1. What are the expectations for the Montana and Montana State football teams this season?
John Letasky: Both should be good. Both teams should have national title ambitions.
Chris Peterson: I expect both teams to be national title contenders. This rivalry will be fascinating to watch over the next few years.
Gavin Derkatch: It starts with winning the Big Sky and from there, both teams must have their eyes on a national title.
Jake Iverson: Be Nos. 1 and 2 going into Cat-Griz.
Briar Napier: Nothing short of a national title for each, no? But as a neutral, I’m excited for Tommy Mellott’s injury redemption arc and another year of Junior Bergen being college football’s most lethal kick returner.
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2. How inspiring is the story of Great Falls native and ex-NFL QB Ryan Leaf, who’s turned his life around?
John Letasky: Leaf seems to have made a complete turnaround, and that is quite impressive and should give others hope.
Chris Peterson: We judge people too often at their worst. Ryan Leaf made plenty of mistakes, but what a success story. How can you not appreciate his journey?
Gavin Derkatch: It was truly powerful to hear and watch Leaf share his story with inmates at the Montana State Prison firsthand.
Jake Iverson: He seems like a very genuine dude who wants to help people, and a nice reminder that our punchlines sometimes have a human on the other end.
Briar Napier: I don’t know if I could’ve had the mental fortitude to reshape my legacy from draft bust and nutcase to, by accounts nowadays, a stand-up guy making a difference. Kudos and respect.
3. Who is the most dominant female athlete of all-time?
John Letasky: Serena is tough to beat and Briar makes a good point on Ledecky, but World Cup skier Mikaela Shiffrin belongs in the conversation.
Chris Peterson: This question makes me sweat. It’s tough to choose but I have to go with Serena Williams.
Gavin Derkatch: The things that Simone Biles is able to do amazes me every single time.
Jake Iverson: Serena Williams won the Australian Open while pregnant. Hard to argue against that.
Briar Napier: Brutal question, but with a few more golds in Paris, Katie Ledecky — who already is the greatest female swimmer ever — will be the answer to it.
4. What sport(s) will you be checking out in the Summer Olympics?
John Letasky: Basketball and probably track and field, swimming and wrestling. However, I must admit I’ll be following the local sports scene and other sports events more closely.
Chris Peterson: Gymnastics, track and field events, basketball and swimming.
Gavin Derkatch: For me, I’m always glued to swimming and the sprints. I’ll have an eye on U.S. men’s basketball as well.
Jake Iverson: The 100-meter dash might be the purest distillation of sport in the world. Ten seconds of absolute, all-out insanity.
Briar Napier: Triathlon to seethe in jealousy as I train for one and breakdancing (yes, really) to get really, really confused at what’s going on.
5. You get a dream meal of an entrée, side, dessert and drink. What does your plate look like?
John Letasky: Chicken, pizza, steak, Chinese, lasagna … I’m not sure. Served with cherry pie and an iced coffee.
Chris Peterson: A porterhouse steak with mashed potatoes with cheesecake for dessert and a Miner’s Gold as the beverage of choice.
Gavin Derkatch: I’ll say chicken parmesan with penne a la vodka as my side. New York cheesecake for dessert and I’m good with an iced tea to drink.
Jake Iverson: Hot pastrami on rye with a fresh, shrimp-heavy ceviche on the side, crisp seedless watermelon for dessert. I’ll go with beer as physically cold as it can be to wash it all down, but how mad would everyone be if I said milk?
Briar Napier: Chicken and sausage gumbo, toasted four-cheese ravioli, warm brownie a la mode and an unsweet tea. It’s a food coma for sure, but it’s worth it.
