Tradition's Finest Episode 147 - "The Tommy G Episode"

Welcome Back to the Tradition's Finest Podcast! Episode 147 - "The Tommy G Episode" includes a discussion of the following sports-related topics: - NCAA: News & Storylines - - NCAA College Football: "A TRO Against the NCAA:" Former LSU EDGE Jack Pyburn is among the 16 players who were granted a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the NCAA on Thursday, returning for the 2026-27 college football season with a fifth year of eligibility: Pyburn is currently on the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers training camp roster and recently posted two sacks in their most recent preseason game - - The list of players also includes former Ole Miss DL Xzavian Harris, Ole Miss safety Wydett Williams, Ole Miss TE Dae'Quan Wright, James Madison LB Trent Hendrick, Oregon State RB Anthony Hankerson, Notre Dame DL Junior Tuihalamaka, South Carolina safety DQ Smith and SMU RB TJ Harden - - Per the signed order in Louisiana, the 16 college football players will be allowed to enter the NCAA transfer portal - as the NCAA's rule of restitution and the ghost transfer rule are also enjoined: "The NCAA is ordered to open the transfer portal. . .for one week from entry of this order," the TRO states - - Players currently on NFL rosters have expressed an interest in being released from their NFL contracts, according to attorney Ryan Downton, and NFL teams that release them by September 1 would be allowed to join a college football roster under the TRO: **UPDATE: Per On3, former Seahawks RB TJ Harden, who played college ball at SMU and UCLA, announced his plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal on Thursday afternoon. . .Q: What are your thoughts on these 16 former college football players, who are currently active on NFL rosters, being granted a TRO against the NCAA and a fifth year of eligibility? - - SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said allowing athletes who have signed professional contracts back into college sports “fuels disruption” and should not be allowed, according to an affidavit filed in a Louisiana courthouse last week: Sankey asked Judge Ronald Johnson in East Baton Rouge Parish court to uphold NCAA rules that prevent athletes from returning, saying the decision is “essential to the integrity of college sports.” He wrote that allowing pros back into NCAA competition would undermine the “fundamental principles” of college sports and unfairly harm high school students looking to join a college team as well as other teams that have followed the existing rules - - The affidavit was in response to a lawsuit filed by former St. John's men's basketball star LJ Ruis, the 2024-25 Big East Player of the Year - as he has since committed to LSU in hopes of playing one more season of college basketball - - The affidavit puts Sankey on the opposing end of a legal argument supported by a school in his conference. . .Q: Where do you stand on the principle and/or ruling allowing athletes who have signed professional contracts back into college sports?. . - NBA - - “The Buss Has Left Town:” Los Angeles Lakers governor Jeanie Buss is contesting her siblings' “united” vote to sell the remaining 17.8% of the Lakers, according to a letter from her lawyer that was obtained by ESPN - - The Buss family in a statement earlier Monday said they had voted to sell their remaining shares to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger at the same $12.5 billion valuation that Mark Walter agreed to last week — They believed they had the right to sell based on a tag-along provision that had been included in the previous sale to Walter in June 2025 — Sources told ESPN that provision gave the family rights to tag along to any sale and valuation Walter secured for his shares - - Jeanie Buss was to remain the team's controlling owner through 2030, according to the agreement she made with Walter - - Iger told the California Post last week that he intended to honor that agreement with Buss, but added “if something changes, then it changes.” — Should the sale of the family's stake go through, Jeanie Buss would no longer have the needed ownership percentage to remain governor of the team's - as a spokesperson for Kushner and Iger declined to comment on the situation when reached by ESPN — In response to the Buss' family statement, Jeanie's lawyer Adam Streisand wrote to the five (5) siblings who voted to sell that a court had ruled in 2017 that no sale could be “effectuated without approval by the co-trustees, Jeanie, Janie and Joey Buss.” — Streisand also wrote that the “co-trustees are bound to vote to ensure that the minimum 15% ownership requirement is maintained in order to ensure that Jeanie Buss may remain Controlling Owner. Any attempt by the co-trustees to aid or abet the co-trustees as such, would constitute a breach of trust, a breach of fiduciary duty and be in contempt of court.” — Streisand demanded that the five (5) siblings “make clear that Jeanie Buss is the Controlling Owner of the Los Angeles Lakers” and “take no action on this supposed vote to sell the 17.8 percent stake.” - - The Buss family had ownership of the Lakers since Jerry Buss purchased the team from Jack Kent Cooke in May 1979 — Under the leadership of Buss and then his children after his death, the Lakers won 11 NBA championships - most recently in 2020 — **NOTE: The Lakers' 2,289 wins since the start of the 1979-80 season are the most of any franchise in that span - - More than a dozen different Hall of Famers played for the Lakers during the Buss' family's ownership, and multiple Hall of Fame coaches patrolled sidelines, first at the Great Western Forum, then at Crypto.com Arena [formerly the Staples Center], which opened in 1999. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the Buss family voting to sell the remaining shares to Kushner & Iger? Do you think Jeanie Buss will be able to “veto” her siblings' final vote to sell the franchise?. . . - NFL - - The New York Giants have signed free agent RB Najee Harris to a one-year deal, the team announced Tuesday - - Harris worked out for the Giants on Monday - as HC John Harbaugh liked what he saw and heard despite the veteran coming off a torn Achilles last year – Harris knows he's not quite in game shape but said he's “ready to get back” following last year's season-ending injury - - Harris, 28, played in just three (3) games last season for the Los Angeles Chargers and Jim Harbaugh, John's brother - as Harris rushed for just 61 yards on 15 carries prior to the injury – **NOTE: Harris had rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of the previous four (4) seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers - and John Harbaugh, who coached the Baltimore Ravens for the previous 18 seasons, knows him well from their days in AFC North - - The addition of Harris comes after the Giants waived RB Dante Miller with an injury designation - as Miller hurt his groin in the preseason opener against the Minnesota Vikings and is expected to miss time - - In a corresponding move, the Giants released veteran WR JuJu Smith-Schuster - - Harris joins a backfield that has Cam Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy Jr. at the top of the depth chart - - The Giants also have veteran Devin Singletary in the mix along with Eric Gray and undrafted rookie Damon Bankston - - Harris was a first-round pick (No. 24) in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Alabama, and he made the Pro Bowl as a rookie. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the overall fit of Najee Harris with the New York Giants?. . .The Texans' WR corps took a big hit Wednesday as wideout Jayden Higgins suffered a torn ACL, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport - - The season-ending injury occurred Tuesday during the Texans' joint practice with the Las Vegas Raiders when the 2025 second-round pick ran a route in the end zone and fell awkwardly during red zone 11-on-11 drills — Higgins couldn't get back up immediately, but he eventually limped off on his own power - as HC DeMeco Ryans said after the practice that they were evaluating the severity of the injury — Higgins, who was off to a strong start to training camp, had 525 receiving yards and six (6) TDs during his rookie season - - Houston now will rely on the next batch of WRs led by Xavier Hutchinson, Tank Dell and Jaylin Noel: Hutchinson, a sixth-round pick in 2023, posted career highs last season with 35 receptions for 428 yards and three (3) TD - - Dell and Noel haven't practiced much throughout training camp as both work their way back from injuries: Dell is coming back from a serious knee injury from December 2024 that held him out all of 2025, and Noel, meanwhile, has dealt with a broken finger and hamstring tightness throughout camp. . .Q: Where does this leave the Texans following the loss of WR Jayden Higgins?. . .Former Dallas Cowboys Pro Bowl CB Trevon Diggs plans to sign a one-year deal with the Seattle Seahawks, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Wednesday - - The move addresses one of Seattle's biggest question marks and offers Diggs a chance for a fresh start with the reigning Super Bowl champions after a tumultuous ending to his tenure in Dallas last season - - Per multiple reports, the Seahawks still to plan to sign CB Terrion Arnold, but with no word on when he will be available to play amid his ongoing legal case - as Diggs gives them more immediate help at the position – Meanwhile, Noah Igbinoghene and Nehemiah Pritchett are vying to replace Riq Woolen as the No.3 CB and rookie third-pick Julian Neal has been unable to join that battle because he has missed much of training camp with an undisclosed injury - - A second-round pick in 2020, Diggs was named first-team All-Pro and selected to the Pro Bowl in 2021 after setting a Cowboys record with 11 INTs - and he also made the Pro Bowl in 2022, then signed a five-year, $97 million contract extension before the 2023 season: But he has appeared in only 22 games over the past three (3) seasons while dealing with injuries to both knees: Diggs tore his left ACL in practice in 2023 and missed six (6) games in 2024 due to an injury to the same knee that required a chondral graft – Last season, he missed eight (8) games with a right knee injury and suffered a concussion during an accident at home, later saying it occurred while he was attempting to install a television mount - - According to ESPN's Todd Archer, the Cowboys took issue with Diggs' decision to rehab away from the team's facility in consecutive years - as Dallas enforced a $500,000 base salary de-escalator in 2025 after he did not take part in 84% of the team's voluntary offseason program, choosing instead to rehab in South Florida. . .Q: What are your thoughts on the overall fit of CB Trevon Diggs with the Seattle Seahawks?. . . - MLB - - Cardinals OF Joshua Baez smashed the first pitch he saw in the majors about 450 feet then flashed a grin to the St. Louis dugout as he began his HR trot - - **NOTE: Baez, 23, became the first player to hit a HR in each of his first three (3) at-bats in the majors, leading St. Louis to an 8-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday – Called up from Triple-A Memphis before the game, Baez had 30 family members in attendance at Wrigley Field - as the traveling party, which included his mother, Yris, gathered on the field for photos afterward despite rain: “It's just unreal,” said Baez, the fourth-ranked prospect in the Cardinals' system and No.93 overall, according to ESPN's Kiley McDaniel. “To not only get a hit but three home runs? It's crazy.” - and he did it with flair too - - The first came on the first pitch he saw from Matthew Boyd and landed an estimated 449 feet away in the left-center bleachers, which was the third-longest HR in a player's MLB debut since ESPN began tracking HR distances in 2006 – **NOTE: Only Jason Heyward (476 feet) in 2010 and Aaron Judge (457 feet) in 2016 had longer shots – Baez's next at-bat ended with a solo shot down the left-field line, and the third, on his ensuing at-bat, went the opposite way, giving him five (5) RBIs - - Baez showed plenty of power in the minors this season - as when he was called up, he was leading Triple-A with 34 HRs, including four (4) multi-homer games – **NOTE: He is the ninth player to make his major league debut for the Cardinals this season. . . - Miscellaneous - - “A Penn State White-Out:” A Long Island kid who grew up in a spacious $1.4 million Westbury manse was one of the alleged ringleaders of a lucrative cocaine ring run out of a pair of Penn State University frat houses, authorities said - - Agostino Abbatiello, aka “Pablo Plegescobar,” 24, surrendered to Pennsylvania prosecutors Tuesday morning to face charges of possession with intent to deliver cocaine and conspiracy after being busted for allegedly peddling drugs through the frats – The Nassau County native - who was at the “very top of the chain” in the crime ring, according to prosecutors - had failed to show up for a Monday arraignment and is now being held without bail – Abbatielo allegedly ran the ring along with Thomas Robinson, the son of prominent Pittsburgh attorney Paul Robinson, who was also implicated in the ring and hit with felony charges of concealing evidence – The elder Robinson, a former frat brother who was a member of Delta Sigma Phi and Phi Alpha Delta while in college and law school, is a managing partner with Meyer, Darragh, Buckler, Bebenek & Eck – Both accused ringleaders graduated two years ago, but continued to deal even after leaving the frat house, according to prosecutors: Abbatiello was described as an accounting major on the dean's list with a “passion for numbers and financial storytelling,” according to now-deleted pages on the Penn State site - - Abbatiello and Thomas Robinson - of Sigma Chi and Delta Upsilon fraternities, respectively - were allegedly the main suppliers in the scheme, with Abbatiello frequently traveling to Philadelphia and New York to pick up large quantities of cocaine from suppliers between 2023 and 2024 - - When an undercover cop busted Robinson, the alleged dealer told authorities Abbatiello sold him batches of cocaine of up to one kilogram - well over two pounds - for as much as $22,000, a criminal complaint claims: Abbatiello allegedly distributed cocaine as recently as February 2026, according to the complaint - - Two other frat members have been charged with felony corrupt organizations, conspiracy, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity, and related offenses, the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office said: **NOTE: More than a dozen Penn State fraternity bros were busted for running the ring that forced young pledges to cut and bag the drugs then sold to students, according to prosecutors - as the fraternities, Sigma Chi and Delta Upsilon, allegedly coordinated with suppliers in New York and Philadelphia, trafficking in the cocaine and distributing it mainly to Penn State students - - When he learned law enforcement was interviewing individuals about Penn State drug dealing, he reportedly “begged them not to talk about his involvement.” - - Abbatiello's dad, Mario Abbatiello, told The New York Post Tuesday: “We have no comment. We have nothing to do with this. We have no comment.” - - A second Long Islander - Robert Zanolla, 24, of Manhasset - is also charged with felony conspiracy and criminal use of a communication facility - - Also charged, with misdemeanors, are: Liam Smith, Michael Brogno, Kaden Howe, Connor Hurleigh, Seth Beardsley, Kyle Ridpath, Daniel Price, and Charles Wiseman - - Paul Robinson, Thomas' father, is charged with felony tampering, hindering apprehension for taking steps to conceal evidence in the case, including a safe stuffed with cash and drugs and obstructing the investigation, federal prosecutors said - - Penn State has since suspended Delta Upsilon while it investigates the frat and said Sigma Chi is not recognized by the university and operates outside its supervision: “We are horrified by these serious allegations against current and former students,” said Andrea Dowhower, Penn State's VP for Student Affairs. “Criminal activity, including hazing, such as this has no place at our institution, and we will cooperate with law enforcement in any way we can. We will continue to enhance our efforts around health and safety and hazing educational efforts for all our organization.”. . .“The Death of A Sports Visionary:” Bill Rasmussen, whose vision and ambition fueled the 1979 launch of ESPN as the world's first 24-hour television network, died Tuesday at the age of 93 — Rasmussen died at his Florida home from the effects of Parkinson's Disease - - With son Scott, Rasmussen conceived of the initial idea of ESPN - first, as solely a Connecticut venture, and then as a 24-hour national sports network - - It was a moment for risk-taking: In the late 1970s, not many people thought an around-the-clock cable sports network had any chance - but Bill Rasmussen, who had just been fired as communications director of the New England Whalers, was one of them - as he maxed out his credit card, and with his $9,000 advance, acquired valuable space on a communications satellite — Rasmussen knocked on doors, talking to all the major sports leagues, the top cable operators and an array of investors: He gained backing, and on Sept. 7, 1979, the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network was born - as Bill & Scott Rasmussen co-founded ESPN with Bill serving as ESPN's first president and CEO - - Though Rasmussen left ESPN after a few years, he laid the groundwork for future growth: A meeting with the NFL did not bring immediate results, but a door was opened to what would eventually become “Monday Night Football” on ESPN — After leaving ESPN, Rasmussen contributed to a number of other media ventures and chronicled his experience in public speaking engagements - as he also wrote a book about his ESPN experience, “Sports Junkies Rejoice: The Birth of ESPN.”. . .“Tackling Fuel:” Tackling on the football field is normally permitted. . .unless the person doing the tackling comes screaming out of the stands and happens to not be wearing pads: A 16-year-old girl from Winchester, Tennessee [about an hour & a half SE of Nashville] is now facing charges after she ran out onto a football field in the middle of a game and tackled one of the players out on the field - - The contest between South Middle School and Cornersville Middle School was taking place at Franklin County High School, and shortly after South scored a TD, two players got into a fight on the field – This prompted a 16-year-old girl at the game to jump the fence and run out onto the gridiron: She targeted one of the middle schoolers that had been in the scuffle moments earlier, and tackled him to the ground - - The teenager managed to hit the football player a second time before coaches and referees were able to jump in and break up the fight - - The 16-year-old was attending the contest with her parents, and she was able to leave the premises with them - - The following morning, the Franklin County Sheriff's Office charged the teen with assault and disorderly conduct - as the Franklin County School systems followed suit, handing down a lifetime trespass ban from all district properties to the girl - - Additionally, the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) said the 16-year-old cannot attend Cornersville Middle School athletic events for one year - - After the incident occurred on the field, the coaches and referees came together and decided to call the game early - as South Middle was up 35 to nothing at the time anyways - so there was no sense in continuing to try and determine a winner - - Fortunately, no one was injured during this wild incident, and the Marshall County school district is working to amp up security at middle school football games for the remainder of the season. . . - Tradition's Finest 2026 College Football Season Preview & Prediction Showcase: Week #5: The SEC Conference: In this week's 'Tradition's Finest College Football Season Preview & Prediction Showcase,' JD & Spencer break down, analyze & preview the SEC Conference for the upcoming 2026-27 college football season, as well as provide their independent/individual predictions regarding a potential "dark horse" contender for the Conference, and which program they predict to win the Conference. . .**NOTE: In next week's episode, JD and Spencer will provide their predictions for the 2026-27 College Football Playoff, as well as projecting their CFB Awards winners. . .Be Sure to Tune In!. . . Thanks for Listening!