Mike Cagley, Co-Host Sports Spectacular

July 7, 2025

The Illini basketball team is bonding. We’re seeing that new players like players like Andrej Stojakovic and Zvonimir Ivišić are picking up things quickly. Older players have experiences to draw upon as they apply what they’re learning at Illinois. Meanwhile Brandon Lee and Keaton Wagler are trying to earn minutes as well.

The NBA is also a place for former Illini players. Terrence Shannon Jr. is looking forward to a chance to play more with the Timberwolves with Nickeil Alexander-Walker moving on to Atlanta. The Illini also have two first round picks pushing for playing time as well. Ayo Dosunmu is creating an opportunity to play more for a Bulls roster that is in a state of flux. This year’s Illini one-and-dones, Kasparas Jakucionis (Miami) and Will Riley (Washington) are beginning a new page in their careers.

Hail Mary #1 – Quick Hits for Football

• Does it seem like Luke Altmyer is appreciated much more in Illini country as opposed to the rest of the country? Might there be a surprise waiting for Illini opponents?
• The Illini have some fantastic games coming up this season. A few road games jump out at me – at Duke, Indiana, Washington and Wisconsin pique my attention. Indiana looks to be a real showdown with both B1G surprise teams of 2024 clashing early in the season.
• At home, the Illini play USC and Ohio State. Two of collegiate football’s blueblood programs will be visiting Champaign Urbana. These matchups will be highly anticipated and provide the Illini with a chance to earn respect on the field if they play well.
• The Illini defense looks to be a strong one this season. Gabe Jacas returning is a key for the Illini. Can he have an All-B1G or even All-American season? If he does, look out!
• Is Keelan Crimmins a key portal addition that almost no one is talking about? Bret Bielema plays the odds in football and having a talented punter gives a riverboat gambler like Bielema options that he wouldn’t have otherwise.
• Congrats to Coach Bielema on losing weight. It’s not easy and it takes a ton of work, but with 2 young daughters this is an excellent accomplishment by their dad.

Heat Check #1 – Quick Hits for Basketball

• Kedric Prince noted that Andrej Stojakovic is quicker than expected and he now has teammates that can support him. Could he be even more of a key to the season than even Illini fans expected? With teammates around him, he can dish for dimes and if a defender worries too much about that, he takes matters into his own hands - and he's quicker than everyone thinks!
• Mirkovic and Petrovic not being here is a bit unnerving. The Illini have been to this road before, but I’d feel better the earlier they were out on the court learning the system with the rest of their teammates. That’s why I’m not a coach. They don’t waste time worrying.
• A photo of the Ivišić brothers – Tomislav and Zvonimir having fun in the summer with Jake Davis already show the fingerprints of Adam Fletcher on the physiques of the twin seven footers. They both look bigger and stronger than last season. Significantly bigger. And there’s still four months until the games start. What improvements might they make by then?
• What is going on with Ty Rodgers knee? We all hope it isn’t season ending. It’s been quiet on that front, but we all hope Ty will get a chance to play this year.
• The two freshmen with high expectations, Keaton Wagler and Brandon Lee, looked better than anticipated in practice. It is a stretch to expect either to get a ton of playing time, but both seem to be willing to compete. This bodes well for both this season and for future seasons.

Heat Check #2 – Who Should be the Next James Bond

After watching F1 on both the regular screen and on an IMAX screen, I think I’ve found the next James Bond. If I were an executive at Amazon (who now owns the rights to James Bond films after buying MGM), I’d try to get Damson Idris to be the next James Bond. I realize Marvel may be looking to recast him as the Black Panther, but I’d try to beat Marvel to the punch.

Brad Pitt and Damson Idris courtesy of F1 X Page

In F1, Idris proved he has the charisma to stand toe-to-toe with Brad Pitt and not give up anything on screen. The two of them were fantastic in the movie and Damson had the screen presence to carry the movie and not let the film’s engagement level dip when his fellow star was off screen. That’s not an easy thing to do as Pitt is now channeling the onscreen aura at the level of a Robert Redford circa “The Natural”.

Idris is approaching his 34^th birthday, signing him now would mean a studio would have around 20 to 25 years of him playing Bond. We would get to see more of Bond’s early career and some of the experiences that made him the infamous and irrepressible 007. And if he did well, there might be 7 to 10 films that could be made.

I’d sign up for that. It would be fun.