Longtime Canadian sports media personality Mark Hebscher is this episode of Conversations' guest.

A native of Toronto, "Hebsy" as most Canadians' know him, has been a part of the sports media landscape north of the U.S. border for the better part of 45 years.

The longtime co-anchor of Sportsline on Canada's Global Television Network, Mark interviewed and worked with some of sports and entertainment's biggest stars.

In 2025 he authored his second book, Madness: The Rise and Ruin of Sports Media, that takes a critical - and often times humorous - look at the sports media world and how it differs now (and not necessarily for the better) compared to when he broke into the business going on a half century ago.

During our Conversation with Mark, we learn about how growing up in Toronto afforded him the unique opportunity to learn about both American and Canadian sports - and, most importantly, their broadcasters - simultaneously, some of the tales he shares in Madness, and his theory on the case for why sports media is heading in the wrong direction.

You're able to find Mark on Substack chiming in on the world of sports when it moves him at this link.

If listeners would like a signed copy of Mark's book, he's happy to do that for you, simply email him at [email protected] to make arrangements.

In the meantime, we have a signed copy that will be given to one lucky listener who submits their name and interest to us at [email protected] by 11:59 p.m. EST on February 8, 2026.

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The athletic directors from Calvin University, Dr. Jim Timmer Jr., and Hope College, Tim Schoonveld, join the Conversation in this bonus episode to discuss the longstanding rivalry between these two NCAA Division III schools located a mere 35 miles apart on the west side of Michigan.

Known simply as, "The Rivalry," Saturday's men's basketball game will the 217th meeting dating back to the 1920-21 season between the two schools. Hope leads the all-time series 111-105, but Calvin has won the past three matchups and leads the series' overall scoring total - by one single point! - 14,637-14,636.

Along the way, The Rivalry has been profiled in this New York Times feature a decade ago and was rated among the top 5 all-time college basketball rivalries by ESPN earlier this century, trailing only Duke/North Carolina, UConn/Tennessee (women), and Kentucky/Louisville.

Converations' host, Doug Hill, plans to attend Saturday's playing of The Rivalry as the next event on his Around the World in 80 Sporting Events journey.

Despite an always intense, and usually competitive, matchup on the field of play (no matter the sport), the two schools also have a mutual admiration and respect for each other and - often times - feature student-athletes who grew up playing together before going their separate ways to college.

Jim and Tim provide us with a terrific overview of this storied rivalry.

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A self-proclaimed cricket tragic, Nikhil Kulkarni, joins this episode.

What's a cricket tragic, you ask? Well, the short answer is "an extremely passionate, almost obsessive fan of (the sport of)cricket."

Nikhil fits the bill!

Born in India and currently living and working in Australia, Nikhil spent the better part of three weeks during December 2024 and January 2025 attending three cricket test matches (which can last five days in many cases) in Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney, watching India take on Australia as part of the bilateral Border-Gavaskar Trophy matches. Australia won the trophy in this installment, winning three tests while dropping one and drawing another.

From Nikhil's experience traveling to the three cities to watch the two rivals was borne his debut book, My Summer of Cricket: Three tests, one fan, and decades of stories, a memoir of sorts that simultaneously chronicles his life as a fan and his experiences during his time in the stands during the summer of 2024-25.

During our Conversation, Nikhil discusses learning the sport via radio broadcasts during his youth in India, what the logistics were like planning his travels around Australia, and what he took away from the experience.

Oh, yeah, since Conversations' host, Doug Hill, is not yet a fully functional cricket fan (let alone a tragic!), Nikhil exhibits tremendous patience in explaining some cricket basics to Doug and the listeners.

If you're enjoying Conversations with Sports Fans please consider supporting our work ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠he⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠e⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For as little as 99 cents a month, generous supporters such as you are able to keep these episodes coming commercial and sponsor free.

In this episode we're rejoined by Al Pickett, a well-traveled and long-time sports journalist who's been a fixture on the West Texas sports scene in Abilene for decades.

Al first joined Conversations during a special bonus episode (S:3, E:54) in conjunction with host Doug Hill's Around the World in 80 Sporting Events visit to Texas to experience football at all three levels in one epic weekend.

Today we speak with Al about his latest book, It Must Be a Big Game: 50 Years of Covering Sports. This is his sixth published work and the first that's pseudo-autobiographical as he takes readers along to many of the memorable events he's covered through the years. The book also includes brief bios of all 251 inductees to The Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame, of which Al serves as the Chairman.

Other books by Al:

• The Greatest Texas Sports Stories You've Never Heard
• Wishbone Wisdom: Emory Bellard - Texas Football Visionary
• Team of the Century: The Greatest High School Football Team in Texas
• Mighty, Mighty Matadors: Estacado High School, Integration, and a Championship Season
• Brother's Keeper: The Story of the 2009 Abilene High State Championship

Want to Win a Signed Copy?

