The NFL’s decision not to hold a supplemental draft for Brendan Sorsby struck me as good news.

Not because I dislike Brendan Sorsby. I don’t know him. Not because I don’t believe in second chances. I absolutely do. But because somewhere along the way, we must have some semblance of order. The NFL didn’t ban Sorsby from football. They didn’t end his career. They didn’t tell him he could never play in the league.

They simply said something remarkably simple:

Not now.

The league cited the integrity of the game and the fact it had virtually no time to properly evaluate the situation. That’s not cruelty. That’s governance. I say, thank goodness.

Frankly, it feels like something we’ve been missing.

For the better part of the last decade, it has felt like every institution, every rule, every standard, and every boundary has been challenged. Sometimes for good reasons. Sometimes not.

Not just sports but like everything. Every aspect of life from school to work and church, etc. The result is a world where many people no longer know what to believe. Every day we’re bombarded with information. Headlines. Clips. Tweets. Videos. Outrage. Conspiracies. Half-truths.

The internet has become the greatest communication tool ever invented. It has also become the greatest misinformation machine ever created. EVER! It is creating so many people walking amongst who are literally brainwashed by bullshit.

Look around. That statement is hardly an exaggeration.

People often talk about elderly Americans being scammed out of their retirement savings. I don’t think that’s much different from what happens online every day.Instead of stealing your money directly, many bad actors steal your attention.

They steal your trust. They steal your reality. The currency isn’t dollars at first. It’s clicks. Engagement.

Read more

I also share my World Cup experience — the people I met, the atmosphere in Atlanta, and how this tournament is bringing real people together from all over the world while changing perceptions about real Americans.

Show Pony University is back.
The next class begins Wednesday, July 8 and meets once a week for one month. If you want to become a better broadcaster, podcaster, interviewer, storyteller, or content creator, this is for you.

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Why Hire Mike Boynton?

When ESPN’s Pete Thamel reports something, I listen.

Which is why Michigan fans should probably prepare themselves for the possibility that Mike Boynton is about to become the next head basketball coach of the defending national champions.

If that’s what Michigan decides, I wish Boynton nothing but success. This isn’t an anti-Mike Boynton column. It’s a pro-Michigan column. And because of that, I think Michigan should slow down.

Take a breath.

Think bigger.

The Wolverines just won a national championship. Let me repeat that. They. Just. Won. A. National. Championship.

This isn’t a rebuilding project. This isn’t a program trying to claw its way back into relevance. This isn’t a school hoping to make the NCAA Tournament. This is the defending national champion.

Programs spend decades chasing what Michigan just accomplished. So why is Michigan acting like it’s in a hurry? That’s the part I don’t understand. Maybe Boynton becomes a home-run hire.

Maybe he absolutely crushes it.

Maybe five years from now we’re all talking about what a brilliant decision this was. But if you’re Michigan, shouldn’t you at least exhaust every possible option first? Shouldn’t you make Billy Donovan tell you no?

Twice? Maybe three times?

Because if there was ever a moment to swing for the fences, this is it. The argument against Donovan always sounds like it’s coming from 2015.

“He hasn’t coached college basketball in years.” “He might not want to recruit.” “The game has changed.”

Exactly.

Read more

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The World Cup Reminded Me Who We Are

Football unites.

FIFA’s “Stop Hate” campaign hits differently right now. The commercials that play during the World Cup all carry the same message: football belongs to everyone.

If football were a country, it would be the largest in the world. If it were a language, it would be spoken in every corner of the globe.

Yesterday, I went to the World Cup in Atlanta.

It was one of the best days of my life.

I woke up feeling like I had been shot out of a cannon. The World Cup has been my No. 1 bucket-list item for as long as I can remember. It was a dream. Yesterday, I got to live it.

I watched Czechia take on South Africa, but the match was only part of the experience. I went alone. I was determined to make friends. And I did.

Three guys from Sheffield, England sat next to me. They had flown across the Atlantic and were driving through Nashville today on their way to Boston for England’s next match. We hit it off immediately. In fact, I’m showing them around Nashville while they’re here.

That’s what the World Cup does.

It brings people together.

Behind me sat a father and his two sons who had traveled from South Africa. Their joy, their pride, and their love for both their country and the sport were infectious. I was surrounded by the world. And I was happy. So happy.

As the South African supporters sang their national anthem before kickoff, I found myself getting emotional. Not because I understood every word, but because I understood exactly what it meant to them. It was beautiful. The experience reminded me of something simple:

People are far more alike than they are different.

When nobody is trying to divide us, people are generally kind, curious, welcoming, and good. Which brings me to America.

The last decade has been exhausting. Every day we’re told how divided we are. We’re told to fear one another. We’re encouraged to be angry. We’re fed a constant diet of outrage. But standing in that stadium yesterday, surrounded by people from all over the world, I couldn’t help but wonder:

Is the divide really as deep as we’re told?

Or are we being sold a version of reality that benefits the people who profit from fear, anger, and conflict? The World Cup is reminding America who it is. As fans from around the globe arrive in our cities, they’re discovering something many never expected.

America is awesome.

Americans are kind.

Americans are welcoming.

Southern hospitality isn’t a myth.

Just ask “German Freddy.”

His viral adventures across America have become must-watch content because they reveal something many people around the world don’t hear enough: the America they see on television isn’t the America they experience when they get here. Time and time again, visitors tell the same story.

“The news made it seem different.”

“They told us Americans hated everyone.”

“They told us America was angry.”

Then they arrive and discover friendly strangers, welcoming communities, and people eager to share their cities, their culture, and their lives. That’s because most people, everywhere, want the same things. They want to take care of their families. They want to laugh.

They want meaningful friendships.

They want opportunities. They want a better life for their children.

The languages may be different. The food may be different. The traditions may be different. But humanity is the same.

Yesterday wasn’t just about crossing a dream off my bucket list.

It was a reminder. A reminder that people are people. A reminder that the world is far more connected than we realize. And a reminder that America, at its best, remains exactly what it has always aspired to be:

A place where people from every corner of the world can come together and feel welcome.

For one afternoon in Atlanta, the world gathered in one stadium.

And for a few hours, it felt like we remembered that.

With Sorsby headed to the NFL Supplemental Draft, Texas Tech has finally done what it should have done from the beginning: turn the page and move forward. We’ll discuss why this is the right outcome and what it means for Texas Tech, the Big 12 and the future of college athletics.

We’ll also revisit the Cody Campbell debate. Was this all part of a brilliant long-term strategy to save college sports? Or has the narrative gotten ahead of the facts? The latest developments suggest Campbell wasn’t exactly Batman sacrificing himself for the greater good.

Plus, the NFL has now thrown its support behind the Protect College Sports Act, adding a major new voice to one of the most important battles shaping the future of college athletics. We’ll break down what the legislation would do, why the NFL is involved, and whether it has a realistic chance of becoming law.

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Sorsby Saga Finally Over

The Brendan Sorsby saga is finally over.

At least the college football part of it.

We learned yesterday that Sorsby is entering the NFL Supplemental Draft, taking the question of his eligibility out of college football’s hands and placing it squarely in the hands of Roger Goodell and the NFL.

Texas Tech released a statement, including a lengthy message from Cody Campbell. Sorsby is still going to receive financial support. If Texas Tech wants to honor its commitment to him, that’s their choice. If they want to help him continue his recovery, even better.

Frankly, that’s what should have happened all along.

I’ve said from the beginning that Texas Tech should have supported Brendan Sorsby. They should have helped him. They should have gotten him treatment. They should have stood by him as a person. They did all those things. I commend them.

But they also should have known he couldn’t play football for them.

Those two things were never mutually exclusive.

In the end, common sense prevailed.

Yes, the situation could have been much worse. Sorsby could have taken the field. Texas Tech could have pushed this all the way through the season. They could have knowingly ignored one of the few bright-line rules left in college athletics and dared everyone to stop them.

That would have been a direct shot at the integrity of competition.

Yesterday, I wrote that perhaps Cody Campbell was playing a bigger game. Maybe he was willing to absorb the criticism because he believed this case could force Congress to finally address the chaos surrounding college athletics. Maybe Sorsby had become the catalyst for larger reform.

Today, that theory feels far less likely.

Instead, this increasingly looks like a powerful booster trying to ensure his investment got on the field.

I understand the passion. I admire the commitment. I respect the willingness to fight for what he believes in.

But sometimes passion can create tunnel vision.

At some point, you have to zoom out and see the bigger picture.

The bigger picture was never Texas Tech’s quarterback room. The bigger picture was maintaining a basic standard of fairness in college sports.

Whether Texas Tech takes a step back on the field this season remains to be seen. Maybe Sorsby’s absence matters. Maybe it doesn’t. Maybe the young quarterback waiting in the wings gets healthy and plays great. Maybe a year from now we’re all wondering why this became such a massive story in the first place.

My guess is that, with time, Cody Campbell will realize this wasn’t worth it.

The reputational damage. The criticism. The questions about Texas Tech’s priorities. The perception that winning mattered more than accountability.

That’s a heavy price to pay.

Now the story moves to the NFL.

Will Roger Goodell view Sorsby’s gambling history as disqualifying?

Will a team decide he’s worth the risk?

Will someone believe enough in his talent and his recovery to give him an opportunity?

Those are fair questions.

And unlike the college football questions, they aren’t easy to answer.

What is clear is that the college football portion of this saga ended exactly where it should have.

Support the person.

Help the recovery.

Honor your commitments.

But don’t ignore the rules.

This morning, I got a message from a subscriber named Travis Vargo. He was commenting on today’s commentary on Full Ride concerning Texas Tech’s QB.

His argument was simple: What if we’re all looking at the Brendan Sorsby situation the wrong way? What if Cody Campbell isn’t recklessly backing a player who bet on his own team? What if he’s intentionally creating chaos?

I have to admit, it’s an interesting thought.

Because on the surface, Campbell looks awful right now. Texas Tech has dug in behind Sorsby. Campbell has dug in behind Sorsby. The messaging coming out of Lubbock has often felt tone deaf. We’ve heard variations of:

“We’re doing right by the kid.”

“It’s not like he committed murder.”

“If this happened at LSU, nobody would care.”

Those arguments haven’t landed with a lot of people because they ignore the obvious reality. This isn’t a gray area. Sorsby bet on his own sport. He bet on Indiana football while he was an Indiana football player.

That’s the third rail of sports.

Fans can disagree on NIL. They can disagree on transfers. They can disagree on revenue sharing. Gambling on your own sport is different. It’s why so many people have reacted so strongly to Texas Tech’s support of him.

Today on Full Ride, Rick Neuheisel and I spent a large chunk of the show discussing the latest twist after the Big 12 filed a federal legal complaint seeking the ability to enforce its own rules against Sorsby. That comes just days after a Lubbock County judge granted an injunction that temporarily cleared the way for him to play.

The whole thing has become a complete circus.

And that’s where Travis’ theory enters the conversation. What if Campbell doesn’t care that he looks bad? What if he knows he looks bad? What if he’s willing to be the villain?

For months, Campbell has argued that only Congress can fix college sports. He has repeatedly pushed for federal legislation and warned that the current system is unsustainable. Maybe he believes the fastest way to get Congress involved is not through another hearing.

Not through another white paper. Not through another commissioner press conference. Maybe it takes something outrageous.

Something that makes everyone angry.

Something that forces people who normally ignore college sports governance to suddenly pay attention.

If that’s the strategy, it’s certainly working. Everyone is talking about Brendan Sorsby. Everyone is talking about gambling. Everyone is talking about eligibility. Everyone is talking about whether college sports has any enforceable rules left.

The question is whether Campbell is intentionally lighting the match.

And if he is, that’s a dangerous game. Because the collateral damage is real.

Every day this drags on, the public perception isn’t that Campbell is a visionary reformer. The perception is that Texas Tech paid a quarterback and now wants different rules because the quarterback they paid has a gambling problem.

Fair or unfair, that’s what many fans see. Which brings me back to Travis’ message. Could Cody Campbell possibly be thinking ten moves ahead?

Sure.

The guy didn’t become a billionaire by accident.

Could he be willing to absorb criticism if he believes it leads to broader legislative reform?

Absolutely.

But if that’s true, then we’re talking about something much bigger than Brendan Sorsby. We’re talking about a man willing to become the villain in order to force a conversation. Which brings me to a ridiculous comparison that somehow feels appropriate.

At the end of The Dark Knight, Commissioner Gordon says of Batman:

“He’s the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now. So we'll hunt him, because he can take it. Because he's not our hero. He's a silent guardian, a watchful protector. A Dark Knight."

Could Cody Campbell be trying to play that role for college sports?

Could he be willingly sacrificing his own reputation because he believes the system needs to be blown up before it can be rebuilt?Or is the simpler explanation the correct one?

That Texas Tech wants its quarterback on the field. That Campbell wants the player he invested in to play. And that everything else is just justification after the fact.

I honestly don’t know.

But I do know this.

If Travis is right, Cody Campbell isn’t a reckless billionaire.

He’s Bruce Wayne.

And if Travis is wrong, this remains one of the worst self-inflicted public relations disasters college football has seen in years. Either way, Congress is paying attention now.

And maybe that was the point all along.

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College football food matters.

AR’s Hot Honey is made with real honey and real peppers — no vinegar, no corn syrup, no shortcuts. Whether you’re firing up wings, pizza, fried chicken, biscuits, burgers, or your entire Saturday tailgate menu, AR’s belongs on the table.

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Chris Vannini of The Athletic joins Show Pony Live to discuss the latest development in the Brendan Sorsby saga after the Big 12 filed a federal legal challenge aimed at preserving its ability to enforce conference rules and penalties.

Can the conference still punish Texas Tech if Sorsby takes the field? What are the broader implications for conference governance, athlete eligibility, and the increasingly chaotic legal landscape of college sports?

Then we shift from the courtroom to the World Cup.

Chris recently spent time in Dallas covering Japan and the Netherlands and shares what it was like to experience the tournament atmosphere firsthand. From passionate supporters and packed fan zones to the feeling that the world has descended upon North Texas, we discuss why the World Cup is already proving to be one of the most unique sporting events ever held in the United States.

Topics include:

• The Big 12’s legal response in the Brendan Sorsby case

• Conference authority versus court intervention

• What happens next for Texas Tech and Sorsby

• Covering Japan and the Netherlands in Dallas

• The culture, pageantry, and atmosphere of the World Cup

• Why soccer’s biggest event feels different when you’re there in person

Subscribe to Show Pony Media for free and get every podcast, column, and newsletter delivered directly to your inbox.

Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify by searching “Show Pony Live.”

There are weeks where sports feel like a business.

And then there are weeks where sports remind you why you fell in love with them in the first place.

This was one of those weeks. The Knicks are NBA champions. I love it.

Over the last two days, I had the chance to cover the NBA Finals on Mad Dog Sports Radio. On Friday, I filled in for Mad Dog himself. Think about how cool that is for a sports radio nerd like me.

The day before the Knicks won their first championship in generations, I was sitting in for the king of New York sports radio. The significance of that moment wasn’t lost on me for even a second.

Unfortunately, the last half of the show turned into an adventure.

My broadcast equipment decided it had finally reached retirement age.

Believe it or not, I broadcast through Zoom, and the connection box I’ve used for years finally gave up the ghost. Complete disaster. Suddenly I was trying to finish a national radio show using nothing but AirPods.

Not exactly ideal.

But we got through it.

And honestly? Who cares. The moment itself was special enough to overshadow every technical problem. I love New York. I’ve always loved New York.

I admire the grit. The ambition. The dreams. The chaos.

There’s a strange beauty to its imperfections. A beauty to the dirtiness. A beauty to the noise.

New York is perfectly imperfect. It’s my happy place. I go to Broadway whenever I can. I love wandering the city. I love the energy. I love that everyone seems to be chasing something. So seeing the Knicks finally win a championship was incredibly cool.

Game 4 felt like a movie.

Taylor Swift. Mariska Hargitay. Jerry Seinfeld. Larry David. Spike Lee. Sydney Sweeney. Timothée Chalamet.

It felt like every famous person on Earth had gathered inside one arena.

For New Yorkers, this was history. For the NBA, it was perfection.

Internationally, the Wembanyama factor made the series even bigger. France was captivated. The league’s global reach was on full display.

This was the dream scenario for Commissioner Adam Silver. The NBA feels hotter than it has in years. For a few weeks, we stopped talking about load management. We stopped talking about tanking. We stopped talking about television ratings.

We just watched great basketball. And the Knicks winning matters.

It’s the Knicks.

One of the league’s most iconic franchises is finally climbing back to the top. And while we’re handing out credit, let’s give some to Mike Brown.

He walked into one of the most pressure-packed jobs in sports. Tom Thibodeau had been fired because getting close wasn’t good enough anymore. The expectation was simple: finish the job. Brown knew exactly what he was signing up for.

After finishing third in the East, he still delivered a championship.

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Meanwhile, I’ve completely lost my mind over the World Cup.

Most of you know I love soccer.

I’m a Nashville SC season-ticket holder. I’ve followed U.S. Soccer for years. I’ve traveled all over the country to watch the men’s and women’s national teams.

I love the Chicago Bears. I love the Chicago White Sox. But honestly? I’m probably an even bigger fan of U.S. Soccer. When the World Cup arrives, I become completely unreasonable.

Ask my wife.

Ask my dogs.

When the United States played Paraguay on Friday, I was pacing around the house like a lunatic. My blood pressure was probably dangerous. I was shouting nonsense. I couldn’t sit still.

I was a nervous wreck. And then the final whistle blew. What a feeling. I can’t remember the last time I’ve felt that encouraged about a U.S. team. What’s funny is that the buildup to this World Cup didn’t exactly inspire confidence.

We’ve all hoped Mauricio Pochettino would be the guy. The results have been mixed as he’s searched for the right combinations and the right personalities.

But that 4-1 win felt different. The United States looked athletic. Fast. Creative. Confident. Free.

For the first time in a while, they looked like a team with an identity.

And now? I’m all in.

I can’t wait for Friday against Australia.

That excitement makes what happened next even sweeter.

It has been well documented how ridiculous World Cup ticket prices have become.

When FIFA announced the tournament was coming to the United States, I immediately started dreaming. Then I saw the prices. And honestly, I was crushed. Like everyone else, I’ve got bills. Groceries aren’t cheap. Gas isn’t cheap. Life isn’t cheap. I just couldn’t justify spending some of the money FIFA wanted for tickets.

It felt like my bucket-list dream was slipping away. But I kept checking. I kept looking. I stayed patient. And it finally paid off.

I’m going.

Next week I’ll be in Atlanta for Czechia versus South Africa.

I found a great seat for under $200. I couldn’t believe it. This is one of the biggest bucket-list items of my life. Truthfully, I didn’t even care who was playing.

I just wanted to experience the World Cup.

I love soccer. I love meeting people from different cultures. I love hearing different languages. I love the idea that for one month, the entire world gathers around one event. That’s my happy place.

And now I get to experience it firsthand.

That said, FIFA still deserves criticism.

Some of these ticket prices remain absolutely insane, especially for matches involving the biggest nations. The World Cup should belong to the fans. Too often it feels like it’s being priced for corporations. Still, for one afternoon in Atlanta, none of that will matter.

I’ll finally be there.

And I can’t wait.

The College World Series has also been tremendous.

Three days in and we’ve already seen drama everywhere.

Ole Miss was eliminated by Troy today.

The games have been outstanding. What made it even more special for me was hearing about my nephew’s experience.

Last night, we were hanging out with my brother-in-law, nephew, and other members of my wife’s side of the family last night in Nashville. Early this morning they headed to Omaha because my nephew has a youth baseball tournament there.

While they were in town, they went to the College World Series. They absolutely loved it. And that’s what makes Omaha so special. It’s baseball at its purest. No pretense. No gimmicks.

Just dreams.

The College World Series remains one of those rare events where the sport feels bigger than itself.

It’s a place where young players imagine themselves on that field someday. A place where baseball still feels magical. My nephew got to see that with his own eyes today.

And honestly, that’s what this entire week has been about for me.

The Knicks winning a title. The United States finding its form. A World Cup dream finally becoming reality. A kid walking into the College World Series and dreaming big.

Sports can be frustrating.

Sports can be ridiculous.

Sports can break your heart.

But every now and then, they remind us why we fell in love with them in the first place.

This week was one of those reminders.

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There are times when sports become bigger than sports.

The New York Knicks right now are one of those times.

Honestly, it’s probably best they lost Game 3.

I know that sounds ridiculous. Knicks fans are chasing their first championship since 1973. They’ve waited more than half a century for this moment. Generations of fans have lived and died without seeing a title parade. They deserve to celebrate.

But after watching what happened Thursday night, I have a genuine concern.

If Game 4 had been a clincher, New York City might not have survived.

The Knicks were dead.

Cooked.

Finished.

Down 29 points.

The Spurs had them exactly where they wanted them. Madison Square Garden had gone from electric to anxious. The dream was slipping away.

Then, like The Undertaker sitting up in the middle of a WWE match, the Knicks rose from the dead.

Possession by possession.

Bucket by bucket.

Suddenly, the impossible became possible.

Then came the moment.

OG Anunoby flying through the air to tip in a missed Jalen Brunson three as the clock expired. The Garden exploded. The city exploded. Social media exploded.

And somehow the Knicks had stolen a one-point victory after trailing almost the entire game.

It was one of the greatest basketball games I’ve ever watched.

The game itself was incredible.

The crowd may have been even better.

Taylor Swift was there wearing a Stevie Nicks shirt. Spike Lee was doing Spike Lee things. Ben Stiller looked like he was living and dying with every possession. Timothy Chalamet, Tracy Morgan, Larry David, Mariska Hargitay, Jimmy Fallon, Jerry Seinfeld—it felt like every famous New Yorker on Earth was squeezed into Madison Square Garden.

Even Kirk Herbstreit showed up.

John Calipari was there supporting Karl-Anthony Towns.

Jay Wright was there supporting his Villanova guys—Brunson, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges.

It felt less like a basketball game and more like the center of the universe.

That’s one of the things that makes basketball unique. The stars aren’t tucked away in luxury suites. They’re right there. Courtside. Part of the atmosphere. Part of the show.

Watching Taylor Swift jump up and down during those final moments was honestly awesome. Don’t be a hater! Embrace your inner Swiftie!

The whole scene felt larger than life.

Which brings me back to my original point.

New York wasn’t ready for a championship celebration Thursday night.

Not even close.

The city has already gone completely insane during this playoff run.

Knicks fans have been everywhere. The videos have been nonstop. The celebrations have bordered on chaos. The energy has been incredible.

And apparently not everyone is keeping things in perspective.

We’ve already seen reports of fans harassing opposing supporters. Now there’s the bizarre story involving Victor Wembanyama and an egg outside the team hotel.

What are we doing here?

These people are wild.

Every day I become more convinced we’re living in a giant human zoo for the entertainment of some advanced civilization somewhere in the universe.

Look around.

How else do you explain any of this?

And yet I absolutely love it.

I find myself rooting for the Knicks.

Not because I’m a Knicks fan.

Not because I have any connection to New York. (Although, we all know I LOVE Broadway)

Because this is fun.

Sports are supposed to be fun.

The atmosphere has been incredible. The city feels alive. The celebrities, the history, the desperation, the hope—it all combines into something that feels bigger than a normal championship run.

Now the series shifts to San Antonio.

And that’s probably a good thing.

If the Knicks win Game 5, they can celebrate their first title since 1973 from a safe distance. Thousands of miles separate the team from the city.

That cushion may be necessary.

