Vegas Never Sleeps

Hook was the very first winning pitcher in Mets history with a complete-game five-hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates after the team lost its first nine games. He shares his memories of Casey, the Polo Grounds, Marvelous Marv Throneberry, and the record-setting losing season of 1962.

Kranepool is the longest-tenured player in team history, spending his entire 18-year career with Mets, and holds the franchise record for most games played. He’s the only player who was there from the original Amazin’s of Casey Stengel, through the Miracle Mets of ‘69, and the comeback from the dead pennant-winning season of ‘73.

Veteran sportswriter Ron Borges, a longtime football writer for the Boston Globe and member of the Hall of Fame selection committee discusses: *The selection process and his support for Flores * The politicking and the difficulties of pleasing all the candidates  *The gall of players such as Calvin Johnson and Terrell Owens who publicly express their expectations of being first-ballot selections.

A member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, Pat Williams has held executive positions with the Philadelphia 76’ers, Chicago Bulls, Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic. A nationally renowned motivational and inspirational speaker, he has authored more than 100 books. Some of the highlights discussed from his long NBA career: ● The building of the 1983 champion 76’ers team ● Trading of Pete Maravich ● The uncertain science of making draft picks ● Dealing with free agency from the management side

The Houdini of the Hardwood, the man who invented the modern point guard position, Bob Cousy will be a guest on the Sports Raconteurs in the first of a two-part interview. Also as part of the show, veteran Boston Globe sports columnist Dan Shaughnessy discusses Cousy’s lasting impact on the game of basketball, the Celtics, and his place in the pantheon of Boston sports legends.

Award-winning Boston Globe sports columnist Dan Shaughnessy discusses Cousy’s lasting impact on the game of basketball, the Celtics, and his place in the pantheon of Boston sports legends.

Fran Tarkenton, the man who re-invented the quarterback position when he was drafted by the expansion Minnesota Vikings in 1961, and serves as the forerunner for today’s mobile quarterbacks. ‘Fran the Scrambler’ discusses butting heads with old school coach Norm Van Brocklin, an emotional trade from the Vikings to the New York Giants, and a less emotion-filled trade back to the Vikings from the Giants. Fran played in three Super Bowls with the Vikings and held many NFL passing records when he retired after the 1978 season. Also get his thoughts on how he would fit in today’s NFL offensive schemes. https://www.sportsracx.com/

Bill Curry: Player and coach associated with some of the most legendary teams, coaches and players in NFL history. He played in the first two winning Super Bowls under Vince Lombardi and was a member of Don Shula’s Baltimore Colts when they suffered a historic 16-7 loss to New York Jets in Super Bowl III. Bill was head coach on the collegiate level at Georgia Tech, Alabama, Kentucky and Georgia State. Today he is one of the great inspirational and motivational speakers in the country.

Dick Vermeil was a football coach in the National Football League (NFL) from 1969 to 2005, finishing his career as the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs. Over his nineteen years of coaching his teams compiled a cumulative win/loss record of 157-126-2. During his career, he was a head coach for fifteen seasons, first with the Philadelphia Eagles. He led the Eagles for seven seasons, compiling a record of 54-47-0. His next head coaching stint was with the St. Louis Rams from 1997 to 1999, as he led the team to a 22-26-0 record. In 1999, the Rams won the Super Bowl against the Tennessee Titans 23-16. His third head coach placement began in 2001 with the Kansas City Chiefs. He coached them for five seasons and the team had a 44-36-0 record during his tenure. During his entire head coaching career, his three teams combined for a record of 120-109-0 across fifteen seasons including going 6-5-0 in the playoffs.

A former college football star at Kentucky, Jim is the official Play Clock Operator for Philadelphia Eagles home games and a founder of ALS Warriors For Mike Reich, in honor of his brother Mike Reichwein.

One of the nation’s leading human rights activists, He has a long history of standing up to social injustice. He had a front-row view as, like his father, basketball legend and head coach of the New York Knicks, Joe Lapchick courageously signed the NBA’s first African-American player, Nat ‘Sweewater’ Clifton. Richard is president of the National Consortium for Academic and Sports and established The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sports (TIDES), which recently produced the 2020 National Football League Racial and Gender Report Card.

As business manager to Muhammad Ali, Kilroy was there for the entire ride with the legendary champ, from the 1960 Rome Olympics to his passing in 2016. Known as ‘The Facilitator’ in Ali’s inner circle, Kilroy is the last surviving member of the champ’s entourage and was as close to him as any human being.

A Special Holiday Show about Struggle, Friendship and Redemption. This Week’s Guests - Former NFL cornerback Jackie Wallace and photojournalist Ted Jackson share their heartwarming story of trials and tribulations, redemption, & the saving grace of friendship. Ted Jackson and Jackie Wallace discuss Jackie's rise from New Orleans schoolboy football legend, his participation in three Super Bowls and his ultimate descent into drug addiction. Found homeless, sleeping under a Big Easy highway bridge by photojournalist Ted, they developed an enduring friendship built around spirituality that changed both men as together they tackle the everyday struggles associated with Jackie's recovery.

Terrible Tim Witherspoon was a two-time world heavyweight champion. The Philadelphia native lost a controversial decision to then heavyweight champ Larry Holmes in 1983. The former sparring partner of Muhammad Ali currently trains boxers at his gym in Bristol, PA, and is active in raising funds for the support of ex-boxers.

The ‘Easton Assassin’, possessor of one of the great left jabs in boxing history, held several heavyweight world titles, in the 1970s and ’80s. Second, only to Joe Louis with 19 title defenses, Holmes won his first 48 fights before being upset by Michael Spinks in 1983

The son of Art Rooney, the founder of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Art. Jr, was there from the creation, when his father purchased this flagship NFL franchise with gambling winnings. As team scouting director, Art Jr. supervised the drafts that built the legendary 1970’s dynasty teams. During this time the Steelers drafted 10 future Hall of Fame players. In 1974, Rooney’s scouting department produced five Hall of Famers, including draft picks Lynn Swann, Jack Lambert, John Stallworth, Mike Webster and free agent Donnie Shell. Upton Bell, son of NFL president Bert Bell, former NFL executive, long term radio host and social commentator Upton Bell discusses his donation of his family’s memorabilia collection to the University of Massachusetts/Amherst. Kirstin Kay: As the Mark H. McCormack Archivist for Sports Innovation at UMass Amherst, Kirstin curates a number of significant displays, including the recently acquired Upton Bell Collection. Kirstin discusses the significance of the Bell collection, which features more than 125 football-related historic pieces accumulated by the Bell family. In addition to the Bell collection, Kirsten handles the collection of legendary pioneer sports agent Mike McCormack https://www.sportsracx.com/

The son of Art Rooney, the founder of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Art Jr. was there from the creation when his father purchased this flagship NFL franchise with gambling winnings. As team scouting director, Art Jr. supervised the drafts that built the legendary 1970’s dynasty teams. During this time the Steelers drafted 10 future Hall of Fame players. In 1974, Rooney’s scouting department produced five Hall of Famers, including draft picks Lynn Swann, Jack Lambert, John Stallworth, Mike Webster and free agent Donnie Shell https://www.sportsracx.com/

Son of NFL president Bert Bell, former NFL executive, long term radio host and social commentator Upton Bell discusses his donation of his family’s memorabilia collection to the University of Massachusetts/Amherst https://www.sportsracx.com/

This week on The Sports Raconteurs, Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame writer Jack McCallum talks about his 40 plus years of covering the NBA, including the Bird/Magic revival of the 80’s; Jordan‘s Bulls, and an inside look at the 1992 Dream Team www.sportsracx.com/

Veteran sportswriter Dave Klein gives an inside look at 60+ years of covering the New York Giants on this week’s The Sports Raconteurs. From the days of Allie Sherman , Frank Gifford and Sam Huff; through Bill Parcells, LT and Phil Simms to the Tom Coughlin, Eli Manning era, Dave was a fixture in the press box and locker room. He was also in attendance at each of the first 53 Super Bowls. https://www.sportsracx.com/