Posts tagged Florida Panthers
Key NBA Injuries Impacting Playoff Chase? NHL’s Red Hot Panthers: Peaking Too Soon? Big Time Trades Upon Deadline. Will Red Sox Flirt With Snell? NFL Preps For Free Agency. Paul-Tyson Fight Hype?

Getting through the dread of this slow time in sports, but nevertheless, I’ve got you covered as the latest episode has arrived. On deck:

(2:51) The Association has had a quiet week (well, the Celtics blew a 22 point fourth quarter lead, snapping their 11 game winning streak) but there have been a few injuries that could affect the final stretch of the regular season. You have LeBron James, Karl Anthony Towns, Evan Mobley, Victor Wembanyama to a lesser degree, even Ben Simmons (who was shut down due to his ongoing back issues). How vital of a role will these injuries be for the first three players listed as far as the long term is concerned? The Orlando Magic have played well, winners of five in a row and is currently fourth in the Eastern Conference. Besides that, all is status quo in the league.

(18:54) As for college basketball, there isn’t much to discuss as there haven’t been any upsets, big losses or anything newsworthy over the past three days. I’ve received a lot of blowback from fans regarding Caitlin Clark’s NCAA scoring record, that it should have an asterisk.

(21:54) On the ice, the trade deadline in the NHL is tomorrow afternoon. There’s been plenty of transactions that have taken place this week. Tops in the sport at the moment are the Florida Panthers, who have been on a torrid stretch over the last couple of months. They have the most wins and points the league as of today. They’ve also acquired reinforcements by brining in Vladimir Tarasenko from Ottawa for another Cup run. Have they peaked a bit early? Any potential dangers of not going far in the playoffs? Several contending teams (i.e. Avalanche, Rangers, Golden Knights, Oilers) have made moves. What about the Jets, Stars, Hurricanes, Bruins and Maple Leafs jumping into the fray of making a key move before the deadline?

(34:30) The Red Sox main acquisition this offseason (pitcher Lucas Giolito) will be sidelined for the entire 2024 year with a partial torn elbow ligament. Will ownership, whose priorities seem to be elsewhere other than their own ball club, consider adding either Blake Snell or Jordan Montgomery to their anemic pitching staff? Yankees hurler Carlos Rodon hasn’t had a good spring to compound his awful first year in pinstripes last year. Aaron Boone still sees some positives after his not so stellar performance yesterday. Is anyone else tired of the managers act? Reigning MVP Ronald Acuna Jr’s knee is doing fine and won’t miss a ton of time. There were two retirements over the last 24 hours or so. Former MVP Josh Donaldson called it quits after 13 years. Same for catcher Mike Zunino, who had a solid career in Tampa Bay, Seattle and Cleveland, walks off into the sunset after 11 years.

(42:18) NFL fans, get ready! The ‘new season’ commences on Wednesday as teams continue to cut payroll/players. The big one being soon to be former Broncos QB Russell Wilson. Where could he end up? We say goodbye to Eagles center Jason Kelce as he retires after 13 seasons in Philadelphia. I’ll take a peek on who else has been let go as teams gear up for free agency.

(47:17) It’s been reported that Jake Paul will fight Mike Tyson in an exhibition match on July 20th, to be streamed on Netflix in Arlington, TX (aka Jerry’s World/AT&T Stadium) They’re hyping this as the biggest boxing match in history. Does anyone really believe that?

Please subscribe, leave a rating and post a review on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Audacy, Amazon Music and iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.

For daily shorts, weekly vlogs and then some, please subscribe to my YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMucZq-BQrUrpuQzQ-jYF7w

If you'd like to contribute to the production of the podcast, please visit my Patreon page at: www.patreon.com/TheJAYREELZPodcast  

Many thanks for all of your love and support.  

Intro/outro music by Cyklonus.



Trust In Celtics? Can OKC/T-Wolves Take Next Step? Lakers/Dubs Staying Power Lead NBA Second Half? UConn Loss: Concerns? Rangers Cup Threat? College’s 12 Team Playoff. Mahomes Rule? Ohtani Overload?

Inching closer to the end of another month, but also the beginning of the latest podcast as I dive into all that’s happening in sports. On deck:

(2:53) With the ‘second half’ of the NBA season tipping off tonight, I’ll get into a breakdown of what to expect in both conferences as we march on to mid-April before the start of the playoffs. Are the Boston Celtics to be trusted to finally win an elusive championship? Can the Cleveland Cavaliers be a threat in the East? What about the Milwaukee Bucks? The Philadelphia Seventy-Sixers? How about the defending Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat? Out west, can the Minnesota Timberwolves or Oklahoma City Thunder represent in an NBA Finals? Will the Denver Nuggets defend their title? How about the LA Clippers getting to their first ever NBA Finals? You can’t forget about the LA Lakers or Golden State Warriors. Do they have staying power if they get into the postseason? So much to answer and I’ll have an in-depth look as to how this’ll play out over the last couple of months.

(26:00) As for college basketball, #1 UCONN suffers a rough road loss at #15 Creighton. Any concerns or worries about the Huskies? Also, #17 Kentucky loses to LSU on a last second shot as the unpredictability of this college season continues to rear its ugly head.

