Headline Sports podcast with Jessica Kwong: Can Bears coach Johnson build them up for post season?; Ichiro misses unanimous Hall election by one vote; plus more news

Former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator and current Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson will rebuild the Bears from inside out as he takes over the head coaching duties for the 2025 season (AP News file photo)

On Headline Sports podcast with Jessica Kwong:

#1 Former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator and now head coach of the Chicago Bears Ben Johnson was noted for being a play caller as offensive coordinator but can Johnson take that experience and lead the Bears to glory for the 2025 season. Can Johnson fix the Bears who finished in dead last this season with a 5-12 record.

#2 The anticipation of former Seattle Mariner outfielder Ichiro Suzuki to get a unanimous decision for the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown fell short by one vote. The ballot that did not vote for Ichiro was left blank next to Ichiro’s name out of 393 BBWAA writers who cast ballots. No matter Ichiro will be a first ballot Hall of Famer.

#3 UConn Huskies head coach Dan Hurley cussed at the refs during a time out against the Butler Bulldogs on Tuesday night saying, “Don’t turn your back on me. I’m the best coach in the (expletive) sport,” said Hurley while following the ref on the floor. There is no doubt that coach Hurley coaches with emotion and passion.

#4 The Golden State Warriors continue to struggle losing six of their last 11 games, are in 11th place in the Western Conference and are battling to try to move up and get a playoff spot. The Warriors were beaten soundly on Tuesday night 125-85 by the Boston Celtics and lost again to the Sacramento Kings 123-117 on Wednesday night in Sacramento.

#5 Big NFL Championships are coming this Sunday the Washington Commanders at the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship. In the AFC Championship the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.

Jessica Kwong does Headline Sports podcasts every other Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O: Commanders shock football world knocking out Lions; SF Giants working on getting Jays Guerrero Jr in 3 player deal; plus more news

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) is on the way with a keeper runs past the Detroit Lions defensive end Levi Onwuzurlike (91) in the second half in the NFC Divisional game at Ford Field in Detroit Sat Jan 18, 2025 (AP News photo)

On Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O:

#1 Charlie O, are the Washington Commanders that underdog, under rated team and going through their post season portfolio, they won their first round of the playoff game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers back on Dec 29th in overtime and advanced to face the Detroit Lions on Saturday night. The Commanders shocked not only the nation’s capital but the country with a shocking 45-31 win over the Super Bowl favored Detroit Lions. With the loss the Lions will not appear in the Super Bowl for 59 seasons.

# 2 The Kansas City Chiefs have never lost a AFC Divisional game and the Houston Texans have never won one. The case was the same on Saturday afternoon at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw to Travis Kelce seven times for 117 yards and and a touchdown as the Chiefs took out the Texans 23-14 to advance to the AFC Championship.

#3 Las Vegas Raiders minority owner Tom Brady is said to be courting Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to be the front runner for the head coaching opening at the Raiders. There is very little doubt that Brady and other NFL teams will be reaching out to Johnson knowing the success he’s had with the Lions offense.

#4 The San Francisco Giants are rumored to be working a three player blockbuster deal to obtain Toronto Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for reliever Camilo Doval, infielder/outfielder Marco Luciano, and outfielder James Tibbs III. The Jays have not been able to seal a deal with Guerrero and the Giants are said to be willing to break the bank and spend $333 to $426 million to get Guerrero who might be San Francisco’s ticket to get to the post season.

#5 The Athletics are hoping to develop Japanese 18 year old two way player Shotaro Morii and were able to bypass the Japanese professional league getting Morii for a minor league signing bonus of $1,510,500. Morii will become the sixth A’s Japanese player and the fifth Japanese born player joining Shintaro Fujinami, Hideki Okajima, Hideki Okjima, Akinori Iwamura, Keiichi Yabu, Hideki Matsui and American Born Japanese catcher Kurt Suzuki.

Join Charlie O for Headline Sports podcasts Sundays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com