December 30, 2025 • 44 mins
In the show's final hour, Kyle recaps the year that was in 2025, including what people think was the biggest sports story from the year, and we get more updates from the Panthers and Hornets.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Kyle Bailey Show, powered by Victory Chevy Charlotte,
where every month is Truck Month.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Victory Chevy Charlotte, your Silverado Destination.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Power number three Sports Radio ninety two seven w f
n Z. It's the final show of twenty twenty five
and we appreciate you being with us. Emanating live from
the Chandler Vaulta Studios, the Carolinas Personal injury Lawyers. One call,
that's all go to Cvinjurylaw dot Com. That's Cvinjurylaw dot Com.
Still a bunch to get to. But right now we
talk some ball, We talk some Panthers with a former
(00:48):
Panther and pregame, halftime, postgame. He does it all Queen
Cityewspanthers dot Com and he's my press box buddy. I
get to sit next to Al Wallace for every Panthers
home game in the press box. It's one of the
great joys of my Sunday. And Al Wallace is back
with us here on a Tuesday afternoon. Al, what's going on, brother?
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Happy New Year, Happy New Year. Man, appreciate you having
me on again. Yeah. Doing good down in Florida. Wintertime here,
so a chilly sixty five.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
All right then, so all right, so wait, you're in Florida.
I'm guessing though, you're probably not going to head over
to Tampa for the game on Sunday or Saturday, or
are you no?
Speaker 1 (01:27):
I'm going to be back in Charlotte on Saturday. I'll
be in studio for a Black and Blue kickoff live,
so doing the show live from the studio, Queen City
News and the crew here. We will have a crew
on site at the game.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
All right, Well, let's just start with what happened Sunday.
There's a lot we got to talk about, including last
night and all these other things. But there was an
opportunity again on Sunday to close this thing out with
the Miami Dolphins doing what Carolina needed them to do,
and that was beat Tampa. But Carolina couldn't get the
job done. Back to back turnovers in the third quarter
really seemed to swing thing. We had the JC Horn
(02:01):
third down disaster, we had Dave Canalis kneeling on the
football with two minutes left to go. There's a lot
to talk about, but what was how frustrating was that
for you? I saw your reaction live. But you know
now that we're out of the press box, like, are
you still really frustrated by the way they played or
what's you're feeling about that game.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
It's frustrated because this team doesn't seem to be capable
of capitalizing on a few opportunities they've had now to
win the division. And when you see this game in
your building in front of the fans, the last and
maybe the last game if things don't work out here
to go out and do that. Man, just so many
great former players, past players, great legends that I was
(02:43):
with there to watch this team take on the Seattle Seahawks,
another top tier team in the NFC, and they gave
you opportunity after opportunity to get it done. You knew
Sam Donald was going to make mistakes. He starts seeing
those proverbial ghosts that he's known for, and you just
get it done. You lay an egg. And it is
incredibly disappointing because they had been on this roller coaster
(03:05):
ride and they didn't stop it from rolling. They went
back downhill. This week?
Speaker 3 (03:10):
Did you the what are we calling it the L formation?
The non victory formation there at the end? Al had
some people really pissed off about that. On the text
line yesterday, I didn't like it either, but I understood it.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
How did you feel about it?
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Yeah, I think from an optic standpoint that that type
of surrender is what it is. Is how I saw it.
When you take a knee and a loss, you did
victory formation for a reason, is because that's how you
want to run out the remainder of the clock. But
this team conceded, and you never want to be in
that position on your field in front of your fans
(03:44):
after a holiday, just hey throwing in you're waving the
white flag. So optically it wasn't the best, but I
understand it, especially when you saw Dave Canalis go to
the podium. Colin kind of explained the situation. You want
to just not You want to avoid any mishaps where
a guy tweak something or gets hurt on the final
play of the game, and it happens more often than
(04:05):
we pay attention to, so I understand it. I would
have tried to find some other way, even if you
put a few backup guys in there to run a
final play, but not surrender, not take a knee on
your field.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
Yeah, I didn't like it. Somebody did point out yesterday, Hey,
these backups have been standing there cold on the sideline
for three and a half quarter. As you put somebody
in cold, they might get hurt too. So a lot
of things that could have happened. It just thinks that
that could be could be the last thing that fansye
inside that building, depending upon how things go this upcoming weekend. Al,
I mean, the offense was just stale, stagnant. A lot
(04:37):
of things went wrong. Wasn't much time to throw, and
receivers didn't get a lot of separation. Bryce made some mistakes.
They couldn't get the running game going. I mean, here,
We've done this so many times. You and I have
had this conversation. What went wrong? Why didn't they look
like they did the week prior? But like, I don't know, Al,
Why how do you go from what we saw the
week prior to fifty four yards of passing offense?
Speaker 1 (04:59):
Yeah? I think the It's been a common theme when
this team isn't able to play with balance on offense,
when they're not able to throw the ball and run
the ball, sometimes you forget about the passing game when
Cuba's running well, when Rico's dominating earlier in the season,
in the running game, that offensive line is moving bodies,
they're opening up holes. You forget that the passing game
(05:20):
works too, and it's largely the play action pass and
things off of that run fag. But when it's out
of balance, right, you're not able to run the ball,
and now you're asking Bryce Young to sit in the
pocket and throw the ball down the field. This team
shows some weaknesses. They show some flaws in an offensive
line that's been patchwork together. Guys have really stepped up
(05:41):
and done a really good job. You have to take
your hat off to those groups, that group who lost
Robert Hunt. You know, guys have been in and out
over several weeks. Pass protection is still maybe a thing
they're trying to have come together. And Bryce when he's brushed,
his panic, he's hurried, he's throwing on the run. He
makes a bad decisions. And in those games we've seen
(06:01):
this offense really get stagnant, it's been because they haven't
been able to run the ball. They haven't committed to
it the way that you would like to see from
Dave Canalis. And I think that play sheet gets really
tight for him, it gets really small and he plays
really conservative, all calls the game really conservatively.
Speaker 3 (06:19):
Well and I think too, to add to that point,
you've also got a quarterback who he's been in the
NFL for three years now, but he also spent a
lot of time with Nick Saban, and turnovers were a
sin under Nick Saban. Like Bryce did not really put
the ball at risk. Nick Saban did not want that,
and I think that's stuck with Bryce too, and so
it all compounds, and you know, it made for a
very frustrating day. What did you make of I thought
(06:40):
it was interesting in the postgame press conference when Dave
outright admitted that Seattle playing as much man coverage as
they did really caught them off guard. Didn't feel like
they started to adjust to that al until they were
down seventeen to three late in the third quarter.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
There.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
I've said this multiple times this week, but Seattle led
the league in zone usage comeing in. But they saw
something and they flipped a man and it really bothered Carolina.
What did you think of Dave admitting that.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
Yeah, I think that was not the best. Because you
have a team in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that's certainly
going to get this film. They're going to look at
this postgame presser, They're gonna figure out if that's something
in this copycat league that can frustrate your quarterback. Right,
it's not clean reads, it's not open windows to throw
its body on body. And if you can get Jamel
(07:27):
Dean and some of those corners that secondary for the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers along with their rush, it's gonna create problems. Right.
It forces Bryce to go to a second read, maybe
a third read sometimes and you can see the frustration
in his body language when he has to check down.
And that's what we saw Sunday over and over again,
Bryce going to his through his progression. No one's open
(07:51):
dumping down to a tight end to a running back
flaring out of the backfield, and immediately the body language
the frustration because he knows, like you said, gay going
to throw it at Hong's way. He's not going to
force it in a window. And some of that gun
slinger that we see in guys like Baker Mayfield and
other quarterbacks that tend to maybe throw it away, you know,
(08:12):
turn it over a lot. You're not going to get
those big plays because Bryce is not gonna risk it.
He's just gonna check it down and live to see
the next play. That hurts this team when he has
to perform that way.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
It feels like again lack of deep threat. You know,
played a factor again on Sunday. For a lot of reasons,
I'm sure, But the one question that I'm getting a
lot this week from people is, you know, why not
use Jimmy Horn in a slightly expanded capacity in that way?
I mean, you drafted him because he was a speed guy,
And all we've really seen for the most part is
Gadget plays jet sweeps. I mean, he's had a couple of,
(08:42):
you know, fifteen twenty yard catches in some pivotal moments,
but there really hasn't been any attempt to get him
vertical down the field.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Why do you think that is?
Speaker 1 (08:50):
Yeah, because I think it's exactly people are saying the
right thing. Is exactly why they drafted him. They drafted
him as a speed guy. That is a translation for Gadget.
They're not drafting a wide receiver with speed necessarily. So
a guy that has a skill set the route tree
can dominate win one on ones, can run after the
(09:11):
catch because of his strength of physicality, and then he
has the great speed that that's the order of things.
But if your order of things is speed, then develop
those things. Jimmy Horn is doing exactly what the Carolina
Panthers drafted him for. He's gonna be a gadget. He's
the eye candy. He's the guy that's going to freeze coverages,
that's gonna take linebackers out of the box. And that's
(09:34):
why you see him on the orbit motions, the jet motions.
They're trying to disrupt the eyes and the reeds and
the responsibilities of the defensive backs and linebackers. And right
now he's been relegated to that. So you know, I
think he's still cooking. I think he's still loading. He
certainly makes plays when they ask him to, when he
has the opportunity. I just don't know that he can
(09:54):
have a bigger role. You're gonna use him the way
you would a speed wide receiver like Jackson Smith and
Jig Why you saw on the other side of the
field a guy that can just maybe blow you away.
But as I think, more well rounded and developed receiver
coming out of college.
Speaker 3 (10:09):
We got Al Wallace hanging out here with us on
the hotline. Panthers and Bucks coming up on Saturday Week eighteen,
A de facto playoff game four point thirty ESPN, Chris Fowler,
Dan Orlovsky, Lewis Riddeck going to be on the call
for this one.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
I don't know, Al.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
I mean your mindset going into this game on Saturday,
is what I mean. And I'll just say one more
thing here. I mean, you know, Carolina's coming off a
frustrating loss to a very good team. But Tampa is
spiraling right now.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
Al.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
They've lost seven of eight and Baker Mayfield was limited
in practice today. Apparently both of his shoulders are now injured.
Andy's got a knee problem like that, and Tristan Wurst
didn't practice today either. I mean, anything could happen in
the NFL. But like, if you're Carolina, I mean you
got to be a little bit confident going into this thing,
right Yeah.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
I like Carolina in this spot. I absolutely feel good
about this matchup. And one thing I've learned and we've
all learned throughout this year that Bryce young this team,
They've canalist the running attack, the defense. They really lean
into the fact and that feeling of wanting to get
that loss out of the pit of their stomach. I
(11:14):
think they bounce back the way they've done all season
and they go to Tampa being very familiar with this
football team, all the adversity and the injuries that the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers are going through, Blanked, completely blanked in
the month of December and only one win against the Saints,
I believe in November and trying to figure it out.
It's a desperate team. And that's a good spot to
(11:36):
catch a team because guys are going to try to
be extra, They're going to try to do things that
are outside the scheme of things, and I think you
catch them in the perfect spot of pressing. And the
perfect guy for the job is Bryce Young. He's going
to go into a calm, He's going to forget about
fifty four yards and everything that he did last week,
and I think he has a big day. I think
the Panthers have a big day. They have two opportunities
(11:58):
to get into the playoffs. I don't want to lean
on Atlanta. Didn't think they would have the game they
had against the Rams, but I think the Panthers get
it done. I think they take care of business on
the rude.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
But since you mentioned it, what did you think of that?
Last night?
Speaker 3 (12:11):
I was at the Hornets game you know, watching it
with no sound on. But I was just Slackjohn. I
couldn't believe. I thought I didn't bank on the Rams
just not showing up, and the Falcons did try to
give it away. But like last night, was monumental. Now
the Panthers are looking at like a seventy eight percent
chance to make the playoffs this weekend because of that.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
Yeah, I think that Atlanta Falcons are the most confusing
team in the NFL going into this season. I think
that roster was one of the more talented, certainly with
Jon Robinson at the running back spot, if not for
Christian McCaffrey told me who's most dangerous weapon in the NFL?
That kid is absolutely incredible in what he can do
(12:49):
on the ground in the passing game. So I think
the roster is talented and they just have underwhelmed in
so many areas. Now top rated offense with the Rams,
but go just look at statistically where the Atlanta Falcons
are ranked. They're one of the top passing defenses with pressures, interceptions,
turning the ball over and I think it was a
(13:09):
perfect matchup for them. And just like we saw here
with Matthew Stafford, he will turn the ball over. He
has turned the ball all over. That's kind of plagued
him since he's been a Los Angeles a ram So.
I thought it all came together for the Falcons, man.
I was hopeful last night that they would be able
to get it done. And again Panther's two opportunities. But
you cannot wait for a team, or you don't want
(13:32):
to risk having to depending on the Falcons after you
put play on Saturday that they'll get it done the
next day.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
Yeah, that sounds miserable.
Speaker 3 (13:39):
All right, two quick things, I'll get you out of here.
Jac Horn made the Pro Bowl, but Derek Brown did not.
What'd you think of that?
Speaker 1 (13:47):
Yeah? You know what, I think it's I think it's
a snub personally because I like Quinn Williams. I look
at some of the guys who made it, Leonard Williams,
who we saw just this past week, and you know,
those are two really good guys. They're not more dominant,
They're not better than Derek Brown. I think it becomes
a beauty contest, and what Derek Brown does is not beautiful.
(14:10):
It is not something if you're not in the trenches,
you don't understand that hand in hand combat that guys
go through. You're looking for sacks and pass rush and
and things that are more visible to the casual fan.
And I think that even goes for the players that
vote right, they're voting for the game that is the sexiest.
And I've said this a number of times and I
(14:31):
get killed about it all time. I'm not an Kola fan.
It's not beautiful to watch. It is a beautiful game,
but I'm not entertained. I think that's Derek Brown. His
game doesn't entertain you. It's just dominant. He just does
what he's supposed to do, and he is a beast
in the middle. And I personally think it's a snuff.
If I'm out of this market, if I'm not a panther,
what I think the same. Probably I would think like
(14:52):
everybody else, But I kind of understand it. But it's
it's I feel bad for him. He should be a
Pro Bowl all right?
Speaker 3 (14:59):
Well, because you are panther. I'll end on this. The
Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist list for the class
of twenty twenty six was released. Luke Keigley is a
finalist with at least I think a pretty decent chance
to get in.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
This year.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
Steve Smith, though not a finalist this year, and he'll
have to wait even longer. Larry Fitzgerald, obviously, I think
is the headlining wide receiver in this class. In some
ways we kind of expected it, but.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (15:23):
I mean, I'm I'm bothered by the fact that Steve
is not in yet, given some of the wide receivers
that are in. I also think again that you know,
Luke stands a very good chance to get in this year.
What were your thoughts on what we learned about the
Hall of Fame class.
Speaker 1 (15:35):
Yeah, let's just start with Luke. And I was with
Luke and a lot of the guys, and everybody kind
of feels the same sentiment, and we're all, you know,
you say it without saying it. You don't want to
jinx it in that type of feel and atmosphere. But
anyone who deserves it to be a first ballot Hall
of Famer, this guy's knowledge and understanding of the game,
(15:57):
understand his career and how it was short. I mean,
this guy was the greatest. And I've said this, He's
the greatest Carolina Panther of all time. Nobody at any
position in this franchise's history has been better at their
job than Luke Kickley. And I'll go to my grave
believing that I play with some incredible players, including a
(16:18):
Hall of Famer in Julius Pepper's and Steve Smith, who
is a Hall of Famer. There are so many other
factors I believe in Steve's personal journey that are preventing
him from getting a NOD. It's tough for wide receivers.
We've seen wide receivers go through it and not get in.
For feels like an eternity. Steve's on that same path.
(16:40):
Because we feel a certain way about Steve, but maybe
he is not a household name like Alarry Fitzgerald, who
has a bigger national player than age of eighty nine. Look,
my dog is elite. He was the best, the most
ferocious competitor of all time. The stats say he's a
Hall of Famer. It's a matter of time, and I
(17:01):
hate it. I feel it. I feel the paint every
time I see him. I feel the paint every year.
This time that his name is not called a he
doesn't make it to the finals, that he's not up
on that stage with the gold jacket.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
All right, buddy, listen.
Speaker 3 (17:12):
I appreciate you as always, and hopefully you and I
can can share a press box together at least one
more time before the season's up.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
Where can they watch you this weekend?
Speaker 1 (17:21):
Yeah, I'll be on Queen City News Black and Blue
Kickoff Live. That'll be ten am on Saturday morning. We'll
get everybody set up and ready for the big game
in Tampa at four point thirty. I've already told you
my prediction. You'll hear it at the end of the show.
I think the Panthers get it done. But check out
everybody else see what everybody else thinks about this upcoming
weekends matchup.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
Love it. Thank you, buddy. We'll talk to you soon.
Speaker 3 (17:42):
Al Wallace, former Carolina Panther, and as you heard right there,
Black and Blue Live Queen City News Saturday morning, ten am,
and then make sure to tune in two pm on
Saturday here on WFNZ. Countdown to kick Off. Me and
Mack in studio for two hours of pre game leading
up to a four to thirty kick in Tampa Bay
seven four five, seven ninety six ten. Hit us up
(18:02):
on the FanDuel text line. We'll come back. We'll take
your phone calls and I do want to take a
look at the biggest sports stories of twenty twenty five.
Sports Radio ninety two seven wfn Z. What do you
(18:30):
think was the biggest sports story of twenty twenty five?
Seven oh four five seven ninety six ten. We have
reached the end of the calendar year well tomorrow, but
we're out tomorrow, I am anyway, and we have alternate
programming in a sense tomorrow Young Guns from eight to noon.
That'll be Fitty Flounder and Shroppy from eight to noon,
and then at noon Panthers rather Hornets pregame from twelve
(18:54):
to one. Then the Hornets take on Steph Curry and
the Golden State Warriors in the afternoon. That'll be followed
up by ESPN Radio following the game tomorrow evening. So tomorrow,
the end of calendar year twenty twenty five. Biggest and
best stories in sports from twenty twenty five? What's the
one thing you would point to? Seven oh four five
seven oh ninety six ten smoke? For me, it's easy,
(19:15):
and well, as a fan, it's easy because we got
to watch what I believe is the greatest World Series
ever played and my team won it. So as a fan,
that one's kind of easy for me. Dodgers beating the
Blue Jays in seven insane baseball games to repeat as
World Series champs, three titles in six years, back to
back crowns, a series that featured an eighteen inning marathon,
(19:39):
a pinch hit grand Slam, a walk off, extra inning
double play to win it. I do believe that it
was the greatest World Series ever played in the history
of baseball. So that that's my answer. If I had
to pick just one, not a bad one. I think
you're in the right area code, but not the right sport.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (19:58):
The biggest story was the trade of Luca Doncs because
it came as good of nowhere, that's good. I remember
what looking at that tweet, thinking this has to be
a fake Sham's account or Salm's account, yep, And then
you look at it it's like, no, that's that's his
actual account.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
It's verified.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
And then the return, the lack of return, Nico Harrison
becoming the scapegoat, the NBA rigging, the Mavericks somehow winning
the lottery to get Cooper Flagg and so on and so
forth like this, I think it has to be Luca
and all the stuff that transpired immediately after, it didn't
feel like that Luca trade breathed new life into the NBA. Yes,
(20:37):
and it happened at a good time because it's just
months before their new TV deal of NBC and Amazon,
and I think, by the way, both both networks have
been a positive for the NBA. Outside of Dwayne Wade
taking shots at the Hornets, I don't think I didn't
see that. I hear you. I know I saw that too.
But just to stay on topic here, I think you're
right because it felt at the time. Remember, Adam Silver
(20:57):
was doing a lot of griping at that general time
about how the NBA media covered the league, and there
was a lot of criticism everything from the crap NBA
All Star Weekend and the you know death of the
All Star Game to you know, just the you know,
lack of star veteran players in the league. And there
was a lot of talk about the spiraling regular season
television ratings and everything else. And then all of a sudden,
(21:20):
we get this insane trade Luca to LA for Anthony
Davis uh in the middle of the night, private deal
by Nico Harrison and Rob Polinka and everybody's looking around
like that's the most you could. You couldn't have done better.
You didn't You didn't shop him on the the open market,
you didn't create a bidding war. You could have gotten
eight first round picks for this guy. And then you're right,
(21:41):
you know, not that long after, you know, we think we,
you know, find out that the Dallas Mavericks have landed
the number one overall pick miraculously to replace Luca with
a generational star in Cooper Flag. And by the way,
after a slow stark, Cooper Flag's been getting on the
role in the last two weeks.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
He has he has not helping cons chance Y. Yeah,
that's true.
Speaker 3 (22:01):
Dog m Dog on the text line just said he's
so consumed by sports that he can't think of a
best in twenty twenty five or maybe I'm just thirty
five years old now, I mean, listen, you're trying to
look back at an entire year of sports stories, and
those of us who follow sports, you're right on a
daily basis, it's it's easy to forget what's taken place
over the course of the last twelve months. A lot
(22:23):
of folks texting in the gambling scandal, and I couldn't
agree more. Twenty twenty five was the year that we
kind of realized, oh, this is a real problem. That
the gambling chatter became a full blown scandal and NBA
point shaving scandal involving the mob and individual over unders
and Terry Rozier and Jhonte Porter and you know, names
(22:43):
like that. You had two Cleveland Guardians pitchers also who
you know, that story kind of got overshadowed, but not
long after the Bay or the basketball part of this
came out, and you know, Terry Rogier was the name
splashed all across the headlines. And then you we didn't
even get into the Chauncey Billups, that's right.
Speaker 2 (22:58):
And Chauncey Billips absolutely.
Speaker 3 (23:00):
And he got fired in Thiago Splitters now the interim
head coach.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
That's right.
Speaker 3 (23:04):
Trying to think men's college basketball had multiple teams accused
of of you know, implicated and throwing games. New Orleans
the date that Master p got hired as GM, that's
really good. That's a good one too. Somebody said the
demise of the Chiefs on the text line.
Speaker 2 (23:19):
I like that one.
Speaker 3 (23:20):
You know, start of the year, Chiefs get beaten by
the Eagles in the Super Bowl that beaten a very
kind well, they got throttled by the Eagles in the
Super Bowl. That Super Bowl, by the way, became the
most watched broadcast in US history. Eagles won that game
forty twenty two. It's almost like people actually like dynasties,
even though they say they don't.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
Well, yeah, that's true.
Speaker 3 (23:40):
But also, you know, in a year with more streaming
options than ever, the entire country still found one channel
for four hours on a Sunday in February, and it
became the most watched Super Bowl of all time. But
you know, by the end of the same calendar year,
of course, the Chiefs missed the playoffs for the first
time in the Mahomes era. And he blows out his
knee and the franchise then announces this controversial plan to
(24:02):
move across the state line into Kansas by twenty thirty one.
And we haven't really talked about this. You want to
talk about one of the most lopsided deals in the
history of stadium deals. I still can't believe there are
people out there that will defend these things.
Speaker 2 (24:15):
It's unbelievable. What's above lopsided, because this is what this
deal is It's.
Speaker 3 (24:19):
Truly one of the most egregious stadium deals that I've
ever seen. And then, of course the Bears try to
jump into it, like, hey, by the way, we might
move the team to Gary, Indiana if Illinois doesn't give
us what we want. I mean, good luck with that.
Can you imagine the Chicago Bears being in Gary, Indiana?
Just how absurd that would be. But you know, when
you can hold local politicians who are largely inept and corrupt,
(24:41):
you know, when you can you force them to do
what you want and vote in favor of public dollars
for these things, and people don't pay enough attention to it,
That's what happens. But yeah, the Chiefs are moving across
state lines from Missouri into Kansas, and the Bears are
threatening to move to Gary, Indiana. So we got all
that going on once again.
Speaker 2 (24:57):
You know to Hornsaw will front the move to Virginia Beach.
Speaker 3 (24:59):
Yeah, yeah, how many times has that happened over the years.
Let's see shrimp and Gritz, says Rory, and the masters.
Then Steph going nuts to win the Golden medal. I
like that one a lot. Let's see what else do
we have?
Speaker 1 (25:10):
Wait?
Speaker 2 (25:10):
Wait, Steph was last year? Was it?
Speaker 1 (25:12):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (25:13):
Yeah, that was twenty twenty four.
Speaker 3 (25:15):
I don't blame because that, you know, we kind of
get the years mixed up now. Yeah, but yeah, definitely
Rory and the Masters. That's a definitely a good one.
Completing the career Grand Slam. Yeah, Yeah, that's that's a
big one. I like that one too if you're just
tuning in. But what you think is the biggest sports
story of twenty twenty five? Seven oh four, five, seven
oh ninety six ten? As we reached the end of
the calendar year, what do you look at as the
biggest sports story in twenty twenty five seven oh four, five,
(25:39):
seven oh ninety six ten. Trying to think, I'll say it,
Lang Kiffin going full link, Ki Lane Kiffin going full
Lane Kiffin.
Speaker 2 (25:46):
I like that. Let's see what else I think.
Speaker 3 (25:49):
This was also the year that streaming in sports media
that just took over everything. Disney and ESPN buying the
NFL network and the Red Zone brand as well taking
a ten NFL equity stake. One of the biggest media
deals in league history had Major League Baseball signing new
packages with NBC.
Speaker 2 (26:08):
And decided to have NBC gets Sunday Night basebal.
Speaker 3 (26:10):
Yeah, I'm looking forward to seeing what that looks like.
You know, I was sad that that ESPN really dropped
the ball over the past several years, and it's baseball coverage.
I mean, ever since Schulmann said, Hey, I'm just going
to go back to doing Blue Jays games, it's not
been the same. No, no, I agree, but Major League
Baseball signing new packages with NBC and Netflix, moving Sunday
Night Baseball to NBC. Netflix gets Opening Night, the Home
(26:32):
Run Derby, and the twenty twenty six Field of Dreams game,
TNT's legendary inside the NBA. Landing at ESPN instead of
dying is another one. Sports are more valuable than ever
because they're live, which makes them the last big chip
in the streaming wars. And there are now so many
subscriptions that you almost can't afford to go to games
because you're paying for all the streaming platforms just to
(26:53):
watch the games. But this is the business model that
they've set up. We had a lot of US leagues
go abroad too this year, the NFL playing its first
regular season game in Madrid, part of a broader push
for more international games. Major League baseball opening up its
season in Tokyo with the Dodgers and the Cubs drawing
massive crowds and you know, massive global TV audiences. You
(27:15):
got the United States hosting the expanded FIFA World Club
World Cup that happened here in Charlotte as well. Twenty
twenty five, you know, the year that the US stopped
being a sports market and finally became a or fully became,
i should say, the global stage. There was a lot
of that, Hell, we're taking college football to Brazil with
Virginia and in so what do we doing? What are
we doing that? By the way, what year is that?
Speaker 2 (27:36):
Again? Is that next year? Is it is?
Speaker 1 (27:38):
Next year? Right?
Speaker 2 (27:38):
All right?
Speaker 3 (27:39):
Biggest sports story of twenty twenty five, seven oh four, five,
seven oh ninety six ten. A lot of folks saying
the NASCAR lawsuit to MJ and Denny Hamlin and twenty
three to eleven in front row taking NASCAR to court
and winning. That was one of the biggest stories of
sports in twenty twenty five. A massive win for NASCAR
and teams moving forward. Lots of it, yeah, yeah, lots
of people saying John Cena in twenty twenty five because
(27:59):
it was a retirement tour. No, I know why they
butchered it. I'll tell you that for sure. Having Travis
Scott be involved in a dud of a main event
at WrestleMania.
Speaker 2 (28:09):
M m that was bad.
Speaker 3 (28:10):
Having oh, let's go get brock Lizard back one more
time for him to squash Johnson.
Speaker 2 (28:14):
That wasn't Gesus so stupid.
Speaker 3 (28:17):
I mean, Turningham Hill at this point was done because
they should have done it in twenty twelve. Yeah, it
just was butchered. It was you know, uh, Triple H's
completely butchered. One of the biggest stories. This was honestly
one of the biggest bag fumbles of a storyline since
the WWFWCW invasion in two thousand and one. Yeah, a
lot of Hokies fans saying, James Franklin to Blacksburg love
that selfishly love that answer. Let's take some phone calls.
(28:39):
P Mack is up first here in this segment. P Mack,
what's going on? Brother?
Speaker 2 (28:42):
How are you hey?
Speaker 1 (28:44):
Guys?
Speaker 4 (28:44):
Well, I guess I come in out. I was gonna
talk about how I'm not really happy with the Panthers
right now. But if we're going to stay on that topic,
I can't believe you guys haven't mentioned it, but my
sports story of the year is going to be Shador
Sanders going on the fifth round because that lasted for days.
Speaker 1 (28:59):
I feel like it.
Speaker 4 (28:59):
That's a good That was just kind of yeah, that
was huge.
Speaker 1 (29:01):
I just did not mind. I don't think anyone did.
Speaker 3 (29:04):
He said, that's a good one. That's a good one.
I feel free. Panthers, what you got.
Speaker 4 (29:11):
Yeah, guys, I'm just really frustrated because I'm seeing Lee
and Cohen uh in Jacksonville, who was who didn't have
a whole lot of experience, and he's got the Jags
at twelve and four, and here we are. We're still
trying to battle this thing out and try to make
the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (29:27):
And every year.
Speaker 4 (29:28):
I told Will Paul Logic the other the other day,
I said, it feels like we haven't had a complete
game all season long where both the offense and the
defense played together as one. Like go back to like
the forty nine Ers game Monday night. The defense was
playing great, but the offense just held us back. And
then you've got games where the offense takes off and
then the defense hold us back, and it's super frustrating
(29:48):
to see Dave can allis in the second year, even
though we are kind of there, you just see other
guys that are just like in the league that have
taken their teams and just shot off, like Liam Cohen
with Jacksonville. So that's where I'm frustrated about guys.
Speaker 3 (30:01):
I no, I hear you, happy to year p Mack.
I appreciate the phone call. There will be a lot
of people that'll tell you that the reason is that
Bryce Young isn't good enough. I know that I'm going
to get those texts when you say that, would you
is the Jacksonville roster better than the Carolina roster?
Speaker 2 (30:15):
Okay?
Speaker 3 (30:16):
I figured you'd say yes. Do you think it's significantly better?
Speaker 5 (30:19):
No?
Speaker 3 (30:20):
But I think this because you know, Trent Balkey was
a GM there for a while, but they hit at
a quicker rate at their main positions than Carolina did,
specifically defensive end. When you have to say what you
will for Trayvon Walker and he's not you know, Aiden Hutchinson,
but have Trayvon Walker as your number two defensive end,
he'd beat the main guy getting about one hundred million
(30:42):
dollars at least from Carolina right now, and that doesn't
even equate into Josh Hines Allen, So I think even
though Trimp Balkey was very flawed, they were just a
playoff team two three years ago. And if it wasn't
for Trevor Lawrence getting hurt two years ago, they would
have been a playoff team again because they were like
eight and three before they collapsed when he got hurt
(31:03):
in that Monday night game against the Bengals. So I
think you got to look at it like that. And
the fact is too you know, Liam Cohen also had
a better year in Tampa Bay compared to Dave Canalis.
And when you look at this roster, the roster was
in a whole lot worse of shape compared to what
Jacksonville's was entering this year. Yeah, back to the phone lines,
(31:24):
our buddy, who's your Bobby is back here?
Speaker 2 (31:26):
What's going on? Bobby?
Speaker 5 (31:28):
Happy? New Year's Eve? Eve, Kyle and smoke?
Speaker 2 (31:30):
Thanks Buddy, you too, Hey.
Speaker 5 (31:33):
A lot of good ones on that list for me.
Speaker 6 (31:36):
So officially, it's gonna be Indiana finishing number one and
beating the buck Eyes in the Big Ten Championship. Maybe
we can add to that with a Natty Well that
remains to be seen.
Speaker 2 (31:46):
Boy, wouldn't not be incredible.
Speaker 5 (31:48):
It blows my mind, it really does.
Speaker 6 (31:55):
As far as the game this weekend, I'm not worried
about coaches prepared or the players preparedness. They know what's
on the line and and they're they're they're ready to
get it done. But I think the key to the
game is going to be the Bucks players. Are they
playing for pride or if they don't give a damn
about the game. I think that's really going to be
(32:16):
the key to the outcome of that game.
Speaker 1 (32:17):
What do you think.
Speaker 3 (32:18):
I think they're going to be all in and I
don't know what. I don't know what that looks like,
but like I do think it. Like now that they
know that a win doesn't guarantee them a playoff spot,
I wonder if that impacts things a bit, But like
they can if they win, they're they're they're very possibly
going to the playoffs. So I would expect Tampa to
come out and play hard. Now, I think you could
(32:38):
probably Carolina can break their spirit early if they start fast.
I do believe that. But I think you're going to
get the Bucks best shot at least in the first half.
Speaker 5 (32:47):
Okay, let's let's just hope for that.
Speaker 6 (32:49):
As far as breaking their their will. And one last thing,
you know, another great year from all the broadcasts at
w f n Z providing just so many memories and
all the shows that you guys just continually build community
here in Charlotte in the greater area, and you guys
create bonds. I don't know if you guys realize that
(33:10):
that bond's like. I got to meet DVR Dave this
year at the Doghouse last Sunday, I got to meet
Panther Bow's dad. I met Bagel Guy, and I can
speak for other listeners too.
Speaker 5 (33:19):
I'm sure that feel the same way. I just I
want to speak for all.
Speaker 6 (33:23):
Oil listeners that that matters.
Speaker 5 (33:26):
And we really appreciate you guys and hope you I
have a happy un yet.
Speaker 3 (33:28):
Well, we appreciate you too, buddy. Thank you for saying
that right out. C. Bagel Guy was texting in right
as you said his name. We got great listeners, we
got great people. It's one of the best parts of
the job to go out to remote broadcast, to be
at the doghouse and all the places we go and
to meet y'all, so we appreciate it. It's really truly
one of the best parts of the job. Also didn't
have DVR Dave being on a Panther's victory dance on
(33:50):
my Bengo car for this year, but to last year.
We are also that Corn Cob Craig is up next, Craig,
what's going on?
Speaker 7 (33:57):
Yeah, Hey, Happy New Year's to you guys. And say,
in terms of the best sports story of the year,
I think you guys are missing a really big one.
But in saying that, I'm going to profess some regional
bias as well as Arab bias because I grew up
in the golden days of boxing. But hey, Terrence Bud
(34:17):
Crawford winning championships in three or four weight divisions is
pretty miraculous. The guy would be all time great in
any area of boxing. And hey, real quick. Specific to
the Panthers, boy just related that they're in this position
this late in the year, and credit to Canalis and Morgan.
(34:39):
I think what's exciting is is that the culture they're
building hopefully will attract some pre agents that want to
be involved in Panther football. I guess the other thing
I would mention if I was an opposing defensive coordinator,
I'd tell my players to absolutely trust your scouting report
to the tea and don't expect anything unexpected. I guess
(35:05):
I'm looking at coach Canalis, and if he was a decoordinator,
I think he'd probably be ben. But don't break at
this point because his offensive play calling is it's solid,
but it's static, and it really seems to be, you know,
without some creative risk. And I think when he adds
that to the repertoire, he's going to be just a
great coach.
Speaker 1 (35:25):
But uh, you.
Speaker 7 (35:28):
Know, I think I think Bill Wallsh used to say
that the gimmick play and the trick play, you know,
it's a way to uh kind of get a defense
off balance. Now I haven't said that. I will give
Canalis credit for finding a creative way to run the
quarterback snake.
Speaker 1 (35:44):
Oh that was great.
Speaker 3 (35:45):
Well it almost it almost didn't work, but thank you brother,
you too. Happy New Year, Craig. Almost didn't work. I
like the play, I thought. I like the play de
is on with the Mitchell Evans QB or the the
tush push or whatever the hell we're calling it is
the right, whatever the I don't know what they're calling it,
but quarterback snake did. I like the play design. I
did it almost didn't work, but I like the play design.
Speaker 1 (36:03):
All right.
Speaker 2 (36:03):
Let's go to smoke on the headlines, all right, Kyle.
Speaker 3 (36:09):
The Hornets injury report is officially out and officially out
of the game tomorrow against Golden State. Ryan Kachbriner, Mason Plumley,
and Grant Williams. Pat Connaton left ankle soreness in Miles
Bridges with his right ankle sprain are questionable. Conker Nipple
with his right ankle sprain is probable.
Speaker 2 (36:31):
Let's go. I told you he was going to play tomorrow.
He's a dog. He's a dog. Man.
Speaker 3 (36:35):
I told you he was going to play tomorrow, all right,
And I actually got one thing. Remember yesterday, Clemson fired
offensive coordinator Garrett Riley. According to Pete Nkos, who says
you can't go home, one of the early favorites for
the job to replace Garrett Riley Chad Moore.
Speaker 2 (36:52):
Oh, let's go.
Speaker 3 (36:53):
God, that makes me happy. I don't know if it
makes Clemson fans happy, but man, I Clemson fans, how
would you feel about a reunion with Chad Morris. It's
been a good year for the Morris family, by the way,
So Chandler Morris led Virginia to the most wins they've
ever had in school history. Yeah, and we got eleven
wins for the first time in one hundred and fifty years.
Speaker 2 (37:11):
Go wahoos. I was hoping you'd do that.
Speaker 3 (37:13):
Okay, I just want to make I want to make
Cavalier Steve madd one more time in twenty twenty five. Well,
come back, We'll take a quick look at the college
football playoff quarterfinals, and we'll wrap up the show.
Speaker 2 (37:22):
Sports Radio ninety two to seven wfn Z.
Speaker 3 (37:38):
One final times, Sports Radio ninety two to seven wfn Z,
Smoke and I wrapping up our final show together in
twenty twenty five. This always feels like a little bit
dramatic because it's like we're back on Monday, or like
we'll see you next year in twenty twenty six, and
it's it's true, and we're gonna take the I'm gonna
take the rest of the week off. Hopefully I don't
get the flu tomorrow, but I might get the flu
tomorrow and we'll see that impacts the rest of the weekend.
(38:01):
But lots of programming the rest of the week. The
Young Guns with Shroppy, Fiddy and Flounder. First thing, tomorrow
morning at eight am, so you can sleep in a
little bit, but you'll have some live sports radio from
eight am to noon tomorrow before the Hornets. Coverage takes
over at noon with Willie p and T Bone on
the pregame show one o'clock tip against the Golden State Warriors.
(38:21):
But also tomorrow the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff,
the winners, by the way, advancing to the Semis on
January eighth and ninth, with matchups in the I Guess
Fiesta Bowl and Peach Bowl next weekend. But we got
four games starts tomorrow Miami and Ohio State quarterfinals seven
(38:43):
thirty tomorrow night at and T Stadium the Cotton Bowl
down in Arlington, Texas, which got by the way, do
you want to let people know you can hear that
game right here on sports radio WFNZ.
Speaker 2 (38:52):
There you go.
Speaker 3 (38:53):
We got Miami at eleven and two, Ohio State twelve
and one. You know, Miami advanced with a gritty ten
to three road win over A and M and their
College Football Playoff debut, leaning on a punishing defense in
a physical run game, and Ohio State earning a first
round by is the number two seed and seeking redemption
(39:13):
after a loss in the Big Ten Championship. You've got
defensive titans colliding in this one. Miami's defense ranking him
among the best in the nation, holding teams to low
scoring and controlling the line of scrimmage. Ohio States defense
under Matt Patricia is also stout to say the least.
This should be a hell of a fight in the
trenches tomorrow night. And you got this quarterback matchup. Julian
(39:34):
Sayan of Ohio State. He's been electric all year, thirty
one passing touchdowns, and then Carson Beck on the other side,
not quite as electric, but bringing a lot of experience
and some playmaking ability.
Speaker 2 (39:45):
And I think how.
Speaker 3 (39:47):
Both of these squads, but maybe Ohio State in particular
protect their quarterback, are going to be really interesting to
watch and could decide this game tomorrow night.
Speaker 2 (39:55):
Who do you like in this game?
Speaker 3 (39:57):
I think I give a slight edge to Ohio State.
I don't trust Ohio State as much as a lot
of pundits do. I just feel like a lot of
people just assume, oh it's Ohio State.
Speaker 2 (40:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (40:06):
And while I think Julian Sayan is a good quarterback
and they have a lot of good weapons, I just
don't really feel like he's been tested that much yet,
and when he has been tested, it hasn't delivered. Like
in the Indiana game and in the Michigan game, I
think it was just stuff around him really worked out.
Speaker 2 (40:22):
So I think that'll be tough.
Speaker 3 (40:23):
But the defense for Ohio State, man, it's just as
punishing as Miami's. And unfortunately for Miami, it's one of
those things where the worst of Julian saying I think
is still better than the worst of Carson Beck, and
I can't trust Carson Beck as much in the situation,
even though he's the veteran in this match.
Speaker 2 (40:42):
I would agree with that.
Speaker 3 (40:43):
So that's the game tomorrow night, and then on Thursday
the noon game Texas Tech and Oregon number four versus
Number five in Miami at hard Rock Stadium. You got
the Ducks and that offense tempo playmaking Texas Tech's defense
an aggressive pass rush that could make things uncomfortable for
Dante Moore and give them some opportunities. I don't know,
(41:06):
this could I don't know which way this game goes.
Could be high scoring, but you could see some big
defensive plays as well. I don't know what who do
you like in this one. I love this Texas Tech team,
and I think this is honestly the most intriguing matchup
of this round.
Speaker 2 (41:19):
Here agreed, I.
Speaker 3 (41:23):
Go back to that Texas Tech BYU game. Both of them,
it just felt like the offense couldn't get going into
that next step. And I don't know if I can
trust the offense, I can trust the defense.
Speaker 2 (41:32):
Or Texas Tech.
Speaker 3 (41:32):
But I feel like Dante Moore is eventually going to
make some plays down to stretch to get them into victory.
Speaker 2 (41:39):
So I give a slight edge to Oregon as well.
Speaker 3 (41:40):
I think for as much hayin ringing as there was
for the first round matchups, I feel like this round
we're gonna see a lot of close games down to stretch.
Then the four o'clock game on Thursday Alabama Number one
Indiana against number nine Alabama feels like a classic offense
versus defense chess match. You got that big, beefy Indiana
offensive line again. Weird things that you never thought you'd say,
(42:03):
but like, does Indiana have a clear advantage up front?
Alabama's defensive front is you know, can be gnarly at times,
but that Indiana offensive line, man, the way they've been
able to lean on that group.
Speaker 2 (42:14):
I just I can't believe.
Speaker 3 (42:15):
I find myself again going into a game like this
believing that Indiana is the clear favorite and should absolutely
win the game.
Speaker 2 (42:21):
Chris Signatty's been waiting seventeen years to get back at Alabama. Yeah,
he's getting this win. I think so too.
Speaker 3 (42:27):
I think he's getting to win. I think Indiana's playing
the national championship game. They got the best weapon, they
got the best, better quarterback. I honestly, I feel like
Keimby's actually been a underrated part of Indiana season. It
doesn't get talked about enough the former Maryland running backs.
So I just I think all the pieces are there
for them to go after it. And then the late
game on Thursday night, Number three Georgia, Number six, Ole
(42:49):
Miss Georgia. Yeah, I just think george is the more
balanced team. Miss is ole Miss is explosive. Okay, Yes,
this is a game that's about I think balance versus
exploss Georgia is a disciplined team, and I think in
spots like this that can be the biggest counter to
an ole Miss playmaking and explosive attack. In a game
(43:10):
like this, I feel like you just trust Georgia Moore.
They're steadier and it'd been getting better and better as
the season goes. I thought they were the best team
in the country coming into this tournament. Yeah, personally, I
give a lot of credit to Indiana. Ohio State's really tough,
but I felt like Georgia was the best team coming in.
I can't wait for these games. It's gonna be a
lot of fun. We got to go for the last
(43:31):
time in twenty twenty five. We'll talk to you again
in this form Smoke an eye together next Monday to
start rolling downhill. In twenty twenty six, we go tipping
our caps courtesy of our friends at Neogenics, where they
help heal joint pain naturally with no surgery, no medication,
no downtime. Go to neogenicstemsales dot com. Smoke what you got,
Tip of my cap to kankin Nipple, Yeah, do.
Speaker 2 (43:54):
Love it.
Speaker 3 (43:54):
I'll tip my cap to the wfn Z listeners. We
had a great, great year. Let's do it again in
twenty twenty six for smoke I KB It's Sports Radio
ninety two seven wfn Z. You're gonna be dead in
one hundred years anyway, Live dangerously
This is the Kyle Bailey Show, powered by Victory Chevy Charlotte,
where every month is Truck Month.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Victory Chevy Charlotte, your Silverado Destination.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Power number three Sports Radio ninety two seven w f
n Z. It's the final show of twenty twenty five
and we appreciate you being with us. Emanating live from
the Chandler Vaulta Studios, the Carolinas Personal injury Lawyers. One call,
that's all go to Cvinjurylaw dot Com. That's Cvinjurylaw dot Com.
Still a bunch to get to. But right now we
talk some ball, We talk some Panthers with a former
(00:48):
Panther and pregame, halftime, postgame. He does it all Queen
Cityewspanthers dot Com and he's my press box buddy. I
get to sit next to Al Wallace for every Panthers
home game in the press box. It's one of the
great joys of my Sunday. And Al Wallace is back
with us here on a Tuesday afternoon. Al, what's going on, brother?
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Happy New Year, Happy New Year. Man, appreciate you having
me on again. Yeah. Doing good down in Florida. Wintertime here,
so a chilly sixty five.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
All right then, so all right, so wait, you're in Florida.
I'm guessing though, you're probably not going to head over
to Tampa for the game on Sunday or Saturday, or
are you no?
Speaker 1 (01:27):
I'm going to be back in Charlotte on Saturday. I'll
be in studio for a Black and Blue kickoff live,
so doing the show live from the studio, Queen City
News and the crew here. We will have a crew
on site at the game.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
All right, Well, let's just start with what happened Sunday.
There's a lot we got to talk about, including last
night and all these other things. But there was an
opportunity again on Sunday to close this thing out with
the Miami Dolphins doing what Carolina needed them to do,
and that was beat Tampa. But Carolina couldn't get the
job done. Back to back turnovers in the third quarter
really seemed to swing thing. We had the JC Horn
(02:01):
third down disaster, we had Dave Canalis kneeling on the
football with two minutes left to go. There's a lot
to talk about, but what was how frustrating was that
for you? I saw your reaction live. But you know
now that we're out of the press box, like, are
you still really frustrated by the way they played or
what's you're feeling about that game.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
It's frustrated because this team doesn't seem to be capable
of capitalizing on a few opportunities they've had now to
win the division. And when you see this game in
your building in front of the fans, the last and
maybe the last game if things don't work out here
to go out and do that. Man, just so many
great former players, past players, great legends that I was
(02:43):
with there to watch this team take on the Seattle Seahawks,
another top tier team in the NFC, and they gave
you opportunity after opportunity to get it done. You knew
Sam Donald was going to make mistakes. He starts seeing
those proverbial ghosts that he's known for, and you just
get it done. You lay an egg. And it is
incredibly disappointing because they had been on this roller coaster
(03:05):
ride and they didn't stop it from rolling. They went
back downhill. This week?
Speaker 3 (03:10):
Did you the what are we calling it the L formation?
The non victory formation there at the end? Al had
some people really pissed off about that. On the text
line yesterday, I didn't like it either, but I understood it.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
How did you feel about it?
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Yeah, I think from an optic standpoint that that type
of surrender is what it is. Is how I saw it.
When you take a knee and a loss, you did
victory formation for a reason, is because that's how you
want to run out the remainder of the clock. But
this team conceded, and you never want to be in
that position on your field in front of your fans
(03:44):
after a holiday, just hey throwing in you're waving the
white flag. So optically it wasn't the best, but I
understand it, especially when you saw Dave Canalis go to
the podium. Colin kind of explained the situation. You want
to just not You want to avoid any mishaps where
a guy tweak something or gets hurt on the final
play of the game, and it happens more often than
(04:05):
we pay attention to, so I understand it. I would
have tried to find some other way, even if you
put a few backup guys in there to run a
final play, but not surrender, not take a knee on
your field.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
Yeah, I didn't like it. Somebody did point out yesterday, Hey,
these backups have been standing there cold on the sideline
for three and a half quarter. As you put somebody
in cold, they might get hurt too. So a lot
of things that could have happened. It just thinks that
that could be could be the last thing that fansye
inside that building, depending upon how things go this upcoming weekend. Al,
I mean, the offense was just stale, stagnant. A lot
(04:37):
of things went wrong. Wasn't much time to throw, and
receivers didn't get a lot of separation. Bryce made some mistakes.
They couldn't get the running game going. I mean, here,
We've done this so many times. You and I have
had this conversation. What went wrong? Why didn't they look
like they did the week prior? But like, I don't know, Al,
Why how do you go from what we saw the
week prior to fifty four yards of passing offense?
Speaker 1 (04:59):
Yeah? I think the It's been a common theme when
this team isn't able to play with balance on offense,
when they're not able to throw the ball and run
the ball, sometimes you forget about the passing game when
Cuba's running well, when Rico's dominating earlier in the season,
in the running game, that offensive line is moving bodies,
they're opening up holes. You forget that the passing game
(05:20):
works too, and it's largely the play action pass and
things off of that run fag. But when it's out
of balance, right, you're not able to run the ball,
and now you're asking Bryce Young to sit in the
pocket and throw the ball down the field. This team
shows some weaknesses. They show some flaws in an offensive
line that's been patchwork together. Guys have really stepped up
(05:41):
and done a really good job. You have to take
your hat off to those groups, that group who lost
Robert Hunt. You know, guys have been in and out
over several weeks. Pass protection is still maybe a thing
they're trying to have come together. And Bryce when he's brushed,
his panic, he's hurried, he's throwing on the run. He
makes a bad decisions. And in those games we've seen
(06:01):
this offense really get stagnant, it's been because they haven't
been able to run the ball. They haven't committed to
it the way that you would like to see from
Dave Canalis. And I think that play sheet gets really
tight for him, it gets really small and he plays
really conservative, all calls the game really conservatively.
Speaker 3 (06:19):
Well and I think too, to add to that point,
you've also got a quarterback who he's been in the
NFL for three years now, but he also spent a
lot of time with Nick Saban, and turnovers were a
sin under Nick Saban. Like Bryce did not really put
the ball at risk. Nick Saban did not want that,
and I think that's stuck with Bryce too, and so
it all compounds, and you know, it made for a
very frustrating day. What did you make of I thought
(06:40):
it was interesting in the postgame press conference when Dave
outright admitted that Seattle playing as much man coverage as
they did really caught them off guard. Didn't feel like
they started to adjust to that al until they were
down seventeen to three late in the third quarter.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
There.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
I've said this multiple times this week, but Seattle led
the league in zone usage comeing in. But they saw
something and they flipped a man and it really bothered Carolina.
What did you think of Dave admitting that.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
Yeah, I think that was not the best. Because you
have a team in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that's certainly
going to get this film. They're going to look at
this postgame presser, They're gonna figure out if that's something
in this copycat league that can frustrate your quarterback. Right,
it's not clean reads, it's not open windows to throw
its body on body. And if you can get Jamel
(07:27):
Dean and some of those corners that secondary for the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers along with their rush, it's gonna create problems. Right.
It forces Bryce to go to a second read, maybe
a third read sometimes and you can see the frustration
in his body language when he has to check down.
And that's what we saw Sunday over and over again,
Bryce going to his through his progression. No one's open
(07:51):
dumping down to a tight end to a running back
flaring out of the backfield, and immediately the body language
the frustration because he knows, like you said, gay going
to throw it at Hong's way. He's not going to
force it in a window. And some of that gun
slinger that we see in guys like Baker Mayfield and
other quarterbacks that tend to maybe throw it away, you know,
(08:12):
turn it over a lot. You're not going to get
those big plays because Bryce is not gonna risk it.
He's just gonna check it down and live to see
the next play. That hurts this team when he has
to perform that way.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
It feels like again lack of deep threat. You know,
played a factor again on Sunday. For a lot of reasons,
I'm sure, But the one question that I'm getting a
lot this week from people is, you know, why not
use Jimmy Horn in a slightly expanded capacity in that way?
I mean, you drafted him because he was a speed guy,
And all we've really seen for the most part is
Gadget plays jet sweeps. I mean, he's had a couple of,
(08:42):
you know, fifteen twenty yard catches in some pivotal moments,
but there really hasn't been any attempt to get him
vertical down the field.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Why do you think that is?
Speaker 1 (08:50):
Yeah, because I think it's exactly people are saying the
right thing. Is exactly why they drafted him. They drafted
him as a speed guy. That is a translation for Gadget.
They're not drafting a wide receiver with speed necessarily. So
a guy that has a skill set the route tree
can dominate win one on ones, can run after the
(09:11):
catch because of his strength of physicality, and then he
has the great speed that that's the order of things.
But if your order of things is speed, then develop
those things. Jimmy Horn is doing exactly what the Carolina
Panthers drafted him for. He's gonna be a gadget. He's
the eye candy. He's the guy that's going to freeze coverages,
that's gonna take linebackers out of the box. And that's
(09:34):
why you see him on the orbit motions, the jet motions.
They're trying to disrupt the eyes and the reeds and
the responsibilities of the defensive backs and linebackers. And right
now he's been relegated to that. So you know, I
think he's still cooking. I think he's still loading. He
certainly makes plays when they ask him to, when he
has the opportunity. I just don't know that he can
(09:54):
have a bigger role. You're gonna use him the way
you would a speed wide receiver like Jackson Smith and
Jig Why you saw on the other side of the
field a guy that can just maybe blow you away.
But as I think, more well rounded and developed receiver
coming out of college.
Speaker 3 (10:09):
We got Al Wallace hanging out here with us on
the hotline. Panthers and Bucks coming up on Saturday Week eighteen,
A de facto playoff game four point thirty ESPN, Chris Fowler,
Dan Orlovsky, Lewis Riddeck going to be on the call
for this one.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
I don't know, Al.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
I mean your mindset going into this game on Saturday,
is what I mean. And I'll just say one more
thing here. I mean, you know, Carolina's coming off a
frustrating loss to a very good team. But Tampa is
spiraling right now.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
Al.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
They've lost seven of eight and Baker Mayfield was limited
in practice today. Apparently both of his shoulders are now injured.
Andy's got a knee problem like that, and Tristan Wurst
didn't practice today either. I mean, anything could happen in
the NFL. But like, if you're Carolina, I mean you
got to be a little bit confident going into this thing,
right Yeah.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
I like Carolina in this spot. I absolutely feel good
about this matchup. And one thing I've learned and we've
all learned throughout this year that Bryce young this team,
They've canalist the running attack, the defense. They really lean
into the fact and that feeling of wanting to get
that loss out of the pit of their stomach. I
(11:14):
think they bounce back the way they've done all season
and they go to Tampa being very familiar with this
football team, all the adversity and the injuries that the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers are going through, Blanked, completely blanked in
the month of December and only one win against the Saints,
I believe in November and trying to figure it out.
It's a desperate team. And that's a good spot to
(11:36):
catch a team because guys are going to try to
be extra, They're going to try to do things that
are outside the scheme of things, and I think you
catch them in the perfect spot of pressing. And the
perfect guy for the job is Bryce Young. He's going
to go into a calm, He's going to forget about
fifty four yards and everything that he did last week,
and I think he has a big day. I think
the Panthers have a big day. They have two opportunities
(11:58):
to get into the playoffs. I don't want to lean
on Atlanta. Didn't think they would have the game they
had against the Rams, but I think the Panthers get
it done. I think they take care of business on
the rude.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
But since you mentioned it, what did you think of that?
