Why Sports Podcast - Episode #3 07232023

The host, Alvin Spain, talks about various sports topics. He mentions the American women's soccer team's pursuit of a three-peat at the World Cup. He also discusses the Denver Nuggets winning their first-ever NBA championship and the success of the Las Vegas Knights in the NHL. He praises Shohei Otani as one of the best athletes in baseball and talks about the competitive nature of the upcoming NFL season. He emphasizes the value of running backs in football and expresses excitement for the start of the NFL season. And welcome back to why sports This is your host Alvin Spain and it's been far too long I miss y'all had some technical issues, but hopefully we are back now and boy I know I missed quite a bit pretty much the summer and I wanted anything happened this summer. That's That's me having my sarcastic tone. I know a lot a lot has happened This summer so we don't just spend this episode today trying to do a catch-up of everything that has happened Today and then we're going to start to look forward as hopefully we're starting to get a boy get into a rhythm of the show Especially with the NFL season coming up so On top of all that I actually wrote out a list of all the things around but but one thing I actually didn't put on the list and it should have been number one on the list is To the ladies and Especially to the American women's soccer team as they are looking for a three-peat at World Cup champions Wish all the best of luck. It has been one of the Premier teams and all the sports they have their dominance and women's soccer has been Unbelievable. It will be challenged. Oh, I'm the Canadian team has looked very strong Brazil, of course As well so looking forward to seeing how the World Cup Breaks down there and again best of luck really to all teams, but for the American women who are looking for this looking for a three-peat Wishing y'all nothing from the best doesn't but the best from live sports so Now that we've talked about that, let's talk about everything that has happened Pretty much from June on to this day here First I've talked about the NBA Finals gotta hit up the Denver Nuggets the first-ever World Championship in their franchise one of my favorite players Well time was the chemical tumble and I always wish it was him that brought it home But instead it was it is now are not even arguably the best player of franchise history Nicola Jokic a two-time MVP Along with Jamal Murray, they did that thing beat the Miami Heat In a great series Denver they were the true top team. I didn't think anybody was going to come and beat him, but Miami has played They have so much heart. There's so much grit. They're well coached and They can play with anybody in this league. It does not matter how many superstars you have on the other side Eric's bullshit, Jimmy Butler. They got that team ready at all time So I look forward to seeing what they do next year. Hopefully they can bring in Dame Lillard I really get that backcourt going with him and Jimmy Butler take some of that pressure off Jimmy Butler and then have a great pass man for Ben on a volume, but again the story is the Denver Nuggets and It will be interesting to see If they could continue this because right now They they do have the best player Nicola Jokic. They do have the best team right now They're still playing in the very top Western Conference, you know The Lakers are going to be coming harder after them this offseason But Clippers also another team you throw out there as well It'll be it'll time will tell but Great job by the Denver Nuggets Looking forward to seeing what that franchise can do moving forward now that they've won their first championship We're going to start looking at the teams in sports history that still are looking for their first world championship One of the teams that immediately comes to mind is the Buffalo Bills and we'll talk about them a little bit later as we'll start Talking about the NFL season as well and see if they can finally break their jinx And joining the Denver Nuggets is getting off the snide as far as winning a world championship speaking about a team that has won their first title and franchise history Congratulations to the Las Vegas Knights now a couple of years ago when they faced my Capitals. I Would have rooted for them, but I quite frankly I you know native, Washingtonian. It was so awesome to see Alexander Ovechkin Win the Stanley Cup and beat the Knights the only thing that would have topped it off if it was if they did it here in DC But that's in the past the Las Vegas Knights Wow, and what a start to their career. This was their second Stanley Cup final and they won this they won the whole thing Kudos to them. Yeah, I mean this is one of the best early stretches of a franchise ever and To them they seem to be well very well run I don't even I think don't you think they made the playoffs last year? But again for the second Stanley Cup trip, and they're only at least five year history. It's quite phenomenal. So Congratulations to them and I tell you between them the Las Vegas aces or they could Las Vegas could be the city of champions sooner rather than later man. The aces look great again this year They look like they're coming back to win another WNBA championship You know, the Knights are going to be looking to repeat a Stanley Cup champion. So kudos to Las Vegas Kudos to Las Vegas. Yeah, I know there was a hard time of you know, considering a franchise a sports franchise there But now they've gotten a couple of championships and it looks like they're really getting the ball Rolling now, especially with the great talent that they are they have really started to build up in that city in their franchise there So now that I've covered the champs the champs that I missed I Got it in 2023. I did not think I would say this Just late in the year on July 23rd 2023 My Baltimore Orioles are in first place in the American League East. I Did just have to pause and figure out that one thing you know the Baltimore Orioles who had a tremendous finish to the year last year and They got that catcher that you rushed it and this is a team I They played the Dodgers Earlier this week or last week and it was considered a world a potential World Series matchup This is the same thing that has the Red Sox and the Yankees who outspend Everybody going to bed the Tampa Bay Braves who started off as hot as any team can be and the Orioles who actually won today They are in first place In the American League East and I believe right now they are the number one seed in The American League. I I tell you as a fan who has seen their struggles all my life I I still remember that That kid Jeff Mayer who stole That's a Lot of the Orioles of that Couple years ago are a couple years ago. That's back in 96 and that was when they had Roberto Alomar Team and the fact that you know, they made it all in 2015 They you know, we forgot to forget about it because it kind of went back down hill But they went they went to the American League Championship Series. That's why they're defended by the ultimate champion the Royals But I tell you This is one of the most humbling and almost unbelievable things ever as a sports fan Again, if you know me as a sports fan, I Primarily root for three teams my George Mason Patriots my Pittsburgh Steelers and then the Baltimore Orioles But both more oils have been my childhood team for as long as I can remember I'm all the way back to when they played in Memorial Stadium and And the fact that the last time they won a championship was the year I was born so technically I've never Seen them win a championship. I think maybe I was like eight nine days over they did so This is amazing right now and I look I'm looking at their records 61 and 38 61 wins and we haven't finished July and Right now they are the overall number one seed in The American League and only trail the Atlanta Braves who has 64 wins. I You know stand in ovation so as an Oriole fan as a fan of sports, but really of the Baltimore Orioles, I just I Can't I even begin to describe what this is like is the fact now because I've always joked I wasn't my Orioles when opening day kicked off the Orioles were eliminated from the playoffs I mean that was always the running thing for the longest time, but here we stand You know getting ready for August, you know getting you know The Orioles will potentially be buyers at the trade deadline as they are looking to potentially go to the playoffs and potentially go to the World Series at I tell you it is This is truly amazing. It is an awesome time and Congratulations to every Oriole fan that has stayed with this team for the through the beginning and it just you know And all we got to say is bring it home. I can't wait to go back to the yards and It's even play. Um Because I tell you that's what People forget when camped it when the Orioles are playing well There are a few better stadiums in sports to be at then it came in yards Because when night falls in that building Magic happens baby. Oh magic happens. So I got I had to spend a little bit of time shouting out my Orioles first place July 23rd, we don't hope that September 23rd. They'll be in that same spot two months from now And getting ready for potential I'm almost I don't even want to change it but World Series run Another big story that came out. It's coming out of baseball right now is the amazing dual threat the best player in baseball Shohei Otani Of the Los Angeles Angels, I mean, this is a guy that can legitimately win a Cy Young in an MVP But literally being it we're being both a pitcher and a hitter You've never heard of seen him play. Please do he is He is one of the best athletes not just in baseball but in sports People do not understand how hard it is to hit a 95 mile per hour ball over 390 feet much less Throw a 95 mile per hour fastball to strike out somebody who's trying to hit that same ball and this guy is Literally a marvel And I tell you and I can't believe what the angels are It feels like he's a big deal, but he should it almost feels like he should be bigger. So what we're seeing in This guy we're not going to see very often if ever I mean there They lose is one of those who get pinched and hit at the same time But not nearly at the level of Shohei Otani and I tell you who ever gets this guy The contract it will be the richest contract in sports I Can't even begin to imagine What that I mean, it's almost Dare I say you add the near 500 million dollar contract of Patrick Mahomes and you add in a jail and hearses or a Lamar Jackson seven or two hundred thirty four minute and you could be I mean just Getting to the surface or Shohei Otani. I mean that I Ever will I cannot wait to see his free agency Breakdown, but he's one of the best Again not not just easy best baseball player right now in the world hands down but this guy here is arguably and I'll even go out and then say he is the best player in sports because again that skill set that he has It just can't be duplicated You can't even really do it in a video game much less have this guy do it in real life I will be curious to see where he goes next If he stays with the Angels who again, I I look at these same records and The Angels are are like towards the bottom and it's and it's always been interesting to me How you have a team with him and generate and other generational talent Mike's route? They are 51 and 49 right now Oh, which as we look in the wild card Here I did their third place in their division They are one two, three, four six in the wild card. So remember baseball now has These are three divisions in the three wild cards and the Angels are not even there and They have two of the best players in the world and that goes on the show You know when you look at the construction of baseball and you look at the construction of Ross's How many people you need to truly step up and how many people truly need to be great? I give if the Angels were a basketball team. This would be a team in the NBA science I mean if it was only a five-man Ross that This would be a team that contends for a conference championship or an NBA finals. This is only there two out of nine players which Again for the Angels, it's not good enough and it's not been good enough for a while. It almost feels like forever ago Since they won their world championship with guys like Mike salmon Or Tim salmon, excuse me. I might social being the manager It just feels like it's been forever for that franchise. So it'll be interesting to see what show hey Tani doesn't and what the Angels do as well as they look to potentially trade him Get get some things back. And again, I Really don't think she's coming back to Los Angeles And it'll be interesting to see what team can get him possibly at the trade deadline here So looking forward to that Um As we talked about earlier as we move into the next section the NFL it is less than two months away So everybody's starting to get their fantasy Drafts together everybody is starting to make their predictions for the Super Bowl and everything else like that You know and we'll we'll look to do next month a more in-depth Review of the NFL, but I could give you a sneak peek just a peek the AFC May be the best conference That has come through in a very long time You have a potential of eight nine teams that can legitimately make claim that they can probably Get to the top of the championship. It all starts. Look everybody's behind Kansas City. Let me make that very clear Well, when you look at how the divisions are shaped up you look at the AFC East That division looks like it's going to be unbelievably competitive I mean you have the aforementioned Buffalo Bills with Josh Allen and step on D I really think last year they took a huge hit that you know, I I stood in front of anybody who would listen and said the Buffalo Bills are going to win the Super Bowl and They really took a step back that lost against Cincinnati, it wasn't just their tough loss It was a humbling loss for a team that quite frankly, you know They had everything they wanted that they wanted them in that building and they got and they got Trounced so it'll be interesting to see the mindset of that team as they come back and to potentially Try to get back to the Super Bowl and again now the topic is in their own division Aaron Rodgers with the with the jet the offense of the Miami Dolphins who we remember Even before the week before that they lost to Cincinnati Skylar Thompson Nearly beat the Buffalo Bills in Buffalo Let that thing go through your head Skylar Thompson You would be Josh Allen and Archer Park Buffalo Bills when I have to make sure they're still the favorite in my opinion But boy, I'd be it's gonna be a nightmare to get out of that division And of course, you look at the Patriots and all they have is one of the greatest coaches of all time In their corner the AFC North where my Steelers play Army again all roads it goes to Cincinnati Cincinnati is the head of the division and rightfully so They still have the I think the most complete team, but I tell you Lamar Jackson. He's healthy and paid they're gonna be ready to roll and the fifth first Steelers I again This won't be a full preview But Matt Kennedy Hear my words this season is dependent on you If he can get that offense going and Help out this defense These Steelers can play with anybody in this conference, and I'm not just saying that as a fan But we'll talk more about it in the preview But again, I've already gone through and give me five or six teams in that top conference the Kansas City Chiefs are the again. They're the elite of that division The Chargers I Not totally sold on but again, they have an unbelievably talented quarterback and Justin Herbert, so I There's just so much that can be there Austin Epler One of the best running backs in football. Oh, we got to talk about that, too Oh, man, so yeah, let me make a sidetrack on that Austin Epler he called it a zoom meeting and brought in has Um The NFL running backs come in and they had a talk because it has been said a lot That the running back position has been devalued I've always been a fan of the running back. I've loved I Loved what they do For a team, especially, you know back in the day when it was about running that ball and grinding it out You know guys like Emmett Smith Jerome Bettis They were almost true and they were they were in value. You could not measure what they meant to a team Especially one that wanted you to find it out or be able to take pressure off a young quarterback But somehow somewhere along the line This position has gotten lost in its value and I think in part you see Everybody pretty much runs them dragging to the first contract By the time they make the second they're considered all obsolete over now. They're too injured or anything else like that But let me tell you Everybody's trying to value this and base this on the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles Well, if they don't need a running back, I mean do we let me make this very clear That's my homes is the best quarterback and best player in football Taylor hurts proved himself to be a beast in the Super Bowl They are the exception Not the rule But if you want to tell me Kirk Cousins care can be okay without Dalvin cook You're all about to find out this year about the Vikings and how valuable the running back position is is you think? That Daniel Jones from the Giants can do what he do this this year without take on Barkley One of my favorite wrestlers is Rick room It's finished. It was a rude awakening. The Giants are going to be in for a very rude Awakening if they think that is the case We cannot and it's going to be interesting especially as we start to do fantasy football drafts how valuable for running back are there But there is When you have a great running back On a team and I know this is now it's real heavily But running backs have you know over the years have become a such a dual Threat have been able to do so much and I'll let me give you the perfect example Maybe I'm down and he's been coming You know coming in these ladies wish he never left Pittsburgh. Well, maybe I'm let me say this to you, buddy I wish you'd have never left either and I can almost tell you pin with a wish you you never left What a running back can do for a team Isn't that you look at the Steelers? What lady on Bell did for that? They had Antonio Brown legend But when Ben was in trouble he can go to a lady on Bell So you cannot miss value or misjudge a running backs value Like that you have to have a lot of things around him like a great offensive line and a good quarterback, but you cannot misplace the value of a talented Running back and what he can mean to a team this year and you know And unless you're at that elite level you're going to need a running back unless you're an elite level quarterback You're going to need that running back To be able to take that pressure off you Again, I don't borrow one of the best in the world and I tell you you're gonna look at you know I lean towards me Joe makes it Even though he's got the best wide receiver trio in the game But what he they add what he has is that element of how are you going to stop us? Can you stop us to the ground? Can you stop us to the air when you have a quarterback like that and you give him a running back of that? Caliber and have those receivers like that brother. It's it's almost it's like mission impossible To stop them, but not every team is that so before we start to devalue those running backs again? I look at the 49ers You know and brought pretty a great comeback But I tell you what, you don't want to have life without Christian the Catholic brother. You don't want that You do not want that but I can't wait To see how the football season turns out. We will look to do a preview next month on it Let you know what it when it's there. We'll look at the eight eight divisions. We'll pick our division winners We'll pick our playoff teams. We'll pick our Super Bowl Representatives and And I just can't wait. I love I love this time of year. I love football And I cannot wait and again, I have to have NFL college football is fine and there's a lot of great things to but NFL for me everything gets played on the field and I love it I love the competition of it and I cannot wait to see another NFL season get ready to go down And finally before we close out today, I want to talk about Another sport that I love so much is professional wrestling I've been a fan of it for as long as I've been born and You know, I'm an attitude era kid, so Anybody knows from the late 90s to the early 2000s that was to be the best stretch of wrestling Anybody can have at least in my era of watching somebody will tell you like my dad would tell you the 80s Especially the NWA nothing could beat that. I look at my daughter And she's gonna tell you this era She's gonna look at the WWE and tell you this is her era of professional wrestling This has been an unbelievable stretch 2023 has been an amazing year for professional wrestling this year in all levels in all organizations Look at the WWE one of the shows I've meant to do was a Review and unfortunately had some technical errors or issues, but WrestleMania was awesome Backlash was awesome money in the bank. I can't even remember when the WWE is at a stretch like this And it's been a bit big since the attitude era where you actually get excited to watch And and you have that anticipation of what's next The bloodline is the best story of all time No story can be this long and this compelling I tell you Long term storytelling has been amazing. We're actually going to do a special on Somerset We're going to do a review of something. I am honored to say I'm going live I'm going live with my daughter in two weeks, and I cannot wait and that might be my first live stream as well so I'm gonna be on the lookout for that, but This has been an amazing stretch of Professional wrestling with the WWE The bloodline has been amazing. I cannot wait for Jay and Roman at SummerSlam Cody Rose who came back last year. It's wrestling's best baby face and I gotta tell you Over the years it's been so hard to be a true baby face and my Lifetime has only been two guys that really Stood baby face like from the beginning to the end of their career and that's Ricky Stinemode and Tito Santana There's not a lot of guys that can be a baby face And be able to maintain it now Cody obviously been on the other side Before but when people are invested in you they want to cheer you and they like you sometimes you always had to have like a jerk edge about you or you have these have to be like like Cool here if you will at the end of it Well, who is healed in the world Stone Cold Steve Austin who is healed the world be and then they had to become a face in That regard well Cody Rose has just been laying his story out and people love him He is pulling off one of the hardest things. I think to do in wrestling and that is to be a true Baby face people cheering you people want to cheer in you and yet not feel like you're forced down there. So Roman Reigns right now is probably at the best Transition ever as far as what the WWE originally wanted from him to what he is now They try to throw him down our throats all the time. John Cena is the same And it's hard to be a true face in that regard because it's almost like they're telling you what you want But you need but they're not telling you. I don't I need Cody Cody's there and I want to be there for Cody and I I Cannot wait to see how his story. I don't want to say it But I want to see the next big chapter It's actually that next big chapter that summer slam against Brock Lesnar But I want to see what it's going to be like a WrestleMania 40 Who is he going to be against and is he going to be able? To become a world champion in the WWE. He's been a world champion in in in Ring of Honor that was his first ever world championship. He was an NWA world champion But like you'll tell you it's nothing like holding the big WWE belt. So kudos to them to a W Blood and Gus was amazing That That matchup I stirred you in a row I can't believe they didn't have any major injuries what they seem to be starting to pick up see CM Punk is back I always thought for them their biggest their highlight their peak was all out 2000 or all in 2000 or 2021 What CM Punk made his first pay-per-view that Adam Cole and Daniel Bryan or Bryan Danielson, excuse me came into the company One of my favorite matches of all times the Lucha Brothers versus the Young Bucks for the World Tag Team Championship There was I love that pay-per-views one of my five favorite pay-per-views of all time. And I would thought that was the peak of AEW, of course, he had brawl out in it and It's still been for running great max But something still it felt off and you're starting to feel like that's starting to come back a little bit now They have their pig on Wembley show next month. I cannot wait and they also have It's not the bloodline, but it is wrestling's best act right now. And that's MJF and Adam Cole They are so similar. It's ridiculous. I mean MJF is basically Adam Cole Maybe five six years ago and to see them together now Ikea I love their tag team. I'm gonna be sad when it breaks up, but they're going to have a world title batch That will make you that will make you speak at all and I cannot wait For that they have been an amazing tandem together Impact Wrestling just had slammiversary One of their best pay-per-views in a very long time Trinity of course winning her knockouts world Championship Eric Young is back in the company Josh Alexander Probably the most underrated wrestler in the world today. He had he It's just coming back from his injury longest reigning impact world champion. It's great to see him back But matches he has I mean they're just phenomenal and if you haven't seen Him live, please do and if you haven't seen him wrestle, he's just one of the most technically Amazing wrestlers in the world. So You know, in fact, they're starting to get back They're starting to get into their their groove and I tell you for this company, which has been up and down their entire career They have just been able to withstand every punch and Lord knows they did a lot of punching of themselves And they continue to still bring out products week after week that are enjoyable and it lets you know They're still here. So kudos to impact and another tremendous event and really To their anniversary as well. They've been absolutely killing it and again kudos to them I didn't write this down, but I need to mention New Japan They had that amazing show forbidden doors a W the rainmaker Kazuchika Okada the world the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Sonata One of my favorite wrestlers the world television champion sack saber jr One of my favorite acts of all time is Tetsuya Naito and right now they're doing the g1 climax and that is wrestling most Unbelievable tournament. I mean if you have not seen it I Just watch a couple of days the way these men hit each other the way they push each other and they challenge each other But winner ultimately will get the headline My January 4th show for the World Heavyweight Championship. It's one of the best things Ever in wrestling. I absolutely love it from New Japan and that's going on right now back going on to the middle of August And finally, I want to send out a shout out to Major League Wrestling I've really enjoyed watching them over the past couple of years Alex Hammerstone when the longest One of the longest reigning champions of all time. He beat Jack Jacob back to a couple of years ago And he is now a former champion The suplex machine Alex King is now your new MLW World Heavyweight Champion leaders of my a fight club a lot of love for Alex King he is just I mean You can just see him rolling for the longest time. He won the battle riot. It's their answer It's their equivalent to the Royal Rumble. That's where he got his shot from and took full advantage of it and Need a nice touch. He actually got Don King to be the leader of the boom I a fight club So if they ever get them on television together, that's gonna be quite the sight but again kudos to Alex Kane Who is the new Major League Wrestling World Heavyweight Champion and the rings on that of that belt? I mean are just phenomenal Jacob had to have it in for over 600 days Alex Hammerstone the same so now Alexi has got quite the record He's got quite the one to go to because the last two MLW champions may go down as two of the greatest of all time in that company's history So again great stretch for professional wrestling. I can't go wrong with anything. You want to watch Ring of Honor? Has been phenomenal under AEW under Tony times watch. So again any wrestling fan just check those you guys out again We'll have a preview of SummerSlam We'll put that on our we'll put that here. I think we may even do it after this show As well, so, you know be on the lookout for that as we prepare to go to Detroit in a couple weeks that car Right now looks absolutely Amazing. I'm looking forward to it Well, I think we don't touch ketchup This has been quite the podcast today. I am so excited to be back But behind the microphone and it's obviously I will post this up later on today Just thank you For anybody who ever takes the time to listen to spend 20 or this will be the longest podcast look like you'll be here 40 minutes Or even just one minute just to listen and give me an opportunity. I really do appreciate it and I know I'm not everybody's cup of tea, but I do hope that you enjoyed enough that you keep listening and Again, my goal is to bring you as much content bringing more content on all things sports as well as Wrestling as possible. We'd love to do some interviews, too Again our foundation of our show is just to understand why people love sports and why do they love to do what they do? So like I said, I was never my calling to be an athlete but I've always enjoyed watching the competition on television on so many different levels and We'd love to talk to people who've been at that highest level and just to get the ideas of how they got there They love that they had for it. So be on the lookout. We'll be making a lot more content We'll have a lot more reviews. We'll have a lot more catch-up in weeks We are we can reviews We'll have our NFL review and we'll also be going weekly on our NFL aren't at the NFL season starts We're going to have our statement called running the sidelines as we review every game of the National Football League That week and then we'll run it back and we'll go with the results of those games As well and again look out for the summer slam review we'll pop that in later on today Again, I thank you all so much. This has been phenomenal Until we do this again. I am out of Spain and This is the white sports radio. You asked why sports I asked why not? We'll be at you soon. Bye