Almost Shameless

27. LeBron's competitive dilemma, 3 most underrated NFL rosters, everyone's walking back their Cam Newton takes

It's another weekend podcast as Tanya quickly recaps the Patriots second preseason game and dives into the complexities of what is happening for fans and media as the reality of Cam Newton as the starter begins to sink in (3:18). Then it's over to the NBA where LeBron feels disrespected by scouts and execs after being left out of a recent ESPN poll of the best player in the league,, and Tanya wonders whether LeBron really knows what he wants as a competitor (16:28). We head back to the NFL to break down three NFL teams and rosters that you may not be taking as seriously as you should heading into the 2021 season (21:47). And finally... a deep dive behind the scenes has thrown the Jeopardy hosting hire into utter chaos and Tanya is breaking it all down (31:58). 

26. Patriots QB madness is gripping the nation, debunking the Brady v Belichick Lie, Jeopardy went rogue

NFL Nation got it's first glimpse at the re-tooled Patriots, an improved Cam Newton and a composed Mac Jones -- and everyone immediately forgot how to analyze the quarterback position. So Tanya kicks the show off with a breakdown of how the QBs looked and how media and fans reacted (2:32), and gets into some other highlights from the exhibition (15:05). Then she issues an early warning to Patriots Nation to brace themselves for the continued conversation around the Great Brady v Belichick Lie that national media is selling to undermine the greatest team dynasty ever (22:26). And finally, Tanya works through her outrage over Jeopardys choice for the successor(s?) to Alex Trebek (27:26).

25. Patriots media wrote off Cam Newton then acted like they didn't, plus Sara Marshall of FPC Patriots

There is one topic and one topic only for this week's show, and it's all about Cam Newton and the way the media has handled the reporting and analysis of his journey from last season through the second week of training camp (02:00). First Tanya goes no holds barred in laying out her beef with how the local media has mislead fans about what Cam is capable of as a starter and what is best for a team that has been as intentionally overhauled as the Patriots have over the last six months. Then she welcomes on Sara Marshall from FPC Patriots to continue the conversation and get a little more perspective from someone who's been paying close attention to training camp -- and has also received heat for defending Cam through a tumultuous offseason (14:20). Then Tanya lightens things up by making Sara play a quick game of Give Me More, Go Away: NFL Training Camp Edition (38:08).

24. Patriots QB "battle" continues, Aaron Rodgers lays it all out there, the real legend of Simone Biles

It's an all Tanya show straight from her family home in Massachusetts, so she kicks things off with a little recap of where things stand with Cam Newton and Mac Jones as Patriots camp begins (4:20). Then she checks in with the Aaron Rodgers situation with the Packers after a bizarre candid press conference that may not win the fans over the way he thinks it will (11:57). Finally, the biggest news of the Olympics so far has been Simone Biles dropping out of the team and all-around competitions for mental health reasons, and there's a lot of record straightening to be done (23:43).

23. The summer AMA Mailbag, from Patriots QBs to WWE Superstars to the NFL's worst fanbases

This is the first seasonal mailbag EVER on the Almost Shameless podcast, so strap in to get to know Tanya a little better while also getting your weekly does of sports hot takes sprinkled in. From the Patriots QB depth chart to the social media importance of The Office, there's a little something for everyone. 

22. Julian Edelman passes the baton, training camp and 2021 Patriots predictions feat. SI Maven's Mike D'Abate

There's no better way to prepare for Patriots training camp than with an old school attack on the Patriot Way! Mike D'Abate of SI Maven and Locked on Patriots joins Tanya to discuss Julian Edelman's thoughts on the fun of winning, and to whom he will pass the leadership baton on offense (5:00). Then Mike shares a few of the more underrated and overlooked storylines for fans and media to watch out for once training camp kicks off, and Tanya makes a case for why Josh McDaniels is the guy to keep an eye on (18:50). Finally, Tanya and Mike play a game of This or That: 2021 Patriots Edition (30:35).

21. The N'Keal Harry Paradox, what does Aaron Rodgers want (?), roasting anonymous Twitter opinions

It's been a weird off-season for the Patriots with a QB battle for the first time since January of 2002, but this week the target of national scrutiny is maligned WR N'Keal Harry, who wants a trade from the only team that wanted to draft him in the first round, and Tanya explains why this is a lose-lose for everyone involved (5:09). Then it's a long overdue clapback at Aaron Rodger's eat, pray, love summer of sucking up to Tom Brady and rolling his eyes at the Packers (15:00), and finally a classic Tanya rant about American sports' fans contentious relationship with soccer and why anonymous people on Twitter don't get to have their opinions taken seriously (25:15). 

20. A new Celtics era, Carl Nassib and coming out in sports, getting over your bad Patriots attitudes

The Boston Celtics have entered their new era with the hiring of Ime Udoka (01:48), and it wouldn't be a major breaking story in 2021 without someone epically embarrassing themselves on Twitter (04:15). Then Tanya breaks down the importance of Carl Nassib as the first active NFL player to come out and what it's been like to watch the evolution of how the sports world dealt with the news (12:53). Finally, Tanya takes down the negativity and misinformation coming from Patriots media and explains why it's time to let go of Tom Brady and embrace the GOAT that's still in New England (22:44).

 

John Amaechi soundbite from the Twitter feed of the Dan Le Batard Show with StuGotz.

Theme music: Quittin' Time by Patrick Lee

19. Stop whining about analytics and sports nerds... feat. Bryan Kalbrosky of HoopsHype

Yet another Twitter debate regarding analytics in the NBA was sparked late last week, culminating in the accusation that people who prefer the study of efficiency are nerds who are ruining sports fandom. So Tanya brought on Bryan Kalbrosky, writer  for HoopsHype and For The Win, to break down the disconnect between the highlight purists and the people paying closer attention to the numbers behind the curtain. (3:25) They also dispel some myths about exactly what analytics are (22:27) and debate whether NBA media is more beholden to the opinions of athletes than media covering other leagues (32:21). 

18. Fox & Fallon REUNION Super Bowl LV Edition feat. Courtney Fallon

Tanya reunited with friend and former co-host Courtney Fallon of the Bad Signal Podcast and The Game Day NFL to host a very special reunion episode of Fox & Fallon. After getting the audience reacquainted with their banter they kick things off by ranking on a scale of 1-10 just how much Patrick Mahomes was to blame for the Chiefs' meltdown on Sunday (07:00). Then it's on to the GOAT, and Tanya wonders whether a colleague at FS1 is over-correcting by giving Tom Brady too much credit for the Buccaneers championship season (18:21), and Courtney suggests that perhaps this is the final nail in the coffin for the bizarre brigade of delusional Tom Brady Haters (29:24). And of course there couldn't be a Fox & Fallon reunion without a ridiculous game to cap off the episode, so now that Tom Brady has 7 rings, Tanya and Courtney attempt to assign a week day to each one of his Super Bowl wins (36:51).