The Sports-Casters

On the twenty-ninth episode of the fourth season of The Sports-Casters, Don is out celebrating the birth of his son so Steve is joined by Adam Lazarus. Steve and Adam welcome Bob McKenzie (TSN, NBCSN) and Lee Jenkins (Sports Illustrated). Starting the show with 3Things, Steve and Adam talk about the NFL, the World Series, and the NHL's decision to suspend a player for domestic violence. The book club update features Fourth Down in Dunbar and several other books. Finally, the show ends with One Last Thing. -Bob McKenzie is making his first appearance (1:11:04) on the podcast. McKenzie joins us to promote his book, "Hockey Confidential: Inside Stories from People Inside the Game." Bob talks about picking the stories for the book and why his kitchen at the cottage motivated him to write it. Bob and Steve talk about Connor McDavid, The Tragically Hip, and deciding between major junior hockey or the college route. -Lee Jenkins is making his nineteenth appearance (1:42:54) on the podcast to discuss the start of the NBA season. Jenkins looks back at breaking the Lebron James story in the summer and looks ahead to Lenbron's impact on Cleveland this winter. Lee also talks about the Lakers need to finish at the bottom, the lack of depth in the Eastern Conference, and what he expects from the defending champion Spurs.

On the twenty-eighth episode of the fourth season of The Sports-Casters hosts Steve Bennett and Don Russ welcome Greg Wyshynski (Puck Daddy Blog, Yahoo! Sports), Jenny Vrentas (theMMQB) and Dan Wolken (USA Today). Starting the show with 3Things, Steve and Don talk about the NFL, the Major League Baseball playoffs, and look back at a upset filled weekend of college football. The book club update features Fourth Down in Dunbar and makes a big announcement. Also, the show has some technical difficulties and ends with Pick4. -Greg Wyshynski is making his ninth appearance (0:23:38) on the podcast. Puck Daddy joins us to preview the start of the NHL season. Greg says the Blues could end the Kings and Blackhawks dominance of the Western Conference, wonders if anyone can beat the Bruins in the East, and handicaps the race for Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel. -Jenny Vrentas is making her second appearance (0:46:12) on the podcast. Jenny joins us to discuss the pros and cons of a NFL team in London, explains her feelings about covering the NFL as a female, and tells us why she is excited to see who wins the NFC East. -Dan Wolken is making his sixth appearance (1:09:22) on the podcast. Wolken joins us to sort out all of the upsets in college football. Dan makes his picks for the playoffs if the season ended today, explains the scene after the Ole Miss win over Alabama, and talks about creating pie graphs for the USA Today.

On the twenty-seventh episode of the fourth season of The Sports-Casters hosts Steve Bennett and Don Russ welcome Mike Tirico (ESPN, Monday Night Football), Jeff Passan (Yahoo! Sports) and Jim Florentine (That Metal Show). Starting the show with 3Things, Steve and Don talk about the NFL, look ahead to the Major League Baseball playoffs, and preview a loaded weekend of college football. The book club update introduces Fourth Down in Dunbar, and the show closes with Pick4. -Mike Tirico is making his third appearance (0:24:36) on the podcast. Mike talks about spending his summer in Brazil covering the World Cup, the positive reaction to the coverage, and the disappointment in knowing ESPN won't be covering the next World Cup. Mr. Tirico also talks about social issues in the NFL, having an opinion in the 21st Century, and explains why he has decided to use the word Redskins. Also, Mike talks about dealing with criticism, chasing the perfect broadcast, and the future of John Gruden. -Jeff Passan is making his eighth appearance (0:55:34) on the podcast. Jeff talks about covering Derek Jeter's last game at Yankee Stadium and the Kansas City Royal's walk off victory a week later. Jeff evaluates to Wild Card round, previews the LCS, and makes a World Series pick. -Jim Florentine is making his second appearance (1:37:49) on the podcast. Jim talks about doing radio, the end of the Opie and Anthony Show, and appearing on rival radio shows. Jim also talks about Cowboy's Stadium, explains why he hates fantasy football, and blasts Roger Goodell and the owners for the way they handled a grim September.

On the twenty-sixth episode of the fourth season of The Sports-Casters hosts Steve Bennett and Don Russ welcome Andrew Sharp (Grantland) and David Shoemaker (Grantland). Starting the show with 3Things, Steve and Don talk about the NFL, insult the commissioner, look ahead to the baseball playoffs, and wonder if Jameis Winston is a good teammate. The book club returns for the long awaited book of the year announcement and show closes with pick 4. -Andrew Sharp is making his first appearance (0:31:48) on the podcast to talk about his time in Buffalo covering the Bills for Grantland. Sharp also talks about living in Washington as Cowboys fan, what D.C. thinks about the team's name, and what the future holds for RGIII. Also, Sharp declares Buffalo the most beautiful city in the world, wonders if EJ Manuel will ever be the quarterback the Bills hoped he would be when they drafted him, and looks ahead to the rest of the NFL season. -David Shoemaker is making his third appearance (0:59:28) on the podcast to talk about the business of professional wrestling. Shoemaker talks about the paperback version of his wrestling book, dealing with PR representatives when writing it, and explains why Slam is no longer a part of his podcast. Also, Steve and David go over Steve's list of love and hate since he returned as a fan of wrestling. The guys talk about the WWE Network, the Diva's division, and polarizing nature of John Cena.

On the twenty-fifth episode of the fourth season of The Sports-Casters hosts Steve Bennett and Don Russ welcome Jane Leavy (Author) and Sal Capaccio (WGR Radio). Starting the show with 3Things, Steve and Don talk about the NFL, the change to Penn State's sanction, and the U.S. Open. Five on Fantasy looks back at week 1 and ahead to week 2 and the show closes with the return of pick 4. -Jane Leavy is making her sixth appearance (0:30:11) on the podcast. Jane joins us to discuss the end of the historic career of Derek Jeter, how Mickey Mantle would have fared in 21st century America, and where the Yankees go now that the last of the "core four" is retiring. Jane also updates us on her upcoming book about Babe Ruth, gives her opinion on the Ray Rice incident, and continues to resist my pleas for her to join twitter. -Sal Capaccio is making his first appearance (1:53:26) on the podcast. Sal joins us to talk about the Bills staying in Buffalo thanks to new owner Terry Pegula. Sal also talks about his new job as sideline reporter for the Bills radio network, balancing his duties as a reporter with his life as a fan, and life as an on-call radio personality.

On the twenty-fourth episode of the fourth season of The Sports-Casters hosts Steve Bennett and Don Russ welcome Trey Wingo (ESPN), Michael Fabiano (NFL Network, NFL.Com), and Stewart Mandel (Fox Sports). Starting the show with 3Things, Steve and Don talk about the NFL, MLB and Tony Stewart's return to racing. Five on Fantasy tracks the players that rose and fell during the month of August, Steve and Don each give four over/under NFL win total predictions, and the show closes with a wedding themed One Last Thing and Super Bowl predictions. -Trey Wingo is making his second appearance (0:30:30) on the podcast. Trey talks the house that RGIII built at Baylor, the new sets at ESPN studios, and how the HD era in television has changed the way we look at sports. Trey looks back at the offseason in the NFL, talks about the summer of Manziel and Sam, and addresses social issues in sports. Moving to the playing season, Trey talks about the importance of home field in the NFC, the potential regression of the Panthers and the 49ers, and makes a Super Bowl prediction that makes Steve giddy. -Michael Fabiano is making his fifth appearance (01:09:21) on the podcast. Fabiano explains why you should play fantasy football on NFL.com. Fabiano also explains fantasy football after the draft and what you should do to improve your team after the draft. Fabiano declares you should start your studs and gives other fantasy tips that will help your team going forward. -Stewart Mandel is making his sixth appearance (01:35:29) on the podcast. Since we last talked to Stewart he has moved from Sports Illustrated to Fox Sports and he talks with us about his decision and the new opportunities he has at Fox. Stewart also looks back at the first weekend of college football, looks ahead to some of the best games this season, and talks about the new playoff system and the effect it will have on college football.

