Tradition's Finest Episode 72 - "The Bruin 3-Point Shootin' Jason Kapono Episode"

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 72 - “The Bruin 3-Point Shootin' Jason Kapono Episode” includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - NBA - The Miami Heat suspended All-Star Guard Jimmy Butler on Wednesday for two games as tension levels remain high between the two - Butler was suspended after missing the team's flight to Milwaukee, however, he had planned to join the Heat after missing the flight - but now, Miami will be playing without the star Guard during its two-game road trip. . .Butler had just returned to the team on Friday after serving a seven-game suspension for "multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team,". . .The 'ball' seems to remain in Miami's court, as they continue to listen to trade offers to accommodate Butler's request, but are seeking some combination of players who can help the franchise win now, draft capital, movable short-term salary & young talent - however & to this point, that deal has not materialized, and it is certainly "up in the air" whether Butler will be moved or traded prior to the February 6^th NBA trade deadline. . .Q: What are your thoughts of the current situation with the Miami Heat & Jimmy Butler? Do you think Butler will be traded prior to NBA trade deadline - and if so, what is a potential favorable trade destination for the All-Star? (*Let Us Know What You Think! - You Can Comment on our Twitter/X page - @TraditionFinest OR Send Us a Message to [email protected]!) - MLB - There's an old saying that goes "The Poor Grow Poorer while the Rich Continue to Get Richer," - this certainly can apply to the current state of MLB without a salary cap - the Los Angeles Dodgers signed Japanese phenom pitcher Roki Sasaki, he announced via an Instagram post last Friday. . .Sasaki, considered to be among one of the world's best pitchers - along with his Japanese foe & now teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto - who also signed a 12-year, $325M deal with the Dodgers late last year. . .Sasaki is joining a loaded roster for the Dodgers' organization that is fresh off a World Series championship, and is also anticipating the return of two-time MVP Shohei Ohtani. . .Q: Has the lack of a salary cap & the Dodgers' willingness to exploit this non-regulated funding, served to ruin the sport for rest of the league?. . .Also, what is your predicted win total for the Dodger Blue in 2025 - Over/Under 103 wins?. . . .First-timers Ichiro Suzuki alongside pitchers CC Sabathia & closer Billy Wagner were each elected into the Class of 2025 on Tuesday to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, and this ballot was one of international significance as Ichiro became the first Japanese player to be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame - and much like his one-time teammate David Jeter - Ichiro was just one vote shy of becoming the first position player to be an unanimous selection, a feat achieved by only one player, relief pitcher Mariano Rivera in 2019, in 81 years of voting by the BBWAA. . . They will be honored during an induction ceremony in July next year in Cooperstown, N.Y. The nerve of this one voter, are we right?. . .Ichiro was an immortal & iconic baseball player throughout his 19-year career that included 14 seasons with the Seattle Mariners, three years with the New York Yankees, and three years with the Marlins - he would finish his career with ten All-Star Game Selections, 509 career stolen bases, ten straight Gold Glove Awards for fielding, three Silver Slugger Awards for batting & an American League MVP. . .The nerve of that one voter, are we right?. - NCAA College Basketball - Bluejays G Jamiya Neal, who contributed 24 points off the bench, & G Steven Ashworth helped lead the University of Creighton to a 68-63 road upset at No.14 UCONN on Saturday - this win snapped UCONN's 28-game home winning streak for the two-time defending national champions. . .The Huskies, who were led by Guards Hassan Diarra & Solo Ball, each had 15 points in the team's fifth loss to an AP-unranked opponent this season - whereas the Huskies had four such losses over the past two seasons combined. . .Q: Do you believe that UCONN HC Dan Hurley somewhat regrets his decision to turn down the head-coaching offer from the Los Angeles Lakers?. . .PF Grant Nelson posted a double-double of 25 points & 11 rebounds to lead the way for No.4 Alabama's 102-97 victory over No.8 Kentucky in Rupp Arena on Saturday in what was a matchup of two of the top offensive teams in the country - The Crimson Tide had five players score in double figures, including star G Mark Sears, who scored 16 of his 24 points in the second half - Kentucky had won two games in a row following the upset loss on the road to Georgia, but the Wildcats struggled defensively, and shot 40% from the three-point line after entering the game as one of the nation's top 3-point shooting teams. . .Q: If they can remain healthy, Is Alabama a legitimate title contender this season?. . .No.1 Auburn without their star C Johni Broome, relied heavily on their bench, who tallied 32 points to help the Tigers escape No. 23 Georga with a 70-68 win on Saturday - Freshman PG Tahaad Pettiford shot 71% from deep, finished the game scoring 24 points off the bench as Auburn has now won ten games in a row & their 2nd straight without their All-American Broome whereas Georgia struggled from the FT line, shooting 45% for the game, and the Bulldogs suffered their first home loss of the season (11-1), which snapped a 13-game winning streak at Stegeman Coliseum - Georgia had two chances to tie the game within the final nine seconds of regulation, but G Asa Newell missed the shot at the buzzer. . . - NCAA: News & Storylines - Last Wednesday, the 2025 College Football Hall of Fame 2025 Class was revealed on ESPN's 'College Football Live' as multiple players & coaches were announced to be enshrined in Atlanta forever; such players included: Michael Vick, Montee Ball, Graham Harrell, Haloti Ngata, Steve Slaton, Michael Strahan & many more - as well as the following most notable coaches: Nick Saban & Urban Meyer (among the four HC's revealed). . .The Sun Belt Conference announced last Friday that Marshall University had been issued a $100,000 institutional fine for opting out of the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl where they were scheduled to take on Army - the fine was issued despite the Thundering Herd's roster being depleted of 41 players following the exit of former HC Charles Huff to Southern Miss. . .Q: What did the NCAA expect Marshall to do in this type of situation? What was a realistic outcome?. . .On Wednesday, East Carolina University punter Luke Larsen officially entered the NCAA transfer portal - Larsen is 32 years old and is currently the oldest collegiate player in the NCAA at the Division-I level. . .Q: What are your thoughts on a 32-year-old punter in the transfer portal, and how many teams do you expect will present Larsen with an opportunity to play?. .USC legendary RB Reggie Bush has expressed interest to someday become the Coach for the Trojans and also revealed that he is fighting to obtain USC's 2004 BCS National Championship Trophy back - Q: Would you like to see Reggie Bush at the helm for USC?. . .It's Officially Official, Now!: Bill Belichick finally found a pen & officially signed his contract to become the next head football coach at the University of North Carolina - "Chapel Bill is Now Real!". . . - NCAA College Football Playoff National Championship Review - The College Football Playoff National Championship game between Ohio St. & Notre Dame averaged approximately 22.1M viewers, which is down from last year's National Championship game between Michigan & Washington (in the four-team playoff), which averaged 25.05M viewers. . .Q: What are some reasons that might have contributed to this decrease in viewership?. .No.8 Ohio State won their first national title in a decade, outlasting No.8 Notre Dame 34-23 in the CFB Playoff Championship game on Monday night at Mercedez-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. . .This is the Buckeyes' sixth national title - and their first being crowned the champions of the first four-team playoff back in 2014. . .JD & Spencer provide a detailed account & team/player analysis of the National Championship Game - and why it was NOT a great call for Irish HC Marcus Freeman & DC Al Golden to call "man coverage" on a critical third-and-11 late in the fourth QTR when you had an opportunity to get the ball back, score a TD & take the game to OT. . .From the Buckeyes' 13-10 loss to bitter rival Michigan on Nov. 30^th to avenging their loss to Oregon in the Semifinal Round to Questions surrounding the job security of tenured HC Ryan Day - the 2024-25 College Football season for the Ohio St. Buckeyes can be summarized into two words: A "Redemption Story." - NCAA College Football Season Recap: An Open Discussion Panel - JD & Spencer discuss their personal views of the 2024 CFB season & discuss/debate the following topics as outlined below: (*Be Sure to Share Your Responses with us via Twitter/X or via email!!) Name a few of your personal favorite CFB games from the 2024 regular season. . . Name a few of your most memorable moments/games from the 2024 College Football season, including the Bowl Season. . . Subjectively, Name a few of the greatest players from the 2024 College Football season that you thoroughly enjoyed watching, and that you believe will prosper at the professional level. . . - NFL - JD & Spencer review & breakdown the following AFC & NFL Divisional Playoff Games:

AFC: No.1 seed Kansas City Chiefs vs. No.4 seed Houston Texans

No. 3 seed Baltimore Ravens at No.2 Buffalo Bills

NFC: No.6 seed Washington Commanders at No.1 Detroit Lions

No.4 Los Angeles Rams at No.2 Philadelphia Eagles

- The Chicago Bears finalized the deal on Wednesday, hiring Lions OC Ben Johnson as their next HC. . .Johnson will change residences, but will remain in the NFC North division. . .Johnson seems to have an affinity for Bears QB Caleb Williams & his growth throughout his rookie season in the NFL. . .Q: Will Ben Johnson provide the type leadership necessary to turn things around for the Bears' organization?. . .

- It was also announced on Wednesday that the New York Jets have found their man - and they've returned to their roots in the process - as the organization has hired Aaron Glenn, the team's former Pro Bowl CB from 1994-2001, and more recently, the Detroit Lions DC. . .Glenn becomes the fifth HC to have a playing history with his current team - Glenn actually returned to the Jets as a personnel scout back in 2012 to begin what would become a future career in coaching. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Jets' hire of Aaron Glenn?. . .

- NFC & AFC Conference Championship Game Predictions: JD & Spencer provide their individual and/or independent predictions for the NFL Conference Championship Games this upcoming weekend: (*Be Sure to Let Us Know Your Picks!)

AFC Championship Game: No.2 Buffalo Bills at No.1 Kansas City Chiefs (-2) O/U47.5

NFC Championship Game: No.6 Washington Commanders at No.2 Philadelpha Eagles (-6) O/U47.5

Thanks for Listening!!