Best of the Pistons on 97.1 The Ticket: Are the Pistons building a winner or just spinning their wheels?
07/04/2026 | 43 mins.
The guys react to the breaking news of the Pistons landing John Collins and debate whether Jalen Duren's hefty contract demands mean it's time for Detroit to pack his bags.
Full Show: The best holiday debate, Detroit sports outlook, and Lions worries
07/03/2026 | 2h 30 mins.
Rico Beard goes all-in on why the 4th of July is fundamentally superior to every other major holiday before delivering an unfiltered reality check on the state of Detroit sports. Tune in as the crew ranks which local team is set for the most success and breaks down the biggest red flags facing the Lions' secondary.
HR 1: Why 4th of July is hands-down the best holiday
07/03/2026 | 42 mins.
Rico Beard goes to bat for why the 4th of July is undisputed as America's greatest, most stress-free holiday, shutting down traditionalists who swear by Thanksgiving or Christmas. Plus, the crew fields listener call-ins and counts down the country's most epic Independence Day celebration spots.
HR 2: The realistic truth about every Detroit sports team's future
07/03/2026 | 41 mins.
Rico and the crew break down the current landscape of Detroit sports, debating which of the four major teams will go the furthest despite their massive offseason question marks. Plus, the guys rank the NFL's basement-dwelling teams from "worst to first" and question whether the Lions' shaky secondary will derail their championship hopes.
HR 3: How much does it really cost to see the Lions in Germany?
07/03/2026 | 33 mins.
The crew debates a tough local sports dilemma before diving into the viral phenomenon of Detroit Lions fan "takeovers" at away games. Callers share their wild travel plans for the upcoming matchup in Munich, Germany, including one fan who funded his trip by selling $16,000 worth of Pokémon cards.
The Valenti Show with Rico is Detroit’s must-listen daily sports show — where strong opinions meet smart analysis. Hosted by Mike Valenti and Rico Beard, The Valenti Show brings unfiltered takes on the biggest national stories and dives deep into all-things-Detroit sports: the Lions, Tigers, Pistons, Red Wings, Michigan and Michigan State. Whether it's NFL drama, playoff stakes or college football storylines, Valenti and Rico tell it like it is — no fluff, no fan service, just real talk. Catch The Valenti Show with Rico live Monday through Friday 2pm - 6pm EST on 97.1 The Ticket (WXYT). Full episodes, individual hours and show highlights drop daily wherever you get your podcasts.
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