Yes, you are. Welcome in, everybody. David Shepard in for the great JR Sport Brief here, our number four of the busy program. It is always a pleasure to be with you on the Infinity Sports Network. You could be getting us on SiriusXM channel 375.
You could be checking us out for free on the Odyssey app, getting us on your local affiliate or a smart speaker device near you.
However you choose to consume the Infinity Sports Network again. It is a pleasure to be with you on this Tuesday evening. And so far, we've had a lot of action in baseball on Tuesday. The Brewers continue to show you why they are baseball's best. Pete Alonzo making history for the New York Mets, becoming the all-time franchise leader, passing the straw man, aka Daryl Strawberry, with 253 home runs.
Even more impressive is that he did it in 150 less games. We know we're in the heart of baseball season right now. But we also know We got college football just around the corner, and we found out. on Monday that for the first time Texas. The Longhorns, they're going to open the college football season ranked as the number one team.
In the Associated Press Top 25 poll, and the best part about this. is that we know this number one ranked team is going to be facing Ohio State on August 30th. And you got to be really excited for that because you have two of the top three teams in college football. And Texas, the fact that they are in this position is a testament to Steve Sarkeesian and the job that he has done in his few years in the Lone Star State. He took over, they were 5-7 in 2021.
And then what happens? They end up becoming. The only team over the last couple seasons to make it to not one, but two straight national semifinal games, and they have won 25 of their last 30 games.
So you know that they are going to be right in the thick of things again in 2025. And look no further than August 30th because they are going to have quite the challenge against Ohio State. And here's what's interesting. They are the only number one team since this poll has existed to actually go into their first game of a college football season. And be the underdogs.
That is the case because, as you very well know, and it might have saved Ryan Day's job, Ohio State. Are the reigning national champions, and they right now are the favorite by two and a half points. It obviously takes place in Columbus. This is going to be exciting for a multitude of reasons, not just the fact that you have two of the top three teams. But you got Manning Mania, Arch Manning finally.
Getting the proverbial football handed to him where he doesn't have to look over his shoulder for Quinn Ewers getting healthy again. Arch Manning is going to be the guy for Texas moving forward.
So, this to me is. is going to be one of the bigger games we see in all of college football. And at SEC Media Day, Steve Sarkesian talked about Having this game italicized and starred on his calendar, because he very well knows it's gonna set the tone. For the rest of the season, this is one of the more colorful, more captivating, more scintillating head coaches you will find in college football. And thank God, because it seems like half of them are getting out because of NIL and the transfer portal.
Hi, Nick Sabin. This is Steve Sarkeesian looking to get national championship number one, something that Sabin has six of. Let's take a listen to the Texas head coach talking about facing Ohio State come August 30th.
Now, we got a lot of work to do. This is a very talented team. They got new offensive coordinator, new defensive coordinator. We've got some new coaches that we're getting acclimated to what we're doing. We've got new faces, new players that we're going to be counting on, some transfers and things.
You start to shift the focus away from the emotional side and you start drilling into, you know, this is going to be a good team. You know, it's going to be a tough environment. You know, we're going to need to play good football that day to come out on top. And so that's where our focus goes to. And I think our players in the same vein.
The competitor knew is easy. Yeah, we want to go win that game. We want to go avenge the loss. But the reality is this is a whole new year and a different set of circumstances obviously on the table, but obviously recognizing and respecting that this is a heck of an opponent who's going to be a great challenge. Yeah, but Stark being ranked number one for the first time.
in school history to begin this season. That's gotta feel pretty good, right? It really doesn't matter. That's how I drown it out. I tell the guys exactly that.
Okay, so dismiss my point. It's irrelevant. To the way the season's going to go. It's irrelevant to the way we're going to play. It's irrelevant to how our opponents are going to play.
Maybe it puts a little bigger bullseye on us.
Well, I think it matters a little bit, Sark.
Now, here's the thing. Will Howard Was tremendous for Ohio State. We all remember what he was able to accomplish in that national championship game, missing just four pass attempts. There's a reason why the Buckeyes were able to basically ride Will Howard to that national championship, even though it would have been nice if he showed up against Michigan. I won't relive that.
I promise Buckeyes fans. But Howard did finish with over 4,000 yards, had 35 passing touchdowns. And the problem is, he was so good. That he just said, you know what? I'm going to take my talents to the NFL.
He got a very right promotion. Six-round draft pick. He's now playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Who knows? He may be their future.
Aaron Rodgers, it looks like a swan song. He said it, not me.
So when you talk about Will Howard and the impact that he had on Ohio State. You know, it's going to be tough to replace him.
Now, the good news is Ohio State, they got two quarterbacks who could potentially replace him: Julian Saiyan and Lincoln Keenholes. And I think both of them. Will be just fine no matter who Ryan Day selects. But these are big shoes to fill. You look at Sayyidin, he's a five-star recruit.
But Keenhos, man, he played in the all-American game a couple years back.
So the Buckeyes will be just fine, whoever they elect to go with. And what we hear, what we continue to hear, is that this competition right now has been too close of a call for Ryan Day to make a decision at this point. And this is not something that Ohio State is unfamiliar with. We all remember when they won their last national championship in 2014, we saw they were undecided right until the beginning of the season whether it would be Cardell Jones, whether it would be J.T. Barrett.
The difference this time around is between Sayyidin and Keenhos is that combined, They only have 34 pass attempts and 90 snaps in their respective college careers.
So, a tad less experience. You look at what the two bring to the table. Saying has the arm strength, but Keenholst, he's the guy that has the athleticism, and he does have bragging rights because what Ohio State does every single summer is they have a workout where the top eight guys win the iron buckeye. Yeah, Keenholst was one of the eight guys that was able to win that particular award in his workouts, and that comes with the off-season training workouts and program that they are accustomed to. It's all going to come down to, at the end of the day, who is situationally.
better. That playing and starting for Ohio State is a huge responsibility. There may not be a more coveted position. In college football, than the starting quarterback of Ohio State.
So I'm glad that Ryan Day is not rushing this decision. And I know that particular game one for either Keenholes or Sayon is going to be monumental because you're going against the number one team in the country and the most sought-out college athlete currently in Arch Manning. Remember, Caitlin Clark has now been in the WNBA for two years.
So this is a very exciting time for college football. It's a very interesting time for Ohio State. Ryan Day understands that, but he also knows that a quarterback competition heading into the season could be a very good thing. We have two guys that are getting the reps, so that's good. It's not like we're getting three or four and there's so many reps in practice.
We've taken that into consideration. We're trying to get both guys ready to go win the game. I think we have to have them both ready to play in that first game. And then again, as we get closer here, we'll name a starter and go from there. All right.
That that's fair. I I get that.
Well, listen, Alabama, they did get the memo. In terms of who is going to start for them, and that, of course, is Ty Simpson. Ty Simpson will take the reins for Jalen Milro, who now finds himself with the Seattle Seahawks. And like Jalen Milro, Ty Simpson is very familiar with the Crimson Tide football program. This is now his fourth year on the Alabama campus.
He served as the backup to Jalen Milro the previous two seasons. You know, you got redshirt sophomore Austin Mack and true freshman Keelan Russell. They were the other two quarterbacks competing for the starting job. But based off what you saw in that first preseason scrimmage, it was obvious who had command of this offense. And listen, when you're there for three years to begin with, you're going to have command of the offense.
This is a redshirt junior, and we've seen him perform well in the past.
Now, he's never gotten an official start, but two years ago, he was able to come in against South Florida and put up a pretty quick 14-point. In a 17-3 win, in which he not only demonstrated the arm, but the legs in the wheel.
So, clearly, a dual threat like Jalen Milro was. Jalen Milro did beat him out for that starting quarterback job a couple of years back.
So, the fact that Simpson is going to get the opportunity now to show what he can do came in with a lot of hype. He was the number two dual threat nationally in 2022 in high school, and he chose Alabama over Clemson, over Tennessee.
So, this was a highly sought-out high school quarterback at the time. I'm glad he's going to get his chance, which he will against the Florida State Seminoles on August 30th to open the season. And Kalen DeBoer, you know, friend of the network, have seen him plenty of times on the Infinity Sports Network and heard him plenty of times on the Infinity Sports Network. He's a great personality. Never easy being the guy to replace the guy.
It's always a tall order when it happens to be Nick Saban you're replacing, who, outside of Bear Bryant, is the greatest college coach we've ever seen. Ever seen, he did not have the easiest transition to Alabama. We saw him make a national championship appearance with Washington. You expect the same. When he goes to a program that has even more support, even more talent, they weren't even able to be one of the 12 teams playing in the college football playoff.
They only didn't, they lost four games. I think many people will tell you that's disappointing on Alabama's turf. You're not supposed to lose four games if you're a Crimson Tide.
So he understands, Kaylin DeBoer, that they need to do better than losing four games in his inaugural season. You are expected at Alabama, bare minimum, to be in the college football playoff, especially if it expands to 12 teams, which we now have seen for two years in counting. Ty Simpson, he spoke about being the starting quarterback for the Alabama Crimson Tide heading into 2025. And here is what the Red Shirt Jr. had to say.
It's a dream come true. You know, I came here out of high school, wanting to be the starting quarterback. And I'm just excited. And I can't, you know, thank my teammates enough for making me look good. I'm ready for the opportunity.
How happy are you now that you made the decision to stay with Alabama? Yeah, I mean, you know, I think it's abnormal for sure to, you know, not transfer in today's day and age. But, you know, I don't regret it at all. You know, I love being here. I love my teammates.
I love this university. I learned a lot from the guys that played before me, like Bryce and Jalen. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for them and then the guys behind me like Keelan and Austin. I think that they pushed me and elevated my game to a game that it's never seen before. Folks, it's hard to believe.
that we are less than three weeks away. from week one of the college football season. And it's a very interesting time. Because with Nick Sabin being out, with Urban Meyer being out. You know, we don't necessarily have that dominant team.
No one thought Ryan Day was going to win a national championship after getting, you know, after losing to an unranked Michigan team in that incredible rival.
So stranger things have happened. But what you look at right now in college football. is the growth Is the emergence of an Arch Manning, arguably the biggest star and the biggest anticipation we've seen from a quarterback in quite some time. You look at Ohio State, and now the expectations are higher, but the pressure is not nearly what it was because Ryan Day, for a long time, was the greatest coach to never win a national championship.
So you feel like there's that huge collective sigh of relief at Ohio State. And even though expectations run wild, you feel like he's actually going to have his best coaching stint because now the monkey is off the proverbial back. You talk about what's going on in Texas and Steve Sarkesian. When he's not going for hour, hour and a half walks after practice, you see what he has meant to the Texas Longhorns and the credibility that he has given this program that he has completely resurrected. You can talk about arguably the greatest coach in NFL history going to North Carolina, looking to do something there.
That they've never done before. And that is win a national championship. This is a really fun time in college football because of how many strong programs there are out there and how many big names there are out there. And the unique thing is, this isn't the 2010s where you feel like it's Alabama or Clemson and then everybody else. You feel like there is so much parity.
And while I know people get bogged down and irritated by the NIL and the easily accessible transfer portal, at the end of the day, it still is about the rivalries. It still is about the culture. It still is about the tradition. And I, for one, am incredibly excited by what is going to take place on August 30th. And that, of course, is highlighted by number one-ranked Texas getting hosted by number three-ranked Ohio State.
And shout out to Ryan Hickey's Penn State Nittany Lions coming into the season as the Number two ranked team. I am hoping James Franklin can finally be that Penn State head coach that brings them back to a national championship, which would be the first time in more than 40 years, Joe Paterno the last to do it. Number to get a board is 888-710-4ISN. That is 888-710-4476. We just discussed and broke down some of the key starting quarterbacks coming into this season.
Alabama makes a decision. Ohio State still on the fence. Which quarterback do you see? in college football. Having the biggest impact in 2025, and what are you most looking forward to about week number one?
To me, it is without question. The number one ranked Texas Longhorns, having the Cahonies. having the guts, having the courage and the fortitude and the moxie. To go into Columbus to play the reigning national champion, Ohio State Buckeyes. in week one.
It takes a lot of guts. It's not something that every powerhouse would do. But it sets the tone for the archmanning era. In the state of Texas, and I cannot wait. for eighteen days from now.
Number to get a board is 888 710 for ISN. That is 888 710 4476. We will take all your college football calls on the other side. And when we get back, There is a team in Major League Baseball. that is by many considered to be the least accomplished team in the history of the sport, but they are continuing to do things.
in 2025 that is so beyond what anyone would anticipate. Who that team is, we'll share that with you on the other side. This is The Good Shepherd, in for the JR Sport Frief on the Infinity Sports Network. We're coming right back. You're listening to the JR Sport Brief.
Here's David Shepard. Yes, you are. Welcome back to the JR Sport Brief. This indeed is David Shepard. Great to be holding down the fort until JR returns on Wednesday.
Phone number to join us: 888-710-4ISN, 888-710-4476. If you can't get through our busy phone line, you can always hit me up at Sheponair, whether it be Twitter or Instagram. We have a team in Major League Baseball. That has never even appeared in the world. in a World Series and there's only one team that can make that claim.
And unfortunately, It's not a claim that you want to be associated with. It is the Seattle Mariners. That's the bad news. Here's the good news. They are the hottest team.
in the American League right now. And while we know the Milwaukee Brewers are about to be an MLB best 75 and 44 and have an MLB best 11 game win streak, There is one other team currently. with at least an eight game win streak. And that, of course, is the Seattle Mariners. A very impressive close win on Tuesday when they were able to come out on top one To nothing.
And so you got to love that they're winning with their pitching over the Baltimore Orioles. And we obviously witnessed their previous three games: Cal Rowley not having one, not two, three home runs, eight RBIs, only had three hits. When you're Cal Rowley these days, whenever he gets hits, they tend to be home runs. He has a major league-leading 45 home runs. He didn't have to go all Cal Rally on Tuesday.
Mariners still able to come out on top, win by a score of 1-0 over Baltimore. And do not look now. But the Seattle Mariners are just two and a half games back of the Toronto Blue Jays for the best record in the American league. Do not pretend like you saw this coming with the Seattle Mariners.
So credit to them. how well they have played. Remember, this was a team. that was essentially 500. In the month of July, they find themselves a season best, 67 and 53, meaning 14 games above 500.
So, credit to Seattle, what they have been able to accomplish. You have to be very impressed with not just Cal Raleigh, but what they have done with Rodriguez, what they have done with their pitching. And I know they're on the West Coast and it's not LA, so we don't talk about them a whole lot. And we spend a lot of time on the show talking about the Blue Jays and the Brewers and the Tigers and the Cubs, you know, kind of the surprises so far of 2025. Got to give the Mariners a lot of love with what they have been able to pull off with this recent eight game win streak.
Number to get aboard, eight at eight seven ten for ISN. Again, that is eight at eight seven one zero four four seven six. Gerberto in San Diego, I know you believe the Dodgers are still the team to beat, But I don't know how you can say that, Gerberto, with the way the Brewers are just simply rolling these last few months, especially with this 11-game win streak they're about to be on. How you doing, buddy? I'm doing, Greg.
How are you doing, David? No complaints, man. It's all right.
So you're here to pump up the Dodgers even though they're struggling and can't even beat the Angels? Is that what this call is about? No, it's not about that one, but I like what the brewers are doing. But I remember about three years ago, the Dodgers won one hundred and ten games and got ousted of the players in the first round. Did they have do they have two separate winning streaks of at least eleven games?
In that year, they had a lot of streaks. I think at one point, at one point, they won like 40 out of 52. But at the end of the day, it comes down to the playoffs.
Okay. They have a great team. And I'll let you know this: they're coming to San Diego, I believe on the 22nd to the 24th of September to play the Padres. And that's what I that you're gonna see If the Dodgers don't win it don't win it, The padres will. They have the best team in major leagues right now.
I'm sorry. When you say they'll win it, you you talk in National League, you talk in World Series. The whole thing. Wow. The whole thing.
You know the you know the Padres you know the Padres have never won a World Series before, right? You're that confident in them over the Brewers? Oh yeah. And we're going to see a test of that in September. I don't know if the Brewers are going to have anything to play for.
at that time. Right. But the Patricks will have something to do with that.
Well, you know that's a great point that you talk about because I I think what could work against Milwaukee Is right now, they're so far ahead of everyone else. They're about to have 75 wins. Gioberto, there's not another team in Major League Baseball right now with 70.
So this could by the time we get to September be like a 10-game gap between them and the rest of the National League. And that's the worst thing that can happen to a team. That's the worst thing that can happen to have to Play games. At a high level. with nothing to pay for.
Because you already you know, you're gonna they're gonna have the number one feat. In the National League. But the Padres are going to be in a dogfight with the Dutchers. M With the Phillies. Maybe the maths.
To get either the division or the number four seed of the first. Walker seat. That's fair. Whichever whichever it is.
So it's gonna be interesting. I just don't I like the brewers, I like what they're doing. But it's a regular season. And the postseason is a different monster. Yeah.
We'll see. You're not kidding. You're not kidding. Well, listen, man. You're a postseason type of caller.
You know that, brother. Always good to hear from you. We'll talk over the weekend, and you stay warm in Los Angeles, okay? I know you're calling from San Diego, but you might as well be calling from Los Angeles as much as you pep up the Los Angeles Dodgers. Always good hearing from you, man.
In LA, everybody's hot right now with the way things are going. I hear you. I hear you. I hear you. Well said, Goverto in San Diego.
Good to talk to you, man. Number to get aboard, 888-710-4ISN. That is 888-710-4476. The Mets scored again? What are they scoring every inning now?
What is Peter? Pete Alonso hit an uh dang, he hit another home run. My God, the polar bear All the runs being used in one game. Yeah, I was about to say, I don't know if this is the best thing in the world, and it is the struggling Atlanta Braves. Maybe Pete Alonso wants to get to 50 home runs in one game.
Maybe he's pissed that he got to 53 in his rookie year and hasn't been able to top that since 2019. And he's trying to get it all back in one game. What a performance by the New York Mets. And I don't have to tell you about what happened on Sunday against the Milwaukee Brewers. We won't have to relive that in that walk-off fashion when they're up 5-0 and find a way to squander that and lose 7-6.
But what an unbelievable performance from Pete Alonso. Again, if you are just joining us, becoming the all-time home run leader in Mets franchise history. Not hitting just one on Tuesday, but hitting two now at 254 career home runs. He passed the straw, man. AKA did all strawberry with 253 earlier on Tuesday.
So congratulations to Pete Alonzo doing it in about 150 less games. The fact that he is a franchise home run leader and has only been there since 2019, I believe that is very special for the polar bear. And as Ron Bacher mentioned, he's looking for that big contract. I think you saw Steve Cohen on his feet looking a little more giddy than usual. Pete Alonso may have that coming to him in Queens, New York.
Number to get aboard, 888-710-4ISN. That is 888-710-4476. We will do this date in history on the other side. Before we do that, Jennifer Williams, good to work with you again. Hi, how's it going?
Good. How's it going? Of course, of course.
Well, no, but no, but I. It's always nice to see you. Likewise, I appreciate the polite exchange. I know you're very polite, very respectful, as you have been throughout your entire career.
Well, I'm still new. But something tells me this ain't an act, though.
Something tells me that is genuinely who you are. And if it is an act, then you should be. I can be a little spicy sometimes.
Well, you're a New York sports fan. You have to be. You have to be. We're tough, right? We're both gritty and tough.
We're tough, we're resilient, and we don't take no guff from no one. Because we've been through it.
So let me ask you this question, speaking of being through it, because I led this show with Justin Fields and the combination of him and Aaron Glenn. I think you talk about what he is going to do. We remember his time as a player with the New York Jets. Obviously, he's setting a tone of accountability, something we did not get with Robert Sala, something we have not gotten since the days of Rex Ryan. Is it too much to say?
That out of every first-year head coach, I believe the biggest impact that any first-year head coach will make will come in the form of Aaron Glenn with the New York Jets. You know, I'm I think that The verdict is still out for me. I want to see a few games. I'm always cautiously optimistic, but. This, he's like a gritty, no-nonsense football guy.
And again, we heard during training camp the first time fans were at training camp and they chanted J-E-T-S. Glenn said that was everything to him. And that was the only time he's really shown. Emotion. He's practicing.
He played all his starters in their first preseason game. Phillips was pretty good in that first drive, wasn't he? Yeah, he looked pretty good. And so, again, right, you need to totally switch gears, and it's got to be a completely different era. And this is personal for Glenn, right?
Because he played for the Jets. And I was a star player at that. Wasn't just an everyday guy. I mean, he was a three-time Pro Bowler, voted as one of the greatest defensive players in the history of the Jets organization.
So I think. Again, I never, I'm always cautiously optimistic, but I am confident that this season is going to be Truly, a different era for the Jets. I am with you. JF, 26 years old, not to quote Aaron Boone here, the best is in front of him. I believe he's with an organization that wants to see him flourish, that is not looking to turn the reins over to another quarterback after game six, like we saw with Pittsburgh, or a potential USC star in Caleb Williams, where the writing was on the wall, unfortunately, for Justin Fields.
And you mentioned Aaron Glenn, bringing referees into practice to really embolden and You know, perpetuate the intensity and making it game-like. And you talk about Garrett Wilson, and we know he's a star, we know he's their best coach, generational talent, without question. For him to say, This is the hardest I've been coached since my time at Ohio State. You love to hear it, right? Yeah.
If you're a Jess fan, you love to hear that. Yeah, and no one's making any trips to Egypt. Where they can get away with it and then come back how they please. And then, you know, I don't know, holding out and then saying, coming back in the mid-year and then being called unselfish. That's not happening under the watch and regime of Aaron.
Glenn came to town and was like, sorry, that's not going to work out for us. Absolutely. He did do it in person, though.
So that was. Yeah. That was nice. Yeah, I'm with you. And listen, Aaron Rodgers didn't like it, but he also did it in person where he said, Sayonara, your services are no longer needed.
I only need to be in a room with you for 10 minutes to make that determination. He was, he wasted no time setting the tone. Without question. And again, does have credibility as a former player, but what he was able to do as a coordinator with the Lions, we saw the plethora of injuries they had, especially in 2024. He still turned them into a top 10 defense with all the injuries.
He was a huge part in why they had a franchise best 15 wins in 2024. And that's following a 12-win season in 2023.
So he has credibility written all over him. And to your point, If you're going to be an NFL head coach, It's not about winning any popularity contests. It's not about cajoling to players' egos or tiptoeing around people's fragile sense of selves. It is about setting the tone from day one. Rolling up your sleeves and putting in absolutely.
Listen, we may not like Rex Ryan, but he wasn't afraid of the Patriots. And what did we see happen in terms of an upset with Mark Sanchez over Tom Brady? Does that happen to any other coach? Having Mark Sanchez beat Tom Brady in the playoffs in New England? No, no.
So. Point exactly. But, Jennifer, great to go back and forth with you on the airwaves and always, always, always great to see you on the Infinity Sports Network. Likewise. And you may be a great actress.
I don't know. If you are, we're trying to get Spike Lee on the program to talk about his new film or potentially Denzel Washington.
So, Jennifer, if you know them and you want to give them a plug for the Good Shepherd, I'm filling in for JR on the Infinity Sports Network. Put in a good word. I greatly appreciate that. Number to get aboard, that'd be a great word if you got them on the show. Number to get aboard is 888710.
I'm trying to get LeBron James after two months, and that's not working out too well. Number to get aboard is 888710. Well, I don't know if he does any radio shows, though. 888710-4ISN, 888-710-4476. We will take your calls on the other side.
We will get to this day in sports history. Before we do anything else, let's get to our latest sports flash with the aforementioned Jennifer Williams. You're listening to the JR Sport Brief. Here's David Shepard. It's been a pleasure to be with you.
over these last two nights. On the JR Sport Free. Of course, my name is David Shepard. Great to be filling in. Great to be alongside Ryan Botcher.
We will give you the latest. When it comes to MLB teams in terms of what they have done. On Tuesday. First of all, gotta give a shout out to Aaron Judge. One home run, three walks.
This is not something new. The New York Yankees have not just had a winning record against Minnesota. They have dominated them. over the last couple of decades. And if you're ever a Yankees struggling team, you always want to see Minnesota.
On one of those struggles, because you know. you're going to quickly resurrect. and change your season completely playing the Minnesota Twins. It doesn't matter if it's the first game of the season, tenth game of the season, they always have the Twins number. They are currently up eight to one over Minnesota with again Aaron Judge Getting on base four out of the five times that he has been up at the plate.
And what this ultimately tells you is that Aaron Judge is likely, as long as he remains healthy. going to have another fifty home run season. As is the case for Genio Suarez and As is the case for Cal Raleigh. Kyle Schwarber, and then, of course, Shohei Otani. And it would be the first time in MLB history.
That we will have five guys hit 50 plus home runs in a season. And as I look at the MLB scoreboard, The Milwaukee Brewers are off 12 to nothing over the Pittsburgh Pirates. We understand this was a get-your-popcorn ready type of game where Freddy Peralta was going up against Paul Skeens. One has the most wins in the majors this season. He's about to have a major league best 14 wins in Freddy Peralta.
And then you have Paul Skeens, despite a losing record. We know there is not a pitcher that has had a better ERA in the National League. And he gives up four runs in just four innings pitched, which tells you the kind of offense that Milwaukee is brewing with. Pun intended.
So Ryan Botcher, a tradition. unlike any other okay, that's what they say for the Masters, but it is rather true when it comes to the JR Sport brief, you guys do at the end of this date in your sports history.
So we might as well play that fancy music and do This date in sports history. Fact, back, back, back. Back in the days when I wish I'm not a kid anymore, but some days I sit and wish I was a kid again. It's time for this day in sports history. See, back in those days when we had radio and you couldn't see anything and it was primitive and lousy and we liked it.
On the JR Sport Brief Show. I wish I was 50 years younger and I'd kick your ass. Larry Merchant, that sound light never gets old. This date in sports history.
So, Bacher, I got mine. And if there's any you wanna add, Would love to get your two cents as well. $19.94. August 12th, Major League Baseball players strike in the sport's eighth work stoppage since 1972. That was a special year as a Yankees fan because you felt like that was finally the year they make the playoffs for the first time.
in over a decade. And the fact that the Yankees were having a great year in the twilight of Don Mattingly's career was really special. It was also really special because you felt like Tony Gwynn had an opportunity. The late, great Tony Gwynn, by the way, had an opportunity to become the first player in Major League Baseball since Ted Williams to hit 400 in a season. You felt like Ken Griffey Jr.
was going to have an opportunity to get to 60 home runs.
So, so much baseball history was cut short as a result of the strike. Fast forward a year later, 1995, Ernie Ells. shoots a PGA record. 197 over a three-day score at a major and Ernie Ells, he was a really good golfer back in the 90s and 2000s where he ultimately had four majors for his career. 2000, August 12th, Evander Holyfield scores a 12-round unanimous decision over John DeRees in Las Vegas to win the vacant WBA heavyweight title.
It's good to see Evander Holyfield as part of a really highly sought-out fight where he's not getting his ear chewed off. Mike Tyson, you've grown. I give you credit for that. 2007, Tiger Woods captures. The PGA championship to win at least one major for the third straight season.
Season. By the way, Scotty Scheffler, we understand you're at 17 PGA Tour event wins for your career. You got a long way to go to get to Tigers 82. Tiger Woods, speaking of a long way to go, Scotty Scheffler, we know at 29, has four majors. When Tiger was able to capture this particular PGA Championship win, that gave him his 13th major.
by just 31 years old. Fast forward the next 18 years, he would only win two more, one in the 2008 U.S. Open, the other at the 2019 Masters. And we know Tiger is done winning majors. Speaking of Tiger Woods, four years later, a very different outcome misses the cut at the PGA Championship.
you know, at the Atlanta Athletic Club while shooting a 73 in round two, for the first time in his PGA Tour career at a major, finishes out of the top hundred. That is unspeakable, that is inconceivable when it comes to Tiger at a major and Ryan Botcher. Has the sound of Tiger Woods missing that major, and what you need to hear from a very A memorable 2011 PGA Championship. Let's take a listen. Absolutely.
Absolutely. I wouldn't have done what I did today. And that's what's frustrating because I'm in a major championship. It's time to score, it's time to play, and time to let it go. and it it cost me the round.
Not down, I'm I'm really angry right now.
So um there's a lot of words I could use beyond that.
Well, Tiger, you used some choice words on the golf course at times when things would go not according to plan.
So I'm glad that at least in the interview, you were able to compose yourself. And let's be honest, I understand Tiger Woods is the oldest 49-year-old in the history of golf, given how his body has betrayed him. But Golf misses Tiger. It just does. It doesn't feel the same.
You know, there was no feeling quite like Tiger Woods in a red shirt on a Sunday at a major. You know, shout out to Tiger Woods, man. I really am hoping for a full recovery for that guy, given where he is physically. This next individual, a year later, 2012, at one point, we thought he was going to be the next Tiger Woods. 2012, Rory McElroy breaks the PGA Championship record for margin of victory, which was originally set by Jack Nicholas, aka the Golden Bear, in 1990.
McElroy was unbelievable at that 18th hole, a birdie from 25 feet away, which gave him an eight-shot victory, a 66 in the final round. McElroy was sensational, not just in the final round, not just for the tournament, but more specifically, the final 23 holes where he was bogey-free. It was the first ever major that we saw from Rory at a PGA championship. We all remember what he was able to accomplish with his first major at the 2011 U.S. Open.
And he needed that victory because he felt. Fell apart and collapsed at the Masters.
Now, fast forward 14 years later, he's able to redeem himself. But now we see Rory with five majors in counting, with 29 PGA tour event wins in counting. That was 2012. And then the last Important point of order in sports on this date, August 12th, 2016. Let's go to the water.
Let's talk about Katie Ledecki capping off one of the greatest performances in Olympic history with not one, not two, not three. Her fourth gold medal and second world record shattering her own mark in the 800-meter freestyle. Ledecki became the first woman since Debbie Meyer in 1968 to sweep the three longer freestyle events at the same Olympic Games. And that, of course, as you swimming experts know, the 200, the 400, and the 800. Ryan Botcher, I'd like to think I covered every sport.
I obviously can't cover basketball unless it's an Olympic game because we know that doesn't really take place in the month of August. Same could be said for the NHL. Same could be said for the NFL unless it's a preseason moment where Jerry Jeremy Shaky is lighting up a defender and completely railroading him into the ground. Is there anything this day in sports, August 12th, that I missed? Just 1984.
Two fights in one game between the Braves and the Podgers. Nineteen players were ejected. What? 19. That's half the team.
Yep, happened twice. There were two big brawls, and then this was more than just. a small scuffle. It was full on tackling, spearing. Punches, everything.
If there's one guy you would not want to get in a fight with a professional sports in 2025, who is that? Uh Any boxer? Any boxer? John Jones. What if they're what what if they're Jake Paul?
Jake Paul I think would be easier to fight than, I don't know, John Jones. I'm with you. John Jones, by the way, coming out of retirement. Good for him. I know a lot of people are critical of him.
Not exactly on the up and up in terms of how he has conducted himself and what he's put into his body. We'll have that discussion a different day. Ryan Botcher, it's been fun to fill in for JR, man. Thanks for making my life so easy these last couple of days, and great job, my friend. Thank you to you, too.
My pleasure, man. And thank you to you for listening at home, at work, however you consumed us. Always a pleasure to be filling in for JR. You can always catch me every single weekend morning, 2 a.m. to 6 a.m.
Eastern Time, Saturday and Sunday, no exception. But do not go anywhere. Bart Winkler, my guy, coming up next. Have a great rest of your Tuesday, everybody. I love you all.
