Origins with Ben Smith

The 4th of July is a celebratory time in our country, and one of the warmups for the day ahead on the 4th is when many Americans sit down in front of the tv and watch men and women dip hot dogs into water and consume as many as possible in 10 minutes. This week, Origins Host Ben Smith is once again joined by the guys, Rich Osborne, Mike Gorney and Chris Moon, for a special group chat edition of Origins to tell the story of the Nathans Hot Dog Eating Contest.Follow Origins on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/originspod/Follow Origins Host Ben Smith on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SmithBSBen/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2pjGeSmD2FHG8FkGFBMuRTApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-032-4th-of-july-doubleheaders/id1540853532?i=1000528303546Download Our App for Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/wsn-live/id1553068845Download Our App for Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wsnlive.androidappFollow The Woodward Sports Network!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woodwardsports/Twitter: https://twitter.com/woodwardsportsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/WoodwardSports/Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/woodwardsportsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@woodwardsports?lang=en

This past 4th of July, baseball was back in full! After the year that was 2020 and having to miss out on 4th of July baseball last year, 2021 gave us a full day of baseball along with something we haven’t had since the early 1960’s; a July 4th Doubleheader. The doubleheader was a staple of Major League Baseball from the early 1900’s, through the early 1960’s. Teams made the 4th a special occasion, booking the biggest rivals so fans could see double the action against their teams rival.This week, Origins host Ben Smith tells us about the early days of the doubleheader, why Major League Baseball passed on this idea eventually, and just how it came back in 2021. Follow Origins on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/originspod/Follow Origins Host Ben Smith on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SmithBSBen/Download Our App for Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/wsn-live/id1553068845Download Our App for Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wsnlive.androidappFollow The Woodward Sports Network!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woodwardsports/Twitter: https://twitter.com/woodwardsportsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/WoodwardSports/Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/woodwardsportsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@woodwardsports?lang=en

Origins: Ep.31 - Fantasy SportsThe Fantasy Sports Industry has exploded in the last 10-15 years, growing at an astounding rate, projecting to be a nearly $50 billion dollar industry by the year 2027. Whether you’re a football fan, a baseball fan, basketball, soccer or a fan of any other sport, fantasy sports is an accessible, fun and sometimes heartbreaking activity.This week, Origins host Ben Smith is joined by The Co-Founder of the Fantasy Football Index Magazine and a Fantasy Sports Hall-Of-Famer, Ian Allan to discuss the history of fantasy sports, his magazine and where he sees the industry going in the future.Website/Social Media for The Fantasy Football Indexhttps://fantasyindex.com/https://fantasyindex.com/store/#football-magazineLink To The Original GOPPPL Rules and Rosters from 1963: https://s3.amazonaws.com/fantasyindex/downloads/67d0f3bdd09eafe05ca794322b5ffd2ef900c9cd/GOPPPL_rules_and_rosters_1963.pdf?1594321701Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FantasyIndexFollow Origins on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/originspod/Follow Origins Host Ben Smith on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SmithBSBen/

This week, Origins Host Ben Smith sits down with previous guests from our earliest episodes. In this bonus discussion, Ben and Gaming Historian from the University of Indiana, Raiford Guins, discuss the documentaries “atari: game over” about the search for what is called the worst video game of all time, the e.t. game for the atari console.Hundreds of thousands of e.t. Atari games were buried in the desert of Alamogordo, New Mexico, which does have a special connection to the first episode of our episode, but you should listen to episode 1 to hear that connection. Then it’s Krazy George, inventor of “The Wave,” telling the story of how Wayne Gretzky became involved in his life and became one of Krazy George’s biggest fans.Link(s) to Ep. 1 - Tennis For Two:Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/origins-ep-001-tennis-for-two/id1540853532?i=1000499075995Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2miexkQstYDfEGN3UW0Jez Link(s) to Ep. 2 - The Wave:Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/origins-ep-002-the-wave/id1540853532?i=1000500353325Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5v9TBSTtIkMKSGXOq6QDaM#Origins is a @woodwardsports production. You can find all our episodes on your favorite podcast app or at woodwardsports.com.Follow Origins on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/originspod/Follow Origins Host Ben Smith on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SmithBSBen/Follow Origins Host Ben Smith on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Ben_SmithBSDownload Our App for Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/wsn-live/id1553068845Download Our App for Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wsnlive.androidappFollow The Woodward Sports Network!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woodwardsports/Twitter: https://twitter.com/woodwardsportsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/WoodwardSports/Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/woodwardsportsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@woodwardsports?lang=enWatch our Shows Live on Youtube, Facebook, Twitter & TwitchThe Morning Woodward Show | Monday-Friday 8am-10amThe Baligian and Bell Show | Monday-Friday 11am-1pmThe Hook | Monday-Friday 3pm-5pm

This week, Origins Host Ben Smith sits down with a previous guest on the show, Journalist/Author Anna Clark. This week is an extra bonus discussion from back in episode 4 on Instant Replay. (Link for that episode is listed below). In this bonus discussion, Ben and Anna break down her book, "The Poisoned City: Flint's Water and the American Urban Tragedy." The details behind the story and how she came about the story as well as talk of a potential sequel to the book itself now that the case has moved a bit in the court systems here in Michigan.Link(s) to Ep. 4 - Instant Replay: Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/origins-ep-004-instant-replay/id1540853532?i=1000501963260Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Qa9eItszhvA5154JzF5qQ#Origins is a @woodwardsports production. You can find all our episodes on your favorite podcast app or at woodwardsports.com. Follow Origins on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/originspod/Follow Origins Host Ben Smith on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SmithBSBen/Follow Origins Host Ben Smith on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Ben_SmithBS Download Our App for Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/wsn-live/id1553068845Download Our App for Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wsnlive.androidappFollow The Woodward Sports Network!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woodwardsports/Twitter: https://twitter.com/woodwardsportsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/WoodwardSports/Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/woodwardsportsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@woodwardsports?lang=en Watch our Shows Live on Youtube, Facebook, Twitter & TwitchThe Morning Woodward Show | Monday-Friday 8am-10amThe Baligian and Bell Show | Monday-Friday 11am-1pmThe Hook | Monday-Friday 3pm-5pm

This week, Origins Host Ben Smith tells two very different origin stories suggested to us by you, the listeners.We start with a suggestion from Katie in Traverse City, Michigan. Her suggestion is a sport that does not get the acclaim it deserves; softball. This origin story is hard to believe as it has these completely random events, with a group of random people coming together and the right mood to strike and suddenly, softball was born. Then, Andrew in Midland, Michigan suggested we cover the origins of Air Hockey because… why not?!? A game that needs no introduction, this story is all about hard work, belief in a sport and a game that wasn’t widely accepted but persevered through many ups and downs in its lifetime.

This week, Origins Host Ben Smith tells 3 different short origin stories in another "Potpourri Edition" of Origins; (Skiing - Ultimate Frisbee - “Take Me Out To The Ball Game.”)This week, we start with a classic winter sport, Skiing, which had a whole different reason for existing before Skiing became a leisure activity or a sport in and of itself.Then we tell the story of Ultimate Frisbee and how the man who is credited with creating the sport went on to change an industry and a genre of entertainment.Finally, we go over the origin tale of the classic song, “Take Me Out To The Ball Game.” We’ll break down the origin, and how the song has far more to it that meets the eye, literally and figuratively.

No matter your age, no matter your abilities, bowling is accessible to all. It’s a sport, a leisure activity, a great hang out spot, and a sport that may be one of the oldest still in existence.This week, Origins host Ben Smith is joined by The Curator and Program Manager of the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame, Kari Smith, to discuss the origin of Bowling.Kari takes us through the earliest evidence of the sport, all the way through to the here and now. Bowling’s origin has many surprises, but no sport is more justified to be able to claim how open and accepting it has been to all walks of life, something that we’ll discuss in this new episode of Origins.(Website/Social Media for The International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame:)www.bowlingmuseum.comwww.bowlingheritage.comTwitter & Instagram: @ibmhofFacebook: @bowlingmuseumFollow Origins on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/originspod/Woodwardsports.com

This week, Origins celebrates 25 episodes with the man, the myth, the legend and the All-Time Teammate to the city of Detroit; Darren McCarty.This week, Origins Host Ben Smith sits down with McCarty in the MyBookie Studios at Woodward Sports HQ to break down a life fully lived. From his childhood in Leamington, Ontario, to moving away from his family as a teenager to pursue hockey, through his time in juniors, the OHL, his time with the Red Wings, and all the good and bad in-between.McCarty gets candid about his issues with addiction and how fighting that fight led him to where he is today. He shares his excitement about life and how he sees Woodward Sports growing into the future.This week, this special episode of Origins is also available to be viewed on the Woodward Sports YouTube page.

There have been only two players in NBA history that averaged a triple-double throughout the regular season; Oscar Robertson in the 1961-1962 season and Russell Westbrook did that 3 seasons in a row from 2016 to 2019.This week, Origins Host Ben Smith tells the complicated story of the Triple-Double and its origin in the sport of basketball. We ask two questions this week; did this stat-line get created in the earliest days of the NBA by a man so well respected by his NBA peers? Or was it created by a man whose sole job it was to elevate Magic Johnson to superstar status? We discuss those questions and look for the answers this week on Origins.

This week, Origins Host Ben Smith tells 3 different short origin stories in another "Potpourri Edition" of Origins.This week, we start with the game of pool, or billiards, and how the rise of the game saw Detroit as a major player in that story.Remember in middle school when you got a chance to chuck objects at your fellow classmates and you were cheered and given a grade for it? Well, you should if you ever played the game of Dodgeball! The origin of this game gets it start in a bit of a battle royal to the death, and eventually turned into the game we know today.Finally, we go over the extreme “sport” in Extreme Ironing... We think it’s best we don’t tease this at all and you just come along for the ride to see why this is actually a thing.

This week, Origins Host Ben Smith tells 3 different short origin stories in a special "Potpourri Edition" of Origins.This week, we run the gamut, from a well known sport being created on a battlefield in the 1630's; to the Dallas Cowboys, who, at the teams inception, were known by a different name, and let's just say they made the right call.And finally; you know how sometimes, at living sporting events, you cheer your ass off for a cup of coffee to help it run faster than a jelly doughnut?Food races are weird, but somehow an essential part of the experience now. Where did the idea come from? We have the answers...

The NFL stands above the rest when it comes to successful professional sports leagues, especially here in the states. Use any metric of success in the business world and the NFL reigns supreme… but why? What were the events that led to the NFL becoming what it has become?This week, Origins Host Ben Smith tells the story of Bert Bell, a name every NFL fan should know. The many changes to the way we interact with, view and involve ourselves with the NFL is likely from the mind of Bert Bell. The Philadelphia Eagles, the NFL Draft, the Injury Report, those are just a small sample of the ideas he contributed to the NFL… with a lot more to talk about this week.

This week, Origins Host Ben Smith takes you through the origins of the Home Run.Around the 1870's, with the Civil War in the not so distant past, the game of Baseball began to take shape as a sport that could be played professionally.One man would go on to hit the first over the fence home run in 1876, but it was who this man was and what he did in his career that would make him both an unlikely person to the 1st man to knock it over the fence, but, had the skills on the diamond that few could match.Just who was the first to hit the home run? Why is this man not known in baseball circles to this very day? All that will be answered, and more.

With the 2021 NFL Draft right around the corner, Origins Host Ben Smith is joined by his Group Chat mates in Mike Gorney, Rich Osborne, Chris Moon and Tom Schomisch to take a look back at the very first NFL Draft Pick and the surprising story of one of the greatest football players to ever play the college game and what he did after he became the first person ever drafted to the NFL.

It's ladies night this week on Origins! This week on another Group Chat Episode, Origin’s Host Ben Smith is joined by an all female crew to help tell the story of the All American Girls Baseball League. The AAGPBL is one of the most interesting moments in the history of Baseball and may best be known as the league from the 1992 film "A League Of Their Own."When the United States got involved in WW2, women were left to take over jobs across the country for the men who are now serving in the armed forces, and one of those jobs was as a professional baseball player. Learn about the league that ran for 11 years and helped keep up moral here in the states at a tough time in our nations history.

This week is another Group Chat Edition of Origins. Host Ben Smith tells the surprising and strange story behind the first venture outdoors for an NHL team, and it all takes place here in the state of Michigan. In this episode, Ben reunites with his former radio show partners from their time at Central Michigan University, Rich Osborne, Andrew Keck and Jeff Sell.

The sport of Sumo Wrestling may be one of the oldest sports known to man. Dating back thousands of years, it is the top sport in Japan. This week, you’ll learn all about the origin of the sport, and it’s long held traditions and it’s direct correlation to the Shinto religion, the main founding religion of Japan. This week, Origin’s Host Ben Smith is joined by the former President of the International Sumo Federation, and well-known Sumo commentator, Katrina Watts, to discuss the history and the many traditions involved in the sport of Sumo.

The Colored Hockey League, (CHL) was the premiere all black hockey “league” in Canada during the late 1800’s into the 20th century. This week, Origins host Ben Smith welcomes in the show's first returning guest in the “Hockey Holmes” himself, David Carter of the Nova Scotia Museum, to walk us through the origins of the CHL.

With the strangest NFL season now at the finish line and with all of the head coaching jobs filled for the upcoming 2021 season, we take a look at the origin story of The Rooney Rule. This week we’ll explore the backstory and meet those who played a key role in bringing the rule to the NFL, which gives minority candidates a mandated interview for any NFL head coaching job.This week, Origins Host Ben Smith welcomes in Professional Poker Player and a graduate of the Michigan State School of Economics, Chris Moon, to the show to discuss his research project on the effectiveness of the Rooney Rule. Ben and Chris discuss the methods used in the study and discuss the answer to the question; does the Rooney Rule work?