Three-Point Range

This week the professor discusses the many issues with holding soccer's World Cup in Qatar; the scout believes his beloved New York Jets will use Sunday's crushing loss as fuel; and Mike wonders about the real missed opportunity for disgraced public figures with a national platform.  

Tim wonders why NFL players can't just refrain from excessive on-field celebration; Kimball fails to see the value in midgame TV interviews with those trying to compete;  and Mike questions the wisdom of sports-voting transparency in the social media age.  

Tim has concerns about the coming expansion of the College Football Playoff, Kimball breaks out the worst Bill Belichick imitation you've ever heard and Mike wishes the '72 Dolphins would finally get the respect they deserve. 

In honor of the San Diego Padres and their first NLCS appearance in nearly a quarter century, we're talking baseball and fatherhood. Professor Crothers recounts a memorable Petco Park experience with his son Atticus from 2012, while Mike Berardino goes back even further to 2008 and a breakthrough game of catch with his son Daniel in the parking lot of the Padres' spring home in Peoria, Ariz. As a...

Amid All-Rise Mania, Professor Crothers ponders whether Aaron Judge just had the greatest offensive season in major league history; Kimball chides those who act like they care more about Tua Tagovailoa's safety than our NFL entertainment fix; and Mike pulls back the curtain on life as a first-time AP Top 25 voter and the conspiracy theories of rabid college football fans.  

Noted author John Walters joins us to discuss Geno Smith (Tim's point), Manti Te'o (Mike's point) and the pickleball craze (Kimball). 

Back for more and stunningly so, Professor Crothers ponders modern tennis' greatest #Kyrgiosity, Kimball obsesses (yet again) about the charmed life of Tom Brady and Mike wonders if the universally despised Brian Kelly will ever get the benefit of the doubt. 

In this episode Tim shares memories of a family trip to the home of the Little League World Series, Kimball wonders at what point do we lose our right to moral outrage and Mike considers the sweeping ramifications of Paige Bueckers' latest major injury. 

After a brief hiatus, the Thoughtful Trio is back to consider the uniqueness of St. Andrews, the pressure of Wimbledon and the madness of the megaconference. 

With LIV golf starting up this week, Tim ponders the short list of athletes who have harmed their careers as completely and as rapidly as Phil Mickelson has since winning the 2021 PGA Championship; Mike wonders if Tiger Woods will actually end up regretting his decision to pass up all that Saudi cash; and Kimball searches high and low for the real victims of the NIL tidal wave that is sweeping awa...

After a brief hiatus, your favorite sports thinkers return to address the issues of our time. Professor Crothers is now hunky dory with the all-time DH in MLB. Scout Crossley is ready to legislate out the beloved corner 3-point shot from the NBA game, and Journalist Berardino is still processing the fallout from this week's ugly Twitter feud between Lil Wayne and Mark Cuban. 

In the wake of the latest Angel Hernandez debacle, Tim wonders why Major League Baseball doesn't just go to robot umpires now; Kimball is rooting for Jerry West in his potential litigation against HBO's "Winning Time," and Mike considers Jay Wright's early retirement in the context of the legend exodus that has taken place in college basketball over the past 13 months. 

This week Tim proclaims he's through watching Major League Baseball, Kimball explains his unusual acceptance of a runner-up finish for North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament and DraftKings Mike breaks down the worthwhile long shots this year in Augusta. 

With North Carolina and Duke set to meet in the Final Four for the first time in the rivalry's 102-year history, we examine that mega-meeting from all angles. Tim reports from Chapel Hill that the celebration of Final Four trip No. 21 was strangely muted; Kimball suggests whichever blue-blood program (including Kansas and Villanova) emerges as this year's champion will have a valid claim as Team o...

As we examine our (mostly) busted brackets and maybe our consciences as well, we take a longer look at the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament. Tim senses more parity than ever before. Kimball suddenly identifies with Billy Beane and others who can't bear to watch. Mike, meanwhile, has a few simple solutions to spring us from Replay Hell in the final two minutes of seemingly every college hoops g...

With the NCAA Tournament upon us, Tim wonders why the pundits are doubting Duke; Mike goes deep on KenPom.com nuggets; and Kimball shares the reasoning behind (one of) his brackets.   

What else is there to discuss in the aftermath of perhaps the greatest regular-season victory in Tar Heel basketball history? Kimball, it seems, is  back on board with the program he's loved for the past 40 years. And Mike makes an attempt to assign blame in this show about something. 

Fresh off a basketball state championship, Coach/Scout Crossley wonders if we move on too quickly in the sports world. Back full-time in sports media, South Bend Tribune football writer Mike Berardino wonders how Michigan basketball coach Juwan Howard avoided the sack after another dust-up with an opposing Big Ten coach; and Professor Crothers takes us home with a recap of a New Zealander's soccer...

Lots of Winter Olympics talk this week as Professor Crothers examines the social-media backlash against NBC and Scout Crossley explains why he'd rather save his memory capacity for sports that matter all the time. Mike wraps things up with some well-deserved criticism for Hubert's (Anti) Heroes in the UNC student section. 

On a watershed day in NFL history, our fearless trio breaks down the ramifications of Brian Flores' class-action lawsuit as well as Tom Brady's slow-motion retirement and Rafael Nadal's record-setting grand slam title. 

This week, in the wake of the Chiefs-Bills classic, Professor Crothers again pounds the table with his solution for playoff overtime injustice; Kimball takes us behind the scenes of his wildly popular serial, Diary of a Freshman Coach; and Mike reveals his verdict on Big Papi (and others) in advance of baseball's annual Hall of Fame voting announcement. Yes, Boston, Mike still has a vote. 

This week Professor Crothers laments the widespread concept of assumed victory in sports fandom (and beyond); Scout Crossley reveals his flagging interest in watching his beloved Tar Heels play basketball; and Gig Economist Berardino wonders why sports officials, referees, umpires, et al are still allowed to hide behind the pool-reporter concept in the wake of controversial calls.  

This week Tim explores the hubbub over the Chargers-Raiders timeout controversy; Kimball shares his observations from the College Football Playoff title game; and Mike reminds listeners why Georgia's first championship in 41 years wasn't exactly the feel-good story it was portrayed to be. 

In our New Year's Day edition, Tim breaks down the complete unpredictability of college bowl season; Kimball wonders why NFL coaches have to be so serious in their press conferences; and Mike calls for the end of the one-foot rule in pass-happy college football. 

Back for a Christmas edition, Tim details his recent trips to Cameron Indoor Stadium and Madison Square Garden from a fan's perspective; Kimball breaks down the growing battle over analytics in the NFL; and Mike muses about Ms. Fitz and teacher superpowers.