Episode 212 - 2016 MLB Review and Batsu Games

First off, congratulations to the Chicago Cubs on winning the 2016 World Series - their first win since 1908, and one year later than predicted by a certain movie.

Ironically, the longest World Series title drought now belongs to the team that lost this year's World Series, the Cleveland Indians, who last won in 1948.

We actually recorded today's episode the morning of Game 7, so we didn't know who had won it all at the time.  However, batsu was given because we knew the teams we had picked did not win, let alone make the World Series.

Mike opens this episode with his Cardinals' batsu game and recites a couple of verses of Billy Joel's "Piano Man."

Mike's Washington batsu: wear a Los Angeles Dodgers cap for the latter part of this episode.

Tim's San Francisco batsu is a little more long-term: play a minor character in Mike's currently-on-hiatus web series Tales from the Interim Net (Mike is already in the series as a cyborg expert, a ninja-cyborg, the voice of a cop, and the voice of a super-computer).

We end today's episode with "H.E.A.T" by The Kyoto Connection (CC BY-NC-SA), which is the opening and closing credit song for Tales.



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Religion of Sports - Premieres Nov 15

We briefly mentioned this on the podcast.  Now you can see the trailer.

It's a Cubbies-Indians World Series

The Chicago Cubs have won the NLCS and will be playing Cleveland in the 2016 World Series.

Either way, an incredibly long World Series drought is going to end this year: 108 years for the Cubbies (last WS title: 1908); 68 years for the Indians (1948).

Cleveland Rocks! Indians through to the World Series.

At least one World Series pick made it through, even if it was ultimately a World Series loser.

Congratulations to the Cleveland Indians on winning the AL pennant.

The Indians' last World Series championship: 1948.
Their last pennant: 1997, when they lost to the then Florida Marlins (starting a trend where the Marlins win it all in years Mike graduated - high school in '97, college in '03).

Cleveland now awaits a winner between the Dodgers (last WS title was 1988) and Cubs (last was in 1908!).

Mike correctly picked Cleveland to make the World Series (only to lose to an already ousted Washington).

Natinals Choke! Mike, Batsu Game!

The Washington Nationals choked to the LA Dodgers in the NLDS 3 games to 2.

Mike had picked Washington in his adjustments.

Mike, BATSU GAME!

The punishment will be announced during our next session.

Baseball Giants Done! Tim, Batsu Game!

So much for the "every even year" theory.

The Chicago Cubs knocked out the San Francisco Baseball Giants 3 games to 1 in the NLDS.

Tim, playing on the coincidence that the Giants had won the World Series in 2010, 2012, and 2014, picked them to win it all during his All-Star Break adjustments.

Tim, BATSU GAME!

Tim's punishment will be announced during our next recording session.

Mike, who still needs to do karaoke for his batsu, is at risk for a second as Washington has been forced into a Game 5 in the NLDS by the LA Dodgers.  Let's go Nationals!

ALCS, by the way, will feature Cleveland and Toronto.

Episode 211 - What's Wrong with American Sports?

Today's episode of the podcast is a combination rant and potpourri focused on everything that is wrong with sports in the United States. 

Among the specific topics:
- The ongoing saga involving the NFL's LA situation, with a doomed-to-fail vote in San Diego and the league not being on board with the Raiders bettering their situation.
- NFL players protesting the National Anthem, which is their right under the First Amendment of the Constitution.
- NFL television ratings being down from past seasons.
- The Supreme Court passes on O'Bannon v. NCAA.
- NBA and NFL age limits.
- MLS and USL (with an assist from USSF) colluding to kill off NASL - in open defiance of FIFA bylaws regarding pro/rel.  This on the heels of FIFA really pressuring Australia on the very issue.
- A call for fan-owned teams.
- Comparing the US sports scene with the US political scene.
- The passing of golfer Arnold Palmer.
- Atlanta's troubling fixation with new stadiums.
- A plug for "Religion of Sports."

Fair use:
- Mike Lupica on the Bernie Miklasz radio program slamming Señor Stan (yes, that returns as well) and others like him (including Art Modell) for needlessly moving teams.
- Kyle Broflovski (South Park) joining Mike in calling shenanigans on a certain team's 3-1 record.
- Shep Messing on the need for pro/rel in North American soccer.
- "You have meddled with the primal forces of nature!  And YOU!!!  WILL!!!  Atone!!!"



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