Tradition's Finest Episode 85 - "The FU & FAQ Episode"

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 85 - “The FU & FAQ Episode” includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - MLB: Arizona Diamondbacks' Eugenio Suarez, 33, entered the game on Saturday with a .167 batting average, however, his confidence received a significant boost after connecting on a 93.8-mph fastball by Braves starting pitcher, Grant Holmes, in the second inning that would lead to a 418-foot HR; this was just the beginning for Suarez, who had himself a historic evening last Saturday - - Suarez became just the 19^th player in Major League Baseball history to hit four home runs in a single game - - but unfortunately for Suarez, his team is dumpster fire on a 110 degree day - and the Diamondbacks became just the second franchise since the year 1900 to have a player hit four dingers out of the park and still find a way for the team to lose the game - - The D'backs would go on to lose the game versus the Atlanta Braves, 8-7, in extra innings (10) at Chase Field. . .Q: Throughout MLB history, there have only been nineteen (19) other players in the league who have hit four HR's in a single game. . .How long do you think it will be before an MLB player breaks that record & hits five HRs in a single game?. . .**Let Us Know What You Think. . .Share Your Thoughts with us via X - @Traditionfinest OR by email at [email protected]!. . . - NCAA: News & Storylines: NCAA College Basketball - Five-star recruit, Alijah Arenas, the son of former NBA star Gilbert Arenas, was placed in an induced coma after he was involved in a serious car crash in the Los Angeles area early last Thursday morning, as was first reported by ESPN. . .According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, Arenas was involved in a single-vehicle crash in a suburb of San Fernando Valley shortly before 5 a.m. on Thursday morning - - the lone vehicle involved was determined to be a Tesla Cybertruck that crashed into a tree/fire hydrant, which contributed to the fire & smoke - and the driver, according to LAFD, was transported to the local hospital by ambulance & was in a "serious condition.". . Prior to his accident, and according to On3 Sports and ESPN's Class of 2025 rankings for high school basketball recruits across the country, Arenas was the No.13 overall recruit after reclassifying in December, and then committing to HC Eric Musselman & the USC Trojans a month later. . .According to his family, the day after the incident occurred, Arenas, 18, had displayed "significant signs of progress within the last 24 hours," - - Prayers Up for Alijah Arenas & his family! - - Our hope is that Arenas will continue to recover, and that we are able to watch him play for the Trojans next season. . .One of the top - and possibly the oldest (25) - college basketball players in the NCAA transfer portal, Chad Baker-Mazara, announced on Monday that he has committed to play for the USC Trojans in the 2025-26 NCAA College Basketball season. . .A 6-foot-7-inch forward, Baker-Mazara, has also displayed the tangibles necessary to play at the guard position - after averaging 12.3 PPG & a team-high 1.2 steals per game last season while starting in 34 of 38 games for HC Bruce Pearl & the Auburn Tigers as they made an impressive run to the NCAA Final Four - - Baker-Mazara, who earned 3rd-team All-SEC honors in 2024-25, was second on the team in scoring, trailing only 1st-team All-America PF/C Johni Broome - - His decision to leave Auburn & to subsequently enter into the NCAA transfer portal was somewhat of a surprise as his grit, physicality & belief in the Tigers' program, was put on display the past few seasons - but Baker-Mazara mince words or hold back from revealing his excitement via social media by posting "Dreams turned into reality!!" and "Let's go to work!" shortly after the news was made official. . ."Ballin' Like His Daddy:" Per ESPN, Cal University transfer Andrej Stojakovic, the son of former NBA 3-point extraordinaire, Peja Stojakovic, and one of the best available players in the NCAA transfer portal - also announced his commitment on Monday - electing to transfer to Illinois over North Carolina & Stanford, where he began his collegiate career. . .Stojakovic averaged 17.9 PPG and 4.7 RPG this past season with the Golden Bears - but he finished the season by averaging 33.0 PPG in two ACC Conference Tournament games, where he shot 7-for-13 from beyond the arc in both contests. . .Q: Of these two transfers - - Chad Baker-Mazara (USC) & Andrej Stojakovic (Illinois) - - Which of the two players will most likely play a significant role with their new program?. . .It was announced on Monday evening that NBA great Shaquille O'Neal has agreed to become the General Manager for the Sacramento State Hornets Men's Basketball team - - As first reported per ESPN, this will be an unpaid role for O'Neal, whose son Shaqir O'Neal, recently transferred from Florida A&M University to Sacramento State, shortly after the hiring of the program's new head coach, Mike Bibby. . . Q: What are your thoughts on Shaquille O'Neal becoming the GM at Sacramento State? Do you think this hire could potentially affect the NCAA & their decision to accept the University's waiver, allowing Sacramento State to become a NCAA Division-I program?. . . - NBA - JD & Spencer provide a detailed analysis of the games played in the first round of the NBA Playoffs - and breakdown each individual game & discuss their predictions as we get closer to the Semifinal round. . . The following NBA Playoff games are discussed in this episode: Games 3 & 4: OKC Thunder vs. Memphis Grizzlies Game 4: Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Clippers Games 3 & 4: Golden State Warriors vs. Houston Rockets Games 3: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Games 3 & 4: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Miami Heat Game 4: New York Knicks vs. Detroit Pistons Game 4: Indiana Pacers vs. Milwaukee Bucks Game 4: Boston Celtics vs. Orlando Magic - NFL - The 2025 NFL Draft was the 90th annual meeting of NFL franchises to select newly eligible players - with the majority being players from the collegiate level. . .This year's draft was held at Lambeau Field and its adjacent Titletown District in Green Bay, WI, on April 24th through April 26th. . .No surprise with No.1 overall pick in the NFL Draft - as the Tennessee Titans selected QB Cam Ward out of the University of Miami - - Ward became the first University of Miami player selected with the first overall pick in the NFL Draft since 1991. . .The Jacksonville Jaguars traded up to acquire the No.2 overall pick from the Cleveland Browns on Thursday (or opening) night of the NFL Draft, and selected two-way star WR/CB Travis Hunter out of the University of Colorado - - The trade moved the Browns down three spots, and would make their selection at the No.5 overall spot - - However, this trade can only be discussed in terms of its boldness: Moving up three spots in his first NFL Draft with the team is a "bold move, Cotton" for first-time GM James Gladstone, who is the second-youngest GM in NFL history (34). . . Q: Shortly after making the draft pick, Gladstone stated that the plan is to start Hunter on offense and work him in on the defensive side of the ball as he grows more comfortable, what are your thoughts regarding the GM's stance & notion of how he will utilize Hunter's unique skill set? Do you believe that Hunter can "play both ways" in the NFL? Is it a legitimate possibility that we may witness a two-way star player, such as Travis Hunter, be inducted into the HOF for his offensive (WR) & defensive (CB) play?. . .Let's skip the next few picks & swing on over to the No.6 overall pick in this year's NFL Draft: With the No.6 overall pick, the Las Vegas Raiders selected Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty on Thursday night, which became the franchise's first pick under new HC Pete Carroll & GM John Spytek - - By drafting Jeanty, Spytek indicated the team has a strong foundation in place on offense with TE Brock Bowers, WR Jakobi Meyers & newly-acquired QB Geno Smith - - Jeanty was regarded by many scouts to be one of the top players in this draft class after having a historic season with Boise State in 2024, where he was the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy award, and he also scored 29 TDs & had six games where he rushed for at least 200 rushing yards - - This guy has a very high ceiling. . .Jeanty became the first RB selected within the first six picks of the NFL Draft since Saquon Barkley was drafted by the New York Giants - - and accordingly, his pro comp according to Matt Miller of ESPN, is Alvin Kamara - - Furthermore, Jeanty has also acknowledged after being selected the Raiders that he has always "admired" former Seahawks/Raiders RB Marshawn "Beast Mode" Lynch. . .Q: Which of these three RBs can we expect Ashton Jeanty's career to be comparable too (i.e., Barkley, Kamara & Lynch)?. . .*Be sure to tune into this Episode as JD & Spencer discuss their favorite picks from the first round, including those players selected between the No.7 overall pick and the No.24 overall player - - Note: Players from the SEC & Big Ten Conference(s) accounted for 26 of the 32 picks in the first round of the NFL Draft. . .With No.25 overall pick, the New York Giants. . ."shocked" ESPN draft analyst & expert, Mel Kiper Jr. . . and the sports world when they elected to pass on projected first-round pick & QB Shedeur Sanders - - The Giants would draft Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart with the No. 25 overall pick, where he will join a revamped QB room that includes the perceived starter in Russell Wilson, backup Jameis Winston & Mr. Italian, himself, in Tommy DeVito - who may now be the odd-man out. . .Q: While it's presumed that the Giants depth chart at the QB position to start the 2025-26 NFL season will be as follows: 1. Russ, 2. Jameis, 3.Dart - - Who do you predict will be the New York Giants starting QB by the end of next season?. . . One of the most significant storylines surrounding this year's NFL Draft concerned which NFL franchise would use their pick to draft QB Shedeur Sanders - - as well as in what round will this selection occur. . .Certainly, one could argue that the highlight of the weekend involved Shedeur Sanders' dramatic dropoff & slide from a potential first-round draft pick to the fifth round - - although ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr., who is a regular on the panel of each year's draft, projected Shedeur to be drafted in the first round. . .As mentioned, Shedeur's name was not called in the first, second, third or fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft - - In fact, his surprising slide would not come to an end until Saturday or Day 3 of the draft: In the fifth round, the Cleveland Browns traded up with the Seattle Seahawks to select the QB with the No.144 overall pick, which made Shedeur the second QB (and second-straight) that Cleveland had drafted this weekend (i.e., also drafted Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel with the No.94 overall pick). . .Q: What particular factors do you think contributed to QB Shedeur Sanders sliding from a projected first-round pick to the fifth round?. . .Sanders was the 6th QB taken in this year's NFL Draft, following Cam Ward, Jaxson Dart, Tyler Shough, Jalen Milroe & Dillon Gabriel. . .As Shedeur continued to slide down the NFL Draft board, it was quite evident that tension was building up on the ESPN set, among members of the panel, especially with ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr - - Once Shedeur was selected with the No.144 overall pick, the tension that had been building on set in Green Bay, WI finally combusted - - Kiper Jr. could not hide his "disgust" with the NFL for allowing his top-ranked QB in the 2025 NFL Draft to slip into Day 3. . .He continued by making such remarks as "This is not about 'Can you play the position?' This is about 'Do we want you to play the position for us?"' - - Fellow analyst & panel member, Louis Riddick, would, in some aspects, go on to debate over the 'competency' of NFL franchises & their scouts' abilities to evaluate QBs - - After a heated argument, finally, host Rece Davis put a bow on the conversation & the analysts would attempt to return to discussing the players selected - - during the Kiper-Riddick argument, there was a total of seven prospects that were drafted and/or came off the board during the chaos. . .Q: What are your thoughts regarding Mel Kiper Jr.'s on-screen rant about QB Shedeur Sanders & the NFL's ability to evaluate QBs coming into the league?. . .but Wait! There's more. . .On Day 2 of his slide in the 2025 NFL Draft, on Friday, Shedeur Sanders received a phone call - allegedly from the GM of the New Orleans Saints - as he waited anxiously to learn which NFL team would select him - - What's the Catch?. . .It was a "prank call" - - Shortly after the incident occurred, the NFL announced that the league would be probing how the prank callers were able to obtain Shedeur Sanders phone number to prank call him during the draft - - Then, just like that, the mystery was solved: On Sunday, it was revealed the Atlanta Falcons DC Jeff Ulbrich's 21-year-old son, Jax, was behind the prank call after coming across the phone number for Sanders' special draft phone on an open & unlocked iPad - - The Atlanta Falcons released a statement explaining the situation & offered their "sincere apologies" to Sanders & his family - - The culprit, Jax Ulbrich, in the meantime, posted a lengthy statement via his Instagram account, where he apologized to Sanders & thanked him for "accepting his call" earlier that morning - - The Falcons said in their statement that Jax Ulbrich "unintentionally came across" the number for Sanders' draft phone, and that Falcons DC Jeff Ulbrich was "unaware" about both the leak & the prank call until after the fact. .In the seventh round of the NFL Draft, and with the No.231 pick, the Miami Dolphins selected Texas QB Quinn Ewers, who as expected, will compete with QB Zach Wilson, who was signed by the Dolphins in free agency, for the team's backup QB role this summer - - Unfortunately for Quinn, he could have made approximately $8M in NIL earnings throughout the 2025 NCAA football season if he would have elected to enter the NCAA transfer portal & transferred to a different program (i.e.,possibly Notre Dame?) and play elsewhere - - However, after he made the decision to turn pro, which would lead to him being selected in the seventh round of the NFL Draft, he is now expected to make approximately $800k in yearly earnings - - One word: OUCH!. . .In the 2025 NFL Draft, the title of "Mr. Irrelevant" went to Kobee Minor, a defensive back from Memphis, who was selected with the final pick (i.e., No.257 overall) in the seventh or final round of the draft by the New England Patriots. . .Following the 2025 NFL Draft, ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. provided an overall grade to the 32 draft classes using his own "Big Board" rankings & positional grades - - Of course, the Cleveland Browns (aka "the NFL franchise that drafted QB Shedeur Sanders) were the only NFL team that received an "A+" grade, while the Seattle Seahawks received an "A" draft grade - and finally, theNew England Patriots, New York Giants, and the Philadelphia Eagles, the reigning Super Bowl Champions, received an overall grade of "A-". . .The Cleveland Browns reached an agreement on a one-year contract with free agent WR Diontae Johnson, a source confirmed to ESPN's Adam Schefter on Monday evening. . .Q: After a troubled 2024 season for Johnson, is Cleveland "the answer" for WR Diontae Johnson?. . . - FAQ or Q&A Segment - JD & Spencer compiled a series of mostly sports-related questions for them to discuss & debate; They did not discuss the Questions prior to the recording of this episode so their answers are, in fact, independent of one another and are legitimate. JD & Spencer provide their individual responses and discuss & debate the following questions in the final segment of this Episode: 1. What is the most unbreakable record in sports? 2. Could the best college team (i.e., National Champions) defeat the worst professional team? 3. Should Pete Rose, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa & Barry Bonds be allowed into the Pro Baseball Hall of Fame? Why or Why not? 4. NCAA College Football: BCS or Playoffs? 5. Who is your favorite athlete of all time? 6. A Non-Sports Hypothetical Question: Could 100 men defeat a single gorilla in a fight?. . . Thanks for Listening!