🎉🏈Bowling Talk Soup 12/31🍜

 Games

Mayo Bowl ~ Maryland🐢16 NC State🐺12

Sun Bowl ~ Pitt🐆37 UCLA🐻35 

Gator Bowl ~ Notre Dame☘️45 South Carolina🐓38

Arizona Bowl ~ Ohio🐾30 Wyoming🤠27 (OT)

Orange Bowl ~ Tennessee🟠31 Clemson🐯14

Player of the day ~ Xavier Legette, South Carolina WR ~ 7 rec, 78 yards, 2 TD

Mascot of the day ~ Rufus the Bobcat, Ohio ~ Rufus was named via a university-wide naming contest and revealed before the 2006 home opener against Tennessee-Martin, during which Rufus rode in on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle; Rufus was spotted with a crew of motorcyclist bobcats near Sturgis, South Dakota a few weeks prior. 

My pod picks (13-8)

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🎉⛸🏀NBA NYE 12/31: Heard it on La GrapeVine

 Player of the day🏆Zach LaVine (CHI🌬) - 43 pts, 6 ast, 3 reb, 2 stl, 15/20 fg, 5/9 3 pt, 8/8 ft

Player of the day🥈CJ McCollum (NOP🇫🇷) - 42 pts, 5 ast, 4 reb, 2 stl, 13/20 fg, 11/16 3 pt, 5/6 ft 

Player of the day🥉Kevin Huerter (SAC👑) - 30 pts, 2 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl, 12/18 fg, 6/10 3 pt

LeBron Radar🐐47 pts, 10 reb, 8 ast, 2 oreb, 1 blk, 18/27 fg, 4/6 3 pt, 7/9 ft 🎉 🎈 

LeBron celebrated his 38th birthday by doing 38 different styles of dunks at the visitor’s practice facility - he started getting into some crazy creativity like the “Between the legs while snapping into a Slim Jim”, the “Reverse behind the back blindfolded” and my personal favorite, the “Little person sits on top of the backboard and gracefully drops the ball when LeBron flies in and flushes it through the hoop while solving that day’s Wordle”. 

Wacky stat of the day📈 The Jazz shot 54.8% from the field while the Kings shot 55.6% - the Kings won 126-125 in this no-defense affair in Sacto. 

Quote of the day🧐 “When life shuts a door, open it again. It’s a door - that’s how they work.” 

Photo of the day🖼Costco Milk Jug Style I Do Not Like/Easy Spill Model

   

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⛸🏈Bowling Talk Soup 12/30🍜

 Games

Pinstripe Bowl ~ Minnesota🦦28 Syracuse🟠👨20

Cheez-it Bowl ~ Florida St🦈35 Oklahoma🤠32

Alamo Bowl ~ Washington🐕27 Texas🥩20

Player of the day ~ Daniel Jackson, Minnesota WR 

4 rec, 73 yards, 2 TD

Johnny Wilson, Florida St WR ~ 8 rec, 202 yards 

Mascot of the day ~ Goldy Gopher, Minnesota ~ First spotted in 1952, GG is based on the thirteen-lined ground squirrel, otherwise known as the gopher. G squared was the UCA Mascot National Champion in 2011, 2013, 2017 and 2018 (the Golden State Warriors of college mascots - dynasty!) and makes over 1000 appearances throughout the year; GG’s and Rolodex is more jammed up than a Costco parking lot during the holidays.

My pod picks (12-6)

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🛷🏀NBA 12/30: Go Faster⚡️

Player of the day🏆Immanuel Quickley (NYK🍏) - 36 pts, 7 reb, 7 ast, 4 oreb, 1 stl, 5/12 3 pt, 7/8 ft

Player of the day🥈Keldon Johnson (SAS👢🐍) - 30 pts, 3 reb, 2 blk, 1 ast, 1 oreb,  11/21 fg, 3/8 3 pt, 5/5 ft

Player of the day🥉Ja Morant (MEM🐻) - 19 pts, 17 ast (career high), 4 reb, 1 blk

Player of the day4️⃣ Julius Randle (NYK🍏) - 41 pts, 11 reb, 7 ast, 3 oreb, 6/13 3 pt

LeBron Radar🐐 LeBron prepared for the 3rd annual LeBron’s New Year’s Ball Basharoo by loading the confetti canons, picking out his outfit for the rendezvous (a velvety purple jacket with a pair of orange checkered pants reminiscent of the Tennessee Volunteer’s endzone, although LeBron is a Ohio State Buckeye, through and thru) and creating the answers for the LeBingo cards that is mostly trivia about LeBron’s life and basketball career that only true Jeopardy pros could pull off. 

Wacky stat of the day📈 The Pacers shot 61.3% from 3 pt in their home victory over the Cavs. 

Quote of the day🧐 “Life is not a fairy tale. If you lose your shoe at midnight, you’re drunk.” 

Photo of the day🖼Fruit of Cacti🌵🍎

   

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❄️🏈AFFL 15🏈

 What a first round of the playoffs! 

Hawkeyes needed 44 yards outta Christian Watson on MNF for the comeback W over PPE - he got 46. Hawkeyes may need to turn to a backup QB as Jalen Hurts’ shoulder is hurting a bit - he will be a game-time decision. 

On the other side of the bracket, Pink Panthers knocks off Captain Kirk with a big Dalvin Cook Saturday showing and another noice QB game from Joey Ice. 

Whammy comes outta the basement in the pools to snag another fiver.

Good luck to our all-West Final Four!

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⛸🏈Bowling Talk Soup 12/29🍜

 Games

Holiday Bowl ~ Oregon🦆28 UNC🚬27

Military Bowl ~ Duke😈30 UCF⚔️13

Liberty Bowl ~ Arkansas🐷55 Kansas🌾53 (3OT)

Texas Bowl ~ Texas Tech🤠42 Ole Miss👨‍🌾25

Player of the day ~ Jalon Daniels Kansas QB 

37-55, 544 yards, 5 TD, 2 INT 

Mascot of the day ~ The Oregon Duck🦆 ~ The Duck was first spotted in 1940 by a birdwatching professor at the university in Eugene - it was eating barbecue ribs and playing two-hand-touch football at a tailgate and they knew it was the one. 

The Oregon Duck is actually based on Disney’s Donald Duck through a licensing agreement - so the U of O has deals with Disney and Nike - what’s next, Amazon delivering the quarter for the coin flip directly to midfield of Autzen Stadium? 🪙 

My pod picks (10-5)

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🎿🏀NBA 12/29: Burks Gilman Trail🚲

 Player of the day🏆Alec Burks (DET🔧) - 32 pts, 4 ast, 2 reb, 2 stl, 1 blk, 10/11 fg, 6/7 3 pt, 6/6 ft

Player of the day🥈DeAndre Ayton (PHX☀️) - 31 pts, 7 reb, 6 oreb, 3 ast, 2 stl, 14/22 fg

Player of the day🥉Greek Freak🇬🇷(MIL🦌) - 45 pts, 22 reb, 7 ast, 7 oreb, 1 stl

LeBron Radar🐐27 pts, 9 reb, 6 ast, 10/18 fg, 2/5 3 pt, 5/5 ft

Before the game, LeBron explored South Beach and found the house that the Jersey Shore cast stayed at - he fist pumped the afternoon away while sipping kombucha, listening to a sample platter of up-and-coming sports comedy podcasts and doing intermittent yoga. 🧘🏽

Wacky stat of the day📈 The Wizards shot 57.3% from the floor in their home victory over the Suns.

Quote of the day🧐 “You can’t be sad when you’re holding a cupcake.” 🧁 

Photo of the day🖼Tree Fog🌳🌫 

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⛄️🏈Bowling Talk Soup 12/28🍜

Games

Camellia Bowl ~ Buffalo☃️23 Georgia Southern🦅21

First Responder Bowl ~ Memphis🐯38 Utah St 10

Birmingham Bowl ~ East Carolina🏴‍☠️53 Coastal Carolina🐔29

Guaranteed Rate Bowl ~ Wisconsin🧀24 Oklahoma St🤠17

Player of the day ~ Holton Ahlers, East Carolina QB

26-38, 300 yards, 5 TD

Mascot of the day~ Chauncey the Chanticleer🐓~

Until the early 1960s, the Coastal mascot was the Trojans until the university became an extension of the other USC (not the Trojans which would’ve been ironic), the University of South Carolina. They tried to choose a mascot similar to that of USC’s, the Gamecocks, and came up with the Chanticleers based on “The Nun’s Priest’s Tale” from Chaucer’s “The Canterbury Tales” . Coastal became an independent university from the other USC in 1993 and stuck with the name. 

My pod picks (8-4)

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🏂🏀NBA 12/28: What Can Brown (and Green) Do For You?🍀🟤

Player of the day🏆Jaylen Brown (BOS🍀) - 39 pts, 3 stl, 2 ast, 14/26 fg, 6/15 3 pt, 5/5 ft

Player of the day🥈Joel Embiid (PHI🔔) - 48 pts, 10 reb, 4 oreb, 3 stl, 3 blk, 17/32 fg, 13/14 ft 

Player of the day🥉Luka Doncic🙊(DAL🛩) - 60 pts, 21 reb, 10 ast, 5 oreb, 2 stl, 1 blk, 21/31 fg, 16/22 ft, 2/6 3 pt

LeBron Radar🐐28 pts, 7 reb, 5 ast, 1 stl, 1 blk

Before the game, LeBron went to Disney World and fought an alligator - guess who won. 🥊 🐊 

Wacky stat of the day📈 The Lakers shot 54.4% from the floor in the road victory @ Orlando. 

All five of the Suns starters had double digit points before the end of the 3rd quarter. 

Kawhi Leonard’s hands are so big he can’t fit them in his pockets. 🖐🏾👖

Quote of the day🧐 “Don’t be ashamed of who you are - that’s your parents’ job.”

Photo of the day🖼Crack Thy Nut🌰🥜

   

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🏈Bowling Talk Soup 12/27🍜

Games

Quick Lane Bowl ~ New Mexico St🤠🐴24 Bowling Green🎳🟢19

Player of the day ~ Ta’ron Keith, Bowling Green ~ 75 yard kickoff return TD 

Mascot of the day ~ Pistol Pete, New Mexico St Aggies ~ Established in 2013, Pistol Pete is an homage to Frank Eaton, an Old West gunfighter and lawman; Oklahoma State has the same mascot and NMSU Carlos Mencia’d them. NMSU pays $10/year to Oklahoma State as a part of the copyright lawsuit which seems like a total bargain and a fun store idea - college mascots for everyone, buy one get one for free, combine the names, it’s all fun - check out the Tar Devils! 

My pod picks (8-3) 

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🥌🏀NBA 12/27: Seattle Porter☔️

 Player of the day🏆Kevin Porter Jr (HOU🚀) - 36 pts, 9 ast, 7 reb, 3 oreb, 14/22 fg, 6/12 3 pt

Player of the day🥈Darius Garland (CLE🐎) - 46 pts, 8 asts, 3 reb, 1 stl, 14/20 fg, 13/15 ft

Player of the day🥉Naji Marshall (NOP🦚) - (career-high) 22 pts, 6 reb, 4 ast, 1 blk, 8/14 fg, 4/9 3 pt

LeBron Radar🐐 LeBron went for a noice afternoon stroll to the local farmer’s market, which was open at 3 pm on a Monday for some reason, and sipped hot cocoa and wore a dank Gucci winter outfit combo and a beanie with a poof on top (the hat was a cup of hot cocoa and the poof was a marshmallow) even though it’s almost 80 degrees in LA - LeBron loves gettin’ in his winter jollies. 

Wacky stat of the day📈 The Portland Trailblazers had 9 blocks in their home win over the Charlotte Hornets to move to 18-16. 

Quote of the day🧐 “If you fall, I’ll be there.” - The floor

Photo of the day🖼Still Christmas🎄🎁🎄

  

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🏔❄️🏀NBA 12/26: Folding Landry🧺

Player of the day🏆Landry Shamet (PHX☀️) - 31 pts, 6 ast, 2 reb, 1 blk, 10/20 fg, 7/17 3 pt, 4/4 ft

Player of the day🥈Christian Wood (DAL🛩) - 30 pts, 8 reb, 7 ast, 4 stl, 2 blk, 12/17 fg, 2/6 3 pt

Player of the day🥉Nikola Jokic (DEN🏔) - 41 pts, 15 reb, 15 ast, 4 oreb, 1 blk, 16/25 fg, 2/4 3 pt, 7/9 ft

LeBron Radar: 38 pts, 6 reb, 5 ast, 13/23 fg, 12/12 ft

After the game, LeBron cleaned up the remnants of the celebration of LeBron’s 8th annual Christmas Talent Show Jamboree, including a half-cracked reindeer piñata that was full of Lindt chocolates and Starbucks Christmas-themed gift cards, several scarves that had been scoffed at by Johnny Depp, several tupperware containers stocked full of peppermint bark made by your Aunt Jodie, a lil doggie sweater with a Santa Claus/Christmas tree checkered design and an elf onesie, equipped with ear extensions to boot, also two boots.

Stat of the day: Aaron Gordon had 7 dunks

Quote of the day🧐 “Don’t let the season give you resting Grinch face.” - Christmas pun 

Photo of the day🖼Christmas Collage🎄🎁🎅🖼

 

  

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🎄🏈Bowling Talk Soup 12/25🍜

Games

Hawaii Bowl ~ Middle Tennessee St 25 San Diego St🏄‍♀️23

Player of the day

Mascot of the day ~ Middle Tennessee St ~ Lightning is a Blue-winged horse that became the school mascot in 1998 to represent MTSU’s aerospace and horse science programs and the region’s horse walking heritage. 

The original mascot was Nathan Bedford Forrest, a Confederate general and early Ku Klux Klan leader - in the 1970s the mascot was changed to a blue-colored scent hound dog named Ole Blue - Blue, you’re my dog! 

My pod picks (8-3)

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🎁🎄🎅NBA 12/25: Son of a Hawkeye🌽

It’s an NFL🏈edition because there were no NBA games on Christmas Eve - it was an NFL Saturday. 

Player of the day🏆TJ Hockenson, TE (DET🦁) - 13 rec, 109 yds, 2 TD

Player of the day🥈Trenton Irwin, WR (CIN🟠⚫️) - 3 rec, 45 yds, 2 TD

Player of the day🥉D’Onta Foreman, RB (CAR🐆) - 21 rushes, 165 yds, 1 TD

LeBron Radar: LeBron celebrated LeBron’s Christmas Talent Show Jamboree and it went off without a hitch - womanizing NYC Will Smith didn’t show up - LeBron handed out several awards and did his best Simon Cowell impression while sipping a Diet Coke mixed with a couple splashes of milk or a Dcilk as LeBron calls it; the appetizers were simply amazing, ranging from orange cream marshmallow squares to pumpkin cheesecake to pumpkin pie with cheese on it - it was like The Great Gatsby 2022 met the ESPYs, they Netflix and Chilled for a few months and had a love child and that’s what LeBron’s 8th annual Christmas Talent Show Jamboree was mostly like - what a show, streaming on Peacock now. 🦚🎅☃️🎄

Quote of the day🧐 “His name is Claus. Santa Claus. The force is with him. And he’ll be back.” - Christmas greeting🎄🎅

Photo of the day🖼A Santa Snooze🎅💤

 

Enjoy the NBA🏀on ABC all day (and NFL🏈 of course) and have a Merry Christmas - thank you for supporting the blog & pod - hope you have a wonderful holidays! 

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🏈Bowling Talk Soup 12/24🍜🎄

🎅Games🎄

Independence Bowl ~ Houston🐾 23 Louisiana🌶16

Gasparilla Bowl ~ Wake Forest⚜️27 Missouri🐅17

Player of the day ~ Kesean Carter HOU WR ~ 4 rec 112 yds 1 TD

Mascot of the day ~ Demon Deacon, Wake Forest ~ 

In 1923, Wake Forest beat their rival Trinity, which would go on to be named Duke University and annoy generations of college basketball fans across the land with their fundamental-minded, close-knit style of play. 1924 WF graduate, Mayon Parker, wrote in the following issue of the school’s newspaper a reference to the team as Demon Deacons because of their devilish play and fighting spirit. Henry Belk, the school news director, and Hank Garrity, the football and basketball coach, enjoyed and thus popularized the term. 

The actual mascot did not appear until 1941, played by Jack Baldwin, 1943 graduate of WF. 

My pod picks (8-2)

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🛷🏀NBA 12/24: The Hard Times of RJ Barrett📺🛹

Player of the day🏆RJ Barrett (NYK🍎) - 44 pts, 7 reb, 4 ast, 14/20 fg, 6/6 3 pt, 10/13 ft

Player of the day🥈Luka Doncic (DAL🛩) - 50 pts, 10 ast, 8 reb, 3 stl, 17/30 fg, 6/12 3 pt, 10/12 ft

Player of the day🥉James Harden (PHI🔔) - 20 pts, 21 ast, 11 reb, 1 stl

LeBron Radar: LeBron worked on decorating the banner for LeBron’s Christmas Talent Show Jamboree - he painted it like a Survivor tribe flag, his favorite show - he invited Probsty over to throw is John Hancock on it to authenticate the banner - they made a joke about LeBron rockin’ a Survivor 38 buff and also being super buff and about to have his 38th birthday - good times all around in preparation for the 8th annual LeBron’s Christmas Talent Show Jamboree, a holiday tradition in most parts of the country. 

Quote of the day🧐 “We hope your holiday season is sweet as candy canes and merry as a jingle bell.” - Holiday Greeting 

Photo of the day🖼Poolside Grinch with Sunsplash - Winter Edish❄️

  

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🏈Bowling Talk Soup 12/23🍜

 Games

Armed Forces Bowl ~ Air Force🛩30 Baylor🐻15

Player of the day ~ Brad Roberts AFA RB ~ 37 rushes 116 yds 2 TD

Mascot of the day ~ Baylor ~ Bruiser and Marigold are the costumed Bear mascots. Baylor also has a live bear mascot, Judge Joy Reynolds, who passed away in July at the age of 21. Joy’s sister, Lady, still lives in the Bill & Eva Williams Bear Habitat in Waco - they are a cinnamon-shaded line of black bears which is the most delicious of the black bears. 🐻 

My pod picks (6-2)

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⛸🏀NBA 12/23: McCollump of Coal😈

Player of the day🏆CJ McCollum (NOP🎷) - 40 pts. 9 ast, 8 reb, 2 blk, 1 stl, 14/27 fg, 7/14 3 pt, 5/5 ft

Player of the day🥈Collin Sexton (UTAH🎵) - 18 pts, 1 reb, 6/7 fg, 2/2 3 pt, 4/4 ft

Player of the day🥉Jeremy Sochan (SAS🦂) - 23 pts, 9 reb, 6 oreb, 6 ast, 1 stl, 7/14 fg, 2/4 3 pt, 7/10 ft

LeBron Radar: LeBron workshopped his Christmas talent show jamboree which will include speed gift wrapping, stacking holiday cups and pinning the tale of the reindeer (as well as placing the flashing red nose upon Rudolph’s face) - LeBron’s Christmas Talent Show Jamboree will be available on Peacock and Amazon for $2.99. 

Quote of the day🧐 “Holiday greetings to you and yours and all that jazz!” - Holiday greeting 

Photo of the day🖼Blue, You’re My Boy🔵

 

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🏈Bowling Talk Soup 12/22🍜

 Games

Western Kentucky🔴44 S Alabama🐾23 

Player of the day ~ Austin Reed, WKU QB ~ 36/55 497 yds 4 TD 1 INT 4 rushes 25 yds 

Mascot of the day ~ Big Red, WKU ~ Big Red is a red, furry (not like the ones that go to Furry conventions) thingy invented by Ralph Carey in 1979. 

WKU’s nickname is the Hilltoppers because the campus sits on a hill 232 feet above the Barren River in Bowling Green, KY - the Bowlers would be a good nickname too. 

My pod picks (6-1) 

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⛷🏀NBA 12/22: Greek Week🇬🇷

Player of the day🏆Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL🦌) - 45 pts, 17/27 fg, 11/16 ft, 14 reb, 4 oreb, 4 ast, 2 blk, 1 stl

Player of the day🥈Onyeka Okongwu (ATL🦅) - 18 pts, 8/14 fg, 11 reb, 5 oreb, 5 blk, 1 ast

Player of the day🥉James Wiseman (GSW⚔️) - 30 pts, 12/14 fg, 5/8 ft, 6 reb, 2 ast, 1 blk

Player of the day4️⃣🍰Pascal Siakam (TOR🦖) - 52 pts, 9 reb, 7 ast, 1 stl, 3 oreb, 17/25 fg, 16/18 ft

Player of the day5️⃣🧁Domantas Sabonis (SAC👑) - 13 pts, 12 ast, 21 reb, 7 oreb, 1 stl, 4/8 fg, 4/4 ft 

Standings Observation: The West is stacked, as always - the Mavs and Warriors are sitting at #10 and #11 currently - GSW on the outside of the playoffs, sorely missing Steph for the time being, but I bet they’ll make the playoffs if the Splash Bros can stay on the court. 

LeBron Radar: 31 pts, 11 ast, 6 reb, 3 blk, 11/21 fg, 9/10 ft - LeBron has been on 🔥 5 straight games 30+ points & 50%+ from the field. 

Before the game, LeBron dressed up as Santa and brought NBA 2K to all the kids in the neighborhood; he brought their dads fresh pairs of his new model of LeBron shoes and the moms lil basketball earrings and an eyeshade with a big photo of him posterizing Kendrick Perkins with a split screen of KP scowling on modern-day ESPN. 

Quote of the day🧐 “Thanks for being such a fantastic friend and putting up with my terrible jokes.” - Christmas greeting☃️🎄

Photo of the day🖼Seasons Combined☠️🎅

   

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🏈Bowling Talk Soup 12/21🍜

Games

Potato Bowl ~ Eastern Michigan🦅41 San Jose St⚔️27

Boca Raton Bowl ~ Toledo🚀 21 Liberty 19🗽

Player of the day

Darius Lassiter, EMU WR 6 rec, 108 yards, 2 TD

Mascot of the day ~ Rocky the Rocket🚀 ~ 

Rocky wore a tall, metal rocket helmet, various jumpsuits and bell-bottom pants in the 1970s before an authentic space suit was donated in 1977 with the assist from Ohio astronaut and senator John Glenn. (utoledo.edu)

Listen to my song “Holy Toledo” on Arne Pod📻

My pod picks (5-1)

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🏂🏀NBA 12/21: Wrigley Field Outfield Wall🧱

Player of the day🏆Jaden Ivey (DET🔧) - 30 pts, 5 ast, 4 reb, 1 stl, 10/14 fg, 2/2 3 pt, 8/11 ft

Player of the day🥈Lauri Markkanen (UTAH🎵) - 38 pts, 5 reb, 13/20 fg, 9/13 3 pt

Player of the day🥉Haywood Highsmith (MIA☄️) - 18 pts, 4 stl, 2 reb, 2 ast, 1 oreb, 7/10 fg, 4/4 3 pt

Player of the day4️⃣ Immanuel Quickley (NYK🍎) - 22 pts, 4 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl, 1 blk, 6/10 fg, 5/6 3 pt, 5/5 ft

Player of the day5️⃣ Landry Shamet (PHX☀️) - 31 pts, 5 ast, 2 reb, 9/16 3 pt

LeBron Radar: LeBron went for a lovely tandem bike ride with a Christmas scarecrow (an invention that LeBron is attempting to patent pending, sort of like the Autumn offering but more green and red and merry and pinecones instead of pine needles and less doomsday) that he Weekend at Bernies’d.

Quote of the day🧐 “Just remember, Cassie, disappointment is a present, too.” - Santa, Billy and Mandy Save Christmas 🎅 

Photo of the day🖼Arne & the Giant Tree🎄

   

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🏈AFFL 14🏈

 

Whammy surges to a regular season title led by Miles Sanders, Pats D and Tyreek (with one of the wackiest WR TDs you’ll see.) 

Moose grabs 2nd place & the other bye thanks to a powerful 13 prior weeks. Led by Christian McCaffrey, CK stakes ahold of a playoff spot as he blows past PPE. Rhamondre goes out with a huge injury on MNF which tilts the season for No Name as she misses the playoffs by 1 point+ and Hawkeyes grabs her spot with another triple digit week. 

In the other games VM wipes out Goathouse thanks to a huge Evan Engram TE showing. B Team gets by Prangsters with a noice McKinnon performance and Viking Man takes the fiver in the pools.

Thank you for an awesome regular season, folks - on to the…PLAYOFFS?!

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🏈Bowling Talk Soup 12/20🍜

Games

Myrtle Beach Bowl ~ Marshall 28 UConn 14

Player of the day ~ Victor Rosa, UConn RB

16 rushes, 75 yards, 2 TD

Mascot of the day ~ Jonathan the Husky, UConn 

The mascot was named after Jonathan Trumbull, the colonial and first state governor of Connecticut. Traditionally there are two Jonathans, one a student in a costume and the other a live husky dog. 

All but the first real husky mascot, a brown and white dog, had been a solid white one with one brown eye and one blue eye until 2013 when UConn changed their mascot to a black and white husky. In 1934, Rhode Island’s ram mascot was kidnapped, bringing interest to a live animal mascot for UConn, which was selected via a student poll in 1935, one of the few schools to choose a mascot this way. 

My pod picks (5-1)

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🎿🏀NBA 12/20: Siakam! You Owe Me A Coke🥤

Player of the day🏆Pascal Siakam (TOR🦖) - 38 pts, 15 reb, 6 ast, 1 stl, 3/8 3 pt, 9/11 ft

Player of the day🥈Domantas Sabonis (SAC👑) - 28 pts, 23 reb, 7 ast, 5 oreb, 1 stl, 12/19 fg, 2/2 3 pt

Player of the day🥉Markelle Fultz (ORL🧙‍♀️) - 24 pts, 9 ast, 6 reb, 1 stl, 11/19 fg, 2/3 3 pt

LeBron Radar: LeBron DNP in the Lakers loss @ Phoenix 

Before the game vs the Phoenix☀️☀️☀️LeBron took a nice December Sonoran desert hike - he kept an eye out for rattle snakes, wore a mini sombrero and brought a fresh pair of socks for after, a new brand he is workshopping. 

Quote of the day🧐 “The tradition of Festivus begins with the Airing of Grievances. I’ve got a lot of problems with you people! Now you’re going to hear about it.” - Frank Costanza, Seinfeld 

Photo of the day🖼Afternoon Pool Sun Reflection Connection🏊‍♀️☀️

   

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🎁🏀NBA 12/19: Goose🛩

Player of the day🏆Anthony Edwards (MIN🐺) - 37 pts, 11 ast, 7 reb, 2 stl, 13/25 fg, 4/11 3 pt, 7/7 ft

Player of the day🥈Jordan Poole (GSW) - 43 pts, 6 ast, 1 stl, 14/23 fg, 5/11 3 pt, 10/11 ft

Player of the day🥉Kevin Durant (BKN) - 43 pts, 6 reb, 2 ast, 2 blk, 1 stl, 14/22 fg, 3/5 3 pt, 12/13 ft

ANOTHER WINNER 🏆 Nikola Jokic (DEN🏔) - 40 pts, 27 reb, 10 ast, 7 oreb

LeBron Radar: 33 pts, 9 ast, 7 reb, 1 blk, 13/24 fg

Before the game, LeBron watched NFL Sunday and got pumped up about it so he went out to the backyard and threw the football to himself and pretended he had won the Super Bowl because his Cleveland Browns are unfamiliar. 

Quote of the day🧐 “I’m the Holiday Armadillo, your part-Jewish friend.” - Ross, Friends 

Photo of the day🖼Home Depot Sunrise🌄🔨

  

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🏈🎅Bowling Talk Soup 12/18🍜

 Games ~ Fenway Bowl - Louisville 24 Cincinnati 7 (W)

Las Vegas Bowl Oregon St🦫30 Florida🐊3 (W)

Jimmy Kimmel Bowl Fresno St 39 Washington St🐆🐾6 (L)

Lending Tree Bowl Southern Miss 38 Rice🍚24

New Mexico Bowl BYU 24 SMU 23

Frisco Bowl Boise St 35 N Texas🟢32

Player of the day ~ Ashton Jeanty ~ Boise St (RB)

28 rushes, 178 yards, 1 TD

Mascot of the day: Buster Bronco - Boise St - Est. 1932 ~ Wears #0 

My pod picks (4-1)

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🎄🏀NBA 12/18: Walker, Kemba Ranger🤠

Player of the day🏆Kemba Walker (DAL🛩) - 32 pts, 7 ast, 5 reb, 1 blk

Player of the day🥈Devin Booker (PHX☀️) - 58 pts, 21/35 fg, 6/12 3 pt, 10/15 ft, 6 reb, 5 ast

Player of the day🥉Dillon Brooks (MEM🐻) - 32 pts, 6/15 3 pt, 6/7 ft, 4 reb, 1 blk

LeBron Radar: LeBron watched the Cougs bowl game and was sorely disappointed by the outcome so he texted Jimmy Kimmel a voice memo expressing his feelings; alas, he felt good about the Vikes historic comeback win because his Uncle Steve is a huge Vikes fan. 

Quote of the day🧐 “I would like a nice slice of Christmas Pam. Side of candy Pams. And perhaps some Pam chops with mint.” - Michael Scott 

Photo of the day🖼KTLA Clippers🚢📺

  

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🏈Bowling Talk Soup 12/17🍜

Games 

Bahamas Bowl: UAB 24 Miami Ohio 20

Cure Bowl: Troy 18 UTSA 12

Player of the day: Jermaine Brown Jr. - UAB (RB)

24 rushes, 116 yards, 2 TD

Mascot of the day: Blaze the European Dragon - UAB 🐉 👨‍🎨 ☕️ 

My pod picks: 0-0

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🏀❄️NBA 12/17: Vleet of Vans🚐🚐🚐

Player of the day🏆Fred VanVleet (TOR🦖) - 39 pts. 14/24 fg, 4/9 3 pt, 7/8 ft, 5 reb, 4 ast, 1 stl, 1 blk

Player of the day🥈Christian Wood (DAL🛩) - 32 pts, 12 reb, 2 blk, 11/17 fg, 8/10 ft

Player of the day🥉Naz Reid (MIN🐺) - 28 pts, 9 reb, 3 oreb, 3 ast, 2 stl, 1 blk, 11/18 fg, 3/5 3 pt

LeBron Radar: LeBron raised the Coug flag outside his house in preparation for today’s bowl game - LeBron calls his house College Gameday. 

Quote of the day🧐 “Yankee swap is like Machiavelli meets Christmas.” - Dwight Schrute 

Photo of the day🖼Go Cougs Babe🏈🐾

  

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🏈AFFL 13🏈

 Hawkeyes goes for back to back humongous weeks as he stays alive in the playoff race.

Captain Kirk holds on to a monster W over VM as Kamara lays an egg on MNF. Hawkeyes needs to defeat PP next week with either CK losing to PPE or No Name falling to Tenacious D. 

Speaking of No Name, she got crushed by PP - Joey B & co. took care of biz against the mighty Chiefs. PPE doubles up Goathouse as AJ Brown has major revenge vibes vs his former squad. Moose gets a balanced attack and runs all over B Team. Whammy gets maybe the best 3WR week of the year - 69 points from Adams, Hill & Lockett. 

In a shocking pools performance, Hawkeyes continues to run roughshod on the league as he is just a single point away from a perfect score - golf claps!

Good luck to all in our final regular season week - it’s been a blast!

🤶🏀NBA 12/16: Markannen of the Beast🐺

Player of the day🏆Lauri Markkanen (UTAH🎵) - 31 pts, 8/15 fg, 5/9 3 pt, 10/10 ft, 5 reb, 3 ast

Player of the day🥈Tyler Herro (MIA🔥) - 41 pts, 13/20 fg, 10/15 3 pt, 5/5 ft, 6 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl, 1 blk

Player of the day🥉Jordan Clarkson (UTAH🎵) - 39 pts, 7/14 3 pt, 8 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl

LeBron Radar: LeBron watched the Live Beauty & the Beast special on ABC and was moved to tears by the renditions - especially his ol broseph Groban. 

