The Far Middle

In Far Middle episode 176, baseball great Willie Mays makes a series encore appearance in conjunction with the episode’s sports dedication. While Mays was honored in episode 24 , it’s an interview Mays gave in 1954 that’s the focus of this installment. In that interview, Mays revealed his mindset as a professional athlete in the 1950s, which included emphasizing the importance of loving the game,...

Far Middle episode 175 returns to the rink with a tribute to Bob Probert for this week’s sports dedication. Probert is widely considered the greatest hockey enforcer in NHL history and could play both ends of the ice, scoring 20 to 30 goals per season. “Probie” played primarily for the Detroit Red Wings and was known for his intimidating presence—tallying 232 fights and 3,300 penalty minutes over...

In Far Middle episode 174, Nick leads off by acknowledging Constitution Day and its significance. Next up, the episode’s September 18, 2024, release date coincides with the 30 th anniversary of the premiere of Ken Burns' 1994 Baseball documentary. Nick celebrates Burns’ Emmy-winning series for this week’s sports dedication, calling it the greatest sports documentary ever made. Burns’ only error? C...

Far Middle episode 173, premiering on Patriot Day (September 11), begins with a solemn "never forget" message from Nick. He also notes Grandparents Day, observed this past Sunday, and the wisdom and mentorship grandparents provide. The episode’s sports dedication is a celebration and reflection on the career of the multi-talented Pat Williams. An iconic and innovative figure in pro sports, William...

The Far Middle episode 172 returns to the rink for the installment’s sports dedication, this time honoring Steve Yzerman, affectionately known as "Captain Redwing" or "Stevie Y." Nick reviews Yzerman's historic career, a journey that includes a 19-year captaincy of the Detroit Red Wings, three Stanley Cup victories, Olympic gold medals, and influencing future players like Sidney Crosby. Nick also...

The Far Middle episode 171 begins with a sports dedication curveball. Nick leads off by noting the episode was recorded the day before Major League Baseball pitcher Blake Snell threw not only his first complete game but also a no-hitter. Acknowledging the timing, Nick humorously asks for Snell’s forgiveness before diving into this episode’s sports dedication. The dedication (and Snell’s serendipit...

In Far Middle episode 170, Nick offers a different take on this installment’s sports dedication. It’s a dedication that comes “with very mixed emotions because it ties to my alma mater, Penn State, and its beloved football program, which I'm a lifelong fan of,” says Nick. “But those core Far Middle beliefs and policy foundations, they can't be superseded by simple emotion or personal preference.”...

While the 2024 Paris Olympic Summer Games have concluded, Nick keeps the Olympic spirit alive in Far Middle episode 169. Nick pays tribute to the first modern Olympic Games held in Athens in 1896 to mark the installment’s sports dedication, noting the 1896 Summer Games were actually held in the spring, and it would be more than a century before the IOC would bring the Olympics back to Greece for t...

Far Middle episode 168, released on August 7, 2024, falls on the 70 th anniversary of the historic one-mile race in Vancouver, B.C., between England’s Sir Roger Bannister and Australia’s John Landy. Known as, “The Mile of the Century,” Nick looks back on the race and how Bannister and Landy challenged consensus and broke the 4-minute mile mark, thereby sparking higher levels of performance by athl...

Episode 167 of the Far Middle continues the series’ recent focus on California, beginning with a nod to National Avocado Day and California’s state fruit. Nick’s sports dedication then proceeds to celebrate California basketball royalty: Cheryl and Reggie Miller. Reflecting on Cheryl and Reggie’s achievements, Nick notes how wildly similar their careers are: both played college basketball in Los A...

In “Hard Truths,” Nick continues his discussion from prior Far Middle episode 165 where he revisits his June address at the Jonathan Club in downtown Los Angeles. But before delving into this week’s hard truths, Nick pays tribute to NBA legend Jerry West, highlighting "Zeke from Cabin Creek’s" incredible journey from Chelyan, West Virginia, to becoming the most iconic figure in basketball, literal...

Far Middle episode 165 premieres during the dog days of summer and the day after this year’s Midsummer Classic. While last night’s All-Star Game was held at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, Nick heads to Los Angeles for this installment’s sports dedication to Dodger Stadium. Dodger Stadium, also known as “Chavez Ravine,” has hosted two All-Star Games, numerous World Series games, and legendar...

