Tradition's Finest Episode 126 - The "One Shining Moment" Episode

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 126 - The "One Shining Moment" Episode includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Basketball: Financial penalties will be imposed on schools that do not follow the new player availability reporting process in the upcoming NCAA men's and women's basketball tournaments, according to the NCAA, who released a statement regarding the update last Wednesday - - **NOTE: For the first time ever, teams will be required to submit player availability information for NCAA tournament games- - If a school does not abide by this process, it will reportedly face potential fines: A first offense will result in a penalty of up to $10,000. . .the second offense is a fine up to $25,000. . .and the third offense includes a fine of up to $30,000 for the school and $10,000 for the program's head coach - as all penalties will be assessed after the tournament - - For this year's NCAA Tournament, teams must submit an initial report to the NCAA by 9 p.m. local time the night before a game is scheduled to occur, as well as provide an update two hours prior to the scheduled tip time on game day - Both reports must list players as one of three designations: (1) available, (2) questionable or (3) out. . .Players not listed as questionable (i.e., up to a 75% chance of playing) or out are assumed to be available to play - - **NOTE: Player availability reports have become required in the five (5) major conferences over the past couple of seasons, with the ACC, Big 12 and SEC posting their initial reports the night before a game, and the Big East & Big Ten conference(s) publishing their reports the morning of games - - This will be the first time player availability reports will be used for NCAA championships, with the men's and women's basketball tournaments serving as a pilot program for potential use in other sporting events - - The reports are "intended in part to reduce betting-related pressure, solicitations and harassment student-athletes and other team personnel receive from bettors connected to playing status," per the NCAA's statement - - HD Intelligence, a service for which several of the aforementioned conferences already use, will serve as the primary provider for player availability reporting services. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the NCAA's announcement regarding the mandated player availability reports, and their use throughout the men's and women's 2026 NCAA Tournament?. . ."31 & OH:" No.19 Miami (Ohio) RedHawks at Ohio Bobcats - - Miami (OH) closed out the regular season as the only unbeaten team in Division I men's college basketball, with guard Eian Elmer scoring a career-high 32 points & grabbing 12 rebounds in a gritty 110-108 road victory over in-state, MAC conference rival, Ohio, on Friday (3/6) night - - Peter Suder scored five (5) of his total 13 points in OT for the RedHawks (31-0, 18-0 MAC), which became the first program to complete an unblemished regular season since Gonzaga in 2021 - - Guard Trey Perry added 21 points and forward Brent Byers scored 15 for the RedHawks, who topped Akron (17-1 MAC) for the regular-season league title - - **NOTE: Despite its' magical season, Miami (OH) might need to win the MAC Conference tournament this week to guarantee themselves a spot and/or to become an automatic qualifier in this year's NCAA Tournament. . .Q: How do you feel about this particular subject: should the Miami (OH) RedHawks receive an "automatic bid" to the 2026 NCAA Tournament regardless of whether they or not they win the MAC Conference championship? - - Guard Jackson Paveletzke led Ohio (15-16, 9-9 MAC) with a career-high 37 points, while forwards Javan Simmons scored 30 and Aidan Holloway added 20 points as well, as the Bobcats closed out the regular season after losing three (3) consecutive games - - HC Travis Steele's squad had a bumpy stretch over its previous dozen games, with four (4) one-possession wins & two others that they won in OT - - This time, the story wasn't much different, as the RedHawks needed some late game heroics again to win in Athens for the first time in 15 years: Ohio forward Javan Simmons' basket off a missed shot by teammate Kirr Kuany gave the Bobcats a 108-107 lead with 26 seconds remaining in OT - - Miami guard Peter Suder then sank two FTs to put the RedHawks ahead, and guard Justin Kirby made another for the final margin - - The Bobcats had an opportunity to steal the game, but guard Jackson Paveletzke missed two shots in the final five (5) seconds that could have given Ohio the lead (and win), including a 3-pointer at the buzzer - - While the RedHawks capped off an impressive and historic 31-0 regular season and an insane 110-108 victory over in-state rival, Ohio, it was what occurred after the final buzzer that was even more enthralling: Chaos erupted in the Athens arena from both sides, with frustrated Ohio fans throwing trash onto the court and in the direction of the elated RedHawks, who returned the favor by giving them a "California hello," (aka, the bird/middle finger). . .Things only escalated as taunts were thrown back & forth between the two teams, as Ohio forward Aidan Hadaway was sent back to the locker room amid the chaos and was forced to skip the postgame handshake line. . .Miami guard Peter Suder, most notably, kept waving goodbye to the Ohio fans as he backed away from the crowd, while seemingly mouthing "F*** you, b—hes,". . .Q: What's your take on the chaos that erupted at the Ohio University arena following the Miami (OH) RedHawks' gritty OT victory? What are your thoughts on the on-court behavior/demonstrations of the RedHawks players, for instance, that of guard Peter Suder?. . .No.8 Michigan State Spartans at No.3 Michigan Wolverines - - Forward Yaxel Lendeborg scored 19 of his 27 points in the first half, and Morez Johnson Jr. finished with 18 points, leading No.3 Michigan in a 90-80 win and season sweep over "little brother" No.8 Michigan State on Sunday (3/8) to give the Big Ten regular-season champions a 15^th straight conference victory - - The Wolverines (29-2, 19-1 Big Ten) are headed to the Conference tournament, hoping to earn a No.1 seed in March Madness, prior to shooting for the program's second national championship (and first since 1989) - - The Spartans (25-6, 15-5 Big Ten) were swept by their in-state rivals in the regular season, but might get another shot at the Wolverines this week in the Big Ten Conference tournament - - Lendeborg, a preseason All-America selection, was once again the best player on the court, on Sunday, as the UAB transfer shot 8-for-12 from the field, matched a career high with five (5) three-pointers, recorded three (3) assists & also made winning plays at the other end of the court defensively - - "A Dirty Play/Villain:" After Spartans guard Jeremy Fears Jr. made a jumper to pull Michigan State within three (3) points with 3:47 remaining, Lendeborg made a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession to start a 10-2 run that ultimately sealed the victory for the Wolverines - - Fears finished with 22 points & nine (9) assists, forward Jaxon Kohley matched a career high with 23 points as big man Carson Cooper added 19 points for the Spartans - - However, it was Fears, who once again drew unwanted attention for another kick toward an opponent's groin, as he was called for a technical foul after a video review clearly showed that he swung his right leg backward and into Wolverines' guard Elliot Cadeau. . .but this wasn't his first rodeo: when the Wolverines won the first matchup earlier this season, Fears appeared to intentionally trip Yaxel Lendeborg, and in the postgame press conference, Michigan HC Dusty May made mention of the "several dangerous," plays in the game, in reference to Fears' on-court antics. . .Q: Is Michigan State's Jeremy Fears Jr. the modern version of former Duke Blue Devils' Grayson Allen (or former Michigan State forward Draymond Green)?. . ."NCAA College Basketball Championship Week:" The 2025-26 men's college basketball regular season is officially over, and Championship Week is in full swing: Conference tournaments are pitting member schools against one another for the right to represent their league as one of the 31 automatic qualifiers in this year's NCAA Tournament - - It all ends with the Big Ten Conference Tournament on Sunday, just before the full 68-team field for March Madness is revealed - - In this week's "Champ Week" segment, JD & Spencer introduce & discuss each of the men's basketball conference champions, to date, that have already punched their ticket this year's Big Dance: Ohio Valley Conference (OVC): Tennessee State Tigers (23-9) - - Third overall appearance (first since 1994) Northeast Conference (NEC): Long Island University (LIU) Sharks (23-10) - - Eighth overall appearance (first since 2018) Missouri Valley Conference (MVC): Northern Iowa Panthers (20-14) - - Ninth overall appearance (first since 2016) Big South Conference: High Point Panthers (30-4) - - Second straight appearance Atlantic Sun (ASUN) Conference: Queens University Royals (21-13) - - First overall appearance Summit League: North Dakota State Bison (21-13) - - Fifth overall appearance (first since 2019) Sun Belt Conference: Troy Trojans (22-11) - - Fourth overall appearance (second consecutive) Southern Conference (SoCon): Furman Paladins (22-12) - - Eighth overall appearance (first since 2023) Horizon League: Wright State Raiders (23-11) - - Fifth overall appearance (first since 2022) Coastal Athletic Association (CAA): Hofstra Pride (24-10) - - Fifth overall appearance (first since 2001) West Coast Conference (WCC): Gonzaga Bulldogs (30-3) - - 28^th overall appearance (27th straight) Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC): Siena Saints (24-11) - - 11^th overall appearance (first since 2010) - NCAA Football: R.I.P Lou Holtz, the quick-witted former D1 college football coach, who led the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to a national championship in 1988, and burnished his reputation as a master at rebuilding programs, has sadly passed away at the age of 89, per a statement released on social media by his family - - Per the statement, Holtz passed away in Orlando, FL, where he was surrounded by family, however, the cause of death was not listed - - **NOTE: Holtz finished with a 249-132-7 overall record throughout his coaching career, which included stints with six (6) programs: William & Mary, NC State, Arkansas, Minnesota, Notre Dame & South Carolina - - He also coached the NFL's New York Jets for the 1976 season, finishing with a 3-10 record - - After retiring from coaching, Holtz worked in television, including more than a decade with ESPN, but what he did with the Fighting Irish stands as his greatest accomplishment - - "A Legendary Life in Football:" Holtz was born Jan.6, 1937, in West Virginia, the son of a Navy veteran who served during World War II - - He played college football at Kent State University as a LB, prior to going into coaching & worked under Woody Hayes at Ohio State in 1968 - - He went on to have a 33-year coaching career, for which he remains 12^th on the FBS all-time wins list (minimum of 10 seasons), finished with a 100-30-2 record while at the helm in South Bend (3rd winningest HC in Notre Dame history), led the Irish to a national championship in 1988, was named the 1977 (Arkansas) & 1988 (Notre Dame) FWAA Coach of the Year, is the 3^rd winningest coach in Arkansas' program history, was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008, was an ESPN college football analyst from 2005 to 2015 - picking up the moniker "Dr. Lou" - and finally, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2020. . .Q: What are a couple of the most memorable moments of Lou Holtz throughout the years?. . . - NFL - - The Los Angeles Rams and star CB Trent McDuffie reached an agreement Sunday on a record four-year, $124 million extension that includes $100 million guaranteed, sources reported to ESPN's Adam Schefter - - **NOTE: The new contract makes McDuffie, 25, the highest-paid CB in NFL history - - Last Wednesday (3/4), the Rams acquired McDuffie from the Kansas City Chiefs for a package of four (4) draft picks, that included the No.29 selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, however, the deal could not become official until the following Wednesday (3/11) this week, which is the start of a new league year - - McDuffie was entering the final season of his rookie deal, as last April, the Chiefs exercised his fifth-year option, making his 2026 salary of $13.6 fully guaranteed - - He will now make much more than that thanks to a deal that averages $31 million annually, which surpasses the Colts' Sauce Gardner ($30.1 million) and the Texans' Derek Stingley Jr. ($30 million) for the highest among NFL CBs - - Cornerback was a top need for the Los Angeles Rams entering NFL free agency and this year's draft, as they had four (4) pending free agents at the position - - Along with pick No.29, the Chiefs will receive 2026 fifth- & sixth-round selections and a 2027 third-rounder as part of the trade, sources previously reported to Schefter - - The Rams still have one first-round draft pick (No.13) after trading back with the Falcons during the 2025 NFL Draft - - **NOTE: The Rams have made just one first-round selection since 2017, when they selected LB Jared Verse No.19 overall in 2024, which is five (5) fewer first-round picks than any other NFL franchise from 2017 to '25, according to ESPN Research - - According to NFL Next Gen Stats, McDuffie has allowed 6.0 yards per target in coverage in the past two seasons, which is the third best among DBs who have been targeted a minimum of 150 times - - In 56 career games, McDuffie has recorded three (3) INTs, 34 pass breakups, 5.5 sacks & 246 total tackles, and was named first-team All-Pro in 2023. . .Q: Who won the NFL trade that landed former All-Pro CB Trent McDuffie in Los Angeles: the Chiefs or the Rams?. . .The Buffalo Bills landed a new top target for franchise QB Josh Allen, agreeing to a trade with the Chicago Bears to acquire WR DJ Moore, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Thursday - - Buffalo is sending a 2026 second-round draft pick to Chicago in exchange for Moore and a 2026 fifth-round selection - - Moore's $23.5 million base salary in 2026 is fully guaranteed, and his 2027 base salary - which is also $23.5 million - becomes fully guaranteed next week, while the Bills will be guaranteeing $15.5 million of Moore's $23.5 base salary in 2028 - - Moore, who will turn 29 in April, will be reunited with new Bills HC Joe Brady, whom of which he played under with the Carolina Panthers, when Brady was the team's OC in 2020 and for most of the 2021 season - - The WR position was a significant need for the Buffalo Bills this offseason given a lack of consistency at wideout throughout the 2025 season: Moore will join a WR room for the upcoming 2026 NFL season that has some question marks regarding their status outside of Khalil Shakir, including Keon Coleman, Joshua Palmer & Curtis Samuel, Moore's former Panthers teammate - - In Chicago last season, Moore's strongest (or best) assets were his durability, as Moore played in all 17 games and was on the receiving end of some of the greatest catches of the season, including a 46-yard walk-off TD in OT to defeat the Green Bay Packers on Dec. 20. . .but unfortunately, Chicago's season finished with Moore running an imperfect or wrong route on a Caleb Williams' INT in OT against the Rams in the playoffs - - What's most important for the Bears, though, is the cash: By trading Moore to the Bills, Chicago is freeing up $49 million to spend over the next two years, which is critical for a franchise with major needs - especially after center Drew Dalman, 27, unexpectedly retired this week, and LT Ozzy Trapilo, who tore his patellar tendon, will not be ready to start in 2026 - - In other words, the Bears could pour much of that money into their offensive line and spend a more reasonable amount on a Moore replacement as their WR3, either by signing a veteran on a low-cost contract or adding another WR in this year's NFL draft. . .Q: Who won the NFL trade that landed WR DJ Moore in Buffalo: the Bears or the Bills?. . ."Maxx Return:" In the biggest trade in franchise history, the Baltimore Ravens are acquiring five-time Pro Bowl DE Maxx Crosby from the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for two first-round picks (2026 & 2027), sources first reported to ESPN's Adam Schefter on Friday night - - Crosby, 28, is a five-time Pro Bowler and would be a game-changer for the Ravens, as his 69.5 sacks since 2019 is more than double what anyone has produced in Baltimore over that span - - **NOTE: This actually marked the first time in the Ravens' 31-year existence that they had used a first-round pick to trade for a veteran player - - Crosby was set to significantly upgrade a struggling Ravens pass rush that in 2025 totaled 30 sacks, Baltimore's fewest in 15 years - - **NOTE: In fact, Crosby has produced four (4) double-digit sack seasons in his seven-year career, whereas over that span, the Ravens have had two edge rushers with 10 or more sacks in a single season: Kyle Van Noy (12.5 in 2024) and Odafe Oweh (10 in 2024). . .**UPDATE: Shortly afterwards and in what is a strange sequence of events, the Baltimore Ravens have "backed out" of their trade agreement with the Las Vegas Raiders for five-time Pro Bowl DE Maxx Crosby, with sources telling ESPN that the decision was due to medical concerns that arose during a physical. . .Q: What are your thoughts regarding the Baltimore Ravens' announcement that they have rescinded their trade agreement for DE Maxx Crosby? What is your take on the report that they backed out due to "medical concerns?" - - Immediately after the Ravens pivoted away from a failed trade for Raiders' EDGE/pass rusher Maxx Crosby, it was announced per ESPN's Ian Rapoport that Baltimore and former Cincinnati Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson had agreed on a four-year, $112 million contract early Wednesday morning - - Hendrickson will, therefore, remain in the AFC North division, where he will have an opportunity to face off against Joe Burrow and his former team twice a year. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Ravens' acquisition of DE Trey Hendrickson after losing out on Maxx Crosby? Does this entire situation smell a bit "fishy" to you?. . .2026 NFL Free Agency: NFL free agency officially began at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, with the start of a new league year - but as of Monday at noon ET - when the legal tampering/negotiation window opened, NFL franchises could begin agreeing to terms with players - - In this particular segment, JD & Spencer discuss a few of the most notable free agent acquisitions and/or trades that have occurred across the legal tampering two-day window, as well as provide their thoughts concerning each signing and whether it is beneficial or detrimental to that NFL franchise; the following player(s) are discussed within this segment: QB Tua Tagovailoa ➡️ ??? Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick ➡️ ??? WR Alec Pierce ➡️ ??? WR Michael Pittman Jr. ➡️ ??? RB Kenneth Walker III ➡️ ??? QB Malik Willis ➡️ ??? WR Mike Evans ➡️ ??? Safety Reed Blankenship ➡️ ??? - NBA - - Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum's belated birthday present to himself was a return to the game that was abruptly taken away from him last season: Tatum started the Celtics' 120-100 home win over the Dallas Mavericks last Friday, marking his NBA season debut after he underwent surgery to repair a ruptured right Achilles tendon, as he played for a total of 27 minutes, finishing the game with 15 points, 12 rebounds & 7 assists - - **NOTE: The typical rehabilitation window to return to basketball action following a surgical procedure to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon is typically between nine (9) and 12 months. . .Tatum, who underwent surgery on May 13 of last year, was able to return to the court after just 298 days. . .Q: Is Jayson Tatum an absolute freak of nature or nah?. . ."BAM BAM, BAM BAM!:" Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo had a night for all time on Tuesday, with a point total second only to Wilt Chamberlain in the NBA record books: Adebayo scored 83 points, setting league marks for free throws made & attempted in a game where the Miami Heat defeated the Washington Wizards with a final score of 150-129 - - Adebayo started with a 31-point 1^st QTR and never stopped rolling, and he was up to 43 points at the halftime break, 62 by the end of the 3^rd QTR. . .and then came the 4th, when the milestones kept falling despite facing double-, triple- and what once appeared to be a quadruple-team from the Wizards defense that kept sending him to the foul line - - Adebayo's final numbers: 20-for-43 from the field (46.5%), 36-of-43 from the FT line (app. 84%), and 7-for-22 (32%) from 3-point range. . .it was a stat line unlike any other in NBA history, and a night like none other for Adebayo - - Adebayo wound up passing former Los Angeles Lakers great, Kobe Bryant, for single-game scoring as well, as Bryant's career best was 81 points - a game against the Toronto Raptors that was second-best on the NBA scoring list for two decades. . .Until Now!. . .Q: In 10 years from now, is this going to be one of those 'Where Were You' type moments? What are your thoughts on the way in which Bam Adebayo broke Kobe Bryant's record for the second-highest point total in NBA history on Tuesday night?. . . - Miscellaneous - - Baseball/WBC: The 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics featured plenty of upsets and surprises, but Tuesday night's World Baseball Classic action might have produced the most shocking international result of 2026. . .and this time, Team USA was on the wrong side of it. . .The Americans were stunned by Team Italy, 8-6, in a game in which they never led, played sloppily & failed to find the big hit - - Now, their hopes to reach the WBC quarterfinal round and/or the "tournament knockout" stage are in doubt and could come down to a tiebreak: Following the loss, the U.S. then needed Italy to defeat Mexico the following Wednesday, to avoid a complicated tie-break scenario that would likely see the Americans suffer a shocking elimination before the 2026 WBC knockout rounds even began - - The bottom of Italy's lineup struck first in the top of the 2^nd inning with HRs from Kyle Teel & Sam Antonacci to take a 3-0 lead - - Jac Caglianone added a two-run HR in the 4^th inning and Italy tacked on three (3) more in the 6^th inning thanks to shoddy USA defense - - Italy starting pitcher, Michael Lorenzen, of the MLB's Colorado Rockies mowed down the loaded USA lineup, tossing 4.2 shutout innings in a superb start - - The Americans' bats finally woke up in the 7^th inning at Pete Crow-Armstrong clubbed a grand slam - and he added another run in the 9^th inning to cut Italy's lead to two - but USA captain Aaron Judge struck out as the tying run. . .Q: What are your thoughts of Team USA's "embarrassing" loss to Italy in the WBC on Tuesday night?. . . Thanks for Listening!