Today’s word of the day is ‘gotcha’ as in you’re caught as in it’s all over as in MLB says it is going to start cracking down on foreign substances used by pitchers. What does that even mean? (15:55) So You Wanna Talk To Samson!? (18:30) John Rahm was leading the field by 6 strokes at the Memorial Tournament and as he walked off the 18th green he was told he tested positive for COVID. Whoa. PGA immediately told him he had to withdraw. (27:19) Review: Together Together. (31:30 NPPOD. (37:10) Is t...
Jun 07, 2021•48 min
Today’s word of the day is ‘gnome’ as in Le Batard called me that. Can you believe it? How dare he? First it was the poster.. didn’t care. Then another poster… didn’t care. And now a gnome? The dinghy is coming for the ship. (4:12) LeBron James and the Lakers have been eliminated from the NBA Playoffs. First time in his careers he’s lost in the first round. Anthony Davis could only play five minutes through injury. LeBron was the latest person to come out when he said he was just burnt out. Let’...
Jun 04, 2021•48 min
Today’s word of the day is ‘du-rag’ as in a wave cap as in the hair covering mostly worn by African-American people. Why are we bringing it up? Bob Brenly is an analyst for the Arizona Diamondbacks and commented on Marcus Stroman of the Mets du-rag. Stroman called him out for using “racist undertones” in his comments. Sensitivity training. That’s the new thing. What even is that? (9:46) What is race norming? It assumed that Black players started with lower cognitive functioning and made it harde...
Jun 03, 2021•48 min
Today’s word of the day is ‘prison’ as in prison food as in that’s what everyone is saying the Oakland Athletics minor league teams are eating. Picture surfaced and the food looks like a mix of Fyre Fest and something a 1st grader would make if you gave them keys to the kitchen. This is a big problem because the Athletics run the minor league affiliates now and team president Dave Kaval addressed the situation… but was he being honest? (10:55) BREAKING NEWS: The Boston Celtics will have massive ...
Jun 02, 2021•48 min
Today’s word of the day is ‘withdrawal’ as in Naomi Osaka has withdrew from the French Open, one of the four tennis majors, citing mental health reasons. She released a statement about why she would withdraw. This came after she said she would not be doing press conferences because of the anxiety she deals with during those events. Let’s have a discussion about mental health, pressure in sports on young athletes, and the “job”. (22:50) So You Wanna Talk To Samson!? Another night of NBA playoff a...
Jun 01, 2021•48 min
Today’s word of the day is ‘grateful’ as in it’s Memorial Day as in day to remember all those who have sacrificed their lives for us to have our freedom to live in this country. (1:28) Fans are out of control right now. Another NBA Playoff game and another situation where a fan was arrested. This time a Boston fan threw a water bottle at Kyrie Irving as he was leaving the court. This has become disgraceful. (9:25) Marcell Ozuna was arrested for domestic violence over the weekend. He was caught i...
May 31, 2021•48 min
Today’s word of the day is ‘catalog’ as in an organized collection of things as in Josh Donaldson says he’s going to put together a catalog of how every pitcher cheats. Why would he do this? Who’s he going to expose? The Houston Astros? Trevor Bauer? (9:40) The worst play in MLB history happened yesterday. The Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman’s brain absolutely melted. Cubs Javy Baez made a play that broke first baseman Will Craig’s brain. Unreal. (17:22) NPPOD. (24:20) Review: Friends Reunion. ...
May 28, 2021•48 min
Today’s word of the day is ‘popcorn’ as in get your popcorn as in fans are back in the stands and they’re hungry! But that’s not why we’re talking popcorn — Russell Westbrook was leaving the game with an injury and a fan dumped a bucket of popcorn on him. GMAB. Fan culture is dangerous and this needs to be dealt with. (11:56) So You Wanna Talk To Samson!? Someone asked me for my thoughts on Joe West confiscating Cardinals pitcher Giovanny Gallegos hat for foreign substances. Cardinals manager Mi...
May 27, 2021•48 min
Today’s word of the day is ’doctor doctor’ as in the Thompson Twins as in Phillies manager Joe Girardi lied about the absence of Bryce Harper. Said it wasn’t an injury. Then said it was an injury. Why would he do this? Noah Syndergaard left a rehab start with an elbow tightness after Tommy John. Corey Kluber threw a no hitter last week… this week leaves with shoulder tightness. Zach Plesac is out after injuring his thumb taking off his shirt. WE TOLD YOU THIS WOULD HAPPEN! NOW WILL YOU LISTEN!? ...
May 26, 2021•47 min
Today’s word of the day is ’swindled’ as in using deception to deprive someone of money or possessions as in Tampa Bay’s owner Stu Sternberg is being sued by his partners for allegedly engaging in a “relentless scheme” to take over control of the team and sell an interest to Montreal investor. Woo Boy! (19:59) The NFL has now comment on the Eugene Chung segment. It is launching another investigation. Gotcha. (23:06) Aaron Rodgers appeared on ESPN last night and made some comments about the Green...
May 25, 2021•48 min
Today’s word of the day is ’tequila’ as in tequila! as in LeBron James went to a tequila tasting party and the NBA was not happy. What happened to covid protocols? LeBron was surely suspended by the NBA… WRONG! The NBA said he did break some rules but not enough to be suspended. The NBA was never going to suspend him. (8:37) So You Wanna Talk To Samson!? Someone asked me about 2020 CFB recruit Jaydon Blue skipping his senior season of high school to prepare for college football. Will this lead t...
May 24, 2021•48 min
Today’s word of the day is ‘legs’ as in the story has legs as in this Tony La Russa story is not going away. Everyday something comes out that makes this situation look dire. Twins pitcher Tyler Duffey was suspended 3 games for throwing at Yermin Mercedes. Former Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia went nuclear on La Russa. What is Rob Manfred going to do? (11:10) So You Wanna Talk To Samson!? Someone asked me about handling the 85% threshold for vaccine protocol changes if I were president of the Cubs....
May 21, 2021•48 min
Today’s word of the day is ‘Oprah’ as in you get a car! And you get a car! And you, yea you, you get a car! Another no-hitter! Back-to-back days with a no-hitter in MLB. Yankees pitcher Corey Kluber threw his first career no-hitter against the Texas Rangers. We how have six no-hitters this year… all coming against the same three teams! Texas Rangers; Seattle Mariners; Cleveland Indians. What in the world is happening!? (12:04) So You Wanna Talk To Samson!? Someone asked my how I felt about White...
May 20, 2021•49 min
Today’s word of the day is ‘Freudian slip’ as in you say something you don’t mean to say but it’s something you were thinking as in Tony La Russa cannot help himself. The Chicago White Sox are a fun team and La Russa hates it. Yermin Mercedes is a rookie and mashed a home run off a position pitcher up 11 runs on a 3-0 count. FUN! Not to La Russa! Is there a chance he could lose the clubhouse? (17:03) Shohei Ohtani is a star and the Los Angeles Angels are in big trouble. Mike Trout is out 6-8 wee...
May 19, 2021•47 min
Today’s word of the day is ‘contradiction’ as in Albert Pujols says that the Angels have not been telling the truth! What? Pujols said he never told the Angels he wanted to be an everyday first baseman. He said he never had conversations about getting released. Do we believe him? (11:04) So You Wanna Talk To Samson!? Someone asked me if Huascar Ynoa should be punished for breaking his hand punching something in the dugout. Ynoa is now out a few months. Injuries are piling up. Stanton hurt, Trout...
May 18, 2021•49 min
Today’s word of the day is ‘bail out’ as in when a company is in trouble they get some financial support that they probably should not have gotten as in Albert Pujols has signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Excuse me!? Welp, I got that wait to see wrong. After the Los Angeles Angels released him he goes across town to the Dodgers and I wonder why. How does he fit there? (22:43) NPPOD (29:01) Review: Fandango. (33:27) Nick Castellanos allowed a fan to give his postgame on-field interview. The fa...
May 17, 2021•48 min
Today’s word of the day is ‘faith’ as in good faith as in MLBPA says MLB was not acting in good faith last year and has filed a $500M grievance. What does this all mean? Who will win this battle? Why are they fighting in public again? (16:00) Let’s discuss some injuries in sports. Do teams have the best interest of the player when medical options are given? Jack Eichel and the Buffalo Sabres are on the verge of a massive breakup 3 seasons into a monster contract. Woof. (27:56) Review: Wander. (3...
May 14, 2021•49 min
Today’s word of the day is ‘housing’ as in not the housing bubble or the housing crisis, but the Houston Astros are offering furnished housing to all of their minor league players. This is a major announcement. Life as a minor league player is not great. (12:00) The New York Yankees outbreak has now made national and international news. The government is now involved. The coaching staff got the Johnson & Johnson vaccines and they are still getting COVID. Let’s explain some of these issues. (...
May 13, 2021•46 min
Today’s word of the day is ’viva Las Vegas’ as in Elvis Presley as in the Oakland Athletics need a new ballpark and could be moving to Las Vegas… or could they? Word broke yesterday that the Athletics were given permission to seek a relocation. This is major news and Oakland could be losing its third major sports franchise in the past two years. What’s going on? (14:33) Drew Robinson homered last night in AAA! What a story! If you haven’t seen Alive: The Drew Robinson Story you need to see it. (...
May 12, 2021•47 min
Today’s word of the day is ‘triple double’ as in Russell Westbrook as in the new king of the triple-double as in Westbrook broke Oscar Robertson’s all-time record for triple-doubles. Does this make Westbrook an all-time great? (7:47) The Seattle Mariners are ready to call up Jared Kelenic. Why now? (14:00) So You Wanna Talk To Samson!? Someone asked me if I ever had a player who played for me that would only stay if another player stayed. What!? Let’s see what Davante Adams has to say about a si...
May 11, 2021•48 min
Today’s word of the day is ‘raccoon’ or is it rat or is it ratcoon? The New York Mets were in a bit of an awkward place on Friday night when camera caught commotion going on in the Mets dugout. After the game Francisco Lindor said he and Jeff McNeil were arguing about whether there was a rat or a raccoon running around the clubhouse. Interesting story to tell. (11:38) Jacob deGrom returned to pitch on Saturday after missing his last start with a lat issue. And you guessed it… he left the game wi...
May 10, 2021•47 min
Today’s word of the day is ‘hollywood’ as in a Hollywood ending as in Albert Pujols has been designated for assignment by the Los Angeles Angels. Pujols is in the final year of a 10-year, $240M deal — the timing of this designation was out of nowhere. Let’s try and talk through this situation, his comments, his legacy in LA, and how the Angels chose to let this end. (16:00) Bonus story: What happened with AJ Burnett in September of 2005? (19:57) Bills GM Brandon Beane says he would cut a player ...
May 07, 2021•48 min
Today’s word of the day is ‘slapshot’ as in we’re talking hockey as in the New York Rangers and Washington Capitals have turned MSG upside down. We had three fights to start the game, we had penalties, we had Tom Wilson fighting and leaving the game, we had James Dolan firing his team president and general manager. What in the world!? (12:02) We spoke the other day about Tony La Russa and some of the struggles he’s had with the Chicago White Sox this season. Well, yesterday, another blunder by L...
May 06, 2021•48 min
Today’s word of the day is ‘MRI’ as in Jacob deGrom had to get one yesterday and the panic button was smashed by the Mets. deGrom was supposed to start on Tuesday night, but was scratched late with a lat issue. Let me break down what happens in these situations — from the call to the decision to scratch to the MRI to now. (13:31) Yesterday we spoke about the Mets firing hitting coaches. Today we talk about the hitters talking about the hitting coaches being fired. That’s what happens in a rain d...
May 05, 2021•49 min
Today’s word of the day is ‘play in’ as in play-in games as in the NBA decided last season it would have a small play-in tournament to figure out the final spots in the playoffs. Now this season it’s back and LeBron James is not happy. Who voted on these games? Did they just come out of nowhere? LeBron knows better. (8:48) The New York Mets have fired their hitting coaches 23 games into the season. Steve Cohen is feeling the new-owner-itis right now. (22:05) Days before the minor-league camp was...
May 04, 2021•47 min
Today’s word of the day is ‘love’ as in love is in the air as in Aaron Rodgers had his heart broken by the Green Bay Packers. Right before the 2021 NFL Draft news broke that Rodgers and the Packers may be headed to an ugly divorce. The team wants to start planning for Jordan Love’s future and Rodgers wants out.(11:20) MLB has always wanted to be like the NFL. Jealous, jealous, jealous! The NFL Draft is so much more than what MLB has to offer. (15:11) What is going on with MLB umpires this year? ...
May 03, 2021•48 min
Mailbag! It’s a mailbag! It’s the end of April 2021 mailbag! We’re a quarter of the way through 2021 already! Someone asked about Opening Day starters - they wanted to know why #1 starters were matched up against #1 starters! Why not just throw your #3 agains their #1 so you can pitch your #1 against their #2. (5:50) Should MLB be run like the EPL? Have a regular season winner and an FA Cup style tournament with Minor League Baseball teams. (9:20) Does old-school baseball work? The Boston Red So...
Apr 30, 2021•48 min
It’s a Samson Sit-Down with Joel Corry. He was a former sports agent in the NBA and NFL. He’s represented Shaq and Ronnie Lott. He’s an NFL cap expert. We discuss everything from agent poaching, NFL salaries, differences between NFL and MLB contracts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Apr 29, 2021•51 min
It’s a Samson Sit-Down with Pudge Rodriguez! The Hall of Fame catcher stops by to discuss his life in baseball (4:05) Relationship with Johnny Bench. (7:23) What did Pudge do when pitchers got on his nerves? (13:05) Favorite pitcher to catch (16:43) Choosing the Marlins in 2003. (21:47) How a trip to Vegas saved the 2003 Marlins season (28:48) Favorite play from 2003 World Series run.(35:41) How early did Pudge know that Miguel Cabrera was great (39:35) Thoughts on today’s game of baseball. (46:...
Apr 28, 2021•53 min
Today’s word of the day is ‘mutual’ as in agreed upon by parties as in the Colorado Rockies GM Jeff Birdich was fired… sorry, no, he mutually agreed to stepped down. Why now? Why only a quarter of the way through the season? (11:10) Shohei Ohtani is a unicorn. He can pitch. He can hit. How are the Los Angeles Angels doing? What does a new Ohtani contract look like? (25:38) So You Wanna Talk To Samson!? Someone asked why Steve Cohen wants to buy SNY so badly. (36:26) Review: Stowaway. (39:27) Ars...
Apr 27, 2021•49 min
