Conversations with Sports Fans

We're rejoined by our longtime pal - and now 3-time Conversations' guest - Craig Caswell. (Previous episodes found here and here .) If you're new to the show, Craig has now seen all 364 NCAA Division I men's basketball teams play in person. That number is two higher than a year ago when we last spoke, thanks to seeing Mercyhurst (vs. Lafayette in December) and Western Georgia (at B...

Host Doug Hill is again joined by his father, Jerry, to discuss their recent experience at the University of Kansas' historic Phog Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence as part of Doug's Around the World in 80 Sporting Events project. The two do stray, ever so slightly, to discuss a stop in Casey, IL, on their way to Kansas. Casey bills itself as "Big Things in a Small Town." If you'r...

In this episode we're joined by a long-ago fellow sports journalist, Paul Dodd. Dodd, a native of Adrian, MI, and a graduate of the University of Michigan and a 5-year member of the Wolverines' Marching Band, chats not only about all things UM, but also about Detroit-area sports, the Montreal Expos (seriously!), the late 1980s Philadelphia sports scene, a lengthy conversation he had with A...

In this bonus episode, host Doug Hill and his father, Jerry, discuss their recent visit to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, MO. The visit to the NLBM was Event 12 of Doug's Around the World in 80 Sporting Events retirement project. If you're enjoying Conversations with Sports Fans please consider supporting our work ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

We're joined in this episode by Jee-ho Yoo a native of Incheon, South Korea, who's been covering sports for the country's English-language news service, Yonhap News Agency , since 2010. There's much more to Jee-ho's story than that of your typical sports writer, however. His father worked for a time in Toronto, Ontario, which afforded Jee-ho the opportunity to experience North...

We're rejoined in this episode by Virginia middle school math teacher/blogger/podcaster/author Michael O'Connell . We first chatted with Michael in S:3, E:18 . He's back with us to chat about the re-emergence of a bonafide NFL team in the Beltway as well as a certain Washington Capitals' star who is reeling in Wayne Gretzky 's NHL mark for career goals scored. The main reason M...

We're joined in this episode by Brooklyn, NY, resident, former Village Voice News Editor, and 2-time published author, Neil deMause. During our Conversation with Neil we focus heavily on his first book which he co-authored with Joanna Cagan. It's entitled Field of Schemes: How the Great Stadium Swindle Turns Public Money into Private Profit . As the title suggests, deMause and Cagan take a...

We're joined in this episode by Larry Schecter, author of ⁠The History of Fantasy Sports: And the Stories of the People Who Made it Happen ⁠ . Himself an accomplished fantasy sports player, Larry shares both the history of the evolution of fantasy sports as well as a few of the anecdotes he unearthed while researching this, his second book. His first was entitled ⁠ Winning Fantasy Baseball: Se...

We're joined in this episode by retired Detroit-area dentist, Dr. Carl Papa. Carl's sports fan journey begins back in 1961 with his beloved Detroit Tigers and some of his his favorite players like Jake Wood , Chico Fernandez , and Steve Boros . Along the way, we learn of Carl's affinity for all things University of Michigan Wolverines and for tennis. Among the highlights of his spectat...

We're joined in this episode by the President of the Fort Wayne TinCaps , Mike Nutter. A native of northwest Ohio, Nutter's been with the TinCaps organization for 25 years and has helped shepherd the franchise through a name change (formerly the Wizards), the relocation to a new ballpark (now at Parkview Field ), and was at the helm when the franchise won the 2009 Midwest League Championsh...

Following a very full first day of 2025 out and about in Pasadena, CA, as part of Event No. 11 of Around the World in 80 Sporting Events , host Doug Hill caught up with traveling partner Tim Parker (previously heard S:1, E:3 and S:3, E:30 ) to reflect on all that they experienced. Run with the Roses 5K Tournament of Roses Parade Rose Bowl Game If you're enjoying Conversations with Sports Fans...

We're joined in this episode with Rose Bowl (and all things Rose Bowl) super fan, Brent Myers. Brent, a native of Burton, MI, attended his first Rose Bowl in 1986 and has returned several times since, including every Rose Bowl since 2014 (save the COVID year). Also an avid collector of sports memorabilia (with, of course, a heavy focus on Rose Bowl paraphernalia) Brent counts among one of his...

As we're now inside a week from the playing of the 2025 Rose Bowl between Oregon and Ohio State, we're delighted to be joined in this episode by ⁠ Brian Brantley ⁠ , the Vice-President for Advancement at the ⁠ Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation ⁠ . A native of the Philadelphia area, Brian has spent the better part of his working life with either professional sports franchises or college athletic...

We're delighted to be joined in this episode by Savannah Bananas co-founder and co-owner, Emily Cole. The sibling of three athletic brothers in a sports-minded family during her childhood in upstate New York, Emily's involvement in professional sports entertainment seemed destined. Accept, she says, it wasn't until working her first "big girl job" in the corporate world that...

We're joined in this episode by former Miami Marlins VP of Ticket Sales, Ryan Bertschman. Ryan spent over two decades working for professional sports teams (primarily in the ticket sales area) including the Indianapolis Colts , the Indiana Pacers and Fever , the Detroit Pistons and Shock , the Florida Panthers , and the Marlins. During our fascinating discussion, we learn about the different m...

We're joined in this episode by longtime Lansing Public Schools educator and activist, Alfonso Salais Jr. The son of Mexican immigrants, Alfonso shares his journey as a sports fan growing up in Michigan's capital city. Listening to the Detroit Tigers on the radio was a common practice as was pulling for the nearby Michigan State Spartans. It was not until much later in life that he attended his fi...

The LPGA concluded its season last weekend in Naples, FL, with its CME Group Tour Championship . Thailand's Jeeno Thitikul finished eagle-birdie to win by a single stroke and claim a record, $4 million winner's purse. There to help relay the action to viewers was Golf Channel's Amy Rogers . A contributor to Golf Channel, ESPN+, the LPGA, and BBC, Rogers is our guest in this episode of Conversation...

In advance of Event No. 10 of ⁠ Around the World in 80 Sporting Events ⁠ (SEC Football Rivalry Weekend), we're joined by Robins Bonner, Senior Sport Sales and Event Development Manager at Visit Tuscaloosa . Tuscaloosa is home to the University of Alabama which hosts in-state rival, Auburn University , in the annual Iron Bowl on Saturday, November 30. A native of Mobile and graduate of Alabama, Bon...

In advance of Event No. 10 of Around the World in 80 Sporting Events (SEC Football Rivalry Weekend), we're joined by Nadia Thornton, Director of Sales and Marketing at Visit Oxford (MS) . Oxford is home to the University of Mississippi (aka Ole Miss) which hosts its in-state rival, Mississippi State , in the annual Egg Bowl on Friday, November 29. Thornton, a graduate of Ole Miss, provides us the...

In this episode we're joined by Joe Hilliard, assistant football coach at Odessa (TX) Permian High School. If that high school name sounds familiar, it might be because Permian was the location of both the best-selling book and movie , "Friday Night Lights" and the basis for the successful television program of the same name. Joe is actually a transplanted Texan. He was born and raised in the nort...

In this special bonus episode, host Doug Hill was recently interviewed by friend of Conversations, Fred Inniger, on Inniger's weekly sports talk show, "The Hawk Sports Talk," from WAWK 95.5 FM in Kendallville, IN. If you're enjoying Conversations with Sports Fans please consider supporting our work ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ he⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

It took the better part of a year to get schedules to jibe, but we're happy to have Pat Schutte (he of the Fan Teaser inspiration at The Sports Fan Project ) join us in this episode. Pat takes us on his personal fandom journey through stick & ball to boarded to wheeled and even hoofed sports. We learn quite a bit about Motocross , Supercross , Super Motocross , Moto GP , Road America , and Sup...

In this episode we're joined by Jimmie James, a retired executive from Exxon Mobil, who upon retiring set out on a quest to the play the 100 greatest courses in the United States (as determined by Golf Digest ) in one year. ( ⁠ Here's the 2023 rankings. ⁠ ) Not only did Jimmie accomplish the feat, he chronicled the accomplishment in his memoir, ⁠ Playing from the Rough: A Personal Journey Through...

Host Doug Hill provides some reflections from Event No. 9 of his Around the World in 80 Sporting Events project; the Xfinity 500 NASCAR Race at Martinsville Speedway . If you're enjoying Conversations with Sports Fans please consider supporting our work ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ he⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠e ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Our guests in this special episode are Sarah Hodges and Kelly Rowland from the Martinsville-Henry County (VA) Economic Development Corporation. We're speaking to Sarah and Kelly in advance of Event No. 9 of ⁠ Around the World in 80 Sportings Events ⁠ , the ⁠ Xfinity 500 NASCAR Semifinal Race ⁠ at historic Martinsville Speedway. During our time with Sarah and Kelly we get a good overview on what th...