Le Batard & Friends Network

Today’s word of the day is ‘neutral’ as in the NFL as in Rams as in Vikings as in the game has been moved to Arizona. The fires in Los Angeles are still raging on. Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced. Disaster. (9:40) Do you believe me now about Tom Brady? He is fully a Raider. That’s it. (16:35) Yesterday was Arbitration Deadline in MLB. Who avoided it? Who got an agreement done? (35:05) Review: Gladiator 2. (39:00) Venu Sports is no more. Disney, WB, Fox combined deal is over before it began. (41:00) Tyreek Hill’s agent spoke yesterday. He said Hill was committed to the Dolphins, but then said he wasn’t committed to the Dolphins? (49:00) NPPOD. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Stugotz, Billy, and Mikey A react to Notre Dame's win over Penn State to put them in CFP Championship game. The guys are joined by the owners of JoshAllen.com and they explain what it will take for them to give up the domain name (Stugotz tries to low ball them). Simms joins the show to talk about the coaching carrousel as well as preview the Super Wild Card Weekend games. And most of the crew is back to make picks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The first Mystery Crate of 2025 sees Izzy revealing that he believes someone in the office could use a makeover. The crew then recaps their winter breaks, discuss how Tony really didn't "have" a baby, then learn how to say the longest place name on planet earth before Cote and Amin give some insight on what they saw during the birth of their children. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The co-hosts of "First Things First" join their arch-frenemy to debate: Should incorrect predictions be embarrassing? What's the best word in the sports discourse? And who is famous best? Plus: the second-smartest person in sports media, ranking rankings, flying cars without stereos, Sully Sullenberger, The Sam Darnoldification of Sports, and an ice-cream sandwich compliment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today’s word of the day is ‘destruction’ as in the LA fires continue to rage as in homes have been destroyed as in businesses have been destroyed as in lives have been destroyed. Hundreds of thousands of people evacuated. The Kings postponed. The Lakers likely will. There’s an NFL game on Monday, will that be impacted? (20:30) Is Bill Belichick leaving North Carolina? Could that happen? No way, right? (26:10) So You Wanna Talk to Samson!? Someone asked me about Brian Flores. Is he going to be a head coach again? (37:45) Review: The Breakfast Club. (42:25) The College Football Playoff semifinals are here! Get excited! (48:10) NPPOD. (50:00) Are the Twins going to sell before Opening Day? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Stugotz, Billy and Mikey A are joined by Lucy to preview the Orange Bowl between Penn State and Notre Dame and the Cotton Bowl between Texas and Ohio State. Lucy is also super excited for a certain BIG10 School's acquisition of quarterback in the transfer portal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The culture war around a tiny population of competitors may have led to the re-election of Donald Trump, who says nationwide bans on Day One aren't complicated. But biology is complicated. And David Epstein — greatest sports science reporter in America, author of The Sports Gene, writer of the Range Widely newsletter — did the research, so that the suspicious and/or sympathetic among us don't necessarily have to. Turns out, there are solutions upon which fact-based humans can agree, in case studies from childbirth to high-jump junk, college volleyball to Olympic boxing, nature to nurture... and nipple. ** Link on The Sports Gene: https://davidepstein.com/david-epstein-the-sports-gene/ Link on Range Widely: https://davidepstein.substack.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Peter makes a case for why Green Bay is a Super Bowl dark horse. Jordan takes a victory lap about his preseason Bills pick. On this episode, the guys break down everything you need to know about this weekend’s wildcard match-ups across the NFL. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’re down to the College Football Playoff semi-finals! On this episode of “Underdogs,” Jordan and Peter make their picks for the much-anticipated Notre Dame vs. Penn State and Ohio State vs. Texas matchups. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today’s word of the day is ‘who’s next’ as in the Raiders need a new coach as in Antonio Pierce fired as in Mark Davis as in Tom Brady! That’s right, Tom Brady is expected to be heavily involved in this coaching search. And the quarterback search. (8:30) Has Mike McDaniel lose the locker room? It seems like it. Players mad. Players late to meetings. Players being fined. Tyreek Hill may want out. (15:25) What is happening with Pete Alonso? Why hasn’t he signed yet? Did Scott Boras screw this up? (31:10) Review: A Real Pain. (37:45) Justin Verlander is headed to the San Francisco Giants. 42-year old signed a one-year deal for $15 million. (41:24) Brent Rooker signed a nice deal for himself with the Athletics. But stop saying the Athletics are spending money! (45:05) So You Wanna Talk to Samson!? Someone asked me about the Gavin Lux trade and what it means for the Dodgers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today’s word of the day is ‘omniscient’ as in knowing everything as in NFL owners as in firing as in hiring as in deciding not to make any moves. Let’s go through some of the moves made yesterday during NFL Black Monday. Robert Kraft followed up his statement on firing Jerod Mayo with another statement. John Mara spoke. Shad Khan spoke. (18:00) Jets owner Woody Johnson had to come out and defend his son from reports of his involvement in the Jets. What a mess that organization is. (32:13) Review: Wicked. (36:15) There’s a huge fight brewing for control of the San Diego Padres right now. The widow of Peter Seidler is now suing his brothers over control of the team. Oh boy. (45:12) We have an update on the Rays again! The team came out and says it wants the Trop to be fixed now! Huh!? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It is an infamous basketball ad that keeps going viral as much for its cringe-worthiness as the mystery of its simple message: "sportsmanship." But correspondent Zach Schwartz embarked on a two-and-a-half-year quest to meet the anonymous actor who's gotten dunked on by Twitter for more than a decade. Now, he helps us untangle a web of links from March Madness to Madison Avenue; a Supreme Court justice to a secretive billionaire; and the Dalai Lama to Damian Lillard (who agreed to go on the record). And we learn the true meaning of "perseverance" in the process. For more Zach Schwartz, you can visit his YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@zach_schwartz And special thanks to Goodnight, Texas for blessing this episode with their hit song, "The Railroad": https://youtu.be/1sp33WgVWMA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today’s word of the day is ‘trajectory’ as in the NFL regular season has ended as in the the NFL draft order at the top is set as in owners and front offices are starting to make decisions as in the Patriots have fired Jerod Mayo. One season and Mayo is gone. From the first pick to the 4th pick in the draft. Wooof! (7:15) Did you hear what Jerry Jones said? He gave you the hard truth about the Dallas Cowboys! (13:00) Let me tell you about my trip! (18:10) What happened in New Orleans is a disgrace. (30:30) Review: Golden Globes. (33:00) Dave Kaval has resigned as the president of the Athletics. Wow. (40:20) The Jaguars have fired Doug Pederson! But, Trent Baalke is staying! The Giants are bringing back Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen. Interesting. (46:00) What in the world is going on in Miami? The Dolphins are a mess. The Marlins are a mess. The Heat are a mess. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Stugotz, Billy and Mikey A play "if the season ended today" because it did. Billy is frustrated with the Dolphins and Giants sending out a note to their fans telling them they are going to stay on the same bad path they are on and keep their head coach and GM. The Jaguars fired "Doug Marrone" and the Patriots have perfected tampering. Plus, "Winners and Losers" and would the Lions pass on the BYE week? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Stugotz, Billy, and Mikey A try to decide which of the four CFP teams winning the Championship is the least of all the evils. Billy contemplates offering the Golics a place to stay for the Orange Bowl next week. Simms joins the show to talk about the wild Texas victory of Arizona State. Billy interrogates Simms about what he knew about SpyGate and DeflateGate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan has made his return. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Stugotz is here. We talk bout everything from his book to his career to his family to his future. You’re going to want to hear this one! You can purchase a copy of his book here: https://stugotzbook.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jordan and Peter have spent the last year covering the craziest Underdog stories across sports. Now it's time to rank the top 10 best Underdogs of the 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chris Cote is here! He rarely ever wants to get interviewed, but he’s here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Izzy Gutierrez joins us today! We talk about his career, about his life, about it all! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices