Photo: Wikipedia Public Domain
Story By: Gail Nobles

But, after football, Bubba started feeling the effects of all those hits he took while playing. He had pain and headaches.

So, Bubba and other former players sued the NFL. They said the NFL didn't tell them enough about the dangers of head injuries.

Then, something surprising happened: Howard Cosell, a famous sportscaster who often criticized the NFL, supported Bubba and the other players.

Cosell wasn't a lawyer, but he was a big voice and helped get the word out about the lawsuit.

Even though Bubba died before the lawsuit was finished, it be came a big case with thousands of players. The NFL ended up paying billions of dollars to help the players with their medical problems and research.

Bubba Smith's story shows the price athletes pay for playing sports, and how companies like the NFL should protect their players. Even someone famous like Bubba could challenge a powerful organization and make a difference, with the help of someone like Howard Cosell.  This story is still important today as we think about keeping athletes safe in all sports.

Intro music by: Gail Nobles
Story by: Gail Nobles
Photo: Wikimedia Public Domain

Let me tell you, that PBS soul celebration from the 60s and 70s was absolutely electric! You know how we love to groove and move to those timeless rhythms, and when Yvonne Elliman stepped out there on that stage and belted out "If I Can't Have You"? Whoa, what a moment!

Hello! I’m Gail Nobles and you’re listening to Times Rippley. I’m talking to you today about Yvonne Elliman and her smashing hit. If I Can’t Have You.

Now, talking about the Bee Gees, those brothers knew how to write a hit, and this one really captured the spirit of the 70s. Just imagine the disco lights, the vibrant colors—Saturday Night Fever was setting the scene, and Yvonne’s voice soared right through it all, reaching that number one spot on the US charts in '77!

What I love is that soul music has that power to connect folks, to get them up on their feet dancing. Yvonne’s take on that song was just soulful and full of passion, bringing the house down, and reminding us of those unforgettable years when music was all about heart, love, and unity.

So, if you missed that celebration, oh man, you better make sure to catch the reruns! It’s history, it’s rhythm, it’s soul, and it’s just waiting to sweep you off your feet! Keep that spirit alive, and let that music play!

Story by: Gail Nobles
Muchael Jordan photo: Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
Julius Ervung photo: Wikipedia CC BY 3.0

Hello! I'm Gail Nobles!  Welcome to Times Ripley. Today I want to talk about Michael Jordan versus Julius Irving. They played against each other. They faced each other a total of eight times in NBA games. Julius Irving has a 6 to 2 winning record over Michael Jordan. They never met in the playoffs.

 Michael and Julius on a Hardwood battlefield where the legends take flight, each in their prime yet from seemingly different epochs.  On one side we have Michael Jordan an electrifying comet, a force of nature soaring to heights previously unseen in the world of basketball! The man is pure dynamite and sneakers with his tongue out and his will to win unyielding already setting the NBA ablaze with his acrobatics and artistry.

 And there gliding into the picture is the one and only Julius Dr. J. Irving- the epitome of style and  grace, a man who redefined the very essence of what it means to soar! The doctor arrives.

 The game commences! with a raucous charge!  Michael Jordan takes the ball!The crowd gasps as he glides  by the good doctor with unparalleled speed and embodying the spirit of youth- a whirling dervish! But wait! The doctor with his sublime agility, pivots, and out of nowhere produces a block that leaves eyes wide!

 A back-and-forth of brilliance ensues in a vertible chess match played with keen intensity and flair. Jordan responds showcasing not just his physical prowess but a basketball IQ that seems to defy his years. A feathery jumper here and acrobatic layup there. Truly remarkable! Truly remarkable!

 But let us not overlook the presence of the esteem Dr. J! With silky smoothness, he dances and walks through the air unleashing an arsenal of moves that only he can perform. His signature dump that defies gravity sending waves of electricity through the building, draining the very oxygen from the atmosphere! He is like the wind, the air we breathe- there is poetry in his motion.

 As the clock winds down the tension escalates. Each point is hard fought, each basket a declaration of athletic supremacy, and yet a bookkeeping of history’s  pages.
 Folks, whether it is Michael with his youthful audacity or Dr. J with his legendary grace, we are the fortunate witnesses of a basketball renaissance! History has been made. Stories are  told.

 From the timeline to icons from two different time zones captured in a moment where basketball transcends mere sport. It’s a spectacle of epic proportions - a game that could never truly happen, yet in our minds, the echoes of their greatness respond on the hardwood! And as they say in the grand Arena of life it's not just about the wins and losses, but the legacy left behind. What a world we live in.

Story by: Gail Nobles
Photo: Wikipedia Public Domain

Yoel Romerois a Cuban professional mixed martial artist and former freestyle wrestler. He currently competes in the Light Heavyweight division for Bellator MMA. Romero formerly competed in the Middleweight division for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and was a challenger for the UFC Middleweight Championship.

Romero mixed martial arts record shows 15 wins and 7 losses. Romero is scheduled to face Thiago Santos on February 24, 2024 at PFL versus Bellator.

Yoel Romero is called a true MMA legend and the soldier of God. He competes at the highest level against the very best fighters to this day. Even though Yoel Romero is one of the best fighters to never hold a UFC title, you can help but notice him because he is one of the best fighters. It’s hard not to look his way. It's hard not to recognize him. He’s got fans that call him the champ. They say he's a true warrior and a great freestyle wrestler.

Remero was the '99 World Champion (five-time medalist at the World Championships), the '00 Olympic Silver medalist, a three-time World Cup winner (six-time medalist). . I could go on and on. As of Feb 7, 2023, he is #3 in the bellator Light Heavyweight Rankings. Romero is incredible and has not retired. He’s still working as a warrior in the MMA.

I’m Gail Nobles. Thank you for listening to Times Rippley.

Story by: Gail Nobles
Photo: Wikipedia Public Domain

Hi! I am Gail Nobles, and you’re listening to Times Ripley. PBS is the best in documentaries. PBS is a free-to-air television network and is different than CBS, ABC, and NBC. I've always called it the learning broadcast television station. It’s the station where we watched Mr. Rogers and Sesame Street as children.

As an adult, I began to watch PBS documentaries. I learned about the newspaper LA times and how it started. The name of that documentary is Inventing LA: The Chandlers and Their Times. The city’s most powerful family.

Another great PBS documentary that I like is Eyes On The Prize. It tells the story of the Civil Rights Movement.

The Wizard Behind The Curtain is a wonderful documentary about the fascinating life of L Frank Baum, the author of the Wizard of Oz.

And there is the Walt Disney documentary. It’s about his complex life and enduring legacy from his early days creating Mickey Mouse.

And there's more documentaries from PBS. Just look for the TV show “American Experience”. Just go to pbs.org or YouTube to follow and subscribe to the show.

Music by: Gail Nobles ©️ 2023
Music: Echoes of Romeo
Story by: Gail Nobles
Vocals by: Gail Nobles
Art by: Gail Nobles

Hi! I'm Gail Nobles, & you’re listening to Times Rippley.

I'm thinking of Aaliyah and Jet Li today. When they made the movie “Romeo Must Die” together, it was considered Li’s American film breakthrough and Aaliyah’s acting breakthrough.

I was looking for more, but Aaliyah left us in 2001. However, the memory of the movie and music video, “Try Again” that they did to together still lingers on in my mind. Musically, I can only imagine them together if Aaliyah had lived to do more movies with Jet Li.

(Music) Voice 1: Drop Kick! Choir: Drop That Base...

The music you've just heard is called “Echoes of Romeo” by Gail Nobles ©️ 2023. Inspired by the movie Romeo Must Die and soundtrack.

When I think about Aaliyah, it makes me wish I could have worked with her during the time she was working with Jet Li and working on her music.

There are many of us that have plans & dreams & people we didn't get to meet. If we don't get to do things in the present; if we don't get to see eachother, maybe in God’s plan & kingdom in the future. Until next time, goodbye friends. Thank you for listening.

Intro Song written by: Gail Nobles
Intro song: We Can Always Come To The Savior
Vocals by: Gail Nobles
Art by: Gail Nobles
Story by: Gail Nobles
Story: Donna Summer and Me

Music: Soul Keys Letting Go - Samplefocus.com
https://samplefocus.com/samples/soul-keys-letting-go-b
Usage: Standard License

I don't know what it is about Donna Summer and me.
Singing: We can always come to the Savior

Donna Summer was someone I tried to find & get in touch with weeks before she died on social media. I had no idea that she had cancer or if she had a social media account online. She was just on my mind. The next thing I knew, it was pronounced that Donna Summer had passed away.

The queen of disco. I remember hearing her a lot on the radio when I was a little girl. My favorite song by Summer is Heaven Knows. She passed away May of 2012 at age 63.

Years after Donna Summer passed away, I had a dream about her that she was getting prepared to sing in the heavenly choir. She was with a lot of people. They had on robes, and they looked as if they were stepping up standing in line.

Sometime this year, I had a vision of Donna Summer. She was sitting in church. She had on a navy blue dress with a white collar. Summer had on glasses and she appeared to be unbowing her head as if she had been praying.

It is said that she had sung in the choir. She was raised on gospel music. I don’t know why I had the dream & vision of Donna Summer. I see as if she knows something about me. I have never met Donna Summer. It’s a spiritual thing. Maybe I was close to her in my heart more than I realized, and maybe she became a part of me.

I can’t forget Donna Summer. I won’t forget her & the dream & vision. I’m Gail Nobles. You’re listening to Times Rippley.

Song: Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)
Song by: Harry Belafonte
Digital art by: Gail Nobles
Voices by: Gail Nobles
Vocals by: Gail Nobles
General Port Ambience: https://quicksounds.com/library/sounds/dock

“Day - I (The Banana Boat Song) is a traditional Jamaican folk song. It is a call and response work song, from the point of view of dock workers working the night shift loading bananas onto ships. The lyrics describe how daylight has come, their shift is over, and they want their work to be counted up so that they can go home.

The best-known version was released by Jamaican-American singer Harry Belafonte in 1956 and later became one of his signature songs.

"The Banana Boat Song" likely originated around the beginning of the 20th century when the banana trade in Jamaica was growing. It was sung by Jamaican dockworkers, who typically worked at night to avoid the heat of the daytime sun. When daylight arrived, they knew that their boss would arrive to tally the bananas so they could go home.

Belafonte described "Day-O" as "a song about struggle, about black people in a colonized life doing the most grueling work," in a 2011 interview with Gwen Ifill on PBS NewsHour. Belafonte said that he took that song and honed it into an anthem that the world would love.

Harry Belafonte left us on April 25, 2023. He went to a new home. He is now resting in peace. He lived to get to a good old age. Belafonte lived to get 96. He has now retired. His work is done.

I'm Gail Nobles and you're listening to Times Rippley. .....

Hi! I’m Gail Nobles & you’re listening to Times Rippley.
Jesus was in the past, he’s in our present, and he’s in our future.
According to Rev. 1: 8, he’s Alpha & Omega. The beginning & the ending which is, and which was, and which is to come, the almighty.
Jesus Christ is the only door by which we may enter and be saved according to St. John 10:9. He said, “ I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

Jesus is the only one that can give us eternal life according to St. John 3:16. “ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

I don’t know no other door like Jesus. There is no other way, but Jesus. He’s the one and only doorway to salvation. He’s the only way we can get through. The Lord is the only one that can save us. He’s also the good Shepherd. He protects us and keeps us from all evil.

St. John 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. And verse 12 tells us that the hireling is not the shepherd and leaveth the sheep & the wolf catches them. And scattereth the sheep. Verse 13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

I think about the false prophets & false teachers trying to deceive and carry away the sheep from Christ. They’ll tell you that there is another way to salvation. Always remember that Jesus is the door.

Ocean and crocodile alligator effects: soundbible.com
Voices by: Gail Nobles
Digital art by: Gail Nobles

Hello! I’m Gail Nobles & you’re listening to Times Rippley.

“I done something new for this fight. I done wrestled an alligator. ~ Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali was more than a great champion in boxing. He was also a poet. “I done wrestled with an alligator,” he would say. He took his poetry to the boxing world. While talking about Tarzan, his imagination made you think he was boxing in the jungle.

“ I had to beat Tarzan’s behind first for claiming to be the king of the jungle.” ~ Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali took you beyond the boxing ring and painted pictures in your mind. He made the greatest speech back in the 70s. It's nice to go back in time to see the waves of Rippley. Listening to the words of Muhammad Ali’s adventure is like a mirage. You can see the appearance of water, Ali, and the alligator.

Did you know that Muhammad Ali fought an alligator in a Saturday morning animated series? The series was broadcasted on NBC in the fall of 1977. Ali’s first adventure was The Great Alligator. The Saturday morning cartoon was titled: The Adventures of Muhammad Ali.

Well, I hope you've enjoyed the first Times Rippley’s podcast. Tune in next time for more.