Category Archives: Sports

Pro-Wrestling Legend Ivan Koloff: I Thought André the Giant Was Gonna Break My Ribs

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Even world-heavyweight wrestling champions get spooked in the ring.

Just ask Ivan “The Russian Bear” Koloff, who snagged the WWWF title in 1971.

CAPTION: "He was a good man," Ivan (above) tells us of André. "He turned out to be a good friend."

"He was a good man," Ivan (above) tells us of André. "And in the end, he turned out to be a good friend."

Unfortunately, that was also the era when André the Giant —who’d go on to win the WWF title in 1988 and, five years later, become the first wrestler to be inducted into the WWF’s Hall of Fame—was coming into his own.

Interviewed on Lord Elevation, Ivan recalls doing battle with the man known as the Eighth Wonder of the World.

“André—seven feet tall, 550 pounds, size 26 shoe. I mean, the guy was intimidating. I was Continue reading →

Boxing Legend Ken Norton: ‘I Had a Heart Attack’

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Unbeknownst to most of the world, Ken Norton recently suffered cardiac arrest.

But don’t fret: The one-time heavyweight champ is still spry when it comes to sizing up his old nemesis, Muhammad Ali.

Norton: Recovering nicely from August trauma.

Norton: Recovering nicely from August trauma.

Interviewed exclusively on The Final Word with JayReelz & J.D., Norton tells hosts Jason Nazario and J.D. Valladares:

“Lately, I’ve been doing nothing. I had a heart attack…about a month ago.

“In fact, Continue reading →

SoundBits: Audley Stephenson Makes Hoops Dream a Reality

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Perhaps better than anyone in cyberspace, Audley Stephenson knows that basketball isn’t just a game, it’s a way of life. And each week on The NBA Breakdown, he and co-host Dave Mendonca, who broadcast from their hometown of Toronto, prove it by not only covering the latest news of the season, but how pro hoops impacts everything from entertainment to fashion to humor to politics. Recent guests have included former NBA all-stars like John Starks and Elvin Hayes, and current sportscasters like ESPN’s Dick Vitale and The Best Damn Sports Show‘s Chris Rose. But there’s also been Kid-N-Play’s Chris Reid and R&B chart-topper Montell Jordan, who’ve shared their recollections of hanging with the pros. There there’s Kevin Johnson, the onetime NBA point guard who went on to become the first African-American mayor of Sacramento, Calif. While we’d love to tell you more, the 24-second clock will be kicking in any moment now, so it’s time to pass the ball to Audley…

Audley

Audley: Consistently slam-dunks from north of the border.

Give us a 15-second pitch for your show—why should listeners tune in?

The NBA Breakdown is a fun, high-energy basketball talk show. Dave and I interview big guests while delivering even bigger laughs. That’s because we disagree most of the time, so our opposing viewpoints often lead to good-natured verbal brawls. But for mild and hardcore fans alike, this is hoops talk the way it should be.

Tell us two things listeners would be surprised to learn about you?

(1) I got a job as an usher at the Air Canada Centre-home of the Toronto Raptors-just Continue reading →

‘The Audible’ Hosts Cecil Lammey and Sigmund Bloom Tackle Cystic Fibrosis Talkathon

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Is there no end to the stamina, dedication and benevolence of our Fantasy Sports Channel hosts?

Apparently not—as evidenced by the Audible‘s Drive for Cystic Fibrosis.audible_fsc_cff_v2

Kicking off Saturday, Aug. 29 at 12pm ET, the 12-hour talkathon will help raise money and awareness for the life-shortening genetic disorder that affects one in every 4,000 children in the U.S.

All proceeds from the special will benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Hosted by The Audible‘s Cecil Lammey and Sigmund Bloom of FootballGuys.com, with three 30-minute breaks covered by The Thundering Blurb‘s Andrew Garda, the talkathon also features expert fantasy-football commentary from throughout the sports arena.

Cec and Sig: Gearing up for CB fundraiser.

Cecil and Sigmund: Gearing up for fundraiser.

Among the guests dropping in to help the cause will be Continue reading →

It’s ‘Must-Stream Thursdays’ on The Fantasy Sports Channel

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Impossible as it sounds, The Fantasy Sports Channel’s expertise quotient is about to get ratcheted up a notch.

Beginning today, July 30, at 6 p.m. ET, we’re launching “Must-Stream Thursdays,” a prime-time lineup the likes of which has never been seen on any broadcast entity.

In all, seven of the biggest, most respected names in fantasy football take to our programming grid for a weekly, six-hour block of expert pigskin analysis that promises to have you dominating your league faster than you can say Adrian Peterson.fsc-image2

Here’s the schedule: Continue reading →

SoundBits: Fantasy Football Guru (and Dali Lama Fan) Louis Tranquilli

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Though we devised the six questions that appear here each week in the name of offering you a peek into the lives and on-air offerings of BTR’s most dedicated hosts, even we never dreamed we’d be talking personal finance, Eastern theology and Mickey Mouse in the same column. But that’s precisely what happened in the case of Louis Tranquilli. As host of BFDFANTASYfootball.com on our Fantasy Sports Channel, the Clinton, N.J., resident regularly serves up winning fantasy football insights. As for his non-sports-related musings, proceed at your own risk.

Give us a 15-second pitch for your show – why should listeners tune in?

Because I’ve worked with professional football players, been to the NFL scouting combine and talked football with coaches, all of which has afforded me more than just a “fan’s view” of the game. Moreover, it makes me a fantasy football expert.

CAPTION: Louis: (Re)dressed for success.

Louis: (Re)dressed for success.

Tell us two things listeners would be surprised to learn about you?

I’ve been on fire twice, and almost been blown up once. If that doesn’t surprise them, I also – as a financial advisor with The Investment Center – I manage many millions dollars of my clients’ money.

Who’s your broadcasting hero?

Baseball Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner. During the ’70s, Ralph used to pour a can of beer and have it sitting right in front of him the entire time he was doing his Kiner’s Corner show on WOR-TV in New York, which aired before and after Mets’ games. He wasn’t a great broadcaster, but he was a great guy to listen talk baseball. Ralph, who’s now 86 and, between 1946 and 1955, played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians, was John Madden before there was a Madden. Way underrated, he was relaxed, enjoyed the game and said some really off-the-wall stuff. Lotta fun.

If you could book any person on earth as a guest on your show, who would it be and why?

I’d want a person of great controversy. Someone who’s at once adored and despised for his strong beliefs. I appreciate people who are willing to think differently and create a stir with their ability to deliver a message that isn’t pleasant, though is politically correct. Someone willing to place himself in harm’s way for others, and forsake personal glory for doing it. So that eliminates athletes, politicians, business people and scientists – leaving me with the Dali Lama or the Pope. Each has a name, but has given it up for the perpetuating “theory” of their religion. They represent something that’s based soley on belief, so there’s no science that can persude them. So it would be a gas trying to get some football opinions out of these guys.

As we speak, what are you wearing?

I’m still in my pajamas, just back from a Disney World vacation. (That little rat disguised as a mouse stole all my damn clothes, man!)

What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever done while in the middle of hosting your show?

I cleaned up puke from one of my four kids while on the air. Top that.

To sample BFDFANTASYfootball.com, click here.

To check out The Fantasy Sports Channel, click here.

To read all our SoundBits profiles, click here.

SoundBits: Paul Greco Talks a Great Game

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If the true test of passion in a sportscaster is disrobing live on the air, then Paul Greco takes the cake. But more on that later. In the meantime, what you need to know about Paul is that he’s a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, he’s V.P. of business operations for FantasyPros911, he current- ly makes his home in San Antonio, Tex., and, along with Lenny Melnick, he co-hosts Talking Baseball Live on our Fantasy Sports Channel. Now cue the national anthem – and let’s play ball!

Give us a 15-second pitch for your show – why should listeners tune in?

Lenny and I combine reality with fantasy when discussing baseball. Via our Major League Baseball sources, we offer listeners inside inform- ation about players and coaches. Our audience then can take that info and use it to sort out their fantasy baseball team, or simply gain a better understanding of their favorite team.

CAPTION: Paul (above): Major-league baseball guru.

Paul: Major-league baseball guru.

Tell us two things listeners would be surprised to learn about you?

(1) In 2000, while serving in the Air Force in Turkey, I was ranked as one of the top eleven soccer players in Europe within the military ranks. 2) I once had to spend 14 days in a burn unit gett- ing a skin graph because I spilled turkey juice on my left foot while prepar- ing my Thanksgiving turkey.

Who’s your broadcasting hero?

I have many from the old-time baseball days, like Ernie Harwell, Vince Scully, Marty Brenneman, Harry Kalas and Milo Hamilton.

If you could book any person on earth as a guest on your show, who would it be and why?

I would love to sit down with President Obama. If I had the opportun- ity to talk to him man to man, I’d want to find out what it was like to be on the campaign trail, as well as get details about his inauguration.  I still believe we don’t know everything about the man, so I would love hear some of his stories about his first days in the White House.

As we speak, what are you wearing?

Shorts and a T-shirt.

What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever done while in the middle of hosting your show?

While on camera during our Fantasy Gridiron Show last year, I got all fired up about the topic at hand and stripped down to my underwear.

To sample Talking Baseball Live, which airs Wednesdays @ 8 p.m. ET, click here.

To check out The Fantasy Sports Channel, click here.

To check out FantasyPros911, click here.

To read all our SoundBits profiles, click here.

SoundBits: Pete Williams Gives New Meaning to the Term ‘Flash Player’

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If you hadn’t heard of The Fitness Buff Show before happening upon this edition of SoundBits, rest assured that you won’t be forgetting it anytime soon. Because (far as we know) it’s the only BlogTalkRadio program whose hosts regularly appear au naturel. Their purpose, however, is not to incite lust. Rather, they disrobe in the interest of salubrity – which is to say feeling good, mind and body alike. An avid sportsman, founding host Pete Williams makes his home in Tampa Bay, Fla., whence he and co-host Sabrina Vizzari broadcast each Friday afternoon.

CAPTION: The Pod Squad: Pete and Sabrina (left) with occasional guest Shannon Pankow.

The Pod Squad: Pete with Sabrina (left) and occasional guest Shannon Pankow.

Give us a 15- second pitch for your show – why should listeners tune in?

We’re a fitness and training show with an edge. Our guests, who in- clude celebrities and big-name trainers, offer advice on how to look better, and to perform better in all areas of life.

We’ve also had as a guest adult-film star (and former nurse) Nina Hartley, who wrote a great book titled Nina Hartley’s Guide to Terrific Sex. Other notable guests have included Marilu Henner, Martina Navratilova, Lisa Rinna and Dennis Rodman. And at least once a month, we broadcast poolside from the Caliente Resort & Spa, an upscale nudist resort in the Tampa Bay area. The hosts, our guests, and the audience mem- bers lounging around the pool are, weather permitting, undressed. (Our celebrity guests have joined us by phone.)

Tell us two things listeners would be surprised to learn about you.

I spent eight years covering Major League Baseball for USA Today’s Baseball Weekly (now Sports Weekly) during the peak of the steroid era. I’m also a former weekend TV sports anchor here in the Tampa Bay area, and I still freelance as a sportswriter and broadcaster. I’m also a triathlete, and have authored or co-authored 12 books, all sports- or fitness-related.

CAPTION: Com-Pete-ing in the 2008 Sand Key Triathlon in Clearwater, Fla.

Com-Pete-ing in the 2008 Sand Key Triathlon in Clearwater, Fla.

Who’s your broadcasting hero?

I grew up in the Washington, D.C., area listening to Doug “The Grease- man” Tracht. He’s been a bit contro- versial, but I’ve always marveled at his mastery of “theater of the mind.” No- body does that better.

If you could book any person on earth as a guest on your show, who would it be and why?

I’d like to have a frank conversation about steroids and training with Arnold Schwarzenegger. Even though he’s in politics now, he seems like a guy still willing to talk candidly.

As we speak, what are you wearing?

We’re not at Caliente this week, so I’m dressed. I’m wearing shorts and a T-shirt – the joys of being a self- employed journalist living in Florida.

What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever done while in the middle of hosting your show?

Boy, this is a tough one, given that we occasionally broadcast from a nudist resort. The Caliente has a large lagoon-style pool with a water- fall and an island in the middle. Sabrina likes to wade out to the island with her cell phone and co-host the show from there. Often our guests will join her. I stay back on the pool deck and man the laptop.

To sample The Fitness Buff Show, click here.

To read all our SoundBits profiles, click here.