The St. Louis Sportists

Ron Cook, Keith Farroll, Doug Lansdown, Tom Mathis and Joe Spurlin
  • 5.0 (9)
  • Sports
  • Updated Weekly

Occasionally smart, always irreverent. Conversations about sports in St. Louis and beyond.

  1. World Cup 101 - With Jen Siess

    3d ago ·  Bonus

    World Cup 101 - With Jen Siess

    It’s World Cup time and The Sportists have you covered. Jen Siess, the host of the pre- and post-game coverage for St. Louis City SC on Y98 and can be heard regularly on KMOX radio joins Ron for World Cup 101. If you are new to watching soccer or a life-long fan, you’re bound to learn something in this overview of the upcoming World Cup. Jen and Ron discuss the global impact of the tournament that can shut down conflicts or assembly lines. They look at the structure of the tournament from qualifying to pool play, the knockout rounds and ultimately the championship. Who are the favorites to win it all this year, and which players will take over the headlines of the sports world for the next several weeks? And what about the US Team? How are they selected and why can’t they break through on the international stage? The Sportists give you the world in this episode – with a dash of St. Louis CITY at the end. Happy World Cup! The St. Louis Sportists Podcast is brought to you by 1st Coast Steel Buildings and Black Dog Consulting.

    1h 2m
  2. Sir, We Can't Do This

    Jun 4

    Sir, We Can't Do This

    The Sportists join the rest of St. Louis in asking, how much longer does Nolan Gorman have to prove himself? Winning teams celebrate players doing well, but a .500 month of May has the Cardinals looking for run production. But Noot is back and reinforcements have arrived from Memphis. Is a winning record in ’26 complicating the long-term plan? Across the state, the Royals are in freefall after a stretch losing 16 of 19 games. But, if you’re a Royals fan (and we’re truly sorry if you are), you’re accustomed to 100 loss seasons in this … century. The Mizzou-Kansas basketball rivalry may be approaching its final game this season. Reports from Columbia indicate no negotiations are underway to extend the series. Brendan Sorsby turns out to be a prolific gambler, and his college and pro prospects have never been cloudier. And Texas and Texas Tech engage in a smack talk showdown for the ages and the winner is … everyone. All of this plus the Chicago Bears to Indiana, a Lionel Messi overdose incoming, a major NFL trade and good news for the St. Louis Battlehawks on this action-packed episode of the St. Louis Sportists Podcast. The St. Louis Sportists Podcast is brought to you by 1st Coast Steel Buildings and Black Dog Consulting.

    1h 1m
  3. Slingshot Engaged

    May 28

    Slingshot Engaged

    The Cardinals have hit choppy waters for the first time in 2026. Is this a cause for major concern or just a bad week in a long season? Never fear – Noot may be here – possibly by the time you’re reading this! And, it could be worse – you could be a Cub fan. We have our first update on Ahmad Hardy and details remain scarce. Even more developments in the Brendan Sorsby situation and his future is also uncertain. SEC Coaches are speaking their minds and one is suggesting that the league may break away from the NCAA. And good news from the bayou – Ed Orgeron is back in purple and gold at LSU. St. Louis CITY goes into the World Cup break on a high note with a solid win that puts them only three points out of the playoffs. Things are looking up for the boys in red. We’ll check in on Tiger Woods, a fantastic finish at the Indy 500 and a tale of a prank on a teacher becoming al life-long curse on the two perpetrators. All this and much more on this week’s episode of The St. Louis Sportists Podcast. The St. Louis Sportists Podcast is brought to you by 1st Coast Steel Buildings and Black Dog Consulting.

    59 min
  4. Tango in the Congo

    May 21

    Tango in the Congo

    In a decidedly tarps-on effort, The Sportists analyze the Cardinals season at roughly one-third of the way through. Starting pitching has defied expectations but the bottom of the lineup is underperforming. Jordan Walker is over performing his contract – to a stunning degree. Around the league, the Cubs are faltering and Pete Crow-Armstrong has a momentary lapse of reason. Is it ever acceptable for a player to return smack talk when everyone carries a video camera? And, in a major league first, a pitcher has come back after a THIRD Tommy John surgery. Does he get to name the third procedure? In the NFL, Rashee Rice finds himself in jail for 30 days and not rehabbing from his recent knee surgery. Can the Chiefs count on him going forward? Patrick Mahomes seems to be “way ahead of schedule” in his recovery. Did the NFL schedule makers have some inside information? Ahmad Hardy is back in Columbia to continue his recovery, but nobody is quite sure exactly what that means in terms of his football future. And the Brendan Sorsby saga continues to evolve with some rather exotic betting patterns emerging. Turkish basketball and Romanian soccer, anyone? St. Louis CITY advances in the US Open Cup, Doug gives his first-hand account from the PGA Championship and cost-effective flag football may be coming to a school near you very soon. All of this and more including Mike Tyson’s Tango in the Congo on this episode of the St. Louis Sportists Podcast. The St. Louis Sportists Podcast is brought to you by 1st Coast Steel Buildings and Black Dog Consulting.

    1 hr
  5. Sketchy at Best

    May 15

    Sketchy at Best

    When do Cardinal fans have to stop saying “it’s still early” before being excited about the 2026 team? The Sportists consider this as well as the amazing start of JJ Wetherholt. Also, there’s a “catching glut” that could work to their advantage later in the season, along with the return of Lars Nootbaar – which could be less than a month away. Paul Skenes and Jacob Misiorowski are confounding MLB hitters and the Cubs are piling up wins, but not distance between themselves and Central Division competitors. We’re now living in a world of 103 mph fastballs which could explain why batting averages are so low. An unsettling week for Mizzou as a superstar running back is involved in a shooting incident and there are far more questions than answers. In more positive Mizzou news, the Tigers may be about to play the Saint Louis University Billikens on the hardwood for the first time since 2001. Things get downright strange between SEC rivals and the 24-team football playoff is gaining a disturbing amount of momentum. The NFL gives the Chiefs some major prime-time slots early in the season and is it bad when an NFL team tells a quarterback to forget everything from college and start over? All of this plus two big wins for St. Louis CITY, a surprise coaching hire at Missouri State and your weekly dose of World Cup madness in this week’s episode of The St. Louis Sportists Podcast. The St. Louis Sportists Podcast is brought to you by 1st Coast Steel Buildings and Black Dog Consulting.

    1h 4m
  6. More Music and Les Nessman

    May 7

    More Music and Les Nessman

    The Cardinals continue to roll and are starting to get some national attention. Wetherholt and Walker, specifically, are getting some callouts for their noteworthy starts to 2026. How long before other teams begin to call for players that were thought to be trade chips at the start of the season? Around the league, the injury bug hits Detroit and the Cubs are winning in an annoying fashion (if you’re a Cardinal fan). The “window” may be closing for the Astros – one of the first MLB teams to “tank” early in the last decade. The Sportists remember Ted Turner and realize they could fill an entire pod with his accomplishments and contributions. They also remember John Sterling and his unforgettable calls behind the mic. Patrick Mahomes may influence the NFL schedule by not playing. And yet another Kentucky Derby winner is skipping the Preakness. The Blues have two top-15 picks in the upcoming NHL draft … or do they? College coaches have lots of ideas about the game and Nick Saban has a controversial take – a salary cap? The Brendan Sorsby gambling saga continues to unwind with an unexpected plot twist coming in to play. The LIV tour has really good lawyers, the PGA Championship approaches and we may have reached the peak of 70s nostalgia as a fictional radio station comes to life. All of this and more in an action-packed edition of The St. Louis Sportists Podcast. The St. Louis Sportists Podcast is brought to you by 1st Coast Steel Buildings and Black Dog Consulting.

    55 min
  7. Hey Big Boy, How's Your Colt Lookin'?

    Apr 30

    Hey Big Boy, How's Your Colt Lookin'?

    Can bad football save your life? The Sportists may have an instance. Surprisingly good baseball is being played by the St. Louis Cardinals as they close out April with a flourish. The catchers are providing unexpected offense, and this may be a season to not jump to conclusions on player performance. Around the league, managers are getting axed early and ABS continues to have unintended consequences. And the balance of power may have shifted to the National League after years of American League dominance. The NFL Draft is in the books and the Chiefs seemed to address their glaring needs – perhaps by keeping certain individuals out of the draft room. A huge crowd in Pittsburgh didn’t hear Diego Pavia’s name called. Will his chance come in Baltimore or Birmingham? It’s Kentucky Derby weekend – should you drop 10 on Commandment? It’ll be a pleasant day in Louisville, but will you be wearing a fascinator? LIV may die in Louisiana as the tour is officially on life support. The Blues have major decisions in the offseason regarding key players. Which one-time cornerstone players will be back? And is one promising forward due a major extension? Sports betting takes a dark turn for a highly-sought-after college quarterback. Brendan Sorsby’s “leave of absence” could unfortunately be an extended one. And is five years of eligibility the new four with no redshirts? Momentum seems headed in that direction. All of this plus a Cardinal legend’s calls to the jockey room at the Derby (heh, heh, heh) Huey P. Long, The St. Louis Sun and a return to the mud hut on this week’s episode of The St. Louis Sportists Podcast. The St. Louis Sportists Podcast is brought to you by 1st Coast Steel Buildings and Black Dog Consulting.

    1h 7m
  8. And I Was Never Here

    Apr 23

    And I Was Never Here

    The Cardinals are still off to a strong start but there are troubling stats that need to be watched. Riley O’Brien is exciting in a good way and Ryan Stanek is driving fans to antacids. The NL Central is overperforming, and the Mets are hilariously underperforming. Is a mayoral hug to be blamed? The Royals finally have a new stadium site, but where’s the parking? Perhaps the Truman sports complex? The “other” Kansas City team (for now) – the Chiefs – draft for the future at a much higher position than usual. And the needs are plentiful. Is Diego Pavia this year’s Shedeur Sanders? The team gives some sleepers to watch and some thoughts on where to watch the three day extravaganza Loose Ends return with a look at future Super Bowl venues, PGA and LIV updates, items from around the NFL and the latest clickbait offering from Stephen A. Smith. And he’s the one who brought his grandmother into it. In the NCAA, has a can’t-miss prospect at Michigan missed? Big changes are coming to the stadium experience at Nebraska. The LSU roster is currently … empty. And Mizzou at least tries to schedule better opponents in basketball. As predicted, St. Louis CITY runs into a buzzsaw in Seattle, but Edward Lowen makes an inspiring return. All this and more World Cup shenanigans, Tom Clancy references and lots and lots of cats on this week’s edition of The St. Louis Sportists Podcast. The ST. Louis Sportists are brought to you by 1st Coast Steel Buildings and Black Dog Consulting.

    1h 4m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Occasionally smart, always irreverent. Conversations about sports in St. Louis and beyond.

Information

  • Creator
    Ron Cook, Keith Farroll, Doug Lansdown, Tom Mathis and Joe Spurlin
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    88
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Voice of Ron 2024
  • Show Website
    The St. Louis Sportists

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