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The Cannon Balls Podcast

Disrespected Media·20 episodes

SportsHockey

Maybe the most relevant podcast about the most irrelevant team in pro sports. Insights, news, and analysis with Michael Arace and guest Aaron Portzline of The Athletic. Brought to you by Disrespected Media.

Episodes

59 min
Jun 2, 2026Episode 20
Porty's back! And there's much to talk about | Cannon Balls

S1 E20: The Mayor of Jacketville, Aaron Portzline, and his dog, Bella, join host Michael Arace of TheDisrespected.com on a busy #CBJ news day. Zach Werenski wins the Norris Trophy, a huge milestone in the franchise history of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Former AGM Chris MacFarland is moving from Colorado to Nashville to run the hated Predators. Trent Vogelhuber is coming down from Cleveland to join the major-league coaching staff in CBus. What s up with Boone Jenner and the other UFAs? Why did the Cleveland Browns trade Miles Garrett? Porty looks into his crystal ball.

53 min
May 15, 2026Episode 19
ESPN's John B:uccigross drops in for a chat | Cannon Balls

S1 E19: The NHL season is slowing down for ESPN's John Buccigross, who called VGN's 3-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks Tuesday night. Bucci, a longtime friend of the program, joins host Michael Arace of TheDisrespected.com to talk about growing up in Jimmy Stewart's hometown, moving to Mini Pittsburgh at age 11, D-III Cawlidge hoops, and a whole lot about the Columbus Blue Jackets and their immediate future. Fun fact: Bucci interviewed for the #cbj play-by-play job prior to the inaugural season.

51 min
May 8, 2026
Reign of Terror 4: Hope can kill you | Cannon Balls

S1 E18: When they were young, Owen, Timothy and Matthew Arace were known as the collective, "The Reign of Terror." The havoc they wrought on the household is now being repaid by the misery visited upon them by their favorite NHL team, the Columbus Blue Jackets. #cbj The Reign rejoins host Michael Arace of TheDisrespected.com for another episode of the soon-to-be-award-winning Cannon Balls podcast. They talk draft-lottery curses, changes behind the bench, RFA trade targets and much more ...

1 hr 9 min
Apr 22, 2026Episode 17
Reign of Terror III: Grading the Blue Jackets | Cannon Balls

S1 E 17: When they were young, this trio was known within the household as "The Reign of Terror." Now, Owen, Timothy and Matthew Arace are writing report cards. The Reign rejoins their sire, Michael Arace of TheDisrespected.com, on the latest episode of the soon-to-be-ward winning Cannon Balls podcast. #cbj

50 min
Apr 14, 2026Episode 16
Reign of Terror II: Two-thirds of the Reign return for another CBJ/NHL dive.

S1 E16: When they were young, Owen, Timothy and Matthew were known collectively as the Reign of Terror. Now, they're all gorwn up and, somehow, they remain Blue Jackets fans, disgruntled or otherwise. The boys are back for another weigh-in, and they stretch out to talk about everything from the CBJ's pending failure to the NHL playoff picture to league awards to ... what's next for the Jackets? Tune in and join us.

1 hr 7 min
Apr 9, 2026Episode 15
The Schlagfather: Brian Giesenschlag, studio host extraordinaire

S1 E15 The Schlagfather joins host Michael Arace of TheDisrespected.com for a wide-ranging conversation. Brian Giesenschlag has covered the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Cincinnati Reds as a studio host for a number of regional sports networks. In this wide-ranging conversation, we go from his upbringing in small-town Texas to his sports-anchor gig in Cincy to what is next for him now that RSNs are dying off. We also talk some Reds and Blue Jackets. The Schlagfather is the best. Enjoy.Award-winning columnist Michael Arace, founder of Disrespected Media, covers pro sports in flyover country. Welcome to Columbus, the Blue Jackets and the Crew. Visit TheDisrespected.com to view all of his work.

41 min
Apr 6, 2026Episode 14
A different perspective on the Blue Jackets from the Reign of Terror | Cannon Balls

S1 E14: When they were kids, Owen, Timothy and Matthew Arace were known within the household as a collective, "The Reign of Terror." Each has suffered Columbus Blue Jackets fandom since birth. They join host Michael Arace, their sire, on the latest episode of Cannon Balls to talk about a squandered youth movement, the frustration of the CBJ swoon and the summer parade route.

40 min
Apr 2, 2026Episode 13
Jody Shelley on fighting, Zach Norris and the CBJ playoff push

S1 E13: Always a pleasure to welcome Jody Shelley, Original Columbus Blue Jacket, former NHL enforcer and current CBJ analyst. His national presence is growing on Amazon and TNT for a reason. He's a good man with good takes. Michael Arace of TheDisrespected.com asks him about the fighters' ethos, the place for pugilism in the NHL, the Jackets' stretch run and Zach Werenski's Norris hopes. Good stuff here.

35 min
Mar 21, 2026Episode 12
Aaron Portzline of The Athletic pops back in to talk CBJ surge with Arace.

Can the Columbus Blue Jackets sustain their heater? Is Denton Mateychuk the best skater since Paul Coffey? Aaron Portzline of The Athletic rejoins host Michael Arace of TheDisrespected.com to talk about an amazing playoff push, what books they haven't read and how much Charlie Coyle should fetch on his next contract.

4 min
Mar 17, 2026
Zach Werenski talks about lack of respect (Disrespect, if you will.)

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski, a god among us, talks to Michael Arace of Disrespected Media about barking at referees at the end of a recent game in Florida. Werenski thinks there is a lack of respect for the CBJ, and says the team has some earning to do.

1 hr 3 min
Mar 13, 2026Episode 11
Bob McElligott: From Johnstown mascot to radio voice of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Bob McElligott, radio voice of the Blue Jackets, joins host Michael Arace of TheDisrespected.com and they're all over the place. This episode starts with Bob's beginning in the business -- as the Johnstown Chiefs' mascot, Iron Dog. Bob's winding trail to the NHL is covered. Then, they talk about the newest member of the team, Conor Garland, and break down the Jackets' playoff push.

43 min
Feb 28, 2026Episode 10
Columbus Blue Jackets TV voice Steve Mears joins host Michael Arace to speak on a range of subects, including the dawn of a new sports TV age.

Michael Arace of thedisrespected.com welcomes Columbus Blue Jackets television voice Steve Mears, who grew up outside Pittsburgh, launched his broadcast career at Bowling Green State University and got his start as a pro in Shreveport, La. Among the subjects covered here: As regional sports networks like FanDuel collapse, what does the future of the Blue Jackets on TV look like?

23 min
Feb 21, 2026Episode 9
Aaron Portzline of The Athletic is back to talk with host Michael Arace of TheDisrespected.com. Burning question: How will the NHL trade deadline going down for the Columbus Blue Jackets?

Mayor of Jacketville Aaron Portzline of The Athletic is back, this time to talk with Michael Arace about the Blue Jackets' minicamp, the questions facing Columbus GM Don Waddell as the trade deadline nears and the team's playoff prospects at the end of a post-Olympic sprint.

33 min
Feb 12, 2026Episode 8
Columbus Blue Jackets TV analyst Jody Shelley joins host Michael Arace for an Olympic Break report card. Shelley likes this team.

A podcast for fans of the Columbus Blue Jackets. In this episode, former Jacket and longtime CBJ television analyst Jody Shelley joins host Michael Arace of thedisrespected.com to assess the Union Blue at the Olympic break. Among other things, they talk about the god among us, Zach Werenski.Like, subscribe, share, review, etc. Thanks.

31 min
Feb 7, 2026
Cannon Balls S1 E7 with Bailey Johnson, suddenly former NHL writer for the Washington Post. Bailey, laid off Wednesday, talks of the upheaval at the Post and some Blue Jackets and Crew.

Bailey Johnson joins host Michael Arace of thedisrespected.com. Bailey covered the Crew and did some Blue Jackets stuff at the Columbus Dispatch before she moved on to cover the Washington Capitals for the Washington Post. Earlier this week, she and almost everyone else in the Post's sports department got laid off as part of a widespread cost-cutting program by one of the richest men in the world.

52 min
Jan 31, 2026
Cannon Balls S1 E6: Porty is back to talk playoffs (?), trade deadline, Z - a god among us - and much more.

A podcast for Columbus Blue Jackets fans. Aaron Portzline of The Athletic is back to join Michael Arace of thedisrespected.com and discuss a host of subjects from the Rick Bowness bump to Don Waddell's trade-deadline calculations to Elvis to Zach Werenski, a god among us. If you miss the OG Fodder, welcome home. Fun with your friends.

57 min
Jan 17, 2026
Cannon Balls Episode #5 feat. Daryl Reaugh: Requiem for Evason, Hello Bowness, and Coaching in Today's NHL

Dallas Stars Color Analyst Daryl "Razor" Reaugh joins The Disrespected's Michael Arace to discuss Dean Evason's tenure as head coach of the Blue Jackets, what to expect from new boss Rick Bowness, and the state of coaching in the modern NHL.Follow Michael Arace:Writing: thedisrespected.comTwitter: @Disrespected614Bluesky: @MichaelArace1.bsky.socialFollow Daryl Reaugh:Twitter: @Razor5Hole

46 min
Jan 10, 2026
Cannon Balls Episode #4 feat. Aaron Portzline: West Coast Woes, Dean's Dilemma, and Trade Deadline Forecasting

The Athletic's Aaron Portzline joins The Disrespected's Michael Arace to break down the Blue Jackets west coast loses, Dean Evason's coaching decisions, the looming questions surrounding the trade deadline and more! Follow Michael Arace:Writing: thedisrespected.comTwitter: @Disrespected614Bluesky: @MichaelArace1.bsky.socialFollow Aaron Portzline:Writing: nytimes.com/athletic/Twitter: @AportzlineBluesky: @Aportzline.bsky.social

52 min
Dec 24, 2025
Cannon Balls Episode #3 feat. Aaron Portzline: Recapping Last Night's Win, Mason Marchment's Fit, and Josh Flynn's Departure

Happy Holidays! The Athletic's Aaron Portzline joins The Disrespected's Michael Arace to break down the Blue Jackets recent win over the Los Angeles Kings, Mason Marchment's fit in the lineup, Josh Flynn's departure and more! Follow Michael Arace:Writing: thedisrespected.comTwitter: @Disrespected614Bluesky: @MichaelArace1.bsky.socialFollow Aaron Portzline:Writing: nytimes.com/athletic/Twitter: @AportzlineBluesky: @Aportzline.bsky.social

23 min
Dec 17, 2025
Cannon Balls Episode 2 feat. John Buccigross: Blue Jackets Latest, Jarmo Hired, and Quinn Hughes Trade

Welcome to Cannon Balls! A weekly podcast series from Disrespected Media covering the Columbus Blue Jackets! ESPN's John Buccigross joins The Disrespected's Michael Arace to break down the Blue Jackets, Jarmo Kekalainen's new role with the Sabres, the Quinn Hughes trade and more!Follow Michael Arace:Writing: thedisrespected.comTwitter: @Disrespected614Bluesky: @MichaelArace1.bsky.social

50 min
Nov 20, 2025
Cannon Balls Episode #1 feat. Aaron Portzline: Blue Jackets Breakdown, Bill Simmons, Yegor Chinakhov's future and more

Welcome to Cannon Balls! A new weekly podcast series from Disrespected Media covering the Columbus Blue Jackets!A cannon fodder reunion: The Athletic's Aaron Portzline joins The Disrespected's Michael Arace to break down the Blue Jackets season thus far, Bill Simmons controversial comments, Yegor Chinakhov future and more! Follow Michael Arace:Writing: thedisrespected.comTwitter: @Disrespected614Bluesky: @MichaelArace1.bsky.socialFollow Aaron Portzline:Writing: nytimes.com/athletic/Twitter: @AportzlineBluesky: @Aportzline.bsky.social

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