Why Tho?

Roger Federer retires and Nebraska begins searching for a head football coach.

An examination of the margins leads us down the wormholes of Baylor-BYU, Alabama-Texas, and Steelers-Bengals.

The NFL offers two things that every sport should aspire to: hope for every fanbase and night-in, night-out competition. How do college football and the NBA stack up in these two areas?

Week One of the college football season is complete and it's time to examine the margins for Anthony Richardson, NC State-East Carolina, North Carolina-Appalachian State, Iowa-SDSU, and Florida State-LSU.

An ode to the true opening week of college football, a sport that offers what no other can.

College football is finally here and Nebraska's season is already over. How does this keep happening and when will it ever end? Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude - https://open.spotify.com/track/2XEFWSnkgjXe4eZ9gDqAgq?si=83173bde61154ede

College football is finally here and the NFL is quick to follow. What do we actually know about the greatest sport on earth?

Change is an inevitable part of life—projecting the depth and direction of that change is hard and at times, impossible. As Justin Herbert moves into his third season as starting quarterback of the Chargers, how different is our perception of him (compared to his senior season at Oregon) and what do we expect from him moving forward?

This is a reading of “Unclipped Strings,” an essay written by Chris Rawle about a passionate, lifelong exploration of the music of Bob Dylan. The full text can be found here: https://www.chrisrawle.com/unclipped-strings/

I have a deep, abiding respect for people who are unafraid to be what they want to be. Bob Dylan is a shining example and with football season nearly upon us, many teams are trying to mirror his approach. How do you find and solidify your identity?

College football is a sport that revolves around cycles of power. Nebraska, Florida State, Miami, USC, and Texas were great until they weren't. The sport has recently been dominated by Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Clemson, and Oklahoma. Who has potential to fall and who can rise to replace them?

“Quarterbacks fail in the NFL, sure. But more often they are failed.” How many things need to align in order for a quarterback to find success? Referenced in todays show: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/orgFuorCksb

Preseason camps have begun and NFL teams are trying to discern what is real and what is not. Through that lens, we examine Ja'Marr Chase, Romeo Doubs, Mitch Trubisky, Tua Tagovailoa, and Aaron Rodgers.

The known, the unknown, and why we love what we love.

The search for superstar quarterbacks is fast, furious, and never-ending. What is the perceived value of those QBs who are competent, but not stars?

The passing game has never been important in football. With that understanding, how much value are NFL teams placing on the wide receiver position?

The Utah Jazz are committed to a full-scale teardown. Is the path forward for Utah energizing or demoralizing?

Winning a championship is all about versatility. Nowhere is this more true than at The Old Course at St. Andrews, site of the 150th Open, where Cam Smith became a major champion.

A discussion of the various ways to unlock the mind, featuring the words of author George Saunders, Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis, and golfers Jon Rahm and Tiger Woods.

Aging athletes, Tiger Woods, and the 150th British Open at St. Andrews.

Is it true that happiness is found by bridging the gap between what you have and what you want?

The two biggest sports items of the week: Rudy Gobert traded from the Utah Jazz to the Minnesota Timberwolves, USC/UCLA agreeing to join the Big 10 in 2024. What is the story (past, present, and future) of both of these moves?

In order to win a championship, you must be good and you must be lucky. Referenced in today's show: Nathan McKinnon & Establishing A Winning Culture - https://anchor.fm/thechrisrawleshow/episodes/Nathan-MacKinnon--Establishing-A-Winning-Culture-e15nkjr The Ascent Of Cale Makar - https://anchor.fm/thechrisrawleshow/episodes/The-Ascent-Of-Cale-Makar-e1ifckh

A tale of fandom, belief, and acceptance.

The ongoing saga of the PGA Tour vs LIV, money vs competition, and a question everyone should be asking of themselves: what do I value in life?

A discussion of culture, the PGA Tour vs LIV, the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Colorado Avalanche, and the Golden State Warriors.

How many things in life make you feel this deeply?

For every talented player that is unearthed by a change in situation (Kurt Warner, Matthew Stafford, Andrew Wiggins, Valeri Nichushkin, Arturri Lehkonen), how many players slip through the cracks?

Across all sports, positional value is always changing. Traditional centers have been abolished in basketball, as have running backs in football. What is valued within a position is also changing. Steph Curry has transformed what we value in a point guard, Draymond Green has changed our minds on tweeners, and the Colorado Avalanche defense corps is built first and foremost upon puck-moving ability. What are the changes to come?

Merely being good enough to take advantage of the breaks of the game is usually interpreted as a backhanded compliment. However, outside of 2-3 teams per sport in any given season, this is the pathway to a championship. Who is (and has been) good enough for the breaks to matter?

How much patience is required to build a championship contender?

The most simple yet complex questions of the playoffs: who is going to step up? Sometimes it's a role player like Gabe Davis or Robert Horry. Sometimes it's a good player like Jimmy Butler ascending even higher. Right at the top are players like Lebron James, Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Nathan MacKinnon, and Cale Makar—stars who somehow become even more in the postseason.

The playoffs are a time to prove things are different from the past. As the Stanley Cup Playoffs continue, the remaining teams pull upon the levers necessary for success: star performances, depth scoring, goaltending, and luck. Is the past applicable to the present?

Professional sports are about finding the perfect equilibrium between body and mind. Certain athletes (Bryson DeChambeau, Tiger Woods, Sam Girard, Jordan Binnington) are currently fighting the physical component, while others (Rory Mcilroy, Mito Pereira) are battling the mental. What does it look like when body and mind come together?

To win a championship, a team must be willing and able to play in a variety of ways. What can be learned from the championship arcs of the Golden State Warriors and Tampa Bay Lightning?

Seven different Game 7s (Bruins-Hurricanes, Lightning-Maple Leafs, Kings-Oilers, Penguins-Rangers, Stars-Flames, Bucks-Celtics, Mavs-Suns) were played over last weekend. What separated the winners from losers?

One of the most satisfactory aspects of fandom is following the arc of an athlete whose ceiling appears undefined. Over the last three seasons and change, Cale Makar has transformed into the best defenseman in hockey. What is his ceiling?

The playoffs are where legacies are defined. The playoffs are also where the margins are tiniest. In a strange way, the championship aspirations of many teams boil down to injuries and referees.

There is nothing the sports world despises more than a star player with zero team championships to their name. What is the definition of a playoff player and who qualifies?

When things are going well, the future always seems to extend to infinity. But just as quickly as a championship window opens, it can shut. Ask the 2002 Kings. Or the 2012 Thunder. Or the 2021 Jazz. How much pressure is on teams like the Phoenix Suns and Colorado Avalanche to win the championship this year?

Every year, one of the most interesting parts of the playoffs to monitor is this: who has room to grow, how do we give that to them, and when do we truly understand what a player is? We have those answers for players like Lebron James and Russell Westbrook. But what about the growth curve of younger players like Ja Morant, Karl Anthony-Towns, Trae Young, and Donovan Mitchell?

For most, the world of professional basketball revolves around a simple team-building strategy: the accumulation of talent trumps everything. As we are seeing in the first round of the NBA playoffs, however, this is not always the case.

In a team sport, situation matters. As teams downshift in the playoffs to small-ball lineups—maximizing their mobility and versatility—individual defenders are stressed in different ways. What is fair to ask of any one player?

The playoffs are a pressure cooker. Some players are built to withstand adversity—others are not. Some possess an innate feel for what is required in each individual moment—others do not. The opening games of the playoffs provided plenty of examples, including Chris Paul, Kyrie Irving, and the team defense of the Boston Celtics.

What works in the regular season and what works in the playoffs are not always the same thing. How much versatility is required to win four playoff rounds?

The Masters and Augusta National are universally praised for creating the best possible golfing experience for players and fans alike. Why does the PGA Tour struggle to mimic their recipe?

The Masters is in full swing and Tiger has returned to the world of golf. What are the differences in what we want in our own lives vs what we desire from athletes?

A long, winding discussion about the NBA and NHL, and how neither can find the balance between protecting their star players without lying down for them.

The race for NBA MVP is boiling down to Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic, and Giannis Antetokounmpo. How much should team success be factored into an individual award?

This is a reading of “Falling Out The Other Side,” an essay written by Chris Rawle about becoming a college football fan early in life and sustaining that love into adulthood.The full text can be found here: https://www.chrisrawle.com/falling-out-the-other-side/

Two star wide receivers will be playing the 2022 season on new teams, Davante Adams for the Raiders and Tyreek Hill for the Dolphins. From the perspective of both players and teams (GB/LV, KC/MIA), what was the motivation for these trades to occur?