The knuckleball pitch has been present in Major League Baseball since 1907, and yet it’s been championed by only an historic handful. Now over a century old, the spin-less baseball’s legacy rests in the fate of one current pitcher, New York Mets hurler R.A. Dickey, the last remaining major league player to contain it in his arsenal.
Magic Johnson was extremely talented in his profession. He was also boisterous and outgoing both on and off the court. Luckily, Kevin Daniels, the Broadway star playing Magic in the new play, has both of these qualities. I got the chance to talk to Kevin about his extraordinary experience playing one of the most revered basketball players of all-time. How did he prepare for this daunting role? What was it like to play someone that so many people grew up watching?
Earlier this week, it was Bob Ahrens' 75th birthday. Bob is the Exceutive Sports Producer here at WFUV. In spirit of such ocassion, I had to do something special, so I rounded up some of the famed station alums that had been brought up under his guidance. Tony Reali (Host of Around the Horn on ESPN), Andrew Bogusch (Host on Sirius XM), Connell McShane (Imus in the Morning and Fox Business Network), Mike Yam (Host on ESPN), and Ryan Ruocco (Host of Ruocco & Lundberg on ESPN New York) joined in on the fun to wish him a happy birthday.
Magic/Bird, the new Broadway play opening April 11th at the Longacre Theater, chronicles the side-by-side journey of two of basketball’s biggest pioneers, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. The team that created Lombardi, Producers Tony Ponturo and Fran Kirmser, Director Thomas Kail, and Writer Eric Simonson, all reunite to form another sports themed play about players who transcended their sport. In this case, they move from the gridiron to the hardwood and the transition is seamless.
15 seeds over 2 seeds. 13 seeds over 4 seeds. Is a 12-over-5 even considered an upset anymore? And how about that A-10 making a strong showing? There's always plenty to talk about in the middle of March, and this year is turning out to be especially entertaining.
For several years, Ryan Meara (MARE-uh) never seemed to make much of an effort to correct people when they mispronounced his name. He let his play on the soccer pitch do the talking for him. What the six foot five goalkeeper may lack in off field assertiveness, he more than makes up for with numerous jaw dropping saves and a natural ability to lead on the pitch. The 2011 Atlantic Ten Defensive Player of the Year makes his debut as the starting keeper for the New York Red Bulls when RBNY opens its season on the road against FC Dallas on Sunday afternoon.
Tommy Smyth, the longtime ESPN soccer analyst, can light up a room. In fact, he can make every ESPN corridor he walks through bubbling with laughter and smiles. Weaving through ESPN Studios’ labyrinth of newsrooms, control centers, and TV sets with Tommy leading the charge, it’s easy to make this assessment. The big plot of land that has turned into the hotspot of sports media in Bristol, Connecticut is in constant revamping.
If you are still disillusioned by the end of the NFL season, Undefeated has come in to reinvigorate the gridiron spirit for another week. Its story, however, is sure to carry an impact at least until the start of next season. One not need be a football fan though to appreciate the larger themes of this Oscar-nominated documentary; they only need a heart.
From the WFUV Sports Archives
Cooperstown, NY, Sunday, July 27, 2003...This was the date Gary Carter ws inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Earlier that week WFUV Sports Manager Joe Buono had the opportunity to interview Gary for One on One's Saturday broadcast from the Hall.
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