Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast!
Episode 83 - “The MCMLXXXIII Episode” includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics:
- Miscellaneous - "NCAA Frozen Four:" In our "Miscellaneous" category this week, we are going to expand our discussion a bit outside of the norm and/or our comfort zone - and will begin our discussion with some NCAA (or College) Men's Ice Hockey. . .On paper & ice ,the Boston University Terriers were far superior to their opponent, the Western Michigan Broncos, in the 2025 NCAA Frozen Four National Championship Game played last Saturday afternoon at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri (the primary tenant for this arena is the NHL's St. Louis Blues). . .As a NCAA Division-I historic program, the Boston University Terriers Men's Ice Hockey team, who played their first game in 1918, have won five national championships, made appearances in 25 NCAA Frozen Four(s) & have won 12 major conference tournament championships - while competing in conferences such as: the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC; 1961-1984) to the most current Hockey East Association (1985-today). . .In stark contrast, the Western Michigan Broncos Men's Ice Hockey team, who are a member of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC), play their home games at Lawson Arena in Kalamazoo, Michigan & as a D-I program, played their first game in the year 1973, and finally, the Broncos were making their first-ever trip in program history to the NCAA Frozen Four. . .Unfortunately for the Terriers, neither ice nor their lengthy list of accolades on paper, would serve to intimidate or undermine WMU Broncos' star players, Sophomores Owen Michaels & Wyatt Schingoethe - who scored two goals & a single goal, respectively, in the Championship Game on Saturday - - The Western Michigan Broncos would go on to win their first-ever NCAA Championship after defeating the Boston University Terriers 6-2 in the 2025 NCAA Frozen Four National Championship Game. . .Albeit impressive, but it is important that we mention, that the Broncos ended this season on a 10-game winning streak, which included pulling off the upset over defending-champion, Denver University, 3-2 in double OT a couple days prior . . .It gives me a great sense of joy to report that the Chicago Cubs handed the MLB defending-champion Los Angeles Dodgers the franchise's most lopsided shutout loss against any team in over 60 years, on Saturday, in the Cubbies' 16-0 rout. . .This was the Dodgers worst shutout loss since the 18-0 loss on the road versus the Cincinnati Reds in 1965 - and as for worst shutout losses at their home field, this was the worse trouncing since the then-Brooklyn Dodgers took a 15-0 "big fat L" versus the Pittsburgh Pirates, in 1898. . .After beginning the season 8-0, the Dodgers - and their ridiculously high player budget - have gone 2-7 over the past nine games. . .On Monday, New York Yankees' All-Star Aaron Judge announced on the MLB Network that he will be suiting up for Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic - and that, he has been named the "team captain". . .It almost feels as though, that, Judge is re-paying his debt to the great people of the United States after not playing in 2023, which led to Team USA losing to Japan in the Championship Game. . .
- PGA - Rory McIlroy's painful wait for the career Grand Slam finally ended - - but he certainly flirted with disaster one too many times. . .McIlroy overcame a shaky start - - and even a perilous finish - - in the final round of the 89th Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Sunday to defeat Justin Rose in the first hold of a sudden-death playoff to win a green jacket & became just the 6th golfer to complete the career Grand Slam. . .On the verge of collapsing the Masters again, McIlroy delivered one of the most memorable shots of his career on the par-4 17th hole - but then followed it up by missing a short putt on the 18th hole. . .McIlroy was made an incredible shot in the sudden death playoff to defeat Rose, which was McIlroy's fifth major championship victory & first in more than a decade. . .
- MLB - Late Monday evening,Wiley Ballard, a Fanduel Sports Network reporter for the Atlanta Braves, seemed to be walking throughout & mingling with people in crowd at Rogers Centre, the home of the MLB's Toronto Blue Jays. . .As he continued to interact with more & more baseball fans who were willing to speak to the reporter, Ballard encountered two young women (aka Lauren & Kayla) and immediately after sparking up a conversation with them, his broadcast colleagues began encouraging him to "get their numbers," - to which, Ballard informed both Kayla & Lauren, and as he was informing them of his intentions, he pulled out his mobile (or cell) phone. . .Eventually, one of the women, Lauren, would give Wiley her phone number on live television - and the social media sleuths could not help but to form an opinion and/or post his or her reaction to what, seemed to be, a harmless encounter at best. . .However, many sports reporters reacted quite negatively towards the broadcast crew and the reporter for this stunt, using derogatory phrases & such words as "gross & misogynistic" to describe & condemn the crew/reporter's behavior. . .Q: What are your thoughts in regards this reporter actively "shooting his shot" on live television?. . .
- NCAA College Hoops - The transfer portal has created a "new normal" - - Baylor has to replace its entire basketball team after every single person on the roster from last season left the school. . .Nine of the 14 players have entered the transfer portal. . .Former Kansas guard AJ Storr announced on Wednesday that he is transferring to Ole Miss for the 2025-26 college basketball season - Ole Miss officially becomes Storr's 8th program (including at the high school level) in eight year - I think we can all agree on one thing: He should have stayed at Wisconsin, where he averaged 15+ points per game. . .
- NBA - Nikola Jokic became the first Center & 3rd player in NBA history to average a triple-double in a season - - The other players to average a triple-double for a full season are: his current Denver teammate Russell Westbook, who has accompished this feat four times; and Basketball Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson. . .After his most recent triple-double versus the Memphis Grizzlies last Friday night, which was Jokic's 164th during the regular season, he remains in second place to Denver teammate, Russell Westbrook, who has 203 career triple-doubles. . .Mikal Bridges extended his "iron-man" streask with a loophole as the Knicks rested their starters in the team's regular-season finale with over the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday - - Bridges logged just six seconds in the regular season finale before he purposefully fouled a Nets playery, darting to the bench for the remainder of the game - - this was Bridges' 665th consecutive game played - - almost double the number of No.2 Harrison Barnes, whose streak hit 304 on Sunday. . .Q: Are you okay with players checking out of the game seconds or minutes after its onset?. . . The Phoenix Suns have fired HC Mike Budenholzer after one season, per ESPN's Shams Charania on Monday evening - - Under Budenholzer, the Suns finished the regular season with a 36-46 record, and finished 11th in the Western Conference standings. . .According to a report, Budenholzer made the cardinal sin by supposedly telling Bradley Beal "to play more like Jrue Holiday". . .The 2025 NBA Playoffs are officially set and are underway - - as the Orlando Magic defeated the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night, 120-95, in the Eastern Conference Play-in Tournament Game, and will now square off versus the No.2 seed & defending champion Boston Celtics, while the Golden State Warriors defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 121-116 after Jimmy Buter & Stephen Curry combined to score 75 points in the Western Conference Play-In Tournament game, and will face off versus the No.2 seed Houston Rockets. . .
- NCAA: News & Storylines - University of Tennessee Volunteers QB Nico Iamaleava did not attend spring football practice on Friday after NIL negotiations on a new contract - - His agents were attempting to renegotiate his deal in the $4 million deal - but his deal remain unchanged - - after he was expected to make $2.4 million with the Vols this year, but after the Vols pledged to not "blink an eye," and would not "pay him any more money.". .The University made the decision to move on from Nico - which shortly afterwards, led to the report that Iamaleave would enter the NCAA transfer portal upon its' opening on Wednesday - - The move to cut ties with Iamaleava has unfolded as a classic tale of modern college football, as he arrived at the school with a historic contract and now leaves both Tennessee's QB room with his own future shrouded in uncertainty. . .Then news broke that QB Nico Iamaleava was set to transfer to UCLA, and his father stated that "it was not about money," but rather the "Vols football offense." . .The Colorado Buffaloes will honor two of the most dynamci players in school history during Saturday's annual Black & Gold Spring Game by retiring numbers of Shedeur Sanders (#2) and two-way star player Travis Hunter (#12). . .However, people were not too happy with this announcement, and some feel the timing is rushed, pointing to the fact that it took 23 years for Colorado to retire the number of its first Heisman winner, RB Rashaan Salaam. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Colorado's decision to retire Sanders & Travis Hunter's jersey numbers?. . .Former Cal star RB Jaydn Ott announced on Tuesday that he is transferring & will be playing his Senior season at the University of Oklahoma. . .Q: Do you think OU is a good fit for RB Jaydn Ott?. . .
- NFL - The Cleveland Browns & veteran QB Joe Flacco reached an agreement last Friday afternoon on a one-year, $4 million contract. . .Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the deal could be up to $13 million including incentives. . .This deal will reunite Flacco & the Cleveland Browns, where back in 2023, he was awarded NFL's Comeback Player of the Year - - and Flacco remains one of three QBs that has a winning record with the Browns franchise since their return to the city of Cleveland (i.e., Brian Hoyer & Case Keenum). . .With the expectation that starting QB DeShaun Watson, who remains in rehab after re-tearing his right Achilles tendon, will miss most, if not the entire 2025 NFL season, and the franchise's decision to not re-sign last season's backup QB Jameis Winston - Flacco joins a deflated QB room that currently features Kenny Pickett, whom of which the Browns acquired via a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles during the first week of NFL free agency. . .In addition to signing Flacco, the Browns also hold the second overall pick in this year's NFL Draft, and co-owner Jimmy Haslam has facilitated meetings with several of the top QB prospects, including Cam Ward, Shedeur Sanders, Jaxson Dart, Jalen Milroe & Tyler Shough - - it's not difficult to predict that much speculation & multiple discussions will be had to determine whether the Browns should select a QB with the No.2 overall pick - after acquiring Flacco - or whether they should go in a different direction by drafting a non-QB prospect. . .Q: What are your thoughts? How likely do you think it is that the Cleveland Browns pass on the opportunity to draft a potential "franchise QB" with the No.2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft?. . .
Thanks for Listening!
