Takin' it to the Streets

Andy and Mike inch closer to the end of the season with Mike once again peeking his head above the 60% ATS level. The playoffs seem to be a hodgepodge of mediocrity. Who will emerge from the pack in a crowded field of similarity? Which teams will take the journey as the Streets wind toward the playoffs.

In this episode:

• Is the NFL experiencing true parity or just widespread mediocrity?

• The end of automatic playoff assumptions for...

Deep in the mountains and valleys of America exists a cadre, a brotherhood and sisterhood bonded by the thrill of completing a grueling journey. They will attempt to run 100 miles (nearly 4 marathons) consecutively under a given time limit. While they attempt this, some will bond to pass the time or out of deep human necessity. On this episode, Jeff Mikesell, a veteran of 73 ultramarathons and Matt Casalone, a rookie, join Andy to ...

New York Times bestselling author and sports journalist icon Gary Myers joins Andy on “The Streets.” An NFL acumen that spans decades as a columnist to one of 50 NFL Hall of Fame voters, Gary recently authored “Brady vs. Belichick (The Dynasty Debate).” In his latest of seven books written and has rekindled the generational debate as to who was the bigger “impact player” in the New England dynasty? Gary discusses the NFL Hall of Fa...

This is the time of year where the casual fan declares a team “needing” a game. Truth be told, why do they need the game? Mike brings his sparkling 59% ATS mark to the table (through 13 weeks) while Andy lags at 47%. Which teams are for real and which are posers gets addressed in detail entering the 14th week of the NFL season. New York Times best-selling author Gary Myers joins the Streets next week. 

Key Topics:

• Week 14 NFL...

As we head into the football crescendo of the season, Thanksgiving weekend, we realize many teams are done. While it seems too early to be done, this is the age of parity and early exit is part of the current landscape. Mike has embarked on an EPIC first year against the spread. He is currently 61% ATS (22-14) and to that the listener of Takin’ it to the Streets owes thanks. 

As we near the NFL playoffs the question of what a te...

“America’s Pastime” is the topic with the great Jose Cruz Junior making his second visit to the Streets. The current state of the game, AI overtaking umpiring, the past World Series and worst calls of all time are discussed. What will the future bring as Junior shares his favorite baseball movie of all-time. Mike then joins Andy for Week 12 analysis as both look to improve on their ATS marks for the season: 58/48%.  

What’s insi...

The NFL season has pushed past the halfway point and the suggestion of whether we are in a state of mediocrity or parity is in question. Are the Eagles abundantly the best? Are the Titans as far away as their record suggests? Fox’s Chris Myers makes his second appearance on the Streets as he and Andy reflect on this topic as well as reminisce about great NFL teams of yesteryear. Was there a better defense than the ’85 Bears? Who wa...

The New York Jets have made a splash that Daryl Hannah as “Madison” would be envious of. After years living in the NFL desert, the Jets looked themselves in the mirror and took the brave step of rebuilding their franchise with new personnel. It won’t be tomorrow, it won’t be next season but Crosby, Stills and Nash said it best, “Daylight Again.” 

Mike is having an excellent season at 62% against the spread and Andy has shown lif...

This week, Andy and Mike dive headfirst into the chaos of modern sports, starting with the NBA’s latest gambling scandal. Is it addiction, stupidity or just the new normal? From prop bets that got way out of hand to Vegas lines that practically run the games, they break down the dark side of professional sports before turning to NFL Week 9.

With Mike riding high at 15-9 and Andy close behind, they dig into Vegas over/under predictio...

This episode reminisces over the making and inspiration of the movie, “Breaking Away.” Andy tells of the screenplay writer’s story, Steve Tesich. Tesich was a student at Indiana University in the 60’s. He began his career working in Brooklyn as a case worker in the welfare department before writing a few off-Broadway plays (Olympia Dukakis, Vincent Gardenia and Eileen Brennan were among some of the actors featured). Tesich was on a...

A third of the way through with the NFL season and Andy and Mike are battling with their “head on” against the spread competition. Overall, Mike is ahead at 10-8 while Andy trails at 8-10. Are the Falcons the NFL’s version of Costco’s Kirkland brand? Do they seemingly have all the intrinsics that Detroit has minus the brand name trust? Both share thoughts from Week 6 before making their 3 selections for Week 7. 

Pour yourself an...

The Streets felt like the Dave Mason classic, “We Just Disagree.” Andy and Mike come with opposing opinions of the current NFL and handicapping in general. The Streets has always been a home for dissenting view and this week was no different. 

Andy continues to question Buffalo and Detroit while Mike believes the Shedeur Sanders Cleveland saga is noisy and a bit of a non-story. 

Is Josh Allen’s career taking on the same traits of Dan...

25% into the NFL season some things are starting to represent themselves as fact. 

1. Baltimore is struggling and loaded with injury, is there a way to save this season? 

2. Is the Bears blocking a field goal at the gun in Las Vegas a precursor to a playoff season in the make? Did they “get away with one” on the road? 

3. Is Buffalo a bad 4-0 team? Hosting both sides of a “mini bye” and scraping by with wins over Miami and New Orleans ...

Beemer comes back to the Streets with a New York City edge of a man primed and ready for the 2025 Ryder Cup to be held on Long Island at Bethpage Black. While Andy and Beemer share New York City stories of their first in-person meeting, the anecdotes range from Andy visiting Memorial Park (home of the 911 memorial) to the upcoming Ryder Cup and what it means to both sides. 

• Is the European motivation toward glory enough to t...

Andy is 4-5 and Mike 5-4 ATS. The “Street” is a long and taxing one that is filled with highs and lows but as this street has always taught us, “Never too high, never too low.” 

• Are there problems in Baltimore? 

• Are there problems in Kansas City or are there problems in both? 

• Do “key” numbers matter in sports handicapping? 

Chicago and Carolina are attached at the hip due to the big trade they made a couple of years a...

The NFL has always been governed by its rules which are enforced by the officials. There have been many changes to the rule book, over the years, but of the past decade the impetus has been on scoring. Andy and Mike discuss the status of NFL officiating and the ferocity of the “fraternity” that is the NFL referee community. They don’t bend, they don’t break and seemingly they are “Teflon” in not being subjugated to the ridicule and...

Did the Bears choke or was it Minnesota’s greatness as a team that paved the way to victory at Soldier Field? How many things had to break an unlikely way for Buffalo to beat Baltimore? 

Mike and Andy break down the past week’s games and both pick 3 games for Week Two. “The House” continues its carnage on the public after a terrible 2024 season. Mike discusses the “lessons he learned” this week while Andy puts his 3-0 ATS mark o...

On a train bound for nowhere, Takin’ it to the Streets began unassumingly at the end of season 2023 “Breaking Down the Thanksgiving Games.” The show hadn’t made it to the bright lights and glamour of YouTube, the Rich Beem era, just grinding it out and livin’ on a prayer. That first show’s guest was Mike McLaughlin who appears in this week’s NFL week one episode. 

Lots on the table..  Is it the year of the Jaguar and Liam Coen? ...

The PGA season winds to its finish with 30 of its members still standing having withstood the grind of the long season and ready to play for the Fed Ex Championship. What was the story this season? Rory’s completion of the career grand slam at Augusta? J.J.’s putt at Oakmont? Gotterup’s arrival (on the scene) in Europe? Scottie’s dominance? Tommy’s inability to close out a 54-hole lead multiple times? Who is John Galt?? Perhaps the...