Best of The Ben Maller Show

Thanks for hanging with the Best of the Ben Maller Show. We’re in the air everywhere, and tonight isn’t boring—we’re starting in Ann Arbor.

Question: Can I unpack the Sherrone Moore collapse?

Answer: Michigan dumped Moore for cause after an internal probe found an inappropriate relationship with a staffer, police got involved on an alleged assault, and the digital trail looks thick; that $14 million buyout likely evaporated. Boosters scattered, a staffer reportedly got a big raise during the affair, and social media turned it into a live‑action tabloid—complete with rumor swirls and a timeline that started buzzing about a month ago.

Question: Does this stink hover over Michigan for years?

Answer: It’s a feast for now, but in the NIL era it’s more mosquito bite than scar. If he’d won bigger, this would’ve been buried; performance buys cover, and without it, morality suddenly matters.

Question: Who’s next for Michigan?

Answer: The boosters will drive this, and they’ll likely poach rather than chase a so‑called Michigan man. The brand still plays, names like Kalen DeBoer bounce around, and you’ll always hear a Brian Kelly or even a Gruden whisper when the carousel spins.

Rivers are flowing into Hour Two—Philip Rivers told the Colts he’s not here to save the season or be a hero. Is that how this works?

Answer: That’s exactly why he’s there. If Indy only needed a warm body, they’d stick with the depth chart; they called grandpa because they want the cape and the quick fix, not a passenger.

Question: What about that shaky practice video?

Answer: Don’t hyperventilate over grainy clips. Rivers has always won with anticipation and accuracy, not a cannon, and the funky release is the same—if they fall behind early, though, it can get ugly fast.

Question: And the Eagles’ locker‑room rabbit?

Answer: The positivity bunny got cut after the turnover carnival; that felt cursed, not curing. Hurts had the rare pick‑and‑fumble sequence, and Philly needs less inflatable hope and more ball security—maybe an emotional support animal before another prop.

The Steelers need two more wins to extend their above‑five‑hundred streak to twenty‑two seasons. Is it a lock?

They’ll drop one like Detroit, but I see two gettable ones—Cleveland and Miami look winnable enough to keep the streak alive, health permitting.

LeBron’s agent said the Lakers aren’t contenders right now. What’s that about?

It sounds like expectation management, but the issues are real—sloppy turnovers and shaky defense inside and out; I watched San Antonio run them even with Wemby sitting.

Are the Magic legit after their hot stretch?

They’re a real threat. The East lacks a juggernaut, they’re physical, and the defense is top‑five so far.

Ask Ben time—your questions, our answers.

Can you snap your fingers?

I used to; now, not really. I can still wiggle my ears, though.

Are you a karaoke person?

With enough drinks I’ll give it a go, but I mostly enjoy watching the brave souls own the mic.

Strangest rumor you’ve heard about yourself?

The internet billionaire stuff and mystery job offers that never existed—funny, but fiction.

Worst Christmas gift?

When you’re a kid and get clothes you don’t want. I try to memory‑hole the truly bad ones. There you go.