Sports History Network

As a sports fan and more specifically a basketball fan, the month of march consists of making brackets and then after the first four days of the tournament, possibly ripping up those very same brackets.

It is a month of hoops, last second buzzer beaters and ultimately one shining moment.

For us here at the Historically Speaking Sports podcast, the month of March also means looking back on the best that the sport of college basketball has to offer From the Indiana Hoosiers perfect season to Christian Laettner's game winner against Kentucky and the unrivaled dominance of the UCLA Bruins led by Lew Alcindor (Later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), Bill Walton and the "Wizard of Westwood" John Wooden.

Yet in this episode --- we are going to be treading into dangerous waters.

In this special March Madness edition of the Historically Speaking Sports Podcast Co-hosts Dana Auguster and Charles Combs will share their takes on basketball history that will certainly spark debate among the listeners as well as possible outrage.

Those so called dangerous waters that the hosts will be drifting into in this episode is putting together the starting five, one bench player and the coach of 12 of the most prestigious college basketball programs in history.

Some of the questions we will be tackling, who starts at point guard for Georgetown, Allen Iverson or Eric Sleepy Floyd.

Who will team up with Michael Jordan at the University of North Carolina?

Which two supremely talented guards will make up the back court for the University of Arizona which has a very rich history at those positions.

And which of the five Kentucky coaches that have won championships in Lexington be tapped to be the head coach of the ultimate collection of Wildcats.

All those questions and much more will be answered in this episode.

But there is a point to all of this. this is only part one of a two part series.

After the teams are constructed with lineups filled with legendary players, the second part of the series will feature a 12 team bracket and Charles and Dana will predict the winner of the tournament.

Then with the help of artificial intelligence it will determine a winner and we will compare our predications with AI.

Now how close they will come is yet to be seen. But....in this episode.... Charles and Dana will discuss and in some cases debate who is most deserving to be on their alma maters greatest collection of hoops talent.

So sit back and prepare to either be in agreement or in total outrage on who we select for the first annual Historically Speaking Sports Alumni Basketball tournament... right here on the sports history network.

To contact the show, you could write to us at [email protected]

In 2018, the UMBC Retrievers beat top-seed Virginia.

In 1980, Louisville's Dr. Dunkenstein and the Doctors of Dunk destroyed LSU to advance to the Final Four.

In 1958, Cincinnati Royals player Maurice Stokes collapsed on the airline ride home from a game. The seizure he suffered left him incapacitated, ending his career. Most figured he would have been compared with the likes of Bill Russell and Elvin Hayes.

In 1974, the Oakland A's signed Herb Washington who holds the distinction of being the only non-pitcher in MLB to appear in 100+ games without an official at-bat.

In 1975, Jack Nicklaus won at Doral with a key club in his bag for most of his final round.

In 2001, Annika Sorenstam shot a 59 during an LPGA event. She's the only woman to ever do it in competition.

In this podcast episode, we delve into the historical significance and enduring influence of the single wing offense, a revolutionary football strategy that emphasized strategic deception and versatility. This formation, which emerged in the early 20th century, transformed the dynamics of the game by allowing multiple players to serve as potential ball carriers, thereby creating an intricate web of misdirection that confounded defenses. We examine the pivotal contributions of coaching luminaries such as Glenn Pop Warner, who developed this scheme to enable smaller, agile players to compete against larger opponents through innovative tactics. Additionally, we discuss the gradual evolution of football from a brutal, smash-mouth game to a more nuanced contest that incorporated the forward pass, ultimately leading to the decline of the single wing's dominance in favor of more specialized formations. Through this exploration, we seek to illuminate the foundational role the single wing played in shaping modern football, highlighting its legacy that persists in contemporary offensive strategies.

Join us at the Pigskin Dispatch website to see even more Positive football news!

Don't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts.

Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well don't, because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website.

NDN All-Stars is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

EPISODE SUMMARY

Native American athletes featured this week include Henry Armstrong, Jack Dempsey, Billy Kidd, Joe Hipp, T. J. Oshie, Cherokee Parks, and Joe Louis.

This week in NDN All-Stars history highlights major moments across boxing, baseball, basketball, and hockey.

