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 00:00:12,707 --> 00:00:15,747 Speaker 2: Time to talk to you as sport. Shohei Otani has 4 00:00:15,787 --> 00:00:20,507 Speaker 2: delivered one of the greatest performances in baseball history. As 5 00:00:20,507 --> 00:00:24,627 Speaker 2: defending champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Milwaukee Brewers 6 00:00:24,667 --> 00:00:26,347 Speaker 2: to reach the World Series. 7 00:00:26,467 --> 00:00:30,587 Speaker 1: In Game four of the LCS said, now goes O Tai, show. 8 00:00:30,387 --> 00:00:34,307 Speaker 3: Hey lighting up the highlights already. 9 00:00:35,547 --> 00:00:38,787 Speaker 1: Oh my goodness, show. 10 00:00:38,747 --> 00:00:43,027 Speaker 2: O tay Otari, Toddy, O. 11 00:00:43,227 --> 00:00:46,787 Speaker 3: Tony, Oh Tony has done it. 12 00:00:46,707 --> 00:00:51,787 Speaker 2: Again, sho hey Otani smashing three huge home runs as 13 00:00:51,827 --> 00:00:56,227 Speaker 2: well as striking out ten Brewers batters and pitching six 14 00:00:56,427 --> 00:01:00,147 Speaker 2: scoreless innings in a comprehensive five to one victory as 15 00:01:00,187 --> 00:01:03,747 Speaker 2: the Dodgers swept the series four nil. His three home 16 00:01:03,827 --> 00:01:06,787 Speaker 2: runs and ten strikeouts in the same game is a 17 00:01:06,787 --> 00:01:11,427 Speaker 2: Major League Baseball postseason record, highlighting his rare talent of 18 00:01:11,507 --> 00:01:15,907 Speaker 2: excelling with bat and ball. Are you s sports expert 19 00:01:16,107 --> 00:01:19,427 Speaker 2: is Leon Busby, who joins us now, Leon, how unique 20 00:01:19,827 --> 00:01:22,907 Speaker 2: is what Shohei Otani is doing right now? 21 00:01:24,187 --> 00:01:26,547 Speaker 3: Yeah, good afternoon, Jess, and thanks for having me back. 22 00:01:27,027 --> 00:01:27,227 Speaker 1: Man. 23 00:01:27,307 --> 00:01:30,227 Speaker 3: I'm what he's doing is unprecedented. If we look at 24 00:01:30,227 --> 00:01:32,267 Speaker 3: the stats and you just mentioned some of them there, 25 00:01:32,867 --> 00:01:35,107 Speaker 3: he struck our ten bat has given up no runs 26 00:01:35,147 --> 00:01:39,067 Speaker 3: against across six plus schooless innings as a starting pitcher 27 00:01:39,347 --> 00:01:42,627 Speaker 3: and then as a designated hitter. He crushed three home runs, 28 00:01:42,987 --> 00:01:45,867 Speaker 3: including one in the fourth which most of the people 29 00:01:45,907 --> 00:01:48,067 Speaker 3: who watch the game will just be shaking the heads, 30 00:01:48,107 --> 00:01:51,387 Speaker 3: which he duly blasted out of the stadium. That particular 31 00:01:51,467 --> 00:01:54,587 Speaker 3: shot had a recorded one hundred and eighty eight kilometers 32 00:01:54,587 --> 00:01:58,067 Speaker 3: per hour exit velocity office bat traveling an incredible one 33 00:01:58,147 --> 00:02:00,347 Speaker 3: hundred and forty five minutes. How wild is that? They 34 00:02:00,347 --> 00:02:02,827 Speaker 3: He's the only player, as you alluded to, in Major 35 00:02:02,907 --> 00:02:06,307 Speaker 3: League baseball history, to achieve this feat and a pendant 36 00:02:06,387 --> 00:02:09,747 Speaker 3: clinching game. Just when you thought there's no more superditus 37 00:02:09,827 --> 00:02:13,787 Speaker 3: to describe what Aori's doing right now is unprecedented. People 38 00:02:13,867 --> 00:02:16,427 Speaker 3: often referred to him as a unicorn, and he's easily 39 00:02:16,427 --> 00:02:19,627 Speaker 3: the best player in baseball right now, and yesterday he 40 00:02:19,747 --> 00:02:22,627 Speaker 3: found a way to break out of his recent postseason 41 00:02:22,747 --> 00:02:27,307 Speaker 3: slump in dramatic fashion. Now, long time ESPN Baseball commentator 42 00:02:27,707 --> 00:02:32,307 Speaker 3: Jeff Passen said that O'tani is literally quote redefining the 43 00:02:32,347 --> 00:02:35,907 Speaker 3: game in real time close quote history unfolding for our 44 00:02:36,027 --> 00:02:38,387 Speaker 3: very eyes. I mean, what he's doing for the sport 45 00:02:38,387 --> 00:02:42,787 Speaker 3: at South Piney is incredible and justifies his groundbake groundbreak 46 00:02:42,827 --> 00:02:46,387 Speaker 3: in December twenty twenty three to one ten years, seven 47 00:02:46,427 --> 00:02:47,827 Speaker 3: hundred million dollar contract. 48 00:02:47,827 --> 00:02:51,627 Speaker 2: It's crazy, absolutely crazy. These numbers that we always talk 49 00:02:51,707 --> 00:02:54,707 Speaker 2: about when you're on with us are just eyewatering. So 50 00:02:54,867 --> 00:02:58,067 Speaker 2: I'm staying with yeah, staying with Age League Baseball. Where 51 00:02:58,107 --> 00:03:00,587 Speaker 2: are Where are we in the American League Championship Series? 52 00:03:01,307 --> 00:03:04,147 Speaker 3: Yes, the Dodgers now also have the advantage of resting 53 00:03:04,227 --> 00:03:08,067 Speaker 3: up and awaiting the winner of the acl ALCS Sorry 54 00:03:08,067 --> 00:03:11,267 Speaker 3: between the Mariners and Blue Jays, with Seattle leading three 55 00:03:11,347 --> 00:03:15,027 Speaker 3: to two following a pivotal win yesterday. Over the five 56 00:03:15,147 --> 00:03:18,307 Speaker 3: game series so far, Toronto has scored twenty seven runs 57 00:03:18,307 --> 00:03:20,747 Speaker 3: in Seattle twenty five and by are a couple of 58 00:03:20,787 --> 00:03:24,067 Speaker 3: lopsided results, this series has been very evenly matched for 59 00:03:24,147 --> 00:03:27,467 Speaker 3: most part. The final two games now moved back to Canada, 60 00:03:27,547 --> 00:03:30,667 Speaker 3: and the Mariners only need to win one. Seattle since 61 00:03:30,787 --> 00:03:33,547 Speaker 3: entering the league forty eight years ago in nineteen seventy seven, 62 00:03:33,947 --> 00:03:37,507 Speaker 3: are actually their only team in MLB history never to 63 00:03:37,547 --> 00:03:39,587 Speaker 3: compete for the World Series, and it would be a 64 00:03:39,587 --> 00:03:42,267 Speaker 3: great story if they can finally get to the four Classics. 65 00:03:42,787 --> 00:03:44,747 Speaker 2: What are the latest stadts you've got for us? 66 00:03:45,707 --> 00:03:48,347 Speaker 3: Yes, the most money. Expectedly, it is on our LA 67 00:03:48,427 --> 00:03:51,947 Speaker 3: to repeat with both Seattle and Toronto evenly priced. It's 68 00:03:51,987 --> 00:03:54,227 Speaker 3: great for baseball in general to see some of the 69 00:03:54,267 --> 00:03:58,187 Speaker 3: smaller market teams like Seattle, Toronto and Milwaukee showing up 70 00:03:58,187 --> 00:04:01,467 Speaker 3: on the big stage. However, in Away Piney is also 71 00:04:01,587 --> 00:04:04,787 Speaker 3: an air of inevitability about the World Series because the 72 00:04:04,787 --> 00:04:07,067 Speaker 3: Dodgers are built to win it now, the stacked and 73 00:04:07,147 --> 00:04:09,867 Speaker 3: deep roster. I feel that if LA don't win it 74 00:04:09,907 --> 00:04:12,867 Speaker 3: all again this year, it'll be seeing as a failure 75 00:04:12,907 --> 00:04:15,867 Speaker 3: considering the astronomical amount of contract money they shout out 76 00:04:15,947 --> 00:04:18,907 Speaker 3: during the off season. Their manager has even said they're 77 00:04:18,907 --> 00:04:21,267 Speaker 3: more than happy to take on the villain roll. So 78 00:04:21,347 --> 00:04:23,027 Speaker 3: we'll see how this all plays out when the World 79 00:04:23,067 --> 00:04:23,827 Speaker 3: Series starts this. 80 00:04:23,907 --> 00:04:28,867 Speaker 2: Saturday, Pining we will, okay. So as the baseball season 81 00:04:28,947 --> 00:04:32,307 Speaker 2: is coming towards its climax, the NBA is getting underway. 