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Spring is officially arriving tomorrow, but right now is the latest podcast detailing ALL that’s happening in the sports universe. On deck:

(4:16) We can finally usher out the Sports Dead Zone, Part 1 (at least until summer) and begin a huge stretch of sports talk over the next few months. Jump starting that is the Madness of March. The NCAA Tournament tips off tomorrow night with the First Four, and in earnest, on Thursday with the first of two days of college basketball from 12 noon to 1:00am. I’ll discuss the top three storylines of the selection process (Mountain West over Big East), UCONN’s tough bracket to defend their title. And Purdue’s cakewalk to a Final Four, considering how their bracket unfolded. I’ll get into the whole bracket on Thursday’s pod, so this is the appetizer to set you up for the main course later in the week. I’ll take a peek at how I was disappointed of the selection committee on the women’s side, where they have Iowa and LSU in the same bracket and not different brackets.

(24:36) What has gone on in Pittsburgh this offseason? It’s almost as if the Steelers have had an identity shift. I say that because just the past few days alone, they traded their former #1 pick Kenny Pickett to the Eagles. Then surprised me in acquiring Justin Fields of the Bears for what? A sixth round pick? I’ll unpack all of what GM Omar Khan has done to date and assess how this was a change from the front office that even their biggest fans didn’t expect? I’ll discuss what the Vikings did by picking up another first round pick (via Houston) Some other key signings/trades that transpired. And the retirement of Rams DT Aaron Donald, who called it a career on Friday after ten years in STL & LA.

(41:43) As much as we’re looking forward for the baseball season to start next Thursday, it actually starts on Wednesday. That’s right! The Dodgers-Padres will kick off 2024 in Korea for two games. Am I cool with MLB throwing out the first pitch outside of American soil? The Yankees dodged a potential catastrophe to their starting rotation regarding the health to Cy Young ace Gerrit Cole, but do they still look for reinforcements since the aforementioned will be out for at least a month? Then Mets owner, Steve Cohen, addressed the media to announce that 1B Pete Alonso will likely not be signed before Opening Day. YOU KNOW that I have something to say about that with the season starting in ten days.

(52:27) The Association is rather low key, despite a wild and inexplicable final two minutes of the Warriors-Lakers game because of game clock and shot clock malfunctions as the Dubs won in LA. Speaking of LA, the Clippers have hit the skids, losing 4 of 5 and not having an identity, as stated by Paul George. What’s going on there? I’ll see where we’re at throughout the league with the latest in the standings as we’re about a month away from the conclusion of the NBA season.

(59:30) Besides my Islanders going through a bad stretch of late, falling out of the Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference (albeit a point in the standings as of this moment), the NHL is status quo as I’ll take a trip around the ice as they head into the homestretch.

(1:03:23) With The Masters teeing up three weeks from this coming Thursday, the TPC at Sawgrass took place over the weekend. Scottie Scheffler is the first player ever to win back to back as he shot -20 and a 64 in the final round as he’s primed for another run as the top golfer on the tour. NOTE: I mentioned that Scheffler won the Masters last year. It was in 2022. Jon Rahm won last year. My apologies for the error.

(1:04:57) Although it’s not a Grand Slam in the world of tennis, the winners at Indian Wells were Iga Swiatek on the women’s side and Carlos Alcaraz (who stopped Jannik Sinner’s 19 match consecutive streak) captured the men’s title as both winners look to build on their victories with the French Open two months away.

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.  

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The ides of March are here. Daylight extends past 7pm. Spring is officially five days away. What could be better than that? Yes. Another podcast with yours truly unpacking all that’s happening in the world of sports. On deck:

(4:14) NFL free agency came in roaring like a lion as there was plenty of activity over the past few days, highlighted by the Atlanta Falcons huge signing of QB Kirk Cousins. He got a four year/$180 million dollar deal, which begs the question. Does he really deserve it, coming off an Achilles injury at the age of 36? Then Saquon Barkley takes his talents to Philadelphia which will ratchet up the rivalry between his former team (NY Giants) and his current one. The Baltimore Ravens may have secured the final piece to their Super Bowl puzzle by inking Derrick Henry to a two year deal. What does this mean for Lamar Jackson & co. I’ll go through all of the top deals that took place since Monday as the NFL is front and center to kick us off on the podcast.

(26:11) On the other side of the coin, MLB hasn’t figured out its free agency period as there are TWO top pitchers unsigned (Blake Snell & Jordan Montgomery) now that we’re two weeks away from Opening Day. That ties into what the Yankees may have to decide with the possibility of having to shut down their ace, Gerrit Cole, for an apparent elbow issue. What does this mean for the Bombers if Cole is going to be on the shelf for half a season or the entire year? Plus, the Brewers got bad news as their closer, Devin Williams, will be out for three months due to stress fractures in his back.

(39:00) With conference championship week in full bloom when it comes to college basketball, the Kansas Jayhawks have fallen on hard times as they lost to Cincinnati last night. They’re 22-10 this year. Is this team at the bubble of making/missing the tournament? Will Michigan State, who’s on the bubble, make it to March Madness? And a note for the selection committee on the women’s game. Please have Iowa, South Carolina and LSU in three separate regions, if you want to avoid any criticism from people like myself and beyond.

(46:20) Clippers forward, Kawhi Leonard is hurt (back) and will be out for quite some time. How crucial is this loss during the regular season if he’s not going to be in the lineup? I’ll see what else is happening on the hardwood as we get to the homestretch with the playoffs awaiting a month or so from now.

(51:39) As for the NHL, Rangers tough guy Matt Rempe received a four game suspension for an elbow on a New Jersey Devils player Monday night. Was it too harsh for a first time offense? The Canucks will be without their top goaltender, Thatcher Demko, with a knee injury as they try to secure the #1 seed out West. And why is the city of Atlanta looking for another expansion team as they’ve failed two times previously?

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.  

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The ides of March are on the horizon as so is the latest podcast, filling your cup and then some with all that’s happening in the world of sports. On deck:

(3:22) As we inch closer to the end of this Sports Dead Zone, Pt. 1, there have been a few things percolating which starts us off with the NBA. Mavericks guard, Luka Doncic has been on a triple double tear, recording six straight of the 30 point variety (which surpassed Russell Westbrook’s five). Despite his brilliance and production, will it be enough for a deep playoff run come April? Lakers forward, Anthony Davis had a monster game last night where he scored 27 points, 25 rebounds, 7 steals, 5 assists and 3 blocks. Is LA looking to move up and out of the play-in tournament bracket? The injury bug continues to hit the Association as Steph Curry had a scare with a sprained ankle. Indiana will be without Benedict Mathurin for the rest of the year with a torn right labrum. And the Timberwolves won’t have Karl Anthony Towns for at least the remainder of the regular season as he recovers from meniscus surgery. They are beginning to slip in the Western Conference. Will they fall further down in the standings without their big man? I’ll check on what’s happening in both conferences as we’re almost a month away from seasons’ end.

