Hour 3 - Playing the Fan Card

June 4, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

The New York Knicks' Josh Hart grabbed 15 rebounds in a Finals game, but the most memorable moment of his week came from his wife's Uber driver in San Antonio, who refused to drive her until he finished polishing his cowboy boots. That anecdote, shared on the Ben Maller Show, captures the loose, fan-driven energy of a program that moves from baseball labor negotiations to a veteran outfielder's likely retirement to the peculiar privileges of celebrity in the NFL.

Rob Manfred's believability problem

Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred recently told reporters he is worried about a repeat of the 1990s labor dispute that wiped out the 1994 World Series. He said the league wants an agreement that "addresses the fans' concerns about competitive balance" and acknowledged that "financial penalties have not gotten it done for us" — a reference to the luxury tax system that forces high-payroll teams like the Dodgers and Mets to pay revenue-sharing checks to smaller-market clubs.

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What you'll learn

1 (02:20) **Hour 3 Kickoff & Topic Preview** - Ben Maller opens the third hour, previewing the lead topics: MLB labor negotiations, Nick Castellanos' DFA, and Todd Monken meeting with Deion Sanders.
2 (07:35) **MLB Labor Negotiations & Rob Manfred's Credibility** - Ben analyzes Rob Manfred's claim that MLB wants to address fan concerns in CBA talks, rating it an 8.5 on the Maller Scale of Believability.
3 (13:51) **Nick Castellanos DFA'd by Padres** - The Padres designated veteran outfielder Nick Castellanos for assignment after a poor season, hitting .191 with a .560 OPS.
4 (17:07) **Todd Monken Meeting with Deion Sanders** - Browns coach Todd Monken agrees to meet with Deion Sanders to discuss maximizing his son Shedeur Sanders' development, a meeting the previous Browns staff refused.
5 (21:12) **Maller Riddle of the Day** - Ben presents the riddle: Josh Hart's wife shared a video of a San Antonio Uber driver who refused to drive her until he was done with what?
6 (32:35) **Listener Call: Two Percent Chance** - A caller shares a childhood story of witnessing cockfighting in Alabama, connecting it to a previous show topic.
7 (36:57) **Listener Call: Metaglass Kyle** - Kyle calls in to discuss Ferg Dog's suspension and shares a story about Garrett McCain getting a nail polish sponsorship.

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Show Notes

Ben Maller talks about Rob Manfred saying that MLB is 'addressing fans' concerns, if this is the end of the line for Nick Castellanos after getting fired by the Padres, Browns coach Todd Monken taking a meeting with Deion Sanders, #AskBen, and more!

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