The Buck Stops Here

The legend of Jim Thorpe is known worldwide, but the personal stories of the man behind the medals are kept alive by his family.In this special episode of The Buck Stops Here, host Kirk Buchner sits down with Anita, Mary, and Teresa Thorpe—the granddaughters of the legendary first-ballot inductee of the United States Athletics Hall of Fame, Jim Thorpe.Kirk presents the ceremonial plaque for Jim Thorpe's induction to the USAHOF's First Class and together they dive deep into the untold stories of the greatest athlete of the 20th century. From winning two Olympic gold medals in mismatched shoes, to his "wild spirit" that included standing up to Al Capone and helping Native American actors in Hollywood, the Thorpe women share the heart, humility, and incredible bloodline of the man who paved the way for Indigenous athletes everywhere.We also discuss the bizarre history of how the town of Jim Thorpe, PA got its name, the racist archaic rules that led to his Olympic medals being stripped (and eventually restored), and the Jim Thorpe Memorial Foundation in Oklahoma that preserves his only home.🏆 Vote for the 4th Class of the United States Athletics Hall of Fame! Cast your vote for athletes, coaches, contributors, and commentators at: theusahof.com🏛️ Support the Jim Thorpe Memorial Foundation:Learn more and support the preservation of Jim Thorpe’s legacy at: https://www.jimthorpememorialfoundation.org/🎙️ Follow Kirk Buchner & Not In Hall of Fame: Website: NotInHallOfFame.com“Wherever you are or if you may be, make today count because it never comes again.”What is your favorite Jim Thorpe story or athletic achievement? Let us know in the comments below!🔔 Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE for more incredible conversations with the legends of sports history.🗳️ Have your say: Head over to theusahof.com right now to cast your vote for the 4th Class of the United States Athletics Hall of Fame!

Welcome back to The Buck Stops Here, the official podcast of NotInHallOfFame.com! Host Kirk Buchner is joined by Aaron Edward Freeman, the mastermind and curator behind the Country Music Hall of Fame prediction list.In this episode, Kirk and Aaron break down the latest seismic shifts in the Country Music HOF rankings. Find out why Trisha Yearwood and The Chicks are making massive jumps, why "The Voice" Vern Gosdin is the new #1 in the Veterans category, and how off-stage controversies involving Garth Brooks, Morgan Wallen, and Bailey Zimmerman are impacting Hall of Fame trajectories. Plus, they discuss the current state of country music, Ella Langley's historic crossover success, and share some hilarious Canadian nostalgia.🗳️ Vote for the Class of 2026! Help decide who goes into the United States Athletics Hall of Fame at www.theUSAHOF.com. You can vote every day!📊 Check out the Predictions: See Aaron’s full, updated Country Music Hall of Fame prediction lists (Modern & Veterans) at www.NotInHallOfFame.com.👍 Support the Show: If you enjoyed the episode, please Like, Comment, Subscribe, and let us know who YOU think deserves to be in the Country Music Hall of Fame!

Welcome back to The Buck Stops Here! In this special episode, Kirk is joined by regular guest and Long Island native Robert Dobek to step away from baseball and tackle the gridiron and the ice.First, Kirk breaks down some breaking news and "shady" optics surrounding the 2026 Hockey Hall of Fame class and Brian Burke’s induction. Then, Rob takes the floor to make a passionate Hall of Fame case for New England legend Wes Welker. Kirk and Rob debate the evolution of the slot receiver, compare Welker to Julian Edelman, and discuss the "Super Bowl bias" that keeps greats like Logan Mankins and Marshawn Lynch on the outside looking in.Later, Rob (a Giants fan) gives his unfiltered take on Eli Manning’s Hall of Fame chances, and the guys settle the debate on who is the greatest goalie in NY Rangers history: Mike Richter or Henrik Lundqvist. Finally, Kirk teases a massive new grassroots project to redo the Baseball Hall of Fame starting in 1909, ensuring Negro League legends are honored in real-time.If you love deep-dive sports debates, Hall of Fame arguments, and unfiltered takes, you’re in the right place!🎙️ Join the Debate: Do you think Wes Welker deserves a Gold Jacket? Is Eli Manning a Hall of Famer? Let us know in the comments below!🗳️ Vote for the Greatest: Head over to theUSAHOF.com to cast your votes for the United States Athletic Hall of Fame. We just mailed out Bonnie Blair’s plaque, and we want your help deciding the next class of legendary athletes, coaches, and contributors!🔔 Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please hit that subscribe button, leave a 5-star review, and share it with a friend.

Welcome back to Season 7, Episode 9 of The Buck Stops Here! Kirk Buchner and Evan Nolan are back to break down the newly announced 2026 Hockey Hall of Fame class. We celebrate first-ballot legends like Patrice Bergeron, Carey Price, and Keith Tkachuk, but we also take the HHOF selection committee to task. Kirk breaks down the lack of transparency surrounding Brian Burke’s induction and Evan compares it to a "Cheney Committee."Plus, we talk FIFA World Cup 2026! Kirk shares his incredible experience watching the USMNT in Seattle, the amazing cultural mashup in the city, and the unbelievable mental fortitude of the Iranian National Team. Finally, we pay our respects to the legends we lost in June and give you everything you need to know about voting for the United States Athletics Hall of Fame.Make today count, because it never comes again!🗳️ VOTE FOR THE UNITED STATES ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME:Your voice matters! Head over to theUSAHOF.com to cast your votes, see the rankings, and help decide the next class of inductees. There are no secret committees here—just pure democracy!🏈 VISIT THE UPTON BELL COLLECTION:If you are in the UMass Lowell area, check out the Upton Bell Collection featuring the new United States Athletics Hall of Fame plaque, including NFL legend Bert Bell!👍 SUPPORT THE SHOW:If you enjoyed the episode, please Like, Subscribe, Hype and leave a comment below! Let us know who you think should be in the Hockey Hall of Fame next year, or share your thoughts on the World Cup.

Kirk Buchner and Chris Mouradian are back on The Elevator Show to break down the massive Hall of Fame implications following the NBA and NHL Finals!The New York Knicks are finally champions, ending a decades-long drought! Kirk breaks down how Jalen Brunson, Leon Rose, and Mike Brown solidify their HOF resumes (plus a hilarious tangent about a WWE "vampire" who cursed the Knicks... but they won anyway). Chris takes over for the NHL, discussing Rod Brind'Amour's historic Cup win as both a player and coach, Jordan Staal's Conn Smythe run, and Taylor Hall's championship boost.Later, we look at the "Elevator Downs" in baseball as Giancarlo Stanton, Manny Machado, Gunnar Henderson, and Trea Turner face shocking offensive struggles. We wrap up with highlights from the Kentucky Derby, Indy 500, and UFC, before a massive plug for the United States Athletic Hall of Fame fan vote!🗳️ VOTE NOW: Head over to the United States Athletics Hall of Fame website to cast your fan votes for Year 4! Covering 19 sports, it's a 100% pure fan vote. Pro Tip from Chris: Review the entire ballot and make your list before you start voting, or you'll run out of votes before page two!👍 Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed the show, please subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share it with your fellow sports fans! Wherever you are, make today count!

The NHL season isn't truly over until the Hockey Hall of Fame class is announced, and this year’s ballot brought some serious heat! Kirk, Chris, and Ron break down the newest inductees, starting with the undisputed first-ballot lock, Patrice Bergeron. But things get spicy fast as the guys dissect the optics of Brian Burke’s Builder induction—specifically the controversy of him serving on the selection committee right before getting voted in. Ron also drops a "U Can't Play" rant regarding Burke's history with concussion culture in the NHL. Plus, the guys react to the surprise women's and goaltending picks (Cindy Curley, Carey Price, and Pekka Rinne), Keith Tkachuk finally getting the call, and an exciting update on the United States Athletic Hall of Fame.Head over to TheUSAHOF.com to cast your votes for the next class of the United States Athletic Hall of Fame! This year, you can vote for legendary sports commentators—don't forget to check out the bios and vote for your favorite voices in sports. Also, make sure to subscribe to the Not in Hall of Fame podcast for more hot takes, and follow the guys on X/Twitter for behind-the-scenes debates!

Kirk Buchner and Chris Mouradian break down their predictions for the upcoming Hockey Hall of Fame class! With the 18-person selection committee preparing to make their decisions, the guys debate the biggest locks, the dark horses, and the potential snubs.They discuss Patrice Bergeron's historic defensive career, the "compiler" case for Patrick Marleau's 1,700+ games, Henrik Zetterberg's Detroit legacy, Keith Tkachuk, Carey Price, and the best female candidates like Meghan Duggan and Jenny Potter. Plus, Kirk shares his controversial theory on Don Cherry's Hall of Fame chances and his exit from CBC.Visit theUSAHOF.com to vote for the United States Athletics Hall of Fame! All inductees are decided by public vote.Check out more at NotInHallOfFame.comWho do YOU think is making the Hockey Hall of Fame this year? Drop your predictions in the comments below! And don't forget to head over to theUSAHOF.com to cast your votes for the United States Athletics Hall of Fame. If you enjoyed the show, please hit that like button, subscribe, and ring the bell so you never miss an episode of The Buck Stops Here. Find the new "HYPE!" button and click it so more people will see this video!

Welcome back to a special episode of The Buck Stops Here! Host Kirk Buchner is joined by his old friend Robert Dobek from Long Island for a deep dive into one of baseball's most complicated and controversial Hall of Fame cases: Omar Vizquel.With Vizquel on his final year of eligibility on the BBWAA ballot, Kirk and Robert break down his legendary defensive prowess, his role in the iconic 1990s Cleveland Indians lineup, and how he stacks up against all-time greats like Ozzie Smith and Derek Jeter. But they also tackle the severe off-field domestic abuse and bat boy allegations that completely derailed his Cooperstown chances and turned him into a persona non grata in baseball.Plus, the guys discuss the changing landscape of the Hall of Fame ballot, the controversial 10-year limit rule, future locks like Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina, and wrap things up with some NHL Stanley Cup predictions involving Mitch Marner and the Toronto Maple Leafs.If you enjoyed this deep dive into Omar Vizquel and 90s baseball, please hit that Subscribe button, leave us a 5-star review, and share the episode with a fellow baseball fan! Your support helps keep The Buck Stops Here going.Voting is officially OPEN for Class Number Four of the United States Athletics Hall of Fame! Head over to theUSAHOF.com right now to cast your vote and help decide the greatest athletes in American history. You are the deciders!

Are the Chicago Bears really leaving Illinois for Hammond, Indiana? In this special episode of The Buck Stops Here, host Kirk Buchner sits down with Chicago’s premier sports historian, Jack Silverstein, to cut through the noise, rumors, and political theater surrounding the Bears' stadium search.Jack breaks down the chaotic history of the Bears' stadium pursuits, the financial realities of Soldier Field, why the McCaskey family’s ownership structure complicates everything, and why Chicago has never had to face the psychological impact of losing a major sports team.Plus, we dive into Jack’s incredible new book, "Why We Root: Mad Obsessions of a Chicago Sports Fan," his upcoming deep-dive book on the 90s Bulls dynasty, and the greatest unseen play in NFL history (the 1933 NFL Championship).🗳️ VOTE NOW for Class Number Four at the United States Athletics Hall of Fame: theUSAHOF.com📚 Get Jack’s Book "Why We Root": https://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Root-Vol-Obsessions/dp/1662939418✍️ Subscribe to Jack’s Substack (Read Jack): readjack.substack.comThe Buck Stops Here is the official program of NotInHallofFame.com and the United States Athletics Hall of Fame.

Host Kirk Buchner sits down with New England-based sports card expert Bill Murphy to unpack the evolution of card collecting—from nostalgic childhood pastime to legitimate alternative asset class. Bill shares his personal journey into the hobby, breaks down the difference between vintage "Grail Cards" and modern prospect speculation, and reveals how high-net-worth collectors are now using graded collections as collateral for financing. Plus: practical tools to value your old boxes of cards, red flags for new investors, and the digital future of collecting with NFTs and Web3 integration. Whether you're dusting off your 1980s binders or exploring sports memorabilia as an investment, this episode delivers actionable insights without the hype.🔍 Got old cards? Snap a photo with the eBay app or check CardLadder.com to see what you might be sitting on.💬 Join the conversation: Vote in the U.S. Athletics Hall of Fame at theusahof.com and share your collecting stories with  @Notinhalloffame  🔔 Subscribe to NotInHallOfFame.com for more deep dives into sports, culture, and the stories that matter.00:01:37 – Bill's origin story: "Baseball Bill," flea markets, and the 1986-87 Topps obsession00:04:40 – When did cards shift from toys to assets? The COVID-era collecting boom explained00:06:45 – Free tools to value your collection: eBay photo scan + Card Ladder walkthrough00:08:19 – Using cards as collateral: How bespoke financing works for illiquid collectibles00:09:11 – The "3,800 Grail Cards" thesis: Why vintage Robinson, Ruth, and Cobb cards have finite supply00:11:07 – Barry Bonds case study: Why his card portfolio is up ~54% YoY despite controversy00:12:34 – Prospect card volatility: Why Roman Anthony and other hot rookies can swing ±40% fast00:14:43 – Bill's personal picks: Luis Hernandez (Giants) and Liam Doyle (Cardinals) prospects to watch00:17:35 – The digital frontier: Kennedy Digital NFTs, Fanatics integration, and fractional card ownership