Podcasts about North American Soccer League

Growing up in the 70's, soccer was barely a footnote when it came to the sports culture here in the States. The North American Soccer League was trying to compete with the other leagues, but the game just didn't have the appeal that it does in much of the world. It lacked the star power that other sports had. Until…   In 1975, the New York Cosmos signed Edson Arantes do Nascimento, the Brazilian superstar known across the globe simply as… Pele. That's right, Pele was coming to America… North America, NYC, The Big Apple… and with it, soccer was about to experience a boom in the U.S. Michael Lewis was just a young sports reporter looking to get a beat covering one of the four sports he grew up loving… Baseball, football, basketball, and hockey… Soccer wasn't on that list. Not even close. But the young scribe was given a shot to cover the Rochester Lancers of the NASL… and his career and life were never the same. Over 50 years later, he's written 9 books on the sport, including Soccer for Dummies and Alive and Kicking: The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers.  That opportunity to cover the NASL allowed Michael to get a firsthand look at what he calls the biggest “BANG” for soccer in the United States: the arrival of Pele. He tells us how the global sensation arrived with no ego as an ambassador to the sport that saw him win 3 World Cups for Brazil in 1958, 1962, and 1970. He went from the pinnacle of the sport to a fledgling league, and did everything he could to bring attention to the sport he was famous for playing… Famous everywhere except maybe in the States…. But that was about to change. Pele was a man of the people, and that was apparent everywhere he went. He would talk with the guys in the kitchen of the restaurant as he was about to be introduced at his inaugural press conference in America. He would sign autographs for hours and give the jersey off his back to fellow players. In 1977, he led the Cosmos to the Soccer Bowl, winning in the quarterfinals in front of almost 78,000 fans at Giants Stadium before winning the Soccer Bowl in Oregon three weeks later. After the match, Brazilian journalists on hand to cover their famous countrymen carried him on their shoulders and paraded him around the locker room in jubilation at the conclusion of the superstar's incredible career. Michael Lewis was in that locker room and says almost 50 years later it's still the most amazing postgame celebration he's ever witnessed. Next summer, Lewis will cover his 14th World Cup… and when the finals of that tournament are played at Met Life Stadium, right where Giants Stadium used to stand, his career will have come full circle to when a young reporter was given a beat he didn't really want… and set him on a course that changed his life and gave him the opportunity to cover the greatest player and ambassador the sport has ever known… Pele. Listen wherever you get your podcasts and leave a review if you wish. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Live and direct from Pottsdam, it's the one-and-only Karl-Heinz Granitza — the prolific German striker who became the face of the North American Soccer League's iconic Chicago Sting -- and a transformative figure in American soccer during his seven outdoor seasons across the late 1970s & early 1980s.   A 2003 National Soccer Hall of Fame inductee and one of the NASL's all-time leading scorers, Granitza opens up about his remarkable journey from West Berlin to the Windy City -- where his powerful left foot, fiery personality, and unshakable will to win helped ignite a soccer revolution in the US. Granitza shares the challenges of joining the Sting in 1978, a year that began with a record-setting 10-game losing streak, only to pivot dramatically under mid-season replacement coach Willy Roy. With a new influx of German talent and a renewed sense of purpose, Granitza led a cultural and competitive shift that culminated in one of the most exciting eras in Chicago pro sports history. Among the stops: the tension-filled triumph of the NASL's 1981 Soccer Bowl championship match, where the Sting edged the star-studded New York Cosmos in a nail-biting, scoreless encounter that culminated in a dramatic tie-breaking shootout. Granitza recounts the euphoric aftermath: Chicago's first major pro sports championship in nearly two decades, a ticker-tape parade attended by over 100,000 fans, and the moment he realized that soccer had finally taken root in America's heartland. We dive into Granitza's reputation as both a clutch performer and a demanding teammate; with humor and honesty, he reflects on his passionate leadership style — his perfectionism, on-field outbursts, and deep loyalty to teammates like Arno Steffenhagen, Ingo Peter, and Pato Margetic. We also explore Granitza's dominance in the 1980s indoor game (for both the NASL and MISL versions of the Sting, as well as the American Indoor Soccer Association's Chicago Power), his record-setting scoring streaks, and his perspective on the bittersweet demise of the NASL -- especially the (often overlooked) legacy it still provides today's American soccer landscape. + + +   SUPPORT THE SHOW: Buy Us a Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/goodseatsstillavailable "Good Seats" Merch: https://www.teepublic.com/?ref_id=35106 SPONSOR THANKS (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): Old School Shirts.com (10% off promo code: GOODSEATS): https://oldschoolshirts.com/goodseats Royal Retros (10% off promo code: SEATS): https://www.503-sports.com?aff=2 Yinzylvania (20% off promo code: GOODSEATSSTILLAVAILABLE): https://yinzylvania.com/GOODSEATSSTILLAVAILABLE 417 Helmets (10% off promo code: GOODSEATS): https://417helmets.com/?wpam_id=3 FIND AND FOLLOW: Website: https://goodseatsstillavailable.com/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/goodseatsstillavailable.com X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/GoodSeatsStill YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@goodseatsstillavailable Threads: https://www.threads.net/@goodseatsstillavailable Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodseatsstillavailable/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoodSeatsStillAvailable/

We're positively kvelling over the brand new anthology from this week's guest Eric Gouldsberry - "Our Life and Times with the Earthquakes" - which vividly (and lovingly) portrays the thrilling early days of the original San Jose Earthquakes franchise (1974-84) of the old North American Soccer League, and the transformative impact it brought to the Bay Area's fast-growing Santa Clara Valley. Through his personal journey as a devoted fan and with never-before-seen images captured by his father - "official unofficial" team photographer Ray Gouldsberry - Eric brings to life the magic of a team that ignited an untapped soccer fan base in the South Bay and helped define the 1970s-era pro version of the "beautiful game" in America. We explore the club's ingenious marketing tactics, pioneering players, eclectic fans, and the various highs and lows of the original Earthquakes both on and off the field - all set against the meteoric rise and ultimate collapse of the enigmatic NASL. It's all here: cozy Spartan Stadium, its painted field, cheer instigator (and Episode 7 guest) "Krazy" George, the "Shakers," indoors at the Cow Palace - plus, the little-known origin story of 1978's expansion Oakland Stompers and the intense-but-brief rivalry that time forgot! + + +   SUPPORT THE SHOW:  Buy Us a Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/goodseatsstillavailable "Good Seats" Merch: https://www.teepublic.com/?ref_id=35106 SPONSOR THANKS (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): Old School Shirts.com (10% off promo code: GOODSEATS) https://oldschoolshirts.com/goodseats Royal Retros (10% off promo code: SEATS): https://www.503-sports.com?aff=2   BUY THE BOOK (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): "Our Life and Times With the Earthquakes: Images and Memories from the Glory Days of San Jose's Original Pro Soccer Team": https://amzn.to/4i2YVmI FIND AND FOLLOW: Website: https://goodseatsstillavailable.com/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/goodseatsstillavailable.com X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/GoodSeatsStill YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@goodseatsstillavailable Threads: https://www.threads.net/@goodseatsstillavailable Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodseatsstillavailable/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoodSeatsStillAvailable/

Spurred on by a hugely intriguing article in The Athletic penned last November by Episode 274 guest Pablo Maurer (as well as another by Guardian soccer writer Jack Williams back in 2016), we delve into the fascinating story of the visionary, yet controversial 1990s American pro soccer league that never was - League 1 America - with its mastermind Jim Paglia.  Born in the wake of the 1989 awarding of the 1994 FIFA World Cup to the United States, League 1 America was an ambitious attempt to reimagine a post-Cup pro soccer league for an American audience that gravitated toward fast-paced, high-scoring sports like football and basketball. Paglia's vision centered on blending traditional soccer elements with entertainment-focused innovations and dedicated mall-like facilities, aiming to build a league that prioritized marketability and fan engagement above all else. The league's format featured radical rule changes, including shootouts to resolve ties, shortened match durations, and scoring modifications to encourage more goals and continuous action. Paglia also planned to lean heavily on corporate sponsorships, creating a business model that integrated entertainment and commercial viability, with aspirations of competing against America's major sports leagues for both fans and television audiences. Despite its innovative ideas, League 1 America never materialized. The league faced a skeptical sporting landscape, with the demise of the North American Soccer League in the mid-1980s still fresh in the public's memory and doubts about soccer's viability as a mainstream American sport. Financial hurdles, coupled with resistance from soccer traditionalists and a lack of institutional support, doomed the project before it could get off the ground. Critics dismissed Paglia's vision as an overly commercialized distortion of soccer's essence, while fans of the global game balked at the Americanized rule changes. Yet, the story of League 1 America remains a fascinating “what if” in the history of U.S. soccer. A number of its ideas - especially the building of experience-driven soccer-specific stadiums - can be seen in today's Major League Soccer.  Paglia's efforts highlighted both the challenges and opportunities of growing soccer in the U.S., underscoring the tension between preserving the sport's global traditions and adapting it to local tastes. Today, as soccer continues its steady rise in America, League 1 America serves as a reminder of the bold experimentation and resilience that helped lay the groundwork for the sport's future. + + +  SUPPORT THE SHOW:  Buy Us a Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/goodseatsstillavailable "Good Seats" Merch: https://www.teepublic.com/?ref_id=35106 SPONSOR THANKS (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): Royal Retros (10% off promo code: SEATS): https://www.503-sports.com?aff=2 Old School Shirts.com (10% off promo code: GOODSEATS) https://oldschoolshirts.com/goodseats Yinzylvania (20% off promo code: GOODSEATSSTILLAVAILABLE): https://yinzylvania.com/GOODSEATSSTILLAVAILABLE    FIND AND FOLLOW: Website: https://goodseatsstillavailable.com/ Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/goodseatsstillavailable.com Threads: https://www.threads.net/@goodseatsstillavailable X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/GoodSeatsStill Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodseatsstillavailable/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoodSeatsStillAvailable/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@goodseatsstillavailable

This is the 158th episode of my podcast with Mr. Paul Whittle of https://the1888letter.com/, @1888letter. For this episode, we interview Sports Public Relations & Media Operations Consultant, Mr. Steven Torres, as we discuss the historic match between the New York Cosmos and the Cuban National Team on June 2, 2015. Mr. Torres has over two decades of national/international experience in the field of sports communications/media relations after having worked with several soccer (football) organizations.  The New York City native had worked in two world cups (Men '94, Women '99) and Goodwill Games ('98) prior to his arrival at U.S. Soccer (1999-2003) in Chicago where he mainly dealt with the Hispanic and International media.  He then arrived at Concacaf where he spent the next decade as mostly the sole press officer for the Confederation holding a tenure record of most consecutive days (3,675) as member of the communications department in the first 60 years over the organization.  Torres also worked as FIFA Media Officer in many tournaments and events (including World Cups '06, '10; Olympics '08, '12).  At the modern era version of North American Soccer League, Torres once again oversaw Hispanic and International media, and was instrumental in the first U.S. sports professional club (New York Cosmos) to visit Cuba following the end of the embargo in 2015.  During his 20-plus year work span, Torres has also been a soccer historian for the region (North, Central America & Caribbean) since the turn of the century with extensive knowledge of tournaments involving national teams, clubs, futsal and beach soccer.  Torres is currently assisting Data Sports Group as Futsal Editor Director.  He is also a founding member and first elected president of Asociación Norte, Centroamericana y del Caribe de Investigadores de Fútbol (English – Association of North, Central America and the Caribbean of Football Investigators).  For any questions/comments, you may contact us:You may also contact me on this blog, on twitter @sp1873 and on facebook under Soccernostalgia.https://linktr.ee/sp1873 Mr. Paul Whittle, @1888letter on twitter and https://the1888letter.com/contact/https://linktr.ee/BeforeThePremierLeague You may also follow the podcast on spotify and Apple podcasts all under ‘Soccernostalgia Talk Podcast'Please leave a review, rate and subscribe if you like the podcast.Mr. Torres' contact info:Twitter (X): @Steve1TBluesky: @steve1t.bsky.social Listen on Spotify / Apple Podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6HDTBCO4kxqn9ZwWFOf1eR?si=8TkwbKPSRD-xaNkRCqwIHg&nd=1&dlsi=19c0c387e3b84759https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/soccernostalgia-talk-podcast-episode-158-interview/id1601074369?i=1000682810088  Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHkpIJGQMw  Blog Link:https://soccernostalgia.blogspot.com/2025/01/soccernostalgia-talk-podcast-episode.htmlSupport the show

Peter Mellor had a successful goalkeeping career in England, playing for Fulham, Burnley, Portsmouth and more. He later moved to North America to play in the North American Soccer League, before retiring. He moved to Florida and, ultimately, began life after soccer. However, Mellor was pulled back into the coaching ranks and ultimately become a critical influence in goalkeeping development within the ranks of US Soccer. In that role, Mellor coached many of the best young players in the game. One of those players was Tim Howard, who he first met during an ODP camp where the New Jersey native stood out among older, more established players. Mellor joined Founding Futbol and shared his memories of Howard, how their relationship evolved, what made the US Soccer legand special, and so much more. Founding Futbol is a year-long exploration of the critical moments that have led to soccer's emerging popularity in America. Extra Time is an additional weekly episode that shares reactions and reflections from the chapters, and brings additional guests into the fold.  Visit our website for more information: ⁠FoundingFutbol.com. Email us at kent@foundingfutbol.com Subscribe to Founding Futbol on your platform of choice. Host: Kent Malmros Guest: Peter Mellor (Former EFL Goalkeeper, Goalkeeping Coach US Soccer) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the podcast episode titled "Keeping the Playing Field Fair: How Antitrust Law Shapes Professional Sports," the discussion delves into the intricate relationship between antitrust law and professional sports. The episode begins by examining the Sherman Antitrust Act, which serves as the foundation for antitrust law in the United States. This act prohibits monopolies and cartels that restrain trade and harm competition. The episode then delves into the concept of the "single entity" defense, which is often used by sports leagues to argue that they are immune from antitrust laws. This defense argues that leagues, teams, and players are all part of a single entity and that any agreements or rules made within the league are not subject to antitrust scrutiny. However, the episode highlights that the "single entity" defense has limitations and has been challenged in several landmark antitrust cases. One such case, the landmark 1976 Supreme Court decision in Flood v. Kuhn, is discussed in detail. In this case, the court ruled that the reserve clause, which bound players to their teams for life, violated antitrust laws. This decision paved the way for free agency and revolutionized player movement in professional sports. The episode also explores other major antitrust cases, such as the 1984 ruling in North American Soccer League v. National Football League, which found that the NFL had monopolized professional football, and the 1995 decision in Major League Baseball v. United States, which upheld antitrust exemptions for baseball. The episode delves into the impact of antitrust law on various stakeholders in professional sports, including players, teams, and fans. It discusses how antitrust law has promoted fair competition, ensured player mobility, and protected the rights of fans to watch competitive sports. Finally, the episode concludes by considering possible future challenges and emerging issues in sports antitrust. It touches upon the rise of sports betting and the potential for data sharing and technology to impact antitrust law in the future. Overall, the podcast episode "Keeping the Playing Field Fair: How Antitrust Law Shapes Professional Sports" provides a comprehensive overview of the intersection of antitrust law and professional sports. It highlights the significance of antitrust law in maintaining fair competition, preserving player rights, and protecting the interests of fans. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/law-school/support

After contacting in 2002, Major League Soccer (MLS) was searching for a way to bring fan support and financial stability to the league. Some executives turned to a familiar playbook -- bringing a global superstar to the league, hoping fans would follow. It was the strategy behind Pelé's arrival in New York when he joined the Cosmos of the North American Soccer League in the mid 70s. Some believed it could work again. In this case, David Beckham was the target. With some shrewd rule changes, and a healthy dose of salesmanship, he was lured to MLS to join the LA Galaxy. With that, everything changed for the league and soccer in America. Kevin Baxter joined the show to talk about how David Beckham's arrival in Los Angeles changed the course of soccer in America. He recounts how the global superstar impacted the game on and off the field, and how his influence still looms large today. Founding Futbol is a year-long exploration of the critical moments that have led to soccer's emerging popularity in America. Visit our website for more information: ⁠⁠FoundingFutbol.com. Email us at kent@foundingfutbol.com. Subscribe to Founding Futbol on your platform of choice. Host: Kent Malmros Guest: Kevin Baxter (Soccer Writer, LA Times) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Werner Roth began his soccer career in American at a time when there was no top flight domestic professional league. Roth began his career with the German American-Hungarians and would remain with New York clubs for the duration of his career. He became a member of the storied New York Cosmos during their glory years in the 1970's. Roth was also part of the US National Team from 1972-75. He joined the show to discuss his ascension through the ranks an into the North American Soccer League. Roth also shares what it was like to play with Pelé. Founding Futbol is a year-long exploration of the critical moments that have led to soccer's emerging popularity in America. Visit our website for more information: ⁠⁠FoundingFutbol.com Subscribe to Founding Futbol on your platform of choice. Host: Kent Malmros Guest: Werner Roth (Former NASL and USMNT Player) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

[By popular request, an archive re-release from August 2018, featuring our extraordinary conversation with one of the central figures of the original North American Soccer League - from its chaotic formation in 1968 to its untimely demise in 1985.] + + + Soccer America columnist (and Episode #6 guest) Paul Gardner summed up this week's National Soccer Hall of Fame guest in his May 2015 commentary: “The debt owed by American soccer to Clive Toye is a vast one. It is not too much of an exaggeration to say, flatly, that without Toye's blind faith in the sport in the 1970s, pro soccer in the USA would have withered and died. Yes, Phil Woosnam and Lamar Hunt and Bob Hermann were there too. But in those unpromising years it was Toye's voice -- it came in a steady flow of ridiculously optimistic press releases and grandiose plans for a future that few others even dared to ponder -- that called loudest. “The New York Cosmos general manager credited with turning that league's fortunes around when he signed Pele to a contract in 1975. Toye, who was born in England and came to the United States in 1967 at the age of 33, was president of three North American Soccer League teams – the Cosmos, Chicago Sting and Toronto Blizzard – and general manager of the [original National Professional Soccer League and subsequent NASL] Baltimore Bays.  [He] was an official of the NASL in helping it through its crisis year of 1969 and in its final months in 1985 – and helped to found the third American Soccer League in 1988. “There has always been the spirit of a showman in Toye, and surely it was that spirit that enabled Toye to overlook the virtual collapse of the old North American Soccer League and to see instead a glittering future for the sport in the USA, even to declare to anyone who was listening -- and not many were in those days -- the preposterous notion that the USA should begin preparing to stage the World Cup. “And when the NASL, by the skin of its teeth and by the mad devotion of Toye et al., did survive, it was Toye who gave the reborn league its glittering image with his invention of the Cosmos, with his canny maneuvering and dealing, who brought Pele and Beckenbauer to New York.  Showmanship indeed.” Toye (A Kick in the Grass: The Slow Rise and Quick Demise of the NASL; Anywhere in the World) joins host Tim Hanlon for a lyrical and anecdote-filled journey through the pro league that he helped create, later put to rest, and which ultimately shored up the long-term foundation of the “beautiful game” in America. + + + SUPPORT THE SHOW: "Good Seats" Show & Defunct Team Merch:  http://tee.pub/lic/RdiDZzQeHSY Buy Us a Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/goodseatsstillavailable BUY/READ EARLY & OFTEN:  A Kick in the Grass: The Slow Rise and Quick Demise of the NASL (2006): https://amzn.to/3Ln1KAt Anywhere in the World (2015): https://amzn.to/3Y3TD3A SPONSOR THANKS: Royal Retros (promo code: SEATS): https://www.503-sports.com?aff=2 Old School Shirts.com (promo code: GOODSEATS) https://oldschoolshirts.com/goodseats   FIND & FOLLOW: Website: https://goodseatsstillavailable.com/ X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/GoodSeatsStill Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodseatsstillavailable/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@goodseatsstillavailable Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoodSeatsStillAvailable/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@goodseatsstillavailable

