Detroit sports podcasters Greg Eno, Big Al Beaton, and Nick Milanovich are The Knee Jerks!
As the NHL's Olympic break ends this week, it's a great time to welcome back to the show former Detroit Free Press Red Wings beat writer and author Keith Gave.
We'll discuss the Red Wings' playoff status as the trade deadline looms, Sergei Fedorov's number finally being retired, and Team USA winning both the men's and women's Olympic hockey tournaments, beating Team Canada in the gold medal games. Each team featured Michigan natives having large roles - including Red Wings captain and former Wolverine Dylan Larkin.
@KeithGave on Twitter/X
In the second half of the show, our topics include:
In what was a bigger surprise than the signing of Framber Valdez, the Tigers inked franchise legend and future HoF lock Justin Verlander to a one-year, $13 million deal.
Robot umps have arrived in MLB. The Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System is live for 2026. Each team will start the game with two challenges. Managers cannot challenge a ball/strike call. Only the batter, pitcher or catcher can challenge an umpire's call, and it must be appealed immediately.
Longtime MLBPA head Tony Clark (a former Tigers' first baseman) abruptly resigned after an internal inquiry revealed an inappropriate relationship with an employee. The employee was his sister-in-law. The departure comes as Clark also faces a federal investigation for mishandling union finances. Long-time lead negotiator Bruce Meyer was named as the new executive director. What this means for next year's CBA negotiations remains to be seen.
Owning the NBA's best record at 42-13, the Pistons are on a tear, winners of five straight.
This is despite suspensions to Jalen Duren (two games) and Isaiah Stewart (seven games) for their roles in a fight with the Hornets on Feb. 9. The aggressors in the fight, the Hornets' Moussa Diabate and Miles Bridges, received four game suspensions.
Cade Cunningham and Duren were named to the All-Star team, while MVP consideration for Cunningham continues to gain steam.
Detroit meets Phil Jackson's 40–20 rule - an NBA team must win 40 games before losing 20 to have a chance at winning that year's championship. Since the 1979-80 season, all but four champions won 40 games before losing 20. One of the outliers? The 2004 Pistons!
Rod Wood, Lions president and CEO since 2015, announced he will retire before the 2026 NFL season.
As always, we play Greg's Birthday game and name our respective Jerk of the Week!
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Nick's TwitterX: @NickMilanovich
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