Jesse Cole grew up in Massachusetts and fell in love with baseball thanks to his dad. Recruited by Boston College and Northeastern to play baseball, Cole went south to Wofford College in South Carolina where he had an opportunity to be a two-way player. An injury his senior season, would deny Cole a chance at pro ball, but it would change his path forever. A short stint as a coach in the Cape Cod League led Cole to work behind the scenes in baseball when he became the General Manager of the Gastonia Grizzlies of the Coastal Plain League. From Gastonia, Cole and his wife, Emily, would buy a CPL franchise in Savannah, Georgia. Going against the fan vote, Cole named the franchise the Bananas and would work to improve the fan experience with the creation of Banana Ball. In the spring of 2022, Banana Ball hit the road and has become a sensation leading to an ESPN series and a cross-country tour in 2023. Cole shares the rules of Banana Bal, hiring ex-MLB standout Eric Byrnes to coach the team and the other former big leaguers who have played for the Bananas. Plus, we hear about the origins of the yellow tux.

Marinaro was born in New York City before moving to New Jersey where he was a high school standout in both basketball and football. Basketball coaches "Lefty" Driesell and Bob Knight recruited Marinaro, but football is what took him to Cornell. A three-time All-American with the Big Red in the Ivy League, Marinaro rushed for almost 5000 career yards and finished second to Auburn's Pat Sullivan for the 1971 Heisman Trophy. A 1972 second round draft pick by Minnesota, Marinaro would play 4 years for the Vikings and was part of two Super Bowl teams playing alongside Fran Tarkenton and the "Purple People Eaters" defense. Marinaro had a great start to the 1976 season after signing a free agent contract with the New York Jets, but that great start was quickly halted by an injury that would lead to his retirement. Before retiring, his relationship with Jets quarterback Joe Namath would help jump start his second career as an actor. Marinaro's first role was in the 1978 mob movie "Fingers", leading to roles on "Laverne & Shirley" and a guest role on the cop drama "Hill Street Blues" in 1981.  That guest role turned into 104 episodes and 5 seasons on the Emmy Award winning show. Marinaro was introduced to a new audience in 2010 with the series "Blue Mountain State", a show that would develop a cult following. Marinaro joined us to share stories from his incredible life including the purple Porsche he drove to Vikings training camp as a rookie, the blocking assignments he had on Hall of Fame defenders Duck Butkus and Ed "Too Tall" Jones, and his time spent with Joe Namath. Plus, we hear how he garnered the role of Joe Coffey, how much he enjoyed playing Coach Marty Daniels and his viral moment at the 2022 NFL Draft.

Growing up in Indiana, Montross quickly fell in love with basketball, the sport synonymous with the state. He led Lawrence North High School to the state championship in the tournament made famous by the movie "Hoosiers". A 1990 McDonald's All American, Montross was highly recruited by many Big 10 coaches including Bob Knight at Indiana, Gene Keady at Purdue and Bill Frieder at Michigan where Eric's dad and grandfather both played. Montross says it was a gut feeling that led him to North Carolina where he played for Hall of Fame coach Dean Smith. While in Chapel Hill, Montross helped lead the Tar Heels to the 1993 NCAA Championship and battled Duke and other great ACC teams of the time. In 1994, the Boston Celtics made Montross the 9th overall pick. After almost a decade-long NBA career, an injury would lead to retirement and a second act that includes fundraising for North Carolina's Rams Club and radio analyst on the Carolina basketball broadcasts. In this episode, Montross shares his lessons learned from Dean Smith, what it was like playing Michigan's "Fab Five", his first meeting with Red Auerbach and his welcome to NBA moment. He also shares his thoughts on former teammate Hubert Davis, this year's North Carolina basketball team and the honor he recently received.  And yes, we also discuss the "Bloody Montross Game" against Duke in 1992.

Csonka was raised on a farm outside Akron, OH.  He joined the football team in the 7th grade, but soon quit because he didn’t like getting hit.  A coach re-introduced Larry to the sport when he got in trouble and Larry eventually learned how to play the game.  Csonka began playing on the defensive side of the ball at Stow High School in the early 1960s before a chance encounter set him on his path as a running back.  After high school, he played at Syracuse University for WWII hero Ben Schwartzwalder. Playing alongside Floyd Little and Tom Coughlin, Csonka set a school rushing record while breaking records previously held by former Orangemen Jim Brown and Ernie Davis.  In 1968, Csonka was drafted 8th overall by the Miami Dolphins and developed into a punishing running back when Don Shula took over as head coach in 1970.  Despite a sometimes rocky relationship, Csonka and Shula would help the Dolphins lead the NFL in rushing and lead Miami to two consecutive Super Bowl victories including Super Bowl VII which ended in a perfect season in 1972.  The following season, Csonka was MVP in Super Bowl VIII after leading Miami to a second title.  Csonka would eventually leave the NFL for the World Football League where he played in Memphis.  After the WFL folded, Csonka went back to the NFL spending time with the New York Giants before a return to the Dolphins where his career would end after the 1979 season. Following retirement, Csonka would host a number of hunting and fishing shows including “North to Alaska” with long-time partner Audrey Bradshaw. A 1987 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, Csonka shares his journey with us including how he became good friends with Elvis Presley and what led to him writing his new book “Head On: A Memoir” (You can order the book at https://larrycsonka.com/head-on-larry-csonka/).

Growing up in Connecticut, Freeney excelled in all sports he played including basketball and baseball.  At 6-1, his size led him to football where he set records as a defensive end at Bloomfield High School. It was in high school where he developed his spin move which helped him collect 37 sacks in his career and got him noticed by college coaches.  After a visit to Syracuse, it was obvious Freeney wanted to be an Orangeman. From 1998-2001, he became a force in Central New York and set a school record with 17.5 sacks his senior season. A two-time All-Big East selection and 1st Team All-American in 2001, Freeney was drafted in the first round by the Colts in 2002 and would spend 11 seasons with Indianapolis winning Super Bowl XLI playing for Tony Dungy and setting a franchise record with 107.5 sacks.  After the Colts released him in 2013, he ended his career with stints in San Diego, Arizona, Atlanta, Seattle and Detroit. The 7-time Pro Bowler would retire as a Colt in 2018.  Freeney shares stories of the memorable phone calls he’s received throughout his career, his induction into the Colts Ring of Honor and being nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year eligible. He also tells us the quarterbacks he liked to sack and the one that wasn’t so easy to get a hold of. Plus, we hear about his golf game and the friendships he’s made on the course including his childhood idol Lawrence Taylor and Michal Jordan. He also tells us what it’s like being a new dad to his daughter.

Nixon was born in Durham, NC, but moved to Wilmington, NC at a very early age. It was in the Port City that Nixon played multiple sports but concentrated on football and baseball when he attended New Hanover High School. In football, Nixon played for the late Joe Miller and broke several records held at the time by NFL greats Sonny Jurgensen and Roman Gabriel. In baseball, he helped lead the Wildcats to a state title and was named the North Carolina Player of the Year in both sports. After accepting an offer to play both sports at NC State, Nixon was drafted 7th overall in the MLB draft by the Boston Red Sox in 1993. He would eventually sign with Boston and start his professional career in 1994.  For the next 4 years, Nixon made his way through the minors with two brief stints in the majors including his debut in 1996 at Yankee Stadium. He would begin his first full season with Boston in 1999 spending the next 8 seasons playing at Fenway Park. His time in Boston included the 2004 season when the Red Sox trailed the Yankees 3-0 in the ALCS before becoming the first MLB team to win a series after such a deficit.  From there, they would sweep the St. Louis Cardinals for the team's first World Series title in 86 years. Nixon shares memories from that incredible comeback, the aftermath of ending the "Curse of the Bambino" and what it was like to play his final game in a Red Sox uniform.  We also hear about Nixon's love for football, the meaningful conversation he had with Wade Boggs, the respect he has for the Yankees and the joking nature he had with Derek Jeter.  We also hear his take on being a proud sports dad of two baseball-playing sons.

Kenny Anderson grew up in LeFrak City in Queens, NY raised by his mom and motivated by his older sister.  Basketball was his sport at an early age which took him to Archbishop Molloy High School where he played for legendary head coach Jack Curran. Following in the footsteps of friend and mentor Kenny Smith, Anderson would win many trophies and receive plenty of accolades.  After scoring over 2600 points in his career, Anderson was the top recruit in the country with Georgia Tech and Syracuse emerging as his choice to go to college.  On his mom’s orders, Georgia Tech and Coach Bobby Cremins were the choice.  In his freshman year (1989-90), he teamed with Dennis Scott and Brian Oliver to make up “Lethal Weapon 3” which led the Yellow Jackets to the Final Four where they lost to eventual National Champion UNLV.  Following his sophomore year at Tech, Anderson would forgo his last two years and became the 2nd overall pick by the New Jersey Nets in the 1991 draft.  He became the youngest player in the NBA at the time and would be voted by the fans as an All Star starter during his third season in 1994.  After 4 seasons with the Nets, Anderson would make a number of stops in the NBA including memorable stints with the Portland Trailblazers and the Boston Celtics.  After retiring in 2006, Anderson eventually made his way into coaching and is the current head coach at Fisk University in Nashville, TN.  Anderson shares plenty of memories with us and also tells us about his open and honest documentary, “Mr. Chibbs”, the nickname his mother gave him growing up.  He also recounts time with Bill Russell, the shooting guards he played alongside, the coaches who influenced his coaching style and the degree he earned almost 20 years after leaving Georgia Tech.

Kiraly was born in Michigan and trained at an early age with his dad, a member of the Hungarian Junior National Team, who fled his native country during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. At age 11, Karch entered his first beach volleyball event with his dad and would eventually spend four decades playing beach volleyball.  After his family moved to California, Kiraly excelled at indoor volleyball and helped lead his high school team to an undefeated season in 1978. During the recruiting process, Kiraly chose UCLA over USC and would have a memorable four years playing for legendary coach Al Scates who led the Bruins to 19 NCAA titles including three with Karch on the team. Kiraly joined the US National team in 1981 and would be part of two gold medal winning teams (1984 Los Angeles Olympics and 1988 Seoul Olympics). In 1996, Kiraly and partner Kent Steffes would win the first-ever beach volleyball gold medal at the Atlanta Olympics for his third gold medal. Broadcasting and coaching would follow his playing career and in 2016 he would lead the US Women's National Team to a bronze medal in the Rio Olympics.  He would follow that with a gold in the 2020 Tokyo games. He is also signed up to lead the team in the next Olympics in 2024 in Paris. Kiraly shares stories from his stops with us and tells us why he remembers some of the losses more than the many wins. He also talks about the influence he has had on the college game both indoors and on the beach.

Growing up in Auburn, NY, Socci became a big baseball fan and fell in love with Tom Seaver and the NY Mets. He soon started playing baseball while also announcing it as the Public Address announcer of his little league. After high school, Socci attended the University of Dayton to pursue his broadcasting career. An internship with the Cincinnati Reds gave Bob the outlet to do mock broadcasts of Reds games.  His broadcasting career would include plenty of stops in minor league baseball where he reached the AAA level several times including stops with the Albuquerque Isotopes, the Norfolk Tides and Pawtucket Red Sox. Bob also enjoyed a 15-year run as the Voice of Navy football and basketball. Then in 2013, Socci was hired to replace long-time New England Patriots radio announcer Gil Santos. During his stint with the Pats, Socci has already called three Super Bowl wins (XLIX in 2014, LI in 2016 and LIII in 2018). Bob shares his journey with us including what it was like to call the Army/Navy games, the long road to becoming the Voice of the Patriots and his final calls in the Super Bowl victories.  Plus, we get his thoughts on winning the 2021 Massachusetts Sportscaster of the Year from the National Sports Media Association.

Growing up in Georgia, Curry did not like football. In fact, it was a sport he never wanted to play. But it was the sport he knew could attract the attention of girls in high school (and one in particular Carolyn Newton who he would eventually marry). Even though his dad was a big Georgia fan, Curry would play at Georgia Tech for Hall of Fame coach Bobby Dodd.  With the Yellow Jackets, Curry would captain the team in 1964 and become a George Tech Hall of Famer. Later that year, he would be drafted by the NFL’s Green Bay Packers in the final round, as well as the AFL’s Oakland Raiders. When Vince Lombardi told Curry he wanted him to play for the Packers, that’s what Curry did becoming the center for quarterback Bart Starr. As a rookie, he and the Packers won the NFL Championship.  He was also the starting center in the Super Bowl I victory in 1966. From 1967-72, Curry would play for another legendary coach when Don Shula traded for him to play for the Baltimore Colts where he snapped to Johnny Unitas and won Super Bowl V (after losing Super Bowl III to the NY Jets and Joe Namath). After stints with the Houston Oilers and LA Rams, Curry retired and started coaching as an assistant at his alma mater before coaching for former teammate Bart Starr back in Green Bay.  He would eventually become a head coach first at Georgia Tech (1980-86), then Alabama (1987-89) and finally Kentucky (1990-96). In 1997, Curry joined ESPN where he would become a football analyst for more than 10 years.  In 2008, Curry was called back into coaching when he helped start the football program at Georgia State in Atlanta and would serve as their coach through 2012. Curry shares many of his memories with us including the topic of race and how his teammates helped educate him. He also tells us about his wife of almost 60 years and her influence on his life and career. He recounts his first game as head coach and how Paul “Bear” Bryant out-coached him before the game ever started. Plus, he explains why winning the 2007 Amos Alonzo Stagg Award is so meaningful to him.