-How Jordan's great aunt went from a Lakers fan to a Celtics fan... in the 80's! Like, really, how does that happen?

-Jordan is a die hard Lakers fan, Haley a huge LeBron fan. Are either of them enjoying the amount of work he's having to do right now to keep the Lakers afloat without Anthony Davis?

-There is a tremendous amount of focus on the number of minority head coaches, more specifically Black head coaches, in the NBA. Much less attention, however, goes to the WNBA, where there is only one Black female head coach. This in a league where more than 4/5ths of the players are Black women. Why doesn't this get more attention?

-Finally, we play a game: What if teams could trade titles like draft picks? What would you want for LA's '09 title? Is '10 off the table? Should OKC trade that one random title from Seattle? What would you get for it?

-Is LeBron James tired in a way that matters in playoffs?

-Is Brooklyn solving its defense problem with some defense, and more offense?

-So... you buying what Meyers Leonard (Here, Michael joins and weighs on on why he believes a locker room would welcome him back.

-Thursday was the anniversary of the Lakers trading Eddie Jones to Charlotte... and not coincidentally was the day Michael gave up being a Lakers fan. Why?

-Micheal explains is background in art.

-On his first interaction with Kobe, someone Lee disliked back from being such a big Eddie Jones fan.

-Michael remembers his close friend Sekou Smith, who died recently from COVID.

So how did this all happen? What brought the crew together, and how has it grown into something with this big a life? That's where we start when joined by five members of the Lour crew (Jeff, Jeanette, Art, Lou and @BeepCount). Which Lour folks have taken on the personalities of the show crew?

From there, we talk action heroes and coked out bears. Elizabeth Banks is set to direct a film - true story! - about a bear that finds, then eats, a massive amount of coke, then dies of an OD. Which action hero character is best suited to take on this sort of challenge, were an action hero deemed necessary?

Then, we play a game around the best films of 1998. If you had to build a poker hand of cinematic dominance, which movies would you include? Then how would you create a hand out of Meryl Streep films?

Finally, we get hats!!!

We start on his upbringing in Boyle Heights, a hub of mural culture in the city. When did he find art? What type of support did he get from his family? Why did he turn to murals as an expression of his talent?

Why is mural culture so important to L.A.? Is it a different process with different objectives when completing one in Boyle Heights vs. the Valley vs. the Westside?

We talk about his Kobe murals, the newest at the Zambezi off Jefferson in Santa Monica. What inspired him? What kind of images did he choose, and why?

We move from Kobe, one of the most visible people this city has ever seen, to his inclusion of a member of its most invisible community. For a mural downtown, he started by painting a homeless man named Craig. Why is it so important to have representation of people like that, who so few people ever really see?

Finally, on Friday we had 710 ESPN's Steve Mason on the show, who showed us two oil paintings from his oil painting phase. We have Robert review them.

Finally, we discuss Meyers Leonard and the anti-Semitic slur he used Tuesday. What could/should the fallout be?

After, we talk about the challenge of comedy in the pandemic, when for him very little has seemed funny, and his crew at FadedComedyLA had their legs cut out from under them by COVID. Few parts of the universe have been more badly damaged over the last year than the universe of standup.

How has all of this impacted his ability to enjoy the NBA? Well, for starters he feels bad for even watching. Especially since his Celtics are underperforming.

Finally, what would you do if you found 68 lbs of cocaine, worth $1.5 million bucks?

We start on vaccinations. He got one, hanging out at the local Rite-Aid. Turns out, they had some spares. So what's he going to do with his newfound freedom, once he and his partner get the other half of the vax? From there, we turn to his oil painting days, something he revealed this week promoting his show. Turns out, painting was a phase, one of many, and arguably the most normal.

After, it's on to the Dodgers and the Rams. How excited is he for returning to the stadiums? Are the Dodgers going to be pushed by the Padres? Will the Rams be able to navigate some important personnel losses this offseason? Has any shine worn off Sean McVay?

We discuss Steve's "Culture Pop" podcast which has pulled in some great guests of late. Just how close was he to landing a career in musical theater? What about pandemic TV? Why have certain shows hit and others not? Is Better Call Saul better than Breaking Bad? How will popular shows like Succession handle the pandemic?

All of that and more on Friday's Late Night Happy Hour!

After breaking down his extremely judgmental mattress, we stumble into a Knicks conversation. They're as good as they've been in years, but does that actually make them good? We discuss.

What about the Western Conference? The Lakers are banged up, the Clippers have had Covid-19 protocol issues, the Jazz have lost three of four... who's the best squad? According to Travonne, it was the Lakers before, it's the Lakers now. Why? Superstars. The Lakers have super-elite ones, other teams don't. There's a difference he says between franchise players and All Stars.

What about the All Star Game? Why is it happening? Is the league garnering any goodwill with players by focusing so much on HBCUs, Black owned brands, Black artists and more? Not as much as they'd like, Travonne says.

Finally, we wrap talking about his shows on the BOMM Podcast series, and the new series, "Soul of a Nation."

Zach Kram joins the Late Night Happy Hour, and we start with the NBA game of the night, with Utah and Philly, two teams vying for seeding and respect. Philly wins, behind a monster game for Joel Embiid. Is this the year where the huge talent and big numbers translate into something bigger? What's different about Embiid this year?

And what's different about hoops? What does the next generation look like? Kram makes a great point about how this is the first generation of kids who grew up watching shooters like Steph Curry or Damian Lillard, and bigs who regularly shoot - and make - 3's like Karl Anthony Towns. The game is only going to evolve more into a pace/space/skill direction.

We talk All Star controversies. Why is Mike Conley not heading to Atlanta (at least not yet)? What should the NBA be doing to make the game better, and get more worthy players involved?

What about the league's refereeing problem? What might fix it?

We then dive into "nerd tv," specifically around Star Wars and Marvel. Why do these projects seem to translate so much better to TV, especially when looking at Star Wars? Because, dirty little secret, most of the movies kind of suck.

Finally, we look at Fernando Tatis, Jr., and why he's arguably the most important player in baseball, even if he's not the best.

We start by maybe, just maybe, encouraging Lakers fans to slow their roll on Damian Jones. He's looked good in his first two games in purple and gold - hasn't missed a shot! - but there's a reason the center has been let go by three teams over the course of a very short career. But is there a role he can fill? Can the Lakers expect the buyout market to yield... anything?

Next, it's the Phoenix Suns, who beat an undermanned Lakers team Tuesday night. How good are they? Can they challenge the perceived elites in the West? Why has Chris Paul been able to resurrect his career in ways people may not have seen coming? (Plants!... in part.)

Does the NBA have a referee problem? The game Tuesday, a marquee matchup on national TV, was undercut by the quick-trigger ejection of Suns star Devin Booker. What can the NBA do about that, and what appears to be a crazy number of reviews, particularly in late game situations?

Why has Steph Curry been able to rebound so well this year, after an injury plagued 2020? What has made this year unique, relative to others in his career. And do the Warriors regret taking James Wiseman over LaMelo Ball?

-We start on the mechanics of shooting food TV shows in the midst of a pandemic. What changes? How much does he actually get to each? Does Duff Goldman share food?

-What will "normal" look like, when it comes to food and eating after the pandemic? What habits have people developed that they'll keep? What snaps back? How will restaurants that have managed to survive while changing menus and making new offerings respond? Will they go back to what they were doing before, or is how we eat out destined to change long term?

-Everyone knows there's a secret menu at In'N'Out.But not everyone knows how to maximize its potential. He brings you the ingredients of "The Ali," a massive and incredibly delicious looking off-the-menu option for your fast food jones.

-And speaking of fast food jones, he also provides a McRib hack that not only improves the sandwich, but also provides a blueprint on how to spruce up virtually any sandwich.

-Finally, we debate the merits of ground turkey. It's flavorless compared to good ground beef... but sometimes that can be a good thing.

From there, it's Damian Lillard and what makes him so much fun to watch (though not as fun as Steph Curry, Schilling contends) and the much ballyhooed sweater game of Lakers star Anthony Davis. Also, are shoulder pads back? And who should be wearing them?

And where are we on Coming 2 America? Is it a good thing Eddie Murphy is playing 183 characters in a movie again?

We start with atmosphere. It's no a normal Spring Training, whether talking about the players or the media covering them. What's the atmosphere like? How are the Dodgers responding to being champs... but in the weirdest possible season? Is there any chip on their shoulder, or a need to prove last year was legit by winning again over 162 games?

The projections for the Dodgers this year are insane. As high as 107 wins, according to simulations from ESPN. Who else could come close? If you have to pick nits with this team, where do you start? Castillo points to the back end of the pen, but even that's not a big problem in the spring, and may not become one in October.

What about Trevor Bauer? Any fear he could upset what has been some excellent chemistry over the last year-plus?

How does the Bauer deal reflect the current economics of baseball? And what might be coming as the league and the Player's Association get closer to negotiating a new CBA? Hint: It could get very ugly, very fast, he says.

Finally, we have a long conversation about language in clubhouses. Castillo, whose family is from Puerto Rico, writes in both English and Spanish for the Times. He talks about what is lost when media can't communicate with Spanish-native players in their first language, and how too often Spanish speaking players are treated as a monolith, when culturally there are huge differences.

"Are the Jazz for real?"

Sabreena is a believer. There's a lot to like about this team, and many reasons to believe what they're doing is sustainable. That said, they're not without vulnerabilities. And in the playoffs, will some of the advantages they currently have over the competition go away?

We all know why the Lakers are losing right now, but should fans be genuinely concerned about the shooting?

After a moment to wonder whether Alex Caruso's new "Manscaped" ad is the greatest commercial a Laker has ever made, or just the best commercial anyone has ever made, we look at the Clippers. Why is it working this year, with Ty Lue? Is their incredibly good work from beyond the arc sustainable? What will be different this year in the playoffs? Why does this year's team make more sense? She calls them the best team in basketball.

Finally, Sabreena, who was once a contestant on Jeopardy! gives her review of how Ken Jennings performed in his guest hosting capacity.

Meanwhile, there's actual cause for optimism in New York, where Julius Randle has made the All Star team for the first time in his career. Deb profiled Randle for the Times, and we talk about the former first round pick's growth from Los Angeles through New Orleans and now for two years with the Knicks. What has helped him grow so much this year? It starts with stability, which is a weird thing to say about that franchise, but it seems they might have some.

Finally, it's some music talk. Nobody stans for the Dave Matthews Band like Sopan, and he/they recently received quite an honor, one Deb feels he may have helped bring about. And what's the deal with the "dad" vibe Springsteen is putting out these days?

So what do fans do about it? How do they hold their teams, leagues and athletes responsible without walking away? What can sports do to improve from within? Complicated questions for people who love sports, and in their new book "Loving Sports When They Don't Love You Back," Kavitha Davidson and Jessica Luther explore these and more.

After a quick update on Monday's fatigue-fueled loss to Washington for the Lakers, we dive into the interview. Who traditionally hasn't been "loved back" by sports? Who has, and how interested are they in being loved in a different way?

Why are sports a place where fans are so willing to compartmentalize? What is it about sports loyalties that makes it hard to draw hard lines in the sand for people (even those in the groups sports tends to ignore -- Davidson and Luther, for example, are both massive sports fans)?

How should people talk about trans athletes? Is there really a "problem" with trans women competing and hurting women's sports? Why are sports so often used as proxies for larger cultural battles?

Why are Luther and Davidson ultimately optimistic?

Finally, we close with a conversation about Ted Lasso, one of the great shows about the spirit of sports ever made.

But first, some other stuff, starting with Pat Riley. Is he ever going to retire? What would that even look like?

What will LeBron James do once he actually gets to Atlanta for the All Star Game? He obviously would prefer not to have to go, but will he put on a show, anyway? Jorge says yes, and explains why.

Then we remember how exactly we got to this point in a very weird season, part of an even weirder year.... before getting to the evening's main course (about 30 minutes in...)

SEDANO EXPLAINS FLORIDA!!!

We give Jorge a bunch of stories, and he rates each of them on a 1-5 Gator scale of Floridaness. 5 being Super Florida, 1 being "Could have happened anywhere!" We've got monkey's biting children at chain restaurants! Sisters stabbing each other with Epi-Pens! Urine in the microwave! So what says Jorge?

We start with the Lakers, who won their first game Tuesday without Anthony Davis. Looking ahead, what do these games without him mean? What can the Lakers accomplish? How does the absence of Davis impact the MVP campaign of LeBron James? If he carries the team could LeBron win the award, but hurt his chances at another title?

What about the rest of the league? Is Utah for real? Just how bad are the Nets defensively, and how good is "good enough," given their star power? We debate.

Finally, the NBA and its players have enjoyed an excellent relationship over the last few years. How much of that is jeopardized by the league staging an All Star Game this year?

We start on the Brooklyn Nets, who are the opponent for the Lakers in Thursday's big marquee national TV matchup. They can't stop anyone, really, but how good do they need to be on that side of the ball to be successful? It worked out well enough Tuesday against the Suns, as Brooklyn got enough stops to complete a big fourth quarter comeback with both Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant in street clothes. Just how bad on defense is good enough?

What do the Lakers lose without Anthony Davis in the lineup? How can the team benefit, even knowing anything they do now with him out of the lineup won't stay "as is" once he returns? Jones notes why these games could ultimately benefit the Lakers.

From there, we dive into the Kings, and the future of former Lakers head coach Luke Walton. Is he doing good work up there? How good should the Kings be? Will Walton survive this season and make it into next?

Next, was Draymond Green on to something when he teed off on media and fans for the double standard he believes players are held to when it comes to trades and professionalism? Was he creating straw men? Complaining too much?

Finally... Jason Jones loves his Dodgers. And with Spring Training basically here, he's ready to crown them again.

We start with... movers! She recently swapped apartments, smack in the middle of the pandemic. And while the experience sucked, the movers did not. So that's a plus. From there, we talk decorating, which means Ikea. And the vastly different experience you have as a single, childless person vs. how you look at it as a parent of small children, when you need activity/food hacks at a low, low price.

Then, it's on to basketball. The Lakers continue playing bad first quarters. The shooting has gone downhill. So is there any reason to worry? What's the appropriate amount? 5% concern? 10%? Which flaws might actually come back to haunt them?

And who else in the league is best suited to beat them? A viewer asks us to name three teams, which ultimately leads to a debate about the Nets. Can they get good enough defensively to support a potentially unstoppable offense?

What about the All Star Game? How big a mistake is it to stage the game, not just because of the pandemic -- it's reasonable to think the league can stage the game safely -- but because the players really, really don't want to do it? Should the stars rule the day?

We wrap talking a little music. What makes something timeless? What artists of today could have real staying power? And why?

He's a sociology professor by trade, so Cobb understands how these sort of communal experiences -- things like Gatorgum! -- can bring people together in ways you wouldn't expect.

Fun conversation with a guy who has carved out a unique space in the online sports moment we're in. And it's a pretty big space, too.

First, it's all about the Lakers, who are a little stuck in the mud about a third of the way through the season, working through fatigue, injury, poor shooting and more, but are still managing to win. Any reason for concern?

Next, Johnson was a star at Crenshaw High in Los Angeles, playing with and around other pros. What was the high school scene like at that point? Why has LA been so good at churning out pros? What skill set does an LA player have, compared to what you see out of New York or Chicago?

We talk UCLA hoops. How thin are the margins for winning? People tend to forget the iconic Tyus Edney end-to-end run to beat Missouri was in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. If that doesn't happen, the entire arc of history around Bruins basketball changes. And Johnson notes the rest of the teams he played on in Westwood were really good... but not championship level. It's a very fine line.

From there, he talks about the hard truths around college sports, and whether it can ever again reach the heights and significance it once had in the American sports landscape.

Finally, he goes through some amazing stories of his time playing overseas, including being caught in a literal war zone as a pro in Lebanon. Also, eating Applebee's in places you wouldn't expect to find it.

On a slow night in the NBA, we get deep into Hollywood, and what might be coming with awards season. This is, without question, the most unusual year for movies in decades, and maybe ever. Very few people have seen any of the films that will be nominated. How does that impact the way people will vote, whether for films or the acting/directing awards that come with them?

Does the genie ever go back in the bottle, when it comes to streaming services getting their due as producers of Oscar/Emmy/etc. winning films?

Ben used to review movies, and took a lot of heat. What's that process like? What approach is the right one for the people in charge of shaping perceptions of a film?

And how about those Knicks!?!?! For the first time in a long time, the Knicks are actually entertaining and interesting, but not in a car crash kind of way. Not necessarily good, but the process of the regular season is a lot more interesting in some ways than what Lakers fans are going through, where so much of it is about just hoping nobody gets hurt.

We start, as they tend to on Cinephobe, with a deep dive into Nicolas Cage, who might as well be the patron saint of that show, appearing 10 times in 71 total episodes. That's a lot. So how did this guy, who has legit acting chops, end up a cartoon character? Does he deserve all the crap his movies get these days? Can he ever re-legitimize himself, or is he too far gone?

What makes a "good" bad movie? Is Rotten Tomatoes too influential? Why is Deep Blue Sea amazing, while so many movies like it totally suck?

Finally, we cap things off with a hilarious exploration of John Travolta's career via his Rotten Tomatoes score, and it elicits some extreme emotions in Zach.

We start, though, with a conversation about what it's like to cover a team that you grew up rooting for as a fan. Where are the boundaries? When can you, ostensibly a journalist trying to provide honest commentary to a group of listeners or readers, use "we" in reference to the team, as "regular" fans might?

LeBron James has made it very, VERY clear he doesn't like the idea of the NBA staging an All Star Game. It's rare for James to be that vocally out of step with the league, so what happens now? For starters, he's given cover for a lot of other players to echo his sentiment. Any shot the league caves, given the amount of revenue the game could generate? Do the league's rank-and-file even want that?

How about the Lakers on Thursday? What did they prove to the rest of the league by stomping the Denver Nuggets as badly as they did over the second half? Was the gear they hit something other teams can match?

From there, we turn to Trevor Bauer. How does a Dodgers fan who wants to take seriously questions of bad behavior, particularly bad behavior towards women, look at the signing? How does this fit into the general trend of compartmentalizing that sports fans have -- or choose -- to do?

The guy knows social media backwards and he joins the Late Night Happy Hour to talk about the tremendous impact social media has had on sports, how its consumed and how leagues and players have reacted. How aware are the big players of this universe of alternatives people engage with?

From there, we turn to comedy. Toledano was born in Iowa and moved to Erie, PA as a kid. Not exactly centers of diversity for a young Asian kid. How that experience laid the foundation for his entry into comedy.

Finally, it's a look at some of the most random sports memorabilia a person can buy... and the person who bought it is CJ Toledano.

We start with Jake Brennan, host of Disgraceland, which enters its seventh season on a new home at Amazon Music. What makes this true crime/music mashup so much fun? Brennan talks about the characters that emerge in rock and roll that tell these stories, and what it's like to bring them to life.

From there, it's onto the gridiron, where the Rams have been very, very busy. We connect with Lindsey Thiry of ESPN to break down the trade of Jared Goff to Detroit for Matthew Stafford, and discuss where the Rams go next.

After a quick recap of the Lakers road trip and rotation changes before Metta joins (at about the 25 minute mark), we talk about what motivated him to develop the app, and what he hopes it becomes. It reflects something fundamental about pickup hoops culture, and why it matters so much to the sport. What's unique about growing up playing ball in the parks of New York vs. LA vs. Chicago? How does it form a player's game? How can XvsX help keep players in the game who might otherwise fall through the cracks?

In that way, his newest venture is an extension of the mental health and community work Metta has engaged in over his career, and after. What helped him speak out so openly about mental health at a time when the stigma, particularly for athletes and men more generally, was still very intense? How does it feel now to see players so much more comfortable talking about mental health?

It's just past the 10 year anniversary of his legendary post-Game 7 press conference, after the Lakers beat the Celtics. We cue it up, and watch it with him. Some of his commentary was surprising (including a desire to be traded early in his first Lakers season that was, at least to us, news). And the stories he told after about the night that followed? Fun, to say the least.

In between, Metta reveals where he'd like to coach, and why that school may not want to hire him, and a lot more. So much fun, with a fantastic human being.

Make sure to check out xvsxsports...

We start with the Lakers. They've lost two straight - not a big deal - but every team has weaknesses, however relative. Has Nekias seen anything in these games that worry him? (Spoiler... no, not really.) In fact, he wonders if the Lakers haven't been playing with measured effort, meaning they have a lot of upside left to explore. We dive into Dennis Schroder and Montrezl Harrell. What do they need from each guy? Does it really matter if Harrell can't be a force in the playoffs?

Meanwhile, the Clippers are winning games and shooting the lights out behind Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Is it sustainable? Have they solved their point guard problem? What about Lou Williams, who has not performed well this season. Could he be a candidate for trading later in the season?

From there, we look at Anthony Davis, and whether fatigue from a short offseason might be impacting him more than expected, and use that as a jumping off point to explore Nekias' great feature story on the growth of Miami's Bam Adebayo. Is AD a good template for Bam, in terms of potential growth and upside, working with a varied (though admittedly different) skill set? How realistic is it that Adebayo becomes a top 10 player in the league? Could he go higher?

Joel Embiid appears to have made a leap this year. Does that make Philly a legit contender in the Eastern Conference? Is anyone in the West going to challenge the LA teams, when push comes to shove.

Great info, great insight from one of the best young basketball writers out there.

One big obstacle? The Lakers and LeBron James, who seems wholly uninterested in any type of decline. That makes big decisions for teams like the Warriors a lot more complex. You can get real good, but still not get over the hill James currently occupies.

So alternatively, how good might James Wiseman become? What about that pick they have from Minnesota? Do they have the player development chops in house to make sure these young players pan out? Is there any chance they'd let Curry go in free agency after next season, and go full rebuild?

If any of these problems sound familiar to Lakers fans, it's because it seems like everything the Warriors have experienced over the last few seasons mirrors some aspect of where the Lakers have been. Excellent for a stretch, then awful (though for far less time in GSW than in LA) and then in a weird spot where there are significant questions about the future. No wonder the fan bases often seem to sound alike.

From there, we talk GameStop, Hilaria Baldwin and Jimmy G's 49ers. It was a VERY packed show, and tons of fun.

We open talking about the benefit, and how excited the cast is to get back together. (And we'd encourage everyone to buy tickets!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sunday-funday-a-youre-the-worst-reunion-tickets-135245712567

The five seasons of "You're the Worst" on FX were among the best in TV comedy we've seen in a very, very long time. So what made it that way? We talked about it with Falk and Geere. Talent obviously matters, and the cast had plenty of it, but they also mention some incredible chemistry and personalities that blended well - and quickly - off camera. It was helpful given the horrible things characters often did to each other on-screen.

What are the challenges in pushing barriers in comedy? In creating characters that are watchable and funny, even when they're pretty awful humans? Is it easier to make a show for networks or cable? How might these characters have behaved during the pandemic. Would they be mask wearers? Virus deniers?

What will happen to TV and production when the pandemic ends? How might content change? Will people's appetite for dark or cynical material go down in the wake of 2020?

Finally, what would they want people to take away from the series?

What was the inspiration for the series? How does he hone in on a player's peak? Which players had the most impressive ones?

We break down icons like Kobe Bryant, whose work off the ball and subtle movement with it helped free up his offense in surprising ways, and Shaquille O'Neal, who had far more nuance in his game than many people remember. How would Shaq translate to a truly modern game, spreading all the way to the 3-point line and beyond? What would that look like?

What about Larry Bird? What made him so great, and were he to enter the time machine to play today, would he be as dominant? Would his shooting ability, which wasn't fully exploited in the 80s, make him that much more unstoppable? Same with his passing on a floor that's much more open than his era... but then again, what about defense?

If there's a tough player to measure, it's LeBron James. We ask Ben a hard question: Just how do you pick a "peak" for LeBron? And how far off that place is he now? He has an answer for both. Finally we wrap with a discussion of Anthony Davis, who in Ben's mind has reached all-time great in one very interesting category.

Really interesting stuff, particularly for basketball history lovers and data wonks.

But we start with coronavirus putting the Clippers' stars on the sidelines for at least a few games as they've been placed in the NBA's contact tracing protocol. Is this a reality that's coming for every team, even those managing to avoid problems so far? Law thinks so.

He wrote a story about Paul George, who spoke at length about the fun he's having with point-forward, offense orchestrating responsibilities given to him by Lue. Are the Clips really enjoying themselves? Or is it a matter of trying to project a fun vibe, given the discord and turmoil of last season? And what about Kawhi as a leader? How has the dynamic shifted with the Clippers? Do they need a "public face," so to speak?

Nic Batum! What an impact he's made.

From there, we get into NBA culture. Law goes back to the old TrueHoop days, and has seen the evolution in NBA media. It's a different deal than other sports... how has it impacted the game? He makes a some great points about the influence of star culture on the game, and the way we talk about it, including the creation of heels and heroes, putting real people in roles they may not be comfortable with.

Finally, Law is an expert on Saturday Night Live. Historian levels of knowledge. We break down some of the bigger questions around the show. How does it survive in a post-Trump world? What does it mean for the show to be more about social media consumption than TV ratings? What are his favorite sketches and musical acts?

An awesome 80 minutes.

Well, it's not really a feud, but it was a moment pointing to a common criticism of NBA broadcasts.

We start with Hank Aaron, whose significance as a Black athlete breaking the home run record of a revered white man, and the work he did during and after his career, made him an icon of both sports and civil rights. But in that process, it's easy to forget just how dominant he was, and for how long. Not just good, not just a Hall of Famer, but truly one of the greatest few to ever play the game.

Aaron's greatness is a natural transition to the greatness of Kobe. January 22nd marked the 15th anniversary of his 81-point game against Toronto at Staples Center, coming just four days before the first anniversary of his death. It creates a real sense of mixed emotions in Los Angeles, and across the basketball world.

We remember that night, talk about the season that surrounded that game, and the MVP vote that came later.

Finally... It's Shaq vs. Mitchell. What was Shaq doing? And why does he always have to punch down?

We start with Thursday's big win for the Lakers in Milwaukee. It was a great night for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who is without question a leader for most popular player inside his own locker room. His teammates love him, and when he plays well it gives everyone a boost. But broadly, is this the least unlikable Lakers team of all time? Even for non-Lakers fans? How was Thursday's game an indication of why Kyle Kuzma's contract extension matters?

We talk about his jersey re-designs for the Lakers. How does he decide what deserves a tweak? And why is he so right that the black side panels on the purple Lakers jerseys are an abomination?

From there, it's a conversation about NBA social media. How did it develop? Why is it so much more a presence than other sports? What makes the game, and the community, so well suited to the type of social media influence it has? And what makes for a good meme, anyway? Why does an image - this week, it's Sitting Bernie Sanders - go viral?

Finally, we finish with a gold-themed game.

We start with a review of the loss in Green Bay. How much of the damage done by Green Bay to what had been a dominant defense was tied directly to Aaron Donald's health? How much was the brilliance of Aaron Rodgers? What needed to happen for the Rams to win that game?

It wasn't a great ending for Brandon Staley, but nonetheless it was a tremendous season... which is why he's now coaching the Chargers. So what changes next year with (presumably) Raheem Morris as defensive coordinator? He is, notes Rodrigue, an excellent coach. But he's different than Staley, and that means new personnel and a new system for the third straight season.

Back to the offense, and that means questions about Jared Goff. Is there any real chance he's not the starting QB next year? Does Sean McVay really believe in John Wolford as an option going forward? Would they sit a QB making eleventybillion dollars? Because releasing him is a VERY tough pill to swallow from a salary cap standpoint. But it leads to a great question from a viewer -- Does McVay think Goff is holding him and his offense back?

From there, it's a look at free agency. The Rams are in a tough spot, with important players poised to leave and limited ability to fill those spots through the Draft and free agency. So is this going to be a doomsday summer?

Can Cam Akers be a truly special, transformative running back?

Finally, as is always the case when Jourdan comes on the show... it's bird talk! Tonight, we play a round of Rate That Bird.

Among the topics...

-Where are the relative weaknesses in the Lakers, relative as they might be?

-Have the Clippers made real improvements under Ty Lue? Is he a better fit as a head coach?

-What's up with the West? Are any of the teams bunched up in the middle of the pack poised to make a move to challenge the Lakers and Clippers? Is Phoenix for real? What's wrong with Denver?

-What about the East? Is Philly for real? How is Brooklyn going to make it work?

Great insight from a great NBA voice.

We start, though, on Aaron's grotesque, surgically repaired (sort of repaired, at least) right hand. It's really gross, and doesn't work properly. That leads to questions about what is the bare minimum score a grown man should be able to achieve bowling? And is bowling a better first date option than mini-golf?

From there, we get to the Lakers, and LeBron James, who is essentially playing basketball like a Jedi. So much control, with incredible returns for every ounce of energy he's putting out on the floor. 18 years in, his ability to control a game is still unmatched. How does that impact the team around him? Especially since that control is paired with a great deal of contentedness and joy? It's a huge factor in the Lakers constructing the type of team chemistry they've displayed over the last year-plus.

Especially now, in NBA seasons where chemistry has never been more important, thanks to COVID-related NBA protocols.

We ask an interesting hypothetical -- How would 2010 Kobe have handled the bubble? As a player? As a leader?

And as the discussion turns to comparing eras in the NBA, Aaron puts out some takes on Larry Bird that might even get die-hard Lakers fans to actually defend a Celtic.

He joins the Happy Hour for what became a great discussion of the evolution of radio, whether around sports or music.

We start with old tales of fun feuds with Joel Meyers, former Lakers broadcaster, now with the New Orleans Pelicans, and that morphs into a discussion of guys like Chris "Mad Dog" Russo and old school sports radio locals like Lee Hamilton. When did radio go from the omniscient oracle sports voice to a show like "Petros and Money," where guys have the freedom to just kinda do what they want? Where sports isn't necessarily the focus? Why did it move in that direction?

(For anyone out there who loves Lakers great/broadcaster Mychal Thompson, you'll appreciate some of these stories as well...)

From there, it's a long discussion about music, and radio's influence over what became popular in the 90s and early 2000's. It was the last era of radio truly driving tastes in rock. What was it like to be in the center of it, working at KROQ? What made that station such an influencer of music culture during that time? When did radio stations lose that ability to influence?

It leads to an interesting segue - What's the difference between music that's cool, and music that's popular?

Finally... Prince. Who was both.

We start with a look at Vince McMahon, the WWE and how it has maintained staying power despite some legitimately sordid events in its history. What accounts for the staying power?

What has made McMahon so successful?

From there, we get into some of the characters. What has made certain people - Hulk Hogan, The Rock and so on - pop? Why are they so appealing?

Hanstock unpacks the infamous "Montreal Screwjob," in which McMahon undercut Bret "The Hitman" Hart, which led to his departure from WWF.

We move on to viewer questions, including Bill's opinion on the most influential wrestler of the last 50 years, and the worst gimmick of all time.

Joining the show to break it all down is Kirk Morrison (@kirkmorrison), pre- and postgame host for Rams broadcasts on 710 ESPN, NFL host for Sirius XM and all around football oracle.

We start with coaching, and why it's so critical to the NFL game, more than in other sports. From there, it's on to the topic of the week - what do the Rams do at quarterback? Is it Jared Goff or John Wolford? What does having to ask the question say about where Goff is in his career development?

Can the Rams defense clamp down on a Green Bay offense that has scored fewer than 30 points only one time in the last seven weeks? Can the Packers slow down Aaron Donald? Can Jalen Ramsey slow down Davante Adams?

Finally, Kirk shares a great story about securing some sweet Kobe-related cleats back in 2007, we get game predictions.

Few guys break down the game as well as Kirk, and this hour is no exception. It's only Wednesday, but Saturday is right around the corner. Get prepared!

One team that has been active? The San Diego Padres, who have made some power moves to try and close the gap between themselves and the Dodgers in the National League. Greg Bergman of 710 ESPN joins the show to discuss their progress.

How good has San Diego's offseason been?

How much have they shaved off of L.A.'s advantage?

Are the Dodgers still the favorites in the National League? (Spoiler alert... yes) Could they actually be better this year than last?

What about Justin Turner? Is his career in L.A. over? Will Gavin Lux finally break through? What if Cody Bellinger's shoulder still isn't quite right?

Those are just some of the questions we cover.

After, Greg explains what Tommy Lasorda meant to born-and-bred Dodgers fans, before we finish with a Lasorda-inspired game in his honor.

Ted Nguyen, who covers the NFL for The Athletic, joins the show to preview the game. Will Jared Goff start if he's healthy? Does that mean John Wolford won't play? What kind of Wolford-centric wrinkles might LA have ready?

What other matchups will be key? Can Pete Carroll figure out how to get DK Metcalf loose against Jalen Ramsey? Can they stop Aaron Donald? And who is gonna win, when it's all said and done?

From there, we look at other games around the league. Buffalo looks like the second best team in the AFC, behind Kansas City. But is the gap closer than it appears? Ted believes it might be. And don't sleep on the Steelers, he says. Not to make the Super Bowl, but potentially upset a team that is favored to get there. He explains why.

Which game does he believe could be the best of the weekend? Try Baltimore at Tennessee. And which NFC teams have a real shot to make it all the way through?

Finally, it's a round of starting QB trivia, in which you learn how many people a year are killed by hippos. Trust us, there's a connection.

Anything to worry about? Ohm says... no and explains why.

From there, the topic turns to James Harden. Would a team like Denver pull the trigger, given some of the maturity questions growing a little louder around young (potential) star Michael Porter Jr.? If not the Nuggets, what team would talk themselves into it? Are teams making a mistake in talking themselves out of a deal? What stars make sense for Harden to play with?

We dive into COVID, arguably the single most important determining factor of who eventually wins the title, or at the very least, how teams are arranged going into the playoffs. The Lakers have been COVID free to this point, but can they stay that way? The Sixers, after all, are suddenly dealing with a positive test to Seth Curry, and more could be coming.

Finally - at least on the basketball side - Ohm makes a great point about LeBron. Not only is he playing well, he's just in a fantastic spot mentally, and as a person. It's rare for an athlete's athletic prime to line up with his prime as a person in the way LeBron's seems to be doing. And it shows.

From there, it's a look at Ohm's shoe collection, Tupac trivia, and a discussion of The Mandalorian. He's a fan, to say the least. And are movie theaters really dead?

It started Tuesday with the decision not to prosecute the police officer who shot Jacob Blake in Wisconsin, followed by a pair of wins for Democratic candidates in the Georgia Senate runoff election and capped Wednesday by rioters, encouraged by the President, storming the Capitol.

We begin with his reaction as a DC native to the events of the day. What is the experience of seeing events unfold when you know the city, know the buildings, and most importantly, know people in your community who work in those spaces? What were his thoughts, not just as a Washingtonian, but a Black man who grew up there?

Clinton discusses the need for white people to believe Black people when they share the realities of life experience.

Looking at Tuesday's events, Clinton highlights the role of WNBA players in the push for social justice and meaningful change. They've been doing the work for a long time, laying the foundation for action in the NBA, NFL and beyond. We highlight the work of former Minnesota Lynx star Maya Moore, who literally walked away from her Hall of Fame career to devote her life to criminal justice reform. She is remarkable, he says, but the sacrifices Moore made are indicative of sacrifices Black women make every day.

That leads to a discussion about the athlete empowerment era, and what it means for players to be able to bypass traditional media to deliver their own messages and build their own business profiles outside the game. What's the impact of social media? How do different players take advantage of opportunities? What comes next?

All that, and a lot more on a fun, loose hour of basketball talk.

Not surprisingly, the review is positive.

From there, we get into Ja Morant - how well-equipped is Memphis' young star to handle the burden of elevating a small market team to excellence? And how's that giraffe the zoo named after him doing?

We talk cooking with Lang (who hosts a segment on the Grizzlies media site called Cooking With Lang), and finish things off with a dive into NBA culture in the social media age.

Tuesday: @CountOnVic

We start on Harden's mess, the Rockets' mess, and what might soon spill into the NBA's mess if players across the league don't stay vigilant about protecting themselves. Meanwhile, how is Harden's violation of league protocols and general thumbing of his nose at Houston's management is making it harder for him to actually get what he wants?

Then, it's on to the Opening Night Battle of LA... won by the Clippers. It's the first game, but what might have been instructive, insofar as matchups later in the season are concerned? Were there any clues on how a playoff series between these teams could go?

From there, it's on to Rohan's outstanding feature story on Davis. How did Kobe play a role in his development? What about Lakers assistant coach Mike Penberthy? We talk Jimmy Butler (based on another excellent story from Rohan) and why so many people missed the mark with him.

Finally, a game of Rob Pelinka Trivia, in honor of Rob Pelinka's birthday.

But before that, we got another example of just how good the Lakers are at stagecraft, as they turned what could have been a sad and underwhelming ring ceremony, staged in an empty arena with rigid social distancing guidelines, into something really fantastic. First, they had frontline health workers from UCLA Health "present" rings to team staff. Then for Frank Vogel, Rob Pelinka and the players, their families delivered messages of congratulations and love. It was awesome, and clearly moving for the players. And by the way, it's another thing that helps attract players to the franchise.

It leads to a conversation about what "Lakers Exceptionalism" actually is -- a form of extreme competence that allows the team to win. That's how it was when Dr. Buss was around, and they're back in a similar place now.

Then, it's on to the game. How did the new guys look? What went wrong? Anything to worry about? As for the last question, no, but it's certainly possible the Lakers could look a little more like a work in progress than last year's team did over its first 20 games. Vogel has already noted how the Lakers will need to be careful with LeBron and Davis, minding their workloads. They won't be the only ones. Rotations will need to be tweaked, and changes in personnel - the center position has much less shot-blocking, for example - will require more adjustments. They'll likely win a lot more than they lose, either way, but how much of a work-in-progress will the Lakers be?

Finally, a look at the Clips. Oh, by the way, they won this game, and they're really good, even if you'd still pick the Lakers to win the conference.

Everyone wins, here.

Next, SI's Michael Pina, who did some of the best writing around the action in the playoff bubble, joins to talk about Anthony Davis and expectations for him this season. Is an MVP a realistic possibility? How about the Clippers? Are they a real challenger to the Lakers? He thinks so, and also makes a compelling argument for Kawhi Leonard as the best player in the NBA, entering a season tailored to him winning an MVP.

Finally, we cap off that conversation with speculation on where James Harden might land.

Andy and Brian wrap the show reacting to Michael's choice of the Clippers to win a title. If it's not the Lakers, they're one of two teams (Milwaukee being the other) with what seems to be the best shot as we kick things off this year.

We start with how good the Lakers look, given how far ahead they were at the end of last season. Meanwhile, the Clippers are being accused of criminality centered around Jerry West and the luring of Kawhi Leonard to LA. What might it mean for The Logo if this stuff turns out to be true?

Meanwhile, Claire has adopted the Lakers as her team, since moving to LA. One big reason? She was a huge LeBron fan, and they arrived at the same time. So will Lakers fans accept her as one of their own? Or is she a bandwagoner. It gets into one of the more unique things about the NBA - that fans follow players as much as teams. Along those lines, are people undervaluing James Harden, beacuse they don't like him?

Finally, we dive into Claire's new single "The Jump," which she records under her project, Tiny Deaths.

https://www.tinydeaths.com/music

Bryan Curtis (bryancurtis), editor-at-large and host of The Press Box podcast at The Ringer, joins the show talking about the current and future state of media.

We start by asking a question that may sound simple, but isn't. When people talk about "the media," what are they referring to? What exactly is "the media?" From there, it's a peek at ESPN, which (not surprisingly) remains the epicenter of sports media, and by extension has a massive impact on how the rest of the industry operates. What does the departure of Dan LeBatard say about the direction ESPN is heading? Who are the audiences for institutional staples like sports radio or pregame NFL shows?

What happens after COVID? Fans and media may be allowed back into buildings, but that doesn't mean sports media will go back to operating the way it did before the pandemic. Both in terms of finances, but also how people do their jobs.

What about the intersection of politics and sports? With Donald Trump on his way out, will the tension between these worlds drop back to pre-Trump levels? Will Trump's exit create a news vacuum across the media landscape? What exactly will fill the void if the next administration is conventionally boring?

Finally, they're bringing back Little House on the Prairie. We have a game in the show's honor.

What does all this mean for Sam Darnold, btw?

From there, it's a look at the Rams. Andy breaks out numbers explaining Jared Goff's struggles in the red zone, while Jourdan notes how the team has been reconfigured around high probability, high efficiency plays. It's something that should help Goff stay out of trouble, and plays to the strengths of the defense.

We ask whether defensive coordinator Brandon Staley is a viable coaching hire this offseason, and where he might go, before sizing up the Rams' chances against other postseason contenders like New Orleans and Green Bay.

Finally, it's a disaster trivia game!

We start with the big sports news of the day, namely the supermax extension for Giannis Antetokounmpo, who will remain in Milwaukee (at least in theory) for an additional five seasons. So why did he stay, and how much leverage is he really giving up?

We pause the NBA talk to talk about gambling with David Hill. Author, gambler and host of "Gamblers" on The Ringer, an excellent podcast series that wraps up this week. All about the ins and outs of the professional gambler, from card counters to pool hustlers. What, exactly, does Vegas consider "cheating?"

Finally, we wrap with more Giannis talk, and how the Lakers were smart to move on from all of this preemptively. And oh by the way, Gal Gadot loves Taco Bell. Is she right?

but before we get to that, it's a little talk about music (he had a picture of Rush drummer Neil Peart over his shoulder on the live show) and what it means to truly come to terms with hair loss at a young age.

Once that's over, though we ask some important questions. First, who in the West, outside the Clippers, is best equipped to take out the Lakers? Portland has made serious improvements, and in what could be one of the season's better stories, might have Carmelo Anthony primed to make a run at 6th Man of the Year. What could that do for a basketball rep that takes far more abuse than it should?

Then there's James Harden. What happens in Houston? How easy is it to trade him, transcendent a scorer as he is? For all the talk of landing in Brooklyn, would the Knicks actually be a better fit?

How has Kyrie Irving's imperfections as a messenger impacted the validity of his message?

Finally, if a team is going to beat the Lakers this season, which one is best equipped? How many have a chance, assuming LA stays healthy?

Still, some interesting stuff happened, mostly with Talen Horton-Tucker, who put up a lot of shots and filled a bunch of categories in the stat sheet. It wasn't perfect, but the kid, still just 20, looked like a guy who belongs. Why a useful THT makes a potentially significant difference for the Lakers this year. There was also the debut of Montrezl Harrell... how'd it go?

From there, it's a look at the Clippers and the Paul George extension. Easy choice for PG... was it one for the Clips? George will now be earning $49,000,000 as a 35-year old. Could be a little problematic.

Finally, we dive deep into Kyrie Irving and his Friday instagram post, and talk about why his message isn't necessarily landing.

From there, it's a conversation with documentary filmmaker Bernardo Ruiz, who directed the new 30 for 30 entitled "The Infinite Race," which premieres December 15, on ESPN and ESPN Deportes. It chronicles Raramuri people of Mexico's Copper Canyon, also known as the Tarahumara, a community of people famed for their distance running abilities despite extreme poverty, and the rise of ultramarathon running they helped inspire. It's an incredible film dealing with culture, power, and what can happen when those things intersect, even among well meaning people.

Finally, we kick around Paul George's contract extension with the Clippers. Has the PG slander gone a little too far? Or at the least, does it too often miss the point? Well, sort of... but not always.

We started on the big LA rumor of the day... that Lakers great Pau Gasol is interested in returning for one last season. Is it a good idea? Can the Lakers afford what amounts to a nostalgia play, even for someone as beloved as Pau, in a pandemic year where every player on the roster might be pressed into service?

From there, it's a look at the rest of the West, and who might challenge the Lakers. When looking for teams that might have a shot, is it really just the Clippers? And speaking of them, are they equipped to take the Lakers out? Forget the chemistry problems, do they have the personnel? And does the pressure help or hurt them this year?

Is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar the GOAT? We don't mean in basketball, here, either. We're talking life. Might he be on the Mt. Rushmore of incredibly impressive humans?

Finally, Darius asks which Eastern Conference teams are of interest... and quickly the conversation turns to the Sixers.

We start, though, on Kobe Bryant, who Scott had a chance spend time with as Kobe went through the process of making, getting nominated and ultimately winning an Oscar for "Dear Basketball." What made his journey in Hollywood unique?

How about LeBron James? Clearly concerns about his commitment to hoops vs. commitment to Hollywood have been eliminated, but that doesn't mean he's not interested in the Hollywood stuff. And it's going pretty well, too.

From there, it's on to news about this year's Oscars ceremony. What is it going to look like? What movies are making headway, and how might the way in which they're distributed this year impact future Oscar seasons? Was there any consideration to cancelling, given how many release dates have been pushed back?

Finally, what does the week's news about Warner Brothers and HBO Max mean for the future of the industry? What else is coming? Is the theater-going experience, at least as it was before the pandemic, officially dead?

That includes a deep dive into the ins and outs of sushi modeling, and the stunningly awesome trailer for the new Lifetime mini-movie about Col. Sanders... "A Recipe for Seduction."

We start on how he became a figure on NBA Twitter. What brought him to basketball, the NBA and social media. A nice jumping off point to the big story about media from Friday... namely Kyrie Irving refusing to do any with the Nets as the season opens up. Does he have a point? Should he feel obligated to speak? Why would any athlete trust the media, especially if they feel they've been burned before. And who is Kyrie really hurting if he goes all year without talking? (Hint, it's not a victimless crime, and the media isn't the victim.)

Next, it's onto the Lakers. LeBron and Anthony Davis are both locked up. What do the week's events mean for the Lakers' championship window? For Rob Pelinka's job buillding around them? It's all good news, that's for sure. Just how special can the duo be?

Finally, we wrap with a Daman specialty... Clippers slander. Where they went wrong last year, why Kawhi Leonard deserves much more heat, and why the Clippers have a gajillion times the pressure on them this season than the Lakers, even with the Lakers entering the year as the clear title favorites. That's saying something.

From there, it's onto young quarterbacks. By now. most listeners are familiar with Brian's skepticism about Jared Goff, which she shares! But why is it so hard to get a bead on young QBs? How is Carson Wentz a star... and then not? What's new that's letting Josh Allen thrive? Why has Lamar Jackson seemingly gone backwards this year?

Who are the quarterbacks capable of transcending talent? Is Kyler Murray one of them?

What does it mean to be "The Next Sean McVay?" or similar? What are execs talking about when they say they're looking for that?

Finally, it's a game of Jones Jeopardy!

From there, we turn to the other massive news Wednesday brought -- Houston and Washington swapping problematic contracts as John Wall goes to the Rockets, with Russell Westbrook headed east to the Wizards. How exactly do these parts fit together? Is Wall a better match with James Harden than Westbrook was? What Wall is Houston even getting, here? It's basically been two years since he played. What about Russ with Bradley Beal? Is that combo any better?

Does the move entice either incumbent star to stay with his current team long term?

We talk too about Seerat's column about Vanderbilt kicker Sarah Fuller. Why did that story hit so close for her?

Finally, it's a Christmas tradition... with a TWIST! Our annual Land O'Lakers Hallmark Christmas Movie Game has a third person in it for the very first time. Who knows the genre better?

What does meh QB play mean for a team getting better showings from around the offense, and spectacular showings from the defense?

From there, it's a segue into the aesthetics of quarterbacks. Literally. Like how good looking do you need to be in order to be a successful NFL QB?

Finally, it's pie trivia, in honor of National Pie Day.

What qualifies as "vintage," in a city like this? What separates one era from another? Does she have a favorite?

We talk about the influence of food and restaurants on the formation of classic L.A. culture. What were some of the best? What were they like, in the days before cell phone and the web changed the way people and celebrities interact?

What makes something historic in a city like Los Angeles? What should be preserved, when everything can't be?

A great, wide-ranging conversation about a great city not everyone understands.

The NBA launched into free agency Friday, with big names and big teams coming hot out of the gate. Breaking it all down is Mo Dakhil of Bleacher Report and The Athletic.

Among the topics...

• Has anyone done better than the Lakers? Wes Matthews and Montrezl Harrell, in addition to acquiring Dennis Schroder ahead of Draft night.
• Breaking down the good and bad of Harrell's game. How well will he fit with the Lakers?
• What about the Clippers? Denver? The rest of the West? What does the Western Conference playoff ladder look like, now?
• How damaging was Friday to the Clippers?
• What's next for the Lakers? What do they still need to accomplish before rosters open? What do they lose with Dwight Howard headed to Philly?
• Plus, breaking down some potential personality problems in Brooklyn.

We start by looking at this week's brush with COVID-19 at the team training facility, then back at last week's win over Seattle. What went right? What did it show about the Rams, and where they are halfway through the season? What has gone right? Why has the defense outperformed expectations under first year coordinator Brandon Staley? Why has the offensive line been better than predicted? And yet the offense itself? Kinda inconsistent.

Who are the great stories of this season? Start with Darious Williams, who is starring at corner opposite Jalen Ramsey.

• Milwaukee acquires Jrue Holiday and Bogdan Bogdanovic.
• The Suns get Chris Paul.
• The Lakers flip Danny Green to Oklahoma City for Dennis Schroeder.
• Houston trades Robert Covington.

And with Wednesday's Draft, expect more fireworks. Will the Warriors make an aggressive move with the second pick? Do the Nets and Rockets pull the trigger on a James Harden deal? Justin Verrier of The Ringer joins to answer these questions and more.

Including... what do the Lakers do post-Schröder? Did GM Rob Pelinka deserve more credit for what the Lakers did last season? How confident should people be in his ability to recreate another high end supporting cast?

Who are the real contenders this year? Which teams don't have a shot? Is Milwaukee the best team in the East, even with the moves?

All of that, plus pelican trivia!

On the other hand... there's Justin Herbert. The rookie QB has been the team's lone true bright spot, playing high end football under challenging circumstances, and definitely exceeding expectations. Is he enough to generate excitement around the team, helping them gain a stronger foothold in LA?

Just one of the Q's we ask. There's also the issue of head coach Anthony Lynn, and his future. Where do the Chargers stand vis-a-vis the rest of the AFC West?

Plus... Basketball talk on a WILD WILD WILD day in the NBA. Some massive trades going down on Monday.

From there, we talk trades. Does DeMar DeRozan make sense as a Laker, next to LeBron and Anthony Davis? What about Chris Paul? How does someone like DeRozan go from underrated to overrated and maybe back to underrated again? Depends on what parts of his game you value.

As for the rest... What does the NBA do with the schedule this year? What would it mean for the Lakers to "pod" with the Pacific Division? How much impact should we expect COVID-19 to have on the season? Will fans see a minute of it in LA, from inside the building?

Finally... we talk Russell Westbrook. Where does he land? Is it Charlotte? Mitch Kupchak implies... no. What about the Clippers in a trade including Paul George? That would be kinda epic.

And Mitch voice. So much Mitch voice.

And we begin there. What, exactly, is causing all the problems, here?

Eventually, the conversation turns to football. Where do the Rams stand coming off their bye week, halfway through the year? Why has Brandon Staley's defense worked so well? What has held back Sean McVay and the offense? The pieces are there... but something is off.

From there, it's a look at this weekend's pivotal game between the Rams and Seattle. What to look for on Sunday?

Finally... It's National Happy Hour Day, and we celebrate with a game!

We cover everything from the movie's origins to the legend of how Matthew McConaughey found his way into the film. How accurate are some of those stories? What was it like on set, and off, for this incredible group of young actors? How was Linklater able to make a movie that bleeds authenticity and universality, despite making it hyperspecific to his high school experience?

Why did it develop into a true cult classic?

It's a great conversation about a genuinely fantastic book for anyone who loves that movie, or is interested in a pivotal time in recent Hollywood history.

Who comes back? Where do they get their depth if a player like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope leaves? Who might they target in a trade (and what can they actually offer?), and how big a gap might exist between the Lakers and everyone else in the West.

Given potential plans to have teams play in quasi-geographic bubbles, the Lakers stand to see an awful lot of the Pacific this offseason. How might Phoenix look different if Chris Paul was there?

Finally, we finish with a remembrance of Alex Trebek, who hosted Jeopardy! for more than three decades before dying last weekend of cancer. Sabreena was a contestant, and shares her experience on the show, and with Trebek.

The legendary TV and radio personality joins the Late Night Happy Hour, talking about her long career, growing up on Long Island as a big hockey and football fan, and more.

How does fandom change when you cover the teams for a living? When you get to know the athletes themselves?

The Kamenetzky Brothers spend a great hour with Cohn, who tells some fantastic stories about missteps along the way, playing college hockey and a flower bouquet sent to her... without much love behind it.

We cover his broadcast career, and the experience of working with Bill Walton on hoops games. It's everything it seems like on TV.

Looking at the Rams, what happened vs. Miami? Are they closer to that team, or the one that was 5-2 headed in? We'll find out more over the course of a tough second half schedule, but there's reason to believe the Rams are very good... and need to be better against better competition.

What kind of identity do they have on offense? How has the defense been remade under Brandon Staley?

Finally... a game!

To explain it all, KPCC Senior Politics Reporter Libby Denkmann joins. We talk about the mechanics of California politics. What happens locally when the top-of-the-ticket race is a foregone conclusion out here and there are no Senate races? What drives turnout? Could a Republican ever win statewide office anymore?

In a season where polling has come under fire, how does that work in California? How much about different races, from Congress to ballot initiatives, did we know - or think we knew - before Tuesday?

And speaking of which, why is California so dependent on ballot initiatives as a form of governance, and how does it complicate the life of those trying to do the governing?

Plus, we talk about elections for things like City Council, or the County Board of Supervisors. How much attention to people pay to these types of offices? More importantly, how much attention should they be paying? (Spoiler alert: a lot.)

Finally, it's a game of Kraken trivia, to honor the new NHL expansion team in Seattle, Libby's hometown.

From there, we get into what the Lakers might do this fall, ahead of the fast approaching season. Do they have the assets for a Jrue Holiday trade? (No.) Victor Oladipo? (Probably?) What about the cash to sign Danilo Gallinari? (Nobody knows yet...)

This, naturally, leads to a conversation about Kyle Kuzma, because in any trade for a name player, he likely goes back in exchange. How good is he, with how much appeal around the league?

How good will Golden State be this year, anyway? What will they do with their pick?

Finally, a Game of Slaters.

First, on the current CFB season. We start on a great story, the rise of Coastal Carolina up the rankings... but what does that actually mean in a year like this one? How does anyone know who is really good? (Spoiler alert, they don't). Should players even be on the field during a pandemic? How will this season be remembered, ultimately?

From there, it's the career of Ed Orgeron. How he became a master recruiter, and why USC abandoned him when it seemed like he had the head coaching job following Lane Kiffin. What did it say about him, and more importantly, USC, that it all fell apart? Did Orgeron ultimately dodge a bullet?

Finally, what does the future hold for current USC coach Clay Helton?

Farley Elliott (@overoverunder), senior editor at Eater LA and author of "Los Angeles Street Food: A history from Tamaleros to Taco Trucks" joins talking (spoiler alert) street food and the LA food scene, broadly.

It's a fascinating conversation that gets into the city's history, what makes it unique from a food standpoint, where it is now during the pandemic, and where it might go after. In a dark time for restaurants, Farley has some encouraging thoughts on the future of family owned, small scale restaurants that are so critical to our neighborhoods.

We get deep into the city's burger culture, and what people want when they want a burger. And where would you eat if the authorities granted you a final meal before demanding you leave town?

Great stuff in this show, particularly for those interested in LA's food culture and history.

How about the Rams? At 5-2, the defense is playing well, with standouts up front (Aaron Donald) and in the secondary (Jalen Ramsey). What is defensive coordinator Brandon Staley doing to find success with his group?

Where do the Rams stand in the NFC hierarchy? Could all four NFC West squads make the playoffs?

We also check in on the Raiders, Tompa Bay and the train wreck that is the NFC East.

Did he do the right thing? (No.) Is it understandable that he didn't? (Sure.) Why was he allowed to do it? (Harder question.) There's much to unpack, here.

Turning to the NBA, what will the Darryl Morey Era look like in Philadelphia? Is that a good fit, and what does it say about the arms race in the NBA to compete with the most elite teams like the Lakers?

Which team by the way, is most likely to close the gap between the rest of the Western Conference and the purple and gold? "

FInally, Jorge tries valiantly to explain why Florida things always happen in Florida.

• Once again, LA has a team win where it actually feels great to cheer for them. Excellent bunch of dudes, well earned title.
• Game 6: The Dodgers cobble together a great performance from the bullpen, while the Rays face serious questions about how they handled starting pitcher Blake Snell.
• Seriously, WTF was Rays manager Kevin Cash thinking, pulling Snell as fast as he did?
• Belinda Carlisle. (Makes sense in context...)
• Athletes you root for, and why. Even if it's for stuff the public doesn't know about.
• Redemption for Dave Roberts?
• Mookie vs. Trout... who's the best player in baseball?

Finally a game loosely inspired by Roger's time hosting "Blind Date."

We start with Game 6. What was the thinking behind going with Tony Gonsolin, rather than Walker Buehler on short rest? What happens in Game 7, if Tampa Bay extends the series? What pitchers would Dave Roberts rely on?

How much second-guessing is fair when it comes to Roberts at this point of the playoffs? Do fans understand the totality of what managers (and increasingly front offices) consider when making decisions around which pitcher to use from the bullpen?

And what about these playoffs! JP wrote a book in 2015, "The 50 Greatest Dodgers Games of All Time." If he had to write it again now, how many from this postseason would appear?

Plus... PUIG STORIES!

Are the Dodgers set up to run the table, with Julio Urias in Game 4 and Clayton Kershaw in Game 5? Is Buehler on the way to being the best pitcher the Dodgers have ever had? Could his pants get any tighter? Important questions, all.

Plus, a game of Lindsey or Lindsay?

Did Dave Roberts make a mistake going to a "bullpen game" on Wednesday? Was there an alternative? Who can the Dodgers trust in the bullpen going forward? What about Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin? And is Gonsolin less trustworthy anyway on account of being a "cat person?"

There's much to discuss heading into Game 3.

After recounting his days in Chino Hills as the Ball Brothers were blowing up, Jones explains what has made Ryan Tannehill so successful in Tennessee, and we try to figure out who else might be a Tannehill right now around the NFL. Anyone working with Adam Gase, for starters. Why do teams struggle to find the right guy at QB? What kind of story will Baker Mayfield be when it's all said and done?

Plus, who will win the NFC East, and with how many (or how few) wins? And is the Jon Gruden thing with the Raiders going better than expected at this point?

She talks about her approach to storytelling, what she about the Ball family profiling LaMelo both in Lithuania and Australia. How she sought to make Gigi Bryant more than just Kobe's daughter. And her newest feature, on Oregan State basketball player Andrea Aquino, who is a victim of human trafficking.

Plus... Games!

Gustavo Arellano, author and columnist for the LA Times, returns to the show, and he's bringing food. Sort of, at least. With KCRW's Tortilla Tournament wrapping up this weekend, Gustavo walks us through the intricacies of the tortilla as Andy and Brian do a tasting. What makes a great tortilla, and why does it matter?

We talk about food, restaurants and authenticity. How voting patterns have changed in Orange County, the evolution of the Latino vote, and much more.

Finally, words about Clayton Kershaw.

As is the history, here, it should be noted.

We discuss the Greek tragedy that Kershaw has become.

From there, the Houston Rockets and general manager Daryl Morey have parted ways. What happens to Houston from here? How good a GM was he? Is he the Clayton Kershaw of GMs? What about Ty Lue to the Clippers? It took a little longer, but Lue got the five year deal in LA he wanted. Will Kawhi and Paul George be around for the whole ride?

Finallly, should the Lakers eat into potential cap space for the MEGA SUMMER OF 2021! if it means pressing any advantages they have now over conference rivals?

We chart the anxiety Dodgers fans feel now every October, and why they often can get hostile (years of disappointment will do that, but there's more too it, Jon says).

What about the role of Dave Roberts? Or Clayton Kershaw? Is this the year Kershaw breaks through, and puts the disappointment of previous postseasons behind him? What if that validation never comes?

Plus, a pop culture game from A-Z.

The Golden State Warriors will be healthy again next season. But how good will they be, in a stacked Western Conference? What will they do with the #2 pick?

Who are the biggest threats to the Lakers next season? And which teams actually drop out of the playoffs, if the Warriors and another wild card get in?

Plus, a game! Current vs. former Lakers in important playoff statistical averages.

The Lakers, with a 3-1 lead, earned three cracks at closing out the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals. They're down to two following Friday's 111-108 loss. Jimmy Butler again went nuclear, matching LeBron James, while the Heat got just enough from the supporting cast (Duncan Robinson, Kendrick Nunn) to hold off L.A.

Anthony Davis got hurt during the game, and while he finished it was with a sizable limp. What's his health status going to be on Sunday for Game 6?

Will the Lakers supporting cast rebound from a horrible collective effort?

And, finallly, LeBron made the right pass, right? (You know what we're referring to...)

Greg Bergman of 710 ESPN joins, talking about his heart attack-inducing Dodgers and a tense Game 2. Is this the year Clayton Kershaw finally, seriously, for real gets over the postseason hump, thanks to only pitched in a 60 game regular campaign?

What would mean more, a Lakers championship or one for the Dodgers? And is there any chance fans behave responsibly and don't assemble should either/both team/s win? What might work instead?

Plus... switchblades!

Harrison Sanford, host of the "Inside the Green Room" and "Call to the Booth" joins to break it down.

Why has Anthony Davis been so valuable defensively? What has he delivered these playoffs on that end? What credit does Frank Vogel deserve for how the Lakers are playing? LeBron?

Also, should Luol Deng get a ring? He's getting a check, after all!

Plus...

Stories of the lengths young people had to go to find r-rated content back in the 80s, air fryers, and more.

Great show with a fantastic guest.

Up 2-0, the series is basically over, right? Is there anything the Heat can do to come back? How much would a romp through an injury-depleted Miami team deplete the appreciation for a Lakers championship?

How did this thing come together, anyway? Who deserves credit?

We talk all that and more with Vinny Bonsignore of the LV Review Journal. He covers the Raiders inn Vegas now, but spent decades in LA's sports media ecosystem.

On the Raiders, we talk Derek Carr and Jon Gruden, what it means for the Raiders to be a money making squad now (thank to the new stadium), how the NFL is dealing with COVID, and more.

Great stuff on two sports. BONUS!

The Miami Heat got some bad news, as it appears both Goran Dragic and Bam Adebayo could miss Game 2 of the NBA Finals with injuries. Do they have any shot to beat the Lakers without them? And if Miami loses Game 2, even if their guys return, could they beat the Lakers four times in five tries?

What about Doc Rivers to Philly? Can he make the Ben Simmons/Joel Embiid combo work again? What about the rest of the squad? What goes into making a great head coach, anyway?

And finally, Kyrie Irving spoke of the Brooklyn Nets and new coach Steve Nash in... strange terms. What does it say about the KD/Kyrie combo, and what Nash is walking into there?

Finally, does Mo, as a guy who once worked in the league, know how Quick Change does it?

Anthony Davis was fantastic in his first Finals game, and LeBron James was huge as well, finishing one dime shy of a triple-double.

On the other, it was a bad night for basketball, because Miami saw all three of its stars get hurt. Goran Dragic and Bam Adebayo took the worst of it, but Jimmy Butler rolled an ankle in pretty extreme fashion, too. If any of the three is limited/out - and Dragic has a plantar fascia tear - Miami's chances at the upset may just disappear.

Additionally, Andy and Brian break down Game 1, look at LeBron's legacy, ask who the team's best player is, talk about lineups, and more.

After all, the Marlins are in the playoffs! All bets are off!

Andy and Brian talk baseball with the incredibly entertaining Lana Berry, host of "The Lana Berry Show with Lana Berry" Podcast. What would it mean for LA if this was the year the Dodgers actually won it all? Would people really be satisfied?

From there, it's stories of Lana's youth in Sun Valley, Idaho, which meant rubbing elbows with famous people and raising sheep for the 4H Club. There is talk of dolls, and the NBA's best halftime shows.

Fair to say, we covered a lot of ground.

We start by noting his LA roots, including going to Long Beach Poly with Snoop's younger brother, and how his old paper (the Sacramento Bee) let all the Kings fans know he was a Lakers fan... and then gave him the Kings beat. Nothing awkward there.

We talk about this year's Lakers, what has made LeBron James and Frank Vogel so successful, and why the team has totally lacked in drama. From there, it's a Finals preview. Can the Heat find ways to counter L.A.'s elite talent? Can Erik Spoelstra give the Heat an edge the roster might not be able to?

Plus, a game of trivia about kings (not the Kings), and a check on our old friend Luke Walton, who just finished his first season in Sacramento.

The guy who does the yearly QB Tiers Survey helps explain.

What about the Raiders? Also 2-0, is this the year John Gruden makes real progress with the silver and black?

Dragonfly, after solving a computer update issue... runs into a mic problem. So we go to the ol' standby... joining by speakerphone! Talking Clippers slander, Paul George and his potentially outsized impact on NBA history, LAL's title odds, and why Dragonfly isn't exactly a Lakers fan...

From there, how much concern should the Lakers have, considering the Nuggets have outplayed them for nearly a game and a half now?

What does the Western Conference look like next year?

Finally, a trivia game revealing just how sad the Clippers have been as a franchise, historically.

That includes some advice on switching things up on Nikola Jokic, who is very smart, and very adaptable, even to the strange, unsettling energy Dwight Howard was putting out in Game 3.

From there, it's a look at the Eastern Conference, and Miami vs. Boston. If the C's make it out, are they the tougher matchup for the Lakers?

Also, Gregg Popovich's wine.

We segue briefly into LaVar and Lonzo Ball, ask whether Jaws is a fishing movie, and finish things off with a game about puns...

We look at a dominant defensive performance from the Lakers who put the Nuggets in early foul trouble and used big second and third quarter runs to pull away. Is this how it's gonna be?

Plus, what makes Anthony Davis and LeBron James such a good combination? Does LeBron have a point about the MVP voting?

In the process, she breaks down why bubble life is so hard for people inside it, whether players or media. From there, it's Lakers talk, looking at Anthony Davis's playoff growth, LeBron's season long leadership and a total lack of drama around the team. What people are seeing inside the bubble is an extension of those things.

Finally, we wrap it up with a game of bubble trivia, joined in the live chat by ESPN's Dave McMenamin, who decides to play along.

Jeff joined the show Wednesday, talking about what goes into the construction of a book like this. How to find fresh content in places to tell a story many feel like they know. Lots of talk of Kobe Bryant, and what made the young #8 such a challenge for teammates and coaches alike. He shares a great story on how he got J.R. Rider to speak with him. (Hint: It was a legit moment of boundary crossing.)

All that, and much more over a great hour and ten minutes.

We talk to Keith about his unusual background, both as a Black cartoonist but moving through a diverse crowd of people thanks to working at a San Francisco youth hostel.

On the development of his strips, taking subjects that aren't always funny and creating humor from them, and what it meant to turn his life (or at least a broad representation of it) into a television show.

It's a funny, entertaining series tackling serious issues that are particularly timely now. Well worth a watch.

• Just how good is Jared Goff? Dave's answers didn't please every fan.
• The Clippers and Game 7... what happens if they lose, and how much fun will Lakers fans have trolling them?
• Who wins a Lakers/Clippers series?

Finally, we've talked restaurants, sports, entertainment and more, but never about what happens to the fashion world in post-COVID world. Schilling explains, and then gives four critical pieces of advice for people to follow if they want to look good.

Among the topics of conversation...

• The mechanics of covering the NFL during a pandemic.
• How individual teams and players, not the league, deserve credit for a safe return to play... but will it last in a non-bubble sport?
• Jared Goff... Why he he might thrive this year, and the offseason work he put in to make it happen.
• The Rams offensive line, and linebacking corps. Both contain real question marks.
• Why 9-7 might be good enough this season to get the Rams where they want to go.

We discuss.

Plus!...

• More marveling at LeBron James.
• Is James Harden the problem? Is it the guys around him? Where does Houston go now?
• Wild, irresponsible speculation around Danuel House's mysterious COVID-tester-in-room thing, including a hypothesis where it's all very sweet and heartwarming.
• Finally, 62-year old snake at the St. Louis Zoo who hasn't seen a boy snake in 20 years laid seven eggs. We have questions.

We talk race relations, his background in Ann Arbor, Michigan, LeBron James, Verzuz and much, much more.

We break down Game 3 between the Lakers and Rockets, and marvel at LeBron James as he passes Derek Fisher for the most playoff wins in NBA history. 36 points and four blocks on Tuesday, as the Lakers take a 2-1 series lead.

From there, it's all about Rajon Rondo. Hall of Fame usefulness for the Lakers in Game 3... but is he a Hall of Fame player on his career?

We engage in reckless speculation about the future of Giannis, now that the Bucks are out of the playoffs.

Finally, it's some Hollywood talk as Tenet and Mulan get released in very different ways.

Look for the podcast version of the Late Night Happy Hour if you can't catch it live, Monday-Friday on @Kambrothers Twitter/Periscope, @KamenetzkyBrothers on Facebook and YouTube.