(31:18) On the ice, the New York Rangers are the hottest team in the NHL, winners of eight straight. Is this the year that they finally get to a Stanley Cup Final, considering what’s taken place over the last two seasons? I know the Florida Panthers are nipping at the heels of the Bruins and Rangers in the conference, winners of six straight as they try to get back to a Final. Auston Matthews has been on a goal scoring tear (had two last night in Arizona. Currently 51 on pace for 75). Alexander Ovechkin scored two goals vs. New Jersey the other night as he’s 56 goals away from tying Wayne Gretzky all time in the sport’s history. How many will he need to get this season in order to reach him next year? I’ll check on what else is going on in the league as they’re past the two-thirds point of the regular season.

(43:33) College football has their 12 team playoff format mapped out, but now there’s some discussion about expanding it to 14 in 2026? What!?

(48:57) In the late 1980’s, early 90’s, we had the Jordan Rules, where the Detroit Pistons did their best to defend Chicago Bulls legend, Michael Jordan. Fast forward thirty some odd years later, Las Vegas Raiders coach, Antonio Pierce, has the self proclaimed, Mahomes Rule after beating them on Christmas Day, their last prior to running the table winning the Super Bowl. Has he found the formula to slow or stop the Chiefs QB? Was this premature of him to say?

(54:12) Spring training is well underway throughout the MLB. Can we please stop with ALL of the attention regarding Shohei Ohtani’s batting practice home run in his first camp as an LA Dodger? Seriously!? Then there were the comments by Angels 3B, Anthony Rendon, stating that baseball isn’t his priority. WHAT!? Is there any concern in Yankee-land over Aaron Judge’s comments regarding his big toe that he injured in Dodger Stadium last June? Saying that he has to manage it over the upcoming season. You had former Royals 1B, Eric Hosmer announce his retirement. And here we go with the Mets. Projected ace, Kodai Senga has to be put on the shelf due to arm fatigue. ARM FATIGUE!? (It has been announced after the recording that he’ll likely be on the IL to start the season) As a diehard fan, you can’t make it up!

Please subscribe, leave a rating and post a review on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Audacy, Amazon Music and iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.

For daily shorts, weekly vlogs and then some, please subscribe to my YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMucZq-BQrUrpuQzQ-jYF7w

If you'd like to contribute to the production of the podcast, please visit my Patreon page at: www.patreon.com/TheJAYREELZPodcast  

Many thanks for all of your love and support.  

Intro/outro music by Cyklonus.



NBA’s 200 Point All-Star Debacle! Islanders Choke In Outdoor Game Loss To Rangers. Purdue Goes Down. UCONN: Team To Beat. Alonso Wants Mets, But Vice Versa? Matsuyama’s 62 Wins Wacky Genesis

Another holiday Monday presents a wild hour of sports talk as we transition away from the NFL with all of the latest happenings in the sports universe as I’ll unpack the following:

(3:00) It was a rough weekend for the NBA as they had to deal with a repeat slam dunk champion (Mac McClung) who’s in the G-League! Plus, an All-Star Game that had one team score over 200 POINTS as the East beat the West. What can they do to fix it? Is it too late to do so? Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn has been relieved of his duties. Was it fair? Then you have the finalists for the Naismith Hall of Fame which includes Vince Carter and Chauncey Billups. Why I think both wouldn’t be enshrined in Springfield if it was up to me? The Association is still on a respite as the schedule will pick up on Thursday.

(22:50) You had another stunner in college basketball as #2 Purdue loses to Ohio State, with an interim coach, no less. Does this hurt them for a #1 come tournament time? #1 UCONN is surely looking like a team that’s going to defend their title as they destroyed #4 Marquette in historic fashion. How about Rick Pitino, the head coach of St. John’s? They lost to Seton Hall last night and are now 6-9 in the conference. He had plenty of choice words for his team, calling it a disappointing year, stating how unathletic they are, lacking toughness, going in on his squad as they try to fight for a spot in the tournament. Caitlin Clark sets the women’s record all time for scoring in the sport, eclipsing Kelsey Plum in the process. And sad news as former Maryland coach, Lefty Driesell passed away at age 92.

(30:45) The NHL had a huge weekend with two outdoor games in the same venue. I’ll unwrap the Flyers-Devils meeting on Saturday night, with the second game being a nail biter where the Islanders blew a golden opportunity to beat their crosstown rival Rangers, 6-5 in OT. I was a witness to the latter game. How much that loss stings even a day later may come as a surprise? Also, the nerve of the Ranger fan, sounding like they’ve won 6 or 7 Stanley Cups as I had to deal with them for three plus hours yesterday. Don’t look now, but the Panthers have overtaken the Bruins in the Atlantic Division for the first time since the end of the 2021-22 season. I’ll see what else is happening in the other divisions and keep you up to speed on the latest.

(46:26) With position players reporting throughout the MLB, I have to throw in my two cents regarding Mets 1B, Pete Alonso and his desire to be a lifelong Met. I call out both the VP of baseball ops, David Stearns and of course, the owner, Steve Cohen to put his money where his mouth is as he’s stated in the past that he wants to operate his team like the Braves & Dodgers, to name a couple. There were two low level signings, (Whit Merrifield to Phillies and Liam Hendricks to the Red Sox) as spring training is in full swing.

(54:40) There was a golf tournament over the weekend in LA at the Genesis Invitational. It wasn’t a major, but you had some interesting developments regarding a couple of players. Tiger Woods had to withdraw with an illness after two rounds. Is this the last of Tiger being a dominant fixture on the course? You also had Jordan Spieth disqualified due to an erroneous scorecard. But your winner was Hideki Matsuyama who shot a 62 in the final round to win the tournament as we’re still six or seven weeks from Augusta.

(57:41) The Super Bowl of Racing had to be postponed due to inclement weather at the Daytona 500. They’ll race at 4pm today/Monday. Does this hurt the biggest racing event of the year?

(58:42) UFC had a surprise on Saturday night as Ilia Topuria stunned Alexander Volkanovski in a knockout that I’m sure quite a few didn’t expect. Is a rematch in order at some point in the not too distant future?

Please subscribe, leave a rating and post a review on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Audacy, Amazon Music and iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.

For daily shorts, weekly vlogs and then some, please subscribe to my YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMucZq-BQrUrpuQzQ-jYF7w

If you'd like to contribute to the production of the podcast, please visit my Patreon page at: www.patreon.com/TheJAYREELZPodcast  

Many thanks for all of your love and support.  

Intro/outro music by Cyklonus.



Nuggets/Golden Knights Hit Title Jackpot! What's Next For Heat/Panthers? A's Fans "Reverse Boycott"? Subway Series Recap. US Open Tees Off In LA. Trouble With Stefon Diggs In Buffalo?

There's a huge shift in the sports universe as we make our way into summer. You know I've got you covered on everything that's happening in the land of competition. On deck:

(2:41) We make the pivot in the sports world now that the fall & winter sports have crowned champions as we get to a bit of a lull with baseball being the predominant sport over the course of the next couple of months.

(4:22) The Denver Nuggets showed a lot of grit and gumption down the stretch of Game 5 and throughout the postseason as they captured their first ever NBA title. I'll go through the key points of their win on Monday night, the unassuming superstar Nikola Jokic, the comeback for Jamal Murray and the rest of their team. On the flip side, what will it take for the Miami Heat to get over the hump. Is it Damian Lillard? Or another top star that can lead them to the NBA mountaintop?

(19:00) Twenty four hours after Denver got the chance to celebrate, the Vegas strip I'm sure was on and poppin' as the Golden Knights thrashed the Panthers 9-3 in Game 5 as they clinch their first Stanley Cup. I'll get into the storylines for the coach (Bruce Cassidy) top scorer (Jack Eichel) and Conn Smythe MVP and former Panther (Jonathan Marchessault). It was a magic carpet ride for Florida, but were missing their top gun (Matthew Tkachuk) as he was out with a fractured sternum. What will this mean for the Panthers moving forward? Are they close to winning it next year? I'll also get into the Rangers new head coach that I'm not in favor of (Peter Laviolette) and a new owner in Ottawa (Michael Andlauer) as he purchases the Senators for a record $950 million dollars.

(29:49) What has gotten into the Oakland A's fans? Over 27,000 showed up at the Oakland Coliseum to support a 'reverse boycott' as they're asking owner John Fisher to sell the team. It's a little bit too late, if you ask me. I'll get into the myriad of reasons, including the team securing public money to build a ballpark in Las Vegas. The Subway Series Round 1 is over as the Mets and Yankees split two games. I'll share all of the ins and outs and is there a slight disconnect with manager Buck Showalter and the players? Plus, I'll take a trip around the major leagues to keep you abreast on all that's going on.

(44:04) The third Grand Slam of the golf season has arrived. The US Open out in the LA Country Club will host over the next four days. Will there be fallout from the LIV/PGA acquisition last week between players from those tours? Who'll come out on top after four rounds Sunday evening?

(47:37) There's been some late mini-camp drama up in Buffalo between Stefon Diggs and the Buffalo Bills. Coach Sean McDermott said that everything has been resolved with Diggs and the team. Is this something that could linger into training camp? The season?

Please subscribe, leave a rating and post a review on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spreaker, Stitcher, Spotify, Luminary, Amazon Music and iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.

If you'd like to contribute to the production of the podcast, please visit my Patreon page at: www.patreon.com/TheJAYREELZPodcast  

Many thanks for all of your love and support.  

Intro/outro music by Cyklonus.



Can The Heat/Panthers Delay Titles For Nuggets/Golden Knights? Mets Cohen Not Blowing Up Team. Rays: Built For Regular Season Only? Is Novak The GOAT? Belmont Blunder With Horses. UFC Nunes Retires

We're a week and change away from summer officially starting. If it's not warm in your neck of the woods, I'll ratchet up the intensity when it comes to heating up the airwaves as another fast paced podcast is forthcoming. On deck:

(2:53) With the fall & winter sports ready to crown a champion in the coming days, are we ready to enter the second phase of the Sports Dead Zone?

(4:10) The Nuggets are on the precipice of their first ever NBA championship as they won the two road games in Miami rather comfortably. Can the Heat thwart Denver's chance to clinch on their home court?

(14:20) Same could be said for the Vegas Golden Knights as they lost a tough Game 3 in the final minutes and overtime, but hung on for dear life at the end of Game 4 as they're on the brink of a Cup title. Will the Panthers rally the troops and take from their experience in the first round, where they were down 3-1 to the top seeded Bruins and pulled that series out in seven games? Or is it just Vegas's time to shine as they seek their first Cup win in franchise history?

(22:56) Sadly, the Mets are front and center when it comes to what's going on in baseball. They've lost eight of their last nine games, including a brutal third game in Atlanta. Owner Steve Cohen had a state of the union on his ballclub to say that he's not going to be reactionary and blow up the team. Is he right on this? I'll get into why this team has underachieved (i.e. Justin Verlander, anyone?) and are there any positive signs on the horizon? A team that's been on fire since the start of the season are the Tampa Bay Rays. Is it World Series or bust? Are they built more for the regular season than a short series? I'll discuss the red hot Oakland A's, winners of five in a row with a sweep over the Milwaukee Brewers. The Arizona Diamondbacks have thrived in the NL West. Break up the Miami Marlins as they share an identical record with the Los Angeles Dodgers?

