Passed Ball Show

How the Tennessee Titans destroyed their franchise by making three distinct moves. John Pielli, Passed Ball Show #738 1-4-2025.

PBS- 737 12-14-2024 John Pielli spends this program talking about the players in each sport (NBA, MLB, NHL, NFL) that changed the game forever. While he has no doubt over which player fits the build in basketball, baseball, and hockey, there is more uncertainty when it comes to the National Football League. At the end of the video, John leaves a choice for the audience over which football players deserves the honor.

PBS 736- John Pielli talks about the original home run derby- a television series hosted by Mark Scott in 1960. The predecessor to today's All Star Break competition was done in game form and featured head to head matchups of some of the best home run hitters of that time. #savingsportshistory

PBS 735 John Pielli explains why the Philadelphia Phillies should have moved to Kansas City based off of merit and why the Athletics stand out among the five teams that changed locations in Major League Baseball in the 1950's.

Passed Ball Show #734 (December 7, 2024) John lists off reasons history should not blame Donnie Moore for the California Angels losing the 1986 American League Championship Series to the Boston Red Sox.

8-3-2024 Passed Ball Show. John spends this program talking about the Baseball Hall of Fame, particularly, the obvious cases for Barry Bonds, Pete Rose, and Roger Clemens. John states that their statistical achievements merit inclusion on their own. John further pushes the issue by putting the credibility of the entire Hall of Fame process and institution on trial, as the Hall of Fame of any and every sport should include the players with the best career statistics.

6-13-2024 Passed Ball Show. John spends this program talking about how Jerry West was a top five (5) Los Angeles Laker player of all time and is surprised many do not understand how good a NBA player he was. John thinks the Tennessee Titans will regret not retaining running back Derrick Henry, feeling that it was not financially impossible for the organization to do. He then acknowledges the Stanley Cup as the most prestigious award, trophy, and championship in all of professional sports. At the end, he asks his viewers and listeners a question he very much values the answer to.

6-5-2024 Passed Ball Show. John spends this program explaining why Josh Gibson deserves the all time cumulative batting average record in Major League Baseball history. While John stops short of claiming you are a racist if you do not accept the updated records are the real records, he feels those that are the most bothered, insulted, and angriest over the changes are doing so with racial undertones. John references the Marcus Stroman durag comment made by Bob Brenly as an example where racial undertones exist even in a person who is not a racist person. John finishes this discussion by questioning the players of pre- 1947. John feels in 2024 people could get together to support a cause by why not pre- 1947? Even those players who were not considered racist have to own the fact that nobody stepped up to make a case that black players should play on the same field as white players. Recognizing Josh Gibson as the all time career batting average leader does nothing to change what was done to him and the other black players of his time. John once again questions why Negro Leagues history is not recognized as predating 1920 and calls John Donaldson one of the top ten starting pitchers of all time.

5-15-2024 Passed Ball Show. John spends this program giving the exact reason attendance is down for the New York Mets this season. It is not as simple as the team is under .500. It is not as simple as anything that can be attributed to the field play this season. John speaks about this after he once again asks the listeners (and viewers) what they want to hear about.

5-9-2024 Passed Ball Show. John spends this program expressing how he believes the New York Knicks need to expand their rotation to achieve their postseason goals. Using Jericho Sims, Alec Burks, and others for even bits of time is a better option than playing the remaining six players unmaintainable minutes. John believes the rust needs to be taken off these players as opposed to them being forced in while rotation players are in foul trouble. John also believes it is a joke when teams refuse to players that are healthy while on a roster, especially when injuries start to mount. John then talks about MLB teams that were expected to he bad and end up performing well. That always comes at the expense of a team that was expected to do well that is performing poorly.

4-28-2024 Passed Ball Show. John spends this program talking about the charade that has become position players pitching mop up relief in MLB games. John cites two examples of BOTH teams using such a player in the same game as his reason to suggest something must be done to change this. He discusses the impact of MLB stats and wonders if soon we can track how hitters do against non-pitchers. John suggests two possible changes to make this situation better. He then suggests that MLB umpires have colluded together because they have grown tired of New Yotk Yankees manager Aaron Boone's antics which have led to several ejections from games over the past handful of seasons. John finishes off this show talking about the Quarterbacks selected in this year's NFL draft and how the record amount of first round selections (in the first 12 picks) may have led to teams staying away from the position for almost the rest of the draft.

4-20-2024 Passed Ball Show. John opens up the program by making an interesting point over the last name Jacquez. He then talks about how the Houston Astros slow start will be pinned by the media and fans on new manager Joe Espada, but believes the Astros will revert back to its 2017-2023 form before too long. John then questions why MLB has not implemented the ball/ strike challenge system that has proven to be successful in Triple- A this season. John gives his respect to Hall of Fame manager Whitey Herzog before applauding him for having the balls to stick with his intention to rebuild the 1980's St. Louis Cardinals in spite of winning the 1982 World Series. He then wonders aloud whether the 1970's New York Mets would have had better fortune if they had hired Whitey instead of Yogi Berra in 1972 to replace the decreased legendary manager Gil Hodges.

4-13-2024 Passed Ball Show. John spends this program talking about the great professional football career of all time great running back #OJSimpson. Outside of the likes of Jim Brown and perhaps Lenny Moore, OJ was one of the best to ever play the position, becoming the first player to rush for over 2000 yards in a season. OJ's acquittal of double murder charges is the first time the court of public opinion prevailed over the legal justice system paving the way for the system that exists now. John explains the real reason pitchers in Major League Baseball are getting injured at an all time rate.

4-8-2024 Passed Ball Show. John spends this show talking about the split between Stefon Diggs and Josh Allen following the former's trade to the Houston Texans. John opines on who was the most responsible for the success between the two as he believes that both Josh Allen made Stefon Diggs and Stefon Diggs made Josh Allen. He compares that to the debate between Bill Belichick and Tom Brady over who was most responsible for their success together. John talks about how LeBron James is one of his heros and what separates him from some of the other greats in National Basketball Association history.

3-23-2024 Passed Ball Show. John spend this show continuing to express his opinion on cancel culture and explains how it is happening with Shohei Ohtani. John also gives reasons why it is happening and what is up with the people that are pushing it. John gives a little bit of kudos to Tennessee Titans General Manager Ran Carthon for the offseason the Titans are having before talking about the major economical differences between the NFL and MLB. John explains why a salary cap could help baseball and why a universal 30 team television agreement could allow for all teams to share the revenue of the sport as opposed to the wealthy teams giving the teams that refuse to spend money. Finally, John goes off on the Anti-Trevor Bauer hypocrites that have the nerve to use anti Bauer propaganda to try to sleep with women!

3-2-2024 Passed Ball Show. John spends this program talking about how the Heisman Trophy Trust and the NCAA should return the 2005 Heisman Trophy back to Reggie Bush. With the NIL's insuring college football players will be compensated, it is a joke that neither Heisman, nor NCAA have changed their ruling. Johnny Manziel did a solid job speaking out and his future of not attending Heisman presentations should be a staple among living Heisman Award winners. John calls out to all the past winners to join Manziel with the hopes Bush will get his award back. During today's #savingsportshistory segment, John talks about the "newly" created baseball rules of 1874, the one time 44 goal season that was a long time NHL record, Bobby Hull scoring 50 twice, Brett Hull scoring 70 twice, Phil Esposito being the first to 100 points in a season, Jari Kurri getting 100 points for his fourth straight season as well as Wilt's 100 point game, Clair Bee, Mel Ott, Denny Crum, Ben Roethlisberger, Henrik Lundqvist, Matt Kilroy, and Marge Schott.

2-29-2024 Passed Ball Show. John talks about the standoff between MLB Owners and Scott Boras, the four remaining high profile Boras represented free agents, and whether this situation is more on the MLB Owners or on Boras and his corporation. If you listened to John's show before, you know who he is calling to task. John then opines on why it is good for the NBA to have star led teams like the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors in its playoffs and also why it might be difficult for both to make the playoffs (past play-in tournament). During today's brief #savingsportshistory segment, John talks about Leap Day, the Cincinnati Royals, Oscar Robertson, Jerry Lucas, Gordie Howe, Ray Bourque, Al Rosen, Henry Richard, and Jerry Groom- then tells you who Dickey Pierce and Lena Blackburne are and why they have an impact on sports history.

2-24-2024 Passed Ball Show. John spends this program talking about the Las Vegas Raiders Quarterback situation going into next season. He believes the team should take one of the first round QB's in this year's draft and wonders whether they should trade up for the number one overall pick to select Caleb Williams out of USC. The Raiders have options to move up from 13 overall, where if they cannot secure the number one pick, possibilities to trade up exist at 3, 4, and 5 which could set them up to get Jalen Daniels or JJ McCarthy. John believes Mets POBO (David Stearns) has officially decided to punt the 2024 Mets baseball season because of his answer to Ace pitcher Kodai Senga being out to start the season being "next man up." John contemplates his move as to how to "fan" for the 2024 Mets season. During today's #savingsportshistory segment, John talks about Smoky Joe Wood, USA/ Finland of 1980, Wayne Gretzky, Roberto Duran, and the USA Gold Medal Hockey team of 2002, while also mentioning Honus Wagner, Eddie Murray, Floyd Mayweather, Jr., Eddie Plank, and Tony Conigliaro.

