Far End of the Bench

FEOTB Ep 281 marks the first episode under the All Gloves Off Sports Media banner, and Jimmy and Niko are coming in hot. The guys break down the USMNT World Cup fallout, the latest World Cup drama, NBA trade chaos, LeBron’s next move, Sean Payton’s ESPN feature, UFC fight week, and this week’s awards. Then it’s VS: All-Time Fantasy Football Lineups. Two loaded rosters. One debate. No easy answers....

Colorado State came to San Antonio undefeated, confident, and carrying the memory of last season’s scare in Fort Collins. UTSA sent them home with a receipt. In this audio blog, we break down the Roadrunners’ 48–3 demolition of CSU, Wayshawn Parker’s monster night, Owen McCown’s steady control of the offense, Jalen Smith stepping up through injuries, and a defensive performance that produced nine...

#14 UTSA walked into Austin with the state crown on the line and left with a 49-3 statement win over #11 Texas. In this audio blog edition of Roadrunners Rising: The Stonewall Merritt Era, Frankie “The Horn” Calderón breaks down how the Roadrunners won their first game in Austin, why Wayshawn Parker’s 258-yard, 4-touchdown explosion changed the conversation, and how Mekhi Anderson, Owen McCown, Vi...

Episode 280 of The Far End of the Bench hits the summer sports chaos from every angle. In this audio blog, we break down the USMNT making World Cup history by winning back-to-back matches for the first time since 1930 and taking control of Group D, then look ahead to the knockout-stage possibilities. From there, the focus shifts to Florida, where Giannis Antetokounmpo heading to Miami shakes up th...

The Battle for the Texas Crown is here. No. 14 UTSA heads to Austin to face No. 11 Texas in one of the biggest tests of the Stonewall Merritt era. After humiliating Baylor and burying Texas State 69-0 in San Marcos, the Roadrunners now walk into Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium with something bigger than a regular nonconference win on the line. Respect. Texas is the old kingdom. UTSA is the...

Episode 280 is the last main show before our Vegas break, so we are emptying the notebook. The USMNT is on a historic World Cup heater, winning back-to-back games for the first time since 1930 and locking up Group D before the final match. We break down the knockout bracket, possible USA paths, and whether this run can change American soccer for real. Then Florida takes over the sports world: Gian...

#14 UTSA went on the road to San Marcos and turned the I-35 Classic into a statement. In this Rise of the Roadrunners Audio Blog, Frankie “The Horn” Calderón recaps the Roadrunners’ 69-0 demolition of Texas State, from Owen McCown’s five-touchdown day to Wayshawn Parker’s continued rise, Mekhi Anderson’s special teams explosion, and a defense that held the Bobcats to 54 total yards and negative ru...

No. 14 UTSA hits the road for San Marcos, and this is not just another game on the schedule. In this Rise of the Roadrunners Audio Blog, we preview the next chapter of the I-35 Classic as the defending national champion Roadrunners take on Texas State in a rivalry that has turned into a trade of beatdowns. The Bobcats still carry the sting of last season’s humiliation, while UTSA enters after a 73...

The audio blog version of Freedom Fights, World Cup Nights & Festival Dreams is here. Episode 279 had everything: UFC Freedom turning the White House lawn into the wildest fight venue in sports, the USMNT opening the World Cup with real edge, the Knicks and Hurricanes closing out championship runs, and The Far End of the Bench reflecting on six full sports calendars. Then we close with the mos...

Episode 279 is all gas, no brakes. We open with UFC Freedom turning the White House lawn into the wildest fight venue in sports, then keep the American pride rolling with the US World Cup opener. From there, we close the book on the NBA and NHL Finals, look back at the 6th full sports calendar The Far End of the Bench has survived, and then build our dream summer music festival lineups in this wee...

The reign begins.   In this Rise of the Roadrunners Audio Blog, Frankie “The Horn” Calderón takes you inside the Season 2 opener as No. 17 UTSA sends a message to the college football world with a 73-0 demolition of No. 19 Baylor inside the Alamodome.   Baylor came to San Antonio trying to “restore order.” Instead, Wayshawn Parker announced his arrival, Owen McCown controlled the offense, Chidera...

The crown is no longer a dream. It is something UTSA has to defend.   Season 2 of Rise of the Roadrunners begins inside the Alamodome as #17 UTSA opens the year against #19 Baylor. After a perfect national championship season, Coach Clay “Stonewall” Merritt and the Roadrunners enter a new era with a new target on their backs.   Robert Henry Jr. is gone. The old heartbeat has moved on. Now Owen McC...

Welcome to the audio companion for Episode 278 of The Far End of the Bench.   These audio blogs are built to sit between the written blog and the full podcast episode — not a replacement for either, but a more cinematic way to revisit the biggest themes, sharpest lines, and stories that deserved a little more room to breathe.   In this edition, Jimmy breaks down a chaotic sports week featuring Kni...

The Far End of the Bench introduces the Audio Blog Edition, bringing select pieces from feotbpod.org to the podcast feed.   In this Rise of the Roadrunners bonus feature, Frankie “The Horn” Calderón looks at Robert Henry Jr.’s legacy, Wayshawn Parker’s arrival, and whether UTSA’s standard can survive the handoff.   Read the full piece at feotbpod.org and follow Rise of the Roadrunners on YouTube.

The Finals are on fire, and the football world is somehow even messier. Ep 278 opens with the latest from the NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Final as both series hit Game 5 pressure, then we dive into Brendan Sorsby’s NCAA gambling saga, Jonathon Cooper’s domestic violence arrest, Marvin Mims changing agencies before a contract year, and the latest fight over the Broncos’ downtown stadium plans. Plus,...

The Bench is loaded for Ep. 277. Jimmy and Niko preview the NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Final before reacting to Chris MacFarland leaving the Avalanche to take over hockey ops in Nashville. Then the guys look ahead to the upcoming World Cup and debut a brand-new summer segment: Versus. First up? Marvel vs. DC superheroes. Who has the better universe, better icons, and better bench? We close it out...

This Memorial Day edition of Ridin’ the Pine starts with respect for the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice before shifting into a full Denver sports therapy session. The Avs are down 3-0 after blowing a 3-0 lead to a superior Vegas team, the Nuggets’ playoff embarrassment still stings, the Broncos’ AFC Championship heartbreak still haunts, and the Rockies remain the background sadness...

Vegas buried the Avalanche, the Knicks took over New York, and Wemby’s next big moment is staring him down. On Ep 276, we start with summer break and one more Memorial Day reflection with Niko back on the Bench. Then we put the Avs season to bed: the sweep, the Game 3 collapse, Bednar’s future, and why this team still feels stuck despite all the talent. We also break down Carolina vs Montreal, ask...

Ridin’ the Pine is back with another members-first episode before it goes public Friday.   This week, Jimmy breaks down the Avalanche surviving Minnesota in five, Vegas ending Anaheim’s run in six, and why Avs vs. Golden Knights feels like a true Western Conference heavyweight fight. Then it’s NFL schedule talk with the biggest Bengals and Broncos games circled before finishing with a three-watch...

The revenge tour rolls on. Episode 275 of The Far End of the Bench breaks down the Avalanche finishing off the Wild, resets the Stanley Cup Playoff picture, and previews a heavyweight Western Conference Finals showdown between Colorado and Vegas. Then we hit the NBA Playoff reset button before asking the obvious question: why does the Broncos schedule feel like punishment from the league office? W...

The Avalanche hit a gut-check moment, and Ridin’ the Pine is here to break it all down.   Jimmy dives into the Avs’ latest playoff test, what the response says about this team, and why one loss does not erase the bigger picture. It is panic time for some fans, but championship teams do not survive by being perfect — they survive by adjusting, responding, and proving they can take a punch.   Plus,...

The Avs have Minnesota on the edge. This week on The Far End of the Bench, Jimmy and Niko break down Colorado taking a 3-1 series lead over the Wild, what has powered the Avalanche surge, and whether Minnesota has anything left before the series slips away.   Then we zoom out across the Stanley Cup Playoffs, jump into the NBA Playoffs, react to the Wemby ejection drama, and get ready for NFL Sched...

The Bench is rolling solo for Episode 273. Jimmy takes over the mic to break down the Colorado Avalanche’s statement start through Games 1 and 2, why this team looks dangerous again, and what Minnesota has left besides cheap shots and desperation. Then we zoom out across the Stanley Cup Playoffs and NBA Playoffs, where pressure is rising, favorites are getting tested, and every series is starting...

Niko is back on The Far End of the Bench for Episode 272, and Denver sports are sitting on the edge. The Nuggets head to Minnesota for their biggest game since winning the NBA title, needing a Game 6 win to force Game 7 back home. We break down what this moment means for the Jokic-Murray era, react to the Avalanche sweeping the Kings, and look at how that changes the NHL playoff picture moving for...

The NFL Draft is LIVE and chaos is unfolding in real time. Jimmy is joined by Brandon, CEO of Variety Sports Network, to break down every pick, surprise, steal, and draft-night mistake as it happens.   We dive into the NBA Playoffs, Stanley Cup Playoffs, early MLB storylines, and Cardinals baseball from a true St. Louis perspective. Plus, Brandon shares what’s next for VSN and how he’s building so...