Spotlight Productions

We dug into our hot takes and yours – on why this is actually a big season for Michigan State's basketball program, on hopes for Frankie Fidler and optimism for Jeremy Fears Jr., on Jonathan Smith's track record with the transfer portal, on the Tigers and Tarik Skubal, on Michigan football, CFB 25 video game frustrations, squirrel attacks, pillow warranties and more. Plus a couple stories worth telling.

We answered your questions – on Michigan State basketball and what happens if the Spartans lose 13 games again, on MSU football and whether the Spartans can ever be among the top few teams in the Big Ten, on Tarik Skubal and what trade packages would be worth dealing him, and more. 

We opened with the latest on Michigan State basketball after Tuesday night's Moneyball Pro-Am, including thoughts on Gehrig Normand, Coen Carr and the center position. Then a good conversation with The Athletic's Cody Stavenhagen on the Detroit Tigers' recent surge, the state of the organization and what might happen with Tarik Skubal (12:45). Followed by our best British Open bets and two smart college football season wins bets to make now, including on MSU (34:30). And then a fun segment on our and your most loathed and frustrating athletes of all-time (42:00).

We dug into our hot takes and yours – on why this Michigan State basketball team has the makings of a group that's less frustrating than some others, on the surging Tigers and whether they're suddenly worth our time, on MSU football, the Lions, a fiasco at Copa America, disagreements in America and more. Plus, a couple stories worth telling.

We answered your questions on MSU basketball and what we can rightfully take away from performances and comments at the Moneyball Pro-Am, on Frankie Fidler, Xavier Booker, Jaxon Kohler, Coen Carr and top statistical performers next season, on MSU football and whether to trust Jonathan Smith's recruiting and fair expectations for Aidan Chiles, on worst movies and best sports documentaries we've seen and more. Plus a couple stories actually worth telling.

We opened talking Michigan State basketball and substantive takeaways from Tuesday night's Moneyball Pro-Am games, including the play of Frankie Fidler and how he impacts the rest of the roster. Then a good conversation with Detroit Free Press columnist Shawn Windsor on the Pistons' big bet with Cade Cunningham, where the Lions are headed this season, the move the Tigers should make to engage fans and the hope for MSU basketball this season (29:00).

We dug into our hot takes and yours – on the Michigan State football arguments that make sense for why MSU might have a better season than expected, on Tarik Skubal and whether the Tigers should keep him, sign him to a big contract now or trade him, on the Euro and Copa America soccer championships, the state of the USMNT, bad storytelling on dates and more.

In our last show before a two-week summer vacation hiatus, we answered your Twitter and YouTube questions – Michigan State football and Jonathan Smith's recruiting philosophy, on MSU basketball and a Frankie Fidler comparison, our dream Pistons offseason, weird things couples do, pet peeves, life advice and more.

We talked what's next for the Detroit Pistons with The Athletic's James Edwards on the day Monty Williams was fired (17:00) and then dug into the uneasy direction of the Detroit Tigers with Chris Castellani (37:00). 

We dug into our hot takes and yours – on why this MSU basketball roster makes for one of the more intriguing summers at the Lansing Moneyball Pro-Am, on Rory McIlroy's collapse and behavior after the U.S. Open, on criticism of media, on frustrations with the Tigers and more.

We answered your Twitter and YouTube questions on Jared Goff vs. Trevor Lawrence, on the Lions reaching their potential, on MSU football and basketball and the Moneyball Pro-Am, on the Tigers and Pistons and more.

The Athletic's Brendan Quinn joined us from the U.S. Open at Pinehurst for a conversation on the top storylines, the course and covering the event (6:30). Then Harry Gagnon joined us for our best bets at the U.S. Open, NBA and Stanley Cup finals and European soccer championships, which begin this week (25:00). Plus, leftover listener hot takes from Tuesday (43:45).

We dug into our hot takes and yours – on the oh-so different vibe around MSU football recruiting than two years ago this month, on MSU basketball's hiring of Saddi Washington, on the Tigers and frustration with the organization's lack of communication, on marrying a spouse who complements your weaknesses and more. 

We answered your Twitter questions – on Tom Izzo's decision to hire Saddi Washington to his MSU basketball coaching staff and Washington's likely impact, on MSU football and what projected Vegas lines tell us about the likelihood the Spartans get to six wins, on bad Detroit pro sports owners and more. Plus, a couple stories worth telling, including why The Rube didn't qualify for TSA pre-check.

We dug into the Detroit Tigers' decision to send Spencer Torkelson to Triple-A Toledo and the treatment of Caitlin Clark by WNBA veterans. Then a good conversation with Sports Illustrated's Pat Forde on the future of college sports for schools like Michigan State and beyond and whether fans will stay engaged (22:30). Plus, baked takes from The Rube.

We answered your Twitter questions – on Michigan State basketball, MSU football, the Tigers, The Rube's innovative thinking, Connor Stalions, where college sports are headed, and more. Plus, a couple stories worth telling.

In our return from vacation, we dug into our hot takes and yours – on MSU football's Friday night games and the frustration over them and Xavier Booker's weight gain and what that means for MSU basketball, on the Detroit Tigers who can't be counted on for anything and Bill Walton who could be counted on for good vibes. Plus, a puppet officiates a wedding in front of a stone Rube and bad dog owner behavior. 

We answered your Twitter questions – or died trying – on MSU basketball and football, the Lions' schedule and Tigers needs, the PGA championship, life's predicaments, love, bachelor parties and more.

We dug into Jared Goff's new contract with the Lions and why it had to be done, despite the massive numbers. Then Harry Gagnon joined us for PGA Championship best bets and more, before we discussed MSU football's season-win over-under. Then a great conversation with The Athletic's Cody Stavenhagen on the Tigers' season and future, Spencer Torkelson, Javy Baez, Chris Illitch and more.

We dug into our hot takes and yours – on Michigan State's possible new big man from the portal, on the Pistons' landing the 5th pick in the NBA draft, on the Tigers' spending and Spencer Torkelson and more.