The K.P. Wee Podcast

Stan Markotich and K.P. Wee talk about the lessons that K.P., who does play-by-play announcing for the Greater Vancouver (Richmond) Canadians minor hockey U15, U17, and U18 clubs, has learned from the hockey broadcast booth over the past six months.

K.P. is announcing nine games over the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend from October 11-13, 2024, at the Richmond Olympic Oval for the BC Elite Hockey League.

Are you a certifiable Sports Dork? If so, then you’re in for a treat with this episode of The K.P. Wee Podcast. Featuring Paul Hembekides – or “Hembo,” as he’s known around ESPN – the stats, history, and data points are coming fast and furious. A content guru whose research nuggets are showcased regularly on the ESPN morning show “Get Up!”, Hembo is giving us a peak into the new book he has written with his ESPN radio co-host Mike (#Greeny) Greenberg: "Got Your Answers: The 100 Greatest Sports Arguments – Settled."

Join K.P. and his co-host, Stan Markotich, in this conversation with Hembo, as they discuss some of the fascinating lists in the book. 

(Also, check out Hembo's other book with Greenberg: "Got Your Number: The Greatest Sports Legends and the Numbers They Own.")

It’s back to school time! Stan Markotich returns to the podcast, joining K.P.—both with backgrounds in education—to discuss the current state of the education system.

Eric Vickrey chats with K.P. Wee and co-host Stan Markotich on The K.P. Wee Podcast, discussing his book Season of Shattered Dreams: Postwar Baseball, the Spokane Indians, and a Tragic Bus Crash That Changed Everything. This book came out in 2024, published by Rowman & Littlefield.

To offer context for Eric's book, on June 24, 1946, a bus transporting the Spokane Indians baseball team fell into a deep ravine in the Cascade Mountains of Washington state, leading to the deaths of nine players. This incident stands as the deadliest accident in the history of American professional sports. In Season of Shattered Dreams, Eric examines the events leading up to, during, and following the tragic accident. He explores the often-neglected effects of World War II's conclusion on both major and minor leagues, which were now filled with players returning from military service. The Spokane Indians were affected as well, with several top prospects and former major leaguers joining the team that season. The stories of three Spokane players—Vic Picetti, Ben Geraghty, and Jack Lohrke—highlight the impact of the war on their lives, the challenges of minor-league careers, and the profound effects of the devastating crash.

Purchase Eric Vickrey's book "Season of Shattered Dreams: Postwar Baseball, the Spokane Indians, and a Tragic Bus Crash That Changed Everything" on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Season-Shattered-Dreams-Baseball-Everything/dp/1538190729/

Also, check out "Runnin' Redbirds: The World Champion 1982 St. Louis Cardinals" (McFarland, 2023) on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Runnin-Redbirds-World-Champion-Cardinals/dp/1476693641/

Jerry Izenberg, a long-time journalist who has covered multiple sports including baseball, football, and boxing, joins Episode No. 99 of The K.P. Wee Podcast to discuss his book, Larry Doby in Black and White: The Story of a Baseball Pioneer, which is a biography of Larry Doby, the first African-American player in American League history.

Jerry chats with K.P. and co-host Stan Markotich about this compelling read, along with many stories from the book, which was published by Sports Publishing, including his decades-long friendship with Doby.

Buy Larry Doby in Black and White: The Story of a Baseball Pioneer on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Larry-Doby-Story-Baseball-Pioneer/dp/1683584805

Aaron Fischman joins this episode to discuss his book, A Baseball Gaijin: Chasing a Dream to Japan and Back, which is a biography of former Major League Baseball pitcher Tony Barnette.

Aaron chats with K.P. and co-host Stan Markotich about this compelling read, which comes highly recommended. The book, published by Sports Publishing, chronicles Barnette's journey of perseverance and determination in pursuit of his dreams.

Buy A Baseball Gaijin: Chasing a Dream to Japan and Back on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Baseball-Gaijin-Chasing-Dream-Japan/dp/1683584775/ 

Here is Aaron’s website to keep in touch with his latest happenings: https://www.aaronfischman.com/

In this episode, Randy Louis Cox joins the show to talk about his book, 715 at 50: The Night Henry Aaron Changed Baseball and the World Forever.

This book celebrates the night that Aaron broke Babe Ruth's all-time home run record on April 8, 1974, featuring 44 photos taken by Cox that night and much, much more. 

Stan Markotich, formerly a news director at CJIV Radio, joins the podcast today to continue the discussion on the complex subject of sports betting.

K.P. shares a story about how a game from Week 3 of the 2020 NFL season between Baltimore and Kansas City irritated him (partly because the over/under line changed suddenly), and he and Stan discuss how the sports betting landscape affects sports fans' habits. 

K.P. also mentions the availability of other sports that can be wagered on, such as esports, as well as live betting in virtually every sport.

Stan Markotich, a former CJIV Radio news director, joins the podcast today to delve into the intricate topic of sports betting.

Both K.P. and Stan share their thoughts on what has emerged as a widespread occurrence within today's sports fan community: betting on sports. The latter also recalls a past incident that convinced him to abstain entirely from anything related to betting thereafter.

Journalist and author Dan Schlossberg joins this episode to discuss his new book Home Run King: The Remarkable Record of Hank Aaron (Sports Publishing, May 2024).

Schlossberg, currently an editor with the IBWAA, has authored or co-authored 41 books since 1974, and his latest Hank Aaron book was released earlier this month to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Aaron’s breaking Babe Ruth’s career home run record.

Schlossberg’s latest book can be picked up here.

To catch up with Schlossberg’s latest happenings, check out his website https://danschlossberg.net/. He also co-hosts and produces the weekly show “Travel Itch Radio.”