Best friends and professional has-beens offer weekly musings on the world of sports with a teaspoon of nonsense.
Alex MacLeod, Chris Graham, Jon Graham, Josh McClement, Jesse Hove
The guys are thrilled to welcome Alex Douglas to the show. They begin by asking him to represent the defendant Chris Kreider in his case against Carey Price in the TSP Court of Law (0:44), before learning about Alex's creative process for his impressive athlete portraits (6:41). Alex explains how his love for art began (14:05), and the winding road that brought him to a place where he now sells his digital paintings (18:46). Alex expounds on why he's a fan of the New York Rangers (24:34), and who he sees hoisting the Stanley Cup in June (30:52). The episode wraps up with two rounds of Start-Bench-Cut centered on New York Ranger greats (43:43).Alex Douglas' Website: www.artbyad.caAlex Douglas' Instagram: tallalexd
Alex and Jon offer their musings on the world of sports with a teaspoon of nonsense as they talk all things March Madness. They recall early memories of the tournament (2:37), and the specific players who influenced their own styles of play (3:57). The duo give their rationale for their Final Four predictions (7:33), and speak about the underdog narratives that are always present in the NCAA Tournament (11:18). Jon shoutouts his longtime homie and teammate Orfan, and explains how he played with such toughness similar to Khalid El-Amin and Markquis Nowell (13:30). The show ends with Start-Bench-Cut (Game Winning Plays) (25:56).
Alex is joined by Ben Landsee to discuss the origins and meaning of the phrase, "trust the process". Ben talks about Sam Hinke's unique approach he brought to the Philadelphia 76ers in 2013 (9:52), and the analytical pioneers who influenced him. Ben outlines the benefits and limitations of Hinkie's process (18:37), and how it affected the career trajectories of many highly touted draft picks (e.g. Jrue Holiday, Nerlens Noel, Michael Carter-Williams, Markelle Fultz, Ben Simmons, and superstar Joel Embiid). The guys discuss Hinkie's positive influence on the broader sports landscape including Sam Presti's version of the process in Oklahoma City (29:12). Ben criticizes 76ers' management for trading away an antidote to the poisonous effects of the process (23:48), and Alex finshes the show by giving shoutouts to the valued TSPeeps before he and Ben play Start-Bench Cut focused on the most infuriating athletes (45:20).This episode is brought to you by The Scotian Braider.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087254292578&mibextid=LQQJ4dInstagram: https://instagram.com/thescotianbraider?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thescotianbraider?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=
Alex, Chris, and Josh are joined by Caleb Eckel to discuss all things Pittsburgh sports. Caleb reminisces about his earliest memories of being a young fan of the Penguins and Steelers (10:13), and his total disdain for the Pirates and their ownership (13:46). Caleb speaks to the blue-collared and tough culture of the City of Pittsburgh (15:56), and outlines the expectations the fanbase has for their athletes. Caleb then explains the complicated relationship some Steelers fans have with Head Coach Mike Tomlin despite his steady leadership and winning ways (20:09), and spells out why he believes in Kenny Pickett (25:50). Alex asks Caleb about when Matt Murray took the place in the Pens' net of fan favourite Marc-Andre Fleury in 2016-17 (28:31), and then makes the case for Sidney Crosby's greatness being comparable to Mario Lemieux's greatness, while Josh is repulsed by the argument (36:20). As always, the show ends with shout-outs to all the TSPeeps who played an all-time Start-Bench-Cut on social media that focused on the best young NFL quarterbacks (45:00).This episode is brought to you by The Scotian Braider.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087254292578&mibextid=LQQJ4dInstagram: https://instagram.com/thescotianbraider?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thescotianbraider?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=
Alex and Jesse offer their musings on the world of sports with a teaspoon of nonsense as they recap the World Juniors including Connor Bedard's epic performance (2:28), and explain their polar opposite approaches to sports gambling (7:18). The duo marvel at Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin's long-standing rivalry, and appreciate their longevity as superstars (14:10), which leads to a riveting conversation about the greatest rivalries in sports history. They crown Curtis Metcalf as the King of their fantasy football league, offer their Qualin and Schooler Award nominations (29:35), and finish with a round of Start-Bench-Cut focused on NBA centers (33:39).This episode is brought to you by The Scotian Braider.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087254292578&mibextid=LQQJ4dInstagram: https://instagram.com/thescotianbraider?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thescotianbraider?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
Alex, Jesse, and Josh offer their weekly musings on the world of sports with a teaspoon of nonsense. They discuss Laura Wagner's riveting piece in Defector that explains in detail the more precise circumstances that led to Andrew Luck's retirement and the negative effects of being a quarterback on his entire person outside of football (11:35). They offer their Qualin Award nominations (37:05) and their Schooler Award nominations (39:56) before playing a round of Start-Bench-Cut focused on athletes who didn't know when to quit (48:39).
Alex and Jesse offer their musings on the sports world with a teaspoon of nonsense as they discuss Cal Peterson's demotion to the AHL (0:50), and how the New Jersey Devils are actually good again (4:43). They applaud Mitch Marner's record breaking point streak (10:44), and Jason Robertson's epic rise to stardom (12:45). The guys also talk Don Mattingly becoming the Blue Jays' new skipper (16:18), and Jacob deGrom's new contract with Texas (20:34). They finish with their Qualin and Schooler Awards (24:48), and play Start-Bench-Cut focused on pre-game meals (30:11).
Alex, Curtis, and Jesse discuss the athletes they love to hate, and those they hate to love (4:27), e.g. Brad Marchand, Eli and Peyton Manning, Curt Schilling, and Tiger Woods. The conversation shifts to fantasy football as Curtis lays blame on the Indianapolis Colts for his underachieving fantasy football team (29:51). They guys take a moment to appreciate their friend Darcy's mad skills as a fantasy football GM (33:34), and then nominate their Schooler Awards for the most rookie play of the week (36:36). The trio give their Qualin Awards for most timely play of the week (41:34) before playing two NHL themed rounds of Start-Bench-Cut (Canadian Wingers & HOF Defensemen) (48:05).
Alex, Jesse, and Josh discuss Connor Bedard's tremendous potential (3:34), praise and criticize Josh's Kings (14:00), and give their takes on the World Series (20:51). The guys overreact to the early storylines in this NHL season (32:29), give props to Anze Kopitar (39:42), and nominate their Schooler Awards (44:41). They finish the show with Qualin Awards (47:04), laugh at Hove getting locked out of his house (50:56), and play a morbid Start-Bench-Cut (Worst Ways To Die) (55:11).
Alex, Jesse, Jon, and Josh offer their weekly musings on the world of sports. They catchup on what's been happening in their lives before discussing the harrowing findings of The Fifth Estate and Rick Westhead on Hockey Canada's long history of covering up sexual assaults (13:11). The guys talk about the toxic culture that has plagued hockey, and posit what needs to be done in order to change this culture (18:43). The crew then give their predictions for NBA over/unders for significant teams (30:29), present a new segment called The Schooler Award for the most rookie play of the week (42:11), offer their Qualin Award nominations (48:25), and finish with a round of Start-Bench-Cut focused on budding NFL defensive superstars (53:46).
Alex, Jesse, Jon, and Josh offer their weekly musings on the world of sports with a teaspoon of nonsense. Alex details the growing legend of Bailey Zappe (0:19), Jon and Josh give an update on the outcome of their bet from last season and their new bet (6:48). The guys summarize some headlines from their fantasy football league at the quarter pole of the season (10:43), Josh and Jesse bemoan and celebrate their NFL teams' results from Sunday (14:47), and the Alex and Jon remember Carl English's basketball prowess and his draft night to forget (24:04). Jesse and Josh give their over/under point total predictions for certain NHL teams (26:53), and Jesse ponders PEDs, steroid use for healing purposes, and Tommy John surgery, while asking if there ought be clear distinctions between drugs, surgeries, and technology (36:57). The show ends with everyone's Qualin Award nominations including a deep dive into Kelly Gruber's transgressions (50:37).
Alex, Jesse, Jon, and Josh offer their weekly musings on the world of sports with a teaspoon of nonsense. They recap a wild first Sunday of NFL football (6:53) including another Lions heartbreaking loss, the wild Steelers-Bengals ending, and Jon's Dolphins win over Ali's Patriots. Hove leads the group in a brief exploration of Malcolm Gladwell's weak link vs. strong link sports (13:33), the crew delves into the nuances of the underdog story (24:15), and why we're drawn to the underdog in sports (32:29). The guys offer their Qualin Award nominations (40:24), and finish the show with a round of Start-Bench-Cut focused on the worst field goal misses (fictional and actual) in history (45:35).
Alex, Chris, Jon, Josh, Jesse, and new league member Curtis offer their teaspoon of nonsense as they record their fantasy football league draft. You, our valued listener, get special access to their asinine decision-making processes. Find out which two receivers Alex debated between to select as his final keeper (0:42), which defense went first off the board to defense-obsessed Jesse (20:41), and what fine establishment Chris recommended to Josh who needs to buy a new suit (27:36). Hear what food Jesse forgot about cooking in his oven while drafting (32:17), and which Lions players Jon drafted because of this season of Hard Knocks (36:37). Welcome to season 5!
Alex, Jesse, and Josh offer their weekly teaspoon of nonsense as they preview the Stanley Cup Final. They wonder if the third consecutive time will indeed be the charm for Corey Perry (0:29), praise Andrei Vasilevskiy's dominance in elimination games (4:10), and laud Tampa Bay's scrappiness and depth (4:53). The boys talk about the Colorado Avalanche's supremacy in these playoffs (6:09), Cale Makar's prowess as the league's most electric defenseman (8:46), and the rest of the Avs' potent attack (9:52). The guys recap the major storylines from the first three rounds of the playoffs (10:50), the injured players on both sides that might be able to play in the series (21:15), and Pat Maroon's quest for a fourth consecutive Cup (24:32). Jesse and Josh give their Qualin Award nominations for the playoffs to date (28:54), and the show ends with a round of Start-Bench-Cut focused on the three most recent back-to-back Stanley Cup champions (33:09).
