Call us at 631-377-4869 and leave a voicemail to get heard on the show! It’s So You Wanna Talk to Samson Wednesday! We kick things off with the Minnesota Timberwolves! What’s the first few days of being an owner going to look like for Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore. (9:30) Someone asked me if there’s any evidence that it’s better for stadiums to sell cheaper hot dogs and beer. Interesting. (15:00) Billboards of other players over my players? Yes I would! (23:30) Pablo Torre has joined us to discus...
Jun 25, 2025•57 min
Today’s word of the day is ‘apron’ as in luxury tax as in salary cap as in penalties as in the NBA as in MLB. What are we talking about!? The Boston Celtics have been blowing it all up… kinda. Jrue Holiday is gone. Kristaps Porzingis is gone. Hundreds of millions have been saved in penalties. (17:40) The NBA Draft is here! The first round is on Wednesday. Second round on Thursday. Cooper Flagg is an easy number one. Then things get interesting! The Brooklyn Nets have the most first round picks e...
Jun 25, 2025•57 min
Kevin Durant was traded to the Houston Rockets. The Rockets have a lot of young guys, so if they do not win in this window, at least the window to win will be bigger. Jalen Green is not that guy right now, trading him was the right decision. The Miami Heat were finalists in the KD trade, but with Kel’el Ware and Nikola Jovic declared untouchables, was Miami really serious about this trade or were they appeasing their fan base? Plus, which teams in the East are going to see this season as a chanc...
Jun 24, 2025•18 min
Mike Berland joins the show! He’s an author and political pollster! He has worked with the Dixie Chicks, he’s worked with Michael Bloomberg, he’s worked with Hilary Clinton. You can get his new book TODAY! It's called Not About Golf: The Life Changing Joy of Playing the Game! (25:45) The Mets are in a bad place right now. Losing games. Losing division leads. Pitchers can’t pitch. Hitters can’t hit. All around bad. (34:20) The WNBA players are trying to make a statement. The CBA is ending. Negoti...
Jun 24, 2025•57 min
Today’s word of the day is ‘predatory’ as in loans as in money as in Fernando Tatis Jr as in Big League Advance. What are we talking here? Well a company is being sued by Tatis Jr because of a contract he signed when he was a teen. Why is he doing this now? (21:02) Wander Franco update. The disgraced Rays star is in court in the Dominican Republic facing charges of sexual abuse against a minor. Just a very gross case. And on Thursday we’ll get a ruling. (31:00) Review: Deep Cover. (35:30) The At...
Jun 24, 2025•57 min
Pablo got his hands on the explosive 61-page document that billionaire NFL owners and union execs alike don't want anyone to see. It involves a coalition of competitors, a stunning cover-up, a secret slideshow, a shadow election, an MVP's broken phone, text messages between billionaires... and Footnote No. 25. • Read the document (and get a first look at new subscriber benefits) on Pablo's Substack https://www.pablo.show/ • Subscribe to PFT Live with Mike Florio https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/pro...
Jun 24, 2025•1 hr 11 min
The OKC Thunder are your 2024-2025 NBA Champions! But before we crown this young OKC squad, we've got to discuss Tyrese Haliburton’s Achilles tear that took him out just 7 minutes into Game 7. Will this be the injury that convinces teams to sit players with calf injuries? Obi Toppin, who scored zero points, vulnerably admitted Hali’s injury kept him distracted. Pascal Siakam was a ghost out there and the coaches were shell shocked. Meanwhile, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stabilized his side and etche...
Jun 23, 2025•24 min
The Los Angeles Dodgers announced a $1 million pledge to the city of Los Angeles area services for immigration. They were pressured to do something, anything, and they responded. (13:00) Shohei Ohtani continues to take rehab starts for the Dodgers at the big league level. 1 inning again. But he brought his bat to the game! (20:00) My response to Andrew McCutchen. (24:45) We now know another bidder for the Rays. Trip Miller has gone public saying he wants the team. Uh oh. (33:00) Cal Raleigh cont...
Jun 23, 2025•56 min
Today’s word of the day is ‘tonnerre’ as in Thunder as in Shai as in Sam Presti as in the Oklahoma City Thunder are your NBA champions! What a sad start to the game with Tyrese Haliburton going down. He’s now done for all of next season. The Thunder are primed to be great for a few more years too! (21:04) Kevin Durant has been traded to the Houston Rockets! Wow. The Suns are still in some trouble. The Rockets now have a chance in the Western Conference. (36:30) Review: The Amateur. (39:40) The U...
Jun 23, 2025•57 min
Game. Seven. The Pacers dominated Game 6 in Indiana, and now the NBA Finals will be decided by a winner-take-all showdown in Oklahoma City on Sunday night. Izzy is joined by Producer to break down how we got here, and the biggest question... what happens next? Plus, Headlines! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jun 21, 2025•22 min
It's time for Matthew Coca Friday! We kick things off with a discussion about the Los Angeles Lakers sale, the price of expansion, and will Mark Walter be the big spender with the team like he is with the Dodgers? (13:55) The Dodgers and Padres are a real rivalry. A LOT of bad blood between them. We also discuss the situation before the game where the Dodgers had to release a statement about immigration agents showing up to the stadium. (28:42) What's the deal with MLB free agency? Is there goin...
Jun 20, 2025•58 min
Today’s word of the day is ‘madonna’ as in Like A Virgin as in OKC Thunder as in the Indian Pacers as in Game 7. It’s a GAME 7! The Pacers crushed the Thunder in Game 6. The Thunder kept turning the ball over. The Thunder couldn’t shoot. The Pacers looked like the better team. (10:30) The Lakers have been sold. Mark Walter, the owner of the Dodgers, has purchased the majority stake from the Buss family. A $10 billion valuation? What!? (23:30) Are the Rays finally for sale? Is it happening? Is St...
Jun 20, 2025•57 min
Billy has a new game exclusively for Jessica as she tries to get her to guess how many chips are in his bag of Ruffles. Fuentes is trying to figure out when is a good time to start the history of sports, Tyler Herro doesn't believe in history and Tony wants to know if it's an ice cream or a scented candle. Finally, Jessica said we missed an opportunity by not putting #unboxing in our description last week so we do it this week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jun 20, 2025•55 min
Mina joins Pablo after he finally watches "The Rehearsal" to discuss the thin line between fact and fiction, Nathan Fielder's enviable HBO budget, reverse-engineering plot twists, social awkwardness — and what goes into writing a great sports profile. • Subscribe to the Mina Kimes YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@minakimes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jun 20, 2025•50 min
Michelle Beadle joins Amin and Izzy to discuss Kevin Durant trade rumors. KD wants to go to the San Antonio Spurs, but are they going to meet the Suns' asking price? KD might want the New York Knicks, but the Knicks don’t want him. KD needs coaching stability, could Houston be the answer? And with all these questions, we have to ask, do you trust Durant to pick the best spot for himself? Also, Victor Wembanyama is training with the Shaolin monks, and Michelle Beadle weighs in on the Knicks coach...
Jun 19, 2025•18 min
Did Pablo "win" his "beef" with Bill Simmons? Why are baseball broadcasts so dick-centric? How bad is it to touch the Stanley Cup? And how good can you get at an instrument in a week? Plus: Zoogle, Skyrizi, Gary Peyoteon, redding-wing eczema, Bouilliabaise Mode and a sick kitten to a hot brick. • Subscribe to "Casuals with Katie Nolan" https://www.youtube.com/katienolan • Listen to "Sorry for Your Loss" by Michael Cruz Kayne https://www.audible.com/pd/Sorry-for-Your-Loss-Audiobook/B0CGJSXSPF Lea...
Jun 19, 2025•52 min
Michelle Beadle joins Oddball! Amin, Izzy, and Beadle all realized their ESPN logins still work so they were able to see every topic and graphic planned for First Take during the offseason. It wouldn't be First Take without a Stephen A. Smith mention, a Lebron Legacy question, and a Cowboys appearance. Is Wemby-Flagg the new Magic-Bird? Could Superman compete in 90's NBA? Should Stephen A be Knicks coach or President? All the most important debates will be tackled this summer, but we've got the ...
Jun 18, 2025•19 min
Call the So You Wanna Talk to Samson hotline at 631-377-4869 So You Wanna Talk to Samson!? It’s Wednesday! Someone asked me if I was MLB Commissioner… how would I grow the game? (12:00) Would the NBA ever shorten the the season? Is it boring? Is it too long? (18:00) Someone asked me about spring training games and dealing with disgruntled fans during spring training. Hmm. (25:00) Someone asked me for forgiveness for puking on my golf bag. What? (32:40) What was my favorite thing to do as a team ...
Jun 18, 2025•58 min
Today’s word of the day is ‘sunrise’ as in Florida as in Panthers as in South Florida as in back-to-back as in the NHL as in the Stanley Cup! The Panthers did it! How have they been so successful? What a franchise. Brad Marchand was brilliant. Sam Reinhart scored 4 goals! Sam Bennett won the Conn Smythe. And Connor McDavid goes home without the Cup again. (16:00) Rafael Devers is ready to play everywhere for the Giants. Can you believe it? (30:00) Review: MobLand. (36:00) The Phillies did someth...
Jun 18, 2025•57 min
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder took Game 5 and now lead the series 3-2. With 40 points, Amin's Jalen Williams made a big splash. Meanwhile, Haliburton made zero field goals and his calf injury is a huge detriment to the Pacers’ Finals run. Who was that star in the third quarter? God disguised as Michael Jordan disguised as TJ McConnell, that’s who! Can he do a good enough Haliburton impression for the Pacers to win Game 6? Plus, we discuss broadcasting the starting lineup intros, Desmon...
