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 --> 00:00:11,747 Speaker 1: from News Talks EDB. 3 00:00:12,667 --> 00:00:15,867 Speaker 2: Time for our regular look at American sport and all 4 00:00:15,907 --> 00:00:18,507 Speaker 2: that's going on there. Lee on Busby is our US 5 00:00:18,547 --> 00:00:20,747 Speaker 2: sports expert. He joins us, good afternoon. 6 00:00:20,347 --> 00:00:23,587 Speaker 3: Mate, have to do Jason, thanks for having me back. 7 00:00:23,627 --> 00:00:26,387 Speaker 3: Mate's got he's to discuss, so rich Juman, Today, let's. 8 00:00:26,267 --> 00:00:28,747 Speaker 2: Jump in Major League Baseball. We haven't started yet. I 9 00:00:28,747 --> 00:00:31,987 Speaker 2: don't think the first matches or first games for a 10 00:00:32,027 --> 00:00:35,187 Speaker 2: little while, but the top five teams in Major League 11 00:00:35,227 --> 00:00:38,547 Speaker 2: Baseball are throwing a bit of money around and causing 12 00:00:38,587 --> 00:00:42,147 Speaker 2: a few concerned conversations. What can you tell us about this? 13 00:00:43,267 --> 00:00:46,307 Speaker 3: Yeah, So there's a reason I'm sharing these numbers because 14 00:00:46,387 --> 00:00:48,987 Speaker 3: they go into my main point here. So I've been 15 00:00:48,987 --> 00:00:51,067 Speaker 3: look at the top five teams in the Major League 16 00:00:51,147 --> 00:00:54,707 Speaker 3: Baseball league. So we've got the Philadephia Phillies at number five. 17 00:00:54,867 --> 00:00:57,547 Speaker 3: I've got a payroll of eight hundred and sixty five million, 18 00:00:57,587 --> 00:01:00,027 Speaker 3: so this is American dollars. And then you've got the 19 00:01:00,067 --> 00:01:04,267 Speaker 3: New York Mets and Toronto brew Jays they equal on 20 00:01:04,267 --> 00:01:06,707 Speaker 3: one point one. And then you've got the sad Diego 21 00:01:06,707 --> 00:01:09,587 Speaker 3: Padres at one point too, and is expected leading the 22 00:01:09,627 --> 00:01:12,467 Speaker 3: pack of the two time defending World Series LA Dodgers 23 00:01:12,827 --> 00:01:15,507 Speaker 3: at an Iwalker in two billion dollars. Now to put 24 00:01:15,507 --> 00:01:18,667 Speaker 3: that into context, pony, that's more than twenty five countries 25 00:01:18,747 --> 00:01:22,507 Speaker 3: annual GDP in a calendar year, which is crazy billions. 26 00:01:22,147 --> 00:01:24,787 Speaker 2: Like two billion, two billions. 27 00:01:24,507 --> 00:01:27,867 Speaker 3: Billion, My goodness, Dan, right now. The reason I share 28 00:01:27,867 --> 00:01:29,827 Speaker 3: these numbers is that it leads to my next point. 29 00:01:29,867 --> 00:01:33,427 Speaker 3: And unfortunately, I'll start by saying this, New York we 30 00:01:33,507 --> 00:01:34,187 Speaker 3: have a problem. 31 00:01:35,947 --> 00:01:38,187 Speaker 2: Well, so what are we looking at here? A possible 32 00:01:38,227 --> 00:01:41,387 Speaker 2: lockout is a possible lockout in our in our future. 33 00:01:42,187 --> 00:01:44,227 Speaker 3: Yes, are you familiar with the term locking up? Well? 34 00:01:44,227 --> 00:01:46,627 Speaker 2: I kind of am, but give us an explanation. 35 00:01:48,227 --> 00:01:51,827 Speaker 3: Okay, So all of America's major professional sports organizations they 36 00:01:51,867 --> 00:01:54,307 Speaker 3: have their head offices in New York City. The Major 37 00:01:54,347 --> 00:01:57,587 Speaker 3: League Baseball has a big problem, that being a huge 38 00:01:57,707 --> 00:02:01,747 Speaker 3: spending disparity. So they're guaranteed salaries confirm this, and many 39 00:02:01,787 --> 00:02:05,547 Speaker 3: baseball experts are speculating that in December of this year 40 00:02:05,867 --> 00:02:08,827 Speaker 3: they'll be a lockout. This happens when team owners and 41 00:02:08,867 --> 00:02:12,427 Speaker 3: players can't agree on what's known as a new CBA, 42 00:02:12,507 --> 00:02:16,307 Speaker 3: which is a collective bargaining agreement, so basically, the players 43 00:02:16,347 --> 00:02:19,027 Speaker 3: go on strike, the owners will only use this as 44 00:02:19,027 --> 00:02:21,907 Speaker 3: a last stitch effort to press the negotiations. So the 45 00:02:21,947 --> 00:02:24,867 Speaker 3: last time a lockout happened was during the twenty twenty 46 00:02:24,867 --> 00:02:28,107 Speaker 3: one twenty two regular season. It was for about four months. 47 00:02:28,347 --> 00:02:30,387 Speaker 3: So at the end of the nineteen ninety four season. 48 00:02:30,427 --> 00:02:33,507 Speaker 3: Going back a few years, a league wide strike canceled 49 00:02:33,507 --> 00:02:36,787 Speaker 3: the entire nineteen ninety five seasons, nine hundred and forty 50 00:02:36,787 --> 00:02:39,907 Speaker 3: eight games, the playoffs, and the World Series. This season 51 00:02:39,947 --> 00:02:42,867 Speaker 3: long lockout set baseball back a few years and had 52 00:02:42,947 --> 00:02:47,947 Speaker 3: long term economic effect franchisers. The players Union has recently 53 00:02:47,947 --> 00:02:51,227 Speaker 3: indicated the lockout will be inevitable if they can't count 54 00:02:51,267 --> 00:02:53,987 Speaker 3: to terms, as the current basic agreement is set to 55 00:02:54,027 --> 00:02:56,307 Speaker 3: expire on December first of this year. 56 00:02:56,747 --> 00:02:59,627 Speaker 2: Well, kay, biz on that any recent trade news, leon 57 00:02:59,827 --> 00:03:01,747 Speaker 2: and how might that affect a possible lockout? 58 00:03:02,787 --> 00:03:05,227 Speaker 3: Yes, that all of these things are affecting Major League 59 00:03:05,227 --> 00:03:07,507 Speaker 3: Baseball in a big way. A recent trade you saw 60 00:03:07,587 --> 00:03:11,627 Speaker 3: All star outfielder, outfielder and hitter Kyle Tucker traded to 61 00:03:11,747 --> 00:03:15,667 Speaker 3: who else the two time defeny World Series champion Dodgers. 62 00:03:15,867 --> 00:03:18,107 Speaker 3: He's a very good player. So Tucker was signed by 63 00:03:18,267 --> 00:03:21,107 Speaker 3: LA on a four year contract worth a hefty two 64 00:03:21,227 --> 00:03:24,987 Speaker 3: hundred and forty million dollars. He'll be paid sixty million annually, 65 00:03:25,027 --> 00:03:28,587 Speaker 3: which is twenty more twenty million dollars more a season 66 00:03:28,667 --> 00:03:32,107 Speaker 3: than MVP Tiger Aaron Judge of the Yankees. So another 67 00:03:32,227 --> 00:03:35,827 Speaker 3: example of the gaping disparity in the league, which further 68 00:03:35,907 --> 00:03:38,467 Speaker 3: points to an inevitable locker. So this talk of their 69 00:03:38,467 --> 00:03:41,547 Speaker 3: head offers simplementing the top of salary cap mechanism to 70 00:03:41,707 --> 00:03:44,587 Speaker 3: try and bring about balance. No one's quite sure how 71 00:03:44,667 --> 00:03:46,987 Speaker 3: that will pan out, but this type of spending is 72 00:03:47,147 --> 00:03:50,067 Speaker 3: untenable and needs to be raid in to avoid potential 73 00:03:50,107 --> 00:03:52,947 Speaker 3: lockouts and invariably backlash from the fans. 74 00:03:53,187 --> 00:03:55,107 Speaker 2: All right, want to get to the NFL in the moment, 75 00:03:55,147 --> 00:03:59,027 Speaker 2: but can we quickly cover off college football. We're done 76 00:03:59,067 --> 00:04:03,227 Speaker 2: in the NCAA, the National Championship, Indiana top of the pile. 77 00:04:04,627 --> 00:04:07,187 Speaker 3: Yeah, so a short segment here, as you allude to, 78 00:04:07,187 --> 00:04:09,547 Speaker 3: you want to focus on the NFL, plass, but I 79 00:04:09,707 --> 00:04:12,027 Speaker 3: just want to say, also, I enjoy listening to James 80 00:04:12,107 --> 00:04:15,267 Speaker 3: mccaroney's thoughts, but I take Umbrich in a friendly manner 81 00:04:15,307 --> 00:04:18,187 Speaker 3: of course, and he spoke about Fernando Mendoza last hour, 82 00:04:18,227 --> 00:04:20,667 Speaker 3: which sort of stole my thunder. Nonetheless, let's push on 83 00:04:21,067 --> 00:04:24,347 Speaker 3: so earlier this week. Earlier this week, These eighty Zealand 84 00:04:24,387 --> 00:04:28,027 Speaker 3: time yet studying college football season culminated in a thrilling 85 00:04:28,147 --> 00:04:31,947 Speaker 3: match with the Indiana Hooga's bidding the Miami Hurricanes twenty 86 00:04:32,027 --> 00:04:35,427 Speaker 3: seven to twenty one in Miami to complete and unbeaten 87 00:04:35,547 --> 00:04:39,947 Speaker 3: sixteen and O season for the first time national champions. Now, historically, 88 00:04:40,067 --> 00:04:43,787 Speaker 3: Indiana have always had a strong basketball program, by what 89 00:04:43,867 --> 00:04:46,187 Speaker 3: they achieved this year in college football is nothing short 90 00:04:46,187 --> 00:04:49,947 Speaker 3: of remarkable. The Hoosias, led by quarterback and recent Heisman 91 00:04:50,027 --> 00:04:53,587 Speaker 3: Trophy win of Fernando Mendoza, kept off a historical season 92 00:04:53,627 --> 00:04:55,947 Speaker 3: and are being compared to the oill conquering Alice You 93 00:04:56,107 --> 00:04:59,667 Speaker 3: Tigers of twenty nineteen, who also went through unbeaten and 94 00:04:59,787 --> 00:05:02,627 Speaker 3: led by a Heisman Trophy winning quarterback and Joe Burrow. 95 00:05:03,147 --> 00:05:06,787 Speaker 3: Indiana's head coach Kurt Signetti was instrumental in tuning the 96 00:05:06,907 --> 00:05:10,787 Speaker 3: Music's football program around from mediocre to national champions and 97 00:05:10,947 --> 00:05:13,427 Speaker 3: only three years at the Helm Wolf Though it was 98 00:05:13,467 --> 00:05:16,507 Speaker 3: announced only yesterday that the college football playoffs will stay 99 00:05:16,987 --> 00:05:20,147 Speaker 3: at twelve teams for now at least, with an expansion 100 00:05:20,227 --> 00:05:24,387 Speaker 3: to sixteen teams on hold. Finally, just days ago, Mendoza 101 00:05:24,427 --> 00:05:27,067 Speaker 3: announced his intention to enter the twenty twenty six NFL 102 00:05:27,187 --> 00:05:31,107 Speaker 3: Draft hetrol for April twenty three in Pittsburgh. He's unanimously 103 00:05:31,147 --> 00:05:33,467 Speaker 3: expected to be the first name off the board as 104 00:05:33,507 --> 00:05:36,147 Speaker 3: a number one overall pick. The football season in the 105 00:05:36,227 --> 00:05:39,227 Speaker 3: rear mirror, Pony, we can now shift our focus to 106 00:05:39,267 --> 00:05:42,347 Speaker 3: college basketball, especially in the Leader to March Madness. 107 00:05:42,507 --> 00:05:45,707 Speaker 2: And there we can. But in terms of football, we 108 00:05:45,787 --> 00:05:49,027 Speaker 2: now need to go to the NFL Super Bowl. Sixty 109 00:05:49,387 --> 00:05:52,827 Speaker 2: is a fortnight tomorrow, so a fortnight today. We're going 110 00:05:52,867 --> 00:05:55,067 Speaker 2: to get you back to give us a Super Bowl preview. 111 00:05:55,427 --> 00:05:56,947 Speaker 2: Let's have a look at who might be there in 112 00:05:57,027 --> 00:06:01,067 Speaker 2: the AFC Championship game. It's the New England Patriots up 113 00:06:01,147 --> 00:06:04,427 Speaker 2: against the Denver Broncos. Nine o'clock tomorrow morning, New Zealand time. 114 00:06:04,587 --> 00:06:05,547 Speaker 2: Who do you like in this one? 115 00:06:07,427 --> 00:06:09,987 Speaker 3: Yes, in the early windows you alluded to, Pony, we've 116 00:06:10,027 --> 00:06:14,107 Speaker 3: got the game between the two best teams in the AFC, 117 00:06:14,827 --> 00:06:18,267 Speaker 3: the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots, both fourteen 118 00:06:18,307 --> 00:06:21,267 Speaker 3: and three records, Although the number one seed Denver Broncos 119 00:06:21,307 --> 00:06:24,267 Speaker 3: have the homegun advantage, that's negated by the fact that 120 00:06:24,307 --> 00:06:28,107 Speaker 3: they're starting quarterbacks. Quarterback Bo Knicks, who had a breakout 121 00:06:28,147 --> 00:06:30,667 Speaker 3: season this year, is out with the season ending ankle injury. 122 00:06:31,147 --> 00:06:33,787 Speaker 3: The Broncos now have to rely on their backup quarterback 123 00:06:33,907 --> 00:06:36,787 Speaker 3: Jared Stiddam, which no one's probably heard of before, to 124 00:06:36,867 --> 00:06:39,667 Speaker 3: start under center, but he hasn't started an NFL game 125 00:06:39,987 --> 00:06:43,107 Speaker 3: and over two years since January of twenty twenty four, 126 00:06:43,387 --> 00:06:46,347 Speaker 3: when he guided Denver and a loss. Only nine times 127 00:06:46,387 --> 00:06:49,307 Speaker 3: in the Super Bowl era has a backup quarterback made 128 00:06:49,347 --> 00:06:51,867 Speaker 3: it to the Super Bowl and won. The Broncos with 129 00:06:51,947 --> 00:06:54,587 Speaker 3: Super Bowl winning coach Sean Payton at the helm r 130 00:06:54,707 --> 00:06:56,947 Speaker 3: nine and one at home this season, but are going 131 00:06:56,987 --> 00:06:59,387 Speaker 3: to have to rely on their stout defense to advance 132 00:06:59,467 --> 00:07:01,347 Speaker 3: to the Super Bowl. So if we look on the 133 00:07:01,387 --> 00:07:03,027 Speaker 3: other side of the ball, we have the New England 134 00:07:03,067 --> 00:07:07,027 Speaker 3: Patriots number two seats, led by MVP candidate quarterback Drey 135 00:07:07,147 --> 00:07:09,507 Speaker 3: mat who has a one hundred and thirteen point five 136 00:07:09,627 --> 00:07:12,307 Speaker 3: rating the season. He's an impressive eight and zero on 137 00:07:12,347 --> 00:07:14,827 Speaker 3: the road under the grandits of coach Mike Rabel, so 138 00:07:14,947 --> 00:07:17,427 Speaker 3: only twelve months after being introduced to the New England 139 00:07:17,827 --> 00:07:21,147 Speaker 3: head coach. The former Patriot linebacker and three time Super 140 00:07:21,147 --> 00:07:24,507 Speaker 3: Bowl champion has totally transformed the franchise, who were at 141 00:07:24,547 --> 00:07:27,867 Speaker 3: dismal foms thirteen just last year to fourteen and three 142 00:07:27,907 --> 00:07:30,787 Speaker 3: this season. Rabel will become only the eighth coach to 143 00:07:30,867 --> 00:07:33,187 Speaker 3: lead his side to a Super Bowl appearance as a 144 00:07:33,267 --> 00:07:35,787 Speaker 3: first year coach. If they can get past Genver. He's 145 00:07:35,827 --> 00:07:38,107 Speaker 3: also expected to be named NFL Coach of the Year. 146 00:07:38,467 --> 00:07:41,507 Speaker 3: That's dead. New England has a more balanced side, especially 147 00:07:41,507 --> 00:07:44,467 Speaker 3: with Mayott quarterback, and I've consistently shown the season that 148 00:07:44,547 --> 00:07:47,347 Speaker 3: they can win on the road and their underrated defense 149 00:07:47,387 --> 00:07:50,347 Speaker 3: will get this stetum so due to the loss of Nixon, 150 00:07:50,427 --> 00:07:52,627 Speaker 3: both teams are used to play in an adverse weather, 151 00:07:52,707 --> 00:07:56,267 Speaker 3: with major storms lashing most of the US this weekend. 152 00:07:56,547 --> 00:07:58,987 Speaker 3: I'm looking the Patriots Patriots to earn this while on 153 00:07:59,027 --> 00:08:01,787 Speaker 3: the Super Bowl and a close contest against the Broncos. 154 00:08:02,107 --> 00:08:04,347 Speaker 3: The latest Betty Knights have New England as three and 155 00:08:04,387 --> 00:08:06,987 Speaker 3: a half point favorites, with the total points spread at 156 00:08:07,027 --> 00:08:07,547 Speaker 3: forty three. 157 00:08:07,787 --> 00:08:10,227 Speaker 2: All right, following that, we're off to Seattle, where the 158 00:08:10,267 --> 00:08:14,387 Speaker 2: Seahawks have have home ground advantage in the NFC Championship 159 00:08:14,467 --> 00:08:17,307 Speaker 2: Game against the Los Angeles Rams. This one feels a 160 00:08:17,347 --> 00:08:18,227 Speaker 2: bit closer. 161 00:08:19,027 --> 00:08:20,907 Speaker 3: Yes, and in the late windows you alluded to as 162 00:08:20,947 --> 00:08:23,267 Speaker 3: the NFC Championship game, where we have the fourteen and 163 00:08:23,387 --> 00:08:27,347 Speaker 3: three Seattle Seahawks hosting the twelve and five Los Angeles Rams. 164 00:08:27,787 --> 00:08:30,827 Speaker 3: The number one seed Seattle have former minnesot Of Vikings 165 00:08:30,907 --> 00:08:33,667 Speaker 3: quarterbacks Sam Darnold, who used the quarterback for your son's 166 00:08:33,707 --> 00:08:36,547 Speaker 3: team starting under cent and are picking at the right time. 167 00:08:36,867 --> 00:08:39,827 Speaker 3: That Donald has recently been battling injury, but latest reports 168 00:08:39,867 --> 00:08:43,067 Speaker 3: have him fully recovered and ready to go. Head coach 169 00:08:43,267 --> 00:08:46,267 Speaker 3: Mike McDonald has done only a second season in charge, 170 00:08:46,467 --> 00:08:48,587 Speaker 3: and he has an excellent record of twenty five and ten. 171 00:08:49,147 --> 00:08:51,867 Speaker 3: Like New England, the Seahawks have a well balanced roster 172 00:08:51,947 --> 00:08:54,267 Speaker 3: on both sides of the ball, but their defense and 173 00:08:54,427 --> 00:08:57,627 Speaker 3: special teams in particular are amongst the best in the league. 174 00:08:57,907 --> 00:09:00,827 Speaker 3: They're pressed on opposing quarterbacks as difficult to counter, and 175 00:09:00,947 --> 00:09:02,907 Speaker 3: they can stop the run and break up the pass. 176 00:09:03,267 --> 00:09:07,027 Speaker 3: Now Seattle's opponents, Theale Rams, are up against arguably one 177 00:09:07,027 --> 00:09:09,347 Speaker 3: of the most difficult stadiums to play in on the road, 178 00:09:09,667 --> 00:09:12,507 Speaker 3: the number five Siege have the projected MVP at quarterback, 179 00:09:12,587 --> 00:09:15,747 Speaker 3: Matthew Stafford, and a stack with the offensive weapons galore, 180 00:09:15,787 --> 00:09:19,707 Speaker 3: plus a strong defense. Coached by Sean McVay, who has 181 00:09:19,747 --> 00:09:21,787 Speaker 3: been to the Big Game twice a month Super Bowl, 182 00:09:22,427 --> 00:09:24,547 Speaker 3: won a Super Bowl. He's considered one of the league's 183 00:09:24,547 --> 00:09:27,747 Speaker 3: elite coaches. McVay needs one more win to pass Hall 184 00:09:27,787 --> 00:09:31,227 Speaker 3: of Fame coach Don Schuler for most playoff wins before 185 00:09:31,307 --> 00:09:33,467 Speaker 3: the age of forty five. There are too many to 186 00:09:33,587 --> 00:09:35,627 Speaker 3: name on the LA offense, but this game looks like 187 00:09:35,707 --> 00:09:38,187 Speaker 3: a coin toss to predict the eventual winner. It's the 188 00:09:38,267 --> 00:09:42,267 Speaker 3: case of the Rams offense versus the Seahawks defense, an 189 00:09:42,347 --> 00:09:45,107 Speaker 3: unstoppable fourth Meeting and immovable objects for us. To the 190 00:09:45,147 --> 00:09:47,027 Speaker 3: buddh it's better team. So how do you pick up 191 00:09:47,067 --> 00:09:49,427 Speaker 3: in a Pioneer? Who would you like to? Look? 192 00:09:50,387 --> 00:09:52,787 Speaker 2: I know, I can't believe you're throwing it back to me. 193 00:09:53,027 --> 00:09:54,307 Speaker 1: I'm not supposed to be the expert. 194 00:09:54,507 --> 00:09:57,267 Speaker 2: Look, I'll go La. I'll go LA, but I've got 195 00:09:57,387 --> 00:09:58,307 Speaker 2: no basis for it. 196 00:09:59,307 --> 00:10:01,827 Speaker 3: Okay, So this one's two first to call from the Pioneers, 197 00:10:01,987 --> 00:10:04,907 Speaker 3: and I'm ashamed, undershamedly happy to be that guy and 198 00:10:04,987 --> 00:10:07,467 Speaker 3: sit on the fence here. So the latest Betty Night 199 00:10:07,507 --> 00:10:10,107 Speaker 3: says Seattle at two and a half points favorites, with 200 00:10:10,267 --> 00:10:12,827 Speaker 3: the total points spread at forty nine. I picked Lay 201 00:10:12,907 --> 00:10:14,747 Speaker 3: to make the Super Bowl. I feel that the home 202 00:10:14,787 --> 00:10:17,667 Speaker 3: field advantage might be enough for Seattle to get past 203 00:10:17,707 --> 00:10:20,347 Speaker 3: the Rams potent attack. And how does yet that old 204 00:10:20,427 --> 00:10:23,427 Speaker 3: saying goo de benchman Championships. I'm more than happy to 205 00:10:23,507 --> 00:10:25,707 Speaker 3: walk off from that. Thanks for having me on Pineer. 206 00:10:25,787 --> 00:10:27,467 Speaker 3: We'll weaken being before the Super Bowl man. 207 00:10:27,507 --> 00:10:29,747 Speaker 2: Yeah, look forward to that, Leon good Man, Well done, mate, Yeah, 208 00:10:29,747 --> 00:10:31,707 Speaker 2: we'll look forward to jetting to you two weeks from 209 00:10:31,787 --> 00:10:35,587 Speaker 2: now when we have our Super Bowl finalists confirmed. So 210 00:10:35,667 --> 00:10:38,907 Speaker 2: Broncos Patriots tomorrow nine New Zealand time, followed by Seahawks 211 00:10:39,307 --> 00:10:42,027 Speaker 2: Rams at twelve thirty, and then we'll know who are 212 00:10:42,387 --> 00:10:46,347 Speaker 2: the two teams to contest Super Bowl sixty A fortnite tomorrow. 213 00:10:46,427 --> 00:10:49,027 Speaker 2: Leon must be our US sports expert with us on 214 00:10:49,107 --> 00:10:49,747 Speaker 2: Weekend Sport. 215 00:10:50,227 --> 00:10:53,387 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 216 00:10:53,507 --> 00:10:56,787 Speaker 1: to News Talk zed B weekends from midday, or follow 217 00:10:56,867 --> 00:10:58,427 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.