Good Seats Still Available

“Good Seats Still Available” is a curious little podcast devoted to the exploration of what used-to-be in professional sports. Each week, host Tim Hanlon interviews former players, owners, broadcasters, beat reporters, and surprisingly famous "super fans" of teams and leagues that have come and gone - in an attempt to unearth some of the most wild and woolly moments in (often forgotten) sports history.

445: "Dos a Cero" & The US/Mexico Soccer "Sibling Rivalry" - With Hal Phillips 05/11/2026

445: "Dos a Cero" & The US/Mexico Soccer "Sibling Rivalry" - With Hal Phillips Next month, the FIFA World Cup returns to North American soil, marking a transformative moment for the sport of soccer on this continent. But to understand the current state of the US Men’s National Team as they prepare to host the world, one must first examine their complex and often turbulent relationship with their greatest rival: Mexico. In this episode, we welcome back soccer journalist, historian and Hal Phillips, author of the definitive new book, "." Phillips’ work frames the rivalry with El Tri not just as a series of games, but as a "co-dependent feud" that has fundamentally shaped the national identities of both countries. We trace the narrative arc from the Americans' 1934 World Cup qualifier success in Rome through the grueling 46-year "dark age" where the US failed to secure a single victory against their neighbors. Phillips takes us through the pivotal shifts of the 1990s and the birth of the "Dos a Cero" era, explaining how the professionalization of the American game turned a lopsided regional dominance into an ever-escalating athletic confrontation of equals. Beyond the tactics on the pitch, we discuss the deeper cultural and geopolitical baggage that makes this rivalry unique. From the personal stories of dual-national stars caught between two flags to the economic realities of the "Border War," Phillips explains why this rivalry was the necessary forge for American soccer’s survival. As this year's World Cup beckons, we explore whether these two "siblings" are finally ready to step out of each other's shadows and challenge the global elite. + + + SUPPORT THE SHOW: : : BUY THE BOOK: "": https://amzn.to/3PxRbjK SPONSOR THANKS: (10% off promo code: SEATS): (10% off promo code: GOODSEATS): FIND AND FOLLOW: Linktree: Web: Bluesky: X/Twitter: YouTube: Threads: Instagram: Facebook: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/goodseatsstillavailable/id/41240390

444.5: John Sterling [ARCHIVE RE-RELEASE] 05/04/2026

444: Baseball's Pioneering Nashua Dodgers - With Bill Ranauro 05/04/2026

443: The Tri-Cities Blackhawks - With Don Doxsie 04/27/2026

443: The Tri-Cities Blackhawks - With Don Doxsie In the early years of professional basketball, before the bright lights and global reach of today’s NBA, the game was held together by grit, geography, and a patchwork of teams fighting to survive. Few franchises capture that fragile, formative moment better than the Tri-Cities Blackhawks — a team that didn’t just represent one city, but an entire region straddling the Mississippi River. In this episode, we’re joined by author Don Doxsie, whose book "" serves as both our guide and our lens into this overlooked chapter of basketball history. Based in Moline, Rock Island, and Davenport, the Blackhawks were a product of the industrial Midwest and the now-defunct National Basketball League. They played a bruising, defense-first style, developed standout players, and, for a brief moment, stood toe-to-toe with the best teams of their era. But as pro basketball rapidly evolved — culminating in the 1949 merger that created the modern NBA — the realities of a small, fragmented market began to close in. Through Doxsie’s reporting and perspective, we explore the team’s promising early seasons, its mounting financial and competitive pressures, and the instability that ultimately led to its relocation. It’s a story of reinvention as much as decline — one that would eventually see the franchise evolve into today’s Atlanta Hawks, but only after leaving the Tri-Cities behind. Along the way, Doxsie brings to life the personalities, league politics, and day-to-day realities of running a team on the margins of a sport still struggling to define itself. + + + SUPPORT THE SHOW: : : BUY THE BOOK: "": https://amzn.to/42x6Cvm SPONSOR THANKS: (10% off promo code: SEATS): (10% off promo code: GOODSEATS): FIND AND FOLLOW: Linktree: Web: Bluesky: X/Twitter: YouTube: Threads: Instagram: Facebook: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/goodseatsstillavailable/id/41017420

442: "Baseball's Outcast: The Story of Ron LeFlore" - With Adam Henig 04/20/2026

442: "Baseball's Outcast: The Story of Ron LeFlore" - With Adam Henig Ron LeFlore’s trajectory from a maximum-security prison cell to starting in Major League Baseball's All-Star Game is a narrative of improbable survival and self-inflicted exile. In this episode, we sit down with Adam Henig, author of "", to unpack the gritty, unvarnished reality of a man who was as much a product of Detroit’s turbulent East Side as he was a victim of his own choices. We explore LeFlore’s early years in a one-bedroom apartment plagued by poverty , the formative trauma of losing his brother Harry — an Olympic boxer — to a ring injury, and the heroin addiction that led to the armed robbery that defined his youth. Henig takes us through the high-stakes process of documenting a life that feels more like a crime thriller than a sports biography. We discuss the "76-year-old jigsaw puzzle" Henig spent over four years piecing together through dozens of phone calls with LeFlore, despite the two never meeting in person. Henig also reveals the shadowy figures who facilitated LeFlore’s rise, including Mafia associate Jimmy Karalla, who used his connections at the legendary Lindell AC bar to secure LeFlore a prison furlough for a Tiger Stadium tryout. Beyond the 30-game hitting streak and the stolen-base titles, we examine the dark side of celebrity that LeFlore could never quite outrun. Henig sheds light on LeFlore’s dangerous proximity to Frank Usher and the "Murder Row" crime family, a connection that ultimately eroded the trust of the baseball establishment. Finally, we look at the sobering post-career years, from working as an airport skycap to facing the health crises that cost him his leg. This conversation offers an essential look at the heavy price of a second chance and the complicated legacy of a man who reached the heights of the game only to find himself an outcast. + + + SUPPORT THE SHOW: : : BUY THE BOOK: "": SPONSOR THANKS: (10% off promo code: GOODSEATS): (10% off promo code: SEATS): FIND AND FOLLOW: Linktree: Web: Bluesky: X/Twitter: YouTube: Threads: Instagram: Facebook: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/goodseatsstillavailable/id/40924505