2-22-2024 Passed Ball Show. John shares his farewell to MLB first baseman Eric Hosmer on his retirement and shares his two biggest Hosmer memories. He then rips the Brooklyn Nets, General Manager Sean Marks, and whatever players felt they had the right to opine on their feelings in playing for departed Head Coach Jacques Vaughn. John goes into a tirade about how NBA players undermine their HC's all the time and wonders if it is time for more active players to take on the additional role as Head Coach. John then talks about the Milwaukee Bucks and suggests they made a mistake by firing 2021 NBA Champion Head Coach Mike Buddenholzer. John will judge current coach Doc Rivers entire legacy upon what happens with this current club. During today's #savingsportshistory segment, John talks about the first Iron Bowl, the first Daytona 500, The Miracle on Ice, Billy Martin and Charlie Finley, Bill Klem, Michael Chang, Julius Irving, Pat LaFontaine, Sparky Anderson, Reggie Roby, and Dennis Johnson.

2-17-2024 Passed Ball Show. John titles this show, "You never go full re-build!" as he explains why it does not make sense for MLB teams to completely shut competitive operations down, in spite of examples of success in Houston and Baltimore. John points out that full rebuilds are usually copouts by MLB owners that are trying to get away with paying their players less. He also points to the reason the Houston Astros have had sustained success after their rebuild- they have a payroll that is the highest in franchise history. The same can be said for the Tampa Bay Rays. No excuse in the era of 12 MLB playoff teams (40% of the league!) for any team to not give their players and fans the best shot of competing. John remembers the career of Lefty Driesell, the longtime College Basketball coach who passed away today. During today's #savingsportshistory segment, John honors some of the greatest to ever do it, Michael Jordan, Jim Brown, and Buddy Ryan, as they were all born on February 17th. He also talks about Richard Petty, Danny Hamlin, and what Masanori Murakami means for Major League Baseball.

2-1-2024 Passed Ball Show. John opens up this program by explaining how Bill Belichick will return to the NFL as a Head Coach using what just happened with Doc Rivers, Adrian Griffin, and the Milwaukee Bucks as a precursor to what is to come. John then talks about the remaining MLB free agents and suggests how both a team and a player can be happy with their next contract. John wonders why most teams don't include a one year opt out provision in a multiyear deal instead of a straight one-year contract.

1-14-2024 Passed Ball Show. John opens up this show by getting to the point: The Chicago Bulls fans embarrassed themselves by booing the wife of former Bulls General Manager Jerry Krause. After summarizing everything that led to the whole deal, John talks about Michael Jordan's responsibility and what he could have done to keep the fans from booing Krause's wife. Phil Jackson could have prevented this too but chose not to. Both are responsible. John wonders what happened to the Cleveland Browns defense. He then suggests an addendum to the National Hockey League's overtime. During a brief verrsion of #savingsportshistory, John talks about John McGraw, Super Bowl's 2 and 7, Catfish Hunter, Billy WIlliams, Mark Eaton, Johnny Murphy, and Ray Kroc.

1-11-2024 Passed Ball Show. John opens up this version of the PBS talking about the College Football Championship, which Michigan defeated Washington. John's claims were right, as it was a battle of Washington's offense against Michigan's defense, with the latter prevailing over the length of the game. After a historic day of three great coaches ending their tenures within 16 hours, John discusses the future of some NFL coaching vacancies and who might be the best fit to lead the University of Alabama. John talks a little bit about the value of a good Coach and the implications of a downgrade. On today's #savingsportshistory segment, John talks about Jacob Ruppert's purchase of the New York Yankees, Bert Bell, J Edgar Hoover, Billy Martin, Pat Lafontaine, Elmer Flick, Ben Crenshaw, Darryl Dawkins, Wally Pipp, Bob Lemon, Monte Irvin, and Heisman Trophy winner Charles White.

1-6-2024 Passed Ball Show. John opens up this show with the following statement, "Trevor Bauer has the right to work." John states his interest in discussing this matter with others, especially those with differing points of view. He then explains why Trevor Bauer should be playing Major League Baseball for a Major League Baseball team right now. During today's #savingsportshistory segment, John talks about the first ever boxing match (it happened in 1681!), Bob Feller, Ted Turner, Nancy Lopez, Lenny Wilkens, Don Sutton, John Smoltz, Ban Johnson, Lou Holtz, Nancy Kerrigan, Tonya Harding, Rabbit Maranville, and Johnny Keane.

12-26-2023 Passed Ball Show. John spends this show talking about the predicament New York Mets Owner Steve Cohen is. Players and Agents are taking his contract offers to other teams to match. John asks how much money would it have taken to get Yoshinobu Yamamato to come to the Mets? $350 million? 400 million? 434 million? And if he gave him that number, the press would have been critical. Ultimately, the pitcher went to the team he wanted to sign with, something he probably was conscious of all along. John then discusses the National Football League's Los Angeles Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the latter led by Baker Mayfield. John believes both teams will be dangerous in the NFC postseason and is keeping receipts. During today's #savingsportshistory segment, John spends some time talking about Jack Johnson and Tommy Burns, and the former becoming the first African American to win the World Heavyweight Championship, and then a little bit about Babe Ruth, some NFL and AFL Champions, Chuck Noll, Carlton Fisk, Ozzie Smith, NHL Hall of Famer Defenseman Doug Harvey, Allie Reynolds, Reggie White, and Phil Niekro.

Passed Ball Show #712 12-16-2023. This program is centered around John talking about the advantage the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers have over the other teams in Major League Baseball when it comes to signing free agents. Even if the competing teams (the non Yankees and Dodgers) are willing to pay the cost of a perspective free agent, the fact that the Yankees and Dodgers want the player plays out to the advantage of the latter two teams. But just getting a seat at the table is not enough to get an equal chance as the others. The other team will have to pay more for the player because the player will go to the Yankees or Dodgers if the money is similar or equal. During today's #Savingsportshistory segment, John talks about Jack Dempsey, the Canton Bulldogs, Providence Steam Roller, Joe Louis, NFL Champions, OJ Simpson, the Miami Dolphins, Tom Brookshier, Refrigerator Perry, Sliding Billy Hamilton, and Ernie Terrell.

12-14-2023 Passed Ball Show. John spends this program explaining why Major League Baseball went out of its way to implement a soft salary cap in the form of a luxury tax and the reasons the league insisted it needed to be done. John then calls to task the same sport for allowing for the most clear manipulation of the very thing it seemed insistent on preventing. Catchers' framing is cheating, just cheating that is legal and not frowned upon. So apparently is deferring a player's agreed to salary for no other reason than to manipulate the luxury tax number. Another example of selected crimes that are okay. John makes a case of why Draymond Green continues to find himself in trouble with the NBA. Maybe he really does not want to play anymore. During today's #savingsportshistory segment, John talks about Jack Dempsey, Marcel Dionne, the Miami Heat, Mike Gartner, Steph Curry, Ernie Davis, George Gipp, Elston Howard, and Roger Maris.

12-9-2023 Passed Ball Show. John spends this program laughing at the baseball writers for their meltdowns over their attempt to cover the free agency of Shohei Ohtani. John breaks down the simplicity of what the writers are trying to do (be the first to report it). Is it really important? And John thinks it would be even more hilarious if Ohtani decided to return to play professional baseball in Japan. John brings up the first round of the MLB draft of 2014 and the NBA draft of 2020 and points out the similarity before spending a couple of minutes talking about the NBA In Season Tournament- why it is good for the sport and when teams should start putting up banners (if at all). During today's #savingsportshistory segment, John talks about the National League (Baseball) prohibiting uniform numbers, the Heisman Trophy, the All American Football Conference and the Cleveland Browns, Frank Robinson, Old Hoss Radbourn, Dick Butkus, Kurt Angle, the fact that Rube Foster and Branch Rickey were equal baseball pioneers, Archie Moore, Al Unser, and Demaryius Thomas.

12-4-2023 Passed Ball Show. John spends this program talking about the College Football Playoff and how the selection committee got the right four teams to play for the National Championship. John gives his reasons why, including the precescdent that has been set for teams that lose a game early in the season. John understands the frustration from Florida State fans over their team not making the top four in spite of being undefeated. He blames Georgia for that happening; a Georgia victory would have all but assured a FS top four spot. John then talks about the Baseball WInter Meetings and reiterates his belief that more MLB teams are willing to spend near the top tier for an individual player than ever before and why he would be surprised if the Atlanta Braves signed Shohei Ohtani. During today's #SavingSportsHistory segment, John talks about the first Grey Cup, the birth of the Montreal Canadiens, the first (forced) pro football Championship game, Kenesaw Mountain Landis allowing black players to be signed, Floyd Patterson, Masanori Murakami, Jesse Burkett, Lee Smith, and Shannon Briggs.

12-2-2023 Passed iBall Show. John spends this program venting about Major League Baseball's injustice when it comes to its Hall of Fame. John's suggestion to partially right this wrong includes the opportunity its writers have to elect (select) Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez, and Gary Sheffield THIS year. John brings up the ridiculous "character clause" which has been used to selectively support Baseball's political agenda. John questions the character of "Hall of Famers" Kenesaw Mountain Landis, Bud Selig, Cap Anson, Rogers Hornsby, and others who have may not been the best people. During today's #savingsportshistory segment, John brings up Canadian Heavyweight Champion Tommy Burns, the first NFL Wide Receiver Don Hutson, Dan Marino, Gerry Cheevers, Patrick Roy, Willie Brown, Monica Seles, and Jean Beliveau. He also shares an interesting point or two about Eiji Sawamura: you would be interested in knowing who he is.

11-25-2023 Passed Ball Show. John spends this program talking about the biggest rivalries in the world of sport. He then talks about some of the best players/ coaches to never win a championship in their respective sport. During today's #savingsportshistory segment, John talks about the NFL's Dallas Texans, not the Kansas City Chiefs, and a little historical value about the head coach of the 1952 team. John then talks about the second NBA player to ever reach 15,000 career points. Who was the first to reach? John then talks about the first broadcast of the best ever play by play/ analyst combination. John also mentions a four (4) time Hart Trophy winner, Joe DiMaggio, Lenny Moore, Joe Gibbs, and Cris Carter. Finally, John goes off on Kenesaw Mountain Landis and why MLB cannot talk about its “character clause” while remembering one of the greatest world soccer players to ever play the game.

11-18-2023 Passed Ball Show. Live from the RWJ Barnabas Arena in Toms River, NJ- site of the Harlem Wizards vs Team Sario. John interviews longtime MMA and UFC fighter George Sullivan as they discuss what got him into fighting, what separates him from a lot of other “fighters,” his fighting style, submissions, and the fact that boxers still get paid so much even though MMA fights draw better and have more views. John then gets to speak with World Champion wrestler Paul Kenny about what got him interested in wrestling and how has been able to handle teenage fame. John then brings up his theory of the corruption of professional boxing leading to the emergence of MMA and its popularity. John then talks about the MLB Milwaukee Brewers and describes why they may be very vulnerable while wondering if this could be a Chris Hansen dateline catching type of predator situation going on (metaphor only). He then talks about players like Mike Trout and Pete Alonso and the reason players like that will NOT be traded. During today's #savingsportshistory segment, John talks about Jackie Robinson and the 1949 MVP vote (why they got it right),

11-11-2023 Passed Ball Show. John spends this program talking about the New York Yankees and their quarter Centurian General Manager Brian Cashman, who seems interested (probably ownership driven) in selling its fans on why the team is good right now as opposed to what it needs to do to be even better. John explains why the bar might not be so high to get into the postseason (Arizona Diamondbacks won the National League Pennant with 84 regular season wins), but it should not keep the Yankees away from upgrading the many areas they need to improve upon and the fact that some of that will have to come from increasing their payroll. John then talks about the Milwauykee Brewers and their potential firesale. John gives a good reason why the Brewers may believe they can slide lesser expensive pitchers into their system, but John believes the team may take some big steps back for 2024. John then gives his endorsement to the Indiana Pacers and Houston Rockets of this 2024-25 NBA season, and he explains why During today's #savingsportshistory segment of the program, John talks about Eddie Collins, the New York Hockey Rangers, Fernando Valenzuela, playing a pro sport in two countries in the SAME DAY, Rabbit Maranville, Pie Traynor, and Warner Wolf.

11-4-2023 Passed Ball Show- John spends this program talking about the average salaries of the Major League Baseball manager and whether the fact that salaries have gone down are justified due to their responsibilities being taken away. Is Craig Counsell the right poster child for the increase in MLB manager salaries? Should there be six (6) MLB managers making barely over the MLB player minimum? John also talks about how difficult it is to quantify the performance of today's MLB manager. He also talks about the history of diva Wide Receivers in the National Football League and particularly how it pertains to the Pittsburgh Steelers. During today's #savingsportshistory segment, John talks about the MLB Players' League of 1890, a NFL team that gave up their first points of the season in week EIGHT (8)! Stan Mikita, MLB's first big time free agent offseason, Bobby Wallace, Orlando Pace, Grover Cleveland Alexander, Cy Young, and George “Sparky” Anderson.

10-31-2023 Passed Ball Show. John spends this program talking about the New York football Giants and how they could possibly put themselves in a position to have a quarterback playing in the NFL that they could not trust to throw a forward pass. John blames the team's loss on Tommy DiVito and the fact that he was not capable of performing the duties of a NFL quarterback. John wonders out loud why Collin Kaepernick was not in the game, knowing very well that he was blackballed by collusion of the 32 NFL owners. John then talks about Buck Showalter and why even though he would love to see him manage in the major leagues again, it would be better if he did not get the Los Angeles Angels manager job. During today's #savingsportshistory segment, John talks about the significance of Earl Lloyd, some past Cy Young Award winners, Venus Williams, Pete Henry, Cal Hubbard, Wilbur Shaw, Nick Saban, Fred McGriff, George Halas, Willie McCovey, and John McVay.

