BLEAV Sports with Fred and The Fantastics

Fred, Art, and Laura contemplate the Dodgers’ distressing losing streak and hope the offensive struggles of stars like Mookie Betts and Shohei Ohtani are short-lived. Can Ohtani’s dominance on the other side of the plate pick up some of the slack? How long can a team with this much talent afford to wait for their stars to break out of their slumps? Does manager Dave Roberts’ bullpen management and...

Fred, Art, and Laura speculate on the Atlanta Braves' dimming playoff hopes as injuries pile up, with pitchers sidelined and Michael Harris II struggling offensively. Can they overcome this adversity without organizational depth? Legal troubles continue to plague athletes, including Bills draft pick Maxwell Hairston and BYU's Jake Retzlaff, who face various allegations apiece. How should the justi...

Fred, Art, Mark, and Laura consider Giannis Antetokounmpo's potential move to the Lakers and how it would affect the storied franchise amid all the changes on tap. Can three superstars truly coexist on one team? Despite Wander Franco's legal troubles, Tampa Bay sits just half a game behind the Yankees. Could the Rays win the pennant without their suspended $100 million shortstop? Eagles running ba...

Fred, Art, Mark, and Laura are shocked at the sale of the Los Angeles Lakers by Jeanie Buss and her family to Mark Walter of Guggenheim Partners for a record $10 billion, ending decades of ownership. Will Dodger-owner Walter's corporate approach maintain the Lakers' championship culture that flourished under the Buss family? Pirates ace Paul Skenes emerges as a Cy Young candidate despite his team'...

Fred, Art, and Laura explore the possibility that underdogs are going to end up being top dogs as several championship titles are at stake. Will J.J. Spaun, a diabetic golfer from East L.A. who has already overcome many obstacles to rise from 800th in the world, surprise everyone on the U.S. Open’s brutal Oakmont course, or will it be Norway’s Viktor Hovland? Can Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s stellar...

Fred, Art, Mark, and Laura are amazed to learn that former MLB outfielder Eric Anthony is the son of Dodgers legend Willie Davis, who himself found out only after Davis had passed away. How will this change their legacies? Andrew Luck, amongst other NFL players, is retiring before age 30 due to CTE worries, as more retired players are dealing with long-term health issues. What does this early reti...

Fred, Art, Laura, and Matthew DiBiase question the wisdom of the Dodgers’ acquisition of Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow, given their injury histories, now that they’re sidelined and there’s only one ace left in the rotation. Will trade options be on the horizon? Can the Oklahoma City Thunder, led by coach Mark Daigneault, keep up their momentum as they face a lengthy layoff before the Finals in Jun...

Fred, Art, Mark, Laura, and sports historian Matthew DiBiase wonder how college athletics could have become such a tangled web in the last several years. Has the NCAA lost control of amateur sports? Could Mark Emmert have foreseen the potential upheaval from changing the rules? Will Rick Carlisle’s Indiana Pacers emerge as the dark horses in the NBA playoffs after delivering a heartbreaking defeat...

Fred, Art, Mark, and Laura are surprised that Nick Saban and President Trump have entered debates about NIL and transfer portal reforms in college football. Could the sport eventually split into separate tiers with elite programs creating their own division? MLB financial strategies face scrutiny as the Dodgers' billion-dollar payroll with deferred payments from stars like Shohei Ohtani raises eye...

Fred, Art, and Laura marvel at the marked uptick in ratings for the NBA playoffs over previous years. Which former player is New York Knicks’ Jalen Brunson being compared to with his clutch performance? Will this postseason reenergize the fanbase? Can the change of ownership, a brand-spanking-new stadium, and quarterback Jayden Daniels increase the momentum of the Washington Commanders? Will surpr...

Fred and Art handicap the 151st Kentucky Derby, which runs Saturday with Journalism favored from the eighth post. Could $2,500 purchase Chunk of Gold shock the racing world from the 19th position? Aaron Judge dominates MLB statistical categories as the Yankees continue their offensive barrage. Is the power surge across baseball due to Commissioner Manfred quietly allowing a livelier ball this seas...

The team is back together as Fred, Art, Mark, and Laura look for a potential Lakers-Clippers Western Conference Finals with J.J.Redick’s Lakers bolstered by major contributions from Austin Reaves and a seemingly rejuvenated LeBron James, while Kawhi Leonard's health raises the Clippers' hopes across town. In the East, Indiana has emerged as a surprising challenge to Boston's dominant path. And as...

Fred is back and more fantastic than ever! He and Laura contemplate Cooper Flagg’s crucial decision between returning to Duke for another championship run or entering the NBA draft as a projected top pick. Could his choice to forgo millions signal a new trend in college basketball? Aaron Rodgers remains unsigned as NFL teams hesitate to commit. Will any franchise gamble on the aging quarterback de...

Fred, Art, Mark, and Laura predict an uncertain future for horse racing amid diminishing purses and animal welfare concerns at racetracks like the iconic Santa Anita. What ethical reforms need to be adopted as it struggles to persevere? Could NHL commissioner Gary Bettman’s new international competition format help hockey challenge basketball's popularity? Will Alex Bregman or Rafael Devers play t...

Fred, Art, Mark, and Laura are skeptical of the claims of operating losses from multiple baseball teams amid soaring franchise values. Can the MLB’s economic model sustain escalating player salaries like Alex Bregman's $120 million Red Sox deal? The Dodgers and Braves project for 109 and 105 wins respectively - but will pitching health determine their fate? What ownership turmoil threatens the Pad...

Fred, Art, and Laura chronicle gambling misconduct in the MLB with the passing of former commissioner Fay Vincent and as fresh concerns arise at the suspension of umpire Pat Hoberg, who is sidelined until 2026 for shared credit card activity with a baseball gambler. Is stricter monitoring on the horizon? Has Chip Kelly found his niche with the Raiders? Will the Super Bowl officiating crew be under...

Fred, Art, Laura, and Fred’s cousin Andy Baran break down what defines professional sports as the NIL offers more opportunities for college athletes and staff, with big paydays for elite players and the hiring of Mike Lombardi as the GM for UNC. Will the NCAA eventually become a pro organization? Can Anthony Davis be considered a Hall of Famer with so many missed games? How close is Alex Ovechkin...

Fred, Art, Mark, and Laura marvel at Ichiro Suzuki's near-unanimous Hall of Fame selection, with one mysterious voter preventing a perfect ballot. What caused the lone dissenter to keep Ichiro from the unanimous club? Will Aaron Rodgers be shown the door as new coach Aaron Glenn joins the Jets? Can Pete Carroll reenergize the Raiders? Is the Miami Heat facing retention challenges as $49-million-do...

Fred, Art, Mark, and Laura compare past and present college basketball culture as they reflect on both the upcoming 50th anniversary of John Wooden's UCLA retirement and the passing of USC/NBA legend Gus Williams. What would Coach Wooden think of the expanded tournament format? As NFL playoff fever grips the nation with heavyweight matchups, which MVP candidate will be victorious in Buffalo’s lake...

Fred, Art, Mark, and Laura are heartbroken as wildfires ravage Los Angeles. The proximity of the fires has necessitated relocating the Rams-Vikings game to Arizona. Can the Rams, worried for their homes, beat the four-point-favored Vikings? Will the Pittsburgh Steelers maintain their historical edge over the Baltimore Ravens and overcome their late-season slump? Is it ethical for Tampa Bay to help...

Fred, Art, Mark, and Laura are curious as to why the Eagles are resting Saquon Barkley at 101 yards shy of Eric Dickerson’s rushing record. Are they prioritizing Super Bowl aspirations over individual glory? Could Sean McVay’s surging LA Rams be the team no one wants to face in the playoffs? Did Arizona State's controversial loss to Texas under innovative coach Kenny Dillingham intensify the debat...

Fred and Art consider the most suitable landing spots for De’Aaron Fox as the possibility of his being traded from the Sacramento Kings looks more probable. Does LA make the list as a logical fit? Will the Rose Bowl be an old-school matchup as Ohio State and Oregon face off on New Year’s Day? Is playing time in the future for Chiefs’ QB Carson Wentz? Has Eric Bieniemy found a new job? And will mor...

Fred, Art, Mark and Laura Snoke Fred, Art, Mark, and Laura Snoke are excited to see the debut of Atlanta Falcons’ Michael Penix, Jr., taking over for the injured Kirk Cousins in the upcoming game against the foundering New York Giants. Has the Giants’ losing record this season secured them a first-round draft pick? Will the Raiders snap up Team Sanders? Is Saquon Barkley a late-season entry in a c...

Fred, Art, Mark and Laura Snoke can’t wrap their heads around the high salaries of college athletic personnel after the raise UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond received after a so-so sports year. Why are non-athletic department educators expected to survive on substantially less? With the passing of baseball elder statesman Rocky Colavito, the long-awaited HoF induction of Dave Parker, and mul...

Fred, Art, Laura Snoke, and Fred’s cousin Andy Baran wonder where the football coaching roundabout will stop as football coaches in the NFL and NCAA are either out of a job or seeking new employment. Who will DeShaun Foster bring on board as offensive coordinator now that he’s parted ways with Eric Bieniemy? Which coach will give Miller Moss the opportunities he’s looking for after waiting in the...