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There was no exact plan for Fresh Takes, but it wasn't for long. Nick Felice and Paul Russo discussed the opening season of TGL. The guys talked about the latest from the NFL as they enter a new year and how the NBA is shaping up with 20 games to go. Lastly, Nick pays tribute to Kingda Ka, once the world's tallest roller coaster.

With the 4 Nations in the rearview mirror, the NHL has the headlines once again. Nick Felice and Paul Russo discuss Capitals' legend Alex Ovechkin nearing Wayne Gretzky's all-time career goals tally. Meanwhile, a couple of veterans in the MLB and NFL are potentially on the move. The guys talk about whether Matthew Stafford departs the Rams via trade and if we will see Nolan Arenado outside of Cardinal red this upcoming baseball season.

The first weekend of 2025 without football didn't leave much to not be discussed. Nick Felice and Paul Russo talk about the 4 Nations Face-Off as it has gripped much of the talking points across sports. At the same time, the NBA had another clunker of an All-Star Weekend, the guy discuss if anything can save the NBA from a similar fate the NFL had with the Pro Bowl. Next the guys talk about the latest in college hoops as the regular season begins to wrap up. Lastly, Nick and Paul talk the Daytona 500 that saw William Byron go back-to-back in the race.

No three-peat in the NFL, as the Eagles defeated the Chiefs in the Super Bowl. Nick Felice and Paul Russo recap the game and what were the key differences in a game that ultimately wasn't all that close. With no football now, the guys shift focus to baseball and NASCAR as the sports descend upon Florida and Arizona to get their season underway.

It is Super Bowl week which means it is the podcast all about the big game. Nick Felice and Paul Russo look at the championship game for the NFL and discuss what to expect, who will be the x-factors, and some of the best and most unique bets to make. The guys then make their predictions for the game and who will win. Before the podcast wraps up, Nick and Paul discuss an already active NBA trade deadline that kicked off with the shocking trade of Luka Doncic from Dallas to the Lakers.

The Chiefs made it through the AFC again, and the Eagles make another appearance in the Super Bowl. Nick Felice and Paul Russo recap Conference Championship games in the NFL as Kansas City and Philadelphia will meet next week in the Super Bowl. The guys also do a whip around of other sports during a slower week in the sports world.

The Washington Commanders surprised the NFL and joined the Chiefs, Bills, and Eagles in Conference Championship Sunday. Nick Felice and Paul Russo recap the Divisional Round and look ahead to this weekend with the Super Bowl waiting in the wings for two teams. Next, the guys discuss the latest in the hoops world as the NBA races to the trade deadline and college basketball is making headlines for coaching antics.

The football gods blessed fans this year craving for the good old days. Nick Felice and Paul Russo recap Wild Card Weekend in the NFL that saw the Commanders win a playoff game for the first time in 20 years, the Bills roll the Broncos, and leave many people wondering if there will be any magic in the Divisional Round. The College Football Playoff Championship Game is set in Atlanta as Notre Dame will take on Ohio State. The guys preview the big game, make their picks for the weekend, and discuss the Baseball Hall of Fame again with the Class of 2025 set to be announced early next week.

Playoff football is now in full effect nationwide, as the NFL heads to Wild Card Weekend. Nick Felice and Paul Russo preview the weekend ahead to see who will head to the Divisional Round. The guys turn to college football as Thursday's College Football Playoff Semifinal begins. They preview those games as well and make their picks for the week.

The College Football Playoff quarterfinal round saw upsets in all four games, as the lower seeds took down the top four seeds in the playoff. Nick Felice and Paul Russo discuss the rust vs. rest debate and what these games showed for future teams in the playoff. The guys then talk about the NFL where they enter the final week of the regular season with spots in the postseason and seedings on the line. They make their picks for the week and finish the podcast with some NBA talk with Jimmy Butler looking to move on from the Miami Heat.

It has been a busy week with football nearly every day. Nick Felice and Paul Russo discuss the NFL from Week 16 and into Week 17 with the NFL on Christmas. The guys talk whether it was a success and if we will see more of it in the future. In the college football world, the first round of the College Football Playoff left much to be desired, but the discussion around it has been less than ideal. Nick and Paul reflect on the games and look ahead to the quarterfinal rounds that see four of the classic bowl games make an appearance.

The newest form of the College Football Playoff gets underway this weekend. Nick Felice and Paul Russo preview the games that will set the quarterfinals. The guys discuss Week 15 in the NFL which saw the Bills continue their offensive onslaught and the Falcons making a tough decision about what to do at quarterback. Nick and Paul make their picks and recap the NBA Cup.

Football news never takes a break, even during a silent week. Bill Belichick is heading to the college ranks as the new head coach for UNC. Nick Felice and Paul Russo break down that news and the College Football Playoff that saw chaos erupt on Saturday and Sunday. They next focus on the NFL as the Bills fell to the Rams, the Chiefs snuck out another win, and the final push to the postseason began. The guys wrap up with MLB Free Agency beginning and Juan Soto signing with the Mets.

Thanksgiving weekend gave plenty to talk about in the football world. Nick Felice and Paul Russo recap the NFL in Week 13 saw a second snow game of the season and a restart of discussion on quarterback safety. Next, the guys move on to college football where Syracuse flipped the College Football Playoff discussion. The guys make their picks for the week and discuss the latest college hoops.

Nick Felice and Paul Russo give thanks a day early this week on Fresh Takes. The guys dive into Week 12 of the NFL recapping all the action from around the league. Next, they visit college football as the playoff picture got thrown for an even crazier loop following several upsets. Finally, they make their picks for the week and discuss what they'll be up to on Thanksgiving.

The Bills did it, they ended the Chiefs' undefeated run in 2024. Nick Felice and Paul Russo recap the game and the rest of the NFL from Week 11. They guys make their picks for Week 12 which has six teams on the bye. The guys focus on college football next that saw a shake-up in the rankings with Tennessee losing to Georgia. Lastly, Nick and Paul talk about the NBA as the NBA Cup is in full swing and the Cavaliers finally lost a game after starting 15-0.

The NFL didn't disappoint once again in Week Ten. Nick Felice and Paul Russo recap the weekend that saw more nonsense in Dallas and a nice table setting for a huge AFC game this weekend. The guys make their picks and head to college football where the SEC continues to shake up the CFP landscape. Nick and Paul wrap up the podcast discussing what is going on with Bronny James and the NASCAR playoff system hitting a low point among fans.

Locked in the middle on 55 straight days of football, Fresh Takes must ask, are we the midweek MACtion? Nick Felice and Paul Russo dive into another week of football news from the NFL and college football worlds. They make their picks for the weekend and highlight some important games to tune in to as the College Football Playoff had its first rankings released. The NASCAR championship is here, and the guys discuss how the drivers got there on the heels of a major controversy in Martinsville.

When the Hail Mary was thrown in Washington on Sunday, it may have already cemented the early legacy of Jayden Daniels. Nick Felice and Paul Russo recap the crazy play and what was an exciting weekend for the NFL. In college football, it ended up being not as bloody a weekend as it could have been with a relatively quiet weekend ahead. Lastly, the guys discuss the World Series so far with the Dodgers mostly in control over the Yankees through four games.

It has been an unusually active trade market in the NFL. Nick Felice and Paul Russo discuss the latest from the league as well as recapping Week Seven and prepare for Week Eight. The guys then turn their focus to the college football scene with Alabama taking another loss and a major slate of games await in Week Nine. Lastly the guys talk the NBA as the season has tipped off in the association.