Jamal About Sports

This week on JAS, we go through the division and Wild Card races in MLB, I preview the Lions season, and discuss the many things wrong with the NFL.

This week I look at the MLB trade deadline, how the Mets did, we look at MLB pennant and Wild Card races, and a brief Lions training camp preview.

On the July 20, 2026 episode of Jamal About Sports, host Jamal Hayden argues MLB is in “very bad shape,” citing a boring All-Star Game with 32 combined strikeouts and blaming modern baseball’s loss of fundamentals and strategy on extreme analytics, pitcher usage, and rule changes meant to boost action. He says the Mets’ season is over, with only a few young players (Christian Scott, Nolan McLain, A.J. Ewing, Carson Benge) worth watching, criticizes the organization’s coaching, lineup decisions, and quick hooks for starters, and discusses roster pieces including Alvarez, Simeon, Soto, and Lindor. He then pivots to positivity by ranking his top 10 favorite Mets teams: 1984, 2001, 1988, 2000, 2006, 2024, 1999, 1985, 2015, and 1986 as his favorite.
 
00:00 Show Intro and Topics
00:37 MLB in Trouble
03:22 Analytics Killed Strategy
06:50 Mets Season Is Over
07:18 Alvarez and Trade Talk
09:52 Veterans and Lindor Drama
15:14 Mets Mismanagement Rant
19:33 Top 10 Mets Teams Setup
20:42 Number 10 1984 Mets
28:26 Number 9 2001 Mets
30:38 Number 8 1988 Mets
32:49 Core Falls Apart
33:28 2000 World Series Run
37:39 2006 Juggernaut Heartbreak
41:19 2024 Surprise NLCS
45:21 1999 Elite Infield
50:50 1985 No Wild Card
53:47 2015 Deadline Spark
58:30 1986 Season for Ages
01:02:17 Signing Off

Host Jamal Hayden welcomes longtime friend Justin Rubin to Jamal About Sports, crediting him for encouraging Jamal to start podcasting in 2008. They reminisce about becoming Knicks fans, early memories (including a Butch Beard hospital visit and a signed team ball), and the pain of the 1994 Finals, the 1990 Celtics series, and the 1999 run.
 
They celebrate the Knicks’ recent championship, praising the team’s selfless style, Jalen Brunson’s leadership and pay cut, and Mike Brown’s adjustments after early playoff trouble, contrasting him with Tom Thibodeau. They react to NBA news and deals (LeBron leaving the Lakers, Durant’s comments, Giannis to Miami, Nets trading for Julius Randle, Portland acquiring Ja Morant, Charlotte moving LaMelo Ball and Bridges) and discuss Wembanyama’s physical play. They also criticize Yankees and Mets organizational decisions, analytics overreliance, Juan Soto’s fit, and broader changes in modern baseball.
 
00:00 Show Kickoff and Guest Intro
00:50 Podcast Origin Story
03:37 Knicks Fandom Beginnings
06:07 First Knicks Game Memories
08:13 Reliving 1994 Heartbreak
09:29 Knicks Nearly Ruin Graduation
14:55 1999 Run and Heat Rivalry
17:42 Why This Knicks Team Clicked
19:16 Coaching Change and Adjustments
24:15 Playoff Run and Finals Takes
25:53 Old School Toughness Draymond Story
31:38 LeBron Leaves Lakers KD Rant
34:16 Questionable NBA Trades
34:58 Ja Morant Gamble
36:07 Hornets Shakeup
36:57 LeBron AD Trae Rants
38:53 Brunson And College Hoops
41:52 One And Done Problems
44:06 Yankees Apathy Boils Over
47:12 Analytics Killing Baseball
55:13 Mets Soto Frustrations
58:11 Modern Baseball Antics
01:00:37 Pitching Strategy Gone Wrong
01:02:33 Rules Changes And Wrap Up
 

This week: The Knicks win it all! plus some MLB/Mets analysis.

This week: Then Knicks lose game 3 at home, the Mets show some encouraging signs, and Nellie Korda continues to dominate.

This week: Knicks/Spurs finals breakdown and predictions, The Mets's woes continue, and two big NFL trades.

This Week: The Knicks Roll, The Mets are cratering, and the CFP gets the Knock it Off treatment

This week on JAS: The Knicks get ready for the Cavs, OKC and San Antonio should be epic, The Mets youth movement shows signs of life, and the NFL's greed continues to show no signs of slowing down.

On “Jamal About Sports,” Jamal and guest Chuck G discuss a mostly basketball-focused show centered on the Knicks–76ers series, including Joel Embiid being out, OG Anunoby’s injury status, the Sixers’ thin rotation and late-game fatigue, Tyrese Maxey’s missed looks and turnovers, Paul George’s strong start but questionable late shot, and adjustments like running the Knicks’ offense through Karl-Anthony Towns while avoiding Brunson hero ball. They criticize Tiki Barber’s comments about Embiid and complain about unruly scenes outside Madison Square Garden. They also touch on other NBA series (OKC dominating the Lakers, Spurs–Timberwolves, Detroit–Cleveland) and vent about players like James Harden. The show ends with MLB standings talk, Mets frustration, and criticism of analytics-driven batting order trends.
 
 
00:00 Show kickoff and guest
01:15 Sixers frustration and Embiid news
02:56 Gassed stars and thin bench
03:35 Expectations after Celtics upset
05:30 Game two collapse and must win
06:18 Tiki Barber rant and Embiid debate
10:38 Knicks offense KAT vs Brunson
11:57 OG injury and rotation fixes
15:32 Maxey scrutiny and playoff adjustments
16:31 NBA season length and coaching tweaks
25:03 Off court chaos and fan behavior
27:57 Knicks history and villain talk
31:02 Blazers Roadside Bust
32:20 Portland Roster Flashback
34:11 Playoff Takes Lakers OKC
36:07 Spurs Hype Wemby Debate
39:20 Iverson Practice Anniversary
42:55 East Playoffs and Player Drama
49:40 MLB Standings Check In
54:40 Mets Meltdown Rockies Series
56:12 Analytics Ruining Lineups
01:00:11 Steak Bet and Sign Off