441: The NASL's Detroit Express (& More!) - With Roger Faulkner 04/13/2026

441: The NASL's Detroit Express (& More!) - With Roger Faulkner From wartime England to the rise — and fall — of pro soccer’s first big American boom, Roger Faulkner has seen it all — and now, he’s telling that story in his new memoir, "." In this episode, we sit down with the Detroit Express co-founder to trace an unlikely journey: from growing up in Derby to helping bring top-flight international soccer to the Midwest at the height of the original North American Soccer League. Alongside high-profile partner/soccer impresario Jimmy Hill, Faulkner helped build a franchise that aimed to blend global star power with big-event American sports presentation — highlighted by marquee signings like Trevor Francis and matches staged inside a cavernous new Pontiac Silverdome. Faulkner offers a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it actually took to launch and operate an NASL club — where ambition often outpaced economics, and where the line between visionary and unsustainable was razor-thin. He reflects on the league’s rapid ascent, its structural fragility, and the lessons learned as the Express hastily relocated amid the NASL’s broader unraveling. Just as compelling, Faulkner shares how he stayed in the game — helping build the foundation for soccer’s next chapter in the U.S., including an instrumental role in bringing the 1994 World Cup to Detroit. It’s a revealing conversation — and a fitting companion to his hoot of a memoir — with one of American soccer’s most underappreciated builders, who lived both the dream and the reality of the sport’s first modern era. PLUS: Our trivia contest is back - this time for a chance to win a copy of ""! + + + SUPPORT THE SHOW: : : BUY THE BOOK: "": https://amzn.to/423VyFO SPONSOR THANKS: (10% off promo code: SEATS): (10% off promo code: GOODSEATS): FIND AND FOLLOW: Linktree: Web: Bluesky: X/Twitter: YouTube: Threads: Instagram: Facebook: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/goodseatsstillavailable/id/40821660

440: "Sports Heaven: The Birth of ESPN" - With Greg DeHart & Mike Soltys 04/06/2026

440: "Sports Heaven: The Birth of ESPN" - With Greg DeHart & Mike Soltys ESPN didn’t begin as a media giant — it started as a gamble. In 1979, a cash-strapped startup bet on an unproven proposition: a 24-hour sports cable TV network delivered by satellite, built largely on programming no one else wanted and live coverage that barely existed. By any conventional measure, it was an absurd idea. It also changed sports media forever. This week, we revisit that origin story through a new lens: "," premiering April 6th on (where else?) ESPN. The documentary traces how founders Bill Rasmussen, his son Scott, and an unlikely group of partners pushed past industry skepticism, financial instability, and the daunting challenge of programming an "always-on" sports network — laying the groundwork for what would become a global media powerhouse. Joining us are director Greg DeHart and producer Mike Soltys, ESPN’s longtime institutional historian, to explore both the story itself and the challenge of telling it. Drawing on archival footage and interviews with the Rasmussens, along with early executives and production pioneers, the film captures the improvisational, high-risk reality of ESPN’s earliest days. We discuss what the filmmakers uncovered that even seasoned observers may not know, how they balanced nostalgia with clear-eyed storytelling, and why ESPN’s startup DNA — equal parts technological leap, programming opportunism, and entrepreneurial persistence — still resonates in today’s fractured sports media landscape. " premieres April 6th at 8:30pm ET on ESPN. The is also available now, with a hardcover book to be released in May. + + + SUPPORT THE SHOW: : : BUY THE BOOK: "": https://amzn.to/3PRz1cC SPONSOR THANKS: (10% off promo code: GOODSEATS): (10% off promo code: SEATS): FIND AND FOLLOW: Linktree: Web: Bluesky: X/Twitter: YouTube: Threads: Instagram: Facebook: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/goodseatsstillavailable/id/40731585

439: "Moses and the Doctor" - With Luke Epplin 03/30/2026

438: From Bleacher Seats to Luxury Suites - With Seth Tannenbaum 03/23/2026

437: World Cup History & What's Ahead - With Clemente Lisi 03/15/2026

437: World Cup History & What's Ahead - With Clemente Lisi This week, we dive into the remarkable history — and uncertain future — of soccer’s greatest spectacle: the FIFA World Cup. Our guest is veteran journalist and soccer author Clemente Lisi, whose newly updated (and eminently essential!) book, "," chronicles the tournament’s extraordinary evolution from its modest beginnings in 1930 to the globe-spanning mega-event it is today. Drawing on decades of reporting and interviews, Lisi revisits some of the competition’s most iconic matches, legendary players, and defining moments — from Pelé and Diego Maradona to the modern era of global superstars — that helped transform the World Cup into the most widely watched sporting event on the planet. But the conversation doesn’t stop with history. With the 2026 edition — expanded to 48 teams for the first time — set to be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, we also explore whether the tournament could face unexpected headwinds. Sky-high ticket prices have already sparked backlash from fans and even US lawmakers -- while debates over immigration policy, visa access for international supporters, and rising infrastructure costs for host cities could complicate what should be a global celebration. Will the largest World Cup ever staged ignite a new era for soccer in North America — or expose the growing tensions between the sport’s worldwide popularity and the economics of modern mega-events? We explore the past, present, and future scenarios of the World Cup in a wide-ranging conversation with one of the sport’s most thoughtful chroniclers. + + + SUPPORT THE SHOW: : : BUY THE BOOK: "": https://amzn.to/47LYKsV SPONSOR THANKS: (10% off promo code: SEATS): (10% off promo code: GOODSEATS): FIND AND FOLLOW: Linktree: Web: Bluesky: X/Twitter: YouTube: Threads: Instagram: Facebook: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/goodseatsstillavailable/id/40484575

