A major story at the Tokyo Olympics was the withdrawal of gymnastics icon Simone Biles from four individual finals at the Tokyo Olympics -- the all-around individual competition, vault, uneven bars, and floor exercise -- after withdrawing during the women's team final, citing mental health concerns. She did return for the balance beam final, in which she claimed her second bronze medal in the discipline after her bronze at the 2016 Rio Games.

Kavitha Davidson, Sports and Culture writer at the Athletic, joined the show to discuss these topics. She elaborately explained how mental health and sports are a topic that should be focused on. The conversation also included tennis star Naomi Osaka, who has her own issues that are not directly comparisons to Biles, yet something that should be respected as she continues her career.

Davison is also the host of a podcast called Culture Calculus. Find her online @kavithadavidson.

311. Simone Biles, Naomi Osaka Discussion w/Kavitha Davidson

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

News

Sports

Baseball

Sports News

Award-winning media veteran Keith Dawkins was hired by the Harlem Globetrotters in January 2022.  He spent 17 years at Viacom (now ViacomCBS), was elevated to the position of Executive Vice President at Nickelodeon where he oversaw and grew some of that brand's most beloved and successful networks. Dawkins also launched the Nickelodeon Sports initiative which saw him strike strategic partnerships with the likes of NFL, NASCAR, the PGA Tour, MLS, WWE, and a variety of pro athletes. 

The originators of basketball style, influencers on today's game, and skilled athletes of the highest order, the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters have showcased their iconic talents in 124 countries and territories on six continents since their founding in 1926. Proud inductees into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, their mission to spread game and bring entertainment to the world continues to drive them today. The Globetrotters are basketball innovators who popularized the jump shot, slam dunk and the half-court hook shot.

In this episode, Dawkins explains his goals for the future of the Globetrotters, and how they plan to use streaming services and social media to grow awareness to a new generation while being fan service for the people who remember them.  He also commented on the state of the NBA, WNBA, and college basketball and offers insight on how athletes become Globetrotters.

For more information about the Harlem Globetrotters, visit the Globetrotters' official website: www.harlemglobetrotters.com and follow them on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

452. Harlem Globetrotters CEO Keith Dawkins

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.

311. Simone Biles, Naomi Osaka Discussion w/Kavitha Davidson

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