• If you'd like to enter a drawing to win a signed copy of Al's latest, It Must be a Big Game, pass along your name and email address to [email protected] by 11:59 p.m. EST Sunday, January 25. I'll conduct a random drawing from all entrants and get it out post-haste.
• Or, if you'd prefer to support Al, email him directly at [email protected] to get a personalized copy (or half dozen!) shipped directly to you.

If you're enjoying Conversations with Sports Fans please consider supporting our work ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠he⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠e⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For as little as 99 cents a month, generous supporters such as you are able to keep these episodes coming commercial and sponsor free.

We're joined in this episode by Tim Thrasher, the immediate past-Superintendent of Washington's Cedar Creek Corrections Center in Little Rock, WA. (Since this recording, Tim has started his new role as lead investigator at the Oregon Youth Authority.)

In addition to discussing Tim's sports fandom, which includes not only Washington's professional sports teams but also some lingering fondness for the Washington Commanders and Atlanta Braves thanks to being an Army Brat, we'll also discuss his love of golf and the unique program he institued at Cedar Creek back in 2022.

You see, at this minimum security men's corrections' center, there is a golf program for those who are fortunate enough to make it off the waiting list and onto the tee sheet, as it were.

Like most programs at Cedar Creek, learning the game of golf is designed to introduce a life skill to the inmates and help prevent recidivism. Tim also shares what his vision of a corrections center is and how learning a new leisure activity such as golf fits that model.

A few links to check out:

• The GOLF.com article by author Nick Piastowski that first brought Tim's program to a wider audience;
• The accompanying video from Piastowski's visit to Cedar Creek;
• The Netflix series, Full Swing, that Tim references;
• Professional golfer and 1-time inmate, Ryan Peake, who is also referenced.

If you're enjoying Conversations with Sports Fans please consider supporting our work ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠he⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠e⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For as little as 99 cents a month, generous supporters such as you are able to keep these episodes coming commercial and sponsor free.

(Note: This is an archived episode of Conversations with Sports Fans that was originally published as Season 3, Episode 71 on December 26, 2024. Yes, we know we need to acknowledge the fact that the Indiana Hoosiers are playing in the Rose Bowl against the Alabama Crimson Tide; there, we just did!)

As we're now inside a week from the playing of the 2025 Rose Bowl between Oregon and Ohio State, we're delighted to be joined in this episode by ⁠⁠Brian Brantley⁠⁠, the Vice-President for Advancement at the ⁠⁠Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation⁠⁠.

A native of the Philadelphia area, Brian has spent the better part of his working life with either professional sports franchises or college athletic programs ranging from the Baltimore Orioles to the Memphis University to the Harlem Globetrotters. He's been with the Rose Bowl's Legacy Foundation for eight years.

During our time with Brian we discuss some of the challenges and triumphs he's faced working in athletics as well as the Foundation's latest goal, it's ⁠⁠Lasting Legacy Campaign⁠⁠, and how fans of the iconic stadium can lend their support.

We also learn about the five statues that now adorn various places around the exterior of the Rose Bowl as well as its unique place in American history. Do you know which four U.S. football stadiums have (and continue to retain) National Historic Landmark status by the National Park Service? If you don't Brian will clue you in.

If you're enjoying Conversations with Sports Fans please consider supporting our work ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠he⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠e⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For as little as 99 cents a month, generous supporters such as you are able to keep these episodes coming commercial and sponsor free.

As Season 4 of Conversations with Sports Fans comes to a close, we decided to invite some of our long-time supporters to join us in a special year end episode. Unsure what to name it, we're going with the longest titles we could think of:

• The End of the Year Cavalcade of Stars Special

The premise was straightforward, we contacted all of our supporters (see this link for how to support for as little as 99 cents per month) to see if they'd like to join for some end of the year fun and consider one of these three questions:

• What was the best thing you witnessed in 2025?
• What are you looking forward to in 2026?
• If you had the power to change sports to improve the sport/fan experience, what would it be?

We had five supporters who were kind enough to say yes to this year-end celebration.

• Mike O'Connell Jr. leads us off to discuss his 2025 highlight (check out all of Mike's work - including his two books referenced - at this link);
• Jerry Hill follows with his thoughts on 2026;
• As does Stephen Miller;
• Geoff Larcom offers a blend of what he'd like to see happen in 2026 as well as how it occurring would be good for the sporting world;
• Dr. Klint Pleasant, head men's basketball coach at Rochester Christian University, closes things out with some changes to college sports he'd love to see occur.

If you're enjoying Conversations with Sports Fans please consider supporting our work ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠he⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠e⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For as little as 99 cents a month, generous supporters such as you are able to keep these episodes coming commercial and sponsor free.

(Note: This is an archived episode of Conversations with Sports Fans that was originally published as Season 3, Episode 70 on December 19, 2024.)

We're delighted to be joined in this episode by ⁠Savannah Bananas⁠ co-founder and co-owner, Emily Cole.

The sibling of three athletic brothers in a sports-minded family during her childhood in upstate New York, Emily's involvement in professional sports entertainment seemed destined. Accept, she says, it wasn't until working her first "big girl job" in the corporate world that she realized what she didn't want to do.

During our time with Emily she shares tales of working for several Minor League Baseball franchises, how she and Jesse Cole (her husband and Bananas co-founder) first met, and how a trip to Savannah, GA, and a visit to its historic ⁠Grayson Stadium⁠ during their wedding celebration planted a seed that's since blossomed into what the Bananas have become.

The Bananas mantra - "Fans First, Entertain Always" - plays out in whatever venue one of the now four barnstorming squads (the ⁠Bananas⁠, the ⁠Party Animals⁠, the ⁠Firefighters⁠, and the ⁠Texas Tailgaters⁠ [new for 2025]) plays in - including a recently completed ⁠"Bananaland at Sea"⁠ cruise.

Emily also discusses the Savannah Bananas 501(c)(3) non-profit, ⁠Bananas Foster⁠, which aims to celebrate the foster care community, while simultaneously educating and inspiring others to get involved and make a difference in the lives of children and their families.

You're able to keep tabs on all things Bananas via their various social media channels:

• ⁠Facebook⁠
• ⁠Instagram⁠
• ⁠Threads⁠
• ⁠TikTok⁠
• ⁠X/Twitter⁠
• ⁠YouTube⁠
• ⁠BlueSky⁠

If you're enjoying Conversations with Sports Fans please consider supporting our work ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠he⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠e⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For as little as 99 cents a month, generous supporters such as you are able to keep these episodes coming commercial and sponsor free.

Our guests in this episode are Jill Jaracz and Alison Brown, the founders of the website and podcast, "Keep the Flame Alive."

As the title alludes to, Jill and Alison aim to keep the Olympic spirit alive and well in as many people as possible between those pair of fortnights when the cauldron is lit during an Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Former co-workers who happened upon their mutual love for the Olympics a bit by happenstance, the pair began earnestly discussing beginning a project like Keep the Flame Alive back in 2017. They ultimately launched in September of that year and have been steadily growing and spreading their wings ever since.

In fact, they became an accredited media outlet prior to the 2022 Beijing Winter Games and Jill attended those, while both attended the 2024 Paris Summer Games as they will for the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Games.

During our time with Jill and Alison we talk about it all: the trials of starting out, the lessons learned, the craziness of attempting to create a podcast each day of the competitions, some of the wild stories as well as some of the heartwarming ones, and, of course, how you can follow along with them. (Hint: Either at their website and/or by joining their Facebook group.

A few of the past Keep the Flame Alive Podcast episodes referenced during our Conversation:

• Dick Pound, a Canadian swimming champion and Olympian, who's also a past International Olympic Committee Vice-President and the first president of the World Anti-Doping Agency - Interviews Part 1 and Part 2.
• Terrence Burns who is the Chairman and CEO of the Terrence Burns Sports Group that is heavily involved in consulting roles for marketing, sponsorships, and bidding for Olympic Games and World Cups. He's a 3-time guest appearing here (about the evolution of sponsorship), here (discussing the bidding process), and here (about the future of Olympic branding).
• The 1968 Mexico City Summer Games episode with Games of Discontent author Harry Blutstein discussing the myriad protests that occurred during those games, including Czechoslovakian female gymnast Vera Caslavska, American female sprinter Wyomia Tyus, and the more known American male sprinters John Carlos and Tommie Smith.

If you're enjoying Conversations with Sports Fans please consider supporting our work ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠he⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠e⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For as little as 99 cents a month, generous supporters such as you are able to keep these episodes coming commercial and sponsor free.

We're joined in this bonus episode by North Dakota State University's Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Operations and Strategic Revenue, Troy Goergen.

We spoke with Troy in advance of Event No. 31 of the Around the World in 80 Sporting Events project that took host Doug Hill to Fargo for a NDSU football game in the Fargodome against the University of Northern Iowa.

During this Conversation, Troy shares what makes North Dakota State and greater-Fargo such a special place and helps us understand why this seemingly remote corner of the United States has become such a college football power (this season's shocking playoff exit aside).

If you're enjoying Conversations with Sports Fans please consider supporting our work ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠he⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠e⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For as little as 99 cents a month, generous supporters such as you are able to keep these episodes coming commercial and sponsor free.