(20:21) Conference Tournament week has arrived in college basketball as we’re just ten days away from the Madness tipping off. I’ll go through which teams are on the bubble from making the tournament and what they’ll need to do to get to the dance? Then you had the melee down in South Carolina between the LSU Tigers and Gamecocks in the women’s game yesterday afternoon. It was a not so pretty scene toward the end of their matchup with Kamilla Cardoso among five other players ejected from the dustup involving Flau’jae Johnson pushing a Gamecocks player.

(27:51) The NHL trade deadline has come and gone. It was a feeding frenzy for contending teams trying to fortify their rosters for the stretch run. The one team who came up smelling like roses are the Carolina Hurricanes, picking up Evgeni Kuznetsov from Washington and Jake Guentzel from Pittsburgh. Are those the missing pieces for a Hurricane team that’s looking to go to the next level? I’ll recap what other teams (FLA, VGK & BOS, among others) did right before 3pm on Friday. Don’t look now, but the Islanders are the hottest team in the league at the moment, winners of six in a row and currently second in the Wild Card standings. Is their recent play sustainable in order to secure a playoff spot in the East? I’ll see what else is going on the ice as teams ramp up over the last 16-18 games before the playoffs commence.

(40:52) Football fans! The NFL’s ‘new season’ will raise its curtain on Wednesday. There’s been a ton of activity over the past few days, including Russell Wilson’s new home in Pittsburgh. You KNOW I have a lot to say about this! Plus, who else got cut, who retired, who’s staying put and who could be on the move as we’re 48 hours from this show note from the free agent window opening.

(50:39) Baseball is ready to usher in their season two weeks from Thursday, but all is mostly quiet on this front. The Red Sox sign a pitcher! (No, it’s not Blake Snell or Jordan Montgomery). A former Red goes home to Toronto (Joey Votto) and his former teammate (Noelvi Marte) was busted for using performance enhancing drugs and will sit out 80 games.

(54:35) Lastly, there was a heavyweight fight in boxing last Friday. Anthony Joshua KO’d former UFC/MMA fighter Francis Ngannou in the second round of a fight that was not on my radar. Did anyone watch or care?

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.

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

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Getting through the dread of this slow time in sports, but nevertheless, I’ve got you covered as the latest episode has arrived. On deck:

(2:51) The Association has had a quiet week (well, the Celtics blew a 22 point fourth quarter lead, snapping their 11 game winning streak) but there have been a few injuries that could affect the final stretch of the regular season. You have LeBron James, Karl Anthony Towns, Evan Mobley, Victor Wembanyama to a lesser degree, even Ben Simmons (who was shut down due to his ongoing back issues). How vital of a role will these injuries be for the first three players listed as far as the long term is concerned? The Orlando Magic have played well, winners of five in a row and is currently fourth in the Eastern Conference. Besides that, all is status quo in the league.

(18:54) As for college basketball, there isn’t much to discuss as there haven’t been any upsets, big losses or anything newsworthy over the past three days. I’ve received a lot of blowback from fans regarding Caitlin Clark’s NCAA scoring record, that it should have an asterisk.

(21:54) On the ice, the trade deadline in the NHL is tomorrow afternoon. There’s been plenty of transactions that have taken place this week. Tops in the sport at the moment are the Florida Panthers, who have been on a torrid stretch over the last couple of months. They have the most wins and points the league as of today. They’ve also acquired reinforcements by brining in Vladimir Tarasenko from Ottawa for another Cup run. Have they peaked a bit early? Any potential dangers of not going far in the playoffs? Several contending teams (i.e. Avalanche, Rangers, Golden Knights, Oilers) have made moves. What about the Jets, Stars, Hurricanes, Bruins and Maple Leafs jumping into the fray of making a key move before the deadline?

(34:30) The Red Sox main acquisition this offseason (pitcher Lucas Giolito) will be sidelined for the entire 2024 year with a partial torn elbow ligament. Will ownership, whose priorities seem to be elsewhere other than their own ball club, consider adding either Blake Snell or Jordan Montgomery to their anemic pitching staff? Yankees hurler Carlos Rodon hasn’t had a good spring to compound his awful first year in pinstripes last year. Aaron Boone still sees some positives after his not so stellar performance yesterday. Is anyone else tired of the managers act? Reigning MVP Ronald Acuna Jr’s knee is doing fine and won’t miss a ton of time. There were two retirements over the last 24 hours or so. Former MVP Josh Donaldson called it quits after 13 years. Same for catcher Mike Zunino, who had a solid career in Tampa Bay, Seattle and Cleveland, walks off into the sunset after 11 years.

(42:18) NFL fans, get ready! The ‘new season’ commences on Wednesday as teams continue to cut payroll/players. The big one being soon to be former Broncos QB Russell Wilson. Where could he end up? We say goodbye to Eagles center Jason Kelce as he retires after 13 seasons in Philadelphia. I’ll take a peek on who else has been let go as teams gear up for free agency.

(47:17) It’s been reported that Jake Paul will fight Mike Tyson in an exhibition match on July 20th, to be streamed on Netflix in Arlington, TX (aka Jerry’s World/AT&T Stadium) They’re hyping this as the biggest boxing match in history. Does anyone really believe that?

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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Back in high gear to get a new month started, I’ll bring the pain on all that’s going on in the sports world with the latest podcast. On deck:

(2:56) As we turn the calendar to March, basketball is at the top of the sports food chain with plenty to unpack. LeBron James has surpassed the 40,000 point mark in his illustrious career. Does he hold the mantle of having the greatest NBA tenure in the history of the sport? More than Kareem? More than Jordan? The Boston Celtics are on a torrid 11 game winning streak at the moment. They have a 48-12 record, almost comparable to the 1986 championship team. Is the pressure mounting by the win? Also, who’s a key component/X-factor on the C’s to take them to a title? Russell Westbrook will be out indefinitely with the Clippers. Is that a huge loss? Knicks Jalen Brunson injured his knee in Cleveland last night. Will he be out for any significant time? I’ll take a look at what’s going on throughout the Association in each conference when it comes to playoff seeding at the moment.

