PODCAST

Conversations with Sports Fans

Doug Hill

A podcast for sports fans by a sports fan all about being a sports fan.

sports

All Episodes

00:55:00

Season 4, Episode 42 - Dr. Nick Elam

Conversations with Sports Fans ·

2025/07/17

Since The Basketball Tournament (aka TBT) starts up again this week, we felt it apropos to check back in with the man who developed the wildly popular Elam Ending that's used in all TBT games - Dr. Nick Elam.When last we chatted with Nick (S:2, E:33) he shared the unabridged version of how his eponymous ending came to be and we wound up not having time to discuss his other unique pursuits.For example, did you know that Nick works on the grounds crew at Cincinnati's Great American Ball Park? Or that

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01:02:55

Season 4, Episode 41 - Dr. Shanyn Lancaster

Conversations with Sports Fans ·

2025/07/10

Our guest this episode is Dr. Shanyn Lancaster, Medical Director of USA Gymnastics.Herself a former NCAA Division I gymnast at the University of Minnesota, Shanyn and her 1998 Golden Gophers teammates are in that school's Athletic Hall of Fame after securing the school's first Big Ten Championship. Prior to taking the role at USA Gymnastics, Shanyn was the Head Team Physician for Arizona State University's athletic program, making her the first female lead physician in Pac-12 history

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00:57:22

Season 4, Episode 40 - Dr. Dan Wann

Conversations with Sports Fans ·

2025/07/03

Just in time for the United States' 249th birthday celebration, we're joined by Dr. Dan Wann, a psychology professor at Murray State University, whose area of specialty is the psychology of sports fandom. No, we don't delve into the rise of competitive eater Joey Chestnut, but we do spend quite a bit of time discussing fans, their behavior, and the positives and negatives of being a sports fan. The answers to which should fascinate all sports fans. Along the way, Dan also shares how he

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00:51:22

Season 4, Episode 39 - Klint Pleasant

Conversations with Sports Fans ·

2025/06/26

Our guest this episode is the 15-year head coach of the Rochester (MI) Christian University men's basketball team, Dr. Klint Pleasant.Klint also serves as a RCU senior vice president and was just named to the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan's 2025 Hall of Fame class where he'll join his father, Garth (Class of 2008).During our Conversation with Klint we learn about his early life as the child of a successful basketball coach, where his sports interests lay, and how and why he made the

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00:28:17

Season 4, Episode 38 - Bob Eley from Explore Fairbanks

Conversations with Sports Fans ·

2025/06/20

In this special episode in advance of Event No. 21 of the Around the World in 80 Sporting Events project (the 120th Midnight Sun Game), we're joined by Bob Eley from Explore Fairbanks to discuss all that greater Fairbanks has to offer its visitors during the Summer Solstice season.Bob, a former longtime sports writer at the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, also shares a good bit about the history of the Midnight Sun Game, hosted by the Fairbanks-based Alaska Goldpanners since 1960. Among the myriad

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00:45:55

Season 4, Episode 37 - John U. Bacon

Conversations with Sports Fans ·

2025/06/19

We're joined in this, our 200th episode of Conversations, by New York Times best-selling author, longtime friend, and 1-time housemate, John U. Bacon.An elusive fella to pin down we were finally able to secure an hour of John's time in late March but have been sitting on this Conversation for such a special occasion. We learn about the impact the world of sports had on John in 1972 (think Munich Summer Olympics, the NHL-USSR Summit Series, and a pennant-contending Detroit Tigers' team)

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00:07:08

Season 4, Episode 36 - Reflections from the Men's...

Conversations with Sports Fans ·

2025/06/18

Events No. 19 and 20 of the Around the World in 80 Sporting Events project found its way to the Omaha, NE, and Dyersville, IA, respectively, to attend three games at the Men's College World Series and pay a visit to the Field of Dreams movie site. In this remote recording from a picnic table on the Iowa farm used for the movie, Doug and his dad, offer some quick reflections on the experience at the MCWS and on the grounds where the 1989 Kevin Costner movie was filmed. And, yes, there might have

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00:55:23

Season 4, Episode 35 - Johnny & Jeff Agar

Conversations with Sports Fans ·

2025/06/15

We are both humbled and delighted to be joined in this special Father's Day Episode of Conversations by the west Michigan father/son team of Jeff and Johnny Agar. Together along with the rest of their family, they are TeamAgar. The Agars have been in the public eye for over a decade now following Johnny's stated goal to walk the final mile of their church's annual 5K in 2013. That was no small feat as Johnny, diagnosed shortly after birth with cerebral palsy, had only walked 23 steps prior. He

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00:24:50

Season 4, Episode 34 - Deborah Ward from Visit Omaha

Conversations with Sports Fans ·

2025/06/13

In advance of host Doug Hill's trip to the Men's College World Series in Omaha, NE, as part of his Around the World in 80 Sporting Events project, he's joined by Deborah Ward, the Executive Director of Visit Omaha. Deborah shares a bit about the history of the MCWS (this will be its 75th year) and how greater Omaha will be filled to the brim with not only college baseball fans but also participants and fans of the over 700 teams participating in one of three of the 23rd annual Omaha Slumpbuster

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00:53:47

Season 4, Episode 33 - Jeff Nelson

Conversations with Sports Fans ·

2025/06/12

We're joined in this episode by Jeff Nelson, a Wisconsin native who first arrived in the Detroit area nearly 30 years ago on a mission (literally, a mission) and has never left.Currently the pastor at Royal Oak First a United Methodist Church, Jeff is also a huge sports fan. During our Conversation we learn about his early days as a Milwaukee Brewers fan and how it spread to other Wisconsin sports including, of course, the Green Bay Packers. And no discussion of the Brewers would be complete without

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01:04:32

Season 4, Episode 32 - Steve Culp

Conversations with Sports Fans ·

2025/06/05

In this episode we're joined by metro-Detroit elementary physical education teacher and high school girls track coach, Steve Culp. Beyond working with youngters by day, Steve is a past president of the Detroit Spartans (the Michigan State University metro-Detroit alumni club) and still sits on its Board of Directors. A Los Angeles, CA, native, we discover how this diehard USC and Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders fan, made his way to East Lansing, MI, and the heart of Big Ten country for his college

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00:47:48

Season 4, Episode 31 - Adam Darowski

Conversations with Sports Fans ·

2025/05/29

We're delighted to be rejoined in this episode by Adam Darowski, an Executive Director of Design for Sports Reference LLC. You know, the entity that brings us sports fans websites like Baseball-Reference, Pro Football-Reference, the subscriber site Stathead, and, now, the Immaculate Grid (for professional baseball, football, basketball [men's & women's], hockey, and soccer).We catch up with Adam about all things Sports Reference and Immaculate Grid; his interest in baseball research

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00:06:58

Season 4, Episode 30 - Indy 500 Reflections

Conversations with Sports Fans ·

2025/05/27

As part of Conversations' host Doug Hill's "Around the World in 80 Sporting Events" project he and his daughter, Helena, attended the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 Memorial Day Weekend.On their way north to Sunday evening's destination, Helena and Doug share their instant reflections on attending the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing" for the first time. If you're enjoying Conversations with Sports Fans please consider supporting our

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00:43:43

Season 4, Episode 29 - Rex Crabtree

Conversations with Sports Fans ·

2025/05/22

This episode's guest, Rex Crabtree, is - as nearly every native of Indiana is required to be - a huge basketball fan. Rex, however, zigs a bit while the rest of the Hoosier state zags. He roots for the UCLA Bruins.Rex was a youngster when a certain Martinsville (IN) High School product, John Wooden, was guiding the Bruins to 10 NCAA Championships. Perhaps not so oddly, Rex also fell in love with the 1968 World Series Champion Detroit Tigers.We learn about all this and a good bit more during our

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00:42:13

Season 4, Episode 28 - Dr. Bill Bloom & Matthew...

Conversations with Sports Fans ·

2025/05/19

May is Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States and we felt it an opportune time to discuss mental health as it relates to athletes. We're joined in this episode by Dr. Bill Bloom and Matthew Clinton from Michigan-based Start My Wellness. During our time with Bill and Matt we learn a bit about their own sports fandom, the importance of physical activity as it relates to one's mental health, what types of mental health challenges athletes may face, the impact of concussions on

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00:20:57

Season 4, Episode 27 - Japanese Baseball Reflection

Conversations with Sports Fans ·

2025/05/17

In this special bonus episode of Conversations, host Doug Hill is once again joined by Ken, Maury, Stephen, and Tim to discuss their experience at Tokyo's historic Meiji Jingu Stadium for a Yakult Swallows-Yomiuri Giants crosstown showdown as part of the Around the World in 80 Sporting Events project. The quintet reflect on the 2-1 Swallows, victory it witnessed, the famed umbrella dance, and draw inevitable comparisons between this experience and what they witnessed earlier in the their trip in

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00:57:41

Season 4, Episode 26 - Jason Deegan

Conversations with Sports Fans ·

2025/05/15

As some of golf's greatest players tee it up this week at Quail Hollow Golf & Country Club for the PGA Championship, it seemed an apt time to have Jason Scott Deegan Executive Editor at GolfPass.A native of Port Huron, MI, how Jason stumbled upon golf and golf writing is quite the story. Now, having played over 1,000 courses across 26 countries he's well-practiced in the art of the game and reviewing courses.His favorites:Cypress Point Club on California's famed Monterey Peninsula. Check out

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00:05:44

Season 4, Episode 25 - A Salute to Moms

Conversations with Sports Fans ·

2025/05/11

In this bonus episode, released on Mothers Day 2025, host Doug Hill takes a moment to reflect on his mother and her sports fandom. If you're enjoying Conversations with Sports Fans please consider supporting our work ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠he⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠r⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠e⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For as little as 99 cents a month, generous

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00:26:56

Season 4, Episode 24 - Korean Baseball Reflections

Conversations with Sports Fans ·

2025/05/10

In this special episode, host Doug Hill and his traveling companions Kenneth Herbart, Maury Koffman, Tim Parker, and Stephen Miller, offer their reflections after watching a pair of Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) games in Seoul as part of Doug's Around the World in 80 Sporting Events project.(Note: Once the introduction music is complete, listeners may need to pump up the volume a bit as some portion of the recording are faint.) If you're enjoying Conversations with Sports Fans please consider

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00:40:06

Season 4, Episode 23 - Nat Butler

Conversations with Sports Fans ·

2025/05/08

We're excited to be joined by one of the foremost photographic chroniclers of the NBA, Nathaniel S. Butler.(Read to the end to learn how to enter a drawing for a special prize.)How prolific is Nat, as he's known? Check out the coffee table book he published in September that puts dozens of his most iconic images in one compendium - Courtside: 40 Years of NBA Photography.During out Conversation with Nat we learn how his photography hobby entering St. John's University turned into role at the student

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