10-28-2023 Passed Ball Show. John talks about the sad narrative that surrounds the 2023 World Series. Those who think it is “boring” because of the cities (Phoenix and Arlington) that represent it hopefully did not watch one of the most entertaining games in recent baseball memory. John talks about the company Bruce Bochy could join with a fourth (4th) World Series Championship and the only other teams that have two (2) World Series Championships without a loss. During today's #SavingSportsHistory segment, John talks about a World Series that ended in a tie, Bud Grant's record that will never be broken, Y.A. Tittle, Elmore Smith, the deciding game of multiple World Series, Red Auerbach, Trevor Berbick, Bobby Orr, Bowie Kuhn, Lenny Wilkens, and the two first female officials to ever work for a Major League US Men's Sport.

10-23-2023 Passed Ball Show. John starts off this program by pointing out that the Houston Astros and Philadelphia Phillies both clinched the League Championship Series OTD last year and have a chance to do it again tonight. John then talks about the success of the Philadelphia Phillies and the reason they have a chance to win the World Series this season. That is because of the amount of money they have spent in free agency. John believes that this is great for the sport of baseball and explains why. John then talks about how many in the baseball community have overrated the managerial success of Bob Melvin as he gets set to take his third MLB manager job in Four Seasons. During today's #savingsportsHISTORY segment, John discusses, among other things, cricket, Pele, Jackie Robinson, Rick Sutcliffe, John Heisman, Frank "Bruiser" Kinard, Vern Stevens, Jim Bunning, and W. G. Grace.

10-14-2023 Passed Ball Show. John opens up this program by talking about the difficulties the Boston Red Sox may be facing in their efforts to hire a new General Manager/ President of Baseball Operations. John talks about the decision to move on from Ben Cherington and David Dombrowski not too long after both led their franchise to World Series Championships. After spending a couple of minutes previewing the League Championship Series', John comes up with a proposal to lessen the amount of time between the last day (Sunday) of the regular season and the League Division Series. John says it is time to stop blaming Head Coaches and Coordinators for the teams that are struggling and start blaming the players (and he then explains why). John expresses an understanding of frustration for now former Charlotte Hornets forward Kai Jones before suggesting he let his future numbers speak for themselves before comparing himself to any NBA greats. Finally, on todays #SavingSportsHistory, John remembers five World Series that ended on this date, a baseball player that died after injuring his bladder hitting a home run, what George Blanda has in common with Joe Montana, the BBWAA, Ezzard Charles, Chris Chambliss, Wayne Gretzky, when the Olympics loss a lot of luster, and who was to blame more than Steve Bartman for his infamous 15 minutes of fame (It may not be who you think), as well as Oscar Charleston, John Wooden, Charlie Joiner, and 2006 Tour de France Champion Floyd Landis!

9-23-2023 Passed Ball Show. John opens up this show congratulating the Minnesota Twins on winning the 2023 American League Central division. He then wonders if they have a better chance of competing for the AL Pennant now that the New York Yankees are unlikely to make the postseason. John asks out loud why the Twins run and hide whenever they play the Yankees in the postseason? The fear they have for the Yankees is unbelievable. John next asks what New York Giants Head Football Coach Brian Daboll said to his team during halftime before their comeback victory over the Arizona Cardinals. He then rips the San Francisco 49ers defensive players who ANONYMOUSLY criticized Giants quarterback Daniel Jones without having the balls to put their name and image with it. John then goes on a rant about how one could be a professional football and be so weak as to lack the self-confidence to put your name behind a comment like that. During today's #savingsportshistory segment, John talks about the first ever organized baseball team, Gene Tunney, Rocky Marciano, Jose Canseco, Albert Pujols, and Gale Sayers speaking about the latter in regards to his place among all time NFL running backs.

9-19-2023 Passed Ball Show. John spends this program making a case of why it would have been beneficial for the New York Mets to get All Star relief pitcher Edwin Diaz into a game or two THIS season as long as he is fully recovered from his injury, Among reasons outside the fact that he is being paid to pitch, John also analyzes why it makes more sense for the 2024 Mets to get him into a game or two this season. John spends a little bit of time talking about the decision made by Michigan State to fire Head Coach Mel Tucker and the fact that the school cares a lot more about not having to pay the $70 million owed to him than the victim and the reason they have "cause" to let him go. On today's #SavingSportsHIstory segment, John talks about Lefty Grove, Jackie Robinson winning the "Jackie Robinson Award," Denny McLain, Mickey Mantle, Jerry Rice, Roger Angell, Duke Snider, Joe Morgan, Hugo Bedzek, and makes a Baseball Hall of Fame case for the late Maury Wills.

