Pod of Fame

On today’s podcast, Jim is joined by Jon Tayler, editor and writer at FanGraphs, to breakdown the hall of fame candidacy of former MLB centerfielder Andruw Jones. Jim and Jon first discuss where Jones ranks among the best defensive centerfielders of all time and how hard it is to measure defense with advanced metrics (1:51). Then, they breakdown Jones’s 1996 World Series performance, the high HOF...

Kyle Schwarber was released by the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday. This is my love letter to him in podcast form. 

On today’s podcast, Jim is joined by Scott Merkin, Chicago White Sox beat writer for MLB.com, to breakdown the hall of fame candidacy of former MLB pitcher Mark Buehrle. Jim and Scott first discuss Buehrle's remarkable efficiency and some of his top performances, including his perfect game and performance in the 2005 World Series (3:49). Then, they talk Catfish Hunter, Bob Lemon, Jack Morris, and...

In Part 2 of our NBA Draft Special, Jim makes way too early predictions on what newly drafted players have the best chance of having a HOF career (9:56). Then, Jim provides an update on the HOF chances of two current athletes who have been in the news lately for completely unrelated reasons (44:21).

In Part 1 of our NBA Draft Special, Jim provides his initial thoughts on the 2020 NBA Draft as it closes out in real-time. He breaks down Anthony Edwards, hands out several made-up awards, and shares his frustration about the Chicago Bulls pick of Patrick Williams. 

On today’s podcast, Jim is joined by Rick Telander, senior sports columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times, to breakdown the hall of fame candidacy of former NFL defensive tackle Steve "Mongo" McMichael.  Jim and Rick first discuss McMichael's wild personality, how we might never see another player quite like him, and the differences between McMichael and his hall of fame teammate Dan Hampton (3:2...

On today’s podcast, Jim is joined by Neil Paine, senior writer for FiveThirtyEight, to breakdown the hall of fame candidacy of Andrei Kirilenko.  Jim and Neil first discuss the early days of basketball analytics and Kirilenko's membership in the 5X5x5X5X5 club (14:54). Then, they cover what Kirilenko has in common with Dr. J. and how according to one advanced metric, Kirilenko should have won...

On today’s podcast, Jim is joined by Chris Price of the Boston Globe, to breakdown the resume of former strong safety Rodney Harrison. Jim and Chris first discuss how violent of a hitter Harrison was (4:23). Then, they talk about Harrison's performance in the 2003 and 2004 playoffs, the lack of safeties in the Hall of Fame today, Steve Atwater, Richard Seymour, Corey Dillion, and Harrison's member...

On today’s podcast, Jim is joined by Sacramento Kings Insider for NBC Sports California, James Ham, to breakdown the resume of former NBA power forward Chris Webber. Jim and James first breakdown the 2002 Western Conference Finals between the Kings and the Los Angeles Lakers (2:24). Then, they talk about how Webber changed the way other players viewed Sacramento as a free agency destination, Mitch...

On today’s podcast, Jim is joined by Zack Meisel, writer for The Athletic and author of the book "Cleveland Rocked", to breakdown the resume of former MLB shortstop Omar Vizquel. Jim and Zack first talk about whether or not Vizquel is the most beloved Cleveland Indian in team history (6:11). Then, they talk about Vizquel's missed squeeze bunt "walk-off" in game 3 of the 1997 ALCS, Ozzie Smith, def...

On this week’s podcast, Jim takes a break from looking into the past and instead makes way too early predictions about the hall of fame prospects of NBA players under the age of 25. He discusses Luka Doncic, Donovan Mitchell, Jayson Tatum, Bam Adebayo, and Jamal Murray. He also brings up Jimmy Butler, Mike Bibby, Chris Webber, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, LeBron James, Jimmy Butler, and more.

On today’s podcast, Jim is joined by Bulls.com writer, former Chicago Tribune sports reporter, and New York Times best-selling author of "The Jordan Rules", Sam Smith, to break down the Hall of Fame candidacy of former NBA power forward Horace Grant. Jim and Sam begin with "The Last Dance" and discuss what Smith thought of the 10-part docuseries (2:23). Then, they cover how Grant was better than S...

On our special tribute podcast today, I discuss the career of Baseball Hall of Famer Bob Gibson, who passed away yesterday at the age of 84.  Gibson was voted into Cooperstown the first year he became eligible in 1981, earning 84% of the vote. 

On today’s podcast, Jim is joined by Nate Taylor, Kansas City Chiefs beat writer for The Athletic, to breakdown the resume of former running back Priest Holmes. Jim and Nate first talk about why you can't talk about Priest Holmes without first talking about touchdowns (4:02). Then, they breakdown the dominance of Holmes's 2003 season, LaDainian Tomlinson, Holmes hardware, and how Frank Gore may ne...

On our special tribute podcast today, I discuss the brief, but brilliant career of Chicago Bears running back Gale Sayers, who passed away yesterday at the age of 77. Sayers was voted into the Football Hall of Fame the first year he became eligible despite playing only 7 seasons in the NFL. At 34, he was the youngest player ever inducted. 

On today’s podcast, Jim is joined by Patrick Saunders, Colorado Rockies beat reporter for The Denver Post, to breakdown the resume of former Rockies first baseman Todd Helton. Jim and Patrick first talk about what Helton means to the Rockies organization (3:20). Then, they discuss the dominance of Helton's 2000 season, similarities between Helton and Jeff Bagwell, how Helton is an advanced metrics...

On today's podcast, Jim is joined by New York Times bestselling author, former NFL columnist for the Dallas Morning News and NY Daily News, HBO Inside The NFL alum, and Pro Football HOF voter Gary Myers to breakdown down the resume of former Dallas Cowboy wide receiver Drew Pearson. Jim and Gary first discuss the Pro Football HOF voting process and how rough the journey to the hall of fame has bee...

On today's podcast, Jim is joined by 1989 NCAA Champion and 8-year NBA veteran Sean Higgins to breakdown down the resume of former basketball player Glen Rice.  Sean and Jim discuss Rice's record-setting performance during the 1989 NCAA Tournament and how that team would fare in a hypothetical matchup against the Michigan Fab 5 team that came along just a few years later (9:27). They then rank the...

On our special podcast today, I am joined by New York Times bestselling author and lifelong New York Mets fan Gary Myers to pay tribute to Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver. Seaver passed away yesterday at the age of 75. He was the greatest Met who ever lived and one of the best pitchers in MLB history. Seaver was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on January 7, 1992, with the then highest percent...

On today's podcast, Jim is joined by USA TODAY Sports reporter and Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) member Steve Gardner to breakdown down the resume of former MLB second baseman Jeff Kent.  First, Steve talks to us about the process he plans to take this winter when he fills out his first official Hall of Fame ballot (1:43). Next, we dive into the likability of both Kent and his f...

On today's podcast, Jim is joined by FanSided NBA Junior Editor and Phoenix Suns Reporter Gerald Bourguet to breakdown down the resume of former Phoenix Suns forward Shawn Marion.  First, Jim and Gerald discuss the undefeated bubble Suns and what it was like covering a team in the Orlando bubble (2:11), before attempting to describe just how ugly Marion's shooting motion really was (11:38). N...

On today's podcast, Jim breaks down the resume of former MLB right fielder Bobby Abreu.  First, Jim talks about the show Abreu put on during the 2005 home run derby (1:53) and then breaks down the diversified offensive portfolio Abreu held throughout this career (6:48). Next,  Jim compares Abreu and recent Cooperstown inductee Vladimir Guerro and breaks down why Vlad got so much love during his pl...

On today's podcast, Jim breaks down the resume of former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Sterling Sharpe.  Jim talks about the freak injury that ended Sharpe's career prematurely and how different safety protocols were in the NFL during the early 90s (3:02). Next, Jim covers the four touchdown Thanksgiving Day performance Sharpe threw down on the Dallas Cowboys in 1994 (7.58), before breaking down...

On today's podcast, Jim breaks down the 22-year Hall of Fame resume of recently retired NBA swingman Vince Carter.  Jim talks about the best dunk in Olympic basketball history (4:16), before providing an overly detailed retelling of the 2000 slam dunk competition (13:48). Next, Jim tells us where Vince Carter lands on his list of top dunkers of all-time (27:34) and breaks down just how impres...

On today's podcast, Jim breaks down the Hall of Fame resume of former MLB third baseman Scott Rolen.  Jim discusses Rolen's defense and how he was the Brooks Robinson of his generation (2:59), before breaking down the 2006 World Series and why Rolen should have been World Series MVP (8:56). For our "And Twins" segment, Jim compares Rolen to Hall of Famer Ron Santo and touches on the unfair tr...