In a Las Vegas steakhouse, a young woman sat alone, dressed up, with a phone mounted on a stand in front of her. She was having an animated conversation with it while eating a porterhouse steak.…
Ben Maller — Podcast Appearances & AI Summaries
Ben Maller has appeared on 160 podcast episodes in our AI-summarized catalog, including The Ben Maller Show. Every appearance below has a free 5-minute AI summary.
What Ben said
“The real housewives of Orange County, the moms of Orange County, they just want cheap tickets. They want affordable snacks at the ballpark and they want a safe place for their kids to watch baseball. They don't care about winning.”
— Artie Moreno, on his own fanbase, as recalled by Ben Maller
“Owning a major sports franchise is an idiot-proof piggy bank on steroids.”
— Ben Maller, on how Moreno made $22 times his purchase price despite being a terrible owner
“Stan Cronky, not merely the Angel's new owner. It's like an actual adult in the room, which they have not had.”
— Ben Maller, on the upgrade from Moreno to Kroenke
“If it was an NBA guy, they call him a governor. He owns the team. He was born on third base. Won the genetic lottery. Not athletically, just got into the right bloodline.”
— Ben Maller on Jed York (06:55)
“When Shanahan says that York's arrest had no effect, that is NFL code speak for please stop asking me about my boss.”
— Ben Maller (13:12)
“This is going to be Roger Goodell dropping... the Fisher Price version of Thor's Hammer. That's what it will drop on Jed York.”
— Ben Maller (19:17)
“Don't confuse name recognition with rejuvenation. This is not some kind of rejuvenation clinic.”
— Ben Maller on the Von Miller signing
“You cannot find something if you've already decided you don't want to find it.”
— Ben Maller on the NBA's Clippers investigation
“You can't have a Hatfields and McCoys family feud when both families share the same checking account.”
— Ben Maller on the NBA-ESPN relationship
“You don't brag about the MLB jog. You don't announce that you're actively being a lazy person while doing it. You don't lecture the customer on what a smart fan is and a real fan.”
— (11:06) **Ben Maller, on Wilson Contreras' mistake**
“Are you going to lean into fish wrap? That's what you're gonna do. If your front office... prioritize a double-A at-bat over a possible pennant World Series appearance, your priorities are ass backwards.”
— (20:10) **Ben Maller, on fearing a work stoppage**
“He's not delivering Sunday Mass at the Vatican. Now if the Pope gets up there and talking about Orgy's, that's a problem.”
— (14:18) **Ben Maller, defending Michael Kay**
Episode appearances
160 Hour 2 - Primetime for Primetime Colorado's freshman quarterback Julian Lewis hit receiver Charlie Williams for a 20-yard touchdown with 42 seconds left, then Boo Carter blocked a 45-yard field…
Von Miller traded a jersey number for chicken equity, and that's just the appetizer Dallas Cowboys pass rusher Von Miller wanted his old number 40 back. Fullback Hunter Luepke was wearing it. So…
The Athletic spent five months investigating Diana Russini, the former NFL insider, for her relationship with Patriots coach Mike Vrabel. They reviewed 93 stories, 77 videos, 204 podcasts, and…
Jalen Hurts confirmed what many had suspected: he and former Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown had grown apart. In an interview with GQ, Hurts was asked about the relationship and answered with…
"Goodbye, goodbye, Arnie." That rhythmic chant from Angels fans at the Big A last night—directed at outgoing owner Arte Moreno—captures the mood of a fanbase that feels liberated. After years of…
The Ballard of the Ball Colts general manager Chris Ballard did not hold back when asked about NFL players trying to return to college football. "That's the stupidest [expletive] I've ever heard,"…
"More intent behind everything that he's doing." That was Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson, describing quarterback Caleb Williams this offseason. On the surface, it sounds like a compliment.…
Hour 4 - Oh No Romo! Tony Romo pleaded no contest to a civil OWI in Wisconsin after his July booze cruise, then broke his silence with a lengthy social media statement. CBS responded with two…
The Cold War Continues Brandon Aiyuk has now torched roughly $53 million. The 49ers wide receiver was due a $24.9 million option bonus on September 1st, but general manager John Lynch confirmed…
Ben Maller opened this hour of his late-night sports talk show with a pointed thesis: the Minnesota Vikings’ handling of rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy’s ankle injury is not a straightforward…
Hour 4 - Takin' the Hit Lane Kiffin says he "struggled" with the decision to pursue former NFL rookies trying to get a fifth year of college eligibility. He claims LSU's player leadership…
"Success is not defined by winning." That is what new Miami Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley told reporters, asking fans to grade the season on a curve before he has coached a single real game in…
The Ben Maller Show, in this "Best Of" episode, operates as a running commentary on the NFL's roster moves and cultural oddities, anchored by the host's signature skepticism. The central question…
The Gremlin Manifesto: When the Machines Fight Back The remote podcast studio that Ben Maller had relied on for nine years—built with the help of a professional audio engineer who wired it brick…
The Ben Maller Show: Preseason Panic, Owner Embarrassment, and the WNBA as Spectacle The Ben Maller Show's "Best of the Week" episode opens with a vivid scene from an August preseason game between…
Hour 1 - Not Ready Yet The Ben Maller Show opens with a detailed argument about why the Las Vegas Raiders should not start rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza in Week 1 of the NFL season. The…
Shohei Ohtani has been one of the best pitchers in baseball this season when healthy, striking out 95 batters in 85⅔ innings with a 1.79 ERA across 14 starts. He was a legitimate NL Cy Young…
The NFL's Pro Bowl is dead, and Ben Maller says good riddance The NFL's Pro Bowl has been officially euthanized after 88 years, and Ben Maller is not mourning. "There's no candlelight vigil being…
In the early morning hours of a Thursday podcast, Ben Maller laid out a trifecta of sports ownership scandals that share a common thread: the body cam footage of San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York…
“If Lamar were any good, wouldn't this competition have been declared dead three weeks in without all precincts reporting in?” On the Thursday edition of The Ben Maller Show, the host tackled…
The Day After: Jed York, Kyle Shanahan, and the Limits of NFL Accountability Ben Maller opens the hour with a central puzzle: is 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan telling the truth when he says owner Jed…
“The whispers around the NFL indicate that Minnesota could trade J.J. McCarthy prior to this weekend coming to an end.” That line from Ben Maller captures the core tension of this hour’s lead…
In a recent episode of The Ben Maller Show, host Ben Maller dissected several of the NFL's most awkward and revealing storylines. The episode's central argument is that the NFL is a league of…
Deshaun Watson was named the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, and Ben Maller is not buying the explanation. On this episode of The Ben Maller Show, the host dissects the decision,…
A Real Snake Kind of Move Ketel Marte no-showed a game. Didn't go to the ballpark. Left the team. The Diamondbacks didn't know where he was. He turned up at a casino during a game. His manager,…
"Just a different feel." That voice, played as a mystery sound bite on the Ben Maller Show, belongs to a player who broke the NFL Combine record for a linebacker in the 60-yard shuffle. The caller…
"We Ass" — Cam Ward's Defining Moment and Seattle's Karmic Reckoning Cam Ward, the number one overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft, has a signature moment as a professional quarterback. It is not a…
“This is it.” That’s what Milwaukee Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski said when he walked into a postgame press conference and found almost no reporters waiting for him. A reporter from the one…
Deshaun Watson, the Browns, and the Unwinnable Quarterback Mess in Cleveland The Cleveland Browns have a $230 million guaranteed quarterback who, after being booed during a preseason loss to the…
This episode of The Fifth Hour is a mailbag segment hosted by Ben Maller, with guest co-host Robbie the Mariners Fan. Over the course of an hour, they field listener questions on a mix of media…
The NBA's Clippers Investigation: A Whitewash? Plus Von Miller to Dallas, Richardson's Stuck in Indy The NBA spent over a year investigating whether Clippers owner Steve Ballmer funneled money…
The Fifth Hour: The Maller Matchmaker Late one night at the Maller Mansion in the Northwoods of Southern California, Ben Maller was lying on his sofa eating crunchy tacos while his English bulldog…
Hour 1 - Fernand-UH-OH Ben Maller opens the hour with a single, unambiguous verdict: Fernando Mendoza, the Raiders' number one overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft, looked terrible in his second…
“Two percent chance,” Ben Maller says of Ketel Marte ever playing another game for the Diamondbacks. The second baseman vanished in Boston, missed two games, liked an Instagram post saying he…
“He wants the whole candy store at the Piggly Wiggly, but his card keeps getting declined by the medical tent.” That is how Ben Maller sized up Joe Burrow’s declaration that this season is Super…
Fighting for the Right to Be Lazy Red Sox first baseman Wilson Contreras was booed at Fenway Park for jogging down the first base line on a routine ground ball. His response? He cupped his ear to…
In the seventh inning of a Wednesday night game at Camden Yards, Pete Alonso hit what appeared to be a go-ahead home run down the left field line. The ball sailed over the foul pole, the crowd…
Pirates ace Paul Skenes carried a 1.96 career ERA into this season. Since May 17, his ERA is 5.05, he has nearly taken his 10th loss in 13 decisions, and the team line out of Pittsburgh is that it…
“It’s love, man. But listen, listen, I’m honestly guys, none of that stuff even matters.” That was A.J. Brown, the Patriots wide receiver, speaking about his relationship with former Eagles…
“If the replay center needs some kind of congressional investigation to figure out what every man, woman, and child already knows, can you explain to me what the point of that is?” In a late-July…
Hour 1 — Putting the Boob in Boob Tube The Dodgers' 25-year, $8.35 billion local TV deal — averaging $334 million a year, one of the richest media contracts in the world — is supposed to be the…
Hour 3 - Miller Filler Von Miller just joined the Dallas Cowboys on a one-year deal, and within days of practicing, he declared himself "probably the best teammate that ever played in the National…
Hour 4 — Global Domination Roger Goodell recently said he has "no doubt" the NFL will eventually have permanent teams based outside the United States. This season the league will play nine…
The Buss Family Civil War Comes to a Head The six Buss siblings — Jeannie, Jim, Johnny, Janie, Joey, and Jesse — have reportedly voted four-to-two to sell the remaining 17.8 percent of the…
Hour 3 – Rich Guy Problems Dodgers owner Mark Walter is reportedly being investigated by the Southern District of Manhattan and the SEC for fraud involving loans and the undervaluation of assets.…
The Buss Family Feud and the NBA's Selective Investigations The Buss family trust consists of six siblings — Jeannie, Jim, Johnny, Janie, Joey, and Jesse — and according to reports, four of them…
Von Miller to Dallas, Richardson Stuck in Indy, and Campbell's Sideline Vision The Dallas Cowboys waited until mid-August to make a move that actually registered on the national radar, signing…
The Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb did not exactly lower expectations when he declared that he and wide receiver George Pickens have the potential to be “the best ever” as a receiving duo. Meanwhile, Giants…
It was a Sunday morning in August 1998 at Shea Stadium, and the New York Mets' batting practice had become a disaster. Butch Husky stepped into the cage and whiffed, then whiffed again, then kept…
When a Coach's Car Accident Becomes a Cover-Up Story The Kyle Shanahan car accident story has "more twists than an Auntie Ann's pretzel factory," according to Ben Maller, who opened his show by…
“Life is all about the stories you pick up along the way,” Ben Maller says early in this episode, and the rest of the hour is a loving, absurd, and surprisingly moving demonstration of that…
Hour 2 - Feelin Blue The Dodgers' ownership situation is unraveling in ways that could reshape baseball's most glamorous franchise. Guggenheim Partners, the ownership group that bought the team…
Freddie Freeman's Fall, Paul Skenes's Belly, and Francisco Lindor's Cold War The most talked-about moment in baseball this week involved no home runs, no strikeouts, and no game-changing hit. In…
The Bears Want to Score Like It's 2013, Rodgers Wants an Invite, and the Eagles Accidentally Showed Reality Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson has set a target that would make even the most…
“The Lakers have officially become a Mickey Mouse franchise,” Ben Maller declared on his overnight sports talk show, after news broke that the team was being sold for $12.5 billion to a group…
The Competition That Wasn't The Minnesota Vikings named Kyler Murray their starting quarterback on Wednesday, August 12th, ending a quarterback "competition" that host Ben Maller argues was never…
In an August episode of The Ben Maller Show, host Ben Maller opened with a blunt assessment of CBS Sports President David Berson's statement regarding Tony Romo's future. Berson said there is "no…
“We put a plan into motion to turn the team over and have the chance to draft him.” That quote — from San Antonio Spurs GM Brian Wright on HBO’s Hard Knocks — is the kind of quiet-part-out-loud…
The Minnesota Vikings named Kyler Murray their starting quarterback over J.J. McCarthy, a decision that host Ben Maller calls a "rigged carnival game" from the start. Maller argues that…
Hour 1 - CeeDee Player "Fresh off that quote. So fresh. You know, when you walk by a dog poop and it just hit that rich aroma. Yeah, that's right there." Ben Maller was not buying CeeDee Lamb's…
“If my dad had been Howard Stern, I think I might have a better shift.” That line, from Ben Maller during his overnight Fox Sports Radio show, captures the central tension of the episode’s first…
“Seven million people watched that matchup, making it the most watched Hall of Fame game since 2017.” That was the audience for a preseason NFL game between the Carolina Panthers and the Arizona…
"Yankees suck." That chant, echoing through Fenway Park back in June, was the spark for a running feud that has become the centerpiece of a recent Ben Maller Show episode. The show, a late-night…
In the middle of a brutal August slump, the Dodgers lost eight of their last nine games. Freddie Freeman, the team’s first baseman and one of its most reliable stars, stood in front of reporters…
“The Dodgers who have absolutely been sleepwalking going back until right around the All-Star game up until now. In fact, it’s more than sleepwalking. They’re enjoying their REM sleep here.” That…
The Detroit Tigers traded two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal to the Los Angeles Dodgers for a package headlined by prospect Zaire Hope and minor leaguer River Ryan, and Ben Maller is not…
On a recent episode of The Fifth Hour, Ben Maller shared a story that began with a listener's innocent question and ended with him crashing headfirst into a wall in his own home. The question,…
Aaron Rodgers held a press conference to insist that public criticism does not bother him. Ben Maller's response: thumbs down. Maller argued that humans are hardwired to seek acceptance, and the…
The Race Is On: Otani, the Dodgers' Slide, and Baseball's Tanking Incentive Problem The National League MVP race has tightened dramatically. According to prediction markets, Chicago Cubs…
"Fans of something called the Motor City Cruise... can pay $250 for a chance at blank." The answer, as Ben Maller reveals after a parade of listener guesses (a makeover, a Taco Bell vending…
In the fourth hour of the Ben Maller Show, host Ben Maller takes on three NFL storylines that all revolve around a single question: when a team or coach publicly backs a veteran player, are they…
Best of The Ben Maller Show The National League MVP race has tightened dramatically. According to prediction markets, Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong has leapfrogged Shohei Ohtani as…
Hour 2 – Dirty Money The Atlanta Falcons just made Bijan Robinson the highest-paid running back in NFL history, and Ben Maller is not sure whether to applaud or laugh. The deal: three years, up to…
Hour 3 – A Trip to Rodgers' World Aaron Rodgers did not get punished by the Pittsburgh Steelers after he went on Pat McAfee's show and called Dr. Anthony Fauci "an absolute coward" over his Senate…
Best of The Ben Maller Show The night Ben Maller opened his show, the Chicago Cubs beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-1 at Wrigley Field, spoiling Tarik Skubal's much-hyped debut in Dodger Blue.…
Ben Maller opened his show the night of August 5 by watching the much-hyped Dodgers debut of pitcher Tarik Skubal, acquired in a blockbuster trade from Detroit. Skubal delivered a quality start —…
"48 trades in the last 28 hours before the deadline." That was the volume at the 2026 MLB trade deadline, and on the Ben Maller Show, the host spent the hour dissecting three of the biggest…
On the night of the MLB trade deadline, the Texas Rangers had a deal in place to send two-time Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom to the Atlanta Braves. The framework was lined up. All deGrom had to do…
The MLB trade deadline produced a flurry of moves, but the Ben Maller Show spent the fourth hour arguing that most of the big-name acquisitions were overhyped. The dominant theme: teams traded for…
The Tigers Gave Away Their Ace, and Everyone Has an Opinion The 2026 MLB trade deadline produced 48 trades in the final 28 hours before the 6 PM Eastern cutoff, but the deal that still has…
The New York Knicks just won the NBA championship, but Ben Maller is already calling them a one-hit wonder. He compares them to the Baha Men, the band behind "Who Let the Dogs Out" — a song that…
LeBron James Is Leaving the Lakers, and the Reason Is Simpler Than You Think The night LeBron James told the Lakers he was leaving, Ben Maller wasn't surprised. The reason had less to do with…
The NBA's "silly season" is in full swing, and the Ben Maller Show spent a packed episode sorting through a swirl of trade rumors, player grievances, and legal trouble. The dominant theme was the…
The Buffalo Bills are opening a new stadium, and they have decided that O.J. Simpson—the franchise’s greatest running back, a Hall of Famer, and a double murderer—will not be part of the public…
Warriors chasing a nostalgia act, Clippers listening on Kawhi, and Jalen Brown fires back at the nerds The NBA rumor mill is churning at full speed as free agency approaches, and the most…
Ben Maller’s annual golf outing is not a trip to St. Andrews or Augusta National. It is a trip to Holy Moley, a miniature golf course in a cocktail bar where the obstacles are designed by people…
The Los Angeles Lakers have decided to make Austin Reaves a foundational piece, signing him to a four-year, $185 million max contract — the richest deal ever given to an undrafted player in NBA…
Baseball Power Hour: Devers, Senga, and the Cardinals' Quiet Decline The Ben Maller Show's "Baseball Power Hour" opened with a pointed question: does Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez's defense of…
The New York Times recently published a lengthy investigation into Diana Russini, a former NFL reporter for the paper, and her relationship with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel. The…
"Four years, $185 million max contract." That is the number that opens the episode, and it belongs to Austin Reaves, the undrafted guard who just re-signed with the Lakers. The Ben Maller Show…
"Washington is not a franchise that is playing basketball. They're a navigational hazard." That is how Ben Maller greeted the news that AJ Dybantsa had been drafted first overall by the Washington…
Hour 2 - Rafael Devers Apologizes? "Nobody believes any of this," Ben Maller says about Rafael Devers' public apology after the Giants first baseman waved off a pinch runner, covered his face with…
The NFL's Door Slam on Brendan Sorsby and the Falcons' Bet on Kyle Pitts The NFL canceled the 2026 supplemental draft entirely rather than let quarterback Brendan Sorsby enter the league. Sorsby,…
The NBA draft is hours away, but the real fireworks came overnight when the Milwaukee Bucks traded Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to the Miami Heat. The deal, which had been rumored for…
The Minnesota Timberwolves traded Julius Randle and the 28th pick in the NBA draft to the Brooklyn Nets as part of a three-team deal and got back only the 33rd pick. Ben Maller calls it a "pure…
Hour 3 - Mayday! The Ben Maller Show's third hour opens with a coaching carousel bombshell: Dusty May, fresh off winning the 2026 national championship with Michigan, has quit the Wolverines to…
Hour 4 - Stand By Your Man? San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle recently appeared on a Barstool Sports podcast and offered a deceptively polite assessment of his former teammate Brandon…
The Ben Maller Show opened its Monday episode with three distinct storylines that dominated the NFL and golf worlds over Father's Day weekend: a viral video accusing Jets quarterback Geno Smith of…
"Checking account." That was the answer to Ben Maller's riddle of the day: Mark Cuban said that when he ran the Dallas Mavericks, a number of players showed up making $850,000 or more who didn't…
Hour 4 - Twin Killing The Minnesota Twins are a bad baseball team that just got worse, and their star outfielder Byron Buxton has made it clear he's not leaving. "I don't give an F," Buxton told…
Myles Garrett is walking a tightrope. Speaking on a podcast with friends and family, the Browns star defensive end addressed the possibility of Aaron Donald coming out of retirement to join the…
The NBA's Offseason Chatter Machine: LeBron, Kevin Love, and the Economics of Winning The NBA rumor mill is in full swing, and Ben Maller is not buying it. On this episode of The Ben Maller Show,…
Best of The Ben Maller Show — June 18, 2026 The episode opens with Myles Garrett walking a tightrope. Asked about the possibility of Aaron Donald coming out of retirement to form a super defense…
The Dallas Cowboys' George Pickens showed up to mandatory minicamp, which counts as news in June. Ben Maller is skeptical. Pickens, who skipped voluntary OTAs and was unhappy about the franchise…
Hour 2 - Tuckered Out Kyle Tucker, the Dodgers' $15.5 million-per-year outfielder, is off to a miserable start in Los Angeles. When asked about it, he didn't deflect or get defensive. He said, "It…
Brendan Sorsby, a college quarterback who admitted to placing over 9,000 bets—including wagers on his own team’s games—and was ruled permanently ineligible by the NCAA, had a brief moment of hope…
The Knicks finally won a championship, and according to a media narrative that Ben Maller spends the hour dismantling, the credit goes not to the players or coaching but to a giant glowing orb in…
The UFC’s White House fight card cost over $60 million to produce, making it the most expensive event in the promotion’s history. Dana White has since declared it a “one of one” that will never…
The Ben Maller Show's latest episode is a rapid-fire tour through the most chaotic corners of sports, anchored by a major plot twist in the Brendan Sorsby gambling saga. The quarterback who…
Victor Wembanyama did not shake hands with the Knicks after losing the NBA Finals. He untucked his jersey, marched off the court, and went straight to the locker room. Ben Maller, host of The Ben…
The No-Struggle Bus: Hockey, Soccer, and NFL Drama The Carolina Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup by doing something that should not have worked. They handed the net to a 27-year-old undrafted backup…
The NBA Finals ended over the weekend, and the San Antonio Spurs lost to the New York Knicks in five games. But the result itself is not the story Ben Maller wants to talk about. The story is how…
The San Antonio Spurs had just blown a 29-point lead in the NBA Finals, and Ben Maller was watching the game while eating a burrito he suspected might contain moldy cheese. The burrito won.…
Hour 2 - Early Voting George Kittle, the 49ers tight end, recently called anyone who puts head coach Kyle Shanahan on the hot seat "not the smartest." Ben Maller pushes back: it's uncomfortable…
The Spurs Didn't Lose Because of a Whistle The NBA's last two-minute report for Game 4 of the Finals confirmed what anyone watching already suspected: the referees blew a call. With just over a…
The San Antonio Spurs held a 29-point lead in the third quarter of Game 4 of the NBA Finals. They lost 107-106. "Holy Choke City Batman," Ben Maller opens, and he spends the hour performing a…
The San Antonio Spurs blew a 29-point lead in the NBA Finals, and broadcaster Richard Jefferson used the moment to float a provocative hypothetical: the Golden State Warriors would trade both of…
The Knicks had not lost in 46 days. They were up 2-0 in the NBA Finals. Fans had the parade route mapped out. Then came Game 3, and Victor Wembanyama woke up: 32 points, eight rebounds, six…
"Purple praise" is the phrase Ben Maller uses to frame the throughline of this hour: a close reading of what NFL players and coaches really mean when they talk about their quarterbacks. The…
Brandon Aiyuk, the 49ers wide receiver who signed a $120 million extension in 2024, posted a video over the weekend wearing a Washington Commanders hat, comparing himself to a toy the 49ers don't…
The Nerd Turd: Manny Machado vs. Baseball's Analytics Overload The San Diego Padres had just gone 2-11 over their last 13 games, and Manny Machado was hitting .169 — a career low that made him the…
Denzel Ward stood at his own celebrity softball game over the weekend and said he wants to retire a Cleveland Brown. He does not want to be traded, even though the Browns just traded away Miles…
The NBA marketed Victor Wembanyama as a genetically engineered Greek god, the unstoppable force who would take the baton from LeBron and own the league. Two games into the NBA Finals, Ben Maller…
“I'm not gonna tell you. I don't want to see it.” That’s Ben Maller’s immediate response when Mike the Leprechaun—the only human being in history with a Ben Maller tattoo—calls in to host the…
In the sprawling, chaotic ecosystem of the Ben Maller Show, a controversy erupted this week over a listener known as Ferg Dog — a character Maller describes as "harmless in the way a sloth is…
The Bronx Bummer Aaron Judge has been diagnosed with a stress fracture in a rib on his right side, just days after the Yankees said it was a day-to-day injury. The team now says Judge will miss…
The NBA Finals are underway, and the biggest story from Game 1 wasn't the Knicks' 11-0 closing run to erase a 14-point Spurs lead. It was a juvenile fan who ran onto the court with 6:28 left in…
Hour 3 - Kicked Out of Heaven Ben Maller opens the third hour of his overnight show with three distinct sports stories that share a common thread: organizations and players stuck in cycles of…
The New York Yankees have done it again. Aaron Judge, diagnosed with a stress fracture in his right rib, will miss what the team calls “significant time”—likely at least three months, with a…
Hour 1 - Choked Away The San Antonio Spurs held a 14-point lead with 18 minutes to play in Game 1 of the NBA Finals at home. They lost by 10. The Knicks closed the game on an 11-0 run, outscored…
The Air Up There: NBA Politics, NFL Power Plays, and the Art of the Stiff-Arm The NBA Finals are underway, but the most revealing stories in sports this week aren't happening on the court. They're…
The New York Knicks have won eleven straight playoff games, all by double digits, and enter the NBA Finals with the best point differential in postseason history. The San Antonio Spurs have Victor…
Hour 3 - Judge's Chambers The Yankees are telling everyone that Aaron Judge's rib injury is minor, but Ben Maller isn't buying it. Judge has been dealing with what the team initially called…
The biggest story in sports this week is the Los Angeles Rams trading for defensive end Myles Garrett, a move Ben Maller calls "the defining move of the offseason" and one that effectively ends…
Ben Maller was standing outside Bova's Bakery in Boston's North End after midnight, pastry box in hand, when he made the mistake of opening Instagram. Within seconds, Blind Scott—a longtime…
The NFL Schedule Release Is a Glorified Grocery List The NFL has turned basic math into a national holiday. A countdown clock, live TV specials, two-hour pregame shows—all for a calendar. As Ben…
The NBA's No-Call, the Draft Lottery's Flawed Math, and the Rams' PR Crisis Ben Maller opens hour two with three distinct but connected grievances about how professional sports leagues handle…
The Phillies' Turnaround, Cal Raleigh's Crash, and Florida's Subpoena of the NFL The Phillies fired manager Rob Thompson after a 9-19 start—a .321 winning percentage through 28 games—and replaced…
On this April Saturday edition of The Fifth Hour, Ben Maller opens with a confession: he has mostly stopped cursing on the podcast because recording the show after his overnight radio shift makes…
The Fifth Hour: Maller Kentucky Pizza Ben Maller opens with a confession: adulthood is mostly about collecting things. Not junk in the garage, but people. A plumber guy. A car guy. A tax guy who…
A new photo of New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and NFL insider Diana Russini has surfaced, this time showing them having beers at a bar in Indianapolis during the Scouting Combine. The…
"There's Got to Be Some Grace for Shohei Ohtani" The Ben Maller Show's second hour on April 10 opened with a three-part rant that connected baseball hypocrisy, Masters merchandise mania, and…
The NFL is facing a two-front legal war that could reshape the league's power structure, while the Lakers are selling fans on a linguistic trick that redefines what "courtside" means. These are…
The NFL insider Diana Russini and New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel were photographed together at a bar in Indianapolis during the scouting combine—a second image released days after the…
The Ben Maller Show: Media Silence, NIL Chaos, and the Vrabel-Russini Saga The internet gumshoes have cracked the case. Patriots coach Mike Vrabel and NFL insider Diana Russini were spotted…
The KO Kid Gets Paid The Pittsburgh Pirates just gave 19-year-old shortstop Connor Griffin a $140 million contract after he'd logged all of five days of major league service time. He's batting…
In a moment of startling candor, Anthony Davis—now a Washington Wizard—admitted on a podcast with Draymond Green that he isn't sure his 2020 NBA championship with the Lakers counts the same as a…
“This is not leadership. This is the earliest ‘not my fault’ monologue by a quarterback in recent NFL history.” That is how Ben Maller opens the fourth hour of his overnight show, zeroing in on…
Stealing the Headlines The New York Post published photographs of New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and Diana Russini, the Athletic's senior NFL insider, lounging poolside, hugging at…
"F1 Soto, F1 Soto." That rhythmic chant, with the F standing for something other than "fun," echoed through Yankee Stadium during a game against a team that wasn't even the Mets. The target was…
“You don't demand credibility. You demonstrate it on a daily basis. You earn it.” That was Ben Maller’s verdict on the cringiest NBA story of the week: Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers, whose team…
The NFL Draft's Missing Headliner and Other Offseason Signals Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the player expected to be selected first overall by the Las Vegas Raiders, has told the NFL he…
The Tabloid Story That Consumed an Overnight Sports Show The New York Post published photographs of New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel and Diana Russini, the Athletic's top NFL insider, at a…
Cutting Down the Nets: Michigan's Unlikely Title and the New Reality of College Basketball The championship game that ended the college basketball season was, by nearly every aesthetic measure, a…
Hour 2 - Dipping Your Toes "Nobody, nobody had Michael Malone even interested in the North Carolina job. This was completely off the radar." That's how Ben Maller frames the most surprising…
“We like you, but just not enough to marry you.” That is how Ben Maller sums up the Los Angeles Rams’ apparent shift in strategy regarding wide receiver Puka Nacua. After a breakout rookie season…
"It's Not Like We're Some Kindergarten Sticker Chart Thing" The NFL's offseason is a slow news cycle, but Ben Maller is genuinely baffled by the reaction to one particular story: Lamar Jackson…
The Mercenary Model Wins: Michigan's NIL-Fueled Championship and the New Reality of College Sports The national championship game between Michigan and UConn was, by Ben Maller's description, "a…
“The Lakers had an inferno. It was an arson that took place so good. It was so great.” That is how Ben Maller opened his Monday show, relishing the collapse of the Los Angeles Lakers with a week…
Also appeared with
Try PodSized free
5 free AI summaries per month. Premium unlocks unlimited summaries, audio versions, chat, and full transcripts.
Start Free →