On the February 16, 2026 episode of the Little Column A, A Little Column B Podcast, hosts Willie Alimonos and Zach Bishop break down one of the strangest and most debate-heavy weeks in sports. From an Olympic fugitive story to NBA tanking fines, college basketball fights, NFL ownership debates, and even a Daytona 500 milestone, this episode blends hard takes, humor, and real conversations about accountability and the fan experience.
The show opens with a bizarre Olympic anecdote — a Slovak man on the run for 16 years arrested while trying to attend a hockey game — which sparks a larger discussion about the rising cost of attending live sports and when fans will finally choose the couch over the arena.
NBA All-Star Weekend gets a full breakdown, with Willie and Zach debating whether the new target-score format actually improved effort and watchability. They highlight standout moments from Victor Wembanyama and Kawhi Leonard, Damian Lillard’s three-point win, and the Chris Paul skills challenge controversy. From there, the conversation turns serious: Adam Silver’s response to tanking, fines handed down to teams like Utah and Indiana, and what real structural changes (draft reform? moving the trade deadline?) could fix the problem.
College basketball coverage dives into on-court fights, dangerous plays, and Jerome Tang’s firing after a brutally honest press conference at Kansas State. The hosts preview major matchups, assess draft prospects like Darren Peterson and Cameron Boozer, and break down Florida’s resurgence and the shifting NCAA landscape.
NFL talk includes a full betting season recap, the Tyreek Hill release and potential landing spots, and a spirited debate over NFL team report cards, workplace perks, and owner accountability. The episode also touches on Michael Jordan’s Daytona 500 ownership milestone, an Olympic curling cheating controversy between Canada and Sweden, a canceled ski-jump round due to weather, and how Peacock’s “Gold Zone” coverage is shaping Olympic viewing habits.
Throughout the episode, Willie and Zach debate responsibility, league overreach, fan value, and what would actually make sports better to watch — or attend — in 2026.
🎙 Episode Chapters
(00:00:40) Olympic Heist Unveiled
(00:01:40) The Price of Attendance
(00:04:36) The NBA All-Star Weekend
(00:06:40) A Fresh Take on All-Star Format
(00:10:27) The Rise of Wemby and Kawhi
(00:13:24) Lillard’s Epic Three-Point Contest
(00:15:52) Tanking in the NBA
(00:19:58) The Weight of NBA Tanking
(00:22:32) Navigating the Bad Teams
(00:25:06) The Consequences of Poor Management
(00:27:56) The Future of NBA Drafts
(00:33:59) Fighting in Basketball
(00:39:05) The Chaos of College Basketball Brawls
(00:40:41) A Coach Fired for Honesty
(00:45:03) College Basketball Showdown
(00:49:45) Florida’s Unexpected Resurgence
(00:53:36) Looking Ahead to NCAA Matchups
(01:00:07) NFL Recap and Betting Insights
(01:06:02) The Future of Tyreek Hill
(01:09:48) NFL Owner Accountability
