Baseball’s Latest Blunder: Foul Poles
Major League Baseball can’t seem to avoid self-inflicted wounds, and now you can add foul poles to the list of embarrassments. Ever since the Rays were forced to relocate their home games to the Yankees’ minor league stadium, George Steinbrenner Field, due to the severe damage Tropicana Field sustained from Hurricane Milton last October, it’s been clear MLB overlooked some crucial details.
This past Sunday, the inadequacy of the foul poles at the stadium came into sharp focus when Aaron Judge launched a home run that was incorrectly ruled foul — a call that should have been obvious. Unlike MLB parks, the minor league stadium’s foul poles aren’t tall enough, a fix that the league had months to address but never did.
The call didn’t alter the game’s outcome — the Yankees were leading 3–0 at the time and went on to win 4–0 — but the real blow came when replay review also botched the decision. The evidence was clear: the ball was fair. The league, its officials, and the replay crew all shared in the embarrassment, while Judge handled the situation with grace during postgame interviews, setting an example of professionalism.
NBA Playoff Broadcast Shake-Up
Some big news dropped Friday for basketball fans: the days of watching your local broadcast team call playoff games are numbered. Starting in the 2025–26 NBA season, all playoff matchups will air exclusively on national networks like ESPN, ABC, or TNT.
This means if you’ve grown fond of hearing your hometown announcers call the first-round action, enjoy it while you can — next season will be the final chapter for that tradition.
WrestleMania 41: A Bizarre Legacy
When the dust settles on WrestleMania 41, two things will likely stand out: an underwhelming and poorly-received main event, and the surprising number of people who ended up getting hit by moving vehicles. Definitely not the legacy WWE was hoping for.
Inside the NBA Lives On — and So Does the Roasting
Even with TNT set to lose its NBA broadcast rights, the beloved studio show “Inside the NBA” will still return next season, albeit under new circumstances. The silver lining? Fans won’t miss out on the timeless banter between Kenny Smith, Shaquille O’Neal, and Charles Barkley. Shaq and Kenny roasting Barkley for his ring-less career never gets old.
NFL Draft: A Bettor’s Nightmare for Bookmakers
Here’s a must-read for sports bettors: the NFL Draft has evolved into one of the most significant betting events on the calendar, much to the dismay of bookmakers. The unpredictable nature of draft selections makes it a high-risk affair for the betting industry — and a thrilling ride for gamblers.
SI Media Podcast Highlights
This week’s episode of SI Media With Jimmy Traina features none other than Charles Barkley. The TNT analyst opens up about his feelings on Inside the NBA’s future, why he’s unhappy with TNT’s handling of the transition, and why he has no plans to stick around for the remaining seven years of his contract.
Barkley also reflects on his controversial comment about San Antonio women, shares his thoughts on Stephen A. Smith’s flirtation with politics, and explains why the Lakers have no realistic shot at this year’s NBA title. After Barkley, Sal Licata from WFAN and SNY hops on for the “Traina Thoughts” segment, covering everything from the Masters and the NFL’s Christmas Day schedule snub for the Chiefs, to a new must-see WrestleMania documentary. Plus, Jimmy reads out the top listener reviews for March.
And with the NFL Draft kicking off Thursday, it’s worth checking out last week’s episode featuring draft guru Mel Kiper — a conversation packed with insight and analysis you won’t want to miss.
Random Video Gem: Tony Danza Turns 74
Today marks Tony Danza’s 74th birthday — the perfect excuse to revisit a classic clip. As a longtime Taxi fan and an admirer of Andy Kaufman’s eccentric brilliance, I highly recommend watching Danza share his memories of working with Kaufman. It’s a treat for anyone who loves vintage sitcoms and behind-the-scenes stories.