Last night?
Speaker 3 (12:11):
I was at the Hornets game you know, watching it
with no sound on. But I was just Slackjohn. I
couldn't believe. I thought I didn't bank on the Rams
just not showing up, and the Falcons did try to
give it away. But like last night, was monumental. Now
the Panthers are looking at like a seventy eight percent
chance to make the playoffs this weekend because of that.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
Yeah, I think that Atlanta Falcons are the most confusing
team in the NFL going into this season. I think
that roster was one of the more talented, certainly with
Jon Robinson at the running back spot, if not for
Christian McCaffrey told me who's most dangerous weapon in the NFL?
That kid is absolutely incredible in what he can do
(12:49):
on the ground in the passing game. So I think
the roster is talented and they just have underwhelmed in
so many areas. Now top rated offense with the Rams,
but go just look at statistically where the Atlanta Falcons
are ranked. They're one of the top passing defenses with pressures, interceptions,
turning the ball over and I think it was a
(13:09):
perfect matchup for them. And just like we saw here
with Matthew Stafford, he will turn the ball over. He
has turned the ball all over. That's kind of plagued
him since he's been a Los Angeles a ram So.
I thought it all came together for the Falcons, man.
I was hopeful last night that they would be able
to get it done. And again Panther's two opportunities. But
you cannot wait for a team, or you don't want
(13:32):
to risk having to depending on the Falcons after you
put play on Saturday that they'll get it done the
next day.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
Yeah, that sounds miserable.
Speaker 3 (13:39):
All right, two quick things, I'll get you out of here.
Jac Horn made the Pro Bowl, but Derek Brown did not.
What'd you think of that?
Speaker 1 (13:47):
Yeah? You know what, I think it's I think it's
a snub personally because I like Quinn Williams. I look
at some of the guys who made it, Leonard Williams,
who we saw just this past week, and you know,
those are two really good guys. They're not more dominant,
They're not better than Derek Brown. I think it becomes
a beauty contest, and what Derek Brown does is not beautiful.
(14:10):
It is not something if you're not in the trenches,
you don't understand that hand in hand combat that guys
go through. You're looking for sacks and pass rush and
and things that are more visible to the casual fan.
And I think that even goes for the players that
vote right, they're voting for the game that is the sexiest.
And I've said this a number of times and I
(14:31):
get killed about it all time. I'm not an Kola fan.
It's not beautiful to watch. It is a beautiful game,
but I'm not entertained. I think that's Derek Brown. His
game doesn't entertain you. It's just dominant. He just does
what he's supposed to do, and he is a beast
in the middle. And I personally think it's a snuff.
If I'm out of this market, if I'm not a panther,
what I think the same. Probably I would think like
(14:52):
everybody else, But I kind of understand it. But it's
it's I feel bad for him. He should be a
Pro Bowl all right?
Speaker 3 (14:59):
Well, because you are panther. I'll end on this. The
Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist list for the class
of twenty twenty six was released. Luke Keigley is a
finalist with at least I think a pretty decent chance
to get in.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
This year.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
Steve Smith, though not a finalist this year, and he'll
have to wait even longer. Larry Fitzgerald, obviously, I think
is the headlining wide receiver in this class. In some
ways we kind of expected it, but.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (15:23):
I mean, I'm I'm bothered by the fact that Steve
is not in yet, given some of the wide receivers
that are in. I also think again that you know,
Luke stands a very good chance to get in this year.
What were your thoughts on what we learned about the
Hall of Fame class.
Speaker 1 (15:35):
Yeah, let's just start with Luke. And I was with
Luke and a lot of the guys, and everybody kind
of feels the same sentiment, and we're all, you know,
you say it without saying it. You don't want to
jinx it in that type of feel and atmosphere. But
anyone who deserves it to be a first ballot Hall
of Famer, this guy's knowledge and understanding of the game,
(15:57):
understand his career and how it was short. I mean,
this guy was the greatest. And I've said this, He's
the greatest Carolina Panther of all time. Nobody at any
position in this franchise's history has been better at their
job than Luke Kickley. And I'll go to my grave
believing that I play with some incredible players, including a
(16:18):
Hall of Famer in Julius Pepper's and Steve Smith, who
is a Hall of Famer. There are so many other
factors I believe in Steve's personal journey that are preventing
him from getting a NOD. It's tough for wide receivers.
We've seen wide receivers go through it and not get in.
For feels like an eternity. Steve's on that same path.
(16:40):
Because we feel a certain way about Steve, but maybe
he is not a household name like Alarry Fitzgerald, who
has a bigger national player than age of eighty nine. Look,
my dog is elite. He was the best, the most
ferocious competitor of all time. The stats say he's a
Hall of Famer. It's a matter of time, and I
(17:01):
hate it. I feel it. I feel the paint every
time I see him. I feel the paint every year.
This time that his name is not called a he
doesn't make it to the finals, that he's not up
on that stage with the gold jacket.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
All right, buddy, listen.
Speaker 3 (17:12):
I appreciate you as always, and hopefully you and I
can can share a press box together at least one
more time before the season's up.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
Where can they watch you this weekend?
Speaker 1 (17:21):
Yeah, I'll be on Queen City News Black and Blue
Kickoff Live. That'll be ten am on Saturday morning. We'll
get everybody set up and ready for the big game
in Tampa at four point thirty. I've already told you
my prediction. You'll hear it at the end of the show.
I think the Panthers get it done. But check out
everybody else see what everybody else thinks about this upcoming
weekends matchup.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
Love it. Thank you, buddy. We'll talk to you soon.
Speaker 3 (17:42):
Al Wallace, former Carolina Panther, and as you heard right there,
Black and Blue Live Queen City News Saturday morning, ten am,
and then make sure to tune in two pm on
Saturday here on WFNZ. Countdown to kick Off. Me and
Mack in studio for two hours of pre game leading
up to a four to thirty kick in Tampa Bay
seven four five, seven ninety six ten. Hit us up
(18:02):
on the FanDuel text line. We'll come back. We'll take
your phone calls and I do want to take a
look at the biggest sports stories of twenty twenty five.
Sports Radio ninety two seven wfn Z. What do you
(18:30):
think was the biggest sports story of twenty twenty five?
Seven oh four five seven ninety six ten. We have
reached the end of the calendar year well tomorrow, but
we're out tomorrow, I am anyway, and we have alternate
programming in a sense tomorrow Young Guns from eight to noon.
That'll be Fitty Flounder and Shroppy from eight to noon,
and then at noon Panthers rather Hornets pregame from twelve
(18:54):
to one. Then the Hornets take on Steph Curry and
the Golden State Warriors in the afternoon. That'll be followed
up by ESPN Radio following the game tomorrow evening. So tomorrow,
the end of calendar year twenty twenty five. Biggest and
best stories in sports from twenty twenty five? What's the
one thing you would point to? Seven oh four five
seven oh ninety six ten smoke? For me, it's easy,
(19:15):
and well, as a fan, it's easy because we got
to watch what I believe is the greatest World Series
ever played and my team won it. So as a fan,
that one's kind of easy for me. Dodgers beating the
Blue Jays in seven insane baseball games to repeat as
World Series champs, three titles in six years, back to
back crowns, a series that featured an eighteen inning marathon,
(19:39):
a pinch hit grand Slam, a walk off, extra inning
double play to win it. I do believe that it
was the greatest World Series ever played in the history
of baseball. So that that's my answer. If I had
to pick just one, not a bad one. I think
you're in the right area code, but not the right sport.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (19:58):
The biggest story was the trade of Luca Doncs because
it came as good of nowhere, that's good. I remember
what looking at that tweet, thinking this has to be
a fake Sham's account or Salm's account, yep, And then
you look at it it's like, no, that's that's his
actual account.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
It's verified.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
And then the return, the lack of return, Nico Harrison
becoming the scapegoat, the NBA rigging, the Mavericks somehow winning
the lottery to get Cooper Flagg and so on and so
forth like this, I think it has to be Luca
and all the stuff that transpired immediately after, it didn't
feel like that Luca trade breathed new life into the NBA. Yes,
(20:37):
and it happened at a good time because it's just
months before their new TV deal of NBC and Amazon,
and I think, by the way, both both networks have
been a positive for the NBA. Outside of Dwayne Wade
taking shots at the Hornets, I don't think I didn't
see that. I hear you. I know I saw that too.
But just to stay on topic here, I think you're
right because it felt at the time. Remember, Adam Silver
(20:57):
was doing a lot of griping at that general time
about how the NBA media covered the league, and there
was a lot of criticism everything from the crap NBA
All Star Weekend and the you know death of the
All Star Game to you know, just the you know,
lack of star veteran players in the league. And there
was a lot of talk about the spiraling regular season
television ratings and everything else. And then all of a sudden,
(21:20):
we get this insane trade Luca to LA for Anthony
Davis uh in the middle of the night, private deal
by Nico Harrison and Rob Polinka and everybody's looking around
like that's the most you could. You couldn't have done better.
You didn't You didn't shop him on the the open market,
you didn't create a bidding war. You could have gotten
eight first round picks for this guy. And then you're right,
(21:41):
you know, not that long after, you know, we think we,
you know, find out that the Dallas Mavericks have landed
the number one overall pick miraculously to replace Luca with
a generational star in Cooper Flag. And by the way,
after a slow stark, Cooper Flag's been getting on the
role in the last two weeks.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
He has he has not helping cons chance Y. Yeah,
that's true.
Speaker 3 (22:01):
Dog m Dog on the text line just said he's
so consumed by sports that he can't think of a
best in twenty twenty five or maybe I'm just thirty
five years old now, I mean, listen, you're trying to
look back at an entire year of sports stories, and
those of us who follow sports, you're right on a
daily basis, it's it's easy to forget what's taken place
over the course of the last twelve months. A lot
(22:23):
of folks texting in the gambling scandal, and I couldn't
agree more. Twenty twenty five was the year that we
kind of realized, oh, this is a real problem. That
the gambling chatter became a full blown scandal and NBA
point shaving scandal involving the mob and individual over unders
and Terry Rozier and Jhonte Porter and you know, names
(22:43):
like that. You had two Cleveland Guardians pitchers also who
you know, that story kind of got overshadowed, but not
long after the Bay or the basketball part of this
came out, and you know, Terry Rogier was the name
splashed all across the headlines. And then you we didn't
even get into the Chauncey Billups, that's right.
Speaker 2 (22:58):
And Chauncey Billips absolutely.
Speaker 3 (23:00):
And he got fired in Thiago Splitters now the interim
head coach.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
That's right.
Speaker 3 (23:04):
Trying to think men's college basketball had multiple teams accused
of of you know, implicated and throwing games. New Orleans
the date that Master p got hired as GM, that's
really good. That's a good one too. Somebody said the
demise of the Chiefs on the text line.
Speaker 2 (23:19):
I like that one.
Speaker 3 (23:20):
You know, start of the year, Chiefs get beaten by
the Eagles in the Super Bowl that beaten a very
kind well, they got throttled by the Eagles in the
Super Bowl. That Super Bowl, by the way, became the
most watched broadcast in US history. Eagles won that game
forty twenty two. It's almost like people actually like dynasties,
even though they say they don't.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
Well, yeah, that's true.
