Episode 45 of The Skud Missile Podcast is loaded with big money, big questions, legendary names, and the kind of debates that rarely end with everyone agreeing.

The episode kicks off in Los Angeles, where the Lakers are once again at the center of the sports world. With a reported $12.5 billion ownership transition involving Josh Kushner and Disney CEO Bob Iger, we break down what the potential change could mean for one of the most recognizable franchises in professional sports. The Lakers have always been about more than basketball. They are a global brand built on championships, celebrities, superstars, and the expectation of greatness. Could this be the beginning of another major chapter in the history of Showtime?

From Hollywood, we head to the Bronx for a Yankees check-in as the baseball season begins moving toward its most important stretch. Do the Yankees have the roster, pitching, consistency, and toughness necessary to make a legitimate postseason run? We look at where the team stands, what still needs to improve, and whether Yankees fans should be preparing for a deep October run or another frustrating finish.

Then the conversation gets much bigger than wins and losses.

Sports betting has become nearly impossible to separate from the modern sports experience. Betting lines are part of broadcasts. Sportsbooks advertise everywhere. Parlays dominate social media. For millions of younger fans, placing a wager has become almost as normal as watching the game itself. We examine the numbers behind the explosion of sports gambling among young adults and ask an uncomfortable question: Have we crossed the line between harmless entertainment and a growing epidemic? We discuss how gambling is changing sports fandom, the risks facing younger bettors, and whether leagues, media companies, sportsbooks, and fans themselves need to reconsider where this is all heading.

Then it is time to argue some basketball.

We build four different NBA Mount Rushmores centered on four of the most important skills in basketball: shooting, dunking, defense, and passing. Only four players can make each mountain, which means some incredible names have to be left off. Who are the greatest shooters the game has ever seen? Which players turned dunking into an art form? Who belongs among basketball’s most dominant defenders? And which passers saw the game differently from everyone else? The selections are difficult, the omissions are controversial, and there is plenty of room for debate.

Finally, the Listener Mailbag takes us away from the headlines with three completely different questions. Which two comic-book heroes would create the ultimate crossover battle? If you could become any television or movie character, who would you choose? And across every major sport, what is truly the most difficult position to play?

From billion-dollar ownership moves and October baseball to the growing influence of sports gambling, NBA history, comic books, movies, and more, Episode 45 covers a little bit of everything.

🎙️ Episode 45: Showtime, Storylines and Stardom

Big personalities. Bigger debates. And absolutely no shortage of opinions.

The Skud Missile Podcast — No scripts. Just missiles

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This week on The Skud Missile Podcast, we’re stepping into the worlds of comic books and professional wrestling with our special guest, Derek.

From the comics that made us lifelong collectors to the storylines that changed the industry, we dive deep into Marvel vs. DC, the greatest heroes and villains ever created, key issues, collecting, CGC grading, and the holy grails still on our wish lists.

Then we head to the squared circle to debate wrestling’s Mount Rushmore, the greatest heels, babyfaces, entrances, promos, finishing moves, dream matches, and whether today’s product can compare to the legendary eras that defined the business.

We also put everyone on the spot during Missile Command, our fast-paced lightning round where there are no wrong answers... only answers you’ll have to defend. Finally, we wrap things up with another edition of the Listener Mailbag, answering questions from fans across the country.

Whether you’ve spent years collecting comics, grew up watching Saturday morning cartoons and Monday Night Raw, or just love passionate conversations between friends, this episode has something for you.

Follow @SkudMissilePod on Instagram, Threads, X, Facebook, and YouTube, and visit TheSkudMissile.com for our latest episodes and articles.

No scripts. Just missiles.

🎙️ Episode 43 is here!

Has baseball sacrificed the art of hitting in the pursuit of home runs? Is Ohio State’s $17 million jersey sponsorship a smart business move or another sign that tradition is disappearing? Which NBA legends stayed on the court one season too long, and have championship rings become the only way we measure greatness?

We tackle all of that and more in another packed episode of The Skud Missile Podcast.

We open by examining the dramatic decline of the .300 hitter and debating whether analytics have fundamentally changed the way baseball is played—for better or worse. Next, we discuss Ohio State’s groundbreaking partnership with JPMorgan Chase and what it means for the future of college athletics in the NIL era.

Later, we look back at some of the NBA’s biggest names who may have played one season too long before debating whether players like Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, Steve Nash, Chris Paul, Allen Iverson, and James Harden deserve to be judged by championships alone.

In this week’s listener mailbag, we discuss whether prediction markets like Kalshi are really any different from sports gambling, weigh in on the latest involving Tony Romo, and break down ESPN’s preseason college football X-factors while sharing which players, coaches, and teams could shape the race for the national championship.

As always, we appreciate your support. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe, leave a review, and share the podcast with a fellow sports fan.

🌐 Website: TheSkudMissile.com📱 Follow us: @SkudMissilePod on Instagram, X, and Threads

No scripts. Just missiles.