Nothing Personal with David Samson

Today’s word of the day is ‘interim’ as in MLBPA as in executive director as in Bruce Meyer as in Tony Clark as in a new day. Bruce Meyer, who was the No. 2 in the union, got elected unanimously to lead this next round of negotiations. What changes? Who has the advantage at the table? (23:45) MLB teams are getting more honest. Well, some of them are. You are hearing from Cleveland Guardians GM Mike Chernoff about why his team cannot spend big money like other teams can. Uh oh. (33:40) Review: Die My Love. (36:10) The UFC has a problem. A Sean Strickland problem. If Dana White wants to be taken serious, now is the time. (44:27) NPPOD. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Call us at 631-377-4869! It’s a So You Wanna Talk to Samson Wednesday! Let’s start with Tony Vitello. He’s the first year manager for the San Francisco Giants, and he’s off to an interesting start. (12:30) The WNBA fight continues. A work stoppage is imminent. Uh oh. (18:45) What is the legal process for a team wanting to leave a sports league? (24:40) Why don’t the Marlins have retired jerseys? Only Jackie Robinson? (32:25) What is going on with international signings? The Phillies signed an 11-year old! (39:35) The death of the RSNs is here. (43:30) How do visas work in sports? Limited Time Offer – Get Huel today with my exclusive offer of 15% OFF online with my code SAMSON15 at huel.com/SAMSON15. New Customers Only. Thank you to Huel for partnering and supporting our show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today’s word of the day is ‘peace’ as in labor peace as in Major League Baseball as in Tony Clark as in MLBPA as in negotiations as in resignation. Wow. A shocking scandal has rocked the players’ union. What does it all mean? Is this bad for the union? Are the owners giddy? (21:30) The fight over revenue in baseball is real. A lot of that is going to come from a new national television package. And MLB commissioner Rob Manfred gave us an inside look into what that may be. (31:20) Review: Anemone. (34:30) Mark Cuban says the NBA should embrace tanking. He says all teams tank. He tanked. He paid for it. His concern is with the in-arena experience being too expensive. (45:00) NPPOD. (47:10) The Minnesota Twins have some problems. So much money to players who can’t play. The team looks bad. The team will likely be bad. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Baseball season is in full swing. Not regular season. But, you get it. Rob Manfred met with the media. More CBA negations. More prediction markets. The usual for commissioners these days. (15:34) Mets owner Steve Cohen met with the media. He is tired of losing. He will never have a captain. But he will spend and spend and spend. (33:30) The Yankees MVP had problems with the team’s offseason, but then he didn’t. Is he really okay with the team running it back? (41:25) Nick Castellanos is no longer a Phillie. He’s San Diego bound. The end of his tenure in Philadelphia was an absolute mess. (47:50) Casey Wasserman is selling his agency. Casey Wasserman has been asked to stepped down as head of LA28. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today’s word of the day is ‘urgency’ as in NBA as in All-Star Game as in what a game as in Kawhi Leonard as in Wemby as in Anthony Edwards. We finally got a great game. Team Stars won it. Team Stripes had a moment. Wemby wanted everyone to try and compete… and they did! But what about the rest of the weekend? Yikes! (15:20) LeBron James had his own media day on Sunday ahead of the All-Star Game. He was asked about Israel? Why? (21:42) Michael Jordan is a champion. For the first time in his career. A Daytona 500 champion. (25:00) Adam Silver met with the media over the weekend. He had a lot to say. Tanking, AI, prediction markets, new technology. The usual. (41:10) Review: The Secret Agent. (46:00) The NFL and NFLPA have a grievance solved over the weekend. No more report cards. The union lost and can no longer make them public. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NO SHOW MONDAY - BUT THERE IS A SHOW TUESDAY! It's another Coca Thursday! Today we discuss the Olympic committee's decision to ban a Ukrainian athlete over this helmet message. Was it the right move? Are the Olympics the place for politics? Putting context to the numbers coming out from the Super Bowl. It's NBA All-Star weekend! Are you excited!? And at the end of the day it's always all love between David and myself. It's okay to disagree with people! Limited Time Offer – Get Huel today with my exclusive offer of 15% OFF online with my code SAMSON15 at huel.com/SAMSON15. New Customers Only. Thank you to Huel for partnering and supporting our show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NO SHOW MONDAY - BUT WE WILL HAVE A SHOW TUESDAY! Today’s word of the day is ‘offload’ as in load management as in the NBA as in the 65-game rule as in awards as in All-NBA. The NBA has a problem. Well, multiple problems. SO many star players are missing games because of soft tissue injuries and can no longer be eligible for regular season honors. LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo. Nikola Jokic is a few games away. Wemby is a few games away. Steph Curry is a few games away. Kawhi is a few games away. (15:25) More injuries coming out of Spring Training. We have three hamate bone ones. Francisco Lindor, Corbin Carroll, and Jackson Holliday are all ruled out with the same injury. Another 6-8 week one, that could take longer than that to heal. (23:03) Could President Trump get involved in MLB labor negotiations? It could happen. But at what cost? (32:13) Review: Nuremberg. (35:04) NPPOD. (38:40) Let’s talk about Scott Boras. (46:20) The decision of LA28 Olympics. Let’s discuss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Call us at 631-377-4869! It’s a So You Wanna Talk to Samson Wednesday! Prediction markets! Are you using them? Kalshi? Polymarket? Cardi B? What am I talking about? (12:40) Did David Stearns tell you the truth about Francisco Lindor and the World Baseball Classic? Doubt it! (19:05) Why is there a Super Bowl halftime show? What is a successful one? (26:00) Did the Baseball Hall of Fame lose credibility over the years? (31:00) Explain arbitration. Does it ever result in bad blood between the player and the team? (36:30) What do glue guys bring to a team? (47:00) Munetaka Murakami is the newest signing for the White Sox. But the White Sox already spelled his name wrong? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today’s word of the day is ‘shocked’ as in MLB as in spring training as in injuries. Let me explain. Kris Bryan is hurt. Anthony Santander is hurt. Spencer Schwellenbach is hurt. Hurt, hurt, and hurt. Why are these announcements happening on Day 1? Why are players waiting to get surgery? (14:15) Justin Verlander is back with the Tigers! Can you believe it!? (22:46) The Blue Jays were hit by the injury bug. So many major red flag injuries. An injury to Santander. An injury to Shane Bieber. (29:45) MLB meetings are taking place in Palm Beach. What are they discussing? (34:00) Review: The Alabama Solution. (38:25) NPPOD. (40:53) Are the Dallas Mavericks for sale? Is Mark Cuban getting the team back? Are the Adelsons leaving for Vegas? Limited Time Offer – Get Huel today with my exclusive offer of 15% OFF online with my code SAMSON15 at huel.com/SAMSON15. New Customers Only. Thank you to Huel for partnering and supporting our show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

They dig into NBA integrity problems, from extreme tanking and shutdowns to worries about players using prediction markets. A heated take on Giannis and the risks of athletes betting on outcomes. They also address a violent criminal charge against James Pierce Jr. and call for accountability in pro sports. Plus a critique of Hall of Fame voting and a turn to Olympics coverage.