In this week’s episode of The St. Louis Sportists Podcast, the guys preview the Final Four featuring the Fighting Illini of Illinois. We’ve followed the international cast assembled by Brad Underwood all season and with Blue Horseshoe, take a look at their prospects for the weekend.

In other tournament games, Duke gets “Laettnered” and Michigan and Arizona impress. And closer to home, SLU fans have a very quick reality check when their coach is pursued by another program just days after signing an extension.

It’s a fun and interesting start for the St. Louis Cardinals with a very memorable opening day. JJ Wetherholt looks like the real deal and the bullpen seems to have “no defined roles.” On the other side of the state, nobody knows where the Royals will play in the next few years and ABS – automated ball/strike is a sensation! Unless you happen to be named C.B. Bucknor.

If it’s March, the Blues are making another improbable run. But the mountain may be too high this season. The NFL eliminates the Monday Night doubleheader and Seattle gets Hard Knocks for this season. But has the moment passed for the once can’t-miss documentary series? The league looks to quell questionable bets, but then again, what bet is not questionable?

Doug considers another difficult week for Tiger Woods and looks ahead to Masters week. CITY manages to find misfortune even in an off-week and a tasty, cold soda reaches new heights of expense at Dodger Stadium. All this and much more on this week’s episode of The St. Louis Sportists Podcast.

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It’s time to forecast the season for your 2026 St. Louis Cardinals and the Sportists use 20 questions for the preview. Compare your answers:

1. Season Record

2. Games Played for Laars Nootbaar – Over/Under 81

3. Most starts in left field

4. Victor Scott II – Over Under 43.5 Stolen Bases (Last year – 138 g, 34 SB)

5. JJ Wetherholt – Over/Under 150.5 hits and ROY?

6. Season Attendance – Over/Under 2,250,007.5 (Last year’s total, decrease of 628,108)

7. First player on major league opening day roster to Injured List

8. Kyle Leahy – Innings Pitched – Over/Under 150.5 (Last year, 88 IP - 1 start)

9. Number of Pitchers to Start at least One Game - Over/Under 14.5

10. Leader in Saves

11. Who is replaced from Opening Lineup First – Gorman, Scott, Walker, None

12. Masyn Wynn HR – 13.5 (Last year 9)

13. First Player Traded

14. Any Player(s) over 20 HR? If so, whom?

15. Joshua Baez Call-up Date

16. Jordan Walker – O/U 13.5 HR (repeat from last season)

17. Matthew Liberatore Wins – O/U 12.5 (last year – 8)

18. Starts for Liberatore, McGreevy, May – O/U 81.5 (Last year – 81 for Mikolas, Fedde and Pallante)

19. Liam Doyle Call-Up Date

20. Player on Memphis roster on March 26 who plays in most games for major league team?

21. One specific and quantifiable prediction

The Blues refuse to lose and CITY breaks through! March Madness is in full swing. It’s an action-packed episode of the St. Louis Sportists Podcast.

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Happy March Madness! It’s all-Ava this week as March Madness roars into action. Mizzou, SLU and Illinois are all part of the field of 64 and the team breaks down the prospects for the local teams.

The guys consider the bracket winners and losers – starting with the Missouri Tigers who were fortunate enough to wind up playing in St. Louis. Maddening Mizzou has driven ticket prices to over $1,000 courtside and the get-in price over $200.

SLU shuffles off to Buffalo for a showdown with an SEC opponent – the Georgia Bulldogs. And it doesn’t get any easier – Michigan would likely be the second round opponent.

The Fighting Illini have an Ivy league opponent in Penn and an uncertain second round matchup against VCU or North Carolina. What is certain is that Bruce Pearl’s act has worn thin on CBS already.

The World Baseball Classic has grown in interest and intensity as Venezuela defeated the United States in front of a “juiced” crowd in Texas. The TV audiences skyrocketed as well.

The Blues are winning – but is the timing off? Are they going to fall short of the playoffs while securing a later draft choice? The Cardinals are ready to break camp and the opening day starter has been announced. What do they do about Jordan Walker?

All this plus St. Louis City and their one goal (literally), and can a baseball team have a pitching staff with no defined roles? All of this on this week’s action-packed episode of The St. Louis Sportists Podcast.

The St. Louis Sportists podcast is brought to you by 1st Coast Steel Buildings and Black Dog Consulting.

March Madness is here, and the Sportists are ready – even if some of it is played on glass.

Maddening Mizzou is doing everything possible to stay on the bubble. SLU is facing a troubling trend, and a key player suddenly has an unsettling injury. But the Illini – now there’s a group gelling at the right time.

The remaining St. Louis Blues go on a modest win streak only to be ended with help from the captain they traded days earlier. The one percent playoff chance guarantees playing time for many of the younger players, many of whom are playing very well.

The Cardinals send one of their leading Spring Training performers to the minor league camp. Are they gun-shy after the Jordan Walker experience? Will the starting rotation be improved simply because of who is NOT in the rotation?

The World Baseball Classic provides no shortage of storylines. Italy deals a stunning blow to the USA, who survives to the next round (during the podcast). And is a managerial change coming for the USA in the next classic?

As predicted here, the Chiefs move on a running back before the draft. Old friend Travis Kelce also returns. Are they contenders again? And Maxx confusion and frustration hits Baltimore.

It’s a somber week for St. Louis CITY ahead of the reunion with Klauss in LA this week. And the PGA heads to the “Fifth Major” as the tour heads to the island green at Sawgrass for the Tournament Player’s Championship this weekend.

All of this plus the NFL’s latest bit of hubris and how do you sweep a floor with no markings on this week’s speedy edition of The St. Louis Sportists Podcast.

The St. Louis Sportists Podcast is brought to you by 1st Coast Steel Buildings and Black Dog Consulting.

In this edition of The ST. Louis Sportists Podcast, the Blues face a trade deadline that could be one of the most impactful in franchise history. One trade – since rejected – would have sent Colton Parayko to Buffalo. The guys consider several players and if they will still be wearing the Bluenote after Friday at 2 p.m.

It’s officially March and Mizzou is no less Maddening. SLU, despite unique halftime programming is ascending again along with Illinois. Bracketology is all the rage as speculation grows as to where teams could be sent for round one of March Madness.

Cardinal spring training is underway, and JJ Wetherholt is getting on base more than he’s making outs. The World Baseball Classic is also starting and there are mercy rules – but will the rules impact gambling?

The Cardinals announce a $29 ticket that offers an all-you-can eat menu for 2026 that leads to many questions. Will there be food cops? What if Joey Chestnut approaches?

The Chiefs make a shocking trade – was it entirely salary cap-driven? And are the Lenexa/Overland Park Chiefs looking to add running backs through free agency as well as the draft. Speaking of the draft, it was the fastest combine ever. Does it matter? And never fear – Johnny Manzel is giving advice to Diego Pavia. What could go wrong?

St. Louis City is shut out in San Diego 2-0. Keith suggests that farm equipment might be more effective in the striker role than certain options.

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The Sportists discuss the first signature event of 2026 - the Miracle in Milan. The thrilling US win over Canada takes its place in hockey history and Canadians are unhappy - even with their stuffed animals.

Maddening Mizzou continues to ride the season-long roller coaster and SLU has entered a troubling slide. Illinois gets "Tyus Ednied" in UCLA and bracketology is shuffled across the board.

Spring training continues for the Cardinals and some are asking where the power will come from. Thomas Saggese and Ivan Herrera have bats that could play, but where? The Angels owner thinks winning doesn't matter to fans and The Sportists wonder if he's seen one-too-many PowerPoint presentations - or perhaps not enough.

Travis Kelce may return for one more ride with the Chiefs but offensive line continues to be an obvious need. Will the Chiefs continue their string of drafting and starting running backs?

The Blues are back and their playoff chances are close to Bluto's GPA in Animal House. Is this the time to get experimental? St. Louis CITY has a hopeful debut, even if it ends in a draw.

All of this plus experimental rule changes and imagining Rickey Henderson being able to challenge pitches on this week's episode of the St. Louis Sportists Podcast.

The St. Louis Sportists Podcast is brought to you by 1st Coast Steel Buildings and Black Dog Consulting.

The Sportists cover a wide range this week as basketball, Olympics, NFL, MLB and golf all have newsy weeks.

The SLU Billikens take a tumble in a conference game. Suddenly, they only have a half-game lead in the A-10. Is this just a hiccup? Maddening Mizzou lives up to the name as they have a clunker against Texas, but Illinois is crisp and clean against Indiana.

Yadi is in Cardinal camp and Lars Nootbaar must walk before he can run. Are the "expert" win projections for the team low? And don't look for the strike zone box on TV this season.

Tyreek Hill is available - are the Chiefs interested? Or is this the Jay Leno version of Tyreek? Patrick Mahomes restructures his contract and the impact is significant.

Olympic hockey is riveting! Overtime games and tension abounds in the quarterfinals. And who had curling controversies on their Olympic Bingo cards?

One of the most entertaining golf tournaments of the year lived up to its billing at Pebble Beach. How long is too long to hit your next shot? And what would players shoot if the wind didn't blow?

All of this plus St. Louis CITY and you had better hurry if you want a Chiefs license plate in Missouri on this week's action-packed episode of the St. Louis Sportists podcast.

The St. Louis Sportists podcast is brought to you by 1st Coast Steel Buildings and Black Dog Consulting.

The Sportists ask, was this the most boring Super Bowl ever? If not, it's certainly in the conversation. In positive developments, Joe finally nails the air-fried Uncrustables. And the stealth hit at one Super Bowl party? Krispy Kreme's!

As for the game itself, are we entering a new NFL era of defense and running the football? Did 2025 represent the end of the Chiefs era or just a speedbump? Are they just a running back away from a return to glory or are the problems much deeper?

Mizzou plays a shockingly complete game at South Carolina while Illinois stumbles ... twice! SLU continues to win after a very sluggish first half on Saturday and postseason matchups could be intriguing. SLU against Illinois or Missouri? Two different projections have both as possibilities.

The Cardinals report to Spring training with a lack of star power, but a sense of optimism. At least they will be more interesting to watch. Who will step forward and take leadership roles?

The Olympics continue and you can watch nearly every event. Oh, and if you haven't ever seen the downhill run of Franz Klamer in 1976, do yourself a favor today.

City has a fever and the only cure is signing additional center backs. Where will the goals come from? Is Simon Becher ready for prime time?

All of this plus naming rights for Memorial Stadium and playing basketball on a big TV on this week's episode of the St. Louis Sportists Podcast.

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