Tradition's Finest Episode 81 - "The T.O. Episode"

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 81 - “The T.O. Episode” includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - MLB - After the league-wide batting average in 2022 was at its lowest point in more than a half-century, early into the 2023 MLB season, an MIT-educated physics professor, who had previously been an instructor in Ann Arbor at the University of Michigan, and was currently a minor league hitting coordinator for the New York Yankees, started consulting with the hitters to determine what they would need to increase their performance (and NO! PEDs or anabolic steroids were not a viable option!). . .With much focus and consideration being given to increasing contact with the baseball, the hitting coordinator surmised that the easiest way to do so was: by increasing the size of the barrel of their bat (which turned out to be a "dud") primarily because the increase in overall weight of the bat would inversely decrease a hitter's swing speed. . .After going back to the drawing board, and taking into consideration the wood budget of a bat and/or the specific amount of weight (usually 31 or 32 oz) distributed over the average length of a bat, based on MLB standards - Leanhardt proposed a suggestion that involved investing a disproportionately amount of that budget (or weight) central to the barrel of the bat, but doing so in such a way that it does not throw off the remaining budget or distribution - Ultimately, this led to the creation of the 'bowling pin' bat, also referred to as the "torpedo bat," whose weight near the end of the bat has been redistributed toward the area 6 to 7 inches below its' tip (which is typically the point of contact of MLB players when they make contact with the ball). . .The torpedo bat had its big debut last weekend to kick of MLB Opening Day - as the New York Yankees tied a major league record with 15 HR's over their first three games of the season (17 over their first four games) - and while baseball fans much like ourselves, thoroughly enjoy the occasional dinger, this barrage of long balls has led to much speculation among sports' fans as well as opposing players from across the league, especially concerning the legality and ethics over the use of this type of "torpedo" bat. . . .However, according to the MLB, the bowling-pinned shaped bat abides by the league's collectively bargained bat specifications for its' shape, barrel size & length. . .Q: What are your thoughts regarding MLB players' use of the "torpedo bats?" Should they be allowed to use them - and could this modification and/or change in the structure of the bat negatively influence and/or impact the art of pitching or the sport of baseball in general?. . .On the other hand, NYY All-Star & power-hitter Aaron Judge did not require a different type (or style) of bat to begin what could be a historic season: Through the first three games of the 2025 MLB season, Judge has hit four HR's, setting a franchise record for the Yankees - his first being a 468-footer. . .ESPN has reported that Judge is currently “on pace” to hit 308 HR's this season . . . - NBA - Following Stephen A. Smith's comments & accusations of nepotism involving Bronny James & his status in the NBA, which were made on January 29th's episode of ESPN's “First Take” that eventually led to the now-infamous & heated confrontation between Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James & ESPN analyst/commentator/podcast host Stephen A. Smith during the Lakers-Knicks game back on March 6th, Smith is not backing down at all. . .On last Wednesday's episode of his self-titled podcast, Smith spent most of the show ripping LeBron James for his actions - and even stated at one point that he would have “swung on” LeBron - if the confrontation would have turned physical. .It just doesn't seem like this is going to end in a positive manner for Mr. Stephen A. Smith - Wonder if he realizes that LeBron James spends approximately $1 to $2 million a year on maintaining his physique & form. . .Q: Be real with us - If LeBron James walks up to you and gets in your face/initiates a confrontation, realistically, are you swinging on this specimen of a man?! Why or why not? **We Want Your Honest Response - Let Us Know/Share Your Response with us via our Twitter/X - @TraditionFinest or Send Us a Message via Email to [email protected]!. . .Five players and two Coaches were ejected after a fight broke out in the second QTR of the Minnesota Timberwolves' victory over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night - The Pistons lost HC J.B. Bickerstaff, center Isaiah Stewart, forward Ron Holland II & guard Marcus Sasser, while Minnesota forward Naz Reid & guard Donte DiVincenzo were also tossed - along with Assistant Coach Pablo Prigioni. . .The physical altercation began with a little over eight minutes left in the first half of the game with the Pistons up 39-30 - Pistons' Isaiah Stewart had received a technical foul moments earlier when he intentionally bumped Wolves' DiVincenzo after the whistle. . .Then Holland II was called for a foul after he slapped the ball out of Naz Reid's hands near the baseline, which led to the two players exchanging words - DiVincenzo stepped between them & grabbed Holland's jersey - and soon afterwards, chaos broke loose that led to all ten players on the court & multiple coaches and trainers from both teams, becoming involved in altercation. . .As the players were being separated, Pistons HC J.B. Bickerstaff & T-Wolves Assistant Coach Pablo Prigioni were screaming at each other and had to be separated by team personnel. . . After the the referee crew were able to clear the court, a total of 12 technical fouls were announced, the most in an NBA game since 2005. . .Once again in the news, but for a much better reason this time, the Minnesota Timberwolves were able to overcome a career and NBA-best 61 point triple-double performance from Denver star center Nikola Jokic to outlast the Nuggets 140-139 in double OT on Tuesday night - Jokic's 61 points are the most points scored by a player in the league this season - and are also the most points scored in a triple-double in NBA history. . .Can you imagine scoring 61 points, recording a triple-double - just to lose in double OT by a single point?! - the environment within that locker room postgame would not be a pretty scene. . .Per ESPN's Shams Charania on Wednesday afternoon, ten-time All-Star Carmelo Anthony has been notified that he has been elected into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2025. . . In his single season at the collegiate level, Anthony led Syracuse University to an NCAA national title in 2003, was drafted 3rd overall by the Denver Nuggets in the 2003 NBA Draft (a loaded draft class that included the likes of LeBron James (drafted 1st overall by CLE) & Dwayne Wade (drafted 5th overall by MIA). . . Anthony would go on to play in the NBA for 19 seasons, earning six All-NBA selections - and finishing with career averages of 22.5 PPG, 6.2 RPG & 2.7 APG while shooting 44.7% from the floor and 35.5% from beyond the arc. . .Anthony finished his career with 28,289 points, which is good for 10th place on NBA's all-time career scoring list. . .What a legend - NFL - Denver Broncos' Nik Bonitto is going to need a new sack celebration - Among the NFL's rule changes this year is the ban of the “nose wipe” gesture, per an ESPN report last week. . .The updated rule calls for a 15-yard penalty for “any violent gesture, which shall include but not be limited to a throat slash, simulating or brandishing a gun, or using the nose wipe gesture, or an act that is sexually suggestive or offensive,”. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the NFL's decision to ban the “nose wipe” gesture/celebration?. . .Does this boost or strengthen the league's reputation of being categorized as the “No Fun League?”. . . - NCAA: News & Storylines - The NCAA has denied Deion Sanders' bid for an April 9th Spring game between Prime's Colorado Buffaloes & HC Fran Brown's Syracuse Orange, that was to be scheduled for original programming on channel ESPN2 - After applying for a waiver from the NCAA for the teams to play and practice against each other in April, the NCAA Division I FBS Oversight Committee met last week via video conference & opposed the request, citing that it would give the two schools a “competitive and recruiting advantage” to engage in activities that “no other institutions are permitted to do,”. . .In response to their opposition, Syracuse HC Fran Brown made a joke to reporters at a press conference, stating that if the idea of multiple schools holding a joint practice or game in the Spring, were proposed by other coaches (such as UNC HC Bill Belichick & Boston College HC Bill O'Brien) that the NCAA “would've let them do it,” - Brown would go on to state that he was “just messing” with the NCAA & that he was “literally joking.” - Q: All things considered, in this new era of collegiate sports that revolve around the NIL , are we really that far away from this type of televised, multiple-school format of joint practices & games (much like we see in the NFL)?. . .Former Tennessee football HC Jeremy Pruitt filed a lawsuit this week against the NCAA seeking $100 million over the fallout from his firing four years ago for alleged recruiting violations - Pruitt's lawsuit claims that the NCAA conspired with the University of Tennessee to make him “the sacrificial lamb for conduct that long preceded his tenure at UT.” - Pruitt was fired for cause in January 2021 after going 16-19 in three seasons & did not receive any of his $12.6 million buyout, and in July 2023, the University learned that all 11 wins from the 2019-20 and 2020-21 CFB seasons had been vacated as part of the punishment for the violations during Pruitt's tenure. . .The NCAA also issued a six-year show-cause penalty and one-year suspension against Pruitt, who has not coached in the sport since his appeal was denied - Pruitt is claiming that he has suffered damages including lost wages, future lost wages, damage to his reputation, emotional distress & mental anguish. . .Q: Will it be difficult for Pruitt to prove that the player-recruiting violations preceded his tenure at the University of Tennessee during the Phillip Fulmer era?. . .Stanford has hired former NFL HC Frank Reich as its' interim football HC following the firing of Troy Taylor, the school announced on Monday - Cardinals GM Andrew Luck opted to hire his old NFL head coach when he played QB for the Indianapolis Colts back in 2018. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the hiring of Frank Reich at Stanford? Thoughts on the “interim” tag?. . . - NCAA College Basketball - After spending the past four seasons with the New Mexico Lobos, early last week, Xavier University hired Richard Pitino as its' next men's head basketball coach, sources confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday night - With this hire, Pitino will now coach in the same league as his father, Rick Pitino, who won the Big East Conference Coach of the Year & led St. John's to the league's regular-season & conference tournament championships. . .Q: What do you think about the hire of Richard Pitino at Xavier University?. . .Maryland's Kevin Willard has been hired as Villanova's new head basketball coach, ending more than a week of speculation among the press - after much controversy surrounding Willard's departure, it was announced on Wednesday that Maryland had hired Texas A&M's Buzz Williams to be the Terrapins' next HC. . .unfortunately for Buzz Williams, he will likely face the tall task of having to replace the entire roster of one of Maryland's best starting rosters this century, losing Ja'Kobi Gillespie & Rodney Rice to the transfer portal & with star freshman Derik Queen on the verge of potentially being a lottery pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. . .After losing Williams, Texas A&M began their search for a new HC immediately - however, it was reported on Wednesday per On3 Sports that HC Chris Beard will remain at Ole Miss despite being a leading candidate for the Aggies head coaching vacancy. . .Following in the footsteps of Stephen Curry & Davidson University, the University of Oklahoma has hired Atlanta Hawks' star PG Trae Young as an Assistant General Manager for the Men's Basketball Program - Young made the announcement on ESPN's “NBA Today” on Monday evening - in addition that he will be donating $1 million to the OU program, Young's alma mater. . .On Tuesday, it was announced that PG Meechie Johnson was transferring from Ohio State to South Carolina. . .after transferring from South Carolina to Ohio State. . .after transferring from Ohio State to South Carolina (No!. . .this is not a typo!) - Johnson is transferring for the 3rd time to play his 6th season on college basketball but he has managed to transfer back & forth between these two programs - this man is the personification of the word “allegiance”. . . - NCAA Men's & Women's NCAA Tournament Weekly Review - Prior to our weekly review of all the “Madness” from this past week's Men's NCAA Tournament, we should probably give a proper shoutout to the Women's college basketball teams as well The 2024-25 Women's Final Four matchups are set: No.1 seed UCLA vs. No. 2 seed UCONN (-8.5) O/U135.5 and No.1 seed South Carolina (-5.5) vs. No.1 seed Texas O/U125.5. . .Q: Who is winning the 2024-25 NCAA Women's College Basketball Championship?. . .JD & Spencer reveal their picks - Be sure to Tune in!. . .JD & Spencer also discuss & provide an in-depth analysis (or breakdown) from each matchup of the Men's NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight: The following game(s) from this past weekend are reviewed and discussed in this episode:

Sweet Sixteen: West Region Semifinal: No.1 Florida vs. No.4 Maryland West Region Semifinal: No.3 Texas Tech vs. No.10 Arkansas East Region Semifinal: No.2 Alabama vs. No.6 BYU East Region Semifinal: No.1 Duke vs. No.4 Arizona South Region Semifinal: No.1 Auburn vs. No.5 Michigan South Region Semifinal: No.2 Michigan State vs. No.6 Ole Miss Midwest Region Semifinal: No.2 Tennessee vs. No.3 Kentucky Midwest Region Semifinal: No.1 Houston vs. No.4 Purdue Elite Eight: West Region Final: No.1 Florida vs. No.3 Texas Tech East Region Final: No.1 Duke vs. No.2 Alabama Midwest Region Final: No.1 Houston vs. No.2 Tennessee South Region Final: No.1 Auburn vs. No.2 Michigan State - NCAA Tournament Prediction Showcase 3.0 - The 2024-25 NCAA Tournament Final Four is being played on Saturday, April 5th in San Antonio - and in this last segment, JD & Spencer will reveal their predictions for the upcoming Final Four matchups (as listed below). . .and finally, will then reveal their picks for the team that will be cutting down the net next Monday night in the Men's NCAA Tournament National Championship Game. . .In addition, they will discuss each team's preparation as they prepare for their Final Four matchups & discuss what factors must go right for each team to advance for a spot in the National title game. . .(**Share your picks from the Final Four as well as your prediction for this year's National Champion via Twitter/X - @TraditionFinest or Send Us a Message via Email at [email protected]!) No.1 Florida (-2.5) vs. No.1 Auburn       O/U159.5 No.1 Duke (-4.5) vs. No.1 Houston        O/U136.5 . . . And your pick for the 2024-25 NCAA Tournament National Champion is: _________________ Thanks for Listening!