Quote of the day🧐 “Once you stop believing in Santa, you get underwear for Christmas.” - Unknown 🎅 🩲 

Photo of the day🖼Tis the Season🎄

   

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🏀🎄NBA 12/15: Bad to Sabone🦴

Player of the day🏆Domantas Sabonis (SAC👑) - 21 pts, 20 reb, 5 oreb, 7 ast, 1 stl, 1 blk, 10/13 fg

Player of the day🥈Jalen Duran (DET🛞) - 19 reb, 6 oreb, 3 blk, 2 ast

Player of the day🥉Niko Jokic (DEN🏂) - 43 pts, 14 reb, 8 ast, 5 stl, 1 blk, 17/20 fg, 9/10 ft 

LeBron Radar: LeBron watched the Survivor finale and basked in the tropical televised glory and texted Probsty. 

Quote of the day🧐 “Don’t get your tinsel in a tangle.” - Unknown

Photo of the day🖼Survivor Finalized🏝📺

        

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🤶🏀NBA 12/14: Walker, Kessler Ranger🤠

 Player of the day🏆Walker Kessler (UTAH🎵) - 11 pts, 16 reb, 

Player of the day🥈Jalen Green (HOU🚀) - 26 pts, 7 reb, 4 ast, 11/12 ft

Player of the day🥉James Harden (PHI🔔) - 21 pts, 15 ast, 7 reb, 5 stl, 7/13 fg, 4/7 3 pt

LeBron Radar: 33 pts, 9 reb, 9 ast, 2 stl, 1 blk

After the game, LeBron cooled off with a sauna sesh, an ice bath and some intense Mario Kart races with Russ & the young fellas. 🎮 

Quote of the day🧐 “Nothing says holidays like a cheese log.” - Ellen 

Photo of the day🖼Go Cougs Week🐾🏈

  

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🏀🎄NBA 12/13: Tyus Are Lame

Player of the day🏆Tyus Jones (MEM🐻) - 22 pts, 11 ast, 3 stl, 8/14 fg, 4/7 3 pt

Player of the day🥈Dame Lillard (POR🌲) - 38 pts, 3 ast, 13/21 fg, 11/17 3 pt

Player of the day🥉Josh Richardson (SAS🤠) - 24 pts, 9/13 fg, 5/7 3 pt, 2 ast

LeBron Radar: LeBron watched Pirates of the Caribbean in honor of Coach Mike Leach - one of his favorite football coaches and Johnny Depp - one of his favorite cologne spokespeople.

Quote of the day🧐 “Tracked a raccoon one time in the snow. I was in the neighborhood and was just curious where this raccoon lived. There’s some fresh raccoon tracks. He’d been digging at somebody’s garbage.” - Mike Leach🦝 

Photo of the day🖼Remembering Coach Leach🏴‍☠️

  

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🏀☃️NBA 12/12: Mardi Gras Embiids🎷

Player of the day🏆Joel Embiid (PHI🔔) - 53 pts, 20-32 fg, 11/11 ft, 12 reb, 3 ast, 1 blk

Player of the day🥈Zion Williamson (NOP) - 35 pts, 14/21 fg, 2/3 3 pt, 8 reb, 3 ast, 1 stl

Player of the day🥉Bojan Bogdanovic (DET🔧) - 38 pts, 12/22 fg, 6/12 3 pt, 8/8 ft, 4 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl, 1 blk

LeBron Radar: 35 pts, 14/24 fg, 5/5 ft, 5 reb, 5 ast, 1 stl

After the game, LeBron cooled off by shooting jumpers from the free throw line on the other side of the court like Chef Curry (distance work) - he didn’t have quite the luck or circus talent or whatnot. 

Quote of the day🧐 “You know you’re getting old when Santa starts looking younger.” - Robert Paul🎅

Photo of the day🖼Field Goal Post Tree🏈🌲🎄

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🏀🧑‍🎄NBA 12/11: Cam Ready🎬

Player of the day🏆Cam Thomas (BKN🏙) - 33 pts, 3 reb, 13/20 fg, 3/3 3 pt

Player of the day🥈Tyrese Haliburton (IND🏁) - 35 pts, 12/15 fg, 7/8 3 pt, 4/4 ft, 9 ast, 3 stl, 1 blk

Player of the day🥉Nickeil Alexander-Walker (UTAH🎵) - 27 pts, 9/16 fg, 5/10 3 pt, 3 reb, 2 ast, 1 blk 

LeBron Radar: On his off day, LeBron went for a walk to the local coffee shop and decided he would one day open a coffee shop called LeBrew - he went to work on the logo right away, a basketball made of coffee beans. ☕️ 👕 

Quote of the day🧐 “Keep your friends close, your enemies closer and receipts for all major purchases.” - Bridger Winegar 🧾 

Photo of the day🖼Chef Curry🍛 

  

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🏈AFFL 12🏈

Another solid week from The Boot, Justin Tucker, and Moose puts away Prangsters to stake ahold of first place. 🦌 

4 teams sit tied for second at 8-4 - let’s run through them like the opening credits of a 90s sitcom. 

Starring No Name, who picked the wrong week to take on Hawkeyes as JJ & JJ did it big. Whammy is the wacky sidekick as he knocks off B Team as Herbie finally has a noice performance. PP, the sassy bookkeeper, has a down week but gets by an even downer Tenacious one. 

And introducing PPE, the aloof neighbor, who escapes VM with a solid special teams/D week. Captain Kirk also knocks off 🐐 Goat to stay alive in the playoff mix. 

