Spork: The Sports What If Podcast

Spork Podcast
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Sports
  • Updated Weekly

Each week hosts Andy and Drew dive into the great "What If's" of the sports world, exploring each fork in the road at the biggest moments of sports.

  1. 1d ago

    Spork Ep. 68: What if the Bears Drafted Joe Montana?

    In this episode of Spork, we tackle a listener request and travel back to the 1979 NFL Draft to rewrite Chicago Bears history. Armed with multiple early picks, the Bears built a legendary defensive foundation in reality, but what if General Manager Jim Finks had taken a completely different route and landed two transcendent offensive hall of famers in Kellen Winslow and Joe Montana? We begin by breaking down the 1979 draft board, where Chicago held the capital to bypass back-to-back defensive ends and instead snag an elite pass-catching tight end in Winslow alongside Notre Dame’s national champion quarterback in round three. From there, we explore how pairing Montana with the unstoppable Walter Payton transforms Chicago's offense into an unstoppable juggernaut, completely rewriting the 1980s NFL landscape. Finally, we follow the dominoes out west to San Francisco: with Bill Walsh left searching for his franchise passer, we map out how Dan Marino thrives in the West Coast offense, while Steve Young's path to stardom takes a drastically different turn. In this episode, we discuss: The 1979 Draft Pivot: Breaking down Chicago’s real-life draft choices and how Jim Finks could have feasibly paired defensive anchor Dan Hampton with both Kellen Winslow and Joe Montana.Sweetness Meets Joe Cool: Exploring the offensive ripple effects of placing Joe Montana and Kellen Winslow alongside peak Walter Payton, taking defensive pressure off the run and lighting up the scoreboard.Super Bowl Dynasty in the Windy City: Analyzing how many Lombardi Trophies the 1980s Bears would have hoisted with Montana under center backed by Chicago’s historically dominant mid-80s defense.Marino in the Bay & Steve Young's Limbo: Unpacking the fate of the 49ers without Montana, including Bill Walsh drafting Dan Marino in the 1983 draft and how Steve Young’s career arc gets completely derailed. As always, send any questions, thoughts, comments, or future topics to thesporkpodcast@gmail.com

  2. Sep 15

    Spork Ep. 67: What If Cleveland Lost the Browns Forever?

    In this episode of Spork, we are revisiting one of the most unprecedented legal settlements in NFL history: the agreement that guaranteed Cleveland a replacement franchise after Art Modell moved the original Browns to Baltimore. The late 90s are littered with messy franchise relocations and abandoned cities, but what if we rewrote history to remove Commissioner Paul Tagliabue's immediate guarantee for Cleveland? We start by jumping back to the late 1990s. What if the City of Cleveland had to fight for a new expansion team on the open market against heavily-favored Los Angeles and Houston, instead of having a team automatically handed back to them? With Cleveland offering a cold-weather market and no dome, we explore how the vacant Los Angeles market likely secures the 1999 expansion franchise instead. Then, we fast-forward through the 2000s to unpack a fascinating football fever dream: the complete erasure of the infamous Cleveland quarterback graveyard. We spend the bulk of the episode analyzing how diverting the 1999 expansion team to LA would have saved a generation of highly-touted quarterbacks from a rebuilding wasteland, completely altering their legacies and the trajectory of the league. In this episode, we discuss: The Tagliabue Settlement: Breaking down the 1996 agreement that saved the Browns' legacy, and what happens if Cleveland's lawsuits fail and they are left to fend for themselves as an abandoned NFL market.Cleveland vs. Los Angeles: Exploring the alternate reality where the NFL’s 1999 expansion slot becomes an open bidding war, and why a domeless Cleveland ultimately loses out to the massive, unoccupied Los Angeles market.Erasing the Graveyard: Analyzing the ripple effects of removing the expansion Browns from the draft timeline, effectively saving a generation of quarterbacks from having their early years derailed by a perpetually struggling franchise.Tim Couch Goes Hollywood: A deep dive into the 1999 NFL Draft if the first overall pick belonged to a brand-new Los Angeles franchise instead of Cleveland, and how avoiding the Browns' organizational chaos could have salvaged Couch's professional career. As always, send any questions, thoughts, comments, or future topics to thesporkpodcast@gmail.com

  3. Sep 1

    Spork Ep. 66: Alternate NFL Timelines (Pt 2): Unbusting Brian Brohm, JaMarcus Russell, and Johnny Manziel

    In this episode of Spork, we are revisiting one of the most critical elements of NFL success: the intersection of raw talent and offensive scheme. We are back with Part 2 of our "Unbusting" series, and this time, the entire focus is on what happens when highly-touted college prospects are actually paired with the right play callers. The 2000s and 2010s are littered with legendary college quarterbacks whose professional careers were derailed by bad systemic fits, but what if we rewrote history to give them the perfect offensive environments? We start by jumping back to 2007. What if Louisville phenom Brian Brohm bypassed his senior year, declared for the NFL Draft, and was selected by Lane Kiffin's Oakland Raiders? With the Raiders opting for Brohm's pro-style accuracy, the draft's biggest enigma, JaMarcus Russell, slides down the board into the lap of Jon Gruden and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Then, we fast-forward to the 2014 NFL Draft to unpack a fast-paced football fever dream: Johnny Manziel landing in Philadelphia to run Chip Kelly's high-octane offense. We spend the bulk of the episode analyzing how matching these specific quarterbacks to these exact coaching styles would have completely altered their legacies and the trajectory of the league. In this episode, we discuss: Brohm to the Black Hole: Exploring the alternate reality where Brian Brohm enters the 2007 NFL Draft and becomes the precision passer Lane Kiffin desperately needed in Oakland.Gruden's Ultimate Project: Breaking down JaMarcus Russell's fall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and whether Jon Gruden's notorious intensity could have unlocked the LSU star's generational arm talent.Manziel Meets Chip Kelly: A deep dive into Johnny "Football" Manziel slipping to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2014. We analyze the explosive potential (and inevitable off-field chaos) of Manziel operating Kelly's tempo-based system. As always, send any questions, concerns, comments, or thoughts to thesporkpodcast@gmail.com.

  4. Aug 25

    Spork Ep. 65: Alternate NFL Timelines (Pt 1): Unbusting David Carr, Vince Young, and Matt Leinart

    In this episode of Spork, we are revisiting a pivotal stretch of the 2000s NFL Drafts to salvage the careers of three heavily debated quarterbacks: David Carr, Vince Young, and Matt Leinart. The Houston Texans' early franchise decisions set a catastrophic domino effect in motion, but what if they opted to build a legendary defense instead of throwing a rookie quarterback to the wolves? We start by analyzing the 2002 NFL Draft. Instead of putting David Carr behind a historically bad expansion offensive line, the Texans select generational pass rusher Julius Peppers first overall, sending Carr to the Carolina Panthers. This shift ripples into 2006, where a Houston defense already anchored by Peppers allows the front office to pass on Mario Williams and keep hometown hero Vince Young in Texas. Finally, we unpack the ultimate butterfly effect down in Miami: Drew Brees passes his infamous medical evaluation and signs with Nick Saban's Dolphins. Left without a franchise quarterback, Sean Payton and the New Orleans Saints pivot to select USC standout Matt Leinart, completely reshaping the NFL landscape. In this episode, we discuss: The 2002 Draft Shakeup: How Julius Peppers landing with the expansion Texans completely alters the defensive landscape of the AFC South, and how David Carr fares with a fresh start in Carolina.Hometown Hero in Houston: Exploring Vince Young's alternate path as the first overall pick for the Texans in 2006, pairing his electric dual-threat playmaking with Andre Johnson.Leinart to the Big Easy: A deep dive into Matt Leinart falling into the lap of Sean Payton in New Orleans. Does Payton's offensive genius turn the USC legend into the perennial Pro Bowler he was projected to be? As always, send any questions, comments, thoughts, concerns to thesporkpodcast@gmail.com.

  5. Aug 18

    Spork Ep. 64: What if the Suns Drafted Luka in the 2018 NBA Draft?

    In this episode of Spork, we are revisiting one of the most heavily debated draft nights in modern NBA history: the 2018 NBA Draft. The Phoenix Suns held the number one overall pick and selected hometown center Deandre Ayton, passing on a generational talent in Luka Dončić. But what if the Suns front office decided to pair "Luka Magic" with Devin Booker from day one? We start by analyzing the massive ripple effects across the league, specifically looking at the alternate paths for Deandre Ayton. Does he become the foundational big man for the Sacramento Kings, or does he fall to the Dallas Mavericks to pair up with Jalen Brunson? And in Phoenix, does a Dončić and Booker backcourt taking the Western Conference by storm? We break down their explosive offensive potential, their fit together, and fast-forward to the 2021 NBA Finals to see exactly how this dynamic duo stacks up against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks. In this episode, we discuss: The 2018 Draft Shakeup: How Dončić to Phoenix alters the top five picks and shifts the trajectory for the Hawks, Kings, and Mavericks.The Ayton Alternate Paths: Exploring Ayton's potential impact in Sacramento or Dallas, and how those environments shape his development as a top-tier center.The Desert Duo: Breaking down the on-court fit between Luka and Booker, and how their dual-playmaking threat dominates the Western Conference.The 2021 NBA Finals Showdown: A deep dive into the hypothetical matchup against Giannis and the Bucks. Does Luka give Phoenix the edge to capture the championship, or does the Greek Freak still reign supreme? As always, send any questions/comments/concerns/thoughts to thesporkpodcast@gmail.com.

  6. Jul 28

    Spork Ep. 63: Lebron and the Super Rockets: What if Lebron Joined Harden and Howard in Houston in 2014?

    In this episode of the Spork podcast, we are taking a trip back to the wild summer of 2014. LeBron James has just opted out of his contract with the Miami Heat, and the entire NBA is waiting on his next move. We know he ultimately chose to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, but what if "The King" decided to take his talents to Houston instead? We kick things off by recapping the end of the "Heatles" era in Miami and the very real situations waiting for him in Cleveland and Chicago. Then, we dive deep into our ultimate Spork Scenario: LeBron James signing with the Houston Rockets to form a terrifying Big Three with James Harden and Dwight Howard. In this episode, we discuss: The Miami Exit & The Alternatives: A brief look at the end of the Heat dynasty, the state of the Cavs, and how a move to the Chicago Bulls could have looked.Building the Space City Superteam: How LeBron fits into a lineup alongside a prime Dwight Howard and an ascending James Harden.Back-to-Back Rockets Championships: Breaking down the 2015 and 2016 seasons where Houston dominates the league and captures two rings.The KD-Warriors Roadblock: How Kevin Durant joining the 73-win Golden State Warriors alters the timeline, leading to devastating playoff losses for the LeBron-led Rockets in 2017 and 2018.Destiny in Los Angeles: After a four-year run in Houston, does LeBron still leave for the Lakers? We debate his 2018 free agency and why all roads still lead to LA. As always, send any questions, comments, thoughts or ideas to us at thesporkpodcast@gmail.com.

  7. Jul 21

    Spork Ep. 62: What If The All Star Game Mattered (Again)? Flipping the World Series with the All-Star Game

    From 2003 to 2016, Major League Baseball operated under one of the most controversial rules in modern sports: "This Time It Counts." The league that won the All-Star Game was awarded home-field advantage in the World Series. MLB finally scrapped the rule in 2017, returning home-field advantage to the team with the better regular-season record. But what if they hadn’t? What if a mid-summer exhibition game in July continued to dictate the structural geometry of the Fall Classic? In this episode of Spork, we dust off the old rulebook and apply it to the last decade of baseball history. We track the alternate timelines of the 2017, 2023, 2024, and 2025 World Series to see how flipping home-field advantage alters pitching rotations, travel schedules, and championship legacies. In this episode, we break down:The 2017 Volatility: In reality, the Houston Astros held home-field advantage and won a thrilling Game 7 at Dodger Stadium. But in our alternate timeline, the American League’s All-Star victory shifts Game 7 directly to Minute Maid Park. We discuss the massive, compounding uproar of a potential Houston celebration on their own turf amidst the height of the sign-stealing era.The 2023 Dead End: A quick look at the 2023 Fall Classic between the Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks. We break down the rare mathematical anomaly where flipping the All-Star results completely aligns with reality, resulting in zero structural impact on the series.The 2024 Bronx Extension: In reality, the Dodgers dominated the Yankees with home-field advantage. But what if the American League's mid-summer victory gave the Yankees Game 1, 2, 6, and 7 in the Bronx? We analyze how a raucous New York crowd shifts the early momentum, expands the depth of the series, and ask the ultimate question: Could the Yankees have actually swung the title?The 2025 Hollywood Speedrun: We look at the most recent Fall Classic. If the National League secures the All-Star win, the Dodgers get to anchor the series at home. We debate whether home-field advantage allows the Dodgers to close the door even faster, securing a championship celebration in Los Angeles sooner than they did in reality. As always, send any questions, comments, or thoughts to thesporkpodcast@gmail.com.

  8. Jul 14

    Spork Ep. 61: Who Wins the All-Time Home Run Derby?

    What happens when you take the most electrifying Home Run Derby champions from the past three decades, strip away the limits of time, and lock them into a single, balanced tournament bracket? In this episode of Spork, we stage the ultimate cross-generational power-hitting tournament. We take eight legendary former Derby kings, seed them based on peak tournament performance, and crown the ultimate champion based on swing metrics, bat speed, and pure theatrical endurance. From textbook aesthetic perfection to 120-mph missiles, we break down the matchups, the strategies, and the structural dynamics that dictate the greatest hitting exhibition ever conceived. In this episode, we break down the tournament run:The Quarterfinal Showdowns: We look at the opening round clashes, analyzing the aesthetic ideal of Ken Griffey Jr. against Giancarlo Stanton’s flat exit velocity, Prince Fielder's lower-half torque versus Todd Frazier's rhythmic endurance, Yoenis Céspedes' line-drive trajectory against Juan Soto's calculated metagame, and a classic 2019 rematch between Pete Alonso and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.The Semifinal Clash of Styles: The bracket tightens as the absolute peak of smooth, effortless loft meets pure muscle. We break down the heavy-hitting matchups on both sides of the plate: Ken Griffey Jr. vs. Prince Fielder on the left, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. vs. Yoenis Céspedes on the right.The Final Masterclass: It all comes down to the swing that defined a generation against raw, explosive fast-twitch volume. We project the ultimate final round between Ken Griffey Jr. and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., breaking down how the Kid's legendary, sweet swing ultimately outpaces the competition to capture the all-time crown. As always, send any questions, comments, or thoughts to us at thesporkpodcast@gmail.com.

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Each week hosts Andy and Drew dive into the great "What If's" of the sports world, exploring each fork in the road at the biggest moments of sports.

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