The Issues of Sports with Evan Makovsky: Recent Episodes
Evan Makovsky
A deep dive look at the issues surrounding the world of sports. This podcast focuses not on the x's and o's, but on everything else that affects professional and collegiate sports. It's about what happens after the final whistle is blown or out is made.
We examine Albert Pujols legacy as he's now in the "700 HR Club." Pujols came back to the Cardinals for his final season, which has turned out to be a good one. Pujols is taking the Cardinals to the playoffs and then retiring. We look back at his decision to leave the Cardinals. We also discuss whether Aaron Judge should be considered the all-time single season HR King as he chases 62. We know who's ahead of him--Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, and Sammy Sosa.
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Fantasy Football is ruling billions of people's lives. Americans are spending over 15B to play. It's not just fantasy, it's gambling, it's Survivor Pools, are multiple ways you can engage with football. Oh yeah, you can root for your team too.
Jon Wertheim joins Evan and Rudy to discuss Serena's magical win. Does she have a chance to win it all now? They also touch on the men's draw which is missing Novak Djokovic who was not not allowed to play in the US Open as he's unvaccinated.
Evan goes over the decision and settlement. Rudy "Rude Dog" Reyes thinks Deshaun Watson's suspension was light and reterates what he thinks it should be. The suspension is more in line with what Evan expected, and he explains why. Can Watson return to the player he was after his suspension? It's discussed. What should we expect in Week 13 when Watson returns as the Browns play in Houston to take on Watson's former team the Texans?
Evan and Guest Host Rudy "Rude Dog" Reyes discuss the factors surrounding the NFL's appeal of Deshaun Watson's six game suspension. They hit on why it was only six games, the Judge NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell appointed to hear the appeal, and both "Rude Dog" and Evan share how this will shake out.
Brittney Griner is still detained in Russia allegedly for travelling with two marijuana cartridges. How to end her ongoing detention and bring her back home to the United States.
In this episode of "The Issues of Sports" we examine the crazy time it is in the tennis world headlined by Wimbledon banning Russians and Belarusians. ESPN Tennis Analyst Brad Gilbert joins to unpack.
Evan opens "The Issues of Sports" pointing out some reasons he sees why baseball has fallen in popularity. Evan points out the NFL has blown past MLB not to be caught, and that the NBA has more star power. Evan discusses the fact that an NBA star player has the ball more, or is at the center of play more than a MLB player, who while playing the field needs the ball hit to them, and cycles through batting order a few times a game. Baseball games don't have a clock, which can sometimes make for long games versus the other major team sports.
Evan discusses how this affects not just MLB and fan attendance, but youth baseball participation is in decline. Evan cites statistics from World Series Viewership from 2003 to 2021 to projecting into the future (Hint: not good). Evan cites a couple other statistics including the cost of MLB rights.
Former MLB 2nd basemen (92-01) Jeff Frye joins "The Issues of Sports" (10:03) to start the second segment and starts by discussing what "Save the Game" is all about. Jeff and Evan spend the next period discussing elements of play that Jeff thinks need to change to buck this downward trend, and why MLB is where it is. Jeff also describes to Evan the goal of Save The Game and how many signatures he's trying to get on the petition on "Save the Game" the website. He'd like to eventually, with his other cohorts, end up in Commissioner Rob Manfred's office. Ideally presenting to the commissioner as well as all 30 MLB team owners hoping to be a catalyst for change.
This episode is a material listen for any fan or former fan of MLB. Additionally, if you're a parent of a youth baseball player, or of a child considering playing, or even why your child decided not to play. An informative exploration from people who care about baseball.
Visit "Save The Game" at savethegameus.com
Evan makes the subjective argument that Coach K is the second greatest coach all-time to John Wooden, and explains why citing his wins, NCAA titles, Olympic Gold Medals, players he's sent to the NBA, McDonald's All Americans he coached, and more. Jay Bilas joins the show (7:15) for a discussion sharing his opinion on multiple issues around Coach K, including his opinion of lists and rankings in general, if there is a higher "plane" coach in the Hall of Fame. Jay feels once you're there, you're there while Evan feels there are metrics that separate Hall of Famers such for example Coach K (five titles) and Jim Boeheim (one title). Jay says Evan sounds like he's "poo pooing" other coaches, and doesn't think stats even championships tell the whole story. What Jay and Evan agree on is that Coach K is a rare find, and as Jay discusses he coaches the person, not just the player. Evan and Jay discuss Coach K's relationship with his former Coach Bobby Knight, how close Kobe Bryant truly ever came to attending Duke, and his boatload of accomplishments, with the biggest one being a great person. A real deep dive in this episode of "The Issues of Sports" into Hall of Fame now retired Duke Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski.
The Pittsburgh Steelers & Mike Tomlin just hired Brian Flores as Defensive Assistant/Linebackers Coach as he presses on with his lawsuit against the NFL. Flores is suing the league, three franchises and unidentified individuals, alleging discrimination and racism in hiring practices. Among the complaints listed in the filing, Flores said he took part in two “sham” interviews as teams attempted to comply with the Rooney Rule, citing the Giants and Broncos. Flores was also fired by the Miami Dolphins this past offseason after back-to-back winning campaigns. While there is more to Flores’ lawsuit this podcast episode is not a breakdown of Brian Flores lawsuit, though it's material, the episode is a look at Black Head Coaches or lack thereof in the NFL. Is the Rooney Rule being used as a "box check" as Brian Flores alleges in his lawsuit, instead of a real interview in which the candidate is under serious consideration for the job.
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (NLBM) President Bob Kendrick joins me on "The Issues of Sports" to explore the issue of why 70% of the league’s players are African American, but just 6% of the league has African American Head Coaches (2). Bob draws on parallels and resistance of what players faced in the Negro Leagues before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947. Listen to parallel’s he draws between Curt Flood & Brian Flores as well. Evan and Bob also dive into the Rooney Rule and whether it works, why many Black head coaches don't get second jobs, are fired after winning seasons, and what can be done here regardless of whether Brian Flores wins his lawsuit or not. How to get from point a to point b is probed with an authority on race relations and sports, with historical context, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum President Bob Kendrick. https://www.nlbm.com/board-members/
With Vin Scully retiring a few years ago, and Marv Albert retiring last year after the NBA season, there is a changing of the guard, and one of the best in the business, Ian Eagle joins Bob and Evan to take us inside his life. Marv Albert almost three decades ago wrote "I'd Love To But I Have A Game". Well, now that is Ian Eagle. Currently "Birdman" is one of CBS's top announcers calling the NFL, and the NCAA Tournament. He also broadcasts the NBA nationally for Turner. But Ian worked his way up starting as a Producer at WFAN in NY, and then becoming the Brooklyn (then New Jersey) Nets TV PBP announcer coming on close to thirty years ago. He also was a host on "The Fan." but knew his passion was calling games. He spent time as the New York Jets announcer before doing the NFL nationally for CBS. Ian shares with Bob and Evan all the events he called on the way up for CBS from Track & Field, to Boxing, and on some of these assignments Eagle had to fly and improvise as he had no prior experience! "Ian will do it" was the attitude that helped him rise at CBS as no assignment was too low, but there are few talents in the business at PBP as good as Ian. Ian gets into the fact that for energy he does NOT drink coffee. But he does drink soda. It's all discussed as well as is Ian's son Noah Eagle, who at age 22 became the LA Clippers radio PBP announcer right out of Syracuse. Ian went to Syracuse too. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree with Noah Eagle who called an NFL playoff game last year for Nickelodeon. A joyous look into the busy but exciting life of a national and local play-by-play announcer in 2022 with one of kindest people in the broadcasting business, Ian Eagle.
Naomi Osaka pulls out of the French Open citing Mental Health. Gymnast Simone Biles struggles with Mental Health issues during the Tokyo Olympics, even citing struggles executing part of her routine. Bob & Evan examine how mental health was once a taboo topic in sports, but no longer. Former Major League Baseball player Jim Eisenreich joins "The Issues of Sports" to discuss playing baseball with Tourette's Syndrome. Jim says Tourette and Tourette's both work referring to his condition. Jim had to take a three-year break during the mid 80's because of his Tourette's. Jim shares his struggles even going inside how Tourette's would play out inside the batter's box with "tics". Miraculously Jim came back to MLB after his break to achieve success homering in the '93 World Series for the Phillies and homering in the '97 World Series for the champion Marlins. Mike Wellington also joins us to describe battling bipolar disorder during his efforts to pursue professional golf. Wellington shares some of his setbacks and stories from when his disorder was not in check. But Mike discusses how he's really embraced his disorder and taken to helping others. Mike is a Mental Health Performance Coach for the University of Tennessee, and he also is an individual coach to Pro Golfers. This episode covers a subject matter that can't get enough exposure. Jim Eisenreich now runs the "Jim Eisenreich Foundation for Children with Tourette Syndrome" http://www.tourettes.org/ Mike Wellington runs "Birdies For Bipolar" bringing awareness to Mental Health Issues. http://birdies4bipolar.org/
Evan and Bob discuss all various aspects present moment of running a communications department. Rams Head PR man Artis Twyman joins the podcast to discuss all the responsibilities from handling the media, to player interviews, to all aspects of social media that is in demand in 2022. Artis also describes how he see his job function as Head of Comms for the Rams in Los Angeles, the #2 market in the country. He articulates how much the business has changed with technology during his twenty plus years working in the NFL. He explains how he trains players how to answer questions but gives the latitude to answer how they want. Artis discussed playing in the beautiful new stadium, and how you must win in Los Angeles with all the competition, which they are doing heading to the Super Bowl at their home stadium versus the Bengals. Artis shares a laugh with an amusing anecdote about how at one point he wanted to be a Presidential speech writer. He moved on from that but has a pretty nice job now as VP of Communications of the Los Angeles Rams.
This episode shines a spotlight on women breaking ground in the world of sports. With the NBA having five female officials, Kim Ng named Miami Marlins GM, and most recently the New York Yankees naming Rachel Balkovec as the manager of one of their minor league affiliates — making her the first woman to break into the managerial ranks at that level, women are making beautiful waves in the sports world. Joining Evan and Bob is NFL official Sarah Thomas. She is the first female CFB official in history, the first full time female NFL official, the first female offical to work a NFL Playoff game (2019 LA Chargers @ Patriots), and the first female to officate a Super Bowl when she worked Super Bowl LV in 2021 in Tampa when the Bucs defeated the Chiefs. The NFL also changed the name from "Head Linesman" to "Down Judge" because of Sarah. And finally Maia Chaka was hired before the '21 reg season to as the first African-American Female Offical! Take a listen to the podcast with a true trailblazer, Sarah Thomas!
Before this podcast was narrowed down to one issue per episode Bob Costas joined as a guest for the "The Issues of Sports" Pilot. Bob comments on the passings of Larry King, Henry Aaron, Covid & Sports, too many regular season games, and much more..Costas has great stories on both Larry King (funny) and Henry Aaron, and all the racism he faced breaking Babe Ruth's all-time HR record. Enjoy!