Rice on the Mics
Welcome to "Rice on the Mics", where sports talk comes with no script, no filter, and just the right amount of chaos. Hosted by Ian Rice, this is the spot for real fans who love the game but aren’t afraid to call out the bad takes, blown calls, and overpaid benchwarmers. Whether it's a legendary performance, a brutal choke job, or your fantasy team crashing and burning, we’re here to break it down like it’s last call at the bar. No corporate PR spin, no forced debates—just unfiltered sports talk with passion, personality, and maybe a little trash talk along the way. If you’re looking for stats read off a teleprompter, you’re in the wrong place. But if you want bold opinions, real conversations, and the kind of debates that might get a drink thrown at you, pull up a mic and let’s go.
Rice on the Mics
Playoffs, Pitchers, and Predictions: The Ultimate New York Sports Roundup
The inaugural episode of Rice on the Mics dives into the biggest sports stories affecting New York teams, with a passionate breakdown of playoff races, draft strategies, and MLB preparation.
• Knicks sitting with the NBA's fourth-best record but struggling against top contenders with a combined 0-7 record
• Lakers emerging as Western Conference contenders with surprising chemistry between LeBron and Luka
• Thunder, Nuggets, Grizzlies, and Warriors creating an ultra-competitive Western Conference playoff picture
• Giants (3rd pick) and Jets (7th pick) both needing quarterbacks in the upcoming NFL draft
• Both NY football teams should "hold pat" rather than trade away future assets
• Yankees facing questions at third base and left field and pitching injuries.
• AL East becoming increasingly competitive with Baltimore's young talent and Boston's strategic additions
• Mets boasting a strong lineup but dealing with pitching injuries as spring training begins
• NL East outlook with analysis of Braves, Phillies, and emerging Nationals
Let me hear from you! Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you listen, and leave a review. Hit me up on Twitter or Instagram @riceontheradio to tell me what topics you want covered next episode.
I guess there's only one way to find out. Let's do it to it, right? What's up everyone? Welcome to the first episode of Rice on the Mics, where we break down the biggest sports stories with a New York twist. I am your host, ian Rice. Today we got a packed show. We've got NFL free agency buzz, nfl playoff push, nba playoff push, excuse me. And who's jockeying for position where? Spring training drama with the Mets and the Yankees and some way way, way too early MLB predictions. Let's get into it.
Speaker 1:Alright, let's kick right off with the team that's closest to their playoff race here. Nba, who's jockeying for position? Who's going to be where? I mean, we could start with the knicks. I guess they got the fourth best record in the nba, but what does that even mean? I mean, the teams ahead of them are the celtics and the calves and the thunder and they're combined 0-7 against them in the regular season. Now, mitch coming back yeah, I'm sure that helps, but man Bridges has been terrible and it's not fair to get on him super a lot, but we did give up a lot to get after him. So he needs to step up and be the defender that he was supposed to be, and until that happens. I mean, there's only so many guys that can be dogs on his team. No cat hurts. Right now, josh Hart is obviously hurt.
Speaker 1:This team's got a big uphill climb when it comes to the playoffs, man, and if there's a first-round exit for whatever reason, some Detroit team or they run into some young kid team, it's not going to be good man. There's going to be some heads to roll. Now we love Tibbs in here. He gets the guys going and I think this team would have a big problem with Tibbs going. But first round exit? The question needs to be asked. It really does.
Speaker 1:I'll tell you who's definitely not on the hot seat though JJ Redick and the Los Angeles Lakers. I mean, what a turnaround. I understand you know getting Luka for free is a big help, which is pretty much what they got him for Moving AD fine. But Luka and LeBron I mean you might as well just add to 10 more years to LeBron's career. He really could. He could play at least another five at power forward with Luka just kind of doing what he needs to do and being almost like a spot-up shooter this late in his career, which would be insane to think of LeBron being playing till he's 45. I mean it's obviously not gonna happen. But shit, if it does happen. I mean, him and Luka look like they've been playing together for 25 years and Luka's not even 25 years old. I mean, what are we talking about here, jeez?
Speaker 1:And it's a real, real tough time to be a Dallas fan. If that's the case. You lose Luka, you lose your owner, first of all, who really was the heart and soul of this team. He was the real blood driving force of this team. I mean, by the way, does anybody know what Mark Cuban sold the Mavericks for His majority share? $2.8 billion. Yes, $2.8 billion. He bought the team at $265 million. He sold for $3.1 billion with a B dollars. Do you understand Nice to have money? Huh. He sold for $3.1 billion with a B dollars. You understand Nice to have money? Huh. But yeah, tough to be a Dallas fan right now. You lose Mark Cuban years ago. Now you lose Luka.
Speaker 1:Ad looks good when you start Hurts his grind. Kyrie, who's a local Jersey boy stunner with the ball ultimate skills. You lose him torn ACL, and I don't know if it's the same knee. I don't think it is. Might be wrong on that Either way. Second one Not great. Oh, and then AD shut down for the rest of the year and they're raising ticket prices next year. So Tell me what you have to root for To be a Dallas fan. Almost sounds like the Jets fans around here Not great. Which leads me right into my next point too.
Speaker 1:Lakers, don't look now. Number two in the West and not one team besides. The Thunder is separated in the West. I'm looking at the standings right now. You got Thunder at the 1. They're 10.5 up, so I mean no one's catching them. They're 1 seed throughout. It is what it is. Lakers 10.5 back Nuggets 11 back Grizzlies 12 back Rockets young gun team 13 back Warriors don't look now.
Speaker 1:Jimmy Butler, draymond and Steph, 35 years old, looking to take your souls, looking to play here, and Jimmy's looking for that contract. Timberwolves nothing to sneeze at. I mean Julius Randle coming from the Knicks. We'll see. I'm sure everybody in Minnesota doesn't like watching him dribble the ball relentlessly. Kings at the eight seed Sabonis Fox We'll see Clippers Kawhi will he play, will he not?
Speaker 1:Mavs at the 10. That's how close they were. Mavs at the 10. Suns at 11 is embarrassing. Kd Booker Hukot what a fall from grace. Where's KD going to go? He's not going to be there and the Suns just paid Booker all that money he's going to want out. Where's Giannis going to go too? Speaking of standings, pretty sure the Bucs are fourth, fifth in the East. Giannis ain't happy, I know that for sure.
Speaker 1:Spurs, you hate to see it at 13 with Wemby out. You know you hope for the better with him. But this west man, this west, is gonna be real fun, god forbid. You know the lakers. You know they pushed their all the way up, but if they hung around the middle for a little bit, they they were like a six, seven seed playing. I don't know the nuggets man. That's a. That's a tough matchup and the lakers would want blood in that matchup.
Speaker 1:Thunders look good, man. Thunder looks real good, but they're young. So we'll see. Same with the Rockets. I love the Rockets. The Rockets are a good dark horse. They're young, they play fast, but they got to figure out a couple little things over there, which is why, with the Knicks, I mean fourth best record in the NBA. But Celtics had a returning champion and got to give Cleveland their flowers. Cleveland has looked good. Coach has had them playing great after he got, you know, disrespected. They are a good team. They are not the Cleveland Cavaliers of old where you can just walk all over them. Which begs the question with these Knicks, what are the real expectations of them in the playoffs this season, with Big Cat, with Brunson, with Josh Hart, mr Triple-Double who we like to see back as long as he's not hurt, with Bridges and OG?
Speaker 1:I mean, this is you want to talk about core four with the Yankees? This is the core five man. We don't have a bench Deuce. Hopefully, when he gets healthy, little Precious. I mean, this is it. Boys, this is the squad. Are you going to be able to get through? I don't know.
Speaker 1:Tatum in second round, carousel vert donovan mitchell second round. You don't think donovan mitchell wants to stick it to his hometown knicks? Kid grew up in new york. Kid grew up a med fan. His father played for the mets. I mean, you don't think he wants. He's just gonna let the knicks roll over him. No, no, I don't think so.
Speaker 1:So a lot of questions here. Oh, and also, are the nets tanking or not? What are we doing? They're winning games. They're over under. At the beginning of the year for win totals was 14 and a half. That was so low. The books got that so wrong, but they still suck. So are you guys tanking?