(39:17) Novak Djokovic is now the all time winningest men's player when it comes to Grand Slams as he won the French Open over Casper Ruud. Is he officially the GOAT? Give it up to Iga Swiatek on the women's side as she gutted out a three set performance over upstart Karolina Muchova to win her third French and fourth Grand Slam overall.

(46:58) The NFL will stay relatively quiet until training camp next month. There was some player personnel moves the past week. Frank Clark goes from Kansas City to Denver. Dalvin Cook was cut from the Vikings. Are the Dolphins interested? De'Andre Hopkins is visiting with the Patriots. Is that a good fit?

(48:53) Arcangelo wins The Belmont Stakes, but a couple of horses had died after races over the weekend. What is going on with this sport? Is there going to be a crackdown on what's been taking place over the last few years?

(50:57) UFC's Amanda Nunes retain her title belts with a victory on Saturday night versus last minute replacement, Irene Aldana. She announced her retirement right after the bout as I throw bouquets to her on a great career.

Please subscribe, leave a rating and post a review on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spreaker, Stitcher, Spotify, Luminary, Amazon Music and iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.

If you'd like to contribute to the production of the podcast, please visit my Patreon page at: www.patreon.com/TheJAYREELZPodcast  

Many thanks for all of your love and support.  

Intro/outro music by Cyklonus.



PGA/LIV Elopement. What This Means For Golf? Jokic/Murray, Nuggets Put Heat On Griddle In GM 3. Can Panthers Recapture Playoff Magic? deGrom Done, A .400 Hitter In MLB? Messi's Impact On MLS?

There have been some interesting developments over the past few days in the sports universe and you've come to the right place to get your fix and then some as the latest podcast has arrived. On deck:

(2:53) I start off with the wildfires coming down from Canada over the past couple of days and how it's impacted where I live in New York City and what the experience was like.

(4:23) In a surprising revelation on Tuesday, the PGA Tour joined forces with the LIV Golf League to become one entity. Was this handled properly? How come the players on the Tour didn't have a say? What does this mean for golf moving forward? What about the players who stood pat and didn't take the money? There's a lot to unpack as I share my thoughts on how this blindsided yours truly and the rest of the golf world.

(18:35) Game 3 of the NBA Finals is in the books. If last night was any indication, the Denver Nuggets are on a quest to win their first NBA championship. The brilliance of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray as their record setting triple double performances have them up 2-1 in the series. Can the Miami Heat pull even after Friday night, in what will be a must game for them?

(25:59) Up the turnpike, the Florida Panthers need to get back in the Stanley Cup Finals as they're down 2-0 to the Vegas Golden Knights. After a Game 2 thrashing in Vegas, can they recapture some of their early playoff magic to win on home ice and even up the series? Will Panthers goalie, Sergei Bobrovsky rebound after getting pulled in Game 2?

(32:07) Quite a bit has happened in baseball since Monday's podcast. The wildfires have impacted a couple of games on yesterday schedule (White Sox-Yankees, Tigers-Phillies) but the big story is the injury to Rangers ace Jacob deGrom as he'll need to undergo Tommy John surgery and is done for 2023. As a Met fan, I can't say I told you so, but I knew it was best for the Mets not to re-sign him for this reason. Also, Aaron Judge and Nestor Cortes have landed on the IL. How long will they be out for a Yankee team that's played well of late? We have a hitter who's flirting with .400 as Marlins Luis Arraez is currently at .403. It's a nice story, but is it too early to discuss? And what about Reds top prospect, Elly De La Cruz? He's only played a couple of games, but has already shown why he was MLB's top prospect coming into this year.

(46:29) The French Open hasn't been compelling, riveting or provided a lot of drama, but the tennis world is waiting with bated breath for the titanic clash between Novak Djokovic vs. Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals on Friday afternoon.

(48:01) I spend literally twenty seconds on the final leg of Horse Racing's Triple Crown, The Belmont Stakes, which will take place early Saturday evening.

(48:23) Lionel Messi will make his way to the US as he announced he'll play for Inter Miami of the MLS. Will this have the same effect and impact when Pele played for the New York Cosmos back in the 1970's? Can his presence lift the sport of soccer in this country among the casual or average sports fan?

Please subscribe, leave a rating and post a review on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spreaker, Stitcher, Spotify, Luminary, Amazon Music and iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.

If you'd like to contribute to the production of the podcast, please visit my Patreon page at: www.patreon.com/TheJAYREELZPodcast  

Many thanks for all of your love and support.  

Intro/outro music by Cyklonus.



Heat Grit, Guts Even Up NBA Final. Can They Pull Off An Upset? Concerns For Panthers In Vegas With Game 2 Looming? Yankees Show Up In LA. Mets Get Swept, Head To Atlanta. Novak-Alcaraz Clash On Deck?

Into the first week of June with plenty to divulge and dissect as yours truly is here to entertain and inform you all on what's taken place in sports over the past few days. On deck:

(2:38) I'd be remiss if I didn't wish a happy birthday in heaven to one of my favorite athletes of all time, one time Detroit Red Wing, later with the Chicago Blackhawks, Bob Probert, who would've been 58 today.

(3:17) We have some buzz in the NBA Finals as the Miami Heat were able to get this series even and back to South Beach with the homecourt over the next two games. They prevailed in what turned out to be a nail biter in Denver last night as the Heat once again showed their grit and gutted out another big victory on the road. How good are their chances to winning an NBA Final and pulling off the upset? I'll break it all down for you as the scene shifts to Miami. I'll also get into all of the coaching hires that have taken place over the past week, including Monty Williams's record breaking deal in Detroit.