Jun 17, 2025•22 min
You can follow Katie across social @katiephang or on YouTube at Katie Phang News! Katie Phang joins the show! We break down ICE raids, protests, Trump, and more! (27:30) Giancarlo Stanton is back for the Yankees, and they need him. The team can’t score right now. Five straight games of just poor offense. Four straight losses. (35:00) What’s going on with the Commanders? Is the deal done or not? (41:00) Attendance! MLB attendance is up right now! Biggest Father’s Day weekend in a long, long time!...
Jun 17, 2025•57 min
Today’s word of the day is ‘alignment’ as in Red Sox as in Rafael Devers as in Sam Kennedy as in Craig Breslow. That was the buzz word. What did Boston’s front office have to say? The usual! Another big surprise was how David Ortiz took to the media to defend the Red Sox. Never go against the family! (21:40) The Oklahoma City Thunder have finally taken a series lead! Up 3-2 now after Jalen Williams and SGA had themselves a game. Tyrese Haliburton re-injured his calf and was held without a field ...
Jun 17, 2025•57 min
Lina Khan has inspired an unusually bipartisan coalition of allies — and antagonists. As chair of the Federal Trade Commission, she became known as the most hated regulator on Wall Street. As too principled for Donald Trump and Elon Musk. Too bold for Ticketmaster and the NCAA. But Khan isn't done taking on the corporate class — or finding strange bedfellows like Steve Bannon and Michael Jordan. Can her alleged "hipster anti-trust" movement inspire a "standing army" for the people? And could she...
Jun 17, 2025•58 min
I want to start hour 2 talking about how my weekend went. I went back to camp. (9:45) What happened in Minnesota this weekend was a disgrace. What is wrong with this country? We continue to just not get it. (19:30) What’s going on with the Washington Nationals? Falling apart and the manager just blamed the players. That’s it. Said it’s not on the coaches. Hmm. (34:30) Are the baseballs different in MLB this year? Yes, but no one inside baseball will acknowledge it. Andrew McCutchen will! (47:50)...
Jun 16, 2025•57 min
Today’s word of the day is ‘fait accompli’ as in Rafael Devers as in the Boston Red Sox as in the San Francisco Giants as in traded. How did we get here? Who is to blame for this falling out? Craig Breslow? John Henry? Red Sox fans are furious about this — they think it’s Mookie Betts all over again. (16:00) The Florida Panthers are a win away from a repeat! Brad Marchand is playing like a man possessed! Sam Bennett keeps scoring! (23:00) What is going on with the NBA Finals? Everyone seems to b...
Jun 16, 2025•57 min
Jess is back again and Mike Fuentes is talking way too much. Jess wants to s*** on the show "Entourage" which leads to the show discussing some of their most hated television characters of all time. The show can't believe Roy is willingly going to Edmonton AGAIN before sharing the little things in life that make them happy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jun 13, 2025•55 min
Who's to blame for the conscious uncoupling of Warner Bros. Discovery? How would Disney survive without ESPN? And when did so many 20-something grifters come to stand in for spineless management? David Samson and John Skipper are back to discuss this month's biggest sports-business stories — and their credit scores. • Subscribe to "Nothing Personal with David Samson" https://www.youtube.com/@npds Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jun 13, 2025•51 min
The Indiana Pacers are up 2-1 in the NBA Finals, but are we actually ready for a world where the Pacers are champs? The Pacers defense locked up Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and embarrassed Chet Holmgren. Bennedict Mathurin and TJ McConnell made the most of their minutes, while Caitlin Clark hit the Reggie Miller choke! With a star performance last night, could Tyrese Haliburton be at the beginning of a Tom Brady run? Plus, the Knicks steal the Finals spotlight with their chaotic coach search, while ...
Jun 12, 2025•22 min
What is going on in Kansas City? Both of them! The Royals and the Chiefs want stadium money and who is going to pay? (7:00) ICE and Border Patrol is the big thing in our country right now. With the FIFA Club World Cup being here, with the World Cup next year, things are scary for some. Let’s discuss this impact on sports, and the country. FIFA is basically giving away tickets to the opening game in Miami. (28:15) The House Settlement has rocked the college world. We knew this would happen. Every...
Jun 12, 2025•58 min
Today’s word of the day is ‘80.5’ as in percentage as in Pacers as in Thunder as in the NBA finals. The Pacers took Game 3 and now have an 80.5% chance to win the series according to past results. Tyrese Haliburton did it again. Another late run by the Pacers and the Thunder couldn’t stop it. Now just 2 games away from a title! (10:15) What are the Knicks doing? The Knicks have asked 5 different teams to speak with its head coach and they all said no! What was the plan here? (21:20) Kevin Durant...
Jun 12, 2025•57 min