Speaker 1:Do you want cooper flag in new? Because Cooper Flagg do not get it twisted is the number one college draft pick this year. He is a monster coming out of Duke. He's averaging about 27 points a game. He's big, he's tall, he commands the room, he knows how to be a leader, even if he's only been there for one year. He's a young kid. But this kid fucking knows how to play ball. Man and any team should be so lucky. So how about we get another star in new york? I know they're brooklyn, you know I'm from jersey, the jersey nets, the new jersey nets, but they're brooklyn now they're not even considered anything as far as I'm concerned. Go knicks, but would be pretty cool to see cooper flag in uh jersey in new york here roping the tri-state area. All right, I think that's enough nba for now. New Jersey and New York here we're open to Tri-State area. All right, I think that's enough NBA for now. We'll let the cards fall where they may. We'll see how everything turns out. We still got some time to the playoffs.
Speaker 1:What is coming up in a little bit is the NFL draft and, fortunately unfortunately, both New York teams are shit again. What else is new? Giants are picking three, Jets are picking seven. Neither one of the teams have a quarterback, which everybody knows in the NFL If you don't have a quarterback, you're beat. And in the words of Bill Parcell, if you you have two quarterbacks, you don't have a quarterback. And both teams are currently jockeying for a quarterback in this draft. Giants obviously doing a little bit better at three. The daniel jones experiment is now over. Poor shame for daniel too, because you know the kid showed good promise. But hey, man, if you can't stay healthy, you can't play. Tell that to Saquon, by the way. Yeah, I don't know, man.
Speaker 1:The Giants, I don't think they should personally move up to one. They're going to have to give up a King's ransom to move up to the Titans at one, and the Titans are just as fucked. I mean, do you want to go with Will Hyman's Mayo, hellman's Mayo excuse me, will Hellman's Mayo? Levis, guy puts fucking mayo in his coffee. You want that to be your franchise quarterback? I don't know, but they got a shit ton of holes to fill too. How about that aj brown trade? How's that? Look not great, but yeah, they're gonna.
Speaker 1:Giants are gonna have to give up, they're gonna have to swap ones and you don't want to give up two because second round pick number 34 overall, I guess I mean that's it might as well be a fucking first round pick. So you don't want to give that one up. But are you gonna let dayball and shane give up the first next year when, realistically, based upon their schedule, they're probably going to be another top 10 drafting team and mara is going to get rid of both of them? And now they don't have a first for the next organization coming in. And it's not their quarterback that they drafted If they moved up to trade it for a quarterback. And it's going to be Daniel Jones, all over of new head coach after first year quarterback, and it's going to be a new GM who doesn't like any of these players. I mean, the list goes on and on. But that's the Giants.
Speaker 1:I'm a Jets fan. That's the Jets fan talking to me. You know a lot of people always a lot of Giant fans say, oh, I root for the Jets. You know, I got no problem with the Jets. Yeah, that's because you won two Super Bowls. Okay, I haven't been mad at you for either. I can't stand the Giants, I will never root for the Yankees, and I think that's going to turn now to a lot of Yankee fans who say the same thing of oh, I root for the Mets, I don't care, I hope they're good. Yeah, well, now that I got Soto, yeah, I don't think you'll be rooting for the Mets no more. Anyway, I digress.
Speaker 1:Giants at three, which I don't think they will. I think daddy Dion is gonna step in and tell Cleveland that my son is not playing for your disasters of an organization he doesn't want to be. Another name added to that Browns jersey with the 50 quarterbacks duct tape to the back of it. So so I think the Giants hold Pat. If they want Sanders, they can take him. There's always been a controversy of Giants having black quarterbacks, but I think that's more of just a story, perpetuated than actual things, I guess. But who am I to say? And you know from the Jets, I like Dart man. Let's see's, see. I mean, first of all, he's got a great last name guy named dart in new york and he's a good quarterback. Dart throws a dart to wilson. Yeah, sign me up for 15 years of that. That sounds great. But I think the giants and the jets should both hold pat.
Speaker 1:In all seriousness, raiders in front of the Jets is a little spooky, but they got a lot of holes to fill too. Honestly, I really, really wouldn't be surprised if the Raiders just throw a stupid amount of money at Sam Darnold because that's a Raiders move, that's a Tom Brady, mark Davis. We're here in town. Let's throw a shit ton of money at them and hope for the best. And then, I don't know, every other team is just, it is what it is. From there there's going to be a bunch of free agency moves. So I don't want to dive too too deep into the draft because once it gets a little bit closer maybe next week, we'll do another updated draft podcast on it. Here Some people should be signed. Free agency does start soon, I believe Tuesday this upcoming week. So let's see where the chips fall. We'll see how everything goes. But I really in my heart of hearts, I believe that the Jets and Giants should both hold Pat.
Speaker 1:I mean, dayball is a leader of men. He actually has a great line that I will give him credit for. That, I think, is a very good leadership quality. I remember when he got hired during his press conference and he killed the press conference. But you never want to judge a coach off the press conference unless it's Adam Gase looking at the sky when no one's around.
Speaker 1:Dayball had said I think it's really important as a leader of people to have an open door policy and it doesn't matter if it's my star player or the janitor walks into my office to have an open door policy and it doesn't matter if it's my star player or the janitor walks into my office to have a conversation with me. I need to entertain that conversation because if you flip on the other side, think about how much courage it took for them to build up and walk into my office. So who would I be to just throw them away? And I always thought that was a good, you know, leadership quality and leadership idea and that's a good way to lead a room and a good leader event. Now can he coach? That's a whole nother story. But look at dan campbell.
Speaker 1:I mean, if you can lead men, you can go for it on fourth and six if you want, I guess fuck it, which is uh kind of what the jets are doing. Doing too, the Jets, you know. I mean, glenn was Revis before Revis and we love him, we love the energy. We want a leader of men, we need a good culture shot and he can say we want to win now all we want. But when you get rid of Rodgers in that and get rid of the Rodgers groupies, lazard and Devontae and all them, I get why you're doing it, because you need to take control of this locker room and I think that's a good first step. So I don't know, we'll see Again, we'll let the chips fall, let's see what everybody does in free agency and we'll go from there. But uh, I think that's a good, good start for that and we'll see what happens in these upcoming weeks. All right, that's our little old school mlb.
Speaker 1:The show intro we put together here to signify that baseball is around the corner. That's right, boys, hot dogs and cold beer and some sunshine and yelling at ballplayers that can definitely hear you. But they're ignoring that. They can't. We love baseball season around here, but they're ignoring that. They can't. We love baseball season around here, first week of spring training. So let's not get too crazy about what's going on here. But there's definitely been, I would say, a healthy amount of injuries for both New York local teams and probably around the league, but I'm paying attention to what's going on around here. Listen, man, I'm a Met fan but we're going to start with the Yankees here and if it's biased it's biased, maybe a little bit. But Yankees, man, I mean they do not have a third baseman. I'm sorry, but they don't.
Speaker 1:Now whether it was Cashman not wanting to sign Bregman because he can't wait to criticize the Astros on how they cheated, but you know. But you not signed him. He went to your division rival and the Yankees are quote unquote shoo-in to win the division. I don't know about that man. No third baseman. You got a left fielder who looks like he's never played baseball. He looks like me. If I played left field for my softball league. I mean, guy can't catch a ball. His first step's in. What are we doing? Lost in the sun, put your glove in front of it. It's step's in. What are we doing? Lost in the sun, put your glove in front of it. It's Little League stuff, I don't know. Cole should be good. He got hurt last year, pitched well at the end, pitched in the World Series. Let's just hope he can get over to first Signing him max free. Thank you, by the way, appreciate that. Thanks for taking him off of Atlanta and out of my division, much appreciated.
Speaker 1:I don't know man and no Stanton. The guy's got a tennis elbow in both arms, is he? Look, look, look, I know Stanton is playoff. Jimmy, he is the man in the playoffs but he's slow, he can't run. He whiffs at balls. I mean, if you're playing the show you just pitch him outside. Every time he just waffles away at the damn thing. Jazz is going to steal some bases, but can he get on Volpe? You need a big, big year from Volpe here. I mean, you finally need this kid to start being.
