Games People Play

Dive into the inspiring journey of Matt Birk, a man who went from a self-proclaimed "late bloomer" in sports to an NFL star and Harvard graduate.In this episode of "Games People Play with Bernie Corbett," Matt shares the twists and turns of his life, from his humble beginnings in St. Paul, Minnesota, to his 14-year tenure in the NFL, and his recent venture into the political arena.Join us as we explore how this Renaissance man continues to impact the world through his charity work, his dedication to his Catholic faith, and his passion for education.---Track: "Im Coming Back Again"Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/tzpr1l

Join us on a nostalgic trip down memory lane with Giants legend Ottis "OJ" Anderson as he shares behind-the-scenes moments from the iconic Super Bowl 25. In this second of two parts on "Games People Play," Bernie Corbett uncovers the stories of practice pants superstitions, the psychological strategies of Bill Parcells, and the hard-hitting plays that defined a championship. Tune in for an episode that's as gripping as the final moments of a Super Bowl nail-biter.==Track: "Im Coming Back Again"Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/tzpr1l

Dive into the exhilarating world of football legends as Games People Play welcomes in none other than Super Bowl XXV hero, Ottis "OJ" Anderson. Sit back as host Bernie Corbett takes you on a journey through OJ's illustrious career. In this first of two parts, OJ talks about getting his start in West Palm Beach, his decision to attend the University of Miami, becoming rookie of the year for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1979, and a trade to the Giants many saw as the end of his career, but as we know know, he wasn't done yet. It's a story of resilience, comebacks, and a destiny fulfilled on the gridiron. Don't miss this touchdown of an episode!==Track: "Im Coming Back Again"Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/tzpr1l

Dive into the second part of this gripping journey of Theo Fluery, from the dizzying heights of NHL stardom to the harrowing depths of personal struggles with addiction and mental health. Join us as we unravel the story of this hockey icon, whose battle off the ice became his most formidable. In this episode, we discuss Theo's legacy, his cultural roots, and how he transformed his darkest moments into a beacon of hope for others. Don't miss this raw and revealing conversation on "The Games People Play with Bernie Corbett.==Track: "Im Coming Back Again"Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/tzpr1l

In this episode, Bernie Corbett welcomes the electrifying presence of Theo Fleury, whose life story is a wild ride. In the first of a two-part conversation, Theo takes us from his humble beginnings in Russell, Manitoba, to the dizzying heights of the NHL. Fleury's tale is one of triumph, grit, and the transformative power of sports we love bringing you on Games People Play.==Track: "Im Coming Back Again"Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/tzpr1l

There are but a handful of professional athletes who are universally recognized as the greatest at what they do. Today's guest is one such athlete.Join Bernie in welcoming Pro Football Hall of Famer, 9-time first-team All-Pro and NFL 100 All-Time Team member Anthony Muñoz to the program in the second of a two-part conversation to talk about Anthony's 13 seasons of dominance at the left tackle position while playing with the Bengals. Plus: the “Freezer Bowl”; rehabbing knee injuries; the heartbreak of losing Super Bowls XVI and XXII; the greatness of Fred Dean and Bruce Smith; offensive line techniques, and the thrill of catching touchdown passes.Later, Bernie shares his own small world story about Anthony's friend and former teammate, Dave Lapham. And finally, Anthony talks about his charitable foundation where they teach “Victory Beyond Competition” in their seven mentoring programs dedicated to engaging kids mentally, physically and emotionally. To date, the Anthony Muñoz Foundation has raised $16 million dollars and helped 40,000 kids.Games People Play is sponsored by TicketSmarter and the TicketSmarter mobile app: get $10 off any purchase of $100 or more with promo code LWOS10, or get $20 off any purchase of $300 or more with promo code LWOS20.Track: "Im Coming Back Again"Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/tzpr1lThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5983722/advertisement

There are but a handful of professional athletes who are universally recognized as the greatest at what they do. Today's guest is one such athlete.Join Bernie in welcoming Pro Football Hall of Famer, 9-time first-team All-Pro and NFL 100 All-Time Team member Anthony Muñoz to the program in the first of a two-part conversation to talk about his single-parent upbringing in Ontario, CA, where he became a three-sport star at Chaffey High School before winning National Championships in baseball and football at USC. Then the pair moves on to Cincinnati to start discussing the start of Anthony's 13 seasons of dominance at the left tackle position while playing with the Bengals.Games People Play is sponsored by TicketSmarter and the TicketSmarter mobile app: get $10 off any purchase of $100 or more with promo code LWOS10, or get $20 off any purchase of $300 or more with promo code LWOS20.Track: "Im Coming Back Again"Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/tzpr1lThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5983722/advertisement