436: "Court Queens" - With Emma Baccellieri & Jordan Robinson 03/09/2026

436: "Court Queens" - With Emma Baccellieri & Jordan Robinson Women’s basketball is enjoying a remarkable surge in popularity — but it also stands at a pivotal moment. As the Women's National Basketball Association and the WNBA Players Association remain locked in difficult negotiations over a new collective bargaining agreement, the sport faces a paradox: unprecedented visibility and momentum, yet uncertainty just weeks before the next season. In many ways, the tension reflects the league’s maturation—and serves as a reminder of the decades-long struggle that built the modern women’s game. This week, we explore that history with and , authors of the sweeping new book "." Baccellieri, a staff writer at , and Robinson — who covers women’s basketball across multiple outlets, including Audacy’s podcast — have created a richly researched and visually stunning chronicle of the sport’s evolution: from 1892, when Senda Berenson introduced basketball to women at Smith College, through the collegiate era of the AIAW and the rise of the NCAA tournament, early pro experiments like the late-1970s Women's Professional Basketball League (WBL) and the 1990s American Basketball League (ABL), and ultimately the launch — and staying power — of the WNBA. Packed with hundreds of photos, memorabilia, and vivid storytelling, celebrates the pioneers, iconic teams, unforgettable games, and overlooked trailblazers who fought for opportunity across more than 130 years of basketball history. Our conversation explores those stories — and why understanding that long arc of progress makes today’s moment for women’s basketball feel both thrilling and consequential. PLUS: your chance to win a copy of in our vaunted trivia contest! + + + SUPPORT THE SHOW: : : BUY THE BOOKS: "": https://amzn.to/4bg6Jj4 SPONSOR THANKS: (10% off promo code: GOODSEATS): (10% off promo code: SEATS): FIND AND FOLLOW: Linktree: Web: Bluesky: X/Twitter: YouTube: Threads: Instagram: Facebook: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/goodseatsstillavailable/id/40352110

435: Death in the Strike Zone: Baseball’s First Superstar - With Tom Gilbert 03/02/2026

435: Death in the Strike Zone: Baseball’s First Superstar - With Tom Gilbert Before Cy Young, before Babe Ruth, before baseball even had a strike zone, there was Jim Creighton — a 21-year-old phenom whose brilliance and tragic death helped create the modern game. This week, we explore the extraordinary life, myth, and enduring legacy of baseball’s first true superstar through a revealing conversation with historian Tom Gilbert, author of the new biography "." In the late 1850s and early 1860s, baseball was still a recreational pastime dominated by offense. Pitchers merely delivered the ball gently, and games could spiral into chaotic, high-scoring affairs. Creighton changed everything. Pitching for Brooklyn’s powerhouse Excelsior club, he pioneered speed, movement, and deception — transforming pitching into a weapon rather than a formality. His dominance forced opponents to rethink strategy, and ultimately pushed baseball’s rulemakers to introduce called strikes and formalize the strike zone, forever reshaping the sport’s competitive balance. Yet Creighton’s meteoric rise was as brief as it was influential. In 1862, at the height of his fame, he suffered a catastrophic abdominal injury — likely worsened by the extreme physical demands of his revolutionary pitching style — and died just days later at age 21. His death stunned the sporting world and elevated him into baseball’s first martyr-figure, a symbol of both the promise and peril of a game still inventing itself. Gilbert, whose award-winning 2020 book "" reframed the chaotic, colorful origins of America’s pastime, explains how Creighton’s innovations accelerated baseball’s evolution from amateur hobby to organized spectacle — and how myth, memory, and historical detective work have shaped Creighton’s legend (yet not enshrinement in the National Baseball Hall of Fame) ever since. + + + SUPPORT THE SHOW: : : BUY THE BOOKS: "": https://amzn.to/4aYCWvc "": https://amzn.to/4rKhoJX SPONSOR THANKS: (10% off promo code: SEATS): (10% off promo code: GOODSEATS): FIND AND FOLLOW: Linktree: Web: Bluesky: X/Twitter: YouTube: Threads: Instagram: Facebook: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/goodseatsstillavailable/id/40267835

434: US Soccer World Cups, National Teams & Pro Leagues - With Alan Rothenberg 02/23/2026

434: US Soccer World Cups, National Teams & Pro Leagues - With Alan Rothenberg Few figures have shaped modern American soccer more profoundly than Alan Rothenberg ("") — and in this revelatory conversation, he tells the story in his own words. Best known as the founding architect of Major League Soccer and the driving force behind the record-breaking 1994 FIFA World Cup, Rothenberg’s influence on the game in the United States stretches back decades earlier than most fans realize. Long before MLS kicked off in 1996, he was immersed in the sport’s early, fragile professional era. In the late 1960s, Rothenberg worked alongside Jack Kent Cooke in the United Soccer Association, helping operate the Los Angeles Wolves — an ambitious effort to import top international clubs to American audiences. He later held a brief ownership stake in the Los Angeles Aztecs of the North American Soccer League, gaining firsthand insight into the promise and ultimate collapse of pro soccer’s first boom-and-bust cycle in the U.S. A pivotal turning point came when Rothenberg ran the soccer competition for the 1984 Summer Olympics. At a time when many doubted the American market, the tournament drew unexpectedly strong crowds — helping persuade FIFA that the United States could successfully host a World Cup. As president of the United States Soccer Federation from 1990 to 1998, Rothenberg delivered on that promise. The 1994 World Cup became the most financially successful in history to that point, and he fulfilled the bid commitment to launch MLS — creating the stable Division I league that had eluded the country for generations. He also chaired the 1999 Women’s World Cup, another watershed moment. In this candid interview, Rothenberg reflects on risk, resistance, political maneuvering, and the long game of institution-building — offering rare, behind-the-scenes insight into how American soccer finally found its footing. + + + SUPPORT THE SHOW: : : BUY THE BOOK: "": https://amzn.to/4kSgacQ SPONSOR THANKS: (10% off promo code: GOODSEATS): (10% off promo code: SEATS): FIND AND FOLLOW: Linktree: Web: Bluesky: X/Twitter: YouTube: Threads: Instagram: Facebook: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/goodseatsstillavailable/id/40190085

