Conversations with Sports Fans

Season 5, Episode 35 - Scott Crawford

Our guest in this episode is Scott Crawford, the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame [https://baseballhalloffame.ca/]'s Director of Operations. Scott's been working at the Canadian Hall, which is located in St. Marys, Ontario, for over 20 years. We share our Conversation with him this week in advance of Saturday's Induction Ceremony for the Class of 2026. This year's Class includes Bill Stoneman [https://baseballhalloffame.ca/hall-of-famer/bill-stoneman/], Devon White [https://baseballhalloffame.ca/hall-of-famer/devon-white/], Jim Baba [https://baseballhalloffame.ca/hall-of-famer/jim-baba/], Kate Psota [https://baseballhalloffame.ca/hall-of-famer/kate-psota-2/], Paul Runge [https://baseballhalloffame.ca/hall-of-famer/paul-runge/], and Stubby Clapp [https://baseballhalloffame.ca/hall-of-famer/stubby-clapp-3/]. In addition to providing the lowdown on this sextet, Scott also shares his sports fan journey, what some of his favorite artifacts at the Hall of Fame are, and some stories about one of the Hall's most famous ambassadors, Fergie Jenkins [https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/jenkife01.shtml]. If you’re enjoying Conversations with Sports Fans please consider supporting our work ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://thesportsfanproject.com/support-the-sports-fan-project-get-exclusive-benefits-and-recognition/]. For as little as 99 center a month, generous supporters such as you are able to keep these episodes coming commercial and sponsor free.

Season 5, Episode 34 - Erkki Corpuz

In this episode we revisit Season 5's ongoing series: What's it like being a fan of those college's "so-called" non-revenue or Olympic sports? (Listen to previous installments ⁠here⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/episode/239i6JNT0nymeXTvKVzcbG?si=0R6q6cSoRh-s4qPuY65dTA], ⁠here⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/episode/0ke2LJzXFIvxjQhmy5imtp?si=XpXEzGgDR5yt2dgJzZCCCw], and here [https://open.spotify.com/episode/0pNc8a5GwlBCcrLRKY40q9?si=cDc-EG0ARnmPJLSv6PkyVQ].) In this episode we're joined by Erkki Corpuz, a big fan of UCLA's Beach Volleyball Program [https://uclabruins.com/sports/womens-beach-volleyball] that recently won its third NC National Championship [https://www.ncaa.com/brackets/beach-volleyball/nc/2026] in Gulf Shores, AL. Alas, due to his work schedule, Erkki was unable to travel to Gulf Shores for the finale, but he's regularly in attendance at home matches and, in fact, shoots photos of the team for the Bruin Report Online [https://www.on3.com/sites/bruin-report-online/]. Erkki not only shares recollections about his journey to sports fandom (Hint: It began with the Showtime Lakers [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Showtime_Lakers]), but he also is kind enough to help bring us up to speed on what collegiate Beach Volleyball is all about and how it differs from what casual fans might see every four years during the Summer Olympics. If you’re enjoying Conversations with Sports Fans please consider supporting our work ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://thesportsfanproject.com/support-the-sports-fan-project-get-exclusive-benefits-and-recognition/]. For as little as 99 center a month, generous supporters such as you are able to keep these episodes coming commercial and sponsor free.

Season 5, Episode 33 - Conversations' Fourth Birthday Bonanza

As Conversations with Sports Fans celebrates its fourth birthday (here's that first episode from June 9, 2022 [https://open.spotify.com/episode/5ch4KAuhmXSFbjD864BmHP?si=Sr1ebjHWSqma8lge8Rb7vA]) we decided to get a group of former guests together to talk about being a sports fan in the Year 2026. The results are this episode. Much has changed - as expected - during our lives as fans and our panel spends time reflecting on those changes, the fractured sports media landscape, the escalating cost of being a fan (both at home and in an arena), the ubiquitousness of sports gambling, the emerging popularity of women's sports, and myriad other digressions along the way. The Panelists with Prior Appearance Links * Jerry Hill - S1E2 [https://open.spotify.com/episode/3Lpjc9wsrAtiasZQByA6lt?si=deaGQU4TTTS1_XO2ow-QcQ], S3E26 [https://open.spotify.com/episode/0pS64Gy2d3eaJvmiqAXu3Q?si=KPDOCcxZTF-ghFbBly5X5Q], S3E27 [https://open.spotify.com/episode/7kYavCdhyTBbBwUExlcUz6?si=9gsY-pCPRR26jiiDlzBSbQ], S3E41 [https://open.spotify.com/episode/0eTvlWMMivwldgYxvL76dT?si=F7cUpjC1Qw-jV0qBq7UHxg], S4E8 [https://open.spotify.com/episode/3OclySrMod5vZWsNBX39Xt?si=p2D0Zf-cQaevmzD8hEATUg], S4E10 [https://open.spotify.com/episode/4KRDqMKX1qIM9rtGNkNL3A?si=JgyVMB2VSqqdTlt3yJ6-Eg], S4E36 [https://open.spotify.com/episode/5TWuDUk2xOgeiQJp1XiKdf?si=S5HiIUZFQ--dz4wfNopqyw], S4E72 [https://open.spotify.com/episode/7BLIaEGwxitDNPzzjuZwLw?si=1Bm0JVlSTDOeF1Xp_sitOw], & S5E24 [https://open.spotify.com/episode/4uHq4Bhyl6rIH87nQjO7mq?si=3tzzYHdpQZChCJwv22trqw] * Dave Holzman - S1E32 [https://open.spotify.com/episode/3SQjhHsofgVc9AI5QQ4PqD?si=j-6xxDaFT_-PuzdR3DGexA] * Stephen Miller - S4E20 [https://open.spotify.com/episode/1qr0m8AKPfgYcZmG68JRaY?si=pvsPML2aSFyy7t3xSYK0Pg], S4E24 [https://open.spotify.com/episode/2j3LDtxUByMfyOvx2RRjA4?si=8xVSS4_oSy6HkNeBSmvNhg], S4E27 [https://open.spotify.com/episode/3w4jbaNTnQHEePzmLZsc6w?si=QMUm2o8RS_SNIQg7QQ7x6w], & S4E72 [https://open.spotify.com/episode/7BLIaEGwxitDNPzzjuZwLw?si=1Bm0JVlSTDOeF1Xp_sitOw] * Michael O'Connell Jr. - S3E18 [https://open.spotify.com/episode/22QQ4jtXjVWXc1LWmm6bY5?si=snftMUR2RPORue-L30C_7Q], S4E6 [https://open.spotify.com/episode/0Y83UcBz3OBjKx6BInl6jC?si=EQr0y7-vTpeNISh2EATemQ], & S4E72 [https://open.spotify.com/episode/7BLIaEGwxitDNPzzjuZwLw?si=1Bm0JVlSTDOeF1Xp_sitOw] * Tim Parker - S1E3 [https://open.spotify.com/episode/03Y7Sj5K5OamymuN932ecD?si=AnDPw-MqSg-yeoK8Z3HwoA], S3E30 [https://open.spotify.com/episode/43rnIQky3L6LmMRf7NFNQE?si=1laG-NMQRqaOFn0wEg7muQ], S4E24 [https://open.spotify.com/episode/2j3LDtxUByMfyOvx2RRjA4?si=8xVSS4_oSy6HkNeBSmvNhg], S4E27 [https://open.spotify.com/episode/3w4jbaNTnQHEePzmLZsc6w?si=QMUm2o8RS_SNIQg7QQ7x6w], & S4E53 [https://open.spotify.com/episode/0oZri3OjK8fqzJBS1ScaT9?si=ByMfwcZyRGKimO6hkUbx0Q] If you’re enjoying Conversations with Sports Fans please consider supporting our work ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://thesportsfanproject.com/support-the-sports-fan-project-get-exclusive-benefits-and-recognition/]. For as little as 99 center a month, generous supporters such as you are able to keep these episodes coming commercial and sponsor free.

