Tradition's Finest Podcast Episode 68 - "The Richie Incognito Episode"

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast!

Episode 68 - “The Richie Incognito Episode” includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: 

• A Deep Dive into the 2009 "NFL's Dirtiest Player" Award Winner 

• Miscellaneous/Other Sporting News: Crystal Mangum, the former exotic dancer who accused three Duke Men's Lacrosse players of r*pe in 2006, which ignited a social war & national firestorm, recently appeared on a web show "Let's Talk with Kat" from jail, where she admitted that she lied and "testified falsely," against them. . . What are your thoughts on Mangum's revelation, and Why do you think it took her two decades to come clean? (Let Us Know What You Think - Tweet Us on X - @TraditionFinest  -OR- Send Us a Message at [email protected]!). . . 

• Conor McGregor announced on Tuesday that he has agreed to an exhibition boxing match versus Logan Paul that will take place in India. . .Is Conor procrastinating his return to the UFC? If so, Why?. . . 

• MLB: The New York Yankees have acquired 2019 NL MVP Cody Bellinger from the Chicago Cubs, per Jeff Passan. . . 

• NCAA Men's College Basketball: ESPN College Basketball Analyst & Commentator Dick Vitale recently announced that he is officially cancer-free after undergoing a recent PET scan. . . Prayers were answered for the "Diaper, dandy!. . . the P.D.P'eer, baby!". . . No. 1-ranked Tennessee recently won - what might be their wildest game of the entire 2024 season - when they nailed a Three-point shot from halfcourt as time expired - to defeat the Illinois Fighting Illini . . .The Volunteers currently hold a 10-0 record, and are off to their best start since the 1999-2000 season. . .Q: Are there any College Basketball teams that are playing better right now than HC Rick Barnes' Tennessee Volunteers?. . . *Auburn Tigers HC Bruce Pearl is on line #2. . . Has the SEC become the 'deepest' Conference in NCAA Men's College Basketball?. . . 

• NBA: Per the NBA Bleacher Report on Monday - the New Orleans Pelicans would openly embrace a "franchise rebuild" - based primarily on the report that the franchise is "open" to trade discussions involving their veteran players, such as Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and C.J. McCollum - but are not interested in trading their core of young talented players,including SF Herb Jones, Rookie C Yves Missi, and G Trey Murphy III. . .After an abysmal stretch of NBA All-Star Games the past few seasons, the NBA have announced a new format - a mini-tournament - for the 2025 All-Star Game, which will include: (a) Three teams of NBA All-Stars (each team will consist of 8 players), (b) A Fourth team that will include 'Rising Stars' Champions, (c) Each game will be played to a final target score of 40 points, (d) a $1.8M prize pool/incentive, and finally (e) the return of honorary GM's and HC's (which will include the 'Inside the NBA' crew  (i.e., Chuck, Shaq, Kenny & Candace Parker) as GM'S & the top East/West teams' HC(s) will coach the four teams) - Q: What are your thoughts on the NBA's new format for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game? Will you give it a legitimate chance & tune in -OR- Are you already scarred for life after these past few seasons?

• NCAA: News & Storylines: ESPN College Football Analyst & Former Head Coach at the University of Florida & Mississippi State, Dan Mullen, has been hired at UNLV's next CFB HC, the school announced on Thursday - the exact terms of the contract agreement have not yet been revealed to the public, but according to multiple sources, Mullen was hired on a five-year deal. . . Mullen replaces former UNLV HC Barry Odom, who departed the program two weeks ago for the vacant HC position at the University of Purdue. . .Q: Were you surprised to hear the news that Dan Mullen would be returning to CFB as a HC?. . . and as UNLV's next HC?. . .

• The College Football Awards were announced on Wednesday - and while most of the award winners were predictable, it's no surprise that some fans were left scratching their heads and wondering whether the decision is based on a "popularity contest" 

- University of Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter made history by becoming the first player in CFB history to win the Bednarik (best defensive player) & the Biletnikoff Award (best WR) in the same season. . . but what about San Jose State University WR Nick Nash?. . . Nash finished the 2024 CFB season 1st in receptions, 1st in receptions per game, 1st in receiving yards & 1st in receiving TD's - but was not voted "first" for the Biletnikoff Award winner - Q: Is the "obvious" difference between Nash & Hunter - SOS? Are these awards presented based on a popularity contest? - The Jim Thorpe Award (best CB) was presented to Texas CB Jahdae Barron. . . - The Maxwell Award (most outstanding/best CFB player) & The Doak Walker Award (best RB) was presented to Boise St. Ashton Jeanty. . . - The Ray Guy Award (best punter) was presented to USC Trojan Eddie Czaplicki. . . - The Indiana Hoosiers 1st-year HC Curt Cignetti was awarded the 2024 Coach of the Year Award. . . but was ASU's Kenny Dillingham robbed?. . . - The Burlsworth Trophy which is awarded to CFB's most outstanding player who began his career as a "walk-on" was presented to Oregon's Bryce Boettcher. . . - Texas OL Kelvin Banks Jr. was named the winner of both - Outland Trophy & Lombardi Trophy - which are awarded to the best interior lineman & best overall lineman, respectively. . . - The Army Black Knights won the Joe Moore Award, which goes to the nation's top offensive line. . . - University of Miami QB Cam Ward was named the Davey O'Brien National QB Award winner. . . - The John Mackey Trophy (best TE) was awarded to Penn State University TE Tyler Warren. . . but have you viewed Bowling Green TE Harold Fannin Jr.'s stats from the season?. . .

• The Heisman Trophy was awarded to Colorado two-way player Travis Hunter on Saturday night. . . Hunter became the 2nd CU player to win the award & the first since RB Rashaan Salaam in 1994. . . First defensive player to win the award since Charles Woodson in 1997. . . RB Ashton Jeanty, the "People's Heisman?". . . 

• Heisman Trophy finalist & Miami QB Cam Ward believes the "sweet spot" for the CFB Playoff would be around 16-24 teams. . . Q: What are your thoughts? 

• Florida State HC Mike Norvell is giving $4.5M of his annual salary this year to the University in a restructured contract. . . Q: Will we begin to hear about more CFB HC's who are taking a "pay cut" to assist with player revenue?

• "We Are Marshall, We Are Sun Belt Champions & We Are in an Odd Predicament:" The University of Marshall won the Sun Belt title game a week ago to finish the regular season at 10-3. . . Shortly afterwards, Thundering Herd HC Charles Huff would accept the vacant HC position at Southern Miss. . . Huff's departure led to approximately 25+ players entering into the NCAA transfer portal. . . On Saturday, the University released a statement, and notified officials that they are opting out of the 2024 'Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl' vs. Army because of "player unavailability due to activity in the transfer portal." . . Without any 6-6 teams that did not qualify for a bowl game, the NCAA found its replacement team, Louisiana Tech with a 5-7 record, will fill in for Marshall. . . Q: How stressful does it have to be for LA Tech to have less time to prepare for what IS Army's offense?. . . 

• NCAA CFB: The Transfer Portal: The NCAA has built an incredibly flawed system that is impossible to navigate for these collegiate athletes. . . The fact that we have an open transfer portal while the CFB season is still ongoing is mind-blowing!. . . The NCAA must fix this, and some sort of "regulation" should be considered their highest priority. . . Let's take a closer look at some of the most notable players who have recently entered the transfer portal - and have since signed and/or committed to a new program (BUT you MUST tune in to find out where each of these players committed:)

- Former Texas A&M starting QB Conner Weigman has committed to. . . - Boston College transfer QB Thomas Castellanos has committed to. . . - SE Missouri State transfer WR Tristan Smith has committed to. . . - Oklahoma transfer QB Jackson Arnold has committed to. . . - USC transfer QB Miller Moss has committed to. . . - Mississippi State transfer QB Michael Van Buren has committed to. . . - Western Kentucky transfer QB TJ Finley has signed with. . . - Texas Tech transfer WR Micah Hudson has committed to. . . - Kentucky transfer WR has committed to. . . - Florida EDGE Jack Pyburn has committed to. . . - Stanford transfer QB Ashton Daniels has committed to. . . - Duke transfer QB Maalik Murphy has committed to. . . NOT Kentucky! - After initially announcing on Monday that he would enter the transfer portal as a "business decision," Alabama DB Jaylen Mbakwe has decided to. . .

• NCAA CFB Week 16 & The Beginning of Bowl Season Review & Recap: JD & Spencer provide an in-depth discussion and breakdown for the Week 16 game - as well as for the initial bowl games of the season:

- "The Battle for the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy:" No. 22 Army vs. Navy - Cricket Celebration Bowl: Jackson State vs. South Carolina State - IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl: South Alabama vs. Western Michigan

• NCAA CFB: Bowl Games & College Football Playoff First Round Game Predictions: JD & Spencer provide insight, detailed analysis, and breakdowns for each of the upcoming matchups this weekend, and provide their independent/individual game predictions for the following games:

StaffDNA Cure Bowl: Ohio (-3) vs. Jacksonville State O/U54.5 Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl: Tulane vs. Florida (-14) O/U50.5 College Football Playoff First Round Game: No. 10 Indiana vs. No. 7 Notre Dame (-7) O/U51.5 College Football Playoff First Round Game: No. 11 SMU vs. No. 6 Penn State (-7.5) O/U53.5 College Football Playoff First Round Game: No. 12 Clemson vs. No. 5 Texas (-11) O/U51.5 College Football Playoff First Round Game: No. 9 Tennessee vs. No. 8 Ohio State (-7.5) O/U47.5 Myrtle Beach Bowl: Coastal Carolina vs. UTSA (-8.5) O/U55.5 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Northern Illinois (-3) vs. Fresno State O/U39.5 Hawai'i Bowl: USF vs. San Jose State (-4) O/U62.5 GameAbove Sports Bowl: Pittsburgh (-7) vs. Toledo O/U51.5 Rate Bowl: Rutgers vs. Kansas State (-6.5) O/U51.5 68 Ventures Bowl: Arkansas State vs. Bowling Green (-7) O/U50.5

• NFL: Former NFL QB Teddy Bridgewater, who is the head coach at his high school alma mater - Miami Northwestern HS - led the football team to their first state title since 2019 with a 41-0 victory over Raines (FL). . . 

• San Francisco 49ers LB De'Vondre Campbell quits on his team?. . . The LA Rams defeat the Niners on Thursday Night Football 12-6. . . On Monday, the Niners announced that they have suspended Campbell for "conduct detrimental to the team," for three games - and the suspension will likely end Campbell's season (and career?). . . 

• Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes threw 2 TD passes, but left the game versus the Cleveland Browns limping off the field with an ankle injury in the 4th QTR. . . The Chiefs pulled off a relatively easy win 21-7. . .Chiefs backup QB Carson Wentz finally got to feel the fresh-cut grass of a football field?. . . Mahomes' ankle is not broken as X-rays were negative - but he does have a high-ankle sprain, and his availability is listed as "week-to-week.". . . 

• Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts accounted for 3 TD's as the Eagles defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-13 for a franchise-best 10th straight win. . . QB Russell Wilson & the Pickens-less Steelers struggled. . . Eagles RB Saquon Barkley is 'human' after all?. . . Steelers T.J. Watt lost to injury as well. . . 

• The Buffalo Bills knocked off the Detroit Lions to snap their 11-game winning streak - Bills QB Josh Allen continued to boost his case for league MVP. . . Bills win shootout of a game 48-42. . . Lions QB Jared Godd matched a career-high by throwing 5 TD passes for the NFC North-leading Lions (12-2) whose loss allowed Minnesota to tie Detroit for the divisional lead. . . Lions RB David Montgomery suffered a torn MCL, and is out "indefinitely" - "Sonic has lost its' Tails". . . 

• The Indianapolis Colts' blunders cost them the game vs. the Denver Broncos on Sunday and have officially been eliminated from NFL Playoffs contention. . . RB Jonathan Taylor drops the ball before entering the end zone?. . . Trick Play gone wrong?. . Broncos defeat the Colts 31-13. . . 

• Monday Night Football: WR Justin Jefferson & the Minnesota Vikings paid tribute to former NFL WR Randy Moss following the most recent news that he is battling liver cancer. . . Minnesota handles the Chicago Bears 30-12. . . Cris Carter & Jake Reed opened MNF by serving as honorary captain's - running out to midfield for the coin toss holding Randy Moss' jersey. . . 

Thanks for Listening!!