Episode 299 - John Havlicek: The Original Sixth Man

Mission: Impossible - Albert Belle's Bat, Jim Thorpe's Stripped of Olympic medals, Terrell Owens misquoted Terrell Owens - This DiSH for July 15

In 1994, Chicago manager Gene Lamont questioned the legality of Cleveland's Albert Belle's bat. It set off a wild situation. In 1912, American Jim Thorpe won Gold in the Olympic Decathlon. In 1913, the IOC stripped Thorpe of his Gold medals. In 2022, the IOC finally restored Thorpe's Gold medals to his family and recognized him to be the winner of the 1912 Olympic Pentathlon and Decathlon. In 2006, Terrell Owens claimed he was misquoted in his Autobiography.

The Refusal 1983 — John Elway, the Colts, and the QB Class That Changed Everything"

The crux of this episode revolves around John Elway's unprecedented decision to refuse playing for the Baltimore Colts, thereby instigating one of the most consequential standoffs in NFL draft history. On April 25, 1983, Elway, through his agent, communicated a resolute message to the Colts: he would not don their uniform, opting instead to pursue a career in baseball should they select him. This defiance was rooted in the Colts' tumultuous state, characterized by mismanagement and a lack of stability, which Elway and his family deemed unsuitable for the commencement of his professional career. The episode meticulously explores the implications of Elway's stance, the dynamics of the draft, and the subsequent trade that ultimately reshaped not only his career but also the fortunes of the franchises involved. As we delve into this historical narrative, we illuminate the broader context of the 1983 NFL draft, showcasing its lasting impact on the landscape of professional football. Don't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts. Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't, because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website [https://pigskindispatch.com/]. Do you want more football history? Test your Gridiron Knowledge, we feed you Daily with our new FREE activity, The Pigskin Trivia Drive [https://pigskindispatch.com/OfficialGame/]. Grab a copy of our latest book, "Marooned," [https://amzn.to/4otmwjH]on the 1925 Pottsville Maroons NFL franchise saga. *OR* Grab a copy of our book on Western Pennsylvania football history, "World's Greatest Gridiron Team" [https://amzn.to/4hMWVQm] on the 1903 Franklin All-Stars Drop us a line at PigskinDispatch@gmail .com and check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel. [https://www.youtube.com/@pigskindispatch] Contact us directly at PigskinDispatch@Gmail.com Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website [https://pigskindispatch.com/].

Tim McCoy Executive Director Pennsylvania West State Soccer Association (PA West Soccer) Talks Soccer

Total Sports Recall (TSR) is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear [https://sportshistorynetwork.com/]. TOTAL SPORTS RECALL HOMEPAGE [https://sportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/total-sports-recall] EPISODE SUMMARY Tim McCoy is the Executive Director for Pennsylvania West State Soccer Association (PA West Soccer). He was also a classmate of host Harv Aronson at Slippery Rock University and these two were radio mates at the school’s radio station, WRCK. This interview took place in 2024 but with the World Cup currently down to the semifinals, the topic of this podcast is very relevant. TOTAL SPORTS RECALL BACKGROUND Host Harv Aronson brings you an array of sports history topics recalling great moments and athletes from sports yesteryear. No sport is left alone with an emphasis on football and baseball but there will be reflections on past boxing, mixed martial arts, basketball, golf, and an occasional hockey memory. Harv Aronson has been an established sportswriter with one published book under his wing and brings with him nearly 55 years of sports knowledge and exposure to sports as a fan. With a degree in communications and journalism, Harv will be using his radio voice to entertain listeners with popular stories and events from the past as well as some surprises. Some podcasts will bring interviews with a sports personality and perhaps the opportunity for listeners to join in on the show. HOSTS - HARV ARONSON Harv Aronson was born and raised in Pittsburgh but now lives in Jacksonville, Florida with his beautiful wife Melissa. You can listen to Harv’s Total Sports Recall Podcast [https://totalsportsrecall.captivate.fm/], which is also available on Spotify, iHeart Radio, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. He currently writes for AbstractSports.com, the Sports History Network [https://sportshistorynetwork.com/author/harv-aronson/], and the magazine Gridiron Greats. Harv wrote the published book "Pro Football's Most Passionate Fans" and as a professional writer has had articles published in an array of sports publications. Harv loves all sports but football and baseball are at the top of his interest. His passion is for sports history. Visit Harv’s portfolio at https://www.clippings.me/totalsportsrecall [https://www.clippings.me/totalsportsrecall]. You can contact Harv using his official podcast email address which is totalsportsrecall@gmail.com [totalsportsrecall@gmail.com]. You may also reach out to Harv on X using the handle @TotalSportsRecl [https://x.com/TotalSportsRecl]. Leave a voice message for the Total Sports Recall podcast to be aired at a later date. [https://www.speakpipe.com/TotalSportsRecall]

168 - Bert Sproston - Premier League

The name Bert Sproston might not ring a bell to many. But his heroics off the pitch are extraordinary. As we celebrate the 2026 World Cup, there isn't a better time to bring Bert's story to the fore than now. Sproston was a star defender for the English National Team when it paid Berlin a visit in 1938 for an exhibition game against the Germans. As expected, England won the game. But that's not what this story is about. While Sproston made his mark with teams such as Leeds United, Manchester City, and Totenham Hotspur (and a few other clubs as well), perhaps his biggest contribution in life is what he did for a Jewish teenager who approached him in Germany after the English had defeated the host team. Rolf Friedland asked Sproston for help ... to help him escape Berlin and Germany during this turbulent time when Hitler was in the process of building his concentration camps and carrying out atrocities beyond imagination. World War II was beckoning, and Friedland needed a way out. He approached Sproston and the English star obliged and helped Friedland escape Nazi Germany just a few months later. In this very unique episode of Sports' Forgotten Heroes, I discuss all of this with three very special guests, beginning with Jenny Leonard and Fiona Thomas, the sisters of John Leonard who recently had a new book published, "Escape From Berlin, England's Bert Sproston and The Football Refugee." Sadly, Leonard passed away prior to the book being published, but his two sisters carry on his legacy and know the story well. Also joining for this special podcast is Alan Freeman, Rolf's son (Rolf later changed his name to Ralph Freeman, and we discuss why during the podcast). Not only is this story about soccer and heroism, we touch upon the political firestorm surrounding this particular timeframe that included England's goal of not being pulled into the War, and their gesture of offering a salute to Hitler not going over as well as they had hoped.

Episode 299 - John Havlicek: The Original Sixth Man

John Havlicek was the game’s original 6th Man. He defined the concept created by mastermind Red Auerbach. How do you strategically use 6 players in the rotation to keep pressure on the opponent? The NBA now awards a 6th Man Award, but Havlicek embodied the concept. CREDITS Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher MUSIC "Funky Retro Funk [Funk Music]" by MokkaMusic "Horizons" by Roa SPORTS HISTORY NETWORK sportshistorynetwork.com [https://sportshistorynetwork.com/] sportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/ [https://sportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/] FACEBOOK m.facebook.com/Basketball-History-101-103801581493027/ [https://m.facebook.com/Basketball-History-101-103801581493027/] BUSINESS CONTACT bballhistory101@gmail.com [bballhistory101@gmail.com]