The Rant

Guess what New York, New York we back! We sit down with Rob Moses in the first weekend of the MTG Basketball tournament in St. Alban’s, Queens. Sights and sounds were absorbed, and we got to sit down with the head honcho himself Rob Moses, and another off-duty official Warren Davis. MTG Basketball. The Rant. Now.

After a seemingly never ending bout with Vaccines, Covid, and Sabbatical’s, June 1st is a rebirth. We are back. In this pod, we discuss me being sick and out of commission, what Jeff’s been up to with the Pandemic nearing it’s end, and what we both plan for the summer. All that and more, Jeff and I, back on The Rant, now.

As an early supporter of the pod, this episode was a long time coming. In this wide-ranging podcast, we chop it up with Rob about his podcast, his favorite rapper, his experience at the New House School at Syracuse University, his pandemic experience, and all things not officiating. All that and more, my conversation with Rob, now.

Coach Conti loves Basketball through and through. In this pod, we discuss his early life playing Ball, his experience in the Catholic League, his times playing in college, his memorable stint as a pro overseas, his time coaching at the college level, and coaching at the Level Up program. All that and more, my conversation with Evan, now.

It was 1 year, and 1 global pandemic ago, since we last spoke to one Karima. In this pod, we discuss the twists and turns that is being an official during age of CoronaVirus, what she’s been up to, and what she will be doing when things return to normal. All that and more, part 2, Karima, on #therant, now.

Year in and year out, if your watching a High School Basketball game in Nassau County, chances are Joe Gaskin is at the helm. In this pod, we discuss his early life in Williston Park, his short athletic stint at St. Mary’s in High School, his father being his guiding light as he watched him ref basketball, to having a legendary career in his own right. All that and more, my conversation with Joe,...

During the pandemic Moe has strived and thrived. Doing things different, we talk to coach about what he’s been up to during the age of CoronaVirus, his upbringing on Long Island, his tenacity playing Basketball at Uniondale, getting to SUNY Cortland , to becoming Senior Admission Advisor and Coach at the school that brought him so much. All that and more, my conversation with Coach Kearney, now.

As Autumn turned to the Winter, and Winter to Spring, Madness was in the air, with no basketball. That changed with the NY HS Madness tournament. In this pod, we sit down with the champion Terrier Basketball Squad that won it all. Coach Lynch, Josh, Chance, Jon, Jaden, and Latiek discuss their experience playing in it, their readiness to play, and the grind that never stops. All that and more, my...

Newly named the Assistant Coach at St. Joseph College Men’s Basketball team, we pull up to his crib while in limbo. We catch up on #therant, to see what he’s been up to during the pandemic, his summer that was, his suspended first season, his anticipation of everything back to normal, and what he learned about himself. All that and more, Billy Heenan, part 2, now.

Within a year and a half, Theo went from sauntering up and down the court, to changing his perspective. Though it all, he discusses his early life in Mineola, NY, his experience attending Chaminade HS, how he got into Basketball, how he got into officiating, and his new outlook taking it serious. All that and more, my conversation with Theo, now.

Fresh off the chip of the inaugural NY State Madness, Todd pulls up to discuss his 2020 and his 2021, his come up playing basketball, his experience being a Terrier, his amazing junior year, his mad HS tournament, and his outlook in recruitment and playing at the next level. All that and more, my conversation with Todd, now.

The 2020-2021 season is something that we will not, anytime soon, ever forget. In this pod, we pull up to St. Mary’s to discuss his early life playing Basketball in Queens, playing and excelling at St. Mary’s, his experience in college, and what his season that ended up short, will end up paying for him in the long run. All that and more, my conversation with Coach McCann, now.

The tournament is over, and we talk about the beginning, middle, and end. To the odd thing that happened during the pod, to the best moments of the madness, we delve deep into our experience that started with a dream. All that and more, Coach Freeman, part 2, now.

Some 230 episodes ago, I sat down with Coach the first time. The state of the world is much different. In this pod, we reconnect with Speedy of what it was like in the beginning of the pandemic, what the end of season was like last year, what it was like this year, and what he’s learned in this whole time of pause. He also discusses the NY HS Madness tournament and how it has helped HS kids get di...

I met coach Herrity in the gym of St. Francis Prep doing a workout; as a coach he’s raring to go. In this pod, we discuss his early life in Glendale, Queens, his passion for playing Baseball and Basketball, his Tommy John surgery, or lack thereof, to exclusively play Basketball, to playing in college at Saint Rose, to giving back to his school as a head coach. He also discusses his team, the Terri...

The world done turned upside down since the last time I sat down with Zeek. In this pod, we discuss his stint with the virus, his tenacity in coaching, his involvement in the NY Madness tournament, and his pursuit to get the most out of his kids as a coach at the Portledge School, and the Heat Elite AAU team. All that and more, my conversation with Zeek, now.

After a social distant workout at SFP, we chop it up in the same classroom I have memories of, to discuss his early life in Rego Park, his destiny to attend and play basketball at St. Francis Prep, to his reach as a Math Teacher, and following in his mentors footsteps in becoming the Head Coach of his alma mater. We also discuss the state of HS sports in NY, and his anticipation in participation f...

Flag Football has my heart, and it has Britney’s too. In this pod, we discuss her early life in San Diego, California, her pursuits in figure skating and the tenacity in which she practiced and performed, and her fortuitous encounter with Flag Football, which led her to travel across the country, and proliferate the sport to bring it global prominence. All that and more, my conversation with Britn...

The pandemic has brought New York basketball at a standstill. Island Garden has been no different, but as things are opening up they are making it work. In this pod, Jim discusses his former life as an official, opening up about how Island Garden developed over time, what the pandemic has taught him, and what the future holds for the Lightning brand, with the NY Madness tournament and beyond. All...

Everytime Tim and I catch up, it’s always a ball. In this pod, we discuss the state of the pandemic now, having a shortened season but making the most of it, balancing coaching as well as teaching, where he got his passion for coaching and teaching, and what the future holds, all the while catching up. All that and more, my conversation with Coach Blackford, now.

It was exactly 260 episodes since we last sat down with the legendary coach of Cardozo HS. He makes his return on The Rant and discusses how collectively, the pandemic fatigue has been at an all-time high, how he’s stayed active for himself, what he’s been up to during this whole time of pause and his excitement for the NY March Madness tournament; for the kids. All that and more, Part 2, Coach Na...

Phil is a New Yorker through and through. In this pod, we discuss his early life in Staten Island, his early start in officiating, his daily grind and passion he has for reffing Basketball, his longing to get back to normal so we can get back to the court, and his pursuit to get to the highest levels of Division 1 Basketball. All that and more, my conversation with Phil, now.

It was just a year ago when Ray, the Basketball Official did some of the most meaning basketball games in the city. A year into the pod, he has gained perspective. In this pod, we discuss his early life playing sports, his pursuits playing multiple sports including Baseball at a High Level, how he discovered officiating, and how he spent time during the pandemic with this family, and making his ne...

It was some 20 years ago when Dan was a freshman at the end of the bench of the Kellenberg Volleyball team. 2 decades later, he’s making his own impact with his own team. In this pod, we discuss his early life playing sports, his journey to get to Kellenberg and playing volleyball, playing hockey, and what it’s like impacting young men and women through teaching and coaching. All that and more, my...

Andrew is always on the move. We catch him in Wyndanch to discuss his early life in Amityville, his love of Long Island, his playing days in high school and in college, to building the best tournament out here. Harlem got Rucker. Uptown got Dyckman. Brooklyn got Gersh. Queens got Lincoln. Long Island has got the Mack. All that and more, my conversation with Andrew, now.