82 00:04:32,307 --> 00:04:34,147 Speaker 2: In fact, I think Day one of the NBA is 83 00:04:34,147 --> 00:04:38,747 Speaker 2: this coming Wednesday. That's New Zealand time. A few storylines here. 84 00:04:38,787 --> 00:04:41,667 Speaker 2: Can we start with a but a special recognition for 85 00:04:41,747 --> 00:04:42,467 Speaker 2: Steph Curry. 86 00:04:43,787 --> 00:04:46,747 Speaker 3: Yes, So Steph Curry, obviously everyone knows he's going to 87 00:04:46,747 --> 00:04:49,307 Speaker 3: be a first ballot Hall of Famer. So he's about 88 00:04:49,347 --> 00:04:53,147 Speaker 3: to start his seventeenth season with the Golden State Warriors. 89 00:04:53,147 --> 00:04:56,347 Speaker 3: So he's one of only ten players to whoever play 90 00:04:56,427 --> 00:05:00,187 Speaker 3: for one franchise in his career for more than seventeen seasons. 91 00:05:00,347 --> 00:05:03,227 Speaker 3: Curry will join Hall of Fame inductees like and these 92 00:05:03,307 --> 00:05:07,067 Speaker 3: are probably some names that your listeners are are familiar with. Novitski, 93 00:05:07,467 --> 00:05:10,067 Speaker 3: he played for the Mavericks and holds the outright record 94 00:05:10,107 --> 00:05:13,427 Speaker 3: of twenty one years. Classey followed by Kobe Bryant and 95 00:05:13,467 --> 00:05:15,707 Speaker 3: Tim Duncan, who both played with their same teams, the 96 00:05:15,787 --> 00:05:18,387 Speaker 3: Lakers in San Antonos first for twenty years. 97 00:05:18,427 --> 00:05:18,467 Speaker 1: So. 98 00:05:18,547 --> 00:05:20,707 Speaker 3: Other legends of the game that are part of this 99 00:05:20,747 --> 00:05:24,467 Speaker 3: elite group include Kim Elijah On with the Rockets, John 100 00:05:24,507 --> 00:05:26,827 Speaker 3: Stocked him with the Utah Jazz, and Regi Miller with 101 00:05:26,867 --> 00:05:27,827 Speaker 3: the Indiana Pacers. 102 00:05:28,947 --> 00:05:32,787 Speaker 2: Victor wembin Yama, You reckon he might be set for 103 00:05:32,787 --> 00:05:35,267 Speaker 2: a breakout years. 104 00:05:35,467 --> 00:05:37,947 Speaker 3: I feel like you know he's a marquee player for 105 00:05:37,987 --> 00:05:41,067 Speaker 3: the franchise and he's entering his third season in the association, 106 00:05:41,627 --> 00:05:44,547 Speaker 3: so he overcame some health challenges from last year and 107 00:05:44,627 --> 00:05:47,587 Speaker 3: has worked extremely hard in the offseason to riddy himself 108 00:05:47,907 --> 00:05:50,627 Speaker 3: where the physical riggers his seven foot five innch frame 109 00:05:50,867 --> 00:05:53,667 Speaker 3: will have to endure. So expect something special from the 110 00:05:53,667 --> 00:05:57,107 Speaker 3: Frenchman this season. Wenbyrfield will be primed for big things 111 00:05:57,107 --> 00:05:59,187 Speaker 3: as one of the faces of the NBA, as long 112 00:05:59,227 --> 00:06:00,187 Speaker 3: as he can stay healthy. 113 00:06:00,187 --> 00:06:03,707 Speaker 2: Piney, what about in terms of favorites for the NBA. 114 00:06:03,787 --> 00:06:05,107 Speaker 2: I know we're right at the start of the season, 115 00:06:05,147 --> 00:06:06,827 Speaker 2: but I'm sure the bookies have got their favorites. 116 00:06:07,627 --> 00:06:11,387 Speaker 3: Yep. So the latest betting nods predict Cleveland, New York, 117 00:06:11,427 --> 00:06:13,747 Speaker 3: and Orlando to come out of the East, while on 118 00:06:13,867 --> 00:06:17,787 Speaker 3: the West OKC, Denver and Houston. Based on those odds, 119 00:06:17,787 --> 00:06:20,467 Speaker 3: the thunder and Cavaliers a favorite to meet in the finals. 