Valenti and Rico got right into NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman's comments about Steve Yzerman to begin the show. They crushed the Red WIngs GM for his continued hardliner stance, taking that topic until the second hour, where they transitioned into some World Cup talk. Mike shared why he's so excited for USA-Belgium tonight before the guys reacted to rumors regarding both KD to the Pistons and LeBron to the Cavs. They returned to their World Cup talk to round out today's show.
HOUR 1: Elliotte Friedman's Reports Regarding Yzerman's Hardliner Stance + Can We Say That? Part 1
07/06/2026 | 37 mins.
The guys crushed Steve Yzerman to begin today's programming after hearing some comments from NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman about the Red Wings GM's hardliner stance in trade negotiations with Larkin and extension talks with Alex DeBrincat. Then, they rounded the hour with part 1 of "Can We Say That?"
HOUR 3: KD To The Pistons And What LeBron To Cleveland Would Mean For Detroit
07/06/2026 | 30 mins.
The guys opened the third hour with rumors of Kevin Durant to the Pistons. Then, they reacted to some other rumors linking LeBron to the Cavs and wondered how both of these moves could impact one another.
HOUR 4: Previewing Tonight's USA-Belgium Matchup
07/06/2026 | 32 mins.
Valenti and Rico spent the final hour of the show discussing USA-Belgium and taking your calls on all of today's topics.
Valenti Is ALL-IN On Team USA Tonight
07/06/2026 | 11 mins.
Mike tells Rico why he's confident in the US to beat Belgium tonight.
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.
USA