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2021 MLB Preview Series - AL East (Feat. Jonathan "JJ" Jaggard and Barry Davis)

In the third edition of the 2021 MLB Preview Series, Yankees fan Jonathan "JJ" Jaggard joins Jack to preview the AL East. JJ and Jack offer their thoughts on the Baltimore Orioles (0:00 - 17:20), Boston Red Sox (17:20 - 28:45), Toronto Blue Jays (28:45 - 44:20), Tampa Bay Rays (44:20 - 1:01:35) and New York Yankees (1:01:35). Longtime Toronto area sportscaster (and co-admin of one of the largest Blue Jays' Facebook groups) Barry Davis submitted a voicemail to the show, previewing the Blue Jays' season. We play the voicemail and react. Can the Blue Jays seriously contend for a division title? Are the Rays set to regress from their 2020 World Series run, or is Tampa Bay once again being overlooked? Did the Yankees properly address their pitching concerns this past winter? Will they finally get back to the World Series in 2020? Jack and JJ debate. What should Orioles and Red Sox fans be watching for this season? JJ and Jack also take a look at the division's top prospects expected to make an impact this season, including the no. 1 prospect in all of baseball, Rays' shortstop Wander Franco. Of course, this full episode is complete with in-depth analysis, over/under picks, win total projections, and plenty more! Subscribe to the Jack Vita Show, and don't miss the rest of our division previews!

CBB 3.7.21 'Twas the Week Before Selection Sunday, Illinois + Arkansas Soar, Four Tickets Punched, Conference Tournament Week

One week out from Selection Sunday, Jack welcomes James Ivkovic back to the podcast for a lively discussion recapping the latest news, stories and scores from the world of college basketball. Including: a look at the four teams that have already punched their tickets to the Big Dance, Morehead State, who beat Belmont on Saturday - can Belmont get an at-large bid? (0:00 - 10:10). Loyola Chicago, who beat Drake on Sunday - will Drake get an at-large bid? (10:10 - 12:55). The Liberty Flames, the second most winningest D1 program over the last three years (12:55 - 15:20), the Winthrop Eagles, upcoming mid-major championship games and how COVID eliminated a team from the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament (15:20 - 22:00). The rapid ascension of Illinois, who without their best player, shockingly whooped Michigan in Ann Arbor on Tuesday. Illinois is now on the cusp of claiming a no. 1 seed in the Tournament (22:00 - 31:20), Michigan loses two in a row, Ohio State drops four straight and Wisconsin has now lost 5 of 6; is there cause for concern? (31:20 - 36:45). Michigan State added a signature win to their resume on Sunday, is it enough to propel them to the tourney? Could Izzo's boys heat up? (36:45 - 39:05). Purdue beats Indiana for the 9th straight time (39:05 - 40:30). Trouble for the class of the Big East: Creighton loses coach Greg McDermott for an indefinite amount of time as Villanova loses point guard Collin Gillispie for the season (39:05 - 47:40). Alabama moves to 16-2 in SEC play, as Arkansas wins its 11th straight SEC game. Bama or Arkansas? Jack and James discuss Eric Musselman's Arkansas Razorbacks, one of the sport's most underrated, overlooked and best stories of the 2020-21 season (47:40 - 1:00:30). Tramon Monk hits a thrilling buzzer-beater for Houston to bury Memphis and put the Tigers in a tough spot entering the conference tournament, as Wichita State wins the the regular season American Athletic Conference title (1:00:30 - 1:02:50). Baylor wins the Big 12 for the first time ever, Oklahoma State wins 6 of 7 (1:02:50 - 1:06:10), Florida State upset by Notre Dame, Virginia picks up another ACC title (1:06:10 - 1:09:50), USC hits a game-winner to beat UCLA (1:09:50 - 1:12:15), and what to watch for during conference tournament week (1:12:15 - END).
Subscribe to the Jack Vita Show and follow along on Facebook (facebook.com/jackvitashow), Twitter (@JackVitaShow) and YouTube (youtube.com/jackvita), so you don't miss any of our NCAA Tournament coverage! Including recaps of every round of the Tournament and a special livestream on Selection Sunday, March 14th! 

2021 MLB Preview Series - NL West (Feat. Makayla Perkins of DNVR Sports)

In the second edition of the 2021 MLB Preview Series, Jack welcomes back Makayla Perkins (social media director of DNVR Sports, and contributor to the DNVR Rockies podcast) to the show. Makayla is a diehard Colorado Rockies fan that is VERY unhappy with the organization following the February trade of Nolan Arenado; what is her outlook on the Rockies' 2021 season? Is there any hope in Denver? Can the Rocks' promising, young rotation finally put it all together this summer? (0:00 - 22:45). Prior to moving back home in Colorado, Makayla lived in Arizona for five years, studying at Arizona State University and working for the Arizona Diamondbacks. What is her read on the Diamondbacks? Are the Diamondbacks being slightly overlooked heading into 2021? (22:45 - 36:40). Next up, the San Francisco Giants; the Giants overperformed in 2020, just barely missing the playoffs. With Buster Posey returning to their lineup, can they rekindle some of their magic from last decade? The Giants are staying the course with a motley crew of veterans. Will they begin to rebuild this summer, or continue trying to compete? (36:40 - 45:15). Before Jack and Makayla debate which team will win the NL West, Makayla questions the legitimacy of the Dodgers' 2020 World Series title, Jack disagrees. Then, the two debate Padres and Dodgers. Are the Dodgers susceptible to a hangover season? Do they have what it takes to repeat and win a World Series in a full 162-game season? Conversely, are the Padres in danger of not measuring up to the preseason hype? Could they be the latest sports team to win the offseason and come up short on the field? Jack and Makayla hash out all of these ideas, not failing to mention the offseason acquisitions of Yu Darvish, Blake Snell, Joe Musgrove and Trevor Bauer (45:15 - END). Of course, this full episode is complete with in-depth analysis, over/under picks, win total projections, and plenty more! Subscribe to the Jack Vita Show, and don't miss the rest of our division previews!

CBB 3.1.21 Losses from Baylor, Villanova, Ohio State and Illinois, Best of the Big 12?, Top Mid-Majors and Bubble Teams

Jack is joined by Jake Paliga to recap the past week of college basketball action, including: the greatest time of year (8:30 - 12:15), The Big Ten hierarchy, Ohio State's losing skid, Michigan State's big wins over Illinois and Ohio State, and their heartbreaking loss to Maryland Sunday, Illinois bounces back from their mid-week loss with a win over Wisconsin, Can Illinois win without Dosunmu? How many Big Ten teams will make the Tournament, and where will those teams be seeded? Are Maryland, Rutgers, Michigan State and Indiana IN or OUT? Michigan continues to roll, moves to #2 in the nation (12:15 - 24:15). As Gonzaga moves to 24-0, are there any dangers for the Bulldogs if they finish the season undefeated? Would they be better off with a loss on their record entering the Tourney? (24:15 - 27:00). A look at the American Athletic Conference, Missouri Valley, A-10, Mountain West and other mid-major conferences and programs, such as Houston, San Diego State, Utah State, Boise State, VCU, Saint Louis, Richmond, Drake and Loyola (27:00 - 34:05). Baylor suffers its first loss in over a year to Kansas (34:05 - 36:20). Arkansas surges in the polls, Bruce Pearl beats Tennessee again, SEC action, how much confidence should we have in Alabama? (36:20 - 42:10). Big 12: Texas loses 5 of 8, Oklahoma drops three in a row, Cade Cunningham and Oklahoma State moves back into top 25, West Virginia, (42:10 - 48:50). ACC (48:10 - 51:30), Big East, Villanova and Creighton fall over the weekend (51:30 - 56:55), Pac-12: USC drops three of four, Colorado impresses, UCLA in first place, Oregon and Stanford on the bubble (56:55 - 1:02:10), and what to watch for this week (1:02:10 - END).

2021 MLB Preview Series - AL West (Feat. Anthony Franze and Mario Lanza)

Leading off our 2021 MLB Preview series, Jack is joined by the chief meteorologist of Newswest 9 (Midland, Texas) Anthony Franze to preview the American League West. Anthony is a diehard Rangers fan; what are his thoughts on the rebuilding Rangers and new executive Chris Young heading into the 2021 season? (0:00 - 20:55). Mario Lanza, author of the Funny 115 (funny115.com) and host of the "Survivor Historians Podcast", as well as the movie podcast "Staff Picks", is the official Seattle correspondent of the Jack Vita Show. He leaves Jack and Anthony a voicemail message with his outlook and preview of the 2021 Mariners; Jack and Anthony react to one of the most youthful teams in all of baseball (20:55 - 37:10). Up next, Jack and Anthony try to make sense of the perplexing Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Will their latest offseason additions be enough to get them over the hump and move them back into contention? (37:10 - 48:00). Both the Oakland Athletics and Houston Astros lost significant pieces from their 2019 and 2020 teams. Will either hang onto claim another AL West title? Which squad do Jack and Anthony like better, Athletics (48:00 - 57:00) or Astros (57:00 - END)? Of course, this full episode is complete with in-depth analysis, over/under picks, win total projections, and plenty more!

CBB 2.22.21 Jalen Johnson Opts Out, Duke and Kansas Heat Up, Michigan's Best Team(?)

Jack is once again joined by Andrew Stem to recap the past week in college basketball action. Including: Luka Garza sets a program record, Houston suffers a bad loss, how many tournament teams will the American Athletic Conference receive? (0:00 - 16:10), Jalen Johnson's decision to opt out of the 2020-21 season, Duke's subsequent improvement, and the future of one-and-done (16:10 - 24:25), Michigan adds another big win to its resume; is this the best Michigan team of the last ten years? (24:25 - 35:30), Ohio State or Illinois? Strength of Big Ten; how many teams will Big Ten send to Indy in March? (35:30 - 46:45), West Virginia storms back to win at Texas (46:45 - 51:10), Kansas rattles off another victory vs. Texas Tech (51:10 - 53:15), the resurgence and bright future of the Pac-12 (53:15 - 58:10), mid-major update and a look ahead at the upcoming week's biggest games (58:10 - 1:17:55), and the NHL Outdoors at Lake Tahoe (1:17:55 - END).

What If 19 MLB Players Competed on Survivor? (Feat. Albert Destrade, Survivor: South Pacific)

With the help of Albert Destrade, second runner-up on Survivor: South Pacific, the Jack Vita Show creates a fictional Survivor season consisting ONLY of 19 Major League Baseball players. Jack and Albert run the simulation via Brandt-Steele. 
Who will outwit, outplay and outlast to claim the million dollar prize? Tune in to Survivor: King of the Diamond! 
Featuring: Aaron Judge (New York Yankees), Alex Bregman (Houston Astros), Chris Archer (Tampa Bay Rays), J.D. Martinez (Boston Red Sox), Josh Donaldson (Minnesota Twins), Miguel Cabrera (Detroit Tigers), Mike Trout (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim), Salvador Perez (Kansas City Royals), Tim Anderson (Chicago White Sox), Bryce Harper (Philadelphia Phillies), Charlie Blackmon (Colorado Rockies), Francisco Lindor (New York Mets), Joey Votto (Cincinnati Reds), Kris Bryant (Chicago Cubs), Manny Machado (San Diego Padres), Max Scherzer (Washington Nationals), Trevor Bauer (Los Angeles Dodgers), Yadier Molina (St. Louis Cardinals) and Yoenis Cespedes (free agent).

CBB 2.15.21: Valpo Needs a New Team Name, the Missouri Valley could receive two bids, and Conference Play Intensifies

Jack is joined by Andrew Stem to recap the weekend's college basketball action, including: Valparaiso University dropping the name "Crusaders" (9:00 - 20:45), Valpo's men's basketball team's recent play (20:45 - 26:00), how the extra year of eligibility being offered to student athletes by the NCAA will impact the sport + Iowa basketball talk (26:00 - 31:55), Drake-Loyola, and the potential for the Missouri Valley Conference to be a two-bid league (31:55 - 35:55), Iowa thumping Michigan State, MSU possibly missing the tournament for the first time in 24 years, and the struggles of the sport's blue bloods (35:55 - 48:45), takeaways from Michigan's win over Wisconsin (48:55 - 54:25), Creighton catches fire with their victory over Villanova (54:25 - 1:01:50), Arkansas bolsters its tournament resume with its overtime victory over Mizzou (1:01:50 - 1:03:40), Oklahoma and West Virginia's double overtime thriller and the importance of NCAA Tournament matchups (1:03:40 - 1:09:05), Ohio State continues to surge while Indiana remains a perennial bubble team, and Andrew's idea to improve the NCAA Tournament (1:09:05 - 1:16:20) and a preview of what to watch for in the coming week (1:16:20 - END).