Speaker 3 (23:40):
But also, you know, in a year with more streaming
options than ever, the entire country still found one channel
for four hours on a Sunday in February, and it
became the most watched Super Bowl of all time. But
you know, by the end of the same calendar year,
of course, the Chiefs missed the playoffs for the first
time in the Mahomes era. And he blows out his
knee and the franchise then announces this controversial plan to
(24:02):
move across the state line into Kansas by twenty thirty one.
And we haven't really talked about this. You want to
talk about one of the most lopsided deals in the
history of stadium deals. I still can't believe there are
people out there that will defend these things.
Speaker 2 (24:15):
It's unbelievable. What's above lopsided, because this is what this
deal is It's.
Speaker 3 (24:19):
Truly one of the most egregious stadium deals that I've
ever seen. And then, of course the Bears try to
jump into it, like, hey, by the way, we might
move the team to Gary, Indiana if Illinois doesn't give
us what we want. I mean, good luck with that.
Can you imagine the Chicago Bears being in Gary, Indiana?
Just how absurd that would be. But you know, when
you can hold local politicians who are largely inept and corrupt,
(24:41):
you know, when you can you force them to do
what you want and vote in favor of public dollars
for these things, and people don't pay enough attention to it,
That's what happens. But yeah, the Chiefs are moving across
state lines from Missouri into Kansas, and the Bears are
threatening to move to Gary, Indiana. So we got all
that going on once again.
Speaker 2 (24:57):
You know to Hornsaw will front the move to Virginia Beach.
Speaker 3 (24:59):
Yeah, yeah, how many times has that happened over the years.
Let's see shrimp and Gritz, says Rory, and the masters.
Then Steph going nuts to win the Golden medal. I
like that one a lot. Let's see what else do
we have?
Speaker 1 (25:10):
Wait?
Speaker 2 (25:10):
Wait, Steph was last year? Was it?
Speaker 1 (25:12):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (25:13):
Yeah, that was twenty twenty four.
Speaker 3 (25:15):
I don't blame because that, you know, we kind of
get the years mixed up now. Yeah, but yeah, definitely
Rory and the Masters. That's a definitely a good one.
Completing the career Grand Slam. Yeah, Yeah, that's that's a
big one. I like that one too if you're just
tuning in. But what you think is the biggest sports
story of twenty twenty five? Seven oh four, five, seven
oh ninety six ten? As we reached the end of
the calendar year, what do you look at as the
biggest sports story in twenty twenty five seven oh four, five,
(25:39):
seven oh ninety six ten. Trying to think, I'll say it,
Lang Kiffin going full link, Ki Lane Kiffin going full
Lane Kiffin.
Speaker 2 (25:46):
I like that. Let's see what else I think.
Speaker 3 (25:49):
This was also the year that streaming in sports media
that just took over everything. Disney and ESPN buying the
NFL network and the Red Zone brand as well taking
a ten NFL equity stake. One of the biggest media
deals in league history had Major League Baseball signing new
packages with NBC.
Speaker 2 (26:08):
And decided to have NBC gets Sunday Night basebal.
Speaker 3 (26:10):
Yeah, I'm looking forward to seeing what that looks like.
You know, I was sad that that ESPN really dropped
the ball over the past several years, and it's baseball coverage.
I mean, ever since Schulmann said, Hey, I'm just going
to go back to doing Blue Jays games, it's not
been the same. No, no, I agree, but Major League
Baseball signing new packages with NBC and Netflix, moving Sunday
Night Baseball to NBC. Netflix gets Opening Night, the Home
(26:32):
Run Derby, and the twenty twenty six Field of Dreams game,
TNT's legendary inside the NBA. Landing at ESPN instead of
dying is another one. Sports are more valuable than ever
because they're live, which makes them the last big chip
in the streaming wars. And there are now so many
subscriptions that you almost can't afford to go to games
because you're paying for all the streaming platforms just to
(26:53):
watch the games. But this is the business model that
they've set up. We had a lot of US leagues
go abroad too this year, the NFL playing its first
regular season game in Madrid, part of a broader push
for more international games. Major League baseball opening up its
season in Tokyo with the Dodgers and the Cubs drawing
massive crowds and you know, massive global TV audiences. You
(27:15):
got the United States hosting the expanded FIFA World Club
World Cup that happened here in Charlotte as well. Twenty
twenty five, you know, the year that the US stopped
being a sports market and finally became a or fully became,
i should say, the global stage. There was a lot
of that, Hell, we're taking college football to Brazil with
Virginia and in so what do we doing? What are
we doing that? By the way, what year is that?
Speaker 2 (27:36):
Again? Is that next year? Is it is?
Speaker 1 (27:38):
Next year? Right?
Speaker 2 (27:38):
All right?
Speaker 3 (27:39):
Biggest sports story of twenty twenty five, seven oh four, five,
seven oh ninety six ten. A lot of folks saying
the NASCAR lawsuit to MJ and Denny Hamlin and twenty
three to eleven in front row taking NASCAR to court
and winning. That was one of the biggest stories of
sports in twenty twenty five. A massive win for NASCAR
and teams moving forward. Lots of it, yeah, yeah, lots
of people saying John Cena in twenty twenty five because
(27:59):
it was a retirement tour. No, I know why they
butchered it. I'll tell you that for sure. Having Travis
Scott be involved in a dud of a main event
at WrestleMania.
Speaker 2 (28:09):
M m that was bad.
Speaker 3 (28:10):
Having oh, let's go get brock Lizard back one more
time for him to squash Johnson.
Speaker 2 (28:14):
That wasn't Gesus so stupid.
Speaker 3 (28:17):
I mean, Turningham Hill at this point was done because
they should have done it in twenty twelve. Yeah, it
just was butchered. It was you know, uh, Triple H's
completely butchered. One of the biggest stories. This was honestly
one of the biggest bag fumbles of a storyline since
the WWFWCW invasion in two thousand and one. Yeah, a
lot of Hokies fans saying, James Franklin to Blacksburg love
that selfishly love that answer. Let's take some phone calls.
(28:39):
P Mack is up first here in this segment. P Mack,
what's going on? Brother?
Speaker 2 (28:42):
How are you hey?
Speaker 1 (28:44):
Guys?
Speaker 4 (28:44):
Well, I guess I come in out. I was gonna
talk about how I'm not really happy with the Panthers
right now. But if we're going to stay on that topic,
I can't believe you guys haven't mentioned it, but my
sports story of the year is going to be Shador
Sanders going on the fifth round because that lasted for days.
Speaker 1 (28:59):
I feel like it.
Speaker 4 (28:59):
That's a good That was just kind of yeah, that
was huge.
Speaker 1 (29:01):
I just did not mind. I don't think anyone did.
Speaker 3 (29:04):
He said, that's a good one. That's a good one.
I feel free. Panthers, what you got.
Speaker 4 (29:11):
Yeah, guys, I'm just really frustrated because I'm seeing Lee
and Cohen uh in Jacksonville, who was who didn't have
a whole lot of experience, and he's got the Jags
at twelve and four, and here we are. We're still
trying to battle this thing out and try to make
the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (29:27):
And every year.
Speaker 4 (29:28):
I told Will Paul Logic the other the other day,
I said, it feels like we haven't had a complete
game all season long where both the offense and the
defense played together as one. Like go back to like
the forty nine Ers game Monday night. The defense was
playing great, but the offense just held us back. And
then you've got games where the offense takes off and
then the defense hold us back, and it's super frustrating
(29:48):
to see Dave can allis in the second year, even
though we are kind of there, you just see other
guys that are just like in the league that have
taken their teams and just shot off, like Liam Cohen
with Jacksonville. So that's where I'm frustrated about guys.
Speaker 3 (30:01):
I no, I hear you, happy to year p Mack.
I appreciate the phone call. There will be a lot
of people that'll tell you that the reason is that
Bryce Young isn't good enough. I know that I'm going
to get those texts when you say that, would you
is the Jacksonville roster better than the Carolina roster?
Speaker 2 (30:15):
Okay?
Speaker 3 (30:16):
I figured you'd say yes. Do you think it's significantly better?
Speaker 5 (30:19):
No?
Speaker 3 (30:20):
But I think this because you know, Trent Balkey was
a GM there for a while, but they hit at
a quicker rate at their main positions than Carolina did,
specifically defensive end. When you have to say what you
will for Trayvon Walker and he's not you know, Aiden Hutchinson,
but have Trayvon Walker as your number two defensive end,
he'd beat the main guy getting about one hundred million
(30:42):
dollars at least from Carolina right now, and that doesn't
even equate into Josh Hines Allen, So I think even
though Trimp Balkey was very flawed, they were just a
playoff team two three years ago. And if it wasn't
for Trevor Lawrence getting hurt two years ago, they would
have been a playoff team again because they were like
eight and three before they collapsed when he got hurt
(31:03):
in that Monday night game against the Bengals. So I
think you got to look at it like that. And
the fact is too you know, Liam Cohen also had
a better year in Tampa Bay compared to Dave Canalis.
And when you look at this roster, the roster was
in a whole lot worse of shape compared to what
Jacksonville's was entering this year. Yeah, back to the phone lines,
(31:24):
our buddy, who's your Bobby is back here?
Speaker 2 (31:26):
What's going on? Bobby?
Speaker 5 (31:28):
Happy? New Year's Eve? Eve, Kyle and smoke?
Speaker 2 (31:30):
Thanks Buddy, you too, Hey.
Speaker 5 (31:33):
A lot of good ones on that list for me.
Speaker 6 (31:36):
So officially, it's gonna be Indiana finishing number one and
beating the buck Eyes in the Big Ten Championship. Maybe
we can add to that with a Natty Well that
remains to be seen.
Speaker 2 (31:46):
Boy, wouldn't not be incredible.
Speaker 5 (31:48):
It blows my mind, it really does.
Speaker 6 (31:55):
As far as the game this weekend, I'm not worried
about coaches prepared or the players preparedness. They know what's
on the line and and they're they're they're ready to
get it done. But I think the key to the
game is going to be the Bucks players. Are they
playing for pride or if they don't give a damn
about the game. I think that's really going to be
(32:16):
the key to the outcome of that game.
Speaker 1 (32:17):
What do you think.
Speaker 3 (32:18):
I think they're going to be all in and I
don't know what. I don't know what that looks like,
but like I do think it. Like now that they
know that a win doesn't guarantee them a playoff spot,
I wonder if that impacts things a bit, But like
they can if they win, they're they're they're very possibly
going to the playoffs. So I would expect Tampa to
come out and play hard. Now, I think you could
(32:38):
probably Carolina can break their spirit early if they start fast.
I do believe that. But I think you're going to
get the Bucks best shot at least in the first half.
Speaker 5 (32:47):
Okay, let's let's just hope for that.
Speaker 6 (32:49):
As far as breaking their their will. And one last thing,
you know, another great year from all the broadcasts at
w f n Z providing just so many memories and
all the shows that you guys just continually build community
here in Charlotte in the greater area, and you guys
create bonds. I don't know if you guys realize that
(33:10):
that bond's like. I got to meet DVR Dave this
year at the Doghouse last Sunday, I got to meet
Panther Bow's dad. I met Bagel Guy, and I can
speak for other listeners too.
Speaker 5 (33:19):
I'm sure that feel the same way. I just I
want to speak for all.
Speaker 6 (33:23):
Oil listeners that that matters.
Speaker 5 (33:26):
And we really appreciate you guys and hope you I
have a happy un yet.
Speaker 3 (33:28):
Well, we appreciate you too, buddy. Thank you for saying
that right out. C. Bagel Guy was texting in right
as you said his name. We got great listeners, we
got great people. It's one of the best parts of
the job to go out to remote broadcast, to be
at the doghouse and all the places we go and
to meet y'all, so we appreciate it. It's really truly
one of the best parts of the job. Also didn't
have DVR Dave being on a Panther's victory dance on
(33:50):
my Bengo car for this year, but to last year.
We are also that Corn Cob Craig is up next, Craig,
what's going on?
Speaker 7 (33:57):
Yeah, Hey, Happy New Year's to you guys. And say,
in terms of the best sports story of the year,
I think you guys are missing a really big one.
But in saying that, I'm going to profess some regional
bias as well as Arab bias because I grew up
in the golden days of boxing. But hey, Terrence Bud
(34:17):
Crawford winning championships in three or four weight divisions is
pretty miraculous. The guy would be all time great in
any area of boxing. And hey, real quick. Specific to
the Panthers, boy just related that they're in this position
this late in the year, and credit to Canalis and Morgan.
(34:39):
I think what's exciting is is that the culture they're
building hopefully will attract some pre agents that want to
be involved in Panther football. I guess the other thing
I would mention if I was an opposing defensive coordinator,
I'd tell my players to absolutely trust your scouting report
to the tea and don't expect anything unexpected. I guess
(35:05):
I'm looking at coach Canalis, and if he was a decoordinator,
I think he'd probably be ben. But don't break at
this point because his offensive play calling is it's solid,
but it's static, and it really seems to be, you know,
without some creative risk. And I think when he adds
that to the repertoire, he's going to be just a
great coach.
Speaker 1 (35:25):
But uh, you.
Speaker 7 (35:28):
Know, I think I think Bill Wallsh used to say
that the gimmick play and the trick play, you know,
it's a way to uh kind of get a defense
off balance. Now I haven't said that. I will give
Canalis credit for finding a creative way to run the
quarterback snake.
Speaker 1 (35:44):
Oh that was great.
Speaker 3 (35:45):
Well it almost it almost didn't work, but thank you brother,
you too. Happy New Year, Craig. Almost didn't work. I
like the play, I thought. I like the play de
is on with the Mitchell Evans QB or the the
tush push or whatever the hell we're calling it is
the right, whatever the I don't know what they're calling it,
but quarterback snake did. I like the play design. I
did it almost didn't work, but I like the play design.
Speaker 1 (36:03):
All right.
Speaker 2 (36:03):
Let's go to smoke on the headlines, all right, Kyle.
Speaker 3 (36:09):
The Hornets injury report is officially out and officially out
of the game tomorrow against Golden State. Ryan Kachbriner, Mason Plumley,
and Grant Williams. Pat Connaton left ankle soreness in Miles
Bridges with his right ankle sprain are questionable. Conker Nipple
with his right ankle sprain is probable.
Speaker 2 (36:31):
Let's go. I told you he was going to play tomorrow.
He's a dog. He's a dog. Man.
Speaker 3 (36:35):
I told you he was going to play tomorrow, all right,
And I actually got one thing. Remember yesterday, Clemson fired
offensive coordinator Garrett Riley. According to Pete Nkos, who says
you can't go home, one of the early favorites for
the job to replace Garrett Riley Chad Moore.
Speaker 2 (36:52):
Oh, let's go.
Speaker 3 (36:53):
God, that makes me happy. I don't know if it
makes Clemson fans happy, but man, I Clemson fans, how
would you feel about a reunion with Chad Morris. It's
been a good year for the Morris family, by the way,
So Chandler Morris led Virginia to the most wins they've
ever had in school history. Yeah, and we got eleven
wins for the first time in one hundred and fifty years.
Speaker 2 (37:11):
Go wahoos. I was hoping you'd do that.
Speaker 3 (37:13):
Okay, I just want to make I want to make
Cavalier Steve madd one more time in twenty twenty five. Well,
come back, We'll take a quick look at the college
football playoff quarterfinals, and we'll wrap up the show.
Speaker 2 (37:22):
Sports Radio ninety two to seven wfn Z.
Speaker 3 (37:38):
One final times, Sports Radio ninety two to seven wfn Z,
Smoke and I wrapping up our final show together in
twenty twenty five. This always feels like a little bit
dramatic because it's like we're back on Monday, or like
we'll see you next year in twenty twenty six, and
it's it's true, and we're gonna take the I'm gonna
take the rest of the week off. Hopefully I don't
get the flu tomorrow, but I might get the flu
tomorrow and we'll see that impacts the rest of the weekend.
(38:01):
But lots of programming the rest of the week. The
Young Guns with Shroppy, Fiddy and Flounder. First thing, tomorrow
morning at eight am, so you can sleep in a
little bit, but you'll have some live sports radio from
eight am to noon tomorrow before the Hornets. Coverage takes
over at noon with Willie p and T Bone on
the pregame show one o'clock tip against the Golden State Warriors.
(38:21):
But also tomorrow the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff,
the winners, by the way, advancing to the Semis on
January eighth and ninth, with matchups in the I Guess
Fiesta Bowl and Peach Bowl next weekend. But we got
four games starts tomorrow Miami and Ohio State quarterfinals seven
(38:43):
thirty tomorrow night at and T Stadium the Cotton Bowl
down in Arlington, Texas, which got by the way, do
you want to let people know you can hear that
game right here on sports radio WFNZ.
Speaker 2 (38:52):
There you go.
Speaker 3 (38:53):
We got Miami at eleven and two, Ohio State twelve
and one. You know, Miami advanced with a gritty ten
to three road win over A and M and their
College Football Playoff debut, leaning on a punishing defense in
a physical run game, and Ohio State earning a first
round by is the number two seed and seeking redemption
(39:13):
after a loss in the Big Ten Championship. You've got
defensive titans colliding in this one. Miami's defense ranking him
among the best in the nation, holding teams to low
scoring and controlling the line of scrimmage. Ohio States defense
under Matt Patricia is also stout to say the least.
This should be a hell of a fight in the
trenches tomorrow night. And you got this quarterback matchup. Julian
(39:34):
Sayan of Ohio State. He's been electric all year, thirty
one passing touchdowns, and then Carson Beck on the other side,
not quite as electric, but bringing a lot of experience
and some playmaking ability.
Speaker 2 (39:45):
And I think how.
Speaker 3 (39:47):
Both of these squads, but maybe Ohio State in particular
protect their quarterback, are going to be really interesting to
watch and could decide this game tomorrow night.
Speaker 2 (39:55):
Who do you like in this game?
Speaker 3 (39:57):
I think I give a slight edge to Ohio State.
I don't trust Ohio State as much as a lot
of pundits do. I just feel like a lot of
people just assume, oh it's Ohio State.
Speaker 2 (40:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (40:06):
And while I think Julian Sayan is a good quarterback
and they have a lot of good weapons, I just
don't really feel like he's been tested that much yet,
and when he has been tested, it hasn't delivered. Like
in the Indiana game and in the Michigan game, I
think it was just stuff around him really worked out.
Speaker 2 (40:22):
So I think that'll be tough.
Speaker 3 (40:23):
But the defense for Ohio State, man, it's just as
punishing as Miami's. And unfortunately for Miami, it's one of
those things where the worst of Julian saying I think
is still better than the worst of Carson Beck, and
I can't trust Carson Beck as much in the situation,
even though he's the veteran in this match.
Speaker 2 (40:42):
I would agree with that.
Speaker 3 (40:43):
So that's the game tomorrow night, and then on Thursday
the noon game Texas Tech and Oregon number four versus
Number five in Miami at hard Rock Stadium. You got
the Ducks and that offense tempo playmaking Texas Tech's defense
an aggressive pass rush that could make things uncomfortable for
Dante Moore and give them some opportunities. I don't know,
(41:06):
this could I don't know which way this game goes.
Could be high scoring, but you could see some big
defensive plays as well. I don't know what who do
you like in this one. I love this Texas Tech team,
and I think this is honestly the most intriguing matchup
of this round.
Speaker 2 (41:19):
Here agreed, I.
Speaker 3 (41:23):
Go back to that Texas Tech BYU game. Both of them,
it just felt like the offense couldn't get going into
that next step. And I don't know if I can
trust the offense, I can trust the defense.
Speaker 2 (41:32):
Or Texas Tech.
Speaker 3 (41:32):
But I feel like Dante Moore is eventually going to
make some plays down to stretch to get them into victory.
Speaker 2 (41:39):
So I give a slight edge to Oregon as well.
Speaker 3 (41:40):
I think for as much hayin ringing as there was
for the first round matchups, I feel like this round
we're gonna see a lot of close games down to stretch.
Then the four o'clock game on Thursday Alabama Number one
Indiana against number nine Alabama feels like a classic offense
versus defense chess match. You got that big, beefy Indiana
offensive line again. Weird things that you never thought you'd say,
(42:03):
but like, does Indiana have a clear advantage up front?
Alabama's defensive front is you know, can be gnarly at times,
but that Indiana offensive line, man, the way they've been
able to lean on that group.
Speaker 2 (42:14):
I just I can't believe.
Speaker 3 (42:15):
I find myself again going into a game like this
believing that Indiana is the clear favorite and should absolutely
win the game.
Speaker 2 (42:21):
Chris Signatty's been waiting seventeen years to get back at Alabama. Yeah,
he's getting this win. I think so too.
Speaker 3 (42:27):
I think he's getting to win. I think Indiana's playing
the national championship game. They got the best weapon, they
got the best, better quarterback. I honestly, I feel like
Keimby's actually been a underrated part of Indiana season. It
doesn't get talked about enough the former Maryland running backs.
So I just I think all the pieces are there
for them to go after it. And then the late
game on Thursday night, Number three Georgia, Number six, Ole
(42:49):
Miss Georgia. Yeah, I just think george is the more
balanced team. Miss is ole Miss is explosive. Okay, Yes,
this is a game that's about I think balance versus
exploss Georgia is a disciplined team, and I think in
spots like this that can be the biggest counter to
an ole Miss playmaking and explosive attack. In a game
(43:10):
like this, I feel like you just trust Georgia Moore.
They're steadier and it'd been getting better and better as
the season goes. I thought they were the best team
in the country coming into this tournament. Yeah, personally, I
give a lot of credit to Indiana. Ohio State's really tough,
but I felt like Georgia was the best team coming in.
I can't wait for these games. It's gonna be a
lot of fun. We got to go for the last
(43:31):
time in twenty twenty five. We'll talk to you again
in this form Smoke an eye together next Monday to
start rolling downhill. In twenty twenty six, we go tipping
our caps courtesy of our friends at Neogenics, where they
help heal joint pain naturally with no surgery, no medication,
no downtime. Go to neogenicstemsales dot com. Smoke what you got,
Tip of my cap to kankin Nipple, Yeah, do.
Speaker 2 (43:54):
Love it.
Speaker 3 (43:54):
I'll tip my cap to the wfn Z listeners. We
had a great, great year. Let's do it again in
twenty twenty six for smoke I KB It's Sports Radio
ninety two seven wfn Z. You're gonna be dead in
one hundred years anyway, Live dangerously
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