Games People Play

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

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

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

This week on the Games People Play, Bernie goes into the ring with former Heavyweight Champion Mike Hercules Weaver.  Join Bernie as he and Mike remember his legendary boxing career.   Hear about how Mike learns he is one of 27 children, how Bob Arum and Don King affected his career, and the crushing knockout blow of Big John Tate to win the title, and speaks of his new relationship with an old nemesis. 

If you like the era of boxing from 1976-1988 this is a great trip down memory lane with former WBA Champion Mike "Hercules" Weaver from our new location in Boston, Fenway Johnnies.

Part II

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

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

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

This week’s guest on the Games People Play is sports book legend Johnny Avello. Join Bernie as he and Johnny discuss the handicapper’s first trip to Saratoga Springs Race Course as a five year-old, his first job in Las Vegas where he learned craps, roulette and black jack at the now defunct Hotel Nevada and his current position as Director of Race and Sportsbook Operations at Draft Kings. The pair covers a wide array of topics including the gray areas of sports wagering vs. the fixed structure of table games, the learning curve of the sports handicapping business and how odds making influences the way a handicapper consumes entertainment. Plus: non-sports wagering; gut feelings vs. analytics; in-game betting; the advent of prop bets, and state-by-state gambling legislation. Later, Johnny talks about the perils of getting caught up in the hype surrounding a game as it applies to gambling and how the pandemic has impacted the growth of sports betting. Finally, you’ll hear about the offer that Johnny couldn’t refuse from Draft Kings as they lured the legend out of retirement.

This week’s guest on the Games People Play is one of just eight players in the history of the NHL to win the Stanley Cup, Art Ross and Hart trophies in the same season. He’s a three-time winner of the Lady Byng trophy, a five-time All-Star and an Olympic Gold Medalist. Join Bernie in welcoming Hockey Hall of Famer Martin St. Louis to the program as they discuss Martin’s early life as a Canadiens fan in Laval, Quebec, and the many challenges he faced as an undersized player. You’ll hear about the glory years at the University of Vermont, which were followed by a 16-year NHL career, beginning with a short stop in Calgary before a star-making 12-plus seasons in Tampa and ending with a memorable stint in New York with the Rangers. Plus: a special relationship with John Tortorella; an unforgettable Mother’s Day at MSG, and Martin’s thoughts on the Lightning’s chances to repeat as champions. Later, Bernie asks Martin to name his all-time favorite linemates and to shed some light on his current role as special teams consultant with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

This week’s guest on the Games People Play is one of just eight players in the history of the NHL to win the Stanley Cup, Art Ross and Hart trophies in the same season. He’s a three-time winner of the Lady Byng trophy, a five-time All-Star and an Olympic Gold Medalist. Join Bernie in welcoming Hockey Hall of Famer Martin St. Louis to the program as they discuss Martin’s early life as a Canadiens fan in Laval, Quebec, and the many challenges he faced as an undersized player. You’ll hear about the glory years at the University of Vermont, which were followed by a 16-year NHL career, beginning with a short stop in Calgary before a star-making 12-plus seasons in Tampa and ending with a memorable stint in New York with the Rangers. Plus: a special relationship with John Tortorella; an unforgettable Mother’s Day at MSG, and Martin’s thoughts on the Lightning’s chances to repeat as champions. Later, Bernie asks Martin to name his all-time favorite linemates and to shed some light on his current role as special teams consultant with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

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

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

Games People Play's host Bernie Corbett, gets Bryan Trottier to recall scoring the 5 second goal against Boston. Trott's also talks about his love for singing and the band he plays in with his family.  

He is also involved with 3 Ice, a new 3 on 3 league starting in 2021.

The league is led by former GM Craig Patrick. Coaches include Grant Fuhr, Guy Carbonneau, John LeClair, Joe Mullen, and of course Trottier. 

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

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

Join Bernie and Gene as they breakdown the career of Rocky Bleier.

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

This week’s guest represents three hallowed traditions. On the football field, he won a National Championship at Notre Dame and four Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and on the battlefield, he won a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart while fighting with the US Army in Vietnam. Join Bernie as he welcomes Steelers Hall Of Honor member Rocky Bleier to the program to discuss growing up as the son of a bar owner in Appleton, WI, the origin of his nickname and the myriad of emotions he experienced when being drafted into the NFL, and then, into the armed forces. Plus: details of the extraction operation during which Rocky was wounded in Vietnam; playing for Ara Parseghian

and Chuck Noll; the games and plays that defined his role on the great Steelers teams of the 70s, and the enduring bond shared by those teams and the city of Pittsburgh. Later, Rocky gives insight on his many charitable endeavors, including his Beating The Odds Foundation, which helps students be successful outside their school’s curriculum, before telling Bernie what really happened at the end of the 2019 E60 documentary, The Return, and more!

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

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

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

Bob joins Bernie to remember the career of Artis Gilmore.   

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

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

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

*for the Oakland side, listen to Phil Villapiano in Episode 22 of GPP

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

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

 #Gamespeopleplaypodcast # Classicsports #Baseball

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

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

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

#gamespeopleplaypodcast #Classicsports

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

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

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

If you followed Major league Baseball at any point during the past 50 years, there’s a good chance you’ve heard of today’s guest. Join Bernie in welcoming the ever-present John “Buck” Martinez to the program to discuss his life both in and out of the game. You’ll hear about Buck’s early years in Reading, CA, and the influence of his World War II veteran parents, as well as his All-Conference career at Elk Grove High School, his Hall Of Fame career at Sacramento City College and his introduction to the Major Leagues as an original Kansas City Royal. Plus: impressions of a young George Brett; playing for Bobby Cox and Whitey Herzog; a one-inning pitching career, and Buck’s painful and pivotal role in the only 9-2-7-2 double play in Major league history. Later, Buck talks about partnering with Chris Berman for their Emmy Award-winning call of Cal Ripken Jr.’s record-breaking 2131st consecutive game and the challenges of broadcasting Blue Jays home games in Buffalo during the pandemic. In closing, Bernie and Buck discuss Major League Baseball’s length-of-game issues, the Blue Jays second-generation stars and Buck’s famous golf partners.

#Gamespeopleplaypodcast #Classicsports #Baseball

There are but a handful of professional athletes who are universally recognized as the greatest at what they do. Today’s guest is one such athlete. Join Bernie in welcoming Pro Football Hall of Famer, 9-time first-team All-Pro and NFL 100 All-Time Team member Anthony Muñoz to the program to talk about his single-parent upbringing in Ontario, CA, where he became a three-sport star at Chaffey High School before winning National Championships in baseball and football at USC. Then the pair moves on to Cincinnati to discuss Anthony’s 13 seasons of dominance at the left tackle position while playing with the Bengals. Plus: the “Freezer Bowl”; rehabbing knee injuries; the heartbreak of losing Super Bowls XVI and XXII; the greatness of Fred Dean and Bruce Smith; offensive line techniques, and the thrill of catching touchdown passes. Later, Bernie shares his own small world story about Anthony’s friend and former teammate, Dave Lapham. And finally, Anthony talks about his charitable foundation where they teach “Victory Beyond Competition” in their seven mentoring programs dedicated to engaging kids mentally, physically and emotionally. To date, the Anthony Muñoz Foundation has raised $16 million dollars and helped 40,000 kids.

 #GamesPeoplePlayPodcast #Classicsports #NFL

Merril Hoge spent eight years playing professional football and another 21 years as a high profile analyst at ESPN, but the role he’s played best in life is that of survivor. Today, Bernie welcomes the former Pittsburgh Steelers and Chicago Bears fullback to the program to discuss growing up in Pocatello, Idaho, where he trapped gophers in support of the local potato industry and nearly lost his hand in a farming accident. The pair then talks about Merril’s record-setting career at Idaho State, the day-to-day chaos of being a first-year player during the 1987 NFL players’ strike and the wild ride that was the Steelers’ 1989 regular season and subsequent playoff run. Later, we hear about Merril’s book, Find A Way, in which he writes about overcoming the untimely death of his mother, the brain injury that nearly cost him his life and his battle with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. Finally, Merril discusses his High Mark Caring Foundation, which provides a sanctuary for people recovering from loss, and the Chuck Knoll Foundation for Brain Injury Research.

#Gamespeopleplaypodcast #Classicsports #MerrilHoge

When Norm Charlton was just nine years-old, he said to his parents, “Someday, I’m going to pitch in the Astrodome.” Today, in part one of our interview, Bernie welcomes the former “Nasty Boy” as they recount the odyssey that led to Norm pitching in 622 major league games, including several in the Astrodome, and beyond. You’ll hear about Norm’s early life in San Antonio as the son of an All-American hurdler, his outstanding college career at Rice University and minor league stops in Burlington, VT, and Nashville before reaching the Majors and the Cincinnati Reds. Norm explains how chemistry, more than statistics, was the key to the Reds 1990 World Series Championship, and how, even as the heaviest of underdogs, they filmed a rap video declaring themselves the winners before the series began. Plus: the “Spitball Game” vs. the Giants; a clubhouse brawl between Rob Dibble and Lou Piniella; Norm’s home plate collision with Mike Scioscia on Sunday Night baseball, and setting the record straight on conflicting origin stories of the Nasty Boys nickname.

(See Episode 14 for part two of our interview with Norm Charlton*)

Keith Tkachuk played 18 seasons in the NHL, scoring over 500 goals and over 1,000 points. A US Hockey Hall of Famer, he’s one of only two players to represent the United States at four Olympic Games. Today, Bernie welcomes his old friend and fellow Boston University Terrier to the program to discuss these topics, as well as Keith’s memories of growing up in the hockey hotbed of Greater Boston, BU’s heartbreaking triple-overtime loss to Northern Michigan in the 1991 National Championship game and, with his sons Matthew and Brady playing in the 2020 NHL All-Star game, his newfound status as the “Archie Manning of Hockey”. Plus: the origins of his other nickname, “Big Walt”; his experience as a prominent member of the Winnipeg Jets during their relocation to Phoenix, and the challenges that come with being a Boston sports fan living and playing in St. Louis. Finally, Keith talks about the influence of his Vietnam Vet/Firefighter dad, his role in helping develop a burgeoning youth hockey program in St. Louis and his thoughts on the state of the pro game today.

#Gamespeopleplaypodcast #Classicsports #Hockey

Football Player! Attorney! Journalist! Broadcaster! CEO! RENAISSANCE MAN! Today on the Games People Play, our New York Giants season ticketholder host invites former Dallas Cowboy and Washington Footballer, Jean Fugett, to the program to discuss his extraordinary life, both on and off the gridiron. The pair talk about Jean’s accelerated academic progression as an early graduate of Cardinal Gibbons High School in Baltimore and Amherst College, and later, as a graduate student at George Washington Law School. You’ll hear about Jean’s NFL Draft Day experience, on-field run-ins with Claude Humphrey and Brad Van Pelt and playing for a trio of Hall Of Fame coaches in Sid Gilman, Tom Landry and George Allen. Plus: NFL labor politics in the 1970s; writing for the Baltimore Sun and Washington Post; broadcasting the NFL with Dan Dierdorf; an unlikely role as the “Father of Sabermetrics” for Earl Weaver’s Baltimore Orioles, and the tragic circumstances that led to him taking over as CEO of Beatrice Foods in 1993. Finally, Jean gives Bernie a little history lesson on the role football played in winning World War II and his familial ties to Civil War Era freed slaves and the Tuskegee Institute.

Andrea Jaeger is a retired pro tennis star, philanthropist and Anglican nun, but mostly, she’s an old soul with a big heart. Join Bernie as he holds serve with the former #2 player in the world on a wide array of topics including her meteoric rise to the top of the tennis world, the influence of her father as both parent and coach and the accelerated development of character that allowed her to perform under pressure and ultimately leave the pro tour behind for a higher calling. Plus: facing legends like Virginia Wade, Chris Evert and Billy Jean King (in her final match); the multi-layered series of circumstances that led to her 1983 loss to Martina Navratilova at Wimbledon, and her thoughts on Olympians vs. True Olympians and individual sports vs. team sports. Finally, Andrea talks about the curious reactions of the sports media to news of her retirement, the hospital visits that led to her dedication to public service and her Little Star Foundation, which aims to provide a better quality of life for hospital-bound children.

Ernie DiGregorio is a New England sports icon. Today, Bernie welcomes the College Basketball Hall of Famer and former NBA Rookie of the Year to the program to discuss his early years growing up in North Providence, playing for Dave Gavitt at nearby Providence College and his brief but distinguished pro career with the Buffalo Braves, Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics. The pair talk about Ernie’s role in catapulting the Friars into the national spotlight in 1973, as he and teammate Marvin Barnes formed one of the great duos in NCAA history on their way to the Final Four in St. Louis. Plus: reflections on the 1973 USA vs. Russia Exhibition Series and the short-lived Braves-Celtics rivalry of the mid-70s. Later, Ernie brings us up to date on his post-basketball life including a story about a friendly game of one-on-one with Sugar Ray Leonard; his 18-year run as public relations host at Foxwoods Casino, and the hats he currently wears as an author, movie producer and inventor.

As a hockey player, Theo Fleury won an Olympic Gold Medal for Canada and a Stanley Cup with the Calgary Flames. He is also responsible for one of the most memorable goal celebrations in NHL history. But it’s his victories off the ice, as a survivor of addiction and abuse, and a champion for recovery, which he’s most proud of. On today’s Games People Play podcast, Bernie and Theo talk about the infamous Canada-Russia brawl at the 1987 World Junior Tournament; the Edmonton-Calgary rivalry of the 80s and 90s; owning one of the few NHL scoring records not held by Wayne Gretzky; playing in Ireland for the Belfast Giants, and the importance of retiring a Flame. Later, Theo tells of a chance meeting at a golf tournament and how it led to the writing of his memoir, Playing With Fire, which recounts his experience as a child of trauma victim parents, his own sexual abuse, healing through music and reconnection with his Aboriginal roots, and his current calling as an inspirational speaker.

What do Jim Brown, Eddie Robinson, Yogi Berra, Archie Manning, Ara Parseghian, Don Shula, Otto Graham and Chuck Knoll all have in common? They’re each connected in one way or another to former NFL MVP, Bert Jones. Today, Bernie welcomes The Ruston Rifle to the show to connect all of those dots, as well as the ones leading back to his All-Pro father and All-American Grandfather. You’ll hear tales of summer vacations spent at Cleveland Browns training camp in the 60s; friendly timekeeping methods at LSU in the 70s; following Johnny Unitas in Baltimore; the injuries that cut Bert's career short, and the Quarterback Challenge that almost dragged him out of retirement. Bert also talks about the time he almost transferred to Notre Dame, the Lite Beer ads that helped put his kids through college and the time Bill Belichick called him the best “pure passer” he’d ever seen. Finally, Bert expresses his love of today’s NFL game and his immense pride in running his family’s lumber company.

Robert Parish was known as a man of few words during his 21-year NBA career. Today on the program, Bernie gets the Hall Of Famer and 4-time NBA champion to open up on subjects such as the Greatest Player Of All-Time, Joel Embiid’s conditioning and who would prevail if the ’86 Celtics played the ’96 Bulls. The two also discuss how Robert came to wear his iconic double-zero uniform number, as well as the story behind the nickname, “Chief”, and how it led to a few memorable exchanges with Jack Nicholson. Plus: Robert talks about the psychological advantages of playing for a historic franchise; his “waste one foul” philosophy; the evolution of the center position; his battles with the Detroit Pistons and Bill Laimbeer; Grateful Dead concerts with Bill Walton, and his current role as NBA League Ambassador.

Bernie welcomes fellow broadcaster, horse racing aficionado and US Hockey Hall of Famer Eddie Olczyk to the program to discuss Eddie’s road to success, which began with a note from a teacher at age six, and was nearly derailed by a doctor’s phone call at age 51. You’ll hear those stories as well as how Eddie went from #1 Fan to #1 Draft Pick to Lead Television Analyst of his beloved Chicago Black Hawks; the weight of expectations that came with following the Miracle on Ice team at the ‘84 Olympics in Sarajevo; winning a Stanley Cup with the New York Rangers, and coaching Sidney Crosby’s first NHL game. Later, Bernie and Eddie discuss their shared passion for horse racing, as well as their thoughts on the resumption of the NHL season during the pandemic. Finally, Eddie talks about his book, Eddie Olczyk: Beating The Odds In Hockey And In Life, inspired by his courageous fight with stage 3 colon cancer and the most impactful pep talk he ever received, delivered by his wife, Diana.

Bernie was six years old when his grandfather took him to Fenway Park for the first time in the summer of 1967. Batting fifth for Boston that night was a rookie centerfielder who would go on to win a Gold Glove with the Red Sox, a World Series ring with the Dodgers and play in seven All-Star Games during his 17-year Major League career. Join Bernie for the first episode of the Games People Play podcast as he welcomes Red Sox Hall of Famer Reggie Smith to the program. They’ll talk about Reggie’s early life in Los Angeles, his “Family First” philosophy and his forty-plus years in baseball as a player, coach and executive. Along the way, you’ll hear about friendships with Carl Yastrzemski and Bob Gibson, following in Frank Robinson’s footsteps and mentoring a young Mike Piazza. Finally, Reggie talks about his Baseball Academy for non-privileged kids and his charitable enterprise, the Reggie Smith Foundation.