Sports History Network

Connie Hawkins has a fascinating story of initially being banned by the NBA and later suing the league to be allowed to play. And it all started with a simple loan he took from gambler, Jack Molinas. We interview Bo Belanger about his new podcast series “Connie & Jack: A Rigged Game”.

CREDITS

Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice

Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher

MUSIC

"Horizons" by Roa

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

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

YESTERDAY'S SPORTS HOME PAGE

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of Yesterday’s Sports on the Sports History Network, host Mark Morthier sits down with Pittsburgh native Harv Aronson of Total Sports Recall (part of the Sports History Network) to explore what it was like growing up as a sports fan in the 1970s.

Harv shares how his writing and podcasting journey evolved into a curated portfolio of sports history content, while both hosts reflect on a childhood defined by neighborhood pick-up games, transistor radios, limited TV channels, and the freedom that shaped a generation of lifelong fans.

The conversation centers on defining sports moments that fueled Harv's passion, including the 1971 World Series between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Baltimore Orioles, sparked by watching Roberto Clemente homer, and the legendary 1972 “Immaculate Reception.”

From celebrating the Pirates’ championship to listening to Steelers games on the radio due to NFL blackout rules, the episode captures the raw excitement of 1970s baseball and football fandom.

Mark and Harv close by comparing the physical, defense-driven NFL of the 1970s to today’s game, revisiting the iconic Steelers–Cowboys Super Bowl rivalry and the dominance of franchises like Pittsburgh, Dallas, Miami, and Oakland.

For listeners searching for 1970s sports nostalgia, Steelers history, Pirates history, and classic NFL rivalries, this episode delivers a focused look at how a golden era of sports shaped a generation of fans.

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)

Imagine a National Championship game where the "Father of American Football" is a no-show because he’s busy refereeing a freshman match. Picture a snowy Thanksgiving Day in 1882, where fans storm the field not to celebrate, but to join a 10-minute-long human pile-up in the end zone. This wasn't a playground scrap; it was the birth of championship football.

Today in the Pig Pen, Darin Hayes welcomes back Timothy Brown of Football Archaeology to unearth the strange truth behind the 1882 Yale-Princeton showdown. From the bizarre rule that forced teams to play for the previous year's title to the "mall-in" scrum that redefined the word grit, we’re diving into the game that changed everything—even if Walter Camp wasn't there to see it.

1. The Hook: Start with the contradiction. "How can you have a championship game in 1882 to decide the winner of 1881?"
2. The "Celebrity" Twist: Reveal the shocker—Walter Camp, the man who practically invented the sport, skipped the first "meaningful" league championship to ref a JV game in another city.
3. The Action: Describe the 1882 rules where points didn't exist—only goals. The visual of the "mall-in," a ten-minute wrestling match in the snow where the defense tried to physically prevent a player from "touching the ball down," is the ultimate hook for any football fan.
4. The Takeaway: Timothy Brown explains why "championship" meant something entirely different in the 19th century and how the spectacle in New York City on Thanksgiving became the blueprint for the Super Bowl culture we know today.

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.

In 1974, North Carolina's Walter Davis hit a 30-footer as time expired to complete an 8-point comeback in 17 seconds against Duke.

In 2023, Detroit Mercy's Antoine Davis came up 3 points shy of equaling LSU's Pete Maravich as the NCAA All-Time Leading scorer.

In 1962, Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a 169-147 win over the New York Knicks.

In 2024, LeBron James scored his 40,000th point.

In 2012, New Orleans' bounty program was revealed.

The inquiry into the distinctive brown hue of a football, in contrast to the white coloration of a baseball and the orange of a basketball, serves as the focal point of our discussion. We shall delve into the evolution of the football, examining its historical significance and the reasons behind its unique aesthetic. My name is Darren Hayes, and I have dedicated decades to the preservation and understanding of football history, seeking to enhance the appreciation of this beloved sport for both casual fans and historians alike. Through this exploration, we will uncover the various influences that have shaped the football's color and design, from its origins in the 19th century to the modern innovations in materials and manufacturing. Join us as we navigate the rich tapestry of football history and uncover the nuances that contribute to our cherished game piece.

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.

Under the Radar is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear.

EPISODE SUMMARY

Jill Jaracz and Alison Brown have hosted the "Keep the Flame Alive" podcast since 2017, and their trip to Milan-Cortina for the 2026 Winter Games marked their third accredited trip to cover the Games. Hear their first-person, insightful, and irreverent observations -- and why we should think twice about having the national media build up and place enormous pressure on USA athletes only to tear them down if everything doesn't go well.

UNDER THE RADAR BACKGROUND

Under the Radar: Olympic Athletes Ya Gotta Meet is a podcast dedicated to highlighting the stories of unsung Olympic athletes past and future who are little-known and yet well worth getting to know. True to the Olympic spirit, these athletes have either demonstrated their heroism in past Games or have a chance to shine in future ones. Your host is Doug Levy, a retired sportswriter, reporter, lobbyist, and business owner who brings his love for all things Olympic Games to each podcast.

Every month, Doug will help you learn about athletes who competed just outside the limelight – or have yet to bask in the media spotlight. Each episode will feature an interview with athletes about the Olympic Games journey they took or the Olympic Games story they hope to write. So, sit back and learn about some competitors that NBC-TV and the mainstream media either never really discovered -- or have yet to uncover.

HOST - DOUG LEVY

Doug Levy is a lover of all things sports with a special affinity for the magic that comes come with every rendition of Summer and Winter Olympic Games. A 1984 University of Oregon graduate, he began his career as a sportswriter and columnist, news reporter, and political reporter for two daily newspapers in Washington State. He then spent 35 years in government affairs and politics, including 25 years owning/operating his lobbying business.

After retiring from lobbying at the end of 2022, Doug returned to his roots and spent two years of research, interviews, and writing for his first book, “Hero Redefined: Profiles of Olympic Athletes Under the Radar.” The book was published in late January 2025 and has earned words of praise from Olympic athletes and sports luminaries such as Sebastian Coe, Frank Shorter, Mac Wilkins, Mitch Gaylord, Willie Banks, and the President of the Golden State Warriors, Brandon Schneider. Doug lives just outside of Seattle, Wash., with his wife of nearly 40 years, Teri, and their dog Riley. They have two sons, Zach, 33, and Cody, 30. To learn more about Doug, visit www.authordouglevy.com

HERO REDEFINED: PROFILES OF OLYMPIC ATHLETES UNDER THE RADAR (Amazon link)

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

In this episode, we look back at the week of March 1–7 and the Native athletes who helped define it.

We begin in 1934, when Henry Armstrong earned an eight-round decision victory over Perfecto Lopez — one of many performances during the rise of one of boxing’s most dominant champions.

And we close in the modern era with Lyle Thompson scoring his 350th career goal in the National Lacrosse League — becoming just the 28th player in league history to reach that mark, and only the second Indigenous player ever to do so. Proof that Native excellence in sport isn’t just history — it’s happening right now.

Along the way, this week also includes milestone moments from Virgil Hill, Joe Hipp, Jack Dempsey, Gary Sargent, Ethan Bear, MarJon Beauchamp, Wes Welker, Billy Mills, and more — spanning boxing, hockey, basketball, football, MMA, and lacrosse.

From championship defenses to professional debuts and career milestones, this week reminds us that Native athletes have always been part of the story.

These are the moments.

These are the names.

This is our history.

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

SUPPORT NDN ALL-STARS

If you enjoy this podcast and want to support our mission of celebrating great Native athletes, visit NDNAllStars.com/shop.

You can also support the show at Patreon.com/NDNAllStars.

ABOUT NDN ALL-STARS

Hosted by Bill Black, the NDN All-Stars Podcast shines a spotlight on great Native athletes — past and present. From Hall of Famers to modern professionals, we tell the stories that deserve to be remembered.

Explore more at NDNAllStars.com

Follow NDN All-Stars on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

In 1986, the Barkley ultramarathon raced for the first time.

In 1993, New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner was reinstated by Faye Vincent after serving 2 1/2 years of a lifetime ban.

In 1969, New York Yankee Mickey Mantle retired after 18 years in MLB.

In 1971, Spencer Haywood won his court case against the NBA, allowing players less than four years removed from high school to play.

In 1998, Tiger Woods lost his first and only playoff in his PGA career.

In 1997, Hector 'Macho' Camacho knocked out Sugar Ray Leonard, ending Leonard's career.

Pro Football in the 1970s is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Your Favorite Sport's Yesteryear.

JOE ZAGORSKI'S BOOKS ON AMAZON

From the Outhouse to the Penthouse: The Football Journey of Hall of Famer Larry Little

Free Spirit at Free Safety: The Incredible (But True!) Football Journey of Bill Bradley

The 2,003-Yard Odyssey: The Juice, The Electric Company, and an Epic Run For A Record

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

The Year the Packers Came Back: The 1972 Resurgence

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

EPISODE SUMMARY

CHECK OUT THE NFL IN THE 1970S FACEBOOK PAGE

CHECK OUT JOE'S WEBSITE - JOE ZAGORSKI WRITER

There was a semi-famous movie that came out in 1981 starring Kurt Russell and Lee Van Cleef titled Escape from New York. It was a futuristic film about the protagonist trying to get out of the big metropolis in less than 24 hours. In the NFL during the 1970s, there were plenty of protagonists who were trying to do the same thing, albeit in a slightly longer time than just 24 hours. But be it the New York Giants, the New York Jets, or the Buffalo Bills, there turned out to be quite a few pro football players who found a way out of the Empire State to what they felt were greener pastures.

There were quite a few Hall of Famers who left their New York teams and went to other NFL teams during the 1970s, with mixed results......

Read the entire episode blog post and check out some other cool info regarding this episode here.

PRO FOOTBALL IN THE 1970S BACKGROUND

Reliving Gridiron Glory: Pro Football in the 1970s with Joe Zagorski

Professional football is one of the most exciting spectator sports in America. The decade of the 1970s saw the sport grow by leaps and bounds, thanks mostly to exciting players who quickly became icons. NFL players such as Joe Namath, Roger Staubach, O.J.Simpson, Terry Bradshaw, “Mean” Joe Greene and Fran Tarkenton are still considered household names today.

During the 1970s, the growing millions of pro football fans also witnessed numerous exciting games and plays, many of which are still remembered and discussed today. Plays like Franco Harris’ Immaculate Reception in 1972, or the original Hail Mary Pass in 1975, or the Sea of Hands game in 1974, or the Ghost to the Post game in 1977…so many memories, and all during one of the greatest decades in NFL history.

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast explores all the great memories that occurred in the NFL during that memorable decade. Each segment will tackle a specific event or player in the NFL during the 1970s. Each episode will also include a trivia question from some aspect of that particular episode’s theme or topic.

Joe Zagorski’s Pro Football in the 1970s podcast takes listeners back to a time of old school pro football, where the game might have been simpler in the form of strategy, but it was also more pure and more robust than it had ever been before. Practically everything that happened during that decade on pro gridirons gets attention in this podcast.

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

TOTAL SPORTS RECALL HOMEPAGE

EPISODE SUMMARY

Harv Aronson's personal choice of the top 10 martial artists in history that starred in successful movies.

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.