Literary Death Match

In a rare "news you can use" episode of Sports Anomaly, host Adrian Todd Zuniga (@atzuniga) is joined by league commish Jeff Solomon (@jerfsolo) as they break down EVERY. SINGLE. ASPECT of how to not only win your Madden 21 (and beyond) draft, but how to dominate it. We talk through scouting tactics, the importance of combine scores and draft stories, and help you set expectations about how your draft class should turn out. AND WE USE INFORMATION FROM A STATISTICIAN. It's pretty wild. Follow us on Twitter: @sports_anomaly. Review us on iTunes. Eat an apple. Fire us $5 on Patreon in your spare time:  patreon.com/sportsanomaly

In what can only be described as "your favorite 49 minutes this week," host Adrian Todd Zuniga (@atzuniga) is joined by league commish Jeff Solomon (@jerfsolo) and writer/podcaster Paul Sporer (@sporer) for an all-over-the-shop episode. We talked Madden 21 online league franchise updates, draft strategies, NHL 21, voodoo dolls, the exhilaration of next-gen systems, and so, so much more (like how HUGE NBA 2K21 is). Don't miss it!  Follow us on Twitter: @sports_anomaly. Review us on iTunes. Drink a kale smoothie. Fire us $5+ on Patreon, why don't you?  patreon.com/sportsanomaly

Was there an election that has dragged us all into a never-ending exhaustion? PROBABLY. But more importantly: Handball 21 is coming to Steam, and ISN'T THAT MORE IMPORTANT?!? (No, but in a way, still no.)To discuss it all, Adrian Todd Zuniga goes solo for as he talks about Madden 21's Superstar KO mode (WHO KNEW!?!?!); NHL 94 Rewind's pre-order only situation; how the Washington Football Team won't have a new mascot in 2021; and the importance of playing to the final whistle (when it comes to mail-in ballots). Follow us on Twitter: @sports_anomaly. Review us on iTunes. Eat a pancake. Help us out on Patreon, while you're at it: patreon.com/sportsanomaly

This week it's an ATZ-only episode! After a two-week hiatus, host Adrian Todd Zuniga (@atzuniga) talks about bringing a Madden 21 player from Star to Superstar to X-Factor, WNBA in NBA 2K21, comes up with the perfect antidote for people over-celebrating in Madden 21, and Justin Turner's bad judgment. Plus: VOTE. Don't be a dipshit. Your vote matters. Need help? Go to iwillvote.com or tweet me: @atzuniga. Follow us on Twitter: @sports_anomaly. Review us on iTunes. Play badminton. Help us out on Patreon, while you're at it: patreon.com/sportsanomaly

This week we're re-joined by comedian and resident NBA 2K expert Joey Devine (@joeydevine), as he and host Adrian Todd Zuniga (@atzuniga) dig into NBA 2K21's failures, and why they weren't able to get "Air Bud Mode" into the game. Plus, general basketball chat along with THE LATEST DIPLO NEWS (featuring: FIFA 21 Volta weirdness). Follow us on Twitter: @sports_anomaly. Review us on iTunes. Eat a corndog.Help us out on Patreon, while you're at it: patreon.com/sportsanomaly

Host Adrian Todd Zuniga (@atzuniga) comes in HOT on a solo episode in which he tears into changing the handedness of QB's in Madden, how Madden 21 is not up to snuff, the Cubs keep giving up solo homeruns, and all of it in one insane, stream-of-conscious ramble.  Enjoy! Follow us on Twitter: @sports_anomaly. Review us on iTunes. Wear a mask. Fill our Patreon coffers: patreon.com/sportsanomaly

This week we're joined by Allen Brooks (@AllenCBrooks) to talk through the release of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 (including a T-U-R-D-E-A-T story that'll warm your cockles). Plus, we have a skater draft (that includes the first-ever mid-draft trade), and we talk through NBA 2K21's catastrophic Metacritic score, and what sports game might steal Game of the Year. Follow us on Twitter: @sports_anomaly. Review us on iTunes. Drink more water. Sling us some dough through Patreon if you're bored: patreon.com/sportsanomaly

Can Madden 21 predict the upcoming NFL season? Probably not! But that didn't stop us from talking through Madden 21's predictions for the upcoming season with Jeff Solomon (@jerfsolo) and Scott Bins (@darthobvious) in one of the sloppiest Sports Anomaly episodes in the last 100 years (we blame host Adrian Todd Zuniga, who is typing this). Plus, there's chit-chat about Metacritic giving Madden 21 a 0.4 rating, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 launching, Tenet the film, and plenty of other nonsense. Follow us on Twitter: @sports_anomaly. Review us on iTunes (not based on this episode, though). Throw us some money via Patreon, unless you're a coward: patreon.com/sportsanomaly

DAY-AND-DATE! DAY-AND-DATE! In what may go down as one of the most thoughtful breakdowns of EA Sports' Madden franchise, we're joined by US Gamer editor-in-chief Kat Baily (@The_Katbot) for a day-and-date special as we talk through the entirety of Madden 21 — from Face of the Franchise, to the all-new The Yard mode, to where this game fits in the arc of football video gaming, and if it could ever be possible for a Madden game to get a 90 on Metacritic. Seriously, folks, this one is FASCINATING. Tell everyone we said so. Follow us on Twitter: @sports_anomalyThrow us some Patreon dough, if you dare: patreon.com/sportsanomaly

SPORTS ANOMALY NEVER SLEEPS! On the brink of Madden 21's release, we quickly turn our attention to the impressive additions in FIFA 21, as we talk with soccer nut Jeremy Stein (@RealLifeStein) to break down the game's new additions in Career Mode, Pro Clubs and Volta in our shortest episode since our 10-year hiatus. Follow us on Twitter: @sports_anomalyPunch us in the face with some Patreon $$$: patreon.com/sportsanomaly

With only a week to go before Madden 21's release, we talk with Mike Suszek (@mikesuszek) to break down The Yard Mode in Madden 21, the game's X-Factor categories, and more chat about how to run on online Madden franchise. Plus, we do an epic Madden 21 soundtrack tournament NAD YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BELIEVE WHO TOOK HOME THE WIN. Follow us on Twitter: @sports_anomalyMake us rich on Patreon: patreon.com/sportsanomaly

IT'S A MADDEN ONLINE FRANCHISE DEEP DIVE! In advance of Madden 21's release, this week we talk with Jeff Solomon (@jerfsolo49) about the best way to run an online Madden franchise. YOU WILL LEARN SOMETHING. Plus, we fit in an epic UFC 4 soundtrack tournament, which makes us sound like clueless doofs. Follow us on Twitter: @sports_anomalySupport the show on Patreon: patreon.com/sportsanomaly

Soccer stans throw your hands up! (Or your headphones on.)  This week we're joined by Jeremy Stein (@reallifestein) the man who CREATED the short passing feature in Madden. A FIFA obsessive, we talk to him about FIFA 21's 10-point feature reveal, plus talk through FIFA 20's flaws, along with tips for playing Football Ultimate Team, and if "FUT" sounds stupider than "MUT."Follow us on Twitter: @sports_anomalyWing us some ducats: patreon.com/sportsanomaly

Pancakes all around! This week we're joined by ex-NFL offensive lineman Uche Nwaneri (@Chukwu77) host of The Observant Lineman (youtube.com/UcheNwaneri) to discuss what Madden ratings really means to NFL players, Jamal Adams being traded to the Seahawks, and what it was like to see himself in Madden. Plus, he has three Star Wars tattoos, so we have him place SW characters onto a football team — including Jar-Jar Binks. Follow us on Twitter: @sports_anomalyThrow us a fiver: patreon.com/sportsanomaly

A DAY-AND-DATE EXTRAVAGANZA! This week we're re-joined by Player One Podcast's Greg Sewart (@sewart) for a F1 2020 REVIEW BLOWOUT that comes with some surprises, plus Washington's Mascotless Football team in Madden 21, MLB The Show 20's lack of key changes for the MLB season, and an emotional ending that will change your life. Follow us on Twitter, dummies: @sports_anomalyMAKE US STUPID RICH. Send us $5 or more: patreon.com/sportsanomaly

Movie fans, rejoice! This week we're joined by Nathan Caywood (@Nathancaywood) for a soccer-rich cinematic blend of weirdness as we pick a soccer team filled with film directors. Plus, we pit the future Washington Football Team's replacement mascots into a tournament for the ages, revel in the Tennis World Tour 2 trailer, and momentarily blather about  2K21's cover athletes. Follow us on Twitter: @sports_anomalyFill our coffers with $5 or more: patreon.com/sportsanomaly

This week, we're joined by Dakota Lupo (@DakotaLupo) as we deep-dive into the political, drafting an ENTIRE cabinet from President to Trade Representative, but with athletes. It sounds super-boring but is a delight and a half, though it turned into another marathon-not-a-sprint.  Plus, 2K21 rookies in 2K20, and ATZ's pitch for a future story mode. Follow us on Twitter: @sports_anomalyFling money from your virtual window towards our Patreon: patreon.com/sportsanomal

This week we're joined by Joey Devine (@JoeyDevine) and Sean Keane (@seankeane) for a colossal chat about the history of NBA 2K's  story modes, Madden 21 details, the weirdo next-gen Madden/FIFA trailer, and a colossally life-changing Disney Animated Basketball Draft™ to celebrate the NBA's maybe-possibly return to Orlando that you'll be playing with your family at home, and will bring you to blows. Follow us on Twitter: @sports_anomalyFling money from your virtual window towards our Patreon: patreon.com/sportsanomaly

This week we're joined by Mike Suszek (@mikesuszek) and Jeff Solomon (@JERFsolo) for what was SUPPOSED to be a discussion about Best Practices for online Madden leagues, but instead turned into an off-the-rails episode that talks about the release of UEFA 2020 in PES 2020 (the soccer game, not the candy dispenser), before settling down to discuss the response by EA Sports and 2K Sports to protests surrounding George Floyd's murder, and if Colin Kaepernick should appear in Madden. Follow us on Twitter: @sports_anomalyThrow money at us on Patreon, but only after you give it to much worthier causes: patreon.com/sportsanomaly

This week we're joined by Madden NFL's creative director, Mike Young (@michaelyoungCD), the director of LONGSHOT and LONGSHOT: Homecoming in a VERY SPECIAL EPISODE of Sports Anomaly. While we take a second to discuss EA's latest deal with the NFL and the return of the NHL, this episode centers on the making of Madden NFL 18's playable movie, LONGSHOT, starring two-time Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali. In this never-before-spoken-aloud exclusive, we discuss the trials, tribulations, and hilarities of co-writing the first sports video game to be nominated for the Writers Guild of America Award for Video Game Writing. Follow us on Twitter: @sports_anomalyPunch us in the face with a few bucks: patreon.com/sportsanomaly