You can yell at Coca on Twitter @matthewcoca It's another Coca Friday! Time to party! Maybe we turn on a little Coldplay and snuggle up on the jumbotron at Gillette Stadium? Shoutout to Pablo Torre for his reporting! Barstool going to save Fox Sports? And we play a new game with Coca called The Darwin Meter! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today’s word of the day is ‘distraction’ as in Lloyd Howell as in the NFLPA as in Pablo Torre as in Mike Florio as in found out. What a night. It needed to happen. We told you it would happen. It started with a possible collusion coverup then went to advisor of a PE firm then landed on another coverup. Will the players finally care? Now we hear about the former NFLPA president told players to fake injuries! WHAT!? (19:30) It’s time for the sprint for October in MLB. Trade deadline is approaching. Postseason approaching. We have some huge series ready to go. (31:15) Review: Old Guard 2. (34:30) Caitlin Clark is out of the All-Star Game that’ll be played in Indiana. Sad. Injuries suck. That’s a huge story for the country, but a huge story for the players… CBA negotiations. (42:00) Damian Lillard is back with the Portland Trail Blazers. He is making so much money next year and guess what… not playing! (45:00) NPPOD. (46:00) TJ Watt is now the highest non-QB in the NFL. A monster deal and now other teams have some issues. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’ve got Brian Campbell with us today! He’s an MMA expert and Boxing expert and all around good guy! UFC at the White House? Saudi’s boxing takeover? The business of Jake Paul! (29:45) NFL Draft problems are here. 2nd rounders holding out for guaranteed deals. Uh oh! (42:00) Bradley Beal has given back money and will now be a free agent. And will now sign with Clippers! (45:30) Turning down $10 million? The International Tennis Hall of Fame did! We have an update on this story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today’s word of the day is ‘gold’ as in Olympics as in MLB as in baseball as in All-Star Game. What am I talking about? Well, the Summer Olympics will take place in 2028 in California. Will MLB stars be allowed to play in it? Will the season be impacted? Will there be an All-Star Game? (17:20) The Minnesota Twins sale is an interesting one. The Ishbia family was close to buying it, and then decided to stick with the White Sox. Now what? Rob Manfred had some items to share. (28:30) Is the NBA going to expand? Seattle? Las Vegas? Looks like the momentum has cooled after hearing Adam Silver talk. (38:30) Review: Missing. (41:00) The Texas Rangers have paid Nathan Eovaldi his $100K All-Star bonus even though he didn’t make the team. What? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Call us and leave your question: 631-377-4869 It’s So You Wanna Talk to Samson Wednesday! Someone asked me three questions in one! What is the Angels draft strategy? Why do they seem to try and find prospects they can rush to the big leagues? Which union is the best in American sports? (15:30) Someone asked me about Dontrelle Willis, arbitration, and if I play both sides of the arbitration argument. (22:10) Which other league would I want to be president in? Is promotion/relegation better than what we have? (27:00) Leadership. Let’s discuss leadership and the role it plays. (35:30) What happens when a player gets traded or brought up? Who handles the moving? The expenses? (45:00) Is the RSN issue going to be the end of iconic and longtime voices we hear? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today’s word of the day is ‘electric’ as in All-Star Game as in swing-off as in MLB as in getting right! What a night for MLB! What a moment! Wow! Let’s break down the game and all the moments. From ABS to Hank Aaron tributes to dingers to Schwarbombs. LOVED IT! (21:40) MLBPA executive director Tony Clark met with the media before the All-Star Game and he had very strong feelings about the salary cap idea. Woof. Collusion? GMAB! (31:30) The Tampa Bay Rays are going to play games at home in the postseason… if it happens! Shocker! (37:50) Review: Thunderbolts. (39:10) Emmy nominations are out! (43:40) NPPOD. (44:00) Scottie Scheffler gave some responses to some questions before The Open Championship and whoa. The level of depth in his answers. The level of truth. It’s something you rarely see. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Terry Virts has joined us today! The former F16 fighter pilot, and NASA astronaut, is running for the Senate in Texas! (27:30) Let’s discuss ICE and professional athletes. MLB is full of immigrants, and where this country is right now, baseball needs to protect its players. (38:30) A rich dude bought his way into a tennis tournament and people are MAD! (46:00) Donald Trump made himself the story of the Club World Cup. He had to be on stage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today’s word of the day is ‘robbery’ as in Home Run Derby as in Big Dumper as in Cal Raleigh as in Brent Rooker as in Junior Cameniro. What a a night. Everyone was made from the production to the broadcast to the rules. Everything. But Cal Raleigh had his moment with his father and brother. We saw Junior Caminero hit some bombs. We saw Jazz show up for the fun of it. We saw a measuring stick come out. (21:35) How excited are you for the All-Star Game? Paul Skenes. Tarik Skubal. What more can you want!? (30:30) Review: Friendship. (35:30) Rob Manfred met with the media to talk about new broadcast deals. MLB still doesn’t have them. (43:05) The Tampa Bay Rays sale is expected to be complete by September. Wow. (50:00) NPPOD. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Home Run Derby is tonight! Who’s excited!? We’ve got some big bats going. (11:00) What is going on with the NFLPA is something we haven’t seen in the sports world for quite some time. The collusion story gets deeper and deeper. This time the NFLPA has released a statement questioning the reports, but also said it was looking into the reports. Not great. (23:00) Club World Cup final. Big money. Big fans. Big problems? (36:20) Go Messi Go! Lionel Messi is setting MLS records and the league needs him so badly. (41:00) MLB Draft time! Let me explain to you what happened yesterday. (50:30) Cooper Flagg shutdown… he is good. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today’s word of the day is ‘break’ as in All-Star break as in baseball as in Home Run Derby as in All-Star Game as in the first half is here. What were the biggest observations from the pre-ASG? Remember when everyone wanted Craig Breslow fired? That was just a month ago! What about the Brewers and Blue Jays season!? Are the Rockies going to break the record!? (23:00) Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh are having themselves a season. The MVP race is on! (32:40) Review: Heads of State. (36:20) MLB decided to put Jacob Misirowoski in the All-Star Game and Phillies players and fans went crazy. Wow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s Coca Day! We talk weather apps and Prime Day and July 4 baseball and MVP races and Juan Soto and Apple and colleges! Another fun Friday with Coca! You can follow him (me) on Twitter @matthewcoca if you want more terrible takes, or if you want to yell at me! Whatever! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

https://www.charitybuzz.com/catalog_items/auction-lunch-with-david-samson-of-nothing-personal-3220102 Today’s word of the day is ‘benjamins’ as in big bills as in Brinks truck as in Thunder as in SGA as in Jalen Williams as in Chet Holmgren. That’s right. The Thunder won the NBA title and now have locked up its Big 3 for $800 million! WHAT!? (10:30) Giannis has spoken. What did he say? A clue! A crumb! (17:00) Orioles owner David Rubenstein finally spoke for the first time since Brandon Hyde was fired. That was a month ago. Woof. What did he have to say? Injuries. (28:30) Review: The Bear Season 4. (34:15) Another American woman is in a Grand Slam Final. Amanda Anisimova is back in a final for the first time in 6 years. She had previously taken time off for mental health struggles. (42:50) We have another update on Lloyd Howell and the NFLPA. Uh oh. (48:00) NPPOD. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mike Tollin has joined the show! The mastermind of The Last Dance with Michael Jordan! You know him from Smallville and One Tree Hill and Varsity Blues and Radio and All That! (28:45) We have a stadium CEO accused of rigging a bid! Oh boy! And it involves some heavy hitters! (38:40) Deion Sanders sounded off on the state of college football. He has a problem with salary. He has a problem with tampering. (44:00) Rob Manfred wants a salary cap. Players are worried. What will happen? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today’s word of the day is ‘abhorrent’ as in the NFL as in the NFLPA as in collusion as in appeal as in firings. This is how this ends. Pablo Torre had broken this story wide open two weeks ago, and now the NFLPA is not happy. The players union will try and appeal this decision now. How does it end? (17:50) The Yankees have DFA’d DJ LeMahieu and owe him $22 million. Brian Cashman then met the media to explain the decision, talk about the trade deadline, and defend Anthony Volpe. (35:00) Review: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. (38:00) Apple may go all in on Formula 1 US rights. Whoa. (42:30) Automated balls-strikes is coming for the MLB All-Star Game. Uh oh. Is this what players don’t want? Do they want it? Is this a small test to get us all ready for next year? (49:00) NPPOD. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Call us at 631-377-4869 It’s So You Wanna Talk to Samson Wednesday! We start off with a question about what goes on during a Players’ Only meeting! (8:10) Is A.J. Hinch the most valuable manager in baseball? (14:10) How do you deal with loss? Especially when you are the head of a business or company. (23:00) Mount Rushmore of candy! (31:20) This is just a big ole pat on the back for me! (34:30) Could you see MLB expand internationally to make the game more global? Does it make sense to do this? (44:05) Banana Ball! Should MLB we worried about the success of the Savannah Bananas? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today’s word of the day is ‘consequences’ as in the NHL as in NIL as in Canada as in change. Gavin McKenna is the lock of all locks to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. And he’s going to college. A top Canadian JR player headed to the US is unheard of. But NIL has changed the world of hockey forever. (11:00) We have another investigation into an MLB agent. Another case of an agent taking advantage of a foreign player. It’s sad. Someone had asked me a question about MLB owners and the MLBPA so let me answer that. (25:45) We have an F1 update! Christian Horner has been fired by Red Bull. Wow. (33:00) Review: Dept. Q. (36:30) Draymond Green sounded off on the new CBA. He said free agency is dead. He said players aren’t educated on business. Hmm. (44:45) The Big Beautiful Bill is already upsetting Congress. Here we go. We’ve got people in Congress writing up bills to change the gambling law in the bill. Woof. (49:00) NPPOD. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’ve got Bobby Valentine with us today! This was a fun one! Bobby V goes off on umpires and catchers! And tells some great stories about being an All-Star Game manager! (28:00) Clayton Kershaw was named an All-Star and he felt it was “weird”. Why? Because he didn’t think it was anything her deserved! (33:00) Kansas still wants the Chiefs and Royals. It is doing everything it can to help. (40:00) The WNBA has a little money problem. Look at the payouts for the All-Star Game. This is going to be another major point in negotiations. (46:15) Unrivaled vs the WNBA. Is that happening? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today’s word of the day is ‘revelation’ as in the Suns as in Mat Ishbia as in Bradley Beal as in Kevin Durant as in Devin Booker. The 2nd Apron is coming for every team. The Big 3 is over. The Suns are looking to hard reset just two seasons later after having NBA Championship aspirations. (9:40) The Orlando Magic 2nd Apron clock has started. A new max extension for Paolo Banchero is here. The Magic need to win now! (16:15) The Miami Heat found a scorer. A 3-team trade that most believe the Heat won. Nice. (23:30) The Washington Nationals announced Miguel Cairo as interim manager. He was the bench coach. (32:00) Review: Squid Game Season 3. (36:20) The Washington Commanders are in a bit of a pickle. They want a new stadium. They need approval. They might need President Trump to help. (44:00) NPPOD. Let’s talk about the Royals and Pirates here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Another professional player is under investigation for gambling. This time it’s in baseball again. Luis Ortiz of the Cleveland Guardians is on leave right now as the league looks into a few pitches he threw. That’s right… this is on PITCHES! Jonas Valanciunas has to honor his contract. That’s what the Denver Nuggets said after trading for the center. He wants to play in Greece. Oh well! Big Beautiful Bill talk. What happened in Texas over the weekend is incredibly sad, and terrifying. My time at the San Siro in Italy. What a stadium. An old stadium. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

https://www.charitybuzz.com/catalog_items/auction-lunch-with-david-samson-of-nothing-personal-3220102 Today’s word of the day is ‘unceremonious’ as in Mike Rizzo as in Dave MArtinerz as in the Washington Nationals as in fired. That’s right, same day as two Nationals make the All-Star team, the owner fires the GM and manager. Why now? Well, the team has been bad bad bad, but the timing is just odd. (18:00) Paul Skenes can’t get a win. 42 career starts and 17 No Decisions. And it’s not like he’s been bad! He’s been an ACE! (23:00) How should you react during a surprise season? With the MLB trade deadline fast approaching we take a look at three teams: Marlins, Orioles, Braves. How should they each respond? (35:20) Review: Echo Valley. (37:40) MLB All-Star rosters are close to complete. Clayton Kershaw got in as a Legend pick. Nice. Who were the biggest snubs? (48:20) NPPOD. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices