First Ballot: The Hall of Fame Podcast

Is there a greater feeling than catching a projectile from a mascot's T-shirt Cannon? Actor and Writer, Michael Torpey, joins the pod to explain why Tim Derk's contribution to the world of sports is First Ballot Hall of Fame worthy, his epic home run catches, and working with Michael Jordan. 

(00:48) 2023 Nuggets vs "The Bubble" Lakers (06:09) Intro Take Two (07:38) A Special Ad Read (10:12) Fired from Applebees (15:30) The ups and downs of acting and Michael's dream job (17:47) Michael Torpey on Law and Order: SVU (21:02) Michael Torpey's Growth Spurt (26:27) Tim Derk NBA Legend  (29:30) The importance of Mascot Names (36:05) Tim Derk becoming the Spurs Mascot (40:52) The Wild Wild West of the NBA (44:24) The T-Shirt Cannon Patent (47:55) Michael Torpey's epic home run catch  (49:29) Michael Torpey catches ANOTHER home run catch and saves a woman's life (55:10) Legit weapons set to party mode  (56:05) Australia confiscates T-shirt cannons (01:05:43) Neil's Free T-Shirt Story  (01:11:12) The Universal Joy of Free Shirts (01:15:10) The Michael Jordan Hanes Commercial  (01:21:47) Learning from Uzo Aduba (01:24:15) Being the President of the United States  (01:28:48) Shooting Hot Dogs out of T-Shirt Cannons (01:33:31) Air Cannon Injuries (01:39:53) Torpey's Favorite Beverage (01:42:01) Comedy Actor Mount Rushmore (01:43:49) Torpey's secret ingredient for Peanut Butter & Jelly sandwiches

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In 1999, Jean van de Velde had one of the biggest uh-ohs in sports history. With a 3-stroke lead, "Jean Jean Jean" needed just a 6 on the 18th hole to clinch the British Open, but instead orchestrated one of the greatest meltdowns in sports history. Comedy writer Matt Goldich joins the pod to discuss why this collapse is crazy enough to enter the First Ballot Hall of Fame, if his wife thinks he's funny, and some of his greatest tweets.    Showtime Codes:  (3:00) Meat in a can?  (6:10) Matt's journey in comedy (7:50) Matt's short-lived sports broadcasting career (13:30) The problematic nature of Golf (14:00) Matt's Love of the game (19:49) The Crime Scene (32:30) Oh Jean Jean Jean...  (34:50) Jean showing off his bare feet  (40:00) Does your spouse think you're funny?  (49:00) Working on the Late Show with David Letterman (50:20) The life-changing moment in Matt's career (53:30) Neil's Jenny Jones Trailer Park Story (1:00:42) Matt's greatest Tweets  (1:04:02) Best Sports Names (1:05:55) Matt's everyday snack

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Caitlin Clark put together perhaps the best March Madness Tournament run in college basketball history, but does she have one moment good enough for the First Ballot Hall of Fame?  Host of BetMGM Tonight and The Heat Check podcast, Trysta Krick, asks and answers whether Clark is the best college player of all-time, discusses one of the most original basketball calls in the history of TV broadcasting, and gives her Philadelphia 76ers Hot Take!

Showtime Codes: 

(3:08) BWAH

(4:38) Maybe the most important thing we’ve ever done on the show, and perhaps our editor's finest work to date

(14:23) Trade Damian Lillard?  Trysta’s fool proof plan for the Portland Trail Blazers.

(21:14) The truly bonkers statistics behind the Caitlin Clark tourney run

(26:01) Is Caitlin Clark the best college player ever?

(35:08) Neil’s anti-college diatribe

(41:35) How could Caitlin Clark possibly care about college classes?

(44:20) What Trysta and Neil both saw in Clark’s eyes

(52:23) One of the most original basketball calls in the history of broadcasting.  Have you ever heard this from an announcer before?

(53:51) Growing the legend of Caitlin Clark

(54:41) Trysta’s patented, Hall of Fame-worthy, play-by-play calling card 

(55:48) Clark tells Van Lith to shut up

(59:47) Ogunbowale vs. Clark:  who had the better March?

(1:02:51) Caitlin Clark’s unofficial nickname

(1:05:41) Trysta’s 2023 WNBA Championship prediction

(1:07:10) The racial undertones of the Tournament Finals between Iowa and LSU

(1:13:17) Trysta Krick’s 76ers Hot Take

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When Freeway's What We Do played at a Sixers-Heat game in 2018, the fan cam displayed an incredible show of humanity from the audience. Here to discuss the impact of the moment is journalist, creative, DJ, and Philadelphia native Cory Townes, who also talks about meeting Jay-Z (42:00), songs that are potentially more Philadelphia than What We Do (46:45), and the cultural influence Philadelphia has on the world. 

Showtime Codes:

(13:15) All he needed was a jump shot and heart to be a legend (16:00) What makes Philly so special and unique  (20:00) Fan cams have the power to change the game and energy (27:58) Cory Townes breaks down the song.  (31:42) What We Do is the audio representation of a basketball game (40:00) The first time Cory heard his father's music (42:00) A great short Jay-Z Story  (43:40) Behind the scenes of Summertime  (51:00) Comparing the great hip hop x NBA moments (01:00:00) Life lessons from Freeway's song  (01:08:00) More important: water ice or slurpee   

 

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In 1996, Riddick Bowe faced off against Andrew Golota in Madison Square Garden. Golota was well on his way to pulling off one of boxing's great upsets, before a series of heinous low blows led to his disqualification, and one of the craziest post-fight melees in all of boxing history. Rafe Bartholomew, writer and author of "Pacific Rims" and NYT Bestseller "Basketball: A Love Story", joins the pod to talk about Filipino culture (10:13), being teammates with Smush Parker (17:55), and if this moment is First Ballot HOF worthy.

Showtime Codes:

(12:50) The Best PBA Team Names  (15:00) Rafe's Phillippines bucket list (17:55) Playing with Smush Parker (31:20) Boxing Nicknames (39:00) Throwing low blows (42:50) Golota's Jail Time (46:56) The chaos of the post-fight melee (58:30) The winner of the post-fight fight (1:09:05) The Fan Man

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In 2013, fueled by two years of resentment after losing to Jason Terry and the Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 NBA finals, LeBron James pulled off one of the most incredible casket dunks ever. Comedian and writer on DAVE, Niles Abston joins the pod to discuss his journey to Hollywood (10:30), working with Lil' Dicky (39:40), and if the Miami Heat burying Jason Terry is worthy of the First Ballot Hall of Fame.  

Showtime Codes: 

(5:40) The King of all "ad reads" (9:09) Bo Jackson vs Deion Sanders (10:30) D1 Athlete to Writer (13:42) Lebron James destroyed stats (18:35) Jason Terry got JUMPED (22:40) Niles' start in stand-up (27:51) The dream stand-up line-up (35:10) Writing on DAVE (37:19) The defining moments of Niles' career  (39:40) Is Lil' Dicky hateable? (42:15) The best LeBron James moments (47:47) The untouchable topics in comedy

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The 63-win Boston Bruins won more games this season than any team in NHL history.  And then they faced the Florida Panthers in Round 1 of the 2023 Playoffs.  David vs. Goliath, on ice.  With hockey sticks.  CBS Vice President of Late Night, Nick Bernstein tries to get another long shot into the First Ballot Hall of Fame.

 

Showtime Codes: 

(8:30) Nick's relationship with hockey (14:50) Neil's attempt at pronouncing names and understanding hockey points (18:55) Explain this in Basketball terms (21:13) Greatest comeback upsets in sports  (37:40) Nick celebrating the Panther's victory (39:30) The winning goal in Neil's own words  (45:58) Other record-breaking teams  (52:11) The worth and value of sports (55:29) A hockey expert's take (1:00:44) The "We Believe" Warriors (1:06:20) The Bill Simmons Impact

 

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First Ballot doesn't just celebrate the greatest moments in sports--we also celebrate the greatest sports movies of all time! Here to decide whether WIll Ferrell's Baseball documentary "Ferrell Takes the Field" is First Ballot worthy is comedic actor, True Lies star, the latest Ted Lasso "villain" Mike O'Gorman. He breaks down the funniest parts of the film, his TikTok fame (8:55), and his best impressions (53:08).   

Showtime Codes:

(4:53) Neil's jumbotron pact

(7:39) Mike's favorite actor to work with

(10:32) A Live Performance of the viral hit  "I'm a Building"

(17:30) Ted Lasso Easter eggs

(26:55) The best Will Ferrell Movies

(28:30) Behind the scenes of True Lies

(41:00) Mike's Artistic inspiration: The Oasis! 

(50:33) The best sports movie?

(53:08) Christian Bale* joins the pod

(55:30) The secret to good impressions

(1:01:50) Will Ferell getting cut by the A's

 

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The pitch? Kits? Offsides? You don't have to know any soccer terms to know that the 2022 World Cup Final was an electric game. Here to break down soccer and this astonishing game is producer, audio engineer, and musician Isaac K Lee, who also talks about being a Clippers fan (12:00), sports and patriotism (51:00), and his favorite musican (01:08:28)

Showtime Codes: 

(12:30) How people become Clippers' fans.  (21:20) Who is the top dog in soccer? (32:50) The breakdown of all your favorite silly soccer terms (34:30) What is the world cup? (47:44) The lung capacity of Mbappe  (52:30) New Segment: HOT TAKES!  (52:40) The best looking trophy  (54:20) Isaac's journey into the podcasting world  (01:07:45) Best song parody artist of all time (01:08:50) Best nickname in sports

 

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Serena Williams tore through the 2012 Summer Olympics tennis tournament like some sort of racquet. Discussing her iconic win and crip walk is none other than brilliant comedian and writer Chloé Hilliard, who also talks about the importance of crediting Black artists and culture (27:00), New York versus LA (49:40), and the magic of Julia Roberts (01:06:00).

Showtime Codes:

(08:45) How Chloé's volleyball dreams were thwarted by basketball (17:30) The power of the Williams' sisters (27:00) Black culture is the backbone of the world's culture (28:35) The importance of crediting Black artists  (30:50) The best crip walks (34:27) Chloé's Emmy experience  (40:00) What do white people do for joy? (49:40) NYC vs. LA  (57:47) Dream Team: A Night of Stand Up  (01:03:50) The best comedy set of all time (01:06:00) The magic of Julia Roberts

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