I am joined by another phenomenal guest for episode 48 of Riding The Pine as Tim Kurkjian, current senior baseball writer and TV journalist and analyst from ESPN, joins the show. In this interview only episode, Tim and I discuss the career path he took getting to ESPN and everything he has had to overcome along the way. Tim talks about his time as a beat writer for the Texas Rangers and the Baltimore Orioles, his role at Sports Illustrated before arriving at ESPN and how he adjusted from a mostl...
Sep 21, 2020•30 min
I jump into episode 47 discussing the latest news going around the NBA and any and all updates on the playoffs in the bubble. I then give my predictions for the conference finals and who I could see potentially advancing to the Finals. I am then joined by a past guest who has appeared on Riding The Pine many times giving his basketball expertise, current Director of Player Development for the Duquesne men's basketball team Ashton Gibbs. Ashton and I go back and forth and discuss what we've liked...
Sep 17, 2020•25 min
Pull up a chair and join me for episode 46 as I open things up talking about the opening night of the NFL season and giving my thoughts from the Texans vs. Chiefs game on Thursday, September 10th. Afterwards, I dive into my Wild Card Watchers segment, discussing the teams that are currently outside of the top 8 in the MLB that could potentially make a push for the final two wild card spots. The episode ends with a great interview with a special guest who is a current pitcher for the LSU Tigers b...
Sep 14, 2020•43 min
I'm back on the bench in episode 45 giving the latest updates on the NFL's Covid-19 testing protocols for this year, and whether or not the league will run into the same issues that the MLB has had this season. I then dive into a new topic, ranking the top five greatest cinderella teams in college basketball history and discussing the runs they had in the tournament. The episode finishes out with a fantastic interview with current track and field runner and former men's basketball player at the ...
Sep 10, 2020•55 min
Join me for another interview only episode as I sit down with former NBA All-star and Rookie of the Year Buck Williams. Buck and I discuss his lengthy 17 year career in the NBA that featured numerous all-defensive team selections, two trips to the NBA finals and finishing ranked 15th all-time in career rebounding. Later on, Buck discusses his time as the President of the NBA Player's Association and the impact he's had on the players and the league to this day.
Sep 07, 2020•34 min
In the latest episode of Riding The Pine, I dive right into an update on the NBA and NHL playoffs as well as a breakdown on some of the biggest trades in the MLB. I then get into my topic for the episode, sharing my top 5 teams to watch this season in the NFL, and who could make a lot of noise this football season. The episode closes out with a phenomenal interview with a great guest, current defensive lineman for the William and Mary Tribe Carl Fowler. Carl shares his story on what made him cho...
Sep 03, 2020•1 hr
Episode 42 opens up with some baseball talk, discussing the possibility of the MLB playoffs being played in hub cities, and where the most likely World Series destination will be in the fall. Afterwards, I dive into yet again another Road Trippin segment, following the lineage of the Chicago White Sox and going stop by stop discussing where they were before they landed in Chicago, and some interesting facts about the team. To close things out, I am joined by current St. Louis Cardinals minor lea...
Aug 31, 2020•24 min
Episode 41 opens up with a discussion on the idea of realigning college football for this year amid the pandemic and the benefits it would have if it were to happen. I also give my realigned conferences, and which teams regionally could have been paired together. I stick with the college sports theme, as I move into my new topic for the episode which is Best College Mascots. I rank my top five best mascots in college and close out the episode with another fantastic interview with current Attackm...
Aug 27, 2020•43 min
In this episode of Riding The Pine, we are joined by another show first, play-by-play and PA announcer in the Pittsburgh area Brandon Rossi. In this interview only episode, Brandon discusses the life of an announcer and how he first got interested in wanting to work behind the mic. Brandon also shares some interesting sports he's been on the call for, and which sports he enjoys commentating the most.
Aug 25, 2020•39 min
Dive into episode 39 with me, as I start things off with an update on the issues the Cleveland Indians have had internally with their team and what has transpired because of some players irresponsible actions. I then briefly run through my predictions for the NBA playoffs and share my quick picks for who I think could advance into the second round. The episode finishes off with a very fascinating interview with current baseball Director of Player Development at the University of Charleston, Alec...
Aug 21, 2020•58 min
I get started with a brief update on college football and which power five conferences have decided to move football into the spring time. Afterwards, I discuss the NBA's All-bubble team and which players were selected to the first and second teams. I also share my All-bubble team and which players really surprised me during the restart of the NBA season. Things close out with a fantastic interview with yet again another incredible guest, former Boston College football captain Ben Glines. Ben sh...
Aug 18, 2020•52 min
I'm joined in episode 37 with another tremendous guest who is yet again a show first, head men's baseball coach for St. Peter's University Coach Lou Proietti. Coach Lou talks about the difficulty and adjustment he has had to make recruiting players during this pandemic, his coaching career leading up to being the head coach at St. Peter's and his playing career which included a stop in Italy where he played professionally overseas.
Aug 13, 2020•26 min
Things open up in episode 36 talking about the status of College Football this fall and which leagues have decided to postpone football and which will have conference only schedules. I then talk about which 30 for 30s people would love to see that have yet to be made and which athletes would be the center of those documentaries. The episode closes out with a great interview with a returning guest on the show, current head women's basketball at Chatham University coach David Saur. Coach Saur and ...
Aug 11, 2020•1 hr 1 min
I get right to it in episode 35 with multiple recaps of games from the NBA, NHL and MLL as well as some news updates on the MLB season and how these recent Covid-19 tests have impacted the baseball season. Following the sports run down, I get into a new topic which highlights my top 5 most random sports and the history that has followed these interesting athletic competitions all the way to today. Later on, I'm joined by current attackman for the Denver Outlaws, Dan Bucaro, as he shares his stor...
Aug 06, 2020•45 min
Episode 34 dives into a recap of the first few days of the NBA resumed season and which teams struggled and which had strong starts. I then get into my second Road Trippin' segment, this time discussing the history and journey of the Atlanta Hawks, and where they originated and how they wound up in Atlanta. The episode wraps up with another special guest interview with our second professional lacrosse player to join Riding The Pine, Denver Outlaws midfielder Pat Aslanian. Pat shares his story ab...
Aug 03, 2020•47 min
Back at it again for episode 33 sharing the latest updates and analysis from the opening day MLB games, as well as an update on the Miami Marlins situation and what that could mean for the team and the league. Afterwards, I share my top 5 greatest athletes ever to play into their 40s and discuss the amazing accomplishments they achieved while in that age range. I finish out the episode with a tremendous interview with special guest Matty McConnell. The former Robert Morris men's basketball stand...
Jul 30, 2020•43 min
In our second straight interview only episode, I'm joined by a guest who has not only a fascinating story about how he became a coach, but is also a part of a cause greater than sports. IMG Academy basketball coach Billy Clapper sits down to join the show sharing his early days as a student manager at Youngstown State, to how he became involved with Sideline Cancer, a foundation dedicated to the fight against Pancreatic Cancer. Coach Clapper talks about the run Sideline Cancer had in the TBT tou...
Jul 27, 2020•41 min
Join me for Episode 31 as I have another interview only episode with another fantastic guest to join the show, current small forward for the Phoenix Suns Cam Johnson. Cam shares his story early on in his career, talking about his days at Pitt and his transition to playing at UNC. He also discusses what his life has been like in the NBA and what his everyday routine has been while being in the bubble down in Orlando.
Jul 24, 2020•35 min
Pull up a chair and kick your feet up for episode 30 as I run through some updates for the NBA season and share my predictions and analyzation for the first two games of the season resumption. I move into a really good topic discussing greatest playoff series comebacks in sports history and what kind of deficits those teams had to overcome to win. The episode is capped off with an awesome interview with another returning guest of the show, former Duquesne men's football player Brendan Thompson....
Jul 21, 2020•47 min
I get things going early in the episode talking about the latest news in the baseball world and what some updates have been for the MLB as the season rapidly approaches. I stick with the baseball theme in my topic as I rank the top five best ballparks that don't exist anymore and discuss which teams use to play at those stadiums and the monumental games that were played at those said ballparks. The episode ends with another show first, as I am joined by Riding The Pine's first ever track and fie...
Jul 17, 2020•55 min
Episode 28 features another fascinating interview only episode with Riding The Pine's first lacrosse guest, current professional lacrosse player for the Waterdogs Lacrosse Club Tate Boyce. Tate shares his story as to how he initially got started in lacrosse and how he wound up playing goalie. He also discusses his time in both the MLL and PLL and his thoughts on the continued growth and progression of lacrosse.
Jul 14, 2020•37 min
Things get started in episode 27 with a rundown of the latest news in the NBA and an update on players who have decided to sit out of the season due to the health risk. I then get into my new recurring Road Trippin segment, highlighting the journey of various sports teams from where they originated to where they are located today. The show finishes with an incredible interview with returning guest and former Old Dominion men's basketball player, Loren Brill.
Jul 10, 2020•39 min
I get things rolling in episode 26 as I talk about Cam Newton's recent signing to the Patriots and how that will impact both New England and the AFC East. I then get into the top five worst draft picks of all time and talk about what players those teams passed up on. I close out the episode with another really good interview with current international pro basketball player Sterling Gibbs as we discuss his college career, his overseas pro life and more.
Jul 07, 2020•1 hr
In the latest installment of Riding The Pine, I jump into an update on the NHL and what exactly the league has been up to and what kind of measures they will be taking after announcing the resumption of the season. I dive right into another topic for this episode, as I rank the greatest athletes to never play for the team that originally drafted them. The episode finishes out with a great interview with former D2 hooper and current international pro player as well as skills coach, Case Bruton....
Jul 02, 2020•41 min
This Riding The Pine episode is another interview only as I am joined by a very special guest, head women's basketball coach at Chatham University David Saur. Coach Saur discusses how he first got into coaching, the various stops he's made along the way and his time at Chatham. He also shares his thoughts on the NBA's new return to play plan and the health and safety guidelines the league will be implementing.
Jun 30, 2020•30 min
Things start off in episode 23 with discussing the new health guidelines in the NBA and what kind of equipment the league will be using to make sure the players and other employees are safe. I also share who I believe are the greatest father son duos in sports history and I wrap things up with a great interview with a very special guest, assistant men's basketball coach at UNC Asheville Coach Woody Taylor.
Jun 26, 2020•51 min
Episode 22 is another interview only edition, as I sit down with Coach Eric Alexander, co-owner and director of Sports Performance at Pinnacle Sports. He shares his time as a player in the minors for the Atlanta Braves and discusses how he got involved in the strength and conditioning field of sports. He also shares a very interesting story as to how he started Sports Performance and how far it has come in the recent years.
Jun 22, 2020•27 min
In episode 21 of Riding The Pine, I discuss what practices will look like for collegiate sports that have summer workouts with things still uncertain with the Pandemic. I then get into my topic for the day which is what cities I feel could see sports next and what sports exactly would be good fits in those cities. I close out episode 21 with a great interview with former Shippensburg University standout and current international pro in France Dustin Sleva.
Jun 18, 2020•43 min
Find your favorite spot on the couch and tune in to episode 20 of Riding The Pine as I open things up giving my thoughts on the continued labor negotiations in the MLB and what needs to happen for baseball to occur this summer. I then get into a great interview with a special guest who shares a very interesting story about his senior year, current Eastern Tennessee State University baseball player Ethan Cady.
Jun 15, 2020•32 min
In the latest edition of Riding The Pine I am joined by a very special guest, current NBA power forward and center for the Portland Trailblazers, Zach Collins. Zach and I discuss his time at Gonzaga, what his transition into the NBA was like, and how he feels on the new NBA season and playoff format.
Jun 12, 2020•36 min
