he's ready to resurrect his career after a few month layoff.

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Dolphins Huge Test, Watson's NFL Return In Houston! Will TCU & USC Prevail In CFP? NBA vs. NFL X-Mas Day Dilemma. Yanks Have Offer. Does Judge Bite? USA's WC Chances. Tyson Fury: Seriously?

The final month of 2022 has arrived and so has another jam packed, fast paced sports podcast that you won't want to miss. On deck:

(3:10) A very intriguing NFL Week 13 schedule is upon us. Thursday night delivers a divisional matchup (Patriots-Bills) which is bigger for New England than Buffalo. Who would've thought the Commanders-Giants would have any playoff implications in December? As good as the Dolphins have been this year, their biggest test lies ahead as they'll play the next three games on the road (i.e. 49ers, Chargers and Bills) which will be telling as they try to capture the AFC East flag. A game that has nothing to do with the postseason, but everything to do with a reintroduction to the sport and expected drama as Browns QB Deshaun Watson visits his former team in Houston as he'll play his first game in almost two years. What kind of reception do you think he'll receive from the Texan faithful?

(17:15) It's conference championship weekend in college football, which means Georgia, Michigan, TCU and USC are on the schedule? If any of them lose, especially TCU & USC, will they drop out of the top four, while Ohio State & Alabama back in?

(23:43) In the Association, there are a couple of key injuries to keep an eye on (T'wolves Karl Anthony Towns and the Nets Ben Simmons) both suffering calf strains, with Towns out 4-6 weeks, where Simmons is out for about a week. The Celtics continue to roll. The Suns have streaked to the top of the crowded Western Conference. The league is just getting warmed up as they have their sights set on the Christmas Day schedule, which I have a gripe with the NFL as they'll share air time with the NBA that day. I'll explain in great detail.

(31:20) The Seattle Kraken were involved in a rare, high scoring affair (9-8 in OT) against the Kings, but with the Bruins & Devils continuing their torrid winning ways, the NHL has been mostly quiet. Mitch Marner is a part of the Maple Leaf record book as he equaled the franchise's consecutive point scoring streak at 18. Then there's Pat Maroon turning a negative into a positive following comments by Boston Bruins announcer, Jack Edwards about his weight and donating money to charity because of it.

(37:25) The Yankees have reportedly offered Aaron Judge an eight year deal worth $300 million dollars. The AAV (annual average value) would be the highest in the sport. Does Judge agree and sign on the dotted line? Or does he use this as leverage to other potential suitors? Is he looking for more years? Money? The Astros continue to not rest of their championship laurels with a superb move as they sign free agent slugger, Jose Abreu to a three year deal. The first time ballot for Cooperstown 2023 Hall of Fame class was released. Headlining that is Carlos Beltran. Is he worthy to be enshrined in Cooperstown? There's also the contemporary baseball committee that'll decide on Sunday whether or not to include Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Rafael Palmeiro, among others in the Hall. But there's one guy on that list who is MORE than deserving to be inducted in the Class of 2023.

(54:38) The World Cup transitions to the knockout round. The USA team will play Netherlands on Saturday with their best player, Christian Pulisic, compromised with an injury. Will they be able to overcome and move on to play either Argentina or Australia?

(58:02) Tyson Fury, the heavyweight champion of the world, is coming out of retirement to fight on Saturday. His reason for doing so is rather absurd. My rant says it all as I close out the pod.

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 "Dolphins Huge Test, Watson's NFL Return In Houston! Will TCU & USC Prevail In CFP? NBA vs. NFL X-Mas Day Dilemma. Yanks Have Offer. Does Jud" on Spreaker.

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A Way Too Early Look At The NFL Playoff Picture. Michigan's March To A National Title. An NBA Western Conference Log Jam. Remembering A Maple Leaf Legend. A Cool MLB Hot Stove. World Cup's Second Week

You may be full of Thanksgiving leftovers, but there's plenty of sports talk to feed the casual or passionate sports fan as I'm back on the scene to dissect it all. On deck:

(3:20) It wasn't a sexy Sunday slate in the NFL, but there were some compelling games (i.e. BAL-JAX, ATL-WSH, LAC-ARZ, LV-SEA that came down to the wire to impact the AFC & NFC playoff picture. I'll get into my winner (i.e. Cincinnati) and loser (i.e. Tampa Bay) of the week. I'll get into the early positioning in both conferences as we start to take a look at how the postseason may shape up with six more weeks to go.

(29:13) Michigan showed their rival Ohio State for the second year in a row, who is the boss of the Big Ten as they ran roughshod over the Buckeyes. Throw in a surprising loss to LSU which kicked them out of the running for the college football playoff. The four teams that would make it if the season ended today are Georgia, Michigan, TCU & USC. Does Ohio State still have a shot to sneak in? More importantly, is this the year for the Wolverines to make some noise to upend the defending champs in the Bulldogs?

(40:53) After sharing some brief thoughts on Ben Simmons's return to Philadelphia, the Western Conference in the NBA has become a log jam with the top eleven teams separated by only four games. That's right! Then there are the Lakers, starting to creep up in the West standings as they've won five of six (even with Patrick Beverley's inexplicable cheap shot which led to a three game suspension. And Russell Westbrook taking a shot by the Spurs Zach Collins). I'll go through what's going on in the Association as we're just about a quarter into the season.

(49:07) Hockey mourned the passing of Maple Leaf great, defenseman Borje Salming as he passed away at the age of 71. On the ice, things have been status quo (the Bruins and Devils continue to dominate). Is John Tortorella on the hot seat in Philadelphia? The Kraken have improved in their second year. And the Blues have turned their season around after losing eight in a row a few weeks back.

(53:56) All is quiet on the MLB Hot Stove front. There have been a couple of signings (Carlos Santana to PIT, Mike Clevinger to CWS) a trade (Angels acquire Hunter Renfroe from Milwaukee). As for the top free agents, including Aaron Judge, despite some rumors coming out of San Francisco about their meeting being positive, to me, it's much ado about nothing.

(58:21) There were a few upsets this past week in the World Cup (Argentina, Germany and Belgium lost), but the USA has a huge game vs. Iran to see if they can advance in the tournament as I keep you abreast of what's going on in Qatar as week two commences.

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 "A Way Too Early Look At The NFL Playoff Picture. Michigan's March To A National Title. An NBA Western Conference Log Jam. Remembering A Mapl" on Spreaker.

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Sports - ProfessionalJason NazarioNovember 28, 2022Sports, Sports Talk, Sports Podcast, Podcast, Podcasting, The JAYREELZ Podcast, NFL, Football, College Football, NCAA Football, NBA, Basketball, NHL, Hockey, MLB, Baseball, MLB Hot Stove, Soccer, World CupComment

A Jet Debacle On & Off The Field! USC Controls Playoff Destiny? NBA Injuries, Laddergate & Simmons Philly Return. Mets Flirting With Verlander? USA On Schedule As World Cup Commences

My sports stove has plenty of cooking as we prep for the upcoming Thanksgiving weekend. I'll dish out plenty of courses as there's a lot to go around on this episode. On deck:

(3:08) It was a wild and unpredictable NFL Week 11 as we saw some surprising winners (i.e. Tennessee) a last second bailout for (i.e. Philadelphia) as well as some mind-numbing losers (i.e. NY Jets) What happened to their offense? And their special teams in the final seconds against New England? In the postgame press conference, what was QB Zach Wilson thinking that made his teammates frustrated with him? How will coach Robert Saleh handle this? Could this potentially be a season defining scenario for a Jet team trying to find its way in a long season? Then there are the Giants with an inexcusable performance at home vs. Detroit. Even the Vikings were man-handled in shocking fashion by the Cowboys at home. I'll wrap up what took place in the league with a look to the Thursday Thanksgiving Day games on the schedule.

(34:54) Tennessee suffered not only losing their QB (Hendon Hooker) for the season, but their playoff hopes as they were destroyed at South Carolina. With both Michigan & TCU squeaking out last second victories, the only team in the mix for the playoff outside of Georgia, Ohio St. and Michigan would be USC after disposing of UCLA. How will this all take into shape? And is LSU a team on the fringe of making the Final Four?

(42:00) There have been a number of key injuries that have taken place in the Association over the past week (i.e. Ja Morant, Zion Williamson, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, to name a few) which we'll need to keep an eye on. Giannis Antetekoumpo had an issue with a ladder in Philadelphia? Is this news? Ehhhh, but I'll explain. Don't look now, but Ben Simmons is starting to heat up as he had his best game as a Net yesterday vs. Memphis. Next up: a date in Philadelphia as he'll face his former team for the first time since the trade last year.

(52:12) The NHL has been status quo for the past couple of weeks. The Bruins home start has been historic. The Devils have won 12 in a row. Besides Alexander Ovechkin's chase for 800 goals and beyond. Plus, Matt Tkachuk playing against his former team (Calgary. With the same for former Panthers forward, Jonathan Huberdeau), things on ice have been the same for the most part. Unless you live in the tri-state area and have a chance to see MVP, Connor McDavid as his Oilers will be in NY throughout the Thanksgiving week.

(55:25) MLB's Hot Stove has cooled a bit, although the Mets have reached out to discuss the services of AL Cy Young Justin Verlander. What about Jacob deGrom? Why I'm not in favor of Verlander coming to Queens? Are the Mariners interested in Yankee INF Gleyber Torres? Also, what's the latest with Aaron Judge returning to the Yanks? Is La La Land (i.e. the Dodgers) back on the Judge bandwagon to court the AL MVP?

(59:39) The World Cup has commenced. Even after my unfulfilling preview on Thursday, USA has their first game against Wales today. How big is this game for the Americans as England looms in their next matchup on Friday?