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SPR Sports News

SPR Sports News

By: Sean Ryan
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About this listen

Most people have a crazy bias towards something. I try to look at all sides and explain what is going on. I do that better than anyone else! - Sean Ryan

SPR Sports News is your deep-dive into the narratives that define the NFL, MLB, and UFC.

We go beyond the headlines and hot takes to connect the dots between history, current stats, and the bigger picture.

Join us for a fun, insightful breakdown every week—where storytelling meets substance, and every angle gets a fair hearing.

Subscribe for: Narrative-Driven Analysis | Balanced Debates | Historical Context | NFL, MLB & UFC Focus.

Podcast Schedule: Tuesdays

@ Sean Ryan 2025-2026
Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Have the Dodgers Ruined the MLB???
    Jan 25 2026

    In this segment, I shift to Major League Baseball and break down two moves that say a lot about where the league is right now — and where some teams are completely dropping the ball. I start with the Yankees backing off Cody Bellinger and why Scott Boras negotiations continue to hurt his own clients as much as they help them. We talk contract expectations, market reality, and why Bellinger’s asking price doesn’t line up with what he actually is as a player at this stage of his career.

    From there, I get into the Cubs landing Alex Bregman and why, despite the massive price tag, it actually makes sense for Chicago. We talk roster construction, elite defense, fit at Wrigley, and why the Cubs might be one of the most quietly well-built teams in baseball heading into the season.

    I also hit on a bigger issue that keeps popping up: why teams like the Yankees and Red Sox are suddenly acting like small-market franchises in a sport with no salary cap. If you’re one of the richest organizations in sports history, there’s no excuse for constantly pulling back when it’s time to spend. Meanwhile, other teams are putting their money where their mouth is and building real contenders.

    No hot-take nonsense — just context, roster logic, and honest frustration with how MLB’s biggest brands are handling business.

    Timestamp

    0:00 MLB offseason thoughts begin

    0:30 Yankees backing off Cody Bellinger

    1:40 Scott Boras contract problems

    2:40 Why Bellinger’s asking price doesn’t make sense

    3:30 Cubs sign Alex Bregman

    4:30 Why the move actually works for Chicago

    5:20 Big-market teams refusing to spend

    6:00 Final MLB thoughts

    Questions that I answer

    Why did the Yankees back off Cody Bellinger?

    Is Scott Boras hurting his own clients?

    Did the Cubs overpay for Alex Bregman?

    Does Alex Bregman fit at Wrigley Field?

    Are the Yankees and Red Sox acting like small-market teams?

    Why do MLB teams refuse to spend without a salary cap?

    Are the Cubs built better than the Brewers, Mets, and Phillies?

    Who’s actually building a contender the right way in MLB?

    Episode 6 Segments

    6.1 - College Football - National Championship Game!! A Beautiful End to a Fairy Tale Story

    6.2 - NFL - Sloppiest NFL Divisional Round Ever Ryan Clark Needs to Stop

    6.3 - UFC - UFC 324! Finally MMA Is Back!!!

    6.4 - MLB - Have the Dodgers ruined MLB???

    Show More Show Less
    7 mins
  • UFC 324! Finally MMA Is Back!!!
    Jan 24 2026

    UFC is finally back, and it’s been a long six weeks. In this episode, I break down UFC 324 from top to bottom, starting with the early prelims and working all the way to the interim title fight. I go through the matchups that actually matter, the fights worth paying attention to, and which ones feel like guaranteed chaos.

    On the prelims, I highlight sneaky fun fights like Ricky Turcios vs Cameron Smotherman, why Michael Johnson is always dangerous as an underdog, and why Ateba Gautier might be one of the scariest prospects in the sport right now. I also break down Umar Nurmagomedov vs Deiveson Figueiredo and why that fight likely comes down to whether Figueiredo can land early.

    On the main card, I get into Arnold Allen vs Jean Silva, Natalia Silva vs Rose Namajunas, and why flyweight just isn’t Rose’s division anymore. We also get into one of the most entertaining heavyweight matchups possible with Derrick Lewis vs Waldo Cortes-Acosta — two guys who sell fights better than almost anyone in the division.

    Finally, I give full predictions for Sean O’Malley vs Song Yadong and the interim title fight between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett, including how Paddy actually wins if this fight hits the ground. No fake hype, no narrative pushing — just real breakdowns, matchup logic, and honest picks.

    🥊 UFC 324 Segment – Chapter Timestamps (starts at 0:00)

    0:00 UFC is finally back (ESPN → Paramount, long break)

    0:45 Prelims overview & fights to watch

    1:20 Ty Miller vs Adam Fugitt

    1:55 Ricky Turcios vs Cameron Smotherman (high pace)

    2:45 Josh Hockett vs Denzel Freeman (early KO talk)

    3:25 Michael Johnson vs Alexander Hernandez

    4:40 Alex Perez vs Charles Johnson

    5:45 Krylov vs Bukauskas (which version shows up?)

    6:50 Ateba Gautier vs Andre (lock of the card)

    8:30 Umar Nurmagomedov vs Figueiredo preview

    9:50 Arnold Allen vs Jean Silva

    10:45 Natalia Silva vs Rose Namajunas

    11:30 Derrick Lewis vs Waldo Cortes-Acosta

    12:10 O’Malley vs Song Yadong

    12:40 Gaethje vs Paddy Pimblett pick

    13:00 Final UFC thoughts

    Questions that I answer

    Is UFC 324 worth watching?

    Who should you watch on the UFC 324 prelims?

    Is Ateba Gautier the scariest prospect in UFC?

    Can Umar Nurmagomedov lose before a title shot?

    Is Rose Namajunas done at flyweight?

    Who wins Derrick Lewis vs Waldo Cortes-Acosta?

    Does Sean O’Malley lose to Song Yadong?

    Can Paddy Pimblett actually beat Justin Gaethje?

    Is Gaethje past his prime?

    What’s the best bet on UFC 324?

    Episode 6 Segments

    6.1 - College Football - National Championship Game!! A Beautiful End to a Fairy Tale Story

    6.2 - NFL - Sloppiest NFL Divisional Round Ever Ryan Clark Needs to Stop

    6.3 - UFC - UFC 324! Finally MMA Is Back!!!

    6.4 - MLB - Have the Dodgers ruined MLB???

    Show More Show Less
    13 mins
  • Sloppiest NFL Divisional Round Ever Ryan Clark Needs to Stop
    Jan 22 2026

    Episode 6.2 of the SPR Sports News Podcast shifts fully into the NFL — and it’s not pretty. Sean Ryan breaks down what may have been the sloppiest Divisional Round weekend in recent memory, filled with brutal quarterback play, nonstop turnovers, coaching failures, and media narratives that completely missed the point.

    The episode opens with an unfiltered rant on ESPN, Ryan Clark, and the Mike Tomlin situation in Pittsburgh. Sean pushes back on race-baiting narratives, questions how ESPN chooses which stories to amplify, and explains why sports coverage should be about performance — not manufactured controversy.

    From there, it’s all football. Bills vs Broncos turns into a turnover disaster as Josh Allen melts down, Bo Nix outplays a former MVP, and Buffalo implodes despite a strong defensive effort. Sean breaks down why the Bills lost this game themselves — and why Bo Nix deserves far more credit than he’s getting.

    The Patriots-Texans game is even uglier. C.J. Stroud delivers one of the worst postseason quarterback performances in recent history, wasting a dominant Houston defense with interceptions, fumbles, and poor decision-making. Sean explains why this loss falls squarely on the quarterback — and why coaching failed to step in.

    Seattle’s blowout of San Francisco stands out as the cleanest game of the weekend, with dominant defense, elite special teams, and a blueprint for how championships are actually won. The episode closes with Bears vs Rams, Caleb Williams’ rollercoaster performance, weather impacts, and why turnovers once again decided everything.

    No excuses. No narratives. Just calling bad football bad football — and giving credit where it’s earned.

    Stay tuned for Episode 6.3 where I talk about baseball and Episode 6.4 where I talk about UFC. Episode 6.1 was about college football.

    Timestamps / Chapters

    00:00 – ESPN narratives, Ryan Clark & bad media takes

    06:30 – Why ESPN keeps missing the real football story

    11:45 – Bills vs Broncos: sloppy playoff football

    17:00 – Josh Allen vs Bo Nix: chaos vs efficiency

    22:30 – Patriots vs Texans: turnovers ruin the game

    27:30 – Seahawks vs 49ers: how clean football wins

    31:45 – Final thoughts on the Divisional Round

    ESPN / Media

    • Why did Mike Tomlin leave the Steelers?
    • Is ESPN race baiting for ratings?
    • Ryan Clark Mike Tomlin controversy explained
    • Why does ESPN push bad narratives?
    • Are sports shows focused on clicks instead of analysis?

    Bills vs Broncos

    • What happened to Josh Allen vs Broncos?
    • Josh Allen playoff turnovers breakdown
    • How did Bo Nix beat the Bills?
    • Why did the Bills lose to the Broncos?
    • Is Josh Allen a playoff choker?

    Patriots vs Texans

    • What went wrong for C.J. Stroud vs Patriots?
    • Worst quarterback playoff performances ever
    • How many turnovers did the Texans have?
    • Did C.J. Stroud cost Houston the game?
    • Why didn’t the Texans bench Stroud?

    Seahawks vs 49ers

    • How did Seahawks dominate the 49ers?
    • Are the Seahawks Super Bowl favorites?

    Bears vs Rams

    • Caleb Williams playoff performance analysis
    • Bears vs Rams cold weather game breakdown
    • Did turnovers cost the Bears the game?
    • Is Caleb Williams already a top QB?
    Show More Show Less
    32 mins
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