Tradition's Finest Episode 76 - "The Stormin' Mormon Episode"

[We]lcome [Back] to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 76 - “The Stormin' Mormon Episode” includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - Miscellaneous - It is an incredibly dark time for the American economy - as well as for Phoenix Suns SG Devin Booker - this is the case because a national treasure, aka Hooters, announced that the company will declare bankruptcy and will shut the doors for good. . .Not only that, but what are Caucasian women supposed to do when Fall comes back around after the new CEO of Starbucks Coffee recently announced that twelve (12) item(s) will soon be removed from their menu. . .& don't even get me started on the closure of JoAnn's Fabrics & Crafts. . .What's next?. . .Wal-Mart?. . - MLB - Major League Baseball Spring Training has Arrived - The Cactus League began last Saturday, and consists of 15 MLB teams that play across ten parks spread throughout Maricopa County in Arizona - it was the most ideal way for Juan Soto to make his Mets debut where he would hit a homer on his first at-bat. . .Longtime Houston Astros in-fielder & Free Agent Alex Bregman & the Boston Red Sox agreed to a three-year deal worth approximately $120M last week. . .Bregman made his Red Sox debut in an 8-7 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays last Sunday, but would close out the day 3-for-3 with a HR. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Red Sox' acquisition of 3^rd baseman Alex Bregman? Does Boston have a chance to compete for a playoff spot in 2025?. . .The New York Yankees released a statement on behalf of team owner Hal Steinbrenner that the 49-year "beard" ban has officially been lifted for the players - the removal of this ban will allow Yankees players to grow facial hair - but Steinbrenner made sure to throw in one additional detail into the mix: the players' facial hair must be clean shaven. . .Q: Is the removal of this ban related to the team's acquisition of Pitcher Devin Williams (and the realization that some men "should retain a beard or facial hair" for a reason)?. . . - NCAA: News & Storylines - Last week, it was announced that Ohio State were finalizing a deal to make veteran NFL coach Matt Patricia as the school's new DC, sources reported to ESPN. . .Q: Is Patricia a "good fit" to serve as Jim Knowles replacement at Ohio State?. . .The Tulane Green Wave kicked off their new baseball season last Friday against Omaha in a three-game series at home. . .but most importantly, they did so with some super SEXY jerseys - inspired by the Green Wave's 1970s and 1980s uniforms, these jerseys honored HC Joseph Brockhoff's inaugural season in 1975 and also celebrated the Mardi Gras tradition as well as the city of New Orleans. . .Q: 1-10 what rating would you give to these "Mardis-Gras" themed jerseys?. . .A former QB returns to Penn State as an Assistant QB Coach?. . . - NFL - It is official, folks! - The Aaron Rodgers era with the New York Jets is over - nearly two years after welcoming him with a warm embrace - the Jets said goodbye to Rodgers with a news release, wishing him success in his next journey - Rodgers finished 25th in QBR last season (48.2), ranked 28th in yearly average career lows in yards per attempt & yards per dropback, ranking 27th - Rodgers won only six of his 18 starts with the franchise, but it remains unclear as to whether Rodgers will play for his 21st season in 2025 or if he will announce his retirement from the league. . .Q: What do you think - does Aaron Rodgers play in the NFL next season or retire?. . .As for the Jets, they are expected to pursue a veteran QB as Rodgers' replacement - Q: Are Kirk Cousins, Justin Fields or Sam Darnold - viable QB's to "rebuild" the position and revitialize the franchise towards a winning culture?. . ."Bullygate Update:" The bullygate scandal rocked the Miami Dolphins - as well as the entire league - during the 2013 season, when then-OL Jonathan Martin was the subject of deep ridicule & bullying, which would led to multiple players being cut, most notably including fellow OL Richie Incognito, and even led to a Coach being fired - Recently, in an interview with ESPN, Martin let loose an important detail that has rocked the league once again - "I never believed for a second [that] I was being bullied. It's a story I've been trying to fix for ten years." Martin stated in the interview. . .Martin's admission comes more than ten years following the fallout of his alleged bullying - following Martin's admission that bullygate was a "lie," Incognito spoke out to the Miami Herald newspaper & took to X/Twitter "It took him 10 years to tell the truth!". . .Q: What are your thoughts on Martin's admission that the bullygate scandal was utterly false & that it was his Mother that first used the term "bully?". . . **Let Us Know What You Think!!. . .Decorated Dallas Cowboys Guard Zack Martin recently announced that he is retiring from the NFL after 11 seasons in the league - Martin was a 9-time Pro Bowl selection in eleven years - and had only seven accepted holding penalties in his career, equaling the number of 1st team All-Pro nods - Up next, a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. . . Former NFL WR Steve Smith Sr. has seemingly admitted to having an extramarital affair with a married Baltimore Ravens employee after being confronted by his mistress' spouse/husband - Smith Sr.'s response over the phone to the husband: "I'm Sorry.". . .The mistress' husband stated that he believes that their alleged relationship may have potentially violated the Ravens' fraternization policy. . .Q: What are your thoughts on Steve Smith Sr. and the drama surrounding his very publicized affair?. . . - NCAA College Basketball - On Saturday, Feb. 15th, No.1 Auburn defeated in-state rival & No.2 Alabama 94-85 at Coleman Coliseum - after Alabama struggled from the three-point line, finished the game making five of 26 3-point attempts (19.2%) whereas Auburn shot extremely well from beyond the arc with a 40.0 3P%. . .Tigers Johni Broome finished the game with 19 points & 14 rebounds, and five of the Tigers scored in double figures - Alabama rallied from a double-digit deficit in the second half, but failed to complete the comeback. . .On Wednesday, Feb. 19th, No.1 Auburn defeated Arkansas 67-60, while No.4 Alabama would lose on the road versus No.15 Missouri 110-98. . .On the following Saturday, Feb. 22nd, No.4 Alabama, riding the two-game losing streak, returned home to defeat No.17 Kentucky 96-83 behind PG Mark Sears 30 points. . .On Monday, the updated AP Top 25 poll was released - and to no surprise, Auburn remained atop the list with the No.1 ranking for the 7th straight week - after receiving all 60 first-place votes from the national media panel. . .As for preseason No.1 Kansas, they dropped out of the AP Poll for the first time in nearly four years, ending the Jayhawks' ranked run at 80 consecutive weeks - this drop comes after losing on the road at Utah 76-67, and a 91-57 blowout loss at BYU, the largest margin of defeat in school history for a ranked KU team against an unranked opponent. . . - NBA - A Recap of 2025 NBA Dunk & Three-Point Contest - **Tune into this Episode for a Review & Analysis. . .San Antonio Spurs star Center Victor Wembanyama is expected to miss the remainder of the 2025 NBA season, the team announced on Thursday, because of deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder - which is a form of blood clot. . .Unfortunately, the Spurs will also have to function the remainder of this NBA season without HOF HC Gregg Popovich, who is not expected to return this season, and his NBA future is uncertain as he recovers from a stroke suffered in November - Best of wishes to Pop' & Wemby - The Tradition's Finest Podcast hopes that they are both able to return to the court sooner rather than later. . . Thanks for Listening!