Speaker 1:And he won the gold glove, but it was kind of a little bit of a Mickey Mouse gold glove, but he won it. So you can't take it away from him. He won it, but he's got a hit. He's got him and jazz both have to get on and steal bases to have people in front of judge, because otherwise then you're just going to walk judge all day. And what belly? I mean, yeah, listen, belly is gonna have a statistic good year. Just because that short porch, he's guaranteed to boost his home runs at by at least 10. Guy could fly out to fucking right and it's a home run. But I'm telling you there's gonna be a lot of games where belly people are gonna wonder why they got him replacing soto. Soto is going to be tough man, and Goldschmidt listen, goldschmidt is going to give you better stats than what Rizzo gave you, but that's not really saying much compared to how Rizzo finished his career.
Speaker 1:And I got love for Rizzo. I'm a first baseman myself. I love seeing guys play the game right, and he sure did, but he got old quick. So I don't know, man, I I really I'm not calling the yankees overrated, but the yankees have been good for so damn long that I think everybody just expects the yankees to stay good. And I don't know. I think Yankee fans are in for a rude awakening Again. The rotation is going to be good and you picked up some hitters and this, that and the other, but your division is not as simple as you think, man. Baltimore was looking good and they got some kids that are now getting a little older, that are getting a little bit better and learning how to play, and Boston Boston's going to be good boys.
Speaker 1:I mean Devers making a big deal about third. I think they got blown out of proportion a little bit. I think he just you know, oh, I'm not moving off a third and I don't think Bregman really cares about playing second. So now you got to monster a third. Story is short, don't sleep on story man, kick and play. And Bregman's power is to the green monster. So he's going to fucking lead the league in doubles. Maybe not lead the league, but his doubles are going to go through the roof. Plus, you got Duran, I mean. You got Cassis. You got Yoshida, I mean. Not to mention they picked up Walker Bueller, traded for Crochet, brian Bellow, I mean.
Speaker 1:Boston is no pushover man. And on top of it, the Blue Jays, I mean, listen, the Blue Jays are the Blue Jays. They couldn't get out of their own way if they tried, if they had a pathway to it. But Vladdy is going for that contract this year. He knows he's going to get paid one way or the other. He's the same thing as Soto, 26 years old, a legacy player, a pedigree player, just like his father. He might even be better than his father Well, maybe not better, but he makes a good argument and he is not. Toronto is not going to pay him, so he is going out there and he is going to mash the ball. So you're probably going to drop a game or two to Toronto.
Speaker 1:So I don't know, man, I really think the Yankees need to watch out. They need to really lock in and focus up if they plan on winning this division and getting back to the World Series and say, oh, the ao is weak. Well you know, yeah, the ao is weak, but it's not as weak as you think it is. I mean, bobby witt in kansas city is a hell of a player. Cleveland is really good. Okay, their bullpen is good. The they're nothing really great, but again, another solid, solid bullpen. Don't be down going into the sixth inning with them. You're going to be in trouble. That's a game you're not going to win. So I don't know. We'll see where the Yankees fall.
Speaker 1:Not to mention too, I mean the Rangers and the ALS. They got some hitters, Pitching's, a bunch of old men, but they got some hitters Mariners. On the other hand, I mean, listen, they didn't sign a single hitter. I don't even think they spent any money so far in the offseason. But that starting rotation with Kirby and castillo and all them boys, they're, they're good and the astros have your number. They do. I'm sorry, they do.
Speaker 1:I know there's bad blood, there's this, any other, but astros always seem to play you guys. They always seem to get up for the yankees. It's like guys coming to the garden. That's it for the next. They always seem to play you guys. They always seem to get up for the Yankees. It's like guys coming to the garden for the next. They always seem to get up Anytime the Yankees come to town. We got to put our best game on and don't sleep on the athletics. They are going to be decent. They got young. I know they're in transition and I know it's a whole thing with the owner and the Coliseum and yada, yada, yada. But I'm telling you, oakland is not well, they're not Oakland anymore. I guess they're the athletics of wherever the fuck they're playing. They're going to be pretty good, decent not pretty good, but decent enough to steal some games. All right.
Speaker 1:Moving on to the Mets here, though, hey, welcome home, mr Soto. Cannot wait for you to don the Mets cap when you get into that Hall of Fame. Listen, a little homer here, but I really think the Mets are going to make a strong play, for the division Lineup alone is super solid Lindor Soto, vientos, pete, nem, nemo McNeil, acuna, Alvarez, siri Winker, marte got Brett Beatty, maybe got Mauricio, who's supposed to be. This lineup's gonna be good man, but let's put it on the other foot now. They got a lot of pitching industries Injuries.
Speaker 1:Excuse me. Senga needs a six-man rotation and we're down to four pitchers. Bullpen looks great. We're doing all right. I don't know. Atlanta got weaker. Hakuna's on his second ACL tear. Spencer Schreider coming off a torn ACL Excuse me. Tommy John, we'll see how he works out. Sean Murphy their catcher already got hurt. Miami's garbage. Washington's going to be all right. All those kids that they traded, that they got for Soto all those years ago, starting to come up. They look pretty good.
Speaker 1:And the Phillies? I mean not that I'm not worried about the Phillies, but I don't know. I think we really really crushed their soul. Now, look, they're going to have some fire when they come play us, that's for sure. They're going to want us. But that's fine, man, I'm not worried about you in the regular season, I'm worried about you in the postseason and I'll get you from there.
Speaker 1:Nl Central eh, who knows? Cubs are going to be good Pirates. They're going to have to rely on their pitching. They have a couple guys that are hits, but it's really the Skeens and Jared Jones show. We'll see what goes on from there.
Speaker 1:Brewers, they just lost half their team. They lost Adamas, devin Williams. Yelich is just about done. Between the injuries and age he's getting up there. Brewers, I'm not too worried about Cardinals. They're in disarray. They got rid of Goldschmidt. They can't wait to get rid of Arnado, but no one wants to take him. Wilson Contreras went from the Cubs to the Cardinals. I don't know, I'm not who knows, we'll see. But Cardinals do always seem to find a way to be in it. But I, but Cardinals do always seem to find a way to be in it, but I think they're trying to figure it out.
Speaker 1:The big elephant in the room, dodgers, listen. I mean, look, when your star player is a degenerate gambler and gets away with it, why wouldn't you think that the Dodgers would get away with anything anyway? I'm just kidding. I'm just kidding. Relax, relax. But Dodgers are a big problem, but their division's no slouch either. I mean, the Padres are the Padres. They always play them hard. They'll be all right. Arizona Corbin Burns is primed for a good year and Corbin Carroll is a hell of a player. Man. I would not sleep on Arizona making a good play for the division Giants always want to be in it, but Well, they did just sign actually they did just sign Willie Adamas so. But otherwise they couldn't pay somebody to take their money and that's all they've been trying to do. So we'll see how all that shakes out. But I'm not too worried about the Dodgers. We'll see.
Speaker 1:Well, that's a wrap for this episode of Rice on the Mics. We touched on a lot of stuff. A lot of headlines across the sports world Broke down between the AL and the NL in spring training. Let's go baseball. Can't wait. There's some predictions out there too, because fuck it.
Speaker 1:Anyway, if you like what you heard, do me a favor, subscribe to the podcast, spotify, apple, wherever. I don't give a fuck where you listen. Just make sure you subscribe and please leave a review. Be super dopey. It really helps grow.
Speaker 1:The show keeps conversation going and I want to hear from you guys. So hit me up anywhere on twitter, anywhere on instagram, at rice on the radio. R-i-c-e-o-n-t-h-e-r-a-d-i-o. Rice on the radio. Love to hear from you. Early picks for the world series where the giants should go, where the jets should go, whatever, whatever, it doesn't matter. Just tell me what I should cover, tell me what you want to talk about. Let's keep it going. I want to listen. I want you in. This show doesn't work without you guys. I'm good, you guys are better. Next, I'm good, you guys are better. Next episode we'll dive into whatever we can get into NFL, nba, a little bit of everything. This is what you should expect from this show Good conversation on everything, good silly takes, good takes, whatever, whatever. But I want to hear from you guys. So please hit me up, don't be afraid I'll answer. All of you Love you guys. Make sure you tell somebody that you love, that you love. Spread a good energy in this world. Let's enjoy sports. Cheers, boys, bye.