Alex, Jon, and Josh offer their weekly teaspoon of nonsense as they preview the NBA Finals. They discuss how Ime Udoka has brought a level of toughness to the Celtics in his first season as head coach (8:09), the heroics of Jimmy Butler, and the lack of help he received from Heat teammates in the Eastern Conference Finals (11:15). The guys talk about the experience of Steve Kerr and the Warriors' core players, the narrative of Golden State winning pre-Kevin Durant and now trying to win post-KD (16:36), and Josh and Jon explain their epic bet placed on the Celts-Heat series (23:28). The show ends with everyone's Qualin Award nominations (35:06), Finals predictions (38:51), and a round of Start-Bench-Cut focused on NBA play-by-play announcers (41:21).
Alex, Chris, Jesse, Jon, and Josh offer their weekly teaspoon of nonsense. Alex rants about Dave Roberts yanking Clayton Kershaw after 7 innings and only 80 pitches with a perfect game intact (0:33), the guys discuss HBO's 'Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty' (12:18), and recap the NBA play-in games/preview the first round of the playoffs (18:38). The crew then turn to Auston Matthew's historic season (30:10), ponder their teams' biggest celebrity fans (35:30), and talk about the first week of the MLB season, including a critique of the Blue Jays' home run jacket (42:56). The show finishes with everyone's Qualin Award nominations (52:24), and a round of Start-Bench-Cut focused on Vezina Trophy candidates (58:43).
Alex, Jesse, Jon, and Josh offer their weekly teaspoon of nonsense. They start the show discussing the following NHL headlines: Mike Yeo healthy scratching reigning ironman Keith Yandle (0:27), the enigma that is Phil Kessel (5:15), and wonder how hockey without fighting would look (8:31). Alex outlines the most lopsided trades in sports history (13:35), including the Red Sox trading Babe Ruth to the rival Yankees, the Colts shipping John Elway to the Broncos, and the Nets sending Dr. J to the 76ers. The boys then recap the men's NCAA Final Four and the Kansas Jayhawks' title (23:23), Tiger Woods playing at Augusta National (32:18), and the Toronto Raptors locking up a playoff spot (37:07). The guys outline the NHL playoff picture (44:20), Josh questions the difference between wearing sports jerseys and Comiccon fans in costume (50:27), and they offer their Qualin Award nominations (52:23). Alex gives his MLB postseason predictions (56:30), and the squad finish the show playing Start-Bench-Cut focused on the front-runners in the NHL's Pacific Division (60:16).
Alex, Jesse, Jon, and Josh offer their weekly teaspoon of nonsense. Prompted by the news of Ash Barty retiring from tennis, the guys discuss other famous early retirements (1:06), including Andrew Luck, Jim Brown, Barry Sanders, Bjorn Borg, Bobby Orr, and Mark Spitz. The boys then talk about Tyreek Hill being traded from Kansas City to Jon's Miami Dolphins (25:00), recap the first two rounds of March Madness (30:02), and Jesse and Josh share their musings on the NHL trade deadline (36:36). The show finishes with Qualin Award nominations (43:15), and a round of Start-Bench-Cut (Marcel Dionne-Joe Sakic-Steve Yzerman) (48:14).
Alex, Chris, Jesse, Jon, and Josh offer their weekly teaspoon of nonsense as they preview the NCAA Men's Division 1 Tournament. They discuss the favourites (11:02), the potential Cinderella teams (16:27), and give their Final Four and National Champion predictions (21:42). We all find out why Chris hates the Wisconsin Badgers (24:51), the guys play Start-Bench-Cut focused on blue bloods (29:49), and finish with their Qualin Award nominations (37:53).
Alex, Chris, Jon, and Josh offer their weekly teaspoon of nonsense. They are joined by DC Simmonds (4:42), who discusses his group TrailBreakers Sports and Cards (5:49), Lindell Wigginton (9:39), and everything that's plagued his LA Lakers this season (16:04), including front office decisions, coaching, injuries, and Russell Westbrook's struggles. The crew talk about Russell Wilson being dealt to the Denver Broncos, Aaron Rodgers staying in Green Bay, and Calvin Ridley's suspension (32:58). Josh celebrates his LA Kings' bounce-back season (43:18), the guys offer their Qualin Award nominations (49:00), and play Start-Bench-Cut with all-time point guards (53:42).DC Simmonds' Links:TrailBreakers Sports & Cards Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/429665891731196TBSC Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tbscardsTwitter: https://twitter.com/lelaker6
Alex, Chris, Jon, and Josh offer their weekly teaspoon of nonsense. They each reminisce about their top 3 moments as sports fans (1:02), including the top moments submitted by our valued listeners (2:08). Josh recounts the Miracle on Manchester in 1982 (8:02), and his LA Kings' two Stanley Cup victories (8:45). Chris remembers when his Chicago Cubs reversed the Curse of the Billy Goat (10:19), and when he witnessed Kobe Bryant's greatness as he sat courtside (12:07). Jon's moments include Vince Carter's epic Slam Dunk Contest (15:29), and Michael Jordan's championship-winning shot against the Utah Jazz in 1998 (15:52). Alex recalls the Toronto Raptors' 2019 Championship (21:07), and the New England Patriots' Super Bowl LI comeback against the Atlanta Falcons (23:55). The guys discuss Phil Mickelson's comments on joining the Saudi golf tour despite any human rights issues, as well as his subsequent apology (26:19). The show finishes with everyone's Qualin Award nominations (32:50).
Alex, Jesse, Jon, and Josh are joined by comedian and friend of the show Evan Mumford. They laugh at the idiocy of athletes, including Odell Beckham Jr., Jonathan Bernier, Marty Cordova, Plaxico Burress, and Vince Coleman (7:56). Evan plays a game of word association (23:43), and a few rounds of Start-Bench-Cut focusing on comedians (24:31). Josh inexplicably asks the guys about bathtub etiquette (31:44), the crew briefly discuss the LA Rams' Super Bowl LVI victory (33:29), and ponder the Calgary Flames' Stanley Cup aspirations (41:33). The show finishes with everyone's Qualin Award nominations (50:08). Evan Mumford's Links:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evanmumfordd/Hi, From Truro: https://www.instagram.com/hifromtruro/Must Be Nice Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/5JzZel9l2ykzv0CDSIO77J?si=e14bf1f939504c9dBad Expectations Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV7VnKajKEHW_9zw5G7uEQAYouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEdnnFUnOhaYO0VrWUh_YcQTwitter: https://twitter.com/evanmumford
Alex, Chris, Jesse, Jon, and Josh offer their weekly teaspoon of nonsense. They debate the HOF cases for MLB players who tested positive for PEDs (8:43), specifically Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, as well as Pete Rose's ban from the HOF because of gambling on his own games. The guys engage in a spirited conversation on the role of sports in the grand scheme of life (25:27), recap the exhilarating Bills-Chiefs game (37:02), and suggest new NFL OT rules (48:12). The crew give their Championship Sunday picks (54:31), offer their Qualin Award nominations (63:42), and finish with a game of Start-Bench-Cut focusing on dynamic NFL receivers (68:21).
Alex, Chris, Jon, and Josh offer their weekly teaspoon of nonsense. They discuss the Montreal Canadiens hiring Kent Hughes as their new General Manager (5:35), wonder what questions would be asked in the GM interview (10:03), and hype the Matthew Stafford vs. Tom Brady matchup on Sunday afternoon (15:26). The crew give their picks for the NFL Divisional Round (19:03), and preview all four of the matchups. The guys debate which NFL fan base is the most obnoxious (32:23), give their Qualin Award nominations (46:43), and play Start-Bench-Cut focused on rivalries (52:40).
Alex, Jesse, Jon, and Josh offer their weekly teaspoon of nonsense. They discuss the unwritten rules of sports, wonder whether or not they have merit and value, and debate if they should be followed (10:06). The crew talk about players who had an edge and blurred some of those lines surrounding unwritten rules (26:27), contending teams in the NHL (34:00), and the ceilings for the Memphis Grizzlies and Chicago Bulls (43:48). The boys give their picks for NFL Wild Card Weekend (51:41), offer their Qualin Award nominations (61:26), and play a round of Start-Bench-Cut focused on great shot blocks (64:58).
Alex, Jon, and Josh offer their weekly teaspoon of nonsense. Jon laments his Miami Dolphins' disappointing loss to the Tennessee Titans (4:53), the crew discuss the ongoing saga of Antonio Brown (11:43), and Ja'Marr Chase's monster game (31:32). The boys wonder if the upstart Cincinnati Bengals are for real, and assess their chances in the playoffs (33:25). The guys then talk about the Vancouver Canucks' resurgence under Bruce Boudreau (39:27), surprising NHL teams (40:39), and Josh gives his Mount Rushmore of LA Kings (43:29). The show ends with Qualin Award nominations (46:20), and a round of Start-Bench-Cut focused on epic meltdowns (52:13).
Alex, Chris, and Jon offer their weekly teaspoon of nonsense. They discuss the 108th Grey Cup between the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (14:02), the underrated CFL (15:56), and give a recap of the bizarre Patriots-Bills matchup (23:01). The guys also discuss Kevin Costner's extensive list of great sports movies (31:31), the chances of the Leafs and Raptors winning a championship in 2022 (34:56), and the Detroit Lions finally getting a win (37:22). Alex talks about two young guns for the Detroit Red Wings (Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond) (38:58), Jon breaks down the thrilling F1 Championship between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton (40:49), and Chris gives an update on the impending MLB Lockout (51:59). The show ends with everyone's Qualin Award nominations (55:41), and three rounds of Start-Bench-Cut (Donovan Mitchell-Ja Morant-Trae Young, Joe Burrow-Justin Herbert-Tua Tagovailoa, Aleksander Barkov-Leon Draisaitl-Nikita Kucherov) (57:16).
Alex, Chris, Jesse, Jon, and Josh offer their weekly teaspoon of nonsense. They discuss Marcus Semien's awkward look in his introductory press conference with the Texas Rangers (0:47), Marc Bergevin being let go by the Montreal Canadiens (14:31), and how technology has changed sports (20:19). The crew converse about the Pats-Bills matchup on Monday night (41:01), the NFL MVP race (52:14), and their fantasy football league (54:36). They also talk about early title contenders in the NBA (56:03), early title contenders in the NHL (58:23), and Brady Tkachuk vs. Brendan Lemieux (59:41). The show ends with everyone's Qualin Award nominations (67:10), and a brief discussion on Tyreek Hill's challenge to Usain Bolt (72:06).
Alex, Chris, Jesse, and Josh offer their weekly teaspoon of nonsense. They discuss the state of Canadian goaltenders a few months before the Beijing Olympics (8:53), how Jesse has Valeri Bure's helmet (21:29), and Robbie Ray winning the AL Cy Young Award (25:38). The guys converse about the Golden State Warriors having the NBA's best record (32:09), Canada's win over Mexico in Edmonton (37:27), and offer their Qualin Award nominations (40:15). The show finishes with a game of Start-Bench-Cut focused on great Swedish defencemen in the NHL (42:46).
Alex, Chris, Jesse, Jon, and Josh offer their weekly teaspoon of nonsense. Chris and Josh begin the episode by recapping the Kings-Leafs game they watched last Monday night at Scotiabank Arena (12:20). The crew discuss Carey Price's statement regarding his mental health and substance use (19:03), a bizarre Week 9 in the NFL (25:03), and Jon plays Give Me One Reason [To Stay Here] focused on his Miami Dolphins (31:10). The guys talk about some feuds in the sports world, including Nikola Jokic vs. Markieff Morris, Scottie Pippen vs. Michael Jordan (34:56), and the upcoming Deron Williams vs. Frank Gore boxing match (40:52). The show ends with everyone's Qualin Award nominations (53:44), and a round of Start-Bench-Cut with current NHL goalies (59:39).
Alex, Jon, and Josh offer their weekly teaspoon of nonsense. They bemoan the lack of accountability with players, coaches, and team executives in the Chicago Blackhawks' organization (8:49) in response to the Jenner & Block report outlining sexual abuse against Kyle Beach. The guys hash out the age-old debate whether or not athletes are role models (22:50), discuss Aaron Rodgers' enigmatic response to being asked if he was vaccinated (31:11), and reflect on coaching their kids (41:04). They talk about Charles Barkley's advice for Zion Williamson re: his weight issues (50:25), give their Qualin Award nominations (53:33), and play Start-Bench-Cut focused on NFL place kickers (58:56).
Alex, Chris, Jesse, Jon, and Josh offer their weekly teaspoon of nonsense. They discuss the report by law firm Jenner & Block re: Kyle Beach and the sexual abuse he endured as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks organization, and the subsequent lack of action taken by seven team executives (11:18). The guys converse about the fallout from Jon Gruden's sexist and racist email messages he sent a decade ago (29:27), early storylines from the beginning of the NBA season (35:18), and the most valuable NBA franchises according to Forbes Magazine (37:28). The boys talk about their fantasy basketball league (42:24), and Chris opines that Patrick Mahomes is a major reason for the Kansas City Chiefs' slow start (49:32). They finish the episode with a new segment based on Tracy Chapman's hit song, Give Me One Reason [To Stay Here] looking at the Montreal Canadiens' brutal start to the season (52:35), and give their Qualin Award nominations (59:04).
Alex, Chris, Jon, and Josh offer their weekly teaspoon of nonsense. They discuss the ongoing Evander Kane saga (6:11), the MLB postseason (16:43), and give an update on their fantasy football league (22:26). The boys play two rounds of The Rational Fanatic: Tom Brady vs. Matthew Stafford (31:45), Carey Price vs. Jonathan Quick (51:42), while briefly derailing into a spirited debate about Rob Gronkowski's first-ballot Hall of Fame case (38:54), and wonder what is the hardest thing to do in sports (48:06).
Alex, Jesse, Jon, and Josh offer their weekly teaspoon of nonsense. They chat about the final push for the two AL wildcard spots between the Yanks, Sox, Jays, and Mariners (6:15), Justin Tucker's record setting field goal that vanquished Josh's Detroit Lions (11:21), and Jared Goff's struggles (12:50). The crew discuss whether a player has to win a championship to be considered a winner (14:32), Brady vs. Belichick in Foxborough on Sunday night (21:45), and wonder if the Dallas Cowboys are actually good (23:14). The boys give an update on their fantasy football league (28:13), offer their Qualin Award nominations (36:11), and play Start-Bench-Cut focused on iconic fashion in baseball (43:45).
Alex, Jesse, Jon, and Josh offer their weekly teaspoon of nonsense. They dish on the major headlines from the young NFL season (5:49), including how Tom Brady doesn't age, the Carolina Panther's 3-0 start, the Detroit Lions' new QB, Tua Tagovailoa's fractured ribs, and Mac Jones' start to his career. Jon and Alex discuss their fantasy football league Fantasy Friends (20:57), whether it's generally better to start a WR or RB in the Flex in PPR formats (22:21), and their TSP Eliminator pool (25:39). Jesse offers his prediction for the two AL Wild Card spots (26:45), and plays a round of Start-Bench-Cut focused on NHL young guns (28:19). Jon and Alex finish the episode with another round of S-B-C with elite NFL wide receivers (31:14), and offer some Qualin Award nominations (35:13).
Alex, Chris, Jesse, and Jon offer their weekly teaspoon of nonsense. They discuss the apparent pettiness between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Montreal Canadiens with the offer sheet signing of Jesperi Kotkaniemi (8:30), Jack Campbell as the starting goalie in Toronto (14:00), and the streaking Toronto Blue Jays (16:04). The crew remember how phenomenal a ballplayer Hall of Famer Larry Walker was, and what he means to Canadian baseball fans (19:51). The guys preview the first week of the NFL season (25:11), Jon and Alex banter about the playoff chances of the Patriots and the Dolphins (31:10), and discuss the Mac vs. Tua matchup on Sunday (33:28). The boys talk about their fantasy football league draft and the final standings projections (39:55), give their Qualin Awards (44:26), and play a round of Start-Bench-Cut focused on Alex's favourite childhood athletes (46:52).
Alex and Josh bring you a teaspoon of nonsense as they watch and react to the Seattle Kraken's expansion draft. Alex explains how he suffered heart palpitations over the last 24 hours at the thought of his Habs losing Carey Price to the Kraken (1:07), and Josh expounds on his love affair with the Florida Panthers (3:11). The boys try to make sense of Seattle selecting Mark Giordano from Calgary (4:36), and highlight the theme of youthful talent that runs throughout GM Ron Francis' selections (5:20). Josh laments how the past two expansion teams have pouched good young defensemen from his LA Kings, Brayden McNabb to the Knights and now Kurtis MacDermid to the Kraken (6:28). The duo assess the Kraken's chances next season (13:59), and jest about Brandon Tanev's viral headshot (14:43).
Alex flies solo in the first installment of 'Raw Takes', TSP's unfiltered bonus episodes. He bemoans his Montreal Canadiens defeat at the hands of the the "Champa Bay" Lightning, and praises the prowess of goaltenders Carey Price and Conn Smythe winner Andrei Vasilevsky. Alex discusses Lauren Thiesen's thought-provoking article on Defector that ponders how good the Habs truly are, briefly touches on the key decisions GM Marc Bergevin needs to make this offseason, and what the future holds for this upstart team.
Alex, Chris, Jesse, and Josh offer their weekly teaspoon of nonsense. They discuss the improbability of the Habs making the Stanley Cup Final (5:53), Josh breaks down how Montreal defeated Las Vegas (15:22), Hove fires back at Alex's criticism of Marc Bergevin's tenure as general manager and when he drafted Cole Caufield (18:21), and Chris explains why Tampa Bay has to win this Stanley Cup (22:40). The boys talk about how Trae Young's confidence has his Hawks as legitimate title contenders (28:38), the Suns-Clippers WCF (34:03), the Jason Kidd hiring in Dallas prompts a discussion on great players as coaches (35:30), and MLB's 7th no-hitter already (38:31). The crew offer their Qualin Award nominations, including the courageous Carl Nassib (45:10), and the sexual assault allegations against Chicago Blackhawks coach Bradley Aldrich (46:27), and finish the show by playing a round of Start-Bench-Cut centered on late-night talk show hosts (55:17).
Alex, Chris, Jesse, Jon, and Josh offer their weekly teaspoon of nonsense. They consider the staggeringly enormous salaries of the richest athletes in the world, and the immorality of these colossal earnings (7:42). The crew talk about LeBron James' comments regarding injuries to NBA All-Stars (29:06), discuss the final four teams remaining in the Stanley Cup playoffs (44:14), and Josh asks Alex a most difficult hypothetical involving three of his favourite athletes (48:41). The squad offer some Qualin Award nominations (51:11), and play two rounds of Start-Bench-Cut focused on NBA point guards in this year's playoffs, and California baseball teams' logos/colour schemes (56:11).
Alex, Chris, Jon, and Josh offer their weekly teaspoon of nonsense. They debate where to draw the line when it comes to gaining a competitive edge versus cheating in sports (4:15), whether quitting on a team in order to leave and form a superteam can be considered a form of cheating (20:31), and MLB's luxury tax and soft salary cap versus NBA/NFL/NHL's hard salary caps (25:31). The crew discuss how the NBA playoffs (32:00) and NHL playoffs (37:13) are shaking out. The guys muddle through their preview of Euro 2020 (41:08), and give their nominations for the Qualin Award (45:49), before finishing with a round of Start-Bench-Cut focused on the remaining goaltenders in the Stanley Cup playoffs (1:02:13).
Alex, Jesse, Jon, and Josh are joined by diehard Leafs fan Kellen Barrett to discuss yet another agonizing collapse by his team (6:53). Kellen expresses his frustration with this version of his team as he thought they were primed for a Stanley Cup run (11:46), and explains how this defeat to the Habs stings much worse than the 2013 collapse to the Bruins (13:11). The guys discuss Carey Price's masterful play in these playoffs so far (14:53), and Mitch Marner's playoff struggles (19:05). Josh offers his view of what the problem is with the Leafs as the obsessive fanbase and the rabid media (22:31). The crew break the medical reaction to Corey Perry's collision with John Tavares (34:39), and Mark Scheifele's hit on Jake Evans (40:58). The boys talk about what's happened so far in the NBA playoffs including the Phoenix Suns ousting the LA Lakers, Luka vs. Kawhi, and Danny Ainge's replacement in Boston (48:51). The show ends with everyone's Qualin Awards (67:30), and a game of Start-Bench-Cut focused on memorable Game 7s (71:51).
Alex, Chris, Jesse, Jon, and Josh offer their weekly teaspoon of nonsense. Hove starts the show by calling on the rest of his compadres on their "weak takes" on the Tom Wilson incident (4:11), and offers his own perspective. The crew look into the latest drama surrounding Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers (16:52), the Montreal Canadiens vs. the Toronto Maple Leafs playoff matchup (30:09), and the other first round NHL playoff matchups (34:20). The guys discuss the disappointing Toronto Raptors' season (43:08), and Hove claims that Auston Matthews is already the best Toronto Maple Leaf ever (48:15). The squad discuss the competitive AL East (54:24), give their Qualin Award nominations (59:37), and play a brutally difficult round of Start-Bench-Cut (Nathan MacKinnon, Auston Matthews, Connor McDavid) (71:36).
Alex, Chris, Jon, and Josh offer their weekly teaspoon of nonsense, Alex starts the show by gushing about Kawhi Leonard's prowess during the Toronto Raptors' title run in 2019 (0:42), and how Pascal Siakam is neither a clutch performer or a franchise player (5:27). The crew discuss Tom Wilson sucker punching Pavel Buchnevich and throwing Artemi Panarin violently to the ice (6:53), and the fallout from George Parros' controversial decision to not suspend Wilson (11:50). The guys try to make sense of the confusing NBA play-in tournament (24:31), and Jon explains why he's not panicked about his Boston Celtics (28:09). The squad chat about the teams who are NBA championship contenders (32:24), assess the Habs' longshot chances against the Maple Leafs (37:47), and Josh praises the red hot St. Louis Blues (40:48). The show ends with the team's Qualin Awards (45:25), a round of Start-Bench-Cut with Chicago Bears players (54:33), and Chris bemoans how his Brian Urlacher and Roberto Alomar gear is now unwearable in light of their awful behaviour (58:43).
Alex, Chris, Jesse, Jon, and Josh offer their weekly teaspoon of nonsense. They discuss Mac Jones being drafted by the Patriots (1:05), Justin Fields drafted by the Bears (5:41), and other headlines from the first round of the NFL Draft. The crew delve into the drama surrounding Aaron Rodgers and the Packers (10:35), the NHL playoff race (17:06), and Connor McDavid's astounding point streak (19:17). The fellas push back on the Vegas Golden Knights' exemption from the Seattle Kraken's expansion draft (19:48), and recall the ugliest jerseys in sports (24:07). The squad give their Qualin Awards for the most timely plays of the week (34:54), talk about Joe Thornton's friendship with Gord Downie (38:40), and play a unique round of Start-Bench-Cut [Hudson's Bay Co., Walmart, Zellers] (42:58).
Alex, Chris, Jesse, Jon, and Josh are joined by TSP's NFL Draft expert Pete Nojd, who breaks down all things surrounding the 2021 NFL Draft. Pete sees the major storyline as the five highly touted quarterbacks being drafted in the first round, Trey Lance's outstanding athleticism (5:08), and Kyle Pitts' insanely high ceiling (7:02). Pete presents his Mock Draft for the top 15 picks (9:00), including these notable predictions: (#3) San Francisco 49ers draft Justin Fields (11:08), (#4) Atlanta Falcons draft Kyle Pitts (13:54), (#6) Miami Dolphins draft DeVonta Smith (16:01), (#15) New England Patriots draft Mac Jones (30:51). Josh asks Pete, "When are the Detroit Lions going to win the Super Bowl?" (32:20), and the crew discuss how the draft is often a crapshoot (37:57). Josh summarizes and discusses Eric Duhatschek's article in The Athletic that explores which cities would have an NHL franchise if we started from scratch (45:04), and the group offer their Qualin Awards (55:24). The show ends with a round of Start-Bench-Cut focused on Mortal Kombat/Street Fighter characters (64:07).
Alex, Chris, Jesse, Jon, and Josh discuss Marc-Andre Fleury's milestone of passing Ed Belfour for sole possession of fourth most wins by a goaltender (5:50), the Toronto Maple Leafs' chances of winning their first Stanley Cup since 1967 (8:56), and takeaways from the young MLB season (20:17). The crew offer their Qualin Awards (23:54), and play a round of Start-Bench-Cut focused on budding MLB superstars (30:06). Alex interviews longtime USA Today columnist and author Del Jones to discuss his book, "At The Bat: The Strikeout That Shamed America" (37:07). Del recounts the fascinating time period of the 1880s (when his historical fiction novel takes place), and how he paid homage to actual people in his book (44:56). Del offers his perspective on what needs to change in the modern game of baseball (49:12), and gives a brief history of the evolution of the game from the dawn of professional baseball in 1871 to the current game (50:43). Del ends the episode by sharing some hilarious and surprising stories of his time umpiring baseball and slow-pitch softball (56:19).
Alex, Jesse, Jon, and Josh discuss the major topics in the world of sports from this week. Josh explains why he views the Montreal Canadiens as a dark horse this season (0:36), Jon and Alex give a March Madness recap (9:22), and summarize Baylor's total dominance of Gonzaga in the Men's National Championship (10:46). The crew talk about the Stanford Cardinals winning the NCAA Women's National Championship (14:42), Hubert Davis being hired by UNC (16:44), and Jon gives his Top 5 All-Time NBA Players (20:45). The squad do a deep dive into the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals between Patrick Roy's Montreal Canadiens and Wayne Gretzky's LA Kings (26:05), and we learn what made Josh decide to cheer for the LA Kings as a child (30:42). The team speak on the current NHL Playoff Race (32:29), and give their takes on the Masters Tournament (38:27). The show ends with everyone's Qualin Awards (42:52), and a round of Start-Bench-Cut devoted to mascots (51:57).
Alex, Chris, Darcy, and Jon are joined by DC Simmonds to discuss the recent boom in the Sports Card Industry. DC explains how he began collecting cards (3:27), why cards are the next big investment for millennials (4:28), and offers his take on the NBA season (14:23). DC describes how insanely fast sports cards are flying off the shelves (19:57), and how retro cards are gaining value once again (23:30). The guys converse about the return of baseball (29:40) and the Toronto Blue Jays' chances this season (32:05). The crew end their show with their Qualin Awards (41:25) and a game of Start-Bench-Cut (48:43).Check out DC Simmonds' Trailbreakers Sports and Cards on Facebook, and TrailbreakersSports on Instagram!
In this episode, Alex, Jesse, and Josh recall the greatest hockey players who never won a championship (8:30), the winning culture of the 2012 and 2014 LA Kings (14:58), and the situation surrounding referee Tim Peel (34:47). Jesse outlines his greatest gambling achievement that allowed him to pay rent (44:06). The crew talk about notable moves from the NBA Trade Deadline, and specifically Kyle Lowry staying put in Toronto (45:39). The trio offer their Qualin Awards [Paige Bueckers, Andrew Jones, the Texas Longhorns] (52:33). The show ends with a round of Start-Bench-Cut [Tim Donaghy, Angel Hernandez, Tim Peel] (57:32).
Alex, Chris, Darcy, Jesse, Jon, and Josh discuss everything March Madness. The crew reminisce about their first memories of the tournament (7:55) including the UConn Huskies' 1999 Championship Team (8:03), and Carmelo Anthony leading his Syracuse Orangemen to the 2003 National Championship (9:34). The gang break down each region of the bracket with an emphasis on upset predictions, beginning with the West Region (14:40), the East Region (19:37), the South Region (22:53), and the Midwest Region (24:31). The fellas play a round of Start-Bench-Cut focusing on legendary head coaches Bobby Knight, Mike Krzyzewski, and Dean Smith (29:00), and play a comical game of Match the Mascot where Jesse and Josh attempt to match the college to their team name (36:55). The squad offer their Final Four predictions and their National Champs (41:00). Chris, Jon, and Alex end the episode explaining what makes this tournament both heartbreaking and thrilling (45:04), and recap the greatest upsets of recent memory (45:19).