Category: Eli Zaret | No Filter Sports

No Filter Fans: Thank You!!!

February 8, 2021

No Filter Fans,

The No Filter Sports Podcast with Eli Zaret, Denny McLain & Bob Page is on hiatus for the time being. Please stay subscribed to the No Filter Sports Podcast on your podcast app as additional episodes may be in the offing sometime down the road.

We express sincere thanks to the many thousands of you who listened over the last two years. Your loyalty and feedback have been appreciated more than you may think. Thanks as well to the 150 or so guest interviewees who participated on our 200+ episodes. All previous episodes remain available on the No Filter website.

We also thank the advertisers who made this show possible, and to all of you those who donated to the show and played a much-needed role in enabling us to meet our expenses.

Donations to the show will no longer be accepted, so please curtail your automatic payments.

So there is no mystery, Eli turned 70 in 2020 and felt the need to take a break from 45 years in sports commenting in order to see if retirement suits him. Denny has some health issues to deal with that requires him to back away for now. As for Bob, he wants to keep going, and perhaps he’ll figure out a way in the interim.

Again, thank you for your support for No Filter Sports!

Photo image of a person pushing the 0 from 2020 off a cliff

Episode 204: Good-bye, 2020: UGH! Good-bye, ELI?

December 28, 2020 01:26:13

It’s hard to separate sports from reality.

It’s the latest No Filter Sports Podcast with Eli Zaret, Denny McLain and Bob Page.

Happy New Year, everybody, as we ALL look ahead with hope for better days to come.
Maybe COVID didn’t hit YOU or yours. Maybe YOU made big $$$ in the market. No matter, good riddance to 2020!
It was a year that perhaps has triggered a major change in Eli’s very life as he’ll explain to you.
Denny actually became LOOPY over Saturday’s Lions’ fiasco, a game SO ridiculous that one die-hard Lions fan even …!
Then listen to Denny become MORE loopy when Eli reads him a quote from Tigers G.M. Al Avila.
HOW many TD’s in ONE GAME?! Our producer Brandon McAfee relates a tale of woe from football’s fantasy leagues.
Tom Gores takes heavy flak from Eli — again — as Denny reveals how HE suffered from Gore’s hand in PRISON!
Remember the NFL’s CHICAGO Cardinals? Yes? The boys do, which means they — and likely YOU — are OLD!
Still another baseball Hall of Famer has died. Denny recalls PHIL NIEKRO and Phil’s late brother Joe. He played with both.
Those stories, Bob has another edition of YOUR mailbag — and much more right here!

Episode 203: When the Irish “Tied One for the Gipper!”

December 21, 2020 01:36:31

The Game of the Century!

It’s the latest No Filter Sports Podcast with Eli Zaret, Denny McLain and Bob Page.

MSU’S CLINT JONES guests on playing in the storied 10-10 game, on being a black STAR in the turbulent 60’s and MORE!
GOLF’S next black star? Eli will tell you all about him — and choke back his tears as he does.
College football’s four-team playoffs are now set, but does Notre Dame really belong in them?
One thing’s sure: no matter WHAT Denny predicted here, the Lions won’t be in ANY playoffs.
And while wiping the egg off his face from that, is he taking his frustrations out unfairly on Matt Stafford?
WHAT?! A plain mayonnaise sandwich? Denny: YUM! Eli: Have I got a mayonnaise for YOU!
“Typhoid Rudy” signs a $200 million deal while Bob tells us what ONE dollar once meant to two great NBA centers.
The NHL announces a January return with new divisions due to COVID. Will its players first have to be vaccinated?
And they called Pete Rozelle “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas?” A LOT of “grinches” will steal THIS Christmas.
Bob rips MSU basketball a new one — but then Tom Izzo does too! And, OMG, such STUPID BLACK uniforms!
Those stories, a big loss for the Tigers, YOUR mailbag segment and MUCH more right here!

Episode 202: Ah, What COULD Have Been for Chuck Long!

December 17, 2020 01:37:34

He had everything going for him.

It’s the latest No Filter Sports Podcast with Eli Zaret, Denny McLain and Bob Page.

One of the greatest QB’s in Big Ten history, CHUCK LONG, never lived up to that potential in Detroit. Chuck tells all!
The Lions hire Chris Spielman, not to run the show, but only to assist in the hiring of a GM and coach. Bob: WTF?!
If only ALL the Lions had the guts of center Frank Ragnow — playing an entire contest with a FRACTURED THROAT!
The MNF matchup between the Browns and Ravens was a great game — but a COSTLY one for Denny and others.
Jim Harbaugh says he’s IN. And what LOOKS like a good recruiting class just may keep him “in” — for a while.
MSU’s Mel Tucker landed a couple quarterbacks on signing day, though the one he needs MIGHT already be in the fold.
Congress continues to meddle in big-time college sports. Is this a good thing? Denny, Eli — and CHUCK debate.
Miggy says he wants to play first base again. AJ Hinch: “Okay.” Denny: “Ridiculous!”
In this P.C.-mad world MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred makes a controversial decision. Was it fair?
Will MLB and the other pro sports REQUIRE all players take a COVID vaccine in order to play?
Those stories, PLUS Bob rips the bogus Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, YOUR mailbag and MORE — right here.

Episode 201: “Yee-Hah!” The Wild Ride of Mike Henneman!

December 14, 2020 01:37:14

I went to Toledo with an attitude.

It’s the latest No Filter Sports Podcast with Eli Zaret, Denny McLain and Bob Page.

Tigers reliever, RODEO star, finding his long-lost family, marrying a teammate’s widow? What a journey for MIKE HENNEMAN!
Bob is APOPLECTIC, stammering in anger, spittle flying. Now the P.C. Posse’s even killed the CLEVELAND INDIANS!
“Champions Week?” How about “LOSERS WEEK” — courtesy of the Big Ten(14) with its cockamamie football schedule.
And does Ohio State really deserve to be crowned a “champion,” having played so few games?
Another Sunday, another loss for the Lions. Weirdly enough, Eli and Denny somehow are seeing hope for them.
The Tigers do NOT figure to have much hope in 2021. Maddeningly, Al Avila’s making no apologies for that.
Eli rants about a Detroit Pistons team that oughta wear name tags at practice just to become acquainted.
Wayne Gretzky’s rookie card has sold for a staggering sum! Resident sports memorabilia expert Denny explains why.
Both undefeated, both in the nation’s top 20, but Bob says there’s a big diff between U-M and MSU basketball.
Those stories, Eli with “This Day in Sports,” YOUR Mailbag segment and much more — right here!

Episode 200: Tom Seabron: A Winner at U-M AND in LIFE!

December 10, 2020 01:43:42

I would never start off in life to be number two.

It’s the latest No Filter Sports Podcast with Bob Page, Denny McLain & Lary Sorensen in for Eli.

WOW, our 200th show! We thank YOU listeners and our sponsors for all your great support.
“Student-athletes” in big-time college sports? They DO exist. Wait’ll you hear our guest, U-M football’s TOM SEABRON.
Amazing that there will be NO Michigan-Ohio State game this year as COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc.
Yet Harbaugh’s U-M future — or lack of same — overshadowed “The Game.” Would he CHOOSE to leave as a failure?
Could COVID stop the entire college basketball season? MSU-Virginia one of the latest big games called off.
Will YOU get the vaccine as soon as it becomes available in the U.S.? The boys weigh in.
Houston Rockets superstar James Harden now needs to pass SIX STRAIGHT COVID tests or the NBA won’t let him play!
Harden seems somehow unhappy making $38 million a year. Denny and Lary, uh, made a little less in THEIR careers.
Miami Heat star Tyler Herro isn’t worried about money, he’s worried teams are picking on him — cuz he’s WHITE!
Some 90% of all college football head coaches are also white — is that FAIR in a game with a majority of black players?
RIP Dick Allen. Denny STILL remembers MONSTER homers Allen hit off HIM! But should Dick be in the Hall of Fame?
We’ve got those stories, Bob’s got YOUR mailbag and much more — right here!

Episode 199: “I Came to Hate Joe Paterno!”

December 7, 2020 01:35:13

He really didn’t like me very much.

It’s the latest No Filter Sports Podcast with Eli Zaret, Denny McLain & Bob Page.

One of Penn State’s greatest players, ex-Detroit Lions star KEITH DORNEY, talks about his FASCINATING life.
To paraphrase a famous song by The Clash, “Should he stay or should he go?” Harbaugh rumors are FLYING!
It’s Michigan-Ohio State week and Bob says WHAT? “BFD?!” If you’re on the U-M side, MANY feel the same way.
How DARE Denny’s beloved Chicago Bears blatantly rip off the Lions’ M.O.? Isn’t it copyrighted?
Who IS this guy, Darrell Bevell? And who IS actually running the FOOTBALL side of the franchise these days?
A famous football man says women don’t generally like or follow sports? Golly gee, shocking. So why apologize?
The Sarah Silliness just won’t go away — and neither will Eli in slamming it!
Not good enough to catch for the catcher-less Tigers — but good enough for one of MLB’s top teams?
Do we have a new feature on the show? Eli declares the Nets’ Kyrie Irving his inaugural “Idiot of the Week!”
On our “This Day in Sports” AND on this Pearl Harbor Day we recall an American sports star and hero of WWII.
Those stories, Bob with YOUR mailbag and much more — right here!

Episode 198: Two-Sport Star — to Superstar COACH!

December 3, 2020 01:41:34

But we know him best as a running back for Bo.

It’s the latest No Filter Sports Podcast with Bob Page, Denny McLain & Fred Heumann sitting in for Eli Zaret!

One of the great athletes in Michigan high school history is now one of its great MENTORS: our guest, THOMAS WILCHER.
OUTRAGEOUS! How DARE Herbie claim Harbaugh doesn’t want to play Ohio State! But, uh, DOES he? Really?
A Wednesday afternoon NFL game? The boys agree: an abomination in damn near every sense.
And now COVID-19 begins another reign of sports terror: the NBA says 48 players just got it!
So you think nothing excites curmudgeonly Bob? Just ask him about Michigan State basketball this year.
Denny’s excited about his beloved Bears’ “Polish kid” versus the Lions, then gets the word: Trubisky is NOT Polish.
Dennis Dale McLain — JEWISH?! Oy, who knew?! He’s FULL of surprises today:
Teddy Ballgame once said WHAT to him? Denny in a fistfight with a teammate in the Tigers’ locker room?
A 27-year-old former World Series hero is on the open market “CHEAP.” Should the Tigers grab him?
Fred knows whom HE wants to see the Tigers sign. Bob AND Denny: “Fuhgettaboutit!”
Those stories, YOUR mailbag segment and much more — right here!

Episode 197: Blind Faith: Do Long-Suffering Lions Fans Have a CHOICE?

November 30, 2020 01:24:57

They were starting to mention guys already…

Welcome to No Filter Sports Podcast with “The Original Three:” Eli Zaret, Denny McLain and Bob Page!

As a young Johnny Carson asked on his 1950’s TV show every week: “Who Do You Trust?” SURELY not Sheila and Rod?!
Whom WILL the duo hire as new Lions general manager? Former star wideout Herman Moore pounds the table for an ex-teammate.
Too late to make our show taping today: Michigan football “paused” due to COVID-19! Frankly, it couldn’t have come at a better time.
While Penn State provided the LATEST embarrassment for U-M, MSU is riding high — at least until (gulp!) the Bucks hit town this week.
And Ohio State NEEDS to play this game in the midst of a veritable SEA of nationwide COVID cancellations.
Golf wackos Eli and Denny, of COURSE, watched the Phil/Steph/Peyton/Barkley extravaganza, but non-wacko Bob has a question about Sir Charles.
WHAT “wackos” watched Saturday night’s Mike Tyson-Roy Jones abomination? WE’VE got TWO of ’em right here on the show!
Tom Izzo and Coach K ready to rumble again! IF MSU is as AWESOME as it was against Notre Dame Saturday who can beat them?
The Pistons make an announcement that would have been UNTHINKABLE anywhere in sports just a few years ago.
Eli fears his “This Day in Sports” is hitting a wall. Bob has YOUR mailbag — and we’ve got much more right here!

Episode 196: From Motown to NATIONAL NFL Expert!

November 27, 2020 01:34:00

A Pro Football Hall of Fame writer!

It’s the latest No Filter Sports Podcast with Eli Zaret, Denny McLain & Bob Page!

COVID even postponing the SUPER BOWL? Maybe, says one of America’s top NFL writers, guest RICK GOSSELIN.
(yawn) Another Thanksgiving, another TURKEY from the Lions. Even Sheila Hamp Ford looked bored to tears!
Ford Field may have been empty but the Dallas Cowboys did allow fans for their game later. Why’s that?
What’s more, how do the woeful Lions and suddenly woeful Cowboys keep being awarded such a big showcase?
Eli a RACIST?! If so, you’d better add Bob and Denny to that list over the boys’ agreement on an overblown NFL event.
COVID SO ravaging sports now that one prominent SEC team has been driven to TOTAL desperation this weekend.
And the biggest story now that college BASKETBALL is underway is already which teams AREN’T playing.
Wins for both U-M and MSU to kick off the schedule but Bob’s much more impressed with #1 Gonzaga.
If COVID can’t do it, here’s an event that SHOULD be canceled: Saturday night’s Tyson-Jones “pillow fight!”
The WORLD may mourn Maradona but our AMERICAN boys mourn Paul Hornung with LOTSA good yarns!
Those stories, Eli’s “This Day in Sports,” Bob with YOUR mailbag and much more right here.