On March 12, 2020, after a player in the NBA tested positive for COVID-19, the league suspended operations. The Denver Nuggets were playing the Dallas Mavericks on ESPN that night and were live when the historical announcement was made, changing the entire sports landscape. Ryan Ruocco and Doris Burke were calling that game.

Ruocco is a play-by-play announcer for ESPN and the YES Network calling NBA, WNBA, Brooklyn Nets, and New York Yankees. He goes back with Seth for over a decade from their days at 1050am ESPN New York together.

Follow Ryan on Twitter @RyanRuocco

245. Ryan Ruocco

Every guest is a friend. Or a friend of a friend.  (We play Jewish Geography)

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Acclaimed golf reporter Bob Harig makes his third appearance on the show to recap the 2024 Masters Tournament which took place on April 11-14th, 2024 in Augusta, Georgia.  Scottie Scheffler won his 2nd Masters title. He last won in 2022, when Harig recapped that Masters in Episode 346. Harig also joined following the 2022 US Open in Episode 356.

In this episode, Harig breaks down the fact that Scheffler is clearly the #1 player in golf and has not achieved the superstardom that preview #1 golfers have held.  He also discussed the saga of Tiger Woods, who made his 24th consecutive cut at the Masters, and then proceeded to have his career-worst 3rd round.  Harig also weighed in on the lengthy resolution to the proposed merger between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour. He discusses any potential negative impact that lack of resolution has meant for the game, and whether it has slowed the sport's growth.

Harig's new book, "Drive: The Lasting Legacy of Tiger Woods,” details the recent comeback of one of the game's greatest icons. It can be purchased here: https://a.co/d/inB30DV.

451. 2024 Masters Recap with SI's Bob Harig

John Smoltz was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015 after a 21-year career, 20 of which were spent with the Atlanta Braves.  Smoltz is currently the lead analyst for MLB Coverage on FOX Sports. Smoltz is an 8-time All-Star and a 1995 World Series champion. He won the NL CY Young Award in 1996 with a blistering 24-8 record. After an arm injury, he converted to a reliever in 2001 and set NL saves record in 2002 with 55. He is the only pitcher in history to record 200 career wins,150 saves, and 3,000 strikeouts.

Smoltz is participating in the Invited Celebrity Classic which is a nationally televised PGA Tour Champions competition that features 78 PGA Tour Champions and 40 sports and entertainment stars. The event occurs between April 19-21, 2024, at Las Colinas Country Club in Irving, Texas.  It is live on the Golf Channel all three days. Golfers include Vijay Singh, Justin Leonard, Retief Goosen, Lee Janzen, and Colin Montgomerie.  Other sports athletes include Smoltz teammates Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux.  Former Sports with Friends guests Derek Lowe, Mark Mulder, and Pudge Rodriguez. Also, former players Jon Lester, Joe Carter, Kevin Millar,  Tony Romo, Albert Pujols, Brian Urlacher, Adam Thielen, and Robbie Gould.

In this episode, Smoltz talks about how the younger fans know him from his announcing days on FOX. He also talks about the evolution of the sport, and what works and what doesn't. He talks extensively about playing for Bobby Cox and the role Golf played both during his baseball career and in the years since he retired.

450. MLB Hall-of-Famer John Smoltz

In 2023, Phil Nevin held his first major league managerial position, managing the Los Angeles Angels. Before that, Nevin played 12 big league seasons between 1995 and 2006 for the Houston Astros, Detroit Tigers, Anaheim Angels, San Diego Padres, Texas Rangers, Chicago Cubs, and Minnesota Twins. He has previously served as a coach for the San Francisco Giants and New York Yankees.

Nevin joined the show to discuss both his playing and managing career. He also offered unique first-hand insight into Shohei Ohtani, whom he managed with the Angels. He also discussed Aaron Judge, who he coached with the Yankees in 2022.

Nevin was also a mutual friend of the late Darryl Hamilton. Part of the conversation is sharing stories of Hambone.

Nevin is participating in the Invited Celebrity Classic which is a nationally televised PGA Tour Champions competition that features 78 PGA Tour Champions and 40 sports and entertainment stars. The event occurs between April 19-21, 2024, at Las Colinas Country Club in Irving, Texas.  It is live on the Golf Channel all three days. Golfers include Vijay Singh, Justin Leonard, Retief Goosen, Lee Janzen, and Colin Montgomerie.  Other sports athletes include Nevin, Tom Glavine, Jon Lester, Joe Carter, Kevin Millar,  Greg Maddux, Tony Romo, Albert Pujols, Brian Urlacher, Adam Thielen, and Robbie Gould.

Next week, hall-of-famer John Smoltz, who is participating, joins the show.

449. Former MLB Player/Manager Phil Nevin

Jim Duquette was a longtime baseball executive. He served as General Manager of both the New York Mets and Baltimore Orioles. He began working as a broadcaster first for MLB.COM, then Sirius/XM Satellite Radio.  In 2009-2010, he hosted “Power Alley” with Seth Everett. Recently, he has also been a baseball analyst for Sportsnet New York (SNY).

In this episode, Duquette reflects on the transition from the front office to the broadcast booth.  He also discussed the various shows that he hosted with Seth. He then gives his take on the current way baseball is played, and how analytics have changed the overall product.

In 2012, Duquette was in the Mets radio booth for Johan Santana's no-hitter, the first no-hitter in New York Mets history.

Finally he gives a medical update on his daughter, who is thriving after Jim donated his kidney to her, also in 2012.

448. Former GM-turned-Broadcaster Jim Duquette

Ronnie Lane is a longtime talk show host in many markets over his long and illustrious career.  For the last decade, he has been a host on “Ronnie and TKras” on WDAE sports radio in Tampa, Florida.  Recently, Ronnie announced he was leaving the long-running talk show to take a hosting role in Tampa Bay Rays and Tampa Bay Buccaneers coverage for the station.

In this episode, Ronnie explains what led to this decision, and how the role has evolved over the years. He also talked about the ability to discuss the state of the Rays franchise and their stadium woes as well as on-field daily stories. He also explained how in the post-Tom Brady era, Bucs football is at an all-time fever pitch in the city.  He also laments that the Tampa Bay Lightning have created an event around their games, and the fan base has taken off just as the population in Tampa/St. Petersburg has grown.

245. Ryan Ruocco

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