ALEKSANDER BARKOV PLEASE BE OKAY | Local Hour

It is only Week 4 in the National Football League but we already have some season-defining showdowns on tap this weekend. Can the Dallas Cowboys break through against the Houston Texans as the former AFC South favorites try and avoid falling to 0-4? Can either the Los Angeles Chargers or Rams come away with a win this weekend to ignite their seasons? How do the San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos match up as possible Super Bowl contenders in their respective leagues? Plus, Trevor Lawrence and Joe Burrow face-off in a rematch of the 2020 National Championship Game to see where they stack up with each other, and where their teams measure up in the AFC race. We've also got our Week 4 selections for Picks Picks Picks, our Stress-Free Sunday picks, and Arif Hasan of Wide Left Football joins us to discuss which teams need a win the most in this pivotal Week 4. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"I didn't end my family vacation in North Carolina to lose in the second round!" Matthew Berry joins us for his weekly fantasy advice segment. He tells us why we need to start viewing Brock Purdy as an elite fantasy QB, what to do with Drake Maye, and whether starting two tight ends could be a legitimate fantasy strategy moving forward. Plus, we discuss the Jalen Duren extension and how to handle flying first class with a friend if they do not have a first-class seat. Following this week's news out of Cornell University, Zaslow and Dave discuss the responsibility parents have to talk with their sons about preventing similar incidents. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"I wake up with these pipes." The new voice of the Miami Heat, Gale Sayers Nelson, joins us in the studio and gives Zaslow the introduction he deserves. Nelson tells us how he plans to follow in the footsteps of the legendary Michael Biamonte, what traditions are sticking around, and how he plans to differentiate himself from such a giant of the game. Plus, it's time for another edition of Big Game or Not a Big Game, and Dave breaks down his Pittsburgh Steelers' disheartening loss to the Cleveland Browns, who may or may not be a legitimate football team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"It's not ' The Heat Are On '; that'd be a terrible song." Zaslow fell asleep after a period of the Florida Panthers game last night and woke up to learn that Aleksander Barkov had gone down with an apparent leg injury. The mood is somber as we await news on the Panthers' captain. Is Mike Schur a terrible sports fan because he didn't watch his Boston Red Sox lose to the New York Yankees in the Postseason? Would Dolphins fans rather their team go 0-17 or 6-11? Is the one that sounds right wrong? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"Mark Reynolds." New producer Gabe made a fatal mistake, so we have some controversy to settle from last week's trivia, with a chance for Chris to STEAL a win back from Jeremy before we get to THIS week's game on... baseball mistakes. Plus, Adnan is here to start his run of Playoff analysis as we get you set for Game 3 of Braves vs. Phillies and the upcoming NLDS and ALDS series that have already been decided. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"There was some crack showing." Did you know D'Angelo Russell is a Shanghai Shark? Did Amin torpedo the show? Is Tommy Lee Jones always there with the furrowed brow? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"He has kakorrhaphiophobia." Amin is here, and before he gets to his Weekend Observations on a Thursday, he has some thoughts on Kawhi Leonard being unaware of Pablo Torre and the money Jalen Duren has cost himself. Then, his 3-day-late Weekend Observations cause a kerfuffle among him, Dan, and the rest of the crew. Plus, does the reaper have black friends? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"The peeing on somebody was really vivid." Texas is back in the spotlight, and their AD is acting as such. Tony is back from Disney and has a Top 5 from the NFL Weekend, Mike Tomlin has built a magisterial empire, Dan is under fire, and Mike and Zas are fighting over who knows more about College Football. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"David would do well in prison." We kick off the hour with David Samson discussing the latest turn in the Kawhi Leonard saga and Kawhi claiming not to know who Pablo Torre is. David also weighs in on the action in the MLB Wild Card round and whether it could force big changes to the Postseason system in the new CBA. Then, Bruce Willis' co-star in American Siege, legendary sports collector, and owner of the World Jai-Alai League, Rob Gough, joins us in the studio to discuss the changes he is bringing to the sport in Miami and his $12 million sale of a game-worn Michael Jordan jersey. And of course, David can't help but suggest that he needs to fire people. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"They're happier than a dead pig in the sunshine." Tony is furious that we spoke to Larry the Cable Guy without him. Zas knows Miami will crush the Clemson Tigers, but Mike wants to avoid the rat poison. Chris fishes wedgies out of his pickle. Today's cast: Dan, Zaslow, Roy, Chris, JuJu, Mike, and Tony. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices