Nothing Personal with David Samson

A lively Super Bowl recap focused on Seattle's dominant defense and how New England's offense was shut down. Hot takes on Bad Bunny's halftime performance and its cultural and business impact. A rundown of memorable commercials and brand strategies. Baseball offseason scenes, including Tarek Skubal’s record arbitration win and World Baseball Classic roster debates.

It's another Coca Thursday! Today my microphone worked, but at one point my brain did not. Hopefully next week I can get both to work at the same time! Until then please enjoy our conversation this week on what killed the Washington Post, the Super Bowl, All-Star game festivities needing another makeover, stadium food selection, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today’s word of the day is ‘carrots’ as in Bad Bunny as in Super Bowl as in Seahawks as in Patriots as in Santa Clara! The Super Bowl is here! Can Sam Darnold lead the Seahawks to a Super Bowl victory? Is Drake Maye going to become the youngest QB to ever win a Super Bowl? Is Mike Vrabel going to go from Patriots player winning a title to a Patriots head coach winning a title? Are people going to tune out of Bad Bunny’s halftime show? So many storylines! (12:28) NPPOD. (19:03) The Detroit Tigers went to arbitration with Tarik Skubal. The Detroit Tigers signed Framber Valdez to a $115 million deal on the same day. Coincidence? Let me explain! (35:40) Review: People We Meet on Vacation. (38:35) Anthony Davis has been traded by the Mavericks. He played just 29 games for the franchise. What a trade for Luka Doncic. (46:05) Let’s give another update on the WNBA. Any deal? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Call us at 631-377-4869 and leave a voicemail! So You Wanna Talk to Samson Wednesday! We start things off with Fantatics. What a week for that company. What should be a layup with Super Bowl week, has turned into a nightmare. (15:20) Terry Rozier is getting his money. An arbitrator ruled in his favor. Why? (21:45) Can MLB or the union look at the way the Dodgers will look a load management? Or does that already happen? (28:45) Do Brian Cashman and Aaron Boone have something on the owner? (32:00) The Padres family fight could be over and done with. What happened? (40:00) American League and National League in MLB used to fight for its own league, now it’s just MLB. Does that still happen? (44:45) Let’s talk Rays. The Tampa Bay Rays are headed to Tampa. Ron DeSantis said it. But will the Rays get that sweet sweet state money? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today’s word of the day is ‘chase’ as in ring chasing as in James Harden as in Clippers as in Cavaliers as in the NBA. James Harden is now on the Cavaliers. No more LA, no more Kawhi Leonard, no more Steve Ballmer. (13:20) NPPOD. (16:20) It’s Super Bowl week! That means Roger Goodell is meeting with the media. Epstein Files. Coaching hirings. International games. 18-game schedule. You name it! (35:00) Review: Secret Mall Apartment. (37:00) Robert Kraft is not getting into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Wow. No Patriots. No Kraft, no Belichick. (42:10) Let’s talk RSNs. Baseball is at a breaking point with regional sports networks. MLB is getting the rights. Let me explain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The NBA has suspended Paul George for 25 games for violating the league’s anti-drug policy. George apologized for “mistakenly” taking prescription drugs. Yikes. $11 million suspension. But for the 76ers, they get help when it comes to the luxury tax. (9:28) Jason Kidd has had enough. Could it be the pressure of the Luka trade fallout has caught up to him? (19:10) The WNBA will not start on time. It cannot. The fighting is too much. They are no closer to a deal now than they were 3 months ago. (28:45) Another pro player wants to go back to school. How fun. We all saw this coming. (34:20) The Athletics have some more signings. They continue to give longterm deals to players who don’t need them just yet cause of team control. (38:43) The Seattle Seahawks are for sale. They have been for 7 years now. And now Jody Allen, who is running the team, has been fined $5 million. (43:00) Luis Arraez signed for $12 million with the Giants. Just for a one-year deal. That’s it. So many players either not signed or signing for short term. What is happening? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today’s word of the day is ‘files’ as in those files as in email dumps as in sports as in America as in horrifying. The Epstein Files latest round of releases was full of sports figures. The New York Giants have a problem. The LA Olympics have a problem. A lot of people have problems, but will ANYTHING happen? (19:50) The WBC has some problems. Team Puerto Rico could pull out of the tournament. And it’s all because of insurance? (28:30) The Dodgers have brought load management to MLB. And we are going to see it even more this year. Blake Snell will not be ready for Opening Day. Too much mileage last season for the World Series push. (35:30) Review: Rental Family. (38:10) NPPOD. (42:15) The Minnesota Twins have fired the team president Derek Falvey. Just a short few weeks before spring training. Why? (47:00) Australian Open history was made. Carlos Alcaraz becomes the youngest man ever to complete the career slam. Novak Djokovic was so close, but time was not on his side. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today’s word of the day is ‘exposure’ as in the Yankees as in Brian Cashman as in Aaron Boone as in Cody Bellinger. The Yankees re-signed Bellinger, MVP Judge returns, Gerrit Cole might return, and Cashman’s confidence is sky high. Are they as good as he says they are? Will this be the year the Yankees win a World Series again? (16:33) Bill Belichick has gotten everyone to come out and defend him. Tom Brady. Robert Kraft. And now the Pro Football Hall of Fame is releasing statements! (29:45) The Browns always seem to do something wrong. Todd Monken is the new head coach. Former Browns OC is back in the mix. And Jim Schwartz is pissed. (35:42) Review: It Was Just An Accident. (39:30) NPPOD. We have to talk about Giannis again. What is going on with the Bucks? (44:30) Is LIV Golf done? Another big name has left. Uh oh. Limited Time Offer – Get Huel’s full High-Protein Starter Kit with my exclusive offer of 20% OFF online with my code SAMSON20 at huel.com/SAMSON20. New Customers Only. Code only valid for the bundle. Thank you to Huel for partnering and supporting our show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I am really sorry about the audio problems I experienced. These will be addressed. And if they happen again I am going to throw my computer out my window! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Call us at 631-377-4869 and ask a question! So You Wanna Talk to Samson Wednesday! We start with what’s going on at the Washington Post. Could the entire Sports section disappear? Are more jobs being lost? Does Jeff Bezos with his billions even care? (9:50) Are we in the buyout stage of college sports? What is going on with Miami and Duke? (18:33) How long will the lockout last? Will it be a year? What will the concessions be? What is each side asking for? (26:45) Is there is a salary floor is there no luxury tax? Can teams still make a profit? Can small market teams invest into the minor leagues? (32:00) Can you talk about the Johan Santana trade? Do teams still let players make deals before a trade like he did? (38:30) Former head of FIFA says not to come to America for the World Cup. Oh. (46:00) Was there ever talks about having Spanish TV broadcasts for the Marlins? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices