It was a messy day on the South Side at Mount Carmel High School. Initial reports from school officials indicated that longtime head football coach Frank Lenti — the winningest coach in Illinois history — was retiring and that Jordan Lynch was taking over. The end result is the same, but the details are far murkier and the fall out between the administration and Lenti is real messy. WGN Radio’s Sam Panayotovich has the story on the Caravan coaching change. Plus, Blackhawks 32-year-old rookie goalie Jeff Glass’ journey through Russian hockey and the minor leagues. http://serve.castfire.com/audio/3445632/3445632_2017-12-30-125032.64kmono.mp3?ad_params=zones%3DPreroll%7Cstation_id%3D3801.mp3
Sam Panayotovich sits down with Bobby Frasor, a former McDonald’s All-American at Brother Rice, national champion at North Carolina and professional basketball player overseas. Frasor is about to embark as his third season as the head coach at his alma mater. Topics include being a ball boy for his dad at Eisenhower, playing with sharpshooters, going downstate his senior year, the Crusader Crazies, impressing Roy Williams at an AAU tournament in Houston, committing to North Carolina, FaceTiming with Tyler Hansbrough, meeting Michael Jordan, playing against a young Derrick Rose and more. http://serve.castfire.com/audio/3420333/3420333_2017-11-05-171933.64kmono.mp3?ad_params=zones%3DPreroll%7Cstation_id%3D3801.mp3
Sam Panayotovich sits down with Garrett Klassy, the new athletic director at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Topics include the newest chapter of Flames athletics, a rising basketball program, growing up reading the sports pages on the family farm in Wisconsin, connecting with Curtis Granderson and the alumni base, the best barbecue in Alabama, working with Chip Kelly at Oregon and having big dreams for UIC. http://serve.castfire.com/audio/3387233/3387233_2017-08-15-170633.64kmono.mp3?ad_params=zones%3DPreroll%7Cstation_id%3D3801.mp3
Sam Panayotovich sits down with Mount Carmel head varsity basketball coach Phil Segroves as he embarks on his first campaign with the Caravan. Topics include Segroves’ 19 year tenure at the school, his coaching roots, Alabama accents, tales from freshman football, being a father, building a program of his own and welcoming Dwyane Wade to the MC family. http://serve.castfire.com/audio/3220321/3220321_2016-11-16-232221.64kmono.mp3?ad_params=zones%3DPreroll%7Cstation_id%3D3801.mp3
Sam Panayotovich talks Chicago hoops with you once a week on WGN Radio. This week’s guest is Berwyn native and former Chicago Bulls public address announcer Ray Clay. Topics include stories from a day with NBA MVP Steph Curry, Golden State’s 31-point win at the United Center, Morgan Park’s successful boys basketball boycott and the legendary career of former Bulls coach Johnny Bach. Clay discusses how he found out about the Bulls announcing job, his tryout in the dark, the overwhelming crowd noise from Jordan’s introduction, his last days with the organization, MJ’s last game in the NBA, being recruited by Spike Lee and announcing a wedding reception in Denver. http://serve.castfire.com/audio/2662860/2662860_2016-01-22-130300.64kmono.mp3??ad_params=zones%3DPreroll%7Cstation_id%3D3801.mp3
Sam Panayotovich talks Chicago hoops with you once a week on WGN Radio. This week’s guest is Chicago native and current KNBR senior staff writer Dieter Kurtenbach. Topics include more Bulls ups and downs, patellar tendinitis for Derrick Rose, Jabari Parker’s first professional game in the Windy City and Bryant McIntosh’s mission to steer Northwestern to its first NCAA tournament berth. Kurtenbach — who covers the defending NBA champion Warriors — discusses Steve Kerr’s brilliant system, Steph Curry’s revolutionary playmaking and all-around likeability, Draymond Green’s exponential growth, the Bulls’ alpha dog battle, Chicago’s best Italian beef and Golden State’s push for 72 wins. http://serve.castfire.com/audio/2656628/2656628_2016-01-13-044528.64kmono.mp3?ad_params=zones%3DPreroll%7Cstation_id%3D3801.mp3
Sam Panayotovich talks Chicago hoops with you once a week on WGN Radio. This week’s guest is Chicago basketball legend and current UIC Flames assistant coach Deon Thomas. Topics include the Bulls’ battle with inconsistency, “The Race to 82,” our state’s best college hoops team and a huge high school showdown this week. Thomas talks about being teammates with a young Shaquille O’Neal, learning from Lou Henson at Illinois, playing basketball overseas, compiling his coaching style, his valuable stint at Lewis and Clark Community College and the best players from Simeon Career Academy. http://serve.castfire.com/audio/2629289/2629289_2015-12-09-040229.64kmono.mp3?ad_params=zones%3DPreroll%7Cstation_id%3D3801.mp3
Sam Panayotovich talks Chicago hoops with you once a week on WGN Radio. It’s an interview only episode given the Thanksgiving holiday. This week’s guest is Blog a Bull’s Chris Terzic. Topics include Sam and Chris growing up down the street, Jimmy Butler keeping things afloat, imagining life after Derrick Rose, Fred Hoiberg’s impact, Serbian basketball players, the early 2000s Sacramento Kings and Michael Wilbon’s recent comments about bloggers. http://cdn.tribtv.com/wgnam/podcasts/shootaround/Shootaround005.mp3
Sam Panayotovich talks Chicago hoops with you once a week on WGN Radio. This week’s guest is Slam Magazine’s Chris Cason. Topics include opportunity for Jimmy Butler, Steph Curry’s brilliance, Paul George’s recovery, rising point guard Tyler Ulis, Derrick Rose’s ups and downs, ramifications of AAU basketball, shoe collections, fashion with Chandler Parsons and college basketball’s Champions Classic. http://cdn.tribtv.com/wgnam/podcasts/shootaround/Shootaround004.mp3
Sam Panayotovich talks Chicago hoops with you once a week on WGN Radio. This week’s guest is DePaul men’s basketball head coach Dave Leitao, who’s ready to reignite the Blue Demons program in Lincoln Park. Topics include Derrick Rose’s early struggles, Joakim Noah’s knee issues, Kevin Garnett’s Chicago roots, the newest NBA D-League team, Jim Calhoun’s passion, Ray Allen’s competitive drive and the plan to bring more local talent to DePaul. http://cdn.tribtv.com/wgnam/podcasts/shootaround/Shootaround003.mp3
Sam Panayotovich talks Chicago hoops with you once a week on WGN Radio. This week’s guest is Hoop Magazine’s Bryan Crawford, who helps assess the first week of Fred Hoiberg’s NBA head coaching career. Other topics include defensive concerns, “Red Light, Green Light,” player development, Jimmy Butler’s musical tastes, LeBron’s new milestone, Kobe’s farewell tour, Anthony Davis’ rise to fame and another local product committing far, far away from the Windy City. http://cdn.tribtv.com/wgnam/podcasts/shootaround/Shootaround002.mp3
Basketball season is in the air and The Shootaround is back. Sam Panayotovich talks Chicago hoops with you once a week on WGN Radio. This week’s guest is Mark Carman, who helps recap the Bulls’ season-opening win over the Cavaliers. Other topics include the early Michael Jordan days, hating the “Bad Boys,” Derrick Rose playing with pace, Niko Mirotic’s impact, Joakim Noah’s bench role and the LeBron James boombox battle. http://cdn.tribtv.com/wgnam/podcasts/shootaround/Shootaround001.mp3
Steve McClain has been on board at UIC for just over three months. WGN Sports’ Sam Panayotovich sits down with the new Flames men’s basketball coach after a summer workout. Topics include passionate practices, re-energizing the UIC fanbase, leaving it all on the floor, the importance of work ethic, adjusting to Chicago, bringing in seven new players and coaching with confidence. https://tribwgnam.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/stevemcclain070115.mp3
Sam Panayotovich and Big Cat close out June with another “Shootaround” podcast. Topics include Jimmy Butler’s future, silly NBA rumors, Carmelo Anthony’s awful contract, the Blackhawks’ cap crunch and the Chicago baseball roller coaster. In the second half, Zack Hample talks about his impressive baseball collection, friendship with Lisa Ann and Alex Rodriguez’s 3,000th hit. Plus, the “Q and A mailbag.” **We recorded this episode an hour before the Brandon Saad trade.** Listen to past podcasts here. https://tribwgnam.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/shootaround06302015.mp3
Sam Panayotovich and Big Cat bring you another episode of the “Shootaround” podcast. Topics include the Cubs’ winning ways, more South Side struggles, Pete Rose’s gambling and the Baseball Hall of Fame. In the second half, the guys talk Puff Daddy, Kevin Love, DeMarcus Cousins, Bulls buckets, hockey in the desert, “foul ball guy” and the “Q and A mailbag.” Listen to past podcasts here. https://tribwgnam.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/shootaround062415.mp3
Sam Panayotovich and Big Cat deliver the Stanley Cup championship episode of the “Shootaround” podcast. Topics include Sam’s experience covering the Blackhawks’ clincher on home ice, Cat’s memorable Tuesday with the team, mustaches on the mound at Wrigley and celebrating with the Cup. In the second half, Adam Hoge stops by to give the highlights from Bears minicamp, LeBron loses again and the “Q and A mailbag.” https://tribwgnam.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/shootaround061715.mp3
Sam Panayotovich and Big Cat bring you the weekly “Shootaround” podcast. Topics include Cat’s trip to Tampa Bay, the Blackhawks’ struggles with the Lightning, playoff beards, LeBron emptying the clip in the Finals, Chris Sale’s dominance and pigs on the loose. Barstool Chief joins the guys in the second half for a Stanley Cup Final breakdown and the “Q and A” mailbag. https://tribwgnam.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/shootaround060915.mp3
Sam Panayotovich and Big Cat are back in the house for “The Shootaround” podcast. Topics include the Blackhawks’ third Stanley Cup Final appearance in six years, Las Vegas odds and lines with Todd Fuhrman, what to expect from new Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg with WGN Sports’ Brett Jackson, bachelor party survival tips and the “Q and A” mailbag.
WGN Sports’ Sam Panayotovich joins Justin Kaufmann to break down why the Chicago Bulls parted ways with head coach Tom Thibodeau. They discuss Thibodeau’s injury-riddled, five year coaching stint, the downfall of the relationship and the “slam dunk” candidate to take over the reigns. http://cdn.tribtv.com/wgnam/podcasts/shootaround/SamonKauffman052815.mp3
The Chicago Bulls announced this morning that Tom Thibodeau would not return as head coach. WGN Sports’ Sam Panayotovich joins Roe Conn and Anna Davlantes to assess the downfall of the coach-management relationship. https://tribwgnam.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/rcsampan052815.mp3