(26:23) Top seeded Houston Cougars will remain #1 in the nation going into this week. If you’re Kansas, another loss this week (vs. Baylor) will put them out of the Top 10 for the first time in a while. Any concern about their length when it comes to March Madness. Caitlin Clark is now at the top of the scoring mountain when it comes to NCAA college basketball, eclipsing Pete Maravich’s record 54 years ago. Why I don’t take that record seriously. In fact, there are two reasons as I’ll explain.

(33:53) It’s been an exciting and interesting two weeks for NY Rangers rookie tough guy, Matt Rempe. He’s been the talk of the NHL, culminating in a fight against arguably the toughest enforcer in the league, Ryan Reaves Saturday night in Toronto. Why this has been a boon for hockey, no matter how much they don’t want to admit it, but more so for the fight fan, is this sustainable? The Canucks sign one of their top players to a long term deal (Elias Patterson 8 for $92.8 million dollars) The Florida Panthers invade MSG tonight to go at it against the Rangers for the top spot in the East. The Oilers continue to play well in the Pacific Division as they’re nine points from the first place Canucks with four games in hand. I’ll see what else is taking place on the ice as the trade deadline looms for teams to pick up reinforcements come Friday.

(47:13) Another top free agent is off the market as Matt Chapman signs with the Giants. Was this a must get for San Francisco as they compete in a tough NL West? Is Blake Snell headed for the City of Brotherly Love, as rumor has it he may head there on a short term deal? The Phillies have already extended Zack Wheeler to a three year/$126 million dollar deal. What will happen to Snell or Jordan Montgomery as we’re already into March? Are there concerns on the latest knee injury regarding reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuna Jr.?

(52:39) Sad news on and off the field in the NFL. Longtime insider for ESPN, Chris Mortensen passed away at 72. As well as, Steeler LB Andy Russell who was a part of the first two Super Bowl wins in Pittsburgh, dies at 82. Buccaneers WR Mike Evans stays in Tampa for 2 years/$52 million. And Steelers GM Omar Khan has complete faith in QB, Kenny Pickett, to the chagrin of other talking head/Steeler fans out here (ahem, Stephen A. Smith) overreacting to this news as I delve into this.

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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On this special episode considering today is Leap Year (February 29th), I’ll close out another month with top notch sports talk on the eve of the podcast’s sixth anniversary. On deck:

(2:52) As I mentioned in the previous paragraph, tomorrow is the sixth anniversary of the podcast. It goes without saying that I THANK ALL OF YOU, who have supported me since day one or if it was your first day! I appreciate you being a part of this journey as I continue to put forth quality, entertaining content over the next year. I’ll also share a potential partnership that could be official by Monday, so you’ll have to stay tuned to find out more.

(4:19) The Lakers had an enormous fourth quarter comeback win against their cross the hall rival, Clippers. Was it an epic rally by the Lakers? Or a massive collapse by the Clips? Plus, is this going to be a springboard for LeBron & co. (who’s 40 points from reaching 40K points for his career) to move up the standings? What about for the league? Is this a signature game for the Association? Does anyone care? I’ll get into the crazy win by the Cavaliers, with Max Strus’s half court heave to shock the Mavericks. How important is it for the Cavs to shoot for the #2 seed in the East? Luka Doncic erased that loss with a 30 point triple double vs. Toronto on his 25th birthday. Chris Paul returned from his broken left hand to contribute in a win vs. Washington. Can his addition propel them north out West? I’ll even review how my over/under win totals are doing as we’re two thirds into this NBA season.

(27:12) #7 ranked Kansas had an inexplicable home loss vs. BYU earlier this week. Does this bode well for them as we enter the month of March as a team that could go back to a Final Four? It was good to see Duke center Kyle Filipowski return after a scare over the weekend as he was injured in a scrum when the Wake Forest fans stormed the court. #11 Auburn lose on the road at Tennessee. And Texas won in Lubbock vs. Texas Tech, but not without a dustup between two players that led to flagrant fouls, including a technical foul from the CROWD!?

(32:40) As for the NHL, not much has transpired since Monday’s pod. Although the Rangers have tied the Canucks for the most points by a team in the sport. Actually the Rangers have the most wins to date (40).  The MVP race is hot and heavy as it could come down to Leafs Auston Matthews, Lightning Nikita Kucherov, Avalanche Nathan MacKinnon or Oilers Connor McDavid. The big news is could we see the Winnipeg Jets leave town at some point down the road, based on some comments by their ownership via the commissioner, Gary Bettman?

(41:48) Do I really have to get into the MLB’s issue with see through uniforms as that was brought up over the past weekend? The Dodgers have made some roster moves, sending Manuel Margot to Minnesota and bringing back utility player, Kike Hernandez. And Shohei Ohtani recently got married as he admitted to add to his first home run of the spring.

(44:47) There have been quite a few things percolating in the NFL this week. The Bears have a huge decision forthcoming as they can trade current QB Justin Fields to bring back a surplus of picks in order to select QB Caleb Williams with the #1 overall pick. Or do they keep Fields and bring back more picks by trading down? I definitely have a lot to say about this. Then you have some high profile running backs (I.e. Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs to name a few) that are looking for big paydays. Considering the pounding they take, will they get their worth when it’s all said and done? Could the Jets file tampering charges against the Chiefs in regards to Mecole Hardman’s recent comments to ‘come get me’ to Chief personnel? They’ve also cut Marques Valdez-Scantling. And have been recently ranked next to last in the NFL as a franchise based on a recent poll. How is this possible?

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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As we get through the month of February, the sports world stays consistent with enough topics to uncover as the latest episode has arrived. On deck:

(3:00) The sports landscape is crawling to the end of the month, but the NBA will lead us into the next fifty minutes or so. There was a rare brawl in the Association as the Heat-Pelicans had a melee to where  four players were ejected and five players were suspended Including Heat star Jimmy Butler. Doc Rivers made his first appearance in Philadelphia after being fired by the Sixers last spring as the Bucks blew out Philly yesterday afternoon. Then the Celtics have been on a nine game winning streak. Veteran Al Horford stated that the team needs to hit ‘another level’, even with them having the best record in the sport. Is it championship or bust for this proud franchise? I’ll see what else is going on (including a key injury to Hawks G Trae Young and Coach Steve Kerr’s record breaking contract).

(17:47) Is it time for the NCAA to ban fans/students rushing the court after wins? This is due to the upset of Wake Forest beating #8 Duke on Saturday night and Blue Devils center Kyle Filipowski getting injured during the celebration. Will the powers that be act upon this from happening again in the future? St. John’s got back in the win column this week after coach Rick Pitino ripped into this players & coaches with a huge win over #15 Creighton yesterday. Will this propel them to a tournament bid next month?

(24:04) Quite a few things have transpired on the ice as there was a warm reception of former Blackhawks great Patrick Kane, making his first visit in the Windy City since being traded last year to the Rangers. He had a storybook ending with the game winning goal in OT to beat the Blackhawks, 3-2. Is Lightning forward, Nikita Kucherov, an MVP candidate? He’s the first player to eclipse 100 points this year as they beat the Islanders and Devils over the weekend. Then the Rangers had their 10 game winning streak stopped as they lost to Columbus last night. The big news of the past week is the debut of tough guy, Matt Rempe. How his impact (three fights, even a goal in his first five games of action) has injected some life into the sport with some anticipation as he makes his way throughout the league. I’ll check the latest in the wild card standings and even bring you up to date on my NHL over/under point totals.

(39:59) Baseball’s exhibition schedule is underway and we finally got some activity when it comes to the top free agents have are unsigned. Cody Bellinger re-ups with the Cubs (three years/$80 million). What about Blake Snell? Matt Chapman? Or Jordan Montgomery? Is this a situation where the agent (in this case, Scott Boras) is not doing his job, inflating the market to where his players may sit out until March? Then the Saga of Senga as Mets pitcher Kodai Senga won’t throw for three weeks because of the PRP (platelet rich plasma) shot in his shoulder. When will he possibly return?

(45:19) There isn’t much happening in the NFL (and why would there be?). I won’t spend a lot of breath on the combine that’ll take place this week in Indianapolis. Or Cam Newton getting into a scrap with a few gentlemen at a football camp. Some players cut (Dolphins Xavien Howard & Emmanuel Ogbah) even with the salary cap increasing $30 million this year. Russell Wilson wants to stay in Denver as he mentioned in a recent podcast, but does Denver want him?

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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Inching closer to the end of another month, but also the beginning of the latest podcast as I dive into all that’s happening in sports. On deck:

(2:53) With the ‘second half’ of the NBA season tipping off tonight, I’ll get into a breakdown of what to expect in both conferences as we march on to mid-April before the start of the playoffs. Are the Boston Celtics to be trusted to finally win an elusive championship? Can the Cleveland Cavaliers be a threat in the East? What about the Milwaukee Bucks? The Philadelphia Seventy-Sixers? How about the defending Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat? Out west, can the Minnesota Timberwolves or Oklahoma City Thunder represent in an NBA Finals? Will the Denver Nuggets defend their title? How about the LA Clippers getting to their first ever NBA Finals? You can’t forget about the LA Lakers or Golden State Warriors. Do they have staying power if they get into the postseason? So much to answer and I’ll have an in-depth look as to how this’ll play out over the last couple of months.

(26:00) As for college basketball, #1 UCONN suffers a rough road loss at #15 Creighton. Any concerns or worries about the Huskies? Also, #17 Kentucky loses to LSU on a last second shot as the unpredictability of this college season continues to rear its ugly head.

(31:18) On the ice, the New York Rangers are the hottest team in the NHL, winners of eight straight. Is this the year that they finally get to a Stanley Cup Final, considering what’s taken place over the last two seasons? I know the Florida Panthers are nipping at the heels of the Bruins and Rangers in the conference, winners of six straight as they try to get back to a Final. Auston Matthews has been on a goal scoring tear (had two last night in Arizona. Currently 51 on pace for 75). Alexander Ovechkin scored two goals vs. New Jersey the other night as he’s 56 goals away from tying Wayne Gretzky all time in the sport’s history. How many will he need to get this season in order to reach him next year? I’ll check on what else is going on in the league as they’re past the two-thirds point of the regular season.

(43:33) College football has their 12 team playoff format mapped out, but now there’s some discussion about expanding it to 14 in 2026? What!?

(48:57) In the late 1980’s, early 90’s, we had the Jordan Rules, where the Detroit Pistons did their best to defend Chicago Bulls legend, Michael Jordan. Fast forward thirty some odd years later, Las Vegas Raiders coach, Antonio Pierce, has the self proclaimed, Mahomes Rule after beating them on Christmas Day, their last prior to running the table winning the Super Bowl. Has he found the formula to slow or stop the Chiefs QB? Was this premature of him to say?

(54:12) Spring training is well underway throughout the MLB. Can we please stop with ALL of the attention regarding Shohei Ohtani’s batting practice home run in his first camp as an LA Dodger? Seriously!? Then there were the comments by Angels 3B, Anthony Rendon, stating that baseball isn’t his priority. WHAT!? Is there any concern in Yankee-land over Aaron Judge’s comments regarding his big toe that he injured in Dodger Stadium last June? Saying that he has to manage it over the upcoming season. You had former Royals 1B, Eric Hosmer announce his retirement. And here we go with the Mets. Projected ace, Kodai Senga has to be put on the shelf due to arm fatigue. ARM FATIGUE!? (It has been announced after the recording that he’ll likely be on the IL to start the season) As a diehard fan, you can’t make it up!

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Another holiday Monday presents a wild hour of sports talk as we transition away from the NFL with all of the latest happenings in the sports universe as I’ll unpack the following:

(3:00) It was a rough weekend for the NBA as they had to deal with a repeat slam dunk champion (Mac McClung) who’s in the G-League! Plus, an All-Star Game that had one team score over 200 POINTS as the East beat the West. What can they do to fix it? Is it too late to do so? Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn has been relieved of his duties. Was it fair? Then you have the finalists for the Naismith Hall of Fame which includes Vince Carter and Chauncey Billups. Why I think both wouldn’t be enshrined in Springfield if it was up to me? The Association is still on a respite as the schedule will pick up on Thursday.

(22:50) You had another stunner in college basketball as #2 Purdue loses to Ohio State, with an interim coach, no less. Does this hurt them for a #1 come tournament time? #1 UCONN is surely looking like a team that’s going to defend their title as they destroyed #4 Marquette in historic fashion. How about Rick Pitino, the head coach of St. John’s? They lost to Seton Hall last night and are now 6-9 in the conference. He had plenty of choice words for his team, calling it a disappointing year, stating how unathletic they are, lacking toughness, going in on his squad as they try to fight for a spot in the tournament. Caitlin Clark sets the women’s record all time for scoring in the sport, eclipsing Kelsey Plum in the process. And sad news as former Maryland coach, Lefty Driesell passed away at age 92.

(30:45) The NHL had a huge weekend with two outdoor games in the same venue. I’ll unwrap the Flyers-Devils meeting on Saturday night, with the second game being a nail biter where the Islanders blew a golden opportunity to beat their crosstown rival Rangers, 6-5 in OT. I was a witness to the latter game. How much that loss stings even a day later may come as a surprise? Also, the nerve of the Ranger fan, sounding like they’ve won 6 or 7 Stanley Cups as I had to deal with them for three plus hours yesterday. Don’t look now, but the Panthers have overtaken the Bruins in the Atlantic Division for the first time since the end of the 2021-22 season. I’ll see what else is happening in the other divisions and keep you up to speed on the latest.

(46:26) With position players reporting throughout the MLB, I have to throw in my two cents regarding Mets 1B, Pete Alonso and his desire to be a lifelong Met. I call out both the VP of baseball ops, David Stearns and of course, the owner, Steve Cohen to put his money where his mouth is as he’s stated in the past that he wants to operate his team like the Braves & Dodgers, to name a couple. There were two low level signings, (Whit Merrifield to Phillies and Liam Hendricks to the Red Sox) as spring training is in full swing.

(54:40) There was a golf tournament over the weekend in LA at the Genesis Invitational. It wasn’t a major, but you had some interesting developments regarding a couple of players. Tiger Woods had to withdraw with an illness after two rounds. Is this the last of Tiger being a dominant fixture on the course? You also had Jordan Spieth disqualified due to an erroneous scorecard. But your winner was Hideki Matsuyama who shot a 62 in the final round to win the tournament as we’re still six or seven weeks from Augusta.

(57:41) The Super Bowl of Racing had to be postponed due to inclement weather at the Daytona 500. They’ll race at 4pm today/Monday. Does this hurt the biggest racing event of the year?

(58:42) UFC had a surprise on Saturday night as Ilia Topuria stunned Alexander Volkanovski in a knockout that I’m sure quite a few didn’t expect. Is a rematch in order at some point in the not too distant future?

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On this day after Valentine’s, the lovefest continues as I dissect and share all that’s happening in sports. On deck:

(3:14) We make the pivot to The Sports Dead Zone, Pt. 1 (Post Super Bowl and right before the NCAA Tournament or Opening Day of the MLB season) as I spend a moment discussing this.

(6:03) What was supposed to be another celebratory parade through Kansas City with their third title in five years, turned out to be a nightmare as a mass shooting occurred nearby the festivities to where one person was killed and 22 others injured. When will this country wake up and take a stand to these senseless shootings? Then the San Francisco 49ers fired their defensive coordinator Steve Wilks. He’s the fall guy for the Niners losing the Super Bowl on Sunday. I have a major problem with this, so I’ll go in on the GM John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan as Wilks did not deserve this fate.

(15:46) The NBA will head into the All-Star Break after a few games tonight. Will I be watching? You had the rumor that the Warriors were interested in acquiring LeBron James at the trade deadline last week. Why I’m glad that didn’t take place? A few days ago, Kevin Durant stated that former teammate Steph Curry is a top-5 all time player? Is he accurate with that statement? Then you had Pistons center, Isaiah Stewart assault Suns Drew Eubanks BEFORE the game in Phoenix last night. How did this all come about? I’ll survey the basketball landscape as the league takes a respite for the next week.

(30:53) As for college basketball, another top team falls by the wayside (I.e. #7 North Carolina) Tonight, history will likely be made as Iowa’s Caitlin Clark will break the all time scoring record in women’s college basketball. Is she considered one of the great women’s players of all time?

(35:18) It’s a big weekend for the NHL as there’s not one, but two, outdoor games as the Stadium Series will occur at Met Life Stadium in New Jersey. Saturday night will have the Flyers visiting the Devils, while Sunday afternoon, the Islanders are the home team against the Rangers. Will these games be sold out? What about the weather for both matchups? I have to get into the aftermath of the cross check of Morgan Rielly to Ridley Greig, which garnered a five game suspension to the Maple Leafs Rielly. Did the punishment fit the crime? And what could be done to stop incidents like this? I’ll check on who’s hot and who’s not on the ice as the season is just about two-thirds done.

(44:20) Pitchers and catchers have reported throughout the MLB. There’s one notable player that may have a slow start to their upcoming year. Astros pitcher, Justin Verlander is behind schedule on a shoulder issue. Is anyone surprised? Is yours truly into this early part of spring training with position players reporting in five days? What about big time free agents that are still out there? (I.e. Blake Snell, Cody Ballinger and Matt Chapman)

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.

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It was a Super ending to a very good, but not classic game. I’ll unwrap all of what took place in Las Vegas last night and everything else that’s happening in sports as the latest podcast is at your fingertips. On deck:

(3:02) The legend grows with the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback. Is this a dynasty or a dynasty in the making? And a bitter loss for a franchise that hasn’t one a Super Bowl in almost three decades are the big picture items to unpack in a good, not great game, but classic ending in an overtime thriller where the Chiefs won 25-22 over the 49ers. I’ll get into every nook and cranny of the game, strategy, the biggest play of Super Bowl LVIII, is Patrick Mahomes the GOAT?, the halftime show, Tony Romo’s performance as color commentator, the rating of the broadcast and commercials as I put to rest another NFL season. I also have a big gripe with the Hall of Fame selection committee as they snubbed one time Chargers tight end, Antonio Gates, to be enshrined in Canton with Julius Peppers, Dwight Freeney, Patrick Willis, Devin Hester, et al. for the upcoming 2024 HOF class.

(47:53) The NBA is just about ready to take a respite as the All Star Break is approaching. I’ll get into what the latest is going on in the Association, including the aftermath of the trade deadline on Thursday.

(52:20) On the ice, the league has to deal with another incident on Saturday night with Maple Leafs Morgan Rielly cross checking Senators Ridley Greig in the neck after taking a slap shot into an empty net. Which begs the question for yours truly. Can we bring back the resident tough guy for each team on their roster? Alex Ovechkin inches closer to Wayne Gretzky’s all time goal scoring record, although he did eclipse Gretzky’s record for most empty net goals, if you’re into that. There are a couple of key injuries to report (Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon and Lightning’s Mikhail Sergachev) as they could miss quite some time, especially Sergachev.

(58:34) We’re just a few days away from pitchers and catchers reporting in MLB. I’ll share some thoughts on what Shohei Ohtani said about feeling like he’s a rookie again, the retirement of pitcher Corey Kluber and another small dark cloud hangs over the Mets franchise as former GM Billy Eppler was suspended for a year, although he’s no longer a part of the organization.

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  

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It’ll be a SUPER podcast as we cap off the final game of the NFL season and everything else happening in sports. On deck:

(3:05) A way too early pregame show on CBS. A Taylor Tracker monitoring pop’s biggest superstar’s arrival in Las Vegas. And, oh yes, there is a football game being played Sunday night in Sin City between the San Francisco 49ers vs. Kansas City Chiefs. I’ll have a complete breakdown of what the keys will be for both teams, matchups to look for and who’ll win the 58th version of the big game. I’ll also share my thoughts on the halftime show with Usher headlining the festivities, the commercials, how this’ll be the most watched television show in history, color commentator Tony Romo, among other things that surround Super Sunday. I must add my two cents on the NFL, not only playing in Brazil as we know, but when they’re playing this game. A Friday? Seriously?

(36:21) The trade deadline in the NBA has arrived. By 3pm today, we would expect some wheeling and dealing as teams look for reinforcements for the stretch run of the regular season. Will the Sixers make a play for Bulls guard, DeMar DeRozan with reigning MVP Joel Embiid on the shelf for the next four weeks? 

(43:52) #3 Kansas Jayhawks become another top team in college basketball to suffer a loss as in-state rival Kansas St. defeated them earlier this week. With all of the unpredictability of the sport this year, can we even project who the four #1 seeds are if the season ended today?

(46:21) After a long All-Star Break layoff, the Edmonton Oilers were unable to match the 1992-93 Pittsburgh Penguins for the longest winning streak in NHL history as they fell a game short, losing to the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday night. The Vancouver Canucks continue their winning ways, with newly acquired Elias Lindholm making a contribution, as they’re playing well above anyone ever imagined coming into this season.

(50:45) With pitchers and catchers ready to report a week from now, there were two signings of note in the MLB. Royals shortstop, Bobby Witt Jr. inked an 11 year/$288.7 million dollar deal. And Jose Altuve will stay put in Houston as he signed on for a five year/$125 million dollar contract.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

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Get ready for some big sports news and up to the second info on the podcast as I'll pack a huge wallop on this recent episode for your edification. On deck:

(3:00) I have to apprise you folks of some housekeeping prior to getting into sports. There's an upgrade to the podcast, which includes a VIDEO component on my YouTube channel (link below) starting next Monday. Also, some other news that WILL come as a surprise, so you have to tune in to hear what it's all about.

(5:58) Super Bowl Week has arrived. Both the Kansas City Chiefs & San Francisco 49ers have descended down on Sin City, Las Vegas as the 58th version of the big game is set for Sunday at Allegiant Stadium. I'll introduce some interesting storylines (i.e. a rematch from the game four years ago, Andy Reid & Patrick Mahomes about to reach rarefied air, Kyle Shanahan's attempt to win his first Bowl, the Niners title drought, among many others) There's plenty of time to breakdown the game itself, which I'll do on Thursday's podcast, so today will focus on the headlines that will be discussed all week as we prepare for the final game of the NFL season. In coaching news, the Washington Commanders hired former Cowboys defensive coordinator, Dan Quinn to patrol the sidelines in DC. Was this a smart hire? Was it a good hire? CORRECTION: I made a mention of Andy Reid’s son being involved in a fatal car accident. It was NOT fatal. The little girl involved was severely injured. My apologies for the erroneous comment.

(26:37) There have been some developments in the Association over the past week, with the big one being reigning MVP, Joel Embiid. He suffered a knee injury and had to get surgery to repair a torn meniscus. How his absence will affect not just the Sixers, but the Eastern Conference overall. The Lakers have had two huge road wins in Boston and New York against the Knicks. Are they starting to turn the corner? In three days, the NBA trade deadline will arrive. I'll get into which names are being thrown around as teams look for reinforcements for the stretch run of the season. As well as, Bradley Beal's triumphant return to Washington in his first visit back from his playing days with the Wizards.

(39:08) College basketball is starting to take more notice as North Carolina-Duke renewed their long standing rivalry on Saturday night, with the Tar Heels winning in the Dean Dome. With quite a few blue bloods (i.e. North Carolina, Kansas, Duke, Kentucky) ranked in the Top 25, is that good for the casual college b-ball fan, unlike last year?

(43:11) The NHL is coming out of their All-Star Break with the 'second half' picking up tonight. I'll take a look at what the remainder of the season looks like for teams that may take some big leaps (i.e. Vancouver, Winnipeg, Boston) and others that are scrambling or jockeying for playoff positioning. What about the Edmonton Oilers trying to make history after a ten day layoff to go for a record 17 game winning streak tomorrow night in Vegas?

(51:54) With pitchers and catchers reporting in a week and a half, the Baltimore Orioles made a significant trade in bringing in former Milwaukee Brewers ace, Corbin Burnes. Is it their division to lose again, after winning the AL East last year?

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.

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A new month commences with new hope as I have plenty to unpack with the podcast and all that's going on in the world of sports. On deck:

(2:54) I have some housekeeping to share as the podcast is going to add another element, starting February 12th. Here's a hint: it involves a video component. You'll have to tune in to hear exactly what I'm talking about.

(5:10) With the Super Bowl ten days away, I'll pass on early storylines, matchups or predictions until next week. There have been coaching hires and assistants staying throughout the NFL. Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson will remain with the team for another year, which is a plus. As for Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, he leaves for the Pacific Northwest to patrol the sidelines for the Seattle Seahawks. Was it wise for him to take a head coaching job at this early juncture of his football career? The Pittsburgh Steelers hired former OC of Tennessee and head coach of Atlanta, Arthur Smith. Is this an upgrade for a team that mostly struggled this past year? Lastly, there is one coach that's out there without a job. That would be Bill Belichick. An owner recently commented on the friendship and intimated how he would work well with the six time Super Bowl champ. Of course, I'm talking about Jerry Jones. Why can't he stay mum? Or stay out of his own way?

(18:56) Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards had some gripes about the officiating after a WIN vs. OKC. Was this warranted? Will the lack of maturity hurt them in the long run as the top team out West? There were two returns for a couple of players back to teams they've recently played for. Kevin Durant made his first trip to Brooklyn after the trade to Phoenix last year to mild applause. The same can't be said for Damian Lillard as he visited Portland in his first appearance there since the trade to Milwaukee right before the start of the season. It was a rousing, warm welcome back to where he played for eleven years. Lillard suggested that he wants to wear the Blazer jersey again before his playing days are done. Was that premature to say, considering he's in a Bucks uniform? Then you have Mavericks coach Jason Kidd state that Luka Doncic is the greatest Maverick in the history of the franchise. Is he better than Dirk Nowitzki? Kidd also mentioned that he's in the same class as Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. Was that preposterous for Kidd to say? I'll also see what else is happening in the Association (Tyrese Halliburton scoffed at the notion of playing less than 65 games to not be qualified for NBA awards) as we're two weeks away from All-Star Weekend.

(39:22) It looks like this is going to be another unpredictable, topsy-turvy college basketball season. There were three top-10 teams to lose over the past few days in North Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky. Will this be the theme heading into March Madness next month?

(43:20) In a surprise development, the Angelos family are selling a majority stake of the Baltimore Orioles to a private equity group, along with the likes of former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg and one time NBA great, Grant Hill. Is this a good thing for the organization as they expect to be a team on the rise for years to come? There was a trade between the Mariners and Twins, where INF Jorge Polanco goes to Seattle for a package of pitchers and prospects. Aaron Hicks finds a home in Anaheim with the Yankees on the hook for most of his salary. And sad news as former Blue Jays & Red Sox manager, Jimy Williams, passed away at the age of 80.

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.

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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  

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Closing out the first month of the year with plenty to digest and dissect on all that took place in sports, so get your earbuds, headphones or speakers ready as I share all of my thoughts, opinions and analysis. On deck:

(3:15) We have a Super Bowl LVIII matchup set in two weeks at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. One that we're very familiar with. Kansas City showed their grit and championship DNA in winning another huge road game, 17-10 over the Baltimore Ravens. What went wrong for the #1 seeded Ravens? Is this all on the QB Lamar Jackson? What about the head coach John Harbaugh? Oh, there is much to unpack here as the Chiefs go back to the Super Bowl for the fourth time in five years to defend their title from last year. As for the nightcap, all of Michigan must be sick because the Lions weren't able to seal the deal vs. the 49ers. What was the head coach, Dan Campbell, thinking on going for it not once, but TWICE, instead of kicking a field goal? Another Niner comeback propels them in a rematch of Super Bowl LIV in Miami where the Chiefs and 49ers will go at it in less than two weeks. I'll unpack every fiber of what took place yesterday, take a peek at some coaching hires as we're just one game away from the 2023 NFL season concluding.

(35:38) Luka Doncic put up 73 points on Friday night vs. Atlanta, days after Joel Embiid scored 70 points in his own right. Will we see a player eclipse what Luka did? Could someone score 80? Surpass Kobe Bryant's 81, 18 years ago? You have a big regular season game tonight out West when the top two teams in the conference face off in OKC where the Timberwolves face the Thunder. There are two reunions on Wednesday with Kevin Durant going back to Brooklyn for the first time since the trade last year and Damian Lillard's return to Portland where he spent all of his career before being dealt to Milwaukee last summer.

(51:47) Not much happening in MLB. Do I get crazy about the Tigers signing one of their prospects to a 28.5 million dollar deal (INF Colt Keith) when we saw this earlier in the offseason with the Milwaukee Brewers?

(52:29) The first Grand Slam tournament in tennis has completed. Jannik Sinner had an Australian Open to remember. He not only beat Novak Djokovic in the semifinals, but came back down two sets to love in the final vs. Daniil Medvedev to win his first men's title 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3. On the women's side, Aryna Sabalenka was victorious winning back to back titles (NOTE: I made the correction at the very end of the podcast. I stated that this was her first Aussie Open win. She's now won consecutive AO tournaments) to complete a very intriguing tournament overall, with the French up next in the spring.

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  

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Another venture into the sports universe with yours truly as I share the latest episode with plenty to dive into. On deck:

(2:50) We're just days away from the AFC & NFC Championship Games. I'm going with a different tact to uncover the perspective of each team heading into Sunday's games. Is this Lamar Jackson's time to take his team to the promised land? Are the Chiefs playing with house money as a defending champion? Will the Lions finally get to their first Super Bowl with destiny, possibly on their side? And how much pressure is on Niners coach, Kyle Shanahan, to get back to and win the whole thing? I'll get into all of that and share my analysis of what may come as we're one step closer to Super Bowl LVIII. There's big news coming out of LA as Jim Harbaugh is the new Chargers coach. Will his presence not only bring them back to respectability, but also become an elite team in the sport? And what's the latest with Bill Belichick? Is he going to end up in Atlanta? Why did they ask for a second interview?

(30:06) The Milwaukee Bucks have had an interesting week. The front office dismissed first year coach Adrian Griffin due to their ineptitude on defense. They bring in Doc Rivers as a replacement. Is he the right guy for this job? The Heat make a good trade (Terry Rozier) but is he a fit for the Heat Culture in Miami? What about the championship aspirations for the Minnesota Timberwolves, as well as, the Oklahoma City Thunder? I know we're just past the halfway point of the season, but are they in this for the long haul? How about the Phoenix Suns moving up the standings out West? And Joel Embiid's 70 point game the other night are some of the things I unpack as I check on what's happening in the Association.

(42:48) On the ice, the Edmonton Oilers are clicking on all cylinders, winners of 14 in a row. At some point they'll cool off, but can this team make some noise and become a Cup contender? Vancouver, Winnipeg and Colorado have played well during this recent stretch. And there's an accusation of a handful NHL players involved in an alleged sexual assault dating back to 2018 which has a bad optic at the moment as I'll bring the latest of what's going on in the NHL.

(50:01) We're down to the final few days of the Australian Open. On the men's side, Carlos Alcaraz has been beaten by Daniil Medvedev in four sets, thwarting another opportunity to have an epic showdown with Novak Djokovic. Was that a blow to the tennis fan? As for the women's side, Coco Gauff was unable to win back to back Grand Slams as she lost to Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals. Is it tough for the US tennis fan to not have much to root for? I'll stay on top of who'll win down under as we'll revisit this on Monday's podcast.

(53:07) The Baseball Writers of America (BBWA) have elected Adrian Beltre, Joe Mauer and Todd Helton, leaving out Billy Wagner, Gary Sheffield among others. Did they choose the right three guys? Who belongs? Who doesn't?

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  

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Here to unpack all that has taken place in the sports world the past few days and beyond, you've come to the right place to get your fill on all that's transpired. On deck:

(2:58) And then there were four. A thrilling Divisional Round in the NFL capped off by another Bills-Chiefs showdown where Kansas City guts out a 27-24 road win in Patrick Mahomes first ever playoff road game. I'll discuss their toughness, grit and the greatness of the Chief quarterback, who I think is already a Hall of Fame QB. As for the Bills, it was another bitter disappointing playoff defeat for a fan base seeking their first Super Bowl win. Is it time to make some significant changes to their roster in order to get to the mountaintop? The Baltimore Ravens showed why they were the best team in the AFC. They stormed out of the locker room at halftime to run the Houston Texans out of the building in a 34-10 win. The 49ers dodged a serious missile as Brock Purdy showed he can anchor a game winning drive down more than a field goal in a 24-21 win. And give it up to the Detroit Lions who make their first conference championship in 33 years as they hung on to beat a very game Buccaneers team. The Final Four are set. Chiefs-Ravens. Lions-49ers. I'll get into those two games on Thursday's podcast as we have just THREE more NFL games left on the schedule.

(32:59) The latest in the NBA over the past three weeks have been relatively quiet. What is there to assess? What is there to address? Trae Young's concussion. RJ Barrett & Immanuel Quickley returning to MSG as members of the Raptors? I'll dig up what I can as teams are just about or past the halfway point of their season.

(41:00) On the ice, my beloved NY Islanders made a shocking move. Not by firing coach Lane Lambert, but hiring legendary goaltender Patrick Roy patrolling the team. Is this a good move by this underachieving squad? Ironically, Marc-Andre Fleury surpassed the aforementioned netminder to become the second all time winningest goalie in NHL history. And the Edmonton Oilers continue to be the hottest team in the sport, winners of a bakers dozen (13 games) as they are STILL six points behind the second place Vegas Golden Knights in the Pacific Division. I'll peruse what else is going on in the NHL as they're just a couple of weeks away from the All-Star Break.

(51:00) We're into the second week of the Australian Open. The men's side has been chalk to date, but on the women's side, there have been plenty of upsets including #1 seeded Iga Swiatek over the weekend. This sets up Coco Gauff to win back to back Grand Slams dating back to the US Open last year. I'll keep you guys and gals abreast of her and everyone else's progress on the next podcast as the tournament goes deeper into the week.

(53:23) Another big time MLB free agent has been signed, with still a few more (i.e. Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery, Cody Bellinger and Matt Chapman, et. al) to go. Closer Josh Hader signed a five year deal with the Houston Astros. Does this make them the favorite to go back to not just the ALCS, but World Series?

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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If it's unrelenting, passionate sports talk that you're looking for, then look no further as I'll delve in on all that's transpired and what's ahead in the world of sports. On deck:

(2:49) We get to, what I feel, is the best weekend of football. The NFL Divisional Round. First up, a recap of Monday's two games to wrap up the Wild Card Weekend. My beloved Pittsburgh Steelers lose up in Buffalo as I'll have a postmortem (although Coach Mike Tomlin is returning in 2024) What does this mean for the team moving forward? The inexplicable happened in Tampa as the Philadelphia Eagles mailed in the final month plus with an uninspiring 32-9 loss to the Buccaneers. Should the head coach, Nick Sirianni, be fired because of this terrible stretch. I'll get into the three big storylines of the four games this weekend. Will Lamar Jackson rise to the occasion after an MVP regular season? Is it time for Kyle Shanahan to get back to a Super Bowl, considering the road to Las Vegas is a borderline cakewalk? How about the Buffalo Bills exorcising playoff demons against the Kansas City Chiefs, this time in their home stadium? And can the Detroit Lions get to their first conference championship game since 1991 with a win against Tampa Bay? I'll uncover all of that, including the puzzling return of Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy after Sunday's debacle vs. Green Bay.

(36:57) The Indiana Pacers made a significant upgrade to their team, acquiring Raptors guard Pascal Siakam, to go along with Tyrese Halliburton and Myles Turner. Can they compete in the East with Boston, Milwaukee & Philadelphia? I'll also discuss the sad and tragic passing of Warriors assistant coach, Dejan Milojevic who suffered a heart attack in Utah on Tuesday night. Oklahoma City has dodged a public relations nightmare as Josh Giddey was found no wrongdoing in an alleged relationship with a minor. The NBA will have another in season tournament with some tweaks next year. Will they have it during the same time (early November-early December) the second go-round? I like that the NBA Draft is going to two nights in order to slow the progress of a rapid second round as the league does their best to spread out the event instead of packing it all in one evening.

(50:21) On the ice, it's been status quo. My Islanders continue to sink in the Metropolitan Division and the Red Wings will be without Patrick Kane for some time with a lower body injury, unrelated to the hip injury dating back to last year.

(53:00) As for what's happening in the Australian Open, the women's side has had plenty of top seeds go by the board. Ons Jabeur, Jessica Pegula & Elena Rybakina all were ousted, which almost was the case for #1 women's player, Iga Swiatek, who came back in the third set down 4-1 to advance. On the men's side, it's been chalk as no major upsets have taken place, although Novak Djokovic has been given a run for his money as he's had to work to win the first two rounds in four sets against two unknowns.

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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On another Monday holiday, this time honoring the late, great Dr. Martin Luther King as I share my thoughts on all that the sports world has to offer as the latest edition is forthcoming. On deck:

(3:05) You had another Not So Super Wild Card Weekend as three of the four games fell short. It's another long offseason in Dallas as the Cowboys were a complete no show at home vs. the Packers in a 48-32 defeat. What will come out from this as Jerry Jones has lots to answer to after a bitter defeat against the #7 in the conference. Will head coach Mike McCarthy survive this? I'll tell you what I would do if I were the Cowboys owner as they'll have to wait another season for a shot at an elusive Super Bowl appearance. I'll also get into the rise of CJ Stroud and his performance vs. the Browns. The Chiefs dominant against a depleted Dolphins team. Are they primed for another Super Bowl run? And a celebration in Detroit as the Lions win their first playoff game in over three decades over a feisty Rams team. Plus, there are two playoff games today that I'll touch on (Steelers-Bills, Eagles-Buccaneers) as Super Wild Card Weekend comes to a close later today. CORRECTION: In discussing the Lions win over the Rams, I mixed up that the Lions, not the Rams, hung on for dear life at the end of the game. My apologies for the faux pas.

(30:59) Both the NBA & NHL are just about or past the halfway point of their long seasons respectively. You can also through college basketball into the mix. Is anyone REALLY paying attention or watching, considering that there hasn't been much buzz here to start off the 2024 year?

(48:49) Pitchers and catchers are a month away, baseball fans. There have been a few transactions regarding pitchers (notably Yankees signing Marcus Stroman & Cubs signing Japanese lefty Shota Imanaga) What about the bigger stars (i.e. Blake Snell, Cody Bellinger, Josh Hader, Matt Chapman) that have been on no teams radar to date?

(53:17) The first Grand Slam of the tennis year has arrived as the Australian Open has commenced down under. There's already been a defeat of a big name on the women's side (i.e. Naomi Osaka) just a day into the tournament. I'll preview as to what we could possibly expect over the next two weeks as tennis is a part of our consciousness just three weeks into the New Year.

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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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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