Now Playing on Alexa- Spotify- Amazon Music- Audible- Facebook & BIG4SportsUSA.com

 

 HEADLINES  

SMACK
The Name Is Wembanyama 

FOOTBALL

The Life Of A Kicker 
NFL Weekly Picks 
NCAA Top 12  

BASKTBALL 
Dalton 
Mount Rushmore Team by Team  

BASEBALL

The Winter Meetings 

HOCKEY 
Coaches Hot Seat  

FANTASY FOOTBALL 
 Follow The Big 4 Sports Demons  

MLB 2024 FREE AGENTS BY POSITION 

NEW EPISODE EVERY MONDAY

The Big 4 Sports No Autopsy, No Foul podcast 

with Mark Elliott

STARTING JANUARY 2ND, 2025

 NEW EPISODES WILL POST EVERY MONDAY & THURSDAY! 

   THE NAME IS WEMBANYAMA

Nicknames and sports go together like pizza and beer, but there are some nicknames that are outright ridiculous. Some nicknames are spot on while others can be down right loathing like San Antonio Spurs, Victor Wembanyama being referred to as "Wemby". 

I realize Wembanyama is a mouth full but announcers are paid to get it right and not take short cuts. "Wemby" makes Victor sound like he's a child figure like Barney or Big Bird. The reality is Victor is a man playing in a mans league and shouldn't be treated like he's Barney or BIg Bird. He deserves to be called by his given name "Wembanyama", which to me is a gift to any announcer. If an announcer has an issues with more than two syllables, then they shouldn't be an announcer. 

When Victor slices through the middle in the pain and slam dunks the ball, the announcer should be excited to play with WEM-BAN-YAMA...not "Wemby". Spend the extra second branding Victor's name correctly. 

That is all! 

Comments & Questions are Welcome

Email: sports@big4sportsusa.com  

Who Holds The NFL Records For Sacks? 

(See The Answer Below)

 THE LIFE OF A KICKER

I can't think of a cooler position to play in the NFL than a kicker. Sure, it's a thankless position but you get paid well and all you have to be is efficient at kicking a ball without taking all the hits unless you get in the way. 

As I watched San Francisco kicker Jake Moody miss three field goal attempts on Sunday against Tampa Bay, I thought his days were numbers and they still might be but a win at least gives Jake time to get his act together and save his job. Younghoe Koo had the same thing happen to him costing the Atlanta Falcons a win at New Orleans. His job might not be as safe as Moody, but he'll most likely get a chance to redeem himself in week 11 because Atlanta is in first place. 

The fact still remains if you are consistent like Brandon Aubrey at Dallas, who can kick up to 60 yard field goals and make extra points, you can eek out a pretty nice lifestyle as an NFL kicker. Unless you're Harrison Butker at Kansas City, you can live a low profile and go about your business with very little interference. You can go out to dinner with your family and go virtually unnoticed. You can take a peaceful bike ride as long as int's not in New Jersey and no one is going to bother you. 

All it takes is leg strength and accuracy and no ego and you're set for life. 

Comments & Questions Are Welcome

Email: sports@big4sportsusa.com

Here are our week 11 NFL picks in bold. 

(Subject to change 30 minutes before game time due the injury report) 

NFL Week 11

Washington @ Philadelphia- W

Green Bay @ Chicago- W

Jacksonville @ Detroit- W 

Minnesota @ Tennessee- W

Las Vegas @ Miami- W

Los Angeles Rams @ New England- W

Cleveland @ New Orleans- W

Indianapolis @ New York Jets- L

Baltimore @ Pittsburgh- W 

Atlanta @ DenveR- L

Seattle @ San Francisco- L

Kansas City @ Buffalo- W

Cincinnati @ Los Angeles Chargers- W

Houston @ Dallas- W 

Bye: New York Giants- Arizona- Tampa Bay- Carolina  

Season Record

Won 110   Lost 58    Pct 65%

FANTASTIC 4 PICKS 

Detroit (Jacksonville)- W

Miami (Las Vegas)- W
San Francisco (Seattle)- L

Houston (Dallas)- W

Season Record 

W 32   L 12    73%

TOP 15

Week Of November 18, 2024

1 Oregon 11-0

2 Ohio State 9-1 

3 Texas 9-1 

4 Indiana 10-0

5 Penn State 9-1

6 Notre Dame 9-1

7 Miami 9-1 

8 Boise State 9-1

9 SMU 9-1
10 BYU 9-1

11 Old Miss 8-2

12 Tennessee 8-2
13 Alabama 8-2 

14 Georgia 8-2

15 Texas A&M 8-2

 

  DALTON 

We are 13 games into the NBA season and already Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht is on the verge of staking his claim on a starting position for Los Angeles. He is averaging 9.3 ppg, 2.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game overall but as a starter, Knecht is averaging 16 ppg and as his confidence grows, so will his average. 

The lakers got off to a 3-2 start and are now 9-4 thanks to D'Angelo Russell going to the bench making way for Cam Reddish, who due to injury has given Dalton Knecht an opportunity to start and so far Dalton Knecht has taken advantage of the opportunities. Now the question is, will he continue to start? 

I have to believe he will as long as he's playing at the level he's been and if he doesn't become a defensive liability. So far his defense has been passable. Certainly as capable as Reaves and D'Angelo Russell and the Lakers have been putting more W's up since Russell agreed to take up the 6th man role. 

Time will tell but when the Lakers are completely healthy, you might continue to see the Lakers start LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Rui Hachimura, Austin Reaves and Dalton Knecht. 

 

Comments & Questions Are Welcome

Email: sports@big4sportsusa.com 

NBA MOUNT RUSHMORE 

TEAM BY TEAM 

The NBA Mount Rushmore debate is one of the all time great debates in sports. This season, Big 4 Sports is going to go team by team and post their Mount Rushmore. The Presidential Mount Rushmore features four figures, but in typical Big 4 Sports fashion, we're going to change it up a bit. Our Team by Team Mount Rushmore will feature 5 figure heads because an NBA starting lineup features 5 players. 

A new team's Mount Rushmore will be posted every Monday throughout the NBA Season. 

Jerry West- Kareem Abul Jabbar- Magic Johnson- Kobe Bryant- Shaquille O'Neal 

Willis Reed- Walt Frazier- Bernard King- Patrick Ewing- Carmelo Anthony 

Steph Curry- Wilt Chamberlain- Rick Berry- Chris Mullen- Klay Thompson

Bill Russell- Larry Bird- John Havlicek- Kevin McHale- Paul Pierce 

David Robinson- Tim Duncan- George Gervin- Manu Ginobili- Tony Parker

Coming On November 25, 2024

Here are key dates to be aware of for the upcoming NBA Season;

• In-Season Tournament: November 12 - December 17, 2024
• Christmas Day Games: December 25, 2024 San Antonio Vs New York Knicks Minnesota Vs Dallas Philadelphia Vs Boston Los Angeles Lakers Vs Golden State Denver Vs Phoenix
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day Games: January 20, 2025
• NBA All-Star Weekend: February 14-16, 2025
• End of Regular Season: April 14, 2025
• NBA Play-In Tournament: April 16-19, 2025
• Start of NBA Playoffs: April 21, 2025
• NBA Finals: June 2025

THE WINTER MEETINGS   

As we get closer to Thanksgiving, we're going to see baseball take a breather until the Winter Meetings get underway on December 9th and then we might see a few Christmas miracles. 

We might see some of the lower level free agents get signed but for the most part, the big name free agents will have to go first so teams can see how much money they'll have for the remaining free agents. This said, I wouldn't expect too many surprises. I believe most teams are going to try and hold on to their big name free agents. Juan Soto will get paid by the Yankees and Pete Alonzo will get paid by the New York Mets and the rest will fall into place. 

As far as trades go, we may see quite a few happen during the Winter Meetings. As more and more teams are trying to build through their farm systems, it will lead to teams assessing their needs and looking to fill them through trades more than free agency. You can look at any team in both leagues and see where the holes are. Pitching is probably going to get the most action between teams because you have to be ten deep with a starting rotation today. That's five with the major league team and five at AAA ready to throw in the show at anytime. 

You'll have teams who are one or maybe two regulars away from contending that will make moves to sure up those positions that will happen between now and the start of the season. Other teams may just need to sure up their bench but all teams have holes to fill so expect the trade market to be hot this offseason. 

 . 

MLB offseason dates

Dec. 9-12: Winter meetings in Dallas, Texas
Dec. 11: Rule 5 draft
Jan. 9: Deadline for teams and arbitration-eligible players to submit salary figures
End of January: Arbitration hearings begin
Feb. 22: Spring training games begin

Comments & Questions Are Welcome

Email: sports@big4sportsusa.com 

COACHES HOT SEAT 

Enough hockey has been played this season to where we are starting to see what teams are the contenders and which ones are the pretenders. Fortunes can change through trades and teams getting hot but there are several teams who are underperforming that might get a boost from a coaching change. The challenge is, are there enough qualified coaches available for the teams in need of a change to hire? This is why teams in need of a change should make a move mow to get the best coaches waiting on the sidelines for a new opportunity. 

There are also teams who are who they are and won't contend even if they change coaches and I believe they know who they are. These are the teams who rarely have winning seasons and have no intentions of investing in improvement. Teams like Anaheim, Columbus, and San Jose. Then you have the teams who are rebuilding who will want to stay the coarse which is the majority of teams within a few points of the division leaders. 

There is one team that has a history of putting a Stanley Cup winner on the ice that could use a coaching change more than any other team and that's the Pittsburgh Penguins. Mike Johnson has failed to get the Penguins to the playoffs over the past two seasons and they are struggling again this season. Pittsburgh has fired coaches in the past for a lot less. Why Pittsburgh, stays with Johnson is anybody's guess. 

The team has severe problems with their goalie situation and their defense isn't as sharp as it  could be. The ages of Sidney Crosby, Evengi Malkin, and Kris Letang also create perception the Penguins are just too old to compete over an 82 game schedule. The Penguins have the players to compete and most of their problems could be solved with better coaching and it starts with Mike Johnson and he needs to go because we haven't seen any improvement under his watch over the past two plus seasons. 

At this point Pittsburgh is only 10 points or 5 games behind New Jersey and there is time to turn this season around but I don't believe Johnson is going to do anything different to improve the team or he would have already. There is also the possibility the Penguins front office know who they are which is becoming a bottom feeding franchise in the Eastern Conference and they're okay with it. 

Comments & Questions Are Welcome

Email: sports@big4sportsusa.com 

Big 4 Sports can be found on Social Media.

Facebook

We'll share the top sports stories of the day.

Facebook.com/Big4SportsUSA

Instagram 
 Instagram as our tribute page to the Big 4 Sports.
 We post a daily photo for a member of the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL Hall of Fame with a brief caption about each player.  

Search Big4SportsUSA 
(player suggestions welcome) 

X (formerly Twitter)
Big 4 Sports on X is your one source for Big 4 Sports news. Follow our Posts and Replies for updates from all the sports networks, publications, pro and college teams, coaches and players we track. Scroll down our page and in minutes you'll be the most informed sports fan in the room. We hope you'll join the Big 4 Sports Team on X.

Scores. Highlights. Interviews. Fan Reaction.

X.com/big4sportsusa  

Contact Us by Email 

sports@big4sportsusa.com 

 BIG 4 SPORTS

FANTASY FOOTBALL

Here is the 2024 Big 4 Sports Demons 

Fantasy Football Team 

WEEK 11 RECAP

The Big 4 Sports Demons suffered an upset defeat to a #8 seed team in our 10 team league. It was one of those weeks where our top performers combined to terrible weeks. Only Amon-Ra St. Brown put up impressive numbers. We have now dropped back in to 3rd place but we still have the #1 scoring offense in the league. This week we play the 5th ranked team who we beat handily earlier in the season, but after week 11, we can't take any team lightly. 

    Quarterbacks 

Lamar Jackson- Baltimore Ravens

Matt Stafford- Los Angeles Rams  

Running Backs

Kyren Williams- Los Angeles Rams
JK Dobbins- San Diego Chargers 
Kareem Hunt- Kansas City Chiefs 

Rico Dowdle- Dallas Cowboys  

 

Wide Receivers

Amon-Ra St. Brown- Detroit Lions

Darnell Moody- Atlanta Falcons  
Courtland Sutton- Denver Broncos 
Jakobi Meyers- Las Vegas Raiders 

 

Tight Ends

Sam La Portia- Detroit Lions

Pat Freiermuth- Pittsburgh Steelers 

Kicker

Brandon Aubrey- Dallas Cowboys

Defenses 

Pittsburgh Steelers 
Minnesota Vikings 

Roster Moves 
Picked up Matt Stafford and Dropped Geno Smith 

 

WEEK 11 STARTERS

QB- Lamar Jackson/Baltimore

RB- Kyren Williams/Los Angeles Rams

RB- JK Dobbins/Los Angeles Chargers

WR- Amon-Ra St. Brown/Detroit 

WR- Darnell Mooney/Atlanta 

TE- Sam LaPorta/Detroit  

FX- Kareem Hunt/Kansas City  

K- Brandon Aubrey/Dallas

D- Minnesota Vikings  

Season Record

7-4-0

                             

Comments & Questions Are Welcome

Email: sports@big4sportsusa.com 

 ANSWER

Bruce Smith (200) 

2024 FREE AGENTS 

BY POSITION 

                                                                                                   

 CATCHERS

Kyle Higashioka (35 years old, 2.9 WAR)
Travis d'Arnaud (36, 2.5) -- club option
Danny Jansen (30, 2.5)
Gary Sánchez (32, 2.0) -- mutual option
Carson Kelly (30, 1.9)
Yasmani Grandal (36, 1.4)
Austin Hedges (32, 1.4)
Elias Díaz (34, 0.5)
Jacob Stallings (35, 0.5) -- mutual option
James McCann (35, 0.5)
Yan Gomes (37, -0.1)
Austin Barnes (35, -0.1) -- club option
Tucker Barnhart (34, -0.2)
Luke Maile (34, -0.2) -- club option
Curt Casali (36, -0.7)
Omar Narváez (33, -0.9)
Martín Maldonado (38, -2.3)
Max Stassi (34, N/A) -- club option

FIRST BASEMEN

Christian Walker (34 years old, 6.8 WAR)
Pete Alonso (30, 5.0)
Carlos Santana (39, 4.5)
Paul Goldschmidt (37, 4.4)
Ryan O'Hearn (31, 3.2) -- club option
Justin Turner (40, 2.2)
Wilmer Flores (33, 1.6) -- player option/club option
Joey Gallo (31, 0.6) -- mutual option
Anthony Rizzo (35, 0.5) -- club option
Josh Bell (32, 0.2)
Rhys Hoskins (32, 0.1) -- can opt out
Garrett Cooper (34, 0.0)
Yuli Gurriel (41, -0.5)
Ji Man Choi (34, -0.5)
Rowdy Tellez (30, -1.2)

SECOND BASEMEN

Gleyber Torres (28 years old, 5.3 WAR)
Brandon Lowe (30, 5.1) -- club option
Kyle Farmer (34, 2.0) -- mutual option
Whit Merrifield (36, 1.7)
Jorge Polanco (31, 1.6) -- club option
Brandon Drury (32, 0.6)
Adam Frazier (33, -0.1) -- mutual option
Tony Kemp (33, -0.2)
Joey Wendle (35, -1.0)

SHORTSTOPS

Willy Adames (29 years old, 8.0 WAR)
Ha-Seong Kim (29, 6.9) -- mutual option
Miguel Rojas (36, 3.5) -- club option
Jose Iglesias (35, 2.6)
Paul DeJong (31, 2.2)
Kevin Newman (31, 1.4)
Amed Rosario (29, 0.7)
Nick Ahmed (35, 0.5)
Brandon Crawford (38, 0.5)
Aledmys Díaz (34, -0.9)
Tim Anderson (32, -1.6)

THIRD BASEMEN

Alex Bregman (31 years old, 8.6 WAR)
Eugenio Suárez (33, 7.3) -- club option
J.D. Davis (32, 1.7)
Yoán Moncada (30, 1.4) -- club option
Gio Urshela (33, 1.2)
Brian Anderson (32, 0.2)
Jace Peterson (35, 0.0)

LEFT FIELDERS

Tyler O’Neill (30 years old, 3.1 WAR)
Jurickson Profar (32, 2.7)
Mark Canha (36, 2.7)
Michael Conforto (32, 2.0)
Alex Verdugo (29, 2.0)
Tommy Pham (37, 1.8)
Rob Refsnyder (34, 1.6) -- club option
Travis Jankowski (34, 0.8)
Austin Slater (32, 0.5)
Jesse Winker (31, 0.5)
Adam Duvall (36, 0.4)
David Peralta (37, 0.2)
Ben Gamel (33, -0.1)
Robbie Grossman (35, -0.2)
Eddie Rosario (33, -0.8)

CENTER FIELDERS

Cody Bellinger (29 years old, 6.7 WAR) -- can opt out
Harrison Bader (31, 2.4)
Michael A. Taylor (34, 2.4)
Garrett Hampson (30, 1.1)
Kevin Pillar (36, 0.8)
Aaron Hicks (35, 0.4)
Manuel Margot (30, 0.3) -- club option
Enrique Hernández (33, -0.4)

RIGHT FIELDERS

Juan Soto (26 years old, 14.2 WAR)
Anthony Santander (30, 5.9)
Teoscar Hernández (32, 5.4)
Max Kepler (32, 3.8)
Jason Heyward (35, 3.1)
Randal Grichuk (33, 2.1) -- mutual option
Hunter Renfroe (33, 0.3) -- player option
Mitch Haniger (34, -1.2) -- can opt out

DESIGNATED HITTERS

Marcell Ozuna (34 years old, 7.9 WAR) -- club option
Joc Pederson (33, 3.7) -- mutual option
J.D. Martinez (37, 3.0)
Andrew McCutchen (38, 1.8)
Daniel Vogelbach (32, -0.1)
Eloy Jiménez (28, -0.4) -- club option
Matt Carpenter (39, -0.6)

STARTING PITCHERS

Corbin Burnes (30 years old, 7.2 WAR)
Gerrit Cole (34, 7.2) -- can opt out
Blake Snell (32, 7.2) -- can opt out
Yusei Kikuchi (34, 6.0)
Michael Wacha (33, 6.0) -- player option
Freddy Peralta (29, 5.4) -- club option
Max Fried (31, 5.2)
Nathan Eovaldi (35, 5.1) -- player option
Jack Flaherty (29, 5.0)
Nick Martinez (34, 4.9) -- can opt out
Jordan Montgomery (32, 4.9) -- player option
Kyle Gibson (37, 4.0) -- club option
Justin Verlander (42, 4.0)
Nick Pivetta (32, 3.9)
Sean Manaea (33, 3.9) -- can opt out
Merrill Kelly (36, 3.8) -- club option
Charlie Morton (41, 3.8)
Andrew Heaney (34, 3.5)
Kyle Hendricks (35, 3.0)
Clayton Kershaw (37, 3.0) -- player option
Shane Bieber (30, 2.8)
Max Scherzer (40, 2.8)
Patrick Corbin (35, 2.6)
José Quintana (36, 2.6)
Michael Lorenzen (33, 2.4)
Mike Clevinger (34, 2.1)
Alex Cobb (37, 2.1)
Lance Lynn (38, 1.8) -- club option
Trevor Williams (33, 1.8)
Matthew Boyd (34, 1.7)
Colin Rea (34, 1.6) -- club option
Luis Severino (31, 1.6)
Adrian Houser (32, 1.6)
Frankie Montas (32, 1.4) -- mutual option
Anthony DeSclafani (35, 1.0)
Wade Miley (38, 1.0) -- mutual option
Martín Pérez (34, 0.9)
Lucas Giolito (30, 0.9) -- can opt out
Ross Stripling (35, 0.9)
Zach Davies (32, 0.8)
Domingo Germán (32, 0.8)
Marco Gonzales (33, 0.8) -- club option
Chris Flexen (30, 0.8)
John Means (32, 0.6)
Spencer Turnbull (32, 0.6)
Jordan Lyles (34, 0.3)
Julio Teheran (34, 0.2)
Alex Wood (34, 0.1)
Dallas Keuchel (37, 0.1)
Robbie Ray (33, 0.0) -- can opt out
Michael Soroka (27, 0.0)
Carlos Carrasco (38, -0.2)
Walker Buehler (30, -0.2)
Chase Anderson (37, -0.3)
Yonny Chirinos (31, -0.5)
Brad Keller (29, -0.5)
José Ureña (33, -0.5)

RELIEF PITCHERS

Tanner Scott (30 years old, 4.5 WAR)
Jeff Hoffman (32, 3.6)
David Robertson (40, 3.1) -- mutual option
Aroldis Chapman (37, 2.9)
Clay Holmes (32, 2.8)
Kenley Jansen (37, 2.5)
Chris Martin (39, 2.4)
Carlos Estévez (32, 2.1)
Shawn Armstrong (34, 2.0)
Aaron Bummer (31, 1.9) -- club option
Danny Coulombe (35, 1.9) -- club option
Dylan Floro (34, 1.8)
Kirby Yates (38, 1.8)
José Leclerc (31, 1.7)
Emilio Pagán (34, 1.7) -- can opt out
Jakob Junis (32, 1.6) -- mutual option
Caleb Ferguson (28, 1.6)
Luke Weaver (31, 1.5) -- club option
Yimi García (34, 1.4)
A.J. Minter (31, 1.4)
Craig Kimbrel (37, 1.3)
Buck Farmer (34, 1.2)
Paul Sewald (35, 1.2)
Scott Barlow (32, 1.1)
Jalen Beeks (31, 1.1)
Trevor Gott (32, 1.0)
Brooks Raley (37, 1.0)
Blake Treinen (37, 1.0)
Héctor Neris (36, 0.9)
Chris Stratton (34, 0.9) -- player option
Andrew Chafin (35, 0.9) -- club option
Joe Ross (32, 0.9)
Scott Alexander (35, 0.8)
Joe Kelly (37, 0.8)
Ryan Yarbrough (33, 0.8)
Will Smith (35, 0.7)
Phil Maton (32, 0.7) -- club option
Ryan Borucki (31, 0.6)
Drew Smyly (36, 0.6) -- mutual option
John Brebbia (35, 0.5)
Jesse Chavez (41, 0.5)
Andrew Kittredge (35, 0.5)
Lucas Sims (31, 0.5)
Carl Edwards Jr. (33, 0.4)
Luis García (38, 0.4)
Tommy Kahnle (34, 0.4)
Trevor Richards (32, 0.4)
Drew Smith (31, 0.4)
Caleb Thielbar (38, 0.3)
Matt Barnes (34, 0.3)
Daniel Hudson (38, 0.3)
Shelby Miller (34, 0.3)
Adam Ottavino (39, 0.3)
T.J. McFarland (36, 0.3)
Hunter Strickland (36, 0.3)
Shintaro Fujinami (31, 0.2)
Luke Jackson (31, 0.2) -- club option
Jonathan Loáisiga (30, 0.2)
Bryan Shaw (37, 0.2)
Justin Wilson (37, 0.2)
Tim Hill (35, 0.1)
Keynan Middleton (31, 0.1) -- club option
Ryne Stanek (33, 0.1)
Miguel Castro (30, 0.0)
Chris Devenski (34, -0.1)
Seranthony Domínguez (30, -0.1) -- club option
Kendall Graveman (34, -0.1)
Matt Moore (36, -0.1)
Joely Rodríguez (33, -0.1)
Matt Andriese (35, -0.1)
Giovanny Gallegos (33, -0.2)
Amir Garrett (33, -0.2)
Jay Jackson (37, -0.2)
Tyler Matzek (34, -0.2)
José Cisnero (36, -0.3)
Chad Kuhl (32, -0.3)
Jake Diekman (38, -0.4)
Daniel Bard (40, -0.5)
Scott McGough (35, -0.7) -- mutual option
Adam Cimber (34, -0.7)
Jorge López (32, -0.7)
Erasmo Ramírez (35, -0.8)
Wandy Peralta (33, -0.9) -- can opt out
Dominic Leone (34, -1.2)
Lou Trivino (33, N/A) -- club option

 Projection: 11-6  

Los Angeles, CA

Web: Big4SportsUSA.com
Email: sports@big4sportsusa.com 
Copyright 2004 
Big4SportsUSA is a division of Mark Elliott Media LLC
markelliottmedia.com