The Sports List Podcast

The Sports List - Episode 10 - Why are the NHL Playoffs so convoluted? (5.21.26)

Once again, the NHL Playoffs have delivered some great games and intense Playoffs series as they do every year. But screwed up 1st round matchups (particularly between the Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild) led to teams with great regular seasons exiting the Playoffs earlier than perhaps they would have in another Playoff format? This week, the guys discuss the negative impact on what has become a very flawed Playoff system in the NHL, and how much it could stunt the NHL's refreshing growth over the last five years.  Games / Events to consider watching this weekend / next week: * New York Knicks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers - Playoff Series (NBA Basketball) - Thrusday, May 21, 2026 - 8 PM EST; Saturday, May 23, 2026 - 8 PM EST; Monday, May 25, 2026 - 8 PM EST * Premier League Final Week (Soccer) - Sunday, May 24, 2026 - 11 AM EST * Indy 500 (Auto Racing) - Sunday, May 24, 2026 - 12:45 PM EST * Men's College Lacrosse Final Four (Lacrosse) - Princeton vs. Duke - Saturday, May 23, 2026 - 12 PM EST; Notre Dame vs. Syracuse - Saturday, May 23, 2026 - 2:30 PM EST * Women's College Lacrosse Final Four (Lacrosse) - North Carolina vs. Maryland - Friday, May 22, 2026 - 3 PM EST

The Sports List - Episode 9 - Is the Ultimate Fighting Championship a monopoly? (5.14.26)

Jake Paul's new Most Valuable Promotions fighting league is debuting this Saturday night at 8 pm EST on Netflix as a potential competitor to the UFC. MVP is trying to leverage former stars such as Ronda Rousey to make a splash in the world of MMA. It's a big bet that Netflix is hoping will pay off. But with UFC having essentially having a monopoly on professional MMA in the states, can anyone really compete in that space right now? Games / Events to consider watching this weekend / next week: * Detroit Pistons vs. Cleveland Cavaliers - Playoff Series (NBA Basketball) - Friday, May 14, 2026 - 7 PM EST * DAZN Global - Dave Allen vs. Filip Hrgovic (Boxing) - Saturday, May 15, 2026 - 5:15 PM EST *  Women's College World Series (College Softball) - Saturday, May 15, 2026 - Monday, May 17, 2026

The Sports List - Episode 8 - What's the best solution for tanking in the NBA? (5.9.26)

The NBA Draft Lottery is this Sunday on ABC as a plethora of teams hope that tanking at the end of the season pays off. And with the rules around the NBA Draft Lottery soon changing, the guys debate what the best solution for tanking could be. Should there be relegation in the NBA? Or shuld owners and players be penalized financially for playing poorly on purpose? Every option is explored in this episode. Games / Events to consider watching this weekend / next week: * New Yock Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers - Playoff Series (NBA Basketball) * Colorado Avalanche vs. Minnesota Wild (NHL Hockey) - Saturday, May 9, 2026 - 9:00 PM EST * Champtionship Soccer Playoff Semi-Final (English Championship League) - Saturday, May 9, 2026 - 7:30 AM EST; Monday, May 11, 2026 - 3 PM EST; Tuesday, May 12, 2026 - 3 PM

The Sports List - Episode 7 - Should we be worried about Sports betting? (4.28.26)

The 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby is on Saturday on NBC, and people around the country will be betting on horses to cheer on during the race. But is horse betting starting to become an unwinable proposition as institutional gambling is taking hold of horse racing? Brian breaks down how this system works and how it's affecting individual sports gamblers. The guys also discuss a slew of other sports gambling stories that have broke news this week, including the Texas Tech Quarterback Brendan Sorsby gambling scandal and Damon Jone pleading guilty to selling information to gambling syndicates while coaching in the NBA. Games / Events to consider watching this weekend / next week: * Golden Knights at Mammoth - Game 5 (NHL Hockey) - Wednesday, April 29, 2026 - 10 PM EST * Longines Kentucky Oaks (Horse Racing) - Saturday, May 2, 2026 - 8:40 PM EST * Snooker World Championship Final (Snooker) - Sunday, May 3, 2026 - Monday, May 4, 2026 - 8 AM EST & 2 PM EST (Both days)

The Sports List - Episode 6 - The 2026 NFL Draft / Have we reached peak NFL? (4.23.26)

The 2026 NFL draft starts tonight and the guys can't help but ask the question, have we reached peak NFL in terms of popularity? How can it get bigger from here? And what are the things that could hurt the NFL long term? Could a proper NFL minor league push things to the next level for fans? The guys discuss it all and also touch on the NHL playoffs, NBA playoffs, and Champions League Soccer. Games / Events to consider watching this weekend / next week: * Golden Knights at Mammoth (NHL Hockey) - Friday, April 24, 2026 - 9:30 PM EST * Pistons at Magic (NBA Baksetball) - Saturday, April 25, 2026 - 1 PM EST * PSG vs. Bayern Munich (Champions League Soccer Semi Finals, Leg 1) - Tuesday, April 28, 2026 - 3 PM EST