Good luck to all this week and a Happy December - don’t play too much Christmas music yet or it’ll get funked out! 🎄 ❄️ 

 

🏀🎄NBA 12/10: Hans & Franz

Player of the day🏆Franz Wagner (ORL🪄) - 34 pts, 12/15 fg, 8/8 ft, 5 reb, 2 stl

Player of the day🥈Pascal Siakam (TOR🦖) - 36 pts, 9 reb, 7 ast

Player of the day🥉De’Anthony Melton (PHI🇺🇸) - 33 pts, 11/16 fg, 8/12 3 pt, 7 stl, 4 reb

LeBron Radar: 23 pts, 6 ast, 4 reb, 2 stl

Before the game, LeBron spent his day exploring Philly and it’s history - he found a Founding Father and ended up in an arm wrestling match vs a Ben Franklin impersonator - guess who won. 

Quote of the day🧐 “From a commercial point of view, if Christmas did not exist, it would be necessary to invent it.” - Katharine Whitehorn 

Photo of the day🖼Wild Thanggggggggggg

   

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🏀🤶NBA 12/9: Dame Time🕰

Player of the day🏆Damian Lillard (POR) - 40 pts, 12 ast, 12/22 fg, 9/17 3 pt, 7/7 ft 

Player of the day🥈Tre Jones (SAS) - 26 pts, 5 ast, 3 reb, 10/16 fg, 4/4 ft 

Player of the day🥉Jabari Smith Jr (HOU🚀) - 23 pts, 4 reb, 9/13 fg, 4/7 3 pt

LeBron Radar: LeBron watched TNF🏈& considered a post 🏀NBA career in alternate uniform design - he especially enjoys seasonal uniforms that incorporate the holidays like when his Cleveland Browns wore a pumpkin helmet.

Quote of the day🧐 “Aren’t we forgetting the true meaning of Christmas? You know, the birth of Santa.” - Bart Simpson 🎅

Photo of the day🖼Frosty the Tundra 

 

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🏀🤶NBA 12/8: Go-Over-Bert🇫🇷

Player of the day🏆Rudy Gobert (MIN🐺) - 16 pts, 21 reb, 5 oreb, 3 stl, 2 blk, 6/12 fg

Player of the day🥈Pascal Siakam (TOR🦖) - 25 pts, 10/20 fg, 10 reb, 7 ast

Player of the day🥉Buddy Hield (IND🏁) - 26 pts, 7/11 3 pt

LeBron Radar: LeBron DNP in the Lakers loss @ TOR

Before the game, LeBron explored the city while listening to a podcast - he ended up perusing a novella while sipping an espresso at a coffee shop that has novellas built into the tables - it’s actually pretty cool, was featured on Coffee Cribs on MTV Cinco (which is MTV in Canada🍁).

Quote of the day🧐 “The office Christmas party is a great opportunity to catch up with people you haven’t seen in 20 minutes.” - Julius Sharpe

Photo of the day🖼Old Apartment AM Walk View👟 

  

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🏀🎅NBA 12/7: Herro’s Journey

 Player of the day🏆Tyler Herro (MIA☄️) - 34 pts, 12/17 fg, 8/8 ft, 6 ast, 3 reb 

Player of the day🥈Donovan Mitchell (CLE) - 43 pts, 17/27 fg, 4/8 3 pt, 5/5 ft, 6 reb, 5 ast, 4 stl

Player of the day🥉Aaron Gordon (DEN) - 27 pts, 8 reb, 10/13 fg, 2/2 3 pt

LeBron Radar: LeBron went back to his hometown of Akron before the game - he went into a 50s diner and bought everyone flapjacks and milkshakes and made t-shirts that said, “Witness - delicious🥞”

Quote of the day🧐 “There’s something about a Christmas sweater that will always make me laugh.” - Kristen Wiig 

Photo of the day🖼Pool Tree🎄🏊‍♀️

  

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🔔Post #800🆒🏀🎄NBA 12/6: Jack be Nemble

Player of the day🏆Andrew Nembhard (IND🏁) - 31 pts, 13 ast, 8 reb, 13/21 fg, 5/7 3 pt 

Player of the day🥈Tyus Jones (MEM🐻) - 28 pts, 10 ast, 5 reb, 2 stl, 10/16 fg, 3/6 3 pt, 5/5 ft 

Player of the day🥉Tobias Harris (PHI🇺🇸) - 27 pts, 4 reb, 3 stl, 9/15 fg, 7/8 3 pt

LeBron Radar: LeBron watched MNF and considered a post 🏀NBA career in writing music stings for the broadcast when they go to commercials and come back - break out the old electronic keyboard, some good vibes and go to town.

Quote of the day🧐 “I haven’t taken my Christmas lights down - they look so nice on the pumpkin.” - Winston Spear 

Photo of the day🖼Merry Crunchmas🎄🥄

  

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🏀❄️NBA 12/5: Alvarado Street🏝

Player of the day🏆Jose Alvarado (NOP🦢) - 38 pts, 3 reb, 2 ast, 12/19 fg, 8/11 3pt, 6/7 ft 

Player of the day🥈Zach LaVine (CHI) - 41 pts, 8 reb, 4 stl, 16/28 fg, 3/9 3 pt, 6/7 ft

Player of the day🥉Anthony Davis (LAL) - 55 pts, 17 reb, 3 blk, 22/30 fg, 9/9 ft

LeBron Radar: 29 pts, 8 reb, 6 ast

Before the game, LeBron spent his day touring the nation’s Capitol on a double decker bus - he came up with a series of riddles about the landmarks that he’s going to test on his teammates - he would also maybe want to be a double decker bus tour guide in DC in a few years. One of the riddles is, “I am a building with many sides - which building am I?”

Quote of the day🧐 “Good mashed potato is one of the great luxuries of life.” - Lindsey Bareham

Photo of the day🖼Deja Vuutball🏈🤠

 

Riddle answer: Pentagon 

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