Couch and The Rube

We answered your questions on MSU basketball and what we can rightfully take away from performances and comments at the Moneyball Pro-Am, on Frankie Fidler, Xavier Booker, Jaxon Kohler, Coen Carr and top statistical performers next season, on MSU football and whether to trust Jonathan Smith's recruiting and fair expectations for Aidan Chiles, on worst movies and best sports documentaries we've see...

We opened talking Michigan State basketball and substantive takeaways from Tuesday night's Moneyball Pro-Am games, including the play of Frankie Fidler and how he impacts the rest of the roster. Then a good conversation with Detroit Free Press columnist Shawn Windsor on the Pistons' big bet with Cade Cunningham, where the Lions are headed this season, the move the Tigers should make to engage fans...

We dug into our hot takes and yours – on the Michigan State football arguments that make sense for why MSU might have a better season than expected, on Tarik Skubal and whether the Tigers should keep him, sign him to a big contract now or trade him, on the Euro and Copa America soccer championships, the state of the USMNT, bad storytelling on dates and more.

In our last show before a two-week summer vacation hiatus, we answered your Twitter and YouTube questions – Michigan State football and Jonathan Smith's recruiting philosophy, on MSU basketball and a Frankie Fidler comparison, our dream Pistons offseason, weird things couples do, pet peeves, life advice and more.

We talked what's next for the Detroit Pistons with The Athletic's James Edwards on the day Monty Williams was fired (17:00) and then dug into the uneasy direction of the Detroit Tigers with Chris Castellani (37:00). 

We dug into our hot takes and yours – on why this MSU basketball roster makes for one of the more intriguing summers at the Lansing Moneyball Pro-Am, on Rory McIlroy's collapse and behavior after the U.S. Open, on criticism of media, on frustrations with the Tigers and more.

We answered your Twitter and YouTube questions on Jared Goff vs. Trevor Lawrence, on the Lions reaching their potential, on MSU football and basketball and the Moneyball Pro-Am, on the Tigers and Pistons and more.

The Athletic's Brendan Quinn joined us from the U.S. Open at Pinehurst for a conversation on the top storylines, the course and covering the event (6:30). Then Harry Gagnon joined us for our best bets at the U.S. Open, NBA and Stanley Cup finals and European soccer championships, which begin this week (25:00). Plus, leftover listener hot takes from Tuesday (43:45).

We dug into our hot takes and yours – on the oh-so different vibe around MSU football recruiting than two years ago this month, on MSU basketball's hiring of Saddi Washington, on the Tigers and frustration with the organization's lack of communication, on marrying a spouse who complements your weaknesses and more. 

We answered your Twitter questions – on Tom Izzo's decision to hire Saddi Washington to his MSU basketball coaching staff and Washington's likely impact, on MSU football and what projected Vegas lines tell us about the likelihood the Spartans get to six wins, on bad Detroit pro sports owners and more. Plus, a couple stories worth telling, including why The Rube didn't qualify for TSA pre-check.

We dug into the Detroit Tigers' decision to send Spencer Torkelson to Triple-A Toledo and the treatment of Caitlin Clark by WNBA veterans. Then a good conversation with Sports Illustrated's Pat Forde on the future of college sports for schools like Michigan State and beyond and whether fans will stay engaged (22:30). Plus, baked takes from The Rube.

We answered your Twitter questions – on Michigan State basketball, MSU football, the Tigers, The Rube's innovative thinking, Connor Stalions, where college sports are headed, and more. Plus, a couple stories worth telling.

In our return from vacation, we dug into our hot takes and yours – on MSU football's Friday night games and the frustration over them and Xavier Booker's weight gain and what that means for MSU basketball, on the Detroit Tigers who can't be counted on for anything and Bill Walton who could be counted on for good vibes. Plus, a puppet officiates a wedding in front of a stone Rube and bad dog owner...

We answered your Twitter questions – or died trying – on MSU basketball and football, the Lions' schedule and Tigers needs, the PGA championship, life's predicaments, love, bachelor parties and more.

We dug into Jared Goff's new contract with the Lions and why it had to be done, despite the massive numbers. Then Harry Gagnon joined us for PGA Championship best bets and more, before we discussed MSU football's season-win over-under. Then a great conversation with The Athletic's Cody Stavenhagen on the Tigers' season and future, Spencer Torkelson, Javy Baez, Chris Illitch and more.

We dug into our hot takes and yours – on Michigan State's possible new big man from the portal, on the Pistons' landing the 5th pick in the NBA draft, on the Tigers' spending and Spencer Torkelson and more.

We answered your Twitter questions – on Michigan State football beefs and culture, MSU basketball's ceiling, NIL frustrations, embarrassing reporter gaffes and more.

We dug into our hot takes and yours – on what Michigan State football needs from this season, whether this season's MSU basketball lineup is better than last season, NIL reforms, what the Tigers should do with Spencer Torkelson, the Pistons' future and more. 

We answered your Twitter questions – on what to expect and hope for from MSU's basketball roster if this is the group that Tom Izzo takes into the season, on MSU football expectations after a number of transfer portal departures, on the future of college sports and where it's all headed, on Brad Holmes vs. Troy Weaver vs. Tom Izzo, on Mat Ishbia's take on his Suns and more

Off the top: We got dug into the BS that is Bally's no longer being offered on Comcast and why the Detroit Tigers need to step in. Then a great conversation with The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner on the Detroit Lions, their draft and future and looming contract with Jared Goff (13:30). Plus, a conversation on Michigan State football's latest losses in the transfer portal and what to make of it all (...

We dug into our hot takes and yours – on the Lions' NFL draft and Brad Holmes "magic", Keon Coleman's fit with the Bills and his press conference, on MSU basketball and the continued angst surrounding the lack of a center pickup in the transfer portal, on the future of MSU football and hoops in the transfer portal and NIL era, a new can't-lose MLB daily bet and more.

We answered your Twitter questions – on Michigan State basketball and football and life with the transfer portal, on Tom Izzo's reasons for being concerned about rocking the boat with his roster, on the Lions' NFL draft and the Falcons drafting Michael Penix after signing Kirk Cousins, and more.

We dug into our hot takes and yours – on Omaha transfer Frankie Fidler choosing Michigan State, how he fits on MSU's roster and the likelihood now that Tom Izzo won't add a center in the transfer portal, on Michigan basketball coach Dusty May making moves, on MSU football, the Aidan Chiles' and Tommy Schuster's spring game performances, the transfers leaving since and more.

We answered your Twitter questions – on Michigan State basketball, what to make of Tom Izzo's approach so far in the portal, what he's risking with fans, on MSU football and expectations on the field and in the portal, on the Tigers' start, paying Cade Cunningham, the Lions uniforms, a columnist's cringe moment with Caitlin Clark and more.

The Athletic's James Edwards joined us for a conversation on the Pistons (11:30), the future of the roster and of Monty Williams and Troy Weaver, what moves might be made this offseason and more, including a good discussion on James' frustrations with his beloved MSU basketball program (36:30. Plus, big NIL / 3PS numbers in college basketball and what that means for MSU.