Best Sports Podcast: Gridiron Gals
Sports and sports podcasting can be a boys’ club, but Reeta, also known as “The NFL Chick,” and Chels, also known as “Chels Is Right,” more than hold their own in their Gridiron Gals podcast. Tune in to hear them talk about college football, professional football, and pop culture. Whether you’re a superfan or just an occasional sports watcher, listening to them feels like eavesdropping on two really funny, really smart BFFs.
Biggest Bright Spot: Baltimore Orioles
Things about Baltimore’s home team that gave us the warm fuzzies this year included: their unapologetic support of the LGBTQ+ community during their annual LGBTQ+ Pride Night, their use of Section 86 Bird Bath, the new City Connect jerseys (released along with a piece titled “You Can’t Clip These Wings” by Baltimore poet Kondwani Fidel), and, of course, the really good baseball they played. This year, they had a run so good that even Baltimore Orioles owner John Angelos deciding to make himself the villain couldn’t dim their light.
Fondest Farewell: Carmelo Anthony
This past May, basketball star Carmelo Anthony announced his retirement.
“If you were a ball player or basketball enthusiast growing up in Baltimore in the early 2000s, more than likely you were obsessed with Anthony before he even entered the NBA. The West Baltimore native and Towson Catholic High graduate declared himself eligible for the NBA draft in 2003. As a freshman at Syracuse University, he had an explosive season averaging 22.2 points per game, leading the team in scoring, minutes played, rebounds, field goals, free throws, and attempts, and was named NCAA Most Outstanding Player,” we wrote.
Anthony will still be around — just not on the basketball court. Earlier this month, he announced a digital series and podcast with writer, comedian, and podcaster Kid Mero.
Most Brave: Angel Reese
Louisiana State University’s Angel Reese, from Randallstown, came into the national dialog during last season’s NCAA tournament. In the Women’s Basketball NCAA Championship Game, LSU faced the Iowa State Hawkeyes and tensions couldn’t have been higher. Iowa’s Caitlyn Clark had been considered by many the best player in the league, spending the season giving several highlight-worthy performances. One moment that stuck out was when Caitlyn Clark gave the Tony Yayo hand in her face “you can’t see me” gesture to a player while defeating Louisville. Reese returned the gesture to Clark in the fourth quarter as LSU went on to defeat Iowa 102 to 85.
Reese was chastised by the public while Clark (a white woman) had been celebrated for that same gesture and other antics on the court earlier in the season. Still, Reese, known for owning up to her hardcore Baltimore style of gritty competitive basketball, was celebrated all over the world for being an unapologetically Black Girl athlete. She has spent the rest of the year raking in endorsements, commercials, and more.
If only there were an opportunity for young girls in Baltimore to watch Baltimore’s greats playing for the home team in their own backyard.
WNBA, are you listening?