Episode 12: Brendan Haywood | 14 Year NBA Veteran, NBA Champion, & Analyst

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Rich Take On Sports

Show Notes:

Social Media:

Follow Brendan Haywood On Twitter: @bwood_33

Brendan Haywood Website: www.bhaywood.com

To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports

Episode 11: Dan Everett, Founder of Everett Sports Marketing

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Rich Take On Sports

Show Notes:

Social Media:

Follow Dan Everett On Twitter: @everett_sm

Everett Sports Marketing Website: http://everettsm.com/

To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports

Episode 10 features Jason Romano Sports Spectrum Podcast Host and former ESPN Senior Producer.

We have reached another milestone with this episode as this is Episode 10.

Never had set expectations and I still don’t

Just trying to provide the 3 c’s… content, content, content

Weekly Words of Wisdom: “We know what a person thinks, not when he tells us what he thinks, but by his actions.” Nobel prize winning novelist Isaac Singer.

Episode 9 features Zach McCrite former sports talk radio host in Louisville, KY for 1570 The Zone, ESPN 93.9 The Ticket, 101 ESPN in St. Louis, MO, 107.7 The Franchise in Oklahoma City, OK and he also started the podcast, “The Podcast About Sports Radio”.

Amazed that we’re already 9 episodes into this podcasting journey.

Learned a lot and connected with so many people with many more episodes lined up for the future

If you missed any episodes, please visit the website richtakeonsports.com and you can keep up with the latest news from us by following us on Twitter @richtakesports

And our guest this week heading into Father’s Day is Zach McCrite also known as the Big EZ.

Weekly Words of Wisdom: Life doesn’t come with an instruction book.  That’s why we have fathers.

Episode 8 features Daina Falk, founder and creator of Hungry Fan which is a sports lifestyle brand that curates the sports fan’s Game Day experience. From food & drink to gear, traditions, Game Day culture, and an insider’s look at teams & athletes, Hungry Fan makes a Game Day gathering as exciting as the game itself.

Daina has a unique connection with sports and you will know that connection if you know the last Falk and her dad a legendary sports agent.

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Daina shares that her married life isn’t much different than before but things are going well. She tells the story how she really started her sports and food love in the womb as her parents were in Europe with some of her dad’s clients and her mom was pregnant.

She played soccer and mostly tennis growing up but her high school was not a big sports oriented high school and she wanted to experience a true sports fan environment so she applied to one school – Duke and became a devoted Cameron Crazy.

Her dad, David Falk, gave her advice not to follow his footsteps by becoming a sports agent and she took his advice but wanted to continue with a career in sports.  Her love for food and sports lead her to create and found Hungry Fan.

This led to her publishing her first cookbook, The Hungry Fan’s GameDay Cookbook which incorporates many of her own recipes with contributions from many of the biggest names in sports today.

Sports for her has been a way for her to connect with people across the US and she truly believes she has a connection or some in common with everyone.  Her words of wisdom: No just means not at this time.

Episode 7 features Pat Duquette, UMASS-Lowell Men’s Basketball Head Coach and we are back this week with another episode.

I am your host, Richmond Weaver and glad you’re listening through whatever format that might be and thanks for being an investor by investing your time to listen.

This week it’s my pleasure to welcome in a friend from my early days of coaching and that’s Pat Duquette who is currently the head coach for the men’s basketball team at UMass-Lowell. Early on I’ve talked about one of the unique abilities of sports and that’s how it can connect people. No truer than with Pat and me. We met in 1993 when we both were struggling for any big coaching breaks and we met when were both interning for the New Jersey Nets.  This was the same time that I was an assistant at Fairleigh Dickinson University and in all honesty, I was basically interning there as well… Visa was my checking account. How many of you know what I’m talking about?  I eventually started doing some ticket sales for the Nets and that helped make ends meet to a certain degree but we were both just trying to make it.  We really didn’t know how but we didn’t care… just give me a shot.  That was our motto.  And you know what that’s how we connected.  I’m a southern boy and he’s born and raised in the Northeast and we connected and we’re still friends today. We were both basically on the same team as we rooted for each other to make it and we were connected because of one thing… that’s sports. It’s crazy how sports can bring people together like that but it does. Now we stayed in contact for several years after our days in NJ together through the coaching circuit but as in life there’s drift and contact can fade and it did with us but that connection was still there.

When I decided to start this crazy thing called Rich Take On Sports, one of the first people I reached out to was Pat.  We hadn’t talked in 10 plus years and do you know one of the first things he said… “How can I help?” That’s just the type of person he is… putting others first and it’s easy to see why guys like playing for him and why parents trust him.

He’s now entering his 5th season at UMass-Lowell after spending 3 years as the associate head coach at Northeastern with Bill Coen and before that he spent 13 years at Boston College with Al Skinner climbing his way from administrative assistant to associate head coach during those 13 years. Here’s the interview with Pat Duquette.

Had a great childhood with 5 kids in his family. Parents were fully supportive of sports and all played multiple sports and it was the cycle of life. Had older siblings to not only teach you about sports but also to compete with. Older siblings provided support.

Played in the neighborhood with other kids playing in the street and the quiet street turned into a sports complex.

Played multiple sports through all high school and attended a small high school and the school needed kids to play multiple sports to field the different teams.

Attended Williams College, Division III to play basketball. Wasn’t sure what path to go while in college but watched cousin and brother climb the ranks in baseball but wanted to do it in basketball.

Great experience with New Jersey Nets but wanted more involvement in basketball operations and jumped to Centenary College. Since there wasn’t a minor league system for basketball he really only wanted to coach and didn’t want athletic administration. Lived with his brother in Port St. Lucie and waited tables while his brother was working for the Mets.  Then got a call from Dave Paulsen who became the head coach at St. Lawrence and it was a great experience because he was given so much responsibility as an assistant.

After St. Lawrence, he moved to St. Michael’s a Division II school and was able to get his Master’s and was also a substitute teacher at the local school and he loved it.

Was going to stay at St. Michael’s but Al Skinner had one position available at Boston College and was offered the administrative assistant position and took it which became his break into Division I.  He loved being at Boston College.

Some of the highlights in the first years was just being on the staff and the team ends up winning the Big East Championship after Troy Bell and few tough players came together. It really took off from there and went to 7 NCAA tournaments. In 2001, Tim O’Shea gets the head coach position at Ohio University and was given a choice to go with Tim at Ohio or stay at Boston College and Pat decided to stay at Boston College.

Should have started looking at head coaching jobs at an earlier point in his career but was having a great time at Boston College and he also thought that he would be at Boston College for a long time.

Caught another break because of his relationship with the coaches at Boston College. Bill Cohn gave him an associate head coach position at Northeastern.  Stayed in it for 3 years and started getting Division I interviews for head coaching positions.

Loved everything about UMASS-Lowell and has been given all the resources and the administration is realistic about the process of moving to Division I.  He’s been given a lot of freedom to build the program the way he wants.

UMASS-Lowell has, fortunately, had 44 wins in the past 4 years and beat Boston College and Fordham as signature wins.

He doesn’t focus on kids that play multiple sports, however, thinks there are opportunities to get players that are overlooked because they didn’t get invited to the big AAU camps because they played multiple sports.

Education piece is very important to him as both of his parents were school teachers.  Giving kids the opportunity to get an education is the most fulfilling aspect of coaching and being involved in sports.

And that was my friend Pat Duquette. I’m telling you he’s done it the right way. He paid his dues in the grind but you know what he also got some breaks as he mentioned. The lesson here though is that even though he got some breaks, he took advantage of the opportunity that he was given and worked hard at it. He put it in the long hours and I guarantee there were many times that he probably thought about giving up. The coaching life isn’t easy especially early in your career. Now for the ones that make it to the big time, the grind might be a little easier because of the luxuries that you’re afforded but there’s just another set of challenges and pressures that come with it.  I’m definitely looking forward to watching Pat at the Riverhawks continue to do great things.

Ok, Episode 7 is coming to a close so let’s finish this week with the Weekly Words of Wisdom.

The Weekly Words of Wisdom come from a voice we just heard in the Rich Spotlight and that’s the words from Pat Duquette head coach for the men’s basketball team at UMASS-Lowell.  No need to search for words of encouragement or words to keep us balanced when Pat did a phenomenal job of giving us those words. As he mentioned in the interview, he’s leaned on these words for a long time and they’ve helped in throughout his life. Once again he said, “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

You know we often get so consumed in our life trying to control and change things and the energy spent on these things could be better spent focusing on the things that we can control. I’m no different than anyone of you and I get caught up on trying to control everything as well and this is a great reminder to focus on the things that you can control and hopefully you have the wisdom and maturity to understand what you can and can’t control.

Well, that wraps episode 7 everyone.  We’ll be back next week and we just might have another bonus episode early in the week and remember focus forward so we don’t live in the past.  All the best everyone!

Episode 6 features James Trapp, Former NFL Cornerback with the Oakland Raiders and Baltimore Ravens.

Our guest in this episode is former Oakland Raider and Super Bowl champ with the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl James Trapp.

Now in order for you to stay current and not miss any future episodes you can subscribe via iTunes, Google Play, find episodes on Stitcher and all of this can be easily found on our website richtakeonsports.com.

Also, the biggest compliment you can provide is by sharing this podcast with others and also providing feedback on iTunes by rating and reviewing and there’s going to be more details coming soon about some exciting free giveaways that we’re going to be doing for you listeners that provide a review on iTunes.

We can also connect via Twitter:

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This week in the Rich Spotlight our guest is James Trapp most notably known now as Minister James Trapp on Twitter as his life has unfolded into serving others.

James’s story is one of how talent can take you far greater than you can ever imagine through God given athletic ability but also the destruction that can occur when you become so self-absorbed in yourself.

James was a stand-out cornerback at Clemson University and was selected in the 3rd Round of the NFL draft by the Oakland Raiders. He was also a world class sprinter and a two-sport athlete at Clemson from 1989-1993 where in 1992 he was the 200 meter indoor NCAA Champion and won 2 gold medals in international competitions and was selected as an alternate for the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.

James was not a track guy playing football. He was a football player that just happened to run track and ultimately reaching the pinnacle in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens by winning Super Bowl 35 in 2000 and you’ll understand what I mean after hearing his story.

James’ journey started in Greenville, SC. Gives special recognition to Sam Wyche and his store because they gave him his first pair of football cleats. Played all sports in the neighborhood. Football was a part of his life because it was a get away from the life that he was living.

You become cocky once you realize that you’re good at sports. Started playing football at 7 or 8.  Neighborhood vs. Neighborhood.

Loved the physicality of football and become a sport that he really enjoyed. Baseball was too boring and basketball too many fouls.

Moved out of South Carolina in Texas and Mom was in the military. In Fort Hood living in a new environment and ran track but did not play football. Moved to Oklahoma and started playing football and played QB.

Very arrogant and cocky and the only thing that drove him was him.

Played with Will Shields who is an NFL Hall of Famer and most of his coaching staff is still alive. Only players that could play were the ones that wanted to play at the next level. Coaches provide so much than just coaching. Knew he was better than everyone else in junior high school.

Normally all kids from Lawton HS went to Oklahoma, however, Coach Switzer was not confident he would still be head coach and James actually want to go to Clemson and play for Coach Danny Ford. He was called a traitor by all of the people in Oklahoma when he signed with Clemson.

Only ran track at Clemson because he couldn’t start on the football team as a freshman and he was very cocky on the track and he was a loud mouth.

Had a to make a decision if he was going to really put in the effort to train more and better to compete against the best in the world. Changed his decision to fish only and the new training made the biggest difference.

Started to make significant improvements and then made the Olympic team. Herman Moore torched him in a game.

He knew he could play in the NFL and kept pushing forward and was kicked off the team by Ken Hatfield. James had a deal with Adidas on the table but still wanted to play football and was put into the combine and he was put in for his speed. Was ranked 112th initially and finished ranked 14th.

Oakland Raiders drafted in 1993 in was with his best friend Chester McGlockton.

Some of his best days were in Baltimore and remembers a time he spent with Tony Dungy talking about the story behind his Super Bowl ring. James actually likes talking about the trials and tribulations ins his life and uses the platform that the Lord has given him.

In 1999 he made the transition to find his faith after a very difficult year in 1998 with the Raiders and then became a Free Agent in 1999. Ozzie Newsome said he would sign him with the Ravens as long as he did certain things and Coach Schafer from the Raiders now with the Ravens wanted him.  About to lose his wife and family.

One night he looked at blank TV screen and now it’s late at night and the Lord reflected on his life and the people that he had hurt and he started crying and he’s not a crier. He called the chaplain and he came right over and was led to Christ.  First person he called was Napoleon Kaufman who changed his life while with the Raiders.

I hope you enjoyed that interview and who’s with me when I say WOW! The beauty of his story is hard to refute.  Here’s a guy that God just simply touched with unbridled athletic ability and it took James to places that he could have never imagined as a young boy and as he described it was all about him and his mirror.  He didn’t care for anyone else.  It was until a late night starring into another mirror but this time it was a blank tv screen and his life was transformed as he came to know his faith. His wife was very skeptical but this moment saved his life and his family.

Opportunity to play for the Lord even though he still choked people out and had so much fun. You will only know true freedom when you’re doing it for the Lord and you will be free.

Words of Wisdom – “Strong as the Vine” which came from his grandmother. Always signs off with SATV.  Even when you go through tough times stay attached and the Lord will prune away the tough times.

You could just hear it in his voice the joy he had playing after that lonely night in his hotel room and he continues to focus on others now. He’s served as team chaplain back at Clemson and for the Buffalo Bills and now continues his work in the NFL through Player Engagement. Just a wonderful story and that’s why we released this bonus episode.

We’ll be back again with another episode later this week and as I mentioned earlier stay tuned for some exciting news regarding some giveaways for listeners that leave a review on iTunes. Until then remember you can listen, download, and even subscribe on our website richtakeonsports.com and focus forward so we don’t live in the past. All the best everyone!

Episode 5 features guest Dan Radakovich, current Athletic Director for Clemson University.

I’ve received some great feedback from last week’s episode with former NFL head coach with the Cincinnati Bengals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sam Wyche and his story of the gift of life he received through organ donation as he received a heart transplant after the doctors only gave him a few hours to live.  Definitely, something you should listen too.

The feedback means a lot so I welcome the opportunity to connect. Please follow me on Twitter: @richtakesports

Email me: [email protected]

And don’t forget to visit our website richtakeonsports.com and there you listen, download and even subscribe.

Our guest this week is one of the most influential Athletic Director’s in all of sports and that’s Dan Radakovich, the current AD at Clemson University.  You’ll hear in his story that Clemson is not the only school he’s been associated with that has experienced some significant success.

Dan grew up in western PA outside of Pittsburgh in the steel mill section. Followed sports because it was a great time for the city of Pittsburgh with the Steelers and the Pirates.

Played football growing up and had one sister and sports were not a big part of his family it was more of his passion.

Attended Indiana University (PA) and later received his MBA from the University of Miami and there he eventually began his career in athletic administration after spending time in the business world.

Had jobs at Long Beach State, University of South Carolina, American University, LSU, Georgia Tech which led him to become the 13th AD at Clemson University.

Honored to be a part of the winning program at Clemson and with Coach Dabo Swinney.  Also very honored to be a part of the inaugural College Football Playoff Selection Committee.

Weekly Words of Wisdom:

“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than one’s fear. The timid presume it is lack of fear that allows the brave to act when the timid do not. But to take action when one is not afraid is easy. To refrain when afraid is also easy. To take action regardless of fear is brave.”  – Ambrose Redmoon

Episode 4 features former NFL Head Coach for the Cincinnati Bengals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Sam Wyche shares his journey into sports that started with the competition between him and his younger brother.  His brother, Bubba was actually the better athlete however, Sam was still able to walk-on at Furman University and played QB.

His first entry to coaching football was as a graduate assistant at the University of South Carolina working with Lou Holtz who was a defensive backs coach.  This assignment was temporary as he still wanted to play and eventually earned a position with the Cincinnati Bengals and ultimately played in a Super Bowl as a member of the Washington Redskins.

After, he retired from playing Sam joined Bill Walsh’s staff in San Francisco as his top assistant and helped guide the 49er’s to a win in Super Bowl XVI.  His opportunity to be a head coach came shortly after that Super Bowl win as he accepted the position at Indiana University.  Only staying one year, Sam was convinced to become the Head Coach of the Cincinnati Bengals.

At Cincinnati, Sam led the Bengals to one of the most potent offenses in league history at the time and earned a spot in Super Bowl XXIII against his best friend Bill Walsh who was still with the San Francisco 49er’s.  A narrow loss in the last 35 seconds still haunts Sam today and he eventually moved to Tampa Bay to become their head coach.

Turning his career to broadcasting, Sam enjoyed the opportunity of working with the likes of Marv Albert and Kevin Harlan however, a medical malpractice issue which damaged is laryngeal nerve ended his broadcasting career.

Sam experienced another medical issue and was only given hours to live before he received a heart transplant in September 2016.  Today, Sam is trying to create public awareness for organ donation.

The Weekly Words of Wisdom:

If you do not go after what you want, you’ll never have it.  If you never ask, the answer will always be no.  If you do not step forward, you will always be in the same place.

Episode 3 is the third episode of the trio of episodes for the official launch of Rich Take On Sports. Following the same format as Episode 2, this episode features current Kansas City Chiefs, former Bowling Green and University of Alabama WR Gehrig Dieter.

Gehrig gets to share his recent engagement news to Meg Kraft and his proposal plans.

Gehrig then shares his earliest memories of playing sports and how important his brothers were in shaping his sports career.

After setting the national record for the most receiving yards in a single game at 437 in high school, he decides to attend SMU and ultimately transfers to Bowling Green State University.  After battling injuries in his first year, Gehrig bounces back with a stellar season with over 1,000 receiving yards.

After transferring to the University of Alabama as a graduate transfer, Gehrig is now setting his sites on the NFL.