Listen Now

In this week's podcast, Tim laments the block/charge disparity that is plaguing flop-happy college basketball; Kimball endorses the idea of his beloved Jets dealing for Aaron Rodgers; and Mike pays tribute to the late Billy Packer and the straightforward analysis that made him synonymous with the Final Four.    --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mike-berardino/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mike-berardino/support

With the NFL postseason in full roar, Tim unpacks Brett Maher's public nightmare, Kimball laments the inclusion of the unworthy and Mike explains why sports TV's latest all-access experiment was so unpleasing to his ears.   --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mike-berardino/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mike-berardino/support

Special guest and Boston College freshman Atticus Crothers joins the pod as the professor (Tim) considers the choices football players must make as we all process Damar Hamlin's harrowing on-field episode; the scout (Kimball) wonders why winning matters so much; the freshman (Atticus) shares his experiences as a fledgling hoops Sicko; and Mike ponders the franchising influence of new Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman, aka Mr. Bojangles.  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mike-berardino/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mike-berardino/support

Happy holidays, everyone. Tim wonders if towering Zach Edey can take Purdue basketball to the promised land. Kimball found the World Cup more enjoyable since he didn't care who won. And on the 50th anniversary of one of the most iconic plays in NFL history, Mike recounts the story of how two Steelers fans coined the "Immaculate Reception."  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mike-berardino/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mike-berardino/support

As Leo Messi closes in on Argentina's first World Cup championship since 1986 -- the year before he was born -- Professor Crothers considers how little we really know about the soccer legend. Kimball, now in his baseball offseason actor/coach mode, offers an apology after his latest lesson in the differences between coaching high school boys and girls. And Mike, taking a break from transfer portal mania, wonders who will end up signing Bobby McGee.      --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mike-berardino/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mike-berardino/support

With the eyes of the world on Qatar, Tim divulges his most favored nation, Kimball chides those who fail to see the drama in low-scoring matches and Mike proposes an expansion of fair-play points as a way to incentivize sportsmanship in other realms.  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mike-berardino/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mike-berardino/support

This week the professor discusses the many issues with holding soccer's World Cup in Qatar; the scout believes his beloved New York Jets will use Sunday's crushing loss as fuel; and Mike wonders about the real missed opportunity for disgraced public figures with a national platform.   --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mike-berardino/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mike-berardino/support

Tim wonders why NFL players can't just refrain from excessive on-field celebration; Kimball fails to see the value in midgame TV interviews with those trying to compete;  and Mike questions the wisdom of sports-voting transparency in the social media age.   --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mike-berardino/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mike-berardino/support

Tim has concerns about the coming expansion of the College Football Playoff, Kimball breaks out the worst Bill Belichick imitation you've ever heard and Mike wishes the '72 Dolphins would finally get the respect they deserve.  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mike-berardino/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mike-berardino/support

In honor of the San Diego Padres and their first NLCS appearance in nearly a quarter century, we're talking baseball and fatherhood. Professor Crothers recounts a memorable Petco Park experience with his son Atticus from 2012, while Mike Berardino goes back even further to 2008 and a breakthrough game of catch with his son Daniel in the parking lot of the Padres' spring home in Peoria, Ariz. As a Padres scout, Kimball offers up a few bold suggestions for how to make the multitiered MLB playoff system more rewarding for division winners.  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mike-berardino/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mike-berardino/support

Amid All-Rise Mania, Professor Crothers ponders whether Aaron Judge just had the greatest offensive season in major league history; Kimball chides those who act like they care more about Tua Tagovailoa's safety than our NFL entertainment fix; and Mike pulls back the curtain on life as a first-time AP Top 25 voter and the conspiracy theories of rabid college football fans.   --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mike-berardino/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mike-berardino/support

Noted author John Walters joins us to discuss Geno Smith (Tim's point), Manti Te'o (Mike's point) and the pickleball craze (Kimball).  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mike-berardino/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mike-berardino/support

Back for more and stunningly so, Professor Crothers ponders modern tennis' greatest #Kyrgiosity, Kimball obsesses (yet again) about the charmed life of Tom Brady and Mike wonders if the universally despised Brian Kelly will ever get the benefit of the doubt.  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mike-berardino/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mike-berardino/support

In this episode Tim shares memories of a family trip to the home of the Little League World Series, Kimball wonders at what point do we lose our right to moral outrage and Mike considers the sweeping ramifications of Paige Bueckers' latest major injury.  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mike-berardino/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mike-berardino/support

After a brief hiatus, the Thoughtful Trio is back to consider the uniqueness of St. Andrews, the pressure of Wimbledon and the madness of the megaconference.  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mike-berardino/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mike-berardino/support

With LIV golf starting up this week, Tim ponders the short list of athletes who have harmed their careers as completely and as rapidly as Phil Mickelson has since winning the 2021 PGA Championship; Mike wonders if Tiger Woods will actually end up regretting his decision to pass up all that Saudi cash; and Kimball searches high and low for the real victims of the NIL tidal wave that is sweeping away college sports as we knew it.  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mike-berardino/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mike-berardino/support

After a brief hiatus, your favorite sports thinkers return to address the issues of our time. Professor Crothers is now hunky dory with the all-time DH in MLB. Scout Crossley is ready to legislate out the beloved corner 3-point shot from the NBA game, and Journalist Berardino is still processing the fallout from this week's ugly Twitter feud between Lil Wayne and Mark Cuban.  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mike-berardino/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mike-berardino/support

In the wake of the latest Angel Hernandez debacle, Tim wonders why Major League Baseball doesn't just go to robot umpires now; Kimball is rooting for Jerry West in his potential litigation against HBO's "Winning Time," and Mike considers Jay Wright's early retirement in the context of the legend exodus that has taken place in college basketball over the past 13 months.  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mike-berardino/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mike-berardino/support

This week Tim proclaims he's through watching Major League Baseball, Kimball explains his unusual acceptance of a runner-up finish for North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament and DraftKings Mike breaks down the worthwhile long shots this year in Augusta.  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mike-berardino/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mike-berardino/support

With North Carolina and Duke set to meet in the Final Four for the first time in the rivalry's 102-year history, we examine that mega-meeting from all angles. Tim reports from Chapel Hill that the celebration of Final Four trip No. 21 was strangely muted; Kimball suggests whichever blue-blood program (including Kansas and Villanova) emerges as this year's champion will have a valid claim as Team of the Century (Thus Far); and Mike takes us through the long and winding road that connects Dick Harp and Hubert Davis in the history books.   --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mike-berardino/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mike-berardino/support