433: Sports, Marketing & Mayhem - With Bob Wilber 02/16/2026

433: Sports, Marketing & Mayhem - With Bob Wilber Sports lifer. Road warrior. Straight shooter. In this no‑holds‑barred conversation, veteran sports marketer, former minor‑league ballplayer, and acclaimed author Bob Wilber opens up about a wildly unconventional career that somehow connects the Detroit Tigers minor-league system, Converse sneaker deals, indoor soccer barns, and nitro Funny Car mayhem. Wilber takes us inside a childhood spent in dugouts and press boxes as the son of longtime Major League catcher, coach, and scout Del Wilber, and a trailblazing mother who broke barriers in the St. Louis Cardinals’ front office. From there, we follow him onto college diamonds and through the harsh realities of chasing – and losing – the big‑league dream. The story hardly slows down. Wilber walks through his pivot into sports marketing and front‑office life, selling corporate America on emerging properties and trying to keep the MISL's St. Louis Storm, NPSL's Kansas City Attack, and CISL's Indianapolis Twisters alive in the boom‑and‑bust world of indoor soccer. Then he details his second (third?) act in motorsports, running NHRA Funny Car teams and becoming one of drag racing’s most distinctive PR voices and storytellers. Along the way, Wilber talks candidly about burnout, constant travel, reinvention, and why he finally stepped away to write his autobiographical “ ". If you care about the business behind the games – the hustle, the politics, the strain on real life – this conversation is a masterclass in how sports really work once the lights go off and the fans go home! + + + SUPPORT THE SHOW: : : BUY THE BOOK: " ": https://amzn.to/3Myak3F SPONSOR THANKS: (10% off promo code: SEATS): (10% off promo code: GOODSEATS): FIND AND FOLLOW: Linktree: Web: Bluesky: X/Twitter: YouTube: Threads: Instagram: Facebook: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/goodseatsstillavailable/id/40112625

432: World Team Tennis & The Boston Lobsters - With John Schwarz 02/09/2026

432: World Team Tennis & The Boston Lobsters - With John Schwarz In the spring of 1974, a bold experiment arrived on the American sports scene: World Team Tennis (WTT) — a mixed-gender professional league co-founded and championed by Billie Jean King, who envisioned a more inclusive, fan-friendly, and forward-looking version of the sport. WTT challenged tennis tradition and reimagined how the game could be played, packaged, and consumed. With innovative scoring, raucous arena atmospheres, and genuine star power, the league aimed to pull tennis out of the country club and into the mainstream. Men and women competed side-by-side, fans were encouraged to cheer, and matches moved at a faster, television-friendly pace. It was daring, disruptive, and unmistakably ahead of its time. The original incarnation of WTT lasted just five seasons, folding in 1978 amid financial losses, franchise instability, and the realities of building a national sports league before modern media economics took hold. Yet its influence — on tennis, sports marketing, and gender equity — continues to echo decades later. John Schwarz, author of"", joins the pod this week for a revealing conversation that brings rare firsthand perspective to the original circuit's remarkable story. Schwarz is uniquely positioned to tell it: during WTT’s initial 1974-78 run, he separately served in the front offices of both the league itself, and then for one of its most emblematic franchises — the Robert Kraft-owned Boston Lobsters. In many respects, the Lobsters were a lens into WTT itself — a franchise that embodied the league’s ambition, creativity, and community appeal, while also confronting the harsh economic truths that ultimately doomed many teams. Despite its short existence, Schwarz explains why WTT mattered, why it struggled, and why its lessons still resonate in today’s evolving sports landscape. ALSO: Your chance to win a pristine vintage 1978 Boston Lobsters full-color poster in this week's trivia contest! + + + SUPPORT THE SHOW: : : BUY THE BOOK: "": https://amzn.to/3Md4kgE SPONSOR THANKS: (10% off promo code: GOODSEATS): (10% off promo code: SEATS): FIND AND FOLLOW: Linktree: Web: Bluesky: X/Twitter: YouTube: Threads: Instagram: Facebook: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/goodseatsstillavailable/id/40029315

431: "Return of the King" - With Tom Aiello 02/02/2026

431: "Return of the King" - With Tom Aiello Valdosta State University history professor (and Episodes and guest) Tom Aiello is back — this time for an intriguing look at one of the most politically and culturally charged nights in American sports history: Muhammad Ali’s comeback fight against Jerry Quarry on October 26, 1970, in Atlanta. After nearly three and a half years in professional exile, Ali returned to the ring having lost far more than his world heavyweight title. His refusal to be drafted into the Vietnam War had stripped him of his license to box, cost him his prime athletic years, and turned him into one of the most polarizing figures in the country. By 1970, however, the nation had changed. Public opinion about the war had shifted, Ali’s moral stance looked increasingly prescient, and the question was no longer if he would return — but where and on whose terms. Atlanta provided the answer. The fight was as much a civic and cultural event as a sporting one, staged before an audience that reflected the city’s rising Black political, economic, and social leadership. Civil rights figures, elected officials, entertainers, and power brokers filled the arena, transforming the evening into a declaration of legitimacy and self-determination. Ali’s presence — confident, defiant, unapologetic — symbolized a broader shift in who held cultural authority in America. Quarry, a skilled and respected heavyweight contender, became the necessary counterpart in Ali’s rebirth. The fight itself ended swiftly, with Ali winning by third-round stoppage, but its significance far outlasted the final bell. Drawing from his new book "Ali," Aiello helps us understand how this night fused boxing, politics, and spectacle — how Atlanta became the stage for Ali’s return, and how the event marked a turning point not just in his career, but in the public embrace of a new, unapologetic vision of Black power and identity. ALSO: A computer pits Ali vs. Rocky Marciano in ""; the curious ringside inspiration for ""; and the notorious tale of Gordon 'Chicken Man' Williams, as fictionalized in 2024's "". PLUS: Your chance to win a copy of "" in this week's trivia contest! + + + SUPPORT THE SHOW: : : BUY THE BOOK: "": https://amzn.to/4ket0BY SPONSOR THANKS: (10% off promo code: SEATS): (10% off promo code: GOODSEATS): FIND AND FOLLOW: Linktree: Web: Bluesky: X/Twitter: YouTube: Threads: Instagram: Facebook: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/goodseatsstillavailable/id/39952635

430: "Everybody Loses" - With Danny Funt 01/26/2026

429: The Negro Leagues' Memphis Red Sox - With Keith Wood 01/19/2026

428: "Stadium City" - With Helen Morgan Parmett 01/12/2026

428: "Stadium City" - With Helen Morgan Parmett Sports stadiums are often framed as engines of civic pride, economic development, and shared spectacle. But what if they are something more consequential — and more complicated — than that? In this episode, we’re joined by University of Vermont professor Helen Morgan Parmett, author of , for a wide-ranging conversation that rethinks stadiums not merely as venues for games, but as powerful urban media infrastructures shaping how cities function, govern, and imagine themselves. Drawing on case studies from Atlanta, Seattle, and Minneapolis, Parmett explores how modern stadiums operate as connective nodes linking sports, media systems, urban planning, political power, and civic identity. We discuss her concept of the “sportification of place” — the idea that cities increasingly organize space, culture, and public investment around sports and spectacle — and how broadcast media, branding, and digital platforms amplify the influence of these massive projects far beyond game day. Our conversation examines what stadium development reveals about who cities are built for, how public resources and attention are allocated, and how issues of race, class, governance, and belonging are deeply embedded in sports infrastructure. We also explore how everyday civic voices — not just those of team owners and politicians — surface tensions over access, identity, and urban priorities. This episode offers a deeper look at stadiums as contested civic spaces — where entertainment, media power, and urban life collide — and considers what their rise reveals about the modern American city. + + + SUPPORT THE SHOW: : : BUY THE BOOK: "" : https://amzn.to/3Z3PuvA SPONSOR THANKS: (10% off promo code: SEATS): (10% off promo code: GOODSEATS): FIND AND FOLLOW: Linktree: Web: Bluesky: X/Twitter: YouTube: Threads: Instagram: Facebook: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/goodseatsstillavailable/id/39689105

427: "Baseball in the Roaring Twenties" - With Thomas Wolf 01/05/2026

427: "Baseball in the Roaring Twenties" - With Thomas Wolf Baseball's 1926 World Series was more than just a championship showdown — it was emblematic of America in a decade defined by financial excess, social rebellion, and societal reinvention. We explore that dramatic showdown through "," a riveting new book by historian and author Thomas Wolf. Wolf takes us beyond the box scores of this unforgettable seven-game clash between Babe Ruth’s New York Yankees and Rogers Hornsby’s St. Louis Cardinals. He traces Ruth’s improbable resurgence from a disastrous 1925 season — a comeback that reignited the public imagination—and revisits the iconic moments that still echo through baseball history, from Grover Cleveland Alexander’s legendary Game 7 performance to Ruth’s controversial, series-ending stolen base attempt. But the story extends well beyond the field. Wolf situates the Series within the broader cultural currents of the Jazz Age: Prohibition-era speakeasies, a rapidly modernizing society, and the parallel world of the Negro Leagues, where Rube Foster’s bold vision flourished even as hopes for integration faced overwhelming resistance. The conversation also uncovers lesser-known (and darker) chapters, including the game-fixing scandal involving Ty Cobb and Tris Speaker that surfaced during the Series, and Commissioner Judge Landis’s unexpectedly lenient response. A historian and lifelong baseball devotee, Wolf has long examined baseball’s cultural meaning. "Baseball in the Roaring Twenties" is his most ambitious work yet — using one remarkable season to probe the contradictions, triumphs, and tensions at the heart of 1920s America. + + + SUPPORT THE SHOW: : : BUY THE BOOKS (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): "" SPONSOR THANKS (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): (10% off promo code: GOODSEATS): (10% off promo code: SEATS): FIND AND FOLLOW: Linktree: Web: Bluesky: X/Twitter: YouTube: Threads: Instagram: Facebook: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/goodseatsstillavailable/id/39609000

426.5: The NASL Players’ Strike of 1979 – With Steve Holroyd [ARCHIVE RE-RELEASE] 12/29/2025

426.5: The NASL Players’ Strike of 1979 – With Steve Holroyd [ARCHIVE RE-RELEASE] [We say goodbye to a crappy 2025 with a fond remembrance of frequent guest and long-time friend-of-the-show Steve Holroyd - whose untimely passing earlier this year still stings mightily. In this classic ARCHIVE RE-RELEASE from April 2019, we tapped Steve's encyclopedic knowledge of US soccer history for an essential look at an oft-overlooked event in the life of the original North American Soccer League (1968-1985), that arguably marked the "beginning of the end" of that influential circuit.] + + + Professional union labor lawyer and Society for American Soccer History sports historian Steve Holroyd returns to the podcast to go deep into one of the more curious rabbit holes in North American Soccer League history. In early 1977, Ed Garvey, a labor lawyer and head of the newly-formed National Football League Players Association (NFLPA), recruited Washington Diplomats midfielder John Kerr to help gauge interest among his teammates and those of other clubs in forming a similar organization for the suddenly ascendant ten-year-old NASL. By the end of that summer, player representatives from all 18 league clubs agreed in principle to create the North American Soccer League Players Association (NASLPA), and on August 29th, 1977 – the day after the New York Cosmos’ dramatic Soccer Bowl victory over the Seattle Sounders in Pele’s US swan song – officially sought recognition by NASL owners to become the players’ collective bargaining entity. Commissioner Phil Woosnam and league ownership quickly refused, fearing a threat to the still-fragile circuit’s integrity by a group run by a union of the NFL, with whom NASL owners already had a tenuous (and in the cases of Ft. Lauderdale’s Robbie and Dallas’ Hunt families, common ownership) relationship. With no progress towards recognition of the union either during the subsequent off-season or the next year, members of the NASLPA finally voted 252-113 to strike against ownership – announcing its intention to do so on April 13, 1979, one day before the league’s second weekend slate of regular season games. What transpired next was five unprecedented days of confusion (would foreign imports risk deportation by playing during an American player work stoppage?); desperation (coaches Eddie McCreadie [Memphis] and Ron Newman [Ft. Lauderdale] donning uniforms to help their strike-depleted teams); naiveté (unwitting fans seeking Rochester Lancer “player” autographs during last-minute replacement tryouts); and ultimately, miscalculated futility – as player resolve waned almost immediately, especially among the association’s non-US residents, who actually made up the majority of the membership. The players’ point had been made, however, and by mid-1984 – through a long series of subsequent court rulings – the NASLPA finally prevailed in its mission to collectively represent players at the bargaining table with league ownership. Ironically, by then, it didn’t matter – the NASL folded in March of 1985. + + + SUPPORT THE SHOW: : : SPONSOR THANKS (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): (10% off promo code: GOODSEATS): (10% off promo code: SEATS): FIND AND FOLLOW: Linktree: Web: Bluesky: X/Twitter: YouTube: Threads: Instagram: Facebook: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/goodseatsstillavailable/id/39482960