On the twenty-third episode of the fourth season of The Sports-Casters hosts Steve Bennett and Don Russ welcome Aaron Schatz (Football Outsiders) and Phil Taylor (Sports Illustrated). Starting the show with 3Things, Steve and Don talk about the NFL, MLB and other news in the world of sports. Five on Fantasy makes a return to the show, and the guys give their over under predictions. -Aaron Schatz is making his third appearance (00:35:44) on the podcast. Aaron and Steve talk all things NFL, including their shared wish to know more about offensive line play. -Phil Taylor is making an appearance (01:19:59) on the show to discuss the Ray Rice suspension and the fan and media backlash.

On the twenty-second episode of the fourth season of The Sports-Casters hosts Steve Bennett and Don Russ welcome Jason LaCanfora (CBS Sports) and Jeremy Taggart (Rock Star). Kicking off the show with 3Things, Steve and Don talk about the Ray Rice suspension and the subsequent fallout, Derek Jeter becoming 7th on the aft-time hit list, and go around the league with several NFL stories. Also on the show, a brief book club update that doesn't update much, and the show ends with one last thing. -Jason LaCanfora is making his sixth appearance (00:33:16) on the podcast. Jason and Steve look back at the World Cup and look ahead to the future of soccer in the United States. Jason also talks about covering the 1997-98 Detroit Red Wings and the delicate nature of covering the Vladimir Konstantinov tragedy and Jason speculates on how it would have played out in the twitter era. Finally, Jason and Steve chat about the National Football League. Jason recaps what he has heard about the Bills sale and the chance that Terry Pegula lands the team. Also, Jason talks about Sammy Watkins, JFF, and everything else he has witnessed on the first week of his training camp tour. -Jeremy Taggart is making his first appearance (1:16:29) on the podcast to chat about the decision to walk away from Our Lady Peace. Jeremy joined the band as an 18 year-old stud and recently left to become a free agent drummer. Jeremy talks about making music with the band, saying goodbye to Mike Turner, and recalls some of his favorite moments backing OLP. Jeremy also shows his range by talking about LBJ, the World Cup, hockey, and the tragic decision by Matt Chamberlin to join the Saturday Night Live band instead of Pearl Jam.

On the twenty-first episode of the fourth season of The Sports-Casters hosts Steve Bennett and Don Russ welcome Jon Wertheim (Sports Illustrated, SI.Com), Jeff Passan (Yahoo! Sports) and Ian Rapoport (NFL Media). Kicking off the show with 3Things, Steve and Don talk about Lee Jenkins breaking the Lebron James news and the impact on the NBA, the final week of the World Cup and Brazil's worst nightmare, and a bizarre MLB All-Star game. Also on the show, five on fantasy looks at rookies and potential break out players this season, a quick book club update that doesn't update much, and the show ends with one last thing. -Jon Wertheim is making his twelfth appearance (0:24:03) on the podcast to give background on Sports Illustrated and Lee Jenkins breaking the Lebron James story. Wertheim is very candid about his role as executive editor of the magazine and what part he played in helping to shape the story. Mr. Wertheim also answers questions about criticisms that SI has received about the article, the decision to ghost write it as a first person narrative, and the preparations required to post a story that would receive 6.5 million hits. Wertheim also talks about SI's continued transition from print magazine to multi-media platform, the business of podcasting, and difficult business decisions. Also, Wertheim recaps his time at Wimbledon. -Jeff Passan is making his seventh appearance (1:10:25) on the podcast from Target Field in Minnesota just hours after the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. Passan talks about Adam Wainwright and his comments about grooving a pitch or two to Derek Jeter. Passan also gives his opinion on Mike Trout being named the All-Star Game MVP, blasts MLB for "making the game count," and speculates on how the All-Star game shapes Bud Selig's legacy. Passan also talks about a dreadful Home Run Derby, looks ahead to the second half of the season, and gives more insight on his upcoming book about the pitching arm. -Ian Rapoport is making his first appearance (1:49:42) on The Sports-Casters proper but his third appearance on one of our podcasts. Rapoport starts by talking about being a new father in the 21st century and being away from home. Steve and Ian then discuss the non-playin season in the NFL, why Ian loves the NFL draft, and the issue of tiping draft picks on twitter. Rap also discusses the Jimmy Graham arbitration and eventual long term contract, explains why the Saints system prevented bad blood between Graham and the club, and looks ahead to exiting summers in Buffalo and Cleveland.

On the twentieth episode of the fourth season of The Sports-Casters hosts Steve Bennett and Don Russ welcome Robert Klemko (theMMQB) and Dan Levy (Bleacher Report). Kicking off the show with 3Things, Steve and Don talk about the World Cup and the devastating fall of Brazil, look at a few NFL stories, and look back on an incredible Wimbledon final. Also on the show, five on fantasy looks at different rules and ways to tweak a standard league and the show ends with one last thing on DGB and Derek Jeter. -Robert Klemko is making his second appearance (0:30:49) on the podcast. Robert stops by to talk about his experience at the NFL Rookie Symposium, how theMMQB has handled its first off season, and articles he thought no one would read that were a huge hit. Robert also talks about what he has planned for training camp, talks about JFF's maturity, the Bills losing Kiko Alonso, and the Jimmy Graham decision. -Dan Levy is making his fourth appearance (1:09:34) on the podcast. Levy joins us to talk about his role at Bleacher Report, Bill Simmon's calling out the Bleacher Report app, and the issue of slide show articles. Dan also talks about the World Cup, the growth of soccer in the United States, and is a good sport about Steve butchering his name (again).

On the nineteenth episode of the fourth season of The Sports-Casters hosts Steve Bennett and Don Russ welcome Ben Reiter (Sports Illustrated, SI.Com), Blake J. Harris (Author) and Michael Beller (Sports Illustrated, SI.Com). Kicking off the show with 3Things, Steve and Don talk about the heartbreaking end to the World Cup for the United States, recap a busy first day of NHL free agency, and look back at all that happened while the guys were on summer vacation. Also on the show, the guys close out a busy month for the book club, talk mock drafts on five on fantasy, and end the show with one last thing. -Ben Reiter is making his seventh appearance (00:21:39) on the podcast to talk about this Sports Illustrated cover story on the Houston Astros rebuild. Reiter talks about pitching his longest story at SI to his editors and the Astros, his unprecedented access to the Astros draft room, and how their rebuild comparers to the Washington Nationals and Tampa Bay Rays. Reiter also chats about appearing on Chris Russo's show, hows the fans in Houston are dealing with a slow rebuild, and doing some work for the Sports Illustrated Fantasy Football magazine. -Blake J. Harris is making his first appearance on the podcast (00:41:25) to discuss his book, "Console Wars: Sega, Nintendo, and the Battle that Defined a Generation. Harris talks about his book being about business just as much as it is about video games, turning the book into a documentary, and how having the support of Seth Rogen and Evan Greenberg helped get the book published. Blake also geeks out with Steve and Don on the future of video games, explains why he doesn't think Nintendo will make apps, and talks about the impact EA Sports has had on video games. -Michael Beller is making his first appearance on the podcast (1:26:18) to discuss the release of the 2014 edition of the Sports Illustrated Fantasy Football magazine. Beller talks about the role that the fantasy football magazine has in 2014, explains why he thinks people still buy fantasy magazines, and how the depth of staff at SI makes their magazine great. Beller also talks about a new daily fantasy game that SI will be debuting with their upcoming Fan Nation app, explains how SI will increase their fantasy coverage this year, and drops a few sleepers for the upcoming season.

On the eighteenth episode of the fourth season of The Sports-Casters hosts Steve Bennett and Don Russ welcome Rob Stone (Fox Sports) and Matt Yoder (Awful Announcing). Kicking off the show with 3Things, Steve and Don talk about the NHL and NBA finals, California Chrome's disappointing run at the Belmont, and look ahead to the World Cup. Also on the show, the guys update a busy month for the book club and close it out with one last thing. -Rob Stone is making his first appearance (0:30:30) on the podcast. Rob joins us to preview the World Cup. Stone talks about the direction Jurgen Klinsmann is taking the United States, outlines a path out of the group for the Americans, and explains why imbalanced groups happen. Also, Stone is gentle despite the fact that Steve admits he is a traitor, highlights some of the teams most likely to win the tournament, and explains why he doesn't think the warm conditions will be that big of an advantage for the South American teams. -Matt Yoder is making his first appearance (01:01:27) on the podcast. Yoder (the managing editor of Awful Announcing) explains why he considers his time at the website version 2.0, how he tries to keep the site from being too niche, and how others covering the sports media aren't only competition but also allies. Yoder and Steve also bond over their love of the New Orleans Saints. Both guys gush over the glory of Drew Brees, discuss the origin of their entrance into the WhoDat Nation, and look ahead to their upcoming run to a second Super Bowl.

On the seventeenth episode of the fourth season of The Sports-Casters hosts Steve Bennett and Don Russ welcome Katie Baker (Grantland), Adam Rank (NFL Network, NFL.com, DDFP) and Pete Weber (Nashville Predators). Kicking off the show with 3Things, Steve and Don talk about the NHL and NBA finals, California Chrome's run for a triple crown, and a wrestler spreading STDs in the ring. Also on the show, the guys update a busy month for the book club, declare the greatest of all time from 1984, and close the show with one last thing. -Katie Baker is making her fourth appearance (00:21:06) on the podcast. Baker joins us as a New York Rangers super fan. Baker talks about the dilemma of being a Rangers fan while trying to cover the sport objectively. Baker talks about complaints from Rangers fans that she hasn't written about them this spring, considers overcompensating to protect he objectivity, and why writing for Grantland makes being a fan okay. Also, Baker talks about what it will take for the Rangers to defeat the Kings, compares this run to the Rangers run in 1994, and speculates if writing a column about the Rangers winning the Stanley Cup will be better than writing about Yale winning the National Championship. -Adam Rank is making his fifth appearance (00:42:36) on the podcast. Rank joins us as a Los Angeles Kings super fan. Rank talks about growing up in Los Angeles, going through the ups and downs with the Kings, and how things have changed since 2012. Rank and Steve ramble back and forth and all over the place chatting about JFK, Oklahoma geography, and tricks played at comedy clubs. -Pete Weber is making his second appearance (01:27:55) on the podcast. Pete joins us to talk about the Stanley Cup Finals. Weber shares stories of broadcasting with John Sterling, admires the amazing spring that Kenny Albert has had, and talks about preparing to call history. Weber also talks about the dominance of Drew Doughty, predicts who will win the Conn Smythe trophy if the Rangers and Kings win the cup respectively, but ultimately predicts a Cup champion.

On the sixteenth episode of the fourth season of The Sports-Casters hosts Steve Bennett and Don Russ welcome guest host Anthony Day (Yale Bulldog). The guys interview Tas Melas (The Starters), Brin-Jonathan Butler (Author) and SL Price (Sports Illustrated, SI.COM), and Tim Graham (The Buffalo News). Kicking off the show with 3Things, Steve, Don and Anthony talk about the NHL and NBA playoffs, Landon Donovan being left off of the United States World Cup team, and the tragic events that lead to the end of the Rory Mcilroy and Caroline Wozniacki engagement. Also on the show, the guys have some cool news about the book club, have a championship themed GOAT, and close the show with one last thing. -Tas Melas is making his fifth appearance (00:23:56) on the podcast to discuss the NBA playoffs. Melas explains why the Spurs have been able to put together another run towards the NBA Finals, what a loss to the Spurs would mean to the Thunder, and why things have been so easy for the Heat in the East. Melas also talks about the swift and excellent manner Adam Silver has handled the off court distractions for the league during the playoffs, the first year of The Starters, and the specific compliment that has meant the most to him. -Brin-Jonathan Butler and SL Price are making their first and fifth appearance (00:59:58) on the podcast respectively. Butler and Price join us to promote their books about athletes that have escaped Fidel Castro's Cuba to compete in the United States. Butler has a new e-book that will be released on June 03, 2014 called, A Cuban Boxer's Journey: Guillermo Rigondeaux, from Castro's Traitor to American Champion. Price has just re-issued his book, Pitching Around Fidel: A Journey into the Heart of Cuban Sports. Each other offers their unique expertise on the issues facing Cuban athlete's, describe the difference 14 years after Price's book was first published, and explain the value of the e-book. -Tim Graham is making his fourth appearance (01:47:08) on the podcast to discuss the future of the Buffalo Bills in Buffalo, the decision to trade up to draft Sammy Watkins, and his fun but combative way to confront snark on twitter.

On the fifteenth episode of the fourth season of The Sports-Casters hosts Steve Bennett and Don Russ welcome Kenny Albert (NBC Sports Network, Fox Sports) and Richard Deitsch (Sports Illustrated, SI.com, themmqb.com). Kicking off the show with 3Things, Steve and Don talk about the NHL and NBA playoffs, the the NFL Draft, and Don tries to guess the top selling NFL jerseys since the draft. Also on the show, the guys have some cool news about the book club, give a new segment about uncommon opinions another shot, and close the show with one last thing. -Kenny Albert is making his twelfth appearance (00:30:51) on the podcast. Kenny talks about his busy spring calling NHL playoff games for the New York Rangers radio network and for the NBC Sports Network. Kenny has called four different playoff series this spring and explains how he prepares, keeps his voice healthy, and builds chemistry with his many different broadcast partners. Kenny also talks about working with a color man who is at ice level, how his unique NFL on Fox crew helps, and explains why he wouldn't want to call games from ice level. Kenny also chats about the importance of former college players on the Rangers, keeping an eye on the Western Conference, and the tradition of Canadians vs. Bruins. -Richard Deitsch is making his eleventh appearance (00:54:30) on the podcast. Deitsch talks covering the draft for Sports Illustrated and the MMQB and explains how he decided what material to feature on each site. Deitsch also explains why he doesn't think the high draft ratings means the end of drafts in April, critiques the ESPN and NFL Network broadcasts, gives credit to both networks for how they handled the Rams draft pick of Michael Sam. Deitsch also talks about the great rating the NHL and NBA playoffs have achieved this spring, shoots down any connection between those high ratings and my NHL playoff bracket, and explains why he might think that the NHL's decision to play more outdoor games might be a factor.

On the fourteenth episode of the fourth season of The Sports-Casters hosts Steve Bennett and Don Russ welcome Robert Klemko (Sports Illustrated, TheMMQB), Jonah Keri (Grantland, Baseball Tonight), and Sean McIndoe (Down Goes Brown, Grantland). Kicking off the show with 3Things, Steve and Don talk about the NHL and NBA playoffs, the the NFL Draft, and try to guess who might be this year's Hard Knocks team. Also on the show, the guys update the book club featuring Jonah Keri's Expos book, debut a new segment about uncommon opinions, and close the show with one last thing. -Robert Klemko is making his first appearance (00:21:25) on the podcast. Robert stops by to talk about the NFL Draft. Klemko explains why he is concerned about Jadeveon Clowney's character, why Khalil Mack might be the safest pick in the first round, and what makes this year's wide receiver class so deep. Klemko also explains why the league's decision to push back the draft has resulted in several players taking high interest loans, why he thinks next year's draft will be pushed back as well, and how race has effected the draft stock of players like Teddy Bridgewater. -Jonah Keri is making his eighth appearance (00:45:24) on the podcast. Jonah talks about living a dream and writing a book about the Montreal Expos. Keri talks about reporting for the book, promoting it on Seth Myers show, and sharing some of the best moments in Expos history. Keri also explains why the strike of 1994 not only killed the Expos but preserved the Braves dynasty. -Sean McIndoe is making his second appearance (01:25:05) on the podcast. Sean talks about the thrilling first round of the NHL playoffs and explains why he thinks it was the best first round since 1993. McIndoe also talks about the emergence of PK Subban, the fall of Ryan Miller, and the curious case of Thomas Vanek. McIndoe also talks about how important matchups are in the playoffs, looks ahead to the conference finals, and explains why he might have to sign off the internet forever if the Wild beat the Blackhawks.

On the thirteenth episode of the fourth season of The Sports-Casters hosts Steve Bennett and Don Russ welcome SL Price (Sports Illustrated, SI.Com), and Chris Burke (Sports Illustrated, SI.Com). Kicking off the show with 3Things, Steve and Don talk about the NHL and NBA playoffs, the NBA's decision to ban Don Sterling for life, and Don tries to guess the top selling NFL jerseys. Also on the show, the guys update the book club featuring Jonah Keri's Expos book, and close the show with one last thing. -SL Price is making his fourth appearance (0:27:38) on the podcast to discuss the retirement of Gary Smith, the future of long form writing on the internet, and the direction of Sports Illustrated under Jon Wertheim and Chris Stone. Price talks about the origin of his piece on Richard Ben Cramer and Alex Rodriguez. Price explains why he is never quite satisfied with his work, why he waits several months to read it, and when to let go. Also, Price is finally on twitter, he isn't going to Wimbledon, and an update on his book on football in Aliquippa, PA. -Chris Burke is making his ninth appearance (0:59:57) on the podcast. Burke joins us to talk about the upcoming NFL Draft. Burke explains the uncertainty surrounding Jadeveon Clowney, where he thinks the top quarterbacks might get selected, and why he thinks there is still a chance Khalil Mack could be the first player picked. Burke also chats about the draft being pushed back a few weeks and why it stinks, the infallible popularity of the National Football League, and where he thinks last year's first overall pick (Eric Fisher) would be drafted this year.

On the twelfth episode of the fourth season of The Sports-Casters hosts Steve Bennett and Don Russ welcome Lee Jenkins (Sports Illustrated, SI.Com), and Ben Reiter (Sports Illustrated, SI.Com). Kicking off the show with 3Things, Steve and Don talk about the start of the NHL and NBA playoffs, talk about a handful of NFL stories including an announcement of an announcement, and shockingly take Colin Cowherd's side on a poor attempt at race baiting by Deadspin. Also on the show, the guys update the book club featuring Jonah Keri's Expos book, and close the show with one last thing. -Lee Jenkins is making his seventeenth appearance (00:36:13) on the podcast to discuss the start of the NBA Playoffs. Jenkins explains why he thinks the Oklahoma City Thunder will win the West, why it only took him one game to change his pick in the East from Indiana to Miami, and why he thinks Joakim Noah deserves MVP consideration. Jenkins also tries to explain why the West is so much better than the East, why he always expects college stars to be one and done, and why he assumes Kevin Durant will be the MVP. -Ben Reiter is making his sixth appearance (01:13:19) on the podcast to talk about the start of the Major League Baseball season. Reiter talks about the stories he is following for future columns, explains why the Brewers and Diamondbacks have surprised him for different reasons, and tries to understand the different perceptions of Bryce Harper and Yasiel Puig. Reiter also chats about Craig Kimbrell, the patience of the Cubs, and the clever signing of Scott Kazmir.

On the eleventh episode of the fourth season of The Sports-Casters, hosts Steve Bennett and Don Russ welcome Greg Wyshynski (Puck Daddy Blog, Yahoo! Sports) Damon Hack (Golf Channel) and Sam Coatta (Union Dutchmen, National Champions) to the podcast. Kicking off the show with 3Things, Steve and Don look back at the Masters, look ahead to the Stanley Cup and NBA Playoffs, and talk about a Phil Ivey taking down a Casino for 12 million dollars. Also on the show, the guys preview and make picks for the first round of the NHL playoffs, start Jonah Keri month for the book club, and close the show with one last thing. -Greg Wyshynski is making his eighth appearance (0:19:21) on the podcast. Greg joins us to preview the first round of the NHL playoffs. Greg talks about the new playoff format and if he thinks brackets will be good or bad for the NHL. Greg also explains why he thinks that the Sharks vs. Kings is the best first round playoff matchup, talks about players that could potentially break out this spring, and explains why he thinks each coach is feeling the pressure of the playoffs right now. Also, Greg explains why he doesn't cover the Frozen Four, and why Sabres fans shouldn't panic if they don't win the draft lottery (they didn't). -Damon Hack is making his eighth appearance (0:40:51) on the podcast. Damon joins us to chat about the Masters. Hack talks about the absence of Tiger Woods and his effect on television ratings, the emergence of Jordan Spieth, and explains how Bubba Watson has won 2 of the last 3 green jackets. Hack also looks ahead at the storylines that will occupy golf fans from now until the US Open, golf without Tiger Woods, and looks back at his time at Sports Illustrated. -Sam Coatta is making his first appearance (01:14:25) on the podcast. Coatta joins us to talk about winning the National Championship for the Union Dutchmen (ECAC Hockey). Coatta talks about growing up playing hockey in the state of hockey, playing in the USHL for the Sioux Falls Stampede, and why he decided to play college hockey at Union College. Coatta also talks about winning three ECAC Tournaments and making two trips to the Frozen Four, how the pain of last years loss and watching Yale win the National Title last year helped Union this year, and talks about how the team's confidence was a huge factor in winning the whole thing. Before going back to his celebration, Sam has the last word and thanks everyone that has helped him in his hockey career.

On the tenth episode of the fourth season of The Sports-Casters, hosts Steve Bennett and Don Russ welcome Chris Ballard (Sports Illustrated, SI.Com) Jeff Pearlman (Author) and David Shoemaker (Grantland) to the podcast. Kicking off the show with 3Things, Steve and Don look back at the NCAA basketball tournament and UConn's 4th National Title since 1999, look ahead to the Frozen Four, and talk about a Masters without Tiger Woods. Also on the show, the guys declare six more things the greatest of all time (1991), look ahead to a busy few months for the book club, and close the show with one last thing. -Chris Ballard is making his third appearance (0:22:45) on the podcast. Chris joins us to talk about SI Longform, his piece on a dubious streak, and how Longform represents a new direction at SI. Ballard talks about the origin of his story, explains expectations at Division III schools, and talks about his own experience as a college athlete. -Jeff Pearlman is making his fourth appearance (0:41:57) on the podcast. Pearlman's new book "Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980's" is our book club book of the month for March. Pearlman talks about how he decided to write a book about the Lakers, how he sold that idea to a publisher, and explains why working on the book was a much needed escape for him after "Sweetness" was released. Pearlman discusses starting a book, why he doesn't write for any specific "audience," and how he avoided writing another book about the Magic/Bird rivalry. The interview ends with Pearlman dashing any hopes that he will someday write a hockey book, but he does say that he already pitching his new project about football. -David Shoemaker is making his second appearance (01:24:12) on the podcast. Shoemaker stops by to discuss his week in New Orleans for the WWE Hall of Fame Ceremony, Wrestlemania XXX, and last night's Raw. Shoemaker talks about the underwhelming response to the Ultimate Warrior, the shock of the end of the Undertaker's perfect record at Wrestlemania, and the potential (or lack of) for a long title run for Daniel Bryan. Shoemaker also comments on the brilliance of the WWE Network and explains why he is surprised he likes it as much as he does.

Season 4 Episode 9 by Steve Bennett

Season 4 Episode 8 by Steve Bennett

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Season 4 Episode 5 by Steve Bennett

Season 4 Episode 4 by Steve Bennett

Season 4 Episode 3 by Steve Bennett

Season 4 Episode 2 by Steve Bennett

Season 4 Episode 1 by Steve Bennett

Season 3 Episode 36 by Steve Bennett

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Season 3 Episode 32 by Steve Bennett

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Season 3 Episode 30 by Steve Bennett

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Season 3 Episode 21 by Steve Bennett

Season 3 Episode 20 by Steve Bennett

Season 3 Episode 19 by Steve Bennett

Season 3 Episode 18 by Steve Bennett

Season 3 Episode 17 by Steve Bennett

Season 3 Episode 16 by Steve Bennett