Screen Shots: January 16th-22nd, 2025

Welcome to Screen Shots! This is where I tell you what sporting events you should watch on TV every week! Make sure you subscribe so it comes straight to your inbox! Have your own suggestions? Shoot me an email at [email protected]!

Why yes I did do an entire NFL Playoff Power Rankings featuring many pop culture references! While some takes have aged better than others, they were all entertaining and somewhat logical. Tap in to see what I got right, what I got wrong, and which teams I think will end up making the Super Bowl!

Now, to the sports!

Thursday, January 16th, 2025

• NBA: Houston Rockets @ Sacramento Kings at 10:00 pm (ET) on TNT

There was a lot of noise surrounding the Kings’ firing of head coach Mike Brown, but interim coach Doug Christie has done one hell of a job quieting it down. In just 8 games, the former Kings defensive stopper has gone 7 and 2 to get the team right back into the Western Conference playoff picture. Here he is fighting Rick Fox back in the day.

Friday, January 17th, 2025

• Unrivaled Women’s Basketball: Mist vs. Lunar Owls at 7:00 pm (ET) on TNT

The newest women’s basketball league kicks things off with a showdown between founding members Breanna Stewart of the Mist and Napheesa Collier of the Lunar Owls. Games are 3 on 3 and take place on a compressed full court. The league runs through March 17th. There will also be a 1 on 1 tournament halfway through the season.

• Unrivaled Women’s Basketball: Rose vs. Vinyl at 8:15 pm (ET) on TNT

I mean you’re already tuned in.

Saturday, January 18th, 2025

• Men’s College Basketball: #17 Purdue Boilermakers @ #13 Oregon Ducks at 3:00 pm (ET) on NBC

Oregon C Nate Bittle’s breakout season has Ducks’ fans thinking the man they call “The Alligator” could lead them to a deep run in March. However, they have to prove they can handle life in the Big Ten first. They’ll get a tough test in this one as they take on a Boilermaker squad that I swear has had the same players since I was a child. I’m pretty sure Braden Smith was throwing lobs to Glenn Robinson. These teams are evenly matched so this should be a close one.

• NFL Divisional Round: Houston Texans @ Kansas City Chiefs at 4:30 pm (ET) on ESPN

Watch to see the absurd manner in which Kansas City wins this one.

• NFL Divisional Round: Washington Commanders @ Detroit Lions at 8:00 pm (ET) on Fox

The Commanders have had one hell of a season, and we can all take great joy in knowing that Dan Snyder is absolutely miserable about it. Can they keep it going against a Lions team that has looked destined for a Super Bowl appearance all season long?

Sunday, January 19th, 2025

• NFL Divisional Round: Los Angeles Rams @ Philadelphia Eagles at 3:00 pm (ET) on Fox

We finally got confirmation that the most controversial thing an NFL player can do is read a book. The culprit, AJ Brown, will have to get on the same page with QB Jalen Hurts this week if they want to live up to expectations. It starts here against a Rams defense that ruined Sam Darnold’s plans for a big offseason contract last week.

• NFL Divisional Round: Baltimore Ravens @ Buffalo Bills at 6:30 pm (ET) on CBS

Perhaps you’re not locked in enough to the NFL to check out all of the aforementioned games. Not a problem, I get it. However, you absolutely need to tune in to this one. 2 of the best QBs in the league square off with the winner getting to shed the label of being a postseason underachiever. This one will take place in Buffalo, where the Bills are undefeated this year, but Ravens RB Derrick Henry is the great weather equalizer. There’s a real chance Tony Romo gets so excited calling this game that he faints. I can’t say that I’d blame him.

Monday, January 20th, 2025

• NBA: Minnesota Timberwolves @ Memphis Grizzlies at 2:30 pm (ET) on TNT

While I’m not the biggest fan of professional sports leagues co-opting holidays or causes for what feels like PR purposes, it does give me a chance to shine a light on why we have Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the first place. This game takes place in Memphis, where Dr. King was murdered by a racist. Racism killed this man, just like it’s killed many others in the time before and since. The fact that the holiday falls on the Inauguration Day of a President who is both racist and has empowered so many other racists feels so perfectly American. Let’s honor this man while also reminding you of how little has changed since he was assassinated. Dr. King deserved better. His legacy deserves better.

• College Football National Championship Game: #8 Ohio State Buckeyes vs. #7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish at 7:30 pm (ET) on ESPN

This is the longest college football season ever, and I still can’t believe it’s coming to an end. There will be plenty of time to talk about what the Playoff Committee got wrong, how the 12-team format needs to be tweaked, and how badly I need Marcus Freeman’s hairline to be fraudulent. For now, enjoy the last college football game of the season.

Tuesday, January 21st, 2025

• Sports History: NBA Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon was born on this day in 1963

My love of sports began in 1994ish after seeing a picture in a magazine (remember those?) of a tall, regal-looking gentleman standing beside a luxury car. I quickly found out that no, this man was not a king, but instead a professional basketball player by the name of Hakeem Olajuwon. It wasn’t long before I began devouring all that I could about both Hakeem and the game of basketball. I aspired to look like a king myself one day. My interest in Hakeem led me to reach out to Mirin Fader, author of “Dream: The Life and Legacy of Hakeem Olajuwon”. Miraculously, in between my anxious ramblings about all of my fears about writing, she was able to give me some advice that led to me pushing through all of that bullshit and sharing my writing publicly. Almost a year later, here I am. Please go read the book and learn about the man who inspired me all of those years ago.

Wednesday, January 22nd, 2025

• Men’s Soccer: US Men’s National Team vs. Costa Rica at 7:00 pm (ET) on TNT

The next FIFA Men’s World Cup takes place in 2026, so these things are starting to matter a lot now.

As always, thanks for reading! It’d be super cool if you subscribed as well. I’ll catch you next week!