Charlie Ward is the only Heisman Trophy winner to play in the NBA, but that distinction is just a small part of his story.Join us today on the Games People Play podcast as Bernie Corbett welcomes the former Sullivan Award winner to discuss his unique path in life, including his ever-evolving faith in God, learning assertiveness from his older sister and the complex college recruiting challenges he faced as a two-sport star at Thomas County Central High School in Georgia.You'll hear about Charlie's magnificent career at Florida State, which included a National Championship in football and a trip to the Elite-Eight in basketball, as well as what ultimately led him to choose the NBA over the NFL. Plus: living in the city as a New York Knick; playing in the 1999 NBA Finals, and which current NFL quarterback most reminds him of himself. Finally, Charlie recounts the details of his 2018 stroke while on a church mission in Mexico and his family's many charitable endeavors benefitting youth sports, the elderly and hurricane relief victims.Track: "Im Coming Back Again"Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/tzpr1lThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5983722/advertisement

Martin St. Louis took the hard road to the highest honor in the game.A native of Laval, Quebec, St. Louis carved out an NHL career that spanned 16 seasons from 1998-2015 despite being labeled as too small as a 5-foot-8 forward, which caused him not to be drafted or signed to an NHL contract after amassing 267 points (91 goals, 176 assists) 139 games over four seasons at the University of Vermont.St. Louis signed a two-year contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning on July 31, 2000. He scored 40 points (18 goals, 22 assists) in 78 games the following season, proving he could be an everyday NHL player.Although a broken leg cut short his 2001-02 season, St. Louis had 70 points (33 goals, 37 assists) in 2002-03 and shot up to 94 points (38 goals, 56 assists) in 2003-04, when he won the Art Ross Trophy, the Hart Trophy and helped lead the Lightning to their first Stanley Cup championship, scoring the game-winning goal in double overtime of Game 6 against the Flames to tie the series 3-3.Only seven other players in NHL history have won the Art Ross Trophy, the Hart Trophy and the Stanley Cup in the same season.Track: "Im Coming Back Again"Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/tzpr1lThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5983722/advertisement

Today on the Games People Play podcast, Bernie talks to a man whose contributions to the game of basketball go far beyond his sizeable on-court resume, which includes an NBA championship, an Olympic Gold Medal and an ABA Most Valuable Player Award. Please join us in welcoming four-time NBA All-Star, Spencer Haywood, to the program in the second of two parts to chronicle his remarkable journey from the cotton fields of Mississippi to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.Bernie and Spencer discuss the challenges and dark times Spencer faced, including legal battles over fraudulent contracts, an anti-trust suit against the NBA that went all the way to the Supreme Court and his long road back to sobriety following a crack cocaine addiction. Finally, Spencer talks about his new book The Spencer Haywood Rule and expresses gratitude at being recognized for all that he sacrificed for future generations of NBA players.Track: "Im Coming Back Again"Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/tzpr1lGames People Play is sponsored in part by TicketSmarter and the TicketSmarter mobile app: get $10 off any purchase of $100 or more with promo code LWOS10, and receive $20 off any purchase of $300 or more with promo code LWOS20This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5983722/advertisement

Today on the Games People Play podcast, Bernie talks to a man whose contributions to the game of basketball go far beyond his sizeable on-court resume, which includes an NBA championship, an Olympic Gold Medal and an ABA Most Valuable Player Award.Join us in welcoming four-time NBA All-Star Spencer Haywood to the program for the first of two parts to chronicle his remarkable journey from the cotton fields of Mississippi to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. You'll hear about the extraordinary collection of talent that surrounded Spencer at Pershing High School in Detroit before he became the youngest US Olympic basketball player in history and an instant sensation in the ABA and NBA.Track: "Im Coming Back Again"Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/tzpr1lGames People Play is sponsored in part by TicketSmarter and the TicketSmarter mobile app: get $10 off any purchase od $100 or more by using the promo code LWOS10, and receive $20 off any purchse of $300 or more with promo code LWOS20This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5983722/advertisement

Bernie Corbett continues his conversation with 17-year Major Leaguer Reggie Smith this week.The two discuss Smith's decision to leave St. Louis after three years and move to the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he played in two more World Series before finally winning a title in 1981. They then talk about playing for the first African-American manager in Frank Robinson, and becoming the first Major League star to make the decision to play in Japan. Reggie talks about playing for the great Sadaharu Oh with Yomiuri, then gets into his involvement with the Dodgers as a coach, instructor and scout.Track: "Im Coming Back Again"Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/tzpr1lGames People Play is sponsored in part by TicketSmarter and the TicketSmarter mobile app: get $10 off any purchase of $100 or more with the promo code LWOS10, and receive $20 off any purchase of $300 or more with the promo code LWOS20.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5983722/advertisement

Bernie Corbett is joined this week by 17-year Major Leaguer Reggie Smith, who played in four World Series and was named an All-Star seven times in his career. The two talked for more than an hour and a half, so the conversation will be split into two parts.They begin by talking about Reggie's upbringing, starting in Shreveport, Louisiana and moving out to Los Angeles. They discuss Reggie's father's involvement in the Negro Leagues before World War II and his own start in professional baseball in the Minnesota Twins organization. They move on to Reggie's time with the Boston Red Sox, including the Impossible Dream season of 1967 before being traded to the National League and the St. Louis Cardinals in 1974.Track: "Im Coming Back Again"Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/tzpr1lGames People Play is sponsored in part by TicketSmarter, and the TicketSmarter mobile app: get $10 off any purchase of $100 or more with the promo code LWOS10, and receive $20 off any purchase of $300 or more with the promo code LWOS20.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5983722/advertisement

He's the only pitcher in Major League history to record both 200 wins and 150 saves. He's won a World Series Championship, a Cy Young Award and a Roberto Clemente Award. He's FOX's lead baseball analyst and a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. And today, he's guest number 1 of the Games People Play podcast. Join us in welcoming the great John Smoltz to the program as he and Bernie discuss John's early life as a Detroit Tigers fan in Warren, MI, his 2-sport, all-state career at Waverly High School in Lansing and his remarkable 22-years in the Big Leagues.You'll hear how his collective family's heart broke the day their hometown Tigers traded him to Atlanta and how his steady improvement led to him being the only Braves player present for all of their MLB record 14 consecutive division titles from 1991-2005.Plus: pitching with, and against, Glavine and Maddux; the transition from starter to closer and back again; his legendary Game 7 World Series showdown against boyhood idol Jack Morris, and more!Track: "Im Coming Back Again"Music provided by https://slip.streamFree Download / Stream: https://get.slip.stream/tzpr1lThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5983722/advertisement

Join Bernie Corbett every week as we welcome retired athletic icons and provide them the forum to tell their story in full. Reconnect with the heroes of your yesterday today with Games People Play.Track: "Im Coming Back Again"Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/tzpr1lThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5983722/advertisement

Games People Play host Bernie Corbett speaks with Morgan Tuck, who won four consecutive NCAA championships with the University of Connecticut women's basketball team before playing in the WNBA and becoming the Director of Franchise Development for the Connecticut Sun following her retirement from playing earlier this year.

Games People Play host Bernie Corbett is joined by 1982 World Series champion Tom Herr. The conversation covers Herr's 13-year MLB career, his significant stint with the Cardinals, and so much more. This is the second half of a two-part interview.

Games People Play host Bernie Corbett is joined by 1982 World Series champion Tom Herr. The conversation covers Herr's 13-year MLB career, his significant stint with the Cardinals, and so much more. This is the first half of a two-part interview.

This week on the Games People Play, Bernie goes into the ring with former Heavyweight Champion Mike Hercules Weaver. Join Bernie as he and Mike remember his legendary boxing career. Hear about how Mike learns he is one of 27 children, how Bob Arum and Don King affected his career, and the crushing knockout blow of Big John Tate to win the title, and speaks of his new relationship with an old nemesis. If you like the era of boxing from 1976-1988 this is a great trip down memory lane with former WBA Champion Mike "Hercules" Weaver from our new location in Boston, Fenway Johnnies.

Part II The Games People Play podcast with Bernie Corbett welcomes Danny White this week. Voted Arizona's Athlete of the Century, Danny attended Arizona St on a baseball scholarship and became a record setting QB leading the Sun Devils to three straight Fiesta Bowl victories. After beginning his pro career in the WFL, White migrated to the NFL and became the Dallas Cowboys punter winning a Super Bowl. In 1979 he succeeded Roger Staubach at quarterback assuming the responsibility of one of the toughest jobs in sports and led America's Team to three consecutive NFC Championship Games compiling a 62-32 record overall. As his coach the legendary Tom Landry observed, "I don't think anybody could have followed Roger and done as well as Danny." Please subscribe...like and rate us.

The Games People Play podcast with Bernie Corbett welcomes Danny White this week. Voted Arizona's Athlete of the Century, Danny attended Arizona St on a baseball scholarship and became a record setting QB leading the Sun Devils to three straight Fiesta Bowl victories. After beginning his pro career in the WFL, White migrated to the NFL and became the Dallas Cowboys punter winning a Super Bowl. In 1979 he succeeded Roger Staubach at quarterback assuming the responsibility of one of the toughest jobs in sports and led America's Team to three consecutive NFC Championship Games compiling a 62-32 record overall. As his coach the legendary Tom Landry observed, "I don't think anybody could have followed Roger and done as well as Danny." Please subscribe...like and rate us.

The Games People Play with Bernie Corbett podcast continues this week with the business of sports. Acknowledged as a superstar in the field of sports marketing, Jon Spolestra has maintained a decades long reputation as a brilliant innovator. A proudly self-proclaimed "disruptor", Jon offers perspective from his past career as a prominent NBA executive in addition to insight derived from the numerous tomes he has penned extensively covering all aspects of selling the games we play.

The Games People Play with Bernie Corbett podcast returns this week after a 4th Of July holiday break with guests from the business of sports. One of the most respected odds makers and sports book figures of all-time, Johnny Avello has remained a Las Vegas legend for more than four decades. Johnny recounts the remarkable story of his career that has included stops operating the sports betting operations at both Bally's and Wynn's Sportsbook. His current position as the Director of Race and Sports Operations at DraftKings has kept him at the top of his game allowing him to comment on recent trends and the future of sports wagering. Please be sure to review, rate and like us.

The Games People Play with Bernie Corbett podcast welcomes Martin St. Louis this week. From his earliest years of development,Marty was often passed over because of his size. Defying the "experts" St.Louis successfully completed the journey from undrafted college free agent to MVP, multiple all-star recognition, Stanley Cup champion and induction to the Hockey Hall Of Fame in his first year of eligibility. Marty is currently looking forward to a dream Cup final between his hometown Montreal Canadiens and the team that he won the Cup with and became the face of the franchise: the Tampa Bay Lightning. Please subscribe...

Martin St. Louis took the hard road to the highest honor in the game. A native of Laval, Quebec, St. Louis carved out an NHL career that spanned 16 seasons from 1998-2015 despite being labeled as too small as a 5-foot-8 forward, which caused him not to be drafted or signed to an NHL contract after amassing 267 points (91 goals, 176 assists) 139 games over four seasons at the University of Vermont. St. Louis signed a two-year contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning on July 31, 2000. He scored 40 points (18 goals, 22 assists) in 78 games the following season, proving he could be an everyday NHL player. Although a broken leg cut short his 2001-02 season, St. Louis had 70 points (33 goals, 37 assists) in 2002-03 and shot up to 94 points (38 goals, 56 assists) in 2003-04, when he won the Art Ross Trophy, the Hart Trophy and helped lead the Lightning to their first Stanley Cup championship, scoring the game-winning goal in double overtime of Game 6 against the Flames to tie the series 3-3. Only seven other players in NHL history have won the Art Ross Trophy, the Hart Trophy and the Stanley Cup in the same season.

The Games People Play with Bernie Corbett podcast welcomes Tom Paciorek this week. Nicknamed Wimpy by his first manager HOFer Tommy Lasorda, Tom enjoyed an eventful 18 year major league playing career that included being a key contributor to the !983 AL West champion Win Ugly White Sox and five hits in MLB's longest game. Paciorek followed his time on the diamond by spending another 17 years in the broadcast booth, most notably paired with Ken Harrelson calling White Sox games. Subscribe, rate. and like us etc.

Today's guest is a true hockey lifer. Winner of two Stanley Cups as a player with the Boston Bruins and three more as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins front office. He is the last player in NHL history to play every minute of every game for a full season. Join Bernie as he welcomes “the most beloved man in hockey,” Eddie Johnston. You'll hear stories of how Eddie's older brothers influenced his decision to become a goaltender as a boy growing up in the West End of Montreal, the road that eventually led to Boston, where he is forever recognized as a member of the city's most revered hockey team, and the offers he received, and rejected, when the Penguins held the rights to draft Mario Lemieux. Plus: the harrowing incident that led to Eddie wearing a mask; how the greatest Bruin of all-time became his personal chauffer, and how he maintained his passion over 53 years in professional hockey. Finally, Eddie talks about the evolution of the goaltender position and his return to coaching in his son's new 3-on-3 hockey league, 3ICE.

Games People Play's host Bernie Corbett, gets Bryan Trottier to recall scoring the 5 second goal against Boston. Trott's also talks about his love for singing and the band he plays in with his family. He is also involved with 3 Ice, a new 3 on 3 league starting in 2021. The league is led by former GM Craig Patrick. Coaches include Grant Fuhr, Guy Carbonneau, John LeClair, Joe Mullen, and of course Trottier.

Today's guest on the Games People Play podcast can best be described in one word: Winner. In 18 NHL seasons as a player, his teams failed to make the playoffs only once, with six of those seasons ending in Stanley Cup glory. Individually, he's won the Calder, Hart, Art Ross and Conn Smythe trophies. Join Bernie in welcoming Hockey Hall of Famer and nine-time All-Star Bryan Trottier to the program as they discuss Bryan's formative years growing up on a ranch in Val Marie, Saskatchewan, the importance of his Aboriginal roots and how junior teammate Tiger Williams once convinced him to return to the ice after he'd nearly dropped out of the game. The pair also talks about the great Islanders teams of the early-80s, the origins of playoff beards, unusual NHL scoring records, the challenge of staying on top and the uproar Bryan caused by playing for the US at the 1984 Canada Cup. Later, Bryan talks about his family's love of music, his continued support of the Aboriginal community and his current role as head coach in the newly-formed 3ICE 3-on-3 hockey league.

This week's View From The Press Box is provided by iconic Pittsburgh Post-Gazette columnist Gene Collier who contributed two new chapters to the updated version of Rocky's biography Fighting Back. Join Bernie and Gene as they breakdown the career of Rocky Bleier.

This week's guest represents three hallowed traditions. On the football field, he won a National Championship at Notre Dame and four Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and on the battlefield, he won a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart while fighting with the US Army in Vietnam. Join Bernie as he welcomes Steelers Hall Of Honor member Rocky Bleier to the program to discuss growing up as the son of a bar owner in Appleton, WI, the origin of his nickname and the myriad of emotions he experienced when being drafted into the NFL, and then, into the armed forces. Plus: details of the extraction operation during which Rocky was wounded in Vietnam; playing for Ara Parseghian and Chuck Noll; the games and plays that defined his role on the great Steelers teams of the 70s, and the enduring bond shared by those teams and the city of Pittsburgh. Later, Rocky gives insight on his many charitable endeavors, including his Beating The Odds Foundation, which helps students be successful outside their school's curriculum, before telling Bernie what really happened at the end of the 2019 E60 documentary, The Return, and more!

This week's guest represents three hallowed traditions. On the football field, he won a National Championship at Notre Dame and four Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and on the battlefield, he won a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart while fighting with the US Army in Vietnam. Join Bernie as he welcomes Steelers Hall Of Honor member Rocky Bleier to the program to discuss growing up as the son of a bar owner in Appleton, WI, the origin of his nickname and the myriad of emotions he experienced when being drafted into the NFL, and then, into the armed forces. Plus: details of the extraction operation during which Rocky was wounded in Vietnam; playing for Ara Parseghian and Chuck Noll; the games and plays that defined his role on the great Steelers teams of the 70s, and the enduring bond shared by those teams and the city of Pittsburgh. Later, Rocky gives insight on his many charitable endeavors, including his Beating The Odds Foundation, which helps students be successful outside their school's curriculum, before telling Bernie what really happened at the end of the 2019 E60 documentary, The Return, and more!

This weeks View from the Press Box is John Powers. Many sportswriters consider him the dean of Olympic journalists; he has covered every Olympic Games (summer and winter) since 1976, excepting the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, when the U.S. boycott led the Russians to refuse to issue a visa. He may well have reported from more Olympics than any other American sportswriter. Powers was an integral part of a highly regarded sportswriting team at the Globe. “From the mid-1970s to the early '80s,” Sports Illustrated wrote in 2009, “the Globe contained arguably the greatest collection of reporting talent ever assembled in a sports section." He has also written or co-authored 11 books.

This week's guest is one of only four US Women's Soccer players to win three Olympic Gold Medals. She's represented the United States in over 100 international matches and played professionally for 13 seasons. Join Bernie in welcoming the indefatigable Heather Mills to the program as they discuss her life as a sports pioneer both on and off the field. You'll hear how competing against her younger brother and the quiet support of her athletic parents instilled a sense of determination that led to an All-State career at Saint Ursula Academy in Cincinnati and a Hall of Fame career at Florida University. Plus: Witnessing the US Women win the 1999 World Cup at the Rose Bowl; why 2008 is her favorite of her three Gold Medals; the decisions that led to her return to the Olympics in 2012, and raising a family with a fellow professional athlete. Later, Heather tells Bernie about her Gold Medal Mindset training program, which helps athletes overcome adversity, how she feels the pandemic has impacted youth sports, and more!

Part two of the Artis Gilmore interview: Artis and Bernie chat about Artis's ABA career and playing in the ABA vs. NBA super game in 1972, his days in the NBA, his new book, and more!

The Legendary Bob Ryan formerly with The Boston Globe, and author. He has been described as "the quintessential American sportswriter" and a basketball guru, and is well known for his coverage of the sport including his famous stories covering the Boston Celtics in the 1970s. Bob joins Bernie to remember the career of Artis Gilmore.

Today's guest rose from the depths of extreme poverty to become one of the greatest centers in the history of basketball. A star in both the ABA (5-time all-star) and NBA (6-time all-star), he competed in an era when teams coveted elite Big Men who could score, rebound and block shots. Join Bernie in this two-part interview as he welcomes a man who excelled at all three of those skills; Basketball Hall of Famer, “The A-Train”- Artis Gilmore. The pair discusses Artis's humble beginnings in Chipley, FL, as one of 10 children, through his high school career at Carver High in Dothan, AL, and on to Jacksonville University, where he became a consensus First Team All-American. You'll also hear about Jacksonville's improbable run to the 1970 NCAA Championship Game, Atis's five-year ABA career with the Kentucky Colonels and his 12-year NBA career with the Bulls, Spurs and Celtics. Plus: the legendary 1976 ABA Slam Dunk Contest; playing against Kareem, Walton and Lanier, and thoughts on college one-and-dones. Lastly, Artis talks about his book Here Comes The A-Train! and his continued devotion to his alma mater and the city of Jacksonville.

This week on A View From the Press Box. Bernie and longtime NY Giants beat writer Dave Klein take a look back at the stellar career of Ottis Anderson's time with Big Blue. Klein was with The Star-Ledger of Newark, N.J., for 34 years (1961-95)  was the primary Football Giants beat writer for the paper.  In addition, he covered six Olympics from 1976 to 1992.  Klein was one of only eight writers to cover the first 32 Super Bowls and is the author of 28 books, including several novels.  Following his retirement from The Star-Ledger, he continued to cover the Giants for team weeklies and on-line services – TGN, Giants News, and E-Giants.

This week's guest conjures up some fond memories for our New York Football Giants-loving host. Two-time Super Bowl champion, MVP of Super Bowl XXV and former NFL rushing leader, Ottis “OJ” Anderson, joins Bernie to discuss his 14 years in the NFL with the Giants and Cardinals, his record-breaking career at the University of Miami and his early life in West Palm Beach, FL. Ottis talks about the influence and untimely death of his older brother, Marvin, who died tragically when Ottis was in 6th grade, as well as how he came to be nicknamed “OJ” and his unusual introduction to the best players in the NFL at Super Bowl XIII. Plus: avoiding the Sports Illustrated Jinx; timelines of Super Bowl memories, and explaining to Mark Ingram that Ottis Anderson and OJ Anderson are the same person. Later, Bernie helps Ottis build his case for the Hall of Fame before Ottis brings us up to date on his current roles as a motivational speaker, philanthropist and, along with Lawrence Taylor and Mark Bavaro, business partner at Tridelix 5D NFL merchandise.

Bernie and national sports columnist Terrence Moore discuss the career of this weeks guest John Smoltz. Terrence covered the Atlanta Braves for 25 years while writing for the Atl Constitution Journal.

He's the only pitcher in Major League history to record both 200 wins and 150 saves. He's won a World Series Championship, a Cy Young Award and a Roberto Clemente Award. He's FOX's lead baseball analyst and a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. And today, he's guest number 1 on season number 2 of the Games People Play podcast. Join us in welcoming the great John Smoltz to the program as he and Bernie discuss John's early life as a Detroit Tigers fan in Warren, MI, his 2-sport, all-state career at Waverly High School in Lansing and his remarkable 22-years in the Big Leagues. You'll hear how his collective family's heart broke the day their hometown Tigers traded him to Atlanta and how his steady improvement led to him being the only Braves player present for all of their MLB record 14 consecutive division titles from 1991-2005. Plus: pitching with, and against, Glavine and Maddux; the transition from starter to closer and back again; his legendary Game 7 World Series showdown against boyhood idol Jack Morris, and more!

The Oakland Raiders of the 1970s were a vibrant cast of characters whose freewheeling personalities were balanced out by their collective pursuit of excellence. Today on the podcast, Bernie welcomes perhaps the most colorful of those characters in four-time Pro Bowl linebacker and Super Bowl champion, Phil Villapiano. The conversation begins in Asbury Park, NJ, with Phil playing for his dad at Asbury Park High before moving on to Ocean Township, where he earned a scholarship to Bowling Green, winning MAC Defensive Player of the Year as a senior. Next, the pair discusses the many highlights of Phil's 13-year NFL career, including his friendship with his onetime idol, George Blanda, his role in the Immaculate Reception, the Raiders-Chiefs rivalry and his favorite penalty he never committed. Later, Phil recounts the harrowing plane ride he took with Russ Francis following their controversial 1976 AFC divisional round playoff game between the Patriots and Raiders, as well as the rest of the AFC playoff gauntlet of the 70s. Finally, Phil tells Bernie about his connection to fellow Jersey icon, Bruce Springsteen, and his ongoing pursuit of “the prefect tackle”, and more!

