Halftime Brewskis with James & Olly

James and Olly kick it off with everything you need to know plus all of the reaction from Tom Wilson's $5,000 fine but no suspension. The guys get into it about the way hockey have evolved, Olly voices criticism for the Department of Player Safety setting misleading standards and a lack of transparency. Plus the guys try and figure out where Aaron Rodgers might go, what is the best place to play from a perspective and James thinks he might just call it quits, never to line up for the Packers again. Finally the guys talk the Champions League all-English final between Chelsea and Man City; who will win the battle between Mason Mount and Phil Foden and why it could impact England's Euro first team plus James pleads with Tuchel not to start a particular Chelsea player in the final. Of course, keep a cold one close by and don't forget our weekly DJBTB segment!

Bucking the normal trend, the guys don't go for a boring mock Top 10 but they break down their Top 12 picks for the NFL draft - that's at least two picks more than other podcasts will give you. PLUS, the guys talk the Champions League semi-finals and who will make it through to the final on May 29th (and why their names are Man City and Chelsea). Stay tuned for our weekly DJBTB segment and of course, James gives his wrap up of the KHL finals, who won The Gagarin Cup this year and he even throws out a few names in case you might remember a couple of the guys.

James and Olly discuss the Super League and look at how it all played out, where UEFA fits in to all of this, how fans might have got a little misguided and what if it had taken off. No Super League, no Champions League, maybe no Europa League so who is the unlucky son of a gun next in line for the Spurs job now Mourinho is out. Plus, how would we talk talk about Jake Paul and Ben Askren? Also…what the hell is Triller..seriously…Finally listen in towards the end for our NEW SEGMENT!

The Captain has signalled for the seat belt sign to turn on because James is ready to go off about Lebron this and Lebron that blah blah blah Space Jam is MJ's thing - on the backend of the episode it's a part you don't wanna miss. Plus the guys talk about the return of the Champions League, and look forward to the second half of the draw. Olly holds up a different young player who stole the spotlight for Haaland on his night in Manchester + the guys have a minute to answer some quick fire question on a whole range of topics.

James and Olly talk about the devastating knockout of Stipe Miocic by Francis Ngannou on what proved to be a stacked UFC 260 card. So stacked in fact that James goes out on a limb and calls a certain Bantamweight the NEW CONOR MCGREGOR. The guys touch on what is going to be the most highly anticipated next UFC fight (it's gotta be Jon Jones right?) before they delve into their final NHL Trade Bait Board Division with the West. Finally, it's the moment James has been waiting for...it's his TIME TO SHINE with baseball just around the corner he has all your predictions for MVP, Cy Young, ROTY plus all the major team accolades as well. Listen out for Olly's expert baseball knowledge mostly focused on grumbling about a lack of "beer longevity" in stadiums.

Settle in next to the fire and the rug as James and Olly discuss the philosophical aspects of picking a March Madness bracket since reason and logic was expunged from this year's tournament. The Champions League draw has all the old boys back together again, the guys share their picks for who progresses to the semis and then the finals. PLUS where will Kyle Lowry end up if he's traded from Toronto and could Lonzo Ball move? Finally in Part 3 of the NHL Division Trade Bait Boards, the guys peak in to the Central Division and see who are the buyers, sellers and stand-pat-ers

Lucky Number 15! Back at it again with our fifteenth episode of this podcast and since we must be in the GOAT stage right now it's only right to talk about how Messi and Ronaldo, two of the greatest football players ever, might be at new clubs next year. Will they win a champions league again? Also on the cards who will have more success after their coaching change in the NHL, Calgary or Montreal? Finally it's the turn of the East Division in the *patented* “HBP Trade Deadline Bait Buyers/Sellers/Stand-Patters Trade Board Game”…yes, we did spend $1,342.50 on paying for that copyright…

Lucky Number 13 baby and boy oh boy is this hour filled with HOT TAKES…we're talking a spicy vindaloo on a late night in Birmingham spicy. The guys kick off with soccer (see what we did there) and the Premier League, chatting about Man City's dominance, Gareth Bale's resurgence on the pitch instead of the golf course and whether a certain former assistant under Jose Mourinho might be destined for Barcelona. James quizzes Olly on the NFL's QB Carousel and there are some ideas that are…well...way out of left field doesn't quite do it justice…[Olly: “for the record, I thought of a better answer for Deshaun Watson after the fact…]. Last part of this one is on the NHL and the North Division teams as the first of the four divisions the guys will look at as the Trade Deadline approaches.

James and Olly HAVE INTRO MUSIC!! LA FIESTA!!! The guys talk the Toronto Maple Leafs shocking loss to the Ottawa Senators after being up 5-1 and if its something to blow out of proportion. The NBA All Star Game has been generating a lot of heat and James goes off on what this game means, how its being received and how he agrees with a surprise NBA player - one he never normally sees eye-to-eye on. Finally, talk about a lot of heat, just wait till the end to hear Olly LOSE it about who people have been saying the GOAT GOAT is before he hits you with some stats to prove why his person is the real GOAT GOAT.

The best Sunday of the year is around the corner and, despite some technical difficulties, the guys at the Halftime Brewskis Podcast battle through some patchy audio to give your their picks on who has the best offence, defence, head coach, special teams and of course the all important QB. Don't think we forgot about the food though so listen in carefully for Olly's scientific wing aphorism and debate which is the beverage of choice + how to pull a totally psychotic move during the game. Plus…Guys, SLAM the over for the National Anthem at the Super Bowl!

James and Olly debate who the winners and losers are from the massive Nolan Arenado MLB trade from the Rockies to the Cards, plus how the 3rd baseman moving impacts the rest of the teams and the World Series. Not to be outdone, the guys chat about the blockbuster trade in the NFL with Jared Goff and Matthew Stafford, which team came out on top and who is the biggest winner despite not being involved in the deal. Finally the guys try and answer why the Toronto Raptors are struggling, how they can rebound and if they can salvage their playoff chances. Plus James reveals a thorny surprise he got from Olly in the Final Minute of Play.

James and Olly react to the news that Frank Lampard was fired by Chelsea - which is obviously a sensitive subject for the guys. The UFC's prized golden egg, Conor McGregor is in real danger of having his career fall apart in front of our eyes while this smaller name lightweight deserves to be Dustin Poirier's next fight. We talk about whether Drew Brees done and where Aaron Rodgers might end up following increased uncertainty after the Packer's NFC Championship loss. We've been asking for weeks, but FINALLY the MLB off season is picking up pace, with the Jays and Mets two of the most active but will the Jays be fun to watch? All of that + so much more…

The guys unpack a lot in this one, all of it building up to the biggest fight of the UFC's stacked 2021 January. Olly argues that the Rockets were the biggest losers of the James Harden trade despite getting EIGHT first round picks AND Victor Oladipo then James makes the case for how the Blue Jays aren't so much missing out on the free agent signings as they are just reflecting their budget - Olly calls it "lowballing". Its the New Guard versus the Old Guard as Pat Mahomes and Josh Allen face off while ageless wonders Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers battle once again ahead of the Super Bowl. ITTT'SSSS TIIIIIMMMEEE! FIGHT ISLAND is going to deliver one heck of a show with Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier facing off at UFC 257. Max Holloway gave a FIGHT OF THE YEAR contender last weekend, but when it comes to McGregor one immortal phrase usually rings true..."Doubt me now"

HOCKEY IS BACK FOLKS! James and Olly dive into everything and anything that you could think of wanting or needing to know before the 2020/21 NHL season kicks off on January 13th. The guys talk about the god-awful helmet advertising videos before settling in to the bulk of the episode on a division by division analysis. The stand out teams and players from each division as well as who is going to win the major awards at the end of the season? *HINT* James thinks its gonna be this guy from Edmonton...(but not who you think...or that second guy you thought of either...) Finally the boys delve into some mid-table Fantasy Picks for you all to fill your rosters with. Check out The Halftime Brewskis Podcast on Twitter for all the latest goings-on.

Despite Anthony Joshua emphatically defending his belt against Pulev last weekend, and mega fights this weekend with both Golovkin and Canelo taking to the ring, we open with serial master of self-promotion and ruckus Jake Paul and his quest for a bout with the one and only Conor McGregor. Plus, The Greek Freak RESIGNS in Milwaukee and Olly is not happy about it - Budenholzer fans turn away now...The Champions League draw is out and we got the predictions for you before the guys *as in just James* flex their baseball knowledge. Stick around for the end where the guys talk about their favourite Christmas movies!

The guys jump into to who won the Westbrook-Wall trade, and why did James Harden have a role to play in the deal going down! Plus the Steelers are actually legit man, not only could they go 16-0 they might also have the Offensive Rookie of the Year on their team. Stick around for which teams just got better and better in the NBA Free Agency, while James gives out his analysis on the World Juniors and how Team Canada will fare...Who would have thought that golf would be a game-changer for sports during COVID, but with the success of the first three instalments of The Match, the boys discuss who should be the next set of competitors on The Match IV and whether that form of competition could translate to sports outside of golf...HAPPY INTERNATIONAL BATH DAY! ENJOY THIS EPISODE FROM THE WARMTH OF YOUR TUB!

The guys debate whether the Pittsburgh Steelers are legit, the Tom Brady era is finally over and maybe the Dolphins made the right decision with Tua. Can Leicester or Tottenham actually win the Premier League + MMA madness with Khabib not actually retired, Izzy is picking off more than he can chew with Jon Jones at Light-Heavyweight. Then hear the most important predictions including this year's Super Bowl / NHL / NBA / Masters and US Open winner + the most important question of all...what is the best kind of popcorn...microwave or bagged...all of that and MORE!

The guys wrap up their thoughts on the NHL Free Agency by looking at the US teams and how they have done with the signings they have made before they dive into HOW VAR IS STILL A NIGHTMARE IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE -- it only bleedin works in almost EVERY OTHER SPORT! Olly asks James the tough questions like "Do the Dodgers Have the Longest Flow in World Series History" and both of the lads pick an NFL Weekend MVP + Lewis Hamilton is quickly becoming the GOAT in F1...all that and more in Episode 3!

James and Olly double down on this episode, committing to the sports 'bit' the guys take a look at how the Leafs faired in Free Agency with the additions of Joe Thornton, Wayne Simmonds and more before they analyze how the rest of the Canadian teams have handled the period so far. The guys also introduce the "6-Pack Rating System" and talk about how unstoppable those pesky, never die L.A. Dodgers are! In the 3rd quarter of this one the guys look at which of the NFL's undefeated teams will stay undefeated the longest (hint, its not going to be Tannehill & the Titans). Then comes the all important 4th quarter, the period of FUN where the boys RE-DRAFT their top 5 picks in the most stacked NHL Draft in history, the 2003 year of excellence...big controversy as James' #2 pick doesn't even make Olly's Top 5! All of that and more!

BACK AT IT AGAIN! Here is the first episode of The Breakdown with James & Olly, despite a shoddy intro to start, the boys quickly regain their form and hit off on the Premier League mauling that Man United and Liverpool were on the receiving end as James gets as close to calling Harry Maguire a pylon as possible without saying the words. Chat on the NBA Finals and whether Jimmy Butler needs to GO OFF in order to keep the Heat in it + all that good speculation about Giannis! Plus Is Quinton Byfield the BEST 2nd overall pick EVER?!? We toss in some sleeper draft picks for good measure!