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Thank you so much for your support, from listening, to sending us pictures, videos and debate ideas.
We'll be back with new episodes of Smash Boom Best this summer.
We're already brainstorming new debates and we cannot wait to share them with you.
In the meantime, there's new episodes of Brainzon, Moment of Um, and later this spring, Forever Ago is coming back.
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Best debate at the end of February for people who donate to the show Thanks again for being here for us smash boom besties on to the show From the brains behind brains on its smash boom best the show for people with big opinions Hi, I'm Molly blue and this is Smash Boom Best, the show where we take two things, smash them together, and ask you to decide which one is best. Today's debate is going to be a ball.
It's basketball versus baseball.
Which game will win?
Baseball with a homer or b -ball with a slam dunk?
There's no telling.
Thankfully, we've got Wesley from Boulder, Colorado here to help us decide.
Hi, Wesley! Hi, Molly.
So Wesley, you are quite the athlete.
You swim, and you've already been to the Junior Olympics with your water polo team but I also heard that back in fifth grade you won your middle school's Kids vs Parents dodgeball tournament?
Can you tell us more about that?
That was awesome. That was a high point of my elementary career and in this situation it came down to one versus one.
Wow. The mom and I each got one ball.
I dropped mine and caught hers which was amazing.
I think Wesley, what comes to your mind when I say basketball?
Huge people, taller than six feet tall, even some taller than seven feet tall, running up and down a court, slamming a basketball into a net, and shooting from 35 feet out as the buzzer expires to win games.
I love it. What about baseball?
What comes to mind when you think about baseball?
For baseball, what I think about is just walk -off home runs and just hitting the ball 400 yards over the wall at the stadium to win the game, and just your teammates mobbing the field, diving catches, just everything you can think of in baseball.
So you like your sports to have some drama, I can tell.
Well, you are the perfect judge for today's debate.
It's gonna be a tough one.
Let's get it started.
Here to defend basketball it's brainzoned co -creator and master producer Mark Sanchez.
Hi Mark. Hey Molly, hey Wesley.
Big Golden State warrior welcome.
So Mark in a single sentence why is basketball the Smash Boom best?
I mean Wesley kind of said it all but basketball brings the heat it brings the thunder and those yes those are both two basketball teams and legitimately literally it has so much more energy than baseball.
It's a no brainer. And here to represent baseball, it's host of the podcast, Ooh You're in Trouble and voice actress in the making, Merck Nguyen.
Hi Merck. Merck Nguyen is up on deck.
Oh, hey everybody, what's up?
Merck in one sentence, Why is baseball the coolest?
You know, it's America's favorite and current pastime and literally cool because it's outside.
Excellent. Let's review our rounds of debate.
Round one is the Declaration of Greatness.
Our debaters will have a chance to present fact -filled arguments in favor of their side, along with a 30 -second rebuttal of their opponent's statements.
Then we've got the Micro Round, where each team will respond to a creative assignment they received in advance.
Round three is the Sneak Attack, where we'll surprise debaters with a challenge they need to respond to on the spot.
And to wrap it all up, we've got the final 6, where each team will have just six words to drive home the awesomeness of their side.
Our Judge Wesley will award two points in the first round, one for his favorite rebuttal, and one for the declaration he likes best. Then he'll award one point in each round after that, but he'll keep his decisions secret until the end of the debate.
Listeners, we want you to judge too.
Mark down your points as you listen and at the end of the show, head to our website, smashboom .org and vote for whichever team you think won.
Okay, everybody, are you ready?
I'm ready. Ready to slam dunk it home?
Oh yeah, gonna have a ball of the time.
Then it's time for the Declaration of Greatness.
Our debaters will present the most fascinating facts, and awesome arguments in favor of their side.
We flipped a coin and Mark, you're up first. Tell us why basketball is the Ba Ba Ba Best. Look at that guy go.
He zips up the court, floats through the air, does a half twist, and slam dunk!
Woo! We're going to overtime!
I think I'm freaking out!
Come on, Dax, let's go!
Okay, I am definitely freaking out.
I'm no basketball superfan like my cousin Tammi here.
Woo! But man, basketball is a blast!
Basketball is my jam!
Woo! You go Tammy! I gotta take a breather.
Basketball is action packed.
With 5 players on each team, the goal is to get the ball into the opponents basket.
Not an easy feat when the basket is 10 feet above the ground, and you can't carry the ball, that would be too easy, right?
to dribble and pass your way up and down the court.
So why is basketball so much faster paced than baseball?
Well, for starters, basketball courts are much smaller than baseball fields.
So the action is condensed.
Things heat up fast. It's also easier to score points.
Three pointer long shots, one point free throws.
Who's in the league can change in an instant?
Go Zags! And finally, basketball games are relatively short.
Games usually last around 2 -2 .5 hours, and that's even counting overtime.
As of 2021, the average Major League Baseball game was over three hours long.
What a snoozefest. And don't get me started on extra innings.
Some baseball games end up going into the wee hours of the morning.
Some get suspended because everybody there is too tired to care.
Ughhhhhhh... Tammy, why do you think basketball is cooler than baseball?
Because it's more popular.
Duh! And there you have it.
Basketball is wayyy more popular than baseball.
As of 2021, roughly 2 .4 BILLION people follow basketball, while only about 500 million people track baseball.
The people have spoken.
Part of what makes basketball so popular is how accessible it is.
All you need is a ball, a hoop or two, and a little bit of space.
That's actually how it started, 130 years ago at the International YMCA Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts.
A storm was raging, and James Naismith, a phys -ed teacher, needed to come up with a game that his students could play together indoors, without much equipment.
So he approached the school janitor for help.
Say, Jerry, do you have any boxes?
No, but I've got peach baskets!
Hmmm... I think I can make this work.
Naismith nailed the baskets on either side of the gym balcony, threw one of his students a soccer ball, and told folks to start shooting hoops.
The game was an instant hit, and it's been making huge gains in popularity and attention ever since.
OK, final point, basketball players have power and influence on and beyond the Court.
They're not just athletes, they're social media influencers, fashion icons, movie stars, philanthropists, and social justice warriors.
Players have starred in movies like He Got Game, Like Mike, and Space Jam.
They've created fashion lines like Russell Westbrook's Honor the Gift, and Michael Jordan's Air Jordan shoes are coveted and wildly popular to this day.
LeBron James also founded the I Promise School in Akron to help disadvantaged kids.
And we should never forget the contributions of Mya Moore.
She used her WNBA Superstar status to help free an innocent man from prison.
So why are we drawn to basketball players?
Maybe it's because without hats and helmets we can actually see their faces.
Or maybe it's how graceful they are on the court.
I mean you don't even have to be a fan to appreciate the gravity -defying beauty of people flying through the air to make a shot that seems utterly impossible.
Mark, Mark. Watch. The Zags.
They've got the ball.
Jalen just got the ball sailed past the defender and then slammed it through the hoop in midair.
Alley Hoop Baby! Game over!
Basketball is the best!
A very dramatic declaration of greatness for basketball.
Wesley, what stood out to you about Mark's argument?
I think that Mark made really good points when he talked about how long it takes.
I've personally gone to both basketball and baseball games, and basketball is much shorter than baseball.
I also liked how he did definitely talked about the history of the sport I've heard about James Nase Smith before but I didn't know that much about it.
The janitor. Big man in creating the sport Excellent, well shout -out to janitors.
Shout -out to janitors everywhere.
Mark, it's time for your rebuttal You've got 30 seconds to strike Mark's declaration out and your time starts now You're killing me Smalls.
Okay. Have you seen Space Jam 2?
Yikes big disaster we got the Sandlot, we got a league of their own in baseball movies.
Also you said basketball is all about popularity contests.
Baseball is so much more than that.
It's slow for a reason, it's so worth it.
You've got influence like Jackie Robinson, who's literally breaking racial barriers.
Fashion, yes, basketball has fashion, but we've got baseball caps.
You don't even need to have a baseball thing on a baseball cap to make it a baseball cap and it's hot and sweaty in the court.
Ew, you can bundle up or get some sun on the baseball field.
So yeah, swing and a miss.
Yeah, sorry, Mark. And time.
Merc, I think you need to inject some of that fast -talking energy into a baseball game.
Hey! Hey! Have you seen how fast people throw baseballs?
That's where it goes, my friend.
Almost like a slam dunk.
Oh, swing and a miss, I think.
Well, Merc, it is your turn to step up to the plate, steal our hearts with your declaration for baseball.
Let's time travel to one of my favorite memories.
Hold on tight! Okay, we're in Seattle at the Major League Baseball stadium.
I'm 8 years old, sitting in the noseweeds with my older siblings and parents and oh my gosh, can you smell that?
No, not that, the fresh cut grass below us and look at the bright white lines of chalk on the baseball diamond and my mom just bought us some garlic fries.
Oh oh oh! I love this part, the seventh -inning stretch!
Look how the whole stadium is singing together!
Go Big, Go Big! Go Big, Go Big!
Go Big, Go Big! Go Big, Go Big!
Go Big, Go Big! Go Big, Go Big!
This is just the action in the stands.
There is so much going on below, too.
Ooh, nice pitch! Get out the rye bread and the mustard this time, Grand Bowl!
It is a grand salami!
That's the voice of Seattle's own Dave Niehaus.
Announcers like him can make you feel like you're actually at the game even when you can't be there in person.
That's the thing about baseball.
From the family -friendly setting to the action on the field, there are so many ways to enjoy the sport.
Which makes sense because kids basically invented it, and all the best stuff comes from the minds of kids.
Most historians agree the sport evolved from a kids game in England called rounders.
Modern day baseball works like this.
When your team is at bat, you're trying to hit the ball, run the bases and score points.
He's rounding third base and heading home.
Look at him go. When your team is on the field, you're trying to catch balls and throw them back to the bases to get the other team out.
He throws the ball to first, tags the runner and he's out.
Once the team gets three outs in a row, it's time to switch roles.
Sure you might think baseball is slower than basketball, but there's so much going on.
People are trying to steal bases, pitchers are using trick throws, batters are swinging big.
In fact, if you think baseball is slow, it's time I take you to school.
Okay, listen up children.
Can anyone tell me why baseballs fly so far?
Ooh! Pick me! Pick me!
I know. Yes, Edgar.
Because they're made up of bouncy stuff like cork, yarn, and rubber.
Exactly. Those spongy layers allow the ball to spring back even when they get hit.
In fact, the furthest ball's ever been hit is 565 feet.
That's about the same distance as six basketball courts combined.
Whoa. Now, what's the average speed of a professional pitcher?
Randy? Ummm.... 92 miles an hour.
Gold star Randy! That's faster than the speed limit on most major highways!
Not only is baseball a blast, it has a proud history of breaking down American racial barriers.
Before the 1940s, African Americans weren't allowed to play in the major leagues, much less any other pro sports.
But that all changed in 1947, when Jackie Robinson joined Major League Baseball, becoming the first black American to do so.
At the end of his first season, he was named Rookie of the Year, and he went on to have a stunning career that's honored in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
He was an American symbol of integration, and his strength in the face of adversity was an inspiration to millions, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who famously said, Jackie Robinson made my success possible.
Without him, I would never have been able to do what I did.
Because of his bravery, baseball and all other pro sports teams today have diverse and phenomenally talented teams. And thank goodness for that, because baseball is really important to a lot of people.
Just ask my big sister, Christy.
It's not just a sport to me.
it's much more than that, it's beyond that.
For Kristi, baseball is also community, friends, and a sort of therapy.
It has a very special place in my heart because it's a place I retreat to when I'm happy, when I'm sad.
It's peace of mind, it's serenity.
So it's a lot of things.
It's not just a sport to me, I take it very personally.
I feel the same. Baseball isn't just America's pastime.
For me, it's also part of what it means to be an American.
My parents are immigrants from Vietnam who just wanted a better life for their kids.
They came to America to do just that, and their journey wasn't easy.
But every single Mariners game we go to and basket of garlic fries we share is a reminder that we are all living our own American dream.
So, that my friend, is the power of baseball and why it's the smash, boom, best. A heartfelt argument for baseball there.
Wesley what stood out to you about Merck's declaration of greatness?
I loved when she talked about Jackie Robinson.
I think he's awesome at what he did.
I mean, not just for baseball, but I mean, like Merk said, for the US is amazing.
I also really liked what she talked about, the seventh inning stretch. I mean, I've gone to baseball games and the seventh inning stretch and the setting in a baseball game, eating a hot dog or a burger, and just watching the game with your friends is awesome.
You know, I have been to that stadium, Merk, and it does smell like garlic, and it's so wonderful.
It's a lovely place to spend some time.
All right, Marc, it's time for your rebuttal.
You've got 30 seconds on the clock.
Rebound like a pro and go.
All right, first off, announcers.
Basketball has baseball beat hands down.
Chick Hearn, Marv Albert, Dick Vitale go back to the dugout baseball.
Let's go back to the seventh inning stretch thing too.
What other sport has to have a built in time of the game where they make people, they force people to get up because they're falling asleep just so that they can wake up again?
I mean, it's a great song to sing and everything, but come on.
You want to go get an education?
How about basketball?
It's built into the DNA.
Physics! Physics! You're talking arc.
We're talking trajectory!
It's all there. What?
There's physics in baseball too?
Did you not hear that argument?
Clearly someone was paying attention to the lesson.
Tsk tsk, Mark. Oh man, this is a tough decision you have to make, Wesley, but it's time to award your first two points.
Use whatever criteria make sense to you.
Was one team funnier?
Did the other score with more show -stopping facts?
Award both points and mark them down, but don't tell us who's getting them.
Have you made your decisions?
Yes I have. Excellent, Merc and Mark, how are you feeling about this fast paced faceoff?
It's like a fast break if you ask me, and you know, I just had this thought.
Have you all ever thought that So, water polo is kind of like the basketball of the pool?
I mean, I'm just - it just occurred to me.
What? I have - I've actually thought about that many times.
I know. You are - you are right in that aspect.
Uh, it's - I mean, I'm just saying.
Alright, well it's time for a quick break, shoot some hoops, play a quick game of catch - And we'll be right back with more Smash Boom Best!
You're watching State of Debate, home to rage and rhetoric and awe -inspiring argumentation!
What's up, debate dogs!
Todd Douglas here with State of Debate's rhetoric royalty, Taylor Lincoln.
Woof woof woof woof.
That's right and we've caught a stinker of a logical fallacy today, which is a debate mistake that makes arguments simply powerful!
Pun intended! It was an ad hominid fallacy.
That's when you attack your opponent personally instead of sticking to your debate topic.
Just Let's listen to what happened when Jera ran into Mace in the school's music room.
Jera, I'm sorry but the bass is way more rock and roll than your flute.
Excuse me? The flute can be rock and roll too.
The Rolling Stones featured it.
Lizell plays the flute.
Plus it's not about the instrument, it's how you play it.
Yeah, well, your hair's boring.
How could you rock out with hair like that?
Look at me! This purple and green ombré screams cool your hair is just brown Whoa -Whoa -Whoa Hair may has gone totally off topic Hair has nothing to do with your ability to rock out.
Uh yeah I think the years Jara has spent practicing scales and listening to Jethro toll are about to shred maces argument to Pieces all right, we got to get out of here and bang our debate heads to these sweet jams Taylor, you know who always has the best seats in the house?
State of Debate! Hi.
My name is Adeeb Thomas.
I'm nine years old, and my debate idea was Octopi versus charter great.
We'll check back with Adeeb at the end of this episode to see which side he thinks should win.
And now it's back to our debate of the day.
Basketball versus baseball.
That's right. And it's time for round two.
The micro round. Our micro round is Pundemonium.
Pundemonium for this challenge, Mark and Merk are going zinger to zinger in a marvelous pun show.
They've whipped up three pithy puns to make us giggle.
Mark and Merk, give us your punniest stuff.
We're going to go back and forth, taking turns with sharing our puns.
So Merk, you're first. Throw us a curve ball.
Okay, picture this.
Baseball lovers have an umpire to strike back on all your counterarguments, Mark.
Oh, very good. Mark, your turn, Wallace, with a three pointer.
Do you all know what Ru Paul's favorite move on the court is?
Oh, my gosh, I love Ru Paul.
That's right. It's a glam dunk.
Oh, yeah! Oh, dang.
That was a good one.
All right, Mark, let's hear yours.
Something for the stand.
Oh, shoot. I think you're dribbling with spit from how much of a Grand Salami my baseball arguments were!
Oh, ohhhhhh! I do love a good cured meat.
All right, Marc. Let's hear you swish.
You know, on my way here, I passed a really long line at the pharmacy.
People getting vaccinated, which is great.
And it turns out Steph Curry from the Golden State Warriors was there.
He was the nurse, and he was doing jump shots.
Oh. Ah. It took a while, but I got there.
Yeah you're saying baseball's too long?
Yeah, what? We're not debating the merits of my debate, Stile.
Alright, Mark, time for your grand slam.
Alright, I must admit, you have a point guard on some of your arguments, Mark, but you struck out because baseball is where it's bet.
Oh. Mark, last one, beat the clock.
Okay, the last baseball game I went to, Major League Baseball is trying to come out with a new snack for the ballpark, and they gave everybody a bunt cake beach cake ticket.
And I got my hands on one.
I have to say, it was pretty foul.
Oh, well hey, at least they were trying to feed you.
Baseball's trying to sell world hunger.
Look at that. Give it away then.
Oh, man. Pun -believable.
Wes, Wesley, are you a fan of puns?
I think I am. Good answer.
Wesley, it's time to award a point, but don't tell us who's getting it.
Again the criteria is up to you whose puns were cleverer, whose were longer, who made you laugh, the criteria is up to you.
Have you awarded your point?
I have. Awesome. Then it's time for our third round, the Super Stealthy Sneak Attack.
your sneak attack today is Twinkle Twinkle I'm a Star Mark and Mark for this challenge we want you to write a song about your side to the tune of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and then you're gonna sing it for us sound good can we also use Baba Black Sheep yeah Baba Black Sheep also the tune of ABC's it's very popular one and now we're gonna make it even more ubiquitous we'll give you a few minutes to write while you work we'll listen to some marvelous hold music.
Pass fast, it's basketball.
Alle -oop they're so tall.
Jump shoots, a game for all.
Take me out to the old ballgame.
Swing big, he's got aim.
A home run for the hall of fame.
Alright, Mark, you're up.
Make our hearts bounce for basketball.
Okay, here we go. NBA stars, yes indeed.
Men and women both succeed.
LeBron, Steph, and Sue Bird. Magic.
Kady, Larry Bird. Dribble up and down the court.
Slam the ball down for this sport.
Nicely done. Kudos for rhyming bird with bird. Well done.
Right? All right, Merk.
Take us out to the ball game.
Well, you know what?
I'm glad you started out that way, because take me out to the ball game.
Shout out, Jackie's Hall of Fame.
Thanks to ballparks we have good food, racial integration, friends and family good mood.
Baseball is America's gem.
I tell you it's everyone's American dream, dream.
Wow. Taking poetic liberties.
Love it. Love it. Oh man, these are excellent songs.
I'm going to be singing them both all day.
But Wesley, it's time for you to award a point for this round.
Which song made your heart sing?
Give that team a point, but don't tell us who it's going to.
Have you made your decision?
Yes, I have. Okay, great.
Then it's time for our very last round.
The final six. Merck, you're up.
It's the bottom of the ninth.
You've got just six words left to bring us home.
Go. Family and friends, everyone's American drem.
Very nice. Mark, your turn.
Just a few seconds left on the clock.
give us your best shot.
Aerial Ballet all fans for wins.
That was very abstract.
I don't like it very much. Like an aerial ballet.
I figured Merc was taking poetic license with the song so I could take some poetic license with the final six.
Definitely, like an aerial ballet it twisted and turned.
Okay Wesley it's time to award your final point whoever had your favorite final six gets it have you made your decision?
yes I have today's game is coming to an end baseball hits some sweet line drives and basketball made some killer trick shots but which sport will triumph it's up to Wesley to decide are you ready to announce a winner yes drumroll please...
the winner is... baseball!
It was super close but you can't tie in either of those sports so I had to award a winner.
Exactly no ties. No ties on baseball, basketball or smash, boom best. Wesley, can you walk us through your decision making process?
I think it was really close but baseball jumped out to an early 2 -0 lead and that really That really won it over for me with the movies and the rebuttal, and the family -friendly atmosphere, and Jackie Robinson, that's why I'm thinking baseball's my winner.
Yeah, Merck, I loved that your Declaration of Greatness, you talked about these really personal memories, and I have almost the same, or I have my own personal memories of baseball and going to games with my parents, and so that was a really nice moment to make me not want to debate that anymore.
there. Yeah, no, you did a really awesome job.
And I wasn't really interested in basketball before this, but now I'm like, Okay, maybe I should watch a game.
That's it for today's Sporty SmackDown!
Wesley crowned baseball the Smash Boom!
Best. But what about you?
Head to SmashBoom .org and vote to tell us who you think should win.
Smash Boom! Best is brought to you by Brains On!
and APM Studios. It's produced by Rosie DePont, Ruby Guthrie, Sandin Totten and Molly Bloom.
We had engineering help from Taylor Marvin.
And we have production help from Trisha Bobita, Dan LeTo, Meynneke Wilhelm, and me.
Our executive producer is Beth Perlman, and APM Studios executives in charge are Lily Kim, Alex Shaffert, and Joanne Griffith.
Rosie DuPont is the voice of our whole music, and our announcer is Marley Foyer -Worker Otto.
We want to give a special thanks to Austin Cross, Taylor Kaufman, Coco, and George Waske.
Merk, is there anyone you want to thank today?
Oh yes, I would like to thank Jackie Robinson, in Shout -Out first and foremost, Alyssa, Carlos, Samuel, Cody.
And two baseball's biggest fans of all time, Jessica and my big sister, Kristi.
Wonderful, how about you Marc, any special Shout -Outs?
Yeah, I'll Shout -Out my friend, Jonah, who's a huge Lakers fan.
And speaking of Lakers, Wilt Chamberlain who I once met, Ozzie Smith, who I totally idolized as a baseball player.
And the late, great Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna.
Very nice. Wesley, do you want to give any special things today?
Yes, I would love to give it to both my parents.
My mom probably will get mad at me for this, but especially my dad because we've gone to so many baseball games and basketball games together.
And also, I'd like to thank Stefan Curry and Javier Baez because those are my two favorite sports players and their respective sports.
Yes, you can't give baseball without giving some love to basketball.
All right, before we go, let's hear who Adib thinks should win his Octopi versus Tardigrades debate?
I think Octopi could win because they can just fit into more spaces and have more brain space than tardigrades.
Very good point, do you have an idea for knockdown drag -out debate?
Head to Smashboom .org and tell us about it.
This is the last debate of the season, but we'll be back with new debate battles soon.
Joey Hello, United States of America, ah, they never give up my life Oh, ah, ah, it's a smash move, Bess Oh, better than the rest It's a smash move, Bess It's Smash Horde, Bess Mark, mark, mark, mark, mark, mark, mark, mark, Mark, mark, Mark, mark, mark, Mark, Mark, Mark, Mark!
Yay!