9/16/2024 Passed Ball Show. John opens a show up by making a specific statement about Deion Sanders, and the Colorado buffaloes if Colorado is successful under coach primes leader ship his style will be deemed a success and others will follow. If not, nobody will care about whatever he does. John then talks about the potential upcoming US Olympic basketball dream team. He envisions an all-time team that consist of LeBron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid, Anthony Davis, Jimmy Butler, Kyrie Irving, Jayson Tatum, Kawhi Leonard, Trae Young, James Harden, and Russell Westbrook. John believes that is a better team than a 1992 version. He then gives his praise for North Carolina Tar Heels, college football head coach, Mack Brown for his statement in support of his player. He then brings up a couple distinct possibilities when it comes to the New York football, Jets trading for a quarterback to replace the injured Aaron Rodgers During today's #SavingSportsHistory segment John brings up Elgin, Baylor, Dave Winfield, Paul Moliter, Bill Klem, Warren Spahn, and the Cleveland Browns.

9-7-2023 Passed Ball Show. John opens the show by explaining why Navy and Notre Dame will play each season until the end of time. He then spends some time talking about why there are good teams in bad teams and what the difference is. There is only one common denominator, John then talks about the dominant run of former heavyweight champion John L Sullivan before segueing that conversation into the greatest player to dominate each individual sport. You may be surprised with some of the answers. Finally, during today's #savingsportshistory segment, John talks about Bobby Riggs, and Billie Jean King, Billy Martin and complete games, Fay Vincent, and how bad of a commissioner Bud Selig was while also mentioning the likes of Paul Brown, Bill Giles, Don Haskins, and Gene Michael.

8-22-2023 Passed Ball Show.  John opens the show by making a Declaration about Baker Mayfield. next he challenges the NFL in their most recent decision to cancel alive NFL game. He talks about the precedence, and what it sets considering the history of the sport wondering out loud who does the cancellation of a live game appease? He has also had enough with the MLB Owners that do not want to take care of the obligation of their job which is to pay players to play baseball. That is their job and if they cannot do their job, they should sell the team to somebody who can do the job. Once again, the obligation of THEIR job is to pay the players to play baseball.  Finally during today's #SavingSportsHistory segment, John talks about Babe Ruth and the MLB home run record, Wes Ferrell, and two home runs hit by a pitcher in a major-league baseball game, 168 game MLB schedule, the birth of the American football league, Juan Marichal and John Roseboro Nolan Ryan 5 K, 30 runs in a game and the most runs scored in a major league baseball game while also mentioning Ned Hanlon, Pat Gillick, Carl Yastrzemski, Bill Parcells, Ray Burris, Paul Molitor, Matt Wilander, Rod Gilbert, and Bill Haller.

8-15-2023 Passed Ball Show. The best way to enforce appropriate accountability for the failure to live up to expectations, Could Shohei Ohtani turn down over $100 million to remain on West Coast? If James Harden does not play this year- he should not get paid, SSH: PGA Championships, Ezzard Charles, Gene Upshaw, Pete Carril

7-23-2023 Passed Ball Show. John opens this program by discussing the over discussed upcoming baseball trading deadline. John has contested for years the fact that the media drives how a baseball team can either be a buyer or a seller. Each professional sports team has the right to operate as its own entity.  John then discusses the issue that seems to involve the NFL's running backs. Even the most elite at the position has become expendable and easily replaceable while this is a problem and John doesn't have an issue with the running backs, organizing some sort of union. This doesn't seem to be an issue that's going to resolve itself in the favor of the NFL's running back, John also discusses the fantasy football implications of having two running backs on a roster.  Finally, during today's saving sports history segment John talks about the 1866 Cincinnati, red stockings, Hank Greenberg, Dan Quisenberry, Bill Buckner, Don Mattingly, all while praising Lance Armstrong for his dominance in the world of sports.

6-24-2023 Passed Ball Show. John opens up this show by reactivating himself from the Injured List due to back problems. Even he knows nobody noticed, cared, or gives a shit. He talks about the direct correlation between the success of the Cincinnati Reds, Miami Marlins, and Arizona Diamondbacks and the disappointment of the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Mets, and San Diego Padres. As a proponent of more “fan blame,” one might think John could side with the MLB Commissioner for blaming the fans for the Oakland Athletics move to Las Vegas. John does not take the bait. John still seems to believe the Portland Trail Blazers will hold on to Damian Lillard unless the player wants out. Finally, John talks about what Chris Paul to the Golden State Warriors looks like. During the #SavingSportsHistory segment, John talks about a Gambling Umpire, Bobby Jones, Joe Frazier, Shaquille O'Neal, the New Jersey Devils, Chicago Blackhawks, and Michael Olowokandi.

6-7-2023 Passed Ball Show. John wonders what the best single sport merger in history in light of the PGA LIV golf tour unification. John wants you to let him know if there was a more effective one than the AFL/ NFL football merger. John then spends a couple of minutes talking about how much he has enjoyed watching Jacob deGrom pitch over the past several years. He then wonders whether Jake can effectively dial down his fastball or he can only operate at throwing every pitch over 100 miles per hour. During today's #SavingSportsHistory segment, John remembers several number one (1) overall MLB draft picks, including the Mets decision to not draft Reggie Jackson, some French Open Champions including Chris Evert, the Seattle Supersonics, Thurman Munson, Allen Iverson, and Herb Score.

6-6-2023 Passed Ball Show. John opens up this program by questioning whether or not Kyrie Irving is a winning player and whether he is the appropriate player to build a team around. John then quiets any talk that either the Florida Panthers or Miami Heat are any type of Cinderella story. He then compares star MLB shortstops Francisco Lindor and Trea Turner, concluding that a rooting bias may be the reason one is preferered over the other- then laughing that both Mets and Phillies fans are generally so down on their own players that they may prefer the other. John opens the #SavingSportsHistory segment by recapping the tremendous baseball life of former MLB pitcher, pitching coach, and manager Roger Craig. Other #SSH topics include Bobby Mitchell, World War II, Steffi Graf, Louis Chevrolet, Charley Jones, Bjorn Born, Scooter Gennett, and Cam Neely.

5-27-2023 Passed Ball Show. John talks about Aaron Boone getting thrown out of baseball games and wonders if he is overdoing it because the MLB manager has such limited responsibility in regards to impacting the game. John believes a digital strikezone in some form (perhaps through instant replay) is coming to MLB soon. John hopes the corrected ball/strike calls can be as instantaneously put into play as we see with our own eyes through the MLB.com app. John shares his excitement over the fact that catcher's cheating (he means “framing”) will become a thing of the past once a digital strikezone (replay or otherwise) is implemented. John then talks about the once 3-0 series deficit the Boston Celtics faced and why it seems like they can pull it off with a game six (6) victory in Miami against the Heat. John believes whomever wins Game 6 will win the series and if Boston takes this game, they will not only win Game 7 in Boston, but sweep the NBA Finals against the Denver Nuggets. John then speaks of a similar possibility happening in Dallas, as a Game Five (5) victory in Las Vegas, as a win sets them up for the return of their suspended Captain Jamie Benn with the potential game being played on the Stars home ice. During today's #savingsportshistory segment, John talks about Dan McGann, Carl Hubbell, George Halas, the Indy 500, Sam Snead, Walt Kiesling, Jackie Slater, Frank Thomas, Frant Grant, Ezzard Charles, Maurice Richard, Bill Buckner, and Craig “Iron Head” Heyward.

5-20-2023 Passed Ball Show. John starts this program by talking about the St. Louis Cardinals PR disaster as it applies to their catcher Willson Contreras. John talks about the difficulty of replacing an all-time great witch Contreras had to do replacing Yadier Molina. He also talks about the rich history of the St. Louis Cardinals, and how well run they have been historically. He then states he believes the Cardinals are still an elite team in the National League. John then talks about the latest situation regarding Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson. John believes that there is racial motivation behind the publics opinion of Anderson when it comes to different antics. John reiterates the issues of a black player playing in the major leagues right now which there are so few. White America is still trying to profile Anderson as a problem. John, then questions how good of a teammate, Eric Hosmer really is as he is now been designated for assignment for the second time by a team, paying him the major league minimum John then breaks down the final four teams in the national basketball Association, and explains why his heart is in the west, finally during today's saving sports history segment, John talks about the late Jim Brown and his impact on the world also mentioning Buster Mathis, the Indiana Pacers, Larry Holmes, Steve Carlton, Bud Grant, Stan Mikita, Craig Patrick, Terrell Brandon, Martin Dihigo, and Billy Canno

5-9-2023 Passed Ball Show. John spends this program talking about the consequences of using slurs to put down an entire group of people. Within the last week, Glen Kuiper used the “N” slur during his description of his visit to the museum in Kansas City. John adds the responsibility as a professional speaker to reiterate how inexcusable it was for Kuiper to make that “mistake,” as he put it. Bob Huggins went on a homophobic rant during and interview as the West Virginia Head College Basketball coach was talking about a rivalry between his then school Cincinnati against Xavier. While there should be consequences to these actions, John believes that after remorse there should be forgiveness and these men should NOT be cancelled, which John is completely against. John talks about the difficulty Nikola Jokic is up against as he continues to try to lead the Denver Nuggets to victory by himself. During today's #savingsportshistory segment, John talks about a Four (4) times Wimbledon Champion and a Tour de France winner both Killed in Action in 1915, Harry Vardon, Betty Jameson, why Tony Gwynn was so much better a hitter than he ever got credit for, Prince Fielder and Brandon Webb as well as Bob Devaney, Dan Devine, and Chuck Daly.