(23:57) As for the Stanley Cup Finals, the Florida Panthers find themselves in a situation that they haven't been in about six weeks. Trailing in a series. They lose Game 1 in Vegas Saturday night, 5-2 as they pick up the pieces for a huge Game 2 tonight, as they try to get back to South Florida, similar to their basketball counterparts, tied at 1-1. Are there concerns? Can they recapture the magic that has led them to the Finals? In coaching news, the Washington Capitals hired Spencer Carbury who at 41, is the youngest coach in the league.

(31:13) The big showdown in LA over the weekend had the Yankees taking the back two games of their series against the Dodgers. After Luis Severino's uninspiring performance (and spotty future) on Friday night in an 8-4 loss, they bounced back behind Aaron Judge, Jake Bauers, Domingo German and Anthony Volpe in 6-3 and 4-1 wins on Saturday & Sunday. Then there are the Mets. They swept the Phillies during the middle part of last week, but then get swept over the weekend against the Blue Jays at home, which leaves their record at 30-30. Up next? Three games in Atlanta versus the first place Braves as they continue their inconsistent play this year. You know I'll have a few things to say about this, including an underachieving Justin Verlander in his first month as a Met. I'll go through the rest of the baseball landscape as the Rangers stay hot, the Mariners can't find their way (same for the Padres) and the Pirates have played better as they keep pace in the NL Central. And is this the end for Nationals P Stephen Strasburg as he has nerve damage in his right arm and his career is in jeopardy?

(45:49) The French Open has had zero drama after the first week at Roland Garros, but there's a potential storm brewing. The stars are aligning to have the heavyweight match between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinal come Friday. What this could mean for a tournament that needs all the attention that it can get?

Please subscribe, leave a rating and post a review on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spreaker, Stitcher, Spotify, Luminary, Amazon Music and iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.

If you'd like to contribute to the production of the podcast, please visit my Patreon page at: www.patreon.com/TheJAYREELZPodcast  

Many thanks for all of your love and support.  

Intro/outro music by Cyklonus.



South Florida vs. The World? MIA-DEN. FLA-Vegas Finals Preview. Liam Hendriks's Return From Cancer. Yankees-Dodgers On Deck. Major Upset & Controversy At The French Open!

June is here and so is the latest podcast as I share all that's happening in sports. On deck:

(2:40) The sports landscape gets into the homestretch. Despite two championship rounds in the NBA & NHL are upon us, there isn't much else that's percolating (other than baseball) as far as what I love to talk about. I'll get us rolling on the NBA Finals which begins tonight. A few big storylines heading in, keys to both teams winning a title and who'll come out on top as I prepare you for what's to come between the Miami Heat vs. Denver Nuggets. Of course, I'll spend a few minutes on the postmortem of the Boston Celtics as they flopped in making history at home on Monday night. What lies ahead for a team that has a big decision regarding Jaylen Brown, coming close to another Finals appearance, but has lots to prove as far as being a team that's capable of winning it all.

(24:42) As for the Stanley Cup Finals, can the Florida Panthers continue their torrid pace after more than a week off? Or is Vegas that much better and primed to win their first Cup? What about Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky? Can he deliver one more time and pull off a big upset? I'll answer all of those questions and predict who'll raise Lord's Stanley Cup when it's all said and done.

(31:40) All is quiet on the MLB front as we're at the 1/3 point of the season. The big story (and most inspiring one) of the past few days was the return of White Sox reliever Liam Hendriks who has recovered from cancer, stepping on a mound for the first time this season vs. the Angels. I'll check the schedule to see what series to take a peek at over the weekend, highlighted by the titanic matchup between the Yankees vs. Dodgers in LA.

(36:24) The French Open hasn't generated a lot of news on the court, except for one big upset. #2 men's player in the world, Daniil Medvedev was bounced in the first round. You've had some startling comments from Novak Djokovic in regards to what's going on in Kosovo. Will that be a distraction as he continues to march on in this tournament? And Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus was snubbed from a postgame handshake by Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk. Was that warranted by Kostyuk? Should she have handled that differently?Please subscribe, leave a rating and post a review on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spreaker, Stitcher, Spotify, Luminary, Amazon Music and iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.

If you'd like to contribute to the production of the podcast, please visit my Patreon page at: www.patreon.com/TheJAYREELZPodcast  

Many thanks for all of your love and support.  

Intro/outro music by Cyklonus.



Panthers Unexpected, Magical Run To Cup Final. Nuggets On A Mission To NBA Title? Will Celtics Win Game 5? MLB Memorial Day Weekend. NFL 'Flexing' Their TV Muscles. Indy 500 Thoughts

Entering into the holiday weekend, firing on all cylinders as yours truly is prepped, primed and ready to go as I deliver the latest and greatest in what's going on in sports. On deck:

(2:57) What can we say about the ride that the Florida Panthers are on? They have been on Cloud 9 ever since the monumental comeback and upset of the record setting, regular season champion Boston Bruins in the first round of these Stanley Cup Playoffs. As of this moment, they have punched their ticket to their first Cup Final since 1996 as they swept the Carolina Hurricanes and did it in dramatic fashion with a game winning, series clinching goal by conquering hero, Matthew Tkachuk. Is this team destined to win it all? We'll have to see who they'll play, which in all likelihood, will be the Vegas Golden Knights who can send the Dallas Stars packing tonight with a sweep and a trip to meet the Panthers for Lord's Stanley Cup. The sad part in all of this? The start of the Cup Final, which'll commence TWO WEEKS from today. You know I'll have something to say about that.