Kicking off Far Middle episode 164, Nick heads to the NFL for this installment’s sports dedication. As players report to training camp this month and the 2024 season approaches, Nick picks up where he left off in episode 159 to highlight the crucial role of the offensive line. Without the O-line succeeding in the trenches, “you're not going to have a successful football team, and its stars are not...

The Far Middle episode 163 arrives on the eve of the Fourth of July, “which brings to mind all kinds of imagery for Americana, perhaps none bigger than baseball,” begins Nick. Fittingly, the episode’s sports dedication goes to a key figure in the national pastime’s history: Judge Kennesaw Mountain Landis. While Landis served as the first Commissioner of Major League Baseball, elected in 1921 and s...

Released on June 26, 2024, the Far Middle episode 162 arrives on the anniversary of baseball legend Frank Robinson’s June 26, 1970, double grand slam game. Nick uses the connection to reflect on the 1982 Hall of Fame inductee’s powerful career, both on and off the field. Following Robinson in the episode’s lineup is a discussion on the rising demand for electricity driven by the growth of data cen...

The Far Middle episode 161 lands amidst a string of holidays—released on Juneteenth, and just following Flag Day, Father’s Day, and just ahead of summer’s official arrival.   June is indeed a special time of year, and it’s also the month this episode’s sports dedication would be selected by the New York Yankees in the 1982 MLB draft, however, that multi-talented athlete would instead choose to hea...

The Far Middle episode 160 begins with a sports dedication to Sonny Vaccaro, a game-changing figure at the intersection of sports, business, marketing, and fashion. Nick discusses Vaccaro's journey from a schoolteacher to a pivotal player in Nike's entry into the basketball market, including Vaccaro’s strategy of paying college coaches to have their teams wear Nike shoes, leading to a significant...

The Far Middle episode 159 kicks off with a dedication to legendary football coach Joe Moore. Nick describes Moore, a western Pennsylvania native, as, “the greatest name in the region's football history that you've probably never heard of.” Moore made lasting impacts at both the high school and collegiate levels, particularly during his tenure at Pitt and Notre Dame, where he developed numerous NF...

The Far Middle episode 158 tips off with a sports dedication that bookends episode 121’s dedication to the great John Wooden . The episode's dedication centers around UCLA booster Sam Gilbert, a behind-the-scenes figure essential to UCLA basketball's success during John Wooden's coaching era. Gilbert, though controversial and often breaking NCAA rules, provided significant support and resources to...

The Far Middle episode 157 begins with a tribute to America’s servicemen and women following Armed Forces Day, celebrated the preceding Saturday, May 18. Leading off with the episode’s sports dedication, Nick goes back 40 years to the infamous “bean-brawl game” from August 12, 1984, between the San Diego Padres and Atlanta Braves. Nick walks through the “train wreck” of a game that included three...

The Far Middle turns three with episode 156; representing three years and hundreds of unique “connections,” thought-provoking and surprising insights not found anywhere else. Following the recent 150 th milestone episode that explored core themes of the podcast’s journey, from limited government to individual liberty, Nick opts for a fun approach this special episode, navigating a web of cultural...

Nick begins episode 155 by paying respect to Holocaust Remembrance Day, sadly observing, “The ability and degree of humans to harm other humans, it's one of those attributes that make us unique in the animal kingdom, badly unique.” Nick then shifts the episode’s focus to California, revisiting a state often in the Far Middle spotlight (see Nick’s commentary, “ Ode to Los Angeles From a Wary Admire...

In Far Middle episode 154, Nick examines a string of connections demonstrating how a lack of consistency is becoming the norm in society—raising questions about fairness, integrity, and the rule of law. In the lead-off spot and serving as the episode’s sports dedication, Nick discusses Major League Baseball's inconsistent handling of the Shohei Ohtani and Pete Rose gambling scandals. In addition t...

Episode 153 of The Far Middle delves into "Big Truths," a contrasting theme to the prior episode's focus on " Little Lies ." Leading off, Nick presents a few hard truths on the economics of professional sports for the installment’s sports dedication. Those truths include the challenge of becoming a professional athlete, and for the elite few that make it to the highest level of their respective sp...

Following a recent coincidental listen of Fleetwood Mac's "Little Lies," Nick examines a series of connections all based on little lies that have major consequences, particularly little fibs steering energy policy today. Marking episode 152’s sports dedication, Nick runs through a historic trifecta of sports related lies; including, George O'Leary's false resume claims, George Steinbrenner’s comme...