The Best of the Sports Shop

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex speak with Ed Tiryakian.

Tiryakian is an associate professor at Duke University who teaches a variety of student-athletes including Darian Mensah. Ed joins the Sports Shop to discuss the Darian Mensah vs Duke saga taking over college football. What is going on?

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex discuss the last Super Bowl they attended and they predict the AFC and NFC Championship matchups this weekend.

The Seattle Seahawks will host the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. The Denver Broncos will host the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game on Sunday. Which teams will make it to the Super Bowl? What is the last Super Bowl Reese and Kmac went to?

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex discuss Reese's strong opinion on Caleb Love.

Several NBA rookies have been performing well this season. Reese is under the impression that Caleb Love has been performing at a very high level. Is Caleb Love the NBA Rookie of the Year right now?

Reese, Pam and Alex speak with Ian Parks to discuss his NFL picks for the Conference Championship games of the NFL Playoffs taking place on Sunday.

Ian Parks from Always Bet On Black w/ Ian Parks joins the Sports Shop to share his picks in the NFL. Who will win this weekend: New England Patriots or Denver Broncos? Seattle Seahawks or Los Angeles Rams? The Seattle Seahawks will host the Los Angeles Rams in the conference championship matchups in the NFL Playoffs on Sunday Will Cooper Kupp record over 30.5 receiving yards against the Rams? The Denver Broncos will host the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game on Sunday. Jarrett Stidham will start at quarterback in place of the injured Bo Nix. Will Stidham rush for more than 14.5 yards?

The Baltimore Ravens have hired Jesse Minter as their new head coach. Is this a good hire?

Reese, Pam and Alex make their predictions for the AFC and NFC Championship games this weekend.

The Seattle Seahawks will host the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. The Denver Broncos will host the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game on Sunday. Which teams will make it to the Super Bowl?

Reese, Pam and Alex discuss Caleb Love, the Rookie of the Year race in the NBA and the impending weather hitting North Carolina and several other states in the country.

Several NBA rookies have been performing well this season. Reese is under the impression that Caleb Love has been performing at a very high level. Is Caleb Love the NBA Rookie of the Year right now?

Are you ready for the storm?

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex speak with lawyer Gregory Reynald Williams.

GRW Law breaks down the current lawsuit in college football involving Darian Mensah and Duke University. What is going on?

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex speak with Dr. Deborah Stroman.

Dr. Stroman discusses the current controversial eligibilty rules that exist in college basketball. Are these regulations fair or should they change?

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex speak with CL Brown about ACC Basketball including UNC, NC State, Duke and more.

Is Cam Boozer the player of the year? Is UNC "back" after their win against Notre Dame?

Reese, Pam and Alex discuss UNC's win over Notre Dame and drama brewing in LA.

The North Carolina Tar Heels defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 91-69 last night. How did they look? How is Reese feeling about the game?

Apparently there is drama going on in LA? What's happening with LeBron James, Jeanie Buss and the Los Angeles Lakers?

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex discuss the Duke-Mensah legal battle, whether Steve Kerr has overstayed his welcome with the Golden State Warriors and UNC’s crucial matchup against Notre Dame tonight.

Duke quarterback Darian Mensah is at the center of a high-profile and unusual situation after entering the NCAA transfer portal on the final day it was open, despite previously indicating he would return for the 2026 season. Mensah is coming off a breakout year in which he led Duke to its first outright ACC championship since 1962. Following his decision to enter the portal, Duke filed a lawsuit in North Carolina state court alleging that Mensah breached the terms of a multi-year NIL contract the university says runs through 2026 and grants Duke exclusive rights tied to his football participation. The school sought a temporary restraining order to prevent him from enrolling or playing elsewhere, but a judge denied that request, allowing Mensah to remain in the portal while the legal dispute continues. What's going on? Who is in the wrong: Duke or Mensah?

The No. 22 North Carolina Tar Heels host the Notre Dame Fighting Irish tonight at the Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, with tip‑off set for 7:00 PM ET.  UNC enters the matchup at 14-4 overall and 2‑3 in ACC play, coming off recent losses on the road in California and sits undefeated at home this season. Notre Dame is 10‑8 and 1‑4 in the ACC. If UNC loses tonight, what does it mean for Hubert Davis and the Tar Heels?