Henry Armstrong adds several victories to his incredible boxing career during the 1930s and 1940s, including wins in Los Angeles, Houston, and New York. Jack Dempsey continues his early rise in the heavyweight ranks with another first-round knockout in Utah.

The week also includes Billy Kidd winning a slalom race in Aspen, Joe Hipp avenging an earlier loss with a knockout victory in Montana, and T. J. Oshie reaching the milestone of one thousand NHL games.

From classic boxing arenas to modern professional milestones, these moments show the wide impact Native athletes have made across the world of sports.

Topics Covered

• Henry Armstrong defeats Baby Arizmendi in a 1938 boxing bout

• Jack Dempsey scores an early heavyweight knockout in Memphis

• Billy Kidd wins a slalom event in Aspen, Colorado

• Joe Hipp avenges a previous loss with a knockout victory

• T. J. Oshie reaches one thousand NHL games with Washington

• Cherokee Parks scores a career-high twenty-five points for Dallas

• Henry Armstrong continues his winning streak in Los Angeles

• Tommy Morrison scores a knockout victory in Las Vegas

• Joe Louis defeats Abe Simon in Detroit

SUPPORT NDN ALL-STARS

If you enjoy the content here and would like to help support our mission of celebrating great Native athletes of the past and present, please take a look at our NDN All-Stars Shop. Proceeds from every purchase help us continue to research and retell these stories.

If you would like to support the project directly, please consider becoming a supporter on Patreon.

NDN ALL-STARS BACKGROUND

Hey there—I'm Bill Black, and welcome to the NDN All-Stars Podcast. If this is your first time hearing about us, let me tell you what we’re all about.

This podcast is where Native sports history comes alive. Each episode shines a spotlight on the great Native American athletes you should know—past and present. From Hall of Famers to hometown heroes, we tell the stories of Native athletes who made their mark—on the field, on the court, and in history.

We keep it real. No sugar-coating. No museum talk. Just straight-up stories told with pride and purpose—because representation matters, and these All-Stars deserve to be remembered.

Some episodes are deep dives into a single athlete’s life. Others bring on guests—historians, authors, and sometimes the athletes themselves—to help connect the dots between culture, identity, and achievement.

Whether you’re Native, a sports fan, a history buff, or just curious, this podcast offers a new perspective on what greatness really looks like.

So if you're ready to learn, laugh, and maybe even get a little fired up, hit that follow button and join the team.

You can find more stories, merch, and updates at NDNAllStars.com.

And be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube — just search for NDN All-Stars and you’ll find us.

NDN All-Stars – Promoting Great Native Athletes – Past & Present!

In 1985, 16th-seeded Fairleigh Dickinson came within a whisker of beating #1 seeded Michigan. It was the first year the tournament expanded to 64 teams.

In 1989, Michigan Head Basketball coach Bill Frieder was fired two days before he was to coach his #3 seeded Wolverines in the NCAA Tournament. 'A Michigan man will coach Michigan!' said, Bo Schembechler.

In 1963, the all-white Mississippi State Bulldogs played Loyola-Chicago in the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs had to sneak out of Starkville to play it. The pre-game handshake between a white and black player contributed to integration of universities in the south.

In 1969, the US Men's Hockey team lost 17-0 to the USSR in the World Championships.

In 1869, the Cincinnati Reds became the first professional baseball team ... sort of.

In 1892, John Houlding was ejected from the Everton Football Club, leading to the formation of Liverpool FC.

Total Sports Recall (TSR) is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

TOTAL SPORTS RECALL HOMEPAGE

EPISODE SUMMARY

Not just team names but nicknames within the nicknames. Famous team nicknames by team units and players are discussed in this episode.

TOTAL SPORTS RECALL BACKGROUND

Harv Aronson was born and raised in Pittsburgh and now resides in Jacksonville, Florida. You can listen to the Total Sports Recall Podcast, which is also available on Spotify, iHeart Radio, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.

Harv currently writes for AbstractSports.com, the Sports History Network, and the magazine Gridiron Greats. Harv wrote the published book "Pro Football's Most Passionate Fans" and as a professional writer has had articles published in an array of sports publications.

Harv loves all sports but football and baseball are at the top of his interest. His passion is for sports history. Visit Harv’s portfolio at https://www.clippings.me/totalsportsrecall. You can contact Harv using his official podcast email address which is [email protected]. You may also reach out to Harv on X using the handle @TotalSportsRecl.

This podcast episode delves into the intriguing narrative of Notre Dame's halftime jersey switch, a phenomenon that exemplifies the historical quirks of football. Our esteemed guest, Timothy Brown, shares his fascination with these lesser-known tales, which not only illuminate the evolution of football attire but also reflect the broader cultural shifts within the sport. The discussion traverses the challenges teams faced with uniform colors, particularly during intense rivalries, and how these challenges gave rise to innovative solutions, such as adopting practice jerseys for clarity on the field. As we explore this captivating story, we also touch upon the eventual establishment of regulations regarding contrasting jerseys, driven by the advent of televised broadcasts. Through this exploration, we uncover the rich tapestry of football history, one narrative at a time, inviting listeners to appreciate the depth and significance behind what may seem like a mere anecdote.

This conversation is based on Tim's research and story titled: Notre Dame's Halftime Jersey Switcheroo

Join us at the Pigskin Dispatch website to see even more Positive football news!

Don't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts.

Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well don't, because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website.

On March 10th, 2001, current Louisville Head Football Coach and former XFL QB with the Orlando Rage started a game just six days after getting literally 'knocked out' of a game.

On March 10th, 1976, the origin of 'Ain't over 'til the fat lady sings' can be tracked back to an article written in that days' Dallas Morning News.

On March 9th, 1946, baseball’s Ted Williams turned down a $500,000 contract to play in Mexico.

On March 11th, 1974, MLB commissioner Bowie Kuhn ordered Hank Aaron to play to start the season.

On March 14th, 1980, tragedy struck as a plane carrying 14 US amateur boxers along with 8 staff members crashed in Warsaw, Poland.

Julius Erving is better known as Dr. J, or just The Doctor. But where did that nickname come from? We answer that in today’s episode.

CREDITS

Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice

Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher

MUSIC

"Disco Funk" by Jam Morgan

"Horizons" by Roa

SPORTS HISTORY NETWORK

sportshistorynetwork.com

sportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/

FACEBOOK

m.facebook.com/Basketball-History-101-103801581493027/

BUSINESS CONTACT

[email protected]

Yesterday's Sports is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

YESTERDAY'S SPORTS HOME PAGE

EPISODE SUMMARY

In Part 2, host Mark continues his in-depth conversation with Harv Aronson of Total Sports Recall, diving deeper into the dominance of 1970s sports dynasties. The discussion highlights how legendary teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys were built through scouting and late-round NFL Draft picks rather than first-round hype, with figures like Gil Brandt and Bill Nunn identifying hidden talent from small colleges.

The episode also revisits Super Bowl XIII, Tony Dorsett’s explosive performance, and the enduring Cowboys–Steelers Super Bowl rivalry, including reflections on Super Bowl XXX and how quarterback play shaped championship outcomes.

The conversation expands into Olympic history and 1970s sports culture, covering the controversial 1972 USA men’s basketball loss, the brilliance of Mark Spitz, and the unforgettable USA boxing team of the 1976 Olympics featuring Sugar Ray Leonard and Leon Spinks.

Mark and Harv also reflect on boxing’s golden era, from Ali vs. Frazier and the “Rumble in the Jungle” to Marvelous Marvin Hagler vs. Thomas Hearns, examining why the 1970s and 1980s produced some of the greatest fighters in sports history.

Closing out the episode, the hosts compare the dominance of 1970s MLB teams like the Cincinnati Reds, Oakland A’s, and Pittsburgh Pirates with today’s era of parity, while reminiscing about classic TV programs like ABC’s Wide World of Sports and the communal experience of watching big events before DVR and streaming existed.

For fans of 1970s sports history, classic NFL rivalries, Olympic controversy, and boxing’s golden age, this episode delivers a compact but powerful look at a transformative era in American sports.

YESTERDAY'S SPORTS BACKGROUND

Host Mark Morthier grew up in New Jersey just across the river from New York City during the 1970s, a great time for sports in the area. He relives great moments from this time and beyond, focusing on football, baseball, basketball, and boxing. You may even see a little Olympic Weightlifting in the mix, as Mark competed for eight years. See Mark's book below.

No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training: A Guide For People With Limited Time

Running Wild: (Growing Up In The 1970s)