The Yearbook

Remember Molly and Nebraska-Oklahoma Edition

There's no reason to forget this rivalry, but it's in danger of becoming even more forgotten.

Key Players: Texas Football, Molly Ephraim, Texas A&M Football, Nebraska Football, May 22nd, "Last Man Standing", Delaware Football, Oklahoma Football, Flight Attendants, Vinny Papale, Molly O'Malia, Delaware, Elizabeth Banks, quirky girls, Getty Images, Molly, Doug, Camren Bicondova

Not Sure If Amy Adams Or Jenna Fischer Edition

If he's out of ideas, maybe the Commissioner of Baseball should just resign right now.  

Key Players: Mike Trout, Patricia Clarkson, MLB, Fame, Dairy Queen, Assumes Facts Not In Evidence, Rob Manfred, Emmy Nominations, Seamstresses, "Sharp Objects", Aaron Judge, Elizabeth Perkins, Amy Adams, Miniatures, Anaheim Angels, EA Sports

Not The Most World Cup Of World Cups Edition

The Best World Cup Ever? Or Just The Most Unpredictable? Or Not The Most Unpredictable?

Key Players: France, Belgium, Sweden, Flight Attendants, Croatia, Uruguay, Paraguay, Japan, Colombia, Cleveland Indians, Senegal, Southwest Airlines, Denmark, Switzerland, Cinderella, Time Cop, Universal Soldier, Recognized!, Butler University, VCU, World Cup, IndyCar  

Arguably Edition

The Eastern League is the center of the minor league universe, but who's the center of the Eastern League universe? That depends on if you're talking players or fans. 

Key Players: Richmond Flying Squirrels, New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Binghamton Rumble Ponies, Sports Illustrated, Hartford Yard Goats, Eastern League, Harrisburg, Washington Nationals, Tim Tebow, C.J. Hinojosa, San Francisco Giants, The Diamond, Knuckleball Pitcher, Virginia Tech, East Carolina, Sloths, Fireworks, World Cup, Richmond, New York Mets

I'm Jacob DeGrom For IHOb Edition

Why isn't Jacob DeGrom a bigger star? 

Key Players: Jacob DeGrom, Mysterio, Ruben Amaro Jr., New York Mets, Sarah Wright, Deathstroke, Jose Bautista, Memphis Football, "American Made", Mike Norvell, Tom Cruise, Thor, Noah Syndergaard, Noah Snydergaard, Brandon Nimmo

Not Sure If Underachieving Or Overachieving Edition

Is Reds manager Jim Riggleman a diamond in the rough? Are the Reds?  

Key Players: LeBron James, Cincinnati Reds, PGA Tour, Harlem Globetrotters, Harlem Wizards, Houston Astros

Tiny Rules Infractions (Are Still Rules Infractions) Edition

Yes Phil Mickelson cheated, and he did something else.

Key Players: Jupiter, Phil Mickelson, Miniatures, World Cup, USGA, Golf, Libra, "Hereditary", Hand Ball, Toni Collette, "Tiny Furniture", Modelers, U.S. Open, Unidentified College Basketball Game, "Tin Cup"

 

Back To The Future Too Edition

Doubtful that the "Back To The Future" triology changed the future by including a baseball bat, but...

Key Players: Nurses, Pepsi, Michael J. Fox, The Future, 1980's-Themed Restaurants, Flight Attendants, Baseball, World Cup, Chicago Cubs, Aaron Laffey, The "Back To The Future" Triology

2026 Madness Edition

One league received how many automatic bids? Someone worries about a low power rating? Too many deserving teams and too few slots? It's not the NCAA Tournament, it's FIFA...8-years from now.    

Key Players: USA, Bermuda, Mexico, Canada, Barbados, Romania, Virgin Islands, FIFA, CONCACAF, Boston College, North Carolina, Syracuse, Northwestern, The Offseason, Snakelight

Was This Their Year? Edition

Boston College goes for it all, and you can stop this episode any time and just look up what happened on the Internet.

Key Players: Emma Schurr, Tara Schurr, Dempsey Arsenault, Sam Apuzzo, Las Vegas Golden Knights, Boston College Women's Lacrosse, Twinning, Navy, Binghamton, Louisvile, Yale, Darmouth, Stony Brook, Bill Belichick, Joe Maddon, Vince Lombardi, Acacia Walker-Weinstein, Kenzie Kent, Fraternal Twin Problems, University of Maryland, James Madison University, Hit The Cutter, Tampa Bay Lightning

Blowout City Edition

Or a review of Golden State Warriors vs. Houston Rockets. Short-term answer: The Warriors are better. Long-term questions: What does this mean for Houston and Golden State?

Key Players: Klay Thompson, Mike D'Antoni, Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors, Will Power (the person), Sports Illustrated, Megyn Kelly, 60 Minutes Sports, Today, 60 Minutes, IndyCar

Do You Like The Ending? Edition

A comeback story, but do you like the ending?

Key Players: Indianapolis 500, Pippa Mann, IndyCar

Ode To May 22 Edition

May 22nd, it's the best time of the year. 

Key Players: Producer Rob, Possibly No One You Have Heard Of, Kaycee Sogard, The Other Royal Wedding, Target

Why Is Anything Anything? Edition

The American League is dominating baseball on paper, but is it paper domination? 

Key Players: Kansas City Royals, Detroit Tigers, National League, American League, THIS TIME IT COUNTS, Interleague Play, Why Is Anything Anything?, Numbers Lie A Little, Southeastern Conference

When The Time Comes To Fire Norman Dale* Edition

Because he plateaued.

*the head coach from the movie "Hoosiers"

Key Players: NBA

I Will Star Wars You, Mister! Edition

Stars (finally) Warring and Star Wars.

Key Players: Cinnabon, Golden State Warriors, There Goes Our Only Idea, Producer Rob, Penn State Men's Basketball, Mark Hamill, Sophie Winkleman, Houston Rockets, NHL, NBC

Box Office Mojo Edition

There has never been a better time to make this sports movie. Just don't crowdsource it. We hate that. 

Key Players: Zach Veach, Will Power (the person), "Rush", "Driven", Producer Rob, Gina Gershon, IndyCar

 

Dear NFL, If You Want Your Ratings To Go Up Please Don't Cut Any Of These People Edition

If the personnel can just stay the same (aside from one big free agent signing), there's a few 2018 NFL games we're really looking forward to.

Key Players: Wesley Johnson, Terrell Edmunds, Tremaine Edmunds, Trey Edmunds, D'Montre Wade, New York Jets, Detroit Lions, Jalen Ramsey, Washington State Football, NFL Draft, Brandon Marshall, Brandon Marshall (not a typo), Harlem Wizards, Luke Falk, Alexa Falk, New Orleans Saints, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, Denver Broncos, "Billions", Showtime, Natalee Falk, Brentwood Academy Football, Khalil McKenzie, Reggie McKenzie, Tim Ryan, Tim Ryan, Tim Ryan, Tennessee Titans, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers, Murray State Football, Nashville Predators, 10 Other Teams

Can A Football Spread Offense Win An NBA Title? Edition

Maybe, but it has already won a playoff berth and a playoff series.   

Key Players: Snake Light, Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Sacramento Kings, Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, Utah Jazz, Philadelphia 76ers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Charlotte Hornets, Boston Celtics, "Atomic Blonde", Sugar Lyn Beard

Which Is Better, The NHL's New Icing Rule Or "Atomic Blonde"? Edition

...or is it a tie? 

Key Players: Charlize Theron, Milwaukee Brewers, Anaheim Ducks, The End Of The 80's, The End Of Hockey As We Know It, "Atomic Blonde"

This Is Going To End Badly For Someone Edition

Not a rant. Let the Phillies' season play out.

Key Players: Sam Fuld, Philadelphia Phillies, Vendors, J.P. Crawford, Spring Training, Gabe Kapler, Detroit Tigers, analytics, Florida, That's What It Says In The Program 

Could This Be Their Year? Edition

There are a lot of twins playing college lacrosse, but that's not really what this is about.

Key Players: Tara Schurr, Emma Schurr, Jacqueline Kennedy, Jose Bautista, coach Acacia Walker-Weinstein, Tin Cup, Binghamton Women's Lacrosse, Boston College Women's Lacrosse, Don Johnson, twins

Goalie Pads Edition

Michigan is cyclical. 

Key Players: D.J. Wilson, Jordan Poole, Ibi Watson, "The New York Times", Stephen F. Austin Basketball, compression shorts, Nike, Texas Tech Basketball, Texas Basketball, Jordan Brand, Michigan Basketball, Fab Five

They're Not Mid-Majors, They're Teams Just Like You And Me Edition

If schools are looking for something grander why aren't they looking elsewhere?