Most US and Canadian domestic soccer fans are certain that the second incarnation of the North American Soccer League (2011-17) officially met its untimely demise in early 2018, just a few months after the first-year San Francisco Deltas beat the New York Cosmos in the 2017 Soccer Bowl - and amidst a seemingly desperate/last-minute antitrust lawsuit alleging collusion between US Soccer and Major League Soccer to keep the league down.   While the NASL hasn't played another game since, the lawsuit - largely ideated and funded by spurned billionaire/Cosmos owner Rocco Commisso - is still very much alive, and now officially headed to trial beginning January 6th of next year.    At issue: whether the governing body of soccer in the US and/or its officially designated top-tier professional league conspired to exclude the NASL from Division I-sanctioned play, and schemed to monopolize the market for men's pro soccer.   At stake: the future direction, competitive landscape and legal structure of American professional soccer.   We get a full primer on the history, rationale and likely outcomes of this stealthily persistent case, with UCLA law school professor, sports/soccer legal expert (and 1970s-era ASL Cleveland Cobras fan) Steven Bank - whose influential Twitter/X feed is an essential follow on all things law + soccer.    + + +   SUPPORT THE SHOW: "Good Seats" Show & Defunct Team Merch:  http://tee.pub/lic/RdiDZzQeHSY Buy Us a Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/goodseatsstillavailable   SPONSOR THANKS: Royal Retros (promo code: SEATS): https://www.503-sports.com?aff=2 Old School Shirts.com (promo code: GOODSEATS) https://oldschoolshirts.com/goodseats   FIND & FOLLOW: Website: https://goodseatsstillavailable.com/ X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/GoodSeatsStill Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodseatsstillavailable/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@goodseatsstillavailable Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoodSeatsStillAvailable/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@goodseatsstillavailable

Interview with Skip Gilbert: CEO of US Youth Soccer: S5E10Gilbert attended the University of Vermont, where he played on the men's soccer team from 1979 to 1982. He was selected as a first team All-American goalie in 1982 and 1983. Skip is member of the University of Vermont Athletic Hall of Fame. He preceded to play professional soccer for the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the North American Soccer League. Skip also played overseas in England and played for the US Olympic Development Team in the 1983.After retiring, Skip joined the work force in publishing and marketing.Throughout his rise in the business world, Skip kept his eye on his love of sport and took with him the lessons learned as a soccer goalie.LinkedIn:(2) Skip Gilbert | LinkedInWebsite:Home - US Youth Soccer - ParentEric Reyes: Host of Hey Coach! PodcastEmail:eric@heycoachreyes.comLinkedIn:Eric Reyes | LinkedInFacebook:(1) Hey Coach | FacebookFacebook Group:(2) Hey Coach! Sports,Life and Business | FacebookInstagram :Hey Coach Podcast (@theheycoachpodcast) • Instagram photos and videosTwitter:Hey Coach! Podcast (@HeyPodcas1) / Twitter 

[An essential fan favorite from 2018 - with the dean of "forgotten sports" promotion!]  If someone ever decides to build an American sports promotion Hall of Fame, the inaugural class will undoubtedly be led by this week's special guest, Doug Verb.  In a career spanning more than 40 years in professional sports management, Verb's remarkable career has included spearheading marketing, promotion, publicity, and television for some of the most innovative and memorable leagues and franchises of the modern era.  One of the founding executives of both the pioneering Major Indoor Soccer League (along with sports entrepreneurs Earl Foreman, Ed Tepper, and previous podcast guest Dr. Joe Machnik), and the frenetic Arena Football League (with the sport's inventor [and past two-part guest] Jim Foster), Verb additionally  served as president of pro soccer's legendary Chicago Sting from 1982-86 – which, incredibly, drifted between playing in two separate leagues during his tenure (for one year, simultaneously) – the outdoor North American Soccer League and the indoor MISL.  In our longest and more anecdote-filled episode to date, Verb vividly recounts the highs and lows of launching new teams, leagues and even sports themselves from whole cloth – with nary an operational blueprint or career roadmap to be found.  Buckle up for a wild ride through the woeful 1976 NASL Philadelphia Atoms, the “Rocket Red” pinball-like MISL, soccer for all seasons in the Windy City, and birthing indoor football.  PLUS:  Kiddie City to the rescue; Earl Foreman's “Brother-in-Law Effect;” getting paid in soybeans; and the curious one-game history of the Liberty Basketball Association!  + + +  SUPPORT THE SHOW: Buy Us a Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/goodseatsstillavailable "Good Seats" Merch: http://tee.pub/lic/RdiDZzQeHSY   SPONSOR THANKS: Royal Retros (promo code: SEATS): https://www.503-sports.com?aff=2 Old School Shirts.com (promo code: GOODSEATS) https://oldschoolshirts.com/goodseats   FIND & FOLLOW: Website: https://goodseatsstillavailable.com/ X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/GoodSeatsStill Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodseatsstillavailable/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@goodseatsstillavailable Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoodSeatsStillAvailable/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@goodseatsstillavailable

In the early 1990s, latino immigration in the United States peaked. As millions moved to the US from Latin America, they brought with them a passion for futbol. At the same time, US Soccer was devising new ways to build and sustain the game in this country. That meant stages the world's largest events, such as the Olympics and World Cup, and proving that fans in this country would fill stadiums to watch the beautiful game. The birth of Major League Soccer brought with it anxiety of failed predecessors, such as the North American Soccer League, and a desire to overcome similar shortcomings. The growing, soccer-crazy latino communities proved as a bedrock of growth for the game throughout those times. Andrés Martinez came to the United States in the 1980s, from Mexico. Futbol had been part of his upbringing, a part of his identity as real as his name or Mexican roots. But, when he arrived and settled in his new home, he felt as though he had to give up futbol to fit in with his new peers. Then, he watched the sport grow over the subsequent decades, in large part based on the rapid expansion of other latino immigrant populations who brought their passion for the game to America. Even as a boy, Andrés had a thoughtful point of view on the sport he loved, and the two countries that he's called home. A veteran of The New York Times, LA Times and other papers, Martinez shares his personal story and how it reflects that of millions more soccer fans in the US just like him. Founding Futbol is a year-long exploration of the critical moments that have led to soccer's emerging popularity in America. Visit our website for more information: ⁠⁠FoundingFutbol.com Host: Kent Malmros Guest: Andrés Martinez (Journalist, Sports Historian) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We celebrate the 94th birthday of legendary Soccer America columnist Paul Gardner (The Simplest Game: The Intelligent Fan's Guide to the World of Soccer; Soccer Talk: Paul Gardner on Soccer) with this special archive re-release (and our 6th-ever episode!) from 2017. The universally acknowledged "dean" of American soccer writers waxes nostalgic on his unlikely journey from fledgling British pharmacist to the States' most persistently influential commentator on the "beautiful game."  Gardner: Recounts the chaotic formation of the modern professional game in the U.S. during the 1960s; Recalls how ambitious sports entrepreneurs like the International Soccer League's Bill Cox, and greedy corporate owners like the United Soccer Association's Madison Square Garden were quickly chagrined by the machinations of soccer's international governing body; Describes how a complex Welsh-born, player-turned-NASL-commissioner curiously nudged him into national TV game commentating; Remembers when he first recognized pro soccer had finally “arrived” in America (ironically, while out of the country); and Suggests that a revised U.S. corporate tax code may have helped hasten the demise of an already-wobbly NASL as the 1980s beckoned. + + +   SUPPORT THE SHOW: Buy Us a Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/goodseatsstillavailable "Good Seats" Merch: http://tee.pub/lic/RdiDZzQeHSY   SPONSOR THANKS: Old School Shirts.com (promo code: GOODSEATS) https://oldschoolshirts.com/goodseats Royal Retros (promo code: SEATS): https://www.503-sports.com?aff=2   BUY/READ EARLY & OFTEN: The Simplest Game: The Intelligent Fan's Guide to the World of Soccer (1996): https://amzn.to/3yhjJFc Soccer Talk: Paul Gardner on Soccer (1999): https://amzn.to/44AoHsV   FIND & FOLLOW: Website: https://goodseatsstillavailable.com/ X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/GoodSeatsStill Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodseatsstillavailable/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@goodseatsstillavailable Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoodSeatsStillAvailable/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@goodseatsstillavailable

After the North American Soccer League folded in 1984, many of the league's top American players moved to the Major Indoor Soccer League. Some, in fact, moved with their franchises, who also found a new home as part of the indoor game. One such club was the San Diego Sockers. Their star defender, Kevin Crow, had achieved All-Star status in the NASL and then became five-time Defender of the Year in the MISL. Crow joined Founding Futbol to talk about his journey through four leagues with one franchise. He sheds light on how he managed the challenges of a down era in US Soccer, talks about the differences between the indoor and outdoor game, and recounts how focused on his transition away from the game, while he was still playing.  Founding Futbol is a year-long exploration of the critical moments that have led to soccer's emerging popularity in America. Extra Time is an additional weekly episode that shares reactions and reflections from the chapters, and brings additional guests into the fold.  Visit our website for more information: ⁠FoundingFutbol.com. Email us at kent@foundinguftbol.com Host: Kent Malmros Guest: Kevin Crow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Das Team America ist nicht die einzige kuriose Geschichte aus der North American Soccer League (NASL). Doch es ist wohl weltweit die einzige Geschichte einer Nationalmannschaft, die in der eigenen Liga spielte. Das Team America sollte sich so finden, kennenlernen und für wichtige Turniere einspielen. Ganz oben auf der Liste standen die Olympischen Spiele 1984 in Los Angeles und die WM 1986 in Mexiko. Doch wie macht man sowas am besten? Spielen die besten Spieler des Landes weiterhin für ihre Vereine, oder wechseln sie zum Team America? Und wo soll die Mannschaft überhaupt spielen? Und was haben Superman und der damalige US-Präsident Ronald Reagan damit zu tun? Bei der Beantwortung der Fragen half Ian Plenderleith. Er schrieb das Buch "Rock 'n' Roll Soccer: The Short Life and Fast Times of the North American Soccer League" - auf die Idee brachte ihn das Team America. Aber das erklärt er auch alles ausführlich in dieser Episode.

It's a "retcon" special this week, as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of one of the most colorful and persistent franchises in American pro soccer history - with a return visit from Episode 40 guest Gary Singh (The Unforgettable San Jose Earthquakes: Momentous Stories On & Off the Field). As one of four West Coast expansion teams (along with the Los Angeles Aztecs, Seattle Sounders and Vancouver Whitecaps) added for the North American Soccer League's breakthrough 1974 season, the original San Jose Earthquakes were an immediate hit both on the field (finishing second in an all-new Western Division, led by league-leading scorer [and Episode 35 guest] Paul Child) - and in the stands, where they averaged 15,000+ fans a game to a less-than-modern Spartan Stadium, more than double the league average at the time.  Though never regular championship contenders, the ‘Quakes cultivated a rabidly loyal fan base that became the envy of clubs across the league – until the NASL's ultimate demise ten years later.  Fragments of the club soldiered on semi-professionally in the following years, but the appellation (along with some of the previous cast) returned in earnest in 1999, when the management of San Jose's struggling (and unpopularly named) Major League Soccer “Clash” sought to rekindle some of the original NASL team's magic; by 2001, the second iteration of the Earthquakes were contending for and winning MLS Cup and Supporters' Shield titles.    However, stymied by an inability to construct a soccer-specific stadium in the area, owner-operator Anschutz Entertainment Group pulled up stakes and relocated the club to Houston (Dynamo) for 2006 – taking further championships with them.  Nonplussed San Jose fans revolted – and a new “expansion” franchise was quickly announced by MLS officials, with plenty of structural caveats that ensure today's now-third incarnation of the ‘Quakes rightfully retains all of its accumulated heritage and rich legacy. + + +     SPONSOR THANKS: Old School Shirts (promo code: GOODSEATS):  https://oldschoolshirts.com/goodseats     BUY/READ EARLY & OFTEN: The Unforgettable San Jose Earthquakes: Momentous Stories On & Off the Field (2024): https://amzn.to/48oMwEc The San Jose Earthquakes: A Seismic Soccer Legacy (2015): https://amzn.to/42ZNkOL   FIND & FOLLOW: Website: https://goodseatsstillavailable.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/GoodSeatsStill Instagram (+ Threads): https://www.instagram.com/goodseatsstillavailable/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoodSeatsStillAvailable/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@goodseatsstillavailable

It's the adventure-filled story of how a late-60s-era Scottish top-league footballer helped start the first-ever professional soccer circuit in the then-British colony of Hong Kong - punctuated by an unexpected off-season loan to one of the most forgotten franchises in North American Soccer League history. Derek Currie ("When 'Jesus' Came to Hong Kong: The Remarkable Story of the First European Football Star in Asia") joins us live and direct from his home in Bangkok,Thailand for an anecdote-rich romp through the international pro soccer scene of the 1970s/early 1980s - including his memorable Texas summer of 1976 wearing the "Stars and Stripes" for the NASL's oft-overlooked San Antonio Thunder!   + + +    SPONSOR THANKS: Old School Shirts (promo code: GOODSEATS):  https://oldschoolshirts.com/goodseats   BUY/READ EARLY & OFTEN: When 'Jesus' Came to Hong Kong: The Remarkable Story of the First European Football Star in Asia (2023): https://amzn.to/3H0snJm   FIND & FOLLOW: Website: https://goodseatsstillavailable.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/GoodSeatsStill Instagram (+ Threads): https://www.instagram.com/goodseatsstillavailable/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoodSeatsStillAvailable/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@goodseatsstillavailable

In todays episode Burner and the boys get a treat as soccer legend and head coach of the University of San Diego Men's Soccer team sits down to discuss everything from the roll club sports plays in today's youth landscape to the growing popularity of the professional game in the U.S. Quinn (Quinnie) is a Northern Irish-American soccer coach and player. He spent most of his professional career in in the U.S. where he played in the North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League with the San Diego Soccers. He has coached everything from the club and high school level to Major League Soccer. He covers it all!Support the show

Have you ever wondered about the intricate world of soccer and the role of play in nurturing creativity? Imagine a heartfelt conversation with Scott Martin, an ardent football coach and storyteller. Listen as he takes you on a nostalgic journey into the authentic days of the North American Soccer League. Scott shares how ethnic backgrounds played a pivotal role in the formation of clubs and how the genuine love for the sport soared high above the allure of money. He passionately advocates the significance of unstructured play in fostering creativity, a lesson he highlights with a nod to the Finnish education system. Shifting gears, we enter an essential discourse on the cutting-edge field of prosthetics. Did you know that many disabled veterans lack insurance for repairing their artificial limbs? We discuss how such challenges impact their lives, throwing light on the need for durable, repairable, and culturally fitting prosthetic options. The conversation gets even more interesting as we talk about the importance of user involvement in the design process of these devices, a factor that could lead to more beneficial results.Finally, we navigate through the intriguing universe of assistive technology, highlighting the challenges and costs associated with it. Ever considered why the price tag on these devices is sky-high, especially in the global north? Or how governmental subsidies can exclude individuals who can't afford to pay? We bring a fresh perspective by comparing the healthcare costs between the US and Portugal. Wrapping up, we share a sense of optimism for the future generation, believing that they hold the power to bring about a positive change in the world. A rich blend of stories, insights, and thought-provoking discussions, this episode is one you shouldn't miss!Support the showFollow axschat on social mediaTwitter:https://twitter.com/axschathttps://twitter.com/AkwyZhttps://twitter.com/neilmillikenhttps://twitter.com/debraruhLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/antoniovieirasantos/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/axschat/Vimeohttps://vimeo.com/akwyz

American followers of the "beautiful game" undoubtedly know the name Thomas Rongen - but can easily be forgiven for not remembering just exactly how. Of course, there's his current color commentary work for today's Major League Soccer Inter Miami CF - but fans of a certain age will recall the Dutch-born, mop-topped midfielder from his on-field (and in-arena) antics during the halcyon days of the old North American Soccer League alongside international greats like Johan Cruyff, George Best and Alan Willey on clubs like the Los Angeles Aztecs, Washington Diplomats, and two flavors of Strikers - Fort Lauderdale and Minnesota.  Younger aficionados might place their earliest recollections of a fiery presence on the sidelines coaching a wide array of pro clubs ranging from successor ASL/APSL versions of the Strikers in the late 80s/early 90s, to early MLS sides like the 1996 Tampa Bay Mutiny, 1997-98 New England Revolution, 1999-2001 DC United, or even 2005's version of Chivas USA - not to mention his two stints helming the US Men's U-20 National team before and after. However, most will undoubtedly know Rongen from his memorable turn as the head coach of the American Samoa national team during FIFA World Cup qualifying in 2011 - forever immortalized in the epically joyous 2014 documentary "Next Goal Wins", and soon to be refashioned as a major motion picture drama of the same name this fall - in which he wills one of the world's perennial soccer minnows into surprising respectability. We cover all of it - and more - with one of the country's most endearing soccer personalities!   BUY EARLY & OFTEN: Next Goal Wins (2014 DVD)   PREVIEW: Next Goal Wins (2014 documentary) Next Goal  Wins (2023 dramatic feature)   FIND & FOLLOW: Website: https://goodseatsstillavailable.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/GoodSeatsStill Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodseatsstillavailable/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoodSeatsStillAvailable/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@goodseatsstillavailable

MLB – Major League Baseball Last Night Detroit Tigers 4, Pittsburg Pirates 0 Chicago White Sox 8, Cleveland Guardians 3 Houston Astros 7, Chicago Cubs 3 Tigers 4, Pirates 0 – Michael Lorenzen has season-high 7 strikeouts, Tigers beat Pirates 4-0 Michael Lorenzen had a season-high seven strikeouts in six innings, Spencer Torkelson doubled twice and the Detroit Tigers beat the slumping Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0 on Tuesday night. Lorenzen (2-2) gave up five hits and two walks and has allowed just two runs in his last three starts. Will Vest worked two scoreless innings, with three strikeouts, and Jose Cisnero pitched the ninth. Torkelson scored and knocked in another run. Riley Greene had three hits. Shut out for the second time in three games, Pittsburgh has lost 12 of 14 games while scoring just 22 runs. Luis Ortiz (0-2) allowed four runs, three earned, and seven hits in three-plus innings. White Sox 8, Guardians 3 – Robert homers for 4th straight game, White Sox beat Guardians 8-3 Luis Robert Jr. homered for the fourth straight game, Gavin Sheets and Jake Burger went deep off Shane Bieber in Chicago’s six-run fifth inning, and the White Sox beat the Cleveland Guardians 8-3. Lance Lynn allowed three runs — one earned — on seven hits in seven innings. Robert’s solo shot to deep left in the eighth was his AL-leading 12th homer of the season. He became the first White Sox player to homer in four straight games since Matt Davidson in 2017. Sheets’ three-run shot and Burger’s two-run drive were among six straight hits by the White Sox with two outs in the fifth as Chicago jumped ahead 6-0. Astros 7, Cubs 3 – Alvarez, McCormick each have 2 hits, Astros beat Cubs 7-3 Yordan Alvarez had two hits and drove in two runs and Chas McCormick added two hits and made a nifty grab in the Houston Astros’ 7-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night. Justin Steele (6-1) hadn’t given up more than three runs in a game this season before the Astros jumped on him for four runs in the fourth inning for a 5-1 lead. The Astros had four of their season-high six doubles in that inning en route to their third consecutive victory. Steele allowed five hits and five runs with eight strikeouts in six innings. Cristian Javier (4-1) allowed two hits and one run in six innings for his second straight win. Tonight Pittsburgh (Hill 3-3) at Detroit (Rodriguez 4-2), 1:10 p.m.        News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM 12:45 Chicago Cubs (Smyly 4-1) at Houston (France 1-0), 8:10 p.m. Cleveland (Battenfield 0-4) at Chicago White Sox (Clevinger 2-3), 8:10 p.m. NBA – National Basketball Association Playoffs – Conference Finals (Best of 7) Last Night Western Conference Finals Denver Nuggets 132, Los Angles Lakers 126                            (DEN leads 1-0) Nuggets 132, Lakers 126 – Nikola Jokic leads Nuggets past Lakers 132-126 in West opener Nikola Jokic’s powerful display at both ends of the court propelled the Denver Nuggets past the Los Angeles Lakers 132-126 in the opener of the Western Conference Finals. The Nuggets led by as many as 21 points before the Lakers made a late push before falling short of winning an opener on the road for the third time in these playoffs. Anthony Davis scored 40 points for the Lakers and LeBron James came up one assist shy of a triple double to go with his 26 points and 12 rebounds. Last Night Eastern Conference Finals Miami Heat at Boston Celtics, 8:30 p.m.                                  (Game 1) NBA – The Wembanyama sweepstakes and draft lottery has a winner: It’s the Spurs Victor Wembanyama is now set to begin his NBA career with the San Antonio Spurs, after they won the NBA draft lottery and the No. 1 overall pick on Tuesday night. The Spurs were one of three teams with the best odds — 14% — to land the No. 1 pick, which they’ll almost certainly use on Wembanyama. The 7-foot-3 French 19-year-old is one of the most highly touted prospects in NBA history and will be expected to make an immediate impact on the league.  Detroit had the worst record in the NBA and was one of the three teams with the best odds of winning. The Pistons wound up falling all the way to fifth, the worst of their possible outcomes.   Indiana has the 7th pick and the Bulls pick at 11 was traded to Orlando in the deal for Nikola Vucevic. WNBA – WNBA suspends Hammon 2 games for player’s allegation she was bullied The WNBA has suspended Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon, one of the league’s marquee figures, for two games after former Aces player Dearica Hamby said she had been bullied and manipulated for being pregnant. Hammon, who in her first season last year led the Aces to the WNBA championship, was suspended without pay Tuesday after a monthslong investigation. The league also rescinded the Aces’ first-round pick in the 2025 draft for a different issue — a violation of league rules regarding impermissible player benefits involving Hamby. Hammon and the Aces have not responded to requests for comment. NHL – Arizona Coyotes’ bid for new arena appears to be rejected by voters The Arizona Coyotes’ bid for a new arena appears to be dead. In the first release of results from Tuesday’s referendum, voters in the Phoenix suburb of Tempe were strongly against three propositions to build a $2.3 billion entertainment district that would include a new arena for the Coyotes. Opposition to the three propositions had a double-digit lead over those in favor, with only ballots dropped off Tuesday left to count. The Coyotes had hoped a new arena in Tempe would finally allow the franchise to settle down after playing in three different venues since moving to Arizona. Now it appears the franchise has to search for a new home again. NFL – ESPN announces ‘Pat McAfee Show’ will join afternoon lineup Pat McAfee’s show is moving to ESPN as part of a new multiyear deal. McAfee first joined ESPN as a college football analyst for its Thursday night games in 2019. He returned to the network last year and became part of the “College GameDay” crew as well as hosting some alternate presentations of ESPN games, including the CFP National Championship. That will continue, but it is McAfee’s show that has created the most buzz. ESPN also announced a documentary series on Serena Williams and four major matchups for the upcoming college football season. NFL – Peacock will exclusively carry NFL playoff game in a first for streaming service The NFL is taking another big step into streaming by putting one of its playoff games exclusively on a digital platform for the first time. The league and NBCUniversal announced that the Saturday night game on Wild Card weekend will be on Peacock. It will be preceded by a late afternoon playoff game on NBC and Peacock that will kick off at 4:30 p.m. EST. The Peacock game will also be broadcast on NBC stations in the markets of the two teams. Subscription rates for Peacock start at $4.99 per month. Soccer – CTE cases in soccer players raise fresh questions about safety of heading the ball Four more former professional soccer players have been diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy. The Concussion Legacy Foundation says the North American Soccer League veterans were found to have the degenerative brain disease that has been linked to concussions in athletes, combat veterans and others who have sustained repeated head trauma. English star Jimmy Fryatt was one of them. He was considered one of the best at heading the ball. Researchers say the practice is dangerous and should be phased out, especially for children. The new diagnoses come as soccer officials gather in Chicago for a Head Injury Summit. Some of the ex-players’ families say hearing from those who suffered from the disease is a key to preventing and treating it. MWL – Midwest League Baseball Last Night West Michigan 11, Great Lakes 10 Lake County 6, Lansing 5 South Bend 9, Beloit 4 Today Lake County Captains at Lansing Lugnuts, 11:05 a.m. (DH) South Bend Cubs at Beloit Sky Carp, 12:05 p.m. West Michigan Whitecaps at Great Lakes Loons, 6:05 p.m. MHSAA – 1-and-1 free throws to be eliminated at the high school level next season One-and-ones are done in high school basketball. High school basketball teams now will shoot two free throws for common fouls when in the “bonus” instead of having to make the first free throw to get a second after seven fouls. Rules changes for next school year were approved by the National Federation of State High School Associations’ basketball rules committee, then by its board of directors. In addition to awarding two foul shots for all common fouls, teams will reach the bonus when their opponent commits five fouls in each quarter and team fouls will reset at the end of each quarter. MHSAA – High School Sports Yesterday Baseball Lakeshore 10, Portage Central 9 Michigan Lutheran 12, New Buffalo 1- Game 1 Michigan Lutheran 18, New Buffalo 3 – Game 2 Brandywine 3, Watervliet 2 – Game 1 Watervliet 4, Brandywine 1 – Game 2 Kalamazoo Christian 5, Buchanan 1 – Game 1 Kalamazoo Christian 4, Buchanan 0 – Game 2 Bridgman 11, Coloma 0 – Game 1 Bridgman 17, Coloma 0 – Game 2 Kalamazoo Loy Norrix 10, South Haven 0 – Game 1 Kalamazoo Loy Norrix 7, South Haven 3 – Game 2 River Valley 1, Eau Claire 0 – Game 1 River Valley 8, Eau Claire 4 – Game 2 Niles 7, Plainwell 6 – Game 1 Plainwell 1, Niles 0 – Game 2 Otsego 12, Paw Paw 2 – Game 1 Otsego 5, Paw Paw 0 – Game 2 Sturgis 11, Three Rivers 0 – Game 1 Three Rivers 3, Sturgis 1 – Game 2 Vicksburg 12, Edwardsburg 8 – Game 1 Edwardsburg 8, Vickburg 5 – Game 2 Vicksburg 14, Edwardsburg 3 – Game 2 Forest Hills Eastern 10, Mattawan 0 – Game 1 Mattawan 3, Forest Hills Eastern 0 – Game 2 Gobles 21, Holland Black River 1 – Game 1 Gobles 12, Holland Black River 2 – Game 2 Parchment 8, Kalamazoo Hackett 2 – Game 1 Parchment 13, Kalamazoo Hackett 3 – Game 2 Centreville 2, Colon 1 Comstock 19, Marcellus 7 – Game 1 Comstock 16, Marcellus 1 – Game 2 Softball St. Joseph 13, Dowagiac 3 – Game 1 St. Joseph 11, Dowagiac 6 – Game 2 Mattawan 16, South Haven 3 – Game 1 South Haven 15, Mattawan 6 – Game 2 Buchanan 2, Kalamazoo Christian 0 – Game 1 Buchanan 9, Kalamazoo Christian 3 – Game 2 Coloma 10, Bridgman 0 – Game 1 Coloma 12, Bridgman 3 – Game 2 Niles 11, Plainwell 3 – Game 1 Niles 16, Plainwell 1 – Game 2 Otsego 4, Paw Paw 3 – Game 1 Otsego 8, Paw Paw 0 – Game 1 Three Rivers 17, Sturgis 2 – Game 1 Three River 28, Sturgis 0 – Game 2 Edwardsburg 11, Vicksburg 10 – Game 1 Vicksburg 14, Edwardsburg 3 – Game 2 Portage Central 15, Battle Creek Cent. 0 – Game 1 Portage Central 15, Battle Creek Cent. 0 – Game 2 Parchment 16, Kalamazoo Hackett 1 – Game 1 Parchment 13, Kalamazoo Hackett 3 – Game 2 Centreville 5, Colon 0 – Game 1 Centreville 15, Colon 6 – Game 2 Girls Soccer Michigan Lutheran 1, Berrien Springs 0 Watervliet 6, Coloma 1 Bangor 1, Hartford 1 – Tie Fennville 3, Lawton 1 Kalamazoo Hackett 7, Parchment 0 GR Covenant Christian 2, Holland Black River 1 Today Girls Soccer SMAC Tournament Portage Central at Mattawan, 6:30 p.m.              Championship game Lakeshore at Gull Lake, 6:30 p.m.                       3rd place game Battle Creek Lakeview at St. Joseph, 6:30 p.m.      5th place game Portage Northern at Kal. Loy Norrix, 6:30 p.m.     7th place game Kalamazoo Central 9th place Battle Creek Central 10th place Wolverine Paw Paw at Niles, 6:30 p.m. Three Rivers at Otsego, 6:30 p.m. Edwardsburg at Sturgis, 6:00 p.m. Plainwell at Vicksburg, 6:30 p.m. BCS Our Lady of the Lake at Covert, 5:00 p.m. SAC Delton-Kellogg at South Haven, 6:30 p.m. Saugatuck at Allegan, 6:30 p.m. Coloma at Constantine, 5:00 p.m. Non-Conference Buchanan at Comstock, 5:00 p.m. Marcellus at New Buffalo, 6:00 p.m. Bridgman at Brandywine, 5:00 p.m. Battle Creek Central at Calhoun Christian, 5:00 p.m. Baseball Our Lady of the Lake at Benton Harbor, 4:00 p.m. Battle Creek Lakeview at Mattawan, 4:00 p.m. Martin at Galesburg-Augusta, 4:30 p.m. Mendon at Cassopolis, 4:30 p.m. Zion Christian at Saugatuck, 4:30 p.m. Softball Battle Creek Lakeview at Mattawan, 4:00 p.m. Martin at Saugatuck, 4:30 p.m. Mendon at Cassopolis, 4:30 p.m. Comstock at Grant, 4:00 p.m.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MLB – Major League Baseball Last Night Detroit Tigers 4, Pittsburg Pirates 0 Chicago White Sox 8, Cleveland Guardians 3 Houston Astros 7, Chicago Cubs 3 Tigers 4, Pirates 0 – Michael Lorenzen has season-high 7 strikeouts, Tigers beat Pirates 4-0 Michael Lorenzen had a season-high seven strikeouts in six innings, Spencer Torkelson doubled twice and the Detroit Tigers beat the slumping Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0 on Tuesday night. Lorenzen (2-2) gave up five hits and two walks and has allowed just two runs in his last three starts. Will Vest worked two scoreless innings, with three strikeouts, and Jose Cisnero pitched the ninth. Torkelson scored and knocked in another run. Riley Greene had three hits. Shut out for the second time in three games, Pittsburgh has lost 12 of 14 games while scoring just 22 runs. Luis Ortiz (0-2) allowed four runs, three earned, and seven hits in three-plus innings. White Sox 8, Guardians 3 – Robert homers for 4th straight game, White Sox beat Guardians 8-3 Luis Robert Jr. homered for the fourth straight game, Gavin Sheets and Jake Burger went deep off Shane Bieber in Chicago’s six-run fifth inning, and the White Sox beat the Cleveland Guardians 8-3. Lance Lynn allowed three runs — one earned — on seven hits in seven innings. Robert’s solo shot to deep left in the eighth was his AL-leading 12th homer of the season. He became the first White Sox player to homer in four straight games since Matt Davidson in 2017. Sheets’ three-run shot and Burger’s two-run drive were among six straight hits by the White Sox with two outs in the fifth as Chicago jumped ahead 6-0. Astros 7, Cubs 3 – Alvarez, McCormick each have 2 hits, Astros beat Cubs 7-3 Yordan Alvarez had two hits and drove in two runs and Chas McCormick added two hits and made a nifty grab in the Houston Astros’ 7-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night. Justin Steele (6-1) hadn’t given up more than three runs in a game this season before the Astros jumped on him for four runs in the fourth inning for a 5-1 lead. The Astros had four of their season-high six doubles in that inning en route to their third consecutive victory. Steele allowed five hits and five runs with eight strikeouts in six innings. Cristian Javier (4-1) allowed two hits and one run in six innings for his second straight win. Tonight Pittsburgh (Hill 3-3) at Detroit (Rodriguez 4-2), 1:10 p.m.        News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM 12:45 Chicago Cubs (Smyly 4-1) at Houston (France 1-0), 8:10 p.m. Cleveland (Battenfield 0-4) at Chicago White Sox (Clevinger 2-3), 8:10 p.m. NBA – National Basketball Association Playoffs – Conference Finals (Best of 7) Last Night Western Conference Finals Denver Nuggets 132, Los Angles Lakers 126                            (DEN leads 1-0) Nuggets 132, Lakers 126 – Nikola Jokic leads Nuggets past Lakers 132-126 in West opener Nikola Jokic’s powerful display at both ends of the court propelled the Denver Nuggets past the Los Angeles Lakers 132-126 in the opener of the Western Conference Finals. The Nuggets led by as many as 21 points before the Lakers made a late push before falling short of winning an opener on the road for the third time in these playoffs. Anthony Davis scored 40 points for the Lakers and LeBron James came up one assist shy of a triple double to go with his 26 points and 12 rebounds. Last Night Eastern Conference Finals Miami Heat at Boston Celtics, 8:30 p.m.                                  (Game 1) NBA – The Wembanyama sweepstakes and draft lottery has a winner: It’s the Spurs Victor Wembanyama is now set to begin his NBA career with the San Antonio Spurs, after they won the NBA draft lottery and the No. 1 overall pick on Tuesday night. The Spurs were one of three teams with the best odds — 14% — to land the No. 1 pick, which they’ll almost certainly use on Wembanyama. The 7-foot-3 French 19-year-old is one of the most highly touted prospects in NBA history and will be expected to make an immediate impact on the league.  Detroit had the worst record in the NBA and was one of the three teams with the best odds of winning. The Pistons wound up falling all the way to fifth, the worst of their possible outcomes.   Indiana has the 7th pick and the Bulls pick at 11 was traded to Orlando in the deal for Nikola Vucevic. WNBA – WNBA suspends Hammon 2 games for player’s allegation she was bullied The WNBA has suspended Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon, one of the league’s marquee figures, for two games after former Aces player Dearica Hamby said she had been bullied and manipulated for being pregnant. Hammon, who in her first season last year led the Aces to the WNBA championship, was suspended without pay Tuesday after a monthslong investigation. The league also rescinded the Aces’ first-round pick in the 2025 draft for a different issue — a violation of league rules regarding impermissible player benefits involving Hamby. Hammon and the Aces have not responded to requests for comment. NHL – Arizona Coyotes’ bid for new arena appears to be rejected by voters The Arizona Coyotes’ bid for a new arena appears to be dead. In the first release of results from Tuesday’s referendum, voters in the Phoenix suburb of Tempe were strongly against three propositions to build a $2.3 billion entertainment district that would include a new arena for the Coyotes. Opposition to the three propositions had a double-digit lead over those in favor, with only ballots dropped off Tuesday left to count. The Coyotes had hoped a new arena in Tempe would finally allow the franchise to settle down after playing in three different venues since moving to Arizona. Now it appears the franchise has to search for a new home again. NFL – ESPN announces ‘Pat McAfee Show’ will join afternoon lineup Pat McAfee’s show is moving to ESPN as part of a new multiyear deal. McAfee first joined ESPN as a college football analyst for its Thursday night games in 2019. He returned to the network last year and became part of the “College GameDay” crew as well as hosting some alternate presentations of ESPN games, including the CFP National Championship. That will continue, but it is McAfee’s show that has created the most buzz. ESPN also announced a documentary series on Serena Williams and four major matchups for the upcoming college football season. NFL – Peacock will exclusively carry NFL playoff game in a first for streaming service The NFL is taking another big step into streaming by putting one of its playoff games exclusively on a digital platform for the first time. The league and NBCUniversal announced that the Saturday night game on Wild Card weekend will be on Peacock. It will be preceded by a late afternoon playoff game on NBC and Peacock that will kick off at 4:30 p.m. EST. The Peacock game will also be broadcast on NBC stations in the markets of the two teams. Subscription rates for Peacock start at $4.99 per month. Soccer – CTE cases in soccer players raise fresh questions about safety of heading the ball Four more former professional soccer players have been diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy. The Concussion Legacy Foundation says the North American Soccer League veterans were found to have the degenerative brain disease that has been linked to concussions in athletes, combat veterans and others who have sustained repeated head trauma. English star Jimmy Fryatt was one of them. He was considered one of the best at heading the ball. Researchers say the practice is dangerous and should be phased out, especially for children. The new diagnoses come as soccer officials gather in Chicago for a Head Injury Summit. Some of the ex-players’ families say hearing from those who suffered from the disease is a key to preventing and treating it. MWL – Midwest League Baseball Last Night West Michigan 11, Great Lakes 10 Lake County 6, Lansing 5 South Bend 9, Beloit 4 Today Lake County Captains at Lansing Lugnuts, 11:05 a.m. (DH) South Bend Cubs at Beloit Sky Carp, 12:05 p.m. West Michigan Whitecaps at Great Lakes Loons, 6:05 p.m. MHSAA – 1-and-1 free throws to be eliminated at the high school level next season One-and-ones are done in high school basketball. High school basketball teams now will shoot two free throws for common fouls when in the “bonus” instead of having to make the first free throw to get a second after seven fouls. Rules changes for next school year were approved by the National Federation of State High School Associations’ basketball rules committee, then by its board of directors. In addition to awarding two foul shots for all common fouls, teams will reach the bonus when their opponent commits five fouls in each quarter and team fouls will reset at the end of each quarter. MHSAA – High School Sports Yesterday Baseball Lakeshore 10, Portage Central 9 Michigan Lutheran 12, New Buffalo 1- Game 1 Michigan Lutheran 18, New Buffalo 3 – Game 2 Brandywine 3, Watervliet 2 – Game 1 Watervliet 4, Brandywine 1 – Game 2 Kalamazoo Christian 5, Buchanan 1 – Game 1 Kalamazoo Christian 4, Buchanan 0 – Game 2 Bridgman 11, Coloma 0 – Game 1 Bridgman 17, Coloma 0 – Game 2 Kalamazoo Loy Norrix 10, South Haven 0 – Game 1 Kalamazoo Loy Norrix 7, South Haven 3 – Game 2 River Valley 1, Eau Claire 0 – Game 1 River Valley 8, Eau Claire 4 – Game 2 Niles 7, Plainwell 6 – Game 1 Plainwell 1, Niles 0 – Game 2 Otsego 12, Paw Paw 2 – Game 1 Otsego 5, Paw Paw 0 – Game 2 Sturgis 11, Three Rivers 0 – Game 1 Three Rivers 3, Sturgis 1 – Game 2 Vicksburg 12, Edwardsburg 8 – Game 1 Edwardsburg 8, Vickburg 5 – Game 2 Vicksburg 14, Edwardsburg 3 – Game 2 Forest Hills Eastern 10, Mattawan 0 – Game 1 Mattawan 3, Forest Hills Eastern 0 – Game 2 Gobles 21, Holland Black River 1 – Game 1 Gobles 12, Holland Black River 2 – Game 2 Parchment 8, Kalamazoo Hackett 2 – Game 1 Parchment 13, Kalamazoo Hackett 3 – Game 2 Centreville 2, Colon 1 Comstock 19, Marcellus 7 – Game 1 Comstock 16, Marcellus 1 – Game 2 Softball St. Joseph 13, Dowagiac 3 – Game 1 St. Joseph 11, Dowagiac 6 – Game 2 Mattawan 16, South Haven 3 – Game 1 South Haven 15, Mattawan 6 – Game 2 Buchanan 2, Kalamazoo Christian 0 – Game 1 Buchanan 9, Kalamazoo Christian 3 – Game 2 Coloma 10, Bridgman 0 – Game 1 Coloma 12, Bridgman 3 – Game 2 Niles 11, Plainwell 3 – Game 1 Niles 16, Plainwell 1 – Game 2 Otsego 4, Paw Paw 3 – Game 1 Otsego 8, Paw Paw 0 – Game 1 Three Rivers 17, Sturgis 2 – Game 1 Three River 28, Sturgis 0 – Game 2 Edwardsburg 11, Vicksburg 10 – Game 1 Vicksburg 14, Edwardsburg 3 – Game 2 Portage Central 15, Battle Creek Cent. 0 – Game 1 Portage Central 15, Battle Creek Cent. 0 – Game 2 Parchment 16, Kalamazoo Hackett 1 – Game 1 Parchment 13, Kalamazoo Hackett 3 – Game 2 Centreville 5, Colon 0 – Game 1 Centreville 15, Colon 6 – Game 2 Girls Soccer Michigan Lutheran 1, Berrien Springs 0 Watervliet 6, Coloma 1 Bangor 1, Hartford 1 – Tie Fennville 3, Lawton 1 Kalamazoo Hackett 7, Parchment 0 GR Covenant Christian 2, Holland Black River 1 Today Girls Soccer SMAC Tournament Portage Central at Mattawan, 6:30 p.m.              Championship game Lakeshore at Gull Lake, 6:30 p.m.                       3rd place game Battle Creek Lakeview at St. Joseph, 6:30 p.m.      5th place game Portage Northern at Kal. Loy Norrix, 6:30 p.m.     7th place game Kalamazoo Central 9th place Battle Creek Central 10th place Wolverine Paw Paw at Niles, 6:30 p.m. Three Rivers at Otsego, 6:30 p.m. Edwardsburg at Sturgis, 6:00 p.m. Plainwell at Vicksburg, 6:30 p.m. BCS Our Lady of the Lake at Covert, 5:00 p.m. SAC Delton-Kellogg at South Haven, 6:30 p.m. Saugatuck at Allegan, 6:30 p.m. Coloma at Constantine, 5:00 p.m. Non-Conference Buchanan at Comstock, 5:00 p.m. Marcellus at New Buffalo, 6:00 p.m. Bridgman at Brandywine, 5:00 p.m. Battle Creek Central at Calhoun Christian, 5:00 p.m. Baseball Our Lady of the Lake at Benton Harbor, 4:00 p.m. Battle Creek Lakeview at Mattawan, 4:00 p.m. Martin at Galesburg-Augusta, 4:30 p.m. Mendon at Cassopolis, 4:30 p.m. Zion Christian at Saugatuck, 4:30 p.m. Softball Battle Creek Lakeview at Mattawan, 4:00 p.m. Martin at Saugatuck, 4:30 p.m. Mendon at Cassopolis, 4:30 p.m. Comstock at Grant, 4:00 p.m.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MLB – Major League Baseball Last Night Detroit Tigers 4, Pittsburg Pirates 0 Chicago White Sox 8, Cleveland Guardians 3 Houston Astros 7, Chicago Cubs 3 Tigers 4, Pirates 0 – Michael Lorenzen has season-high 7 strikeouts, Tigers beat Pirates 4-0 Michael Lorenzen had a season-high seven strikeouts in six innings, Spencer Torkelson doubled twice and the Detroit Tigers beat the slumping Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0 on Tuesday night. Lorenzen (2-2) gave up five hits and two walks and has allowed just two runs in his last three starts. Will Vest worked two scoreless innings, with three strikeouts, and Jose Cisnero pitched the ninth. Torkelson scored and knocked in another run. Riley Greene had three hits. Shut out for the second time in three games, Pittsburgh has lost 12 of 14 games while scoring just 22 runs. Luis Ortiz (0-2) allowed four runs, three earned, and seven hits in three-plus innings. White Sox 8, Guardians 3 – Robert homers for 4th straight game, White Sox beat Guardians 8-3 Luis Robert Jr. homered for the fourth straight game, Gavin Sheets and Jake Burger went deep off Shane Bieber in Chicago’s six-run fifth inning, and the White Sox beat the Cleveland Guardians 8-3. Lance Lynn allowed three runs — one earned — on seven hits in seven innings. Robert’s solo shot to deep left in the eighth was his AL-leading 12th homer of the season. He became the first White Sox player to homer in four straight games since Matt Davidson in 2017. Sheets’ three-run shot and Burger’s two-run drive were among six straight hits by the White Sox with two outs in the fifth as Chicago jumped ahead 6-0. Astros 7, Cubs 3 – Alvarez, McCormick each have 2 hits, Astros beat Cubs 7-3 Yordan Alvarez had two hits and drove in two runs and Chas McCormick added two hits and made a nifty grab in the Houston Astros’ 7-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night. Justin Steele (6-1) hadn’t given up more than three runs in a game this season before the Astros jumped on him for four runs in the fourth inning for a 5-1 lead. The Astros had four of their season-high six doubles in that inning en route to their third consecutive victory. Steele allowed five hits and five runs with eight strikeouts in six innings. Cristian Javier (4-1) allowed two hits and one run in six innings for his second straight win. Tonight Pittsburgh (Hill 3-3) at Detroit (Rodriguez 4-2), 1:10 p.m.        News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM 12:45 Chicago Cubs (Smyly 4-1) at Houston (France 1-0), 8:10 p.m. Cleveland (Battenfield 0-4) at Chicago White Sox (Clevinger 2-3), 8:10 p.m. NBA – National Basketball Association Playoffs – Conference Finals (Best of 7) Last Night Western Conference Finals Denver Nuggets 132, Los Angles Lakers 126                            (DEN leads 1-0) Nuggets 132, Lakers 126 – Nikola Jokic leads Nuggets past Lakers 132-126 in West opener Nikola Jokic’s powerful display at both ends of the court propelled the Denver Nuggets past the Los Angeles Lakers 132-126 in the opener of the Western Conference Finals. The Nuggets led by as many as 21 points before the Lakers made a late push before falling short of winning an opener on the road for the third time in these playoffs. Anthony Davis scored 40 points for the Lakers and LeBron James came up one assist shy of a triple double to go with his 26 points and 12 rebounds. Last Night Eastern Conference Finals Miami Heat at Boston Celtics, 8:30 p.m.                                  (Game 1) NBA – The Wembanyama sweepstakes and draft lottery has a winner: It’s the Spurs Victor Wembanyama is now set to begin his NBA career with the San Antonio Spurs, after they won the NBA draft lottery and the No. 1 overall pick on Tuesday night. The Spurs were one of three teams with the best odds — 14% — to land the No. 1 pick, which they’ll almost certainly use on Wembanyama. The 7-foot-3 French 19-year-old is one of the most highly touted prospects in NBA history and will be expected to make an immediate impact on the league.  Detroit had the worst record in the NBA and was one of the three teams with the best odds of winning. The Pistons wound up falling all the way to fifth, the worst of their possible outcomes.   Indiana has the 7th pick and the Bulls pick at 11 was traded to Orlando in the deal for Nikola Vucevic. WNBA – WNBA suspends Hammon 2 games for player’s allegation she was bullied The WNBA has suspended Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon, one of the league’s marquee figures, for two games after former Aces player Dearica Hamby said she had been bullied and manipulated for being pregnant. Hammon, who in her first season last year led the Aces to the WNBA championship, was suspended without pay Tuesday after a monthslong investigation. The league also rescinded the Aces’ first-round pick in the 2025 draft for a different issue — a violation of league rules regarding impermissible player benefits involving Hamby. Hammon and the Aces have not responded to requests for comment. NHL – Arizona Coyotes’ bid for new arena appears to be rejected by voters The Arizona Coyotes’ bid for a new arena appears to be dead. In the first release of results from Tuesday’s referendum, voters in the Phoenix suburb of Tempe were strongly against three propositions to build a $2.3 billion entertainment district that would include a new arena for the Coyotes. Opposition to the three propositions had a double-digit lead over those in favor, with only ballots dropped off Tuesday left to count. The Coyotes had hoped a new arena in Tempe would finally allow the franchise to settle down after playing in three different venues since moving to Arizona. Now it appears the franchise has to search for a new home again. NFL – ESPN announces ‘Pat McAfee Show’ will join afternoon lineup Pat McAfee’s show is moving to ESPN as part of a new multiyear deal. McAfee first joined ESPN as a college football analyst for its Thursday night games in 2019. He returned to the network last year and became part of the “College GameDay” crew as well as hosting some alternate presentations of ESPN games, including the CFP National Championship. That will continue, but it is McAfee’s show that has created the most buzz. ESPN also announced a documentary series on Serena Williams and four major matchups for the upcoming college football season. NFL – Peacock will exclusively carry NFL playoff game in a first for streaming service The NFL is taking another big step into streaming by putting one of its playoff games exclusively on a digital platform for the first time. The league and NBCUniversal announced that the Saturday night game on Wild Card weekend will be on Peacock. It will be preceded by a late afternoon playoff game on NBC and Peacock that will kick off at 4:30 p.m. EST. The Peacock game will also be broadcast on NBC stations in the markets of the two teams. Subscription rates for Peacock start at $4.99 per month. Soccer – CTE cases in soccer players raise fresh questions about safety of heading the ball Four more former professional soccer players have been diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy. The Concussion Legacy Foundation says the North American Soccer League veterans were found to have the degenerative brain disease that has been linked to concussions in athletes, combat veterans and others who have sustained repeated head trauma. English star Jimmy Fryatt was one of them. He was considered one of the best at heading the ball. Researchers say the practice is dangerous and should be phased out, especially for children. The new diagnoses come as soccer officials gather in Chicago for a Head Injury Summit. Some of the ex-players’ families say hearing from those who suffered from the disease is a key to preventing and treating it. MWL – Midwest League Baseball Last Night West Michigan 11, Great Lakes 10 Lake County 6, Lansing 5 South Bend 9, Beloit 4 Today Lake County Captains at Lansing Lugnuts, 11:05 a.m. (DH) South Bend Cubs at Beloit Sky Carp, 12:05 p.m. West Michigan Whitecaps at Great Lakes Loons, 6:05 p.m. MHSAA – 1-and-1 free throws to be eliminated at the high school level next season One-and-ones are done in high school basketball. High school basketball teams now will shoot two free throws for common fouls when in the “bonus” instead of having to make the first free throw to get a second after seven fouls. Rules changes for next school year were approved by the National Federation of State High School Associations’ basketball rules committee, then by its board of directors. In addition to awarding two foul shots for all common fouls, teams will reach the bonus when their opponent commits five fouls in each quarter and team fouls will reset at the end of each quarter. MHSAA – High School Sports Yesterday Baseball Lakeshore 10, Portage Central 9 Michigan Lutheran 12, New Buffalo 1- Game 1 Michigan Lutheran 18, New Buffalo 3 – Game 2 Brandywine 3, Watervliet 2 – Game 1 Watervliet 4, Brandywine 1 – Game 2 Kalamazoo Christian 5, Buchanan 1 – Game 1 Kalamazoo Christian 4, Buchanan 0 – Game 2 Bridgman 11, Coloma 0 – Game 1 Bridgman 17, Coloma 0 – Game 2 Kalamazoo Loy Norrix 10, South Haven 0 – Game 1 Kalamazoo Loy Norrix 7, South Haven 3 – Game 2 River Valley 1, Eau Claire 0 – Game 1 River Valley 8, Eau Claire 4 – Game 2 Niles 7, Plainwell 6 – Game 1 Plainwell 1, Niles 0 – Game 2 Otsego 12, Paw Paw 2 – Game 1 Otsego 5, Paw Paw 0 – Game 2 Sturgis 11, Three Rivers 0 – Game 1 Three Rivers 3, Sturgis 1 – Game 2 Vicksburg 12, Edwardsburg 8 – Game 1 Edwardsburg 8, Vickburg 5 – Game 2 Vicksburg 14, Edwardsburg 3 – Game 2 Forest Hills Eastern 10, Mattawan 0 – Game 1 Mattawan 3, Forest Hills Eastern 0 – Game 2 Gobles 21, Holland Black River 1 – Game 1 Gobles 12, Holland Black River 2 – Game 2 Parchment 8, Kalamazoo Hackett 2 – Game 1 Parchment 13, Kalamazoo Hackett 3 – Game 2 Centreville 2, Colon 1 Comstock 19, Marcellus 7 – Game 1 Comstock 16, Marcellus 1 – Game 2 Softball St. Joseph 13, Dowagiac 3 – Game 1 St. Joseph 11, Dowagiac 6 – Game 2 Mattawan 16, South Haven 3 – Game 1 South Haven 15, Mattawan 6 – Game 2 Buchanan 2, Kalamazoo Christian 0 – Game 1 Buchanan 9, Kalamazoo Christian 3 – Game 2 Coloma 10, Bridgman 0 – Game 1 Coloma 12, Bridgman 3 – Game 2 Niles 11, Plainwell 3 – Game 1 Niles 16, Plainwell 1 – Game 2 Otsego 4, Paw Paw 3 – Game 1 Otsego 8, Paw Paw 0 – Game 1 Three Rivers 17, Sturgis 2 – Game 1 Three River 28, Sturgis 0 – Game 2 Edwardsburg 11, Vicksburg 10 – Game 1 Vicksburg 14, Edwardsburg 3 – Game 2 Portage Central 15, Battle Creek Cent. 0 – Game 1 Portage Central 15, Battle Creek Cent. 0 – Game 2 Parchment 16, Kalamazoo Hackett 1 – Game 1 Parchment 13, Kalamazoo Hackett 3 – Game 2 Centreville 5, Colon 0 – Game 1 Centreville 15, Colon 6 – Game 2 Girls Soccer Michigan Lutheran 1, Berrien Springs 0 Watervliet 6, Coloma 1 Bangor 1, Hartford 1 – Tie Fennville 3, Lawton 1 Kalamazoo Hackett 7, Parchment 0 GR Covenant Christian 2, Holland Black River 1 Today Girls Soccer SMAC Tournament Portage Central at Mattawan, 6:30 p.m.              Championship game Lakeshore at Gull Lake, 6:30 p.m.                       3rd place game Battle Creek Lakeview at St. Joseph, 6:30 p.m.      5th place game Portage Northern at Kal. Loy Norrix, 6:30 p.m.     7th place game Kalamazoo Central 9th place Battle Creek Central 10th place Wolverine Paw Paw at Niles, 6:30 p.m. Three Rivers at Otsego, 6:30 p.m. Edwardsburg at Sturgis, 6:00 p.m. Plainwell at Vicksburg, 6:30 p.m. BCS Our Lady of the Lake at Covert, 5:00 p.m. SAC Delton-Kellogg at South Haven, 6:30 p.m. Saugatuck at Allegan, 6:30 p.m. Coloma at Constantine, 5:00 p.m. Non-Conference Buchanan at Comstock, 5:00 p.m. Marcellus at New Buffalo, 6:00 p.m. Bridgman at Brandywine, 5:00 p.m. Battle Creek Central at Calhoun Christian, 5:00 p.m. Baseball Our Lady of the Lake at Benton Harbor, 4:00 p.m. Battle Creek Lakeview at Mattawan, 4:00 p.m. Martin at Galesburg-Augusta, 4:30 p.m. Mendon at Cassopolis, 4:30 p.m. Zion Christian at Saugatuck, 4:30 p.m. Softball Battle Creek Lakeview at Mattawan, 4:00 p.m. Martin at Saugatuck, 4:30 p.m. Mendon at Cassopolis, 4:30 p.m. Comstock at Grant, 4:00 p.m.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MLB – Major League Baseball Last Night Detroit Tigers 4, Pittsburg Pirates 0 Chicago White Sox 8, Cleveland Guardians 3 Houston Astros 7, Chicago Cubs 3 Tigers 4, Pirates 0 – Michael Lorenzen has season-high 7 strikeouts, Tigers beat Pirates 4-0 Michael Lorenzen had a season-high seven strikeouts in six innings, Spencer Torkelson doubled twice and the Detroit Tigers beat the slumping Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0 on Tuesday night. Lorenzen (2-2) gave up five hits and two walks and has allowed just two runs in his last three starts. Will Vest worked two scoreless innings, with three strikeouts, and Jose Cisnero pitched the ninth. Torkelson scored and knocked in another run. Riley Greene had three hits. Shut out for the second time in three games, Pittsburgh has lost 12 of 14 games while scoring just 22 runs. Luis Ortiz (0-2) allowed four runs, three earned, and seven hits in three-plus innings. White Sox 8, Guardians 3 – Robert homers for 4th straight game, White Sox beat Guardians 8-3 Luis Robert Jr. homered for the fourth straight game, Gavin Sheets and Jake Burger went deep off Shane Bieber in Chicago’s six-run fifth inning, and the White Sox beat the Cleveland Guardians 8-3. Lance Lynn allowed three runs — one earned — on seven hits in seven innings. Robert’s solo shot to deep left in the eighth was his AL-leading 12th homer of the season. He became the first White Sox player to homer in four straight games since Matt Davidson in 2017. Sheets’ three-run shot and Burger’s two-run drive were among six straight hits by the White Sox with two outs in the fifth as Chicago jumped ahead 6-0. Astros 7, Cubs 3 – Alvarez, McCormick each have 2 hits, Astros beat Cubs 7-3 Yordan Alvarez had two hits and drove in two runs and Chas McCormick added two hits and made a nifty grab in the Houston Astros’ 7-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night. Justin Steele (6-1) hadn’t given up more than three runs in a game this season before the Astros jumped on him for four runs in the fourth inning for a 5-1 lead. The Astros had four of their season-high six doubles in that inning en route to their third consecutive victory. Steele allowed five hits and five runs with eight strikeouts in six innings. Cristian Javier (4-1) allowed two hits and one run in six innings for his second straight win. Tonight Pittsburgh (Hill 3-3) at Detroit (Rodriguez 4-2), 1:10 p.m.        News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM 12:45 Chicago Cubs (Smyly 4-1) at Houston (France 1-0), 8:10 p.m. Cleveland (Battenfield 0-4) at Chicago White Sox (Clevinger 2-3), 8:10 p.m. NBA – National Basketball Association Playoffs – Conference Finals (Best of 7) Last Night Western Conference Finals Denver Nuggets 132, Los Angles Lakers 126                            (DEN leads 1-0) Nuggets 132, Lakers 126 – Nikola Jokic leads Nuggets past Lakers 132-126 in West opener Nikola Jokic’s powerful display at both ends of the court propelled the Denver Nuggets past the Los Angeles Lakers 132-126 in the opener of the Western Conference Finals. The Nuggets led by as many as 21 points before the Lakers made a late push before falling short of winning an opener on the road for the third time in these playoffs. Anthony Davis scored 40 points for the Lakers and LeBron James came up one assist shy of a triple double to go with his 26 points and 12 rebounds. Last Night Eastern Conference Finals Miami Heat at Boston Celtics, 8:30 p.m.                                  (Game 1) NBA – The Wembanyama sweepstakes and draft lottery has a winner: It’s the Spurs Victor Wembanyama is now set to begin his NBA career with the San Antonio Spurs, after they won the NBA draft lottery and the No. 1 overall pick on Tuesday night. The Spurs were one of three teams with the best odds — 14% — to land the No. 1 pick, which they’ll almost certainly use on Wembanyama. The 7-foot-3 French 19-year-old is one of the most highly touted prospects in NBA history and will be expected to make an immediate impact on the league.  Detroit had the worst record in the NBA and was one of the three teams with the best odds of winning. The Pistons wound up falling all the way to fifth, the worst of their possible outcomes.   Indiana has the 7th pick and the Bulls pick at 11 was traded to Orlando in the deal for Nikola Vucevic. WNBA – WNBA suspends Hammon 2 games for player’s allegation she was bullied The WNBA has suspended Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon, one of the league’s marquee figures, for two games after former Aces player Dearica Hamby said she had been bullied and manipulated for being pregnant. Hammon, who in her first season last year led the Aces to the WNBA championship, was suspended without pay Tuesday after a monthslong investigation. The league also rescinded the Aces’ first-round pick in the 2025 draft for a different issue — a violation of league rules regarding impermissible player benefits involving Hamby. Hammon and the Aces have not responded to requests for comment. NHL – Arizona Coyotes’ bid for new arena appears to be rejected by voters The Arizona Coyotes’ bid for a new arena appears to be dead. In the first release of results from Tuesday’s referendum, voters in the Phoenix suburb of Tempe were strongly against three propositions to build a $2.3 billion entertainment district that would include a new arena for the Coyotes. Opposition to the three propositions had a double-digit lead over those in favor, with only ballots dropped off Tuesday left to count. The Coyotes had hoped a new arena in Tempe would finally allow the franchise to settle down after playing in three different venues since moving to Arizona. Now it appears the franchise has to search for a new home again. NFL – ESPN announces ‘Pat McAfee Show’ will join afternoon lineup Pat McAfee’s show is moving to ESPN as part of a new multiyear deal. McAfee first joined ESPN as a college football analyst for its Thursday night games in 2019. He returned to the network last year and became part of the “College GameDay” crew as well as hosting some alternate presentations of ESPN games, including the CFP National Championship. That will continue, but it is McAfee’s show that has created the most buzz. ESPN also announced a documentary series on Serena Williams and four major matchups for the upcoming college football season. NFL – Peacock will exclusively carry NFL playoff game in a first for streaming service The NFL is taking another big step into streaming by putting one of its playoff games exclusively on a digital platform for the first time. The league and NBCUniversal announced that the Saturday night game on Wild Card weekend will be on Peacock. It will be preceded by a late afternoon playoff game on NBC and Peacock that will kick off at 4:30 p.m. EST. The Peacock game will also be broadcast on NBC stations in the markets of the two teams. Subscription rates for Peacock start at $4.99 per month. Soccer – CTE cases in soccer players raise fresh questions about safety of heading the ball Four more former professional soccer players have been diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy. The Concussion Legacy Foundation says the North American Soccer League veterans were found to have the degenerative brain disease that has been linked to concussions in athletes, combat veterans and others who have sustained repeated head trauma. English star Jimmy Fryatt was one of them. He was considered one of the best at heading the ball. Researchers say the practice is dangerous and should be phased out, especially for children. The new diagnoses come as soccer officials gather in Chicago for a Head Injury Summit. Some of the ex-players’ families say hearing from those who suffered from the disease is a key to preventing and treating it. MWL – Midwest League Baseball Last Night West Michigan 11, Great Lakes 10 Lake County 6, Lansing 5 South Bend 9, Beloit 4 Today Lake County Captains at Lansing Lugnuts, 11:05 a.m. (DH) South Bend Cubs at Beloit Sky Carp, 12:05 p.m. West Michigan Whitecaps at Great Lakes Loons, 6:05 p.m. MHSAA – 1-and-1 free throws to be eliminated at the high school level next season One-and-ones are done in high school basketball. High school basketball teams now will shoot two free throws for common fouls when in the “bonus” instead of having to make the first free throw to get a second after seven fouls. Rules changes for next school year were approved by the National Federation of State High School Associations’ basketball rules committee, then by its board of directors. In addition to awarding two foul shots for all common fouls, teams will reach the bonus when their opponent commits five fouls in each quarter and team fouls will reset at the end of each quarter. MHSAA – High School Sports Yesterday Baseball Lakeshore 10, Portage Central 9 Michigan Lutheran 12, New Buffalo 1- Game 1 Michigan Lutheran 18, New Buffalo 3 – Game 2 Brandywine 3, Watervliet 2 – Game 1 Watervliet 4, Brandywine 1 – Game 2 Kalamazoo Christian 5, Buchanan 1 – Game 1 Kalamazoo Christian 4, Buchanan 0 – Game 2 Bridgman 11, Coloma 0 – Game 1 Bridgman 17, Coloma 0 – Game 2 Kalamazoo Loy Norrix 10, South Haven 0 – Game 1 Kalamazoo Loy Norrix 7, South Haven 3 – Game 2 River Valley 1, Eau Claire 0 – Game 1 River Valley 8, Eau Claire 4 – Game 2 Niles 7, Plainwell 6 – Game 1 Plainwell 1, Niles 0 – Game 2 Otsego 12, Paw Paw 2 – Game 1 Otsego 5, Paw Paw 0 – Game 2 Sturgis 11, Three Rivers 0 – Game 1 Three Rivers 3, Sturgis 1 – Game 2 Vicksburg 12, Edwardsburg 8 – Game 1 Edwardsburg 8, Vickburg 5 – Game 2 Vicksburg 14, Edwardsburg 3 – Game 2 Forest Hills Eastern 10, Mattawan 0 – Game 1 Mattawan 3, Forest Hills Eastern 0 – Game 2 Gobles 21, Holland Black River 1 – Game 1 Gobles 12, Holland Black River 2 – Game 2 Parchment 8, Kalamazoo Hackett 2 – Game 1 Parchment 13, Kalamazoo Hackett 3 – Game 2 Centreville 2, Colon 1 Comstock 19, Marcellus 7 – Game 1 Comstock 16, Marcellus 1 – Game 2 Softball St. Joseph 13, Dowagiac 3 – Game 1 St. Joseph 11, Dowagiac 6 – Game 2 Mattawan 16, South Haven 3 – Game 1 South Haven 15, Mattawan 6 – Game 2 Buchanan 2, Kalamazoo Christian 0 – Game 1 Buchanan 9, Kalamazoo Christian 3 – Game 2 Coloma 10, Bridgman 0 – Game 1 Coloma 12, Bridgman 3 – Game 2 Niles 11, Plainwell 3 – Game 1 Niles 16, Plainwell 1 – Game 2 Otsego 4, Paw Paw 3 – Game 1 Otsego 8, Paw Paw 0 – Game 1 Three Rivers 17, Sturgis 2 – Game 1 Three River 28, Sturgis 0 – Game 2 Edwardsburg 11, Vicksburg 10 – Game 1 Vicksburg 14, Edwardsburg 3 – Game 2 Portage Central 15, Battle Creek Cent. 0 – Game 1 Portage Central 15, Battle Creek Cent. 0 – Game 2 Parchment 16, Kalamazoo Hackett 1 – Game 1 Parchment 13, Kalamazoo Hackett 3 – Game 2 Centreville 5, Colon 0 – Game 1 Centreville 15, Colon 6 – Game 2 Girls Soccer Michigan Lutheran 1, Berrien Springs 0 Watervliet 6, Coloma 1 Bangor 1, Hartford 1 – Tie Fennville 3, Lawton 1 Kalamazoo Hackett 7, Parchment 0 GR Covenant Christian 2, Holland Black River 1 Today Girls Soccer SMAC Tournament Portage Central at Mattawan, 6:30 p.m.              Championship game Lakeshore at Gull Lake, 6:30 p.m.                       3rd place game Battle Creek Lakeview at St. Joseph, 6:30 p.m.      5th place game Portage Northern at Kal. Loy Norrix, 6:30 p.m.     7th place game Kalamazoo Central 9th place Battle Creek Central 10th place Wolverine Paw Paw at Niles, 6:30 p.m. Three Rivers at Otsego, 6:30 p.m. Edwardsburg at Sturgis, 6:00 p.m. Plainwell at Vicksburg, 6:30 p.m. BCS Our Lady of the Lake at Covert, 5:00 p.m. SAC Delton-Kellogg at South Haven, 6:30 p.m. Saugatuck at Allegan, 6:30 p.m. Coloma at Constantine, 5:00 p.m. Non-Conference Buchanan at Comstock, 5:00 p.m. Marcellus at New Buffalo, 6:00 p.m. Bridgman at Brandywine, 5:00 p.m. Battle Creek Central at Calhoun Christian, 5:00 p.m. Baseball Our Lady of the Lake at Benton Harbor, 4:00 p.m. Battle Creek Lakeview at Mattawan, 4:00 p.m. Martin at Galesburg-Augusta, 4:30 p.m. Mendon at Cassopolis, 4:30 p.m. Zion Christian at Saugatuck, 4:30 p.m. Softball Battle Creek Lakeview at Mattawan, 4:00 p.m. Martin at Saugatuck, 4:30 p.m. Mendon at Cassopolis, 4:30 p.m. Comstock at Grant, 4:00 p.m.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MLB – Major League Baseball Last Night Detroit Tigers 4, Pittsburg Pirates 0 Chicago White Sox 8, Cleveland Guardians 3 Houston Astros 7, Chicago Cubs 3 Tigers 4, Pirates 0 – Michael Lorenzen has season-high 7 strikeouts, Tigers beat Pirates 4-0 Michael Lorenzen had a season-high seven strikeouts in six innings, Spencer Torkelson doubled twice and the Detroit Tigers beat the slumping Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0 on Tuesday night. Lorenzen (2-2) gave up five hits and two walks and has allowed just two runs in his last three starts. Will Vest worked two scoreless innings, with three strikeouts, and Jose Cisnero pitched the ninth. Torkelson scored and knocked in another run. Riley Greene had three hits. Shut out for the second time in three games, Pittsburgh has lost 12 of 14 games while scoring just 22 runs. Luis Ortiz (0-2) allowed four runs, three earned, and seven hits in three-plus innings. White Sox 8, Guardians 3 – Robert homers for 4th straight game, White Sox beat Guardians 8-3 Luis Robert Jr. homered for the fourth straight game, Gavin Sheets and Jake Burger went deep off Shane Bieber in Chicago’s six-run fifth inning, and the White Sox beat the Cleveland Guardians 8-3. Lance Lynn allowed three runs — one earned — on seven hits in seven innings. Robert’s solo shot to deep left in the eighth was his AL-leading 12th homer of the season. He became the first White Sox player to homer in four straight games since Matt Davidson in 2017. Sheets’ three-run shot and Burger’s two-run drive were among six straight hits by the White Sox with two outs in the fifth as Chicago jumped ahead 6-0. Astros 7, Cubs 3 – Alvarez, McCormick each have 2 hits, Astros beat Cubs 7-3 Yordan Alvarez had two hits and drove in two runs and Chas McCormick added two hits and made a nifty grab in the Houston Astros’ 7-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night. Justin Steele (6-1) hadn’t given up more than three runs in a game this season before the Astros jumped on him for four runs in the fourth inning for a 5-1 lead. The Astros had four of their season-high six doubles in that inning en route to their third consecutive victory. Steele allowed five hits and five runs with eight strikeouts in six innings. Cristian Javier (4-1) allowed two hits and one run in six innings for his second straight win. Tonight Pittsburgh (Hill 3-3) at Detroit (Rodriguez 4-2), 1:10 p.m.        News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM 12:45 Chicago Cubs (Smyly 4-1) at Houston (France 1-0), 8:10 p.m. Cleveland (Battenfield 0-4) at Chicago White Sox (Clevinger 2-3), 8:10 p.m. NBA – National Basketball Association Playoffs – Conference Finals (Best of 7) Last Night Western Conference Finals Denver Nuggets 132, Los Angles Lakers 126                            (DEN leads 1-0) Nuggets 132, Lakers 126 – Nikola Jokic leads Nuggets past Lakers 132-126 in West opener Nikola Jokic’s powerful display at both ends of the court propelled the Denver Nuggets past the Los Angeles Lakers 132-126 in the opener of the Western Conference Finals. The Nuggets led by as many as 21 points before the Lakers made a late push before falling short of winning an opener on the road for the third time in these playoffs. Anthony Davis scored 40 points for the Lakers and LeBron James came up one assist shy of a triple double to go with his 26 points and 12 rebounds. Last Night Eastern Conference Finals Miami Heat at Boston Celtics, 8:30 p.m.                                  (Game 1) NBA – The Wembanyama sweepstakes and draft lottery has a winner: It’s the Spurs Victor Wembanyama is now set to begin his NBA career with the San Antonio Spurs, after they won the NBA draft lottery and the No. 1 overall pick on Tuesday night. The Spurs were one of three teams with the best odds — 14% — to land the No. 1 pick, which they’ll almost certainly use on Wembanyama. The 7-foot-3 French 19-year-old is one of the most highly touted prospects in NBA history and will be expected to make an immediate impact on the league.  Detroit had the worst record in the NBA and was one of the three teams with the best odds of winning. The Pistons wound up falling all the way to fifth, the worst of their possible outcomes.   Indiana has the 7th pick and the Bulls pick at 11 was traded to Orlando in the deal for Nikola Vucevic. WNBA – WNBA suspends Hammon 2 games for player’s allegation she was bullied The WNBA has suspended Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon, one of the league’s marquee figures, for two games after former Aces player Dearica Hamby said she had been bullied and manipulated for being pregnant. Hammon, who in her first season last year led the Aces to the WNBA championship, was suspended without pay Tuesday after a monthslong investigation. The league also rescinded the Aces’ first-round pick in the 2025 draft for a different issue — a violation of league rules regarding impermissible player benefits involving Hamby. Hammon and the Aces have not responded to requests for comment. NHL – Arizona Coyotes’ bid for new arena appears to be rejected by voters The Arizona Coyotes’ bid for a new arena appears to be dead. In the first release of results from Tuesday’s referendum, voters in the Phoenix suburb of Tempe were strongly against three propositions to build a $2.3 billion entertainment district that would include a new arena for the Coyotes. Opposition to the three propositions had a double-digit lead over those in favor, with only ballots dropped off Tuesday left to count. The Coyotes had hoped a new arena in Tempe would finally allow the franchise to settle down after playing in three different venues since moving to Arizona. Now it appears the franchise has to search for a new home again. NFL – ESPN announces ‘Pat McAfee Show’ will join afternoon lineup Pat McAfee’s show is moving to ESPN as part of a new multiyear deal. McAfee first joined ESPN as a college football analyst for its Thursday night games in 2019. He returned to the network last year and became part of the “College GameDay” crew as well as hosting some alternate presentations of ESPN games, including the CFP National Championship. That will continue, but it is McAfee’s show that has created the most buzz. ESPN also announced a documentary series on Serena Williams and four major matchups for the upcoming college football season. NFL – Peacock will exclusively carry NFL playoff game in a first for streaming service The NFL is taking another big step into streaming by putting one of its playoff games exclusively on a digital platform for the first time. The league and NBCUniversal announced that the Saturday night game on Wild Card weekend will be on Peacock. It will be preceded by a late afternoon playoff game on NBC and Peacock that will kick off at 4:30 p.m. EST. The Peacock game will also be broadcast on NBC stations in the markets of the two teams. Subscription rates for Peacock start at $4.99 per month. Soccer – CTE cases in soccer players raise fresh questions about safety of heading the ball Four more former professional soccer players have been diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy. The Concussion Legacy Foundation says the North American Soccer League veterans were found to have the degenerative brain disease that has been linked to concussions in athletes, combat veterans and others who have sustained repeated head trauma. English star Jimmy Fryatt was one of them. He was considered one of the best at heading the ball. Researchers say the practice is dangerous and should be phased out, especially for children. The new diagnoses come as soccer officials gather in Chicago for a Head Injury Summit. Some of the ex-players’ families say hearing from those who suffered from the disease is a key to preventing and treating it. MWL – Midwest League Baseball Last Night West Michigan 11, Great Lakes 10 Lake County 6, Lansing 5 South Bend 9, Beloit 4 Today Lake County Captains at Lansing Lugnuts, 11:05 a.m. (DH) South Bend Cubs at Beloit Sky Carp, 12:05 p.m. West Michigan Whitecaps at Great Lakes Loons, 6:05 p.m. MHSAA – 1-and-1 free throws to be eliminated at the high school level next season One-and-ones are done in high school basketball. High school basketball teams now will shoot two free throws for common fouls when in the “bonus” instead of having to make the first free throw to get a second after seven fouls. Rules changes for next school year were approved by the National Federation of State High School Associations’ basketball rules committee, then by its board of directors. In addition to awarding two foul shots for all common fouls, teams will reach the bonus when their opponent commits five fouls in each quarter and team fouls will reset at the end of each quarter. MHSAA – High School Sports Yesterday Baseball Lakeshore 10, Portage Central 9 Michigan Lutheran 12, New Buffalo 1- Game 1 Michigan Lutheran 18, New Buffalo 3 – Game 2 Brandywine 3, Watervliet 2 – Game 1 Watervliet 4, Brandywine 1 – Game 2 Kalamazoo Christian 5, Buchanan 1 – Game 1 Kalamazoo Christian 4, Buchanan 0 – Game 2 Bridgman 11, Coloma 0 – Game 1 Bridgman 17, Coloma 0 – Game 2 Kalamazoo Loy Norrix 10, South Haven 0 – Game 1 Kalamazoo Loy Norrix 7, South Haven 3 – Game 2 River Valley 1, Eau Claire 0 – Game 1 River Valley 8, Eau Claire 4 – Game 2 Niles 7, Plainwell 6 – Game 1 Plainwell 1, Niles 0 – Game 2 Otsego 12, Paw Paw 2 – Game 1 Otsego 5, Paw Paw 0 – Game 2 Sturgis 11, Three Rivers 0 – Game 1 Three Rivers 3, Sturgis 1 – Game 2 Vicksburg 12, Edwardsburg 8 – Game 1 Edwardsburg 8, Vickburg 5 – Game 2 Vicksburg 14, Edwardsburg 3 – Game 2 Forest Hills Eastern 10, Mattawan 0 – Game 1 Mattawan 3, Forest Hills Eastern 0 – Game 2 Gobles 21, Holland Black River 1 – Game 1 Gobles 12, Holland Black River 2 – Game 2 Parchment 8, Kalamazoo Hackett 2 – Game 1 Parchment 13, Kalamazoo Hackett 3 – Game 2 Centreville 2, Colon 1 Comstock 19, Marcellus 7 – Game 1 Comstock 16, Marcellus 1 – Game 2 Softball St. Joseph 13, Dowagiac 3 – Game 1 St. Joseph 11, Dowagiac 6 – Game 2 Mattawan 16, South Haven 3 – Game 1 South Haven 15, Mattawan 6 – Game 2 Buchanan 2, Kalamazoo Christian 0 – Game 1 Buchanan 9, Kalamazoo Christian 3 – Game 2 Coloma 10, Bridgman 0 – Game 1 Coloma 12, Bridgman 3 – Game 2 Niles 11, Plainwell 3 – Game 1 Niles 16, Plainwell 1 – Game 2 Otsego 4, Paw Paw 3 – Game 1 Otsego 8, Paw Paw 0 – Game 1 Three Rivers 17, Sturgis 2 – Game 1 Three River 28, Sturgis 0 – Game 2 Edwardsburg 11, Vicksburg 10 – Game 1 Vicksburg 14, Edwardsburg 3 – Game 2 Portage Central 15, Battle Creek Cent. 0 – Game 1 Portage Central 15, Battle Creek Cent. 0 – Game 2 Parchment 16, Kalamazoo Hackett 1 – Game 1 Parchment 13, Kalamazoo Hackett 3 – Game 2 Centreville 5, Colon 0 – Game 1 Centreville 15, Colon 6 – Game 2 Girls Soccer Michigan Lutheran 1, Berrien Springs 0 Watervliet 6, Coloma 1 Bangor 1, Hartford 1 – Tie Fennville 3, Lawton 1 Kalamazoo Hackett 7, Parchment 0 GR Covenant Christian 2, Holland Black River 1 Today Girls Soccer SMAC Tournament Portage Central at Mattawan, 6:30 p.m.              Championship game Lakeshore at Gull Lake, 6:30 p.m.                       3rd place game Battle Creek Lakeview at St. Joseph, 6:30 p.m.      5th place game Portage Northern at Kal. Loy Norrix, 6:30 p.m.     7th place game Kalamazoo Central 9th place Battle Creek Central 10th place Wolverine Paw Paw at Niles, 6:30 p.m. Three Rivers at Otsego, 6:30 p.m. Edwardsburg at Sturgis, 6:00 p.m. Plainwell at Vicksburg, 6:30 p.m. BCS Our Lady of the Lake at Covert, 5:00 p.m. SAC Delton-Kellogg at South Haven, 6:30 p.m. Saugatuck at Allegan, 6:30 p.m. Coloma at Constantine, 5:00 p.m. Non-Conference Buchanan at Comstock, 5:00 p.m. Marcellus at New Buffalo, 6:00 p.m. Bridgman at Brandywine, 5:00 p.m. Battle Creek Central at Calhoun Christian, 5:00 p.m. Baseball Our Lady of the Lake at Benton Harbor, 4:00 p.m. Battle Creek Lakeview at Mattawan, 4:00 p.m. Martin at Galesburg-Augusta, 4:30 p.m. Mendon at Cassopolis, 4:30 p.m. Zion Christian at Saugatuck, 4:30 p.m. Softball Battle Creek Lakeview at Mattawan, 4:00 p.m. Martin at Saugatuck, 4:30 p.m. Mendon at Cassopolis, 4:30 p.m. Comstock at Grant, 4:00 p.m.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MLB – Major League Baseball Last Night Detroit Tigers 4, Pittsburg Pirates 0 Chicago White Sox 8, Cleveland Guardians 3 Houston Astros 7, Chicago Cubs 3 Tigers 4, Pirates 0 – Michael Lorenzen has season-high 7 strikeouts, Tigers beat Pirates 4-0 Michael Lorenzen had a season-high seven strikeouts in six innings, Spencer Torkelson doubled twice and the Detroit Tigers beat the slumping Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0 on Tuesday night. Lorenzen (2-2) gave up five hits and two walks and has allowed just two runs in his last three starts. Will Vest worked two scoreless innings, with three strikeouts, and Jose Cisnero pitched the ninth. Torkelson scored and knocked in another run. Riley Greene had three hits. Shut out for the second time in three games, Pittsburgh has lost 12 of 14 games while scoring just 22 runs. Luis Ortiz (0-2) allowed four runs, three earned, and seven hits in three-plus innings. White Sox 8, Guardians 3 – Robert homers for 4th straight game, White Sox beat Guardians 8-3 Luis Robert Jr. homered for the fourth straight game, Gavin Sheets and Jake Burger went deep off Shane Bieber in Chicago’s six-run fifth inning, and the White Sox beat the Cleveland Guardians 8-3. Lance Lynn allowed three runs — one earned — on seven hits in seven innings. Robert’s solo shot to deep left in the eighth was his AL-leading 12th homer of the season. He became the first White Sox player to homer in four straight games since Matt Davidson in 2017. Sheets’ three-run shot and Burger’s two-run drive were among six straight hits by the White Sox with two outs in the fifth as Chicago jumped ahead 6-0. Astros 7, Cubs 3 – Alvarez, McCormick each have 2 hits, Astros beat Cubs 7-3 Yordan Alvarez had two hits and drove in two runs and Chas McCormick added two hits and made a nifty grab in the Houston Astros’ 7-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night. Justin Steele (6-1) hadn’t given up more than three runs in a game this season before the Astros jumped on him for four runs in the fourth inning for a 5-1 lead. The Astros had four of their season-high six doubles in that inning en route to their third consecutive victory. Steele allowed five hits and five runs with eight strikeouts in six innings. Cristian Javier (4-1) allowed two hits and one run in six innings for his second straight win. Tonight Pittsburgh (Hill 3-3) at Detroit (Rodriguez 4-2), 1:10 p.m.        News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM 12:45 Chicago Cubs (Smyly 4-1) at Houston (France 1-0), 8:10 p.m. Cleveland (Battenfield 0-4) at Chicago White Sox (Clevinger 2-3), 8:10 p.m. NBA – National Basketball Association Playoffs – Conference Finals (Best of 7) Last Night Western Conference Finals Denver Nuggets 132, Los Angles Lakers 126                            (DEN leads 1-0) Nuggets 132, Lakers 126 – Nikola Jokic leads Nuggets past Lakers 132-126 in West opener Nikola Jokic’s powerful display at both ends of the court propelled the Denver Nuggets past the Los Angeles Lakers 132-126 in the opener of the Western Conference Finals. The Nuggets led by as many as 21 points before the Lakers made a late push before falling short of winning an opener on the road for the third time in these playoffs. Anthony Davis scored 40 points for the Lakers and LeBron James came up one assist shy of a triple double to go with his 26 points and 12 rebounds. Last Night Eastern Conference Finals Miami Heat at Boston Celtics, 8:30 p.m.                                  (Game 1) NBA – The Wembanyama sweepstakes and draft lottery has a winner: It’s the Spurs Victor Wembanyama is now set to begin his NBA career with the San Antonio Spurs, after they won the NBA draft lottery and the No. 1 overall pick on Tuesday night. The Spurs were one of three teams with the best odds — 14% — to land the No. 1 pick, which they’ll almost certainly use on Wembanyama. The 7-foot-3 French 19-year-old is one of the most highly touted prospects in NBA history and will be expected to make an immediate impact on the league.  Detroit had the worst record in the NBA and was one of the three teams with the best odds of winning. The Pistons wound up falling all the way to fifth, the worst of their possible outcomes.   Indiana has the 7th pick and the Bulls pick at 11 was traded to Orlando in the deal for Nikola Vucevic. WNBA – WNBA suspends Hammon 2 games for player’s allegation she was bullied The WNBA has suspended Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon, one of the league’s marquee figures, for two games after former Aces player Dearica Hamby said she had been bullied and manipulated for being pregnant. Hammon, who in her first season last year led the Aces to the WNBA championship, was suspended without pay Tuesday after a monthslong investigation. The league also rescinded the Aces’ first-round pick in the 2025 draft for a different issue — a violation of league rules regarding impermissible player benefits involving Hamby. Hammon and the Aces have not responded to requests for comment. NHL – Arizona Coyotes’ bid for new arena appears to be rejected by voters The Arizona Coyotes’ bid for a new arena appears to be dead. In the first release of results from Tuesday’s referendum, voters in the Phoenix suburb of Tempe were strongly against three propositions to build a $2.3 billion entertainment district that would include a new arena for the Coyotes. Opposition to the three propositions had a double-digit lead over those in favor, with only ballots dropped off Tuesday left to count. The Coyotes had hoped a new arena in Tempe would finally allow the franchise to settle down after playing in three different venues since moving to Arizona. Now it appears the franchise has to search for a new home again. NFL – ESPN announces ‘Pat McAfee Show’ will join afternoon lineup Pat McAfee’s show is moving to ESPN as part of a new multiyear deal. McAfee first joined ESPN as a college football analyst for its Thursday night games in 2019. He returned to the network last year and became part of the “College GameDay” crew as well as hosting some alternate presentations of ESPN games, including the CFP National Championship. That will continue, but it is McAfee’s show that has created the most buzz. ESPN also announced a documentary series on Serena Williams and four major matchups for the upcoming college football season. NFL – Peacock will exclusively carry NFL playoff game in a first for streaming service The NFL is taking another big step into streaming by putting one of its playoff games exclusively on a digital platform for the first time. The league and NBCUniversal announced that the Saturday night game on Wild Card weekend will be on Peacock. It will be preceded by a late afternoon playoff game on NBC and Peacock that will kick off at 4:30 p.m. EST. The Peacock game will also be broadcast on NBC stations in the markets of the two teams. Subscription rates for Peacock start at $4.99 per month. Soccer – CTE cases in soccer players raise fresh questions about safety of heading the ball Four more former professional soccer players have been diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy. The Concussion Legacy Foundation says the North American Soccer League veterans were found to have the degenerative brain disease that has been linked to concussions in athletes, combat veterans and others who have sustained repeated head trauma. English star Jimmy Fryatt was one of them. He was considered one of the best at heading the ball. Researchers say the practice is dangerous and should be phased out, especially for children. The new diagnoses come as soccer officials gather in Chicago for a Head Injury Summit. Some of the ex-players’ families say hearing from those who suffered from the disease is a key to preventing and treating it. MWL – Midwest League Baseball Last Night West Michigan 11, Great Lakes 10 Lake County 6, Lansing 5 South Bend 9, Beloit 4 Today Lake County Captains at Lansing Lugnuts, 11:05 a.m. (DH) South Bend Cubs at Beloit Sky Carp, 12:05 p.m. West Michigan Whitecaps at Great Lakes Loons, 6:05 p.m. MHSAA – 1-and-1 free throws to be eliminated at the high school level next season One-and-ones are done in high school basketball. High school basketball teams now will shoot two free throws for common fouls when in the “bonus” instead of having to make the first free throw to get a second after seven fouls. Rules changes for next school year were approved by the National Federation of State High School Associations’ basketball rules committee, then by its board of directors. In addition to awarding two foul shots for all common fouls, teams will reach the bonus when their opponent commits five fouls in each quarter and team fouls will reset at the end of each quarter. MHSAA – High School Sports Yesterday Baseball Lakeshore 10, Portage Central 9 Michigan Lutheran 12, New Buffalo 1- Game 1 Michigan Lutheran 18, New Buffalo 3 – Game 2 Brandywine 3, Watervliet 2 – Game 1 Watervliet 4, Brandywine 1 – Game 2 Kalamazoo Christian 5, Buchanan 1 – Game 1 Kalamazoo Christian 4, Buchanan 0 – Game 2 Bridgman 11, Coloma 0 – Game 1 Bridgman 17, Coloma 0 – Game 2 Kalamazoo Loy Norrix 10, South Haven 0 – Game 1 Kalamazoo Loy Norrix 7, South Haven 3 – Game 2 River Valley 1, Eau Claire 0 – Game 1 River Valley 8, Eau Claire 4 – Game 2 Niles 7, Plainwell 6 – Game 1 Plainwell 1, Niles 0 – Game 2 Otsego 12, Paw Paw 2 – Game 1 Otsego 5, Paw Paw 0 – Game 2 Sturgis 11, Three Rivers 0 – Game 1 Three Rivers 3, Sturgis 1 – Game 2 Vicksburg 12, Edwardsburg 8 – Game 1 Edwardsburg 8, Vickburg 5 – Game 2 Vicksburg 14, Edwardsburg 3 – Game 2 Forest Hills Eastern 10, Mattawan 0 – Game 1 Mattawan 3, Forest Hills Eastern 0 – Game 2 Gobles 21, Holland Black River 1 – Game 1 Gobles 12, Holland Black River 2 – Game 2 Parchment 8, Kalamazoo Hackett 2 – Game 1 Parchment 13, Kalamazoo Hackett 3 – Game 2 Centreville 2, Colon 1 Comstock 19, Marcellus 7 – Game 1 Comstock 16, Marcellus 1 – Game 2 Softball St. Joseph 13, Dowagiac 3 – Game 1 St. Joseph 11, Dowagiac 6 – Game 2 Mattawan 16, South Haven 3 – Game 1 South Haven 15, Mattawan 6 – Game 2 Buchanan 2, Kalamazoo Christian 0 – Game 1 Buchanan 9, Kalamazoo Christian 3 – Game 2 Coloma 10, Bridgman 0 – Game 1 Coloma 12, Bridgman 3 – Game 2 Niles 11, Plainwell 3 – Game 1 Niles 16, Plainwell 1 – Game 2 Otsego 4, Paw Paw 3 – Game 1 Otsego 8, Paw Paw 0 – Game 1 Three Rivers 17, Sturgis 2 – Game 1 Three River 28, Sturgis 0 – Game 2 Edwardsburg 11, Vicksburg 10 – Game 1 Vicksburg 14, Edwardsburg 3 – Game 2 Portage Central 15, Battle Creek Cent. 0 – Game 1 Portage Central 15, Battle Creek Cent. 0 – Game 2 Parchment 16, Kalamazoo Hackett 1 – Game 1 Parchment 13, Kalamazoo Hackett 3 – Game 2 Centreville 5, Colon 0 – Game 1 Centreville 15, Colon 6 – Game 2 Girls Soccer Michigan Lutheran 1, Berrien Springs 0 Watervliet 6, Coloma 1 Bangor 1, Hartford 1 – Tie Fennville 3, Lawton 1 Kalamazoo Hackett 7, Parchment 0 GR Covenant Christian 2, Holland Black River 1 Today Girls Soccer SMAC Tournament Portage Central at Mattawan, 6:30 p.m.              Championship game Lakeshore at Gull Lake, 6:30 p.m.                       3rd place game Battle Creek Lakeview at St. Joseph, 6:30 p.m.      5th place game Portage Northern at Kal. Loy Norrix, 6:30 p.m.     7th place game Kalamazoo Central 9th place Battle Creek Central 10th place Wolverine Paw Paw at Niles, 6:30 p.m. Three Rivers at Otsego, 6:30 p.m. Edwardsburg at Sturgis, 6:00 p.m. Plainwell at Vicksburg, 6:30 p.m. BCS Our Lady of the Lake at Covert, 5:00 p.m. SAC Delton-Kellogg at South Haven, 6:30 p.m. Saugatuck at Allegan, 6:30 p.m. Coloma at Constantine, 5:00 p.m. Non-Conference Buchanan at Comstock, 5:00 p.m. Marcellus at New Buffalo, 6:00 p.m. Bridgman at Brandywine, 5:00 p.m. Battle Creek Central at Calhoun Christian, 5:00 p.m. Baseball Our Lady of the Lake at Benton Harbor, 4:00 p.m. Battle Creek Lakeview at Mattawan, 4:00 p.m. Martin at Galesburg-Augusta, 4:30 p.m. Mendon at Cassopolis, 4:30 p.m. Zion Christian at Saugatuck, 4:30 p.m. Softball Battle Creek Lakeview at Mattawan, 4:00 p.m. Martin at Saugatuck, 4:30 p.m. Mendon at Cassopolis, 4:30 p.m. Comstock at Grant, 4:00 p.m.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Born and raised in Fort Lauderdale, FL, Derek is a lifelong south Florida sports fan, and has been working in soccer/sports as a graphic artist since 2008. His stops have included Miami FC (USL1), the Florida Marlins (MLB), Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NASL), and North American Soccer League, as well as creating custom logo designs for clubs and leagues across North America, such as Atlantic City FC, Boca Raton FC, New Orleans United, 1812 FC Barrie, the Florida Gold Coast League, and more.

In the world of sports history podcasting, there is a curious little one that has carved out a niche covering the world of defunct leagues and teams from yesteryear. "Good Seats Still Available" has its roots in Tim Hanlon's youth, when he fell in love with the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League, who unfortunately, like the league itself departed us to soon, and thus began for him an obsession for the stories of the teams and leagues of yesteryear. His pioneering podcast, which is soon approaching its 300th episode, has covered defunct leagues and teams from all sports, and Tim has interviewed many gridiron legends and icons, including Larry Csonka, Upton Bell, and Dave Meggyesy, all of whom helped shape the world of professional football in America. During this episode, Tim and Greg talk about his podcast and the challenges facing start up leagues in the 21st Century in the midst of a changing media and technological landscape.

In the world of sports history podcasting, there is a curious little one that has carved out a niche covering the world of defunct leagues and teams from yesteryear. "Good Seats Still Available" has its roots in Tim Hanlon's youth, when he fell in love with the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League, who unfortunately, like the league itself departed us to soon, and thus began for him an obsession for the stories of the teams and leagues of yesteryear. His pioneering podcast, which is soon approaching its 300th episode, has covered defunct leagues and teams from all sports, and Tim has interviewed many gridiron legends and icons, including Larry Csonka, Upton Bell, and Dave Meggyesy, all of whom helped shape the world of professional football in America. During this episode, Tim and Greg talk about his podcast and the challenges facing start up leagues in the 21st Century in the midst of a changing media and technological landscape.

In the world of sports history podcasting, there is a curious little one that has carved out a niche covering the world of defunct leagues and teams from yesteryear. "Good Seats Still Available" has its roots in Tim Hanlon's youth, when he fell in love with the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League, who unfortunately, like the league itself departed us to soon, and thus began for him an obsession for the stories of the teams and leagues of yesteryear. His pioneering podcast, which is soon approaching its 300th episode, has covered defunct leagues and teams from all sports, and Tim has interviewed many gridiron legends and icons, including Larry Csonka, Upton Bell, and Dave Meggyesy, all of whom helped shape the world of professional football in America. During this episode, Tim and Greg talk about his podcast and the challenges facing start up leagues in the 21st Century in the midst of a changing media and technological landscape.

Are you ready to Rise and Shine!?  This week's guest sure knows how to exactly that as we welcome 2010 USMNT World Cup Veteran Jay DeMerit to the podcast to discuss his career! There was a documentary made about Jay's career called 'Rise and Shine: The Jay DeMerit Story'. It chronicles his life and career showing how, through hard work and effort, Jay was able to work his way up the English Football pyramid to captain Watford in the English Premier League AND become one of the starting centerbacks for the United States in the 2010 World Cup! It's an incredible story and Jay was an absolute delight to have on the podcast, enjoy! About Jay DeMerit Jay DeMerit's story reads like those of many American players who tried to launch a professional career between the end of the North American Soccer League and the beginning of Major League Soccer. DeMerit took his game to England. After several tryouts and time spent playing park and pub soccer, DeMerit got his shot and ended up playing in the Premier League. Just one difference, DeMerit's story starts in 2003. A successful college player, DeMerit couldn't catch on with any MLS club, spending a year with the Chicago Fire reserves. Holding a European passport, he decided to move to England and try there. As decisions go…. A 2004 training game against Watford got him a contract and the next season he was crucial to the squad that won promotion to the Premier League. By 2007, he was on the USMNT and made the 2010 World Cup squad. DeMerit left Watford at the end of the 2010 season, signing with 2011 MLS expansion club Vancouver. In the Fall of 2011, a movie about DeMerit's move to England and eventual rise to prominence as a Premier League player was released. Titled Rise & Shine: The Jay DeMerit Story, the movie was partially funded by fans through a Kickstarter campaign. Jay DeMerit announced his retirement on July 24, 2014. He finished his Vancouver Whitecaps tenure with 70 appearances and one goal. Make sure to check out the NEW Dtalkspodcast.com website! Thanks to Empire Toys for this episode of the podcast! Nostalgia is something everyone loves and Empire Toys in Keller Texas is on nostalgia overload.   With toys and action figures from the 70's, 80's, 90's, and today, Empire Toys is a one-stop-shop for a trip down memory lane and a chance to reclaim what was once yours (but likely sold at a garage sale)   Check out Empire Toys on Facebook, Instagram, or at TheEmpireToys.com AND Thanks to Self Unbound for this episode of the podcast: Your quality of life: physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually, is a direct reflection of the level of abundant energy, ease, and connection your nervous system has to experience your life!    At Self Unbound, your nervous system takes center stage as we help unbind your limited healing potential through NetworkSpinal Care.    Access the first steps to your Unbound journey by following us on Facebook, Instagram, or at www.selfunbound.com   The DTALKS Podcast has also been ranked #9 in the "Top 40 Detox Podcast You Must Follow in 2020" according to Feedspot.com for our work in the Cultural Detox space. Thank you so much to the Feedspot team!  https://blog.feedspot.com/detox_podcasts/

For our second episode of 2023, we look back, as we did with Neil Diamond's only starring role last week, at the one and only acting role the late, great football star Pelé would ever make: Escape to Victory, a football-themed World War II drama that would also feature Michael Caine, Sylvester Stallone and Max von Sydow.   ----more---- TRANSCRIPT From Los Angeles, California, the Entertainment Capital of the World, it's The 80s Movies Podcast. I am your host, Edward Havens. Thank you for listening today.   On December 29th, while this show was on hiatus, the football world lost Edson Arantes de Nascimento, the legend known around the world by his single word nickname, Pelé. Even if you weren't a particular fan of football in the 1960s and 1970s, you more than likely knew who Pelé was. The International Olympic Committee named him the Athlete of the Century in 1999. Time Magazine named him one of the 100 most important people of the Twentieth Century. In the Brazilian city of Santos, where a fifteen year old Pelé got his professional start in 1956, a museum dedicated to all things Pelé opened in 2014, with more than 2400 items devoted to his life and careers.   After he retired from football in 1977, in an exhibition game between the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League, where Pelé had been playing for three years, and Santos, his former club of nineteen years, Pelé would become a global ambassador for the sport, and record an album of music alongside fellow Brazilian Sergio Mendes to accompany a documentary about his life.   And because this is a podcast about 80s movies, he would, of course, attempt a career in motion pictures.   And those who were going to be responsible for making Pelé a movie star were not going to take any chances.   Because Pelé was the most famous footballer on the planet, the movie was going to somehow be about football. American film producer Freddie Fields and his partner on the film, future Carolco Films co-owner Mario Kassar, would find their story for Escape to Victory in a Hungarian movie from 1961 called Two Halves in Hell. The film was based on a tale of a 1942 football match between German soldiers and their Ukrainian prisoners of war during World War II, known as the Death Match. That film, directed by Zoltán Fábri, would win several awards at film festivals worldwide, and was ripe for the American remake treatment.   However, there would need to be some changes to the story. The action would be moved from Soviet Russia to France, and the character being built for Pelé, Corporal Luis Fernandez, would be identified as being from Trinidad, as Brazil would not enter the European theatre of war until July of 1944.   While the script was being written, Fields and Kassar would get busy putting the film together.   In July 1979, it was announced that Brian Hutton, who had directed two other World War II-set movies, 1968's Where Eagles Dare and 1970's Kelly's Heroes, would helm this new movie, and that Lloyd Bridges was being considered for a role. A writer for Daily Variety reporting on Hutton's hire speculated that Clint Eastwood, who had starred in both Where Eagles Dare and Kelly's Heroes, would also star in the film, but that never happened.   In mid-September 1979, it was announced that legendary French actor Alain Delon would star in the film, and that Hutton had already left the project. Two weeks later, it was announced that two-time Academy Award-winning filmmaker John Huston would direct the project, which would now star Michael Caine and Sylvester Stallone. Amongst the locations Huston scouted to shoot the film at included Austria, Canada, England, Germany, and Ireland, but in the end, they would shoot in and around Budapest, Hungary, because they could shoot the film in the then-communist country for around $12m, versus $30m to $35m it would have cost to shoot in a more democratic country.   On a side note, Stallone ended up coming on to the film in a most unusual way. The actor was looking to buy a beach house in Malibu, and one of the houses he looked at was owned by Freddie Fields. After touring the house, Stallone found Fields sitting on the sundeck, and the actor informed the producer that the house was not quite big enough for himself, his wife and two sons. The two men got to talking, and Fields started to tell Stallone about this sports-based World War II movie he was about to make with John Huston as director. Although Stallone knew almost nothing about football, he was intrigued by the idea of getting to work with a director of Huston's stature. And wouldn't you know it, Fields just happened to have a copy of the script right here. Stallone took the script home, and agreed to be in the film three days later.   Not only would Pelé star in the film alongside Caine and Stallone, he would also work with Huston and the crew to design the football action in the film. Nearly two dozen professional football players, including Bobby Moore, the captain of the World Cup-winning 1966 British football team, would either have major roles in the film or play secondary characters in the film. Another member of that team, goalkeeper Gordon Banks, would assist Pelé in getting Stallone to look more like a goalkeeper on camera.   The movie would also hire Desmond Llewelyn, the beloved British character actor best known as Q in 17 James Bond movies made between 1963 and 1999, as a technical advisor, as Llewelyn had spent five years as a POW in German prison camps during World War II.   In early 1980, Max von Sydow, still shooting his role as Ming the Merciless in Mike Hedges' big screen adaptation of Flash Gordon, would be cast as Von Steiner, the Nazi Major who operates the POW camp.   Shooting would begin on May 26, 1980, after Stallone was done shooting Nighthawks in New York City.  Stallone would spend his weekends off that film to work with Gordon Banks on how to better look like a goalie, and to lose no less than forty pounds to better look like a prisoner of war, a sort of method acting Stallone was not really known for. But apparently, Stallone didn't really listen to Banks at first, as on his first day of shooting, the actor would throw himself around his goal area with a kind of reckless abandon, dislocating his shoulder and breaking a rib. The production would need to rearrange the shooting schedule to give Stallone time to heal. After he returned to the set, he would better heed Banks' advice, although he would end up breaking another rib and, in one scene with Pelé, breaking a finger trying to stop one of the superstar footballer's shots.   Other than Stallone's injuries, production on the film ran rather smoothly for nearly two months, until they were forced to shut production down completely on July 29th, eight days after the American Screen Actors Guild went on strike over residuals from emerging revenue streams like videocassettes and pay television. Since several actors like Stallone were SAG members, they had to stop working on the 21st, and the film completed all shots not using those actors a week later. Although the strike would last for slightly more than three months, Fields and Kassar were able to sign an interim agreement with the Guild to allow the film, which only had five days of shooting left when production was shut down, to resume shooting on August 31st.     Huston would spend the rest of 1980 and the first four months of 1981 working with his production team to get the film edited and ready for release. At the suggestion of Sylvester Stallone, Huston would hire Bill Conti to compose the score, the fifth movie starring Stallone that Conti would write the score to in as many years.   In May 1981, two months before the film's release, its American distributor, announced a slight change in the name of the movie. Instead of Escape to Victory, which would be retained by most every other distributor around the world, the film would simply be called Victory when it hit theatres on July 31st. Because the studio was worried that the full title would be a spoiler. And it actually would be. You'll notice I have not really said anything about the story, because if you haven't seen the movie yet, and you feel compelled to check it out because of this episode, I don't want to spoil it for you. And if you have seen the movie before, you already know what happens.   Victory would face very stiff competition when it opened at 692 theatres on July 31st. In addition to the Chevy Chase comedy Under the Rainbow, the film would go up against a re-release of The Empire Strikes Back and also contend with the continued success of Raiders of the Lost Ark and and Superman II.    The film would gross $2.4m in its first weekend, which would place it sixth on the box office charts, but that was slightly more than a third of what the Star Wars sequel would bring in that weekend, after having initially opened in theatres 14 months earlier. Victory would barely beat Arthur, which was in its third week of release but hadn't become the breakout success it would be in the weeks to come, but it lose out to the critically panned disaster known as John Derek's Tarzan the Ape Man in its second week. But hey, naked Bo Derek on the big screen, even more naked than in 10. Can't blame horny guys at the time for that.   In its second week of release, Victory would drop from sixth place to twelfth, with only $1.6m in ticket sales, and lose half of its screens in its third week, falling to thirteenth place with barely $1m taken in at the box office. After that fourth week, the film was no longer being tracked by Paramount, having earned just $10.85m. Internationally, the film would gross another $16m, since football was a more popular sport outside America. In fact, it was the seventh most popular movie released in 1981, outside of America. The film would barely break even once it was gone from theatres, but it would never become much of a cult film once it was released on videotape and to cable channels.   Although audiences didn't quite go for the movie, critics were rather kind to the film.   Vincent Canby of the New York Times would note that while the form of the film was highly conventional, the manner in which it was executed was not. An unnamed critic for the Hollywood trade publication would call the film “old fashioned,” and meant it as a compliment. And Gavin Bainbridge of the UK movie magazine Empire would highlight how John Huston created enough on-field magic and nostalgia for the game, and would note the kind of sportsmanship shown in the film that had sadly become extinct in the succeeding forty years.   In later years, Huston would admit he hated the idea of the movie and only did it for the paycheck, while Caine would tell one reporter while doing press for another movie that the only reason he made Victory was to meet and work with Pelé. Stallone would admit that shooting his scenes as a goalie were more physically and mentally demanding than on either of the Rocky movies that had been made up to that time.   Of course, Michael Caine and Sylvester Stallone would see far greater successes in their careers as the 80s continued on, while  Pelé pretty much kept future on-screen appearances more rooted in reality, appearing as himself on a few global television shows and movie documentaries.   We're actually planning on a small series for the final decade of John Huston's directing career, with a diverse set of movies that include the musical Annie, the mob comedy Prizzi's Honor, and the lyrical adaptation of James Joyce's The Dead. Look for that to come later this year.   Thank you for joining us. We'll talk again soon, when Episode 100 is released.   Remember to visit this episode's page on our website, The80sMoviePodcast.com, for extra materials about Pelé and the movie Victory.   The 80s Movies Podcast has been researched, written, narrated and edited by Edward Havens for Idiosyncratic Entertainment.   Thank you again.   Good night.  

On The updated list of Podcasts by Major League Soccer as this show is recommended by the league. https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/11/23/guide-mls-podcasts-updated Watch my interview with Josh Taylor who attends Full Sail University on my Soccer coverage career. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fdht3gw9pYc&feature=emb_logo Ranked in Feedspot's Top 30 MLS Podcasts to follow in 2020. https://blog.feedspot.com/mls_podcasts/ Tonight on this special edition show I will be discussing the life and the sad death of the great Brazilian star Pele who graced us with his moves and scored tons of goals in his club and country career. He was also able to grace us with his presence in the original North American Soccer League when he signed with the New York Cosmos and gave the sport a boost like never before. My Guests are Gustavo Guimaraes of TerritorioMLS in Brazil, NY Cosmos Historian Dr. David Kilpatrick & a recorded interview with Tim Vickery on Sky Sports Off the Ball show with Mick McCarthy.

[We celebrate the amazing life of the legendary Pelé with a reissue of our 2018 conversation with the man chiefly responsible for coaxing the "Black Pearl" out of retirement in 1975 to join the NASL's then-fledgling New York Cosmos - Clive Toye!] + + + Soccer America columnist (and Episode #6 interviewee) Paul Gardner summed up this week's Hall of Fame guest in his May 2015 commentary: “The debt owed by American soccer to Clive Toye is a vast one. It is not too much of an exaggeration to say, flatly, that without Toye's blind faith in the sport in the 1970s, pro soccer in the USA would have withered and died. Yes, Phil Woosnam and Lamar Hunt and Bob Hermann were there too. But in those unpromising years it was Toye's voice -- it came in a steady flow of ridiculously optimistic press releases and grandiose plans for a future that few others even dared to ponder -- that called loudest. “The New York Cosmos general manager credited with turning that league's fortunes around when he signed Pele to a contract in 1975. Toye, who was born in England and came to the United States in 1967 at the age of 33, was president of three North American Soccer League teams – the Cosmos, Chicago Sting and Toronto Blizzard – and general manager of the [original National Professional Soccer League and subsequent NASL] Baltimore Bays.  [He] was an official of the NASL in helping it through its crisis year of 1969 and in its final months in 1985 – and helped to found the third American Soccer League in 1988. “There has always been the spirit of a showman in Toye, and surely it was that spirit that enabled Toye to overlook the virtual collapse of the old North American Soccer League and to see instead a glittering future for the sport in the USA, even to declare to anyone who was listening -- and not many were in those days -- the preposterous notion that the USA should begin preparing to stage the World Cup. “And when the NASL, by the skin of its teeth and by the mad devotion of Toye et al., did survive, it was Toye who gave the reborn league its glittering image with his invention of the Cosmos, with his canny maneuvering and dealing, who brought Pele and Beckenbauer to New York.  Showmanship indeed.” Toye (A Kick in the Grass: The Slow Rise and Quick Demise of the NASL; Anywhere in the World) joins host Tim Hanlon for a lyrical and anecdote-filled journey through the pro league that he helped create, later put to rest, and which ultimately shored up the long-term foundation of the “beautiful game” in America.

​We're back from our extended Thanksgiving break with an inside look at the venerable sports venue that single-handedly elevated 1960s-era Atlanta to "major league" status, and cemented its place among the most important American cities.   Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium - known simply as "Atlanta Stadium" when it opened in 1965 - was the long-time home of Major League Baseball's Braves (1966-96), the National Football League's Falcons (1966-91), two incarnations of the North American Soccer League's Atlanta Chiefs, and college football's postseason Peach Bowl (1968-92).   And nobody knew its inner workings better than the facility's hard-working "ground crew" who tended to the whims and vicissitudes of the teams, players, owners, and even fans that called the stadium home for 30+ memorable years.   1970s stadium crew members Harvey Lee Frazier and David Fisher - along with "as-told-to" author Austin Gisriel ("Ground Crew Confidential") - join the podcast to share a bevy of little-known "behind-the scenes" memories of the facility that helped put Atlanta on the map - with the help of influential figures like Hank Aaron, Phil Woosnam, Ted Turner, the Beatles, and even high-wire great Karl Wallenda. 

Canada played its first match in the World Cup today against Belgium. How did we do and what is needed in order to pull out a win next time? Guest: John McGrane, former Olympic and North American Soccer League soccer player - The news that a meteor flew over the Grimsby/Vineland area and landed somewhere around here. Can you find any pieces and how big of a meteorite should you keep an eye out for? If you do find a piece, what can you do with it? Guest: Dr. Kim Tait, Mineralogy, Meteorite and Gem Curator at the Royal Ontario Museum - The Tim Bosma murder case is an infamous case in this area and it's making a return to the news cycle. Why is this and what is it saying about Canada's legal system? Guest: Jeff Manishen, Criminal Lawyer, Ross & McBride & Former Crown Attorney

In 1974, a small Midlands underwear firm changed soccer forever when it won the contract as official kit supplier for England's national team - featuring a tradition-busting combination of bright colors, definitional striping, and, uniquely, prominently positioned manufacturer's logos on both shirt and shorts.   Admiral Sportswear's bold designs and distinctive branding - soon outfitting storied club sides like Manchester United, Leicester City, Norwich City, West Ham, and Sheffield United - quickly caught fans' attention with their detailed "replica" versions, which offered the most ardent supporters a novel opportunity to literally dress like their favorite pro players.   Sports documentarian/author Andy Wells ("Get Shirty: The Rise & Fall of Admiral Sportswear") tells us the story of how Admiral unwittingly invented today's now-multi-billion-dollar replica jersey industry - while revolutionizing the worlds of sports commerce and street fashion alike.   If you followed any of the franchises from the late 1970s/early 1980s North American Soccer League or Major Indoor Soccer League (or even the American Soccer League's Columbus Magic) - chances are you remember (or even owned) an Admiral shirt!

The Athletic Major League Soccer staff writer Pablo Maurer steps into our vortex of what-used-to-be in professional sports this week, with a look back at some of the more confounding and overlooked stories of the not-so-distant past of US pro soccer. It's our deepest dives yet into memorable North American Soccer League gems like 1977's one-year wonder Team Hawaii; 1983's divisive US Men's National Team-as-pro-franchise Team America; the curious Stateside detours of world greats like Bayern Munich superstar Gerd Müeller, Dutch legend Johan Cruyff and Manchester United icon George Best - plus, of course, the NASL's inventive ahead-of-its-time 35-yard-line Shootout tie-breaker. We also tackle some of the already forgotten early days of Major League Soccer - including its own version of the Shootout; LA's ill-fated "first" second franchise Chivas USA; and impossible-to-forget franchise monikers like Wiz, Burn, Clash, and MetroStars. PLUS: the unheralded pre-MLS rules experiments of the mid-90s USISL minor league pyramid. AND: the incomparable (if not incomprehensible) Socker Slam!

Chicago sports fans of a certain age may remember the name Charlie Evranian atop the masthead of the executive suite (behind inimitable owner Lee Stern, of course) of the 1981 outdoor version of the North American Soccer League's Chicago Sting - when that club delivered the first major pro championship to the Windy City since 1963's NFL Bears.   (Not to mention the team's first two barn-burning indoor NASL seasons at the former "Madhouse on Madison".)   But Evranian's time leading the Sting of the early 1980s was merely a brief mile-marker along a fascinatingly peripatetic 20+ year journey across a litany of (mostly forgotten) teams and leagues in both the majors and minors of professional sports management - laden with unbelievable twists and turns that only a podcast of a certain genre could love.   Evranian takes us on a wild ride alongside the likes of legendary front office figures like Bill Veeck, Ted Turner, Pat Williams, and Earl Foreman - for memorable stops including: leading baseball's Class A Greenwood (SC) Braves to two league championships; co-founding AHL hockey's minor league Richmond Robins; reinventing the mid-70s' Chicago White Sox; AND cleaning up an endless array of messes as the Major Indoor Soccer League's deputy commissioner.

The Football History Dude is part of the https://sportshistorynetwork.com/ (Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear). NETWORK SPONSORS https://sportshistorynetwork.com/row1/ (Row One) - the vintage shop for sports history fans! EPISODE SUMMARY This week I bring Tim Hanlon on the show to take us back in the DeLorean to many moments in the football history of leagues that are now "defunct." I found Tim way back in 2019 when Upton Bell first reached out to me for my "first interview opportunity." I had to perform some research, so I typed "UPTON BELL" into my podcast player, and wouldn't ya know it, Good Seats Still Available released an interview with Upton right around the day of my first episode being released. It was destiny. There are a ton of football topics and episodes of "Good Seats Still Available" (and even more when you count overall sports). At the time of this release, Tim's already on episode 258. I highly recommend you head over to Tim's entire podcast library after listening to this interview. We couldn't get into all of them, so I grabbed a few to talk about and asked Tim to share some stories about each. As with his podcast, Tim did not disappoint. Here are a few of the episodes we and topics we get into: Arena Football League history (including the origin and a moment in time that Tim shares with the founder of the league) Birmingham and Memphis's never-ending quest for a Pro Football team The World League of Football and NFL Europe WFL (World Football League) history The original XFL What league Tim would use my converted DeLorean to bring the entire league to modern times to watch it play out and survive And much more.... AUTHOR BIO - TIM HANLON Tim Hanlon is the host and producer of the "Good Seats Still Available" podcast -- the culmination of a life-long fascination, and downright unhealthy obsession with the defunct, abandoned and otherwise abjectly forgotten corners of professional North American sports.  Though hotly debated in professional psychology circles, most people believe the original source of Tim's questionable, borderline-perverse passion for lost sports history dates back to his unmitigated childhood love affair with his first true professional sports mistress -- the (original) New York Cosmos of the (original) North American Soccer League.  The "http://www.miramax.com/movie/once-in-a-lifetime-the-extraordinary-story-of-the-new-york-cosmos/ (Once in a Lifetime)" thrills of witnessing some of the world's greatest soccer players prancing about the sparkling-new Giants Stadium Astroturf beginning in 1977, left an indelible mark on an impressionable 11-year-old suburban New Jersey kid -- whose head spun trying to keep track of an unending procession of NASL teams the Cosmos played, each with bold and distinctive names like Rogues (Memphis), Lancers (Rochester), Tea Men (New England, then Jacksonville), Sting (Chicago), and Blizzard (Toronto).  A mere seven years later, however, the Cosmos and the NASL were gone -- just as fast as they seemed to arrive. By then, Tim had spread his allegiances to the upstart Major Indoor Soccer League (including season tickets to the lamentable 1981-82 New Jersey Rockets); the brash United States Football League (with its braggadocio of an owner, Donald Trump); and the fledgling Major Indoor Lacrosse League's (1988) champion New Jersey Saints. And each time, losing them to eventual disappointment and oblivion. Now, many years later, Tim seeks to figure out the people, places and circumstances behind some of the most interesting professional sports teams and leagues that once were, and now are not. THE FOOTBALL HISTORY DUDE BACKGROUND https://sportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/the-football-history-dude/ (The Football History Dude) is a show dedicated to teaching NFL fans about the rich history of the game we all know and love. I'm your host, Arnie Chapman, and I'm just a regular...

This week, Bob and David are doing something a little bit different during the episode. They'll be talking about Bob Iarusci's Ultimate XI — Bob's pick of the best 11 players he played alongside. Bob explains his decisions around why he chose which players. The names on this team are simply unreal, talk about a list of exceptional talent...but who made the final cut? On this episode: ● The formation Bob chose when forming his team. ● Who Bob chose for his goalkeeper and why. ● How ball distribution changes over time have influenced goalkeepers today. ● How many seasons Bob played alongside his chosen goalkeeper. ● One of the strongest defenders Bob ever played with or against. ● The important, intangible skills and characteristics every team needs. ● Who Bob calls Canada's finest talent of all time. ● The players David was sure Bob would pick. ● How Carlos Alberto acted like glue for the Cosmos team. ● The skill most great defenders have. ● How Carlos Alberto influenced who ended up on the field. ● What made Bobby Smith indispensable. ● The players Bob left out of his picks and why. ● Why it's surreal for Bob to share and explain the people he played with. ● The player who broke curfew and ended up in exile. ● Why Wim Jansen didn't make it on the team but deserve to be mentioned. ● The mentors Bob had in Toronto. ● One of the few players capable of slide tackling on artificial turf. ● The relationship Bob had with Eusébio and why he calls him a friend. ● Who showed up to Eusébio's tribute game in Portugal. ● The player that always showed up with a big entourage. ● How misconceptions built up between opposing players. ● Bob's pick for the manager of the team.

John Welsch is a staple diet in the Colorado Soccer community. A man of integrity, a copious amount of intelligence and is very much soccer and life savvy. When John holds court it's a good idea to listen. Watch. Listen and learn. Richie English.INSTAGRAM… johnwelschcoachingTWITTER…. @JohnWelschCoachingWEBSITE… www.johnwelschcoaching.comMeet Coach JohnBorn and raised in the Netherlands, John Welsch arrived in the United States at age 18 to study and play soccer at North Texas State University in Denton, Texas. John was a two-time All-American and a four-time All-Midwest player at NTSU, in those days a perennial power-house in college soccer.After being selected to play in the 1980 College Senior Bowl, he was then drafted by the Chicago Sting of the North American Soccer League and played in Chicago during the 1980-81 indoor season before returning to the Dallas area to play for the Dallas Americans of the American Soccer League until 1984.Following his professional soccer career, John was hired as the first head coach for FC Boulder in 1989. With the help of some amazing coaches and staff members, he transformed FC Boulder into one of the top clubs in Colorado. His 28 years with FC Boulder made him the longest running Director of Coaching in Colorado and under his guidance, Boulder has become a hotbed for soccer.​As of 2021, John has coached more players who have succeeded at the high school varsity level than any other coach in the North Metro/Boulder County area. Over 200 of John's former players have gone on to play collegiate soccer including NSCAA All-Americans, NCAA National Champions and All-Conference players. John has coached players that have gone on to play professional soccer as well as players who have gone on to coach at the professional, collegiate and high school levels.Besides coaching at the club level, John served as head coach for Boulder High School in the 1990s, assistant coach for the University of Colorado Women's team and a Colorado Olympic Development Program staff coach. As the first USSF "A" licensed coach in the area, John has conducted coaching certification courses for many Colorado youth coaches. He currently organizes the annual Colorado Soccer Coaching Symposium, bringing some of the top coaches in the United States to Boulder each winter.John departed FC Boulder for Boulder County Soccer Club in 2017, seeking to help build an alternative to what he saw as an increasingly “big business” approach to youth soccer. During his four years at BCSC, the club made great strides, culminating in the Fairview boys high school team winning the Colorado 5A state championship, with 8-of-the-11 starters coming from the BCSC program.​John believes that mindful coaching, inclusive programming and a commitment to excellence is the pathway to success in soccer and that quality soccer experiences should be available to players and families of all backgrounds.

On this episode of Open Wide for Some Soccer we're joined by former New York Cosmos goalkeeper David Brcic. During the episode, David shares how he landed on goalkeeping at a young age and later ended up playing for the Cosmos. For David, playing with this team was a privilege, and he will reveal for us what he believes made this team truly special. On this episode: ● How David became involved in soccer at a young age. ● What made him realize he would be a good fit for goalkeeping. ● How and when David ended up playing with the New York Cosmos. ● Who he lived and trained with for three months. ● The two players David found to be the most comfortable with the ball. ● The way the role of goalkeeper has changed over the years. ● David's experience playing for Greenock Morton. ● The players that became his friends at Greenock. ● Why David says the Cosmos team was special. ● How the Cosmos transitioned to indoor games. ● David's relationships with some of the top-notch players on the Cosmos team. ● The player that sent David a special birthday gift. ● Why David says a recent documentary about the Cosmos is accurate. ● David's experience playing with Giorgio Chinaglia. ● What Carlos Alberto did at a Minnesota game that surprised everyone. ● Who picked up David's wife from the airport the first time she went to visit New York. ● Why David says the Cosmos weren't themselves towards the end. ● The phenomenal teammates David remembers playing with. ● David's experience playing indoor soccer with the New York Cosmos. ● Why the NASL deserves more respect than it's usually given.

Baseball historian, Minnesota Twins official scorer and Episode 114 guest Stew Thornley ("Metropolitan Stadium: Memorable Games at Minnesota's Diamond on the Prairie"), returns for a fond look back at the semi-iconic structure that helped secure "major league" status for the Twin Cities in the early 1960s.   Known simply as "The Met" by area locals (or even the "Old Met" to distinguish from the downtown Minneapolis Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome that effectively replaced it in 1982), Bloomington's Metropolitan Stadium opened in April of 1956 with the stated hope of luring a Major League Baseball franchise to the region - just as the sport was beginning to chart its modern-era manifest destiny.   While ultimately luring Calvin Griffith's Washington Senators to become the Twins in 1961 - as well as the expansion NFL football Vikings that same year - the Met was mostly the exclusive home of the minor league American Association Minneapolis Millers for its first five years of existence, save for a handful of annual NFL preseason exhibition games and two regular season Chicago Cardinals matches in 1959.   In 1976, it also became the popular outdoor home of the North American Soccer League's Minnesota Kicks - and its legions of young tailgate-crazy fans.   Ahead of its time in the mid-50s, Met Stadium was nearly obsolete by the end of the 70s - decent for baseball, not so much for football - and rumors of at least the Vikings absconding for another to-be-built stadium in the area (including concepts for a domed enclosure or a new football-only facility between it and the nearby indoor Met Center) swirled around the community as early as 1970.   Alas, after only 21 seasons each for the Twins and the Vikings (six for the Kicks), Metropolitan Stadium succumbed to poor maintenance and the allure of a new, winter-proof Metrodome.  Demolished in 1985, the Met gave way to what is now the country's largest shopping center - the Mall of America.

[A September 2017 archive re-release favorite with the production wizard behind behind early network TV coverage of the World Football League & North American Soccer League of the 1970s!] On January 20, 1968, a frenzied crowd of 52,693 packed the Houston Astrodome to witness the #2-ranked University of Houston Cougars nip the #1 (and previously undefeated) UCLA Bruins in a college basketball spectacle that legendarily became the sport's “Game of the Century.”  In addition to the record-sized gate, it was the first-ever college game to be televised nationally in prime time – and it was sports entrepreneur Eddie Einhorn's scrappy little independent network of affiliated stations called the TVS Television Network that brought it to millions of TV viewers.  Calling all the shots from the production truck was veteran TV sports director Howard Zuckerman – who quickly became the backbone for the fledgling ad hoc network's subsequent coverage of not only college hoops, but also two of the most colorful pro sports leagues of the 1970s – the World Football League and the North American Soccer League.  Zuckerman joins host Tim Hanlon to recount some of his most memorable (and forgettable) moments in TVS history, including: Surviving a power outage in the middle of the WFL's first-ever national telecast from Jacksonville; Managing a motley crew of rotating guest commentators for WFL broadcasts, including the likes of George Plimpton, Burt Reynolds and McLean Stevenson; Hastily reorienting weekly WFL production travel plans as teams suddenly relocated or folded; Faking on-field injuries during NASL telecasts to allow for ad hoc commercial breaks; The origins of the specially-composed TVS theme song and its orchestral big band sound; and Post-TVS work, including the Canadian Football League's Las Vegas Posse, and the worldwide music landmark event Live Aid. 

On this episode of Open Wide for Some Soccer we're joined by guest Charlie Mitchell, who played in the North American Soccer League for ten seasons. Charlie shares what led him to play with the Rochester Lancers, his greatest memories in playing with some of the best players in the NASL, and what he wishes he appreciated more looking back on his experiences. On this episode: ● How Charlie ended up playing for the Rochester Lancers. ● What was happening in the NASL at the time Charlie joined the Lancers. ● What made Rochester so soccer centric. ● What community's soccer should be reinvigorated in and why. ● The dynamic when Giorgio Chinaglia joined the New York Cosmos. ● What it was like playing with some of the best players in the NASL. ● When the players went on strike and why. ● How Charlie felt finding out he was being traded to the Cosmos. ● How Pelé acted behind the scenes. ● What Charlie wished he appreciated more looking back. ● The player that easily took other players for a walk. ● The kick Pelé always wanted to make in America and how Charlie made it happen. ● Why Charlie says he was at the right place at the right time. ● The worst conditions Charlie has played under. ● How Charlie reacted when he got asked to go play in Hawaii. ● What happened when other players came to Hawaii for away games. ● Why Charlie enjoyed playing indoor soccer. ● The trajectory of Charlie's career after Hawaii. ● The type of player that Peter Lorimer was.

On this episode of Open Wide for Some Soccer we're joined by guest Rachel Viollet. Rachel wrote and directed Big-Time Soccer: The Remarkable Rise & Fall of the NASL, a documentary about that is being broadcasted virtually very soon. Rachel shares why she created this documentary, her perceptions of the NASL, her experience creating Big-Time Soccer, and why she says there may be a follow-up. On this episode: ● The personal connection that inspired Rachel to create this documentary. ● The full-circle moment Rachel had before she started on this project. ● The great stories she has collected in creating her documentaries. ● When Big-Time Soccer is being virtually broadcasted and the event that will follow. ● Why Rachel says there might be a part two to this documentary. ● What stood out to Rachel the most during the interview process. ● Where Big-Time Soccer has already been screened. ● What Bob would love to see if there is a part two to Big-Time Soccer. ● How David became interested in the NASL. ● What happened when the NASL folded? ● Why Bob says more people should know about Dennis Viollet, Rachel's dad. ● How NASL players have stayed involved in soccer even up to this day. ● The players that Rachel was able to interview and those she wished she could have. ● How soccer players in the NASL used to get involved in the community. ● How the marketing of soccer has changed over time. ● Bob's idea for another great documentary or book subject. ● What made the NASL an especially expansive league. ● When to expect a wide release of Big-Time Soccer.

Our latest Bred A Blue podcast is with Steve Seargeant who joined the Everton youth ranks in 1966 and went on to play 90 games for the First Team. Steve, born and bred in Liverpool and a lifelong Evertonian, speaks about his experiences coming through the ranks, how he helped Alex Young with his blisters, getting advice from Alan Ball and how wingers would frequently go ‘over the top' on full-backs! He also recalls Bernie Wright, injustices like Carlisle United and AC Milan, and the day he went for the throat of a Brazilian football legend in America! On leaving Everton, Steve signed for Detroit Express in the North American Soccer League, and apart from that fall-out with a 1970 World Cup winner, it was an experience he thoroughly enjoyed – playing against the likes of George Best, Johan Cruyff and Franz Beckenbauer.