Season 5, Episode 32 - Kim Fox

Our guest in this episode is Pittsburgh-area artist Kim Fox [https://www.workerbird.com/]. Sports fans may not be readily familiar with Kim's name, but they are most-assuredly familiar with some of her recent artistic creations. Kim was commissioned by the NFL [https://www.nfl.com/] to create the logos of all 32 of its teams that adorned the lengthy corridor each 2026 NFL draftees walked down from the green room to the stage where they were greeted by Commissioner Roger Goodell [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Goodell]. Kim compiled video footage of each draftee that stopped to acknowledge his new team's logo during the walk. You're able to view that video here [https://www.instagram.com/p/DXxuYzBMwI8/] on her Instagram account. Beyond plenty of logo creation discussion - wait until you learn how many nails she used! - Kim also shares how important sports are to her, how she missed some of its communal nature when her family moved to Florida while she was younger, and how returning to western Pennsylvania later in life rekindled that love and allowed her to once again experience that feeling of togetherness that being a fan can bring. Listeners might also be interested to learn that Kim has no idea what became of her Draft Day creations, so if you're a fan of an NFL team keep your eyes peeled for them and let her know you spotted one them in the wild. * You're able to follow Kim at her Instagram: @workerbird [https://www.instagram.com/workerbird/] * Her website (workerbird.com [https://www.workerbird.com/]) includes this dedicated page [https://www.workerbird.com/nfldraft] detailing her NFL Draft project as well as this online store [https://www.workerbird.com/shop] where you're able to support her work. If you’re enjoying Conversations with Sports Fans please consider supporting our work ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ [https://thesportsfanproject.com/support-the-sports-fan-project-get-exclusive-benefits-and-recognition/]. For as little as 99 center a month, generous supporters such as you are able to keep these episodes coming commercial and sponsor free.

Season 5, Episode 31 - Mark Armour

Our guest in this episode, Mark Armour [https://marklaurencearmour.wordpress.com/], will likely need no introduction to discerning baseball fans. A native New Englander who's now retired in the Pacific Northwest, Mark vividly recalls becoming consumed by baseball during his adolescent years, incessantly reading everything he could get his hands on about the sport. Just as vividly, Mark remembers 1982 as the year he happened upon noted baseball historian, author, and statistician, Bill James [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_James] and his annual eponymous publication The Bill James Baseball Abstract [https://www.amazon.com/Bill-James-Historical-Baseball-Abstract/dp/0743227220]. Shortly thereafter, Mark joined the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) [https://sabr.org/] where he admits to being merely a consumer of its collective work for many years. Mark had his first work published by SABR in the late 1990s and he's been rather prolific ever since and has even served as the President of SABR's Board of Directors. Along the way, he founded and served as chair of the SABR Biography Project Committee [https://sabr.org/bioproject] which aims to write a biography of every Major Leaguer in its history (and has authored over 70 such bios). These days, his "Satchel Paige Project" [https://marklaurencearmour.wordpress.com/2084-2/] keeps him busy as he attempts to document every game Paige played. He's at over 2,000 and counting at the moment! More works by Mark: * Intentional Balk [https://intentionalbalkbook.com/] - About the fine line between cheating and innovation. Co-authored with Daniel R. Levitt. * In Pursuit of Pennants [https://marklaurencearmour.wordpress.com/in-pursuit-of-pennants/] - About strategies franchises use to succeeed. Also co-authored with Levitt. * The Great Eight [https://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/nebraska-paperback/9780803245860/the-great-eight/] - About the 1975 Cincinnati Reds. If you’re enjoying Conversations with Sports Fans please consider supporting our work ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ [https://thesportsfanproject.com/support-the-sports-fan-project-get-exclusive-benefits-and-recognition/]. For as little as 99 center a month, generous supporters such as you are able to keep these episodes coming commercial and sponsor free.