Past Our Prime

The March 8, 1976, issue of Sports Illustrated featured Buffalo Braves star Bob McAdoo on the cover, captured in a striking close-up portrait by photographer Neil Leifer, holding the ball at Buffalo Memorial Auditorium under the headline "Hottest Shot in the Game: Buffalo's Bob McAdoo." Just one year removed from winning the 1975 NBA MVP award—his second straight scoring title at 34.1 PPG in 1974-75—McAdoo was still dominating as one of the league's premier scorers and rebounders, leading the Braves in a strong season and representing the peak of his individual brilliance in Buffalo. However, his tenure with the Braves ended abruptly that December when contract disputes and the team's unwillingness to meet his salary demands prompted a trade to the New York Knicks for center John Gianelli and cash. Injuries, including a persistent back issue and later more severe setbacks, began to erode his consistency despite continued high scoring. McAdoo then became a journeyman: traded to the Boston Celtics in 1979 (one season), then to the Detroit Pistons (waived in 1981 due to injuries), a brief stint with the New Jersey Nets, before landing with the Los Angeles Lakers on Christmas Eve 1981 in a low-key trade for a second-round pick and cash to bolster depth after Mitch Kupchak's injury. In L.A., he reinvented himself as a potent sixth man on the Showtime-era teams alongside Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and James Worthy, contributing key scoring off the bench to help secure two NBA championships in 1982 and 1985 before concluding his NBA career. Named to the NBA’s 75th anniversary team, the 6-10 McAdoo was a force in the NBA and one of it’s most prolific scorers winning three scoring titles in succession and is the last player in the league to average 30 points and 15 rebounds per game in 1974. One of the most dominant players in NBA history was still at his peak in 1976, scoring 42 points for the Braves on December 7th of that year. But two days later he was traded to the Knicks and McAdoo tells us that’s when he knew this game was actually a business. He remembers what a thrill it was to be on the cover of SI for the first and only time and he recalls how being named MVP is the ultimate prize… until you win an NBA Championship. He tells us how he came off the bench for the first time ever for Pat Riley’s teams and while he didn’t start most games, he certainly finished them. And he reminisces about meeting his childhood hero Earl “The Pearl” Monroe and what it his relationship was like with Kareem, Riley and Jerry West. One of the smoothest to ever do it in the NBA… Hall of Famer Bob McAdoo on the Past Our Prime podcast.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Muhammad Ali stopped Jean-Pierre Coopman in five rounds on February 20, 1976, in San Juan, it was a controlled and confident defense of his heavyweight title. Ali dictated the pace from the opening bell, snapping jabs and sharp combinations while keeping the overmatched challenger at bay until the referee stepped in. The performance earned Ali the cover of the March 1, 1976 issue of Sports Illustrated, a reminder that even a routine title defense still revolved around “The Greatest.” Moments like that take on more meaning when viewed through the lens of Professor Gerald Early, one of the leading scholars on Ali’s life and legacy. As editor of The Muhammad Ali Reader, Early explores Ali as more than just a boxer — he examines him as a cultural force who reshaped conversations about race, politics, and celebrity. On Past Our Prime, Early helped us connect the fighter that was Ali to the much bigger story outside the ring. Professor Early tells us how Ali’s refusal to serve in the Vietnam War, a stand rooted in his faith cost him his title and years in his prime and went on to explain how Ali’s conversion to Islam shaped his identity, discipline, and sense of purpose, and how his beliefs guided some of the most consequential decisions of his career. And then the conversation turned personal. Early shared that as a kid, he didn’t just admire Ali — he thought he was a superhero. Years later, actually meeting Ali brought that childhood awe full circle, reminding him that sometimes your heroes can be human and still be larger than life. When you step back, that’s really the story — a dominant champion in 1976, a man willing to sacrifice for his convictions, and a figure who inspired a generation. From the ring to the broader culture to one young fan who grew up to become a leading Ali scholar, it all came together in a way that felt both historic and personal on the Past Our Prime podcast. If you think you know Muhammad Ali... think again. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The February 23, 1976 issue of Sports Illustrated featured a colorful and compelling story on Seattle SuperSonics guard Slick Watts, written by veteran reporter John Papanek who had a gift for capturing the spirit of athletes who didn’t always fit the traditional superstar mold, and Watts — with his bald head, crooked headband and relentless defensive energy — was perfect material. Rather than reduce him to novelty, Papanek portrayed Watts as a symbol of grit and individuality in a changing NBA, blending humor, texture and sharp reporting in a way that defined Sports Illustrated in the 1970s. By 1976, Papanek was already a seasoned voice at Sports Illustrated, known for immersive storytelling and his ability to find humanity beneath the box score. His profile of Watts reflected SI’s editorial golden age — long-form narrative, scene-setting detail, and cultural context wrapped around sports performance. The piece didn’t just chronicle steals and assists; it explored personality, confidence and the way Watts connected with Seattle fans. Papanek understood that sports stories resonated most when they revealed character, and that approach helped solidify SI’s reputation for literary sports journalism. In addition, Papanek helped launch Sports Illustrated for Kids, proving his versatility across audiences. He tells us on the show how he had to convince the powers that be that their main competition wasn't other magazines, but rather, to their shock, video games and M-TV. Papanek always had his finger on the pulse of pop culture and later carried that storytelling sensibility he developed at SI into the modern media era with ESPN. He became part of the launch team for ESPN The Magazine in the late 1990s, helping shape its voice as a sharper, more contemporary counterpart to traditional sports publications. He also contributed to ESPN.com, adapting his narrative instincts to the digital format while maintaining depth and personality in his features. From Sports Illustrated’s golden age to the multimedia expansion of ESPN, John Papanek’s career reflects the evolution of sports journalism that spans half a century... which is just perfect for our show. One of the all-time greats from Sports Illustrated... John Papanek on the Past Our Prime podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On February 5, 1976, Franz Klammer delivered one of the most electrifying performances in Winter Olympic history, charging down the Patscherkofel course in Innsbruck to win gold in the men’s downhill. The 22-year-old Austrian was already a World Cup star, but the pressure on him that day was immense. Austria was hosting the Games, the nation expected victory in its signature alpine event, and Klammer had struggled in training runs. Wearing bib No. 15, he attacked the mountain with breathtaking aggression—arms flailing, skis rattling, barely holding the racing line—yet somehow stayed upright. When he crossed the finish line and saw he had taken the lead, the eruption from the home crowd was as dramatic as the run itself. Now, 50 years later to the day, Klammer joins the guys on the Past Our Prime podcast to talk about that life changing 1 :45.73 down the icy mountain and how for Austria, Klammer’s victory was far more than just a gold medal. Alpine skiing is woven into the country’s cultural identity; its champions are national heroes, symbols of resilience and pride in a small alpine nation that measures itself against the world on snow. Hosting the Olympics magnified that pride—and the anxiety. A loss in the marquee downhill could have felt like a national disappointment. Instead, Klammer’s daring descent became a unifying moment, a release of collective tension and a reaffirmation of Austrian excellence in the mountains that define the country. His win gave the home Games their emotional centerpiece and remains one of the most cherished moments in Austrian sports history. That significance was captured internationally when Klammer appeared on the cover of the February 16, 1976 issue of Sports Illustrated. The cover cemented his run not just as a national triumph, but as a global sporting spectacle—an image of fearless commitment under overwhelming pressure. On POP, Klammer recalls how going last down the mountain was torturous waiting his turn. He knew he had the weight of his country on his shoulders and attacked the mountain knowing that his rival and now good friend Bernhard Russi had just set a record time coming down the hill. Now it was his turn. He tells us he was going to do one of two things... crash or win. He won. One of the greatest skiers ever... Franz Klammer on the Past Our Prime podcast. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The February 9, 1976 cover of Sports Illustrated froze a moment that changed Tennessee basketball forever. Bernard King and Ernie Grunfeld weren’t just winning games — they were transforming the sport. King played with raw power and fearless intent, a scorer who imposed his will, while Grunfeld brought grace, vision, and a scorer’s touch that made defenses choose wrong every time. Together, they became more than teammates. They were a movement. The Ernie and Bernie Show wasn’t just a hit — it was must-see basketball. What made them unforgettable was how perfectly they balanced each other. You couldn’t stop one without awakening the other. King attacked the rim like it owed him something. Grunfeld punished hesitation with precision. Their chemistry lifted Tennessee onto the national stage and announced that the Volunteers belonged among college basketball’s elite at a moment when the game itself was exploding into the American consciousness. For Mike Keith, those two players meant something even deeper. Long before he became the unmistakable Voice of the Vols, he was a kid watching Bernard and Ernie make Tennessee matter. On Past Our Prime, Mike reflects on seeing them play in Atlanta when the Omni first opened — how they looked like kings, on and off the court, and how that moment felt like personal validation. Tennessee was no longer just his team; it was a national treasure, and he was proud to share it with the world. Bernard King and Ernie Grunfeld didn’t just shape an era — they helped shape Mike Keith’s love for the Vols and the voice he would one day lend to their history. It’s the Bernie and Ernie Show, decades later, meeting the man who carries their legacy forward every night. Mike Keith joins Past Our Prime — and it’s a conversation that still echoes through Knoxville. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sheila Young entered 1976 as the face of American speed skating, and in fact her appearance on the February 2, 1976 cover of Sports Illustrated made her the face of the USA's best chance at a gold medal and captured the moment perfectly. Already a world champion with a reputation for raw power and fearless racing, Young stood out in a sport dominated by European skaters. The cover reflected more than hype—it marked her as the rare American athlete expected to challenge for Olympic gold at the upcoming Winter Games in Innsbruck. At the 1976 Winter Olympics, Young delivered a historic performance. She won gold in the 500 meters, confirming her status as the world’s premier sprinter, then added a silver medal in the 1,000 meters and a bronze in the 1,500 meters. Medaling across three distances was a remarkable feat and made her the most decorated American speed skater of the Games, showcasing both her versatility and competitive toughness on the biggest stage. Those achievements cemented Sheila Young’s place as one of the great figures in Olympic speed skating, a trailblazer who brought American confidence and personality into a traditionally European sport. Decades later, her legacy continues—not just on the ice, but in conversation—as Sheila Young joined the Past Our Prime podcast, reflecting on that unforgettable 1976 season and giving listeners a firsthand look at what it took to thrive under the brightest Olympic spotlight. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ victory in Super Bowl X cemented their place as the NFL’s team of the decade, delivering a 21–17 win over the Dallas Cowboys and a second straight championship to cap the 1975 season. The cover of Sports Illustrated went to Lynn Swann, whose acrobatic catches and timely big plays earned him Super Bowl MVP honors and provided the game’s most indelible images. Yet the true backbone of Pittsburgh’s dynasty was once again the Steel Curtain defense, which dictated the tone of the game and the era. Built on speed, intelligence, and relentless pressure, the unit forced Dallas into mistakes, controlled field position, and delivered punishing hits that slowly tilted the game. It wasn’t just about sacks or turnovers—it was about denying comfort, eliminating rhythm, and making every yard feel contested. In Super Bowl X, that defensive suffocation allowed the Steelers to survive swings in momentum and close the door late. At the center of that defense stood Jack Ham, the quiet conductor of chaos. Playing outside linebacker with rare instincts, range, and speed, Ham could diagnose plays instantly, cover receivers downfield, or crash the line with equal effectiveness. He wasn’t flashy, but he was devastatingly efficient—often arriving at the ball just as it got there, sometimes before. Against Dallas, Ham helped neutralize the Cowboys’ passing attack by clogging lanes, disrupting timing, and making sure nothing easy developed over the middle. One of 10 Hall of Fame players on that Steelers Super Bowl team, Ham tells us on the Past Our Prime podcast how the team could have won without any of them but the the one person they couldn’t have won 4 Lombardi trophy’s was Hall of Fame Coach Chuck Noll. Ham tells us how winning the first Super Bowl was the hardest one. He talks about how dominant the defense was and makes the case for them being the best defense of all-time. Ham’s credentials tell the larger story of why the Steel Curtain endured. A perennial Pro Bowl selection, a multiple-time All-Pro, and later a Pro Football Hall of Famer, Ham embodied the Steelers’ defensive identity: disciplined, intelligent, and ruthless. While Swann’s catches earned the headlines and the magazine cover, it was Ham and the defense that made the repeat possible—proof that Pittsburgh’s dynasty was built not on moments, but on dominance. One of the greatest players to ever play the game for one of the NFL’s all-time great teams… Jack Ham of the Pittsburgh Steelers on the Past Our Prime podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The January 19, 1976 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue marked another glossy step in a tradition that had begun almost accidentally a little more than a decade earlier. What started in 1964 as a winter stopgap—filling pages when sports calendars were thin—had evolved into a cultural event, blending fashion, fantasy, and far-flung travel. This ’76 edition leaned hard into escapism, taking readers to Baja Mexico, where sunshine, surf, and sequins replaced box scores. The swimsuits themselves reflected the era: metallic fabrics, daring cuts, and a growing emphasis on glamour over athletic utility—a far cry from the functional swimwear once seen on Olympic pools and beaches alike. The cover perfectly captured that shift. Swedish twins Yvonne and Yvette Sylvander shimmered under the Baja sun, embodying the issue’s theme, “Taking a Shine to a Resort with New Glitter.” Inside were familiar faces who would soon define the genre—Cheryl Tiegs, Christie Brinkley, and others who became icons not just of the Swimsuit Issue, but of 1970s popular culture itself. For many readers of a certain generation, these images weren’t just pinups—they were part of the shared visual language of growing up with Sports Illustrated, when the magazine felt like a weekly companion arriving in the mailbox. And while nostalgia drives the emotional connection, there’s another side to these old issues of SI: their growing significance as collectibles. That’s where Mark Humphries comes in. Growing up in La Cañada, California, Mark’s sports education began with secondhand copies of Sports Illustrated, pages already creased, corners bent—but endlessly fascinating. That early fascination carried him through Stanford, Wall Street, and eventually back to the hobby he loved, where he became a pioneer in treating Sports Illustrated magazines as serious collectibles—worthy of grading, encapsulation, and long-term value, just like cards. As founder of the first grading system for past issues of Sports Illustrated, owner of ThePit.com, and now a contributor to PSA Magazine, Humphries has helped redefine how collectors view vintage issues. While not every Swimsuit Issue is destined to fund a retirement, condition, cover subjects, and historical context matter—and early, iconic editions continue to gain traction. In that sense, the 1976 Swimsuit Issue sits at the intersection of memory and market value: a snapshot of an era when Sports Illustrated shaped culture, sparked conversations, and—sometimes without meaning to—created artifacts that still matter, decades later. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 1976 Rose Bowl wasn’t necessarily a game for Ohio State to win, but rather a coronation for their National Championship. They were facing Dick Vermeil’s Bruins in Pasadena, having already battered UCLA in the regular season, 41-20 at the L.A. Coliseum. The Buckeyes were favored by 15/5 points to do it again and end their season unbeaten, untied and unblemished.  However, with an opportunity to play the top ranked Buckeyes a 2nd time, Vermeil practiced hard instituting double days on his Bruins team as if it was the beginning of the season all over again. And in front of a national audience and 105,464 fans at the Rose Bowl, Ohio State went into halftime of the rematch with just a 3-0 lead. That’s when Vermeil called an audible. His vaunted option offense which had scored 20 points off OSU in the first matchup, the most Ohio State had given up all season, hadn’t done a thing in the first 30 minutes of the New Year’s Day game. So he told his quarterback John Sciarra that in the 3rd quarter they were scrapping the gameplan… they were going to open things up and start passing. And it worked. Sciarra connected with Wally Henry for two scores the 2nd one covering 67 yards and UCLA had a shocking 16-3 lead over the heavily favored Buckeyes. A 54-yard TD run in the 4th quarter by Wendell Tyler made it 23-10 Bruins and that is how it would finish. The last Rose Bowl Woody Hayes would ever coach ended in a dramatic loss to Vermeil and his Bruins led by Rose Bowl Game MVP John Sciarra who finished the game completing 13 of his 19 passes for 212 yards and 2 touchdowns. 50 years later, Sciarra recalls how he could have been the Heisman Trophy winner had the Bruins won the first meeting instead of the second one with Ohio State and how he would never trade the Heisman for that Rose Bowl win he guided his team to. He remembers how he led the team into a meeting to complain to their coach about the two-a-day practices leading up to the Rose Bowl… and tells us Vermeil’s shocking answer to them that paved the way for their win. He also recollects how at the half his coach told him they were going to make adjustments and to be ready to let ‘er rip in the 2nd half. And he tells a great story about how his best buddy and fellow former UCLA QB Mark Harmon cast him in a movie and the role he was born to play! But mostly, he reminisces about the greatest half of football he and his Bruin teammates ever played on New Year’s Day, 1976 on the Past Our Prime podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 1975 Dallas Cowboys were a good organization led by General Manger Tex Schramm, Head Coach Tom Landry, and Quarterback Roger Staubach. But they were about to become a part of the sports world that 50 years later, love 'em or hate 'em, has stood the test of time. After beating the Minnesota Vikings in a playoff game on the original Hail Mary pass from Staubach to Drew Pearson, they were now America's Team.  They were original, and they were innovative but mostly, they were just good. Lining up in shotgun, Roger the Dodger had his choice of weapons, and more often than not on 3rd downs, he would throw to #26 out of the backfield, Preston Pearson. The "other" Pearson, Preston had a big game against the Vikings. In fact, the man who never played college football, had a habit of having big games when they mattered most, and being on the field when the games were being decided. So despite the fact that it was Drew Pearson who caught the winning prayer vs the Vikes, it was Preston who was on the cover of the first issue of Sports Illustrated in 1976. The 14-year NFL veteran showed off his hops on that cover and said he had a pretty good game in that playoff win for the Cowboys. A week later, he had 3 touchdowns against the Rams that propelled the Boys to the Super Bowl. Preston takes us inside the huddle and tells us what it was like on that final winning drive for Dallas that included a 4th and 17 before Staubach and Drew Pearson hooked up again for that miraculous finish. He says despite being on the Steelers when they beat the Raiders on the 'Immaculate Reception', that this play is the biggest of his career. He remembers what it was like to lose Super Bowl III to Joe Namath and the Jets when he was on the Colts.  The original 3rd down back, Preston Pearson made the most out of his talent and became an integral part of those great Dallas teams and he joins us on the Past Our Prime podcast to tell us what it was like when Dallas turned from the Cowboys into America's Team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The end of the 2nd year of the Past Our Prime podcast is a great time to look back on a wonderful year, filled with great guests, unbelievable stories, and moments from half a century ago that are still hard to imagine 50 years later. 1975 was a great year in sports, and we chronicled it all week by week with the stars who gave us those moments of wonder and helped turn us into the sports fans we became. We started the year off with Phil Villapiano of the Oakland Raiders, who told us about how he was clipped on the Immaculate Reception vs. the Steelers… sort of, maybe. His energy is only matched by his sense of humor and enthusiasm. Later that month, SI’s Curry Kirkpatrick recalled how he was given a beauty of an assignment—writing a piece on Cheryl Tiegs for the swimsuit issue. Let’s just say the supermodel wasn’t super happy with how the article turned out. From there we were off and running… or in Lynne Cox’s case, swimming and freezing. If you don’t know Lynne’s story, do yourself a favor and listen to the March 3rd show. She was a marathon swimmer who did her best work in frigid waters—English Channel, no problem. Antarctica, you bet. Alaska to Russia, sure thing. We talked with Jeff Feuerzeig, director of ESPN’s 30 for 30 on The Real Rocky, Chuck Wepner, as well as the Big Emu, All-Star pitcher Jim Kern, to close out March. In April, author Joshua Prager told us how “the Giants stole the pennant” in ’51, and about his personal mission of coming face-to-face with the man responsible for paralyzing him. The story of the year may well have been Ruffian, the amazing filly who had never lost—never even trailed—in a race heading into her much-anticipated match race with Kentucky Derby winner Foolish Pleasure. The jockey who rode both horses, Jacinto Vazquez, chose Ruffian, and the race ended in tragedy. Fifty years later, Ruffian’s story is still a tear-jerker. So is Jan Kalsu’s. The widow of the only active NFL player to die in the Vietnam War, Jan told us how just hours after giving birth to their son, she learned of her husband Bob’s death while still in the hospital. And so was Leo Ulman’s—the man who collected more Nolan Ryan memorabilia than anyone after immigrating to America as a child, narrowly escaping the Nazis in Amsterdam. In August, Adam Greenberg recalled how his first Major League at-bat nearly killed him. In September, former Oklahoma Sooners QB Dean Blevins shared how Barry Switzer recruited him on a golf course by carrying his bags. October brought Mark Kram Jr. and the Thrilla in Manila, followed by a trip to space with Bill “The Spaceman” Lee, who told stories only he can tell. In November, one of the greatest ever—Fran Tarkenton—joined us, sharing the day he lost both a playoff game and his father. And Jim Lampley gave us chills talking about his friend George Foreman, who passed in 2025. That’s a year and then some. A look back at the world of sports in 1975. It’s been a great ride with great people on the Past Our Prime podcast. Listen and enjoy wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Reds won the World Series 50 years ago in a classic highlighted by the amazing game six eventually won by the Red Sox on the foul-pole hitting HR by Carlton Fisk in the 12th inning. Prior to that, legend has it that Pete Rose said to Fisk  "Man, isn't this the most exciting game you've ever played in?”. Rose had a knack for being in the moment and enjoying this game called baseball more than maybe any player that ever lived. And Sports Illustrated rewarded him at the end of the year by naming him “Sportsman of the Year”. Rose was at the top of his game, beloved by not only fans of the Big Red Machine, but baseball fans everywhere. His popularity transcended the game, as he was an everyday man, who played the game the right way. His work ethic and daily grind were legendary and he resonated with a great amount of folks whose lives were built around that same dedication to whatever their profession was. He was the working mans idol. Everyone could relate to this kid who was born on the wrong side of Cincinnati and was now the king of the town.  A 44-game hitting streak in 1978 captured the attention of the nation before he left Cincy for Philly the following year, helping the Phils win a World Series in 1980… the 3rd and final championship of his career. He returned to the Reds as a player manager and in 1985 became the the game’s all-time leader in hits before retiring as a player a year later with a still record of 4,256 knocks. And then it all came crumbling down. Keith O’Brien is also a kid from Cincinnati who grew up watching Rose in his latter years  and chronicled his entire life in his bestselling book, “Charlie Hustle: The Rise and Fall of Pete Rose, and the Last Glory Days of Baseball.” It goes into great detail about Rose’s humble beginnings, how he got the nickname Charlie Hustle from two of the game’s greats, Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford, and how his prowess as one of the greatest players of all-time made him one of the game's most popular players of the 20th century. But O’Brien also did countless research into Rose’s gambling addiction, the people that he associated with and the eventual suspension and expulsion from baseball. He joins us on POP to discuss at length in great passion how this man of the people who was adored by legions of fans everywhere would fall from grace, and end up on the outside of the Hall of Fame looking in… literally. It’s a tragic tale of the American Dream going awry. A kid who had nothing but grit and determination turns himself into one of the greatest ballplayers of all-time, only to let his addiction to betting… and betting on the game he lived for...keep him away from the thing he loved most… baseball. Join us as we look back on the year Rose was at this top his game… 1975… and the decline that would take place a decade later as we talk with Keith O’Brien to discuss his book, “Charlie Hustle: The Rise and Fall of Pete Rose and the Last Glory Days of Baseball,” on the Past Our Prime podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There was no more feared boxer than George Foreman in his prime. Tough, strong, mean, talented, smart… George had it all and was at the top of his game as heavyweight champ until October 30, 1974 when he lost to Muhammad Ali in the Rumble in the Jungle. Now a year later, Big George is on the cover of Sports Illustrated, wanting another shot at Ali for “his title.” The fight never took place. And in 1977, George retired from boxing. And that set up one of the greatest 2nd acts in the history of the sport. 10 years later, a 38-year old George came out of retirement and got back into the ring. He kept at it, and finally, on November 5, 1995 in the 10th round against heavyweight champion Michael Moorer, George caught him, knocked him out and was once again the heavyweight champion of the world at the age of 45. On the mic calling that fight was a colleague of George’s who had known Foreman for years. Jim Lampley had been around almost as long as Foreman, starting his incredible broadcasting career the same year George and Ali hooked up in Zaire. Now in the prime of his own boxing career at HBO, Lamps was the voice of a generation, especially for those who loved the sweet science. He had asked George how he planned to beat a much younger Moorer and George told him what was going to take place. And when it unfolded exactly how George had said it would, Lampley exclaimed, It Happened, It Happened… his famous four word account of George Foreman recapturing the belt he had lost over 20 years ago to his nemesis Ali. Jim Lampley joins us on the Past Our Prime podcast to talk about his start in the business as a 24-year old kid for ABC Sports. His rise in the industry and how he won over the trust of Foreman as a broadcasting partner, and eventually an equal and… a friend. He talks about the sudden passing of the champ and how that still moves him to tears and about the transformation George had from angry, intimidating, brute to the lovable, jovial gentle giant we all came to embrace during George’s successful Act Two. And Lampley tells a story about George and Bob Dylan that lets you get behind the curtain and see a different side of George altogether. It’s a great talk with a man who has been in the broadcasting business for 50 years and seen some of the greatest fights of the last 50 years. The author of the book, “It Happened, A Uniquely Lucky Life in Sports Television,” Jim Lampley on the Past Our Prime podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The December 8, 1975 issue of Sports Illustrated had Texas A&M star back Bubba Bean on the cover because the Aggies were 10-0 after they beat the Longhorns. But the SI curse would get the better of A & M as the win over UT was their last of the season, as they lost to Arkansas and USC to close out the season. Another football team was also streaking… this one the NFL’s Baltimore Colts who after a 1-4 start were in the midst of a 9-game winning streak led by young QB Bert Jones. The good news is that run got them into the playoffs. The bad news… it was in Pittsburgh. And the Steelers took care of business en route to their 2nd straight Super Bowl title. Pittsburgh writer Jim O’Brien has written over 30 books in his Pittsburgh Proud series many featuring the Steelers dynasty that began in 1974 and continued through the end of the decade. Franco Harris, Andy Russell, Rocky Bleier, Jack Lambert and more often were the subjects of O’Brien’s writings and he knows that team as well as anyone. But Jim isn’t relegated to just football. The founding editor of Street and Smith’s Basketball Yearbook in 1970, O’Brien is an expert on hoops from half a century ago as well and he covered ‘em all… Dr. J and George McGinnis, the Squires and the Spirits, the ABA and the NBA… He tells us that Dr. J was better off the court than he was on it… how he cornered Franco Harris on a flight for 12 hours, interviewing him for most of the trip, and how the owners of the Spirits of St. Louis engineered the greatest business deal in the history of sports… and the key to the deal was that they would no longer exist. If you’re looking for a 70’s hoops expert, O’Brien is your man… add his expertise when it comes to that Steelers Dynasty of the 70’s and he’s the perfect guest for this week’s Past Our Prime show.  Download and listen to wherever you get your podcasts… I’m looking at you, Uzbekistan! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Perfection… it doesn’t happen very often in sports. The ’72 Dolphins are the only team to ever have a perfect season in the NFL. Mary Lou Retton nailed a perfect vault in the ’84 Games to secure her Gold medal. Michael Jordan’s Bulls were a perfect 6-0 in their trips to the NBA Finals. And in college basketball, it’s been 50 years since a mens team went undefeated and won the National Championship. That team was the 1975-76 Indiana Hoosiers. Bobby Knight’s team was a special group of players that sacrificed individual prowess for the good of the team. And it worked… to perfection. Kent Benson was a 2-time All-American at IU and on the cover of the December 1, 1975 issue of Sports Illustrated as the Hoosiers were the pre-season favorite to win it all. There would be no SI jinx on this team. They were too good. They were ready for the challenge each time they hit the floor thanks to an abundance of talent and a coach that had them prepared and focused like no other. And it was that preparation that separated this team from the others. Coach Knight said, “The key is not the will to win… everybody has that. It is the will to prepare to win that is important.” Led by Benson and Scott May and Quinn Buckner, the Hoosiers finished 32-0 that season… 33-0 if you ask Benson, who joins us on the Past Our Prime podcast and tells us that beating the defending Gold Medal winning Soviets should count in their final tally. But Benson is still the ultimate team centered center. When asked to come on our show to talk about that great team, he said yes… but he’d like Bobby Wilkerson, the 6’7 defensive specialist who would jump center for the Hoosiers to join him. And the two former #1 draft picks come together again on POP 50 years after they were a part of something that changed their lives for forever. The last team in college hoops to have a perfect season and if you ask Benson, probably the last one to ever do it. Benson and Wilkerson talk about that team and what made them such a close group. How beating UCLA in the season opener was just the beginning of this historic season and how their coach never took anything for granted and had them ready one game at a time. 32 games later… it all paid off. A perfect season.  Bobby Wilkerson and Kent Benson on the Past Our Prime podcast. Listen and download a perfect show wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Archie Griffin won his unprecedented 2nd Heisman Trophy Award in 1975 he was heralded as the best running back in the nation. But was he? Finishing 2nd in the voting was a beast out west by the name of Chuck Muncie and the senior Golden Bear was putting up huge numbers in Berkeley. In fact, in 17 fewer rushing attempts than Griffin, Chuck had 103 more yards rushing and 9 more TD’s. Add in the 26 more receptions and 234 more yards receiving than the Buckeyes Back and you could make a strong case that Muncie, the guy on the cover of the 11/24/75 issue of Sports Illustrated, should have come home with the Heisman hardware. At the next level, Muncie continued to excel becoming a 3-time Pro Bowl back in the NFL with his best season coming in 1981 when he had over 1,500 yards from scrimmage and 19 touchdowns in the high-powered offense in San Diego. The Chargers were loaded with offensive weapons: Muncie and James Brooks in the backfield with John Jefferson, Charlie Joiner, Wes Chandler and Kellen Winslow catching everything in sight. Muncie passed away in May of 2013 but the man who ran that “Air Coryell” offense Dan Fouts joins us on the POP podcast to talk about how good a back and what a weapon Muncie was while playing with the Chargers. Fouts discusses the famous playoff shootout in Miami, known as the Kellen Winslow game. A game in which the Hall of Fame QB threw for 433 yards, and 3 touchdowns in the 41-38 San Diego overtime victory over Miami. Fouts recalls how the next week he and his team suffered through frigid temps in Cincinnati and how the lingering effects of frost bite have been in his hands ever since. And he talks about being part of possibly the best Hall of Fame class (1993) of all-time: Larry Little, Bill Walsh, Chuck Noll, Walter Payton and Dan Fouts! One of the greatest QB’s to ever sling it in the NFL looks back on his Hall of Fame career and gives an in depth look at SI caveman and his former teammate Chuck Muncie on the Past Our Prime podcast.  Download, subscribe, give a review, wherever you get… yada, yada, yada. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Professional hockey was a different game in the mid 70’s that it is today. Whether it’s better or more entertaining is up for debate, but what is not up for debate is back then, there was a level of brutality that the sport fully allowed if not encouraged. Fighting was as part of the game as goals and saves, checks and assists. Bobby Clarke was the 2nd leading scorer in the NHL’s 1975-76 season with 119 points for the two-time defending Stanley Cup Champion Flyers. But he had help and he had protection. The Broad Street Bullies as the Flyers were affectionately known in Philadelphia would come into an opposing arena, score goals, beat you up, and leave town with a smile on their face. And they used that recipe to hoist the Cup in 1974 and 1975. And nobody embodied that persona more than Dave ‘The Hammer’ Schultz. In 1974 he set a record for penalty minutes in one season with 472, a tally that 50 years later still stands. The Hammer was known to drop the gloves at the drop of a hat… but he had a job to do and he did it well… Protect Captain Clark and high scoring forwards Bill Barber, Reggie Leach, and Rick "The Hawk" MacLeish. This helped lead Philly to a record of 51-13-16 in ’75-76 and a 3rd straight appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals. But after thrilling wins over Boston in ’74 and Buffalo in ’75, the Flyers were swept aside by the Canadiens in ’76 ending their run as the league’s top team. Still, the team was a force on the ice and with a healthy Bernie Parent back in the nets after the disappointing loss to Montreal, the Flyers were still major contenders for the Cup With Clark, Barber and Dave Schultz going into the 1976 season. But on September 29, 1976, a week before the start of the season, The Hammer was sent to Los Angeles for two draft picks. And just like that, the Broad Street Bullies were no more. The end of an era and for Schultz, the beginning of the end of his career. This Flyer was now a King, then a Penguin and finally a Sabre before retiring following the 1980 season. His heart was broken when he left Philly and he and the Flyers were never the same without each other. Philadelphia hasn’t won a Stanley Cup since. Now, 50 years later, Dave has written a book called ‘Hammered’: The Fight of my Life where Schultz talks openly about his lifelong battle with alcohol and how getting sober in his 70’s is the biggest win of his life. He tells us how being sent away to L.A. —“not traded”— was a blow to him that he never fully accepted and how he will always be a Flyer. He recollects how he’d be admonished for fighting by NHL President Clarence Campbell only to never hear from him and that the league said one thing publicly about players fighting and yet did nothing to stop it. His job was to fight, and stand up for his teammates and protect them at all costs… and he did it very well. It’s Hammer time on the Past Our Prime podcast. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In his 15th season in the NFL Fran Tarkenton was having another great year. Maybe his best. The Vikings would start the season 10-0 and finish 12-2 atop the NFL Central in large part to the numbers put up by Tarkenton. He completed 273 of his 425 attempts, 25 of them for touchdowns to lead the league in those 3 categories. And when the season concluded, he would take home the Most Valuable Player Award for the 1975 season. After three more very successful seasons in Minnesota, Tarkenton retired after his 18th year in the NFL. He finished his career with numerous NFL records at the time including completions (3,686), attempts (6,467) yards (47,003). and (342) touchdowns. Known as the 'Mad Scrambler', Tarkenton was the game’s first true dual threat, retiring as the NFL’s all-time leader in rushing yards by a quarterback and he did it all by winning games… the most ever by a QB at the time of him hanging it up.  He was named a Pro-Bowler 9 times, and had his #10 retired by the Vikings while being named one of the 50 greatest Vikings and Giants players of all-time. And in 1986, he earned a gold jacket and was enshrined into Canton as a member of the NFL’s Hall of Fame. Unfortunately his success didn’t translate to the postseason. Three times he took his Vikings teams to the Super Bowl and three times they came up short. But Fran tells us on the Past Our Prime podcast there is a reason the Vikings lost 4 of the first 11 Super Bowls. He also tells us about his love and admiration for the coach of those Minnesota teams, Bud Grant, and how if he could prepare for those Super Bowl games from back then differently now the results may have been different. Tarkenton also tells us how the loss to the Cowboys in the playoffs in 1975 was a “monumental day” in his life… one that changed him forever. Minutes after Roger Staubach connected with Drew Pearson on possibly the first ‘Hail Mary’ ever, his life was forever altered. A tragic tale only made worse by how it all unfolded. Once retired, Fran embarked on his 2nd act and 50 years later, he’s still as competitive and active as ever and more often than not… still coming out on top. As the CEO of https://tarkentonfinancial.com/ Fran continues to produce at a high level. His financial company has seen him rise to the top of the business world and he tells us how he stays up to date on the newest business trends like pipIQ which reduces risks associated with misusing AI in small and mid-size businesses at a fraction of the cost. If you’re interested in learning more about this breakthrough technology go to https://pipiq.com/?via=proTV Fran tells us that the similarities between being a QB in a huddle or a CEO in a board room are numerous. That he learned more by his failures than by his successes and that the great leaders all have one thing in common. What is it? Listen and find out as we chat with one of the NFL’s All-Time greats on the Past Our Prime podcast. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Cincinnati Reds won the 1975 World Series in a classic 7-game matchup against the Boston Red Sox. The recent Dodgers victory over the Blue Jays is being argued as maybe the best Fall Classic ever, but that ’75 Series saw the Reds come from behind to win all 4 of their games, including 4-3 in Game 7 at Fenway Park. The Reds had a team littered with Hall of Famers. Tony Perez, Joe Morgan and Johnny Bench as well as *Pete Rose were part of what was known as the Big Red Machine. They could do it all… Power, speed, average,, defense… the one thing they couldn’t do was win the big one. They lost to Baltimore in 5 games in 1970… to the A’s in 7 in 1972… to the Mets in the NLCS in ’73 and didn’t even make the playoffs in ’74. But a bloop single by Joe Morgan in the 9th inning brought in the winning run for the Reds who won their first World Series title since 1940!  A year later, they did it again, sweeping the Yankees to make it two straight championships for the Reds. Cincinnati was the toast of baseball and the Big Red Machine was now legendary. 50 years later we’re still talking about that team and how good they were and nobody knows them better than Dr. Daryl Smith who currently serves as a Management professor at Cedarville University in Ohio.  Previously, Daryl served as an Air Force office and pilot over a 24 year career.   Much of his academic studies and research have centered on leadership and its role in organizational success.  He has been trained to find the root causes of organizations’ successes and failures.   Daryl has a long association with the Cincinnati Reds.  As a boy, he attended several games at Crosley Field, the first game at Riverfront Stadium and the 1970, 1972, and 1975 World Series.  Twenty years ago, Daryl met and became acquainted with Bob Howsam, the brains behind the Big Red Machine and the central figure in his book, “Making the Big Red Machine: Bob Howsam and the Cincinnati Reds of the 1970's." Daryl talks to us about the small trade that became a huge deal when Howsam acquired the diminutive Morgan from Houston. He tells us how Cincy thought he was crazy to give up so much for the future 2-time MVP. He recalls how Manager Sparky Anderson moved Rose to 3rd base and how that changed the course of history for the team. And he tells how free agency and one trade prior to the 1977 season put an end to the greatest team in Reds history. November 3rd, 1975 saw Will McEnaney leaping into the arms of Johnny Bench after winning the greatest World Series ever played and Professor Smith helps us replay that Series one last time on the Past Our Prime podcast.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 1975 Basketball season was the last one in which the NBA was competing with the ABA. It wasn’t much of a competition. At least not off the court. The NBA was doing well and had just signed one of the ABA’s top players, George McGinnis, to a lucrative deal to join the 76ers while the Baltimore Claws were folding up shop before ever playing a regular season game in the ABA. The tide was certainly turning in just the NBAS’s favor. Still, the talent in the ABA couldn’t be ignored. Despite McGinnis, the man on the cover of the 10/27/75 issue of Sports Illustrated, leaving the Indiana Pacers, the league still had Dr. J, Juliue Erving, arguably the most electrifying player in all of basketball. The Atlanta Hawks drafted David Thompson out of college, but couldn’t come to terms on a deal. So the ABA’s Denver Nuggets swooped in and signed the prolific scorer out of North Carolina State. Armed with that Red, White and Blue ball and the 3-point shot, the ABA was still a league for the fans. Except, the fans had a hard time watching because there was no real TV deal. 19-year old Moses Malone was doing his thing in Utah before they too couldn’t make payroll and called it quits on the season just a few weeks in. Eventually, the ABA would have 4 teams (Denver, San Antonio, Indiana and the New York Nets) merge with the NBA while two others (Kentuck & St. Louis) would stop operations. All eyes would then focus on the NBA… Kareem in Los Angeles, Rick Barry and the Warriors, the Blazers and Bill Walton, and those banner-hanging Celtics in Boston. Bob Ryan had a front row seat for much of that time period and saw it all first hand and he joins us to look ahead to that 1975 season of hoops which turned out to be a great one for the NBA… and a last hurrah for the ABA. The Boston Globe’s NBA expert tells us how McGinnis came to the NBA and was still a force, but not quite the same player as he was in Indiana… and for good reason. Ryan recalls how Charlie Scott was acquired by the Celtics from Phoenix for Paul Westphal in a deal that helped both teams and how Scott came up big in the playoffs. He tells us why the 3-point shot is the worst thing to ever happen to basketball and he tells us about one of the ABA teams that didn’t merge with the NBA, instead making one of the best business deals in the history of sports to do nothing. It’s a show about nothing… and everything… and all things basketball. And that’s a perfect topic for Bob Ryan… but so is baseball. And Ryan tells us all about his experience covering the ’75 World Series between the Sox and the Reds and how he almost missed the Fisk HR in Game 6! Just when you think we’re talking just dunks and jumpers with one of the most renowned basketball writers of all-time, we throw you a curveball and get Ryan to talk about his other passion. ABA? Check! NBA? Check! MLB? Check! Bob Ryan and he Past Our Prime podcast has you covered. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices