The Approach Shot

One of the greatest running backs of the last 25 years? YEP A touchdown machine? INDEED Respectful and grateful for having great coaches? YOU BETCHA A Super Bowl Champion? YOU KNOW IT A funny and playful interview? HECK YA! If you think you know Gerald Riggs for plowing through defenses and scoring TD after TD, you only know one side of this amazing man. Take a listen to this episode of The Approach Shot and get to know ALL sides of GERALD RIGGS.

The world of the NFL isn't easy, even for a talent like Adrian Colbert. His passion for both football and golf comes through in this highly personal episode of The Approach Shot.

Sure, we talk with All Pro and Pro Bowl wide receiver Carl Pickens (one of the top 50 Bengals of all time) about his time in Cincinnati, his incredible collegiate career that made him an All American at Tennessee, and being 1992's NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. You'd have to cover those subjects when talking with Carl. But we also talk with him about being a self-proclaimed mama's boy, loving his Mom's tater tot casserole, and his upcoming 25th wedding anniversary (you HAVE to hear that story). There's a difference between the player and the man, and we're lucky enough to get to know both on this episode of The Approach Shot.

Sure, we talk with All Pro and Pro Bowl wide receiver Carl Pickens (one of the top 50 Bengals of all time) about his time in Cincinnati, his incredible collegiate career that made him an All American at Tennessee, and being 1992's NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. You'd have to cover those subjects when talking with Carl. But we also talk with him about being a self-proclaimed mama's boy, loving his Mom's tater tot casserole, and his upcoming 25th wedding anniversary (you HAVE to hear that story). There's a difference between the player and the man, and we're lucky enough to get to know both on this episode of The Approach Shot.

Funny? Hell yes. An actress who has been on show like Will Trent and was in the 2024 Christmas movie "Red One"? That's an affirmative. Writes, directs and acts? Yes, yes and yes And is one of the cast of the funniest thing to happen to golf since Billy Madison and Caddyshack? Yepper! Hannah Aslesen is our hilarious guest this week on The Approach Shot. Get ready to laugh! Seriously!

We have been fortunate to have multiple NFL all Pros as our guest on the show. We have had many MLB All Stars too. But in 170 shows, we have only had ONE Hall of Famer as our guest and that was PGA Hall of Famer Tony Jacklin. So it is our honor to welcome DWIGHT FREENEY to the show. Dwight is a great storyteller, is an incredible student of the game and has a terrific sense of humor. Especially about his golf game. This episode is a must listen!

His dad, Mark Patrick (Storen) is a celebrity in Indianapolis (and nationally) for his work on television and the syndicated Bob & Tom radio show. He is also, related to one of the great sportscasters ever; Hannah Storm. But DREW STOREN made his own way by being a virtually unhittable pitcher in high school and at Stanford before pitching in the Majors. In his second year in the big leagues, Storen became the closer for the upstart Washington Nationals and saved 43 games. His love for the game and his 13 year major league career eventually drove him to the fields where dreams are made- in Iowa. There, with his partners, he now bottles whiskey and bourbon (whiskey) with the iconic "Field of Dreams" brand. How does a kid from Indiana go from pitcher to businessman with THAT brand? You'll just have to listen and find out.

Michael Floyd is just a regular guy. He golfs, works in real estate in Greater Minneapolis (where he spent some time during his previous occupation; as wide receiver in the NFL.) OK, so he's no regular real estate agent. He set records for total catches, touchdowns and receiving yards at Notre Dame, and is one of the greatest receivers in Cardinals history. But, he'll still sell you a house! His passion comes through whether you're talking about his family, his time in the NFL or about golf. Definitely when he talks about golf! Michael exudes joy and energy and brings it in droves to this episode of The Approach Shot.

He's been called a "manager's dream". Johnny Damon once said of him "Just to be his teammate is something I will always remember." ELLIS BURKS is a great story teller with so much wisdom to share, which he does with humor, charm and grace. You're going to want to hear the story of the year that he and the Red Sox broke the curse and how it effected him personally. Not to mention how EB handles the 6 pack! (Here's a hint- he aced it!) Red Sox Nation, Rockies fans, you gotta listen to this episode!

Named Sporting News Manager of the Year with the Pirates, CLINT HURDLE took a team, its loyal Pittsburgh fan base and energized them enough to make the playoffs. This is a team that struggled for almost two decades. You start as a manager in the Mets organization and work, and work, and work your way up through the minors until you catch on with Colorado and their hitting coach. The rest, including the fire, the passion and the love for the game, is well documented. Now, his quips, daily motivational thoughts and his wisdom are captured in his new book HURDLE-ISMS, which is now on sale. And we have the joy of talking about it all on this episode of The Approach Shot.

What was it like in the New England Patriots' locker room at halftime of Super Bowl 51, with the Pats losing 21-3, and having played their worst of half of football all season? What could possibly have been said to motivate them to overcome a 25 point deficit and make the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history, defeating the Atlanta Falcons in overtime 34-28? You may be surprised, and CHRIS HOGAN, one of the Pats' wide receivers tells that story; his personal stories of grit, determination and how every NO was turned into "eye opening experiences". So much to hear from CHRIS HOGAN on this episode of The Approach Shot.

He describes himself as a "science project", an athlete with all of the tools and the success that goes with it, but the injuries that kept him from "next level" success. JIMMY NELSON, the starting pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers who finished 9th in the Cy Young voting in 2017, the same pitcher who pitched 177, 179 and 175 innings respectively in 2015, 16 and 17 battled injuries his entire career. He then reinvented himself as a reliever for the LA Dodgers with 44 strikeouts in 29 innings in 2021. He pitched for 10 years in the majors, but had 6 surgeries and rehabbed for 7 years. He shares the pains, the ups and downs and how the journey created the mental toughness needed to get through it all, on this episode of The Approach Shot.

What does a former NFL All Pro, who led the NFC in receptions do after he hangs 'em up? Well he literally offers his golf services for charity events, is President and CFO of a successful clothing company and (fortunately for us) stops by to talk about it all. The charming, hilarious and thoughtful Frank Sanders is our guest on the latest episode of The Approach Shot.

It's 2025!  Our first new episode in the New Year is one of our favorites!  Long time MLB pitcher Scott Feldman, who pitched in the majors for 13 years is our guest and together we wish everyone “Shalomha”!  As the only Hawaiian-born Jewish player to ever play in the big leagues, interestingly Shalom and Aloha both mean “hello”, “goodbye” and “peace” in their respective tongues.  So why not start the New Year with a new word?  It's just part of the fun we had with Felds talking baseball and golf!

He loves golf almost as much as he loves hitting a WR across the middle. His love for Missouri is only matched by his love for his adopted home- Atlanta. An All Star for the St. Louis Cardinals and a Pro Bowl (alternate) for the Atlanta Falcons, Brian Jordan's excellence didn't care which sport he played (though he admits to loving the contact of hitting a wide receiver over the middle more than hitting a home run). These days his love for Atlanta extends to his Brian Jordan Foundation which provides scholarships for deserving students. And when he talks about his annual Brian Jordan Celebrity Golf Tournament, his pride lit up the room. BRIAN JORDAN is our guest on this fun-filled episode of The Approach Shot

If you vacation in Canada and want to have people buy you a Molson, mention Ernie Whitt's name. He is practically royalty in Canada, a member of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and a beloved All Star catcher for the Toronto Blue Jays. In fact, he was the last "original" member of the Jays, having been drafted by the Red Sox, but the Blue Jays took him in the expansion draft, as he was the anchor of the team for a decade. His power at the plate and his defensive prowess behind the plate made him one of MLB's great players from 1975-1991. And man, does he love talking golf! Ernie Whitt is our guest on this week's episode of The Approach Shot.

What a way to wrap up 2024! Nothing like having a conversation with a member of the 1986 Miracle Mets and a WORLD SERIES CHAMPION. WALLY BACKMAN is our guest on this episode of The Approach Shot and yes, he was part of the team that broke the Red Sox faithful's hearts. He too, watched Mookie Wilson's ball go under Bill Buckner's glove, but has a different perspective on that play and others. He also gave back so much to the game he loves by managing in the Minor Leagues and was able to impart wisdom and fire in his players. That love and fire also exist in his golf game and we enjoyed every second of our conversation with WALLY BACKMAN! Have a listen!

Dashing and Handsome? CHECK! Sharp witted? HECK YEAH! A great friend to Wells Adams and Joey Graziadei? YOU GOT THAT RIGHT! Happily married? UH HUH. Golf nut? YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT! BEN HIGGINS is all of those things plus an amazing business man who runs a coffee business whose proceeds helps other non profits around the world. He's also a hilarious and great guest and we have him on this week's episode of The Approach Shot. This is a must listen for BACHELOR NATION and even non fans of The Bachelor (gasp!)

He loves golf almost as much as he loves hitting a WR across the middle. His love for Missouri is only matched by his love for his adopted home- Atlanta. An All Star for the St. Louis Cardinals and a Pro Bowl (alternate) for the Atlanta Falcons, Brian Jordan's excellence didn't care which sport he played (though he admits to loving the contact of hitting a wide receiver over the middle more than hitting a home run). These days his love for Atlanta extends to his Brian Jordan Foundation which provides scholarships for deserving students. And when he talks about his annual Brian Jordan Celebrity Golf Tournament, his pride lit up the room. BRIAN JORDAN is our guest on this fun-filled episode of The Approach Shot

A 12 year veteran of the NFL? CHECK! A member of the fan-chosen 40th anniversary Vikings team? YEP! A member of the Florida A & M Football HOF? YOU BETCHA A member of the State of Florida Track and Field Hall of Fame? MMM HMMM The first exclusively black punter in NFL History? YES SIR But none of those things define Greg Coleman. His smooth, witty, selfless personality does, though. Having accomplished so much, he is heavily invested in giving back, in staying involved and making sure that people that he touches understand that he is all about helping build character, developing skills and enjoying life. You'll truly enjoy this inspiring and fun episode of The Approach Shot.

There's a reason he's called the Pro Football Guru- two dozen years at ESPN working with Chris (Boomer) Berman, Tom Jackson and the crew gave him the home at which he could use his remarkable research skills. Working with CBS' Thursday Night Football, CBS sports Radio, NFL Network, Fan Sided and so many more honed his incredible skills. But he's not just football. He loves his golf and loves his family and we get to talk about all of that and more. RUSSELL BAXTER is a great talent, a great man and a great friend and he's our guest on this week's episode of The Approach Shot.

When you play college football for UCLA, one of LA's two big college football programs, you are certainly not guaranteed a part in a popular TV show. DONOVAN CARTER is the exception. His hard work, good fortune and persistence landed him the part of Vernon Littlefield on HBO's hugely successful "Ballers" (starring Dwayne Johnson). Still humble, funny and grateful for his success, Donovan is a terrific young man, still hungry and feeling blessed. Our conversation reveals how much Donovan is in Vernon. It's a terrific listen!

He was a first round draft pick of the Denver Broncos. He went to the Super Bowl as a rookie and played with guys like Peyton Manning and Von Miller. But the Broncos lost that game, and it was humbling for Sylvester Williams. Two years later, the Broncos won Super Bowl 50. Not bad for a guy who only started ONE high school football game, after which he was a walk-on at Coffeyyville Community College, then transferred to North Carolina and was named All-ACC and then an All-American as senior. That seemed to be the way things go for Sylvester Williams (known as "Sly"). He has spent most of his life overcoming long odds to enjoy success through hard work and perseverance. After all, one doesn't live like a champion by taking short cuts. This is an amazing story of a life that could have easily gone in the wrong direction, but didn't and because of his personal make-up, couldn't.

To a baseball purist, Pete LaCock was a dangerous hitter. His eye, his plate discpline and his ability to come through in the clutch allowed him to have a terrific 9 year MLB career before playing in Japan. But it's his love for the game, his rivalry with Hall of Famer Bob Gibson, and his famous family (and their friends) that make this such an endearing conversation with a great storyteller. If you're a Cubs fan, Royals fan, fan of Hollywood Squares, My Three Sons, The Dick Van Dyke Show or just of great stories, this episode is a must listen with Pete LaCock. (listen closely and you can hear his wife "helping" Pete with his stories. We got a 2-1!!)

