The S&P Sports Podcast: Recent Episodes
Daniel Steenkamer
The S&P Sports Podcast, hosted by HERO Sports contributor Dan Steenkamer and his good buddy, fellow sports follower, and debate opponent Chris Palkon, dishes primarily on college sports, but also ventures into the pros and beyond. The series runs half-hour episodes with hour-long specials for the most anticipated events on the sports calendar, including the Super Bowl, NCAA March Madness, and more! Follow Dan on Twitter @DanSteenkamer to join the conversation.
Dan joins Chris on the S&P Sports Hotline to get listeners ready for the upcoming NFL Draft. The duo presents their bottom 16 picks of the first round in Part 2 of this two-part series.
Dan joins Chris on the S&P Sports Hotline to get listeners ready for the upcoming NFL Draft. The duo presents their top 16 picks in Part 1 of this two-part series.
Chris joins Dan via the S&P Sports Hotline đ for Episode 6 of The S&P Sports Podcast. The two break down the Kansas City Chiefsâ 31-20 Super Bowl LIV victory over the San Francisco 49ers and assess what went wrong for the NFC champs from the Bay Area. Additionally, the duo goes on to react to the moves of the recent NBA trade deadline and to legendary (and controversial) coach Bob Knightâs return to Indiana University for recognition at Assembly Hall. Later, Chris and Dan examine the magnitude of the blockbuster three-team Major League Baseball trade involving star Boston Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts that has hit a snag. The hosts discuss the ramifications of the deal possibly falling through as they apply to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Minnesota Twins, Red Sox, and other clubs.
In the second installation of S&P Overviews by The S&P Sports Podcast, host Chris Palkon takes listeners through one of the Eastern Conferenceâs most intriguing teams: the Boston Celtics.
In the NBA Trade Deadline Special of The S&P Sports Podcast, host Chris Palkon breaks down the deals that he thinks should go down in the Association.
Chris and Dan honor the life and legacy of the late Kobe Bryant, 18-time NBA All-Star with the Los Angeles Lakers and global sports icon and leader. Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, were among nine people killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California on Sunday, January 26, 2020, according to numerous reports that have since been updated and confirmed by reputable outlets. Over the course of the previous night, Bryant, who was 41, was active on social media in congratulating current Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James on passing him for third on the NBAâs all-time scoring list. Bryant is eligible for induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame this year. His passing, along with that of Gianna Bryant and on top of the seven other lives lost in this unthinkable tragedy, has rocked the sports world. S&P Sports expresses its deepest condolences to the family and friends of all of the victims of the shocking crash and seeks to clarify that this emergency episode of The S&P Sports Podcast will never be monetized.
Episode 5 of The S&P Sports Podcast is headlined by the WNBAâs new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) and the possibilities it provides for a league that is continuing its effort to grow as a mainstream and nationally visible professional league. The episode also spotlights Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kaneâs 1,000 career points achievement, but Dan and Chris start things off with a good look at the topsy-turvy nature of the menâs college basketball season thus far. The two also tease S&P Sportsâ upcoming Super Bowl LIV Special as they react to conference championship Sunday in the NFL, which saw the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers advance to the big game in Miami. [episode cover image: Elena Delle Donne photo via Bullets Forever, Patrick Kane image/edit via NBC Sports Chicago, Roy Williams photo via For The Win/USA Today]
In the first installation of S&P Overviews, Chris Palkon catches listeners up on the latest happenings for four of Penn Stateâs athletics programs. [PSU football design in cover image courtesy of ZEDGE]
In this edition of The S&P Sports Podcast, Dan and Chris react to the sign-stealing scandal that has rocked baseball. In response to MLB commissioner Rob Manfredâs report about illegal sign-stealing via technology that occurred in their 2017 World Series title run, the Houston Astros fired general manager Jeff Luhnow and manager AJ Hinch after both were suspended for the calendar year by the league. Hours later, Boston Red Sox manager and 2017 Astros bench coach Alex Cora parted ways with the organization upon being implicated as the mastermind of Houstonâs center-field camera scheme. Soon thereafter, it was newly minted New York Mets skipper Carlos Beltran parting ways with the club after being the only 2017 Astros player explicitly implicated in the report of illicit sign-stealing. Beltran retired from his playing career after Houstonâs 2017 World Series win. In other news, Dan and Chris break down the outcomes of the divisional round of the NFL playoffs and briefly set the stage for conference championship Sunday, which will see the AFC send new blood to the Super Bowl and will include two NFC titans dueling for a spot in the big game. Later, Dan recaps North Dakota Stateâs heart-stopping, 28-20 FCS National Championship triumph over James Madison that gave the dynastic Bison a 16-0 finish to an historic season. Chris follows that up with a summary of the (FBS) College Football Playoff National Championship, in which No. 1 LSU took down No. 3 Clemson by a score of 42-25. The (Baton Rouge) Tigers were able to celebrate their win in their home state, as the game was played at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. [episode cover image via USA Today]
Chris joins Dan via the S&P Sports Hotline đ for Episode 3, which marks the debut of The S&P Sports Podcast: Marathon Edition. The headlines start with former Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy being named the new head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. Chris and Dan react to both the hire and to the reports that Cowboys ringleader Jerry Jones hosted McCarthy at his residence overnight in an extension of McCarthyâs initial interview. Chris also reacts to the Carolina Panthers nabbing Baylorâs Matt Rhule, his favorite candidate of the offseason. Dan and Chris go on to express their surprise at the New York Giantsâ hiring of New England Patriots special teams coordinator and wide receivers coach Joe Judge. Judgeâs sudden signing inspires questions about whether the Rooney Rule is in need of revamp or replacement with coaches of color seemingly being shut out from head coaching opportunities while white coaches with minimal experience are being given chances galore. In more NFL talk, Dan and Chris roast each other for incorrect playoff game predictions after a Wild Card weekend that was, well, wild. The two both stand at 2-2 in their picks entering the Divisional round. On a somber note, the duo remembers legends of the sports world whom we have lost in 2020. Chris pays tribute to the innovative former Bengals and Buccaneers coach Sam Wyche and longtime and influential NBA commissioner David Stern, while Dan observes the marvelous career of Don Larsen, who excelled in the postseason like few pitchers ever have. After those remembrances, the podcast takes a turn for the lighthearted with some laughs at former NFL star wideout Antonio Brownâs latest Twitter antics. Chris then announces the S&P Sports Bowl Game of the Year, which is followed by Danâs quick-hitting recap of âThe Best of Bowl Seasonââhe takes us through the outstanding and most clutch performances of the FBS postseason ahead of Monday nightâs College Football Playoff National Championship. Chris and Dan wrap up the show with news and notes, including Ohio State pass rusher and consensus top prospect Chase Young declaring for the NFL draft, Villanova menâs basketball head coach Jay Wright being voted Coach of the Decade in menâs college hoops, and a variety of experienced MLB pitchers (including some aces) cashing in with lengthy (and lucrative) deals this winter. [Mike McCarthy photo by Getty Images and Dallas Cowboys logo courtesy of Wikimedia.]
Dan and Chris are back for Episode 2 of The S&P Sports Podcast as they reveal their NFL playoff predictions. Disagreement abounds in the AFC Wild Card games, but Dan and Chris ultimately agree on the two teams weâll see in Miami for Super Bowl LIV (one of those squads does not have a first-round bye and plays this weekend). Later, Dan and Chris react to the news that general manager John Dorsey is parting ways with the Cleveland Browns and decipher the ramifications of Baylor coach and trendy NFL candidate Matt Rhule passing on even interviewing with Cleveland for its head coaching position. Finally, the two share some menâs college basketball observations as we ring in the new year and the start of conference play.
In the pilot episode of The S&P Sports Podcast, Dan Steenkamer and Chris Palkon debate what the Cincinnati Bengals should do with the first overall selection of the 2020 NFL Draft. They also explore the draft stock of the injured Alabama quarterback known for his signal-calling excellence and by just his first name: Tua. Dan and Chris go on to discuss why Clemson, the Fiesta Bowl champion following the recording of the podcast, presents the stiffer National Championship challenge to Peach Bowl winner LSU than Ohio State would have. Talk of the head coaches participating in the College Football Playoff inspires a debate about which college coaches are most likely to make the jump into the NFL coaching carousel (and where theyâll land). Chris even shows off his crystal ball by predicting Cleveland Browns coach Freddie Kitchensâ firing, which would come hours after the recording of the pod. Meanwhile, Dan previews Januaryâs FCS National Championship, which puts North Dakota Stateâs decade of dominance on the line against James Madison. (image via Bengal Jimâs BTR/Twitter)