The Buck Stops Here

Welcome to the April episode of The Elevator Show! 🏀⛳🏈🏒 In this monthly series, hosts Kirk Buchner and Chris Mouradian break down which athletes are riding the Hall of Fame elevator UP and which ones are plummeting DOWN.This month, we dive into:🔻 The Basketball Hall of Fame's shifting criteria & marketing focus🔺 Victor Wembanyama's historic early-career awards & MVP candidacy🔺 Derrick Rose's surprising first-ballot HOF case🔻 The collapse of LIV Golf & how it impacts the HOF chances of Koepka, Rahm, DeChambeau & more🔺 Diana Taurasi's lock status for the Women's HOF📉 Baseball slumps (Pete Alonso, Rafael Devers) & a historic sub-2-hour marathon🏒 Joel Quenneville's coaching return, Lindy Ruff's Jack Adams nod & NHL anthem moments💪 Brock Lesnar's retirement tease & WWE's next era🏌️‍♀️ Nelly Korda's return to World #1 in the LPGA🔔 Don't miss our official USA Athletics Hall of Fame ballot reveal! We're opening the voting to YOU, so subscribe and hit the bell to stay in the loop.👇 What's your take? Which athlete's HOF trajectory surprised you most? Drop your predictions in the comments!Which Hall of Fame case do you agree with most: Derrick Rose, Victor Wemby, or the LIV golfers trying to make their way back? Let us know your picks in the comments below! If you enjoyed the debate, smash that LIKE button, SUBSCRIBE to the channel, and ring the BELL so you never miss our monthly Elevator Show episodes and our upcoming USA Athletic Hall of Fame ballot announcement!00:00 - Intro: Welcome to The Elevator Show01:58 - "Elevator Down": Why pre-1990 & international HOF candidates are struggling06:12 - Victor Wembanyama's historic rise: DPOY, MVP candidate & HOF trajectory08:00 - Derrick Rose's first-ballot HOF case: Is the bar getting too low?11:45 - Diana Taurasi's lock status & the future of the Women's HOF13:02 - Baseball Slumps: Pete Alonso & Rafael Devers' HOF chances taking a hit15:15 - Track & Field: The historic sub-2-hour marathon record & legacy17:53 - NHL Talk: Joel Quenneville's coaching return & Lindy Ruff's Jack Adams nomination21:27 - Wrestling: Brock Lesnar's retirement hints & WWE's next big star push23:46 - LPGA: Nelly Korda returns to World #1 & major championship dominance24:30 - LIV Golf Collapse: How it impacts HOF chances for Koepka, Rahm, DeChambeau & Garcia31:04 - Upcoming: USA Athletic Hall of Fame ballot reveal & voting details37:31 - Outro & community shoutouts

🗳️ VOTING IS NOW OPEN! Cast your vote for the Class of 2026 at www.theUSAHOF.comWelcome to a special episode of The Buck Stops Here, the official podcast of the United States Athletics Hall of Fame! For the first time ever, we're unveiling the complete list of 31 NEW athlete nominees eligible for the Class of 2026 — plus returning candidates still seeking their place in history.🎙️ FEATURED GUESTS:Bonnie Blair (Speed Skating Legend & Hall of Fame Inductee) • Kirk Buchner & Evan Nolan (Founders) • Dave Whitlock • Chris Mouradian • Ken Crippen • Ron Katz👉 Go to www.theUSAHOF.com RIGHT NOW to cast your ballot for the Class of 2026.👍 Like if you're excited for this year's class!00:00 - Intro: Welcome to the 4th Annual US Athletics Hall of Fame Ballot Announcement01:17 - Meet Bonnie Blair: Speed Skating Legend Joins the Blue Ribbon Committee02:44 - Voting Timeline: Open Now Through December 1, 202603:30 - Eligibility Rules Explained: Citizenship + Age 50+ Requirement05:12 - Returning Nominees: Mantle, Marciano, Emmitt Smith & More Still Seeking Induction06:05 - Third-Timers & Second-Timers: Agassi, Yogi Berra, Hakeem, Cal Ripken Jr.06:56 - 🌟 TIGER WOODS: First-Time Nominee Spotlight (Golf)08:00 - 🏈 DEACON JONES: The Man Who Coined "Quarterback Sack" (NFL)08:57 - 🏈 ANTHONY MUNOZ: Greatest Offensive Lineman of All Time? (NFL)09:26 - 🏃 MARY DECKER: Track Legend & Iconic Olympic Moment10:00 - ⚾ GROVER CLEVELAND ALEXANDER: 373 Wins, Baseball Immortal10:41 - ⚾ TONY GWYNN: "Mr. Padre," 3,000+ Hits, .338 Career Average11:26 - 🥊 ROY JONES JR.: First to Win Titles in 4 Weight Classes + Heavyweight11:53 - ⚾ REGGIE JACKSON: "Mr. October," 563 HRs, 5x World Series Champ12:23 - 🏀 NANCY LIEBERMAN: "Lady Magic," WNBA Pioneer, Hall of Famer12:58 - 🏀 MOSES MALONE: 3x MVP, 13x All-Star, Rebounding Legend13:37 - 🏀 BOB PETTIT: 1958 Champ, 2x MVP, Hawks Legend14:12 - 🏈 EARL CAMPBELL: "The Earl of Campbell," 1979 MVP, Power Runner14:45 - ⚾ ROGER CLEMENS: 7x Cy Young, 4,600+ Ks, The Rocket15:33 - 🥊 OSCAR DE LA HOYA: "Golden Boy," 11 Titles Across 6 Weight Classes16:00 - 🏀 JOHN HAVLICEK: 8x NBA Champ, Celtics All-Time Scoring Leader16:43 - 🥊 THOMAS "THE HITMAN" HEARNS: First to Win Titles in 5 Weight Classes17:09 - 🏈 RONNIE LOTT: 10x Pro Bowl, 4x Super Bowl Champ, Hard-Hitting DB17:40 - 🏀 ANN MEYERS: First High School Player on US National Team18:17 - 🏀 BILL WALTON: 2x NBA Champ, Iconic Broadcaster, Trailblazer20:21 - ⚽ BRANDI CHASTAIN: The Goal Heard 'Round the World, Soccer Pioneer21:03 - 🏐 FLO HYMAN: Volleyball Legend, Title IX Advocate, Olympic Medalist21:55 - 🏎️ JIMMIE JOHNSON: 7x NASCAR Cup Champion, First-Time Eligible22:16 - ⚾ NAP LAJOIE: Triple Crown Winner, 3,200 Hits, Baseball Pioneer23:03 - 🏈 RAY LEWIS: 2x Defensive POY, 2x Super Bowl Champ, Defensive Icon23:33 - 🏀 REBECCA LOBO: UConn Legend, WNBA Pioneer, Hall of Famer24:11 - ⚾ JOE MORGAN: "Little Joe," Big Red Machine Engine, 2x MVP24:59 - 🏄 KELLY SLATER: Greatest Surfer of All Time, 11x World Champion25:32 - ⛳ LOUISE SUGGS: LPGA Founder, 11 Major Championships26:00 - 🏈 GENE UPSHAW: 2x Super Bowl Champ, Greatest Guard Ever?26:28 - 🏊 AMY VAN DYKEN: 6x Olympic Gold Medalist, Paralympic Advocate26:54 - 🎬 JOHNNY WEISSMULLER: 5x Olympic Gold, Original Tarzan28:59 - Panel Discussion: Diversity, Legacy & What Makes a Hall of Famer30:10 - One Vote Short: Baumgartner, Iverson, Peyton Manning (Eligible Next Year!)32:34 - Coming in 2027: Duncan, Garnett, Manning, Woodson, Capriati Become Eligible35:21 - Expanding the Ballot: Snowboarding, Water Skiing, Rock Climbing & More38:46 - Bonnie Blair's Coach Suggestion: Dianne Holum (Athlete + Coach Legend)40:40 - FINAL CALL: How & Where to Vote at theUSAHOF.com

Kirk Buchner and Evan Nolan dive into the latest Hall of Fame news across baseball, hockey, football, and beyond! In this episode, they break down the St. Louis Cardinals HOF ballot (Pujols vs. Yadi?), predict the Patriots & Chiefs inductees, analyze the Hockey Hall of Fame’s upcoming class, and share major updates on the United States Athletics Hall of Fame ballot. Plus, the guys honor recently passed athletes, entertainers, and music legends, and wrap up with some lighthearted NHL playoff banter.🔔 Subscribe for weekly Hall of Fame breakdowns, voting updates, and sports history deep dives!📩 Submit your HOF questions or nominee suggestions in the comments!00:00 - Intro & United States Athletics HOF ballot expansion02:00 - Cardinals HOF dilemma: Pujols vs. Yadi vs. the field05:45 - Derrick Johnson (Chiefs HOF) & Patriots HOF predictions07:30 - Hockey Hall of Fame: Bergeron’s lock & committee breakdown12:00 - Women’s HOF candidates & international voting dynamics18:00 - First-time Hockey HOF eligibles & goalie debates (Price, Richter, Thomas)22:25 - Who’s next? Marleau, Brind’Amour & long-time ballot waiters26:30 - USA HOF updates: 31 new nominees, 3 new sports, & contributor additions31:50 - Remembering legends: Passings across sports, music & entertainment42:10 - Oscar Schmidt: The greatest South American basketball legend45:30 - Don Schlitz, Dave Mason & the music icons we lost50:00 - Maple Leafs jokes, NHL playoff updates & sign offIf you enjoyed this breakdown, please Like, Subscribe, and drop your Hall of Fame predictions in the comments! We read every one.

🚨 HISTORIC NHL PLAYOFFS ALERT 🚨For the first time ever, neither the defending Stanley Cup champions NOR the Presidents' Trophy winners made the 2026 playoffs. What does that mean for hockey's most intense postseason?Join hosts Kirk Buchner and Chris Mouradian for a no-holds-barred preview of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. We break down all 8 first-round matchups, debate controversial seeding, and make our bold series predictions.🔥 EASTERN CONFERENCE• Carolina Hurricanes vs. Ottawa Senators – Fresh matchup, physical battle• Buffalo Sabres vs. Boston Bruins – Youth vs. experience, goaltending duel• Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lightning – Covid-era rematch• Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers – Battle of Pennsylvania, legacy on the line🔥 WESTERN CONFERENCE• Colorado Avalanche vs. Los Angeles Kings – Presidents' Trophy favorites• Vegas Golden Knights vs. Utah Hockey Club – Playoff vets vs. hungry newcomers• Edmonton Oilers vs. Anaheim Ducks – McDavid's Cup quest continues• Dallas Stars vs. Minnesota Wild – The marquee matchup nobody wanted in Round 1💬 We also tackle:✅ Why playoff hockey is statistically different from regular season✅ The controversial NHL playoff format (and why fans are furious)✅ Connor McDavid: Greatest player never to win the Cup?✅ Goaltending questions that could decide every series👇 Drop your predictions in the comments! Who wins the Cup? Which first-round upset are you calling?🔔 Subscribe for weekly hockey coverage, playoff updates, and post-series breakdowns.🌐 Visit notinhalloffame.com for more podcasts, articles, and exclusive content.

Kirk Buchner and Evan Nolan break down the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 2026 inductee class, announced live on American Idol (yes, really). They analyze the front-door inductees—Billy Idol, Phil Collins, Iron Maiden, Joy Division/New Order, Oasis, Sade, Luther Vandross, and Wu-Tang Clan—and debate the snubs: Mariah Carey, Pink, Lauryn Hill, and more.

Plus: deep dives into the Early Influence, Musical Excellence, and Ahmet Ertegun Award recipients; a quick but fiery take on the Basketball Hall of Fame's female-heavy class; Patriots Hall updates; the inaugural Hispanic Football Hall of Fame; WWE Hall of Fame previews; and a heartfelt In Memoriam segment. Don't miss Evan's milestone announcement about closing the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ballot for the first time since 2023!🎧 Loved the episode?✅ Subscribe to The Buck Stops Here wherever you get your podcasts✅ Vote in the United States Athletics Hall of Fame commentator ballot—coming soon at theusahof.com✅ Comment below: Who was your biggest Rock Hall snub this year?✅ Share this episode with a fellow Hall of Fame debate enthusiast✅ Check out the new Hype button on the video! Click it to give us more exposure!