Because if New York reacted like this to Game 3, I’m not sure what happens if they actually win the whole thing.

Then again, maybe they don’t finish it in Game 5.

Maybe they lose.

Maybe the series comes back to Madison Square Garden.

Maybe we do this all over again.

Except this time a win means a championship.

If that happens, God help us all.

I sincerely hope New Yorkers handle a potential title responsibly.

Based on recent behavior, however, I wouldn’t exactly bet the mortgage on it.

This thing could get crazy.

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The Brendan Sorsby story continues to generate debate across college football, but today we’re taking a different approach.

Joining me is Dustin Swedelson of VSiN, one of the sharpest voices in the sports betting industry and someone who knows this story from a perspective few others can provide.

Dustin and I dive into the gambling side of the Sorsby controversy, discussing the ethical questions surrounding sports wagering, why betting on your own team crosses a line that many view as non-negotiable, and the conflicts of interest that arise when sports, gambling, and competition become intertwined.

We also explore how the rapid growth of legalized sports betting has changed the landscape for athletes, schools, leagues, and fans—and whether enough safeguards truly exist.

Beyond the headlines, this conversation is also a bit of a reunion.

Years ago, Dustin was my producer at SiriusXM. Today, he’s one of the hosts helping drive the conversation at VSiN. We talk about his career path, the lessons learned along the way, and what it took to go from producing shows behind the scenes to becoming a nationally recognized on-air personality in the sports betting space.

It’s a conversation about gambling, ethics, college football, broadcasting, and chasing opportunities when they present themselves.

Listen now on Apple Podcasts and Spotify by searching “Show Pony Live.”

Watch the full episode on YouTube and follow along live each week on X and YouTube.

And don’t forget to subscribe to ShowPonyMedia.com for free. You’ll get every episode of Show Pony Live delivered directly to your inbox along with columns, analysis, and exclusive content throughout the week.

Show Pony Live with Dustin Swedelson is available now.

After Kirby Hocutt just released his statement regarding Brendan Sorsby, I found myself asking the same question I’ve been asking since Monday.

Why is this hard?

Seriously.

Why is this hard?

I’ve read the statement. I’ve read it again. And somehow I think it makes the situation worse.

Hocutt says he believes “integrity is central to our industry’s success.”

I agree.

That’s exactly why Brendan Sorsby shouldn’t be playing.

This isn’t some complicated NCAA case buried in legal gray area. This isn’t a recruiting violation. This isn’t a paperwork mistake. This is gambling. The line has to be somewhere, and if betting on your own sport while enrolled at the school isn’t the line, then what is?

The entire statement feels like an attempt to move the conversation away from gambling and toward recovery.

Now, before anyone loses their mind, let me be clear. I’m glad Brendan Sorsby got treatment. I’m glad he’s getting help. I’m glad he’s working on recovery. I hope he stays healthy. I hope he lives a great life. I hope he becomes wildly successful.

But none of those things require him to play quarterback at Texas Tech.

Those are two separate conversations.

Hocutt writes that Texas Tech’s role has been “to support his recovery, not to engineer his eligibility.”

Okay.

But Texas Tech is still supporting the outcome. Texas Tech is still planning to put him on the field. Texas Tech is still defending the decision.

At some point, you can’t hide behind the judge, the legal system, or the lawsuit and pretend you’re merely an observer. You’re participating. You’re making a choice.

And that’s what I find so strange about this entire thing.

Why is Texas Tech so willing to absorb this criticism? Why is Kirby Hocutt putting himself out there like this? Is it simply because they desperately needed a quarterback? Is it because they’ve spent a fortune assembling this roster and believe Sorsby gives them the best chance to win?

Or is something bigger happening?

Because right now it almost feels like everyone involved is intentionally pushing this issue to the breaking point. Maybe this becomes the case that finally forces Congress to move faster. Maybe this becomes the example everyone points to when they argue college sports needs a completely different governing structure.

I don’t know.

What I do know is that Hocutt spends a lot of this statement defending Texas Tech’s intentions. But intentions aren’t really the issue. The issue is trust.

If fans start wondering whether games can be compromised, what exactly are we selling? Competition? Or entertainment? Because sports only work when people believe the outcome is legitimate.

And that’s why this shouldn’t be difficult.

You can support Brendan Sorsby. You can get him treatment. You can care about him as a human being. And you can still say he shouldn’t play.

Those ideas are not mutually exclusive.

In fact, that’s the distinction Texas Tech still seems unwilling to make.

Brendan Sorsby is eligible once again, at least for now.

A Lubbock County judge has granted Sorsby an injunction, temporarily restoring his eligibility despite his suspension stemming from sports gambling activity while at Indiana. The ruling has sent shockwaves through the college sports world and raised a host of new questions about NCAA enforcement, athlete rights, and the growing role of the courts in college athletics.

On today’s episode of Show Pony Live, I’m joined by legendary legal analyst, former prosecutor, and trial attorney Jack Ford to examine the case from a legal perspective.

What exactly did the judge rule? Why was an injunction granted? What burden did Sorsby have to meet? And perhaps most importantly, what happens next?

Jack helps us understand the legal process, the NCAA’s potential options moving forward, and whether this case could have ramifications far beyond one quarterback’s eligibility.

We also discuss:

• The legal standard required to obtain an injunction.

• Why courts continue to intervene in college sports disputes.

• The NCAA’s chances of ultimately prevailing in the case.

• Whether gambling-related violations should be treated differently than other NCAA infractions.

• What this ruling could mean for future eligibility battles.

If you’ve been trying to separate the legal realities from the social media outrage, this episode is for you.

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Thank you for supporting independent college sports coverage.

— Chris Childers
Show Pony Media

Being a human is weird.

Honestly, sometimes I wonder if we’re all just living in some giant human zoo built for the amusement of a more advanced civilization somewhere out in the cosmos. Maybe every Tuesday night a family on Planet X gathers around a screen and watches us the way we watch reality television.

“Look at these people,” they say. “They’ve done it again,” they exclaim.“What absurd creatures.”

Because what else am I supposed to make of the Brendan Sorsby situation?

The news broke today that a Lubbock County judge granted Sorsby an injunction, making him immediately eligible to play while his legal battle with the NCAA continues. The NCAA has already appealed and is pushing for a speedy process.

And my reaction wasn’t outrage.

It wasn’t even surprise.

It was simply:

What the hell is this world?

Nothing makes sense anymore.

Texas Tech knows Brendan Sorsby bet on games. He admitted it. We know he bet on Indiana games while he was at Indiana. We know he violated NCAA rules.

Yet here we are.

If this same situation happened at a rival school, can you imagine the reaction? Tech fans would be losing their minds. Administrators would be issuing statements. Coaches would be demanding accountability.

Instead, everybody suddenly discovers shades of gray when the quarterback happens to be wearing their colors.

Funny how that works.

The entire thing also raises questions about how much influence powerful boosters and donors now wield in college athletics. Whether fair or unfair, plenty of people around the Big 12 are asking how much power exists behind the scenes in Lubbock and who is really steering the ship. What exactly do we know about this Cody Campbell guy?

What stunned me most, though, was the injunction itself.

The judge didn’t rule on the merits of the case.

But let’s be honest about what happened.

By granting the injunction, the practical effect was allowing Sorsby to play football this season because sitting out would supposedly cause irreparable harm.

That tells you everything you need to know about the immediate intention.

The reaction around college athletics has been fierce.

Athletic directors are angry.

Administrators are angry.

Fans are angry.

Rumors are flying that some schools don’t even want to play Texas Tech this season. Others are privately hoping public pressure becomes so overwhelming that the whole thing collapses under its own weight.

Maybe it will.

Maybe it won’t.

But here’s where the hypocrisy enters the conversation.

Everyone wants to talk about Brendan Sorsby.

Few people want to talk about us.

Let’s stop pretending gambling isn’t exactly what modern sports wanted.

We plaster betting odds across broadcasts.

We celebrate partnerships with sportsbooks.

We run commercials every commercial break.

We build entire television segments around point spreads.

Then we act shocked when someone develops a gambling problem.

Sorsby clearly has an addictive personality. He took the bait.

Hook.

Line.

Sinker.

That doesn’t excuse what he did. He knew the rules. He broke them.

But are we really surprised?

There’s a reason Las Vegas looks the way it does.

There’s a reason sportsbook companies generate billions.

There’s a reason states love the tax revenue.

There’s also a reason every gambling advertisement ends with a warning and a phone number to call if you have a problem.

The industry knows exactly what it’s selling.

Honestly, wasn’t this bound to happen?

Maybe this embarrassing day in sports history is exactly what we deserve.

The NCAA is hoping an appeal can restore some order.

Many fans spent Sunday arguing that if Sorsby plays this fall, the integrity of college football is gone forever.

Others responded by saying that ship sailed years ago.

I saw plenty of people point to Michigan winning a national championship despite NCAA investigations and controversies hanging over the program.

Fair point.

College sports today often feels less like an organized system and more like a 1990s punk concert.

Anarchy everywhere.

Nobody in charge.

Everybody screaming. Feels like a never-ending mosh pit.

Rules that exist until someone decides they don’t.

Maybe this is a new low.

It certainly feels like one.

But the more I thought about it, the less interested I became in Brendan Sorsby and the more interested I became in humanity itself.

Why are people so bizarre?

Why are we so complicated?

Read more

Last night, I attended CMA Fest with a friend, and it got me thinking about someone I’ve admired for a very long time: Carly Pearce.

There are plenty of talented people in the music business. Plenty of great singers. Plenty of gifted songwriters. But every once in a while, you come across an artist who feels different. An artist whose music seems inseparable from who they are as a person.

That’s Carly.

A true country music artist in every sense of the word.

Someone who appreciates the soul behind a song. Someone who understands that music isn’t just about melodies and hooks. It’s about telling stories that people can see themselves in. I’ve always felt her greatest gift was her ability to write songs that are relatable, moving, and deeply human. Add in her uniquely enchanting voice, and it’s easy to understand why so many people connect with her music.

Carly and I aren’t close friends. “Distant acquaintance” is probably the better term. I know her, and she knows me. I’ll occasionally send a text, and she’s always gracious enough to respond. That may not sound like much, but in an industry filled with people who become larger than life, I’ve always appreciated how genuine she is.

And that’s part of why I admire her so much.

But my admiration goes far beyond her talent or her success.

I admire her because of her story.

I first met Carly Pearce around ten years ago. Back then, she was a young artist trying to find her way in a town that can be equal parts dream factory and heartbreak machine. Nashville is filled with talented people. Every songwriter round has someone who could be a star. Every bar has a singer with a great voice. Every listening room is full of people chasing the same dream.

Most of them never get there.

That’s not because they aren’t talented. Sometimes it’s timing. Sometimes it’s luck. Sometimes it’s simply that there are only so many seats available at the table.

That’s why Carly’s journey has always stood out to me.

Long before the awards and hit records, she was grinding. Playing bars. Playing listening rooms. Playing small showcases. Playing anywhere someone would hand her a microphone and give her a chance.

I can still remember seeing her perform at the Listening Room Cafe and thinking there was something special there. I used to love it when she played the song, “You Know Where to Find Me,” acoustically. It was a special moment in time.

Even then.

Before the hits.

Before the awards.

Before the Grand Ole Opry.

Before the sold-out crowds.

There was something about her.

Not because she acted like a star.

Because she believed in the work.

Because she showed up.

Because she kept showing up.

The day she came in with “Every Little Thing” still climbing, SiriusXM was featuring her as a Highway Find. She was performing at the Grand Ole Opry that night at the Ryman Auditorium, and I may or may not have mentioned the fact in front of her that I wished I could attend that night. :)

She told me she would get me on the list.

Shortly before the photo above was taken, Carly told me she had lunch earlier that day with Scott Borchetta. The deal wasn’t done yet, but it was clear something was happening. She had been grinding for years, and for the first time it felt like the industry was starting to catch up to what so many of us already believed.

What I remember most is something she said that night.

She told me that ever since “Every Little Thing” started finding success, people all over town were suddenly responding to her calls.

I never forgot that.

Nashville can be a funny place. For years, people don’t have time for you. Then one song hits, one opportunity breaks your way, and suddenly everyone wants to take the meeting.

Standing backstage at the Ryman that night, it felt like I was watching one of those moments happen in real time.

What many people don’t realize is just how long the road was.

Carly grew up in Kentucky and was so committed to country music that she left high school as a teenager to perform at Dollywood. Think about that for a moment. Most teenagers are worried about prom and football games. Carly was betting on herself and chasing a career in music.

Even after moving to Nashville, success didn’t come quickly.

In fact, there were years where it looked like it might never come.

Country music was in a different era then. Female artists often faced an uphill battle for radio airplay and attention. There were long periods where women struggled to get the same opportunities as their male counterparts. Many talented artists disappeared before they ever got their chance.

There were times Carly openly questioned whether she should continue.

Yet she did.

She kept writing.

She kept performing.

She kept believing.

And eventually, that persistence paid off.

One of my favorite memories involves “Every Little Thing.”

A lot of people passed on that song.

But SiriusXM didn’t.

The program directors at SiriusXM heard something in it. Scott Borchetta heard something in it. JR Schumann heard something in it. The people around that project understood what it could be.

And when you heard Carly sing it in a room, you felt it too.

The emotion was undeniable.

The honesty was undeniable.

The song didn’t sound manufactured.

It sounded lived.

That’s why it connected.

Around that time, Carly wasn’t just making appearances on SiriusXM’s The Highway as a Highway Find. She would also come on Full Ride with Rick Neuheisel and me.

Now, let’s be honest, Carly wasn’t exactly a die-hard sports fan.

It didn’t matter.

She fit right in.

Those interviews were always fun because she was willing to laugh, joke around, and simply be herself. There wasn’t an ego. There wasn’t a celebrity act. She was just Carly.

One of my favorite moments came the week before Christmas when she brought her guitar into the studio and performed “Silent Night” for us live on the air.

Think about that for a second.

A young artist still trying to establish herself, carrying a guitar into a sports radio studio and singing Christmas music with two sports talk hosts.

It probably shouldn’t have worked.

But it did.

Because that’s who Carly has always been. Authentic. Comfortable in her own skin. Willing to connect with people regardless of whether they were country music fans, sports fans, or anything else.

And that’s something I’ve never forgotten.

There’s another story that means even more to me.

A few years ago, my friend Val was diagnosed with brain cancer.

Val was a huge country music fan and loved Carly Pearce.

Like anyone facing something that devastating, she needed encouragement. She needed hope. She needed something to smile about.

So I reached out to Carly.

I sent her a text explaining the situation and asked if there was any chance she could send Val a quick message.

Almost immediately, Carly recorded a video.

Not because she had to.

Not because there was publicity involved.

Not because anyone would ever know she did it.

She simply took a few minutes out of her day to encourage someone she had never met who was facing the fight of her life.

Val received that video and absolutely loved it.

Unfortunately, she passed away not long afterward.

But I’ll never forget what Carly did.

The gesture probably took her only a few minutes.

For Val and the people who loved her, it meant so much more than that.

Moments like that tell you who someone really is.

Awards are wonderful.

Hit records are wonderful.

Sold-out concerts are wonderful.

But character matters too.

And in my experience, Carly has always shown up when it matters.

Today, Carly Pearce is one of the most accomplished artists in country music.

She has earned multiple No. 1 songs.

She won a CMA Award for Female Vocalist of the Year.

She won an ACM Award for Female Artist of the Year.

Her collaboration with Ashley McBryde, “Never Wanted to Be That Girl,” won both CMA and ACM awards and earned a Grammy Award.

And perhaps most importantly, she became a member of the Grand Ole Opry—an honor that every country artist dreams about and one that represents acceptance into the very fabric of country music history. Knowing her the little bit that I do, I would bet that accomplishment likely means more than any other.

But when I think about Carly, those aren’t the things that come to mind first.

I think about the years before any of that happened.

I think about the uncertainty.

I think about the small rooms.

I think about the moments when quitting probably would have seemed reasonable.

That’s why her success means something.

Last night, she talked about attending CMA fest with her mom at Nissan Stadium, years earlier, dreaming of being a performer on the main stage someday. She did it.

In today’s world, we love overnight success stories. We love viral moments. We love pretending success happens quickly.

Most of the time, it doesn’t.

Most of the time, success is built quietly.

It’s built through years of work nobody sees.

It’s built through disappointments.

It’s built through rejection.

It’s built through perseverance.

That’s what Carly Pearce represents to me.

Not fame.

Not awards.

Not hit songs.

Perseverance.

At 43 years old, I find myself admiring that quality more than ever. Talent is important. Opportunity matters. But I’ve come to appreciate people who simply refuse to quit.

People who keep showing up.

People who keep betting on themselves.

People who continue moving forward even when the outcome isn’t guaranteed.

That’s what Carly did.

And that’s why I was thinking about her last night at CMA Fest.

Yes, I saw a successful artist standing on one of country music’s biggest stages.

But more importantly, I saw someone who never stopped believing.

Someone who never stopped working.

Someone who never stopped chasing the dream.

And that’s why Carly Pearce is one of my heroes.

We recap the Women’s College World Series and discuss Texas capturing its second consecutive national championship. What made the Longhorns so difficult to beat, and where does this title run rank among recent champions?

We also take a closer look at Alabama’s season and the culture that continues to make the Crimson Tide one of the most respected programs in college softball. From Patrick Murphy’s leadership to the family atmosphere that keeps former players connected to the program long after their playing days are over, we explore what makes Alabama softball different.

Plus:

• Texas’ championship formula

• Key moments from the WCWS

• Alabama’s postseason run

• The growth of softball on the national stage

• What the future holds for the sport

Thank you for listening, watching, and supporting Show Pony Media.

If you enjoy the podcast, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend.

🐴 SHOW PONY UNIVERSITY

The next four-week session of Show Pony University is underway. Drawing on more than 20 years in national sports radio and my master’s degree in Journalism and Media from the University of Alabama, I teach the fundamentals of content creation, interviewing, show preparation, audience engagement, branding, and finding your unique voice.

For information on future classes, visit ShowPonyMedia.com or reply to any newsletter.

As always, subscribe free to Show Pony Media and have every podcast and article delivered directly to your inbox.

A friend of mine who is a prominent executive in entertainment said something to me recently that I haven’t been able to get out of my head.

“Honestly, I don’t care as long as Auburn wins at least eight games.”

That was his response when we were discussing the possibility of college football eventually breaking away into some version of a super league.

The ACC, Big 12, Group of Five, regional traditions, and everybody else?

Not his concern.

Just make sure Auburn wins.

The more I think about it, the more I wonder if that isn’t the prevailing attitude across much of the South.

Yesterday, Congress held a hearing on the future of college athletics. The witnesses included Nick Saban, Gordon Gee, Pete Bevacqua and others. The focus was the Protect College Sports Act, the bipartisan legislation sponsored by Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell that is attempting to bring some order to the chaos engulfing college sports. Cruz made it clear that he does not want to see college athletics devolve into a collection of super leagues. He has repeatedly framed the legislation as an attempt to preserve what fans love about college sports.

Today, according to Yahoo Sports reporting, Cruz is scheduled to meet with SEC commissioner Greg Sankey and Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti. The timing is significant because both conferences have already announced that they do not support the Protect College Sports Act in its current form.

The SEC and Big Ten say the bill leaves critical issues unresolved and doesn’t provide the protections they believe are necessary. They also oppose provisions that would potentially allow broader pooling of media rights revenue.

That’s the political fight.

But I’m interested in something different.

Do the fans care?

Because I don’t want a super league.

I don’t want college football to become an SEC-heavy enterprise with the Big Ten serving as the supporting cast.

I don’t want a future where we simply grab Florida State, Miami, Clemson, North Carolina and a handful of other brands and leave everybody else behind.

I don’t want an ecosystem where Iowa State, Oklahoma State, Arizona State, Kansas State, Oregon State, Washington State and dozens of others are effectively told, “Thanks for playing. The adults are taking over now.”

Maybe that makes me old.

I grew up loving a different version of college football.

I loved when the Pac-10 mattered.

I loved when the Big Eight mattered.

I loved when geography mattered.

I loved when conferences felt different.

I loved when regional identity wasn’t something to be eliminated but something to be celebrated.

In the 1990s, Colorado won a national championship. Georgia Tech won a national championship. Washington won a national championship. Nebraska rose from the Plains. The Pac-10 was thriving. College football felt national because power was spread throughout the country.

Today, power is concentrated in a way we’ve never seen before.

The SEC deserves enormous credit for much of that. The league invested. It innovated. It marketed itself brilliantly. It won championships. It built a machine.

The slogan says it all.

“It Just Means More.”

And for millions of people across the South, it truly does.

College football is not simply entertainment in this region. It is identity. It is culture. It is community. It is often the most visible source of regional pride.

The South dominates college football.

The South knows it.

The South is proud of it.

Which leads me to the uncomfortable question.

If the SEC and Big Ten eventually create a structure that benefits them at the expense of everyone else, will Southern fans care?

Or will they simply say, “As long as my team is winning.”

Read more

On today’s Show Pony Live, we preview the congressional hearing featuring Nick Saban and Notre Dame Athletic Director Pete Bevacqua and discuss what lawmakers are hoping to accomplish as college athletics continues to wrestle with NIL, revenue sharing, and a rapidly changing landscape.

We also tackle a question that has been on my mind for a while: What if college sports should have never been run as a for-profit enterprise in the first place? What if the money and resources generated by college athletics had remained focused on creating opportunities for student-athletes rather than chasing bigger revenues and television deals?

Plus, I share a personal story. Recently, I accepted the public address announcer position for Middle Tennessee football at my alma mater. The opportunity made me reflect on where my career began, the people who opened doors for me, and how one decision can alter the course of a life.

All that and more on today’s episode of Show Pony Live.

🎙️ Show Pony University Cohort 2 begins Wednesday at 8 PM Eastern.

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If you’ve ever wanted to improve your interviewing skills, learn how to build a compelling show, create better content, develop your on-air personality, or grow your personal brand, this four-week course is designed for you.

The reviews from the first cohort have been incredible, and I’d love to have you join us.

More information available at ShowPonyMedia.com.

What did we actually learn from the meetings? How much power do conferences really have? Where is the sport headed next? And what should fans be paying attention to as the battle for college athletics continues to unfold?

Tonight, I welcome Chris Doering of ESPN and SiriusXM to Show Pony Live.

Chris and I discuss the biggest takeaways from last week’s SEC meetings, the current state of college football, and the challenges facing the sport as conference leaders, television partners, and lawmakers all attempt to shape its future.

We also talk about Chris’s unique journey from SEC player to broadcaster and the lessons he’s learned during his successful media career.

And yes, we address perhaps the most important topic of all.

Chris Doering takes three baths a day.

Not showers. Baths.

We’ll get to the bottom of that mystery as well.

Thanks for listening and supporting Show Pony Media.

Show Pony University Starts Wednesday

Sign-up for Show Pony University here!

The next cohort of Show Pony University begins on Wednesday, June 3rd, at 8 PM Eastern.

Over four weeks, I’ll teach the skills I’ve developed during more than two decades in national radio:

• Show structure and preparation
• Interviewing techniques
• Teases, hooks, and audience retention
• Finding your voice and building your brand
• Creating content that people actually want to consume

The first cohort exceeded every expectation I had. The feedback from students has been incredible, and several told me they received more practical broadcasting education in four weeks than they did during their college coursework.

If you’re a podcaster, broadcaster, content creator, aspiring sports media member, or simply someone who wants to communicate more effectively, I’d love to have you join us.

For details and registration, visit ShowPonyMedia.com.