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex discuss Duke University suing QB Darian Mensah and if Steve Kerr is an overrated coach that has overstayed his welcome with the Golden State Warriors.

Duke quarterback Darian Mensah is at the center of a high-profile and unusual situation after entering the NCAA transfer portal on the final day it was open, despite previously indicating he would return for the 2026 season. Mensah is coming off a breakout year in which he led Duke to its first outright ACC championship since 1962. Following his decision to enter the portal, Duke filed a lawsuit in North Carolina state court alleging that Mensah breached the terms of a multi-year NIL contract the university says runs through 2026 and grants Duke exclusive rights tied to his football participation. The school sought a temporary restraining order to prevent him from enrolling or playing elsewhere, but a judge denied that request, allowing Mensah to remain in the portal while the legal dispute continues. What's going on? Who is in the wrong: Duke or Mensah?

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex speak with Susan Amey.

Susan Amey is the CEO & President of Discover Durham. Amey joins the Sports Shop to discuss Durham’s growing national profile and the exciting efforts to bring a professional softball team, the Carolina Blaze, to North Carolina. Amey shares insights into the region’s sports tourism strategy, community impact, and how professional softball can elevate Durham as a destination while creating new opportunities for athletes, fans and the local economy.

Reese, Pam and Alex discuss a TV Series Reese has been enjoying and more.

Landman is a drama series created by Taylor Sheridan. The show is set in the West Texas oil boom and follows Billy Bob Thornton’s character, a seasoned landman who works the front lines between oil companies, landowners, and roughneck crews. Why does Reese like this series so much?

Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex discuss UNC Basketball, the MLK Weekend festivities and more.

Reese, Kmac and Alex discuss North Carolina’s recent struggles, analyzing whether Hubert Davis is the right coach to lead the program, if it’s too soon for Tar Heel fans to panic and what’s gone wrong over the last few games.

North Carolina came up short this weekend, falling 84-78 to California on the road in Berkeley. The Tar Heels trailed early but mounted a determined second-half comeback that cut into the deficit and brought them within striking distance. However, missed opportunities and an inability to secure key defensive stops down the stretch prevented UNC from completing the rally, allowing Cal to hold on for the win despite a strong effort from the Tar Heels.

Over the last few games, North Carolina’s basketball team hasn’t looked as sharp as earlier in the season. After starting strong with a solid record, UNC has dropped a couple of recent matchups in ACC play, including a loss to Stanford (95-90) where they couldn’t contain the opponent from beyond the arc and gave up a big scoring night, and then the 84-78 loss to California on Saturday despite a late rally. Is Hubert Davis the right guy to lead this program? Is it too early for Tar Heel fans to panic? What is wrong?

Reese, Kmac and Alex discuss the recent dominance of the Big Ten, debating whether Indiana’s 2026 championship alongside Ohio State and Michigan signals a new era in college football, and weigh which rags-to-riches season stands out the most.

Reese, Kmac and Alex discuss Indiana’s historic championship run, what it means for the future of college football, whether the transfer portal and if the Hoosiers’ breakthrough signals a changing of the guard in the sport.

The College Football Playoff National Championship game last night featured the Indiana Hoosiers vs the Miami Hurricanes, with the Hoosiers winning 27-21 to claim the national title. Indiana capped off an undefeated 16-0 season and secured the first national championship in program history. Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza led the way, highlighted by a crucial fourth-quarter touchdown run on fourth down, while the Hoosiers’ defense sealed the victory with a late interception in the final minute thrown by Carson Beck. Miami battled back throughout the game but ultimately fell short, finishing the season 13-3 as Indiana completed a historic championship run. Can Indiana do this again next year? Is the Big 10 the new brand of college football? What went right for Indiana and what went wrong for Miami? Is this Indiana run on par with the other great runs? Is the transfer portal a good thing?

Reese, Kmac and Alex discuss Indiana winning the National Championship last night.

The College Football Playoff National Championship game last night featured the Indiana Hoosiers vs the Miami Hurricanes, with the Hoosiers winning 27-21 to claim the national title. Indiana capped off an undefeated 16-0 season and secured the first national championship in program history. Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza led the way, highlighted by a crucial fourth-quarter touchdown run on fourth down, while the Hoosiers’ defense sealed the victory with a late interception in the final minute thrown by Carson Beck. Miami battled back throughout the game but ultimately fell short, finishing the season 13-3 as Indiana completed a historic championship run. Can Indiana do this again next year? Is the Big 10 the new brand of college football? What went right for Indiana and what went wrong for Miami?

Kmac and Alex speak with Ian Parks to discuss his NFL picks for the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs taking place this weekend and the National Championship game on Monday night.

Ian Parks from Always Bet On Black w/ Ian Parks joins the Sports Shop to share his picks in the NFL. Who will win this weekend: Buffalo Bills or Denver Broncos? Houston Texans or New England Patriots? Indiana Hoosiers or Miami Hurricanes? The Chicago Bears will host the Los Angeles Rams in the divisional round of the NFL Playoffs. In his last game, in the Wild Card round, Caleb Williams threw for 361 yards in a win over their rival, the Green Bay Packers. Will Williams throw for more than 222.5 yards on Sunday against the Rams?

It is MLK Weekend! What are some MLK events taking place this weekend? What is MLK's legacy and what is so important about this weekend?

Kmac and Alex break down two exciting Divisional Round matchups in the NFL Playoffs taking place on Saturday.

This weekend’s Divisional Round features two intriguing matchups: the Buffalo Bills at the Denver Broncos and the San Francisco 49ers at the Seattle Seahawks, taking place on Saturday. The Bills, coming off a narrow 27‑24 Wild Card win over the Jaguars, face a tough test against the No. 1 AFC-seeded Broncos, who had a first-round bye and boast a strong defense and balanced offense. Buffalo offense, led by Josh Allen, will be challenged by Denver’s top-tier secondary, while the Broncos will likely rely on their defense to control the game. Can Josh Allen get the win over Denver?

Later in the evening, the 49ers travel to Seattle to take on the top-seeded Seahawks. San Francisco upset the Eagles in the Wild Card round, showing their competitive spirit. Seattle, at home and led by Sam Darnold, who is questionable due to injury, will look to exploit their deep receiving corps if he is healthy. Home-field advantage favors the Seahawks, but if Darnold struggles, the 49ers’ balanced offense and aggressive defense could pull off an upset. Who will win? What did Kmac and Alex think?

Kmac, Pam and Alex speak with Reverend William V. Lucas.

The Triangle MLK Jr. Committee will sponsor an event commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Reverend William V. Lucas is the current chair of the Triangle MLK Jr. Committee. He is a primary organizer and spokesperson for the various annual MLK Day events in the Raleigh-Durham area, including the prominent Interfaith Prayer Breakfast and the Memorial March. Rev. William V. Lucas details what people can expect and discusses the impact of Dr. King.

For more information visit: trianglemlk.com

Kmac, Pam and Alex discuss the shocking details of the recent college basketbal point-shaving scandal. 

Federal prosecutors recently uncovered a major point-shaving scheme in college basketball involving dozens of people, including current and former players, bettors and intermediaries. According to investigators, the conspiracy spanned the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons and allegedly involved at least 39 players from 17 Division I men’s basketball programs, with more than two dozen games either fixed or targeted for manipulation. Rather than trying to change who won games, participants were accused of paying players, often $10,000 to $30,000 per game, to subtly underperform so their teams would fail to cover the betting spread. Those charged face serious federal offenses, including conspiracy, wire fraud and bribery in sporting contests and authorities say the case represents one of the largest threats to the integrity of college basketball in decades. What's next?

Kmac, Pam and Alex discuss John Harbaugh becoming the new head coach of the New York Giants. 

Former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh was recently fired following an 8-9 finish and missing the playoffs. Multiple sources say Harbaugh and the New York Giants are finalizing an agreement to make him their next head coach, with the deal expected to be a five-year contract worth around $100M, placing him among the highest-paid coaches in the league. Can the Giants win right away? Is there pressure on Harbaugh to win right away? Is Harbaugh the right man for the job?

The Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs starts this weekend! Which game are you most interested in this weekend?

It is MLK Weekend! What are some MLK events taking place this weekend?

Kmac, Pam and Alex discuss a variety of community activities and plans for the weekend’s Martin Luther King Jr. commemorations and other MLK-related events happening this weekend.

Pam has to go to an event this morning at the MLK Memorial Gardens. What other MLK events are taking place this weekend?

The Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs starts this weekend! Which game are you most interested in this weekend?