Le Batard & Friends Network Lebatard & Friends

The four NBA coaches who made the Conference Finals this season all have something in common: a pullover. Because unlike Pat Riley in Armani, or even Larry Brown in overalls (yes, overalls), modern basketball authority rejects individual style in favor of sideline uniformity. So we summon New York Times critic-at-large Wesley Morris (and his two Pulitzer Prizes) to help us explain how we got here. What we’ve really lost, amid this pandemic of athleisure. And why women’s college basketball has the heroes we desperately need. Also: mutating into a muppet; Don Zimmer vs. Pedro Martinez; Hubie Brown as Philippe Petit; and the most delicious glass bowl of chocolate pudding you could ever hope to taste. 
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Today’s word of the day is ‘touched by an angel’ as in Angel Hernandez as in umpire as in see ya! The worst umpire in baseball, the worst umpire in my career is finally gone. Retired. (12:10) Ronald Acuña tore his ACL. Sad for him. Sad for the Braves. It’s his 2nd one in 3 seasons. (20:35) The Dodgers and Mets start a 3-game series today. Let’s take a look at both of these teams, expectations, moves, who needs this series more. (36:16) Review: Challengers. (39:30) We need to talk about the life of Bill Walton. (42:50) The Boston Celtics are headed to the NBA Finals. 2nd time in 3 years. The Pacers had chances and blew it. (47:44) NPPOD
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Amin kicks off the show with a quick victory lap after he correctly predicted the Boston Celtics would blow out the Indiana Pacers in game two of the Eastern Conference Finals. He then laments how yet another injury, this time to Tyrese Haliburton, has made the Celtics' path to the NBA Finals that much easier. Charlotte also doesn't buy that Jaylen Brown being snubbed for a selection on any All-NBA team was a catalyst for his 40-point performance. Charlotte and Amin also call out Rick Carlisle for comments he made after the game. 
Before closing out today's episode with Bet the Show, Charlotte and Amin discuss Charles Barkley's recent comments on Caitlin Clark.
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Who was disrupting Luka Doncic’s postgame playoff presser with sex noises? (We present our findings to Elle Duncan and Katie Nolan.) What’s it like encountering Kim Kardashian in the wild? (Elle reports.) And have you heard that thing about Ginuwine and Justin Timberlake from Britney Spears’ audiobook? (Katie has.) Also: an array of sounds that will be used against Pablo and Cortes for eternity.
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Today’s word of the day is ’owners meetings’ as in Rob Manfred as in MLB as in umpires as in jerseys as in Athletics as in Nike as in Sacramento as in robots as in Ballys. These latest owners meetings were packed with great quotes from the commissioner. (17:20) Let’s talk about Ticketmaster. The Department of Justice has sued Live Nation Entertainment. What happens now? No more crazy fees? (29:05) Review: Survivor 46. (33:10) The Boston Celtics are running away with the Eastern Conference. Big win on Thursday. Pacers are hurt. (38:46) NPPOD. (42:40) The NCAA has agreed to let schools pay players. Welcome to the new world of college athletics. What is going to be the end of this?
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The Craters share their worst airplane/airport stories, thoughts on athlete fitness post playing careers, the shame people have when they are using Ozempic and the crew discusses some of the latest headlines from the internet.
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