#132 - Sports Fans & the Fascination With Rankings w/ The Hoopers
The NBA season is right around the corner, which means it’s time to argue about rankings.
Omar is joined by the guys from The Hoopers Pod to break down their Top 50 NBA players heading into the season, including why Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tops the list, Anthony Edwards lands ahead of Victor Wembanyama, Cade Cunningham cracks the top 10, and where established stars like Steph Curry and Jayson Tatum belong.
The conversation also explores why sports fans are so obsessed with rankings and debate culture before turning to some of the NBA’s biggest storylines: LeBron James’ move to Philadelphia, the fallout from the Clippers controversy, the possibility of expansion in Seattle and Las Vegas, and whether the league needs to take a harder look at who gets to own an NBA franchise.
29 Sept 2026
#131 - Sports Betting's Harassment Problem
Sports leagues are calling for lifetime betting bans for fans who threaten or harass athletes—but can they really solve a problem they helped create?
On this episode of Deep Cover, Omar examines the rise of gambling-related harassment, the leagues’ increasingly cozy relationships with sportsbooks, and the proposed effort to permanently ban abusive bettors. He looks at why social media and legalized sports betting have made athletes more accessible targets, whether these bans could realistically be enforced, and the uncomfortable contradiction of leagues promising to protect players while continuing to profit from the gambling boom.
25 Sept 2026
#130 - Football Weather & the Toughness Mirage
Bad weather has always been part of football. But should it be?
After a week of NFL games disrupted by lightning, heavy rain, and extreme heat, Omar makes the case that every NFL stadium should have a retractable roof. From player safety and declining quality of play to the league’s obsession with “football weather,” he argues that tradition is getting in the way of a better product.
Plus, why the mythology of toughness no longer fits the modern NFL—and why fans shouldn’t have to freeze, bake, or wait through hours-long delays just to watch football.
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