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Mario Lanza on the First-Place Seattle Mariners, Shohei Ohtani’s Injury, Texas Rangers’ Collapse

Writer, published author, creator of the Funny 115 and lifelong Seattle sports fan Mario Lanza returns to the Jack Vita Show at the perfect time: the Seattle Mariners are in sole possession of first place in the American League West!
 
Entering July 20, the Mariners were 47-48, 10 games back of the Texas Rangers for first place in the AL West. In a little over a month, the M's have not only caught up with the Rangers, but surpassed them in the division race. The race is far from, over though. With five weeks remaining in the regular season, the AL West is shaping up to be a three-team race, with the Houston Astros also in the mix. The Astros have won the division five of the last six years, and eliminated the Mariners from contention in the American League Division Series last October. Will the Mariners finally top the Astros, and win their first division title since 2001? Mario weighs in.
 
Mario and Jack also discuss the total collapse of the Rangers, who are now 33-37 since June 6. The Rangers entered June 7 with a 40-20 record. Shohei Ohtani suffered a torn UCL recently, which will likely require Tommy John surgery, and could spell the end of his pitching days. Mario and Jack react. Last week, Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf did the unthinkable: he fired somebody! Vice president Kenny Williams and general manager Rick Hahn were relieved of their duties, in the middle of an abysmal White Sox season. Jack shares why he was surprised by the move, and what it means for the organization going forward. In other news, the New York Yankees continue to struggle, Mario and Jack share their thoughts on the new rules and recent changes that have come to Major League Baseball, and Mario discusses his new project, "Mario Stories", in addition to his other work, covering Survivor, movies and Saturday Night Live.
 
Mario has written about CBS' hit reality competition show, Survivor, for over 20 years now. He has a website, The Funny 115, where he counts down the funniest moments in the show's history. He cohosts a Survivor podcast, The Survivor Historians, where he provides historical context to the show's early seasons. He has a book, When It Was Worth Playing For: My Experiences Writing About the TV Show "Survivor", available for purchase on Amazon.
 
In addition to covering Survivor, Mario has a movie podcast called Staff Picks, which Jack was a guest on earlier this year, discussing one of his favorite films, Moneyball.
 
Most recently, Mario has been working on a writing project called "Mario Stories", where he tells unforgettable stories from his childhood, including one in which his father put a bounty on an opposing player in a youth football game.
 
You can follow Mario on Twitter (@MarioJLanza).

Is Cole Hamels a Hall of Famer? Padres’ Playoff Chances, Best Minor League Stories with Tim Hagerty

Tim Hagerty has been the play-by-play voice for the El Paso Chihuahuas, the San Diego Padres' Triple-A affiliate team, since their inaugural season in 2014. He has been calling Triple-A games for the Padres since 2008. Tim visits the Jack Vita Show to discuss the Padres' struggles in 2023, the National League Wild Card race, the Hall of Fame candidacy of recently retired Cole Hamels (who signed a minor league contract with the Padres in February), his new book, what makes minor league baseball special, and the greatest minor league baseball stories, many of which very few people know about.
 
First things first, Jack welcomes Tim to the show to dissect the National League Wild Card race and discuss the chances of the Padres turning it around and sneaking into the playoffs in the final weeks of the season. At the time of recording, the Padres are 60-66, 5.5 games back of the third National League Wild Card, currently owned by the San Francisco Giants. The Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, Arizona Diamondbacks, San Francisco Giants, Cincinnati Reds, Miami Marlins and Padres are all in the hunt for the three NL Wild Cards.
 
Cole Hamels inked a minor league contract with the Padres in February. He had hoped to pitch at Triple-A El Paso, before returning to the big leagues this summer. Hamels was unable to complete his comeback attempt. Dealing with pain and undisclosed injuries, Hamels remained in Peoria, Arizona at the Padres' spring training complex, until he announced his retirement earlier this month. Hamels is a World Series MVP, a World Series champion and a four-time All-Star. Is he a Hall of Famer? Tim and Jack examine his Hall of Fame case and compare it to that of other pitchers from his era.
 
Later on, Tim shares some of the greatest stories from minor league baseball. How about the time that a player once got traded for a plate of beans? Or the time that a wild bull ran out onto the field? Wouldn't you like to hear about the 200-mile home run? Tim recently released a book, Tales from the Dugout: 1,001 Humorous, Inspirational and Wild Anecdotes from Minor League Baseball. Tim gives us a little taste of the crazy stories you can read about in his book, in a fun episode of the Jack Vita Show! You can purchase it on Amazon here.
 
Padres' playoff chances, NL Wild Card race (0:00 - 21:00)
Cole Hamels' retirement and Hall of Fame case (21:00 - 41:30)
Tim's broadcasting career, best minor league baseball stories (41:30 - END)
 
Purchase Tim's book, Tales from the Dugout: 1,001 Humorous, Inspirational and Wild Anecdotes from Minor League Baseball, on Amazon! You can find it here. You can also follow him on Twitter (@tdhagerty)!

Why Amanda Clark-Stoner Left Peacock’s ’The Traitors’; How She Overcame Drug Abuse, Found Jesus

Earlier this year, emergency room nurse Amanda Clark-Stoner appeared on the first season of Peacock's reality competition show, The Traitors. Amanda visits the Jack Vita Show to discuss her time competing on The Traitors and share her incredible life story of overcoming drug addiction and depression and turning to Jesus Christ.
 
Amanda placed 12th on The Traitors. Despite having strong relationships with the cast, as a faithful, she mysteriously had to leave the show in episode 6, for reasons unknown to the audience. The show did not reveal why Amanda was forced to leave the show. In this episode of the Jack Vita Show, she sets the record straight, detailing how she was eliminated from contention, after testing positive for COVID-19. How did Amanda contract COVID on The Traitors? Were there quarantining protocols in place? Did other cast members contract COVID? Amanda sets the record straight on her elimination.
 
Amanda also reflects on her time on The Traitors. What was her strategy, and how would she have continued to play, had she not been forced out? Who did she bond most with and have an alliance with, and what did she think of the celebrities that came in to the mansion? Who from the cast is she still close with now? Is there anything about the show's format and presentation that Amanda would change about it, moving forward?
 
Amanda was conceived when her parents were 17, and she was adopted and raised by her maternal grandparents. After struggling with serious health issues, Amanda's grandfather committed suicide when Amanda was 11 years-old. This traumatic event, combined with the abandonment she experienced as a young child, and the bullying she was enduring at school, sent Amanda into a dark depression, which led to drug and alcohol abuse. Amanda overdosed more than once as a teenager, and at the age of 15, she was arrested.
 
Amanda tells the unbelievable story of how God intervened in her life and pulled her off the path she was on, as she got clean and gave her life to Jesus Christ. In the time since, Jesus has transformed her heart and her life. Amanda tells her story on the Jack Vita Show!
 
Amanda's time on The Traitors (0:00 - 1:01:30)
Amanda's story of overcoming drug and alcohol abuse (1:01:30 - END)

The Fall of the Pac-12, Potential Ohtani Free Agent Landing Spots, Los Angeles Angels’ Losing Skid

Rhett Bollinger covers the Los Angeles Angels for MLB.com and is a proud USC alum. He returns to the Jack Vita Show this week to discuss a wide variety of topics, including the Angels' immediate struggles following the trade deadline, and the murky future of the Pac-12 Conference.
 
First, Rhett and Jack talk all things Pac-12. A week ago, it was announced that Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah would all be joining the Big 12, with Oregon and Washington entering the Big Ten. Last summer, USC and UCLA shockingly announced that 2023-24 would be their final year in the Pac-12, with both southern California schools heading to the Big Ten. Conference realignment is in full force. The Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac-12 are going to look quite a bit different after this year. Rhett breaks it all down and explains what exactly happened to the Pac-12. Now only four teams remain in the Pac-12: Stanford, Cal, Oregon State and Washington State. What will happen to the remaining schools? Rhett and Jack open the show talking Pac-12, then pivot over to some baseball news, before returning to Pac-12 talk. Along the way, Rhett and Jack discuss MLB TV deals, the Tim Anderson vs. Jose Ramirez fight, the Cleveland Guardians' lingering struggles, and more! Jack and Rhett also take a look at the new Big 12 and Big Ten. At first glance, the new Big 12 appears to be the NCAA's premier men's basketball league.
 
Then, Rhett and Jack put the Angels under the microscope. Two weeks ago, the club was riding high, having won nine of their last ten games. The Angels opted to buy at the trade deadline, adding Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez, Randal Grichuk and CJ Cron to aid them in their playoff chase. The Angels enter the weekend on a cold spell. Prior to taking back-to-back games from the San Francisco Giants, the Halos lost seven straight, a streak in which they dropped all four games of a home series to the division rival Seattle Mariners. Rhett checks the pulse of the Angels and details what has gone wrong for the club in the time since the deadline. Can the club recover, and still make the postseason? If the Angels miss the playoffs for the eighth-straight season, will the club still be able to re-sign Shohei Ohtani?
 
Rhett weighs in on the Angels' decision not to trade Ohtani, and assesses the upcoming free agent market for the current American League MVP frontrunner. How many teams does Rhett believe will realistically be in play for Shohei, and which teams are they? Rhett also sizes up the teams in contention for Ohtani's services, and shares which team(s) he believes has the best shot at signing him.
 
Later, Rhett and Jack discuss the hottest team in baseball: the Seattle Mariners. Rhett also predicts which team will win the American League West, and the American League as a whole. It's a jam-packed episode you won't want to miss!
 
You can follow Rhett (@RhettBollinger) on Twitter and check out his work at MLB.com. Subscribe to his newsletter for Angels news delivered to your inbox!
 
Pac-12 Fallout, MLB TV deals, Tim Anderson vs. Jose Ramirez (0:00 - 30:10)
Angels' struggles, Ohtani's future (30:10 - 52:05)
Mariners, AL West predictions (52:05 - END)

Miss Indiana USA 2023 Haley Jordan on Sports, Pageants, Overcoming Grief, Finding Hope in Jesus

Last month, 25 year-old sports reporter Haley Jordan was crowned Miss Indiana USA 2023. She will compete in the Miss USA pageant in Reno, Nevada later this fall, which will ultimately feed into the Miss Universe pageant in November.
 
Haley has been a longtime friend of the Jack Vita Show! She first appeared on the podcast back in early 2021, helping Jack break down the divisional round of the NFL playoffs. The following month, she joined Jack to discuss Super Bowl 55, one day after the big game.
 
In the time since we last checked in with Haley, her career has taken off as a sports reporter. For two years, she covered Indiana University athletics for Hoosiers Now on Sports Illustrated/FanNation. Since August 2022, Haley has provided color analyst and sideline reporter services to volleyball and men's and women's basketball broadcasts on ESPN+. She currently is the pregame show host and in-game emcee for the Indianapolis Indians Triple-A baseball team, a minor league affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. She recently accepted a position as a full-time high school teacher, teaching sports broadcasting to students.
 
In 2017, Haley was named Miss Indiana, and competed in the Miss America pageant. In 2020, she lost her mother to brain cancer. After losing her mom, she thought she'd never compete in another pageant. Through her grief journey, she decided to get back on the saddle, and finished second in the 2022 Miss Indiana USA pageant. A year later, she took the crown.
 
Haley returns to the Jack Vita Show to discuss her mental health journey, her Miss Indiana USA story, overcoming grief, her Christian faith, her career, and her love for sports and CBS' hit show, Survivor! Find out what adventure Haley wants to embark on next, after completing her time as Miss Indiana USA (and hopefully, Miss USA and Miss Universe)!
 
You can support Haley on her path to Miss USA and follow her on Instagram (@tvhaleyjordan and @missinusa) and Twitter (@HaleyJordanTV)
 

Why the Los Angeles Angels Aren’t Trading Shohei Ohtani + Giolito Trade + White Sox’ Plans + MLB Trade Deadline Preview

Top news breaker and longtime USA Today national baseball writer Bob Nightengale returns to the Jack Vita Show, just days before the 2023 MLB trade deadline.
 
Wednesday night, the Los Angeles Angels made a statement, trading five players for Chicago White Sox All-Star starting pitcher Lucas Giolito and bullpen arm Reynaldo Lopez. The Angels have made themselves clear: they are not trading Shohei Ohtani, and have every intention to compete for a playoff spot in the season's second half, as well as re-sign Ohtani when he becomes a free agent this winter. Bob provides insight into the Angels' thought process and decisions, adding that the Angels "never" were going to trade Ohtani. Bob and Jack break down the trade from both the Angels and White Sox' perspectives, and discuss what players the White Sox might deal in the coming days, leading up to the trade deadline. They also talk potential free agent destinations for Ohtani. Bob believes there will really only be four teams realistically in play for the 2021 American League MVP.
 
Later, Bob and Jack weigh in on the Cubs. Will the Cubs sell Marcus Stroman, Cody Bellinger and others at the deadline? Both Stroman and Bellinger will be free agents upon the conclusion of the season. Bob gives an estimate as to what type of deal Bellinger will be in the market for this winter, and shares whether he believes the Cubs will retain him or not.
 
What other moves might be made over the next week? Who might the San Diego Padres and New York Mets sell, after each team's disappointing first half, despite having record payrolls? Who might the St. Louis Cardinals be willing to move? Are there any other big deals that could be in the works, that we might be overlooking at this time? Would the Padres trade Juan Soto, one year after acquiring him in a blockbuster deal with the Washington Nationals? Which teams do Bob and Jack expect to be the most aggressive at the deadline? Bob and Jack have you covered. All this, and much more!
 
You can follow Bob on Twitter (@BNightengale) and check out his work at USA Today.

Robert ”Bam” Nieves Talks Peacock’s ’The Traitors’, Syracuse Football Career, NBA, NFL, Life, Faith

35 year-old sales executive and licensed NBA agent Robert "Bam" Nieves recently competed on Peacock's Emmy Award-nominated reality competition show, The Traitors. Four years ago, he appeared on the Netflix dating show, Dating Around. Prior to his time on reality television, he played running back for the Syracuse Orangemen football team from 2006 through 2010. Now, Bam visits the Jack Vita Show for the first time to discuss his time on The Traitors, his football career, his love for sports, his life and his Christian faith.
 
Bam suffered an unfortunate fate on The Traitors, as he was the second contestant murdered from the castle and the third player eliminated, in Episode 3. Bam had a close bond with Christian de la Torre, who proved to be a traitor, in every sense of the word. Christian played a critical role in the murder of Bam. Bam tells his side of the story on the Jack Vita Show. What was his plan, what went wrong for him, and what might have he done differently, if given a do-over?
 
What were Bam's thoughts on the celebrities and reality television veterans that he competed alongside, such as Rachel Reilly Villegas, Brandi Glanville, Kyle Cooke, Ryan Lochte, Arie Ludendyk Jr., Cody Calafiore and Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick? What about his fellow newbies? Who did Bam click with, and who has he since developed good friendships with, since competing on The Traitors, in Scotland? Bam provides a peak behind the curtain, and shares some information about what didn't make the air. Find out why Bam was convinced early on that Cody was a traitor. Bam shares his casting story and tells all on The Traitors.
 
Word on the street is that The Traitors Season 2 will be all celebrities. What are Bam's thoughts on the potential format? And what athletes would Bam like to see compete on Season 2?
 
Later on, Bam and Jack talk some sports. Bam reflects on his football career and time playing at Syracuse University, where he was teammates with future Super Bowl champion and two-time All Pro defensive end Chandler Jones. Bam has a great story of the first time he met two-time All-Pro running back LeSean McCoy, in high school! Bam and Jack discuss how the NFL and NBA have changed over the last 20 years. Jack details why his interest in both leagues has waned, as he has shifted more of his focus to college football and college basketball. Meanwhile, Bam defends the current state of the NBA. After all, he is a licensed NBA agent! Bam also discusses his work as an agent, and how he has helped bring talented athletes over from Africa, to the United States. Along the way, Jack and Bam debate the legacy of players that switch teams, and rehash the old Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady conversation. They also weigh in on what they believe Shohei Ohtani's future holds, as the MLB trade deadline quickly approaches, with Ohtani in the final year of his contract with the Los Angeles Angels.
 
Lastly, Bam discusses his Christian faith and how he made attending church each Sunday a part of his weekly routine, and the impact it has since had on his life!
 
You can follow Bam on Instagram (@robert_bam_nieves)!
 
The Traitors (0:00 - 1:13:15)
Bam's football career, LeSean McCoy story, NBA, NFL and MLB talk (1:13:15 - 1:43:30)
Bam's sports agency, philanthropy and Christian faith (1:43:30 - END)

Who Should Start the 2023 MLB All-Star Game with Diamondbacks Beat Writer Jesse Friedman

PHNX Arizona Diamondbacks beat writer Jesse Friedman visits the Jack Vita Show to talk 2023 MLB All-Star Game starters.
Thursday evening, Major League Baseball announced the 18 starting position players for this year's All-Star Game in Seattle, scheduled to be played July 11 at T-Mobile Park. Voted on by the fans, Jesse and Jack run through this year's All-Star starters and share their thoughts on the fans did with the voting. Which selections did Jack and Jesse agree with, and who would they have had start instead? Who got snubbed? Jack and Jesse take you through their selections for each American League and National League position. They also take a look at the National League through the season's first half, discussing the most pleasant and disappointing surprises from teams in the season's first three months.