120 00:06:21,027 --> 00:06:25,067 Speaker 3: Unfortunately for Andy Pelicans, their slightly long odds are at 121 00:06:25,347 --> 00:06:28,867 Speaker 3: plus seventeen thousand, five hundred. So I guess it's fair 122 00:06:28,907 --> 00:06:31,107 Speaker 3: to say that New Orleans only been rated to liven 123 00:06:31,107 --> 00:06:33,867 Speaker 3: out of fifteen in the Western Conference. I don't think 124 00:06:33,907 --> 00:06:35,987 Speaker 3: they're going to get to the posted and sorry, Andy, 125 00:06:36,227 --> 00:06:38,827 Speaker 3: but also in tier in terms of the MVP Awards, 126 00:06:39,307 --> 00:06:42,267 Speaker 3: it's a list of the usual suspects, including reigning championship 127 00:06:42,347 --> 00:06:46,987 Speaker 3: Gilgris Alexander of the OKAC Thunder, closely followed by Jokicha 128 00:06:47,027 --> 00:06:50,867 Speaker 3: the Nuggets. Also, you've got Luca Gianna, Santa Ta Compo 129 00:06:50,907 --> 00:06:52,707 Speaker 3: and Wenby there to round up the top five. 130 00:06:53,467 --> 00:06:55,627 Speaker 2: And Michael Jordan's got a new role in the NBA. 131 00:06:56,827 --> 00:07:00,187 Speaker 3: Yeah exciting. So yeah, finally there's a lot of excitement 132 00:07:00,227 --> 00:07:02,947 Speaker 3: around the league with sixty two year old basketball legend 133 00:07:02,947 --> 00:07:07,227 Speaker 3: Michael Jordan set to return to the NBA via NBC 134 00:07:07,387 --> 00:07:11,147 Speaker 3: Sports as a special contributing commentator from next week. So, 135 00:07:11,307 --> 00:07:14,307 Speaker 3: even twenty plus years on after return for the final time, 136 00:07:14,987 --> 00:07:18,107 Speaker 3: mj is still widely considered the greatest basketball in history. 137 00:07:18,347 --> 00:07:21,227 Speaker 3: And here's analysis of the modern game, a very different 138 00:07:21,267 --> 00:07:23,987 Speaker 3: era from when he grossed the hard court will be intriguing, 139 00:07:24,067 --> 00:07:25,107 Speaker 3: to say the least, pining. 140 00:07:25,747 --> 00:07:28,347 Speaker 2: Let's go to football, college football. You got the latest 141 00:07:28,427 --> 00:07:30,587 Speaker 2: rankings for us yet. 142 00:07:30,627 --> 00:07:33,027 Speaker 3: So college football is into week eight already and at 143 00:07:33,027 --> 00:07:35,507 Speaker 3: the moment there are games going on as we speak. 144 00:07:35,547 --> 00:07:39,067 Speaker 3: So the latest rankings see the Ohio State Buckey is 145 00:07:39,067 --> 00:07:43,627 Speaker 3: still at number one, Miami Hurricanes at two, Indiana Hoosia's three, 146 00:07:43,787 --> 00:07:46,627 Speaker 3: Texas A and m Aggie's four, and the Old Miss 147 00:07:46,627 --> 00:07:48,227 Speaker 3: Rebels rounding out the top five. 148 00:07:49,147 --> 00:07:51,947 Speaker 2: And we had a football coach, Ames posta conglo show 149 00:07:51,947 --> 00:07:54,507 Speaker 2: on the door at Nottingham Forest after about a month, 150 00:07:54,507 --> 00:07:56,947 Speaker 2: and the job a prominent head coach in college football 151 00:07:57,187 --> 00:07:59,027 Speaker 2: lasted about the same allant of time. 152 00:07:59,067 --> 00:08:02,067 Speaker 3: By the sound of it, Yeah, that's right, finy. So 153 00:08:02,227 --> 00:08:04,667 Speaker 3: although there are some key games this weekend, the biggest 154 00:08:04,707 --> 00:08:08,227 Speaker 3: story this week was a foreign of James Franklin, the 155 00:08:08,387 --> 00:08:12,467 Speaker 3: head coach of Pennsylvania State University better known as penn State. 156 00:08:12,907 --> 00:08:15,667 Speaker 3: Into his twelfth season with the Litany Lions. That's such 157 00:08:15,667 --> 00:08:18,827 Speaker 3: a cool name. Franklin was let go even though he 158 00:08:18,947 --> 00:08:22,147 Speaker 3: still owed fifty million dollars on his contracts. He had 159 00:08:22,267 --> 00:08:25,827 Speaker 3: six seasons of ten plus wins, won seventy percent of 160 00:08:25,827 --> 00:08:27,907 Speaker 3: his games, and leaves with a one hundred and four 161 00:08:28,147 --> 00:08:32,307 Speaker 3: to forty five record. Unfortunately, you know, if you're a 162 00:08:32,347 --> 00:08:35,907 Speaker 3: head coachy and they haven't won a national time normost 163 00:08:35,947 --> 00:08:38,307 Speaker 3: forty years, I guess it's fair to say that no 164 00:08:38,307 --> 00:08:39,547 Speaker 3: one's safe pining. 165 00:08:39,747 --> 00:08:43,027 Speaker 2: No indeed, and to the NFL to finish Round seven games. 166 00:08:43,027 --> 00:08:45,067 Speaker 2: The Miami Dolphins a bit of a mess. 167 00:08:46,547 --> 00:08:46,747 Speaker 1: Ah. 168 00:08:47,107 --> 00:08:50,467 Speaker 3: Yes, this is a bit well, I shouldn't really laugh, 169 00:08:50,507 --> 00:08:52,747 Speaker 3: but anyway, it is a little bit of a comical story. 170 00:08:52,827 --> 00:08:54,987 Speaker 3: Say near the bottom of the AFC of the Miami 171 00:08:55,027 --> 00:08:57,867 Speaker 3: Dolphins have won to five. There's been much speculation that 172 00:08:57,947 --> 00:09:01,547 Speaker 3: their style wide receiver Tyreek Kill, affectionately known as a cheatah, 173 00:09:01,587 --> 00:09:04,787 Speaker 3: may be traded soon because of contractual issues. In just 174 00:09:04,827 --> 00:09:07,587 Speaker 3: a sense from inside sources, he's unhappy with the organization 175 00:09:07,667 --> 00:09:11,147 Speaker 3: in general. Now, Miami's head coach, Mike McDaniel is on 176 00:09:11,227 --> 00:09:13,787 Speaker 3: the so called hot seat and expected to be one 177 00:09:13,787 --> 00:09:16,187 Speaker 3: of many to be fired as a season unfold. I 178 00:09:16,187 --> 00:09:18,467 Speaker 3: don't like seeing anybody lose a job. But something out 179 00:09:18,467 --> 00:09:21,387 Speaker 3: of the normal happened just recently. A group of passionate 180 00:09:21,427 --> 00:09:24,987 Speaker 3: Dolphin fans started to go funbe page and raised the 181 00:09:25,027 --> 00:09:27,787 Speaker 3: two thousand dollars they needed. Now, poney, do you want 182 00:09:27,787 --> 00:09:29,467 Speaker 3: to have a guess what they raised the money for? 183 00:09:29,907 --> 00:09:31,427 Speaker 2: No, I don't want to have a guess. I need 184 00:09:31,467 --> 00:09:31,987 Speaker 2: you to tell me. 185 00:09:34,267 --> 00:09:34,347 Speaker 1: So. 186 00:09:34,947 --> 00:09:37,787 Speaker 3: A small plane was hired to fly a banner that 187 00:09:37,987 --> 00:09:42,427 Speaker 3: read fire Grier, Fire McDaniel over the home stadium prior 188 00:09:42,467 --> 00:09:45,347 Speaker 3: to a recent home game. There's a grown resentment from 189 00:09:45,347 --> 00:09:48,067 Speaker 3: the bad results that a fan base adamant that by 190 00:09:48,107 --> 00:09:51,067 Speaker 3: firing both their general manager and head coach will go 191 00:09:51,147 --> 00:09:53,667 Speaker 3: a long way to riding the sinking shifts, so to speak. 192 00:09:53,947 --> 00:09:56,267 Speaker 3: Certainly a different way of garnering attention, but it may 193 00:09:56,307 --> 00:09:59,627 Speaker 3: well get the undivided attention of the team owners. Only 194 00:09:59,667 --> 00:10:02,267 Speaker 3: in America, Pioneer only in America. 195 00:10:01,827 --> 00:10:04,107 Speaker 2: Only in America. I got to leave it there, Leon, 196 00:10:04,147 --> 00:10:06,667 Speaker 2: It's a packed sporting schedule in the US right now. 197 00:10:06,907 --> 00:10:08,987 Speaker 2: Really appreciate you joining us to keep us up with it. 198 00:10:09,107 --> 00:10:11,827 Speaker 2: Leon bussby state side here on Weekend Sport. 199 00:10:12,387 --> 00:10:15,587 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 200 00:10:15,667 --> 00:10:18,947 Speaker 1: to News Talk sed B weekends from midday, or follow 201 00:10:18,987 --> 00:10:20,627 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio