Detroit City of Champions

Send us Fan Mail Episode 69: Walter Hagen Part 4: The Fork in the Road Despite his solid performance at the 1912 U.S. Open, Walter Hagen still viewed baseball as his true calling. This view would be given further support when he was invited to Spring Training with the Phillies in 1913. In today’s episode Jamie and Charles explore this fork in the road and how a bout of food poisoning would help to...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 68: Walter Hagen Part 3: “The Greatest Game Ever Played” U.S. Open, Brookline Massachusetts, 1913. In only his second pro tournament, Walter Hagen found himself among the front runners in one of the most important golfing events in American History. Damn that 14th hole!! In today’s episode Jamie and Charles explore Hagen’s experience in “The Greatest Game Ever Played.” htt...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 67: Walter Hagen Part 2: From Caddie to Club Pro From the earliest years of his youth Walter Hagen was immersed in the game of golf. In today’s episode Jamie and Charles explore this foundational period and how it would set the stage for the emergence of a legend. https://linktr.ee/DetroitCityofChampions www. DJJamieDetroit.com www. WearingFunny.com https://linktr.ee/Detro...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 66: Walter Hagen Part 1: A history of golf / introducing “The Haig” Among the brightest lights in the star-studded City of Champions universe was Walter Charles Hagen. The first club pro at Oakland Hills Country Club, Hagen would re-define the idea of what a golf professional actually was and in the process help elevate the city of Detroit into the upper echelon of America...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 65: Gar Wood “The Gray Fox of Algonac.” Part 15: The Pursuit of Excellence Among the pantheon of stars in the galaxy of Detroit sports, one would be hard pressed to find any as important or as forgotten as Garfield Arthur Wood. In today’s episode Jamie and Charles wrap up the story of his legendary career and explore the legacy of “The Gray Fox of Algonac.” https://linktr....

Send us Fan Mail Episode 64: Gar Wood “The Gray Fox of Algonac.” Part 14: The Madman’s Dream From a chalk drawing on the floor of his house to a fully built vessel the “Madman’s Dream” had come to life in the form of the Miss America X. Now it was time to test it! In today’s episode Jamie and Charles explore 12 days surrounding the 1932 Harmsworth race during which Wood and his happy band madmen p...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 63: Gar Wood “The Gray Fox of Algonac.” Part 13: The Madman’s Dream From a chalk drawing on the floor of his house to a fully built vessel the “Madman’s Dream” had come to life in the form of the Miss America X. Now it was time to test it! In today’s episode Jamie and Charles explore 12 days surrounding the 1932 Harmsworth race during which Wood and his happy band madmen p...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 62: Gar Wood “The Gray Fox of Algonac.” Part 12: Building the Miss America X Continuing the conversation with Roger Luksik at the Packard Proving Grounds; the genesis of the Miss America X is discussed. There is, perhaps, no boat which epitomized an era like “The Madman’s Dream” and today as she silently awaits a summer tour - her origin story will be told. https://linktr....

Send us Fan Mail Episode 61: Gar Wood “The Gray Fox of Algonac.” Part 11: A Trip to the Packard Proving Grounds - Special Guest - Roger Luksik In today’s episode Jamie and Charles take a trip to the Packard Proving grounds and tour the iconic Detroit institution with Packard Foundation President and Trustee: Roger Luksik. On location with the Miss America X. https://linktr.ee/DetroitCityofChampion...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 60: Gar Wood “The Gray Fox of Algonac.” Part 10: Kaye Don (cont.) Having lost the first heat of the 1931 Harmsworth race Gar Wood and his crew would need to completely rebuild the Miss America IX or defeat the following day would be certain. The conclusion to ”Episode 59: Kaye Don” will bring forth the voices of the past who once called Gar Wood’s boats: “Our Miss Americas...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 59: Gar Wood “The Gray Fox of Algonac.” Part 9: Kaye Don The death of Segrave spurred Britain into a national frenzy towards the winning of the Harmsworth Trophy. In today’s episode, Jamie and Charles explore the escalation of that pursuit and the greatest challenge Gar Wood had yet faced. https://linktr.ee/DetroitCityofChampions www. DJJamieDetroit.com www. WearingFunny.c...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 58: Gar Wood “The Gray Fox of Algonac.” Part 8: Death of a Speed Pioneer Gar Wood had thus far proved himself to be the undisputed master of speed on water, but, now, a new challenger to that dominance was about to emerge. Sir Henry Segrave was the king of speed on land and with virtually unlimited financial backing he intended on adding Wood’s Harmsworth Trophy to his sta...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 57: Gar Wood “The Gray Fox of Algonac.” Part 7: Guess We’ll Have to Build Another Boat In 1928 a British woman named Marion Barbara “Joe” Carstairs issues a challenge for the Harmsworth. Backed with nearly unlimited financing, a legendary boat designer and a cutting edge new engine Carstairs represented a major threat to Gar Wood’s supremacy of speed on water. Join Jamie a...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 56: Gar Wood “The Gray Fox of Algonac.” Part 6: In Pursuit of Competition Following his fifth consecutive APBA Gold Cup and second Harmsworth victory Gar Wood found himself at the top of the speed boating world but without any challengers. In today’s episode, Jamie and Charles explore Wood’s pursuit of competition between 1922 and 1927. https://linktr.ee/DetroitCityofChamp...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 55: Gar Wood “The Gray Fox of Algonac.” Part 5: The departure of Chris Smith Having won four APBA Gold Cups and the Harmsworth Trophy Gar Wood was now the biggest name in the world of speed boats. A successful defense of the Harmsworth on the Detroit River in 1921 would establish the city as the center of the speed boat world. Neither of these ideas would be allowed to go...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 54: Gar Wood “The Gray Fox of Algonac.” Part 4: The First Harmsworth Having dominated his American competition in the Gold Cup races, Gar Wood set his sight on the ultimate prize: The 1920 Harmsworth Trophy. https://linktr.ee/DetroitCityofChampions www. DJJamieDetroit.com www. WearingFunny.com https://linktr.ee/DetroitCityofChampions www. DJJamieDetroit.com www. WearingFun...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 53: Gar Wood “The Gray Fox of Algonac.” Part 3: Origin story Detroit’s dream of competing in the world of speed boat racing was mere moments from becoming a fantasy. It was at this exact moment that Garfield Arthur Wood arrived. In today’s episode Jamie and Charles will explore the origins of one of the greatest sportsmen in Detroit history. https://linktr.ee/DetroitCityof...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 52: Gar Wood “The Gray Fox of Algonac.” Part 2: “Chris Smith and his last seven cents” As Chris Smith evolved from providing craft for hunting ducks to boats for the sporting elite; events in the wider world conspired to derail his career. https://linktr.ee/DetroitCityofChampions www. DJJamieDetroit.com www. WearingFunny.com https://linktr.ee/DetroitCityofChampions www. DJ...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 51: Gar Wood “The Gray Fox of Algonac.” Part 1: “Chris-Craft” Among the galaxy of stars which made up the City of Champions season, perhaps the most revered was Garfield Arthur “Gar” Wood. In today’s episode, Jamie and Charles begin the exploration of his story with an examination of his legendary boat builder Chris Smith. https://linktr.ee/DetroitCityofChampions www. DJJa...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 50: Joe Louis. Part 13: The Greatest Individual Season in American Sport history: “Making the Case.” What was the greatest season by an American athlete? In today’s episode the case will be made that by any and all measurements it was the rise of Joe Louis in 1935. https://linktr.ee/DetroitCityofChampions www. DJJamieDetroit.com www. WearingFunny.com https://linktr.ee/Detr...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 49: Joe Louis. Part 12: The Greatest Individual Season in American Sport history: “A hero in their midst” The rise of Joe Louis in 1935 had a profound effect on the people of the Great Depression. In today’s episode, Jamie, Charles and Matt Fox are joined by Tonya Cole of Joe Louis Bourbon for a discussion on the immediate and enduring community impacts of the Brown Bomber...

Send us Fan Mail Often lost in the shuffle in the overall story of Joe Louis is the “final boss” of 1935: Max Baer https://linktr.ee/DetroitCityofChampions www. DJJamieDetroit.com www. WearingFunny.com

Send us Fan Mail With his decisive victory over Primo Carnera Joe Louis would rise above the level of “up-and-comer” to the heights of international superstar. In today’s episode, Jamie and Charles explore what this meant to Detroit, the country, the world, Joe himself and how it all fit into the unfolding events of the City of Champions season.... https://linktr.ee/DetroitCityofChampions www. DJJ...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 46: Joe Louis. Part 9: The Greatest Individual Season in American Sport history: “Primo” Joe Louis was a rising star in early 1935 but a “man mountain” stood in the path of his further ascent. That man mountain was Primo Carnera. In today’s episode Jamie and Charles explore the first major fight of Joe... https://linktr.ee/DetroitCityofChampions www. DJJamieDetroit.com www...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 45: Joe Louis. Part 8: The Greatest Individual Season in American Sport history: “The Hype Train” Having signed a contract with Mike Jacobs, Joe Louis and his retinue embarked on the plan which would see him rise to a level of superstardom unknown to any previous American of color. In today’s episode, Jamie and... https://linktr.ee/DetroitCityofChampions www. DJJamieDetroi...