First Ballot: The Hall of Fame Podcast

A holiday celebration worth inducting into the First Ballot hall of fame! With over six special guests, Q&As with Neil, favorite holiday stories, and of course, caroling, join us for a spectacular episode you won't want to miss.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Magic and Bird fighting for a rebound. Michael Jordan dunking on the Lakers. Kobe in an ice bucket. Behind nearly every iconic sports moment, there's a photo immortalizing that epic feat. No one understands this better than Andrew Bernstein, the FIRST official NBA photographer and the official team photographer for the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers. Andrew joins First Ballot to talk...

In game 7 of the 2003 American League Championship Series between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, Aaron Boone made his mark on one of the greatest rivalries in all of sports. On the first pitch of the bottom of the 11th inning Boone hits an absolute dinger to send the Yankees to the World Series and become the hero in game 7. Comedian, lawyer, and co-host of "What a Time to be Alive" Patr...

For one half of basketball, a group of rag tag LA Clippers turned in one of the finest scoring performances in NBA history to defeat the Utah Jazz in the 2021 NBA Playoffs.  Listen to Hollywood new go-to director, Payman Benz, discuss watching this comeback live, what it’s like to direct LeBron James and HBO’s Winning Time series on the Lakers, as a devout Clippers fan. Plus, a cameo from Blake Li...

This could genuinely be the best moment in any sport ever.  Whether you watch racing or not, this story will move you.     The Eanrhardts and Waltrips are NASCAR’s royal families, and those names intertwined in a special way in the 2001 Winston Cup Championship season. A very special guest breaks down every angle of this very special race, teaches us about stock car racing as a sport, and explain...

In just four tenths of a second during the 2004 Western Conference Semifinals between the LA Lakers and San Antonio Spurs, Derek Fisher proved why that even in a league dominated by superstars, role players are the back bone of the NBA. Out of a timeout, following a Tim Duncan circus shot, D-Fish hits nothing but net to win Game 5 of the series. Comedian, entrepeneur, and HeadGum co-founder Amir B...

Rickey Henderson could be both the best baseball player to ever play the sport and one of the most underrated athletes of our time. Impossibly talented, and completely different. Rickey is 1 of 1. Listen to the host of NPR’s Bullseye, Jesse Thorn, as he discusses what made Rickey’s play during the Fall of 1989 so unique, argues about the best sports team uniform of all time, and plays another rous...

The first time 8-year NBA veteran Gerald Henderson Jr. guarded Kobe Bryant, his special moment facing an NBA legend was overshadowed by an even more special, and wholly unique moment with The Black Mamba before the game that’s almost too good to be true.  Plus, Henderson finally addresses two of the most savage, infamous errant passes in recent NBA history, before fighting with another NBA legend...

Joakim Noah stole the ball from Paul Pierce, dunked on Paul Pierce, and fouled Paul Pierce out of the game. Oh, and it was in triple overtime!  Here to talk about this win or go home moment is a co-host of the No Dunks podcast, Trey Kerby, who also reveals his favorite celebration candy, his favorite dunk, and whether James Harden stole his beard. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone....

Giannis’s block on DeAndre Ayton in the NBA Finals is barely human, but that’s what makes it so special. Screenwriter, Producer and Filmmaker Michael Starrbury talks Giannis’ arrival as an NBA legend, and discusses what it’s like to have his work screened at the White House by Michelle Obama, and what movie he’s embarrassed to love. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On December 20, 2005, Kobe Bryant dominated the Dallas Mavericks. In just three quarters of basketball, the Black Mamba scored 62 points, more than the entire Mavericks team combined. NBA 2K's Chris Manning joins the pod to talk about creating the greatest Lakers hype videos, his memorable interaction with Danny DeVito, and if this epic Kobe moment is First Ballot Hall of Fame worthy. Learn more a...

900 degrees. Simple to explain, nearly impossible to land. But at the 1999 X Games, Tony Hawk spun two and a half times in the air and made history to land the first ever 900 on a skateboard. Trailblazing skateboarder/model extraordinare Eunice Chang (@notcheetos) discusses the greatness of this moment, finding community in skateboarding, and leaving the corporate tech world to pursue her passions...

DK Metcalf went absolute horsemode to tackle Budda Baker and prevent a pick 6 touchdown. Comedian Mike Camerlengo discusses the truly insane stats behind the moment and compares DK’s run to famous runs from classic movies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vice Carter jumped over a 7’2” French dude for an Olympic dunk and maybe the best dunk of all-time. Social basketball pioneer and Ballislife veteran David Astramskas comes on the show to talk about pirating basketball footage across international waters, Tom Gugliotta and the basketball version of The Last Boyscout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steve Bartman tried to catch one foul ball during a Cubs playoff game and was then forced into hiding for 20 years.  Comedy writer, executive producer and director extraordinaire, David Stassen talks about one of the most notorious sports moments of the 21st century, and then talks trash about the Chicago Bulls’ Randy Brown, baseball great Will Clark and his comedy partner Ike Barinholtz. Learn mo...

Derrick Rose’s Playoff buzzer beater was more than just a win. Listen as Twitter’s Ernest Wilkins makes an impassioned case for the Hall of Fame, and talks Frank Thomas pills and the Holy Grail of Starter Jackets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Notre Dame and Miami.  The Fighting Irish face the Hurricanes.  ND vs. The U.  What’s so special about this historic matchup in 2017?  The CEO of Front Office Sports talks about his South Beach alma mater and how he built a company valued at 25 million out of his dorm room.  Plus, the rudest segment in podcasting: More Important!!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the 2022 Kentucky Derby, Rich Strike overcame 80-1 odds to pull off one of the greatest upsets in horse racing history. Esteemed guest Nick Bernstein, SVP of Late Night Programming West Coast at Paramount, talks about one of the greatest sports stories you’ve never heard and the secret behind his luscious locks.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On a cold December night in 2004, Tracy McGrady recorded one of the NBA’s great offensive binges, and stole a win from the San Antonio Spurs, by scoring 13 points in the last 35 seconds of the game.  Guest Alex Kennedy passionately campaigns for one of his favorite moments, then chats Manu Ginobili with a full wig of hair, favorite dunks, and what makes a moment a First Ballot Hall of Famer. Learn...

With a combined total of 475 points, 65 three-pointers, nine 30+ point games, and four 50+ point games, Donovan Mitchell and Jamal Murray’s match up in the first round Western Conference between the Jazz and Nuggets was one of the highlights of the 2020 NBA Bubble. Honored guest Claire De Lune talks about the songwriting process, whether Lebron James is better than Michael Jordan, and gives her ta...

The Michigan Wolverines were 10 seconds and one punt away from winning college football’s sibling rivalry matchup against the Michigan State Spartans.  But what happened during the game is only part of what makes this moment special.  Plus, is guest @Phil_Lewis_ down with Woj or Shams, and his love of the 2004 Pistons Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Incredible comeback or epic collapse?  Who is responsible for what happened in Super Bowl 51 between the Falcons and the Patriots, and is this moment First Ballot Hall of Fame-worthy?  Plus, our guest @kustoo plays the game that’s tearing up the podcast world — True or False — to find out which popular rapper owes their career to Mr. Slade.  Finally, Sneaker Stumped!!! Find out which sneakers our...

On Christmas Day 2014, a fight on twitter became a scheduled fight in Temecula, California, and signaled a change in modern sports fandom.  @SnottieDrippen vs. @MyTweetsRealAF.  You cannot make this up.  Plus, who’s the most underrated player in all of basketball history? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bobby V spent 43 years in professional baseball and is 100% best known for getting ejected and returning to the Mets dugout in wearing a fake mustache.  Comedian Sean O’Connor helps decide if the stache is headed to the Hall of Fame, and discusses life on the road with the legendary Norm Macdonald. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What’s more impressive:  Catching a football with your helmet, having the game of your life when it matters most, winning the Super Bowl or destroying your opponents’ shot at immortality? All that plus making eye contact with Charlize Theron with podcast Hall of Famer, @gabrus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices