Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre

Latest Episodes:

Summer of Soccer Rolls On, Kyle Lowry is Feeling the Heat + Football Outsiders' NFL analyst Aaron Schatz Aug 02, 2021

Show notes

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a quick thought on the USMNT’s victory over Mexico in the Gold Cup final. The Summer of Soccer has been fantastic on all fronts, so it was fitting that the Gold Cup ended in dramatic fashion. And if you watched the match on FS1, you saw that that buzz for soccer is building considerably here in the USA. Later, Jason explains why he's not too high on the impending sign-and-trade that will be sending Kyle Lowry to the Miami Heat. At 35 years old, Lowry is still a very good player, but he's not good enough to help Miami overtake the Brooklyn Nets in the Eastern Conference. On the positive side, with the Lowry domino falling, we should see the point guard market (Lonzo Ball, Dennis Schroder, Spencer Dinwiddie, etc.) heat up in a big way very quickly once the free agency period officially opens on Monday night. Finally, Football Outsiders' NFL analyst Aaron Schatz swings by to discuss why he expects the Minnesota Vikings to give the Green Bay Packers a run for their money in the NFC North, the notion that the New Orleans Saints are due for a 2020 Patriots-esque fall this season, the ugly truth behind the Los Angeles Rams' top-heavy roster, why he believes the Dallas Cowboys are a sneaky pick to make the Super Bowl, why the numbers don't always jive with what he actually believes (ie. the Baltimore Ravens being better than the Kansas City Chiefs), why it's more likely that Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers take a step back than they take a massive step forward, and much more!

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Russell Westbrook to the Lakers, NBA Draft Reaction & Damian Lillard's Passive Aggressive Trade Demand Jul 30, 2021

Show notes

On today's episode, Jason and Producer Rob G kick things off with a deep dive into the Los Angeles Lakers blockbuster trade for Russell Westbrook. The Lakers traded away most of their depth (Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope & Montrezl Harrell) for a one-man wrecking ball who may or may not be a fit next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis. For all the stat padding that Westbrook does during the regular season, his numbers fall off pretty consistently in the postseason. Maybe that's why guys like Kevin Durant, Paul George and James Harden decided they'd rather play somewhere else than alongside Brodie. Westbrook will absolutely help the Lakers win regular season games but his inability to shoot could doom them in the playoffs. Later, the guys share a quick thought on the rather underwhelming NBA Draft. Outside of Jalen Suggs slipping to the Orlando Magic at #5, everything pretty much went according to plan. Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green and Evan Mobley went 1-2-3, and a bunch of guys you probably never heard of got picked (and traded) as the night wore on. Finally, Jason and Rob G closed the show with a few notes on Damian Lillard's social media beef with True Hoop founder Henry Abbott. Lillard continues to deny that he's planning on a requesting a trade from the Portland Trail Blazers this summer... while simultaneously reminding us why he would request a trade if he decided to do so. This whole thing is bizarre and it just might be the most passive aggressive trade demand in NBA history.

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Simone Biles and the Stigma of Quitting, Senator Aaron Rodgers & the Next Step for NIL Jul 29, 2021

Show notes

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a deep dive into the Simone Biles situation that took place this week at the Olympics. Say what you want about her mental health an anxiety, but in a word, Biles quit. Period. But that doesn’t mean it has to hold a negative connotation or disqualify her from any larger conversation about her place in gymnastics history. There’s no perfect comparison for Biles in sports history but one that comes close is Robert Duran’s famous ‘No Mas’ fight against Sugar Ray Leonard. At the time, Duran was widely criticized for throwing in the towel. But years later, Mike Tyson said he admired the courage it took for Duran to recognize he didn’t have it and quit. The same logic can be applied to Biles. Moreover, anybody who thinks that Biles can no longer be considered the GOAT of women’s gymnastics because of this is asinine. Should LeBron James be eliminated from basketball GOAT consideration because he melted down in the 2011 NBA Finals? Of course not. Later, Jason shares a few thoughts on Aaron Rodgers’ ‘senatorial’ address to the media detailing everything that’s gone wrong with the Packers organization for the past few years; Rodgers gave the organization a verbal spanking for the world to see. Maybe next time the Packers - or any other NFL franchise - will take their superstar's feelings and thoughts into consideration the next time they decide to make wholesale changes. That's not to say that NFL teams should bow down to their stars, but they'd be foolish not to at least consult them from time to time. Finally, Jason closes the show with a quick note on Quinn Ewers' decision to forego his senior year of high school so he can immediately capitalize on his Name Image and Likeness at Ohio State. Is this going to become the norm for college sports? Only time will tell.

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The NFL's Free Agency Problem, Damian Lillard's Future + NBA Draft analyst Matt Babcock Jul 28, 2021

Show notes

Jason kicks things off with a deep dive into Xavien Howard’s trade demand coming out of Miami. Howard is arguably the best cornerback in the NFL so this isn’t something to be taken lightly if you’re a Dolphins fan. What’s more, the Howard situation is a microcosm of a bigger problem throughout the NFL. Most NFL layers don’t like when their team brings in a high-priced free agent before they pay their own guys. When the Dolphins brought in Byron Jones to play opposite Howard, they unknowingly started a chain reaction that led to him ultimately requesting a trade. Either way, you must expect the Dolphins will do everything they can to keep him in town now that they have a legitimate chance to win the division for the first time in years. Later, Jason shares a quick thought on the latest report detailing Damian Lillard’s frustration in Portland. All signs point to Dame requesting a trade from the Blazers at some point this summer - perhaps even before the NBA Draft. That's definitely something to keep an eye out on in the next 48 hours. Finally, BasketballNews.com NBA Draft analyst Matt Babcock swings by to explain why he has Scottie Barnes in his top-4 and the inevitable comparisons to Ben Simmons, why it's not a stretch to say that Jalen Suggs has some Jrue Holiday to his game, why he still expects Cade Cunningham to go first overall to the Detroit Pistons, why he believes that both Evan Mobley and Jalen Green may have more overall upside than Cunningham, why Jonathan Kuminga's stock is 'falling' in the days leading up to the Draft, how 'ageism' is impacting the back half of the lottery, and much more!

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Pelicans Making Moves, One Last Dance for Aaron Rodgers + Super Bowl champion Will Blackmon Jul 27, 2021

Show notes

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a quick thought on an NBA trade that went down on Monday between the Memphis Grizzlies and the New Orleans Pelicans. Pelicans president David Griffin is clearly doing all he can to try and atone for his past mistakes in a last-ditch effort to keep his job – and hopefully keep Zion Williamson in New Orleans for the foreseeable future. In the process, however, the Pels have also set themselves up to be major players in the Kyle Lowry Sweepstakes this summer. Only problem is: Are we sure Lowry wants to sign with an also-ran like New Orleans? Later, Super Bowl champion Will Blackmon swings by to discuss why he's not surprised that Aaron Rodgers is coming back to play at least one more season with the Green Bay Packers, why Rodgers still has arguably the most arm talent in the League with no sign of slowing down, the misconception that Rodgers is some 'weirdo', how Deshaun Watson's prodigious talent could lead him to still get traded even as legal issues loom over his head, why he believes Odell Beckham Jr. is the NFL's biggest star outside of Tom Brady, why he's so high on Carson Wentz and the Indianapolis Colts entering next season, the biggest reason why the San Francisco 49ers went all-in on the Trey Lance, and much more!

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Team USA Basketball Bricked Again + ESPN Basketball analyst Jay Bilas Jul 26, 2021

Show notes

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a few thoughts on Team USA Basketball's loss to the France in the Olympics. The fact that several players are already reportedly fed up with head coach Gregg Popovich's offense is not a great sign moving forward. If things continue to go sideways during this tournament, Pop could get the axe. Later, Jason gives us a full breakdown of the tennis tournament he played in over the weekend. Finally, ESPN basketball analyst Jay Bilas swings by to share his thoughts on Team USA's disappointing loss to France, why guys at the top like Cade Cunningham, Evan Mobley and Jalen Green could make this the best NBA Draft class we've seen since the vaunted 2003 class that featured LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade, how the G-League helped prepare Green and Jonathan Kuminga for the pros in ways that the NCAA just can't, the inevitable Scottie Barnes-Ben Simmons comparisons, how Jalen Johnson's decision to leave the Duke basketball program in the middle of the season could impact his draft stock, why some NBA teams have an aversion to taking upperclassmen at the top of the Draft, why there's a bit of a Moneyball element these days to the way NBA teams evaluate talent, and much more!

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NFL Players Pushing Back on COVID Vaccine Protocols + FOX Sports college football analyst RJ Young Jul 23, 2021

Show notes

On today’s episode, Jason kicks things off with a quick thought on the NFL’s new COVID-19 vaccination protocols. The NFL isn’t mandating that every player get vaccinated, but the protocols are written in such a way that it would behoove you to do so. If guys like DeAndre Hopkins would rather retire altogether than get the jab, then that’s their prerogative. Nobody can force you to do anything that you’re not comfortable doing. As is the case with any controversial decision, though, let’s just hope that he’s willing to live with the consequences. Later, FOX Sports college football analyst RJ Young swings by to explain why Oklahoma and Texas' proposed moved to the SEC doesn't make sense and is premature to even consider at this point, the role Texas A&M might play in this whole saga, why Oklahoma and Texas changing conferences might actually hurt them in the College Football Playoff picture, if Spencer Rattler or Baker Mayfield was the better NFL prospect coming out of college, why Texas should be viewed as developmental football program at this point in time, if Name Image and Likeness could lead to jealous and infighting within college sports programs, and much more!

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Giannis Took the Easy Route, Texas and OU to the SEC? & the Worst Interviewees in Sports Jul 22, 2021

Show notes

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a deep dive into Giannis Antetokounmpo's assertion that he did things the 'hard' way by staying in Milwaukee rather than joining a Super Team. We love Giannis, but he's dead wrong on this one. Staying in your comfort zone in a city where you are adored is easy; Joining a Super Team and accepting the ridicule and pressure that comes along with it is hard. Not everybody can handle the instant hatred and constant scrutiny that comes along when you take your career into your own hands and leave to greener pastures. Do you remember what LeBron James had to go through when he left the Cavaliers and took his talents to South Beach? Did you forget how quickly Kevin Durant became the most hated man in the NBA when he jumped ship to the Warriors? It's part of the reason why guys like Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal have yet to publicly demand a trade out of their respective towns. Later, Jason shares a quick thought on Oklahoma and Texas' plan to leave the Big-12 and join the SEC. We're not expecting it to happen, but the fact that they're trying to do it shouldn't come as a surprise. We saw something similar happen in European soccer a few months ago. If there's money to be made, these sports entities will do everything they can to make it happen. Finally, Jason closes the show with a quick stroll down memory lane - inspired by 'Don't call me Deion' Sanders' press conference that went viral this week - in which he discusses his worst experiences as an interviewer.

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Giannis is More Wilt Than Shaq, Bucks are a One Night Stand & CP3's Future Jul 21, 2021

Show notes

On today’s episode, Jason kicks things off with a full breakdown of the Milwaukee Bucks’ NBA Finals series victory over the Phoenix Suns. First, kudos to Giannis Antetokounmpo for putting on an epic performance in Game 6. With this ring and Finals MVP award, the Greek Freak has joined some elite company in NBA History. That said, as great as his performance was, let’s pump the brakes on all the Shaquille O’Neal comparisons. Shaq was bulldozing through defenders back in his heyday while Giannis is more likely to explode around them. In many ways, Giannis is much more like Wilt Chamberlain than he is like Shaq. Later, Jason looks into his crystal ball to determine whether or not the Bucks have any chance at repeating as champions next season. In a word: No. In a few words: Hell No. This is not the start of a Bucks Dynasty; It’s the culmination of a One Night Stand. Milwaukee had a magical run where everything seemed to break in their favor, and credit to them they were able to capitalize. Just don’t’ expect them to have such a charmed path again. Finally, Jason closes the show by sharing a quick thought on Chris Paul’s future with the Phoenix Suns. NBA Twitter is clamoring for CP3 to join forces with LeBron James in Los Angeles, but that’s hard pass on J-Mac’s end. Paul – and the Lakers – would be better off if he just stayed in Phoenix.

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ESPN Basketball analyst Fran Fraschilla on Team USA Basketball, the NBA Draft & The Tournament Jul 20, 2021

Show notes

On today's episode, ESPN basketball analyst Fran Fraschilla swings by for an extended conversation on a myriad of hoops topics, including: how the condensed NBA season has played a role in Team USA's struggles so far in exhibition play, why the 2024 Olympic Games will be a much better indicator of where American basketball stands on the global scale, why JaVale McGee could be more impactful than you think during the Olympics, why Jalen Green may have the highest upside in the NBA Draft but Cade Cunningham is the safer bet at #1 overall, why Evan Mobley reminds him so much of Chris Bosh, why he refers to Chris Duarte as 'baby Klay Thompson', what makes The Tournament so great, and much more! Later, Jason closes the show with a very special NBA Finals Game 6 edition of the Best Bet.

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