The Sports Is To Life Podcast Smiley & Courtney

It’s Super Bowl weekend and the co-hosts are back with a new episode of the Sports is to Life Podcast. This episode begins with Smiley conquering one of his greatest fears, and Courtney trying her best not to laugh at him and be encouraging. Then the hosts tackle the NBA and fans behaving badly, a topic that should not be a thing during a GLOBAL PANDEMIC. At what point do fans realize that they should just be grateful to be outside their houses and at a game? Do better ‘Courtside Karen’.
 
Smiley and Courtney tackle Super Bowl all the storylines around the big game, on and off the field. With a Chiefs win, does that mean that Tom Brady is officially passing the torch to Patrick Mahomes? Or has it already happened? They also dive into the gender and racial diversity. Sarah Thomas will be the first woman to officiate a Super Bowl. Lori Locust, Maral Javadifar, Byron Leftwich, Todd Bowles, Eric Bienemy all on the sidelines. We give our predictions at the end with Courtney's faith in her favorite team hinges on Bruce Arians' hiring decisions.
 
Finally, Courtney shares a few memories from her time with the North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee a decade ago. Smiley talks about his amateur golf tournament debut and gives a shoutout to the EST of WWE Bianca Belair after her Royal Rumble victory last Sunday.

We are back with rants and more of the intersection of sports and life  with the first show of 2021. We kick it off with updates on #momlife and catch up on all the recent happenings in the sports world.
 
Smiley & Courtney talk about the latest impacts of COVID-19 on the sports world: the NFL playoffs, the College Football Playoff, the NBA, WWE and college basketball. They also recap the College Football Playoff semifinals between Clemson / Ohio State and Alabama / Notre Dame. Specifically, a rant about Dabo Swinney and the Fighting Irish 0-7 record in New Year's Six games.
 
Finally, Smiley shares his experience volunteering at the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl for the 9th consecutive year. This is the first sporting event either host has worked during the COVID era. In other Jacksonville news, the host discuss the Jaguars "winning" the #1 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft - the Trevor Lawrence sweepstakes. This leads to another rant... about potential head coaches for the team, unfortunately including one Urban Meyer. 

We are back... just for a short while! Smiley and Courtney give some exciting updates on their lives and let y’all know what to expect from the podcast over the next couple of months.
 
Then they dive into the all the changes in the world of sports since they last chatted. From Courtney’s Lakers winning the wacky in the bubble 2019-2020 NBA Championship. Then they chat about the World Series and how the MLB handled the aftermath of the Dodgers win.
 
The rest of the show is dominated by football conversation... from college football and the current state of Florida State (spoiler - it’s not good), updates on the B10 and Pac 12 returning to the gridiron.
 
Then of course, the hosts talk the NFL, from COVID cases to the Jags and Courtney’s least favorite players on her favorite teams...
 
Thank you to all of our listeners who have continued to hang out with us during these crazy times.

We are back... life is hectic for both of the co-hosts and well, sports news has been trickling in, but sports are back and so are we!
 
In this episode, Smiley and Courtney start with the inevitable name change of the Washington Football Team. After what seems like a million years, the team is dropping the racial slur as their nickname and entering the 21st century. Of course, it wasn't an altruistic change. The sponsors hit the team where it hurt: their pockets.
 
This show is all about bubbles! The ones that work in sports: NBA,WNBA, MLS, NWSL, and those who forgot how this virus works and didn’t setup a bubble: MLB, NFL, NCAA. 
 
Oh, and pay attention to the ‘Life’ segment, because Courtney finally provides a convincing argument that Smiley is forced to agree with.
 
Plus, the Astros keep getting plunked, and Roy Jones Jr. is going to fight Mike Tyson, now in November. 

Welcome back. Smiley and Courtney are back after an extended break because, well, the sports world continued to be upended by the COVID-19 virus and frankly, there really wasn't much news. Plus, life was a bit off the rails between quarantine, home school and working full time.
 
In this episode, the co-hosts run down all the major sports plans to return. Starting with NBA and MLS heading down to Courtney's old stomping grounds at the ESPN Wide World of Sports at the Walt Disney World Resort (check out the brand language). With the number of basketball courts and soccer fields available on property - it is really the most magical place on earth. It works because Disney's goal is to keep guests on property from the time they arrive until they leave, so in this case it looks like they will achieve it. 
 
The MLB is still working through the logistics and the business of a sport... aka the money. The league and the union are still trying to negotiate the start of the season - even though the draft happened last week.
 
The WNBA is working on a shortened 22-game season at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida - less than two hours from Walt Disney World as well.
 
Finally, Smiley and Courtney discuss the uncomfortable climate of the country with the events of the last few weeks. It is a bit therapeutic for them. But, the long and short of it is #BlackLivesMatter.

Sports are trying to find a way back as the world tries to open up. In this episode, the co-hosts discuss how the state's plan to reopen affect the world of sports - starting with FLORIDA. The UFC followed the WWE’s lead and held their first fight card in Smiley’s hometown - will this become a trend?
 
As the 1998 Chicago Bulls documentary The Last Dance (ie the Michael Jordan highlight reel) continues, Smiley and Courtney review episodes 7 & 8 and start to dive Into Michael Jordan’s leadership style. What is the true price of fame and greatness? What happens when you construct an image that you aren’t able to live up to? Especially when the public expects you to be a boy scout at every turn.
 
Finally, the hosts chat about the challenges the majors leagues are having on the business side of sports - payroll, gate receipts, revenues shortfalls etc. And, they close out the show announcing a new Instagram series, starting on Monday!! (check out https://www.instagram.com/sportsistolife/)