Before Tom Brady, and before Drew Bledsoe, the New England Patriots were a hard luck franchise personified by a tough, sometimes overachieving quarterback, whose tenacity and competitiveness endeared him to a beleaguered, but loyal fan base. Join Bernie in welcoming Patriots Hall of Famer, Steve Grogan, to the program to discuss his coming of age in a multi-sport environment in Ottawa, KS, the growing pains he experienced as a two-year starter at Kansas State and the circumstances that led to him grabbing the starting quarterback job as a rookie with the Patriots. You'll hear Steve present the New England side of the controversial 1976 divisional round playoff loss in Oakland* as well as his memories of the team's magical run to Super Bowl XX. Plus: the great John Hannah; underrated Stanley Morgan; the Snow Plow Game, and who Steve picks as the greatest quarterback of all-time. Finally, Steve reflects on the recent success of the Patriots and how it has trickled down to former players and the seemingly endless list of injuries he dealt with during his 16-year career. *for the Oakland side, listen to Phil Villapiano in Episode 22 of GPP

Today on the Games People Play podcast, Bernie talks to a man whose contributions to the game of basketball go far beyond his sizeable on-court resume, which includes an NBA championship, an Olympic Gold Medal and an ABA Most Valuable Player Award. Please join us in welcoming four-time NBA All-Star, Spencer Haywood, to the program to chronicle his remarkable journey from the cotton fields of Mississippi to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. You'll hear about the extraordinary collection of talent that surrounded Spencer at Pershing High School in Detroit before he became the youngest US Olympic basketball player in history and an instant sensation in the ABA and NBA. Bernie and Spencer also discuss the challenges and dark times Spencer faced, including legal battles over fraudulent contracts, an anti-trust suit against the NBA that went all the way to the Supreme Court and his long road back to sobriety following a crack cocaine addiction. Finally, Spencer talks about his new book The Spencer Haywood Rule and expresses gratitude at being recognized for all that he sacrificed for future generations of NBA players.

Few pitchers in Major League history can claim that they had a better season than today's guest had for the Detroit Tigers in 1968. Join Bernie as he welcomes two-time Cy Young Award winner, American League MVP and World Series champion, Denny McLain, to the program to discuss his decision to choose a Big League career over a scholarship to Notre Dame, the legendary Year of the Pitcher and Denny's thoughts on the 1970 Sports Illustrated article that tied him to an alleged gambling operation. You'll hear why bowling became a part of Denny's offseason training regimen, how he once helped Mickey Mantle move up on the all-time home run list and how the 1968 Tigers helped unite the city of Detroit. Later, Denny explains how the lowering of the pitcher's mound in 1969 led to a rash of arm injuries and how his father-in-law, Lou Boudreau, popularized the infield shift. Finally, Denny reveals that he has made more money as a musician than he did as a ballplayer and lets listeners know where they can listen to his own podcast, No Filter Sports. #Gamespeopleplaypodcast # Classicsports #Baseball

Today on the Games People Play, we break from our usual format to bring you The Old Ballgame, a panel show where we discuss America's Pastime, and wonder if its time has passed. Joining Bernie on the show are former California Angels GM and vice president of umpiring for MLB, Mike Port, former Major League pitcher and guest of the Games People Play, Norm Charlton, and longtime author and Boston sports journalist, Steve Buckley. With over 150 years combined experience in and around The Game, the group tackles many of the issues baseball faces as they attempt to expand their fan base without alienating longtime devotees. Topics covered include: pre and post expansion playoff formats; adding and subtracting Wild Cards; the future of the 162-game season; pace of play; start times of World Series games; balancing analytics, technology and traditional methods of evaluating players; the nature of baseball ownership and MLB's failure to “grow the game”. Along with the spirited discourse, Bernie asks each guest to share his earliest World Series memory before looking to the future by offering some final solutions.

Today, the Games People Play podcast hosts its first luminary from the Sport Of Kings as Bernie welcomes US Racing Hall Of Fame Jockey Gary Stevens to the program to talk about a few of his 5,187 career thoroughbred wins, his family's horse racing pedigree and how he came to play George Woolf in the motion picture Seabiscuit. You'll hear how Gary went from high school wrestling star in Caldwell, ID, to full-time professional jockey at the age of 16, as well as the many starts and stops of his career that saw him overcome a myriad of serious injuries, including several joint replacements, a collapsed lung and a 16-hour stint in a coma after being thrown into a rail. Plus: highlights from Gary's 19 combined Triple Crown and Breeder's Cup race victories; receiving pre-race advice from Queen Elizabeth II; his major celebrity standing in Hong Kong; his favorite horses he ever rode, and the greatest race he ever competed in. Finally, Bernie and Gary talk about the fractured vertebrae that ended Gary's career, his broadcasting career at FOX Sports and the challenges of managing and buying horses during the pandemic.

Charlie Ward is the only Heisman Trophy winner to play in the NBA, but that distinction is just a small part of his story. Join us today on the Games People Play podcast as Bernie welcomes the former Sullivan Award winner to discuss his unique path in life, including his ever-evolving faith in God, learning assertiveness from his older sister and the complex college recruiting challenges he faced as a two-sport star at Thomas County Central High School in Georgia. You'll hear about Charlie's magnificent career at Florida State, which included a National Championship in football and a trip to the Elite-Eight in basketball, as well as what ultimately led him to choose the NBA over the NFL. Plus: living in the city as a New York Knick; playing in the 1999 NBA Finals, and which current NFL quarterback most reminds him of himself. Finally, Charlie recounts the details of his 2018 stroke while on a church mission in Mexico and his family's many charitable endeavors benefitting youth sports, the elderly and hurricane relief victims. #gamespeopleplaypodcast #Classicsports

Today, Bernie welcomes three-time NBA Champion and current Chicago Bulls broadcaster Stacey King to the program to discuss Stacey's four years at the University of Oklahoma, where he rose from disillusioned underclassman to Sporting News College Player of the Year as a senior, and his 10-year pro career, during which he played in five NBA cities as well as internationally in Turkey and Argentina. You'll hear about the influence of Stacey's parents; his father, who taught him discipline, and his mom, who emphasized a goal-oriented life. Plus: memories of Ben Wilson and Len Bias; his family's complicated feelings about Billy Tubbs; the 1988 NCAA Championship game; a most memorable introduction to Phil Jackson; an awkward pre-game ritual involving Michael Jordan, and thoughts on what the Last Dance documentary got right, and what it got wrong. Later, Stacey offers his opinions on player empowerment, one-and-done college players and why he could never coach in today's NBA. Lastly, Stacey tells Bernie about his experience as a broadcaster in the passionate sports city of Chicago and the many choices he's made as a parent.

In 1982 the Chicago White Sox finished in third place of the American League Western division six games behind the California Angels. What followed the next season was somewhere between complete shock and utter fantasy as the team from the south side of Chicago blew everybody else out of the water by going 99-63, to take the division by an almost unheard of 20 games. The Pale Hose as they are referred to by their most ardent fans featured both Cy Young award winner Lamar Hoyt, who won two dozen games during that campaign and rookie of the year and local boy made great Ron Kittle. Kitty belted 35 dingers including two on the roof at old Comiskey as well as registering 100 RBI which seemed like a nice round number at the time. Only four and a half seasons into his first job as big league manager a career that would eventually see him enshrined in Cooperstown, Hall of Famer Tony LaRussa forged a club so fine that the experts thought they would tatter the American League East Champion Baltimore Orioles and after that tear down the Phillies in the World Series. Fellow Hall of Famer‘s Carlton Fisk and Harold Baines lead the way for that club drenched in talent that featured hitters like Tom Paciorek, and The Bull Greg Luzinski, heros to the largest Polish community in America in the greatest sports city in the world. It was very easy to cheer for the Law brothers Rudy and Vance, no relation. Richard Dotson went 22-7 that season to give the White Sox the top two finishers in the race for the Cy Young. Dot, Hoyt, and Floyd Banister spent that special season taking turns getting wins and we're almost untouchable. My favorite player of the team Brett Burns and Jerry Koosman filled out the most impressive five man rotation in baseball. Disappointingly their bats fell silent starting with game two of the ALCS, and a base running gaffe in the 7th inning of game four sealed their ominous fate. Still 37 years later that team who's play by play man might've had the wildest personality of anybody in that clubhouse deserved their own special show in a season that over 2 million fans watched live. Spend the next 90 minutes with the brand spanking new Games People Play Media Network and long-term Chicago sports radio fixture Harry Teinowitz as he welcomes that announcer Hawk Harrelson, the A.L. Rookie of the Year Ron Kittle, and the affable happy hitting 1st baseman, Tom Paciorek. Hopefully the 2020 version of the White Sox will give fans some thing to celebrate for decades to come . In the meantime as Hawk would say, “Sit back and strap it on!” This is, “Still Ugly After All These Years!”

When the idea of the Games People Play podcast began to take shape in Bernie's mind, one name seemed to define the show's mission to feature well-known, accomplished athletes with compelling back stories, unique career milestones and interests beyond the playing field. That name was Tommy John. Join Bernie in welcoming the four-time Major League All-Star, winner of 288 Big League games and beneficiary of the medical procedure that bears his name. The conversation begins in Terra Haute, IN, where Tommy starred in baseball, basketball and academics at Gerstmeyer High School before embarking on a 26-year Major League career with the Indians, White Sox, Dodgers, Yankees, Angels and Athletics. The two discuss the circumstances that led to Dr. Frank Jobe performing ulnar collateral ligament replacement surgery on Tommy and the subsequent comeback that changed baseball history, as well as how the procedure came to be known as Tommy John surgery. Later, Tommy talks about the toughest game he ever pitched following his son Travis's near fatal accident and his Let's Do It Foundation, which creates awareness for suicide prevention in honor of his son, Taylor.