(20:01) Don't look now, but the Denver Nuggets are on a mission to win an NBA championship as they took care of business against the LA Lakers. I'll even make a prediction as to how many games they'll WIN in the Finals, which begins a week from today. The Celtics are still alive as they saved face and won Game 4 to bring the series back to Boston for Game 5. Will they extend this conference final to a sixth game? You'll be very surprised as to what my take is and how confident I am when it comes to tonight and possibly a Game 6 on Saturday night?

(32:52) To think, baseball is just about two months into their season. They'll reach the one-third juncture of 2023 by early next week for most teams. I'll take a look at some of the series that have taken place over the past few days (Orioles-Yankees, Dodgers-Braves, Blue Jays-Rays) and what to look forward to this weekend (Dodgers-Rays, Padres-Yankees, Phillies-Braves) on the schedule.

(39:55) The NFL made some news this week regarding Thursday night 'flex' games during Weeks 13-17, a rule being instituted this year which will allow fair catches on kickoffs and a Wild Card playoff game to be streamed on Peacock?

(44:39) After a brief mention about the French Open starting on Monday, the auto racing fan can look forward to Sunday's Indianapolis 500. Sadly, it flies under the radar and consciousness of the sports fan, but brings back memories of how this event was very popular and one we paid attention to dating back to the 1970's.

Please subscribe, leave a rating and post a review on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spreaker, Stitcher, Spotify, Luminary, Amazon Music and iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.

If you'd like to contribute to the production of the podcast, please visit my Patreon page at: www.patreon.com/TheJAYREELZPodcast  

Many thanks for all of your love and support.  

Intro/outro music by Cyklonus.



The NBA's Disastrous Last 11 Days, Topped By An Epic Celtic Meltdown. NHL's Panthers: Hockey's Miami Heat? MLB Under The Radar? Jim Brown Tribute. Koepka's 3rd PGA Win. Nadal Out For '23

(3:04) The NBA will never admit it, but I will. The last eleven days have been an out and out disaster evidenced by how these Conference Finals have unfolded. Denver looks like a team on a mission to where the Lakers have fallen short. Whereas Miami has undressed and embarrassed the Celtics making them look small. I'll have a complete breakdown as to why the Association has been deplorable over the last week and a half and share my utter disdain for how this Celtic team has shown up in this series.

(28:15) There are similar parallels between the NBA & Stanley Cup Playoff Conference Finals. In the East, you have an upstart #8 seed in Florida (Sounds familiar) take a 2-0 series lead over the Carolina Hurricanes. Out West, you have the #1 seeded Vegas Golden Knights up 2-0 vs. the Dallas Stars who are kicking themselves as they've had opportunities to tie or even have a 2-0 lead as well.

(38:18) Is it me or has the baseball season been below or under the radar as we're almost two months in? I'll bring you up to date on the MLB, whether it's the Orioles sweeping the Blue Jays in Toronto, with the Yankees up next. Same for the Astros now that they have Jose Altuve back. The Padres have hit on hard times early on, but the Arizona Diamondbacks have overachieved. Can they make a push in the NL West as the Dodgers starting pitching staff has fallen on hard times? Will the Oakland A's threaten the 1962 Mets for the worst record ever in a regular season?

(47:21) An NFL legend and sports icon has passed away. I'll pay tribute to the late, great Jim Brown who died at the age of 87 on Thursday. I'll get into the impact he made both on and off the field as the greatest football player in the history of the sport transitions.

(51:28) Brooks Koepka won his third PGA Championship over the weekend as he hung on to beat both Viktor Hovland and Scottie Scheffler in the final round as the second leg of golf's Grand Slam is in the books.

(55:18) Rafael Nadal, the king of the clay court with the French Open kicking off next Monday, will not play for the rest of 2023 due to a hip ailment. In fact, he stated that 2024 will be his last year on the tour. What does this mean for the sport with three more Grand Slam tournaments on the docket over the next four months?

(58:06) The Belmont Stakes are an afterthought as Kentucky Derby winner Mage came in third at the Preakness on Saturday (National Treasure was victorious) so the horse racing season will come to a quiet close.

(58:37) Controversy over a decision in the sport of boxing? We saw one Saturday night as Devin Haney retains his lightweight title unanimously to the chagrin of the corner and management of Vasiliy Lomachenko. Is a rematch a foregone conclusion? What about a bout between Haney and Gervonta Davis?

Please subscribe, leave a rating and post a review on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spreaker, Stitcher, Spotify, Luminary, Amazon Music and iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.

If you'd like to contribute to the production of the podcast, please visit my Patreon page at: www.patreon.com/TheJAYREELZPodcast  

Many thanks for all of your love and support.  

Intro/outro music by Cyklonus.



NBA Conference Finals: Sloppy Celtics, Heat Attitude, Nuggets Time? Laker Adjustments. Unglamorous NHL Semifinal Matchups. Yankee 'Chirpgate'/NY Walk-Offs. PGA Championship Preview

Another week concludes with a fiery podcast as I deliver all the heat that the sports world has to offer. On deck:

(2:35) The Celtics sloppy play rears its ugly head in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals last night. They lose Game 1 at home to the Miami Heat as turnovers and missed shots doom them and lose home court advantage in the process. Will they be able to get the series even at 1-1? Denver's Nikola Jokic had a monster Game 1 as they hung on to beat the Lakers. Have the Lakers figured out a few things in preparation for a possible Game 2 upset? I'll also discuss the firing of Sixers coach Doc Rivers and how I'm still fuming over the Spurs winning the Draft Lottery and the probability of securing the next generational prospect, Victor Wembanyama.

(26:07) The Conference Finals in the NHL commence tonight. By any means, both of these matchup will likely not draw eyeballs to the sets, but I'll preview Florida-Carolina and Dallas-Vegas as to who'll make that next step to get to a Stanley Cup Final. In fact, which is the best draw that the NHL would want for a championship?

(34:43) As the MLB is more than a quarter into the season. The Dodgers are holding their collective breaths at the right arm of starting pitcher, Dustin May, who had to leave a game earlier this week with a right forearm strain. The Yankees have had an interesting week as you had 'Chirpgate', Aaron Boone's inexplicable ejection, the suspension of Domingo German and getting walked off in extra innings up in Toronto. Where the Mets had their own walk-off in their biggest win of the season vs. Tampa Bay. Will that be what the doctor ordered for a team that's severely underachieved this year at 21-23? How about the Padres, who have been just as bad as the Mets. And the Oakland A's light at the end of the tunnel will be in Las Vegas as they've purchased land to build a new stadium, set for 2027.

(43:20) Kentucky Derby winner Mage will race in The Preakness on Saturday. Is it possible that another victory is on the horizon, so there could be some Triple Crown buzz heading into The Belmont Stakes?

(44:42) I'll preview and discuss a couple of storylines (i.e. Rory McIlroy) the second Grand Slam golf major this year as the PGA Championship takes place up in Rochester, NY over the upcoming weekend.

Please subscribe, leave a rating and post a review on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spreaker, Stitcher, Spotify, Luminary, Amazon Music and iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.

If you'd like to contribute to the production of the podcast, please visit my Patreon page at: www.patreon.com/TheJAYREELZPodcast  

Many thanks for all of your love and support.  

Intro/outro music by Cyklonus.



Jokic Suspension? Warriors/Knicks Up For Key GM 4's? Panthers Prowling Towards Cup? Rays Winning Ways, Braves Cruising, Pirates Back To Earth? NFL Schedule Talk. Derby Downer? Canelo Beat Who?

I'm jacked up and ready to share my thoughts on all of the happenings in the sports world over the past few days. On deck:

(2:53) For starters, I released a new podcast with a special guest. If you're a subscriber of the podcast, I'm sure you've already seen or listened to my discussion with Action Network's Maria Marino as we get into various topics surrounding her broadcasting journey, biggest influences, etc. You can also watch the full interview on YouTube Please subscribe, give it a like as I release content daily on that platform. I also send a birthday shout out to my grandson, Cameron, who turns eight as well.

(4:31) Devin Booker (who's been the best player to date in the NBA Playoffs) and Kevin Durant have led the attack from an 0-2 deficit to even their series vs. Denver. The big story out of last night's game was Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, who had a brief run-in on the sidelines with Suns owner Mat Ishbia trying to get the ball from his arms. Is a suspension warranted to the former two-time MVP? The Celtics-Sixers series is deadlocked at two apiece as James Harden had another big game after a flop of a Game 3. Two big tests on the road for the Warriors & Knicks as they face critical Game 4's tonight. How this could define the Warriors as they defend their title?

(24:11) Who will stop the Florida Panthers? They've been flying since they roared back from a 3-1 deficit vs. Boston. Are they on a track to going to a Stanley Cup Final? What about the Seattle Kraken as they dismantle the Dallas Stars at home in Game 3? The Devils bounced back with a big effort in Game 3 vs. Carolina. Can the do the same in Game 4? And the Oilers got even with Vegas as the scene shifts to Edmonton for the next two. Why it's important for their psyche to win these next two in their building?

(36:44) Baseball has had an interesting first month plus as we approach the middle of May. The Rays continue their winning ways with a big come from behind win vs. the Yankees. While the Braves are starting to run away with the NL East as they have the biggest division margin (seven games) over any other in the sport. The Pirates are still in first place, but have come back to Earth as they've lost seven in a row. Plus, anything and everything happening throughout the MLB and even a few words about my dreadful Mets, who have hit the skids losing 11 of 14. There's also sad news to report as former Oakland A's great, Vida Blue passed away on Saturday at the age of 73.

(49:21) I'll share a prediction of what matchup will open the NFL season in Kansas City as the 2023 schedule will be released on Thursday.

(51:53) Mage wins the 149th Kentucky Derby, but it's an afterthought to more sordid details coming out of Churchill Downs as two more horses had to be put down after races leading up to the Run for the Roses. Will something be done about this? Is it time for this sport to go away completely?

(54:52) Canelo Alvarez defended his super middleweight title in his homeland of Mexico on Saturday night vs. John Ryder. John who? Did anyone pay attention or watch?

Please subscribe, leave a rating and post a review on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spreaker, Stitcher, Spotify, Luminary, Amazon Music and iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.

If you'd like to contribute to the production of the podcast, please visit my Patreon page at: www.patreon.com/TheJAYREELZPodcast  

Many thanks for all of your love and support.  

Intro/outro music by Cyklonus.



Embiid's Return, Butler's Health, AD's Importance, Suns Done Leads NBA. Pesky Panthers, Upstart Kraken, More Leaf Pressure? Scherzer's Demise? Cashman's Plea To Fans. The Abolishment Of Horse Racing?

The sports month of May is off to a flying start. Here to keep you apprised on all of that and then some, you know that I've got you covered as your trusted favorite little podcast host. On deck:

(2:45) Unfortunately, I have a mea culpa before I kickoff the pod as there is some construction (or a woodpecker, I jest) that may be heard in the background for the first 10-15 minutes or so. If you're able to hear it, my sincerest apologies ahead of time.

(3:20) The NBA Playoffs are officially in the second round. Newly minted MVP of the regular season, Sixers center Joel Embiid, returned to the lineup in Game 2 against the Celtics. Was it a good thing? Or should he have waited until Game 3 in Philadelphia? The Heat and Knicks are tied at 1-1. The big question is the health status of guard Jimmy Butler. Will he be in the lineup in Game 3? Denver is out to a 2-0 lead on Phoenix as the next two games will be in the Valley? Are the Suns done? Or can they still rise and be heard from? Then you have the Lakers-Warriors, with LA up 1-0 at the moment. Is Anthony Davis the key to the Lakers success and not LeBron James?

(22:05) Things are heating up on the ice as the Stanley Cup Playoffs head into their second round as well. The Devils stepped up and disposed their bridge and tunnel rival Rangers on Monday. Could this be a long offseason for New York as so much was expected heading into this year? New Jersey got off to the same start they did against the Rangers, at Carolina in Game 1 last night. Vegas took a 1-0 series lead vs. Edmonton, despite sniper Leon Draisaitl scoring four goals vs. the Golden Knights. Those pesky Panthers did not let down after their overtime heroics in Boston as the won Game 1 north of the border in Toronto. Is the pressure mounting after just one game for the Maple Leafs, considering they finally got out of the first round since 2004? And the Kraken have continued their winning ways, winning in Dallas to get a leg up on that series.

(34:29) Should Met fans (including yours truly) be concerned that Max Scherzer's best pitching days are behind him? I have quite a bit to say here, so you won't want to miss this. Yankees GM Brian Cashman had a state of the union on his ballclub, reassuring the fan base not to count them out. Was this necessary? I'll get into the latest of what's taking place on the diamond as baseball is more than a month in.

(49:47) The first leg of Horse Racing's Triple Crown kicks off on Saturday as the Kentucky Derby is just about here. Unfortunately there's been some news recently about horses that have been euthanized over the past week over at Churchill Downs. Is it time to consider that this archaic sport needs to be abolished? Meanwhile, I will preview what I know about the 149th Running of the Roses. Will we see another long shot win such as Rich Strike did last year?

Please subscribe, leave a rating and post a review on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spreaker, Stitcher, Spotify, Luminary, Amazon Music and iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.

If you'd like to contribute to the production of the podcast, please visit my Patreon page at: www.patreon.com/TheJAYREELZPodcast  

Many thanks for all of your love and support.  

Intro/outro music by Cyklonus.



SEA, BOS, PHI & SF Flounder Out Of All-Star Break. HOU: Baseball's Best Team? Kyler Gets Paid. Is Lamar Jackson On Deck? NHL's Blockbuster Tkachuk/Huberdeau Trade. Kevin Durant To Boston?

The summer heat has been intense over the past week. The same could be said when yours truly will turn the temperature up even higher as I delve into what the sports world has to offer on this latest edition of the podcast. On deck:

(4:18) Baseball picks up from where it left off before the All-Star Break as the 'second half' of the season begins. There were some interesting storylines with teams that we've kept an eye on, in particular, the Mariners laying a dud vs. the Astros after winning 14 in a row. The Astros gunning for the title of the best team in the sport? The Red Sox floundering. Can they be sellers at the trade deadline? The Orioles monster series vs. the Rays after losing 4 of 6 since their 10 game winning streak. The Phillies were embarrassed by the Cubs at home with the Braves looming in their next series. The Giants were a no show in LA as they were swept in four games. And then, there are the Mets. Any concern as they're slowly losing their grip on first place? Could they be in second place after their series against the Yankees? All of the above, plus the latest wild card races in the AL & NL as we inch closer to the dog days of August.

(31:54) Kyler Murray signs a huge extension with the Arizona Cardinals, to no one's surprise, but what about Lamar Jackson as the Ravens seem to be half-stepping on an extension with their former MVP? Will he get signed before the season begins? As for the college circuit, national champion coach, Kirby Smart of Georgia signs a 10 year/112 million dollar contract? Is that insane for a college coach? Also, where is Jimmy Garoppolo going now that Cleveland has inked both Josh Rosen and AJ McCarron to their roster?

(42:52) There was a blockbuster trade in the NHL as the Calgary Flames send Matthew Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers for Jonathan Huberdeau, players and a lottery protected first round pick in 2025. Does this make the Panthers a favorite in the East? Does Tkachuk change the culture of a team that won the President's Trophy last year?

(47:28) Are the Celtics really engaging in discussions for Kevin Durant? Why is this a possibility? I'll explain why I'm not in favor of bringing him onto the team. (CORRECTION: I mentioned that if a trade between the Nets and Celtics were to take place that the Celtics will give up their first round picks in 2025, '27 & '29. NOT '15, '17 & '19 like I mentioned. My apologies for the gaffe.)

Please subscribe, leave a rating and post a review on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spreaker, Stitcher, Spotify, Luminary, Amazon Music and iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.

If you'd like to contribute to the production of the podcast, please visit my Patreon page at: www.patreon.com/TheJAYREELZPodcast

Many thanks for all of your love and support.

Intro/outro music by Cyklonus.