🎙 Minor’s Playbook – Episode #5: Madness Returns, Beasley’s Betting Scandal, NBA Shakeups & More

Welcome back to Minor’s Playbook, where sports meets savvy. In Episode #5, we dive into a nostalgic revival, shocking scandals, and NBA chaos you won’t want to miss.

EA Sports stirred the pot with a tweet teasing the return of March Madness – possibly hinting at a new college basketball video game dropping in 2028. Until then, dig through your old games and find that 2009 classic featuring Kevin Love on the UCLA cover – it’s gold right now.

Bryce throws it back with "Live Your Life" by T.I. and questions whether this game’s long-awaited return will actually live up to the hype – or go the way of EA’s college football reboot: big splash, short shelf life.

The U.S. District Attorney is eyeing Malik Beasley amid gambling allegations. No charges yet, but video evidence and suspicious on-court behavior – like chasing the spread with seconds left – are raising red flags. Bryce breaks down how sportsbooks catch this kind of action using integrity monitoring and risk profiling… from suspicious prop bets to geolocation tracking.

Drawing on personal experience in internal audits within sports wagering, Bryce gives a behind-the-scenes look into how players get caught and why regulations are tightening – especially on college player props.

The league is buzzing:

• Bucks waive Damian Lillard, then ink Myles Turner for $212M.

• Pacers make moves but lack Haliburton.

• Denver Nuggets bring back Bruce Brown, but the clock is ticking on Jokic’s future.

• Sacramento Kings duck luxury tax with a Saric-Valanciunas swap.

• Could the Kroenke era be approaching a rebuild?

Oh… and can LeBron please retire already?

Winners:

• 🐐 Joey Chestnut reclaims his crown with 70.5 hot dogs at Nathan’s.

• ⚾ Home Run Derby (July 14th): Always electric and a gambler’s dream.

Losers:

• 🇺🇸 USA Soccer: Blows a 1-0 lead to lose the Concacaf Gold Cup Final to Mexico.

• 🏌️‍♂️ Over-corrected golf swings: Everyone’s tweaking... and it’s not working.

• 🏀 Utah Jazz & Ace Bailey: More to unpack there.

🏀 College Basketball is Back… Kind Of🎲 Malik Beasley Under Fire🏀 NBA Free Agency Chaos🏆 Winners & Losers of the Week

🎙️ Minor’s Playbook | This Week’s Episode: Finals, Feuds & Flops

On this episode of Minor’s Playbook, the sports world brought the fireworks early — and we’re breaking it all down like a perfectly executed fast break. 🏀🔥🏒⚾🏈

NBA Finals: Thunder Make History — The Oklahoma City Thunder are your 2025 NBA Champions for the first time in franchise history! We dig into their journey, the brutal wave of playoff injuries, and why shortening the season might be more than just a hot take. Plus, ESPN’s wild coverage (Solitaire, really Stephen A?) and what this title means for the Pacers' future.

Tyrese Haliburton’s Injury & the Evolution of the Athlete — Torn Achilles are trending in the worst way. We examine Haliburton's injury, compare today’s athletes to the legends of the past, and explore how technology is both elevating and straining performance.

Houston Rockets Go All-In on KD — Houston pushed their chips to the center, giving up a haul for Kevin Durant. We look at what they sacrificed, what they gained, and why OKC’s slow build might still be the smarter play.

WNBA Chaos: Caitlin Clark vs. Jacy Sheldon & Sophie Cunningham — From Big Ten tension to full-on WNBA drama, we break down the eye poke, the shove, and the tackle heard around the league. Sophie Cunningham might’ve just become the Fever’s official bodyguard, but is Jacy Sheldon really Clark’s rival? Or just a room pest with Lance Stephenson energy?

College World Series: Umpires Gone Soft? — Things are heating up in Omaha, but not without some questionable officiating. We give our takes on how the umpires are handling the biggest games of the college baseball season.

Stanley Cup: Panthers Dominate Again — Florida brings home back-to-back Cups with a Game 6 performance that left no doubt. Total control from start to finish.

Football on the Horizon — As summer settles in, we’re inching closer to the NFL and college football seasons. Next week, we kick off our pre-preseason look at the most exciting headlines ahead of the fall.

It’s a full slate of headlines, hard truths, and heated takes — don’t miss this week’s Minor’s Playbook!

🎙️ Minor’s Playbook | This Week’s Episode: Small Market Teams?

On this episode of Minor’s Playbook, it’s nothing but championship energy across the sports world! 🏆🔥

• NBA Finals: Pacers vs. Thunder Tied at 2-2 — It’s a dead heat as Indiana and OKC battle through a tightly contested Finals. We break down the pivotal moments so far, adjustments each team needs to make, and which stars are stepping up as the series shifts into high gear.

• 125th U.S. Open: J.J. Spaun’s Breakthrough Victory — History made at the U.S. Open as J.J. Spaun captures his first major title. We analyze his performance, the challenges of the course, and what this means for his career moving forward.

• NHL Finals: Panthers vs. Oilers — The battle for Lord Stanley’s Cup is underway. We preview the series, highlight the critical matchups, and discuss which goalie could become the X-factor.

• World Series of College Baseball — The road to Omaha is heating up! We spotlight the biggest storylines, clutch performers, and which programs are primed to make a run at the national championship.

It’s a loaded episode you won’t want to miss as we cover every corner of the sports landscape!