He pitches, he golfs and he helps others through his charity SABES WINGS. Bret Saberhagen tells stories of his career, being a 21 year old kid dominating MLB, especially during the 1985 season (in which his Royals won the World Series). Bret tells stories of George Brett. of his search for his birth family, and his love for golf, which carries over into his annual SABES WINGS golf tournament. Go to sabeswings.org for details and to contribute to his incredible charity which helps provide everyday living expenses for patients fighting cancer. Can you imagine a better reason to donate to a cause?

A 12 year veteran of the NFL? CHECK! A member of the fan-chosen 40th anniversary Vikings team? YEP! A member of the Florida A & M Football HOF? YOU BETCHA A member of the State of Florida Track and Field Hall of Fame? MMM HMMM The first exclusively black punter in NFL History? YES SIR But none of those things define Greg Coleman. His smooth, witty, selfless personality does, though. Having accomplished so much, he is heavily invested in giving back, in staying involved and making sure that people that he touches understand that he is all about helping build character, developing skills and enjoying life. You have to listen to this inspiring and fun episode of The Approach Shot.

Want to know what it was like to run in a touchdown in a huge Notre Dame/Michigan game while unconscious? How about what is was like sharing a backfield with the likes of Jérôme Bettis? Want to hear the story of catching the 2 point conversion that helped Notre Dame beat Penn State in the '92 Snow Bowl? How about some golf stories from this same amazing athlete? Then, this is your episode. REGGIE BROOKS is our guest with incredible stories galore on this episode of THE APPROACH SHOT.

Kit Eldredge, the author of "The Root of All Evil" tells his TRUE story of a $4 million winning lottery ticket and how it changed his life... and not for the better. In fact, it tears his family apart. We also talk about how golf helped him get through some of the hardest times. It an usual and intriguing episode of The Approach Shot.

We call Shootin' Bull THE celebrity sports talk roundtable program show, and want it to feel like we're all just listening in on guys Shootin' Bull about sports. This episode will make you laugh like crazy, have you re-live one of the great moments in Olympic history, and our Truth or Dare? You have to hear it to believe it! Enjoy!

Get ready for a heart breaking, jaw dropping, but equally uplifting episode of The Approach Shot with Tampa Bay Buccaneers center Randy Grimes. Randy tells his very personal story of being addicted to opioids, mostly so he wouldn't lose his spot on the roster. Not wanting to be "the guy who is always in the trainer's room or on the injured list" Randy did whatever it took to stay in the line-up. That included getting hooked on painkillers until the end of his career. For years after, he felt the effects, and his story is both eye opening and uplifting. Randy's book "Off Center" tells the whole story but he shares a lot with us on this episode of The Approach Shot.

A 6 year veteran of Major League Baseball, turned pre and post game host for the Cincinnati Reds on Bally Sports, Sam LeCure certainly has the resume to be a strong guest on The Approach Shot. What we didn't know is that he is also funny, has some hilarious, but also heart breaking stories of his time in MLB and by the end of the show, you'll feel like you made a new friend. We certainly felt that way. Have a listen; this is a great episode.

His meteoric rise is something you'd expect from Hollywood. Boy from Lubbock, TX, goes to Texas Tech near where he grew up. Makes it to the big leagues and explodes onto the scene. His reward? He becomes the team's closer in his second year in the big leagues. He has huge success and in his third year makes the All Star team. The end, right? WRONG! Our hero then struggles with injuries, tries to make it back to the big leagues but his body doesn't cooperate. The thing is; this isn't a Hollywood script; it's AJ Ramos' life story, and it doesn't end there. He retires from baseball and finds his competitive spirit and will hasn't left him, it just needs to be redirected. This is the story of a terrific man, one with focus, determination and guts. But is it enough? Find out and get insight into the heart and soul of a true champion this week on The Approach Shot.

Don't get the wrong idea. The Approach Shot has turned into a religious show. But when Golf and Gospel's Geremy Davis (former collegiate and NFL football player) drops by to talk about his You Tube series "Golf and Gospel" we get into a bunch of intriguing topics; food, football, music, and yes, golf and gospel. Geremy has a great sense of humor and just because he is a "believer" doesn't mean he gets a break on the dreaded 6 pack. (also, one of my favorite questions ever- have you ever had your dreads hit you in the face when golfing? Spoiler alert- the answer is YES.) This is an entertaining and intriguing episode!

When you think of 13 year MLB veteran, you don't think of a ton of home runs. Nor do you think of a bucket of stolen bases. But as a left handed contact hitter, who hit well and was a great defensive player, Rob carved out a terrific career that got him inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. These days, he plays a lot of golf and is involved with the company that makes and sells the Core Energy Belt, which is being used by both baseball players and golfers alike. Rob talks about baseball, golf and the growth of Core Energy in Japan and here in the US on this episode of The Approach Shot.

A Major League Baseball All Star for the Milwaukee Brewers, this week's guest LARY SORENSEN is one of those guys whose life is made up of amazing stories. His self deprecating humor is charming and he never acts like a guy who made the climb to being a Major League All Star. Talk about ups and downs in life, Lary has experiences them all and is more than happy to open the book that is his life on this week's episode of The Approach Shot.

“The future is now” is an old football saying attributed to former Redskins coach a George Allen. We get a view of the future in this episode of The Approach Shot when we talk to one of the hottest play-by-play men in all of sports, CONNOR ONION. Connor has already worked with Bill Raftery, Matt Mullen, Ken Rosenthal and others. His humor and humility are on full display as we talk baseball, football and his golf game. This guy is going to be the next Joe Buck or Jim Nantz!

Batters did not want to see him on the mound. Fans loved his heat! One of the very first to throw 100 mph, he had tremendous success in the majors, when healthy. He is one of only SEVEN pitchers in Major League Baseball HISTORY to ever have back-to-back 45 save seasons (not even the great Mariano Rivera did that). His golf game may not be All Star caliber, but he sure tells great stories of baseball, golf and coming back from injuries. TREVOR ROSENTHAL takes the mound on this week's terrific episode of The Approach Shot.

Cleveland is the home to some great comedies and Bil Benden is one of the absolute best! From his Comedy Central specials to live shows at comedy clubs, corporate gigs and country clubs, when Bil tells a story, you can't help but crack up. Now imagine 50+ minutes of that in one episode of The Approach Shot. If you enjoy good comedy, and good storytelling, this is the episode for you!

Warning: This episode contains great stories, amazing humor, and a keen insight to what goes on in the life of an NFL kicker. He's a 4x Pro Bowl kicker, he won a Super Bowl with the Dallas Cowboys and was named to the Second team ALL DECADE team in the 80's. EDDIE MURRAY is humble, funny and can weave a tale! Once you start listening to this episode, you won't be able to stop!

This is Part Two of our conversation with longtime columnist and author JOHN EISENBERG. We talk about his golf game, and he faces (and aces) the dreaded SIX PACK! We talk about his new book, "Rocket Men", which offers an inside look at the Black quarterbacks whose skill and grit transformed the NFL; and some of his other books including "The League", which focuses on the pioneering sportsmen who kept the league alive in the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s, when its challenges were many and its survival was not guaranteed; and "The Streak" the book dedicated to Cal Ripken pursuit and eventually takeover of Lou Gehrig's Iron Man record. This is a great listen from a terrific storyteller.

As a kid, I dreamt of going to the biggest sporting events; Super Bowls and World Series games, NBA Finals and the Masters. It all seemed to glamorous and historic. We talk with long time BALTIMORE SUN columnist JOHN EISENBERG about how lucky he was to have covered them all. But he also points out that for columnists, who have to write SOMETHING every day, it's a job, and not an easy one. After almost 30 years with the Sun, John evolved into an amazing author of books like "Rocket Men", "The League" and others. We'll talk about that in Part 2 of our conversation, which comes out later this week.

Part Two with MLB reliever Mike Adams. Mike's face (and voice) lights up when talking about his grandma's homemade tortillas and even when she ages and is barely able to make them, she somehow manages to. Grandma even sends her tortillas as a care package when Mike is on the road, which he shares with his teammates. We then talk about the first annual Orlando Adams Memorial Golf Tournament, in memory of Mike's Dad. Some of the proceeds from the tournament will go toward establishing a scholarship for a deserving high school senior in Sinton TX. For information, email vfwpost2160@gmail.com or call Todd at 361-207-4377.