First Ballot: The Hall of Fame Podcast

Is there a greater feeling than catching a projectile from a mascot's T-shirt Cannon? Actor and Writer, Michael Torpey, joins the pod to explain why Tim Derk's contribution to the world of sports is First Ballot Hall of Fame worthy, his epic home run catches, and working with Michael Jordan.  (00:48) 2023 Nuggets vs "The Bubble" Lakers (06:09) Intro Take Two (07:38) A Special Ad Read (10:12) Fired...

In 1999, Jean van de Velde had one of the biggest uh-ohs in sports history. With a 3-stroke lead, "Jean Jean Jean" needed just a 6 on the 18th hole to clinch the British Open, but instead orchestrated one of the greatest meltdowns in sports history. Comedy writer Matt Goldich joins the pod to discuss why this collapse is crazy enough to enter the First Ballot Hall of Fame, if his wife thinks he's...

Caitlin Clark put together perhaps the best March Madness Tournament run in college basketball history, but does she have one moment good enough for the First Ballot Hall of Fame?  Host of BetMGM Tonight and The Heat Check podcast, Trysta Krick, asks and answers whether Clark is the best college player of all-time, discusses one of the most original basketball calls in the history of TV broadcasti...

When Freeway's What We Do played at a Sixers-Heat game in 2018, the fan cam displayed an incredible show of humanity from the audience. Here to discuss the impact of the moment is journalist, creative, DJ, and Philadelphia native Cory Townes, who also talks about meeting Jay-Z (42:00), songs that are potentially more Philadelphia than What We Do (46:45), and the cultural influence Philadelphia has...

In 1996, Riddick Bowe faced off against Andrew Golota in Madison Square Garden. Golota was well on his way to pulling off one of boxing's great upsets, before a series of heinous low blows led to his disqualification, and one of the craziest post-fight melees in all of boxing history. Rafe Bartholomew, writer and author of "Pacific Rims" and NYT Bestseller "Basketball: A Love Story", joins the pod...

In 2013, fueled by two years of resentment after losing to Jason Terry and the Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 NBA finals, LeBron James pulled off one of the most incredible casket dunks ever. Comedian and writer on DAVE, Niles Abston joins the pod to discuss his journey to Hollywood (10:30), working with Lil' Dicky (39:40), and if the Miami Heat burying Jason Terry is worthy of the First Ballot Hall...

The 63-win Boston Bruins won more games this season than any team in NHL history.  And then they faced the Florida Panthers in Round 1 of the 2023 Playoffs.  David vs. Goliath, on ice.  With hockey sticks.  CBS Vice President of Late Night, Nick Bernstein tries to get another long shot into the First Ballot Hall of Fame.   Showtime Codes:  (8:30) Nick's relationship with hockey (14:50) Neil's atte...

First Ballot doesn't just celebrate the greatest moments in sports--we also celebrate the greatest sports movies of all time! Here to decide whether WIll Ferrell's Baseball documentary "Ferrell Takes the Field" is First Ballot worthy is comedic actor, True Lies star, the latest Ted Lasso "villain" Mike O'Gorman. He breaks down the funniest parts of the film, his TikTok fame (8:55), and his best im...

The pitch? Kits? Offsides? You don't have to know any soccer terms to know that the 2022 World Cup Final was an electric game. Here to break down soccer and this astonishing game is producer, audio engineer, and musician Isaac K Lee, who also talks about being a Clippers fan (12:00), sports and patriotism (51:00), and his favorite musican (01:08:28) Showtime Codes:  (12:30) How people become Clipp...

Serena Williams tore through the 2012 Summer Olympics tennis tournament like some sort of racquet. Discussing her iconic win and crip walk is none other than brilliant comedian and writer Chloé Hilliard, who also talks about the importance of crediting Black artists and culture (27:00), New York versus LA (49:40), and the magic of Julia Roberts (01:06:00). Showtime Codes: (08:45) How Chloé's volle...

Jordan Leandre survived a rare cancer diagnosis as a child, became a beloved member of Red Sox Nation, and then threw perhaps the best first pitch in baseball history. TV writer/producer George Anagnostakos breaks down this moment in painstaking detail, discusses the importance of the stadium organ (55:50), and assembles his Dream Team of movie character basketball players (01:07:35). Showtime Cod...

No one thought that Magic Johnson was coming back after his announcement that he was retiring in 1991. When he returned in 1996 to play 32 Games for the Lakers, it was legendary. Determining whether this comeback is First Ballot worthy is NBA Agent and Marketer at Goodwin and Co-Founder of Move Insoles Nate Jones, who also takes time to talk about what it could have been like to watch Shaq play Ma...

Randy Johnson is known for a lot of things: his perfect game, for being a hall of famer, his occasionally prickly personality...But, Randy Johnson will forever be infamous for his perfect pitch which ended a bird's life during spring training. Brilliant comedy writer (and animal lover) Alison Agosti joins the pod to help decide whether this moment is inducted and talks about witchcraft and destiny...

Perhaps the most apocryphal college basketball game of all-time gets its First Ballot Hall of Fame shot.  Is this moment better than you remember?  Why did this game stretch so deep into the night?  CBS’s senior vice president of late night comes back on the show to discuss his alma mater, Syracuse, retell an amazing story about the Big East Commissioner’s retirement party, and finally tell us abo...

The formal introduction of the 5’9’’ inch assassin, Isaiah Thomas, to the national stage. Is a potent mix of IT, Gus Johnson and a sprinkle of March Madness good enough to make the First Ballot Hall of Fame?  Music producer extraordinaire, and one half of the music group Tuxedo, Jake One joins to discuss Seattle sports, listening to Funk Flex drop bombs on his hit record in NYC, and what it’s like...

Marshawn Lynch's Beast Quake is one of the greatest runs in NFL history. "Beast Mode" joins the pod to talk about his legendary 67-yard touchdown against the New Orleans Saints that registered on a seismograph, his favorite Filipino food (5:33), playing Ray Lewis for the first time (50:25), and why he would be studied by Aliens (35:31).  Showtime codes: (5:33) Marshawn's Favorite Filipino Food(6:0...

Steph Curry's lookaway jumper might be the best nonverbal trash talk in the NBA. Kirk Lacob, EVP of Basketball Operations for the Golden State Warriors, discusses Steph's original lookaway jumper during Game 4 of the 2013 NBA Playoffs vs the Denver Nuggets, how Steph changed how we watch Basketball (33:28), and the highly coveted snack of the Golden State Warriors--chocolate chip cookies (49:30)....

Carl Lewis the athlete is a national treasure. His rendition of the national anthem is not. Helping decide whether Carl Lewis' national anthem gets inducted is none other than The Daily Show's Roy Wood Jr., who also gives his take on home run chains (09:54), first pitches (17:03), and the most memorable national anthem performances (14:19).    Showtime Codes:  (08:38) The Ice Cube of Baseball (11:...

Returning to discuss the first LeBron moment on the show is none other than the legendary Dragonfly Jonez! Neil and Dragonfly break down the fireworks display LeBron put on against the Raptors in 2018.  Is the Game 3 runner the Point Leader’s most famous points? Plus, NBA predictions (06:57), and how to construct the perfect GOAT argument (43:30).  Showtime Codes:  (18:45)  Getting into the moment...

Twitter was born in 2006, with few understanding the platform’s power and the repercussions that come from it. On the last day 2013, Carmelo Anthony got embroiled in a Twitter fight with one of his biggest fans, which lead to one of the great insults and collection of words that have ever graced the human ear. Keith Fujimoto, social coordinator at The Ringer, joins the pod to talk about this iconi...

In a 126-121 overtime win, Luka Doncic’s 60 point triple double stunned NBA twitter. Similarly, in another overtime victory, Donovan Mitchell scored 71 points securing a win for his team and making history as the 12th time a player has surpassed the 70-point scoring mark in a single game. Both are incredible moments but are either First Ballot Hall of Fame worthy? Helping us decide is podcast entr...

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From defensive masterminds to offensive wizards, the NBA is full of legendary coaches. But how often do we see these coaches put their body on the line? After a heated 1997 Eastern Conference Semifinals, the New York Knicks and Miami Heat met again in the first round of the 1998 NBA playoffs. In the last few seconds of Game 4, former teammates turned heated rivals Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning...

In 1993, Scottie Pippen became the leader for the Chicago Bulls after Michael Jordan shocked the basketball world and announced his "retirement". During that season, the Robin to MJ's Batman had one of his best statistical seasons with career highs in points per game and steals per game leading the Bulls to 55 wins. In the playoffs, Pippen led the Bulls to the semi-finals against the Patrick Ewing...

This year has been full of First Ballot Hall of Fame moments, from Kobe Bryant and the quarter inch to Rich Strike winning the Kentucky Derby. In this special edition of the First Ballot Hall of Fame we revisit Vince Carter's "Dunk of Death" with Yannick Souvré, French Basketball Hall of Famer and "U MAD" icon, to break down witnessing Vince Carter's "Dunk of Death" and talk about her storied Fren...