WISE Sports Radio MLB segment: Jan. 11, 2021

January 11, 2021January 15, 2021 / Ian Casselberry / Leave a comment

Legendary Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda passed away last Friday at the age of 93. Baseball misses having personalities like Lasorda in the dugout who can serve as the face of a franchise.

On Monday’s WISE Sports Radio baseball spot, Pat Ryan and I talked about Lasorda’s legacy and replayed his most famous postgame rant at a reporter. We also discuss slugger Kyle Schwarber signing with the Washington Nationals and why the Chicago Cubs let him go. And a lawsuit accuses several MLB pitchers of doctoring baseballs with foreign substances.

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‘Tiger’ review at Awful Announcing

January 8, 2021January 11, 2021 / Ian Casselberry / Leave a comment

I’m not certain why HBO scheduled the premiere of Tiger, its two-part documentary on Tiger Woods for Jan. 10, at the end of a big NFL playoff weekend (and up against the last of six Wild Card games, Browns-Steelers). Not to mention it’s on the night before the College Football Playoff national championship game.

Perhaps the network figures it can be alternative programming for viewers who weren’t plugged into football all weekend. And a non-sports audience might be more interested in the ugly details of his many affairs and his 2017 DUI arrest when he had several opioids and sleep aids in his system.

But Tiger is definitely worth watching and warrants being split into two parts. I reviewed the documentary for Awful Announcing:

Yet watching one and not the other avoids the full story. His childhood, relationship with his father, training to achieve at the highest level, and struggles with fame are prevalent themes that inform the entire film. They — along with insights from family friends, rivals, and media — create a deeper portrayal of a fascinating figure in sports history and make Tiger worth watching.

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WISE Sports Radio NFL segment: Nov. 12, 2020

November 12, 2020November 18, 2020 / Ian Casselberry / Leave a comment

For each week’s NFL segment on WISE Sports Radio, we usually highlight a few key storylines worth following. Eagles coach Doug Pederson is mad at Brett Favre for questioning the choice of Carson Wentz over Nick Foles at quarterback. Lamar Jackson thinks the Ravens’ offense is too predictable.

But to me, Alex Smith returning to play quarterback for the Washington Football Team against the Detroit Lions is the most intriguing storyline of Week 10.

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WISE Sports Radio NFL spot: Sept. 24, 2020

September 24, 2020September 25, 2020 / Ian Casselberry / Leave a comment

Starting off 0-2 is no way for a NFL team to get through a season if it intends to make the playoffs. For WISE Sports Radio‘s NFL segment, we picked the teams that can possibly turn their season around and those that are riding the downward spiral.

Also among our topics were Mike Gore’s Buffalo Bills, off to a 2-0 start with Josh Allen putting up huge passing numbers in his first two games. Is the artificial turf at MetLife Stadium dangerous for NFL players? And should Justin Herbert be the Los Angeles Chargers’ starting quarterback?

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WISE Sports Radio MLB update: Sept. 21, 2020

September 21, 2020September 22, 2020 / Ian Casselberry / Leave a comment

The past weekend brought bad news for a former Detroit Tigers pitcher and a now-former Tigers manager. Justin Verlander requiring reconstructive surgery on his right elbow and Ron Gardenhire suddenly retiring due to health concerns were two of the topics we covered on WISE Sports Radio‘s baseball segment.

We also discussed the San Diego Padres, whom I think I’ve written more about than any other team this season in my role contributing to SI.com’s Dodgers site.

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