The Far Middle

The Far Middle episode 101 begins the next chapter in sports dedications as the series enters the triple digits. To mark episode 101’s April 26 release date, Nick dedicates the episode to those pitchers who’ve thrown one-hitters. He looks back on two notable one-hitters from today in 1980 by “Lefty” and in 1990 by “The Ryan Express.” Nick underscores the importance of tracking data and statistics...

The Far Middle has reached its 100 th episode. A podcast that began as companion commentary paired with the release of Precipice —further exploring each chapter’s topics—has now spanned nearly two years.   In conjunction with the milestone episode’s late April release, Nick pays homage to legendary heavyweight boxer Rocky Marciano who retired from professional boxing on April 27, 1956. Marciano’s...

The Far Middle episode 99 honors “the Great One,” Wayne Gretzky, who “re-established the standard for greatness in the NHL,” describes Nick. And in conjunction with the dedication, Nick offers some thoughts on the bias of the Ontario/Toronto-based hockey media. In making this episode’s first connection, Nick links Wayne Gretzky to two asset classes that have undergone bubble-type inflated valuatio...

The Far Middle episode 98 begins with a look back on the origin of April Fools' Day, which coincides with the sweet sound of “play ball!” and the start of Major League Baseball’s regular season. Baseball is the theme of this week’s dedication as Nick goes back 25 years to the summer of 1998 and the epic slugfest between Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire to break Roger Maris’ 61 home-run record set in 19...

The Far Middle episode 97 is dedicated to the hockey force, Connor McDavid. While just eight years in the NHL, the Edmonton Oilers’ No. 97 has become the best player in the league today—challenging Nick’s settled view on the Mount Rushmore of hockey’s greatest players. Nick moves from the hypothetical Mount Rushmore of hockey to the actual Mount Rushmore and two of its faces, former presidents Abr...

The Far Middle episode 96 begins with birthday wishes to jazz guitarist Geroge Benson, and moves on to a timely dedication as Major League Baseball’s 2023 season gets underway in just eight days from this episode’s release. Going back to 1996, for episode 96, when no baseball players were inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, Nick offers a thoughtful look on players that aren’t in Cooperstown,...

Far Middle episode 95 begins with Nick offering, “everything you wanted to know about daylight saving time but were afraid to ask.” And on the topic of time, Nick dedicates this episode to “The Iron Man,” Cal Riken Jr., who in 1995 broke Lou Gehrig’s consecutive games played streak by playing in his 2,131 st straight game, a streak that spanned 17 years. In total, Ripken’s streak reached 2,632 gam...

Far Middle episode 94 begins with a remembrance of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. whose birthday is today, and the anniversary of his passing was also marked this week, 98 years ago this past Monday.   In a Far Middle first, Nick dedicates this episode to a day, specifically the memorable sports headlines from June 17, 1994, which included Arnold Palmer playing in his final r...

The Far Middle episode 93’s release date, March 1, coincides with the birthday of the late actor, Robert Conrad. Nick says as a kid he was obsessed with Conrad’s television series The Wild Wild West , as well as Conrad’s series, Baa Baa Black Sheep . Moving on to this episode’s dedication, Nick honors Mario Lemieux’s 1992-1993 season. It was a season by the Penguins’ Center that embodied athletic...

The Far Middle episode 92 features a unique dedication to a group of professional athletes who showcased a tenacity for greatness while on the gridiron, diamond, ice, and hardwood. These include two greats to wear the number 92 jersey: Reggie White, aka the “Minister of Defense,” and former Penguins winger and current Canucks coach, Rick Tocchet. Nick shifts from the subject of tenacity for sports...

The Far Middle episode 91 is dedicated to a triumvirate of sports greats—Mario Lemieux, Michael Jordan, and Nolan Ryan—and their 1991 achievements. These three individuals represented greatness, which is a recurring theme in episode 91, starting with human ingenuity and innovation. Nick looks back to the start of the Industrial Revolution to present day, examining a range of metrics over that time...

The Far Middle episode 90 is dedicated to the 1989-90 UNLV Runnin' Rebels basketball team and Coach Jerry Tarkanian, aka “Tark the Shark.” Nick describes the 1990 NCAA Tournament Champs as disruptive and innovative thanks to a combination of super-talented players, coaching, and buttressed by the Amoeba defense. Nick continues the themes of disruption and innovation throughout episode 90, beginnin...

The Far Middle episode 89 is proudly dedicated to perhaps the greatest professional football player that most people never heard of: Gino Marchetti. A player for the ages, Nick looks back on Gino's great career that spanned fighting in the Battle of the Bulge, dominating the gridiron, and growing a restaurant chain to more than 300 locations. Nick begins this episode’s connections by noting that i...

The Far Middle episode 88 honors defensive great Alan Page, the anchor of the Minnesota Vikings’ famous “Purple People Eaters” defensive line. Nick reflects on Page’s unique life story, “a story that oozes excellence through every chapter.”  For more on the Purple People Eaters, check out where the Vikings’ defense ranks on Nick’s list of “ The Ten Greatest NFL Defenses in the Super Bowl Era .” Ni...

The Far Middle episode 87 is dedicated to Sidney Crosby, who “epitomizes greatness on the ice,” says Nick as he highlights the best all-around player the NHL has ever seen, as well as Crosby’s leadership and his winning record. While Crosby, alongside Alexander Ovechkin in Washington, continues to accumulate points, another accumulation is also happening in Washington, and that’s the country’s fed...

Far Middle episode 86 celebrates the “Fab Five Record Setters of 1986.” These record setters span professional sports, from the hockey rink to Augusta National, and from Fenway Park and the Boston Garden to the boxing ring. While memorable records were being established in 1986, in 2023 we find several forgettable records being set. These include the declining state of the UK’s beloved brewing ind...

Far Middle episode 85 marks the series start to 2023. As The Far Middle enters its third calendar year, Nick once again connects issues spanning the past, present, and future. Dedicated to the iconic 1985 Chicago Bears, Nick looks back on the epic season of a team that was truly “must-see TV.” While not a dynasty, the Super Bowl XX champs had it all; boasting personalities like Jim McMahon and Wal...

As 2023 nears, Nick goes back to 1984 for episode 84’s dedication—commemorating the seven-game NBA Finals series between the Boston Celtics and LA Lakers. The intense matchup marked the golden era of NBA basketball as the 1980s would feature classic rivalries, many of the sport’s greatest players, and iconic coaches. Nick crosses over from the hard court to America’s military, stressing the import...

The Far Middle episode 83 takes off with a dedication to “the Mad Stork,” aka NFL Hall of Famer Ted Hendricks. A four-time Super Bowl champion, Hendricks is “one of the greatest personalities and linebackers in NFL history,” reflects Nick. For those new to The Far Middle, Nick reminds listeners the podcast’s format is modeled after the TV series Connections. Hosted by science historian James Burke...

In Far Middle episode 82, Nick rewinds the clock 40 years to November of 1982—a golden year in the golden age of boxing—as he pays tribute to boxers Aaron “The Hawk” Pryor and Alexis “El Flaco Explosivo” Argüello. Reflecting on their November 12, 1982, “Battle of the Champions” match, Nick says, “If you want to see boxing the way it’s meant to be, give a watch to that 14-round epic 1982 bout.” Shi...

The Far Middle episode 81 arrives amidst the holiday season, with Hanukkah and Christmas just around the corner. Someone you wouldn’t want to see around the corner, if you were an NFL wideout in the 50s and 60s, is Hall of Fame cornerback Dick “Night Train” Lane—this Far Middle’s dedication. Nick transitions from trains to rivers and lands at Marietta, Ohio. Marietta, which sits at the confluence...

The Far Middle episode 80 features a co-dedication to both the 1980 U.S. Men's Ice Hockey Team, and to the incomparable and prolific Jerry Rice. Nick notes Rice’s collegiate career at Mississippi Valley State and the offensive innovation of Coach Archie Cooley. The topic of innovation sparks the start of this episode’s connections as Nick moves through a host of topics like Rice weaving through a...

The Far Middle episode 79 is a special Thanksgiving edition, dedicated to the 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates.   The 1970s Pirates were known as “The Lumber Company” due to the hurting they could do at the plate. Today, on the geopolitical stage, we see Putin trying to lay the lumber on Europe with his use of energy leverage. Nick discusses the new spin from the Left on Europe’s energy chaos, which is tha...

The Far Middle episode 78 is dedicated to the NFL’s unsung heroes of the trenches; including many legendary linemen who wore number 78, spanning Bobby Bell, Bruce Smith on defense, and Jackie Slater, Anthony Muñoz on offense, and many more. Trenches, while not the most hygienic, have served as the method of choice for sewer systems across civilizations, and the modern toilet isn’t to be taken for...

The Far Middle episode 77 celebrates two of the NHL’s greatest defensemen, number 77’s Paul Coffey and Ray Bourque. Nick reflects on how Coffey set new norms for the position and Bourque epitomized the position over a long career as an elder statesman. Coffey and Bourque paid their dues over their Hall-of-Fame careers, unfortunately, the same can’t be said of today’s mass transit riders. Nick tran...