Only A Game

Only A Game episodes:

• 09.25.2020

  OAG Staff Picks: Peter Sagal, Tup Holmes, Leo Ferris And More

  For the very last week of Only A Game, we're bringing back some of our favorites. NPR host Peter Sagal drops by with a story about running and male body image. Also, we revisit the stories of Alfred "Tup" Holmes,...

  
• 09.18.2020

  OAG's Most Memorable: Barkley's Friendship, Syracuse 8, The Carewlands And More

  This week we're bringing back some of our most memorable, most requested stories. Reporter Shirley Wang tells the story of her father, Lin Wang, and his friendship with NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley. Also, the Syracuse 8 — a...

  
• 09.11.2020

  Universal Pictures Basketball, Diving Inside An Iceberg And Running With Sherman

  It's Only A Game book club day, as we bring back three listener favorites from three great books. First up, the story of how the Universal Pictures basketball team went to the Olympics — with a little help from Frankenstein....

  
• 09.04.2020

  Bob Cousy's Regrets, Devo And Chi Chi, Tacko Fall Learns To Swim And More

  Bob Cousy and Bill Russell won six NBA championships together on the Boston Celtics. This week on Only A Game, Cousy says he regrets not doing more for his teammate off the court. Also, why the rock band Devo wanted...

  
• 08.28.2020

  The Farewell Show: Revisiting Our First Episode, Bill Littlefield Returns, And More

  On the last new episode of Only A Game, producer Martin Kessler revisits a childhood meeting with Mia Hamm and Nomar Garciaparra. Also, Doris Kearns Goodwin explains how baseball made her a better historian. And, producer Gary Waleik revisits the...

  
• 08.21.2020

  'Torch' George, Running With Diabetes, Story Update

  All her life, basketball player Cherelle George was told to tone down her game. This week on Only A Game, how Cherelle found a team that embraced her style, the Harlem Globetrotters. Also, audio producer Nick Andersen started running around...

  
• 08.21.2020

  Bonus: Only A Game Live Event

  An audio recording of our recent virtual event: "Only A Game Presents: Sports, Racism And The Myth Of Meritocracy."

  
• 08.14.2020

  A Track Coach's Legacy, Teenage Referee, 'Paddle To The Amazon'

  As we enter mid-August and as the end of this program draws nearer, we've been thinking a bit about legacies. How do legacies — particularly in sports — get passed on? This week we're starting with a story about a...

  
• 08.07.2020

  Andrés Cantor, 'Spinner' Spencer's Life, Ultramarathoning Origins

  Announcer Andrés Cantor is famous for his (lengthy) "gol" calls, but there's much more to his life and career. This week on Only A Game, Cantor shares his story of coming to the U.S. as a teenager — and reaching...

  
• 08.06.2020

  Coming Up: Live Virtual Event — Sports, Racism And The Myth Of Meritocracy

  Join us for a live virtual event on August 12 at 6 p.m. ET! We'll delve deeper into our recent special episode on sports and racism.

  
• 07.31.2020

  Swimming While Black, Origin Of Modern Women's Swimwear, 'Sail Like A Girl'

  On a recent Sunday, G Wright Muir and her son went to a pool near their Florida home to swim laps. This week on Only A Game, the story of the racism they encountered — and the discrimination Black swimmers...

  
• 07.24.2020

  MLB All-Star Tells Jokes, Pioneering Sportswriter, Olympians' Mental Health

  During his 16-year MLB career, pitcher Ryan Dempster won a World Series and twice reached the MLB All-Star Game. This week on Only A Game, Dempster turns his attention to comedy and late-night TV. Also, Diane K. Shah is believed...

  
• 07.17.2020

  Boxing Coach Fights COVID-19, Ex-Athlete Dreams Education Reform, Exonerated Golf Artist

  In a lifetime full of challenges inside and outside the boxing ring, Termite Watkins recently faced his toughest opponent yet: COVID-19. Also this week on Only A Game, former basketball star Kimijah King often felt out of place at her...

  
• 07.10.2020

  Origins Of Clay Court Tennis, A Golfer's Secret, Lou Gehrig's Writing

  Tickets went on sale this week for the French Open, the only Grand Slam played on clay. This week on Only A Game, the dark tale behind the origin of clay court tennis. Also, why 1969 Masters Tournament champion George...

  
• 07.03.2020

  Satchel Paige And A Religious Cult, Fritz Pollard, Basketball And NASA

  This week on Only A Game, a baseball fan investigates the day his father donned a House of David jersey and caught for the great Satchel Paige. Also, the story of Fritz Pollard, who is credited with being the first...

  
• 06.26.2020

  Special: Sports, Racism And The Myth Of Meritocracy

  Sports are supposed to be the great equalizer. Movies like "Remember The Titans" and "The Blind Side" promote the idea that sports bring everyone together — and offer a path for upward social mobility. But it's not that simple. In...

  
• 06.19.2020

  Athletes Fight Racism, Sports Tackle Empty Stadium Problem, And More

  Athletes continue to take a leading role in the Black Lives Matter movement. This week on Only A Game, a look at Oklahoma State where players spoke up after football coach Mike Gundy was photographed in an OAN T-shirt. Also,...

  
• 06.13.2020

  Bonus: A Conversation On Sports, Racism And Police Brutality

  Why have most sports teams and leagues stopped short of calling out police brutality? How much hope should we draw from NASCAR's — NASCAR's! — decision to ban the Confederate flag? Could the NFL franchise in Washington D.C. be next?...

  
• 06.12.2020

  Hoops Coach Calls Out Colleagues, Sports Leagues' Next Moves, 'Basketball Peaceful Protest'

  North Carolina Central men's basketball coach LeVelle Moton recently criticized fellow coaches for not speaking out against police brutality. This week on Only A Game, Moton shares his own experiences with the police. Also, a conversation about what teams and...

  
• 06.05.2020

  The Black Lives Matter Protests And The Sports Community

  Some of the loudest voices condemning racism and police brutality have come from the sports world. This week on Only A Game, Kenneth Shropshire details how and why athletes are taking a leadership role. Plus, we speak with high school...

  
• 05.29.2020

  100 Miles Around A Living Room, Transgender Pro Wrestler, Onion Vs. Secretariat

  Since 2018, Michael Henry Ortiz has been trying to run 100 100-mile races in 100 consecutive weeks. So what did he do when the COVID-19 pandemic kept him inside his New York City apartment? Run around his living room, of...

  
• 05.22.2020

  Jeremy Lin, First Female Hitting Coach In MLB, Upset At The '64 Olympics

  Jeremy Lin joins us from China to talk about the COVID-19 pandemic — and his Be the Light campaign. Also this week on Only A Game, Rachel Balkovec shares her story of overcoming gender discrimination to become the first female...

  
• 05.15.2020

  Korea Baseball Organization, Historic Hockey Stick, Dating As An NBA Beat Writer

  While most sports leagues around the world remain shuttered, the KBO returned to play last week. This week on Only A Game, the story of one American man who's been following the league for years. Also, a Vermont couple prepares...

  
• 05.08.2020

  Sports #Hometasking, Unusual Play-By-Play, Search For A Basketball Hoop

  Two months into the Almost No Sports Era, we're devoting this week's episode to the creative ways sports fans around the world are still getting their fix. First, a look at the British TV show "Taskmaster," which inspired people around...

  
• 05.01.2020

  Minor League Baseball's Future, U.S. Gymnast Speaks Out, Sports Columnist Tries Teaching

  Last fall, MLB announced its plan to cut ties with dozens of minor league affiliates. This week on Only A Game, how the COVID-19 pandemic makes the controversial proposal more likely to become reality. Also, within two years of becoming...

  
• 04.24.2020

  A Solo Marathon, 'Coach Pop' Inspires San Antonio Food Bank, 66-Year-Old Jockey

  After what he calls a "wake-up call" on his 55th birthday, author John U. Bacon started training for the 2020 Boston Marathon. But the the race was postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak. This week on Only A Game, Bacon's...

  
• 04.17.2020

  Virtual NASCAR, Peloton Racing With PGA Pros, Predicting Fan Behavior, And More

  With most sports leagues on hiatus, NASCAR is trying to fill the void ... with virtual racing. This week on Only A Game, driver Michael McDowell talks about the transition to iRacing. Also, the story of a GOLF Magazine editor...

  
• 04.10.2020

  Megan Rapinoe And Sue Bird, 'Jeopardy!' College Championship, Fenway Organist

  The global pandemic has put sports on hold, and that comes at an especially bad time for women's sports leagues. This week on Only A Game, Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird talk about the NWSL, the WNBA and COVID-19. Also,...

  
• 04.03.2020

  Gary Gulman's Tips For Sports Fans, Dr. Anthony Fauci's Athletic Career, And More

  It's normal to be feeling anxious during the coronavirus pandemic. Luckily, comedian/sports fan/mental health advocate Gary Gulman returns to Only A Game with some tips for staying healthy. Also, a look at how Dr. Anthony Fauci's basketball career prepared him...

  
• 03.27.2020

  Olympic Postponement, Spanish Flu And 1919 Stanley Cup Final, Fenway Groundskeeper

  The 2020 Tokyo Olympics Games are officially postponed. This week on Only A Game, a discussion about the economic impact of the delay. Also, lessons from the Spanish flu pandemic and the 1919 Stanley Cup finals. And Fenway Park groundskeeper...

  
• 03.20.2020

  March Mammal Madness, Duke Poetry Feud, Chess City, Expos Fest

  Missing the thrill of the NCAA men's and women's basketball tournaments? We have an alternative for you: March Mammal Madness, where science and bracketology collide! Also, this week on Only A Game, the story of one family's poetry battles ......

  
• 03.13.2020

  Sports World Responds To Coronavirus, Hockey And Treason, AAGPBL

  The NBA and NHL seasons have been suspended. MLB Opening Day is postponed. March Madness has been canceled. This week on Only A Game, a look at how the coronavirus pandemic is impacting sports. Also, we'll look back 70 years...

  
• 03.06.2020

  Texas Football's Long Road To Integration, HS Hoops Stalemate, Olympic Qualifier Upset

  In 1969, the University of Texas football became the last team to win the national championship with an all-white roster. This week on Only A Game, the story of Texas football's long road to integration. Also, six years ago in...

  
• 02.28.2020

  Rising Rugby Star, OTQ Near Misses, Chilean Soccer Rivals

  Two years ago, Kristi Kirshe was working at a law firm when she decided to join a friend who was playing on a recreational rugby team. Now, she has a good shot of making the Tokyo Olympics. Also this week...

  
• 02.21.2020

  Div. I Player With Autism, XFL Running Back, Presidential Baseball Collector

  When Anthony Ianni joined the Michigan State basketball team, he kept his autism diagnosis a secret from his teammates — including from star Draymond Green. This week on Only A Game, the argument that led to understanding. Plus, we share...

  
• 02.14.2020

  The Flying Fathers, Ashlee Yates Takes The Stage, Astros Scandal

  This week on Only A Game, the Flying Fathers, a team featuring a former NHL player, two horses that played goalie, seven frozen toes ... and a bunch of hockey-playing priests. Also, Ashlee Yates' life was turned upside down when...

  
• 02.07.2020

  Sports And The Golden Age Of Hollywood

  The Oscars are Sunday night, and we wanted to get in on the fun. So this week on Only A Game, three sports stories with a Hollywood connection. First, the story of the Universal Pictures basketball team, which went to...