426: The 6th Annual(-ish) Year-End Holiday Roundtable Spectacular! 12/22/2025

426: The 6th Annual(-ish) Year-End Holiday Roundtable Spectacular! It's our year-end Holiday Roundtable Spectacular, featuring a look back at the year's newest additions to "what used-to-be" in big-time sports (RIP Pro Volleyball Federation, Utah Hockey Club, three UFL teams, half of Major League Rugby, and the NCAA's LA & Bahamas Bowls); AND semi-educated guesses as to what might be ahead for 2026 - with three of our favorite fellow defunct sports enthusiasts: Paul Reeths (, ; ); Kenn Tomasch (, ; ); and Scott Adamson (; & ). Buckle up for our annual mashup of amusement and bemusement at the fringes of the pro sports establishment, as we simultaneously marvel at and lament some of the most curious events of the past year, debate who and what might be next to stumble into oblivion, and conjecture about future scenarios for the next generation of defunct and otherwise forgotten pro sports teams and leagues - including: UFL Year 3 NASCAR antitrust trial aftermath MLB's A's, Rays & realignment NFL international expansion & flag football MLS calendar reset & conference realignment An NBA European league? MiLB's private equity boom The Savannah Bananas' Banana League Major League Rugby contracts Major League Cricket bickers Major League Volleyball vs. LOVB & Athletes Unlimited The Women's Pro Baseball League steps up to the plate PLUS: Will FIFA's greedy delusions of World Cup grandeur in 2026 catapult North America into soccer's global firmament - or spark a revolt among the fans it claims to serve? AND: Are we in a sports investment bubble? + + + SUPPORT THE SHOW: : : BUY THE BOOKS (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): "": https://amzn.to/3YD7n42 "": https://amzn.to/48QJnka SPONSOR THANKS (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): (10% off promo code: GOODSEATS): (10% off promo code: SEATS): FIND AND FOLLOW: Linktree: Web: Bluesky: X/Twitter: YouTube: Threads: Instagram: Facebook: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/goodseatsstillavailable/id/39488500

425: Fox Sports Soccer Rules Analyst Dr. Joe Machnik 12/15/2025

425: Fox Sports Soccer Rules Analyst Dr. Joe Machnik He’s been called “American soccer’s renaissance man,” and in this episode, Dr. Joe Machnik returns to trace the remarkable arc of a life spent pushing the sport forward in the United States. When Machnik first joined us for back in 2017, he brought a rare, firsthand view of American soccer’s highs and lows. Today, with his new memoir, "" freshly in hand, we revisit that conversation with even richer context and perspective. Dr. Joe’s story began in Brooklyn, where an immigrant neighborhood and a love of the game planted the seeds for a career that would — like the domestic trajectory of the sport itself — defy easy categorization. From playing as an All-America goalkeeper at Long Island University and helping win the U.S. Open Cup with the New York Ukrainians, to coaching college teams deep into NCAA championship territory, Machnik’s early years were defined by a deep connection to the grassroots of American soccer. He went on to assist the U.S. Men’s National Team during its historic qualification for the 1990 World Cup — the country’s first appearance in four decades — and even helped the U.S. futsal team earn a bronze medal on the world stage. But Machnik’s influence didn’t stop with players and coaches. In the chaotic early years of modern professional soccer in the U.S., he was one of the architects of the rules themselves. He helped devise the original rulebook for the Major Indoor Soccer League, later served as commissioner of the smaller-market American Indoor Soccer Association, and even coached the MISL’s New York Arrows — bringing structure and professionalism to a game still trying to find its identity in the American sports landscape. Outdoors, his imprint has been equally deep. Machnik led refereeing operations for Major League Soccer during its formative years, establishing standards that helped turn a fledgling league into a stable, competitive professional circuit. He also directed officiating for national collegiate bodies and served as a FIFA and CONCACAF match commissioner, carrying the credibility he built in American soccer onto the global stage. Today, "Dr. Joe" is widely known as FOX Sports’ Soccer Rules Analyst—the authoritative voice millions hear during World Cups, Gold Cups, MLS matches, and international tournaments — explaining the game’s most controversial calls with clarity and patience. But beyond the broadcast booth, Machnik’s legacy lies in the countless players, referees, coaches, administrators, and fans who came to love the game because he helped make it possible. Machnik reflects not only on the milestones of his own career, but on the larger narrative of how soccer in America has grown, stumbled, reinvented — and ultimately endured — over decades. PLUS: Tim and Dr. Joe fret over the crassly commercial optics surrounding the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 next summer, and lament their shared frustrations — so far — in trying to obtain reasonably-priced tickets! + + + SUPPORT THE SHOW: : : BUY THE BOOK (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): "": https://amzn.to/4pW6aRL SPONSOR THANKS (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): (10% off promo code: GOODSEATS): (10% off promo code: SEATS): FIND AND FOLLOW: Linktree: Web: Bluesky: X/Twitter: YouTube: Threads: Instagram: Facebook: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/goodseatsstillavailable/id/39401250

424: Baseball's Most Outrageous Promotions - With Joseph Natalicchio 12/08/2025

424: Baseball's Most Outrageous Promotions - With Joseph Natalicchio Baseball has long been America’s pastime — and the stage for some of the wildest, most outrageous marketing stunts in sports history. From the postwar era through the 1970s, team owners and promoters pushed the limits of spectacle to fill seats, generate buzz, and entertain fans, often blurring the line between creativity and chaos. This week, "" author Joe Natalicchio joins for a wild ride across some of the sport’s most infamous attempts to spice things up at the ol' ballpark - where good marketing intentions went mightily awry. Natalicchio takes us behind the scenes of the Chicago White Sox's notorious "Disco Demolition Night," where exploding records sparked a full-blown riot; the St. Louis Browns' "Grandstand Managers’ Night, which turned fans into on-field decision-makers; the Cleveland Indians' infamous "Ten-Cent Beer Night," a drunken frenzy that ended with fans storming the field; and the legendary story of 3-foot, 7-inch tall Browns pinch-hitter Eddie Gadel, who flummoxed the Detroit Tigers with a one-plate appearance/walk in a 1951 game forever enshrined in the MLB record book. Beyond the laughs and jaw-dropping stories, Natalicchio explains why baseball became synonymous with over-the-top promotions, how these events reflect broader cultural shifts, and what they reveal about the delicate balance between fan engagement, entertainment, and safety. Whether you’re a die-hard fan, a student of sports history, or fascinated by the intersection of marketing and mischief, this episode offers a revealing, entertaining, and sometimes shocking look at baseball at its most outrageous — and unforgettable. + + + SUPPORT THE SHOW: : : BUY THE BOOK (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): "": https://amzn.to/44cZW72 SPONSOR THANKS (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): (10% off promo code: SEATS): (10% off promo code: GOODSEATS): FIND AND FOLLOW: Linktree: Web: Bluesky: X/Twitter: YouTube: Threads: Instagram: Facebook: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/goodseatsstillavailable/id/39313710

423: Philadelphia's "Broad Street Bullies" - With Sam Carchidi & Jeff Hare 12/01/2025

423: Philadelphia's "Broad Street Bullies" - With Sam Carchidi & Jeff Hare The Philadelphia Flyers didn’t just win hockey games in the 1970s — they changed the sport, the city, and the culture around them. In this episode, we dig into the rise, reign, and mythology of the "Broad Street Bullies," the decade-long era (1971–1981) when the Flyers transformed themselves from an NHL expansion afterthought into the toughest, most polarizing, and most beloved champions in league history. To unpack how a group of gritty, bruising, blue-collar players became civic folk heroes, we sit down with long-time Philadelphia Inquirer sportswriter Sam Carchidi and screenwriter/film director Jeff Hare — whose new book "," moves beyond the highlight reels and historic penalty minutes to reveal the human stories inside the chaos — the humor, the fearlessness, the insecurities, and the emotional glue that bound this unlikely team together. Carchidi and Hare take us behind the curtain of the Flyers’ rise: Bobby Clarke’s galvanizing leadership, Bernie Parent’s brilliance, and the intimidating presence of Dave “The Hammer” Schultz and the enforcer corps that made Philadelphia both feared and admired. But they also illuminate something deeper — why these players resonated so intensely with a city hungry for identity and pride, and how the team’s swagger helped reshape the NHL itself. From untold anecdotes to new reflections on how the Bullies view their legacy today, this conversation reframes one of hockey’s most iconic eras. Whether you grew up worshipping the orange and black or are discovering the Bullies for the first time, this episode uncovers the heart behind the havoc — and why the legend still looms so large. PLUS: Your chance to win a copy of "Bullies" via our Flyers trivia contest! + + + SUPPORT THE SHOW: : : BUY THE BOOK (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): "": https://amzn.to/4amC9Fw SPONSOR THANKS (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): (10% off promo code: SEATS): (10% off promo code: GOODSEATS): FIND AND FOLLOW: Linktree: Web: Bluesky: X/Twitter: YouTube: Threads: Instagram: Facebook: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/goodseatsstillavailable/id/39212305

422: The "Super Bowl Shuffle" - With Jeff Cameron 11/24/2025

422: The "Super Bowl Shuffle" - With Jeff Cameron Few sports moments have left as lasting a mark on pop culture as the 1985 Chicago Bears’ recording of the “.” This week, we go behind the music, the madness, and the myth with NFL Films Senior Producer Jeff Cameron — director of HBO’s new documentary short "" — who takes us inside the making of the iconic rap video that transformed a championship football team into cultural icons. "The Shuffle" reveals never-before-seen, behind-the-scenes footage and fresh interviews with Bears legends Mike Singletary, Jim McMahon, Willie Gault, and Gary Fencik, who recount their experiences recording the track and performing in the video. Cameron shares the story of how Chicago record executive Dick Meyer conceived the idea and how the project unfolded in late 1985 — weeks before the Bears had even officially secured a playoff spot, let alone a Super Bowl berth. What began as a fun, irreverent recording session quickly became a lightning rod for debate: Was it playful confidence, brash hubris, or simply a team having fun in the middle of a historic season? Cameron walks us through the challenges of capturing that spirit on film: reluctant players, chaotic studio sessions, and the creative energy that turned a one-off novelty idea into both a Billboard pop chart hit and a Grammy nomination. We also explore how the song and video raised thousands of dollars for Chicago-area food banks, and how it became a blueprint for athletes crossing over into mainstream entertainment — decades before social media made such moves commonplace. "The Shuffle" debuts November 25th on HBO and HBO Max at 9pm ET/8pm CT + + + SUPPORT THE SHOW: : : BUY THE ORIGINAL DVD (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): "": https://amzn.to/3LXXn2m SPONSOR THANKS (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): (10% off promo code: GOODSEATS): (10% off promo code: SEATS): FIND AND FOLLOW: Linktree: Web: Bluesky: X/Twitter: YouTube: Threads: Instagram: Facebook: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/goodseatsstillavailable/id/39141500

421: "There Is No Place Like Dome" - With Bruce Reynolds 11/17/2025

421: "There Is No Place Like Dome" - With Bruce Reynolds Baseball may be a game of numbers, but Tampa Bay's Tropicana Field is a place of stories — and no one knows those stories better than Bruce Reynolds, longtime Rays "fan host" and author of "There Is No Place Like Dome." In this delightfully off-beat episode, we venture under the famously tattered fiberglass roof — currently undergoing repairs and slated to reopen next spring — to explore the quirks, characters, and quiet magic of a ballpark that has been loved, mocked, misunderstood, celebrated, and everything in between. Reynolds shares 16 seasons’ worth of memories: the oddball fan encounters, dome-induced surprises, moments of chaos, moments of kindness, and the things that only happen at the Trop because — well, there's no place like it! We talk catwalks. We talk cowbells. We talk about the time the dome shook, the traditions that only insiders know, and why a stadium often dismissed as a “quirky relic” might actually be one of baseball’s most human places. And yes — even as new ownership takes over, mulls a new stadium, and crews patch the roof to keep it safe for at least a few more seasons -- the "Trop" continues to charm in its imperfect, unforgettable way. Reynolds’ passion is infectious, his stories heart-warming, and his perspective turns a stadium often criticized into a character all its own. PLUS: College bowl games, pro wrestling, the “ThunderDome,” arena league football, and the one-game wonder of the original UFL's Florida Tuskers! + + + SUPPORT THE SHOW: Buy Us a Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/goodseatsstillavailable The "Good Seats" Store: https://www.teepublic.com/?ref_id=35106 BUY THE BOOK (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): "There Is No Place Like Dome: A Fan Host's Unofficial View from the Top of the Trop, To the Stands with the Fans": https://amzn.to/47JcDZt 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 FIND AND FOLLOW: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/GoodSeatsStillAvailable Web: 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/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/good-seats-still-available/ /episode/index/show/goodseatsstillavailable/id/39046275

420.5: "Banned" - With Michael Ray Richardson & Jake Uitti [ARCHIVE RE-RELEASE] 11/12/2025

420.5: "Banned" - With Michael Ray Richardson & Jake Uitti [ARCHIVE RE-RELEASE] [We mourn the passing of pro hoops great Michael Ray Richardson with an archive re-release of our conversation with the former Nets/Knicks star from last year, featuring his biography co-author Jacob Uitti.] + + + Former NBA All-Star Michael Ray Richardson and his co-author Jacob Uitti () join the show to discuss Richardson's riveting new memoir that chronicles his extraordinary journey on and off the basketball court. Hailed as “the next Walt Frazier” coming out of the University of Montana as a first-round pick (fourth overall) in the 1978 NBA Draft, "Sugar" was a force to be reckoned with, leading the league in both assists and steals in just his second season - still New York Knicks team records to this day - and earning four All-Star appearances and two All-Defensive team honors. But behind the scenes, his career was overshadowed by personal struggles with drugs and alcohol, leading to a historic lifetime ban from the NBA in 1986 while a member of the New Jersey Nets. Richardson shares how he rebounded from that moment, finding redemption through subsequent stints as a player and coach in places like the CBA (Albany Patroons, Oklahoma Cavalry); USBL (Long Island Knights); Premiere Basketball League; and a prolific 14-year professional league run in Europe, where he guided teams to championships and redefined his legacy. Now running youth basketball clinics and reflecting on his journey, Richardson proves that resilience and accountability can turn even the darkest chapters into a comeback story. + + + SUPPORT THE SHOW: : : BUY THE BOOK (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): "": SPONSOR THANKS (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): (10% off promo code: GOODSEATS): (10% off promo code: SEATS): FIND AND FOLLOW: Linktree: Web: Bluesky: X/Twitter: YouTube: Threads: Instagram: Facebook: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/goodseatsstillavailable/id/39003280

420: America's "Cricket Odyssey" - With Beth Simpson & Mark Greenslade 11/10/2025

420: America's "Cricket Odyssey" - With Beth Simpson & Mark Greenslade Cricket and America - two words that rarely appear in the same sentence without a smirk or a shrug. Yet, as authors Beth Simpson and Mark Greenslade reveal in their new book "," the game’s roots here run deeper than most realize — and its revival is one of the great under-told stories in modern sport. We trace the sport’s improbable journey - from its 19th-century heyday, when Philadelphia was a global cricket power; to its near extinction after baseball gained popularity; and finally to its 21st-century rebirth, fueled by immigrant passion and the game's modern-day incarnation, Twenty20 (T20). Along the way, Simpson and Greenslade take us inside the subcultures that have kept US cricket alive - from South Central LA's Compton Cricket Club to equal rights-seeking women cricketers to youth development programs from Bronx, NY high schools to suburban North Carolina ballfields. We also tackle the political dysfunction, internal corruption and repeated false starts that have haunted American cricket for decades - including the 2019 collapse of the USACA national governing body, its not-much-better replacement USA Cricket, and the additionally complicating factor of International Cricket Council (ICC) recognition. And of course, we examine the handful of attempts to make pro cricket stick in the States from 2004’s erstwhile to today's ambitious Major League Cricket, backed by nearly a billion dollars of domestic and global investment - and ask whether this latest experiment can finally overcome the sport’s chronic infighting and infrastructure gaps. It’s a journey through sport, culture, and identity - one that reveals how America keeps rediscovering cricket, and why the game still struggles to find its true home on US soil. + + + SUPPORT THE SHOW: : : BUY THE BOOK (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): "": https://amzn.to/4nFOdoh SPONSOR THANKS (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): (10% off promo code: GOODSEATS): (10% off promo code: SEATS): FIND AND FOLLOW: Linktree: Web: Bluesky: X/Twitter: YouTube: Threads: Instagram: Facebook: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/goodseatsstillavailable/id/38964640

419: Basketball "Prophet" Moses Malone - With Paul Knepper 11/03/2025

419: Basketball "Prophet" Moses Malone - With Paul Knepper The story of Moses Malone is one of basketball’s most remarkable - and underappreciated - journeys. Rising from poverty in segregated Petersburg, Virginia, in the early 1970s, Malone became the first modern player to jump straight from high school to the pros, quickly establishing himself as one of the game’s most dominant forces. A three-time NBA MVP, relentless rebounder, and driving presence behind the rise of the early 1980s Houston Rockets and the Philadelphia 76ers’ 1983 league championship, Malone redefined greatness - quietly, humbly, and unstoppably. This week, biographer Paul Knepper, author of "," joins us to explore the man behind the legend and how his life reshaped both the sport and professional basketball culture. Knepper traces Malone’s rise from a poor upbringing to his groundbreaking 1974 leap to the American Basketball Association’s Utah Stars - an unprecedented move that paved the way for future hoops prodigies like Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, and LeBron James. On the court, Malone was a tireless worker, perennial All-Star, and the most dominant offensive rebounder in league history. Off it, the “Chairman of the Boards” quietly mentored rising stars like Charles Barkley and Hakeem Olajuwon, showing that greatness could coexist with humility. Through rare interviews and meticulous research, Knepper restores Malone’s rightful place in basketball history - not just as a Hall of Famer, but as a "prophet" of professionalism, perseverance, and quiet excellence. PLUS: Your chance to win a copy of "" via this week's trivia contest! AND: Is the new Amazon Prime NBA theme song "Victory" better than John Tesh's iconic "Roundball Rock"? You make the call! + + + SUPPORT THE SHOW: : : BUY THE BOOK (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): "": https://amzn.to/4oHEZJg SPONSOR THANKS (AND SUPPORT THE SHOW!): (10% off promo code: GOODSEATS): (10% off promo code: SEATS): FIND AND FOLLOW: Linktree: Web: Bluesky: X/Twitter: YouTube: Threads: Instagram: Facebook: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/goodseatsstillavailable/id/38882700

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