Distant Replay

As we get ready for the return of the NCAA Tournament after a one-year hiatus, we picked a game from the first round that featured two teams that are very relevant to this tournament: defending champion Virginia and the current favorite Gonzaga.

The 2001 South Regional matchup between the 5-seed Cavaliers and the 12-seed Bulldogs might seem like just another first round matchup on paper, but it went a long way towards turning the Zags from Cinderella to tournament mainstay. In Mark Few's second season as head coach in Spokane, there were questions about whether he'd be able to continue the program's recent rise. This team advanced to the Elite 8 and Sweet 16 the previous two seasons.

In their way was a battle-tested Virginia squad led by coach Pete Gillen and a backcourt led by Roger Mason and Donald Hand.

Join us as we go back to this 5-12 matchup from 20 years ago. In their episode, we discuss:

• Where Gonzaga is in terms of their program progression
• Gonzaga household names over the years
• The 2001 tournament
• The Pyramid in Memphis was an awesome setting
• Mike's 2001 Final Four experience
• Chris Williams from Birmingham
• The Big Apple on CBS?

We'll talk these things and more on the show.

If you want to see it as it aired on CBS 20 years ago, check out the video here: https://distantreplaypodcast.com/ep-68-2001-ncaa-tourney-first-round-5-virginia-vs-12-gonzaga/

Len Bias is still a household name nearly 25 years after his sudden death in 1986. The ESPN 30 for 30 documentary Without Bias covers the unique impact Bias had to people of all ages both on the basketball court and off of it. We went back to watch the film, which debuted in the first season of the 30 for 30 series, and we'll recap it all on today's episode. Here are some of the things we discuss:

• His rare talent on the court
• The Celtics, Red Auerbach and their pursuit of Len Bias
• What happened the night of his death.
• The resulting investigation
• The impact his death had on legislation regarding the war on drugs
• How acceptable cocaine was in the 80s
• The death of his brother a few years later

For more episodes, visit us online at http://distantreplaypodcast.com

Kellen Winslow II appeared to be on his way to a long and successful NFL career when he left Miami in 2004. While he had a handful of good years, his career is more known for what happened off the field.

Just before we recorded this episode, Winslow was sentenced to 14 years in prison. In this episode, we discuss the crimes that led to his sentencing, a crime resume that spanned 15 years with a variety of charges.

You may know what you have read in headlines about him, but trust us when we say the details will absolutely stun you. Join us on this installment of our True Crime Sports series as we discuss the life and crimes of Kellen Winslow II. For more episodes, visit us online at http://distantreplaypodcast.com

The 1996 Big East Tournament Championship Game between #3 UCONN and #6 Georgetown was the type of matchup that the conference tournament was all about.

Legendary coaches Jim Calhoun and John Thompson and All-American players Allen Iverson and Ray Allen were the headliners, but there were unsung heroes on both sides that performed at a high level in front of the sellout crowd at MSG. On this episode we discuss:

• How great the environment was at Madison Square Garden for this event
• Scalping tickets then and now
• What made this tournament special
• UCONNs team chemistry
• How awesome Iverson and Allen were
• Dickie V
• Calhoun vs. Thompson
• Was this the peak ESPN era?

For more and to watch this game, visit us online: https://distantreplaypodcast.com/ep-67-1996-big-east-tourney-championship-3-uconn-vs-6-georgetown/

The documentary we picked this week comes from the series 'A Football Life' produced by NFL Films and the NFL Network and focuses on Reggie White and Jerome Brown.

These two dominant defensive linemen first met in 1979 at a University of Tennessee football camp - White a coach/counselor and Brown a football player attendee at said camp.

It was the birth of a beautiful friendship which made them a great fit for this documentary, which was the second subject in a series that's now run for nine years and over 100 episodes. The teacher and the pupil touched many people on their football journey and had a dominating period at teammates with he Philadelphia Eagles showcased in this fascinating documentary. On this recap/review we discuss: - Reggie White from USFL to NFL - Jerome Brown, THE U and Army fatigues - Phil Simms & Troy Aikman make appearances - Buddy Ball and the late 80s/early 90s Eagles - Reggie White and the Billy Graham event - Both of them died way to young - Inside their unique relationship You'll that and more today on the show. Make sure to also check us out on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and online here: http://distantreplaypodcast.com If you want to watch this documentary, here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYToUqmgQ8U

Denny McLain was on top of the sports world in 1968. Pitching with the Detroit Tigers, McLain won 31 games and helped lead his team to a World Series title. Along the way, he added the AL MVP and Cy Young to cap off one of the greatest seasons for a pitcher.

But just five years later at the age of 29, he was out of baseball completely.

Today we'll tell you that story involving gambling, bookmaking, and two injured toes.

For more episodes, make sure to visit us online at http://distantreplaypodcast.com

More than 40 years ago, a bunch of college kids from the USA squared off on a sheet of ice in Lake Placid, NY at the 1980 Winter Olympics against a heavily-favored Soviet Union squad.

These two teams played an exhibition just a month earlier that ended in a 10-3 Soviet victory so many didn't give the Americans a chance. But this game that would turn out to be arguably the most important sporting event of the 20th century.

In the moment when it was happening though, the powers that be at the Olympic Games didn't even deem it worthy of a primetime TV slot so much of the country saw the game on tape delay. If there was any game worth the wait it was this one, and it was awesome to go back and watch for the podcast. Join us as we take you back to that historic night in New York. On this episode we discuss:

• The dominance of the Soviets leading up to this matchup
• Al Michaels and his iconic performance behind the mic
• The final round format for medals
• Periods or quarters?
• Jim Craig is a beast
• Why did the USSR coach bench his all-world goalie?
• Ticket prices for the big game
• The strange Olympic hockey format that has led to a lot of confusion over the years
• Herb Brooks
• Why the game was tape-delayed

We'll talk this and much more on the show. If you want to see it as it aired on ABC that night in 1980, check out our website here: https://distantreplaypodcast.com/ep-66-1980-olympic-hockey-team-usa-vs-soviet-union/

In 2011, ESPN produced a series called The Year of the QB.

One of the installments of that series was 'The Brady 6' and it gave one of the better under-the-hood perspectives of Tom Brady's career. Specifically, the pre-draft and NFL Draft process before he became a member of the New England Patriots was phenomenal . It provided a look at his early career path that led to becoming the starter after the Mo Lewis hit on Drew Bledsoe changed the entire trajectory of Brady's career and the franchise. In this episode of our documentary recap/review series we go back and discuss: - Who the Brady 6 were and where they are now - Steve Mariucci and the 49ers blown opportunity - Bill Belichick on what he thought of Tom Brady throughout the draft process - Tom Brady the baseball player? - His families unflinching support - Tom Brady's time playing for the Michigan Wolverines and the QB controversy with Drew Henson - Emotional aspects of the doc - Brady's flowing locks - much more... You can find more on our website: http://distantreplaypodcast.com

In the early morning hours following Super Bowl XXXIV in Atlanta, two men were fatally stabbed outside of the Cobalt Lounge in Buckhead.

Four-year NFL linebacker Ray Lewis was among a group that were involved in the brawl that left these two men dead. Lewis was charged with murder soon after along with two other guys in his entourage, but he eventually had his charges dropped.

We'll take you through that tragic night and how the case unfolded on this episode.

Find more on our website: http://distantreplaypodcast.com

The 1979 NCAA Tournament Final between Indiana State and Michigan State is still thought of by many people to be the most important college basketball game in history.

It was also the first installment of the Larry Bird vs Magic Johnson rivalry which would dominate the basketball landscape for the next decade. These are just a couple reasons why we felt it was a must watch for the podcast. This is the first time either of us have seen this game and there's a lot that surprised us. On this episode, we discuss:

• 40 team NCAA Tournament
• First year for full seeding
• NBC broadcast pre-peacock
• A kindler, gentler Billy Packer?
• Michigan St.'s suffocating defense
• The flashes of brilliance from Magic and Bird
• Mike's love for Greg Kelser
• Indiana State vs the Soviets
• Heathcote/Hodges
• A promo that involved mailing a $4 check

We'll talk all that and more. If you want to watch the game in its entirety, check out the show notes here: