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Mississippi-centric sports talk and stories with Hall of Fame columnist Rick Cleveland and Scorebook Live senior reporter Tyler Cleveland. Produced in Jackson and made by Mississippians, for Mississippians.

Rick Cleveland and Tyler Cleveland


    • May 28, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 27m AVG DURATION
    • 207 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Crooked Letter Sports

    Michael La Sasso of Ole Miss claims NCAA individual golf championship, while Ole Miss, Southern Miss and Mississippi State enter NCAA Baseball Tournament play

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2025 22:43


    La Sasso becomes the second Rebel ever to win the NCAA golf title, which qualifies him for the U.S. Open in two weeks and next April's Masters. Also, the Clevelands discuss how Mississippi's baseball coaches should address pitching in the upcoming NCAA Regionals.

    Baseball, baseball, baseball … and Davis Riley

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2025 24:48


    The best baseball teams in Mississippi, high school and college will be busy in post-season tournament play this week. Meanwhile, Davis Riley was pretty busy and pretty successful last weekend.

    Belhaven softball coach Kevin Griffin, father of 19-year-old baseball prodigy Konnor Griffin, makes a return Crooked Letter appearance

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2025 28:20


    Griffin talks about his Blazers team, which enters the NCAA softball championship tournament this week, and about his famous son who is killing it in his first season of professional baseball in the Pittsburgh Pirates' organization. The Clevelands also size up Mississippi teams entering the final week of college baseball season and also discuss next Monday's Ferriss Trophy presentation.  

    Pine Belt News sports editor Andrew Abadie joins the pod to talk all things Southern Miss, Bobby Halford's latest achievement and high school baseball excellence in the Hattiesburg area

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2025 24:46


    Abadie, who might be the busiest man in Misssissippi sports, is always especially when the high school, junior college and college baseball seasons move into playoff mode.

    What next for Mississippi State baseball?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2025 21:51


    Mississippi State didn't even wait until the end of the season to fire Chris Lemonis, who brought the national championship to Starkville not quite four years ago. Where do the Bulldogs go from here. Robbie Faulk who covers the Bulldogs more closely than anyone else joins the podcast to discuss the situation.  

    What should the Saints do? Jaxson Dart?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2025 23:22


    The Clevelands take a comprehensive look at this weekend's NFL Draft, assessing Mississippi prospects and what the New Orleans Saints should do with the ninth pick. Many experts believe the Saints will take Ole Miss quarterback Dart, but the Clevelands are not so sure. It would not be the first time the Saints have taken an Ole Miss QB in the first round as Rick remembers and recounts the circumstances.  

    Basking in the glow of The Masters…

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2025 27:05


    Has a sporting event ever produced more drama than the 2025 Masters? Has any network ever displayed it better than CBS? No and no, say the Clevelands, who also opine on the sad case of former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava, Mississippi's college baseball teams, and what the Saints should do at quarterback.

    Masters week is back and so is Mississippi's Mr. Golf, Randy Watkins

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2025 35:52


    Former SEC golf champion and PGA touring pro is Crooked Letter's resident expert on all things golf. He's back with us to tell us who might win this week's Masters and why.  

    Springtime in Mississippi

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2025 23:41


    The Ole Miss basketball season draws to a close in the Sweet 16, just as college baseball (and the weather) heat up. Rick opines on how the season is shaping up, while Tyler wonders whether the Braves will ever win.

    How sweet it is for Ole Miss

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2025 25:43


    Former college and NBA coach - and friend of the pod - Tim Floyd joins the show to talk about Ole Miss' success in the NCAA Basketball Tournament.  

    At the intersection of basketball and baseball…

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2025 25:00


    We cover a busy Mississippi scene in both hoops and hardball with a little Jaxson Dart to the Saints projection thrown in for good measure.

    Raymond basketball coach Tony Tadlock joins us to talk about high school basketball championships and this week's SEC Tournament

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2025 30:18


    One of the state's top basketball coaches, Tadlock overcame the loss of all five starters from last year's championship team and losing his leading scorer this season, to win a second straight state championship and the seventh in school history. Tadlock talks about how he works with a 40-man basketball roster and maintaining a remarkable winning culture at Raymond

    Jackson suburbs rule in high school hoops … and a whole lot more.

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2025 26:45


    Germantown, Ridgeland, Canton and Raymond all won State Championships, showing how the power has shifted in Mississippi high school hoops. Plus we get up to date with college basketball, college baseball and the amazing Konnor Griffin story.  

    The week begins with three Mississippi teams in the Top 25 D-! Baseball poll.

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2025 20:17


    Southern Miss and Ole Miss got some welcomed news as both joined Mississippi State, giving the Magnolia State three teams in this week;s college baseball poll. Otherwise, the college basketball grind continues and the best high school basketball teams converge on Jackson for the annual MHSAA boys and girls state tournament.

    State finishes the sweep, college baseball returns

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2025 24:36


     Mississippi State makes a statement with a quality win over Ole Miss, improving their NCAA Tournament resume. Rick pontificates on the importance of the Dawgs win, as well as the opening weekend of college baseball and the direction of the new Saints regime.

    Southern Miss football coach Charles Huff joins the show.

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2025 36:42


    Charles Huff left the Sun Belt championship Marshall football program to take over the job at Southern Miss, which finished last. He talks about the difficult task ahead of him in his Crooked Letter debut. Also, the Clevelands discuss the Super Bowl, college basketball and the up[coming weekend of college baseball.

    Noland “Super Gnat” Smith, who still bleeds Kansas City Chiefs red, joins the pod.

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2025 28:37


    What do the Super Bowl and Jackson's own Noland Smith have in common? Both got their nicknames from Lamar Hunt, for whom the Super Bowl winners' trophy is named. Super Gnat, all 5 feet, 6 inches and 154 pounds of him, took the NFL by storm in the last 1960s with his blazing speed and quickness on kick returns.

    Questions: Can the Eagles get the Chiefs this time? Can anybody block Chris Jones?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2025 21:38


    The Clevelands discuss a familiar Super Bowl matchup and whether or not the Philadelphia Eagles – or anyone else – can block Chris Jones, the NFL's most intimidating defensive player. The seesaw fortunes of Ole Miss and Mississippi State in the SEC basketball race, Jackson State basketball and Southern Miss are also part of today's discussion, along with the still-open New Orleans Saints coaching job.  

    Ohio State won it all, but where would Ole Miss been with Quinshon Jundkins?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2025 19:31


    Lots to talk about on the days after the national championship game, but im Mississippi, especially in Oxford, much of the talk is about what might have been had Judkins stayed at Ole Miss. Also, the Clevelands discuss Egg Bowl basketball, the grueling SEC schedule, the NFL playoffs, and the John Wade's saga at Southern Miss.

    Mississippi's college hoops revival (and rivalry)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2025 26:39


    Don't look now, but the Magnolia State has two ranked teams on a collision course for a Saturday showdown in Starkville this weekend. Rick and Tyler talk about what makes both Ole Miss and Mississippi State so solid, and check in on a JSU squad that is 3-0 to start SWAC play. Plus, Rick's NFL playoff picks and a sneak peak at the CFB National Championship.

    Putting a wrap on the Saints and Rebels, and lots more.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2025 26:52


    Following a holiday break, the Clevelands put a lid on the Ole Miss and New Orleans Saints football seasons. Also in the discussion are Southern Miss's 25-player haul in the transfer portal, including 16 from Marshall. Rick also gives his memories of Magnolia State football heroes Jerald Baylis and Dontae Walker

    2024, the Mississippi sports year in review…

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2024 29:03


    The Clevelands review the year that was in Mississippi sports (and take a brief look forward to 2025).

    Ole Miss basketball coach Chris Beard joins the pod…

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2024 29:14


    Chris Beard has his second Ole Miss basketball team ranked No. 17 nationally in the latest Associated Press basketball poll. Beard, whose first Ole Miss team won 20 games, has lost only once and that by two points to Purdue, which lost in the national championship game last season. Beard talks about his team's early success and what it faces in the SEC, which boasts five of the top seven ranked teams in college basketball.

    Jeremy McClain talks Huff Hire

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2024 27:39


    So much to cover on this week's podcast but Southern Miss's surprising hire of Marshall coach Charles Huff tops the list, and USM athletic director Jeremy McClain joins the podcast to discuss. Also, a recap of the high school state championships, more college football and, in case no one has noticed, we have two Top 25 basketball teams in Mississippi.  

    State Championship Week and more…

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2024 29:06


    Seven high school championship football games will be played Thursday through Saturday at The Rock in Hattiesburg. There are intriguing matchups, involving some of the top recruits in the state. Also, the Clevelands discuss last week's Egg Bowl, the college football playoffs, the job vacancy at Southern Miss and violence in the NFL.

    The Egg Bowl edition

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2024 22:49


    Ole Miss is a whopping 26-point favorite. A State victory likely would be the biggest upset in Egg Bowl history. As the Clevelands discuss, despite the old saying that you can throw the records out in a rivalry game, the better team almost always wins. The most memorable Egg Bowls are discussed at length.

    Mississippi College football is no more

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2024 32:17


    Monday's news that Mississippi College will become Mississippi Christian University and discontinue the sport of football caught everyone off guard, including the Clevelands. Fred McAfee, the most famous player in M.C. history, heard the news on the radio and said he felt like he had lost a family member. The Saints, Ole Miss-Florida, and college basketball are also discussed.

    Newly elected Hall of Famer Mike Justice joins the pod

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2024 37:32


    Mike Justice, who won state championships at Calhoun City, Louisville and Madison Central, joins the Clevelands to talk about his Hall of Fame career, Ole Miss-Georgia, the Saints, the high school playoffs and Jeff Lebby's Mississippi State program.

    Rod Walker joins the pod to talk Saints, Dennis Allen.

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2024 31:31


     Yazoo City native and former Jackson sports writer Rod Walker, who writes his columns in New Orleans now, wrote last week that if the Saints did not beat Carolina, Dennis Allen would not keep his job. The Saints lost and Allen was fired. Walker talks Saints and also discusses Ole Miss's chances against Georgia and the state of football at his alma mater, Mississippi State.

    Hattiesburg's Tony “The Tiger” Vance joins the podcast.

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2024 32:58


    Highly respected and highly successful Hattiesburg High football coach Tony Vance, whose Tigers are 8-0, joins the podcast. Vance's Tigers head to the metro area this Friday to face Terry. Hattiesburg is ranked No. 1 in Class 6A and led by quarterback Deuce Vance, Tony's son. Tony will also coach Mississippi in the annual Misssissippi-Alabama All-Star football game.

    McDonald's All American, All-SEC, NBA All-Star, NBA champion, Mississippi Sports Hall of Famer … and now Mo Williams joins the Crooked Letter podcast.

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2024 34:56


    So much to discuss with the great Mo Williams: His JSU basketball team, his marvelously talented sons, growing up in Jackson, his NBA basketball career, playing with Lebron, playing against Allen Iverson, NIL, the transfer portal … and so much more.

    In the immortal words of Casey Stengel: Can't anybody here play this game?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2024 21:45


     It was a lost weekend for Mississipp's college football teams and the New Orleans Saints. Ole Miss lost in overtime to LSU. Mississippi State again showed improvement in a loss to Georgia. Southern Miss lost again at Louisiana-Monroe. And the Saints dropped a division game to the Tampa Bay Bucs. Tyler Cleveland: “Every team I pull for loses.” So, is there a fix in sight?  

    All hail Vanderbilt! And, meanwhile, another big Ole Miss-LSU game…

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2024 33:28


    So much to discuss and dissect this week: Vandy toppling Bama, Ole Miss righting the ship and preparing for LSU, a banner Sanderson Farms Championship that now has new life, and how injuries killed the Atlanta Braves and are ruining a promising Saints season. All that and more…  

    Goff week in Mississippi. (Hopefully not the last).

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2024 28:18


    The Sanderson Farms Championship returns to Country Club of Jackson, and Randy Watkins, who played in the tournament and later was the executive director, returns to the Crooked Letter Podcast. We also discuss Ole Miss's first loss and perhaps Mississippi State's best showing of the football season.  

    Ole Miss stays hot, hot, hot

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2024 21:48


    Undefeated and fifth-ranked Ole Miss prepares for its SEC opener, as Mississippi State and Southern Miss suffer increasingly frustrating losses. Plus, the Saints crash back to earth and the Braves head into the biggest series of the season against those who loathe some Mets.  

    New Orleans sports columnist and author Jeff Duncan joins the podcast to talk about his new Steve Gleason book and the new-look New Orleans Saint

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2024 39:35


    Jeff Duncan went from the Mississippi Book Festival in Jackson on Saturday to Jerry World in Dallas on Sunday where he watched and wrote about the Saints' total dismantling of the Dallas Cowboys. We talk about both events and also about what happened in high school and college football last weekend and what's coming up this weekend.

    The Clevelands pay tribute to native Mississippian James Earl Jones and also discuss a full weekend of football, from high schools to the NFL.

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2024 27:40


    James Earl Jones, from Arkabutla, Mississippi, leaves behind a body of work in film and theater that will be remembered for decades, if not forever. He has been part of the sound track our lives, whether he was Darth Vader, Hamlet, Mussafa or Terence Mann in Field of Dreams. Of course, football is always part of the September discussion in Mississippi. Question: Are the Saints as good as they looked Sunday?  

    Former Mississippi sports writer David Brandt, who now reports and writes for the Associated Press in Arizona, joins the podcast with the inside scoop on the Arizona State Sun Devils who face the Mississippi State Bulldogs Saturday night.

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2024 31:38


    The Clevelands review the first big weekend of college football and look forward to the second weekend, headlined by the Mississippi State visit to Arizona State. Brandt, one of the AP's two national Major League Baseball writers, covered the Sun Devils' impressive opening victory over Wyoming.  

    Brandon High football coach Sam Williams joins the podcast to to discuss the upcoming football season.

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2024 25:39


    Both the high school and college football seasons open this week with a huge slate of games, including the top-ranked Brandon Bulldogs playing at always powerful Picayune. The Clevelands also discuss the Mississippi college football openers.  

    Over or under on victories? The Vegas line on Ole Miss is 9.5, compared to 4.5 for both State and Southern Miss.

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2024 28:09


    The Clevelands take their annual crack at forecasting the coming Mississippi college football season. Also, where to the Braves go from here (without Austin Riley). Also, there's a discussion of the New Orleans Saints and Gardner Minshew.  

    t's 100 degrees outside, the Olympics are over, it's time for…. High School Football

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2024 35:10


    Mississippi's private schools kick off this weekend, the public schools are right behind. Scorebook Live's Tyler Cleveland has been busily preparing for the coming season and gives us some predictions about who will be the best teams and players in the Magnolia State this season.  

    Father of the Year? Kevin Griffin would definitely be a candidate.

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2024 38:15


    Kevin Griffin, father of Konnor Griffin, joins the pod to discuss the behind-the-scenes story of how his 18-year-old son signed the the largest Major League Baseball signing bonus in Mississippi history.

    Eli Manning joins the Crooked Letter pod

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2024 27:33


    This weekend, Eli Manning joins his daddy in the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. Manning joins the podcast to talk about his latest honor, fatherhood and a whole lot more.  

    A slow time in the world of sports? Don't tell that to Xander Schauffele, the Summer Olympics, the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame or the Atlanta Braves who now use ambulances instead of a team bus.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2024 26:29


    Today's discussion involves The Open Championship, the Atlanta Braves hospital ward, next week's big Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame celebration and the Paris Olympics.

    Mississippi's big night at the MLB Draft

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2024 21:32


    Rick and Tyler are brimming with pride after two Jackson Metro Area prospects went in the Top 12 picks of the Major League Baseball Draft, and the Cleveland boys make picks for this week's Open Championship at Royal Troon.  

    Top 10 Major League prospect Konnor Griffin and his dad, Belhaven softball coach Kevin Griffin, join the podcast just days ahead of Sunday's MLB Draft.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2024 37:44


    Jay Powell was teammates with such Major League stars as Alex Rodriguez, Chipper Jones and Todd Helton, but he says Konnor Griffin of Jackson Prep is the best athlete he has ever been around. Griffin, the Gatorade National Player of the Year, will likely be one of the first names called in Sunday's MLB Draft Draft. Griffin and his dad, who has also had an eventful spring and summer, join the Clevelands.

    Now boarding for Boston and the Dot Burrow Bandwagon

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2024 16:34


    Rick ducks into an abandoned Boston Logan Airport terminal to tell us about the National Federation of High Schools Hall of Fame induction ceremony for Fulton's own “Dot” Ford Burrow, and the boys recount a fun weekend on the coast at the annual Mississippi Press Association, where Rick picked up some hardware of his own. Plus, Tyler rants about stoplights on Hwy. 49 and newly minted Texas Longhorns baseball coach Jim Schlossnagle

    Chris Harris, the excellent communications director and play-by-play broadcaster of the Mississippi Braves joins the pod to talk about the last season of the Mississippi Braves.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2024 40:13


    A veteran of 15 years in the business of minor league baseball, Tennessee native Chris Harris is experiencing perhaps the most unusual year of his career. We talk Mississippi Braves baseball, Atlanta Braves baseball and the College World Series.

    A U.S. Open to remember (and one Rory McIlroy surely would love to forget)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2024 24:10


    For three rounds and 15 holes of the fourth round, Rory McIlroy made every single short putt he stood over. Then, he didn't. And when McIlroy faltered, Bryson DeChambeau came through with one of the greatest sand saves in U.S. Open history. The Clevelands also discuss the SEC-dominated College World Series, the trials and tribulations of the Atlanta Braves and the NBA Champion Boston Celtics.

    It's U.S. Open Week and Mr. Golf Randy Watkins joins to discuss whether anybody on the planet can beat Scottie Scheffler right now.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2024 37:26


    The U.S. Open will be played at Pinehurst No. 2 this week. It's a golf course with which Randy Watkins is extremely familiar. Watkins says it will be a test, even for Scottie Scheffler. Today's discussion also covers the College World Series, the bidding war the L.A. Lakers lost to UConn, and Hurston Waldrep's debut with the Atlanta Braves.  

    The NCAA Regional wrap-up podcast.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2024 21:10


    NCAA Super Regionals are this weekend but Mississippi will not be represented for the first time in a while. Both Mississippi State and Southern Miss lost out in the finals of their prospective regionals. The Clevelands discuss all that, plus venerable Coastal Carolina coach Gary Gilmore's parting words to college baseball.  

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