BLEAV Sports with Fred and The Fantastics

Fred and Art welcome sports Historian Matthew DiBiase, author of the books Lords of the Gridiron II: Pro Football’s Greatest Coaches and Lords of the Gridiron: College Football’s Greatest Coaches , who shares his insight on football and college and pro coaches. Have Antonio Brown’s recent troubles stemmed from too much fame too soon? What does Matthew think of LA coaches Kelly, Riley, and McVay? A...

Fred, Art, and guest Mark Mancini are ready to dig into the annual feasts of Thanksgiving and football, with college and pro games in abundance. Could Caleb Williams nab the Heismann with his next USC victory? Ben Simmons faced an icy reception in Philly, returning to his old city for the first time as a Net. Will it be better in Brooklyn? Mick Cronin and Sean McVay are trying to out-think their o...

Fred and Art are looking forward to the big UCLA-USC game at the Rose Bowl this weekend, as Art was a former kicker for USC. Will it be a QB shootout in the passing game between Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Caleb Williams? Which team takes home the Victory Bell? In baseball, there’s a big deal on the table for Joc Pederson, and Aaron Judge is deciding where to play next year. How much will Judge's...

Fred and Art are concerned that some of the NFL teams who have been so dominant in recent seasons appear to be making rookie moves on the field, with seasoned professionals like Sean McVay and Aaron Rodgers using unconventional play strategies. Has football dramatically changed? Which NBA team has named Jacque Vaughn as their new head coach? And with the Dodgers reshuffling the team roster, will T...

Fred and Art raise questions about some of Rams’ coach Sean McVay’s decisions, such as when he sent QB Cooper Kupp in with less than a minute to go to try to save the Rams from a loss to the 49ers. Was that wise? They also wonder about the state of some suspensions in the NBA and how Commissioner Adam Silver is dealing with discipline within the organization. Will he make Kyrie Irving sit out for...

Fred and Art race against technical difficulties to discuss their predictions for the World Series, beginning with Game 1 in Houston on Friday. Will this finally be Dusty Baker’s year to win a long-awaited championship with the Astros, or do Aaron Nola and the Phillies have plans to ensure that doesn’t happen? Where is Dorian Thompson-Robinson in the field of top NCAA QBs? And are Tom Brady and th...

Fred and Art wonder how the Dodgers went from winning 111 games in the regular season to losing three games in the playoff series with the Padres. Was it down to decisions made by manager Dave Roberts, or was he acting on behalf of franchise president Andrew Friedman? Why was Bob Costas pulled from calling the Yankees vs. Astros game? And will Zach Charbonnet help the Bruins continue their winning...

Fred and Art are scratching their heads over some things that have them puzzled, from the noticeably low fan attendance at the Rose Bowl for UCLA football, the questionable calls made by Chargers’ coach Brandon Staley, and some controversial remarks made by Alabama senator Tommy Tuberville, a former college football coach. Are the Dodgers being over-managed in the postseason? And on a more positiv...

Fred and Art try to figure out what went wrong with the Rams in their loss to the 49ers on Monday Night Football, topped off with the added spectacle of Bobby Wagner making a rather unusual tackle. What caused Draymond Green to punch a teammate? Will Shohei Otani or Aaron Judge be awarded the American League MVP trophy? And who will be heading to the playoffs after the MLB Wild Card Series this we...

Fred and Art run down the transformations ahead for some long-standing sports traditions. Is the Pro Bowl an irrelevant relic? Has golf been torn in two between the PGA and the LIV, and is the LIV eyeing Fox? What does Rob Manfred have in mind for baseball that Maury Wills would have appreciated? How is Jimmy Garoppolo looking for the 49ers vs. Rams game? And will Craig Kimbrel remain the Dodgers'...

Fred and Art comment on the behavior of billionaire team owners resulting in disciplinary action and expulsion from their leagues, with Robert Sarver of the Phoenix Mercury and Suns teams the latest asked to leave. Are class-act owners like Peter O’Malley all too rare these days? What happened with Al Michaels during his broadcast last week? And will the passing of baseball great Maury Wills final...

Fred and Art shake their heads over the chancy move made by Denver Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett on Monday against Seattle. Why did he opt to go with a field goal attempt instead of relying on his QB Russell Wilson to try and win the game? Is Aaron Rodgers off to a rocky start this season? Why is the NBA suspending Phoenix Suns and Mercury owner Robert Sarver? And will Yankee Aaron Judge be this...

Fred is joined this week by his cousin, Aliza Sodos, to discuss the women’s sports movement and shares a unique perspective as a parent of four daughters, some of whom are athletes. Will retiring basketball star Sue Bird remain in the world of sports and be an advocate? Who is the GOAT in women’s tennis, Serena Williams or Margaret Court? And how will the Seattle Seahawks fare now that Russell Wil...

Fred and Art are ready for an exciting weekend of football, just in time for Art’s birthday. From HBO’s Hard Knocks, featuring a behind-the-scenes look at the Detroit Lions training camp, to the possibilities ahead for the UCLA Bruins, to all the college football, it's a good time to grab your favorite tailgate grub and settle in for some thrilling gridiron action. And how about Notre Dame startin...

Fred and Art debate on what constitutes a record in baseball. The game has changed so much from the early days, with powerhouses like Honus Wagner whose stats may not have been fully recorded. Would today’s milestones measure up to those of yesteryear? College football is starting, Alabama coach Nick Saban has a big payday, and Arte Moreno is selling the LA Angels. Will Steve Ballmer snap them up...

Fred and Art weigh in on Deshaun Watson’s suspension and subsequent fines. Does the NFL have separate rules for superstar players when disciplinary action is needed? With the Dodgers doing well at the moment, why is Cody Bellinger on the bench? Will Mike Trout of the Angels be off the IL and back on the field this week? Did Larry Scott change the Pac-12 forever? And how much are the Lakers paying...

Fred and Art discuss the request by Keith Hernandez to be excused from providing commentary for any Phillies games, citing his disapproval of their defense. Can commentators do that? Should Deshaun Watson be able to play in the Cleveland Browns’ next game in Florida while his suspension is still pending? Will Colin Kaepernick be the Browns’ secret weapon if Watson is out for the season? And what i...

Fred and Art mourn the loss of Vin Scully and Bill Russell and share personal stories of their interactions with these two heroes of the sports world. The NFL is enjoying a time of great prosperity but is also dealing with lawsuits and multiple cases of misconduct within the ranks, such as those involving Deshaun Watson and Steven Ross, to name a few. Is money the root cause of all of their troubl...

Fred and Art wonder about the thinking processes behind some of the choices under consideration in the sports world. Should the US exchange a Russian gun runner for Brittney Griner? Will Andrew Benintendi get vaccinated so he can join the Yankees on the road? Is Kevin Durant packing his bags? And what new venture is in store for Brent Musburger?

Fred and Art think Steph Curry scored a slam dunk at the ESPYS as host of the annual sports award show. Will this role springboard him into other parts of the entertainment arena? Money matters are on the minds of Charles Barkley and James Harden, but how has the lure of a better deal put UCLA at odds with Governor Gavin Newsom? And what can MLB do to bring viewers back to the All-Star Game?

Fred and Art ponder WNBA star Brittany Griner’s predicament in Russia. How is it possible that she was not informed of their laws regarding drug possession before traveling? Damien Lillard has signed a huge contract extension, the Lakers are still in Kyrie Irving limbo, and Dave Roberts is playing musical chairs with the Dodger lineup. And what will All-Star game attendees' reactions be to the hig...

Fred and Art mourn the passing of legendary actor James Caan and remember his heartbreaking portrayal of Brian Piccolo in Brian’s Song, the true story of the Chicago Bear and cancer victim’s friendship with fellow teammate Gayle Sayers. How will the NFL view the recent moves made by Mark Davis and Dan Snyder after they and their teams face allegations? And what does the future hold for Baker Mayfi...

Fred and Art are concerned about the future of the Pac-12 now that UCLA and USC are heading to the Big 10. What will happen to the traditional matchups and rivalry games that fans have looked forward to for decades? What did Larry Scott have to do with it? Will free agency bring Kevin Durant westward, what new rules does Rob Manfred have in store, and how does Trevor Bauer affect the overall image...

Fred and Art laud the athletes that have benefitted from 50 years of the landmark civil rights given by Title IX. How have sports changed in the last half-century? The world mourns the loss of football great Hugh McElhenny, Kyrie Irving is eying a move, Jeanie Buss is considering the best interests of the Lakers, and are fans growing increasingly unimpressed by the NBA draft?

Fred and Art weigh in on the continuing backlash over golf's new LIV League, with Phil Mickelson seeming to be the target for most of the barbs. Where does PGA Commissioner Jay Monahan stand? Can the Golden State Warriors clinch the NBA finals in Game 6, or will it go to Game 7? How many pitches did Tyler Anderson throw, and does Austin Ekeler really want fewer snaps?