1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,547 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,867 Speaker 1: from newstalk ZEDB. 3 00:00:13,267 --> 00:00:15,867 Speaker 2: Let's get your state side to catch up. We'll catch 4 00:00:15,867 --> 00:00:18,347 Speaker 2: you up on the latest and Americans sportly on Busby 5 00:00:18,467 --> 00:00:21,547 Speaker 2: is with us. Leon How are you doing, Nate, I'm. 6 00:00:21,387 --> 00:00:24,307 Speaker 3: Great maker through Jason, thanks for having me back. God 7 00:00:24,387 --> 00:00:25,987 Speaker 3: heaps to cover, So let's get into today. 8 00:00:26,347 --> 00:00:30,067 Speaker 2: Let's go NBA preseason just eleven days away. The LA Clippers, 9 00:00:30,067 --> 00:00:35,187 Speaker 2: though under investigation for alleged circumvention of the salary cap, 10 00:00:35,347 --> 00:00:36,027 Speaker 2: tell us about this. 11 00:00:37,107 --> 00:00:39,187 Speaker 3: Yes, even though the NBA is still in its all 12 00:00:39,267 --> 00:00:42,347 Speaker 3: seasons penny to discuss. With so much to cover in 13 00:00:42,387 --> 00:00:44,747 Speaker 3: football Ladder, just for today, I want to focus on 14 00:00:44,747 --> 00:00:47,787 Speaker 3: this one main headline. So as you alluded to the 15 00:00:47,907 --> 00:00:52,787 Speaker 3: league front officers investigating allegations that the LA Clippers facilitated 16 00:00:52,827 --> 00:00:56,587 Speaker 3: a twenty eight million US dollar no show endorsement Gill 17 00:00:57,387 --> 00:01:01,307 Speaker 3: with star forward Kawhi Leonard with a now bankrupt sustainability 18 00:01:01,347 --> 00:01:05,227 Speaker 3: company called Aspiration, allegedly in an effort to circumvent or 19 00:01:05,267 --> 00:01:08,227 Speaker 3: find a way around the NBA salary cap. Now the 20 00:01:08,227 --> 00:01:12,027 Speaker 3: Clippers have adamantly denied these damn allegations. This is not 21 00:01:12,067 --> 00:01:14,547 Speaker 3: a good look for franchise own as Steve Barmer, the 22 00:01:14,627 --> 00:01:18,387 Speaker 3: form of Microsoft CEO, and Tick Mogelworth are reported one 23 00:01:18,467 --> 00:01:21,507 Speaker 3: hundred and fifty five billion US dollars now he allegedly 24 00:01:21,547 --> 00:01:25,067 Speaker 3: signed off the arrangement for Landed, who's widely considered the 25 00:01:25,067 --> 00:01:27,707 Speaker 3: best two way player in the league the last decade. 26 00:01:27,827 --> 00:01:32,187 Speaker 3: This story was uncovered by ESPN investigated reporter Pablo Toure 27 00:01:32,587 --> 00:01:35,827 Speaker 3: and is gaining traction following news from only a few 28 00:01:35,907 --> 00:01:39,427 Speaker 3: days ago. There's a massive paper trail that implicates the Clippers, 29 00:01:39,867 --> 00:01:42,467 Speaker 3: So NBA Commissioner Adam Siel would trying his best to 30 00:01:42,507 --> 00:01:45,587 Speaker 3: downplay the whole scandal, saying that all of the evidence 31 00:01:45,667 --> 00:01:48,987 Speaker 3: so far circumstantial, but a lot of NBA owners and 32 00:01:49,067 --> 00:01:52,507 Speaker 3: executives are nervously waiting any penalties that I think it's 33 00:01:52,547 --> 00:01:54,387 Speaker 3: fair to say that this may not be just a 34 00:01:54,467 --> 00:01:57,507 Speaker 3: one off in discretion. With teams run into into their 35 00:01:57,547 --> 00:02:00,307 Speaker 3: training camps and the regular season topping off in just 36 00:02:00,347 --> 00:02:03,627 Speaker 3: over four weeks on October twenty one, Adam Stiel will 37 00:02:03,667 --> 00:02:06,267 Speaker 3: be keeeny to get this distraction pushed to the site, 38 00:02:06,467 --> 00:02:09,067 Speaker 3: and it's a really bad look for the association. Will 39 00:02:09,107 --> 00:02:11,707 Speaker 3: certainly keep eyes on any developments pintly because the latest 40 00:02:11,707 --> 00:02:15,267 Speaker 3: collective bargaining agreement means that the overcome could have far 41 00:02:15,347 --> 00:02:17,147 Speaker 3: reaching implications for years to come. 42 00:02:17,587 --> 00:02:20,747 Speaker 2: Indeed, yeah, quite the story. As you say, leone will 43 00:02:20,787 --> 00:02:22,667 Speaker 2: keep eyes on it. Let's go to Major League Baseball 44 00:02:22,667 --> 00:02:24,947 Speaker 2: before we hit the football news last week in the 45 00:02:24,987 --> 00:02:28,547 Speaker 2: regular season, who are the genuine contenders to win the 46 00:02:28,547 --> 00:02:30,107 Speaker 2: Baseball World Series this year? 47 00:02:31,227 --> 00:02:33,267 Speaker 3: Yes? So, the grueling one hundred and sixty two game 48 00:02:33,307 --> 00:02:36,467 Speaker 3: regular season finally comes to a closed Tuesday week, and 49 00:02:36,507 --> 00:02:38,107 Speaker 3: there are a number of teams at the top of 50 00:02:38,147 --> 00:02:41,387 Speaker 3: a heat leaping into October. So in the American League, 51 00:02:41,667 --> 00:02:44,387 Speaker 3: the Toronto Blue Jays lead the conference, then the New 52 00:02:44,467 --> 00:02:48,387 Speaker 3: York Yankees, the Seattle Mariners and Detroit Tigers for third, 53 00:02:48,587 --> 00:02:50,947 Speaker 3: and the Boston Red Sox and Houston ashow Is tight 54 00:02:51,027 --> 00:02:53,987 Speaker 3: for fourth, rounding up the top contenders. Over in the 55 00:02:54,067 --> 00:02:56,867 Speaker 3: National League, the top five teams see the Milwaukee Brewers 56 00:02:56,947 --> 00:03:01,947 Speaker 3: leading the conference, closely followed by the Philadelphia Police, Chicago Cubs, 57 00:03:02,067 --> 00:03:06,507 Speaker 3: LA Dodgers, and the San Diego Padres. Of note, who 58 00:03:06,547 --> 00:03:09,147 Speaker 3: has lead all teams in terms of run differential with 59 00:03:09,227 --> 00:03:12,587 Speaker 3: a dominant plus one eighty four. The next closest are 60 00:03:12,627 --> 00:03:15,427 Speaker 3: the Yankees, fifty one runs behind. So the Brew crew 61 00:03:15,507 --> 00:03:18,427 Speaker 3: have a great opportunity Piney to dethrone the Dodgers, who 62 00:03:18,467 --> 00:03:20,987 Speaker 3: have the most stacked and deep roster than any other 63 00:03:21,027 --> 00:03:23,867 Speaker 3: side of the majors of the season should be a compelling postseason. 64 00:03:23,867 --> 00:03:26,987 Speaker 2: Nonetheless, now you've picked out three active players who have 65 00:03:27,107 --> 00:03:28,987 Speaker 2: been in the past and may well be matched one 66 00:03:28,987 --> 00:03:30,267 Speaker 2: as again this October. 67 00:03:31,427 --> 00:03:33,947 Speaker 3: Yep, so there's a couple of standout individuals heading into 68 00:03:33,947 --> 00:03:36,467 Speaker 3: October one. I mentioned last time I was on as 69 00:03:36,507 --> 00:03:39,667 Speaker 3: catcher for the Seattle Mariners Caleb Rally in the American 70 00:03:39,787 --> 00:03:42,827 Speaker 3: League the earlier this week, Cal went yard as they say, 71 00:03:42,867 --> 00:03:45,987 Speaker 3: and becoming only the twenty first batter and Major League 72 00:03:45,987 --> 00:03:49,227 Speaker 3: Baseball history to hit fifty four plus home runs in 73 00:03:49,267 --> 00:03:52,667 Speaker 3: a single season and also as a catcher. Even more 74 00:03:52,707 --> 00:03:56,187 Speaker 3: impressive was he tied Yankees great Hall of Famer Mickey 75 00:03:56,227 --> 00:03:58,547 Speaker 3: Mantle for the most home runs by a switch hitter, 76 00:03:58,907 --> 00:04:00,707 Speaker 3: that's the batter who can hit from both sides of 77 00:04:00,747 --> 00:04:03,867 Speaker 3: the plate, which is verified here. Today Raleigh has ten 78 00:04:03,987 --> 00:04:07,267 Speaker 3: multi home run games in twenty twenty five, just one 79 00:04:07,387 --> 00:04:10,427 Speaker 3: shy of paying the Major League Baseball record. It's also 80 00:04:10,467 --> 00:04:13,267 Speaker 3: a two horse race between Raleigh and Yankee Siger Aaron 81 00:04:13,387 --> 00:04:16,547 Speaker 3: Judge with the American League MVP Award, which will go 82 00:04:16,627 --> 00:04:19,147 Speaker 3: down to the wire. Judge has previously picked up the 83 00:04:19,187 --> 00:04:22,947 Speaker 3: prestigious award twice in twenty twenty two and twenty twenty four. 84 00:04:23,387 --> 00:04:25,627 Speaker 3: The other player and often seen as the face of 85 00:04:25,667 --> 00:04:28,827 Speaker 3: the league, Johey Old Tiney from the defending champion LA 86 00:04:28,947 --> 00:04:31,387 Speaker 3: Dodgers in the National League So earlier this week, he 87 00:04:31,467 --> 00:04:35,307 Speaker 3: set more MLB history, becoming the first player to record 88 00:04:35,347 --> 00:04:39,067 Speaker 3: fifty strikeouts and fifty home runs in a single season. 89 00:04:39,347 --> 00:04:41,787 Speaker 3: He achieved the feet in the same game That's Crazy 90 00:04:41,827 --> 00:04:45,027 Speaker 3: So two nights ago. Showtime also hit a go ahead 91 00:04:45,027 --> 00:04:48,787 Speaker 3: bomb a fifty second home run, again proving he's easily 92 00:04:48,827 --> 00:04:51,627 Speaker 3: the best two way player in the game, a preenom 93 00:04:51,707 --> 00:04:55,827 Speaker 3: for his generation. And finally, Piney. After eighteen seasons with 94 00:04:55,867 --> 00:04:59,467 Speaker 3: the LA Dodgers, eleven time All Star and three time 95 00:04:59,627 --> 00:05:03,307 Speaker 3: National League Side Young Award winner Clayton Kershnel has decided 96 00:05:03,307 --> 00:05:05,027 Speaker 3: to call it a day and hang up as cleats. 97 00:05:05,267 --> 00:05:07,947 Speaker 3: The thirty seven year old, the native and left handed pitchers, 98 00:05:07,987 --> 00:05:11,147 Speaker 3: a double World Series champion and widely regarded as one 99 00:05:11,187 --> 00:05:13,947 Speaker 3: of the greatest pitchers in baseball history, more so in 100 00:05:13,987 --> 00:05:17,587 Speaker 3: the regular seasons. Pireshaw is one of only ten sorry 101 00:05:17,587 --> 00:05:21,147 Speaker 3: twenty pitchers and four lefties to record more than three 102 00:05:21,227 --> 00:05:25,027 Speaker 3: thousand strikeouts in his pro career, with an ERA of 103 00:05:25,107 --> 00:05:28,787 Speaker 3: only two point five four, a remarkable fee. He even 104 00:05:28,827 --> 00:05:31,347 Speaker 3: threw a no hitter once back in twenty fourteen, a 105 00:05:31,387 --> 00:05:33,427 Speaker 3: game in which the team does not record had against 106 00:05:33,427 --> 00:05:36,347 Speaker 3: the starting pitcher. The future First Ballot Wall of Famer 107 00:05:36,427 --> 00:05:40,347 Speaker 3: will also be fondly remembered for his humanitarian and philanthropic 108 00:05:40,427 --> 00:05:43,667 Speaker 3: work Juno Stellar Korean, which as overall earnings are estimated 109 00:05:44,067 --> 00:05:47,467 Speaker 3: around are staggering five hundred and fifty million yew Zealand. Oah, 110 00:05:47,507 --> 00:05:49,707 Speaker 3: that's crazy. So I think it's fair to say, Pony 111 00:05:49,947 --> 00:05:52,187 Speaker 3: that Cushaw won't be sure of any money anytime soon 112 00:05:52,187 --> 00:05:54,627 Speaker 3: as in his impending retirement. 113 00:05:55,547 --> 00:05:57,307 Speaker 2: I think you might be right. Let's go to football. 114 00:05:57,307 --> 00:05:59,707 Speaker 2: College football is underway. Who are the teams to watch? 115 00:05:59,747 --> 00:06:01,507 Speaker 2: Jim college football? 116 00:06:01,747 --> 00:06:03,867 Speaker 3: Yes, the college football is into Week four already, and 117 00:06:03,907 --> 00:06:05,587 Speaker 3: there are a number of teams from one hundred and 118 00:06:05,587 --> 00:06:09,787 Speaker 3: thirty rec Division one ranks in the current narrative. Let's 119 00:06:09,787 --> 00:06:12,627 Speaker 3: focus on those schools showing up every week. The top 120 00:06:12,667 --> 00:06:16,027 Speaker 3: twenty five rankings are released by a selection committee made 121 00:06:16,107 --> 00:06:19,627 Speaker 3: up of thirteen members based on previous weekend results, where 122 00:06:19,667 --> 00:06:22,547 Speaker 3: teens can shift up and down dependent on their performances. 123 00:06:22,827 --> 00:06:24,467 Speaker 3: If we look at just the top ten for now, 124 00:06:24,507 --> 00:06:27,587 Speaker 3: we have the recognized powerhouse football programs leading the pack, 125 00:06:28,067 --> 00:06:32,987 Speaker 3: the defriending national champion Ohio State Buckeyes, Den State, Nittany Lyons, 126 00:06:33,147 --> 00:06:38,067 Speaker 3: Louisiana State University or Alice You Tigers, Miami Florida Hurricanes, 127 00:06:38,187 --> 00:06:44,947 Speaker 3: Georgia Bulldogs, Oregon Ducks, Florida State Severnoles, Texas Longhorns, Illinois 128 00:06:44,947 --> 00:06:48,987 Speaker 3: Folly Fighting Illini as sort of pronounced it twice it's 129 00:06:48,987 --> 00:06:51,147 Speaker 3: a hard one, and the Texas A and m Aggie's 130 00:06:51,187 --> 00:06:53,307 Speaker 3: rounding off the top ten. I've said that he loved 131 00:06:53,347 --> 00:06:56,627 Speaker 3: some of those names, finding his team named. Interestingly, though, 132 00:06:56,947 --> 00:06:59,147 Speaker 3: nine of the top ten teams are three and zero, 133 00:06:59,587 --> 00:07:02,067 Speaker 3: but the Texas Longhorns are two and one ahead of 134 00:07:02,107 --> 00:07:04,947 Speaker 3: other schools below who are also unbeaten. 135 00:07:04,987 --> 00:07:05,107 Speaker 1: Now. 136 00:07:05,147 --> 00:07:07,187 Speaker 3: The reason for this is that the election committee have 137 00:07:07,227 --> 00:07:10,187 Speaker 3: a lot of different factors they consider before releasing the 138 00:07:10,227 --> 00:07:13,707 Speaker 3: new rankings weekly. One of those is what's known as 139 00:07:13,707 --> 00:07:17,267 Speaker 3: a team's strength of schedule, basically meaning a school can 140 00:07:17,307 --> 00:07:20,467 Speaker 3: still make the now twelve team national playoffs even if 141 00:07:20,507 --> 00:07:22,467 Speaker 3: they lose two games as they're playing schedule for the 142 00:07:22,507 --> 00:07:25,107 Speaker 3: season is much tougher than what some other schools have 143 00:07:25,187 --> 00:07:29,907 Speaker 3: to face. Also quickly the last point Onland College before 144 00:07:30,387 --> 00:07:34,187 Speaker 3: the high trains surrounding Texas quarterback Arch Manning has flowed 145 00:07:34,467 --> 00:07:38,107 Speaker 3: considerably due to its underwhelming performances three games in the 146 00:07:38,187 --> 00:07:40,947 Speaker 3: air apparent from the first Family of football for Mannings 147 00:07:41,267 --> 00:07:44,307 Speaker 3: is under immense pressure from the Longhorns fan base, who 148 00:07:44,307 --> 00:07:47,707 Speaker 3: are rightly demanding results, as Manning earns a healthy twelve 149 00:07:47,747 --> 00:07:51,827 Speaker 3: million New Zealand dollars annually throughout multiple nil endorsements, easily 150 00:07:52,187 --> 00:07:55,107 Speaker 3: the highest paid athlete in all of college sports. Thankfully 151 00:07:55,147 --> 00:07:58,587 Speaker 3: as tr playing the unranked Sam Houston Bearcats I've never 152 00:07:58,627 --> 00:08:01,107 Speaker 3: heard of before today and an easy winners on the card, 153 00:08:01,187 --> 00:08:03,027 Speaker 3: but the pressure ramps up for Manning in the next 154 00:08:03,027 --> 00:08:06,347 Speaker 3: two games, facing the Florida Gators away and the research 155 00:08:06,547 --> 00:08:09,107 Speaker 3: Oklahoma as soon as at home. Will definitely be watching 156 00:08:09,147 --> 00:08:11,467 Speaker 3: closely Piney to see if he delivers or if his 157 00:08:11,547 --> 00:08:12,707 Speaker 3: stock continues to fall. 158 00:08:13,107 --> 00:08:14,587 Speaker 2: All right, we're running out of time, mate, but I 159 00:08:14,587 --> 00:08:16,467 Speaker 2: want to get a bit of on the NFL. Can 160 00:08:16,507 --> 00:08:18,907 Speaker 2: you give us just a brief summer of where we 161 00:08:18,947 --> 00:08:21,347 Speaker 2: are three weeks in the AFC and the NFC. 162 00:08:22,707 --> 00:08:24,667 Speaker 3: Yes, So there's a few teams that are at three 163 00:08:24,747 --> 00:08:26,507 Speaker 3: or no and a few that are two or no. 164 00:08:27,027 --> 00:08:29,187 Speaker 3: But the biggest talking point at the moment is about 165 00:08:29,187 --> 00:08:32,227 Speaker 3: the Kansas City chief Now it looks like their dynastic 166 00:08:32,307 --> 00:08:34,347 Speaker 3: one might be over. They're currently o and two the 167 00:08:34,387 --> 00:08:37,347 Speaker 3: first time and you read the Mitch Combs era and 168 00:08:37,347 --> 00:08:39,427 Speaker 3: now beyond the customer I've owned three. As they're on 169 00:08:39,467 --> 00:08:42,467 Speaker 3: the road tomorrow. The history shows are teams that start 170 00:08:42,507 --> 00:08:44,947 Speaker 3: oh and two have only a ten per seen chance 171 00:08:45,027 --> 00:08:47,627 Speaker 3: to make the playoffs, and only one team and NFL 172 00:08:47,747 --> 00:08:50,067 Speaker 3: history has ever had the playoffs after starting out oh 173 00:08:50,147 --> 00:08:53,267 Speaker 3: and three. So if you look at it, they're really 174 00:08:53,347 --> 00:08:56,707 Speaker 3: up against it right now because as I said, they're 175 00:08:56,747 --> 00:08:58,787 Speaker 3: on the road, they're over and two, they're facing oh 176 00:08:58,867 --> 00:09:01,827 Speaker 3: and three, and so there's a real possibility that they 177 00:09:01,867 --> 00:09:04,867 Speaker 3: won't make the finals. Also, the Cincinnati Bengals have been 178 00:09:04,907 --> 00:09:07,027 Speaker 3: hampered even though there are two or no, because the 179 00:09:07,147 --> 00:09:10,227 Speaker 3: star quarterback Joe Burrow is out for the rest of 180 00:09:10,267 --> 00:09:13,987 Speaker 3: the season after undergoing foot surgery. So again, some of 181 00:09:14,027 --> 00:09:15,907 Speaker 3: the top teams are against it. But if we look 182 00:09:15,907 --> 00:09:18,907 Speaker 3: at the favorite teams, I'm picking more likely towards the 183 00:09:18,947 --> 00:09:23,267 Speaker 3: Philadelphia Eagles, the Buffalo Bulls, the Baltimore Ravens are the 184 00:09:23,307 --> 00:09:26,187 Speaker 3: top teams really and maybe the Detroit Lines as well 185 00:09:26,227 --> 00:09:30,187 Speaker 3: to be able to get that Vince Lombardy and lift 186 00:09:30,227 --> 00:09:31,187 Speaker 3: it at the end of February. 187 00:09:32,107 --> 00:09:34,907 Speaker 2: Wonderful stuff. Leon, always enjoy chatting American sport with you. 188 00:09:35,187 --> 00:09:38,027 Speaker 2: Thank you for your comprehensive rappers always. We'll do it 189 00:09:38,027 --> 00:09:40,907 Speaker 2: again soon. Leon Busby taking a state side on Weekend Sport. 190 00:09:41,627 --> 00:09:44,787 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 191 00:09:44,907 --> 00:09:48,307 Speaker 1: to news talks edb weekends from midday, or follow the 192 00:09:48,347 --> 00:09:49,827 Speaker 1: podcast on iHeartRadio