  
• 01.31.2020

  Kobe Bryant, Jai Alai, College Football Player Grad Rates, Super Bowl Haiku XXVI

  Kobe Bryant, along with his daughter Gianna and seven others, died in a helicopter crash. This week on Only A Game, how players, fans and sexual assault survivors are responding. We'll also revisit our 2015 conversation with Kobe's "muse": his...

  
• 01.24.2020

  Anna Horford, Girl Quarterback In Sicily, Baseball Brit

  After NBA All-Star Al Horford joined the Boston Celtics, a different Horford became a fan favorite. This week on Only A Game, the ongoing love story between Al's younger sister Anna and the Celtics community. Also, a former high school...

  
• 01.17.2020

  Davidson Athletics' Math Edge, Classic Arcade Museum, Girls' Wrestling Grows

  The Davidson College men's basketball program is best known for producing NBA superstar Stephen Curry. This week on Only A Game, another story out of Davidson ... about the math-minded students who are helping the athletic department. Also, the story...

  
• 01.10.2020

  ESPN Editor-Turned-Priest, College Football's Growth, Unified Korean Hockey

  In early 2012, New York Knicks guard Jeremy Lin became a global star. This week on Only A Game, the story of an ESPN editor whose headline about Lin sparked outrage — and ultimately helped prepare him for the priesthood....

  
• 01.03.2020

  Clemson Fan And 'The Hat,' Indigenous Runner Rosalie Fish, WNBA's Tamika Catchings

  Aaron Ritz was 11 years old when he was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease. This week on Only A Game, how Clemson football fans — especially super fan Dean "The Hat" Cox — supported Aaron. Also, the story of Rosalie...

  
• 12.27.2019

  Bob Cousy's Letter To Bill Russell And Other 'Teammates' Stories

  This week on Only A Game, we revisit some of our favorite stories of teammates: Bob Cousy explains why he regretted not being closer to Bill Russell off the floor. Also, the story of Nicki Collen, who after years as...

  
• 12.20.2019

  A Golfer's Secret, Athlete Of The Decade, A Dangerous Horse Race

  During his career as a professional golfer, George Archer won 13 PGA Tours events, including the 1969 Masters Tournament. This week on Only A Game, the story of Archer's dyslexia, which he and his family kept secret for his entire...

  
• 12.13.2019

  Peking To Paris Challenge, NFL Magician Jon Dorenbos, WADA Bans Russia

  In 1907, Auguste Pons tried and failed the 10,000-mile race from Peking to Paris on a trike. This week on Only A Game, Anton Gonnissen's attempt to finish what was started 112 years ago. Also, the story of former NFL...

  
• 12.06.2019

  Michigan Football Injury, Ping Pong At 73, Pro Hoops At 50

  Grant Newsome was starting at left tackle on the University of Michigan football team. Then, a single play nearly cost him his leg. Also this week on Only A Game, writer Laura Arenschield tells the story of her father, who...

  
• 11.29.2019

  Thanksgiving Leftovers

  In a Thanksgiving tradition that dates not quite as far back as the pilgrims, we've got tupperwares full of leftovers — tales that didn't fit into other episodes — this week on Only A Game. First, the story of Marcellus...

  
• 11.22.2019

  Teddy Roosevelt Vs. Baseball, Worst High School QB Ever, Sid Luckman's Family Secret

  Among all presidents in U.S. history, Theodore Roosevelt stands out for his love of sports. But apparently he didn't love baseball. This week on Only A Game, the drastic measures baseball took to woo the president to the ballpark. Also,...

  
• 11.15.2019

  Global Kid Media, Tacko Fall Learns To Swim, Rat City Roller Derby

  If you see a 13-year-old reporter with a yellow-tipped mic at a sporting event, it's probably Vedant Gupta. This week on Only A Game, the story of Global Kid Media, and Vedant's plan to become a household name in sports...

  
• 11.08.2019

  Running With A Donkey, Lessons From Rowing, #SaveTheCrew

  This week on Only A Game, the story of a donkey and a college student who helped each other heal through running. Also, a writer and artist shares her story of finding her place at an indoor rowing studio. And...