Sports Byline Classics
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Erica Westly
by Ron Barr
read by Ron Barr
Part of the Sports Byline Classics series
Author Erica Westly's work has been featured in the New York Times, Slate, the New Republic and many more. She wrote Fastpitch: The Untold History of Softball and Women Who Made the Game, which was a finalist for the 2017 PEN/ESPN Award for Literary Sports. She discusses the rise of women's softball and the key figures that elevated the game.
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Armen Keteyian
by Ron Barr
read by Ron Barr
Part of the Sports Byline Classics series
Armen Keteyian worked for CBS Sports as an NFL sideline reporter, as a featured correspondent for HBO's Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, and with ABC News. Here, he discusses how he got his start in sports journalism, his transition from writing to TV, and his book Money Players: Days and Nights Inside the New NBA.
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Tony Granato
by Ron Barr
read by Ron Barr
Part of the Sports Byline Classics series
Tony Granato played 13 seasons in the NHL, including a trip to the Stanley Cup while with the Los Angeles Kings. After his playing career, Granato coached the Colorado Avalanche. He's now the head coach at the University of Wisconsin. In this interview, he discusses his return to college hockey and the changes to the college game in recent years.
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Curt Menefee
by Ron Barr
read by Ron Barr
Part of the Sports Byline Classics series
Curt Menefee is the host of FOX NFL Sunday. He began calling NFL games in the late 90's and before that hosted a show on Texas Sports Radio. Menefee also offered commentary for boxing and MMA. He discusses his broadcast journey and his book Losing Isn't Everything: The Untold Stories and Hidden Lessons Behind the Toughest Losses in Sports History.
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Tommy Heinsohn
by Ron Barr
read by Ron Barr
Part of the Sports Byline Classics series
Tommy Heinsohn is Boston Celtics' royalty as a player, coach and broadcaster. He has the distinction of being part of all 17 of the Celtics' championships, including eight as a player and two as a coach. He's a member of the NBA Hall of Fame and his #15 jersey is retired. He does color commentary for the Celtics TV coverage. He discusses his college career, NBA draft changes and his career as a coach, player and commentator.
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Gilbert Black
by Ron Barr
read by Ron Barr, Gilbert Black
Part of the Sports Byline Classics series
One of the last living Negro American League players, Gilbert Black of the Indianapolis Clowns talks about growing up in NYC and sneaking into the Polo Grounds to watch baseball games as a child.
Black recalls the segregation and discrimination he and other black baseball players faced in the major leagues, including being made to sleep outside on a porch at training camp with the Atlanta Braves.
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Cam Perron
by Ron Barr
read by Ron Barr, Cam Perron
Part of the Sports Byline Classics series
In this Sports Byline interview, Ron Barr talks to Cam Perron, who developed an interest in the Negro League baseball players when he was just 12 years old. Perron has since been chronicling his research on the players and the league, and was featured on HBO's Real Sports. Perron shares stories from the Negro League players he's become close with in his research and gives insight into this overlooked part of baseball history.
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Dave Kaval
by Ron Barr
read by Ron Barr, Dave Kaval
Part of the Sports Byline Classics series
Dave Kaval, president of the Oakland A's and founder of the independent Golden Baseball League, talks about his mission to get a new stadium built in Oakland, as well as how he took inspiration from Steve Jobs to start the Golden Baseball League. Kaval gives insight on the Cleveland sports fan mentality, growing up in Cleveland and going to Municipal Stadium and the intimacy of being a Cleveland sports fan in the 80s.
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Erik Malinowski
by Ron Barr
read by Ron Barr, Erik Malinowski
Part of the Sports Byline Classics series
Erik Malinowski, author of the insightful book about how the Golden State Warriors utilize technology and analytics in basketball, Betaball: How Silicon Valley and Science Built One of the Greatest Basketball Teams in History, talks about what it takes to compete in the modern NBA.
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Jon Kingdon
by Ron Barr
read by Ron Barr, Jon Kingdon
Part of the Sports Byline Classics series
Jon Kingdon started as an intern for controversial Raiders coach and owner Al Davis, and eventually became one of Davis's confidants.
Kingdon recalls memories from working closely with Davis including his run ins with various players, his stretching of the rules and more from the book he co-wrote, Al Davis: Behind the Raiders Shield: Untold Stories from Longtime Davis Confidants.
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Shirley Babashoff
by Ron Barr
read by Ron Barr
Part of the Sports Byline Classics series
Shirley Babashoff owns 8 Olympic swimming medals and has a part in 39 national records. Widely regarded as one of the best female swimmers of all time, she received the Olympic Order and was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame. She discusses her book, Making Waves: My Journey to Winning Olympic Gold and Defeating the East German Doping Program, her Olympic experiences, and how her childhood affected her career.
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Andy Zlotnick
by Ron Barr
read by Ron Barr
Part of the Sports Byline Classics series
Andy Zlotnick is a baseball fan who was struck in the eye by a foul ball at Yankee Stadium. During a rainy game, umbrellas limited visibility, and Zlotnick couldn't see the ball. After sustaining a major eye injury, he met with a Yankees executive to discuss his medical bills and the umbrella policy at Yankees Stadium. He claims he was refuted. In this interview, Zlotnick tells his story and his fight for policy changes.
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Apolo Ohno
by Ron Barr
read by Ron Barr
Part of the Sports Byline Classics series
Apolo Ohno is an eight-time medalist in the Winter Olympics and the 2017 champion of the hit TV show Dancing With The Stars. As the face of short-track skating, he became the youngest U.S. national champion at 14 and was the reigning champion 12 times. This Sports Byline Classic from 2016 examines his career.
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Buz McKim
by Ron Barr
read by Ron Barr, Buz McKim
Part of the Sports Byline Classics series
Buz McKim, NASCAR Hall of Fame historian, NASCAR sign painter, and author talks about growing up in racing culture and how he ended up designing the paint jobs of two Daytona 500 winners. McKim explains the process of finding interesting pieces for the NASCAR Hall of Fame, and some of the exhibits he's worked on.
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Brittney Griner
by Ron Barr
read by Ron Barr
Part of the Sports Byline Classics series
WNBA Center Brittney Griner has had an impressive career, including being only the second NCAA basketball player to score 2,000 points and block 500 shots. She played on the USA Women's Olympic Team and the McDonald's All-American Team. She discusses growing up in Houston, being bullied in her younger years and how basketball helped her to move past it.
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David Vobora
by Ron Barr
read by Ron Barr, David Vobora
Part of the Sports Byline Classics series
David Vobora, a former NFL linebacker who played 4 seasons with the Rams & Seahawks, talks about drawing motivation from being the last pick of the 2008 draft and forming the Adaptive Training Foundation for physically impaired athletes and veterans. Vobora discusses how he overcame his struggles with opioid addiction and found a new purpose after the NFL helping others restore their confidence and find hope.
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Paul Beston
by Ron Barr
read by Ron Barr, Paul Beston
Part of the Sports Byline Classics series
Paul Beston, author of The Boxing Kings: When American Heavyweights Ruled the Ring talks about his book and the history of America's fascination with heavyweight champs.
His book focuses on the history of boxing in America through the careers of John L. Sullivan, Jack Johnson, Jack Dempsey, Joe Lewis, Rocky Marciano, Mohamad Ali and Mike Tyson; iconic figures that had the ability to appeal to people beyond the ring.
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Steve Spurrier
by Ron Barr
read by Ron Barr
Part of the Sports Byline Classics series
College Football Hall of Famer Steve Spurrier is the only person to win both the Heisman Trophy and the NCAA FBS Championship as a coach. Spurrier played for nearly a decade in the NFL before returning to college football, where he became the winningest head coach at both Florida and the South Carolina. He talks about his book, Head Ball Coach: My Life in Football, Doing it Differently — and Winning, his playing career and his road to becoming a head coach.
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Eric Lindros
by Ron Barr
read by Ron Barr
Part of the Sports Byline Classics series
Eric Lindros played 13 seasons in the NHL, where he was a Hart Memorial Trophy winner and a 7-time all-star. Lindros is a member of the 2016 Hockey Hall of Fame class and his #88 jersey is retired by the Philadelphia Flyers. Lindros discusses his NHL career and how the game style is different today.
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John Amaechi
by Ron Barr
read by Ron Barr
Part of the Sports Byline Classics series
John Amaechi is a retired NBA basketball player and the first former NBA player to publicly come out. Amaechi is regarded as "one of the world's most high-profile gay athletes." Since his playing career, Amaechi has broadcast NBA games in England and owns a consulting company. Amaechi discusses his journey from the UK to high school in Toledo, Ohio, coming out and his basketball career.
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Pierre Turgeon
by Ron Barr
read by Ron Barr, Pierre Turgeon
Part of the Sports Byline Classics series
In this interview, Ron Barr talks to Pierre Turgeon, 19 season NHL center and the 34th player in NHL history to score 500 goals.
Turgeon reminisces about growing up 7 hours north of Montreal, learning English, and Canada's 1987 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships bench-clearing brawl with the Soviet Union.
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Jerome Williams
by Ron Barr
read by Ron Barr, Jerome Williams
Part of the Sports Byline Classics series
Jerome Williams, former NBA forward who played for Detroit, Toronto, Chicago and the New York Knicks talks about the importance of academics for kids in sports, and the weight that was placed on basketball as a kid growing up in the Washington D.C. area.
Williams talks about starting his college basketball career at Georgetown, what it was like to play at Madison Square Garden, and touches on the Chicago Bulls vs. Detroit Pistons rivalry.
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Lynn Swann
by Ron Barr
read by Ron Barr
Part of the Sports Byline Classics series
Hall of Famer Lynn Swann won 4 Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers and was selected to 2 Pro Bowls. Swann also served as the chairperson of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition. Swann returned to his Alma Mater USC and became the athletic director. Swann discusses his career with the Steelers, what drew him to USC and what has changed since he returned.
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Terry Porter
by Ron Barr
read by Ron Barr
Part of the Sports Byline Classics series
Terry Porter played 17 years in the NBA including 10 years for the Portland Trailblazers. Porter earned two all-star selections and had his #30 retired by the Trailblazers. The former first round pick is now the head basketball coach at the University of Portland. Porter talks about growing up in Milwaukee, playing for Dick Bennett and his NBA career.
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Andrea Kramer
by Ron Barr
read by Ron Barr, Andrea Kramer
Part of the Sports Byline Classics series
Andrea Kramer talks about her HBO's Real Sports piece on the state of legalization of sports gambling. Legal sports betting is an estimated 5 billion dollar industry, while illegal sports betting in the rest of the country has an estimated 150 billion dollar value. Kramer talks about the fight to legalize sports betting in the state of New Jersey, which would change the climate for sports culture in the rest of the country. Kramer also analyzed the pushback from sports leagues against the legalization of sports betting.
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Dusty Baker
by Ron Barr
read by Ron Barr
Part of the Sports Byline Classics series
3-time NL manager of the year Dusty Baker played 19 years in the major leagues and most recently managed the Washington Nationals to an NL East Championship. In this interview, Baker talks about managing in the majors and his book, Kiss the Sky: My Weekend in Monterey for the Greatest Rock Concert Ever.
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Mike Freeman
by Ron Barr
read by Ron Barr
Part of the Sports Byline Classics series
Mike Freeman is an NFL writer who has written for the New York Times, Washington Post, Boston Globe and many more. Freeman currently writes for Bleacher Report and has written multiple books, including biographies of Bobby Bowden and Jim Brown. In this Sports Byline interview, he discusses his book, Snake: The Legendary Life of Ken Stabler, and how the NFL has changed over the years.
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Shaun Alexander
by Ron Barr
read by Ron Barr
Part of the Sports Byline Classics series
2005 NFL MVP Shaun Alexander played 9 years in the NFL including 8 with the Seahawks. He set the single-season NFL rushing record with 27 touchdowns. He was named to the Pro Bowl three times in his career and was named to the 2000's All-Decade Team. In this interview, he discusses his upbringing in Florence, Kentucky, his college career at Alabama and his pro career in Seattle.
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Otis Wilson
by Ron Barr
read by Ron Barr, Otis Wilson
Part of the Sports Byline Classics series
All-Pro linebacker Otis Wilson of the Chicago Bears talks about his 9 NFL seasons, 8 with the Chicago Bears, and the successes-and pranks-of the famous 1985 Super Bowl winning Bears team, including the filming of the "Super Bowl Shuffle". Wilson is the author of the autobiography If These Walls Could Talk: Chicago Bears.
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Mike Pereira
by Ron Barr
read by Ron Barr
Part of the Sports Byline Classics series
Football rules analyst Mike Pereira serves as an analyst for Fox Sports' NFL and college football coverage. Pereira was a college and NFL official before becoming the vice president of officiating for the NFL. He discusses his book, After Further Review: My Life Including the Infamous, Controversial, and Unforgettable Calls That Changed the NFL. He also talks about the differences between being a college official and an NFL side judge.
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David West
by Ron Barr
read by Ron Barr, David West
Part of the Sports Byline Classics series
David West-a power forward who played 15 years in the NBA with the Warriors, Spurs, Pacers and the Hornets/Pelicans, and won an NBA Championship with the Golden State Warriors-talks about his influential coach, playing college ball for Xavier, and the two instrumental coaches he's played for in the NBA, Gregg Popovich of the Spurs and Steve Kerr of the Warriors.
West touches on how he uses basketball as a medium to reach and influence young people.
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Phil Esposito
by Ron Barr
read by Ron Barr
Part of the Sports Byline Classics series
Hockey Hall of Famer Phil Esposito played 18 years in the NHL. He's widely considered one of the best hockey players of all time, and ranks sixth all time in goals. After his playing career, Esposito was a founder of the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning, where he's still part of the broadcasting team. This interview looks back at his time playing youth hockey, how the game has changed and his playing career.
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Ben Braun
by Ron Barr
read by Ron Barr, Ben Braun
Part of the Sports Byline Classics series
Ben Braun, 37 year college basketball coach of the University of California, Rice, and Eastern Michigan, talks in depth about the recent outbreaks of college basketball scandals being investigated by the FBI involving corruption and bribery. Braun talks about how the corruption has shifted from point shaving and gambling to bribery and taking advantage of players and their families.
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Max Lane
by Ron Barr
read by Ron Barr
Part of the Sports Byline Classics series
Max Lane played 7 seasons as an offensive lineman for the New England Patriots. A 6th round draft pick, Lane made the Patriots' All 1990's team. He talks about his time at the Naval Academy and his playing career in New England.
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Jim Palmer
by Ron Barr
read by Ron Barr
Part of the Sports Byline Classics series
Baseball Hall of Famer Jim Palmer played his entire 19-year career with the Baltimore Orioles, winning three World Series championships and three Cy Young Awards. He remains the youngest pitcher to throw a World Series complete game shutout. After retiring, Palmer became an MLB announcer that includes calling World Series games. He talks about his lengthy playing career and his book, Nine Innings to Success: A Hall of Famer's Approach to Achieving Excellence.
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Carli Lloyd
by Ron Barr
read by Ron Barr
Part of the Sports Byline Classics series
Carli Lloyd is a 2-time Olympic gold medalist with the United States women's national soccer team. She was awarded the 2015 and 2016 FIFA Player of the Year awards and played in 3 FIFA women's World Cups for the United States. She discusses her start in soccer, her book, When Nobody was Watching: My Hard-fought Journey to the Top of the Soccer World, and her career.
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Charley Rosen
by Ron Barr
read by Ron Barr, Charley Rosen
Part of the Sports Byline Classics series
Charley Rosen talks about his book, The Chosen Game: A Jewish Basketball History, in which he discusses the impact the Jewish community had in the early days of basketball starting in lower east side Jewish immigrant neighborhoods of New York City. Rosen talks about the style of gameplay that developed there from the necessity of playing in the streets, and some of the most influential Jewish figures in basketball history.
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Jeff Gordon
by Ron Barr
read by Ron Barr
Part of the Sports Byline Classics series
4-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Jeff Gordon drove for 23 seasons. Considered one of the best drivers of all time, Gordon is third all-time with 93 wins in his career. In this interview, he discusses how he got into racing, his career and his book Jeff Gordon: His Dream, Drive & Destiny.
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Morten Anderson
by Ron Barr
read by Ron Barr, Morten Andersen
Part of the Sports Byline Classics series
Morten Andersen, a Pro Football Hall of Fame place kicker, played for 25 seasons with the Saints, Falcons, Giants, Chiefs and Vikings. He talks about what it takes to be a great athlete over a long period of time.
Andersen-who was born in Denmark-tells how he had never kicked a football until age 17 when he came to America as an exchange student and how it felt to hear he was being inducted into the Hall of Fame.
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Bill Walton
by Ron Barr
read by Ron Barr
Part of the Sports Byline Classics series
NBA Hall of Fame center Bill Walton, one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history, looks back on his incredible career in this 2016 Sports Byline Classic interview. He talks about his New York Times best-seller, Back from the Dead, and how he was able to overcome injuries and physical obstacles to reach basketball greatness.
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Lisa Borders
by Ron Barr
read by Ron Barr
Part of the Sports Byline Classics series
WNBA President Lisa Borders is a former vice president of global community affairs at The Coca Cola Company and was president of the Atlanta City Council. In this Sports Byline, she discusses how the WNBA operates as a business and her experiences in the game.
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Sam Smith
by Ron Barr
read by Ron Barr, Sam Smith
Part of the Sports Byline Classics series
Sam Smith, author of the New York Times best-seller The Jordan Rules talks about his book, Hard Labor: The Battle that Birthed the Billion-Dollar NBA, which details exactly how and why the NBA, and NBA players, make so much money.
Smith explains the significance of the historic Oscar Robertson v. National Basketball Association lawsuit that allowed players free agency for the first time.
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Andre Ward
by Ron Barr
read by Ron Barr
Part of the Sports Byline Classics series
In this Sports Byline Classic interview from 2016, Andre Ward talks about the mental aspect of boxing and his career highlights, including bringing home a gold medal in 2004 and subsequent WBA Super and WBC Super Middleweight title accolades.
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Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton
by Ron Barr
read by Ron Barr, Valerie Faris
Part of the Sports Byline Classics series
In this episode of Sports Byline, Ron Barr talks to the directors of the film Battle of the Sexes, a film based on the historic tennis match of 1973 between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs, starring Steve Carell and Emma Stone.
Directors Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton discuss the technical difficulties of making a great sports movie and the lesser known backstories of King and Riggs.
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Mark Price
by Ron Barr
read by Ron Barr
Part of the Sports Byline Classics series
Mark Price is a 12-year NBA veteran, most noted for his shooting. A member of the Cleveland Cavaliers for nine years, he was a 4-time All-Star and two time 3 Point Shootout Challenge winner. His #25 jersey is retired by both the Cavs and Georgia Tech, his alma mater. Price discusses how the recruiting process has evolved over the years and how style of play has changed the game.
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