Key Players: Iowa Basketball, New Mexico Basketball, Arizona State Basketball, Northwestern State Basketball, UCLA Basketball, Southwest Missouri State Basketball, (Almost) Nailed It!

I'll Show You Who's A Cautionary Tale Edition

Because time can't heal everything.  

Key Players: Carson Meyer, Team USA, Team Canada, Women's Hockey, Francisco Lindor, "The Nice Guys", Bailey Bram, Nick Saban, Bill Walton, Jim Boeheim, Herm Edwards, Cleveland Indians, Arizona State Football, Two Seconds Of Screen-Time, Alabama Football, Sequel!

Most Unlikely Hockey Gold Medalists Ever? Almost. Edition

The unlikely nearly became likely. Did it draw a big television audience? Unlikely. Also, are those real flight attendants? 

Key Players: Germany, Olympic Athletes From Russia, Karla Gonzalez De La Torre, Lisa Schiffbauer, Nico Wotherspoon, Butler, Duke, Miracle On Ice, Olympics, Olympic Hockey, Nathan Graham, Kim Matula, LA To Vegas, United Airlines

Paso Robles & Furniture Edition

There's no East Coast Bias when it comes to covering baseball coaches.  

Key Players: Mike Jirschele, Rusty Kuntz, Kansas City Royals, Ruben Amaro Jr., NORAD Santa Tracker, Roy Williams, Not That Roy Williams, The Other One, Sports Illustrated, Paso Robles-California, The New York Times Magazine, Dave Eiland, ESPN Magazine, Friday Night Lights, Sugar Lyn Beard, MLB

We'll Know More When The Books Start Coming Out Edition

We really only know one thing about the situation with Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. Well, we also know he'll have another chance to defeat his brother (as long as his brother is still on the Bears' staff). McDaniels defeated his brother and Tampa Bay in 2013, and the Patriots will play the Bears on the road next season.

Key Players: James Mathews, Jacoby Brissett, Sugar Lyn Beard, Josh McDaniels, Bill Belichick, New England Patriots, Dominika Cibulkova, Indianapolis Colts, Friday Night Lights, Red Sparrow, NFL, House M.D.

 

Shania And The Snow Edition

An unreal effort to play through it. An unreal scene straight from a movie (that would absolutely be written off as too unrealistic). 

Key Players: Steve Wozniak, Shania Twain, CFL, Canadian Football League, graduation speeches

Your Son Or Daughter Should Play For...Edition

Did Gene Hackman call this many timeouts?

Key Players: Hartford Whalers, Tom Pecora, MAAC Tripleheader, MAAC, Quinnipiac University Basketball, Fairfield University Basketball, Brass Bonanza, Quinnipiac Cheerleading, NHL, Long Island

 

We've Been Running Around Cheering For An Hour Edition

Alabama claims to have won the 1941 football National Championship despite shutout losses to Mississippi State and Vanderbilt. UCF has a much, much better argument for why they should claim the 2017 National Championship (and they were ranked #1 by a math formula too!).  

Key Players: UCF, University of Central Florida Football, Samantha Fish, Drew Butera, Brandon Moss, Alan Jackson, College Football Playoff, college football playoffs, Eric Hosmer, Kansas City Royals, Colley Matrix, Garth Brooks, playing an instrument is dangerous

Unloved By Al? Edition

Will Eric Hosmer's Eric Hosmer jersey cost 200-million-dollars?

Key Players: Eric Hosmer, Kansas City Royals, Sugar Lyn Beard, Garth Brooks, MLB, Samantha Fish, Whit Merrifield

You Don't Know Me...Edition

How can Josef Newgarden get in your house? 

Key Players: Conor Daly, Josef Newgarden, The Amazing Race, Kelly Clarkson, Nashville Predators, IndyCar, NHL, Edmonton Oilers 

 

404 Coach Not Found (Basketball Edition) Edition

Dude, Where's My Chris Mack? Actually Chris Mack (not pictured) should probably stay at Xavier, that's a great job.

Key Players: Pamela Adlon, Surya Bonaly, prom, Joan Osborne (no relation to Tom), Louisville Basketball

A Force Awakens (or could have) Edition

Bring on the amateurs (well, not-famous professionals)!

Key Players: Michael Farber, Gravity Falls, Contradiction, Brian Gionta, Switzerland, Olympics, NHL

 

Strange Advantages (great band) Edition

"Trick plays are just another way of saying 'we give up'."

-awesome line from ESPN Classic's "Cheap Seats"

 

...but these plays aren't tricks and again produced a win. 

Key Players: Memphis Grizzlies, Phoenix Suns, great tackle, Ty Montgomery, Jaylen Johnson, Cheap Seats, Louisville Basketball, Tyson Chandler, Green Bay Packers, Lester Coleman, change the rule in volleyball, Jay Triano, Virginia Football, NBA, NHL, NFL, Sean Avery  

4 Weeks In Fall Edition: The Results Edition

We now know a lot more about whose bubble has burst. 

Key Players (for no scientific reason): Iowa Basketball, Monmouth Basketball, Arizona State Basketball, Loyola-Chicago Basketball, Navy Basketball, Aly Michalka, Ball State Basketball

Anthology Edition

Man booed for not dominating an opponent returns home a hero, but not before rehabbing the opponent. Also, the Heisman Trophy becomes even more irrelevant, and huddling on offense is the hardest part.  

Key Players: Bazine Netal, Frances Pomeroy Naismith, Anna Brewster, Natalie Woodruff??!!?, Tennessee Football, Nick Bellore, Detroit Lions, irony, MTV, Ohio State, UCF, Central Florida, Jeremy Pruitt, New England Patriots, Tom Osborne, Rob Gronkowski, Heisman Trophy, Scott Frost, San Diego State Football, Star Wars, Nebraska Football, Rashaad Penny

Finally Figured Out Tank McNamara Edition

Was David Fizdale set up to fail? Short answer: too soon to tell. This podcast is a longer answer. And who were the talent evaluators at the University of San Diego in the 1990's? They were really good.

Key Players: NBA, USFL, Tank McNamara, University of San Diego, USD, Portland Breakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Genndy Tartakovsky, Kevin Hanson, James Borrego, David Fizdale, Toreros

404 Coach Not Found Edition

Dude, Where's My Kirby Smart? 

Key Players: Florida, Arizona State, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Chip Kelly, Scott Frost, Nebraska (again), Mike Norvell (not pictured), Well I'm Out Of Candidates   

Samantha Fish In "The Nebraska Football Story" Edition

Nearly 20-years ago Nebraska Football had a 'how do you replace a legend?' problem. They still haven't solved the problem. Fortunately that's mostly the problem. 

Key Players: Samantha Fish, Emma Stone, Nebraska Football, Tom Osborne, Kansas City Royals, Woo! 

Irony: Don't Believe The Hype Edition

Which was the real westbound one-handed-shirttail-tackle-defying run, and which one was more effective?

Key Players: North Texas Basketball, San Diego State Football, Windsor Spitfires, Adirondack Phantoms

4 Weeks In Fall Edition

The college basketball season isn't as long as it seems. Well before mid-December many teams will already know whether or not they have to win their conference tournament.   

Key Players: Iowa Basketball, Monmouth Basketball, Texas-Rio Grande Valley Basketball, Hickory Crawdads, Kyle Cody, Origin Story, Georgia Tech Basketball, Arizona State Basketball, Will Ferrell, Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award

 

 

You Can't Judge A Man By His Taco Bell Commercial Edition

Analytics is no fad, but the Yankees firing of Joe Girardi seems like one.

Fire My A__? Edition

The first firing was wrong, and the proposed second one is even wronger.

Southwest Commercial Analysis Edition

Would a real person actually do this? 

Key Players: Colorado State Volleyball

One And Done Edition

Is this all there is? 

Key Players: Josef Newgarden, J.R. Hildebrand, So Many Teams, IndyCar, MLB

Seems Legit Edition

One of sports newer, and most annoying, cliches finally goes down, thanks to one man.

Key Players: Zoe Kazan, Carson Meyer, one man

Nick-thing Edition

You've seen a courtroom drama, come up with a better nickname for Aaron Judge before it's too late. 

Battle Of The Network Stars Edition

Battle of the Network Stars came back, but not really. So we went D&D (or at least producer Rob did), drafted real network stars from real networks, and played out (with charts & dice) the entire competition like it should have happened.

SUMMARY (giveaway-free): One network actress' specialty wasn't a Battle of the Network Stars-sanctioned event, one network actress spent all night shooting her show and lost her event, and then somebody won.    

Key Players: Aly Michalka, Molly Ephraim, Sean Pertwee, James Spader, Grant Gustin, Jaimie Alexander, Kat Dennings, Christine Baranski, Rose McIver, quirky girls, May 22nd