BLEAV Sports with Fred and The Fantastics

Fred, Art, Mark, Laura, and sports historian Matthew DiBiase wonder how college athletics could have become such a tangled web in the last several years. Has the NCAA lost control of amateur sports? Could Mark Emmert have foreseen the potential upheaval from changing the rules? Will Rick Carlisle’s Indiana Pacers emerge as the dark horses in the NBA playoffs after delivering a heartbreaking defeat to Tom Thibodeau and the Knicks? And can any NFL franchise match Kansas City's sustained excellence without a Patrick Mahomes-caliber quarterback?

Fred, Art, Mark, and Laura are surprised that Nick Saban and President Trump have entered debates about NIL and transfer portal reforms in college football. Could the sport eventually split into separate tiers with elite programs creating their own division? MLB financial strategies face scrutiny as the Dodgers' billion-dollar payroll with deferred payments from stars like Shohei Ohtani raises eyebrows. Will MLB eventually revise contract deferral rules? Does the release of veteran Dodger catcher Austin Barnes emphasize that baseball is very much a business? How will the crucial Knicks-Celtics playoff matchup pan out? And is Giannis Antetokounmpo truly considering Los...

Fred, Art, and Laura marvel at the marked uptick in ratings for the NBA playoffs over previous years. Which former player is New York Knicks’ Jalen Brunson being compared to with his clutch performance? Will this postseason reenergize the fanbase? Can the change of ownership, a brand-spanking-new stadium, and quarterback Jayden Daniels increase the momentum of the Washington Commanders? Will surprise Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty run in the Preakness? And why did Mike Tirico leave the Derby telecast so suddenly?

Fred and Art handicap the 151st Kentucky Derby, which runs Saturday with Journalism favored from the eighth post. Could $2,500 purchase Chunk of Gold shock the racing world from the 19th position? Aaron Judge dominates MLB statistical categories as the Yankees continue their offensive barrage. Is the power surge across baseball due to Commissioner Manfred quietly allowing a livelier ball this season? With former Dodger Gavin Lux remaining a defensive liability for Cincinnati despite hitting over .330, should the Reds limit him to DH duties despite his hot bat? And will Denver and Nikola Jokić derail the Clippers' playoff hopes once again?

The team is back together as Fred, Art, Mark, and Laura look for a potential Lakers-Clippers Western Conference Finals with J.J.Redick’s Lakers bolstered by major contributions from Austin Reaves and a seemingly rejuvenated LeBron James, while Kawhi Leonard's health raises the Clippers' hopes across town. In the East, Indiana has emerged as a surprising challenge to Boston's dominant path. And as the NCAA grapples with transfer portal chaos, exemplified by the UCLA-Tennessee quarterback swap involving Nico Iamaleava, will the NFL draft provide clarity on polarizing prospects like Shedeur Sanders?

Fred is back and more fantastic than ever! He and Laura contemplate Cooper Flagg’s crucial decision between returning to Duke for another championship run or entering the NBA draft as a projected top pick. Could his choice to forgo millions signal a new trend in college basketball? Aaron Rodgers remains unsigned as NFL teams hesitate to commit. Will any franchise gamble on the aging quarterback despite vacancies in New Orleans and Pittsburgh? The Dodgers are battling defensive issues as the season gets into full swing. Is Max Muncy's struggling defense at third base a temporary problem or a season-long co...

Fred, Art, Mark, and Laura predict an uncertain future for horse racing amid diminishing purses and animal welfare concerns at racetracks like the iconic Santa Anita. What ethical reforms need to be adopted as it struggles to persevere? Could NHL commissioner Gary Bettman’s new international competition format help hockey challenge basketball's popularity? Will Alex Bregman or Rafael Devers play third base for Boston? And how can baseball maintain its national appeal with ESPN losing its MLB package and only a handful of teams realistically competing for championships?

Fred, Art, Mark, and Laura are skeptical of the claims of operating losses from multiple baseball teams amid soaring franchise values. Can the MLB’s economic model sustain escalating player salaries like Alex Bregman's $120 million Red Sox deal? The Dodgers and Braves project for 109 and 105 wins respectively - but will pitching health determine their fate? What ownership turmoil threatens the Padres' future following Peter Seidler's death? Will Aaron Rodgers choose broadcasting over the Raiders? And is Sean McVay considering trading some high-profile Rams?

Fred, Art, and Laura chronicle gambling misconduct in the MLB with the passing of former commissioner Fay Vincent and as fresh concerns arise at the suspension of umpire Pat Hoberg, who is sidelined until 2026 for shared credit card activity with a baseball gambler. Is stricter monitoring on the horizon? Has Chip Kelly found his niche with the Raiders? Will the Super Bowl officiating crew be under scrutiny? Is Saquon Barkley just the ticket to keep the Chiefs from a three-peat? And how will the NCAA’s controversial rules affect transgender athletes?

Fred, Art, Laura, and Fred’s cousin Andy Baran break down what defines professional sports as the NIL offers more opportunities for college athletes and staff, with big paydays for elite players and the hiring of Mike Lombardi as the GM for UNC. Will the NCAA eventually become a pro organization? Can Anthony Davis be considered a Hall of Famer with so many missed games? How close is Alex Ovechkin to overtaking Wayne Gretzky’s record? And what does the Kobe Bryant documentary have in store for fans?

Fred, Art, Mark, and Laura marvel at Ichiro Suzuki's near-unanimous Hall of Fame selection, with one mysterious voter preventing a perfect ballot. What caused the lone dissenter to keep Ichiro from the unanimous club? Will Aaron Rodgers be shown the door as new coach Aaron Glenn joins the Jets? Can Pete Carroll reenergize the Raiders? Is the Miami Heat facing retention challenges as $49-million-dollar man Jimmy Butler looks for a clean getaway? And how will the streaming revolution impact the future of sports viewership?

Fred, Art, Mark, and Laura compare past and present college basketball culture as they reflect on both the upcoming 50th anniversary of John Wooden's UCLA retirement and the passing of USC/NBA legend Gus Williams. What would Coach Wooden think of the expanded tournament format? As NFL playoff fever grips the nation with heavyweight matchups, which MVP candidate will be victorious in Buffalo’s lake-effect snow game? Can rookie Jayden Daniels prove he has the right stuff in the Motor City? And will Taylor Swift make an appearance in KC?

Fred, Art, Mark, and Laura are heartbroken as wildfires ravage Los Angeles. The proximity of the fires has necessitated relocating the Rams-Vikings game to Arizona. Can the Rams, worried for their homes, beat the four-point-favored Vikings? Will the Pittsburgh Steelers maintain their historical edge over the Baltimore Ravens and overcome their late-season slump? Is it ethical for Tampa Bay to help Michael Evans reach his contract bonus? And how is LeBron James affecting the Lakers’ roster - will there be THREE James players on it in the future?

Fred, Art, Mark, and Laura are curious as to why the Eagles are resting Saquon Barkley at 101 yards shy of Eric Dickerson’s rushing record. Are they prioritizing Super Bowl aspirations over individual glory? Could Sean McVay’s surging LA Rams be the team no one wants to face in the playoffs? Did Arizona State's controversial loss to Texas under innovative coach Kenny Dillingham intensify the debate about the new 12-team playoff format? And is Brock Purdy worth elite quarterback money as restricted free agency looms?

Fred and Art consider the most suitable landing spots for De’Aaron Fox as the possibility of his being traded from the Sacramento Kings looks more probable. Does LA make the list as a logical fit? Will the Rose Bowl be an old-school matchup as Ohio State and Oregon face off on New Year’s Day? Is playing time in the future for Chiefs’ QB Carson Wentz? Has Eric Bieniemy found a new job? And will more coaches follow Mike Norvell’s lead by contributing funds to the NIL?

Fred, Art, Mark and Laura Snoke Fred, Art, Mark, and Laura Snoke are excited to see the debut of Atlanta Falcons’ Michael Penix, Jr., taking over for the injured Kirk Cousins in the upcoming game against the foundering New York Giants. Has the Giants’ losing record this season secured them a first-round draft pick? Will the Raiders snap up Team Sanders? Is Saquon Barkley a late-season entry in a closely contested NFL MVP race? And how much longer will the Chiefs expect Patrick Mahomes to play injured?

Fred, Art, Mark and Laura Snoke can’t wrap their heads around the high salaries of college athletic personnel after the raise UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond received after a so-so sports year. Why are non-athletic department educators expected to survive on substantially less? With the passing of baseball elder statesman Rocky Colavito, the long-awaited HoF induction of Dave Parker, and multiple cancer diagnoses of other players, how long is too long to wait to honor sports legends? And will Deion Sanders make team rebuilding a family affair?

Fred, Art, Laura Snoke, and Fred’s cousin Andy Baran wonder where the football coaching roundabout will stop as football coaches in the NFL and NCAA are either out of a job or seeking new employment. Who will DeShaun Foster bring on board as offensive coordinator now that he’s parted ways with Eric Bieniemy? Which coach will give Miller Moss the opportunities he’s looking for after waiting in the wings at USC? And where will Bill Belichick go to realize his dream of breaking all-time winning records?

Fred, Art, Mark, and Matthew DiBiase lament the looming new 12-game college football playoff system. Will it truly be a matchup of the best teams or all about the underdogs? As legendary rivalries promise excitement this weekend, will the transfer portal and NIL usher in an era with fewer historic clashes like USC and Notre Dame under John McKay and Ara Parseghian? What can Mick Cronin do about the continued lack of fans at UCLA basketball games? And will Jared Goff be the unexpected NFL MVP?

Fred, Art, and Matthew DiBiase bemoan the direction that historic college football rivalries have taken in the reshuffling of conferences, with the UCLA-USC classic being relegated to late-night viewing for the East Coast. Will Yankee Stadium be the battleground for a David vs Goliath clash of Army and Notre Dame? In an exciting NFL weekend, can Saquon Barkley run wild for the Eagles? Is Brock Purdy healthy enough to play? And how will Tommy DeVito prove he’s the right choice for the Giants?

Fred and Art are still shaking their heads over the continuing scheduling drama for LA sports as UCLA’s football and basketball are creating another Friday night viewing conflict for fans. Is Mick Cronin the cause of the recent low attendance at Pauley because of his planned recruiting strategy? Has DeShaun Foster helped the football team get into a winning rhythm? How is Lane Kiffin highlighting the career path of former USC coaches? And which of the issues plaguing the NFL’s special teams has upset Deebo Samuel the most?

Fred and Art question the wisdom of the powers that be in college sports as USC and LSU face the dilemma of gigantic buyouts to end the contracts of football coaches Lincoln Riley and Brian Kelly. How can the universities afford to shell out $65-$95 million and still keep their programs afloat? Will Lamar Jackson stay at the top of the MVP list? Could returning RB Christian McCaffrey be the midseason boost the 49ers need? And why is there another Friday night sports scheduling snafu in LA?

With the Dodgers’ World Series win for the ages in the rearview mirror, Fred, Art, and Laura Snoke ponder football possibilities as the NFL trade deadline grows ever near. Bryce Young, former No. 1 overall pick, is the subject of great speculation as to where his new home might be. Will he leave the Panthers and head West? Are the 2024 Oregon Ducks reminiscent of Chip Kelly’s 2012 undefeated team? Is Jared Goff the NFL’s Renaissance man? And would the Rams really have traded Cooper Kupp had they lost their last few games?

Fred, Art, and Laura Snoke gear up for an action-packed night of sports in LA, with the confluence of the World Series at Dodger Stadium, USC at the Coliseum, the Lakers at Crypto.com Arena, and the East LA Classic high school football game at SoFi causing “Sportsageddon Carmageddon” woes for drivers. Can the Dodgers best their historic rivals? Which SoCal native will win the Game 1 pitching battle - Jack Flaherty or Gerrit Cole? Will Aaron Judge be the Pride of the Yankees? And is Russell Wilson the right choice for the Steelers in the clash with the Giants?

Fred, Art, and Laura Snoke share their predictions for the MLB pennant winners, with some strong performances by the NL and AL teams. Whose postseason record did Max Muncy tie? Will Aaron Judge’s superstar performance guarantee the Yankees a World Series berth? Can Jhonkensy Noel keep up the home runs for the Guardians? Do the Dodgers have enough in reserve to keep Teoscar Hernandez next season? And with more big-draw sporting events moving to streaming, will network availability go the way of the dodo?

Fred, Art, Laura Snoke, and Fred’s cousin Andy Baran question the networks’ decision-making process in the scheduling of UCLA and USC’s games against formidable foes on Saturday. Why the simultaneous kickoff times? Will Bruins’ coach DeShaun Foster be a match for veteran Brian Kelly? Which school has dropped six sports programs in the latest NIL development? Will Bryce Young be given the chance to reach his potential? And just how did Shohei Ohtani achieve those mind-boggling stats?

Fred, Art, and Mark marvel over the numbers being put up by Shohei Ohtani as he inches toward an unheard-of 50-50 season. Will he cap off 2024 with a return to the mound in October and an MVP award to boot, or is the Phillies’ Bryce Harper going to give him a run for his money? How was Aaron Rodgers’ first game of the season? Should Tua Tagovailoa consider retirement after suffering yet another concussion? And what is up with college coaches and their “We Pay Players” shirts?

Fred, Art, and Mark compare the coaching styles of USC’s Lincoln Riley and LSU’s Brian Kelly after their big showdown, where the Trojan’s stunning victory did not sit well with Kelly, who wasn’t shy about laying blame for the loss. Is Riley bringing the glory back to USC? Retirees Bill Belichik and Nick Saban seem to be on everything and are everywhere all at once in their new careers as commentators. Have they found their true calling? And will Monday Night Football fans win or lose in the streaming standoff?

Fred, Art, and Laura Snoke are charmed by Shohei Ohtani and his dog, Decoy, who teamed up to throw out the first pitch at Dodger Stadium. Further cementing his superstar status, Ohtani hit a home run for his first at-bat. Is he a lock for MVP or does Aaron Judge have slightly better odds? Will the injury crisis in the MLB, affecting pitchers and other indispensable players like Freddie Freeman of the Dodgers, change the way the game is played in the leadup to October? And is the University of Michigan in danger of losing its National Championship title?

Fred, Art, and Laura Snoke wonder if and when the NFL will take a page out of professional soccer’s playbook and mandate grass fields over artificial turf. Could the prestigious World Cup 2026 in North America be the agent of change to protect players? Where has Justin Herbert landed in the fantasy football ratings? Do the Braves have a chance without Spencer Strider? Is Chris Taylor the answer to help the Dodgers rally? And should athletes venture into political discourse like Steph Curry did at the DNC?

Fred, Art, and Mark are shaking their heads over Aaron Rodgers’ fluctuating position on the Covid vaccine. Will there ever be a straight answer from him and is this another factor preventing him from integrating with the team? Does Sean McVay have a career change in mind? Has Michael Harris II’s comeback given the Atlanta Braves the means to catch the Phillies? And with the Dodgers pitching staff being decimated by injuries and Walker Buehler struggling after his return, can the perennial powerhouse overcome its pitching woes?

Fred, Art, Mark, and sports historian Matthew DiBiase weigh in on their candidates for the Cy Young Award. After allowing just one run in 28 innings, is Dylan Cease the top pick? Which underdog MLB team claimed the number one spot in USA Today’s Sports Weekly power rankings? Will TNT’s new show featuring Bronson Balholm deflect some attention from the battle between TNT and Amazon for Thursday night NBA rights? And how will the NFL resolve their dilemmas with Justin Herbert and CeeDee Lamb

Fred, Art, and Laura Snoke debate the new NFL kickoff rules as teams are hurriedly trying to incorporate the changes and put them into practice for the upcoming season. Will the rules be an improvement or fall flat? How will the rookie quarterbacks fare, and are Caleb Williams, Bo Nix, and all of the class of ‘24 ready to lead? Can traditional sports media keep up with the juggernaut of the streamers? And how many trips to the podium will Simone Biles and Katie Ledecky make in Paris?

Fred, Art, and Mark prognosticate about politics, pitching, and penance. Will Mark Kelly be named the Democratic VP? How many pitchers can the Dodgers go through in one season and how will the Braves cope with the loss of their two top arms? Where is Dylan Cease going to call home after the trade deadline? Should Pete Rose, the subject of a new HBO documentary, be forgiven? And with the Summer Olympics set to begin in Paris, is Simone Biles ready to reclaim her gymnastics title?

Fred and Art forecast which MLB teams have a likely shot at the postseason now that the All-Star game has ushered in the second half of the season. Are the Phillies, with their powerful pitching staff led by Ranger Suárez, emerging as World Series contenders? Is Garrett Crochet a potential trade chip to help the struggling White Sox? Could Clayton Kershaw be available to pitch before the end of the season? And what advantages will Russell Westbrook bring with him in his move to Denver?

Fred, Art, and Mark hope that ALS sufferer Steve Gleason’s appearance at the ESPYs and the NFL’s new safety measures are just the beginning of more precautions to reduce the number of traumatic head injuries across heavy-contact sports. What other steps should be taken? Do the Dodgers need to bring in yet another pitcher, with Clayton Kershaw still on the injured list? Is Aaron Nola the Phillies’ secret weapon to challenge the Dodgers for the NL pennant? And what special fan will cheer on Simone Biles at the Olympics?

Fred, Art, and sports historian Matthew DiBiase are worried about the state of the Dodgers pitching staff, as injuries have made a serious dent in their rotation. After putting out big money for Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, many fear that isn’t enough to bring in the wins. Should LA acquire one more arm before the trade deadline? Is Caitlin Clark opening doors for bigger WNBA salaries? And after paying Jayson Tatum over $300 million, what is the price tag on the World Champ Celtics?

Fred and Art wonder if Aaron Rodgers has decided to discount the team-first mentality required for success in the NFL. Rodgers skipped the New York Jets’ offseason minicamp, raising concerns about his commitment and foreshadowing his leadership style. Will this behavior affect team chemistry? Aaron Judge is the American League frontrunner for the MLB’s Most Valuable Player, but the field is much wider for the National League. Is Mike Trout in the running? And how could Elgin Baylor be excluded from the Laker’s Top Five all-time greats?

Fred, Art, and Mark are adopting a wait-and-see attitude with the new Laker head coach, J.J. Redick. Will his career as a player give the Lakers the boost they need? How much time will “Hard Knocks” devote to series regulars the Bears and Caleb Williams while also spotlighting the AFC North Division? Did Willie Mays return to Rickwood Field before he passed? And does Caitlin Clark have to wait for the 2028 Olympics in LA?

Fred, Art, and Fred’s cousin Andy Baran reflect on the passing of Jerry West and Bill Walton, recounting the impact these legends have had on the world of basketball. Is Mookie Betts better suited for the outfield or should the Dodgers keep him at shortstop? Where are Charles Barkley and Inside the NBA off to next? Who is conspicuously missing from the US Olympic basketball team? And which surprising rivals might join forces in a move few thought would ever happen?