Le Batard & Friends Network

It's another Coca Friday, party people! Today we kick things off with realignment in baseball! How is it going to work so it's not just lopsided divisions? Breaking Malik Beasley news! Top 25 Sports Movies of All Time! Well, we just give our Top 5! As always, you can reach me @matthewcoca on Twitter or IG Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today’s word of the day is ‘reconcile’ as in ESPN as in MLB as in broadcast as in baseball as in DTC. What am I talking about? ESPN and MLB are back together again. It looks like MLB games will come to the new service that ESPN launched. National games, out-of-market, and so on. Sunday Night Baseball? That could be headed to NBC! And the Home Run Derby… Netflix! (13:00) NBC wants to takeover the sports world. Give me NFL! Give me NBA! Give me MLB! The Peacock is showing off now! (23:30) Jerry Jones just can’t help himself. Every day is something new. And he’s pushing Micah Parsons to the point where we don’t know if he’ll ever play for the Cowboys again. (33:40) Review: Somebody Somewhere. (37:00) NPPOD. (41:00) Pat Fitzgerald settled with Northwestern over his major lawsuit against the university. And he’s getting big bucks. And he was proven innocent. Woof. (49:00) The Brewers won on Thursday. Kyle Tucker played. Tucker went hitless. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan has pushed the Mystery Crate crew to Studio B on late notice and Mike Fuentes is annoyed. Billy wants to be Roy's neighbor, Jessica tries to find a influencer niche for Roy, Billy doesn't like all the non-football football content and finally the crew wants to know if Mike Fuentes is OK. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

No job in America is more scrutinized, except for (maybe) the presidency. And yet no job is more misunderstood — even by the stars who mastered it. On the eve of a new football season, Pablo joins journalism's foremost QB scholar for a case study in royalty: How do the Mannings keep producing under-center superstars? What connects the Golden Age of Hollywood to John Elway? Is Tom Brady’s newsletter right about fatherhood? And why do Nick Saban’s assistants call him “Daddy”? • Buy Seth Wickersham’s new book, "American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback" https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/789617/american-kings-by-seth-wickersham/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mina Kimes joins the show! She’s here to talk all things football with us! Was Daniel Jones the right choice for the Colts? Is Anthony Richardson’s time in Indy over? Jaguars or Dolphins? Super Bowl in London? (27:45) The Jets held a players-only practice. How do I feel about that? This is Aaron Glenn’s first season as a head coach and he’s trying to change the culture. (34:20) Myles Garrett wouldn’t answer questions about his speeding tickets. This is someone who keeps getting them. And he won’t talk about it? Cmon! (40:30) Caitlin Clark has only played 13 games this season. That’s it. And now we’re learning she picked up another injury. Oh boy. (45:00) What is the latest on the Connecticut Sun? Is the WNBA forcing a sale to itself? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today’s word of the day is ‘dominance’ as in Shohei Ohtani as in the Dodgers as in the Rockies? What? That’s right the Rockies rocked Ohtani in four innings. It was his worst outing of the season, in a time where the Dodgers can’t afford to drop these games. Not only that, Ohtani was hit by a comeback. Wooof. (14:30) We need to talk about what happened with one of the Yankees recent draft picks. He did something in college that is shameful, disrespectful, and downright horrible. But the Yankees still took him. (25:30) The Diamondbacks removed its 3rd base coach with five weeks left in the season. Manager Torey Luvollo said too many mistakes were made. Very rare. (34:00) Review: The Usual Suspects. (39:00) NPPOD. (44:30) The Pittsburgh Pirates have the top pitching prospect in baseball. And he was just called up. But for a bullpen role? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

He was the Bill James of basketball. A cocky forefather of sports analytics who saw numbers as colors. Whose book, "Basketball Heaven," helped usher in the three-point era. And who failed. But Martin Manley also left behind a map, ranging from X-Files to his mother-in-law to the path toward the most efficient life... and death. Reporters Nick Altschuller and Rich Levine adapt their new "30 for 30" podcast — produced by our parent company Meadowlark Media and Adam McKay's Hyperobject Industries, in partnership with ESPN. (If you are in crisis, please call, text or chat with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.) • Listen to all six episodes of "Chasing Basketball Heaven": https://30for30podcasts.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Call us at 631-377-4869 if you want to ask Samson (!) a question It’s So You Wanna Talk to Samson Wednesday! How do you start talking extensions with players that aren’t superstars? How do you keep a fan favorite before the market has been set for a player like that? (8:00) Who provides the equipment for MLB players? Do they have to buy their own bats, gloves, batting gloves? (17:45) The Green Bay Packers are cancelling season tickets for people who sell their season tickets on the secondary market. Uh oh! (30:00) Someone asked if the NBA and NHL would ever look to invest into ESPN like the NFL did. Would MLB do it? (37:00) Is Nashville getting an MLB team? A group in the city is talking like it REALLY wants one. (47:00) How do losing cities change the losing culture? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today’s word of the day is ‘DH’ as in designated hitter as in Aaron Judge as in Giancarlo Stanton as in the Yankees as in home runs as in Aaron Boone. What a game last night for the Yankees. The bats were alive. How can the Yankees keep this lineup together? What is Judge’s arm health? Why did Aaron Boone not know? (16:00) Victor Robles has been suspended by MLB for 10 games. That’s a huge number for what he did in his rehab assignment. Threw a bat at a pitcher! (27:30) The Super Bowl in London? Roger Goodell wants it! Would it ever happen? (36:00) Review: Eddington (39:30) The Indianapolis Colts are going with Daniel Jones as QB. Anthony Richardson, the No. 4 pick from 2023, has found himself back on the bench. Wow. (48:00) NPPOD Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

John Calipari joins us this morning! And he tells it like it is on transfers, NIL, expansion, and more! (30:00) The Big Ten wants 28 teams in the College Football Playoff? What? (35:30) Let’s take a look at what’s going on at Middle Tennessee State University. No more alternate jerseys. Wow. They also have a plan for NIL and how players get that money. (44:00) Trey Hendrickson is still out for the Bengals. Not playing. No deal. Wants a trade. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today’s word of the day is ‘rebound’ as in the Brewers as in the Cubs as in new streak as in NL Central as in Kyle Tucker. Milwaukee won Game 1 of the series 7-0. Kyle Tucker struggled again. And the Cubs have decided to give him a few days off. Wow. (15:30) The AL West has a small problem right now. Every one of the teams is struggling at the same time. The Astros have been getting shut out. The Mariners are losing. And the Rangers fell off a cliff. (25:00) The St. Louis Cardinals have some problems. Attendance. For the first time in 21 years the Cardinals attendance will finish outside the top 7 in MLB. (33:27) Review: Just A Bit Outside. (39:45) Vlad Guerrero Jr got hurt yesterday doing a split. Now he needs an MRI. Oh boy. This is the last thing the Blue Jays needed. (45:00) NPPOD. Let’s talk about Tommy Pham. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

He is one of the most disturbing and unapologetic filmmakers in Hollywood, from creating "Requiem for a Dream" to choosing conquistador sci-fi over Batman. But director Darren Aronofsky's new movie — "Caught Stealing," starring Austin Butler as a former MLB prospect — is a departure. Toward optimism; nostalgia; and Cheez. (Because, as any real New Yorker knows, you get everything you want when you no longer want it that much.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rob Manfred spoke last night during the Little League Classic about expansion and geographical realignment. This has been talked about for over a decade! Let’s explain what this all means and what could happen. (19:00) NPPOD. (22:00) What is going on with the Browns QB battle? Is it Shedeur? Is it Gabriel? Is it Flacco? (29:15) This isn’t the biggest story for the Browns executives. They have run into a slight stadium problem. (35:00) Michigan’s punishment has been released by the NCAA. It could cost the university around $30 million in total. Wow. (45:00) The NBA wants to do away with prop bets as well. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today’s word of the day is ‘busted’ as in the Milwaukee Brewers as in 14 wins as in the NL Central as in best in baseball. The streak is finally over, but the Brewers had a shot. Friday a comeback. Saturday a comeback. Sunday a comeback, but blew it in the 9th! Now it’s time for a 5-game series against the Chicago Cubs. HUGE for both teams! (12:30) The Cubs fans booed Kyle Tucker on Sunday. He didn’t run out a ground ball. He hasn’t homered since July 1. The Brewers are up 8 games in the division. He’s a free agent after the season. (20:40) Zack Wheeler’s season is likely over. A blood clot in his shoulder and it’s over. Terrible news for the team. (29:30) The Dodgers swept the Padres. San Diego had the division lead for 1 days and the Dodgers took it back. (34:30) Review: Everything’s Going to be Great. (39:30) Victor Robles is going to get suspended. Has to! He launched his bat at a pitcher during a rehab game. (45:20) What is going on with the Arizona Diamondbacks? A new report says teammates are fed up with Ketel Marte. That he was in the Dominican Republic after the all-star break… not at his home that was robbed in Arizona. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s Coca Friday people! We talk Andrew Dawson. Collusion, how bad the Mets are, why the South only has the Braves, movies, and more! You can yell at him on Twitter @ matthewcoca Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today’s word of the day is ‘cable’ as in cable TV as in streamers as in MLB as in NBA as in NBC as in Peacock as in Netflix as in Apple as in ESPN! Remember the death of cable TV? Don’t you wish it didn’t go away? Let’s start with MLB and its broadcast rights. Where will MLB games be next season? Apple? NBC? Netflix? ESPN? Could be! (16:00) The NBA schedule was released yesterday and guess what? You need at least four different subscriptions to watch national games! NBC! Peacock! ESPN! ABC! Prime! How fun? We’ll take a look some of the new wrinkles in these schedules. Sorry, East Coast! (30:00) Review: Untamed. (33:20) Brian Flores is still wrapped up in a lawsuit against the NFL over discrimination. And he just got a big win in court. (42:30) The NFLPA is in deep water again. It never ends. (50:30) NPPOD. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mike Fuentes is fed up with the shipping container as no one seems to want to stick to a schedule. Once he gets over his tantrum, they discuss the PR glow up of Travis Kelce during this offseason and how Taylor Swift's appearance on 'New Heights' will do numbers. Tony is furious he wasn't able to go see Bad Bunny in Puerto Rico, the crew visits ESPN's Misery Index and finally the show says good bye to AOL dial up by reminiscing about the Instant Messenger era. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The host of “The Adam Friedland Show” is here to come out of the closet as the secret inspiration for one of PTFO’s most controversial episodes. Also: Pablo and Adam’s (real) LSAT scores; loving Kobe; telling Kobe how your ass tastes; @perfectbooties; if LeBron is the Millennial Michael Jordan; the secrets of good interviewing; calling Tony Kornheiser; photo shoots; campus protests; dunking on Chris Cuomo; Jonathan Livingston Seagull; cucking Richard Nixon; and value premises. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Mets cannot win. The Mets cannot pitch. The Mets score runs and then blow leads. The Mets are now 5 games back of the Phillies. The Mets now hold just a 1-game lead over the Reds. (10:39) We have the great Andre Dawson on with us today! He takes us through why he’s not talking with the Baseball Hall of Fame and why he wanted his hat changed! (44:00) Let’s talk about the Cubs. Their GM Carter Hawkins spoke on the trade deadline and it left me stumped. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today’s word of the day is ‘passion’ as in the Minnesota Twins as in MLB as in baseball as in played. That’s how Twins fans feel today. The Pohlad family is no longer selling the team. What happened? Why? (12:30) The Portland Trail Blazers have sold. The team was for sale when Paul Allen died back in 2018. It’ll be bought for $4.25 billion to the owner of the Carolina Hurricanes. Will the team move? (23:00) The Dallas Cowboys are the most expensive team in the world. Valued over $12 billion! Let’s take a look at team valuations from each of the major sports in the United States. (33:00) Review: Interstellar. (36:00) NPPOD. (39:00) The Milwaukee Brewers have won 12-straight. That means the city of Milwaukee will be getting free burgers! (46:30) The Dodgers got swept by the Angels. The Dodgers are now behind the Padres in the NL West. Oh boy. (49:30) The Texas Rangers need to get it going. Fast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices